The light of the fire was still bright.
The water drops kept falling.
The air in the exit of the maze became scorching and damp. With Liu Xiuwei as the center, the fire was gathered around him and then spread outwards in all directions.
The rain of sword-like water drops kept falling and hitting toward the light curtain of fire, carrying endless Sword Energy, like a belt of light, a swimming dragon, a flood.
Flames and rain drops were the only things in everyone’s sight. The roaring flames and wuthering rain formed an extremely splendid scene.
Each of the Four Realms of Martial Arts contained three stages: the initial realm-breaking stage, the later stable stage, and the peak stage near a breakthrough.
Liu Xiuwei was at the Peak of the Fire-flaming Realm, the excellent one of all the men at his level. He had to be extraordinarily powerful to have been able to be the deputy director of teaching of the Sky Academy.
Though he was in the Fire-flaming Realm as his nephew, Liu Dongchao, the stable stage and the peak of the realm was totally two different levels.
The further the people went in practicing Martial Arts, the more different their power would be. It was beyond everyone’s expectation that Li Tianlan could defeat Liu Dongchao, and now, they were filled with an even more complicated feeling as they saw Li Tianlan hold his ground against Liu Xiuwei.
Li Baitian and Ning Qiancheng got rid of their opponents and came over in front of Wang Yuetong, watching the battle with a serious look.
It’s getting bad. Tianlan isn’t this old man’s match.
Ning Qiancheng said in a deep voice as he stared fixedly at the battle.
Then, let’s stop talking and lend Tianlan a hand.
Li Baitian raised his ice sword again and urged without hesitation.
Lend a hand? You’ll have to go through me first.
Liu Dongyu pressed a step forward and said with hatred in her tone while gazing at Li Baitian.
Great Void Sword Intent was so ethereal that though relying on her higher realm, Liu Dongyu did not suffer a great deal during the short fight with Weakness Li; she was thrown into a tight corner indeed. Her carefully tailored camouflage clothing was ragged with cuts by Sword Energy, and her fine and white skin was bleeding. It did not affect her a lot, but it was a burning shame in her eyes.
With her claim, Tan Xilai also came to stand with her without hesitation, so did the rest people of the Flames of War.
It seemed that what had happened several minutes ago happened again.
Before, Li Baitian and his companions had stopped Liu Dongyu from saving Liu Dongchao, and now, Liu Dongyu and her companions were trying to stop Li Baitian from saving Li Tianlan.
Li Baitian narrowed his eyes, and it seemed that he had turned into a sword, carrying a threatening air.
Leave me alone.
Li Tianlan suddenly shouted. The sword-like water drops rained faster and heavier around him, hitting at the fire curtain in front of Liu Xiuwei. The fire around Liu Xiuwei grew stronger as well and evaporated the water drops before they could get near.
Li Tianlan remained calm and continued,
You guys go first. This old guy can’t trap here.
Young man, you are too arrogant. I’ll show you something funny then.
Liu Xiuwei grinned hideously. As he took a step forward, the fire around him suddenly started raging wildly and spreading in all directions.
The light of fire seemed to be weaker around Liu Xiuwei, but, the air got hotter and hotter. The water drops could not approach Liu Xiuwei, but the spreading fire charged at Li Tianlan as four flows of flames.
It was a unique technique of the Liu family.
Shaking the Four Directions!
The Invincible Realm expert of the Liu family, Liu Tianqing, was the representative figure of the late bloomers in the Martial Arts. This man was normally gifted and barely reached the Fire-flaming Realm at the age of thirty-five, but after that, he progressed so fast in practicing Martial Arts as if he was enlightened.
At the age of thirty-seven, he reached the Thunder-shocking Realm, and at the age of forty-two, he entered the Invincible Realm.
Though he had died for ten years, his techniques were still well-known in the state.
Shaking the Four Directions was one of those unique techniques that made him famous.
The four flows of fire surged and raged in the air, which was twisted under the hot. Liu Xiuwei was filled with killing intent and dived toward Li Tianlan following the fire.
The fire came close roaring.
The humidity in the air of the all directions of the maze was dried out. The amount of the water drops around Li Tianlan was decreased visibly, but, he still looked calm.
Human Emperor shook violently in Li Tianlan’s hands, with the water drops against the fire, Liu Xiuwei still pressed on towards Li Tianlan.
Five meters.
Three meters.
Li Tianlan moved forward abruptly.
The shaking Human Emperor struck out aiming at Liu Xiuwei’s chest like a silver flashlight.
There was some coldness in the hot air suddenly. The water drops were frozen into ice and gathered around Li Tianlan quickly. In less than a second, Li Tianlan was covered with thin ice from head to foot.
The rain of sword-like water drops was disappearing.
In an instant, there was only silver light left in the raging fire.
The whistling air and broken pieces of ice blew the fire in front of Li Tianlan aside, and the spear kept going straight forward.
Driving wind, breaking the ice, extinguishing the fire.
Where it passed, everything was destroyed.
Bang!
The Human Emperor was tightly grabbed by a skinny hand on its way forward. Liu Xiuwei appeared in front of Li Tianlan and said with a cold smile,
Wind and Thunder Veins is indeed formidable, but, your realm is too low that this technique is not that powerful.
His hands were surrounded by flames, and a burning hot crossed the metal spear to Li Tianlan’s hands.
Give it to me!
Liu Xiuwei suddenly shouted and raised his hands, lifting the Human Emperor high, which was over fifty kilograms. Li Tianlan, who was holding the other end of the spear, was lifted by Liu Xiuwei as well.
It was another unique technique of the Liu family.
Lifting the Cauldron!
Through this technique, one could exert a terrifying power in a quite short time by concentrating all his strength on his arms and legs.
With it, Liu Xiuwei could lift a cauldron weighing hundreds of kilograms, let alone the Human Emperor, which only weighed fifty kilograms.
Liu Xiuwei held one end of the spear with both hands and lifted Li Tianlan above his head. Flames immediately spread upward along the spear and neared Li Tianlan’s hands in the blink of an eye.
Li Tianlan gathered the water drops in his hands but could barely stop the fire from spreading along the spear. What was worse, there were another three flows of flames hitting his back, trying to melt the ice that covered his back.
With Liu Xiuwei’s current realm, once the ice was melt, Li Tianlan would be definitely killed, as the burning hot could burn his flesh into ashes in a second.
That old cur not only wanted to seize Human Emperor from Li Tianlan but also wanted to kill him.
As the deputy director of the Sky Academy, how dare he wanted to kill a student of the academy during the entrance maneuver?
Get your hands off the spear!
Liu Xiuwei wore a cruel smile and stared at Li Tianlan as if he was looking at a dead man. He kept swirling the spear above his head with both hands. A formidable power attacked Li Tianlan through the spear, and red blood dropped down from the corner of Li Tianlan’s mouth.
Tianlan!
Seeing this, Li Baitian’s expression changed suddenly. Sword intent flickered in his eyes, glimmering.
We can’t let it go on like this. Senior brother Tianlan doesn’t have any powerful technique; he is holding on all by his own power and realm. He is going to break down,
Wang Yuetong said with a frown.
The so-called unique technique, in fact, was a method to use one’s own power and combat skill to the fullest. More exactly, it was similar to one’s unique skill. In a battle, when the two sides were at totally different levels of power, power would decide the results, but, when the two were at a similar level, the one whose techniques were more powerful would win the battle.
Liu Xiuwei possessed so many unique techniques, which were all learned from the Invincible Realm expert Liu Tianqing. As for Li Tianlan, he relied all on his own strength, so, obviously, he would lose the battle. Moreover, he might even lose his life.
Swish!
Before Wang Yuetong’s voice died away, Ning Qiancheng had taken a sudden step forward. Countless ice swords surrounded him and were lined at the same level in a second. The swords were chilling, but its intent was burning like flames.
Ice Swords of Prairie Fire!
Countless ice swords rushed toward Liu Xiuwei but were blocked by Tan Xilai. Ning Qiancheng remained a cold look and charged at Tan Xilai at his full speed.
His eyes looked as if they were burning, and his every move was so determined.
He was a soldier from the Border Control Corps, and he came to the Sky Academy to seek knowledge, but his codename was reaper.
He was even not afraid of death, so, what else could scare him?
Buzz Buzz Buzz…
The sword intent in Li Baitian’s eyes seemed condensed into solid, trembling slightly around his ice swords in front of him. Enormous misty sword intent was gathered together quickly, and the ice swords turned into milk-white from glassy with roaring coldness continuously gathered around them.
With the air around the ice swords getting colder and colder, Li Baitian’s aura kept rising.
His sword turned whiter and whiter.
His face went paler and paler.
Blood streamed down from his eyes, but he did not even notice it. He gazed at Liu Dongyu attentively, who stood in his way with a terrible look, and said in a calm tone,
Get out of my way!
This was a move that would never be drawn back until death.
Everyone present could tell that Li Baitian had not mastered the move completely, but, he still played it, which demonstrated his determination to fight with his life.
Ning Qiancheng was fighting risking his life.
So was Li Baitian.
That was all for Li Tianlan.
The exquisite ice swords in front of Li Baitian turned even whiter, and they gleamed in faint milk-white as freezing coldness gathered around them.
The second move of the Great Void Sword.
Unification Sword!
Seeing such a scene, even Wang Yuetong and Yu Qingyan could not help being thrilled. They took one step forward at the same time. Yu Qingyan stretched out her white and fine hands, and with colors changing in them, a trace of thin ice appeared in her hands. Beneath the ice, her palms had turned strange green.
Wang Yuetong remained silent, but, standing amid ice and frost, she formed a huge sword about a half meter wide and three meters long behind her.
Ice and fire, a huge sword and a young girl.
At that moment, Wang Yuetong’s ponytail was untied, and her thick hair danced behind her. She had always looked like a charming princess, but now, with a huge sword towering behind her, she looked like a domineering and overbearing queen.
All of you are loyal friends. Since you don’t leave now, stay here forever then. After I kill this boy, I’ll kill you all.
Liu Xiuwei let out weird laughter and stared at Li Tianlan viciously, who held the Human Emperor tightly.
Baitian, you guys go first. I can get out of here, trust me.
Li Tianlan was still raised high in the air by Liu Xiuwei. His injury got worse as he was attacked by huge power again and again, but, his voice was as calm as a long-frozen glacier.
Li Baitian raised his eyebrows, emotionless.
If you don’t trust me, why did you team up with me?
Li Tianlan frowned and asked in a hurried tone.
We have to leave here together, and this has nothing to do with trust. I’ll wipe off this woman in a minute and go to help you.
Li Tianlan replied calmly.
Together?
On hearing this, Li Tianlan smiled and stared at Liu Xiuwei with unsuppressed killing intent in his eyes.
Okay. Let’s leave here together.
He answered.
He held the Human Emperor with both hands, and his bones started quaking. The magic power he gained from Thunder Vein was in a burst without restraint.
He pressed the spear downward straightly.
Liu Xiuwei furrowed his eyebrows, and the spear slipped slightly from his grip, going several centimeters nearer from his belly.
The sharp wind the spear brought almost pierced through his skin, and his whole belly was in burning pain.
Liu Xiuwei remained indifferent. He snorted as he tightened his grip on the spear, trying to pull it back.
However, the moment he did so, he was surprised because he met no resistance from Li Tianlan, who held the other end of the spear and draw backward quickly with the force.
The spear-head abruptly shrink while shaking wildly, so did the spear body. As Li Tianlan draw back the spear, the blade of the spear-head slid cutting towards Liu Xiuwei’s hand.
You’re so cunning!
Liu Xiuwei growled and loosened his grip subconsciously.
With Liu Xiuwei’s pulling force, Li Tianlan rose higher and higher in the mid-air, and the Human Emperor was extended again. He held the spear up and pierced through the ceiling of the maze.
Without a doubt, his move caused a huge breach in the ceiling.
Li Tianlan rushed through the breach and disappeared in no time.
You want to go away? No way!
Liu Xiuwei turned red with anger. A boy in the Ice-condensing Realm escaped away from an expert in the Fire-flaming Realm. Who ever heard of such a thing?
The fire surrounded him suddenly became raging and burned the black brick falling from the ceiling into ashes. He dived out through the breach, chased after Li Tianlan and disappeared as well.
Go after him!
Li Baitian was stupefied for a while and made a jump, chasing after them.
However, Li Tianlan and Liu Xiuwei had run out of his sight over the past several seconds.
Head east!
Li Baitian pondered for a while before coming to the conclusion.
Heading all the way east after exiting the maze could lead them to their destination of the maneuver. As Li Baitian saw it, since Li Tianlan could not defeat Liu Xiuwei, he must choose to go east heading toward their destination. By then, with their headmaster there, Liu Xiuwei could do nothing to him.
Others nodded their agreement and immediately headed east.
However, in fact.
Li Tianlan headed all the way north.
It looked that he was easy going, but, if anyone provoked him, he could be a good hater. He had been badly enraged by the shameless and imperious Liu family. It had been obvious that those people wanted to kill him, so, he had to teach them a lesson.
If you caused me trouble, I would make you die a terrible end.
Li Tianlan was so fast that he disappeared from the forest in an instant after he came out the maze. Liu Xiuwei, who followed him, could barely catch his vague shadow.
Liu Xiuwei laughed grimly and went after the shadow without thinking. He was resolute to kill Li Tianlan as well.
This boy is one of the most outstanding students during the recent years. Since trouble has been stirred up between us, I have to kill him today; otherwise, he will leave our family no peace and quiet.
Liu Xiuwei could not help thinking.
He had to kill him.
The two entered the forest one after the other and kept going deeper into it.
Five hundred meters.
One thousand meters.
Two thousand meters.
Right then, Liu Xiuwei, who had been following Li Tianlan closely, suddenly paused.
He turned around to observe the surroundings with a frown and wary look.
Right here.
He had sensed Li Tianlan a second ago, but now, it seemed that Li Tianlan had disappeared from the air.
Liu Xiuwei furrowed his eyebrows hard and scanned around.
Li Tianlan was not in his east.
Not in his west.
Not in his north.
South…
Liu Xiuwei turned south and his pupils suddenly contracted.
He saw Li Tianlan stood quietly in a tree a dozen meters away from him. The boy held his spear in hand and looked down at him from above as if he was looking at a dead man.
Liu Xiuwei felt as if his heart had sunk into the bottom of an abyss.
His opponent was just a weak person who was yet to enter the Fire-flaming Realm; however, he looked as if he had nothing to fear. This made Liu Xiuwei uneasy.
He took a deep breath and stretched his hand toward Li Tianlan while staring at him, saying,
How about you give your weapon to me and disable one of your arms by yourself, and I let you go today?
Li Tianlan smirked and wore a meaningful smile. He squinted at Liu Xiuwei and said while keeping his smile,
How about you kill yourself and I let go of your family?
How arrogant! Since you want to court death, I grant your wish.
Liu Xiuwei was in a fury and made a hasty motion of striking out.
Li Tianlan laughed loud and replied in a chilling manner,
Grant my wish? You have put on your show in the maze, and now it’s time to put on mine.
After saying this, he suddenly stamped one of his feet on the tree trunk, and it seemed as if the trees nearby all shook with his move.
In Liu Xiuwei’s contracted pupils, numerous trees swayed simultaneously, and countless leaves fell whistling toward him from the threes.
It felt as if the forest was full of Sword Energy.
Sharp, chilling, cold, and merciless Sword Energy.
Thousands of leaves overwhelmed and shadowed the forest, covering all the sky.
Flames spread away from Liu Xiuwei, who made an attack without restraint.
Stairs made of ice suddenly appeared in front of Liu Xiuwei, and before he could react, a silver spear approached him out of the air and aimed at his head.
There was no warning and he was caught unguarded.
He drew a long step backward out of instinct, horrified.
Li Tianlan seemed to have crossed a dozen meters with a step and stood on the ice stairs in the air. There was a glint of death in his spear, so elegant and fascinating.
You deserve to die.
Li Tianlan lifted the Human Emperor high as he spoke with a grin.
The leaves danced in the forest like rain, whistling, covering the sun, and blocked all the sights from the outside.
Liu Xiuwei looked pale and gazed at Li Tianlan in silence.
At that moment, as Li Tianlan raised the spear, ice stairs appeared everywhere within tens of meters around them.
Li Tianlan’s figure kept flashing on the ice stairs around like a ghost. With that, it looked as if Li Tianlan’s figures had surrounded Liu Xiuwei from all directions.
He was everywhere!
