CHAPTER 61: DRAGON CLAW AND MOUNTAIN SEAL

Despite everything, Wu Li remained composed.

Just as Shi Ling’s armored fist closed in—barely an inch from his chest—his figure abruptly burst into a cloud of bloody mist, scattering in all directions.

Not a moment later, his silhouette silently reformed behind her, wreathed in swirling black-red qi.

His right hand flicked out. Blood and shadow merged around his palm, coiling together like sinew and tendon.

In a flash, a Crimson Dragon Claw condensed exuding sharp killing intent.

With a soft hiss, the claw pierced directly into Shi Ling’s back!

Yet—

No blood spilled.

Instead, her body shattered into glimmering motes of yellow light, scattering into the wind before fading.

"An earth double," Elder Qian murmured under his breath, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes.

Wu Li’s pupils narrowed.

Before he could retreat, the ground beneath his feet swelled unnaturally.

Crack!

A stone arm, dense and sturdy, burst forth from the arena floor—aiming to seize his legs and bind him in place.

Wu Li’s heart thumped, and without hesitation, he formed a complex mudra with both hands. In the next instant, a wave of black blood qi surged out from his dantian, wrapping around his entire body like a living shadow.

The stone hand halted mid-grasp, repelled by the sudden intense aura.

But that wasn’t the end.

A deep roar echoed from below.

From the place where Wu Li stood, a blood-red dragon burst forth, its body translucent and veined with dark veins of qi. It surged downward, vanishing into the earth like a serpent returning to its den.

Then—

Boom!

The entire platform trembled violently.

A shockwave of spiritual pressure expanded in all directions like a collapsing dome.

Xiao Ning sat silently, his expression unchanged, but his eyes were bright with interest.

As the dust cleared, two figures rose into the sky—opposite each other, both suspended midair, their auras flaring like twin stars.

Shi Ling’s armor was cracked but intact. Her breathing was steady but her gaze was sharper than before.

Wu Li’s robe was torn in places, and black-red qi streamed from his arms like smoke from a fire and a faint smirk appeared on his lips.

"Good...you didn’t disappoint me."

Wu Li chuckled. "Likewise."

Their voices were calm, but everyone watching could sense it—their next exchange would be far more lethal.

Shi Ling no longer advanced recklessly. Instead, she raised her left hand and drew a strange symbol in the air.

Golden light pulsed from her fingertip.

The air around the arena suddenly tightened, as if it had fallen under the weight of a massive, invisible mountain.

An ominous hum rang out as shimmering yellow talismans floated into existence around her—nine in total.

Wu Li’s eyes flickered with wariness.

"A formation...?"

Shi Ling’s lips curved coldly. "You’re not the only one with a powerful technique. Do you think the Earth Origin Scripture is only good for defense?"

Her voice had barely faded when she clapped her hands together.

Boom!

The nine talismans shot out in all directions, embedding themselves into the arena’s surface. In the next instant, the formation activated.

An enormous earthen diagram surged into view beneath Wu Li’s feet, spanning dozens of meters.

Faint mountain shadows appeared in the surroundings, overlapping and locking the space down.

Fourth-Rank Earthlock Mountain Seal Array—a powerful confinement formation capable of suppressing Nascent Soul cultivators for a short period.

Wu Li’s expression finally changed.

Before he could retreat, stone pillars erupted from the formation’s core, boxing him in from all sides. The blood-red qi around his body trembled, struggling to resist the binding force that pressed down on him like the weight of a collapsing mountain range.

"Trying to trap me?" Wu Li sneered, his hands forming seals once more.

But Shi Ling didn’t give him the chance.

She raised both arms, her body shimmering with intense earth qi. Like a deity controlling the land itself, she pressed her palms downward.

"Seal."

The entire formation roared to life.

Massive rocks surged from the sides, spiritual runes swirling across their surface. Wu Li’s qi writhed violently as the air around him solidified. He roared, summoning the Blood Shadow Dragon once more—this time, twice the size from before.

But as it lunged toward the formation’s edge.

Bang!

It smashed into a wall of golden light and dissipated instantly, as if it had struck an impenetrable realm.

Unfortunately that didn’t stop as the earthen pillars closed in, locking him in place.

From above, a golden mountain shadow began descending.

Wu Li’s expression turned ashen. A cold chill crept down his spine as he gazed upward. If that mountain truly descended... even with all his arts, he would have no choice.

He would have to abandon his physical body and escape with only his Nascent Soul.

"Enough!" Elder Qian’s voice range out, just as the phantom mountain was about to crush down.

Shi Ling’s fingers paused, and her killing intent dispersed. With a slight wave of her sleeve, the formation ceased, and the energy began to withdraw.

The stone pillars lowered, and the runes faded from view.

Wu Li stumbled a step back, sweat beading on his forehead.

Even though he had not suffered fatal injury, his defeat was obvious.

The arena fell silent.

From his seat, Xiao Ning nodded slightly, his expression unreadable—but a rare flicker of approval glinted in his gaze.

"She has already grasped mid fourth-rank formations, truly astonishing."

He turned his gaze to Wu Li, who remained silent but bowed stiffly, accepting the outcome without protest.

There was no doubt—it had been a complete defeat. He hadn’t expected Shi Ling to have mastered mid-grade fourth-rank formations.

Elder Qian Xu gave a low hum of agreement. "At her age, to command a mid-tier battle array alone... such talent will not go unnoticed."

Xiao Ning rose to his feet.

"Shi Ling will represent the Shadowclaw Sect in the Evil Gathering."

"No shame in defeat," Xiao Ning looked at them and remarked. "But from today onward, double your training. I expect both of you to ascend the mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm in ten years."