With Luo Ji's current strength, it would take at most two or three spells to kill those ordinary Third Layer Realm cultivators. However, after his bout with Lu Ye, he had already cast countless spells.
What surprised him even more was that this Overmountain Tiger could actually fight using spirit patterns!
Studying spirit patterns was several times more difficult than researching spells, as constructing a spirit pattern was a very delicate task. The slightest mistake would lead to failure, let alone activating a spirit pattern in battle.
Generally, only very experienced spirit pattern masters had such capabilities.
But how old was Lu Ye?
Through observation, he confirmed that Lu Ye had mastered a defensive spirit pattern. That spirit pattern could block his Ice Spike spell, and it could be used at will...
This discovery made Luo Ji put away his contempt. Indeed, as his senior brothers had said before he left, one must not be careless or underestimate any enemy when traveling. Others might not have as many spirit orifices as himself, nor as many techniques, but that single spirit pattern skill was not something an ordinary person could possess.
However, Luo Ji did not retreat because of this; instead, his fighting spirit soared. During his time training in the outer circle, the people he encountered did not arouse his fighting spirit. It was rare to meet such a well-matched opponent, and he could not let this opportunity slip away.
Just as he was thinking, a flash of snow-white blade light suddenly appeared ahead, accompanied by a crack. A large chunk of ice was split open, and a figure rushed over like a gust of wind.
The Ice Cage spell was broken so easily? Luo Ji's face was full of surprise. He knew that it was not ordinary ice but a spell, a spell he had constructed based on the Ice Spike spell. Although it failed to trap Lu Ye, it should not have been broken so easily.
This made him realize a problem: the spirit weapon longsword in Lu Ye's hand was extraordinary. A strike like that, he absolutely could not withstand!
Spirit energy surged, and spells were cast again, one after another, striking Lu Ye head-on.
Lu Ye charged forward, this time not using his sword to cut through the spells or dodge, but charging recklessly, blocking all the spells with his defensive spirit pattern.
In the dark corridor, light continuously burst forth, and the distance between them rapidly closed.
Luo Ji's eyelids twitched, cursing Lu Ye as a truly brainless brute.
But he could not deny that this brute's response made him somewhat flustered.
In a confrontation between a martial cultivator and a spell cultivator, maintaining distance was the spell cultivator's domain. However, once the martial cultivator got close, the spell cultivator generally had no good outcome.
In just three breaths, Lu Ye had charged to within two zhang of Luo Ji. The longsword in his hand flashed with light, and as he approached, he delivered a powerful strike.
Luo Ji hastily retreated, but at that moment, Yi Yi appeared again behind him, her form rapidly solidifying. She raised her hand and slapped Luo Ji's shoulder.
Luo Ji was terrified, but soon he realized that this slap had little killing power and was easily blocked by his protective spirit energy.
Suddenly, a bright light shone from his back, sharp as if numerous needles were piercing him. Yi Yi, who had just slapped him, cried out in pain and retreated.
However, with her obstruction, Luo Ji had no way to avoid the attack!
If it were an attack from another Third Layer Realm cultivator, Luo Ji would have confidence in blocking it with his protective spirit energy. But after seeing Lu Ye break the Ice Cage spell, he dared not be overconfident.
"Fog Shield!" he shouted, and spirit energy surged, immediately enveloping his body in a misty layer of spirit energy.
Lu Ye's sword struck down, but even with the added sharpness, it failed to break through the Fog Shield. He felt as if he was striking a rubber surface, and the longsword got stuck.
Luo Ji retreated while raising his hand and pointing at Lu Ye, gritting his teeth, "Golden Arc!"
This time, there was no way for Lu Ye to avoid it. The golden crescent-shaped slash hit Lu Ye's chest, but before it struck, he had already activated a defensive spirit pattern in front of him.
Lu Ye struck again, delivering a fierce blow.
"Ice Spike!"
"Wind Blade!"
"Thunder Spear!"
In the corridor, Luo Ji's angry shouts echoed, and with each shout, different elemental spells were cast, striking Lu Ye's chest repeatedly.
He seemed to be full of momentum, but he was gradually retreating, as Lu Ye's relentless sword strikes were causing his Fog Shield to start to disintegrate.
"I don't believe you can maintain such a spirit pattern forever!" Luo Ji roared while engaging Lu Ye, though he was shocked by Lu Ye's ability to fight using spirit patterns, the consumption of spirit energy to activate them was significant. Once Lu Ye's spirit energy was depleted, he would win!
The brute on the other side remained silent, his strikes becoming even more ruthless.
After a moment, Luo Ji's eyes twitched; he felt the situation was not looking good.
Activating spirit patterns consumed spirit energy, and so did casting spells. Although his spirit energy reserves were greater than Lu Ye's, he was casting more spells and maintaining the Fog Shield to guard against Yi Yi, which consumed even more.
Continuing this exchange, it was uncertain who would give in first.
With this thought, Luo Ji roared, "White Scorch!"
As he raised his hand, a spirit talisman appeared on his fingertip, and spirit energy poured into it...
Lu Ye felt he was about to give in. The time he had engaged with Luo Ji was not long, perhaps half a cup of tea, but in this short time, he had already used up eighty percent of his spirit energy...
This was the most intense battle he had ever faced, and his opponent was just a Second Layer Realm cultivator.
So when Luo Ji shouted "White Scorch," he knew there was a trick. He leaped backward and reached into his storage bag, pinching a spirit talisman between his fingers.
Their eyes met, and they both froze. As spirit energy surged, the two spirit talismans simultaneously burst into light.
Water jets suddenly appeared, three of them forming a triangular shape and rushing toward Lu Ye. Fire snakes writhed and burned toward Luo Ji.
With a loud explosion, the corridor shook violently, and debris rained down.
The collision of water and fire instantly produced a large amount of hot gas in the corridor. Spirit light flashed on both Lu Ye and Luo Ji, and they were both thrown back by the powerful impact.
They both cursed inwardly, standing up with dirt on their faces.
By the time Lu Ye raised his sword to chase, Luo Ji had already fled the corridor, turning back to cast a spirit talisman at Lu Ye.
Lu Ye ducked, and the talisman exploded, creating craters all around.
Looking again, Luo Ji had run far away. Lu Ye sprinted after him, and Amber also caught up from behind. Lu Ye leaped onto the tiger's back, and their speed increased dramatically.
Seeing this, Luo Ji's nose flared in anger. Seeing that he could not escape, he stopped and faced Lu Ye, holding a spirit talisman in each hand. He slapped one onto himself, immediately being enveloped in a solid layer of golden light.
This was a Golden Body Talisman, and it was of good quality. He then cast the other talisman at Lu Ye.
Lu Ye leaped off the tiger's back, striking the incoming attack with his sword, and instructed Amber, "Stay back."
The powerful impact knocked him to the ground, and his body ached. As he stood up, he saw Luo Ji standing confidently, provocatively beckoning him with a hand, "Come!"
Lu Ye said nothing, taking a Golden Body Talisman from his storage bag and slapping it onto himself...
Luo Ji couldn't help but sigh. The other party's financial resources... seemed no less than his own.