The golden claw whistled through the air and was about to strike while Zhuo Fan used his Qilin arm as a shield, ready to take it on.
[The Qilin arm comes from the Soaring Qilin. At the very least, it wonât get me broken bones if you hit me anywhere else!]
[It will take your blow!]
Shriek~
Qiaoâer rushed in support, wanting to use this chance to strike. The claw was about to hit!
If Ye Lin kept attacking, the claw would do nothing to Zhuo Fanâs Qilin arm. Only the golden flames would seep in a little and barely cause any harm.
[Why else would I use that arm for all my attacks?]
Then Qiaoâer would come bearing brutal purple lightning to make another heavy wound on him after focusing all he had in that claw.
It was, without a doubt, a bad tactic to use this attack.
This scene had been recurring many times already. When one attacked with everything, the other would come to take advantage of the opening, only to force the attacker to shift to defense.
This time was no different. Only Ye Lin was at the end of his patience. He would rather suffer another hit from Qiaoâer to get Zhuo Fan. It was an eye for an eye.
âYou dare, boy? With two against one, going for mutual harm isnât worth it!â Zhuo Fan once again intimidated him while sneering inside.
[Heâs rash enough now!]
Ye Lin snorted, âMutual harm? Humph, I might have fallen for your tricks so far, but thatâs going to change. This time, Iâm going to get rid of your spirit animal!â
Ye Lin was gone and left behind him his golden flames. It was like he was still attacking Zhuo Fan but lacking in power.
But just the golden flames wouldnât be able to even singe Zhuo Fanâs clothes since Zhuo Fan had the azure dragon and Demon Transformation Art to absorb it.
However, Ye Linâs figure appeared next to the golden flames and unleashed another claw, but this time at Qiaoâer.
Everyone gasped.
Since Zhuo Fan revealed his purple dragon, they knew the purple lightning was a force to be reckoned with. It was brutal and powerful but lacked in defense.
So Ye Lin feinted, striking Zhuo Fan, who had the Qilin arm for defense. While going for the defenseless Qiaoâer would show much better results.
Qiaoâer would be gravely wounded if struck, the twoâs cooperation would fail, and Ye Lin would gain a real advantage. Dealing with Zhuo Fan later would only take a minute.
This was the most definitive moment in this long and bitter match.
Qiaoâer was startled, having not expected this. Feeling on her feathers the sharpness of that dragon claw, she tensed.
âYin Yang Dragon Claw. One real, one fake!â
Ye Lin snickered as his strike was about to land. He laughed, âZhuo Fan, you schemed for so long against me, but now itâs my turn. My strike against you is fake, while the one against your spirit animal is real. This time, your cooperation failed, ha-ha-haâŚâ
Zhuo Fanâs brow shook as he floated in the air.
The audience grew tense, having not expected Ye Lin would also start using feints. Wu Qingqiu chuckled, âHa-ha-ha, junior brother finally used his head. Not that heâs slow, but that his opponents were never worth the effort.â
They all felt it was curtains for this long and exciting match!
However, Zhuo Fanâs grin was most devious. His right eye flashed golden, âHa-ha-ha, I donât really care how you go all out, just as long as you do. Divine Eye of the Void 1st stage, Shift!â
Whoosh~
In a flash, Zhuo Fan and Qiaoâer did the olâ switcheroo so that Zhuo Fan was on the receiving end of Ye Linâs real strike.
Ye Lin cried out. âWhat the hell? Whereâs that damn poultry?â
Pff!
Just then, the golden flame image was flapped away by Qiaoâerâs wings, and she unleashed her purple lightning storm and clawed at Ye Linâs chest.
The last claw had taken away his hard scales, and this one was bound to send purple lightning right into his innards.
This had long stopped being an issue of winning for Ye Lin. He had to first protect his little life from being cooked from the inside.
Wu Qingqiu cried out and tensed. The exalted shot to their feet and were just as nervous.
It all happened so fast!
One minute it was Ye Linâs obvious advantage, and the next, his target switched places, putting him in grave danger.
Sss~
Gulping, Ye Lin was scared out of his mind. He halted his attack on Zhuo Fan and tried to get into a stance to defend, though it would take some time.
Left with no choice, Ye Lin could only lean, taking Qiaoâerâs sharp claws on his back and letting her remove two more glittering scales.
Scarlet blood flowed from his back, and he gnashed his teeth from the pain. The sudden heavy blow had also interrupted the claw now meant for Zhuo Fan.
Even after careful planning, he was still the one ending up hurt again while his adversary was untouched.
Qiaoâer flew back to Zhuo Fan, throwing away the scales in her claws, âFather, he just turned around, and I couldnât get him in the heart!â
âItâs fine. Heâs just too quick to react. In fact, we dealt a great blow this time. He now has two weaknesses. Weâll now resort to pincer strikes and see how long heâll last, ha-ha-haâŚâ
Zhuo Fan laughed as he snickered at Ye Lin, âThe clearer it is you can win with brawn, the more you need to use your head. Donât you know using your faults to fight an enemyâs strengths is dumb? Trying to use feints against me, who had been among schemes all his life? Kid, youâre unbearably naive!â
Ye Linâs face twitched in anger, gritting his teeth.
The audience had to agree on that. They thought Ye Lin finally played Zhuo Fan, only to be toyed with instead.
[Getting trapped as you lay a trap must stingâŚ]
Wen Tao sighed, seeing Ye Lin boiling mad. âUsing brains to crush the other. Ye Lin is clearly stronger, but Zhuo Fan keeps leading him, making this focused disciple lose his bearing. If he had kept to his beliefs, he wouldnât have to suffer so much.â
âFocused?â Xie Tianshang raised an eyebrow.
Wen Tao nodded, âYes, cultivators like us all have a focus as we advance. Some do it for power, some for status, some for fame, and some for supremacy. Each of us is walking the path we want that lead to the birth of personal beliefs and convictions. Isnât Ye Lin blunt? Then he should just take any adversary head-on!
âBut after meeting Zhuo Fan, heâs been toyed with so many times that he lost his way and stooped to fumbling on the otherâs path. Heâs been strung along all this time!â
Wen Tao looked above and smiled, âThe timeâs almost up. Now Ye Lin will become even more restless. He wonât fall for another trick soon, and Zhuo Fan wonât snatch a win soon, either. Itâll be a draw.â
But then he heard Zhuo Fan looking at the pretty sky and exclaimed, âOh my, would you look at the time? Itâs going to be a draw at this rate.â
Staggering, Wen Tao stared at Zhuo Fan, then shook his head. âZhuo Fan is really devious. Even in the last moment, he canât help but prod Ye Lin. Wishing for victory just as much, Zhuo Fan is savage and cunning to stir the other even more.â
Xie Tianshang chuckled.
[Thatâs always been his natureâŚ]
Huff~
Gasping, Ye Lin was close to exhaustion both mentally and physically. He glared at the bird and man in hatred but with no way of finishing them off.
[This frickinâ punk is too sly!]
If he were too rash, heâd be duped. If he went too slow, heâd suffer for it even worse. The adversary always aimed to toy with his mind, thus making him unable to cope.
He was now left confused and lost as to how to proceed.
It was his first time meeting such an adversary. He was clearly stronger yet could do nothing to win.
Just as he was filled with confusion, a shout broke through the haze, âJunior brother, heâs rushing you on purpose. Donât fall for it. If you donât know what to do, ask your heart!â
Shaken up, Ye Lin looked back to see his head senior brother, Wu QingqiuâŚ