Although Lie Feng had the Power of the Five Elements to rely on, just as Li Qiuyun had analyzed, he was only barely holding on now, his breathing already growing labored.Yuan Hong truly deserved his reputation as a Sixth Realm expert—his combat awareness and techniques were sharp, and he had already seen through Lie Feng's condition: the young man was a bow at the end of its draw.That Lie Feng had been forced to use the Power of the Five Elements was a last resort, and the spiritual energy required to wield it was immense. He absolutely could not use it for long.
In pure battle skill, Lie Feng, as a Five-Lives Prodigy, clearly had the upper hand. But in battle, skill alone was not enough—raw power was also one of the decisive factors.
Even if he were uninjured, Lie Feng could not match Yuan Hong in sheer strength, and now, with his body wounded, it was already remarkable that he could prolong the fight with clever techniques.
Yuan Hong pressed harder with each step, his assault unrelenting, giving Lie Feng not the slightest chance to breathe. Time and again Lie Feng was forced to unleash the Power of the Five Elements to push Yuan Hong back, which was precisely what Yuan Hong wanted.
Every time Lie Feng struck, Yuan Hong was ready—matching him blow for blow, carefully adjusting the amount of energy he released.
Forty percent. Fifty percent. Sixty. Seventy.
The result was that Lie Feng's all-out strike with the Five Elements equaled only seventy percent of Yuan Hong's strength.
At that level, Yuan Hong could simply exchange palm strikes and still remain steady, then reorganize his attacks immediately, maintaining constant pressure. Though this strategy consumed much of his own energy, Yuan Hong was confident—Lie Feng would run dry far sooner.
The onlookers had no connection to Lie Feng, yet all of them could not help but feel stirred—sympathy, pity, admiration. Watching him fight on with bloodied body and indomitable will, some could not even bear to look, while others stared unblinking, as if witnessing a miracle of life itself.
They clenched their fists, silently wishing for him to overturn the hopeless situation. But that faint hope was quickly extinguished—turned to despair—when Zhang Shun, Zhang Bo, and Zhang Jie rejoined the battle.
Though Zhang Shun's injuries had been severe, under the healing of Wood and Water spells and strengthened further with the pills Yuan Hong had given, his body recovered at a visible pace.
It was Lie Feng who had wounded him so gravely, and Zhang Shun's hatred had reached the point of wishing to tear him limb from limb.
Now, having clawed back from death and recovered to fighting form, he would never pass up the chance to strike Lie Feng when he was weakest. Joining the fight once more, he fought with even greater ferocity than before.
Already it was hard enough for Lie Feng to deal with Yuan Hong alone. Now, with Zhang Shun's iron-hard body added in, his situation worsened further.
Even if he found openings to counterattack, Zhang Bo would immediately interfere with his Wood techniques, summoning vines to entangle him.
And most troublesome of all was Zhang Jie, circling around like a vulture, striking Lie Feng's blind spots with icy blades, each time carving fresh wounds into his back.
Though Lie Feng swung back in fury, Zhang Jie was always long gone before his fists could land.
Fighting Yuan Hong and Zhang Shun head-on while fending off Zhang Bo and Zhang Jie's constant harassment was lethal.
Lie Feng's breathing broke down completely. Sweat poured like rain, his body bloodied and battered, each gasp ragged.
Then, at last, one foot was caught by a vine bursting from the ground—he could not break free.
He knew it: his energy recovery had fallen behind his consumption. That was why this happened.And when he saw Yuan Hong, Zhang Shun, and Zhang Jie all closing in together, he understood—he was about to lose.
Though unwilling, though desperate to resist, he had to admit it. He was finished.
Meanwhile, Li Qiuyun could no longer bear to watch. She was just about to intervene when Xu You stopped her.
"My lady," he urged, "he is indeed a rare talent. But your ties to him are shallow. Why risk offending the entire Da Qian Empire for his sake? You must think of the sect."Li Qiuyun bit her lip, helpless but forced to concede.
Just then, however, she noticed a shadow darting swiftly toward Zhang Bo, who was still focused on his binding spell.
Zhang Bo, certain of victory, grinned proudly as he poured more energy into the vines, binding Lie Feng tighter. He never realized, until the last instant, that a dagger was flashing toward his face.
When my village was raided by bandits, every villager was slaughtered. I thought I had hidden well, that they would pass me by—but in the end, I was found. I would have died, had Second Senior Brother not arrived in time to save me.
Afterward, I followed him and Master, wandering from place to place.Master refined pills to sell in shops, to travelers, in exchange for coin. My brothers took on commissions—often to slay bandits, to kill beasts.
Once, I followed Second Brother to hunt a monster, but a gang of bandits blocked our way.
He dispatched them with ease, but I was so terrified I could only cower behind him.'You really are spineless,' he said with a laugh. 'Afraid of a few bandits?''I can't help it. I was truly scared.''But at least you hide quickly. Fine, I'll teach you Earth Escape. Even if you can't win, at least you can survive.'
So I trained for a month, and at last I mastered the technique. I always believed that knowing how to survive was most important. But today I regret it—I should have begged him to teach me more. When Master was humiliated, I could do nothing. All I know is Earth Escape—and nothing else.
And yet… my Second Brother fights still. Surrounded, outnumbered, battered—yet he never stops. From the beginning, I have only ever seen his back. Even now, all I see is that scarred back, still standing.I am a coward who lives only because others protect me. But perhaps because of that, I see how much brighter he shines than anyone else.Second Brother, you once said: 'There are some things more important than life itself.' I don't know what you truly meant. But I know what it means to me. I may be a coward—but this time, I will not run.
Zhao Dun shot up from the ground with Earth Escape, dagger in hand, driving it toward Zhang Bo's neck. He was no fighter, clumsy and untrained. Yet in that final moment, fate aligned—the blade plunged into Zhang Bo's eye.
Zhang Bo screamed, collapsing to the ground, his spell broken. Writhing in agony, he clutched his ruined face, blood pouring down his hands. The vines binding Lie Feng slackened and tore apart.But when Lie Feng looked to the source of the scream, his heart froze—Zhao Dun's small body had been struck, flung into the air.
Lie Feng soared forward, catching him, desperately channeling healing energy. But it was useless. Zhang Bo's counterblow had shattered Zhao Dun's organs beyond repair. No healing technique could mend them.
Lie Feng saw his junior's lips tremble, tears spilling as he forced out the last words of his short life:"I… don't want to die."
Lie Feng's hands halted. He stopped the healing, for he knew—Zhao Dun was gone. And at that moment, something inside his own chest shattered too.
Yuan Hong's side rushed to Zhang Bo, abandoning pursuit. The dagger was buried deep in his ruined eye socket, blood streaming freely—his eye was lost forever.
Grinding his teeth, Zhang Bo clutched Zhang Shun's shoulder and forced himself upright. "Master, Senior Brother—you must avenge me!"
He turned his one good eye toward where Zhao Dun had fallen. Yet in that moment, his fury froze into terror—for Lie Feng was already there, Zhao Dun's small body in his arms, his killing intent blazing to the heavens.