Chapter 74

Chapter 74: No Self Starfield

Lin Zhao didn’t answer.

She thrust out her palm, and green spiritual energy surged forward, shaping into a giant Qing Luan that screamed as it lunged.

When Zhao Ji Xing felt her aura, the disdain drained from his face.

“No wonder you’re so arrogant,” he said slowly. “So you’ve reached Great Perfection of Enlightenment.”

Shock flickered behind his eyes, quickly smothered.

From First-Layer Enlightenment to Great Perfection in two months—what kind of monster was this?

Even Ji Wan Tang back then hadn’t been this absurd.

“But if you think that qualifies you to challenge me,” Zhao Ji Xing said, voice turning colder, “it’s still far from enough.”

He swept his hand.

Faint stars bloomed behind him.

Lin Zhao’s eyes widened despite herself.

Most cultivators chose a Spirit Beast aligned with their element for Spirit Qi Conjuration.

Zhao Ji Xing’s Spirit Qi Conjuration was a starfield.

The Qing Luan slammed into him—

And the moment it touched, Zhao Ji Xing’s figure flickered and vanished into the starry sky formed by his spiritual energy. The Qing Luan was trapped inside, swirling helplessly amid scattered starlight.

Lin Zhao’s pupils tightened.

Spirit and Self as One.

Infinitely close to Golden Core.

On the battlefield, even Holy Son Qu Shu and Ming Yue, locked in their own fights, caught sight of it. Their pupils shrank.

Zhao Ji Xing had grown even more refined than before.

Ji Xiao laughed, bloodthirsty eyes fixed on Ming Yue. “Looks like your Captain Lin is going to lose.”

Ming Yue’s eyes snapped cold. A blood-red chain cracked outward. “Then I’ll deal with you first,” she said through clenched teeth, “and then go help Sister!”

Holy Son Qu Shu forced Jia Lan back again and again. His cultivation was above Jia Lan’s, who had only just reached Great Perfection of Enlightenment, but Jia Lan clung like a thorn—refusing to let him break away.

With both held down, Lin Zhao received no support.

From within the starfield came Zhao Ji Xing’s indifferent voice. “Lin Zhao. You’re strong. Surrender now, withdraw from the tournament, and I can spare your life.”

Lin Zhao didn’t hesitate.

She recalled her spiritual energy in an instant, tearing the Qing Luan free rather than letting it be swallowed.

“You think fusing with your Spirit Qi Conjuration gives you the upper hand?” she said, voice flat.

She raised Bone Sword and shot upward, then slashed down at the starry sky.

Green spiritual energy wrapped the blade, drilling into the starfield like a spear.

The moment it seeped in, Lin Zhao’s eyes flashed.

“Found you.” Her voice sharpened. “Get out here.”

She stepped forward and threw a punch.

It looked almost casual.

But the starfield trembled like it had been struck by thunder.

The next instant, Zhao Ji Xing let out a muffled grunt and reappeared, forced out of hiding. The starry sky dispersed into scattered motes.

He didn’t look seriously injured—but Lin Zhao felt no triumph.

Because both of them understood.

That exchange had only been a draw.

Zhao Ji Xing had taken her Explosive Fist head-on. For anyone below Enlightenment, it would have shattered bone and meridians.

For him, it had only disrupted his breath.

Now he would guard against it.

Their eyes met again. Battle intent flared in both gazes.

Only now did Zhao Ji Xing truly treat her as an equal opponent.

“Lin Zhao,” he said, voice lower, “give you more time and your achievements will surpass mine. If you surrender now and ignore everyone else, I, Zhao Ji Xing, will guarantee you enter the academy.”

Lin Zhao laughed softly. “Save your ghost stories. Compared to your promises, I’d rather grind your head under my foot.”

Zhao Ji Xing’s face darkened. “Then try it.”

Silver light flashed in his hand. A long spear appeared, sweeping toward Lin Zhao’s waist.

Lin Zhao pivoted, steps light as falling petals, and the spear barely grazed air.

She raised her sword.

An exquisite lotus drifted from her blade, floating toward the spear’s tip.

Zhao Ji Xing sneered, forming seals to fend off Thousand Spirit Blossom as he spun the spear and rushed again.

Spiritual energy surged.

At the instant he closed in, the silver spear shot from his hand, twisted into a small silver dragon, and breathed silver flames straight at Lin Zhao.

Lin Zhao didn’t dodge.

She didn’t block.

Golden light bloomed between her brows, spreading across her skin like a thin sheen.

Indestructible Golden Body, first level—Greedless Aspect.

The silver flames touched her and seemed to be doused by an invisible tide. The silver dragon jerked in shock, trying to revert into a spear—

Lin Zhao seized its tail.

The moment her fingers closed, something inside her roared.

Phoenix Fortune surged out of control.

Driven by that wildness, Lin Zhao held the dragon with one hand and hammered its belly with Explosive Fist again and again, blows falling like a storm.

Zhao Ji Xing spat blood.

He retreated sharply, palms pressed together, seals forming at blinding speed.

“No Self Starfield,” he snapped. “Dao Births One!”

The silver dragon flashed, vanishing from Lin Zhao’s grip.

When she looked up, it had already shot into the air.

Hundreds of talisman papers floated before Zhao Ji Xing like a swirling constellation.

“Star Venerables,” Zhao Ji Xing called, voice ringing, “this disciple requests your command!”

With a point of his finger, the talismans ignited without flame and disappeared into ash.

The sky above Lin Zhao turned into night.

A starry night so deep it felt endless.

Every hair on Lin Zhao’s body stood on end.

Zhao Ji Xing pointed again.

“One Births Two!”

The silver dragon howled, carrying the vast weight of the night sky. Stars glittered around it as it dove, spiritual power crushing downward like a falling mountain.

Lin Zhao spread her Phoenix Wings. Azure flames coiled in her pupils.

“On the Heavenly Phoenix Continent,” she said softly, “the phoenix sovereign stands above all.”

Her gaze locked on Zhao Ji Xing.

“You crawling worm,” she whispered. “Kneel.”

The Heavenly Phoenix Bone Sword gave a long, piercing cry.

Lin Zhao poured spiritual energy into it without restraint.

At last, the special ability it had gained upon advancing to an upper-grade Spirit Artifact revealed itself.

Bone Sword left her hand and turned into a fully azure phoenix.

“Azure Phoenix?!” Zhao Ji Xing’s face went blank.

The phoenix’s long tail streamed behind it—seven distinct tail feathers.

A phoenix birthed nine chicks. The chicks had six tails. Only a true phoenix bore seven, and the legendary ancient Heavenly Phoenix could reach nine.

Anything with fewer was merely a subspecies.

That was why he hadn’t been shocked by Hong Hu or Qing Luan.

But this—

This was a true phoenix.

And the moment it appeared, heaven and earth seemed to tremble—not only their battlefield, but the entire forest.

It was drawing on the power of heaven and earth.

That kind of authority belonged to the Spirit Transformation stage.

Even if it was only a trace, it was still something Enlightenment cultivators should not be able to touch.

Zhao Ji Xing’s talisman formation shuddered as Azure Phoenix tore through the starry sky like paper.

His breath caught.

“To hell with this,” he spat, panic cracking through. “You’re a freak. I’m done fighting!”

He withdrew the talisman formation in a frantic snap. He didn’t even dare linger to reclaim the advantage of his life-bound Spirit Artifact.

He turned and fled, vanishing without a trace.