The lizard's paw raised, claws slamming into the ground.
The courtyard buckled, and from the shattered earth, a forest of jagged stone erupted outward. Spikes of rock tore toward the sky, slicing through the ruins in a circular wave that surrounded Lin Canghua on all sides.
The ground split beneath his feet, dust and fragments rising like smoke. Yet he didn't move.
None of the spikes touched him. They formed a cage—tall, sharp, impenetrable—cutting off every line of sight. The faint glimmer of golden light on his spear was swallowed by the encircling stone.
He couldn't see the lizard anymore.
Lin's eyes narrowed. His senses spread outward, reading the shifting qi around him. But before he could locate the beast—
A flash.
The lizard was suddenly there, right beside him. Its enormous jaws gaped wide, fangs glinting with lightning as they snapped down toward his neck.
CLANG!
The impact rang out like steel on steel. Sparks burst as its teeth scraped against the golden barrier around Lin Canghua, light scattering through the narrow spaces between the stone spikes.
Lin didn't flinch. His grip tightened on the spear.
With a single motion, the Meridian Breaker swept sideways—fast, sharp, and silent as lightning.
The lizard recoiled, wings flaring, retreating through the jagged forest. It landed several meters away, claws crushing stone, eyes blazing gold. Its chest swelled. Blue light surged through the cracks in its scales, and when it opened its jaws again, the glow condensed into a searing, blinding flame.
"Blue flame…" Lin breathed. "It's channeling lightning heat."
The lizard roared. A torrent of azure flame burst from its maw, pouring down in a raging storm that swallowed the forest of stone spikes. The courtyard vanished beneath the wave of burning light—blue fire cascading like molten rain, devouring stone, mist, and shadow alike.
As the storm of blue flame slowly died, the air filled with smoke and heat. The earthen spikes that had once surrounded Lin Canghua now stood blackened and cracked, their edges glowing faintly red from the lingering fire.
For a long moment, there was only the hiss of cooling stone—then, a sudden flash of gold. From within the haze, a streak of gold shot forward.
The Meridian Breaker spear tore through the smoke, whistling like a meteor. Its spiral of qi burned bright as it hurtled straight toward the lizard.
The beast twisted aside at the last instant, scales glinting as the weapon scraped past its wings, carving a line of light through the air. With a snarl, it countered. Its tail swung wide, lightning bursting from every scale in a storm of golden arcs that screamed through the courtyard.
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—CLANG!
Each bolt struck Lin's barrier, scattering sparks and molten fragments of light. Inside the storm, Lin Canghua stood unmoving—his shield of qi holding firm.
But his breath was shallow, and his hands trembled faintly on the spear's haft. His consciousness was splitting—his mind barely holding the connection between himself and his spirit tools. The sudden surge of poison and the earlier soul attack gnawed at the edges of his awareness.
"I can't… sustain both much longer," he thought, jaw tight. "The flow—unstable. Meridian Breaker pulling too much qi… straining my spirit… I can't control both. My consciousness—splitting apart."
His vision swayed; the poison pulsed through his veins like molten ice. Every heartbeat sent another jolt of pain through his meridians.
Focus. Maintain order. Don't let the flow collapse. If I lose control now—it's over.
Blood trickled from his lip. His fingers tightened. He clenched his teeth, forcing another breath.
"I have to end this. Now—before my mind collapses."
The lizard beat its wings once, hard. A burst of wind erupted downward, sharp enough to flay stone. Countless crescent-shaped wind blades spun through the air, raining upon Lin like a thousand invisible swords.
BOOM!
Dust and shattered rock exploded outward. The courtyard trembled beneath the impact.
When the smoke cleared, Lin Canghua was still standing. His barrier shimmered faintly, unmarred—golden light steady, untouched.
Hovering amid the wreckage, the lizard's eyes gleamed with predatory calculation. It studied Lin's barrier—the golden sphere that refused to yield.
That barrier… it's not even scratched. No matter what I throw at it—it won't break and it's no longer flickering like before. If I can't get past that barrier, I won't be able to kill it, no matter how much I keep striking.
But… its attacks are weaker, its weapon moves slower than before… I can see it's barely holding its ground—it's seriously injured from the poison and the soul attack. If I wait… it'll weaken further. I can destroy the barrier then and finish it in one strike.
Another thought twisted through the beast's mind.
This fight has been too loud, and it might have already drawn the attention of the other one. If it comes—I'll have to face them both.
Its eyes narrowed. No. I can't allow that. I just need to kill this one first.
It raised its wings once more, ready to dive—but a golden streak shot through the dust toward it.
The spear again. It tore through the air, piercing clouds of debris—but struck nothing.
Lin's eyes darted around, scanning the broken courtyard.
Missed it…? No. Where—where is it?
He stilled, senses expanding outward. His spiritual perception swept through the ruins—but found nothing. No presence. No qi signature. Just like before the battle began.
His pulse quickened.
It's masking itself… just like before.
He tightened his grip, steadying his stance. His barrier still hummed as he poured more qi into it, solid and unmoving; even the lizard couldn't break through now. He reminded himself—
Even if it tries to attack, the barrier won't break. It can't enter.
Then his senses shifted. A faint ripple—a distortion in the air behind him.
Lin's eyes widened. Slowly, he turned.
There, just beyond the edge of his barrier, the lizard was materializing out of the air—its form hovering silently, the faint blue of lightning outlining it. It began to take shape: first a shimmer, then the curve of wings, the glint of claws, and finally the burn of golden eyes, glowing cold through the distortion.
For an instant, time itself seemed to hold still as their gazes met through the veil of light.
And in that moment—the light in Lin Canghua's eyes dimmed.