Chapter 1243: Continue Working Hard  

Through his dragon's pupils, Zhang Lie could identify that Li Feng wasn't among any of his copies charging toward Zhang Lie from the front.

However, Zhang Lie had been truthful in claiming that his mental state, and he had barely been affected by Li Feng's technique.

"[Holy Dragon Sword: Light and Darkness]!"

Li Feng struck again, causing heaven and earth to turn dark as the light all around was extinguished.

Zhang Lie strode forward and clashed against Li Feng's blade with his own. In an explosion of scintillating light, the world regained color once more.

"[Holy Dragon Sword: Extinguishing Heaven's Light]!"

Light-attuned genetic energy rose into the air as a holy dragon soared toward the heavens. Ripples of genetic energy emanated from the point of impact. Even before the blow landed, the light of the entire world began to flicker and dim.magic

The ground cracked as sword energy filled the arena. The holy dragon roared; starlight fell. The light of the world concentrated on the tip of the sword.

Zhang Lie blocked the overwhelming blow with Hanguang and counterattacked with Guicang.

"[Second Form: Piercing the Soul]!"

Zhang Lie's disaster-grade mistmeld clam soulshard activated as he infused its energy into his swords, causing them to shine radiantly with multicolored light.

Through his dragon's pupils, he could see Li Feng's soul wrapped up in motes of silver light in the shape of a holy dragon.

A rainbow arc accompanied Zhang Lie's slash, as though an aurora borealis were visible in the sky. It shone in all the colors of the rainbow, momentarily hypnotizing anyone who looked at it.

Li Feng, who was struck by the attack in close proximity, stood dazed and petrified for moments, all thoughts of battle having fled his mind.

Zhang Lie's sword shone as brightly as the northern lights overhead, bringing him momentarily out of the physical into the intangible.It stopped right by Li Feng's neck.

"The battle is over."

Only then did Li Feng come back to his senses. He sheathed his sword.

"Thank you for your pointers, Captain."

Zhang Lie chuckled and shook his head. "You've grown so much since the second realm that there isn't much I can teach you."

Li Feng shook his head. "No, Captain. Through our earlier battle, I learned that my willpower's still lacking. You were easily able to deal with my hypnotizing light."

In terms of technique, Li Feng could hardly win out against Zhang Lie, who had access to a disaster-grade mistmeld clam soulshard and [Second Form: Piercing the Soul].

Zhang Lie said, "You've already stepped down your own path. You'll need to keep working on your techniques, however."

Li Feng nodded. "I understand, Captain. I'll work hard in the future."

Zhang Lie dismissed him. "You must be tired both mentally and physically after the battle. Go rest. Zhu, you can start your work."

Zhu quickly set up another pocket dimension, one locked up with spatial and dimensional barriers. She didn't say anything about Zhang Lie and Li Feng's fight, which had collapsed the original pocket dimension—likely having grown used to the wreckage and destruction.

By the time Zhu was finished, Sun Mengmeng was raring to fight Zhang Lie, garuda bow in hand.

Sun Mengmeng pledged, "Captain, I won't repeat what happened in the second realm when we last fought!"

Zhang Lie gave her a gentle smile. "I look forward to witnessing your growth from this period of time.

Sun Mengmeng raised her garuda bow. Three arrows, brimming with purple flame, flew toward Zhang Lie like tracking missiles. "[Lunarflame Shot]!"

With a wave of his hand, Zhang Lie caused the three flaming arrows to explode in mid-air.With a flash from his eyes, Zhang Lie blew the explosions away from the arena with a wave of pale blue genetic energy.

After the resplendent purple explosions, Sun Mengmeng immediately struck. Fire-attuned genetic energy burst from Sun Mengmeng's body as her body erupted in flames. She pulled her greatbow taut.

"[Lunarflame Shot]!" Sun Mengmeng's right hand blurred as countless arrows of purple flame shot out of her bow like a meteor shower that tinted the air purple and gave the battlefield a phantasmagorical appearance. The air turned dry and arid, as though a cataclysm was nigh.

Under the brilliant purple sky, everything began to burn, drowned in a sea of purple flame. However, the flaming arrows seemed to avoid Zhang Lie entirely; even the purple flames spreading across the ground did the same.

Sun Mengmeng frowned. She loosed arrows more and more quickly, until her hands blurred. Purple arrows struck the ground like raindrops in a storm, drowning out Zhang Lie's figure.

When her arrows exploded, they formed pillars of flame over ten meters high.

For an entire minute, Sun Mengmeng continued launching arrows through the battlefield. She panted for breath; her fingertips trembled. All she could see was purple flame.

With a snap of his finger, ripples of energy spread out from Zhang Lie, warping the space around him. The flames were easily extinguished by his spatial manipulation.

"[Baptism of Hellfire: Full Moon]!"

Sun Mengmeng whirled her daggers all around her as a black moon rose into the air, blocking the pulse of energy from Zhang Lie's attack.

The ground exploded. Flames burst into the sky. Cracks of lava spread across the ground.

Sun Mengmeng stabbed forward with a dagger, causing the black moon behind her to explode. Sun Mengmeng rocketed forward with [Flameburst Step].

Purple flames transformed into her raiment. A long tail of flames whizzed by behind her, radiating a phantasmagorical glow. Like a meteor, she shot toward Zhang Lie.

Her beautiful features took on a tinge of the fantastical when lit by the purple firelight, causing the onlookers to stare at her agape.

With the barest hissing of wind, she unsheathed a long dark-red dagger.

As she thrust forward, Zhang Lie swiveled his body to the side to avoid her blade, supported her by the waist, and pirouetted on one leg to dissipate her forward momentum. The flames continued to burn, and purple ash fell from the skies. The two combatants looked as though they were carrying out a dance under the night sky.

Sun Mengmeng's eyes shone with passion and scorching flame, as though she were trying to light Zhang Lie ablaze. Zhang Lie wrapped a hand around Sun Mengmeng's slender waist and spun her around and around, his eyes fixed on her, causing her mind to blur as she slowly closed her eyes...

Zhang Lie suddenly let go of Sun Mengmeng, sending her flying into the distance like a honed blade. She flew higher and higher into the air, higher still, until she finally landed by the side of a mountain with so much momentum that her body was half-stuck in place.

The members of Team Zenith winced.