"One fights me while the others watch and warn him. Clever strategy, Senior Brother Lowell. Fighting with numbers—I'm sure once the other Palace disciples hear of your brilliant tactics, they'll be utterly impressed. Truly, a top ten Qi Refining disciple deserves his reputation." Leo's tone was icy with sarcasm.

  "Brash, shut up!"

  Lowell, having suffered a hidden loss, was already embarrassed. Leo's Blazing Fire Rain had been a feint; the real threat was the massive stone spike that followed. The spike was slow, but Lowell had fallen for the trick and taken some damage. Humiliated, and now mocked by an unknown disciple, his face burned. Anger surged, and he lashed out.

  Growing up sheltered in the Palace, even with excellent training and top-tier techniques from childhood, his mental fortitude was lacking. A little provocation, and his emotions wavered. Leo smiled inwardly. As Lowell struggled to regain his footing, Leo cast Vine Technique and Whirlpool Technique, followed by several offensive spells.

  Lowell snorted. Lightning crackled at his feet, charring the vines and freeing him. But the Whirlpool Technique took effect.

  Quincy watched in surprise. The low-grade Whirlpool Technique was weak, barely slowing Lowell for an instant. But Leo used that fleeting moment to cast several attacks. These spells were ordinary, but from Leo, they were inspired—every angle, every moment perfect.

  They couldn't wound Lowell, but they slowed him, dulling his edge. Quincy had admired Lowell for his strength and looks, his graceful bearing in matches. He had won many hearts. But now, compared to Leo's calm cunning, Lowell seemed like a bull, all power and no finesse.

  The brocade-clad youth and the others stared, stunned. They had never seen spells used so brilliantly, and without even drawing a weapon, Leo had Lowell struggling. They knew Lowell's strength well.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Falling repeatedly into Leo's traps, Lowell raged. These low-grade spells couldn't hold him. He gathered his energy, stamped his foot, and the Whirlpool Technique's energy dispersed. Launching himself, he leaped several meters and lunged at Leo.

  "Chain Lightning Spear Thrusts!" Lowell roared, unleashing his unbeatable technique. The spear blurred, thrust after thrust, a tide of shadow.

  Leo was awed by the ferocious lightning energy. He had seen it in the arena, but facing it was different. It far surpassed his low-grade spells. Even with his dharma seals, he lacked a proper weapon. He couldn't reveal the Demon Binding Rope. He retreated into the rocky forest.

  Lightning spear shadows swept through like liquid metal. The forest's meter-high pillars and small hills shattered like paper under their onslaught, leveling everything.

  Leo cast Earthen Shields, but they barely blunted the attack. He couldn't face it head-on.

  "Time for a trump card." If he delayed, he'd miss the Pond Peak Town auction. Lowell was a nuisance. He decided.

  "Come out and fight! Skulking like a rat!"

  Lowell laughed, but inwardly he was anxious. The Chain Lightning Spear Thrusts consumed immense spiritual power. Leo dodging felt like punching air.

  A shadow flashed, darting behind a pillar. Lowell's heart leaped. Through the dust, he saw Leo—no mistaking it.

  He thrust his spear. The pillar exploded. Amid the rock fragments, Leo charged, an ice arrow in hand, expression cold. Dozens of fireballs surged at Lowell.

  Lowell raised his Lightning Shield. Leo's dodging and spells had been annoying, but now Leo was foolishly closing in. Lowell wouldn't miss this chance. The shield held against six or seven fireballs before shattering. The remaining fireballs struck Lowell—and bounced off. His outer robes shredded, revealing cyan spirit armor.

  "Impressive. You forced out my armor. Better than Zlat. But that's all."

  Lowell laughed. His spear, lightning-fast, stabbed Leo's right shoulder. He aimed for the shoulder, not the heart—he didn't want to kill him. At this range, no Qi Refining cultivator could dodge.

  The spear struck. But Lowell felt no flesh. Leo's face showed no pain. This Leo was a shadow clone, product of six years in the Black Water Stockade Mine. The Puppet Shadow Art, now mastered, could fool any similar level cultivator.

  Before Lowell could process, a figure erupted from the ground—Leo, using Earth Escape. Behind Lowell, Leo pressed a hand against the spot where fireballs had struck the armor.

  "Water Lightning Technique!" His most powerful combination spell. Slow, usually useless, but now...

  Boom! The blast flung Leo back. Lowell's armor tore open, a bowl-sized hole exposing bloody flesh. He crashed, coughing blood.

  "Senior Brother Lowell, losing to an unknown junior? Pathetic." Quincy showed no concern, only pouting.

  "Leave me!" Lowell shoved away the brocade-clad youth and another who tried to help. Quincy's words made him spit more blood.

  He couldn't accept defeat. Leo's spiritual power, though pure, wasn't deeper. And Leo had used no powerful techniques, only low-grade spells. Yet he had won. No one, watching, would believe the mighty Lowell beaten by mere spells.