The two flashing figures collided into each other. They each punched out once and their fists med in midair.

Akata’s face was filled with surprise. Although he didn’t use even half of his strength, it was still a bit close to it. Yet, even with that strength Peizhi Xiuying was still able to match his blow without faltering back in the slightest. Clearly she was holding back as well.

Peizhi Xiuying revealed a smile as she unleashed another blow. Akata used his free hand to punch at her incoming one. His fist collided into hers, but then he felt the force that was used and was immediately pushed back.

He looked at her with astonishment and couldn’t help but say, “What strength!” Akata’s own strength was abnormal for a regular 8th Grade cultivator, he was even able to contend with 10th Grade cultivators. Yet, Peizhi Xiuying was able to push him back? What kind of strength did she possess.

‘I want to see the extent she can go?’ Battle intent flashed in Akata’s eyes. This was the first time he had wanted to truly battle someone since he had returned to the sect. He flashed forward with an insane speed that greatly surpassed his previous one.

Peizhi Xiuying couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose a bit. ‘His speed is really fast.’ She shot forward as well in a blazing speed that was just a bit slower than Akata’s own. She threw out punch after punch and soon started kicking as well. In a breath of time they exchanged numerous blows with each other.

‘Not only does she have great strength, even her speed is quite fast.’ Akata mused to himself as he was defending against the attacks of Peizhi Xiuying. ‘This definitely shouldn’t be her limit however. She’s being way too casual. It seems that she has a lot more strength at her disposal.’

Unbeknownst to Akata, however, was that Peizhi Xiuying was having the exact same thoughts as him. ‘How is he this strong and fast as well? Let alone 8th Grade cultivators, even 9th Grade cultivators would be outclassed by me. Yet, he’s holding on with little effort. Is he really an 8th Grade cultivator?’ She furrowed her brows and then backed up, creating distance between them.

She looked Akata in the eyes. Akata looked back at her with curiosity and interest. ‘I wonder what she has planned right now?’ He thought to himself.

“Akata… I want to fully test myself with you. I didn’t think you would be this strong as an 8th Grade cultivator but it seems that you are. I don’t trust many people in this sect anymore and out of those that I trust there’s nobody that can compete with me. Only you can, so only you can fully witness my true strength. I need to improve so…” She bowed down at the waist and said sincerely, “Would you please go all out and fight me.”

Akata was taken aback. He didn’t think Peizhi Xiuying’s situation was like this. She was clearly devoted to getting stronger and was clear to make sure nobody knew her secrets. Even now, Akata couldn’t see through her. He nodded his head firmly. If she was so serious then this was no time to play around.

Akata took in a deep breath and his face became eerily calm. Calm to the point that it looked as if he was simply a corpse with no emotions whatsoever. He was actually going to take this seriously. “I’m not holding back you don’t either.” He said calmly.

Peizhi Xiuying nodded her head. “Thank you.” She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. After a brief period of time, they snapped open to reveal a cold glow. Her eyes felt as if they could see through one’s soul and pierce it just as easily.

They stood across from each other. Akata had a calm look on his face and Peizhi Xiuying had a cold look. The waters nearby became tranquil and started to freeze. One second they were looking in each other’s eyes and the next they were at each other’s throats.

Peizhi Xiuying flashed with a green light and when she reappeared she was right in front of Akata. She flashed an incantation gesture and a bright blue light appeared above her hand. At the same time that it appeared, a curtain of water came raining down upon Akata. It made movement difficult and seeing also became a challenge.

‘This is an illusion.’ Akata was a master of illusions. His own illusions had even reached a level as being ‘real’. For him, identifying illusions was as easy as noticing a mountain. He waved his hand and caused the illusory rain to vanish without a trace. His skill in magic had truly reached new heights as he was as proficient with it as he was with runes now. He could easily use the Inner Element of Illusions with magic and dispel other illusions.

Peizhi Xiuying furrowed her brows and then caused the blue light to change into an orange one. Instantly, fire raged everywhere. It was in the sky, on the ground, in the water. Everywhere one looked there would be fire. It actually started to burn some of the nearby plants.

Akata once again waved his hand and caused the illusory element to appear and dispel the illusions Peizhi Xiuying tried to use. “No more illusions.” Akata said calmly as he flashed an incantation gesture and pointed in the sky. A purple rune appeared in the sky that dazzled in the light.

Peizhi Xiuying’s brows scrunched together even further as she looked at the rune. ‘This feels like an illusions as well.’ Although her skill in identifying illusions and dispelling them weren’t as great as Akata, she still had enough skill in it.

Out of the rune appeared a giant finger that was about 3 meters long. It came crashing down toward Peizhi Xiuying with utter pressure.

Her eyes flashed and she flashed an incantation gesture. She pointed at the finger and waved her hand. “Dispel.” She said coldly. The finger continued on unabated as if nothing had happened. ‘What?! It’s obviously an illusion but it didn’t even ripple or distort so it has to be real. But that isn’t possible if it is an illusion.’ Peizhi Xiuying’s mind went blank for a second but then she calmed herself down and flashed another incantation gesture.

She held a hand up in the air and a black light appeared. The light then expanded until it no longer just looked like light but a single petal. That black petal kept on growing larger and with its increasing size it brought along a freezing cold pressure.

Bang!

The finger continuously slowed down as it approached the black petal. With a bang it caused the petal to crack and make a ringing noise. The finger itself also cracked a bit but eventually broke through the petal’s defense. But that wasn’t all as a utterly cold pressure wrapped around the finger once the petal broke apart. The finger then immediately froze and fell to the ground where it shattered into tiny fragments.

That small exchange didn’t stop as Peizhi Xiuying pointed at Akata and three more black petals formed and flew in his direction. When they got close enough, she made a crushing motion. The petals burst apart and a freezing cold pressure blasted out as if to consume Akata completely. She wasn’t worried about hurting Akata as your real body couldn’t get hurt in this place.

Akata felt a sense of danger from those petals and he immediately pointed out in front of him. A series of orange runes and fireballs appeared in front of him. He took in a deep breath and spoke, “Et urere flammis meo.” The fireballs and runes instantly increased by five times. The size and temperature increased by five times and the color deepened.

Akata was using spells. This was something he learnt from Cultist Soulfire. It was a form of enchanting that used words to increase the attributes of certain things. This was included with the lesson on elements as they had the most uses of enchantments. Unfortunately, Cultist Soulfire wasn’t particularly skilled with enchanting so he only had a few spells that could be used with the fire element.

But even so, the one’s he did have made a huge difference of the fire used and made a memorable impression on Akata. One such spell let the fire actually increase in strength by five times!

“Burst.” He said as he clenched his hand into a fist. The same time that the petals burst apart so did the fire. A freezing blast collided with a blazing one. The two opposing forces ate at each other until they both extinguished themselves. Surprisingly, even after the spell, Akata’s fire didn’t overtake Peizhi Xiuying’s black petals.

‘This has to be a skill she learnt from the legacy she received. Knowing her previous style it should be related to plants but this is just too overpowered.’ He thought to himself. But, again, Peizhi Xiuying had the exact same thoughts.

Not stopping to understand the matter however, Peizhi Xiuying pressed her attack and waved her hand causing a black petal to fall to the ground. The petal grew and grew until it looked more like a small tree. The hundreds of black leaves on the tree scattered around and then fell to the ground. Clasping her hands together and then waving them out she said, “Third Petal Transformation: Yin Tree. Fourth Petal Transformation: Yin Mist.”

The black leaves settled on the ground and then numerous black plants began to spring up where the leaves landed. Along with the numerous plants that sprang up, a single black leaf appeared above Peizhi Xiuying’s head. That in turn began to break apart and create a black mist that blanketed the whole surrounding area. A shockingly cold pressure rose up and froze the area.

Akata felt his body getting stiffer. He exhaled and could see his breath in this dark mist. ‘This isn’t a normal ability. I have to be wary.’ Akata suddenly got a sensation of deadly crisis and he immediately summoned his Blacksoul Scythe and blocked with it.

Clang! A branch could be seen stretching out on the side of the scythe. Just barely missing Akata’s throat.