Volume One: Entering the Path Chapter 122: The Conflict of Yin Thunder

When Ye Junze and Yun Tianhan’s respective Dao imprints collided, a powerful surge of spiritual energy radiated outward. The intense interplay of the black fish and purple lightning produced a vivid mingling of black and purple light, causing Lei Fan, who watched from outside the protective formation, to narrow his eyes in concentration.

Inside the protective array, the two combatants—without exchanging a word—both closed their eyes simultaneously. When the brilliant light dissipated, they opened their eyes in unison, sensing something in the air. Before them lingered faint purple arcs of electricity, and surrounding these arcs were even smaller black fish—no, perhaps they were tadpoles now rather than fish.

Ye Junze was somewhat surprised by the scene. He hadn’t expected that using eighty percent of his strength would only result in a stalemate against Yun Tianhan’s Yin Dao fish, though he suspected that Yun Tianhan might have held back as well. Yun Tianhan, for his part, was just as astonished, glancing at his palm and thinking, “Even with nearly ninety percent of my strength, this attack only barely matched his?”

Yun Tianhan’s gaze shifted toward Ye Junze with a spark of interest. “He’s not so simple after all. If I’m right, he held back just like I did,” he mused.

Noticing Yun Tianhan’s gaze, Ye Junze smiled and said, “Not bad. Shall we go again?”

“Bring it on. Who’s afraid of you?” Yun Tianhan retorted immediately.

Ye Junze chuckled dismissively and made a series of hand gestures, summoning a familiar golden censer that floated onto his palm.

“Now you’d better be careful,” Ye Junze warned, waving the censer forward.

Yun Tianhan, recognizing that Ye Junze was getting serious, focused intently, contemplating a countermeasure. As the golden censer sped toward him, a flash of resolve appeared in his eyes. With a hand seal, a sleek black spear materialized in his grasp—this was the spear he had manifested during his forging class using the Intent Invocation technique, which had earned him the second-highest score after Ye Junze.

Ye Junze observed the black spear carefully. It had become more refined since he last saw it, a testament to Yun Tianhan’s continued practice of Intent Invocation. Though surprised, Ye Junze’s eyes gleamed with unhidden delight. It was only when both fighters committed themselves fully that such a rare and precious battle could unfold.

Yun Tianhan brandished his spear horizontally and shouted, “Come at me!”

Ye Junze raised his voice in return, “Gladly!”

As they exchanged words, the golden censer reached Yun Tianhan’s position. The black spear rose just in time to block the attack.

After repelling the censer’s strike, Yun Tianhan laughed and said, “Ye Junze, don’t tell me you’re already out of energy. That last attack lacked punch—what happened to that fierce momentum?”

Ye Junze smiled lightly and replied, “Don’t be impatient. The real show is just beginning.”

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“I’m looking forward to it. Don’t disappoint me,” Yun Tianhan responded.

Ye Junze didn’t say more. His hands moved in a fluid dance of gestures, commanding the golden censer to relentlessly assault Yun Tianhan.

Outside the protective formation, Lei Fan watched with satisfaction and nodded approvingly. Indeed, Ye Junze was now wielding the golden censer with the technique Lei Fan had just taught him. Seeing Ye Junze so swiftly employ the secrets of artifact control filled Lei Fan with a profound sense of pride—an emotion only he truly understood.

For Ye Junze, as the user of these techniques, the feeling was even more remarkable. He could distinctly sense that the censer now responded differently than before. Previously, his control of the censer was like a toddler learning to walk—slow and tentative. Now, having grasped the secrets of artifact mastery, it was as if he had leapt from crawling to driving a car. The difference was incomparable.

The golden censer in Ye Junze’s hands obeyed him as if it were an extension of his own body, attacking Yun Tianhan ceaselessly with every flicker of his will.

A smile curved Ye Junze’s lips, and he silently thanked Lei Fan once more, vowing to express his gratitude face-to-face once this battle concluded.

Lei Fan, of course, remained unaware of Ye Junze’s thoughts, engrossed instead in the thrilling duel before him.

After initially blocking the censer’s attack with ease, Yun Tianhan soon realized his misjudgment. What had seemed like weak, manageable strikes grew more frequent and potent over time. It became clear that Ye Junze was becoming more familiar and adept with the artifact. The censer began attacking from unexpected angles, confirming Yun Tianhan’s suspicions.

“I say, Ye Junze, that’s unfair! I was fighting you in good faith, and you’re treating me like a punching bag!” Yun Tianhan shouted.

Ye Junze laughed and retorted, “What, you’re not satisfied? Then fight back!”

He even beckoned provocatively, as if daring Yun Tianhan to lose his temper.

But Yun Tianhan did not fall into the trap of anger; instead, he smiled indifferently. “Don’t try to provoke me—that won’t work. But judging by your cheeky attitude, I really do want to give you a good thrashing.”

With that, he gripped his spear tightly and charged toward Ye Junze.

Ye Junze nodded and summoned the censer back to stand before him.

The censer and spear clashed again, sparks flying and a continuous metallic ringing filling the air.

While Yun Tianhan parried the censer’s attacks, Ye Junze shifted his left hand, and a purple lightning bolt suddenly shimmered in his palm.

Alarmed, Yun Tianhan hastily summoned black fish to counter the lightning.

Their respective forces collided once more, and the battle intensified to a fever pitch.

The golden censer and black spear locked in a relentless duel, while black fish and purple lightning entwined in a fierce struggle, making it difficult to determine an advantage.

The clanging of metal echoed continuously, and Lei Fan’s expression reflected pure satisfaction, as if this battle had fully captured his interest.

Despite Ye Junze’s ever-evolving tactics, he did not find the fight easy. He sensed that Yun Tianhan’s Yin Dao carried a unique and chilling power that seeped into his body, bringing an immediate discomfort.

However, Yun Tianhan was not faring better. He had to fend off the strange assaults from the censer while carefully avoiding contact with the purple lightning. When he accidentally touched the lightning, a numbness spread through his body, threatening his grip on the black spear. Hastily, he used spiritual energy to suppress the paralysis and became even more cautious to evade the lightning’s touch.

Yet, even with such care, faint traces of purple lightning still invaded his body from time to time, so Yun Tianhan’s seeming composure belied the strain he endured.

Both fighters were simultaneously countering each other’s exotic powers while focusing intently on the duel.

If Lei Fan were to judge, this battle between Ye Junze and Yun Tianhan was undoubtedly among the most thrilling in the arena—perhaps not the absolute best, but certainly the second best.

Ye Junze, noticing Yun Tianhan’s strained expression, said, “Still pushing yourself? You don’t look well.”

Yun Tianhan sneered, “Don’t just talk about me. You don’t seem much better with all that cold invading your body.”

Ye Junze smiled and parried another attack, replying, “Not quite. I’m probably doing better than you.”

As they exchanged blows, Yun Tianhan suddenly said, “I don’t know how long we can keep this up. I want to save some strength to walk out of here. How about we settle this with one final decisive move?”

Ye Junze considered briefly, then nodded in agreement. “Alright. Since that’s the case, let’s both use our strongest attacks. This time, I won’t hold back.”

Yun Tianhan’s voice rang out boldly, “Just what I wanted!”

He swung his black spear, and black fish swirled over it, saturating the spear with countless strands of black spiritual energy. A chilling aura radiated from it.

At the same time, Ye Junze infused his golden censer with his lightning Dao power. Purple lightning crackled across its surface, blending with its golden sheen to produce a dazzling interplay of violet and gold.

Yun Tianhan’s eyes gleamed with fighting spirit as he charged forward, spear raised.

Ye Junze, perceiving Yun Tianhan’s intent, held back no longer and drove the censer forcefully into the black spear.

When the lightning-infused golden censer met the Yin Dao-imbued black spear, a tremendous explosion erupted.

Outside the protective formation, Lei Fan heard the roar and furrowed his brow, eyes fixed intently on the two within the blue light shield.

The outcome was now on the verge of revelation.