Born as an ant, I was summoned to ascend to immortality.

Chapter 50: A Series of Twists and Turns

Although Zhou Li did not recognize the name "Na Chen Gui Xu", his eyes, enhanced by his pupil technique, were clear and penetrating through the flying sand, clearly reflecting Fang Lan's every move.

"This spiritual power can actually be used like this?!" Zhou Li was surprised to find that the earth element spiritual power in Fang Lan's acupoints was constantly flowing and gradually resonating with the earth element power in the outside world.

"It turns out that the spiritual energy within the acupoints can resonate with the spiritual energy in the outside world, thereby controlling a region of heaven and earth."

Zhou Li suddenly understood: "Mystic cultivators use the dantian as a pivot to control spiritual power and cast spells; while body cultivators use acupoints as a conduit to manifest supernatural powers through resonance. Presumably, the innate supernatural powers of those ancient great demons are based on the same principle, resonating with spiritual power through the bloodline power contained in the acupoints."

As soon as this thought arose, a long-standing, obscure mantra from the "Five Elements Painting Manual" suddenly came to mind: "...the mind unites with the spirit, embracing the orifice and swallowing the essence."

When he first saw this incantation, he couldn't understand it at all. But now, by using the Heavenly Thunder Eye to perceive the mystery of Fang Lan's circulation of spiritual power in her acupoints, Zhou Li suddenly understood and glimpsed a trace of the true meaning of the method!

However, before Zhou Li could investigate further, Fang Lan arrived fiercely, accompanied by a cloud of flying sand!

To the audience below, the flying sand and mist collided, making it impossible to see the two figures clearly; all that could be heard was the whistling wind and the clanging of metal.

Within the battle circle, Fang Lan was able to use the flying sand to discern Zhou Li's figure and lock onto his aura. Both were now completely exposed and engaged in direct combat.

Fang Lan's fighting spirit was like a raging storm. With a swing of her sword, flying sand followed, and several Xuan pills preceded the sword's edge, arriving before the sword even reached her.

Zhou Li hastily used the "Umbrella Sword Style," the sword light like a curtain, completely dissipating Xuan Wan. However, he was not strong enough and did not have time to change his move before Fang Lan's sword was already upon him.

Even though Zhou Li could see the flaws in Fang Lan's attack, he could only use his umbrella sword to deflect the force in his haste.

As the two swords clashed, a tremendous force struck Zhou Li, causing his right arm to tremble violently, his tiger's mouth to feel as if it were about to split open, and his body involuntarily shifted backward.

Fang Lan pressed her advantage relentlessly, launching another attack, each sword strike aimed directly at Zhou Li's vitals.

Zhou Li then used the force from the previous sword strike to turn around and counterattack, raising his sword to strike back. This was a technique of using the opponent's force against them, and it perfectly captured the essence of the "Umbrella Sword Style".

Unfortunately, Fang Lan was well-versed in the principle of overwhelming force with sheer strength. She stopped competing with Zhou Li in swordsmanship and instead focused on slashing heavily with her sword, supplemented by a barrage of Xuan Dan (mysterious projectiles).

Under this reckless attack, even if Zhou Li could spot the flaws, he would find it difficult to find a good opportunity to defeat his enemy.

The two exchanged blows for over ten rounds. Fang Lan intended to test Zhou Li's limits and went all out, while Zhou Li naturally understood Fang Lan's intentions, but he had other plans in mind.

"Although I do not know the method of Fang Lan's supernatural power, after several battles, the Heavenly Thunder Eye of the Ant Body has already glimpsed the key to his spiritual power resonance."

At this moment, Zhou Li's spiritual energy was almost depleted. He had originally planned to confront Fang Lan head-on and then find an opportunity to win with a surprise move. Now that he had figured out the key to this situation, he could finish things off ahead of time.

After enduring several more blows, Zhou Li's right arm became numb and felt like it was about to break. Knowing that he had reached his limit, he abandoned defense and switched to offense, forcibly changing his move and unleashing a "Crushing Sword Style".

With a flick of his spiritual energy, Zhou Li employed the resonance technique he had just glimpsed. Instantly, the surrounding water elemental power converged towards Zhou Li's three-foot-long sword.

Zhou Li unexpectedly discovered that, because the "Misty Heavenly Evolution Wonderful Method" still possessed the ability to lock and capture spiritual energy, the spiritual energy gathered this time combined the continuity of water element power with the weight of earth element power.

The sword's edge shone brightly, carrying the power of resonance, and slashed fiercely towards Fang Lan!

Fang Lan noticed that Zhou Li's swordplay was starting to weaken, and concluded that he was nearing his limit. Just as she was about to press her advantage and break his attack, she saw Zhou Li change his move and followed up with her sword.

"clang--!"

Fang Lan felt an overwhelming, continuous force assail her, as if she had struck a boulder, and the blue bricks beneath her feet shattered like a spider web.

Zhou Li was also in bad shape at this moment. Due to the forced change of move, his sword momentum was slightly flawed, and a Xuan Dan took advantage of the gap to strike his chest and ribs. A sharp pain came, and Zhou Li felt a sweet taste in his throat, and a mouthful of blood surged up.

But he knew that the sword momentum must not be interrupted at this moment. He forced down the mouthful of blood, and the sword momentum rose again, and it was another "Crushing Sword Style".

Knowing how formidable the enemy was, Fang Lan dared not be careless and hurriedly drew her sword to defend herself.

"boom--!"

A deafening clang of metal clashing against metal, far louder than before, erupted, as if a colossal wave had crashed down upon them. Its power was even greater than before. Fang Lan was sent flying dozens of feet away by the sword strike, the surrounding sand and dust swept away, revealing his disheveled figure.

For the first time, Zhou Li gained the upper hand in a head-on confrontation with Fang Lan.

The disciples watching the battle heard two loud bangs, one after the other, from the thick fog and flying sand. Then a figure was sent flying backward in a sorry state. It was none other than the eldest son of the Fang family!

Exclamations erupted from both above and below the platform! Countless horrified gazes focused on Fang Lan's figure.

"Am I...am I seeing things? Fang Lan was defeated by Zhou Li?"

"The 'Dust Returns to Ruins' technique is actually no match for a mere Yellow-Rank spell?"

When everyone looked again at the vast fog where Zhou Li had disappeared, it seemed as if a ferocious beast was lurking in the surging gray-white mist, and no one dared to underestimate it in the slightest.

Fang Lan slowly raised his hand, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his fingertips. Looking at the glaring crimson stain on his fingertip, the suppressed rage in his eyes finally erupted!

"Good...very good!" His voice was deep and cold, as if it had been tempered with ice. "Zhou Li, if you can withstand this sword strike, then you will have defeated me, Fang Lan, this time."

Fang Lan lowered his waist and sat on his horse, making a hand seal. As if under command, the flying sand and mysterious particles around him slowly gathered above his head, starting with the sword in Fang Lan's hand, and formed a giant black and yellow sword that was over a hundred feet long and solid!

The sword's edge pointed precisely at the Zhou rites! A majestic divine might descended upon them!

All those present heard Fang Lan utter a low shout: "All rivers flow into the earth, all laws return to nothingness!"

He took a lunge stance, swung his sword, and pointed the tip directly at Zhou Li. The hundred-foot-long heavy sword above Fang Lan's head slashed down fiercely at Zhou Li!

Seeing this, Zhou Li knew that the time to end the battle had come. He thought to himself, "Just now, I tested the resonance effect of the Fang family's supernatural power in two strikes. I have already grasped it to a basic level, but..."

He sensed the spiritual energy he had left: "This technique consumes a great deal of energy. With the spiritual energy I have left... I can only use the resonance three more times. I'll end with this move."

"If I'm not mistaken," Zhou Li thought to himself as his gaze swept over Fang Lan's figure, "the power of my sword strike is probably not insignificant. I only hope that your body, which is a physical cultivator, can withstand it."

Zhou Li remained calm and composed, raising his hand to assume a sword stance, which was the most powerful "Sweeping Sword Style" from the "Cloud-Walking and Rain-Listening Sword" manual.

All the previous entanglements were preparations for this strike. Now, the mist in the arena, which had been holding back the spiritual energy dissipating from the battle, was so thick that it was almost tangible. Not to mention the "Sweeping Sword Style," even ordinary sword moves, enhanced by the water element, were far stronger than at the beginning of the fight.

At that moment, Zhou Li used the wonder of the resonance of the Fang family's spiritual power to squeeze out all the remaining spiritual power and used three "Sweeping Sword Style" moves in succession.

The first sword move was light and graceful, drawing a perfect semi-circle.

Despite Zhou Li's seemingly casual sword strike, a crescent-shaped sword light suddenly shone forth as he swung his sword.

The moment the sword light flashed, the dense water elemental power around it surged forth like rivers flowing into the sea, sweeping along the direction the sword's edge pointed.

The two were several dozen feet apart. The sword light gradually transformed into a thick and dense azure sword aura, fiercely meeting the majestic heavenly might that was crashing down from above!

"This sword shall be named... Hundred Rivers Washing Away Dust!"