Fierce battle-Part 3

Wang Quan barely managed to fend off the attacks of the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Yunlan Mountain by leveraging the profound mysteries of his Five Elements Secret Art. However, he knew that the strength of this opponent was far beyond his current capabilities, and direct confrontation would only lead to danger. Prolonging the fight could push him into an even more precarious position.

"I need to eliminate the Qi Refining cultivators quickly to ease the pressure," Wang Quan decided, his eyes flashing with a cold gleam. Though he couldn't match a Foundation Establishment cultivator, within the Qi Refining stage, he was already a formidable force. By swiftly defeating the Qi Refining cultivators, he could weaken their overall strength.

His body flickered as he moved like a shadow, utilizing his Five Elements Secret Art. With a sweep of his sword, blazing with intertwined gold and fire energy, he charged toward one of the Yunlan Mountain Qi Refining disciples.

"Five Elements Sword Art—Blazing Heart Piercer!"

With a roar, Wang Quan's golden-fire energy shot out like a scorching sword light, piercing toward the disciple. The sword energy cut through the air like a meteor, moving so fast that it was barely visible. Fear flashed in the disciple's eyes as he desperately channeled his spiritual energy, summoning a defensive artifact in front of him.

However, Wang Quan's attack was too powerful. The golden energy was highly penetrative, piercing through the protective artifact effortlessly. Fire burst forth, instantly scorching the disciple's spiritual energy barrier, leaving him screaming in pain. His body was thrown back, his chest charred black, and his breath feeble.

Seeing this, the other Yunlan Mountain disciples realized the severity of the situation.

"This rogue is dangerous! Attack him together!" one disciple shouted, signaling the others to attack in unison. The group quickly mobilized, sending out spells and spiritual artifacts, overwhelming Wang Quan with a storm of spiritual energy.

Four beams of light shot out, their spells weaving into a deadly net, all aimed at Wang Quan.

"Not good!"

Wang Quan's eyes glinted coldly. He knew that facing the combined assault of four Qi Refining disciples head-on would be unwise. He quickly gathered his Five Elements spiritual energy and formed seals with his hands, muttering softly:

"Five Elements Shield—Earth Wall!"

With a low shout, a thick wall of earth materialized from the ground, standing solidly before him. It was like an immovable stone barrier, blocking the incoming spells.

"Boom!"

The spells crashed into the earth wall, causing a deafening explosion. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, breaking off chunks of the wall, but it remained standing. The earth wall had successfully blocked the joint assault.

Taking advantage of the brief defensive moment, Wang Quan swiftly launched his counterattack. He channeled fire and gold energy into his sword, and with a swift motion, the sword blazed with intense flames as it cut through the air.

"Five Elements Sword Art—Heaven's Scorching Flames!"

The sword energy surged like a river of fire, crashing toward the Yunlan Mountain disciples. The flames spread rapidly, filling the air with searing heat. The disciples were caught off guard, and their spiritual shields turned red under the heat, shattering within moments.

One disciple was hit directly by the fiery energy, his body scorched and charred. He fell to the ground, severely injured and barely conscious.

"Dammit!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator's face darkened upon seeing his companions repeatedly wounded. Finally losing his patience, he charged toward Wang Quan with a flash of his figure. His sword energy surged like a dragon, carrying an overwhelming aura, aiming directly for Wang Quan's head. The spiritual energy surrounding him was like a tidal wave, unstoppable.

"Whoever you are, you won't leave here alive!" the Foundation Establishment cultivator roared, his sword glowing as he slashed down with the force of a golden dragon. The sheer power of the strike compressed the air, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

Wang Quan's expression shifted. He knew he couldn't withstand such an attack head-on. The power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator far exceeded that of a Qi Refining one, and a single mistake could cost him dearly.

Quickly, Wang Quan channeled the earth and water elements of his Five Elements Secret Art. His body moved like a serpent, narrowly dodging the lethal strike. Simultaneously, he counterattacked with a sharp golden-fire slash aimed at the Foundation Establishment cultivator's side.

"Golden Fire Sword Technique—Blazing Gold Slash!"

The sword energy whistled through the air, aiming straight for the Foundation Establishment cultivator's flank. However, the man reacted swiftly. With a flick of his left hand, a golden shield appeared in front of him, blocking the sword energy.

"Clang!"

The sword energy collided with the golden shield, producing a loud metallic clang as sparks flew. The Foundation Establishment cultivator smirked coldly, clearly unfazed by Wang Quan's strike.

But at that moment, Wang Quan made his next move. Taking advantage of the distraction, he quickly summoned the wood element, causing vines to shoot up from the ground, wrapping around the Foundation Establishment cultivator's legs. The vines twisted like snakes, tightly binding his feet.

"Vine Bind Technique!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator's face darkened in surprise. He hadn't expected Wang Quan to switch tactics so swiftly and launch such a varied assault. With a loud shout, he unleashed a burst of spiritual energy, shattering the vines around his legs. However, Wang Quan had already used the opportunity to retreat, putting more distance between them.

"Damn you!" the Foundation Establishment cultivator growled, clearly irritated by Wang Quan's slippery tactics. He raised his sword to pursue, but at that moment, the rogue elder reentered the fray.

"You think you can finish him off? I'm not dead yet!"

The elder roared, his Black Iron Armor glowing brilliantly as he launched a punch charged with immense earth energy. The punch collided with the Foundation Establishment cultivator's sword strike, causing a massive explosion of spiritual energy that tore up the ground beneath them. Dust and debris flew everywhere, intensifying the chaotic battle.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Wang Quan retreated to the edge of the battlefield, his eyes scanning the scene with a calm and calculating gaze. He had successfully taken down several Qi Refining cultivators, but the threat of the Foundation Establishment cultivator remained.

"I need a strategy to deal with him…"

Wang Quan muttered under his breath, quietly contemplating his next move. He knew the battle wasn't over, and he had to find a way to gain the upper hand.