C17 He Counterattacked!

A shiver ran through Feng Yi's heart as he pondered why Tian Ji harbored murderous intent towards him. Was it simply because he had countered his technique?

In that moment, a desire to retreat sprouted within Feng Yi. As he was about to step back, he caught a glimpse of cunning triumph in Tian Ji's eyes. It was brief, but Feng Yi seized upon it.

Deception!

Feng Yi snapped to attention, recalling Elder Xu's words that disciples of the same sect were strictly prohibited from killing one another. Violators would face severe consequences, including the crippling of their cultivation and expulsion from the sect.

With a glint in his eyes, Feng Yi executed the Wind Cloud Steps. Narrowly, he sidestepped a foot to the left, just as Tian Ji's sword descended, avoiding the strike by a hair's breadth.

Tian Ji's expression faltered, not expecting Feng Yi to unravel his strategy. Had Feng Yi chosen to retreat, Tian Ji's next move would have been a forward thrust to wound Feng Yi's arm and secure victory.

With a light tap of his feet, Tian Ji swiftly withdrew, his gaze intensifying as he focused on Feng Yi.

"It seems I've underestimated you. Whether it's Feng Hua, Jingyi, or Lau Changkong, none of their defeats were undeserved," Tian Ji declared, prompting a ripple of astonishment among the onlookers. They wondered why he would say such a thing. Could Feng Yi truly match him?

"Senior Brother Tian Ji, strike now! Give Feng Yi the lesson he deserves!" a voice called out, causing Tian Ji's brow to crease.

"Go to hell! If you're so brave, why don't you challenge Feng Yi yourself?" Fatty Hong retorted with a loud curse. The heckler was none other than Feng Hua, whom Feng Yi had bested the day before.

"Hong Jinbao, are you looking for trouble?" Feng Hua's eyes blazed with fury as he bellowed. The defeat at Feng Yi's hands was a stain on his honor, one he didn't fully understand.

Hong Jinbao's taunt had struck a nerve, igniting Feng Hua's rage. Were it not for the presence of the elders and fellow disciples, Feng Hua would have no doubt shown Hong Jinbao exactly why the flowers are so brilliantly red.

"Come at me if you dare!"

Fatty Hong was well aware that Feng Hua wouldn't dare to strike in this place, so he began to taunt loudly, infuriating Feng Hua to the point of trembling with rage.

"Senior Brother Tian Ji, please make your move!"

At that moment, Feng Yi, standing on the stage, called out. He assumed a fighting stance, ready for Tian Ji to engage.

Feng Yi had come to realize that no matter where one was, if there were people, there would be conflicts and cliques. It was just like his time in the Taoist temple, where the young acolytes had formed their own groups.

Clearly, Tian Ji, Feng Hua, Jingyi, and Lau Changkong were part of a tight-knit circle. Otherwise, Feng Hua wouldn't be so vocal, and Tian Ji wouldn't have stepped in to teach him a lesson on behalf of Jingyi.

"Junior Brother Feng Yi is truly exceptional. In that case, I shall not hold back."

Tian Ji's tone had lost its previous scorn and now carried a sense of fellowship.

Yet, Feng Yi felt a stirring in his heart, sensing that this battle was fraught with peril.

Had Tian Ji continued to underestimate him, Feng Yi was confident he had a fifty percent chance of victory.

But now that Tian Ji was taking him seriously, winning seemed a distant prospect, with perhaps less than a twenty percent chance.

The element of surprise was his only advantage; an unconventional move might be the key to triumph!

With his mind made up, Feng Yi fixed his gaze intently on Tian Ji.

Tian Ji sheathed his sword and began to weave Dao Arts with his hands. In a swift motion, he tapped his waist, and a net of orchid silk, spanning three meters, soared towards Feng Yi's head.

The net, imbued with a peculiar force, seemed intent on ensnaring Feng Yi, covering his head and leaving him no chance to escape.

Feng Yi was taken aback, his face showing his astonishment at the unfamiliar treasure, at a loss for how to counter it.

"The Tian Luo Net!"

The disciples watching from below instantly recognized the magical treasure wielded by Tian Ji – the Tian Luo Net, renowned for its ability to ensnare and seal anything within its grasp.

Ensnared by the Tian Luo Net, it would instantly seal off the surrounding void, rendering the trapped cultivator powerless to resist. Once completely ensnared by the Tian Luo Net, there would be no chance of escape.

Though the Tian Luo Net's reputation might be somewhat overstated, for Feng Yi, it was hardly a challenge.

At that moment, Feng Yi found himself at an impasse. As he struggled to find a solution, the voice of the Nine-spirit Taoist suddenly echoed in his ears.

"Bad Boy, have you forgotten how you dealt with that fire bird earlier?"

"Fire bird?"

A spark of realization flashed in Feng Yi's eyes, and his pupils contracted sharply as he focused on the Tian Luo Net. A thought struck him: 'Indeed, water may quench fire, but fire can consume all things under heaven.'

With this epiphany, a smile broke across Feng Yi's face. His hands moved swiftly, casting magic spells that summoned several-foot-long fire serpents, which darted straight for the Tian Luo Net. He even sent a mental message to the Nine-spirit Taoist.

"Truly, wisdom comes with age!"

"Bad Boy, I offer you help out of kindness, and you repay me with insults. I won't be so generous next time!"

"Fire assault!"

Tian Ji's pupils dilated in shock as he exclaimed. He hadn't anticipated Feng Yi's bold move to launch a fire assault. In such dire straits, few cultivators would conceive of such a tactic, showcasing Feng Yi's remarkable composure.

But Tian Ji was unaware that Feng Yi had the guidance of an ancient demon, undetectable even to Xuan Tianzi. Without such cunning, one could hardly earn the moniker of an ancient demon.

Nonetheless, Feng Yi possessed only a Five-element False Spirit Root, and his mastery of the Dao Arts was far from effortless, with his advancement proving exceedingly slow.

Despite unleashing over a dozen fire serpents, they only managed to stall the Tian Luo Net momentarily.

Yet, even this brief assault caused the Tian Luo Net to visibly contract. Though the change was minor, it afforded Feng Yi a precious moment to breathe.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Feng Yi transformed into a blur of azure, miraculously evading the Tian Luo Net's grasp. When he reemerged, he was already standing before Tian Ji.

"Now is the time!"

Feng Yi's voice rang out in a low growl as he unleashed the Wind Lightning Palm. The sounds of wind and thunder resonated, disorienting Tian Ji and leaving him momentarily dazed.

"Not good!"

With a roar, Tian Ji's feet flickered rapidly, dodging in unpredictable patterns. For a moment, Feng Yi truly couldn't get a lock on Tian Ji's position.

Bang!

Feng Yi's Wind Lightning Palm struck the platform with a resounding thud, demonstrating the formidable power behind the blow.

Tian Ji was drenched in a cold sweat, the back of his shirt completely soaked. Had he been even a fraction slower, he would undoubtedly be lying defeated on the platform right now.

"That was close!"

Tian Ji exclaimed, a look of narrow escape crossing his face. But no sooner had the words left his mouth than a look of horror took over, and he bellowed out loud.

"Feng Yi, you actually—"