Raja was the first to move, leaping towards Laizu with a deadly intent. In these disciple evaluations, where strength and strategy were tested to the limits, death was not uncommon, though it was heavily discouraged. As Raja's sword neared Laizu's hand, it unexpectedly bounced off, forcing Raja to retreat several steps, confusion evident in his eyes. While Qi barriers were common and could be disassembled with the right technique, Raja had already adjusted his Qi to do just that. Yet, Laizu’s defense was not something as simple as a basic Qi barrier.

Feng Zhiming, observing the clash, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Not Qi, not a spiritual artifact, not a named treasure, and not the toughness of his skin. This is intriguing.” He hadn’t anticipated such a surprise from Laizu, a disciple he had initially underestimated.

{It’s light.}

“Light?” Feng Zhiming responded to the voice in his head, his curiosity piqued.

{Watch closely, use your divine sense.}

Feng Zhiming adjusted his focus, tapping into Ryes’s divine sense, a sensory tool not as refined as his newly acquired eyes but still superior to ordinary spiritual perception. As he scanned the battlefield, it became clear. “It is light…” he muttered, now understanding the unusual technique at play.

Laizu’s Qi technique wasn’t just about harnessing energy from the sun—it was about transforming that energy into a barrier, bypassing the basic principles of Qi-based defenses. As Raja struggled to comprehend the technique, Laizu sneered, “Are you ready to be roasted like the hog you are?” A beam of light shot out from the gaps between Laizu’s fingers, striking Raja's left arm with searing pain.

Raja strafed constantly, desperately evading the deadly beams of light that sought to pierce him. “What the hell is this?” he thought, as one of the beams glanced off his sword, narrowly missing his face.

“The principle behind the attack is quite innovative,” came the calm voice of the woman residing in the ring Raja wore. She had observed the battle closely, instantly understanding Laizu’s methods. “Laizu gathers sunlight into a vacuum within his hands, refracts it repeatedly in that confined space, and releases it in an ultra-condensed form. It’s a deadly and efficient technique.”

The battle continued, with Raja forced to adapt quickly to the unexpected threat posed by Laizu’s mastery over light itself. His mind raced as he dodged the beams of light, trying to process what the woman in the ring had explained. Each time he narrowly avoided a strike, the intensity of Laizu’s attacks seemed to increase, forcing him to think faster and move more strategically. He knew he couldn’t keep this up indefinitely, Laizu’s mastery over light gave him a distinct advantage, one that Raja wasn’t sure how to counter.

Feng Zhiming watched the battle unfold, his interest deepening. Laizu's technique was not only powerful but also demonstrated a profound understanding of Qi manipulation that was beyond what most disciples could grasp. The ability to harness light in such a precise and deadly manner indicated that Laizu possessed a sharp intellect and advanced comprehension skills.

Meanwhile, Raja's thoughts were a whirlwind of panic and determination. He knew he couldn’t win by brute force, he had to outthink his opponent. The woman in the ring sensed his turmoil and offered more advice.

"Focus on the gaps," she said calmly. "The light must be gathered, focused, and then released. If you can disrupt that process, even for a moment, it could create an opening."

Raja nodded inwardly, realizing the truth in her words. He began to observe Laizu’s movements more carefully, noting the slight pauses between each beam of light. There was indeed a momentary delay, a split second where the light was gathered before being unleashed. If he could time his movements just right…

But he also had to consider the barrier. Given that he was at the Condensed stage of the Ethereal Core realm and Laizu was at the Actualized stage, it would be extremely difficult for him to wrest control of Laizu’s barrier or disrupt it using Qi. He would have to employ another method.

With renewed focus, Raja adjusted his stance, waiting for the right moment. Laizu, noticing the change in Raja’s demeanor, smirked. “Don’t worry, I’ll save your family the funeral costs by cremating you directly,” he taunted.

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This time, as the light began to gather, Raja moved with precision. He dodged the beam but also launched his sword at Laizu’s wrist, targeting the exact spot where the light was being concentrated. At the same time, he shot forward himself, aiming a strike at Laizu’s face.

Both his attacks bounced off, but this time Laizu felt a backlash from the two simultaneous strikes. The sudden impact disrupted the flow of energy, causing the beam to scatter harmlessly into the air.

Raja had taken a gamble, testing the security of Laizu’s barrier. It was now clear that the barrier became weaker when facing multiple attacks at once.

Laizu's eyes widened in surprise. Raja had found a weakness in his seemingly invincible technique. But Raja didn’t give him time to recover. Seizing the moment, he pressed the attack, forcing Laizu to fall back on the defensive.

Laizu adjusted his stance, preparing for a more serious exchange. The playful arrogance he had displayed earlier was gone, replaced by a cold, calculating focus.

But Raja wasn’t the same fighter who had leaped into the fray moments ago. He had learned quickly, adapting to Laizu’s technique and finding a way to counter it. As the two clashed again, the battle became more even, with each exchange pushing them both to their limits. The fight had evolved beyond mere strength; it was now a test of wit, strategy, and the ability to adapt under pressure.

As the battle intensified, the air around the two combatants seemed to crackle with energy. Raja's focus was razor-sharp, his mind constantly analyzing every movement Laizu made. He had uncovered a weakness, but exploiting it fully would require flawless timing and precision. Laizu, on the other hand, was no longer underestimating his opponent.

“Squirming cockroach.” Laizu spoke, his voice filled with disdain.

Laizu raised his hands again, but this time, there was a noticeable shift in his technique. The light that gathered between his fingers was no longer a series of quick, sharp beams. Instead, it began to coalesce into a single, blindingly intense sphere of energy. The air around the sphere shimmered with heat, and the ground beneath Laizu’s feet cracked under the pressure.

Feng Zhiming, observing from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. “He’s concentrating all his power into a single attack… this could be devastating.” It reminded him of a similar attack that almost got him killed, although that would have been his own fault.

Raja could feel the immense pressure building up. He knew that if Laizu released that energy, it would be nearly impossible to evade. The woman in the ring spoke urgently, her voice cutting through the tension.

“You must disrupt it before it’s fully formed. If that attack is unleashed, there’s no telling if you’ll survive it.”

Raja tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing through possible strategies. He had to act quickly, but charging in recklessly would only spell his doom. As the light intensified, a sudden idea struck him. It was risky, but it was his best shot.

Raja took a deep breath, focusing all his Qi into his sword. He recalled the slight delay he had noticed earlier, the moment when the light gathered before being released. This time, he would not strike directly at Laizu. Instead, he would strike at the light itself.

With a powerful leap, Raja closed the distance between them, his sword trailing a brilliant arc of energy behind him. Laizu’s eyes widened as he realized Raja’s intent, but it was too late to stop him. Just as the sphere of light reached its peak, Raja’s sword slashed through it, his Qi clashing violently with the concentrated energy.

The impact was immediate and explosive. A deafening roar filled the air as the sphere of light detonated prematurely, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. Both fighters were thrown backward by the force of the explosion, tumbling across the ground as debris rained down around them.

Raja struggled to regain his footing, his ears ringing and his vision blurred. The explosion had drained a significant portion of his energy, but he was still standing. Across from him, Laizu staggered to his feet, his once-pristine robes now tattered and singed. He glared at Raja, his expression a volatile mix of anger and fear, not of Raja but Instructor Wuya, who was staring a hole into his back.

It was inconceivable to Laizu that anyone would dare to leap directly into such a concentrated mass of energy, it was nothing short of a death wish. Yet, here Raja stood, defying all logic.

“You… you destroyed my attack, you crazy bastard,” Laizu spat, his voice tinged with disbelief and a trace of grudging respect. “How…?”

Raja, still catching his breath, met Laizu's gaze steadily. Despite his exhaustion, there was a glint of determination in his eyes, a silent message that he was far from done. He hadn’t just destroyed the attack, he had shattered Laizu’s confidence, proving that even the most overwhelming force could be dismantled with the right mindset.

“It wasn’t about strength alone,” Raja finally replied, his voice rough but firm. “Sometimes, the only way to survive is to confront the danger head-on, to disrupt it before it can consume you.”