In the fifth match, only two disciples from the Ghost Martial Sect took the stage, one dressed in a white long robe and the other in a black short coat. Both were at the fourth level of martial mastery. As soon as they stepped onto the stage, despite being fellow disciples, there were no extra pleasantries exchanged. The fight between them was evenly matched, but in their fierce attacks, there was a noticeable lack of killing intent.
Their exchange, although intense, did not cause much surprise or astonishment among the powerful figures seated at the front. In the end, the disciple in the black short coat seized an opportunity from a mistake made by his opponent and launched a fierce attack to win. However, by the end, this fourth-level martial master in the black short coat was also nearly depleted of his strength.
After these five matches, the second round was completely finished. Apart from Li Lin, the other four who advanced to the third round were all from the Ghost Martial Sect. The other sects were completely eliminated in the second round, which caused the faces of several sect leaders to look quite displeased.
"The third round will begin. For this round, the Ghost Martial Sect will set up a minor formation called the Tri-Element Unity Formation, composed of fifteen fifth-level martial masters. You five will be inside it. Under normal circumstances, there should be no danger to your lives, but accidents can happen. If anyone wants to withdraw, now is the time. The first to exit the formation will be the winner. Did you all understand?" Du Yunshan explained to the five participants.
"Elder Du, does this mean that life and death are disregarded within the formation?" Li Lin asked.
"In theory, yes," Du Yunshan replied.
"Tri-Element Unity Formation," Li Lin muttered to himself. This formation seemed to be mentioned in the Heavenly Spirit Record, and immediately, the information about the Tri-Element Unity Formation in Li Lin's mind was recalled.
The Tri-Element Unity Formation was set up by groups of five martial masters each from the water, fire, and earth elements, making up fifteen fifth-level martial masters. The power generated by the synergy of elemental forces and the mystical effects of the formation was so great that even a first-level martial soul trapped within it would only meet their demise.
"Just the most basic formation," Li Lin sneered silently. It turned out that this was only the most basic formation mentioned in the Heavenly Spirit Record. The Tri-Element Unity Formation, although powerful, was still considered a basic formation. The record mentioned many such formations, including a Five-Element Unity Formation that was similar in principle but ten times more powerful. The Tri-Element Unity Formation involved the combination of water, fire, and earth elements, while the Five-Element Unity Formation required the combination of water, fire, earth, wind, and wood elements.
The method to break the Tri-Element Unity Formation was also recorded in the Heavenly Spirit Record, and Li Lin knew it by heart. Breaking the formation was not very difficult. At this moment, Li Lin felt a surge of excitement; there seemed to be something within the Tri-Element Unity Formation that could be greatly beneficial to him. If he wasn't mistaken, he might gain some unexpected rewards.
"If there are no issues, let's begin," Du Yunshan announced. Fifteen figures immediately leaped to the center of the square, where the energies of water, fire, and earth began to permeate. The fifteen fifth-level martial masters, all disciples of the Ghost Martial Sect, arranged themselves in a specific pattern and started to rotate around the square in a profound step. The energies of the three elements rapidly intensified, drawing the corresponding elemental energies from the surroundings. Their figures sped up, and soon, a glowing aura of the three energies enveloped the entire square, barely revealing the figures of the fifteen participants.
Simultaneously, the aura of the fifteen individuals also surged rapidly. Originally at the fifth level of martial mastery, they had now likely reached at least the sixth level. The most terrifying aspect was the aura above the square, which had become so violent that it seemed to suppress even those with martial soul cultivation, with the surrounding space's airflow following the rotation, increasing in speed until it almost twisted space itself.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"The Tri-Element Unity Formation is indeed miraculous. The overall strength of the fifteen has probably increased by more than three times," the leaders and elders from Tianyi Sect, Jiu Hua Sect, and Yunshan Sect each showed a look of surprise. Lu Xiaoling, Elder Wang, and Elder Liu, however, merely glanced over without much expression, but their gazes were all fixed on Li Lin.
"Let's start. The first among you five to exit wins," Du Yunshan told the participants.
"Whoosh whoosh..." Four figures leaped up and instantly entered the formation, their figures disappearing into the mingling energies of the three elements.
A gleam flashed in Li Lin's eyes, and a faint smile appeared on his lips as he stepped into the formation with a mysterious pace.
"I wonder if Li Lin will be able to break through the formation. Breaking the formation isn't just about strength," Elder Liu commented among the leading figures.
"Why have you started paying attention to that kid?" Elder Wang glanced at Elder Liu and spoke indifferently, though his gaze had also been fixed on Li Lin just before.
"You're no different," Elder Liu retorted, looking back at Elder Wang.
"This kid is not simple," the two exchanged glances, and Elder Wang softly added.
At this moment, Li Lin, inside the formation, was immediately enveloped by the energies of water, fire, and earth. The immense pressure from these three types of energy changed the surrounding space, placing him in a vast expanse where only the mists of these three energies were visible, making everything look vast and boundless.
Li Lin, while inside the formation, did not make any sudden moves but instead slowly surveyed his surroundings, feeling the energies of the three elements. His body was already mobilizing the energies of water, fire, and earth, instantly relieving the pressure. Being a martial artist proficient in all elements, with all five elemental energies at his disposal, these elemental forces could not suppress him.
"Whoosh..."
A sudden sound of breaking wind arose, as a fire arrow, creating a sharp noise, cut through the void and fiercely rushed towards him.
"So, it's like that," Li Lin coldly chuckled, a strange smile appearing on his lips. A peculiar hand seal formed, and as the fire arrow rushed towards him, a vast devouring force emerged from his right hand. A whirlpool, several meters in size, burst forth from the palm, directly engulfing the fire arrow, making it disappear within the vortex.
"Whoosh whoosh..."
At that moment, a water arrow and an earth arrow broke through the air, fiercely rushing towards Li Lin from both sides.
"Bring it on, thanks for the generous gift," Li Lin whispered with a smile. In his hands, a violent whirlpool formed, instantly absorbing the two energy attacks into the vortexes.
"Boom boom boom..."
Within the Tri-Element Unity Formation, as the five entered, violent breaking wind sounds immediately rang out. At the same time, the entire square was instantly engulfed in an incredibly violent energy storm, making it impossible for those below the fifth level of martial soul mastery to see anything inside.
Those above the fifth level of martial soul mastery could only see dozens of blurry figures moving through the formation, with attacks continuously colliding, producing low, thunderous sounds.
The violent energy dispersed outward, forcing many spectators to step back. The ferocious energy had twisted the airflows around the square, turning the entire area into a stationary tornado, howling upwards. The violent airflow pressed down, breaking branches and leaves of distant trees, drawing countless shattered leaves and surrounding dust into the energy vortex resembling a tornado.
In one corner of the formation, a figure in a green robe surprised all the strong individuals present. The attacks within the formation seemed to have no effect on this person, with every strike directly vanishing upon contact, as if disappearing into thin air.
The elders of the Ghost Martial Sect and others like Dai Daozi also frowned slightly.
"Eh..."
This scene made both Elder Wang and Elder Liu puzzled. Elder Wang asked, "Liu Yixuan, do you see what's happening?"
"This is strange. There's only one active spot in this Tri-Element Unity Formation. Could this kid actually understand formations?" Elder Liu wondered aloud.
Inside the Tri-Element Unity Formation, Li Lin, with a calm demeanor and a smile, unhesitatingly devoured the energy attacks. As a martial artist proficient in all elements, he could effortlessly absorb any type of elemental energy.
Elemental energy is the energy of the elements between heaven and earth. Martial artists refine this energy into Qi for their use, and when Qi dissipates, it transforms back into various elemental energies.
Martial artists of specific elements can only absorb a small amount of elemental energy for slow cultivation. Disciples with exceptional talent cultivate quickly because their inherent attributes resonate highly with the elemental energies of the world, leading to faster cultivation speeds. In contrast, martial artists with average talent and weaker resonance with the world's elemental forces cultivate more slowly.
If one's inherent attributes are extremely poor, to the point of being unable to resonate with the world's elemental energies, it means they cannot become martial artists. Earth element martial artists can only absorb earth elemental energy to refine into Qi, and water element martial artists can only refine water elemental energy similarly.