The clash picked up again with no warning.
The first cultivator raised both arms and rushed in with a burst of speed, leaving behind a streak of white light.
His opponent braced just in time, pulling up a barrier of swirling air and reinforcing it with qi lines from his shoulders to his fists.
They met.
Fist to shield.
The air cracked like a lightning bolt.
Then came the follow-up.
The attacker didn't pause—his right leg whipped around in a roundhouse kick aimed for the ribs. The defender caught it with one arm, but the force still shoved him backward.
Dust lifted from the ground like a wall.
The first cultivator charged again, sliding under a blast of fire and slamming his shoulder into his opponent's chest. They both tumbled, landing in a rough roll before separating again.
A sharp inhale.
A leap.
The second cultivator summoned six swords made of solid light and sent them forward in a spiral pattern.
