Chapter 386 - Domain

Lu Tianzi cursed in his heart when he saw Linye Caixia summon her Origin Totem.

Did she need to be this serious when sparring with someone who was six full boundaries below her?

Why was she making things so difficult for him?!

But when Lu Tianzi took a second look, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Even though Linye Caixia had summoned her Origin Totem, at least she did not release the suppression on her cultivation level.

That was definitely good news for him.

After all, Linye Caixia was a Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm martial artist.

Right from the beginning, Lu Tianzi had never intended to go all out and risk exposing his trump cards in a meaningless fight like this. And even if he did go all out, it would still be difficult to stand against someone at the Ninth Cycle Origin Core realm!

If Linye Caixia had released the suppression on her cultivation level, Lu Tianzi would have just given up then and there.

Even if he did, he was certain that the seniors of the Blue Ember Faction would not fault him for it.

Of course, it was fortunate that things did not evolve to such a state.

The illusory female warrior behind Linye Caixia wore a suit of full body armour and held a spear in her hand, all her equipment burning with a raging flame.

She looked majestic and dignified, yet emitted a terrifying aura at the same time, making others feel as though anyone who stood in her way would be crushed without question.

Faced with Linye Caixia's Origin Totem, Lu Tianzi's relief vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by a grim solemnness.

However, what made Lu Tianzi feel wary was not the terrifying aura that was being emitted by the illusory warrior.

It was the fact that the illusory female warrior in front of him felt unimaginably real, as though it was a real material being. Even the black smoke emitted from her burning armour continued to linger in the ceiling, not dissipating like any illusion rightly should.

Was it still an illusion?

Or could it be...?

"Are you ready?" Linye Caixia said.

"Please give me your guidance," Lu Tianzi answered, his silvery gaze locked onto Linye Caixia.

Linye Caixia grinned in satisfaction upon hearing Lu Tianzi's words.

This time, she did not charge towards Lu Tianzi as per before. Instead, she started walking slowly towards Lu Tianzi, with the illusory female warrior naturally following along while hovering behind her.

This change did not bother Lu Tianzi, who readied himself to deal with whatever Linye Caixia was intending to throw at him.

But as prepared as he thought he was, what came next still caught Lu Tianzi completely by surprise.

When Linye Caixia got close enough, Lu Tianzi suddenly felt like his surroundings seemed to have changed somehow.

It was a peculiar feeling.

He was obviously still in the Grand Ember Hall, facing Linye Caixia with everyone else watching from the side.

But at the same time, he could not shake off the feeling that he had entered another world that was governed by a completely different set of world laws.

"This manifestation of an Origin Totem... it is the foundation of a domain!" someone said in surprise.

"Since she is already able to manifest her Origin Totem in such a manner, Caixia must be extremely close to breaking through to the Overlord realm!"

"As expected of Caixia!"

After hearing the exclamations from those around them, Nanlan Qianxue furrowed her brows and turned towards Ruan Ling. "What's a domain?"

Ruan Ling sighed before answering. "The main difference between Origin Core realm martial artists and Overlord realm powerhouses lies in the comprehension of world laws. A martial artist's comprehensions of world laws are shown directly in the form of their Origin Totems. But once someone reached the Overlord realm, they would be able to manifest these laws in an area around them. This is known as the domain of an Overlord. The reason why the Overlord realm is named as such is also because of this – in their domains, Overlord powerhouses wielded absolute power, as well as the ability to lord over all lives. Without a domain of your own, it is simply impossible to stand your ground against an Overlord realm powerhouse!"

"It's impossible...?" Nanlan Qianxue muttered under her breath before turning her attention back to the fight.

"Don't worry, Sister Qianxue. Judging from how things look, Senior Apprentice Sister Caixia has yet to completely form her domain, so Brother Tianzi might still stand a chance," Young Master Xuan Hao quickly added.

"Junior Apprentice Brother Hao is right. I have yet to fully form my domain, so don't go giving up just yet," Linye Caixia said, obviously having overheard what Young Master Xuan Hao said.

"Since I have already agreed to this, I will definitely do my best," Lu Tianzi replied.

An Overlord's domain, eh?

What a pleasant surprise.

Now that this has turned into a rare opportunity to experience something like that, even though it was not a completed version, he naturally would not want to miss it so easily!

"That's good," Linye Caixia smiled. "But you perhaps you need to be a little more careful than this."

Linye Caixia simply stood there, but Lu Tianzi suddenly felt a sense of danger coming from behind him.

Whoosh-!

Lu Tianzi ducked instinctively, and the loud sound of moving air sounded out above him.

He immediately looked up but saw nothing other than a trail of smoke that dissipated into thin air.

Lu Tianzi could not help but frown.

There was absolutely nothing behind him, yet he was also certain that there had definitely been an attack on him.

What was going on?

Lu Tianzi did not need to wonder for long.

He widened his eyes in shock as a burning warrior appeared out of thin air before him, as though it had been formed out of mere air particles.

It looked exactly the same as Linye Caixia's Origin Totem – a female warrior dressed in burning full body armour.

And just like Linye Caixia's strange Origin Totem, this burning warrior in front of him looked nothing like an illusion.

The burning warrior struck without warning, its leg kicking towards Lu Tianzi's chest like an arrow from a bowstring.

Lu Tianzi quickly crossed his arms in front of his chest, barely managing to put his guard up in time before the kick landed.

Bang-!

Lu Tianzi was sent skidding back a full metre from the impact, his long sleeves charred by the burning leg plates and still emitting traces of smoke.

The strength of the burning warrior just now was no different from an actual martial artist at the Third Cycle Origin Core realm!

When he finally stopped moving backwards, the burning warrior had already disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Her domain... was it something akin to a summoning technique?

"Lady Linye's domain is already so impressive while still incomplete. I am sure it will be truly unstoppable in its full form," Lu Tianzi said while patting off the charred cloth on his sleeves. "Thank you for your guidance today."

"What are you talking about? I haven't even made my move yet," Linye Caixia said with a grin.

"Hmm?" Lu Tianzi looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Have you seen me take action yet?" Linye Caixia shrugged. "I have been standing here all along, haven't I?"

Lu Tianzi felt the corner of his lips twitch.

She might not have personally made a move, but those burning warriors were definitely born from her technique!

Was that still not considered taking action?

"I know what you are thinking about, but that was just the natural effect of my manifested Origin Totem. Of course, there is still a lot to work on before I can actually call it a complete domain, but even if it is already completed, just releasing a domain can hardly be considered as making a real move," Linye Caixia smirked. "That said, I will be making my move now."

Lu Tianzi narrowed his eyes, and water condensed around his hands as he once again got ready to defend himself.

A domain was something that he had never faced before in battle. Even if it was being used at the level of the Third Cycle Origin Core realm, Lu Tianzi did not dare take it lightly.

After all, this was a power almost exclusive to Overlord realm powerhouses.

Having given her words of caution, Linye Caixia's tightly clenched right fist immediately burst into bright flames.

She pulled her fist back, and the flames suddenly erupted in magnitude, becoming a huge fireball even larger than herself.

Earlier, Linye Caixia's spear was already heated to the point where it could reforge Peak Origin Core rank treasures in the midst of battle.

But now, Lu Tianzi could clearly sense that the heat intensity coming from her flaming fist seemed to be even greater than that of her spear!

"That's the Burning Desolation Fist!" Young Master Xuan Hao exclaimed in shock.

With a single glance, Young Master Xuan Hao was able to recognise the technique used by Linye Caixia.

It was one of the top tier unarmed combat techniques in the Timeless Flame Sect, used even by many Overlord realm powerhouses!

"The Burning Desolation Fist? Isn't she taking this a little too seriously?" Ruan Ling gritted her teeth in irritation.

Ruan Ling might not be able to recognise the combat technique, but she had still heard of its name from Young Master Xuan Hao.

Even Nanlan Qianxue could not help but feel slightly anxious.

She did not know what this Burning Desolation Fist was, but now that the technique was being executed right before her eyes, how could she not sense the immense power contained within?

Would Lu Tianzi be forced to reveal some of his trump cards here?

Facing the approaching Linye Caixia, this was also the same thought running through Lu Tianzi's mind.

He could tell that against this overwhelming attack, his little water trick from before would never work. The entire water bubble would be vapourised in an instant.

Should he reveal some of his trump cards here?

Tapping on his Spiritual Essence cultivation was strictly out of the question, but he still had his beastial bloodline transformation, the Limitless Mirror Eye, and the Palm of Thousand Venoms.

No, using poison in a mere spar might be too much, so he was effectively left with only two options.

Forget it...

Since it was a mere spar, he would just do his best without revealing any of those techniques. He had probably already revealed enough of his capabilities to impress the seniors anyway.

But if he wanted to stand a chance without using any of his trump cards, he could not just stay on the defensive against an attack of such overwhelming strength!

Lu Tianzi pressed his palms together, and the water surrounding his: two hands naturally combined into a single globe.

This globe of water then started to rotate around his pressed palms, quickly gaining speed and growing in volume.

He then separated his two palms, and the globe of water stayed on his right hand, completely separating from his left.

With that, Lu Tianzi inevitably took on a similar stance to Linye Caixia's.

Just that while the young lady's fist was enveloped by a huge fireball, Lu Tianzi had a huge globe of water surrounding his hand.

"Hahaha! How interesting! Are you trying to copy my technique?" Linye Caixia laughed. "I'm afraid mine is not just a simple ball of fire! Even if it is, you should know that fire and water do not quite work the same way!"

"Well, I don't think I have many other options here," Lu Tianzi answered helplessly.

"That's true. I guess this is definitely better than having you just give up without trying," Linye Caixia agreed. "Well then, take this!"

Linye Caixia shot forward, the huge fireball on her right fist creating a bright yellow trail in her wake.

Lu Tianzi did not hesitate to step forward as well, charging straight towards the approaching Linye Caixia.

"Are you forgetting something?" Linye Caixia said with a playful smile.

As she said that, a burning warrior formed in front of Lu Tianzi, sending out a sweeping kick without warning.

But Lu Tianzi had already expected as much.

Just as it looked like the kick was about to connect, Lu Tianzi suddenly appeared to move back in time, gliding backwards to stay just out of range of the burning warrior.

Whoosh-!

There was only the loud sound of moving air as the burning warrior missed her kick completely before quickly disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

"Hmm?" those watching could not help but frown.

Not everyone present could see through what just happened.

Xuan Qinshang smiled as he watched from the throne.

At his current level, Xuan Qinshang was naturally more than capable of seeing through Lu Tianzi's use of the Flowing River Silent Strides.

"Not bad!" Linye Caixia grinned. "Well then, take this!"

She punched forward, slamming the burning fireball in her right fist right towards Lu Tianzi, only to see that Lu Tianzi had not continued forward after dodging the burning warrior's kick.

Instead, he had continued sliding backwards, keeping a safe distance from Linye Caixia.

But at the same time, Lu Tianzi also pulled the huge globe of water in front of him, putting it between the two of them.

Now!

The speed of rotation of the globe of water suddenly skyrocketed, and countless jets of water instantly shot out from it, heading straight towards Linye Caixia!