Chapter 460: Mutual Generation and Restraint

Zu'an witnessed the entire process. No matter how dazzling and chaotic the Night Elves' attacks were, the Eight Wandering Immortals remained perfectly still within their protective shields, completely unaffected.

Despite the Night Elves' fierce attacks, the shields showed no signs of breaking. In contrast, the Eight Wandering Immortals could use their respective elemental abilities to counterattack, quickly disrupting the Night Elves' formation.

Sang Hong, standing nearby, stated gravely, "Everything has its counter; there's unlikely to be anything completely unresolvable. For example, with these Immortals' elemental shields, using the corresponding counter-element would be much more efficient for breaking them."

Zu'an recalled the theoretical lessons he had learned at Brightmoon Academy: water counters fire, fire counters metal, metal counters wood, wood counters earth, and earth, in turn, counters water. Additionally, wood counters wind, earth counters thunder, and fire counters ice.

Moreover, these elements are not solely antagonistic; many different elements can also complement each other. When combined, they can produce far greater power than any single element alone.

As if inspired by Sang Hong's words, the Night Elves quickly changed their strategy, each attacking targets with elements corresponding to their counter.

Soon, the Eight Wandering Immortals also fell into some disarray. The wood-element Immortal's shield was the first to be breached, followed by several others, forcing Qiu Honglei to step forward and assist.

After the initial chaos, the Demonic Cult quickly regained the upper hand. After all, each Immortal was a master in their own right, possessing great power even without their shields.

However, they no longer possessed the initial composure of being in an invincible position.

Witnessing the brutal struggle, Zu'an suddenly understood why the academy's courses mentioned that cultivators above the sixth rank completely overwhelm those below them.

This is because sixth-rank cultivators can awaken corresponding elemental armor. Generally, you can only break their elemental armor by using an element that counters the one they cultivate. Otherwise, it's incredibly difficult to even breach their defenses, making it impossible to be their opponent.

Even if you're lucky enough to awaken an element that counters a sixth-rank cultivator, you'd only be able to break their elemental armor. However, their vital energy strength and cultivation level would still be higher than yours, meaning you still couldn't defeat them in a fight.

Only above the sixth rank, even if your element doesn't counter your opponent's, you can still gradually wear down their vital energy armor using your equivalent cultivation and vital energy strength. At that point, the fight becomes a contest of cultivation levels and practical combat abilities.

Zu'an suddenly realized something: "If one could awaken multiple elements simultaneously, wouldn't they be able to counter a large number of cultivators from corresponding elemental systems?"

In his previous life, in those wish-fulfillment novels, weren't all protagonists masters of every element? You'd be too embarrassed to show your face if you only mastered two.

Before Sang Hong could answer, Sang Qian's sarcastic voice cut in: "Someone who got rich overnight from the lower ranks truly lacks basic knowledge, only indulging in unrealistic fantasies. Different elements react violently; they conflict if you're not careful. How could anyone awaken multiple elements simultaneously?"

Zu'an ignored him, directly putting his arm around Zheng Dan's soft waist beside him. "Come here, wife, give me a hug," he said.

In front of so many people, Zheng Dan's face turned beet red with embarrassment. She quickly pushed him away, even playfully hitting him a few times with her small fists.

Sang Qian flew into a rage. "How preposterous!" he thought. "How dare he hug my wife right in front of me?"

Sang Qian's rage spiked by 1024 points!

Just as he was about to burst out, Zu'an pointed to his and Zheng Dan's new wedding robes. "You should pay attention to our current identities," he said. "What's wrong with me hugging my own wife?"

Sang Qian's breath hitched. He then remembered their earlier plan of substitution; in everyone's eyes, he was currently Zu'an.

These two groups were clearly fierce and targeting Zu'an. Anyone else unrelated would surely be eliminated. Thinking this, he decided it was better to remain Zu'an for a while longer and ensure his survival.

Survival was paramount; he would tolerate other matters for now and see who had the last laugh.

The only thing causing him doubt was that Qiu Honglei knew him. He wondered if the Night Elves had discerned his true identity from their previous conversation.

However, seeing Zu'an smugly holding Zheng Dan, the jealousy in his heart still surged.

Sang Qian's rage continued to climb: +516, +516, +516...

At this moment, Sang Hong cleared his throat. "The world is vast," he said, "and it's not impossible for dual-element users to exist. However, perhaps due to my limited knowledge, I haven't encountered one yet."

Hearing even him say this, Zu'an figured the probability of dual-element awakeners existing was low. After all, Sang Hong was an eighth-rank cultivator who had held important positions in the capital and was thus very knowledgeable.

If he could master all elements like the protagonists in those novels he used to read, he could annihilate any enemy in this world.

As soon as this thought arose, Zu'an felt a little dejected. Forget mastering all elements; after reaching the fifth rank, he hadn't even awakened a single elemental ability. It was just that frustrating.

Just then, the situation on the field changed. With a soft chuckle, Qiu Honglei suddenly tossed a pale yellow lantern into the sky. The lantern automatically floated high above, and although it looked incredibly faint, as if it could be extinguished by the wind at any moment, its light enveloped the entire area.

The faint yellow light looked warm, but when it fell upon the Night Elves, it sent a chill down their spines.

Their originally invisible and formless movements were now exposed under this yellow light. Faint, blurry human figures vaguely appeared, and while not perfectly clear, it was enough for masters.

What shocked the Night Elves even more was that the light seemed to hinder their movements. They were known for their speed, but under the yellow glow, they felt as if they were stuck in quicksand, their speed instantly slowing.

The Eight Wandering Immortals seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack. Soon, one Night Elf was struck by lightning and turned to charcoal. Another was frozen into a statue and then shattered by a single punch, without a single drop of blood spilled. Yet another screamed in agony as they were consumed by fire, their piercing cries sending shivers down the spines of everyone in the carriage.

"That lantern..." Sang Hong murmured, gazing thoughtfully at the lantern in mid-air.

Zheng Dan's expression was complex. She had been observing Qiu Honglei and noted that their cultivation levels were roughly equal, but with that lantern, she knew she would likely be no match for her.

Sang Qian, meanwhile, was utterly shocked. He couldn't imagine that the infinitely charming courtesan from Immortal Residence could be so powerful, controlling so many Night Elves alone. He knew these Night Elves were at least sixth-rank, any one of whom could kill him.

At this moment, the Night Elf leader suddenly drew a bow. The bow was uniquely shaped and entirely dark green. He drew an arrow, nocked it, and shot it towards the lantern in the sky.

Their previous arrows had been pitch black, but this one glowed with a blue-green light. It was faster than before, striking the lantern in mid-air almost the instant it was released.

The lantern in mid-air trembled, burst into a ball of light, and simultaneously emitted a piercing screeching sound, as if it were the lantern's wail.

Immediately after, the lantern dimmed, unable to remain aloft, and plummeted downward.

Below, Qiu Honglei coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. Clearly, the lantern was intrinsically linked to her life force, and she had suffered a severe injury.

On the other side, without the lantern's control, the Night Elves instantly regained their vitality.

The Night Elf leader then aimed his bow and arrow directly at the heavily injured Qiu Honglei. It was clear that several of his companions had just died because of her, and he no longer cared about showing mercy.