The sun was about to set behind the western mountains, casting a crimson glow across the sky and painting the ground in hues of red.
On the ground, a pool of sweat that hadn't yet dried reflected the fading light. Its owner, Lucas, was practicing the final move of the Rain of Stone Spear Technique—"The Gathering Storm."
The Rain of Stone Spear Technique earned its name because it allowed the wielder to wield a heavy, rock-like spear with incredible speed and precision, striking like a sudden storm, leaving opponents with no chance to defend.
"The Gathering Storm" was the essence of this spear technique. After a brief moment of gathering strength, the user would unleash a flurry of hundreds of spear strikes in an instant. The key lay in the word "approaches" rather than "arrives." The user had to be able to control the strikes with precision, retracting them at will, to truly master its essence.
"Not quite there yet."
Zhongli stood in front of Lucas, her expression calm and composed. "If you can't hit me with this final move, you can't be considered to have mastered the technique."
That's right. Zhongli had agreed that if Lucas could successfully land the final move, "The Gathering Storm," on her, she would consider him to have mastered the spear technique.
However, given Zhongli's martial prowess, even if Lucas used his most skilled techniques, he might not gain any advantage, let alone with a spear technique he had just learned.
"Damn it..." Lucas gritted his teeth. "This test... is way too hard, isn't it?"
In truth, if Lucas were to fight with all his strength, disregarding the consequences, he could at least reach the level of a demon god, enough to make even a deity take him seriously.
But Zhongli was one of the top-tier gods among the Seven Archons. Moreover, the geo spear Lucas was wielding was a specially crafted "training spear" made by Zhongli. It was incredibly heavy, more like a giant stone club than a spear.
Even a strong man would find it difficult to lift, let alone wield it with the lightness and agility required for the Rain of Stone Spear Technique.
"The sun is about to set," Zhongli continued. "are you planning to give up?"
Before Lucas could answer, Xianyun suddenly walked up to him, holding a piece of paper. She waved it in front of his face, and instantly, the seemingly exhausted Lucas was revitalized, as if injected with a shot of adrenaline.
"Let's go!"
With a single hand, Lucas lifted the massive geo spear, pointing it at Zhongli, his fighting spirit blazing. "I'm coming at you!"
Zhongli, though unaware of what had just happened, naturally wouldn't back down from a challenge. She nodded and said, "Give it your all. Hold nothing back!"
"The Gathering Storm!"
Lucas took a step forward, the force of his movement cracking the stone pavement beneath him. His arm muscles bulged, veins popping as the heavy spear became as light as a feather in his hands. The chaotic spear strikes came at Zhongli like a raging storm.
The speed was so fast that the spear's blade left afterimages in its wake. To an onlooker, it would seem as if dozens of spears were striking simultaneously.
Even the highly skilled Xianyun couldn't help but silently applaud. "Though his strength may not match, the sheer momentum already rivals the Geo Archon's legendary battles against the demons."
Zhongli was momentarily stunned but quickly regained her composure. She nimbly dodged the barrage of spear strikes. While "The Gathering Storm" was devastating in its destructive power, it also consumed a tremendous amount of stamina.
As a god, Zhongli could use such techniques without concern, but mortals had their limits, especially when wielding such a heavy spear.
Though Zhongli's dodging was becoming increasingly strained, she assumed Lucas could only maintain this onslaught for a few seconds at most.
However, Lucas only grew more ferocious, his strikes increasing in speed and intensity. Even the usually unflappable Zhongli began to struggle, her breathing becoming slightly labored.
"As expected of my master, you're truly amazing..." Lucas, his face flushed with excitement, grinned wildly. "In that case, try this! The Gathering Storm... PLUS!"
With that, he summoned an ice spear in his other hand, wielding both spears simultaneously. The already overwhelming barrage of strikes doubled in intensity!
Taking advantage of Zhongli's momentary surprise, the ice spear shot toward her chest. With a rip, her robe was torn, but the ice spear shattered into fragments upon contact with her divine body, scattering into the air like snowflakes.
At the same time, the sun finally dipped below the horizon, disappearing into the sea.
"It seems... I've won."
Lucas wore a weak smile, his face pale from exhaustion. "I definitely... hit you."
He had held nothing back, though he knew deep down that even his full strength likely couldn't harm Zhongli.
"To think..." Zhongli stared at the tear in her robe, murmuring, "You actually pulled it off. This time, you've truly won."
"Great..."
As soon as Lucas finished speaking, his legs gave out, and he collapsed forward. Zhongli stepped forward without hesitation, catching him in her arms.
Strangely, though Zhongli's body was hard enough to shatter an ice spear on contact, it now felt soft and comforting, cushioning Lucas's fall.
"He's passed out from exhaustion," Xianyun observed, stroking her chin. "No wonder. He was already at his limit, yet he forced himself to use such a reckless technique. An ordinary person might have died from the strain."
"Still, I never expected him to go this far," Zhongli said, looking down at Lucas, who was breathing steadily in her arms. She then turned to Xianyun, curiosity in her eyes. "What did you show him earlier? Was it some kind of talisman to boost his potential?"
"A talisman to boost potential?" Xianyun mused. "Well, you could say that. Here, take a look for yourself."
She handed the piece of paper to Zhongli. On it was a design for the outfit Xianyun had been working on earlier. However, compared to the previous design, this one was far more revealing. The slit in the skirt was higher, and the neckline had been lowered by several centimeters.
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Author's Note: AHHhh sorry for delay guys, I'll make up for it today