After immersing himself in the Scripture Pavilion and studying a vast number of manuals, Lin Tian felt that his understanding of the Profound Mysteries of the Laws of Fire had deepened further. Once he was done, Lin Tian went to Laun's residence to find Porter and Laun.
When Lin Tian arrived at Laun's residence, Porter and Laun were drinking tea and chatting in the courtyard. Seeing Lin Tian approach, Laun revealed a gratified smile. "Lin Tian, you're here. After this period of comprehension, your understanding of the profound mysteries must have risen to another level."
After respectfully bowing, Lin Tian said, "Teacher Laun, I truly benefited greatly this time. I gained many new insights into the Profound Mysteries of the Laws of Fire."
A glimmer flashed through Laun's eyes. "Excellent. But knowledge gained from books always feels shallow; only actual combat can truly test your comprehension. Why don't we spar? I also want to see your current strength, and perhaps you can gain even more from battle."
Lin Tian readily agreed. "Then I ask for your guidance, Teacher."
Porter, standing nearby, grew interested as well. "In that case, I'll join in too and exchange a few moves with you. These old bones of mine want to see just how far you little fellow have grown."
The three arrived at an open training ground. Even the surrounding air seemed to grow scorching hot in anticipation of the coming battle. As a fire-element warrior, Porter launched the first attack. He moved like lightning, appearing before Lin Tian in an instant. His longsword burst into blazing flames and, carrying immense battle qi, stabbed toward Lin Tian like a crimson bolt of lightning. This strike contained Porter's unique understanding of the Profound Mysteries of the Laws of Fire. The flames along the blade danced and roared, attempting to devour Lin Tian.
Lin Tian remained calm. He could sense the power of the strike, yet felt no fear. Just as the sword was about to pierce him, he shifted slightly aside, deftly evading Porter's attack like a wisp of smoke. At the same time, he extended his right hand and condensed a ball of flame, flinging it at Porter along a strange trajectory. The flame seemed casually thrown, yet flew precisely toward Porter's sword, attempting to disrupt the rhythm of his attack.
Porter silently praised Lin Tian's swift reaction. With a flick of his wrist, his longsword traced an arc through the air, changing direction as it slashed toward Lin Tian's palm. At the same time, the battle qi around him erupted even more fiercely. Flames spread along the blade, forming a wall of fire that surged toward Lin Tian.
Lin Tian did not retreat. His gaze was resolute as magic power flowed through his body. Flames rose around him, making him seem as though he had merged with fire itself. Suddenly, he flashed forward and charged straight into the wall of fire. Within it, parts of Lin Tian's body transformed into Fire Element, allowing him to weave cleverly through the flames and evade Porter's attack.
Laun watched from the side in great astonishment. He knew well that partially transforming one's body into an element was not something an ordinary Saint Domain expert could accomplish. Lin Tian must possess an extremely profound understanding of the Fire Element Mystery. Seeing Lin Tian handle Porter's attack with such ease, Laun felt deeply moved.
Then Laun, as a Fire Saint Magus, joined the battle as well. His hands rapidly formed seals as he chanted, "Fire Element, heed my summons. Gather into the power of destruction—Explosive Meteor!" In an instant, several enormous burning meteors appeared in the sky and crashed down toward Lin Tian with howling force. Each meteor contained immense magic power, and the air warped and twisted from the heat wherever they passed.
Feeling the tremendous pressure descending from the sky, Lin Tian did not dare to be careless. He continued to contend with Porter while dealing with Laun's magical attacks. Concentrating his mind, he once again used the Fire Element Mystery. His body moved with the agility of flame, freely weaving through the gaps between the meteors. At the same time, he did not forget to retaliate. His hands swung repeatedly, sending streak after streak of fiery sword qi toward Porter and Laun. The sword qi sliced through the air, leaving behind blazing trails.
Seeing that Lin Tian could still respond with ease under such ferocious attacks, Porter gained a new understanding of his strength. He shouted, driving his battle qi to its limit, and his entire body seemed to transform into a massive torch. He unleashed his signature move—Flame Dragon Slash. A giant dragon condensed from flames flew from his sword, roaring as it charged toward Lin Tian. The flame dragon was lifelike, its flames seeming capable of incinerating everything.
Laun refused to be outdone. Immediately afterward, he cast Flame Prison. Countless flames surged from the ground, rapidly surrounding Lin Tian and forming an enormous flaming cage. The flames within the prison churned continuously, trying to trap Lin Tian inside as the cage gradually shrank, intending to scorch him.
Caught between the two attacks, Lin Tian nevertheless remained calm. He knew that he could not panic at a time like this; he had to find a way to break the situation. He closed his eyes and sensed the movement of the surrounding fire elements, silently communicating with the Fire Element. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a trace of determination flashing within them. The flames covering his body blazed brilliantly as parts of him once more transformed into Fire Element, merging with the surrounding flames.
Within the Flame Prison, Lin Tian's body darted about like a phantom, and he easily neutralized the attack of Flame Dragon Slash. Taking advantage of the instant when the Flame Prison contracted, he found a weak point. His body transformed into a streak of fiery light and burst out of the prison.
Immediately afterward, Lin Tian launched a counterattack. He danced his hands, and in an instant, countless fiery blades appeared in the air and flew toward Porter and Laun. These blades were incredibly fast and contained powerful magic force. Wherever they passed, the air was cut apart with hissing sounds.
Porter and Laun hurriedly used defensive measures. Porter raised his longsword, and battle qi formed a sturdy fire shield before him, blocking most of the fiery blades. Laun, meanwhile, cast Flame Barrier, protecting himself within it. However, Lin Tian's attack did not end there.
He once again used the Fire Element Mystery, his body becoming like a burning flame as he rushed toward Porter. The instant he drew near, parts of his body transformed into Fire Element, passing directly through Porter's fire shield and appearing before him. Porter was startled and hurriedly swung his sword to block. But Lin Tian's attacks came crashing down like a violent storm. He skillfully used the characteristics of the Fire Element to make his attacks even more unpredictable.
At the same time, Laun continuously cast magical attacks from the side, attempting to interfere with Lin Tian's movements. Yet Lin Tian seemed to have complete awareness of everything around him. While fighting Porter at close range, he nimbly evaded Laun's magic.
The battle continued for some time. Porter and Laun used every method at their disposal, yet they could not do anything to Lin Tian. In the end, the three stopped fighting.
Porter looked at Lin Tian, his eyes full of admiration. "Lin Tian, you little fellow, your strength has truly made me see you in a new light. In that battle just now, your use of the Fire Element Mystery was simply extraordinary. You could even partially transform your body into an element. You may already have reached the limit of the Saint Domain."
Laun nodded as well. "That's right. I have never seen a Saint Domain expert so proficient in the Fire Element Mystery. Lin Tian, your understanding of the profound mysteries far surpasses those of the same rank. Given enough time, becoming a god will not be particularly difficult for you."
Lin Tian said modestly, "Grandfather and Teacher Laun praise me too highly. I also gained a great deal from this battle. Through actual combat, my understanding of the Fire Element Mystery has deepened further, and I have come to understand that there are still many areas in which I need to improve."
Porter encouraged him. "Lin Tian, keep working hard. With your talent and your comprehension of the profound mysteries, your future accomplishments will be limitless. Do you still want to find more people to fight? Since we're at Fire God Mountain now, I can find some Saint Domain experts of comparable strength to spar with you."
Thinking of what he had gained in battle, Lin Tian said, "Is that possible? Then I'll have to trouble you, Grandfather."
Porter patted his chest. "No problem. Do you have any requirements for your sparring partners?"
Lin Tian replied, "If possible, Saint Domain experts who have comprehended the Profound Mysteries of the Laws of Fire would be best. I want to witness different applications of the Profound Mysteries of the Laws of Fire."
Porter laughed heartily. "There aren't many Saint Domain experts at Fire God Mountain who comprehend the profound mysteries of other laws, but there are plenty of fire-element Saint Domain experts. Come on, follow me."
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