After Xu Qingtong placed the Jade Talisman in the recess, the phantom appeared again, raising its hand to cast a Green Vines Technique that coiled toward him.
Xu Qingtong was ready. Forming a Mudra with both hands, he conjured a Fire Dragon that instantly entwined the Green Vines.
Then he changed his Mudra, sending a strand of Green Vines coiling toward the phantom.
The phantom summoned the Star Plucker Sword and slashed at the Green Vines.
Everything went just as Xu Qingtong had expected, and a faint smile appeared on his face. His hands kept forming Mudras, bringing forth strand after strand of Green Vines that coiled relentlessly toward the phantom.
The phantom likewise kept forming Mudras, sending out Fire Dragons that tangled with Xu Qingtong's Green Vines.
At this point, Xu Qingtong could probably have ended the battle quickly by unleashing stronger methods, but he did not. First, doing so would make the later trials harder to pass. Second, he wanted to challenge himself-to test his combat prowess and adaptability against an opponent at the same level!
With this in mind, Xu Qingtong began considering how to defeat his own phantom without resorting to stronger methods.
He cast faster and faster, unleashing spells like flowing water. Though their offensive power was weak, they kept the phantom scrambling to respond.
As he cast his spells, Xu Qingtong watched the phantom with his full attention, searching for a fleeting opening.
Finally, after battling the phantom for an incense stick's worth of time, Xu Qingtong seized an opportunity. His Green Vines Technique slipped past the opposing Fire Dragon's coils and bound the phantom fast. Then the Star Plucker Sword pierced its heart.
Xu Qingtong glanced at the phantom as it shattered and vanished. Rather than heading straight to the fourth layer, he