Ei and the Shogun, who were evenly matched, could fight for centuries at a time, but Li Qiuzhi had only sixty percent of Raiden Ei's strength. The gap was still quite large.
Naturally, he could not fight Ei for very long. After just an hour, he was easily defeated.
That was with Noelle's Friendship Skill, "Devotion Shield," in use. Ei's attacks were simply too powerful.
Even a careless graze could consume most of his shield's durability. A few direct slashes easily shattered his shield and knocked him to the ground.
Li Qiuzhi put away his weapon, panting slightly, fatigue showing on his face. It seemed this challenge had ended in failure, and his idea of cultivating together with Ei had fallen through.
"Not bad. Your strength exceeded my expectations a little!" Raiden Ei dispelled the Plane of Euthymia, and the two returned to the dimly lit Meditation Room.
"Oh? Does that mean you've acknowledged me?"
Hearing Ei's words, Li Qiuzhi hurriedly sat up and asked with a hint of anticipation.
"In your dreams." Raiden Ei folded her arms, clad in long, dark-purple sleeves, beneath her chest, where her snowy skin was partly exposed, and said with a faint smile:
"Come back to me about that when you can fight me without falling behind."
Fight you without falling behind? Li Qiuzhi looked at her helplessly.
It would take no small amount of time for him to gain strength comparable to Ei's and hold his own against her in battle.
Besides, it was precisely because he was leveling up slowly that Li Qiuzhi was trying to find a way to cultivate together with Ei.
By the time he could hold his own against Ei, it would no longer be so urgent. But he could not beat her, so Li Qiuzhi had no