Chapter 54 The Conflict between Water and Fire
Lu Yu naturally wasn't afraid either. Unlike his early days of cultivation when he was still inexperienced in magical combat, although he had only faced a few tough battles, his opponents were no ordinary figures.
In an instant, flames engulfed the entire sky, turning the azure heavens a shade of crimson. Lu Yu was not to be outdone; he sent towering waves crashing towards the flames.
Water and fire are merciless; the moment they met, steam rampaged wildly. The surrounding Heavenly Soldiers and monkeys frantically fled, none dared to linger at the center of the battle—it was an environment where inattention could cost one's life.
"Quick, get away, stay away from the battlefield!" they shouted to each other, reminding one another, surprisingly turning conflict into accord first.
The two combatants were completely focused on their opponent, utterly oblivious to the reactions of the people around them. From the start of the fight, both felt they had met a worthy opponent and exerted their utmost effort.
Although in terms of realms, Lu Yu and Third Prince Nezha were still a distance apart, although Five Qi Realm presented differentiation in the stimulation of the Five Qi Taoist Laws, there was no essential difference, hence the struggle within this realm relied more on the robustness of Mana, sophistication of Spells, and the capabilities of the Magical Treasures.
These factors were the key to determining the outcome; the biggest gaps between wild Cultivators and these so-called direct disciples were the variety of Spells and the profoundness of the Magical Treasures, which were vastly different.
However, these deficiencies weren't a problem for Lu Yu, as he was inherently a self-taught learner of the Heavenly Gate Foundation Establishment and the Boundless Sea Technique, which is known for accumulating robust power.
Having studied under the sage Bodhi, his perspective and insight were not much different from these third-generation disciples of the interpretation. Plus, being a transmigrator who excelled in creative thinking, he surpassed Nezha and others by a significant margin, which was why he was never much worse off in their numerous conflicts.
It had been a long time since Third Prince Nezha encountered an opponent like Lu Yu. As they fought, he became more exhilarated, unleashing Spells to transform into a being with three heads and six arms, wielding a Fire-tipped Spear, Heavenly Mixed Yarn, Qiankun Ring, Treasure Sword, and Gold Bricks as he attacked Lu Yu.
The Doppelganger Technique was something the monkeys could perform, and naturally, Lu Yu could as well. The Monkey's Taoist Laws were also based on legends that Lu Yu had speculated upon during his initial cultivation. In fact, anyone who cultivated to his realm lacked only the imagination for Taoist laws.
As long as there was a clear direction and feasibility, the study of Taoist laws wasn't as difficult as imagined. It was just that various experts kept the Spells they deduced as treasures, reluctant to show them to others, thus creating a scarcity of Taoist Laws.
However, Lu Yu didn't transform into the multi-limbed form because compared to Nezha and the monkeys, his body wasn't as suitable, and he didn't have as many Magical Treasures to wield, making the tactic less suitable for him.
As he blocked Nezha's offensive, with a mere thought, the giant waves at his feet suddenly manifested five replicas of Lu Yu who, along with his original form, collectively attacked Nezha. This technique was his newly developed Water Doppelganger Technique.
Furthermore, since his Treasure Vase had acquired a trace of Innate water vapor, the water it contained had become extraordinary. Using this water in the Doppelganger Technique allowed the replicas to temporarily possess the Mana of the original body.
With the miraculous Water Clones, Lu Yu swiftly pressed Nezha on the defensive. However, the great god of the Triple Tan Meeting in Heavenly Court, famous for his combative prowess, was not so easily handled.
Nezha, reinvigorated, showed no fear of the encirclement, fiercely breaking through left and right, gradually turning the situation around.
Lu Yu inwardly sighed in admiration of a well-deserved reputation, acknowledging that Nezha truly deserved his fame from the Divine Enthronement battles; such a combat spirit and determination were indeed rare. This battle shook the heavens and earth, and as they prolonged their attacks, neither could prevail over the other.
"Third Prince, did we have enough fun? Let's call it quits," suggested Lu Yu, taking advantage of Nezha's distraction to quietly leap out of the fray and use a Freezing Spell on him.
Nezha felt dizzy for a moment, but his body was not frozen because he was a Lotus Incarnation; the spell was meant to freeze the soul, so it was not very effective on him. Nevertheless, it bought Lu Yu a moment to speak.
"That was truly exhilarating, Lu Yu. I'll remember you. From now on, you are my friend Nezha. Whenever you face any difficulties, feel free to seek my help!" Nezha was not the type to hold petty grudges. The battle had forged a bond of mutual respect between them.
"It's a pity that Huaguo Mountain has been destroyed; I can no longer host you here," Lu Yu said with a rueful smile as he looked over the mess they had made of Huaguo Mountain.
Only then did Nezha really notice the extent of the destruction their duel had caused. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he quickly tried to lighten the mood with a laugh and took his leave with the reluctant Juling Shen, returning to the Heavenly Court.
As Lu Yu watched Nezha's departure, he turned to the gathered monkeys and declared, "Now, it's time for us to restore Huaguo Mountain."
Lu Yu summoned his divine powers, and suddenly a fierce wind rose and dense clouds gathered, filling the air with moisture. He called out the Treasure Vase, and a stream of divine water shot into the sky. Soon after, a torrential rain began to fall, demonstrating his powers to summon wind and rain.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
This rain washed away the bloodstains from the battle and extinguished the wildfires. Trees began to grow back, and the earth showed hints of green again. It was not long before the area regained some of its former charm, although the delicious Spirit Fruits would take time to grow back.
Even so, this brought tears of joy to the monkeys. Their homeland was starting to look a bit like its old self. Although much was still missing, at least their lives were no longer in danger, and they had all the time they needed to tend to their home, quietly awaiting the return of their Great King.
Seeing all this, Lu Yu also quietly heaved a sigh of relief. If he couldn't even protect this bit of foundation for the monkeys, he really wouldn't have the face to see them again.
As the monkeys celebrated with joy, the East Sea Dragon Palace, which was very close to Huaguo Mountain, also received news. The clash between Lu Yu and Nezha had literally shaken the heavens and the earth.
The East Sea Dragon King, Ao Guang, was sitting on his throne. Ever since Sun Wukong, that troublesome neighbor, had been taken to the Heavenly Court, he had finally breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that Sun Wukong might bear a grudge against him for complaining. Now the world finally seemed peaceful, and Ao Guang suddenly found everything around him beautiful.
However, before he could enjoy a few days of peace, he saw Huaguo Mountain erupt in a massive battle again. The fierce flames and towering waves shook the entire East Sea Dragon Palace, causing Ao Guang to hastily send someone to find out who exactly was involved in the battle.
Soon, an old turtle dressed in the attire of a Prime Minister hurried in.
"Great King, it has been found out that the individuals fighting at Huaguo Mountain were Third Prince Nezha and a human Scholar named Lu Yu!"
"Nezha? No wonder there was fire that scorched the heavens. It's that calamitous star's doing!" The Dragon Clan was naturally familiar with Nezha, a figure with whom they had deep-seated grievances, but the declining dragon race dared not mention it further.