The tree of resonant power grew on, urged by Li Luo's power. It sprouted jade-green leaves that sparkled with a mystical light. Water resonant power trickled down the length of its trunk, absorbed into the tree.
Wood resonance and water resonance came together, xylem and bark.
The tree of resonant power's leaves wilted as quickly as they had grown. Soon, only the heart of the tree was left, sparkling with crystal sap within.
Within was a tremendous, condensed power.
Dual resonances!
One that was even more stable than the dual resonance slashes that Li Luo had just used.
Li Luo finally opened his eyes slowly, and he gave Wang Hejiu's squad a slow grin. He stretched out his hand, and the core of the tree flew up obediently. Wood shavings peeled away like magic, until a thick, jade-green arrow of wood was left in his hand.
His shortswords bit against each other, forming the silver-blue bow.
Notching the wooden arrow, Li Luo could feel his bow tremble, barely able to harness the power of its load.
"Seems like I need to upgrade the bow too…" Li Luo thought to himself. Regardless, he sighted down on the three stooges, who were looking at him with trepidation.
The winning hand.
"I can't believe we've been pushed this far…" Wang Hejiu said with a suffering expression. This battle had been many times harder than what he had expected. Li Luo should have crumbled before him and Duze Beixuan, but he had not. And now he had even brought out the dual resonances.
He felt like his second place ranking was a little shaky.
"Pull out the trump card. We're not too good at it yet, but we have no choice but to try. I know we were saving it for Qin Zhulu, but if we don't use it now, we might not even get out of this," Wang Hejiu said to his squad.
Both nodded soberly, seeing the truth of his words.
Qi Luozi started it, forest-green resonant power taking shape as vines that formed a stent-like tube with the diameter of a bowl.
It looked like a cannon's bore.
Wang Hejiu placed his hand on it, his poison resonant power flowing in.
Duze Beixuan matched him, his own resonant power mixing within. The cannon glowed, and Qi Luozi strained to contain the power within.
"No… more…" she said through gritted teeth. "Can't… hold… on!"
Wang Hejiu looked faint himself, swaying on the spot. He nodded vaguely to Duze Beixuan, and both slammed their hands onto the cannon.
"Venomous Kun Cannon!"
BOOM!
The cannon roared, spitting green sparks and a giant beam of resonant power. A sickly-green Kun appeared, its skin dripping with acid.
This was a masterpiece of a resonance art combination, its power an awe to behold.
"That's quite something…" Li Luo watched with some apprehension. Finally, he managed to stabilize his bow, and he let fly with his rough wooden arrow.
Weng!
A shrill twang reported off his bowstring as an emerald streak shot out.
The wooden arrow did not fly with any remarkable speed, soaring out at roughly the same speed as the other light arrows he had fired before. Yet behind its ordinary appearance was an overwhelming reservoir of power.
Li Luo's dual resonances!
Shoosh!
It looked like a stone from David's sling, soaring out towards the skull of Goliath—the Venomous Kun Cannon.
There was no colossal or epic reaction. The arrow silently whistled through the Kun, and its toxins dissipated along with the power.
Some light scarring could be seen on the arrow.
Shoosh!
The arrow punched through the Venomous Kun, emerging on the other end with a shaft looking much the worse for wear.
The dismay on the trio's faces was stark. Had their trump card failed to fully block Li Luo's arrow?
Just how perverse was this dual resonance crap?
The arrow could not hold its shape any longer, exploding in a colossal blast of resonant power a few feet away from the three.
They were caught up in the blast and were sent flying into the gorge walls. They all coughed up fresh blood, heavily wounded.
Li Luo shook his head weakly and sank down on a stone himself. He did not even have enough energy to lift a single finger.
The arrow had taken every last bit of energy out of him.
Wang Hejiu, Duze Beixuan, and Qiu Luo staggered to their feet with great difficulty, squinting at the unmoving Li Luo, equally spent.
"Let's go… while he's spent. Go!" Wang Hejiu said with great difficulty.
The three of them were in poor condition, not much better off than Li Luo. All thoughts of taking Li Luo's team were put away. Their goal now was just to protect their own points.
Surely Li Luo had no more strength to chase them, right?
Just protect their points. Call this a draw and save some face.
The three helped each other up and turned to leave.
Li Luo tried to laugh, but he only managed a weak splutter, his lips too weak to open properly. He and Xin Fu were out of commission, but surely their group could count to three?
Bai Mengmeng stood in the way of Wang Hejiu's squad, bright, liquid eyes staring at them and dainty rapier in hand.
Wang Hejiu stared at her, a lump in his throat rising until it felt like his Adam's apple was twice its size.
How could he have forgotten? The final member.
Ordinarily, she was not even worthy of their attention, but now the three were barely on their feet. She was invincible before them.
She bit her lip. "Well… hand over your badges, please. My hand normally trembles when I hit people, and I don't really want to risk hitting you in a critical spot."
Their faces soured.
Finally, Wang Hejiu took out their badges, tossing them down before Bai Mengmeng. A third of their points were now forfeit.
Bai Mengmeng put her hands together. "Thanks, thanks," she said fervently.
Her courtesies did nothing to improve their moods. They knew that a storm awaited them on the horizon—the dark wrath of their mentor, Shen Jinxiao. The days ahead were going to be bleak.