Strength of Path at Elementary Understanding

  The first one to make a move was the older opponent, his attack was fast, ferocious yet precise. Despite being younger and supposedly lacking the experience his opponent has, Ryker was no slouch. 

  Using his sword, he was able to deflect most of the attack before giving his one-with-one Monkey Lord First, forcing the old man to put a qi barrier to block the attack. With the qi barrier giving some protection, the older man used his staff to hit Ryker, intending to pop his head like a watermelon.

  Ryker ducked under the staff before he unleashed a powerful sword wave, the same attack that destroyed nearly 15 bandits at the Genesis Foundation realm. However, this time his opponent is in the Genesis Core realm.

  The old man realized the power of the attack and forwent defense in favor of evasion. He ran as far as possible before putting some qi barrier to lessen the blow. The sword wave hit the qi barrier and left some cracks but that was the extent of the damage the attack did.

  Narrowing his eyes, Ryker moved closer and thrust at the old man, the old man barely avoided the quick attack but took the opportunity of their close distance to deal a blow at Ryker. The old man thrust his staff, Ryker twisting his body to avoid significant injury.

  Unfortunately, he was not able to escape unscathed. A glancing blow hit his shoulder, scrapping the skin until even the bones could be seen. Biting his lips to stop himself from screaming, he opts instead to observe his opponents.

Despite his opponent suffering some injuries, the old man's face was sour. He had intended to deal a more serious wound but his opponent's skill allowed him to escape relatively unscathed. And his opponent was merely at the 5th Stage Genesis Foundation realm. If he was stronger, would the outcome be different?

  'I have to kill him before he becomes a threat to the family!' the old man thought urgently to himself.

  Taking the chance of the old man suddenly stopping, he used Life Giving Mantra and absorbed the nearby life energy to expedite his healing ability. Seeing him trying to recover, the old man rushed towards him, Ryker avoided the blow before using the Monkey Lord Fist, the attack barely blocked by the old man using his staff.

  Seeing how he wasn't able to injure his opponent, Ryker began to get anxious. If he was fighting a lone cultivator he wouldn't feel the same way. But a force would have many people under it, so if he picked a fight against one unless he had a great advantage in terms of Cultivation realm, he would likely be worn out and defeated.

  The only reason he didn't flee is not only because doing so would compromise Solance's safety, but also because he believed the enemy wouldn't call for reinforcement. If the fact the elderly man were held up by a mere Genesis Foundation realm, his dignity and credibility would be shattered, his ability would be questioned.

  The only way he could save those is by killing him without any help. But if he gets desperate enough, the old man might call more experts to assist him. That was a dilemma he didn't know how to answer so he could only drag the fight out until he could find a way to win.

  Deciding to change his strategy, he shifted from regular qi to fire qi. Using the Burning Flame Mantra, he was able to turn his qi reserve to flame qi. Surprised by the flame, the elderly man retreated, unsure what the young expert in front of him would pull off.

  After all, he was able to hold him, a Genesis Core expert at the 5th Stage to a standstill with little injury. Ryker took the chance to unleash the Monkey Lord Fist, enhanced with his fire qi.

  The elder seeing the attack, decided to take the risk and came closer, his qi barrier had been raised to stop the attack. To both of their surprise, the first was able to break the barrier, the elder was barely able to retreat though a part of his clothes caught fire, forcing him to rip it off.

  Looking at his fist, Ryker wondered why it got so strong. He knew his strength, even if he enhanced it with his flame qi, it should only be able to push the enemy back, not destroy a qi barrier created by a Genesis Core expert.

  'Unless,' he thought to himself, looking at his Inner realm with more focus. Because it was his Inner realm, he was able to detect the small flame and the dark death cloud.

  'Are those two the reason my attack get so powerful? But what are they?' he asked himself before his eyes widened at one possibility. 

  'Does my mastery of both the Law of Fire and Death reach the Elementary Understanding?!' he thought. In that case, it makes sense his attack gets stronger after he infuses it with flame qi.

  He gave the elderly man a menacing smile, his chances of winning rising with the sudden increase in his ability. He circulates both the Burning Flame Mantra and Withering Death Scripture, causing some changes to happen to him.

  His right side caught fire, burning but didn't burn him. His left side unleashed a deathly aura, one could feel being so close to the gate of death by being so close to his left side.

  The elder couldn't help but feel threatened, the sudden change made him back off several steps. The realization of what he did caused him to be filled with shame, which turned to rage when he thought that a mere Genesis Foundation expert caused him to feel fear.

  "Die you brat!" he yelled, a more powerful punch aimed at Ryker, who looked calmly before swinging his sword, the sword wave he created infused with death aura. To the older man's shock and fear, the sword wave corroded his attack, wearing it down before his fist won in the end. 

  However, it was weakened so much a simple qi barrier blocked it easily. Not letting the chance, he throws a more powerful Monkey Lord Fist, pouring more flame qi, making the attack stronger.

  Seeing the attack and feeling the danger, the older man tried to run away while creating several qi barriers to protect himself. The attack didn't only break his qi barriers but sent him flying. When the older man stood up, readying himself to run away, he sensed a powerful aura.

  He turned to see the flame and death qi combining, performing some kind of union. The young man looked at him before swinging his sword. Seeing the power of the attack, the older man tried to flee, not even bothering to put up a defense, knowing it would be destroyed in seconds.

  He even burned his life essence, trying to put as much distance as possible. Unfortunately for him, it was not enough, the attack devouring him, making him feel like his body being both burned and drained of life.

  It lasted for a few seconds yet for him it felt like an eternity, his body destroyed in that instant. There were not even ashes left as the attack stopped, dispersing and creating a large gash in the area.