As Lin Yan entered the attack range of Fireball Gu, Huang Mo showed no panic—instead, a hint of delight flashed across his face. He activated Earth Trap Gu, a Rank 3 evolution of Sand Pit Gu. A wave of yellow light spread beneath his feet, sweeping across the arena.
Crack.
Lin Yan suddenly stepped into empty air, his body dropping into a deep pit. The surrounding earth walls pressed inward with immense force, the soil tightening and locking him in place. At the same time, clusters of Earth Fireballs condensed above and rained down, turning him into a fixed target.
Rumble!
Searing flames filled the pit, the explosions echoing continuously. Lin Yan's crimson-gold armor, though heavily reinforced, began to dim. The blazing surface lost its brilliance as layers of gray-white stone spread across it, sealing the flames within.
Yet he remained calm. "This is the fourth Rank 3 Gu… specifically meant to suppress close combat."
Even while injured, he raised his hand and activated Fireball Gu, blasting the surrounding earth. Amid the violent explosions, he forced his way out of the pit.
But the moment he emerged, more Earth Fireballs came crashing toward him. At the same time, Earth Trap Gu continued to trigger beneath his feet. If he used Walking Fire Gu to move, the fireballs would sink into the ground and turn into hidden traps. If he stood his ground, he would face relentless bombardment while being restricted by the earth itself.
For a time, Lin Yan was pushed into a corner. Huang Mo's voice rang out, cold and confident. "Surrender. Reaching this level with only Second Rank Gu is already impressive."
"Noisy."
Lin Yan's eyes flashed. In the next moment, he decisively withdrew the Borrow Fire Gu and the amplification from the Four Elements Gu Formation on his Fire Armor. Stepping on Walking Fire Gu, he dodged the overlapping traps and bombardment, shifting all enhancement onto Fireball Gu instead.
Seeing this, Huang Mo sneered. He calmly continued laying down Earth Fireball Gu, turning the battlefield around him into a dense minefield, waiting for Lin Yan to fall into it.
Then—his expression froze.
Roar, roar, roar!
As Lin Yan raised his hand, blazing flames surged from his body and shot into the sky, gathering rapidly above him. A fireball formed—at first the size of a head, then swelling to a millstone, and finally, as the crimson light of the Four Elements Gu Formation poured into it, expanding into a massive sphere nearly half a person in size. In the next instant, it shot forward like a blazing sun, the flames tightly compressed, carrying terrifying power, its speed overwhelming.
Huang Mo's expression changed drastically. He immediately activated Flying Earth Gu, his body shifting sideways at full speed. He managed to avoid the very center of the impact, but not the blast. A thunderous explosion erupted, shaking the entire training ground as the ground trembled violently and blinding light swallowed everything. The arena was engulfed in a rolling sea of fire, and waves of scorching heat surged outward, sending the surrounding temperature soaring.
The watching Gu Masters were drenched in sweat, their ears ringing as the crowd burst into chaos.
"Is that really a Second Rank Fireball Gu?! Even a Rank 3 lava fireball isn't this terrifying!"
"Is Huang Mo going to lose? Rank 3 defense might not hold against that… this attack is already at the peak of Rank 3!"
A moment later, as the sea of fire receded and the smoke cleared, a massive scorched crater was revealed. Beside it stood a middle-aged man, pale but completely unharmed.
The watching Gu Masters quickly reacted, their faces filled with shock and confusion. "What happened? What kind of defensive Gu could block that attack?"
Soon, Huang Mo's laughter rang out. "Fortunately, I have Rank 3 Flame Body Gu. It lets me temporarily turn into fire and avoid damage. Otherwise, that strike would have decided the battle."
At this moment, Lin Yan's primeval essence had been heavily consumed, and the Four Elements Gu Formation around him shifted into its green state, rapidly recovering his reserves.
His expression grew slightly serious. He had heard of Flame Body Gu before—it was one of the key materials for refining Rank 4 Fire Human Gu. It had no offensive power and relatively mild side effects. Once transformed into flame, as long as the fire itself was not extinguished, the user would not die, though it was more vulnerable to Water Path methods.
In essence, it was a powerful defensive Gu, capable of avoiding large amounts of damage instantly, and particularly effective against Flame Path attacks.
Lin Yan immediately understood Huang Mo's plan. Once enough Earth Fireballs were buried across the arena, they could be detonated all at once. The resulting power would be terrifying—even a Rank 4 Gu Master might not withstand it. Ordinary Rank 3 defense would be useless against such destruction. It was a method that could kill a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of one's own.
The Flame Body Gu was undoubtedly the best match for this tactic, allowing Huang Mo to avoid the final detonation while pushing the power of the Earth Fireball Gu to its limit.
At this point, Lin Yan couldn't help but acknowledge it—this was the strength of an experienced Rank 3 expert. Every Gu fit together, forming a complete system. Nothing looked extraordinary on its own, yet breaking it was extremely difficult.