"Why did you reveal your true identity to me?" Eric asked, puzzled.


    "Because I feel a connection with you! I never hide anything from friends..." Xu Shenzhi replied warmly.


    Eric wasn''t particrly ttered, just nodded and asked, "You mentioned earlier that there are several others at your level. Who are they?"


    "Of course," Xu Shenzhi scoffed at Eric''s surprise, "In my Tianchao, there are three others at my level. But I only have a friendship with Zhang Sanfeng. The other two... Hmph, I can''t stand their hypocritical demeanor!"


    Eric sighed, "I used to think I was invincible, but now I realize there are at least four opponents who are formidable..."


    Hearing Eric''s self-talk, Xu Shenzhiughed mockingly, "Kid, are you getting conceited? Let me tell you, in the presence of me and my peers, you''re no match at all!"


    Seeing Eric''s skeptical expression, Xu Shenzhiughed, "How about we test it right here?"


    Eric agreed readily.


    "Come at me, I''ll stand here and let you strike!" Xu Shenzhi dered.


    Eric cast a Fire de spell at him.


    Xu Shenzhi smiled and remained still. As the fiery de approached, it seemed to be blocked and swallowed by something invisible, disappearing without a trace.


    Eric, surprised, cast another Fire de spell and observed closely. When the de was about a foot away from Xu Shenzhi, a sh of blue light appeared, and the spell waspletely converted into magical elements, dissipating into the air.


    It was the first time Eric had seen a martial artist convert a spell back into magical elements, a skill unique to high-level Archmages! It was truly astonishing!


    Shocked, Eric unleashed a "Tornado de".


    Under the continuous cutting of the tornado, a translucent blue qi shield appeared on Xu Shenzhi''s body. Every de that touched it was converted back into magical elements.


    After the Tornado de ended, Xu Shenzhi showed no signs of injury, not even a wrinkle in his clothes.


    Deciding to use the most powerful single-target attack in top-level magic, Eric cast Dimensional sh.


    This type of magic, which attacks a single target by tearing through space, is the most difficult to defend against. Eric had never seen it before in Celestia, and he was unsure if this "Zhang Sanfeng" could withstand it without flinching!


    Eric created a more than one-meter-long dark shadow in the air. When it reached Xu Shenzhi, a Tai Chi Yin-Yang diagram appeared out of nowhere and intercepted the Dimensional sh.


    To Eric''s surprise, the Dimensional sh disappeared silently, just like the previous Fire de and Tornado de.


    "Is this Tai Chi?" Eric asked.


    "Yes, this is the Tai Chi I learned from Zhang Sanfeng! Unfortunately, my temperament doesn''t suit this martial art, so I haven''t mastered its essence. Otherwise, with yourst move, I could also have dissolved it without changing my expression!" Xu Shenzhi exined.


    Even without mastering its essence, Xu Shenzhi''s skill was impressive. If it were the real "Zhang Sanfeng," Eric thought, he might not be able to harm him even with all his top-level magic.


    Noticing Eric''s expression, Xu Shenzhiughed like a sly fox, "How about it? As I said, you''re no match for me at all. You''repletely outssed..."


    His arrogant words made Eric snort, "Outssed? Hmph, if I wanted to escape, I doubt anyone could stop me!"


    Xu Shenzhi narrowed his eyes, smiling like a sly old fox. "Is that so? Let''s find out!"


    Eric''s expression turned cold as he prepared to use Blink, intending to leave the old man speechless.


    However, what happened next shocked him.


    "What''s going on? How can you also use high-level magic like Space Imprisonment?" Eric was perplexed.


    "Hehe..." Xu Shenzhiughed, "Do you magic users call this ''Space Imprisonment''? Yes, that''s quite urate! But this isn''t magic. It''s just a technique using the natural qi of the world that we canprehend at our level..."


    Eric was speechless. He hadn''t expected that this wasn''t Xu Shenzhi''s special skill but a shared skill among martial arts masters.


    Seeing Eric''s shocked expression, Xu Shenzhiughed like a cat that had stolen cream and said, "Kid, I came here today just to see how outstanding you, the younger generation, are. I also want to give you some advice: don''t create unnecessary animosity, or it will be even harder for you to achieve enlightenment... Alright, I won''t stay any longer. I have an appointment to chat with someone."


    Eric didn''t say goodbye to Xu Shenzhi because he was still in great shock!


    Eric''s current state of mind can be described as tumultuous.


    Since reaching mastery in magic, he has never felt fear until now. This feeling is especially strong when he has someone he cares about.


    Through the performance of Zhou Dian, who goes by the alias Xu Shenzhi, and his discovery using the "True Sight," Eric knows that someone of Zhou Dian''s caliber could easily kill him.


    This conclusion makes him extremely ufortable, and he even feels a sense of inexplicable loss.


    Of course, Eric is not doubting his magical abilities.


    He is confident that if he had the time to cast aplete Forbidden Curse, even someone as formidable as Zhou Dian would not be able to escape unscathed, and might even perish under the devastating power of the fire-based curse!


    Unfortunately, on Earth, casting aplete Forbidden Curse would take at least six to seven hours. During this time, even a mediocre individual could kill him on the spot.


    s, why can''t Forbidden Curses be prepared in advance with magic scrolls?... Then he wouldn''t have so many worries!


    Ignorance might be bliss, but once he knows that there is a threat to his safety in this world, Eric feels a sense of unwillingness.


    Therefore, instead of immediately returning to the Caisi Temple, he sits on the top of this small hill, bathing in the moonlight and the night breeze, pondering deeply.


    ...In elemental magic, due to external limitations, he can no longer improve.


    ...The mental magic of the fairy race could be studied! However, it might not be very useful, because the minds of Grandmaster-level experts are extremely powerful and present a very subtle and inward state. Although they cannot outwardly harm enemies, there is absolutely no problem in self-defense. With his current powerful mental strength, it would be difficult to even shake them, let alone harm them!


    ...It seems that only the strategy of overwhelming numbers will work! ording to Zhou Dian''s demonstrated strength, if thirty mature pre-heaven experts were to besiege him, Eric believes they could control him, or at least fight him to a standstill.


    Eric feels like he has found the right direction, but then, upon further thought, he is at a loss again.


    Pre-heaven experts are a rare breed. The Tan family hasn''t produced one in two hundred years. It is said that there are only one hundred and twenty-two confirmed pre-heaven experts in China.


    To find dozens of them to serve under him... that''s going to be difficult!


    Creating them?


    Well, it''s not impossible. After all, aren''t Tan Ailing and Tang Feiyan artificially created pre-heaven experts?


    However, he doesn''t have many Buddhist sariras on hand. Even with the most rational use, he wouldn''t have more than twenty.


    Oh, if only he could mass-produce pre-heaven experts! Like Lusien...


    ...Lusien? Right, he doesn''t necessarily need to create pre-heaven experts. Why not create dozens or even hundreds of Vampire Dukes?


    Hey, he should let Lusien gather some vampires... He might as well make him gather as many as possible! After all, the dark power overflowing from the dangerousnd in Shanghai is endless. He could create a thousand or more Vampire Dukes. Who else could threaten him then?


    With a n in mind, Eric returned to the Caisi Temple, unconcerned about disturbing themas who had been affected by Zhou Dian''s techniques, and went to sleep peacefully.