A cacophony of ringing metal sounded throughout the desert wastes. Whirling sand filled the air, and a series of rapid sparks could be seen flashing inside the sandstorm's depths.
Ryker skid backwards atop a large dune, brandishing his staff amidst the raging sands. With his new Golden Core realm cultivation, he could put up a barrier around himself that kept out things like dirt and rain, so the sandstorm didn't affect his vision much.
He didn't really have time to appreciate this fact, however, as a black streak of fire came crashing down upon him, forcing him to jump out of the way as the flame turned the dune he was standing on to glass. Even as he dodged, he hastily struck out with his staff, catching Zhou Jie's blade just as he slashed for his neck.
His attack thwarted, Zhou Jie disappeared back into the whirling sands, but Ryker knew it was only a matter of seconds before he went on the offensive, once more.
