Word Count: 2,777 Words
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Xiao Yan did not hold back when faced with Nalan Yanran's attack. The Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand suddenly flared up with bright flames, emitting a resonant hum. Two streams of black and white light shaped like twin fishes rushed out from his body in an instant, engulfing his figure as they swirled around him in a yin-yang pattern.
As these black and white lights circled, the Heavy Xuan Ruler split into two halves: one radiated a majestic, dazzling white flame, while the other emanated a pitch-black glow akin to a bottomless abyss.
With his Flame Mantra having reached the Low Tian Class, Xiao Yan's control over fire had long since reached the pinnacle, especially with Heavenly Flames. He could switch between them with ease, achieving seamless transformations.
He could even incorporate the unique properties of Heavenly Flames into his Dou Techniques.
The First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shui, felt a shock upon seeing this. Being rather discerning, he could tell at a glance that the Heavy Xuan Ruler in Xiao Yan's hand, now split into black and white, was no ordinary sight. How could he not be deeply moved?
"You're still relying on your same old repertoire. Haven't you improved at all?" Xiao Yan chuckled. Then, without warning, he unleashed a powerful slash. The flame waves of his Flame Splitting Tsunami turned black and white as they rushed toward the sword light that Nalan Yanran had thrust out.
The black and white flame waves formed a gigantic crescent slash the moment his words fell. Although Nalan Yanran's sword strike pierced through the air quickly and fiercely, her Wind's Peak: Dazzling Sunset was, after all, only a High Xuan Class Dou Technique. When faced with Xiao Yan's Flame Splitting Tsunami, it could only resist for an instant before being swallowed up.
After swallowing her sword light, the flame torrent transformed into twin dragons of black and white. Endless brilliance poured down from the sky like a heavenly sword, bearing the might to slice clean through mountains.
Not to mention a mere Dou King, even a peak Dou King or a low-star Dou Emperor would find it difficult to withstand this strike.
Nalan Yanran took action once more upon seeing Xiao Yan break her technique so swiftly.
"Wind's Peak—Killer Meteorite!"
The energy of the world surged wildly in that instant. This 'Killer Meteorite' had clearly reached the Di Class. For a moment, there was neither Nalan Yanran herself nor her Cloud Slaying Black Sword—only the flash of sword light.
She seemed to merge completely with her attack, making everyone's hearts leap. That split-second sword light pierced through the broad wave of the Flame Splitting Tsunami!
Indeed, the Flame Splitting Tsunami had a weakness: its large area of attack. One could break through by striking a single critical point.
Over the past two years, Nalan Yanran had clearly devoted much time to analyzing how best to shatter Xiao Yan's Di Class Dou Technique.
Were he at the same level as two years ago, having made no progress and still depending on the same move, Nalan Yanran might very well have turned the tables.
Her sword thrust came, directly striking the weakest point of the Flame Splitting Tsunami. In the blink of an eye, Nalan Yanran had captured this nearly imperceptible weak point with incredible speed.
Even Xiao Yan was a little taken aback at her swiftness. As expected of wind-attribute Dou Qi; in terms of speed, it was undeniably number one.
Her speed was the greatest among those of the same level that he had ever seen. Moreover, the Misty Cloud Sect's Dou Techniques and Qi Methods placed great emphasis on speed. The swiftness of her sword was such that time seemed to stand still.
With a 'puff,' the sword pierced through the Flame Splitting Tsunami and thrust straight toward his chest.
This sword pierced into Xiao Yan's body, but a smug smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Zzt! Zzt!
His body fizzed with lightning, rapidly turning illusory before disappearing.
Three Thousand Lightning Movement!
"I haven't been standing still either."
Though Xiao Yan had only cultivated the Three Thousand Lightning Movement to the second level, Instant Lightning, and despite Nalan Yanran's naturally high spiritual perception, he had managed to deceive her. The moment she pierced through the Flame Splitting Tsunami, he had already set up a lightning clone to fool her senses.
The sudden appearance of this lightning clone made Nalan Yanran's expression change drastically! After all, Xiao Yan hadn't even cultivated the Three Thousand Lightning Movement two years ago.
"Let's see how you break it this time!" Xiao Yan's voice came from behind her.
Nalan Yanran was greatly startled and turned to look. The muscles on Xiao Yan's arms were bulging as the Ten Thousand Beast Flame strengthened his body, elevating his physical strength by a large margin to the terrifying level comparable to a Rank 6 magical beast.
The simplest and most direct heavy strike! No Dou Technique, just a quick, heavy blow.
Once the Ten Thousand Beast Flame emerged, its power could crush mountains and rivers!
He swung the Heavy Xuan Ruler down from above. In Nalan Yanran's eyes, that massive ruler became a towering mountain threatening to swallow her whole. Its sheer weight alone did not need Dou Techniques—it could simply pulverize anything beneath it, making even the earth quake.
Her face changed drastically. She instantly shrouded herself in a swirling wind barrier, then raised her sword to block.
BOOM!
An immense force that Nalan Yanran had never felt before transmitted through the Cloud Slaying Black Sword. Even with the sword's exceptional quality, it still bent under the strain.
Whoosh!
Nalan Yanran, like a meteor, slammed from the sky into the ground below, causing a deafening crash. The earth broke open and grit spewed in all directions as dust billowed everywhere.
"Senior Sister Nalan!!!"
"Quick, go save Senior Sister Nalan!"
Meanwhile, in the Xiao Clan's courtyard, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, along with their father Xiao Zhan, couldn't help but shake their heads.
"Third Brother is still so ruthless," Xiao Ding slowly shook his head.
"Hahaha, that's our Third Brother, all right! How does this guy cultivate? He's improved so quickly," Xiao Li laughed heartily. Having been in the Misty Cloud Sect all along, he and Xiao Ding naturally knew that Nalan Yanran cultivated diligently every day, and her strength was unrivaled among those of the same level.
However, the invincible female swordmaster was completely suppressed whenever she encountered Xiao Yan.
Xiao Zhan sighed. He was speechless toward this son of his who didn't know how to be gentle with women. Now, with Xun Er gone back to her clan and that relationship uncertain, how was he supposed to have a grandchild anytime soon?
From Xiao Zhan's standpoint, he naturally hoped to follow his father's last wish.
Back on the battlefield, a violent whirlwind swept aside the dust hanging in the air. It ground rubble into powder, sending shards of rock flying like shrapnel with a series of whooshing sounds.
Nalan Yanran stood visible within the huge crater, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth. In the past two years, she had fought many battles on the border and dispatched numerous Dou King invaders from the three nearby empires—often cutting them down with a single sword stroke.
None had been as powerful as Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan saw her unconvinced expression and smiled. "Don't feel too discouraged. If this were at Jia Nan Academy, you'd probably rank second in the Inner Academy."
[○｀Д○]
Nalan Yanran's cheeks puffed as she bristled. Is that supposed to be encouraging?
"Then you'd only be third!"
Clang!
Her Dou Qi surged madly throughout her body all at once. Winds howled and clouds churned as the energy of the world behind her turned chaotic. Even though she hadn't made a move yet, one could already feel an absolute killing intent. Under this sword strike, all living beings would tremble!
Wind's Peak Ultimate Sword Technique—One Sword Shocks the Venerate!
Legend had it that when Yun Po Tian roamed the Central Plains, he once used a self-created sword technique as a Dou Ancestor. A single sword stunned the observing Dou Venerates, leaving them in awe.
The earlier two sword moves of Wind's Peak were merely a buildup, paving the way for this ultimate technique.
Even Xiao Yan couldn't help but furrow his brow upon sensing Nalan Yanran's overwhelming power. This was definitely not an ordinary Low Di Class Dou Technique. Based on the numerous Dou Techniques he had cultivated, this move had probably reached High Di Class!
'A Dou Venerate's inheritance... Even if it's only a 1-star Dou Venerate, having a High Di Class Dou Technique is perfectly normal.'
The moment a High Di Class Dou Technique erupted, the sky darkened over Misty Cloud Mountain. Thick black clouds roiled overhead, making it appear from afar as though the entire Misty Cloud Sect was enveloped by a storm.
"What's happening?!"
"Is the Misty Cloud Sect in trouble again?!"
In the Jia Ma Imperial Palace, Yao Ye—who was busy collecting medicinal ingredients—cast her gaze toward the distant Misty Cloud Sect.
"Good heavens, that girl Nalan Yanran has truly inherited the complete legacy of Yun Po Tian!" Even Jia Xing Tian beside her showed a shocked expression. He knew this was due to a powerful Dou Technique.
"Who is she fighting? Who could force her to this extent?" Yao Ye asked with a frown.
Jia Xing Tian could only give a wry smile as he replied, "Who else could it be?"
Witnessing how much effort Nalan Yanran was pouring in made Xiao Yan decide to respond in kind. Stowing away the Heavy Xuan Ruler, he muttered under his breath, "A Dou Venerate's finishing move? I have one, too."
'Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique!'
As Xiao Yan's cold shout echoed in his heart, his hand seals suddenly solidified. His palm gripped tightly as a deep blue flame slowly rose from it.
This deep blue flame was naturally Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame. As it emerged, it rapidly expanded and writhed in a bizarre fashion. Moments later, it coalesced into a massive serpent-like flood dragon, roughly a hundred feet in length.
The Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique required controlling five flames that would manifest as a wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and dragon—five Fire Spirits combined to form a Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation of devastating power. Moreover, the more Heavenly Flame Fire Spirits used, the more terrifying the Flame Expelling Formation would be.
Based on Xiao Yan's cultivation time, even if he were a genius, he should only be able to condense one Fire Spirit and cultivate it to the first level. However, who said the Fire Spirits had to be condensed by oneself?
After condensing the first Fire Spirit, Xiao Yan's Flame Mantra circulated madly, and four flames instantly appeared from his Acceptance Soul.
A black cat, Yin-Yang twin fishes, a transparent python, and a Flame Demon Tiger.
Originally, the Ten Thousand Beast Flame had not reached the level of a Fire Spirit, but one must not forget that Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame Dou Technique, Beast Spirit Descent, could activate the residual beast spirits within the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, making them 'come alive.'
With Xiao Yan's current fire control ability, coupled with the Low Tian Class Flame Mantra and the 'cheating' method using four Fire Spirits, it was enough to meet the requirements of the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique. The condensation of five Fire Spirits was not too difficult for him.
If Di Class Dou Techniques could draw upon the energy of the world, then Tian Class Dou Techniques could create heavenly phenomena!
Xiao Yan could tell that Nalan Yanran's technique was a High Di Class Dou Technique because it produced a slight phenomenon.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
Strange phenomena occurred in the sky the instant the five kinds of Heavenly Flames transformed into Fire Spirits and appeared. The surrounding space suddenly fluctuated violently. The originally calm natural energy became extremely turbulent at this moment, as if drawn by some force. The entire Misty Cloud Sect seemed to have turned into an oven, evaporating moisture from plants and flowers.
Xiao Yan's figure was no longer visible. Instead, five colossal beasts loomed overhead like incarnations of ancient gods descending from the heavens!
Although the Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique was itself a High Di Class Dou Technique, merging five Heavenly Flames effectively lifted it to the Tian Class.
A genuine Tian Class Dou Technique!
It looked as though the Sun God himself had arrived, scattering the oppressive black clouds over Misty Cloud Mountain. The powerful wind pressure also vanished, leaving only some wind swirls around Nalan Yanran.
Each Heavenly Flame Fire Spirit was alive. Looking up from below, the five Heavenly Flame Fire Spirits seemed like ancient and mysterious beings, like Sun Gods residing in the Ninth Heaven!
The five Heavenly Flame Fire Spirits shook the land. Each was accompanied by an ancient and mysterious formation stance. They emitted terrifying and enigmatic auras, as if they were the rulers of the sky!
"Heavenly phenomena! You... is this a Tian Class Dou Technique?!" Nalan Yanran was utterly shocked. In truth, she hadn't fully cultivated the ultimate sword technique of Wind's Peak. Like Xiao Yan's Open Mountain Seal, she only had its form and couldn't unleash its true power.
Xiao Yan folded his arms across his chest and raised a brow. "You're not the only one making progress. I've grown stronger these last two years as well."
The grayish-white storage ring of Venerable Tian Huo gently vibrated when it sensed Xiao Yan using his signature Dou Technique.
There were differences even among Dou Venerate inheritances!
Clearly, comparing the signature moves of Venerable Yun and Venerable Tian Huo, Venerable Tian Huo's was superior!
Of course, this also had much to do with the cultivator.
If it had been Nalan Yanran from five years ago when she came to annul the engagement, even if she lost, she would have fought desperately. Two years ago, she would have as well, but now...
Clang!
She sheathed the Cloud Slaying Black Sword and slowly said, "I concede."
A hint of surprise appeared on Xiao Yan's face. Nalan Yanran conceding?
Xiao Yan was very confident in his fire control ability, so if Nalan Yanran continued to attack, he was sure he could control the power to avoid burning her to death.
But unexpectedly, she conceded directly!
Xiao Yan waved his hand and retracted all the Heavenly Flames. All the heavenly phenomena disappeared instantly.
Everyone in the Misty Cloud Sect couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Some disciples were so tense that they had forgotten to breathe.
"What terrifying Dou Techniques!"
"Truly worthy of being Grandmaster Xiao Yan, who once defeated Senior Sister Nalan. Such fire control ability is unparalleled in the world."
As Xiao Yan floated back down, Nalan Yanran took a slow breath to steady herself, then spoke without any excuses. "All right. What do you need me to do?"
She was genuinely curious. With Xiao Yan's strength, what could he possibly need her assistance with? The Nalan Clan was far inferior to the current Xiao Clan.
Xiao Yan perked up his ears and said in an exaggerated manner. "Hmm? Aren't you forgetting to say something?"
Nalan Yanran's pretty face instantly turned red. She stamped her foot, crossed her arms, and huffed, "Hmph! 'Young Master' your head! Don't push it!"
Seeing Nalan Yanran still displaying her spoiled young lady temperament made Xiao Yan chuckle. People were who they were; all sorts of personalities existed in this world.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Are you still in contact with Liu Ling?"
"Liu Ling...?" Nalan Yanran tilted her head, puzzled as to why Xiao Yan would inquire after him.
…
An hour later, in a forest at the border of the Jia Ma Empire, there stood an elegant and quaint bamboo house. A handsome young man was chopping firewood. It was Liu Ling, who had placed third in the Alchemist Grand Meeting years ago.
Suddenly, Liu Ling abruptly looked into the distance where Nalan Yanran, dressed in a moon-white long robe, was slowly walking over.
"Yanran! What brings you here!" Liu Ling tossed aside what he was doing and hurried over, eyes bright with excitement. Even if Nalan Yanran's expression remained cool as ever, he didn't seem to mind.
"I'm here to find Grandmaster Gu He."
She cast a glance at the obviously thrilled Liu Ling and felt more than a little helpless. She would not have come were it not for her 'Young Master's' task.