Chapter 258: Battle Against Zi Yan

The Grand Elder slowly set Liu Qing down; Liu Qing looked at Xiao Yan standing at the center of the Guang Chang and let out a soft sigh, his heart a tangle of emotions.

The Grand Elder looked at the dejected Liu Qing and said softly, "What he has beyond you isn't just powerful Dou Techniques or Cultivation Methods—it's the reckless, life-threatening determination to pursue strength."

"Heavenly Flame—this Supreme Treasure of heaven and earth—isn't something you can obtain just by luck. Without enduring nine deaths and one life, Xiao Yan could never have possessed it; the dangers involved are likely beyond what ordinary people could endure."

Hearing the Grand Elder's words, Liu Qing's body trembled.

At this moment, heaven and earth fell utterly silent; the Inner Court's star, a prodigy of the age, had been defeated so easily—this outcome left everyone sighing.

Even the members of the Crack Mountain Gang and Liu Fei had nothing left to say.

Liu Qing had lost; apart from Zi Yan, no one in the Crack Mountain Gang—or the Inner Court—could stand against Xiao Yan, not even Lin Xiuya!

On the other side of the spectator seats, Yan Hao and the others stared at Lin Xiuya, who let out a faint sigh, shook his head, and said, "I'm confident I can defeat Liu Qing, but it would be a hard fight. Xiao Yan hasn't even used that sonic Dou Technique yet; honestly, I can't block his Earth Rank Advanced Grade Dou Techniques."

Lin Xiuya openly admitted it: right now, he truly couldn't defeat Xiao Yan—unless he broke through to Dou Wang, then perhaps he might.

Liu Qing had fallen into the Failure Group, defeated by a New Student who had only entered the Inner Court this year—this made many feel the world had changed.

Yet after the arena was repaired, what plunged everyone into another deathly silence was the next match.

Lin Xiuya versus Xiao Xun'er.

The entire match drew no cheers, no shouts, not even murmurs—because in their minds, this wasn't even worthy of being called a battle.

Xun Er used only ten minutes, employing her ethereal, elusive Body Technique and Dou Techniques to evade every one of Lin Xiuya's attacks; by the end, Lin Xiuya hadn't even touched her once, yet he was left battered and dusty from her counterattacks.

Even his hidden technique was dodged by Xun Er's mysterious Body Technique, and a single light palm strike sent him flying off the arena.

Even the Elders in the spectator seats fell into deathly silence; even the Elder with Dou Wang strength couldn't comprehend it.

"Sigh… people from that family are still terrifying; even Zi Yan might not be able to defeat her," the Grand Elder murmured, watching Xun Er's retreating figure as she walked slowly off the Guang Chang.

Zi Yan stared grimly at Xun Er, who descended the stage with a smile on her face; as a beast, her innate sense of danger told her this woman's power was terrifyingly formidable!

Seeing Zi Yan's wary gaze, Xun Er merely nodded slightly without speaking, walked up to Xiao Yan, bowed slightly, and smiled, "Brother Xiao Yan, how is my strength?"

Xiao Yan's eyelid twitched violently; the Body Technique Xun Er had just used was unfathomably profound—far deeper than Three Thousand Thundering Steps. Compared to Xun Er's Body Technique, Three Thousand Thundering Steps was garbage.

And if Xiao Yan hadn't misread it, the palm technique Xun Er used was surely the Mountain Splitting Seal that Ling Ying had employed against Yun Shan.

"How on earth did you manage to cultivate so many profound Dou Techniques?" Xiao Yan was most baffled by this—high-grade Dou Techniques are extremely hard to master; even just reaching the introductory stage takes years, even a decade, and without sufficient cultivation, you can't even begin.

It's not enough to simply possess an Earth Rank Advanced Grade Dou Technique—you can't just learn and perfect it. And for Xun Er to reach even minor or major mastery? That's impossible.

Otherwise, with all the Earth Rank Advanced Grade Dou Techniques in my Mysterious Ring, I'd already have cultivated a divine skill, not just picked out Ba Ji Bong and Flame Splitting Wave Ruler.

Only those two Dou Techniques have cultivation thresholds low enough for me.

Xun Er smiled gently. "A woman's secret."

The remaining matches of the Strong List Conference were simpler: the next day began with the final three spots among the top ten, contested in a free-for-all among the six who lost yesterday.

Without doubt, Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing emerged victorious; surprisingly, even Han Yue won from the free-for-all, barely securing tenth place.

The top seven were even simpler: determined by the Inner Court Elders and the Grand Elder based on performance in the first three rounds; if dissatisfied with your rank, you could challenge on the spot—if you won, you took their place.

Whether intentional or not, Zi Yan ranked first, Xiao Yan second.

"I object," Xiao Yan said immediately after the Grand Elder announced the rankings, slowly raising his hand.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the entire arena erupted in shock. If the second-place contender objects, there's only one possible answer!

The battle for first place!

Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and others stared at Xiao Yan in disbelief, as if he were a fool.

Everyone knew—even he himself knew—that Zi Yan was a Dou Wang, and had been one since last year's Strong List Conference.

Her true strength was unfathomable; even senior Dou Wang Elders were deeply wary of Zi Yan.

Xiao Yan, a Star Eight Dou Ling, challenging Zi Yan? It was impossible to imagine him winning.

The Grand Elder smiled faintly, glanced around, and asked, "Does anyone else object to their ranking?"

Everyone shook their heads; the top three were monsters—who dared challenge them?

"Then everyone else return to the spectator seats. Zi Yan and Xiao Yan, stay," the Grand Elder said, waving his hand solemnly.

"Brother Xiao Yan, good luck," Xun Er said as she left.

"Mm."

Zi Yan faced Xiao Yan; her two small pink fists collided with a metallic clang, and she grinned, showing her cute little fangs and dimples: "Little Yanzi, you've got guts."

Xiao Yan smiled, shook his head slightly, and said, "I've always had guts—but this isn't about guts. After being beaten by you for half a year, don't you think I deserve to land one punch back?"

Xiao Yan had known Zi Yan for half a year; though his rapid progress in Dou Techniques owed much to her sparring, he'd always been the one taking the hits—today, he'd finally turn the tables.

At this moment, every student in the Inner Court held their breath, eyes locked on the scene before them; these two were unquestionably beyond-normal beings in the Inner Court, and their battle would surely become legendary.

To witness the absolute limits of their skills, their most refined combat—this would be the finest lesson for the Young Generation, perhaps even granting them insight.

The moment the Grand Elder spoke, Xiao Yan made no reservations—he instantly unleashed his Secret Technique, roaring inwardly: "Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes—Beast Spirit Transformation!"

Instantly, the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Flame surged through his Meridians, his Spiritual Pressure exploding like a volcanic eruption, skyrocketing from Star Eight Dou Ling straight to Two-Star Dou Wang!

"Dou Wang!"

"That's Dou Wang Spiritual Pressure—Xiao Yan's Secret Technique is incredible!"

"That looks like a Secret Technique using Heavenly Flame—no wonder it breaks rank limits; ordinary Secret Techniques can't surpass major levels."

Seeing Xiao Yan unleash his full power, Zi Yan giggled, slammed her foot down with a BOOM—the ground of the Duel Plaza cracked in waves, and an invisible shockwave erupted from beneath.

"What kind of Dou Technique is this?!"

"That's not a Dou Technique—it's just that Sister Zi Yan's strength is too overwhelming!"

Zi Yan's full-power strike stunned everyone; even the Elders were startled—this was pure strength alone.

"Break!" Xiao Yan's eyes hardened; he stomped down in direct counter, and with a thunderous CRASH, the arena shattered, his domineering force surging like a storm, ready to overturn everything.

The two forces collided; the floor tiles in the center of the plaza were simultaneously blasted skyward, like petals scattered by a fairy.

Xiao Yan stepped forward, his body flickering with lightning, his speed so fast the eye couldn't track him—he seemed to vanish.

ROAR!! A furious dragon bellowed; behind Zi Yan, a thunder dragon seemed to materialize, its aura blazing, unstoppable, charging straight ahead.

Only after staring closely did he realize that it was Xiao Yan who had kicked out—just one kick, yet it had triggered a sonic boom.

"Good!" Zi Yan's battle intention surged; she laughed loudly, her small hands shooting forward to seize Xiao Yan's ankle. No matter how fast Xiao Yan was, she caught him instantly, then flung him away.

It was hard to imagine that Zi Yan's tiny body contained such terrifying power—one hand flipped Xiao Yan over and hurled him through the air.

Xiao Yan, flung through the air, immediately unfurled EagleWings to adjust his posture. Zi Yan stomped the ground and chased after him barehanded, at this moment resembling a tyrannosaur—she needed no Dou Technique, simply pursuing Xiao Yan to strike.

She chased Xiao Yan, who was using Three Thousand Thundering Steps, hammering him with pure strength and speed.

"Xiao Yan's speed is incredible!" Liu Qing's gaze grew grave; he now realized Xiao Yan's earlier fight with him had merely been warm-up—Xiao Yan hadn't even taken it seriously.

"Yet even this Xiao Yan is being chased and beaten by Senior Zi Yan." Lin Xiuya's expression turned uneasy, almost pained to watch. Perhaps he had tried it himself.

Finally, Xiao Yan used Thunder Flash clones to create distance. In that split second, Zi Yan's Spiritual Qi Wings erupted behind her, transforming into a purple streak that leapt upward at an unbelievable speed.

She struck downward with a punch aimed at Xiao Yan's face. Without hesitation, Xiao Yan punched back.

Their fists collided instantly in midair, fist against fist—and with a thunderous boom, the punch forces shattered apart.

Forced into defense, Xiao Yan suffered in this clash, being blasted backward; he rolled through the air before regaining his footing.

"Impossible!" The New Students, led by Xiao Yan, cried out in disbelief, unable to believe what they saw.

In their hearts, Xiao Yan was invincible.

Xiao Yu's face turned pale with tension, her fists clenched tightly.

"Believe in Brother Xiao Yan," Xun Er said softly, gazing at the familiar back.

At this moment, Xiao Yan steadied himself, looked up at Zi Yan, who wore a faintly proud expression in the sky, and said slowly: "Impressive, Zi Yan—you are truly powerful!"

As he spoke, a deep rumbling echoed—behind Xiao Yan, the spectral image of an eight-winged Demon Tiger emerged. The Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame activated; Xiao Yan's muscles swelled, elevating his physical strength another tier.

(End of Chapter)