Chapter 272: Inner Court Dual Tyrants

With a whoosh, the Dou Qi fire wings forged from Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame resembled a blazing sea that blotted out the sky; the terrifying heat drew sidelong glances from the powerhouses of the Black Horn Region.

"Such a powerful flame!"

"His spiritual pressure is only Half-step Dou Wang? How is it I feel this kid isn't weaker than a Dou Huang!"

Seeing the beastly roars emanating from Xiao Yan's Dou Qi fire wings, Han Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, then he said grimly: "Heavenly Flame. You actually possess a Heavenly Flame!"

As if provoked, Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame erupted in response—one side a blood-red sea, the other a deep ocean-blue; the two flames stood as water and fire, utterly opposed.

Without doubt, only another Heavenly Flame—a celestial treasure—could remain so dominant before his own Sea Heart Flame.

Xiao Yan looked at Han Feng and smiled faintly: "The flame is deep ocean-blue, spreading slowly like clear seawater, with faint ripples like water waves. If I'm not mistaken, yours is the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."

Hearing Xiao Yan accurately name his Heavenly Flame, Han Feng regarded Xiao Yan with higher esteem; the Heavenly Flame Ranking was not something anyone could know—his own knowledge came from his master, whom he had betrayed and killed.

Without doubt, Xiao Yan must also have a deeply knowledgeable master.

"The flame carries the sound of ten thousand beasts charging and roaring; its trailing flame takes the shape of beasts. If I'm not wrong, the Heavenly Flame you possess is the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame, ranked twenty-second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking." Han Feng did not yield, for a Six-Grade Peak Alchemist was no mere pretender—he saw at a glance that Xiao Yan wielded the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame.

In the sky, the standoff between Xiao Yan and Han Feng, both bearers of Heavenly Flames, naturally drew the attention of countless Inner Court students and Black Horn Region invaders.

All at once, their faces lit up with excitement; though they did not understand the Heavenly Flame Ranking or which flame was stronger, the scene now clearly showed Xiao Yan stepping forward to personally challenge Han Feng, the strongest, on behalf of the Inner Court!

"Xiao Yan! Take him down!"

"What kind of 'Medicine Emperor' are you? You're the Medicine God!"

"Kill him! Defend Jia Nan Academy!"

In an instant, many began to feel admiration for Xiao Yan, even shouting words of encouragement.

After years of cultivation in the Inner Court, many grassroots students held deep affection for it—after all, it had given them strength and resources.

Now that a powerful enemy had invaded, all felt united in righteous anger, yet due to their strength and other reasons, they could only watch helplessly as the battle began.

Now, the two top-ranked warriors of the Inner Court had both stepped forward—and Xiao Yan had recently fought and defeated a mysterious Dou Huang. Many in the Inner Court had blind faith in Xiao Yan's strength.

Deafening cheers erupted from the crowds of students far away; at this moment, it had to be said—Xiao Yan's prestige had truly surpassed Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and others!

"You're Xiao Yan? The Five-Grade Alchemist who possesses a Heavenly Flame?" Han Feng frowned; he had heard of Xiao Yan's so-called "Medicine God" title, for many in the Black Horn Region had once traded Six-Rank Medicinal Ingredients with him for Elixirs.

"I don't change my name or my stance—I am Xiao Yan, the strongest Alchemist of the Inner Court, ranked first on the Power List!" Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve, speaking with arrogance.

Zi Yan frowned at that, glancing at Xiao Yan; sensing her gaze, he quickly corrected himself: "Tied for first."

At that moment, a yellow-robed elder from the Black Horn Region, a One Star Dou Huang, flew to Han Feng's side and said: "Medicine Emperor, leave this brat to me—you go seize the Heavenly Flame before it slips away."

Han Feng considered the Heavenly Flame, then nodded; right now, the most important thing was the Falling Heart Flame.

The yellow-robed elder stepped before Xiao Yan, grinning with a row of blackened teeth: "Hey kid, your reputation among these brats seems high—but today I'll make you lose all of it. A puny One Star Dou Wang, thinking you can turn the tide?"

This yellow-robed elder was also a "big fool"—seeing Xiao Yan was only a One Star Dou Wang, he volunteered to fight him.

As Han Feng led his men toward the Thousand-Layer Flame Sealing, the battle erupted instantly.

Dou Techniques, Sealing Arrays, weapons, and even Elixirs were unleashed; explosions rocked the entire Inner Court, the ground and buildings shattered.

The yellow-robed elder waved his hand, and a mass of yellow-brown earth energy coalesced into a stone spear, hurtling toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly; his right hand gathered Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame and, facing the glinting stone spear, smashed it apart with a single punch of Eight Extreme Shatter.

Though this yellow-robed elder was far weaker than Ling Quan and Han Feng, he was still a Dou Huang—Xiao Yan would not underestimate him.

"So you have a Heavenly Flame? What of it? With your strength, you can't even unleash its true power." Seeing Xiao Yan shatter his Mystic Rank Dou Technique with one punch, the yellow-robed elder sneered coldly; earth energy gathered again, and moments later, a dozen brown spears floated into the air.

"Die!"

His eyes flashed with ruthlessness; anyone who rose to Dou Huang in the Black Horn Region was no saint. He whipped his arm—suddenly, countless black spears, like arrows, pierced through space, shrieking with sharp wind, blasting toward Xiao Yan.

Just as Xiao Yan prepared to activate Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes to boost his power, three figures flew in from afar.

"Old man, a Dou Huang fighting a Dou Wang? Aren't you ashamed?"

The words had barely finished when a small figure suddenly appeared before Xiao Yan; her Purple Braid whipped, and her slender fist emitted a burst of Purple Light, slamming forward—before her, space violently rippled and compressed.

At that moment, a patch of space seemed to condense; then, an invisible air cannon exploded with a bang, shattering every stone spear.

The yellow-robed elder's gaze locked onto the sudden appearance of the tiny girl like a venomous snake; his face darkened, and he roared: "You want to die?"

Zi Yan rolled her eyes, swung her small fists in front of her with a whistling sound; low sonic booms formed beneath each punch. She lifted her head, meeting the elder's glare without fear: "Old man, if you kill Xiao Yan, will you make pills for me to eat?"

His expression slowly darkened; the elder had no patience for further words. In his nature, whether it was a girl or an infant, if he was angered, he killed without hesitation. His palm surged again with violent Dou Qi energy.

At that moment, Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing, arriving a moment late, stood beside Xiao Yan, weapons in hand.

In the Inner Court, only these four had reached Dou Wang level; others, including Yan Hao and Lin Yan, were only Half-step Dou Wang—unqualified to face a Dou Huang.

"The Inner Court's crisis is not your burden alone," Liu Qing glanced back at Xiao Yan; in his gaze lay a faint trace of respect.

"Heh, Liu Qing's right—this is probably the weakest Dou Huang among them," Lin Xiuya lightly trembled his long sword, then added: "The Medicine Emperor Han Feng will need you to hold him off—we'll help you conserve your Dou Qi now."

Xiao Yan, who had been about to activate Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes, now dispelled the Secret Technique, drew his Black Weighted Ruler, and laughed: "Good! Today, let the Black Horn Region see—Inner Court Dou Wangs can kill Dou Huangs!"

They all knew Xiao Yan possessed a Secret Technique that could boost his power by a full tier, nearly matching a Dou Huang—but such techniques had time limits, and wasting them on a Xiao Luo Luo was foolish.

Vice Dean Hu Qian, who needed to sustain the Thousand-Layer Sealing Array, could not intervene; thus, only Xiao Yan could hold off Han Feng until Elder Su Qian was free to act.

"You four Dou Wangs think you can hold me back?" The yellow-robed monster sneered, yet inwardly regretted his choice—especially Zi Yan's punch had shaken him to his core.

"Old man, you talk too much." Zi Yan scowled, then shouted to Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya beside her: "I'm going in—watch yourselves!" Before either could reply, her small figure trembled slightly and shot straight toward the yellow-robed elder, fists clenched tight, surging with terrifying power.

Seeing Zi Yan move, Xiao Yan gripped his Black Weighted Ruler and followed behind.

"You brats! Today you'll die here!" He rapidly formed hand seals; his withered palm jerked violently—Dou Qi surged forth, forming a colossal energy palm print like a mountain crashing down.

Facing the Dou Huang's powerful Dou Technique, Zi Yan's expression turned grave; her five fingers slammed shut—CRASH! A monstrous force shattered the mountain.

Shattered rocks exploded; through the debris, a streak of flame shot forth—Xiao Yan seized the chance, lunging toward the yellow-robed elder, bringing his Black Weighted Ruler down in a crushing blow.

Knowing Xiao Yan's physical strength rivaled Zi Yan's, the yellow-robed elder understood its danger; he crossed his arms in defense and roared: "Mystic Turtle Shield!"

A stone shield appeared before him—CLANG! The Black Weighted Ruler struck the shield, sparks flying, but failed to break it.

"This turtle shell is tough!" Xiao Yan grumbled.

"Great Split Mountain!"

"Azure Vanish Sword Qi!"

Seeing Xiao Yan distract the yellow-robed elder, Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya launched stealthy attacks from behind—each unleashed their strongest killing techniques.

After all, they were not Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, lacking the ability to fight across a major rank gap.

Heaven and Earth Power surged; the yellow-robed elder barked a cold command, and a wave of yellow Dou Qi enveloped his entire body, causing Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya's attacks to slow as if sinking into mud.

"Hehe, old man, watch your head." At that moment, Zi Yan's voice came from above.

Zi Yan slightly bent her legs, then pushed off violently; her purple Dou Qi wings flared behind her, and with dual forces amplifying her, she descended like a purple meteor from the sky.

Her right fist condensed Purple Light.

Have you ever seen a fist technique that descends from the heavens?

Feeling the terrifying power of Zi Yan's punch, the yellow-robed elder deeply regretted his decision—these were merely students! How could one be such a brute monster?!

"Mountain Scale!" he roared, channeling Dou Qi, and brown Dou Qi instantly transformed into a massive armored shield.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with a cold smirk; instantly, within him, the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame strengthened his Dragon Qi, and a wave of Dragon Might awoke from within Xiao Yan.

Roar!!!

To think a mere Profound Class Defensive Dou Technique could stop him—that was far too naive.

(End of Chapter)