Chapter 273: The Origin of the Mysterious Ring

Xiao Yan could have shattered this Mystic Rank Defensive Dou Technique shield outright, but he deliberately let the yellow-robed Dou Huang believe he could truly stop Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan was waiting for him to focus all his attention on Zi Yan.

Boom!! A terrifying dragon roar echoed throughout the Inner Court; sound-wave Dou Techniques are designed to pierce through defensive techniques, while earth-attribute Dou Qi excels in defensive arts.

Terrifying dragon might descended instantly, and the tortoise shield shattered into fragments within a single moment under Xiao Yan's Ancient Dragon Roar.

"Aaah!! Sound-wave Dou Technique!!" The yellow-robed elder now truly regretted it—he specialized in defensive Dou Techniques and feared sound-wave techniques above all!

A terrifying dragon might shook his spiritual soul, instantly causing him unbearable head pain; the defensive technique he had just formed was shattered by Xiao Yan's sound-wave technique, and the dragon might shook his spirit—there was no way he could activate a Dou Technique for defense, or even channel his Dou Qi!

"Well done, little Yanzi!" Seeing the defensive technique shattered and unable to reform, Zi Yan revealed her cute tiger teeth and dimples, the purple light on her fist intensifying further.

Boom!!! Zi Yan roared loudly and brought down a heavy punch; instantly, the space before her violently trembled, and an immensely powerful, terrifying force surged outward!

A sound like mountains collapsing and earth splitting erupted across the sky, drawing countless gazes toward them.

The yellow-robed elder spat blood, the sound of snapping bones clearly audible—even a Dou Huang would die if he took Zi Yan's full-power punch head-on.

Boom—the yellow-robed elder was punched by Zi Yan from the sky into the ground, leaving a massive crater.

Before Zi Yan and the others could react, a flash of yellow light shot skyward—he was fleeing outward; a Dou Huang had just been bested by a few mere Dou Wang youths.

"That bastard Han Feng—how are these guys so strong? No good, I can't risk my life for this elixir." The yellow-robed elder now only wanted to escape, mentally cursing Han Feng thousands of times.

A flash of lightning—Xiao Yan, whose Soul Force had already reached Common Realm Perfection, sensed his intent to flee long ago; Xiao Yan would never let a tiger return to the mountains.

"Since you came, stay here—Flame Division, Devouring Wave Ruler!"

Xiao Yan's eyes turned icy; he wasn't afraid of this one-star Dou Huang, but if this man retaliated against Xiao Clan members, a Dou Huang could mean utter ruin for the Xiao Clan.

"No, I—"

Xiao Yan gave him no chance to beg; a beast's roar rang from the Heavy Black Ruler as a hundred-meter-long flame blade slashed downward. Endless strange fire surged like a ferocious tiger, instantly engulfing the yellow-robed elder.

Before countless stunned gazes, blood-red strange fire swept across the sky; at the point of energy collision, space twisted grotesquely, deep creases clearly visible—even space nearly burned through. Xiao Yan's strange fire was this terrifying!

The outcome was unquestionable—the yellow-robed elder was reduced to ashes; whether Dou Wangs, Dou Huangs, or Inner Court Elders, all were stunned. No one expected these students to kill a Dou Huang so quickly!

"Who the hell is this kid? Not only does he possess strange fire, but that Dou Technique was at least Earth-Rank Low-Level!" Recalling the overwhelming aura of the strange fire blade that seemed ready to burn through space, the crowd suddenly understood—and quietly grew more cautious toward the distant young man.

At the Dou Huang level, ordinary Mystic Rank Dou Techniques barely harm or kill opponents of equal strength; only Earth-Rank Dou Techniques can achieve such effects. Thus, Earth-Rank Dou Techniques are the only true threat to Dou Wangs or Dou Huangs.

"Zi Yan, all three of you be careful—I'll go face the legendary Medicine Emperor." Xiao Yan whispered to Zi Yan and the others, then turned to look at Han Feng nearby.

He had deliberately unleashed Flame Division, Devouring Wave Ruler; as expected, he now felt Han Feng's gaze—sharp as a divine spear.

"So he really knows something…" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered.

Han Feng's gaze and mindset had changed: from his initial goal of obtaining the Fallen Heart Flame at Jia Nan Academy, to encountering the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame and seeking to seize Xiao Yan's strange fire—now, his eyes held uncertainty, even fear.

Xiao Yan planted the Heavy Black Ruler behind him and slowly flew to stand before Han Feng.

"Why do you know Flame Division, Devouring Wave Ruler?" Han Feng stared at Xiao Yan with shock and disbelief—his mind already had a guess.

Though Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, his mind was deep in thought: "So it's true—this guy has a significant connection to the owner of the Mysterious Ring."

Xiao Yan said: "What? This is a Dou Technique passed down in my family. You don't plan to learn it, do you?"

Han Feng sneered, his eyes resolute: "This can't be your family's inherited Dou Technique. This technique and your Heavy Black Ruler are a complete set of ancient Dou Techniques found by that old man in an ancient ruin. There's only one such set on the Dou Qi Continent—you couldn't possibly…"

Before Han Feng could finish, he suddenly saw the wind stir Xiao Yan's sleeve, revealing the ring on his right hand.

Seeing the ancient, exquisite ring on Xiao Yan's hand, Han Feng looked as if he'd seen a ghost—his eyes filled with terror, his body trembling involuntarily.

"Bone Flame Ring!! How is it on you?!" The moment Han Feng saw the ring, his breathing grew noticeably rapid.

Gazing coldly at Han Feng's ghost-struck expression, Xiao Yan frowned and said: "This is my mother's heirloom. Don't tell me you're my long-lost brother—that's pure nonsense."

Mocked by Xiao Yan, Han Feng's trembling finger pointed at him, gasping for breath; after a long moment, he muttered: "Impossible—he must be dead. Poison Pill of the Eighth Rank plus a Dou Zun's attack—there's no way he could still be alive!"

Then, a flash of spiritual light—Han Feng suddenly realized something, staring fixedly at Xiao Yan: "You received his inheritance?! The 'Cultivation Method' is inside the Bone Flame Ring!"

"No wonder I sensed a familiar aura on you—you cultivate the same method as I do!"

Burn and sever!

Years ago, Han Feng had betrayed his own master to obtain the Burning Decree—but failed. In the end, he only acquired a fragmented version. Yet even that incomplete scroll allowed him to subdue Sea Heart Flame, granting him his current status, power, and position!

But just now, during Xiao Yan's battle, Han Feng clearly sensed: Xiao Yan's cultivation method was purer.

The only cultivation method in the world purer and more orthodox than the fragmented "Burning Decree" was one.

The complete Burning Decree—and the ring on Xiao Yan's hand was none other than his master, the Medicine Emperor's, Mysterious Ring!

In that instant, a mad killing intent toward Xiao Yan surged through Han Feng like a tidal wave!

The sudden flood of chilling killing intent across the sky caused many to change expression; though they didn't know exactly what had happened, Han Feng's demeanor clearly revealed his absolute intent to kill Xiao Yan.

Su Qian swept his sleeve, repelling the Golden and Silver Elders like wolves lunging forward, then turned to look at the black-robed youth in the distant sky and shouted: "Xiao Yan, hold him off for a moment—I'll deal with these two old men and come to aid you!"

"Hehe, Elder, just handle them—I'm not that fragile." Xiao Yan bowed to Su Qian and laughed loudly.

Then, Xiao Yan unleashed a powerful aura—not rising to Dou Huang, but already at the Dou Huang level! Stronger than when he fought Ling Quan!

Because Xiao Yan's Soul Force had reached Common Realm Perfection; thanks to his immense Soul Force, he could now fully activate the Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes without his body being shattered as it had been the day before.

Feeling the torrent of Dou Qi surging within Xiao Yan, Elder Su Qian smiled meaningfully: "Hehe, this kid truly lives up to his reputation—he's the one who drove back that family's people. This power…"

Sensing the terrifying power hidden within Xiao Yan, Su Qian no longer worried; his own Dou Qi erupted violently, his face turning icy as he stared at the grim-faced Golden and Silver Elders across from him, sneering—his body flashed like a phantom as he charged forward. Seeing his ferocious assault, the Golden and Silver Elders dared not slacken, immediately joining forces to meet him.

With Xiao Yan holding back Han Feng, the strongest among them, Su Qian could now fully focus on these two nuisances.

Did they really think their combined strength equaled a Dou Zun and could stand against him?

"Using a Secret Technique to reach Dou Huang? Hah, little brother, I'll bury you here forever—then the contents of the Bone Flame Ring will still be mine!!" Han Feng roared, his Sea Heart Flame transforming into a vast sea of blue flame, a blue trident appearing in his hand.

Standing atop the blue flame, trident in hand, Han Feng looked like a sea god.

"Hmph, do you think your fragmented cultivation method deserves to be mentioned alongside mine?" Boom—the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame surged as Xiao Yan drew his Heavy Black Ruler and pointed it at Han Feng.

From Han Feng's words just now, Xiao Yan was certain: the death of the Mysterious Ring's owner was undoubtedly caused by this man.

And from what Elder Su Qian said, Han Feng's master was named the Medicine Emperor—so it was highly likely Han Feng murdered his own master.

"Hah! Sea Heart Flame!"

Han Feng's hand seals snapped sharply—he thrust both palms toward Xiao Yan; instantly, Sea Heart Flame surged like a tidal wave, a sky-covering curtain of blue flame rolling forward in endless, crashing waves.

"Hmph, I have a Spiritual Flame too—the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame!"

Roar! Roar! Roar!!! The Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame transformed into a horde of charging beasts, undaunted by the towering tidal wave, each beast spirit lunging toward the surging sea.

The two Spiritual Flames crashed together with a thunderous boom that exploded in the ears of everyone present; in the instant of their collision, even the Inner Court students could clearly feel the Infernal Heat of the entire sky suddenly surging—so much so that dry leaves in certain places spontaneously ignited.

As the two clashed their Spiritual Flames, the suppressed Heartfall Flame suddenly opened its eyes.

(End of Chapter)