Chapter 297: The Master

Facing Nalan Yanran's attack, Xiao Yan didn't hold back; with a hum, the Black Weighted Ruler in his hand burst into blazing fire, and instantly two black-and-white fish transformed into luminous shadows, surging from within Xiao Yan, engulfing him—black-and-white light swirling around him like a yin-yang fish.

As the black-and-white light spun, the Black Weighted Ruler split into yin and yang: white flame vast and majestic, blindingly radiant; black flame the Nine Underworld's hell, like a devouring abyss.

Xiao Yan, possessing the Heaven Tier Low Grade Burning Decree, had long been among the world's elite in fire control, mastering the manipulation of Spiritual Flames to a divine, effortless degree.

Xiao Yan could now integrate the unique properties of Spiritual Flames into Dou Techniques.

Yun Lan Sect's Grand Elder Yun Shui turned pale—he was no fool; seeing Xiao Yan's Black Weighted Ruler split into yin and yang, shifting into black and white, he couldn't help but be stunned.

"Still stuck with those three old tricks, no progress at all," Xiao Yan chuckled, then slashed violently—the flame waves of Flame Division Devouring Wave turned black and white, surging toward Nalan Yanran's thrusting sword light.

As soon as Xiao Yan spoke, the black-and-white flame waves became a colossal crescent slash; though Nalan Yanran's sword pierced the air, Wind's Extreme Sunset Radiance was merely Arcane-Rank High-Level, and against Xiao Yan's Flame Division Devouring Wave, it could only resist for an instant before being swallowed.

In the instant it swallowed Sunset Radiance, the flame waves of Flame Division Devouring Wave transformed into twin dragons, endless black-and-white light cascading down like a heavenly sword cleaving down, capable of severing mountains and rivers.

Not even a Peak Dou Wang or a Low-Level Dou Huang could withstand this strike.

Seeing Xiao Yan instantly shatter her attack, Nalan Yanran struck again.

"Wind's Extreme—Meteor Annihilation."

Instantly, the power of heaven and earth surged; Meteor Annihilation had firmly reached Earth-Rank, and in that moment, there was no Nalan Yanran, no Yun Sha Black Sword—only a single blade of light flashing past.

Nalan Yanran seemed fused with her own sword technique; this single blade of light made every heart jump—it pierced through Xiao Yan's Flame Division Devouring Wave!

Xiao Yan's Flame Division Devouring Wave had a weakness: its attack range was vast; a point-to-surface strike could break it.

Undoubtedly, over these two years, Nalan Yanran had pondered how to counter this Earth-Class Combat Technique of Xiao Yan's.

If Xiao Yan hadn't advanced and still relied solely on Flame Division Devouring Wave, he might well be surpassed.

A single thrust struck precisely at the weakest point of Flame Division Devouring Wave—in the flash of an eye, Nalan Yanran had captured this imperceptible flaw with an unbelievable speed.

Speed exceeding sound made even Xiao Yan flinch—truly, the wind-type Dou Qi was unquestionably the fastest.

Nalan Yanran's speed was the fastest Xiao Yan had ever seen among peers of equal rank; Yun Lan Sect's Dou Techniques and Cultivation Methods all emphasized speed—this single sword thrust was so swift, it seemed to halt time itself.

Puff—the sword pierced through Flame Division Devouring Wave and stabbed straight at Xiao Yan's chest.

The sword pierced Xiao Yan's body, but Xiao Yan's lips curled into a smug smile—zzz, lightning erupted from his body, his form rapidly fading until he vanished.

Three Thousand Thunder!

"I'm not standing still either."

Though Xiao Yan had only cultivated Three Thousand Thunder to its Second Stage—Thunder Instant—and though Nalan Yanran's Soul Force Perception was naturally high, as soon as she pierced Flame Division Devouring Wave, Xiao Yan secretly created a Thunder Clone to deceive her perception.

Such a sudden Thunder Clone made Nalan Yanran's face turn pale—after all, Xiao Yan hadn't even cultivated Three Thousand Thunder two years ago.

"See how you break this now!" Xiao Yan's voice came from behind Nalan Yanran.

Nalan Yanran jolted, spun around—and saw Xiao Yan's muscles swelling, his body strengthened by Myriad Beasts Spiritual Flame, his physical power elevated a full rank, rivaling the terrifying might of a Level Six Demon Beast.

The simplest, most direct strike—no Dou Technique, just a swift, crushing blow.

With Myriad Beasts Spiritual Flame unleashed, his strength could crush mountains and rivers!

In that instant, the Black Weighted Ruler came crashing down; in Nalan Yanran's eyes, it was a colossal mountain—weightless, infinite, a mountain of immeasurable mass descending—no Dou Technique needed, this alone was enough to crush everything, the earth itself unable to bear it.

Facing Xiao Yan's mountain-like strike, Nalan Yanran's face paled; instantly, a swirling wind-armor wrapped her entire body, her sword raised to block.

Boom—a force she had never felt surged through the Yun Sha Black Sword; even with its quality, the blade bent under the pressure.

Shh! Nalan Yanran shot like a meteor, crashing into the ground—boom! The earth shattered, rocks and mud flew everywhere, dust rolled in thick clouds.

"Senior Sister Nalan!!"

"Quick, save Senior Sister Nalan!"

At this moment, in the Xiao Clan's Courtyard, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, the two brothers, along with their father Xiao Zhan, all shook their heads.

"Third brother is still so ruthless," Xiao Ding sighed slowly.

"Hahaha, this is our third brother! How the hell did he train to improve so fast?" Xiao Li roared with laughter—he and Xiao Ding had been at Yun Lan Sect, and knew Nalan Yanran trained relentlessly every day, her strength peerless among her rank.

Yet, whenever she faced Xiao Yan, that invincible female sword master was completely crushed.

Xiao Zhan sighed, utterly speechless at his son who showed no mercy to delicate beauties. Now Xun Er had returned to her own clan, their romantic future uncertain—when, oh when, would he ever hold a grandchild?

From Xiao Zhan's standpoint, he naturally wished to honor his father's final wish.

At the Battlefield, a whirlwind stirred the surrounding dust, pulverizing the buried rubble as if ground by a meat grinder—shh shh shh—and in an instant, all turned to dust and fragments.

Nalan Yanran stood in the massive crater, wiping blood from her lips; over these two years, she had journeyed to the borders and slain many Dou Wang invaders from the Three Empires, mostly with a single sword thrust to the throat.

No Dou Wang had ever been as powerful as Xiao Yan.

Seeing Nalan Yanran's defiant expression, Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Don't be discouraged—if you were at Jia Nan Academy, you'd probably rank second in the Inner Court."

Angry! 【○｀Д○】

Nalan Yanran puffed out her cheeks—was that supposed to be comfort?

"Then you're only good for third place!"

Zing! Finally, Nalan Yanran's Dou Qi surged wildly; wind rose, clouds churned, the power of heaven and earth went mad—even before she struck, an unyielding, merciless killing intent filled the air, making all living things tremble beneath this sword.

Wind's Extreme's ultimate technique: One Sword Shocks Dou Zun!

Legend says that when Yun Potian roamed Zhong Zhou, he once used his Dou Zong power to unleash a self-created sword technique, causing even onlookers who were Dou Zun to be stunned, awed as if witnessing a divine act.

The first two techniques of Wind's Extreme were merely preparation—designed solely to cultivate this ultimate sword technique.

Sensing Nalan Yanran's overwhelming power, Xiao Yan frowned—this was no ordinary Earth-Rank Low-Level Dou Technique; judging from his own vast experience with Dou Techniques, this one had likely reached Earth-Rank Advanced Grade!

"A Dou Zun inheritance? Even a One Star Dou Zun possessing an Earth-Rank Advanced Grade technique is perfectly normal."

As the Earth-Rank Advanced Grade Dou Technique erupted, heaven and earth changed color; the entire Yun Lan Mountain was shrouded in dark, oppressive clouds, and from afar, Yun Lan Sect appeared swallowed by Black Cloud.

"What's happening?!"

"Yun Lan Sect is in trouble again!"

At this moment, in the Imperial Palace, Yao Ye, who was gathering Medicinal Materials, gazed far toward Yun Lan Mountain.

"Damn, that girl Nalan Yanran has truly inherited Yun Potian's legacy!" Jia Xingtian beside her exclaimed in shock—he knew this was due to the Dou Technique.

"Who is she fighting? Who could force her to this extent?" Yao Ye frowned and asked.

Hearing this, Jia Xingtian could only let out a bitter laugh and softly said, "Who else could it be?"

Seeing Nalan Yanran exert herself so fiercely, Xiao Yan did not hold back; he sheathed Xuan Chong Chi and murmured, "A kill technique of a Dou Zun? I have one too."

"Five Wheel Departing Fire Method."

As Xiao Yan's inner cry fell, his hand seals froze instantly; he clenched his palm, and a deep blue flame slowly rose from his palm.

This deep blue flame was naturally Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame; as it surged forth, it rapidly expanded, writhing strangely, and within moments transformed into a deep blue dragon-like beast roughly ten zhang in size.

The Five Wheel Departing Fire Method requires five flames to coalesce into the forms of a wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and dragon; when all five Spirit Flames emerge together, they form the Five Wheel Departing Fire Array, its power utterly terrifying—and the more Heavenly Flames used, the more terrifying the Departing Fire Array becomes.

Given the time Xiao Yan had spent cultivating, even with his genius, he could only have summoned one Spirit Flame, reaching only the first level. But who said a Spirit Flame must be summoned by oneself?

After summoning the first Spirit Flame, Xiao Yan's Burning Decree surged wildly, and four flames instantly appeared within his Dantian.

A black cat, the Yin Yang Fish, a transparent snake, and a Flame Demon Tiger.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Spirit Flame had not yet reached the level of a Spirit Flame—but don't forget, Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame Dou Technique, Beast Soul Descent, activated the residual Beast Souls within the Ten Thousand Beasts Spirit Flame, bringing them "back to life."

With Xiao Yan's current Fire Control Power, combined with the Heaven Tier Low Grade Burning Decree and the "cheat" of four Spirit Flames, he easily met the requirements of the Five Wheel Departing Fire Method; summoning five Spirit Flames posed no great difficulty for him.

If an Earth-Class technique can stir Heavenly Energy, then a Heaven Tier technique manifests a Sky Phenomenon!

Xiao Yan recognized that Nalan Yanran was using an Earth-Class High-Level Dou Technique because it had already produced a slight phenomenon.

Boom—Boom—Boom!! Instantly, as the five Heavenly Flames manifested as Spirit Flames, strange phenomena erupted in the sky; the space of Heaven and Earth violently trembled, the previously calm Heavenly Energy now surged wildly as if pulled by some unseen force, and the entire Yun Lan Mountain became like an oven, the grass and flowers evaporating their moisture.

At this moment, Xiao Yan's figure was invisible; instead, five monstrous forms, seemingly magnified infinitely, appeared in the sky, like a celestial deity descending!

The Five Wheel Departing Fire Method was originally an Earth-Class High-Level technique, but with five Heavenly Flames, it became a Heaven Tier Dou Technique! Truly and utterly a Heaven Tier Dou Technique!

Like the Sun God emerging, dispelling all darkness of the world, the dark clouds shrouding Yun Lan Mountain vanished instantly; the powerful wind pressure disappeared too, leaving only a few swirling winds around Nalan Yanran.

Each Spirit Flame of a Heavenly Flame was alive; from below, the five Spirit Flames resembled ancient, mysterious beings, seated atop the ninth heaven like the Sun God!

The five Spirit Flames shook Heaven and Earth; each stood in an ancient, mysterious array formation, radiating terrifying and enigmatic energy—as if they were the masters of the sky!

"Sky Phenomenon! You—you're using a Heaven Tier Dou Technique?!" Nalan Yanran's heart trembled with shock; she had not yet perfected the final sword technique of Wind's Extreme—like Xiao Yan's Mountain Splitting Seal, she had only the form, not the true power.

Xiao Yan crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow, and said, "You're not the only one growing stronger. I've grown stronger too over these two years."

Sensing Xiao Yan use his famed Dou Technique, the pale white ring of the Heavenly Flame Elder trembled slowly.

The inheritance of a Dou Zun also has differences!

Clearly, compared to the Heavenly Flame Elder's technique, Yun Zun's famed move was outmatched.

Of course, this also has much to do with the cultivator.

If it had been Nalan Yanran from five years ago, when she came to break off the engagement, she would have fought to the death even if she lost—two years ago too—but now—

Clang! Nalan Yanran sheathed the Yun Sha Black Sword, and said slowly, "I yield."

Xiao Yan's face showed a hint of surprise—Nalan Yanran had yielded?!

Xiao Yan had absolute confidence in his Fire Control Power; if Nalan Yanran attacked, he was certain he could control the force so as not to burn her to death.

Yet, Nalan Yanran surrendered outright!

Xiao Yan waved his hand and retracted all the Heavenly Flames; every phenomenon vanished instantly.

Everyone in the Yun Lan Sect exhaled in relief; some disciples had even forgotten to breathe from tension.

"What an terrifying Dou Technique."

"No wonder Master Xiao Yan, who once defeated Senior Sister Nalan, possesses such unparalleled Fire Control Power."

Seeing Xiao Yan descend slowly, Nalan Yanran did not refuse; she asked directly, "Speak—what do you need me to help you with?"

She was also curious: with Xiao Yan's strength, what could possibly require her aid? The Nan Lan Clan was far inferior to Xiao Yan's current Xiao Clan.

Xiao Yan tilted his head, feigning confusion, "Huh? Did you forget to say something?"

Hearing this, Nalan Yanran's face flushed red; she stomped her foot, crossed her arms, and snorted, "Hmph! Who's your master?!"

Xiao Yan chuckled at Nalan Yanran's still-princess-like temper—people always have their own personalities.

"I'm not teasing you anymore. Are you still in contact with Liu Ling?"

"Liu Ling?" Nalan Yanran tilted her head, puzzled why Xiao Yan was asking about Liu Ling.

An hour later, in a border forest of the Jia Ma Empire stood an elegant, delicate bamboo cottage; a handsome man was chopping firewood—it was Liu Ling, third-place finisher of the Alchemist Convention.

Suddenly, Liu Ling snapped his head toward a distance; Nalan Yanran, clad in a pale moon-white robe, walked slowly toward him.

"Yanran! Why are you here?!" Liu Ling immediately dropped his axe and rushed to Nalan Yanran's side, his face flushed with excitement—even though her expression remained icy, he paid it no mind.

"I'm here to find Master Gu He."

Glancing at the excited Liu Ling, Nalan Yanran felt endless exasperation; she didn't want to come—this was merely her master's task.

(End of Chapter)