Chapter 331: The Diligent Yan Zunzhe

Some with strong Soul Force could sense Luoyan Hong's figure, but few saw Nalan Yanran draw her sword; most couldn't even discern how she severed Luoyan Hong's arm and wings in a single strike.

Yun Yun merely shook her head—it was expected. Someone of Luoyan Hong's caliber, whether in the eyes of Xiao Yan or Zi Yan, or even in Nalan Yanran's own eyes, was no more than an ant.

Recalling the past, when Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan fought their Three-Year Agreement duel atop Yun Lan Mountain, both were High Star Da Dou Shi; that battle was the most spectacular in Jia Ma Empire's history, their unleashed power making many Dou Ling feel ashamed. To Nalan Yanran, who had fought Xiao Yan, a second-generation heir relying solely on his father's crafted flight wings wasn't even worthy of being called an ant.

A sharp thud echoed as the severed arm and wing hit the ground. Before anyone could react, blood spurted like a geyser.

"Hong'er!"

A piercing scream—agonizing, heart-wrenching—rose to the heavens. Only then did people clearly see: Luoyan Hong's right arm and wings had been cleanly severed. He clutched the stump, collapsed on the ground, trembling in unbearable pain.

"Is this what you call speed?" Nalan Yanran looked down at the writhing Luoyan Hong.

"In all Dou Techniques, speed alone cannot be broken." Nalan Yanran agreed with this saying—but even if your speed were unmatched, could it outpace a sword?

Not to mention Nalan Yanran's innate sensitivity in Soul Force Perception; to her, his speed was slower than a crawling tortoise.

Everyone held their breath—Nalan Yanran's sword draw was too fast, and this strike had been delivered by a Nine-Star Dou Wang!

Nalan Yanran shook her head, ignoring Luoyan Hong's screams, sheathed Yun Sha Black Sword into her storage ring, and slowly walked off the Arena Stage, thinking inwardly: This power is far weaker than Xiao Yan's when he was a Six-Star Dou Wang a year ago.

Seeing Nalan Yanran's back, Luoyan Hong's eyes flickered with venom. He channeled his Dou Qi, his remaining hand forming Ying Zhua, and roared: "Die, Nalan Yanran!"

"Stop, Hong'er!"

"Fool."

A metallic clang rang out as Heaven and Earth Power surged. Luoyan Hong's fingers twisted into claws—his Ying Zhua Dou Technique erupted, sharp as divine swords, capable of tearing through anything, unstoppable. When the claws glinted with cold light, many shuddered, feeling as if they'd been pierced by a dragon's claw, their very bones chilled.

The Ying Zhua lunged like lightning—no technique, no variation—just a single, unstoppable claw strike. This was a Earth-Class Dou Technique!

It made sense: Jin Yan Sect was a Dou Zong sect. As Luoyan Tian's son, it was reasonable he trained an Earth-Class Dou Technique.

Before the technique even landed, a hiss echoed—the ground was already torn apart by devastating sharpness, leaving a deep, long furrow.

But Luoyan Hong had grossly underestimated Nalan Yanran, believing her strength came solely from Yun Sha Black Sword.

"Wind's Extreme—Meteor Annihilation."

A hum resonated. At the critical moment, Nalan Yanran formed her finger into a sword, spun sharply, and thrust—immediately, a slender beam of deep light, barely the width of a thumb, shot forth.

The moment the beam appeared, Space trembled. Undoubtedly, Nalan Yanran had perfected Meteor Annihilation!

Soon, all was calm. A rip—Nalan Yanran's sleeve tore. On the other side, Luoyan Hong's five fingers were cleanly severed; a blood hole opened in his palm, through which could be seen his terrified expression before death.

A thud—he collapsed. Blood and brain matter oozed continuously from the hole in his forehead. This technique had killed Luoyan Hong instantly.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this guy's really ruthless." Xiao Yan murmured in surprise. These past days, he'd made Nalan Yanran run errands constantly—buying Medicinal Material, washing clothes, cooking—so much so she stomped in rage and broke her shoes.

Clearly, Xiao Yan's combat unit had been upgraded significantly today.

"Hong'er!" Luoyan Tian flew onto the Arena Stage. Even his Six-Grade Healing Pill was useless—no Six-Grade Pill could revive the dead. Nalan Yanran had obliterated him outright; the power of an Earth-Class Dou Technique might even shred Spiritual Souls.

"Aaaaah!! I'll make you die with my son!" Luoyan Tian's eyes turned blood-red. A terrifying Dou Zong Spiritual Pressure erupted, targeting Nalan Yanran.

Nalan Yanran's gaze hardened, preparing to fight—when a figure in coarse linen stepped onto Space and appeared before her.

"Luoyan Tian, if you want to start a Dou Zong battle early, I, Jia Xingtian, will oblige." Jia Xingtian didn't hesitate—he gathered Dou Qi and slammed a palm forward.

Boom! The two Dou Zong forces collided. The impact shattered the entire Arena Stage. Thud-thud-thud—Luoyan Tian and Jia Xingtian each retreated three steps.

At that moment, Xiao Yan's mocking voice rang from the sky: "Old man, your son got what he deserved—no strength, yet still tries to ambush."

"You seek death!!" Luoyan Tian, like a furious tiger, glared venomously at the skyborne Youhai Jiao Beast.

Xiao Yan wasn't afraid—he crossed his arms and sneered: "Disagree? Come fight me. Today, Jin Yan Sect will be without a Sect Master!"

The Sect Grand Meeting was never a school sparring match—it was a microcosm of the Northwest Region's cruelest struggles. Just as Jin Yan Sect and Yan Alliance, how could the Young Generation have only one disciple? Countless lives had been lost in years of warfare.

Even the host, Tian She Fu, remained unmoved—no one stepped forward to mediate. All watched coldly.

Not to mention Luo Yan Empire and Yan Alliance were already locked in constant war, each desperate to annihilate the other today. Even without conflict, such life-or-death duels were common at the Sect Grand Meeting.

Had Nalan Yanran not prepared in advance, secretly gathering her technique, she might have been ambushed successfully.

Luoyan Tian glanced at Jia Xingtian, now a Dou Zong, then at the many Dou Huang atop the Youhai Jiao Beast—several nearing peak Dou Huang. He knew his Jin Yan Sect was no longer equal to Yan Alliance.

Carrying his son's corpse, he cast a venomous, lingering glance at Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan.

"With his son dead, Luoyan Tian will likely do something insane," Xiao Ding warned.

"We never intended to spare the Three Empires. When Mei Du Sha returns, we'll seize the chance to sweep them all. Luoyan Tian…" Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with murderous intent—his meaning was clear.

Had the Three Empires surrendered, Yan Alliance wouldn't have slaughtered excessively—just absorbed their territories. But Jin Yan Sect's stance was clearly incompatible with Yan Alliance's.

Xiao Yan was no soft-hearted fool. If he found an opportunity at the Sect Grand Meeting, he wouldn't mind turning Luoyan Tian into Soul Points—or turning every strong fighter of Jin Yan Sect into Soul Points.

If Hun Tian Di knew how diligent Xiao Yan was, he'd probably award him the Annual Most Diligent Soul Temple Award.

Xiao Yan waved to Nalan Yanran. Her expression turned sullen. She walked over, irritable: "What now?"

"Don't make me sound like a heartless capitalist. I'm here to fulfill my promise—the Huang Tian Pill." Xiao Yan pulled out a Pill Bottle from his storage ring—inside lay the Huang Tian Pill.

Seeing the Huang Tian Pill, Nalan Yanran's lips parted slightly. Pretending she didn't want it was false. She eyed Xiao Yan suspiciously, wondering if there was a trick.

"Don't think so little of me. You've angered Luoyan Tian. Reaching Dou Huang won't just make your next matches easier—it'll let you escape if he has any tricks." Xiao Yan didn't want to waste such a good errand-runner. Yan Alliance needed pillars like this.

A hidden gleam of joy flashed in Nalan Yanran's eyes. She smiled faintly, then turned away with a cold sniff: "Hmph. I said I'd earn the Huang Tian Pill only after winning the West District. I, Nalan Yanran, keep my word. I'll defeat every Young Generation genius first."

Xiao Yan frowned. He'd been the one claiming he'd break through to Dou Huang with the Huang Pill—now he offered her the superior Huang Tian Pill, and she refused? What nonsense.

After this, Nalan Yanran gave everyone a demonstration of what it meant to be invincible in her own rank—as long as the opponent wasn't Xiao Yan.

A young girl, radiating peerless grace—but anyone who saw her didn't notice her face; they trembled at the sword aura radiating from her.

Holding the Black Sword, she was like a blade unsheathed. Standing on the field, she was the Female Sword God.

In the end, Nalan Yanran not only fought her way to the finals, but stunned everyone by defeating Li Shi, a One-Star Dou Huang prodigy from Yao Gu Sect—shaking the entire Sect Grand Meeting!

"Sh-she beat Li Shi?!"

"How is that possible? She's only a Nine-Star Dou Wang—how could she defeat Li Shi?! He's a Yao Gu Sect prodigy!"

"Nalan Yanran of Yan Alliance! What kind of Faction is Yan Alliance? We've never heard of them before!"

"Found it! They say Yan Alliance was formed just these past few years—a coalition of the former Jia Ma Empire Imperial Family, the Snake People Empire, Yun Lan Sect, and a clan called Xiao Clan. Nalan Yanran is the Young Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect—rumored to have received Yun Potian's legacy!"

Nalan Yanran's deeds were quickly uncovered, and with them, Yan Alliance erupted into fame across the Sect Grand Meeting—even rumors spread to other parts of the Northwest Region.

This is the influence of the Sect Grand Meeting; the entire Northwest Region's attention is focused here, because the outcome here will largely determine the Northwest Region's future direction.

Even powerful figures from the other top ten sects of the Northwest Region came to invite Nalan Yanran to switch sects, though Nalan Yanran clearly refused.

(End of Chapter)