Chapter 35: The Power of Earth-Rank Dou Techniques

When bystanders learned the content of Lü Xing's Outer Court mission and the full story, they couldn't help but cast a few "reverent" glances toward Xiao Yan.

Yet those glances carried no small amount of "idiot" in them.

Every year, new students who enter the Outer Court challenge senior students—so when Luo Bu and others made the newcomers sunbathe during enrollment, it was indeed a tradition.

But for Xiao Yan to challenge the Xuan Jie Class? That had never happened in all these years.

"Hmph, some country bumpkin from who-knows-where, thinks this place is his own little patch of land."

"Fools like this always die the worst deaths."

Another new student from elsewhere sneered: "Pah, he really thinks he's someone important? Why doesn't he piss on a mirror and take a look at himself?"

Many new disciples were deeply displeased with Xiao Yan's outrageous behavior! After all, every new student secretly craves attention—and now, on the very first day, Xiao Yan had stolen all the spotlight.

As for Xiao Yan himself, he paid no mind at all; he stood on the field with his hands clasped behind his back, his face maintaining its usual confident smile.

To others, Xiao Yan's actions made him look like a fool—or even someone who didn't know the meaning of death!

Hearing the murmurs, Xun Er's eyes turned cold, her lotus-like pupils flashing a sliver of golden flame, longing to step onto the field and silence them all.

"Senior Brother, if you're skilled with weapons, you may use one," Xiao Yan kindly advised.

Lü Xing smirked, sneering: "No need. If I had to use a weapon against a new student just entering the Outer Court, where would I even save face? Stop wasting time—begin."

Xiao Yan nodded. Though his expression remained calm, his body tensed, secretly channeling Dou Qi. He knew a Six Star Dou Shi could not be taken lightly—even with all his trump cards.

As soon as he spoke, Lü Xing stomped hard with his right foot, leaving behind a trail of lingering shadows, each stretched long and clear.

"It's the Yellow-class Advanced Body Technique, Residual Image Step! Who knew Senior Brother Lü Xing had already cultivated it to this level—three afterimages!"

Boom! Lü Xing surged forward, his multiple afterimages swinging their right fists at Xiao Yan's face, chest, and abdomen. Though the afterimages disrupted vision, to Xiao Yan—with his extremely strong Spiritual Soul—they were child's play.

Xiao Yan sidestepped the punch, seized Lü Xing's right arm, and with a light twist and pull—four ounces redirecting a thousand catties—he flung Lü Xing flying. Xiao Yan didn't stop there; as Lü Xing lost his balance, he kicked him squarely in the buttocks.

"Ahh!" Lü Xing face-planted straight into the ground.

Seeing this, everyone gasped. Just moments ago, multiple afterimages had attacked simultaneously—they couldn't tell which was real or fake—but Xiao Yan was utterly unaffected, and even seized the chance to counterattack.

Ruolin, the Mentor, frowned softly: "It's his Spiritual Soul—I nearly forgot this kid is a Rank One Alchemist. These tricks only hinder him."

Lü Xing rose, his face shifting between pale and flushed, his gaze fixed on the boy before him, a hidden thread of venom flashing in his pupils.

"Crushing Rock Heavy Fist!" Lü Xing stomped the ground again, and with a thunderous crack, his figure reappeared before Xiao Yan.

Lü Xing's right fist condensed earth-yellow Dou Qi, swelling into a massive fist-shadow that slammed toward Xiao Yan's face. Xiao Yan crossed his arms to block—the colossal fist-shadow crashed hard against his forearms.

Xiao Yan was flung backward, rolling several times before stopping; several floor tiles shattered beneath him—clearly, the force of that blow was immense.

"Hah! This is the fate of someone who disrespects a Senior Brother! Your hand bones must be broken by now..."

Before Lü Xing finished speaking, Xiao Yan slowly rose, shaking his hands to dispel numbness. He shook his head, clearly displeased: "No matter how much you train your body, flesh alone cannot withstand a Dou Shi's Dou Technique strike."

Xiao Yan had been too naive. Even after years of cultivating Ba Ji Bong and Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, training his body day after day for a decade, even swallowing a sliver of Bone Spirit Cold Fire—human flesh could never match that of a beast.

At this moment, everyone turned to Xiao Yan. Seeing him stand unharmed, their faces all changed drastically!

Are you even human?!

Are you some monster wearing human skin?!

"Y-you! How is this possible!" Lü Xing was frantic—this man had blocked his Xuan Jie Dou Ji with his bare flesh!

Xiao Yan's lips slowly curled into a cold smirk, his eyes sharp: "Now it's my turn to attack, Senior Brother."

With a chilling grin aimed at the panicked Lü Xing, Xiao Yan channeled Dou Qi through his entire body, stomped hard on the ground, clenched his fists tightly—knuckles cracking loudly—and slammed his fist straight into Lü Xing's chest.

An eye for an eye!

Ba Ji Bong!

Feeling the violent wind pressure rushing toward him, Lü Xing's face twisted again. His heart screamed: "Is this guy really an Eight Star Dou Zhe?! This spiritual pressure is terrifying!"

The thought flashed through his mind—he was now fully engulfed by Xiao Yan's assault. His Body Technique couldn't possibly evade it all. He had no choice but to forcibly absorb the blow.

He swiftly pulled a long spear from his storage ring, gripping it with both hands and activating his Dou Technique: "Immovable Spear Mountain!"

Lü Xing drove the silver-white spearhead into the ground, using the shaft as a shield, fusing spear and earth into one to block the attack. Still not secure, pale yellow earth-element Dou Qi slowly erupted from his body, forming a thin gauze-like garment around him.

Transforming Dou Qi into a clinging energy gauze is the hallmark of a Dou Shi—this energy garment enhances defense, speed, attack, and amplifies the power of Dou Techniques.

A Six Star Dou Shi, fighting an Eight Star Dou Zhe, had resorted to using a weapon and activated his Dou Qi Gauze Garment—proof of how terrifying Xiao Yan's Ba Ji Bong truly was.

Xiao Yan sneered, charging forward without hesitation, still punching straight into the spear.

Eight layers of hidden force unleashed!

Ba Ji Bong was a Xuan Jie High Grade Dou Ji—the most familiar technique Xiao Yan possessed. In its perfected state, its power rivaled the weakest Earth-Rank Dou Ji.

Deng! Deng! Deng!! The terrifying force drove Lü Xing back step by step; the spear carved a deep trench into the ground, and waves of hidden force surged through Lü Xing's body.

Xiao Yan watched Lü Xing nearly pushed beyond the boundary, silently shaking his head. Though Lü Xing had used a weapon to block, the main reason was his own low cultivation. Had they been equal, even the residual shockwaves of Ba Ji Bong alone could have shattered the Dou Qi Gauze Garment.

Even Ruolin, the Mentor, couldn't hide her shock. No one could deny the power of Xiao Yan's strike—he was overcoming a higher rank! The opponent had used a weapon to block this punch—if he hadn't, wouldn't he have been critically injured?!

Suddenly—Boom! A massive black sword plunged into the ground, shaking it. Xiao Yan gripped the handle of Xuan Chong Chi, his eyes sharpening as he yanked it upward with force.

"Senior Brother, since you've used a weapon, I won't hold back either," Xiao Yan said—there wasn't a shred of respect in his tone.

Wum!! Strange runes on Xuan Chong Chi suddenly glowed, a terrifying infernal heat rising from the weapon—the temperature across the entire Guang Chang suddenly rose by one degree!

Flame Splitting Wave Ruler!