Chapter 636

After all, Yun Yun's charm was no small thing; over the past two years, countless powerful figures had come to propose marriage, including many from Dou Emperor Families, all of whom she had rejected.

Just as Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes to savor the gentleness, a piercing bird cry echoed from the direction of Shou Yu.

Instantly, wind and thunder rolled across the sky, and in the blink of an eye, a giant crane bathed in radiant colors flew overhead, its entire body wrapped in shimmering light, each feather exquisitely beautiful.

With a sharp "Jiū!", as the giant crane soared across the sky, it left behind a colorful trail stretching a thousand meters long, and all present saw a slender, graceful figure standing atop the crane.

The moment the giant crane appeared, the previously loud crowd fell utterly silent, every gaze fixed unblinkingly on the seven-colored crane.

The first thing to catch the eye was naturally the elegant, flowing-robed figure at the crane's head—the woman wore a dark black dress, as black as ink, strangely incongruous against the crane's brilliance.

From afar, she radiated an unmistakable air of nobility; her face was slender and perfectly oval, complemented by eyes like amethyst gems, making Feng Qing'er appear like a princess of some imperial court—beautiful and sacred, utterly out of place amid the throngs of people.

Even more shocking was the fact that Feng Qing'er had come alone! No one from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan had accompanied her!

Hǒu! Hǒu! Hǒu!!!

As Feng Qing'er arrived, the mountains surrounding Wangu Zhanchang erupted in a chorus of beast roars—snarls and bellows rang endlessly, deafening all.

Through the spread of public opinion, what had originally been a territorial wager had transformed into a full-scale duel between human cultivators and beast cultivators.

"Feng Qing'er came alone?"

"Didn't the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan send a Sage Elder? Isn't it said that, besides Clan Leader Huang Tian, they have the Three Heavenly Demon Phoenixes, three Dou Sages?"

"You don't understand—Dou Sages possess the immense power to fold space, creating something called a Space Jade Slip; crush it, and even across millions of miles, a Dou Sage can instantly fold space, stepping forward to traverse millions of miles in a single stride."

Feng Qing'er stepped forward and instantly teleported, landing on a mountain peak opposite Nalan Yanran.

For a moment, over a decade felt like yesterday; both Nalan Yanran and Feng Qing'er felt a strange unease—the Four Directions Pavilion Assembly was long gone, now Yun Jian Ge was merely an ordinary sect, and Xing Yun Ge had retreated into seclusion, barely accepting disciples.

As for Huang Quan Ge and Feng Lei Ge, they were even worse—Feng Lei Ge was utterly annihilated, while Huang Quan Ge fared slightly better: though Wang Chen and Huang Quan Zunzhe were killed, Huang Quan Ge merely disbanded. Even Huang Quan Jingpin Ge, thanks to a good fortune forged during the Sect Grand Meeting, was not destroyed but preserved as a branch of the Miter Trading Association.

And this battle drew not only Yun Jian Ge, but even those from the long-secluded Xing Yun Ge had come.

"I never expected they'd face off again after all these years," Mu Qingluan murmured inwardly as she watched the two.

Mu Qingluan was now a One Star Dou Zun—not only the Clan Leader of the Qingluan Clan, but also the Pavilion Master of Xing Yun Ge. Since the matter with Yao Zunzhe, Feng Zunzhe had fully withdrawn; after the Pill Gathering, Feng Zunzhe left Mu Qingluan a letter and vanished without a trace—no one knew if he was alive or dead.

Nalan Yanran looked at Feng Qing'er, dressed in the dark black dress, arriving alone, and felt an odd emotion stir within her. After all, this battle wasn't her own choice—it had been forcibly arranged by Xiao Yan.

Though Nalan Yanran didn't understand the deeper meaning behind Xiao Yan's actions, she had no intention of opposing his arrangement.

In Nalan Yanran's memory, Feng Qing'er's image still lingered at the Four Directions Pavilion Assembly—back then, Feng Qing'er had challenged Xiao Yan, even summoned Lei Zunzhe of Feng Lei Ge to capture him, and ultimately clashed with the Yan Alliance.

Thus, in Nalan Yanran's mind, Feng Qing'er was no good.

When Feng Qing'er appeared, Nalan Yanran's eyes sharpened, her gaze like a blade—a killing blade, cold and biting; the spiritual pressure of her Nine-Turn Dou Zun realm instantly plunged the temperature of the entire world, the piercing sword intent slicing like a wind through the hearts of every spectator.

Many cultivators too close winced in pain, their skin visibly cut!

"Fall back!"

"Such terrifying wind attribute Dou Qi—sword like wind, wind like sword!"

Many low-level Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs immediately unfurled their Dou Qi wings and retreated far from the battlefield, faces pale with fear—Nalan Yanran's wind attribute Dou Qi carried a bone-chilling sword intent that sent shivers down their spines and filled them with dread.

"Since you've come, then strike," Nalan Yanran said without further words, her expression icy. She had always been the Yan Alliance's blade—pointed, cut, never questioned since the Yan Alliance's founding.

Once given a mission, she carried it out—never asked why.

"Nalan Jianzun, that sword… is formidable," muttered the old-generation powerhouses outside the battlefield, their hearts tightening with unease.

Feng Qing'er did not answer immediately, but slowly lifted her head, gazing at the clouds above the Yun Zhong Lou Ge, her beautiful eyes narrowing, trying to pierce through the clouded pavilion.

But unfortunately, even with her strength, she could not see through Yun Yun's Saint Might barrier, let alone Xiao Yan—he was inside, watching.

She had no idea that this entire Dou Qi Continent-wide uproar, this duel, was merely Xiao Yan's casual decision—a trap meant to test her.

Feng Qing'er looked at Nalan Yanran, a spark of anger rising, and said coldly: "Draw your sword."

No sooner had Feng Qing'er spoken than came a sharp "Zhēng!"—Nalan Yanran drew her sword.

There was a wager: the land of Huang Quan Shan Mai had always belonged to the Yan Alliance's Snake Emperor Empire. When Nalan Yanran fought, the Yun Sha Black Sword drawn, she transformed utterly—her body bristling with killing aura, every wind vortex around her filled with chilling, lethal sword light.

Each wind vortex resembled a blade, tangible and swirling around her—every vortex was her sword, merciless, capable of slaying all, giving the impression of wind as sword, blood dripping.

The Black Sword drawn sent chills through all—not because the Yun Sha Black Sword itself was powerful, merely an eighth-grade Magic Core weapon—but when held in Nalan Yanran's hand, it became terrifying.

Since Xiao Yan had ordered her to give her all, Nalan Yanran showed no mercy—"Xīu!"—she became a streak of black light, brimming with killing intent, death itself, moving too fast to see, thrusting one sword at Feng Qing'er.

In an instant, Nalan Yanran vanished—next moment, she stood before Feng Qing'er.

Nalan Yanran's speed was absurdly fast, yet Feng Qing'er, with her Wind Thunder Body, was no slouch—"Pū!"—Nalan Yanran's sword pierced Feng Qing'er's body, but the expected sensation of penetration never came.

"Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body?"

"Zīzī!"—the Thunder Illusion Body exploded, terrifying wind-thunder energy instantly forming a massive tornado surging toward Nalan Yanran.

After Feng Lei Ge's annihilation, Feng Qing'er likely had the most perfected Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body on the entire Dou Qi Continent, aside from Xiao Yan.

Facing the wind-thunder force unleashed by the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body, Nalan Yanran acted as if she saw nothing—her mind shifted, "Wēng!"—she formed a hand seal, and a surge of light erupted from her body; instantly, black-and-white light engulfed her.

Black-and-white Dou Qi swirled around her like two colossal dragons, guarding her entire body; the black-and-white True Dragons instantly spun into terrifying tornadoes, shielding her from the wind-thunder vortex.

As the twin dragon-like whirlwinds of black and white spun, many half-Saint spectators were startled.

"Is this black-and-white defense… sword qi?"

"Such pure Dou Qi."

"Hōng! Hōng! Hōng!!" The two tornadoes collided instantly—the residual shockwaves from a Nine-Turn Dou Zun battle were enough to tear open Space, shatter peaks, and sever mountain ranges.

Nalan Yanran's Soul Force swept instantly through Space, whirling around to gaze at a point in Xu Kong Zhi Di, her Dou Qi surged, her Black Sword flicked upward in a flourish, and she mentally roared: "Mountain River Gale Slash."

Instantly, Heavenly Energy boiled—within a hundred-mile radius, all Heavenly Energy converged upon Nalan Yanran's sword; clouds split apart, wind and mist surged.

"Heavenly Rank Dou Technique!!"

"What's so surprising? With the Yan Alliance's strength and Nalan Sect Master already at Nine-Turn Dou Zun, possessing a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique is perfectly normal."

Nalan Yanran spun her Black Sword and slashed at a point in Space—instantly, a thousand-zhang invisible sword qi shot forth, vast and sweeping, clearing clouds like a gale.

This Heavenly Rank Dou Technique was the Sword Saint inheritance Xiao Yan had once spent two Chengzun Spirit Pills to acquire at the Space Auction—Nalan Yanran had not wasted Xiao Yan's goodwill; she had indeed cultivated it, and it had indeed proven useful, lending a helping hand.

Most present were discerning eyes; seeing Nalan Yanran unleash that sword, that thousand-zhang blade, they could not help but be moved—they understood this technique had reached perfection, its power immense.

"Péng!"—with a soft sound, the space locked by Nalan Yanran suddenly erupted with continuous wind-thunder energy; from within leapt a colossal, colorful Demon Phoenix, which, as it emerged, trailed streams of wind and thunder, its power like an endless ocean, the Demon Phoenix standing at its heart.

"This is the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's Heaven Phoenix Three Arts!"

At the sight of this Demon Phoenix, many were moved, even envious; some elders murmured: "The legendary ancient Secret Arts, passed down from the primordial Heaven Phoenix clan. Alas, whether Heaven Phoenix, Heaven Phoenix, or even Heaven Serpent—all are now extinct."

"Jiū!" Feng Qing'er's eyes grew solemn; not everyone was Xiao Yan—cultivating even one Heaven Tier Low Grade Dou Technique was already worthy of pride.

"Heavenly Thunder Overturning the Sea!" Feng Qing'er shouted in an instant; the massive multicolored Demon Phoenix enveloped her entire body, and behind her, lightning points surged like a vast ocean, waves roaring. An endless sea of thunder rose behind Feng Qing'er, and when this ocean drowned heaven and earth, the surrounding Heavenly Energy was entirely absorbed into it.

Facing Nalan Yanran's sword strike, Feng Qing'er dared not underestimate her—Nalan Yanran's strength was no weaker than her own!

You should know that Feng Qing'er is now incomparably stronger than the former Jiu Feng by who knows how many times; if Jiu Feng were still alive, Feng Qing'er could defeat her effortlessly.

The seven-colored Demon Phoenix flapped its wings violently; the lightning ocean surged across sky and earth. Under all eyes, a thunderous boom erupted as two Heaven Tier attacks collided violently, terrifying wind vortices and lightning scattered everywhere.

The surrounding Shan Mai were sliced open by sharp wind vortices; boom, boom, boom—the lightning continuously exploded, turning the already dilapidated Battlefield into utter ruin.

"Zhēng!" In an instant, Nalan Yanran struck again, her whole body wrapped in wind vortices, utterly unafraid of the lightning ocean, transforming into a sharp blade that pierced into the Lei Hai.

"Kuang! She's insane—charging into the lightning ocean!!"

In that instant, there was no Nalan Yanran, no Black Sword—only a single blade of light flashed past.

Wind's Extreme!

Now, Wind's Extreme was no longer a simple Dou Technique—sword as wind, Wind's Extreme was also Sword's Extreme!

This blade of light made every heart leap—it pierced through the lightning ocean.

Feng Qing'er had not expected Nalan Yanran to dare charge into the lightning ocean and strike—her eyes flashed with anger; she mentally cried: "Demon Phoenix Bell!"

"Zhēng!!" As the sword struck, Feng Qing'er was taken by surprise—this blade struck precisely the weakest point of the Demon Phoenix Bell's defense; in the blink of an eye, Nalan Yanran had captured with unbelievable speed the barely perceptible flaw in the Demon Phoenix Bell.

Under the Bodhi Tree, one moment of contemplation—a once-in-a-thousand-years supreme opportunity!

In the blink of an eye, Feng Qing'er was stunned—the Demon Phoenix Bell was comparable to a Heaven Tier Defensive Dou Technique! Yet it could not block this sword!

Of course, the Demon Phoenix Bell was not purely a Defensive Dou Technique—it was also a sonic Dou Technique. Unfortunately, the Demon Phoenix Bell was precisely most vulnerable to sword stabs—techniques that pierced through defenses at a single point.

Everything happened too fast—even a Half-Saint's eyes widened in shock; this sword was so swift it startled even a Half-Saint!

You should know that although a Half-Saint and a Nine-Turn Dou Zun are only one step apart, that step is nearly impossible to bridge, and the gap between them is absurdly vast.

Wind's Extreme—a sword that startled the Saint!

"Pū!"

The sword pierced through the Demon Phoenix Bell; a faint streak of multicolored blood sprayed out. Feng Qing'er was flung backward—her shoulder had been stabbed!

Nalan Yanran frowned; at this last critical moment, Feng Qing'er had still dodged the vital strike—only the shoulder had been hit.

"Nalan Yanran's sword path has surpassed all ancestral masters of the Yun Lan Sect." Yun Yun witnessed this scene; seeing her disciple grow so powerful, she felt deep satisfaction and joy.

"Although Nalan Yanran's Cultivation Realm and other Dou Techniques are inferior to yours, she is utterly devoted to the sword. Now, with the sword, she is your master." Xiao Yan opened his eyes, gazing at Yun Yun so close, and smiled.