Word Count: 3,164 Words
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The Ancient Phoenix Wings flared, bending and twisting space as Xiao Yan shot forward at unimaginable speed. He moved so fast that even Dou Venerates struggled to track him. In that single instant, countless afterimages stretched across the sky in his wake.
BANG!
Xiao Yan materialized directly before Gu Qing Yang. Before his opponent could raise a guard, Xiao Yan launched himself upward and drove a knee into Gu Qing Yang's sternum with devastating force, sending him rocketing into the sky.
Blood spilled from Gu Qing Yang's lips. The sheer power behind that knee strike was terrifying!
"First General!!"
"Damn, I almost forgot! Xiao Yan possesses Heavenly State Spiritual Strength!"
BOOM!
The Ancient Phoenix Wings beat again as Xiao Yan pursued his airborne opponent. Yet this incredible display of speed only made Gu Qing Yang's eyes gleam with excitement. He wiped the blood from his mouth, a genuine smile spreading across his face. It had been far too long since he had faced someone who could push him to his limits!
"Void Sky Steps!"
Whoosh!
Xiao Yan's fist swept through empty space. Gu Qing Yang had vanished completely, not merely moved quickly, but disappeared entirely, as if he had evaporated from existence. Even Xiao Yan's powerful Spiritual Strength couldn't detect his presence.
Xiao Yan's brows furrowed. This agility technique was undoubtedly Tian Class. Even with his Heavenly State Spiritual Strength, he was momentarily unable to pinpoint Gu Qing Yang's location!
Tian Class flying-type Dou Techniques were rare, but for a super faction like the Gu Clan—with actual Dou God inheritances—even something as precious as a Tian Class agility technique wasn't beyond reach!
A threatening hum suddenly vibrated through the air. With barely a heartbeat's warning, devastating fist-force blasted toward Xiao Yan's flank. It arrived with such blinding speed that even he couldn't dodge.
The fist connected, and Xiao Yan's body exploded into fragments of light. Gu Qing Yang's eyes widened in shock. "An illusionary body!"
If he couldn't dodge, then Xiao Yan simply wouldn't dodge at all!
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
The Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body revealed a cold smile before detonating in a spectacular explosion of thunder and fire. It created a massive pool of deadly energy.
"Flame Burst!"
The real Xiao Yan appeared behind Gu Qing Yang, wreathed in both the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame and the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. Both Heavenly Flames erupted simultaneously, unleashing a terrifying inferno that ravaged the landscape and incinerated the space around them. The flames surged into a monstrous, sky-consuming wave that instantly engulfed Gu Qing Yang.
A deafening boom resounded. Gu Qing Yang's hands formed seals with blinding speed as a brilliant seal materialized in his palm. Five imprints fused into one as he roared, "Ancient God Seal!"
The Ancient God Seal, possessing power that approached Low Tian Class Dou Techniques, tore through Xiao Yan's sea of flames in an instant!
Just as it shattered his flame attack, Xiao Yan's Ancient Phoenix Wings flared sharply. They propelled him backward to avoid the incoming seal.
"Space Lock!" Gu Qing Yang's eyes narrowed.
The space around Xiao Yan instantly thickened into a viscous mire, while crushing gravity pressed down from all directions.
Before Xiao Yan could react to the spatial trap, Gu Qing Yang closed the distance with incomparable speed. Another thunderous crash echoed as the Ancient God Seal slammed directly into Xiao Yan's chest, sending him plummeting from the sky.
"Cough!"
Blood spurted from Xiao Yan's mouth as the devastating power of the Ancient God Seal left his chest visibly caved in!
"Xiao Yan ge-ge!" Xun Er shot to her feet, her beautiful eyes filled with worry as her fists clenched tightly.
BOOM!
Xiao Yan plummeted like a meteor, his body smashing through a stone pillar before cratering into the ceremonial plaza. The impact sent debris flying in all directions and left a massive depression in the stone floor.
The entire audience drew in sharp breaths. Despite Xiao Yan's incredible speed and his deployment of two Heavenly Flames plus Soul Techniques, Gu Qing Yang had proven himself worthy of his reputation as the Gu Clan's true elite. His speed, power, spatial mastery, technique refinement, and battle instincts were all beyond reproach!
If Xiao Yan could claim invincibility among his peers, then so too had Gu Qing Yang once held that title!
In fact, across the entire Dou Qi Continent's younger generation, finding someone who could match his spatial manipulation would be nearly impossible.
"So this is the terrifying comprehension granted by a Grade 9 Dou God Bloodline? He cultivates Dou Techniques as if they're child's play."
"Yet Xiao Yan can fight at this level despite the cultivation gap... that's equally monstrous."
"If they were at equal cultivation, the outcome would be impossible to predict."
Grade 9 Dou God Bloodline! This represented the absolute ceiling within Dou God Clans. Even Half-Saints like Elder Tong Xuan and Mang Tian Chi possessed only Grade 8 bloodlines.
Though the influence of a Dou God Bloodline typically diminished once one reached the Dou Saint realm, that was because most could only dream of possessing a Grade 8 bloodline. Grade 9 was beyond imagination!
Even within the Gu Clan, those with Grade 9 bloodlines could be counted on one's fingers!
Whether or not he had the Gu Clan's resources, Gu Qing Yang's talent and comprehension made his eventual breakthrough to Dou Saint virtually guaranteed!
Despite his advantage, Gu Qing Yang showed no signs of complacency. He hovered silently in midair, his eyes fixed gravely on the crater below.
If Xiao Yan could be defeated so easily, that would be the real joke.
Crash!
Xiao Yan's Spiritual Strength blasted aside the debris. With a wave of his hand, he dispersed the dust cloud and shot back into the sky.
'The Ancient God Seal... I've never actually been hit by the God Seal Technique before.' Xiao Yan hovered in the air, examining the depression in his chest with a thoughtful nod.
Though he had cultivated the God Seal Technique himself, experiencing a direct hit from the Ancient God Seal was a first. There was no question that Gu Qing Yang was a formidable opponent, entirely different from Gu Yao. His foundation was rock-solid, his Dou Qi dense and powerful.
The crowd stared at Xiao Yan in astonishment. Seeing him seemingly unaffected by such a devastating blow, many faces paled in disbelief.
"It's the Yin-Yang Twin Flame and... the Three Thousand Burning Flame." Huo Xuan was past the point of being surprised. He had almost forgotten that this Xiao Yan was the champion of the Pill Gathering and had successfully refined the Three Thousand Burning Flame. This was common knowledge!
"Six kinds... including one ranked in the top ten..." Huo Zhi's beautiful eyes grew solemn. If the five Heavenly Flames Xiao Yan had displayed in his Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique had all been ranked outside the top fifteen, she wouldn't have been so serious. But the Three Thousand Burning Flame, ranked ninth, was an entirely different matter.
For Dou God Clans, Heavenly Flames ranked below fifteenth weren't particularly coveted; they would take them if the opportunity arose but wouldn't go out of their way to obtain them. As for those ranked from eleventh to fifteenth, unless they were obtained by someone of Venerable Yao's former status, or by a faction like Jia Nan Academy with Mang Tian Chi, or the Burning Flame Valley guarded by a 1-star Dou Saint, they would find a way to seize them.
The top ten Heavenly Flames, however, held an extremely high allure even for the Dou God Clans. One only needed to look at how many the Yan Clan and Yao Clan possessed to understand.
If not for the Pill Tower's current old ancestor being a 6-star Dou Saint, this Three Thousand Burning Flame would have been snatched away long ago!
"Three Thousand Burning Flame..." Human Medicine clenched his fists so tightly from envy that his knuckles turned white, greed blazing in his eyes.
His own Heavenly Flame, the tenth-ranked Nine Serene Wind Flame, was inferior to the Three Thousand Burning Flame, yet it had already brought him tremendous benefits as one of the Yao Clan's precious inherited flames.
Xiao Yan paid no attention to the various gazes. He understood that the stronger he appeared, the safer he would be. Setting aside the Hun Clan, the title of 'Gu Clan son-in-law' alone was enough protection.
"The warm-up's over. Let's bring out our weapons," Xiao Yan said calmly to Gu Qing Yang.
After a moment's consideration, Gu Qing Yang nodded. Using weapons meant leveraging the Gu Clan's resources, which could be seen as an unfair advantage. His weapon was undoubtedly among the Gu Clan's finest.
But as he had stated from the beginning, he would hold nothing back!
Hum!
The atmosphere itself seemed to brighten as Gu Qing Yang drew his weapon. His entire bearing transformed; his eyes grew deeper, his battle spirit soared, and his demeanor became exceptionally calm yet overwhelming.
He gripped a halberd taller than himself. With this weapon in hand, Gu Qing Yang immediately projected an aura of invincibility, like a warrior who could hold a mountain pass against ten thousand foes.
Once armed, he seemed to become entirely different, a perfect unity of man and weapon, without a single opening or weakness in his stance. This was the true Gu Qing Yang!
Xiao Yan studied the halberd with interest. The snow-white weapon radiated a domineering aura, with subtle dragon might emanating from its gleaming surface.
Though Xiao Yan didn't know its specific history, he recognized its extraordinary power. Even among the Gu Clan's treasures, this weapon clearly held special status.
Just as medicinal cauldrons were ranked on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking, weapons too had their hierarchies. Gu Qing Yang's snow-white halberd was an ancient weapon passed down through the Gu Clan, forged from the bones and Monster Core of a Rank 9 True Dragon, a species extinct since ancient times. It qualified as a top-tier ninth-grade weapon!
The Gu Clan's foundations were truly profound!
Whoosh—
A sound of breaking wind accompanied Xiao Yan drawing his own weapon. Naturally, he only had one: the strange-looking, massive black ruler he had carried for so long.
Though Venerable Yao's inheritance hadn't specified the Heavy Xuan Ruler's grade, Xiao Yan knew it couldn't exceed eighth-grade. A high-level Dou Venerate's attack would likely damage it.
Many Gu Clan members couldn't help but snicker at the sight of Xiao Yan's crude-looking weapon.
"The Xiao Clan truly has fallen if they're reduced to using such an ugly black ruler."
"It can't possibly compare to the First General's Silver Dragon Battle Halberd."
Their laughter and mockery died in their throats the very next second, cut off as abruptly as if someone had grabbed them by the neck!
With a swift movement, Xiao Yan held the ruler horizontally before him. His left hand summoned an earth-yellow Heavenly Flame that rose like a desert tornado.
Naturally, this was the eighteenth-ranked Wind and Thunder Fury Flame!
Xiao Yan infused his terrifying Spiritual Strength into the flame, then pressed it into the Heavy Xuan Ruler. His palm formed a claw against the ruler's surface, and an ear-piercing screech rang out as his five fingers scraped along the metal.
RUMBLE!!
As the screeching grew more intense and sharp, the strange patterns on the Heavy Xuan Ruler seemed to awaken. A storm-wreathed column of earth-yellow flame erupted from the weapon.
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed as he slashed the Heavy Xuan Ruler through the air, tearing through space itself! The once-ugly black ruler now emitted a subtle glow, the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame wreathing it in an awe-inspiring aura!
"That strange black ruler can actually incorporate Heavenly Flames?"
"Not just that, look at how he uses his powerful Spiritual Strength to control the flame."
"Such precise fire control is equally impressive! Without that level of mastery, such delicate manipulation would be impossible."
"The combination of Heavenly Flames, powerful Spiritual Strength, and exquisite fire control allows Xiao Yan to match the Gu Clan's profound resources!"
Xun Er slowly rose to her feet, her beautiful eyes filled with heartache as she gazed at the man hovering in the sky. She knew all too well the arduous path Xiao Yan had walked to reach this point.
Refining a Heavenly Flame wasn't like eating a meal!
She knew the tremendous risks he had faced just to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame. And then there was the Green Lotus Core Flame he hadn't yet used, the one that had nearly cost him his life at Medusa's hands.
Each Heavenly Flame represented countless unseen scars and spilled blood.
Even the weakest Heavenly Flame like the Mysterious Yellow Flame had required intense concentration and caution during refinement. Only those who had experienced the process, who had endured that pain, truly understood how dangerous Heavenly Flames were!
"Save the sentiments. Make your move," Xiao Yan said, noting the appreciation in Gu Qing Yang's eyes. "Lose in front of all these people, and the Gu Clan's face will be completely lost."
Gu Qing Yang smiled and nodded. "Then prepare yourself!"
He was no pushover. As his Silver Dragon Battle Halberd moved, the surrounding space seemed to warp. Clouds swirled and space shattered at its passing, drawing gasps of amazement from the audience!
With a casual thrust, Gu Qing Yang demonstrated his mastery. Years of dedicated training were evident in every movement. His technique was like a mountain goat hanging from a cliff by its horns, leaving no trace to follow!
Facing this attack, Xiao Yan let out a long battle cry. His Heavy Xuan Ruler emitted a deep, resonant sound. Infused with the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, the weapon was not only massively heavy but also razor-sharp!
THUD!
Xiao Yan integrated the principles of the Six Joint Body Flowing Ruler perfectly as the Heavy Xuan Ruler met Gu Qing Yang's halberd. With a muffled impact, the ruler stood like a black mountain, instantly deflecting and blocking. The storm of Heavenly Flame surged, tearing through space and incinerating everything, successfully stopping Gu Qing Yang's stunning thrust.
The instant he blocked the attack, Xiao Yan slapped the Heavy Xuan Ruler sharply. Blades of wind infused with Heavenly Flame shot forth from its surface.
Sensing the precise flame attack, Gu Qing Yang gripped his halberd and gave it a shake. Space twisted around him as he moved in perfect unity with his weapon, effortlessly deflecting Xiao Yan's flame assault!
Their battle continued, reaching spectacular heights of intensity. The Heavy Xuan Ruler, infused with Heavenly Flame, clashed against the Silver Dragon Battle Halberd. Explosions of flame and dragon might erupted, dimming the color from the world.
With halberd in hand, Gu Qing Yang seemed to command the world itself. Each thrust appeared unstoppable, so breathtaking that even the Gu Clan elders and experts like Mang Tian Chi gasped in continuous admiration.
The same was true for Xiao Yan. Though the Six Joint Body Flowing Ruler couldn't compare to the Gu Clan's halberd techniques and wasn't particularly profound, he compensated with Soul Techniques and Heavenly Flames. He matched Gu Qing Yang blow for blow without yielding an inch.
Gu Qing Yang's Silver Dragon Battle Halberd left countless afterimages in its wake, each strike accompanied by terrifying dragon might. His mastery truly made the halberd move like a living dragon, a level of skill rarely seen in the modern era, testament to his countless hours of relentless practice.
Their battle ranged from sky to ground and back again, even tearing through void space and triggering spatial storms with their passage.
One halberd, one heavy ruler—they fought with such ferocity that the young prodigies watching were utterly captivated. This was a battle they would remember for the rest of their lives, filled with lessons they could spend years absorbing!
"Great Silent Destruction Technique—Great Silent Destruction Finger!!" Gu Qing Yang's One-Change Dou Venerate cultivation exploded outward. Being a One-Change meant possessing twice the power of a 9-star Dou Venerate, and this was Gu Qing Yang!
He pointed at Xiao Yan, and an aura that could extinguish all life manifested as a massive finger of condensed Dou Qi pressed downward.
Xiao Yan's hands formed seals in response, and the Five Ring Flame Expelling Formation activated once more! Five Heavenly Flames transformed into flame spirits as endless beams of fiery light erupted from the array.
RUMBLE!!!
Even without his Clan Mark, Gu Qing Yang's Great Silent Destruction Finger far exceeded Gu Yao's version. It collided with Xiao Yan's Five Ring Flame Expelling Technique in mutual annihilation.
Such Tian Class techniques were merely minor skills in their arsenals!
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Two silhouettes shot out from the collision of flame and destruction. A crisp clang rang out as halberd met ruler, sending sparks flying and unleashing shock waves that churned the surroundings.
"Quickly! Strengthen the barrier!" The three elders paled in alarm. The collision was about to shatter the Space Lock they had cast. One could imagine how fierce their attacks were!
THUD!
Gu Qing Yang's halberd swept horizontally in a deceptively simple strike. Xiao Yan blocked with his ruler, but the tremendous force sent him staggering backward, shattering the space beneath his feet!
"Take my palm!" Xiao Yan gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler one-handed while his right hand formed rapid seals. A black dot materialized in his palm as natural energy flooded into it from all directions. He thrust it toward Gu Qing Yang.
Great Heaven Creation Palm!!
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The Great Heaven Creation Palm expanded with frightening speed. After practicing with Nalan Yanran and Yun Yun, Xiao Yan had finally reached minor mastery of this technique.
The black hole grew rapidly, emitting a powerful gravitational pull that even Gu Qing Yang couldn't escape.
"Silver Dragon Tail Sweep!"
Gu Qing Yang infused his Dou Qi into the halberd, drawing on natural energy as he reversed his grip and swept the weapon outward. Like a divine dragon swinging its tail, a massive silver energy whip lashed out.
With a thunderous crash, the Silver Dragon Battle Halberd moved like a flexible whip in Gu Qing Yang's hands. If he couldn't dodge, he would break through by force!
He too had mastered multiple Tian Class Dou Techniques!
The black dome of the Great Heaven Creation Palm collided with Gu Qing Yang's silver energy whip. As two true Tian Class Dou Techniques clashed, the spectacle was awe-inspiring, a collision of heavens against heavens!
"What level of Qi Method has Xiao Yan cultivated? His Dou Qi quality actually matches the First General's!"
"It must be at least equal to the First General's Low Tian Class Silver Dragon Heaven Mantra!"
Seeing they were evenly matched, Gu Qing Yang finally decided to unleash his full power, the Gu Clan's true heritage.
With a resonant hum, a dazzling purple-gold light erupted from his forehead. Within this purple-gold radiance, observers could faintly discern hints of multicolored light!
Grade 9 Clan Mark!