The wind rapidly gathered in the sword held by Nalan Yanran. With a flick of her wrist, a beam of light distorted the space as it shot towards Xiao Yan.
At this moment, Xiao Yan, holding the Xuan Heavy Ruler, brought it down. The terrifying yellow flames surged like a tidal wave, roaring as they met the incoming beam.
Zii
A sharp sound of air being torn apart echoed. The emerald-green beam pierced through the yellow flame wave of Xiao Yan.
"Quick, dodge!" Yao Lao urgently shouted.
Xiao Yan was stunned, his eyes blank. As a mere Great Dou Master, his body couldn't react in time. It's worth noting that due to Mu Chen's earlier intervention, Xiao Yan hadn't obtained the flying battle skill, Purple Cloud Wings.
At the last moment, Yao Lao overstepped his bounds.
A wisp of white soul energy emerged from the ancient black ring on Xiao Yan's finger, enveloping his body and forcing it to tilt slightly.
It was this slight tilt that allowed the emerald-green light to narrowly miss him. However, it still grazed Xiao Yan's left arm.
"My arm..." Xiao Yan's eyes widened in shock.
Amplified by four Soul Bones, Nalan Yanran's combat power was comparable to a Dou Zong. Her Pinnacle of Wind: Meteor Kill, upon touching Xiao Yan's left arm, melted it like winter snow under the spring sun. Blood gushed from his arm.
"Ah!"
A piercing scream escaped Xiao Yan's lips.
Xiao Yan's fingers moved rapidly, sealing some of his blood vessels. His face, pale from excessive blood loss, resembled a flour doll. His eyes, dark and fierce, fixed on Nalan Yanran.
"You brought this upon yourself," Nalan Yanran said coldly.
Xiao Yan remained silent, his gaze locked on her.
"I told you, if you fought today, you would only humiliate yourself. Xiao Yan, there's one thing you didn't say wrong," Nalan Yanran continued, her tone icy.
"What is it?" Xiao Yan asked.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the young for their poverty," Nalan Yanran said calmly, her voice carrying a unique charm.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the young for their poverty," Xiao Yan murmured.
These were the words Xiao Yan had once said to Nalan Yanran. Today, she returned them to him, word for word.
This was an absolute slap in the face!
"Xiao Yan, after today, we are destined to be in different worlds. You know, if you want to become a powerhouse in this world, there are other worlds beyond this one. That is where Nalan Yanran's stage lies!" Nalan Yanran seemed to be speaking to herself. As she spoke, she turned, her eyes lingering on Mu Chen for three seconds.
"Stop!" Xiao Yan shouted.
Seeing Xiao Yan about to intercept Nalan Yanran, Yun Leng, the referee from the Cloud Mist Sect for this three-year agreement, blocked him, saying, "Xiao Yan, what more do you want? You've already lost. As for your left arm, you said it yourself—life and death are fated."
Xiao Yan: "..."
Xiao Yan was speechless once more. Invisibly, he felt his face had been slapped again!
Originally, Yun Leng from the Cloud Mist Sect had already shown considerable respect. Yun Leng had hoped for both sides to stop at an appropriate point, to know when to cease. But it was Xiao Yan, once again, who insisted on a life-and-death duel. Now, not only was he defeated, but he also failed to have any impact on Nalan Yanran. Instead, he lost his left arm to her.
"Patriarch of the Xiao Family."
Yun Leng looked at the current patriarch of the Xiao Family in Wutan City, Xiao Yu's grandfather, who was seated as an honored guest, and smiled, "Let's end this matter here, what do you think?"
Xiao Yu's grandfather stood up and nodded, "Agreed, I was thinking the same. If Xiao Yan causes trouble again in the future, the Cloud Mist Sect can decide whether to kill or spare him. In our Xiao Family, Xiao Yu is not the young clan leader; my granddaughter Xiao Yu is the young clan leader."
Yun Leng chuckled.
As a elder of the Cloud Mist Sect, Yun Leng understood the implication behind Xiao Yu's grandfather's last statement. He was implying that Nalan Yanran was the strongest third-generation disciple of the Cloud Mist Sect and its young sect leader. Xiao Yan, however, was not the strongest third-generation disciple of the Xiao Family. Even if Xiao Yu lost to Nalan Yanran, it wouldn't be a big deal since Xiao Yu was the young clan leader of the Xiao Family.
Xiao Yan watched Nalan Yanran's back as she walked towards Yun Yun, his right hand clenched tightly. He picked up the Xuan Zhong Ruler from the ground and turned to leave.
"Thinking of leaving?"
Just as Xiao Yan took four steps, a disciple from the Cloud Mist Sect blocked his path, "You can't just leave after causing trouble in our Cloud Mist Sect."
"What? Is the Cloud Mist Sect resorting to banditry now?" Xiao Yan sneered.
"Xiao Yan, stop flattering yourself. You lost to Nalan Yanran; who gave you the courage to speak like this? We're detaining you for another matter," an elder stepped forward.
"What matter?" Xiao Yan's heart tightened.
"I ask you, is the death of Mo Cheng, the outer sect steward of the Cloud Mist Sect, related to you? Do you also possess the Furious Flaming Dragon Fire?" the Cloud Mist Sect elder demanded.
Xiao Yan's heart sank, realizing he had been recognized.
Indeed, Mo Cheng's death was related to Xiao Yan. Apart from not having any interaction with the Medusa Queen and not obtaining the Strange Fire, the Green Lotus Core Flame, everything that happened in Stone Desert City, Iron Desert City, and Mo Family Fortress had occurred.
"Your silence is admission. Your Strange Fire is the best evidence. Since you've killed someone from our Cloud Mist Sect, you must give an account today," the Cloud Mist Sect elder coldly declared. As his words fell, numerous Cloud Mist Sect disciples surrounded Xiao Yan.
"Sigh..."
A faint, helpless sigh suddenly echoed in the sky. As the sigh faded, a chilling cold rapidly lowered the temperature of the plaza. An elderly figure, like a ghost, slowly materialized beside Xiao Yan.
"Ice Emperor, Hai Bo Dong!"
Some of the older members of the Cloud Mist Sect exclaimed in shock at the sudden appearance of the old man, their eyes filled with terror as if they had seen something horrifying.
"Elder Hai?"
Teng Shan, the president of the Miter Trading Company, stood up in shock from his seat, his eyes filled with excitement, "Elder Hai, you're not dead?"
Hai Bo Dong glanced at Teng Shan and said indifferently, "Were you hoping I was?"
Teng Shan coughed awkwardly and said with a smile, "Old Hai, you must be joking."
"Ya Fei," Mu Chen called out.
"Master," Ya Fei responded.
"Go, take your guild members away," Mu Chen instructed.
"As you command!" Ya Fei did not hesitate at all. With a slight movement of her back, a pair of dazzling white flame wings condensed behind her.
"Battle Emperor?"
Everyone present watched as Ya Fei approached Bo Saixi, especially focusing on the pair of white flame wings behind her, and exclaimed in astonishment, "The Miter Guild actually has a second powerhouse who has reached the level of Battle Emperor!"
(End of Chapter)