"This guy..."
Xiao Yan's provocatively casual remark made even the hardened veterans of the Black-Corner Region twitch. Though his earlier slash with the heavy ruler had struck fear into them, who among the elites invited by Han Feng wasn't a domineering force in this chaotic land? They might feel pressure, but to be outright intimidated into backing down? That was unlikely.
More importantly, they all understood that Xiao Yan's terrifying strike was the result of a high-grade Earth Rank Dou Technique. Such attacks couldn't be used endlessly. Given that fact, if they combined forces, even a peak Dou Huang would struggle to withstand them—let alone a mere two-star Dou Huang like him.
"Arrogant brat, allow me to teach you a lesson!"
As tension rippled through the crowd, a blood-colored figure shot out like lightning—it was Fan Lao, the Sect Leader of the Blood Sect. Among the assembled Dou Huangs, his speed was among the fastest, and within seconds, he appeared directly in front of Xiao Yan.
In Fan Lao's grip condensed a long blood-red spear forged purely from Dou Qi and life force. Without hesitation, it darted toward Xiao Yan's head like a deadly crimson fang. Simultaneously, several Dou Wang-level experts behind him leapt toward Zi Yan and Qing Lin, assuming that even if Fan Lao couldn't defeat Xiao Yan outright, stalling him would suffice for them to seize the Heavenly Flame.
The blood spear moved too fast to be seen clearly. In the blink of an eye, it pierced through Xiao Yan's body. But to Fan Lao's shock, not a single drop of blood flowed out. The next instant, Xiao Yan's form shimmered and dissolved into thin air.
"A residual image?!" Fan Lao's heart skipped.
He hadn't even noticed the instant Xiao Yan vanished from under his nose. Alarmed, he quickly channeled his Dou Qi to form a blood-colored armor over his body, mentally preparing for a counterattack—but none came. Not immediately.
Before he could react, however, a miserable scream echoed from below. Fan Lao's head snapped downward. He saw the three Dou Wangs who had targeted Zi Yan and Qing Lin—now lying dead, their bodies cleaved in two by Xiao Yan's ruler. The attack had come out of nowhere, and his sheer speed left even the most seasoned warriors in cold sweat.
'No wonder he's so confident... this brat really is something.'
"Anyone who dares take one more step... dies."
Xiao Yan's voice was calm, even smiling, but it was underpinned by a chilling murderous intent. The faces of everyone present paled. His previous strike could've been written off as luck, boosted by a Dou Technique. But this time? He relied solely on his own power to dispatch three elite Dou Wangs—flawlessly. Such terrifying speed was rare even in the brutal Black-Corner Region.
"Everyone!"
Han Feng, realizing that the mood was beginning to shift in Xiao Yan's favor, quickly shouted, "If you help me obtain this Heavenly Flame, I'll double the rewards I promised before!"
Hearing this, the experts who had considered retreating hesitated. Their gazes flickered with greed. Living in the Black-Corner Region meant dancing on the edge of a blade, and for the right benefits, even walking into the jaws of death was worth it.
"Attack!"
With Han Feng's low shout, over a dozen powerful figures launched into action simultaneously. Ribbons of fierce Dou Qi howled toward Xiao Yan like lightning, targeting every vital point on his body.
If Xiao Yan had used the Flame Swift Lightning Steps, evading wouldn't have been difficult. But behind him stood Zi Yan and Qing Lin. If he dodged, they would be overwhelmed instantly—and the Sea Heart Flame, which he'd risked so much to acquire, could be snatched away.
His expression didn't change.
With a thought, the Nine Nether Illusion Flame surged forth and formed a flaming armor around his body. The moment the wave of attacks collided with it, the battlefield erupted into a series of violent explosions. The force of the impacts pushed Xiao Yan back a dozen steps—but he swiftly regained his footing.
Golden light shimmered faintly on his skin—it was the effect of the Luminous Glazed Body Technique. Combined with the defensive power of the Heavenly Flame armor, even a coordinated barrage that could trouble a peak Dou Huang had failed to truly harm him.
"You guys done playing around?" Xiao Yan's voice rang out coldly. "If so, I suppose it's my turn now."
As he dismissed the flame armor, his hands formed a seal. A massive energy imprint began to gather before him, humming with immense power. Even Han Feng, watching this unfold, felt a chill. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to generate such a devastating counterattack while under siege.
"Mountain-Crushing Seal!"
With a deep roar, the energy imprint shot out like a comet. The wave of energy it carried made the hearts of Han Feng's allies lurch. If that hit directly, even a peak Dou Huang might be severely wounded—perhaps even killed.
"Don't panic!" Han Feng shouted. "No matter how strong he is, he's only one man. If we work together, we can stop it!"
His words restored some calm. At once, the group focused their Dou Qi, forming a massive barrier several hundred meters wide. Just as the barrier solidified, the terrifying energy imprint struck it with a deafening crash.
Cracks instantly spiderwebbed across the surface.
Though it didn't shatter immediately, the fact that Xiao Yan had nearly broken their joint defense with a single move sent shivers through the group. Even if they blocked it, it was clear this young man's strength was no fluke.
As the seal faded and the explosion dispersed, they finally let out a breath.
But before they could relax fully, another wave of energy erupted from beneath them.
They looked down.
Unnoticed, Xiao Yan had already formed a new handprint in his palm. It was only the size of a regular palm, but the energy it contained was denser—stronger—than the previous one.
"Ocean-Flipping Seal!"
With a push of his palm, the crystalline handprint burst forward. The space around them trembled violently as it passed through. This wasn't just another attack—this was a technique that could threaten even a Dou Zong!
(End of Chapter)
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