As Xiao Yan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his body remained as straight as a spear, exuding a sharp aura. The disciples of the Burning Flame Valley around the clearing could not help but be secretly amazed; they had never expected that Xiao Yan could withstand Wu Chen’s fierce attacks.
“Five rounds already…” On the stairs, Tang Zhen let out a light sigh and spoke slowly. Even his gaze, when it turned to Xiao Yan, showed a hint of surprise. The fact that Xiao Yan could hold his ground for five rounds without falling against Wu Chen was indeed unexpected. After all, with Wu Chen’s level as an Eight-Star Battle Sect, he would surely be among the elite even throughout the entire Central Plains!
Tang Huo’er beside him also nodded lightly, her eyes gazing at Xiao Yan with a spark of curiosity. This youth, who was only slightly older than her, always seemed to provoke amazement in others.
In mid-air, Wu Chen’s figure drifted down lightly, stamping the ground fiercely, sending a powerful hidden force rippling outward, turning the hard stone slab beneath his feet into powder.
Waving his sleeve, Wu Chen narrowed his eyes, glancing at Xiao Yan, and said calmly, “Impressive Dou Skill, very powerful. If not for the great disparity in our strengths, I doubt even I would dare to block that attack easily.”
Xiao Yan sneered inwardly at Wu Chen’s words, though the gravity on his face deepened. No matter how indifferent he was towards Wu Chen, the latter was an Eight-Star Battle Sect after all, one that he must take seriously. In ten rounds, it would be incredibly difficult to persist if not fully concentrated, especially since using the Heavenly Fire Trifecta here would only provide Wu Chen and his comrades another excuse, leaving no room for debate afterward.
“That old fellow’s Celestial Rigid Stone-Breaking Step is extremely violent, but luckily, its agility doesn’t match Three Thousand Lightning Movements. With five more rounds to go, I’ll need to give it my all…”
Xiao Yan’s expression grew graver. His robust, turquoise Dou Qi enveloped him like a flame, emitting waves of intense heat.
“But if this is all you have, you might not be able to hold on for the next five rounds…”
Wu Chen smiled, a barely concealed triumph in his eyes. His hands came together, fiery auras swirling around them, causing the air to ripple and distort.
With that, Wu Chen stomped the ground again, shattering the stone slab. Then, with a low sonic boom, he appeared before Xiao Yan, covering the hundred meters between them in the blink of an eye.
In those dark eyes, red shadows flashed. Xiao Yan’s expression changed, and by reflex, he used Three Thousand Lightning Movements, swiftly retreating several steps.
*Shhh!*
While retreating, a red shadow suddenly arrived, gripping Xiao Yan’s sleeve. A burst of fiery light ripped through the fabric, followed by thin streaks of blood.
Xiao Yan rapidly retreated, casting a grim glance at his bare arm where five fresh, vivid slashes had appeared, quickly blackening—clearly, a mark of Wu Chen’s Pure Yang Soft Hand Technique.
“Not bad reaction, but next time, your luck may run out!”
Wu Chen casually shook off the fabric fragments, glancing at Xiao Yan’s hurried retreat with a faint smile.
Xiao Yan’s face darkened. The gap between an Eight-Star Battle Sect and a One-Star Battle Sect was vast. Without Three Thousand Lightning Movements, he would have been injured much earlier by Wu Chen. However, compared to his previous encounter with Fei Tian, his situation had improved greatly. Though currently quite disheveled, he could still contend a bit.
“If this continues, I’ll have to use the Buddha’s Anger Fire Lotus to endure.”
His eyes flickered rapidly as he continued to retreat.
“This time, let’s end it…”
Wu Chen’s gaze on Xiao Yan, now furiously retreating, was calm. He stepped forward once more, then slammed down again.
Just as Wu Chen’s foot landed, Xiao Yan’s retreating form came to an abrupt stop, and with a stomp, shattered the solid stone slabs. With a wave of his sleeve, the resulting dust obscured his vision.
This cloud of dust, however, did not deter Wu Chen. Scoffing at such a minor tactic, he surged forth with blinding speed.
Just as Wu Chen was about to crash into the dusty veil, a figure emerged lightning-quick, flashing silver and sprinting away.
“Trying to flee?”
Though the figure moved swiftly, Wu Chen detected it instantly. With a sneer, he pivoted, appearing before the figure within a breath, delivering a forceful slap to Xiao Yan’s back.
The palm struck with considerable force, launching Xiao Yan airborne. Amid the astonished shouts, he crashed heavily onto the ground a hundred meters away, even cracking the solid floor with deep, arm-width fissures.
On the stairs, the expressions of the Burning Flame Valley elders shifted slightly. Tang Huo’er covered her mouth, startled by Xiao Yan’s glaring misstep against Wu Chen.
Xiao Yan hit the ground, staggering as he tried to rise, but Wu Chen frowned, materializing beside him. Grasping Xiao Yan’s neck, he lifted him aloft, speaking coolly, “Admit defeat. If I wanted to, you’d be dead already.”
Held by Wu Chen, Xiao Yan’s legs kicked feebly. On his pale face, a strange smile spread, and he rasped, “Nine rounds…”
Startled, Wu Chen froze, but before he could react, the captured Xiao Yan exploded, vanishing in an instant.
This sudden turn of events left most onlookers stunned, even Wu Chen himself paused for a moment before realizing what happened. His gaze snapped back to the cloud of dust, where a hazy figure slowly emerged, revealing a familiar, smiling face.
“A Soul Clone?” Wu Chen’s expression turned gloomy. After a brief silence, he finally spat out the four cold words.
Seeing Wu Chen’s grimace, Xiao Yan chuckled inwardly. Finally, he had played a good trick on the old man.
On the stairs, Tang Zhen nodded, approvingly. At a critical moment, Xiao Yan could employ such a method to distract Wu Chen. If the Soul Clone had been stronger, he might’ve even won the contest.
Beside him, Tang Huo’er breathed a sigh of relief, giggling, “This Xiao Yan, he’s quite sly.”
In the field, Wu Chen’s expression darkened, looking at the smiling Xiao Yan. He drew a deep breath, “I underestimated you, but don’t rejoice too soon. One last round. I will hold nothing back!”
His eyes flashed with ruthlessness, humiliation clear from his interaction with Xiao Yan.
Fiery red light surged from Wu Chen, his white hair turning a flaming red, like a fire deity in descent, full of awe-inspiring might.
Seeing this, Tang Zhen’s face hardened. It was obvious Wu Chen was serious now. Still, using such power against a younger opponent in this setting was indeed overbearing.
“This old fool, truly shameless!” Tang Zhen spoke, his anger palpable. Clearly, the leader of the Burning Flame Valley was livid.
Beside him, Second Elder hesitated, then closed his mouth, unable to speak under Tang Zhen’s terrifying pressure. He’d never anticipated Xiao Yan pushing Wu Chen to such lengths.
Feeling Tang Zhen’s fury, Wu Chen remained undeterred, his heart also filled with rage. For his strength to fail against Xiao Yan was unacceptable, especially in front of so many people.
Surrounded by the surging, ferocious flames, the world around Wu Chen became turbulent. He slammed the ground, cracks spreading from the impact, and then launched himself as a flash of fire. In a fraction of a second, he appeared over Xiao Yan, his aged face twisted into a grimace.
“Great Yihuo Luo Palm!”
A large hand, now engulfed in blinding red light, descended with terrifying force, slamming toward Xiao Yan below.
Xiao Yan looked up, meeting the fiery glare. A cold, sinister smile formed on his face. Lifting his sleeve, he unveiled a beautifully intricate three-color flame lotus for all to see.
The instant the three-colored flame lotus appeared, Tang Zhen’s face transformed!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage