Staring at the suddenly calm young man, Mu She frowned, tightening his grip on the large blade in his hand, and sneered, “I don’t believe you can grow wings and fly away from me today!” With large strides, Mu She slowly approached Xiao Yan. As he drew closer, he suddenly stomped the ground, launching himself forward, and swung the large blade angrily down at Xiao Yan.
Feeling the sharp, wind-splitting force in front of him, Xiao Yan’s face turned serious. The difference between a Dou Shi and a Dou Zhe was like an insurmountable gap. With his current strength, it would be extremely difficult for him to last more than ten rounds against Mu She. Relying on his outstanding dodging ability, Xiao Yan slightly sidestepped, rapidly retreating as he avoided Mu She’s probing attack. With a swift step, he appeared on Mu She’s left side. The Dou Qi within his body surged rapidly, and with his right hand holding the Heavy Xuan Ruler, he fiercely slashed towards Mu She’s head.
The fierce force coming from above did not cause Mu She to panic much. He raised his large blade and struck back at the incoming strike.
“Clang!”
The black ruler and the large blade collided, sparks flying, and the clear, crisp sound of metal reverberated through the abyss.
This was the first time Xiao Yan had faced a Dou Shi, and he truly experienced the formidable power of a Dou Shi’s Dou Qi. The force transmitted from the Heavy Xuan Ruler made him retreat several steps before he could completely dissipate it.
Compared to Xiao Yan’s continuous retreats, Mu She seemed much more composed. He only took a small half-step back, and his body stood firmly.
“Leader, kill him and avenge Third Brother!”
“Kill him!”
Seeing Xiao Yan falling behind after just one move, the members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Corps immediately cheered excitedly.
“What a heavy weapon!” With a hint of surprise and suspicion in his eyes, Mu She stared intently at the black heavy ruler in Xiao Yan’s hand, shaking his head in admiration. Then, he sneered at Xiao Yan, “If that’s all you can do, then it’s wise to hand over the item now.”
Shaking his somewhat numb hand, Xiao Yan glared coldly at Mu She. The heavy ruler in his hand slowly lifted, and he let out a long, deep breath. Then, to the shock of everyone, he closed his eyes.
Looking at the slightly peculiar behavior of Xiao Yan, Mu She frowned, unsure of what the former was up to. The Wolf Head Mercenary Corps members surrounding Xiao Yan were also momentarily stunned by his actions. After a moment, they crossed their arms, watching with amusement, as if looking at a mouse struggling in the claws of a cat. In their view, no matter how Xiao Yan struggled, it was impossible for him to escape from the clutches of a two-star Dou Shi leader.
Gazing at the closed-eyed Xiao Yan, a sense of unease gradually rose in Mu She’s heart, especially when he suddenly noticed the increasingly intense energy fluctuations in the surrounding environment. This unease was clearly visible on his face.
Holding the large blade tightly, Mu She, with a wary heart, disregarded the gap in strength and identity, and carefully took a step towards Xiao Yan.
Seeing Mu She’s serious expression, the mercenaries around him also sensed something was amiss. Glancing at each other, they subconsciously tightened their grips on their weapons.
“Stop playing tricks, die!”
With another step, Mu She entered the range of attack. A sinister look appeared on his face. Without hesitation, he swung the large blade fiercely at Xiao Yan’s neck.
“Too late…”
Xiao Yan’s tightly closed eyes abruptly opened, and he spat out icy words. The Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand suddenly lifted, and for the first time, a blazing heat controlled by Xiao Yan appeared on the ruler.
“Flame Splitting Wave Ruler!”
As Xiao Yan’s mental command echoed, the natural energy above the abyss surged, and countless visible energies, as if guided, crazily poured into the Heavy Xuan Ruler in Xiao Yan’s hand. As the energy poured in, the ruler emitted increasingly intense heat, and the strange patterns on its surface radiated a fiery red light.
Simultaneously, Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi gushed out like a tide. In just a moment, his once-full body became empty. Sensing his depleted Dou Qi, Xiao Yan swallowed the Breath Recovery Pill hidden in his mouth. With the support of the Dou Qi generated by the pill, Xiao Yan finally had the final burst of power. The already fire-red ruler, carrying intense heat, sliced through the air and slashed horizontally at the shocked Mu She.
Where the ruler passed, the space seemed to twist under the evaporating heat. When Xiao Yan infused the last of his Dou Qi into the Heavy Xuan Ruler, a bright light flashed at the tip, and a crescent-shaped red glow, half a zhang long, shot out like lightning, accompanied by intense heat, and fiercely cleaved towards Mu She.
In his vision, a red light flashed. As the crescent-shaped red glow left the Heavy Xuan Ruler, Mu She’s pupils shrank to the size of pinholes. A tangible Dou Qi attack? This was something that only a Great Dou Shi or higher could possibly release. How could this mere Dou Zhe-level boy release such a perfect, solidified attack?
The shock in his heart flashed by, and Mu She had no time to ponder the profound and seemingly insane question. His Dou Qi surged, and a pale green aura enveloped the large blade, like a layer of green energy film.
“Wind Blade Dance!”
Taking a deep breath, Mu She’s large blade began to dance wildly. A series of green shadows appeared in front of him, forming a dense web of blades.
The “Wind Blade Dance” was the highest-grade Dou Technique Mu She could master, a low-tier Heavenly Rank. With this technique, he had won the title of the strongest in Qing Shan Town multiple times. Now, facing Xiao Yan’s mysterious attack, the cautious Mu She, to ensure safety, used his strongest move.
The red moonlight arrived in a flash. The mercenaries didn’t have time to see what the red light was before a thunderous explosion sounded across the abyss.
“Boom!”
As the sound of thunder faded, the ground where Mu She stood was covered in splashing mud. A figure suddenly shot out from the mud, both feet firmly planted in the ground. After retreating over ten meters, the figure crashed heavily into a giant tree, causing it to explode. The figure then slowly came to a stop.
Everyone took a breath; the figure who had been so flustered was none other than the two-star Dou Shi, Mu She!
They stared at Mu She, whose face was slightly pale with fear, and swallowed hard. Their gazes then shifted to the area where the mud was scattering, and they saw cracks spreading out. After expanding about ten meters, the cracks gradually stopped. At the center, a deep pit, over a meter deep and half a meter wide, appeared, shocking everyone.
Looking at the glaring pit and then at the pale-faced Mu She, the abyss fell silent. Everyone felt dizzy. How could a Dou Zhe with a strength of only eight stars make a two-star Dou Shi, who had used a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique, so flustered?
The harsh reality made everyone’s mouths twitch. The scattered mud finally settled, and the silhouette of the youth holding the heavy ruler slowly appeared in everyone’s sight. His face was pale, and his hands gently stroked the black ruler, his black pupils exuding a chilling fervor.
Although using this Earth Rank Dou Technique nearly caused a backlash, its power filled Xiao Yan with joy. The gap between a Dou Zhe and a Dou Shi was bridged by this terrifying Earth Rank Dou Technique!
Coughing violently, Xiao Yan took out another Breath Recovery Pill and quickly swallowed it. His gaze, cold and stern, swept over the mercenaries. With the earlier intimidation, all who met his gaze quickly averted their eyes.
“Kill him! Attack!”
Roughly pushing aside the supporting mercenary, Mu She’s palms were already split open, blood soaking his sleeves. His face was a mix of near madness and savagery. The strength Xiao Yan had displayed had instilled a deep fear in the seasoned leader. So young, yet with such rapid strength improvement, and possessing a mysterious, powerful Dou Technique—such an enemy was a nightmare. If there were a pill for regret, Mu She would choose not to provoke this mysterious youth.
Of course, there was no such pill. So, Mu She’s fear transformed into a frenzied killing intent. Only by killing Xiao Yan could he truly rest easy. At this moment, even the treasure Xiao Yan carried was secondary.
“Kill him! He is spent!”
At the leader’s command, the hesitant mercenaries had no choice but to grip their weapons and cautiously surround Xiao Yan.
“You must die today!”
Mu She snarled, glaring at the youth standing at the cliff’s edge.
“Sorry, I can’t comply with your wish.”
Looking up at Mu She’s twisted face, Xiao Yan’s pale face flushed, and his body trembled slightly. A pair of half-meter-long, black eagle wings suddenly sprouted from his back.
Everyone was shocked again by the eagle wings on Xiao Yan’s back. Flapping his wings, Xiao Yan leaped into the abyss, his wings beating rapidly. Under the dumbfounded gazes, he unsteadily flew towards the opposite cliff.
“I will remember this ambush today, and one day, I will repay you in full!”
The youth’s figure gradually disappeared into the darkness, but his faint, mocking laughter continued to echo in the air.
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