As the icy white fog enveloped the house, a sense of unease flashed through Xiao Yan’s heart. He could sense that the fog was disorienting him and when it seeped into his body, he felt his speed slowing down significantly. Before they even clashed, his speed had been compromised, and Xiao Yan felt a chill in his heart. Focusing his mind, a strand of purple flame Qi emerged from the purple vortex in his abdomen. The purple fire Qi flowed rapidly through his meridians, and soon, Xiao Yan’s body shuddered as a faint, purple battle Qi gown enveloped him, protecting him from the encroaching icy fog. With the battle Qi gown on, Xiao Yan felt his condition improve significantly. He gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler tightly and, with a strong pull, embedded it deeply into the ground. Clutching the Heavy Xuan Ruler, Xiao Yan cautiously scanned the surroundings, his eyes darting through the thick, cold mist.
As Xiao Yan’s purple battle Qi gown, ablaze with purple flames, enveloped him, a low, surprised exclamation came from the dense white fog. Evidently, the mysterious elder had not expected Xiao Yan to summon a flaming battle Qi gown.
“Old sir, I have no ill intentions and do not wish to disturb your seclusion. This map fragment is very important to me. Please be understanding!” Xiao Yan shouted loudly, his eyes scanning the area.
“Hmph, I went to great lengths to obtain this. Even after studying it for over a decade, I still don’t know its exact use, but I do know that it contains no small secret. To think you could get it from me without a reason—dream on!” The old man sneered from within the thick, cold mist.
Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed, and just as he was about to speak again, a chill shot through him. He quickly planted the Heavy Xuan Ruler in front of him and sidestepped behind it. A faint whooshing sound was followed by several white ice spikes shooting out from the fog, striking the ruler with a clatter before melting into a puddle of icy water, covering the ruler. Xiao Yan’s hand, gripping the ruler, felt a sudden chill surging through his body. His expression changed slightly, and he flicked his finger, a burst of purple flame erupting from his palm and quickly dispelling the icy frost on the ruler.
“Ah? Purple flame? I didn’t expect you to possess such rare items at your age. No wonder you have such audacity.” The old man, hidden in the mist, exclaimed in surprise once more.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, not responding. He fixed his gaze on the white fog, slowly retracing his steps according to his memory. “Even though my strength has declined, dealing with a young punk like you is still not difficult!” Sensing Xiao Yan’s movements, the old man laughed coldly, and a white figure suddenly rushed out, almost like a flash of lightning, approaching Xiao Yan. The sudden charge startled Xiao Yan, who gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler and swung it fiercely at the incoming figure. As the ruler, carrying a forceful wind, descended, the old man quickly formed a seal and shouted, “Condense Ice Mirror!”
With the seal completed, the white fog in front of him swirled rapidly, and a transparent ice mirror, about half a meter wide, suddenly formed in front of him. The ruler struck the ice mirror with a heavy thud, and Xiao Yan’s face changed drastically. He sensed a powerful, strange rebound force that threw him back. Seeing Xiao Yan, somewhat pale, being thrown back, the old man sneered again. He waved his hand, and dozens of spiraling ice spikes formed, flying towards Xiao Yan with a fierce whistle.
Xiao Yan’s feet skidded on the ground, and he looked up at the swarm of icy spikes. Frowning, he stomped the ground, and his body shot up, dodging the ice spikes. In mid-air, Xiao Yan spun, releasing the Heavy Xuan Ruler, which hurtled towards the old man, a faint purple arc forming on its surface. The old man, surprised, saw the ruler and realized the boy had many tricks. But he didn’t hesitate, and with a gesture, fine ice threads formed, entangling the ruler. The threads wrapped around the ruler, sapping its power until it stopped mere inches from the old man’s head. The old man glanced at the entangled ruler and sneered, flinging the ruler, which now whirled in the air, turning and heading straight for Xiao Yan. If it hit, Xiao Yan would be severely injured.
Seeing the ruler closing in, Xiao Yan shook his head and, with a shake of his back, his Purple Cloud Wings unfurled. Flapping them, he ascended, narrowly avoiding the ruler. “Battle Qi Wings?” The old man, seeing the wings, gasped. “No, it must be a flight technique. Goodness, how many treasures does this kid have?”
Ignoring the shock, Xiao Yan dove down, firing a strand of purple flame, severing the ice threads. Without the threads, the ruler fell, and Xiao Yan dived, clearing the remaining threads. Holding the ruler, Xiao Yan took off again. The old man, seeing Xiao Yan break through the roof, sneered. As Xiao Yan ascended, he felt a chilling cold above him. Raising the ruler, he heard a metallic clang and tiny ice shards rained down, cooling his face. He hadn’t expected the old man to turn the room into an ice cave so quickly. Abandoning the idea of breaking out, Xiao Yan slowly descended, glaring at the old man. “Rare flight technique, strange purple flame, odd movement techniques, far beyond an ordinary Dou Shi. Who are you? The disciple of the Yunlan Sect, a young master from a noble family, or royal blood?” The old man asked, watching Xiao Yan’s wings.
Xiao Yan licked his lips, eyeing the old man carefully. “Regardless of your identity, you won’t leave with the map today.” The old man, touching his scar, his voice turned cold. “Even with your skills, you’re just a Dou Shi. I may have weakened, but I can still deal with you easily. Hand it over, and I’ll let you go. I don’t want my life disrupted.”
Xiao Yan sighed, thinking, “Teacher, it seems only you can handle this. I’m no match for him, even if he’s not as strong as before.” “True, it wouldn’t be easy. You’re two ranks below him, and his techniques are no less. The previous clashes were just probes. If he’s serious, you won’t last five rounds,” the Pharmacist Elder replied in his mind. Xiao Yan nodded, knowing the old man’s strength. “Let me take control for now,” the Pharmacist Elder offered. “Old sir, I must have this map fragment!” Xiao Yan said, closing his eyes. The old man, seeing Xiao Yan’s strange behavior, was taken aback. Suddenly, a fierce, undiminished aura surged from the youth in the air. “How is this possible?” The old man’s calm face finally showed a hint of shock.
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