Chapter 243: Slaying the Great Battle Master!

In the spacious arena, the youth’s cold and indifferent voice echoed slowly, catching the attention of countless people. “Little Yan’er?”

Looking at the suddenly appearing black-clad teenager, Xiao Ding on the other side of the square was slightly stunned. Then, a wave of joy instantly appeared on his slightly sinister face. He clapped his hands together with great force: “This guy, he came just in time!”

“Haha, it seems our Mote Iron Mercenary Group is not destined to perish yet,” said Xiao Ding, slowly relaxing his clenched fist. He took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and turned to smile at the mercenaries behind him. Although Xiao Yan was quite young, Xiao Ding had great confidence in this always somewhat mysterious younger brother. The incident where Xiao Yan, alone, scared the Sand Mercenary Group so much that they dared not leave the city, further strengthened Xiao Ding’s confidence.

Seeing the beaming smile on Xiao Ding’s face, everyone felt relieved. Though most of them did not know why this young man could make the two leaders so confident, and although they had seen Xiao Yan’s sparring match with Xiao Li, now, even Xiao Li was no match for that Great Fighter. Perhaps… The Mote Iron members had some trepidation in their hearts, but having followed Xiao Ding for so many years, they at least understood that their leader, who prided himself on his calmness, would never make groundless boasts in such a situation.

They glanced at each other, then their eyes showed a glimmer of relief and hope. They hoped that this young master Xiao Yan would indeed help the Mote Iron Mercenary Group resolve this crisis.

“Second Brother, are you alright?” Holding the heavy ruler, Xiao Yan turned his head to look at the blood-stained Xiao Li. A murderous intent that was hard to suppress surfaced in his dark eyes. Taking out a bottle of healing pills from his ring, he threw it to Xiao Li and asked softly.

“Cough, cough…” Xiao Li coughed up some blood, casually wiping the blood from his mouth. He then took the pill and raised his head, looking at the slender and tall figure standing before him. A hint of red appeared on his pale face, and he cracked a smile, his tense body subtly relaxing.

Leaning against the huge boulder, Xiao Li smiled with a slightly hoarse voice, “Little one, you’re finally back. If you had come any later, I would have had to chat with you in the grave.”

“Sorry, I’m late,” Xiao Yan said in a low voice, suddenly smiling. The smile carried a fierce, wolf-like menace and viciousness. He looked at Xiao Li, and with a gentle yet chilling smile, he said, “Second Brother, rest assured, I’ll take care of that guy for you.”

“Cough, that guy’s name is Mo Ran. He’s a one-star Great Fighter. His fighting style is earth-based, which is known for its enduring and solid nature, making it suitable for prolonged battles. Moreover, my Lightning Fighting Qi’s paralyzing effect is not very effective against him. Otherwise, I might have been able to hold on for a while longer. Unfortunately, the gap in our levels is too large, so during the fight, he didn’t use any Fighting Techniques. I don’t know what kind of Fighting Techniques he has, so be careful when you fight him,” Xiao Li nodded with a smile, coughed up another mouthful of blood, and panted, saying this slowly.

“A one-star Great Fighter, huh?” Xiao Yan smiled coldly, nodding slightly to Xiao Li, then slowly turned around. His once slightly smiling, handsome face suddenly turned into a terrifying, asura-like expression. His gaze, cold as the abyssal ice, made the yellow-robed middle-aged man across from him feel a chill run down his spine.

“Who are you?” The yellow-robed middle-aged man shook off the numbness in his arm caused by the earlier rebound of fighting qi and shouted coldly at Xiao Yan, with a sullen face.

Ignoring his shout, Xiao Yan closed his eyes, and a thread of green fighting qi flowed out from his qi vortex, surging through his body. Instantly, a faint green flame-like veil of fighting qi rose slowly from the surface of Xiao Yan’s body.

Seeing the somewhat strange fighting qi veil on Xiao Yan’s body, the yellow-robed middle-aged man’s face changed slightly. This was the first time he had seen such a tangible flame of fighting qi. His face became serious, and he shouted harshly, “Boy, I advise you not to meddle in matters that don’t concern you, or you’ll end up getting burned!”

“You should understand that your Mote Iron Mercenary Group is far from being a match for us,” Mo Ran pointed to the large group of people clustered on the other side of the square and sneered, “So, stop wasting your efforts!”

“You talk too much.” Xiao Yan opened his eyes and shook his head indifferently. He suddenly gripped the Heavy Ruler tightly, and with a heavy stomp on the ground, a pit appeared on the hard stone surface as a burst of energy exploded. As the sound of the explosion rang out, Xiao Yan’s body almost turned into a black streak, charging towards the middle-aged man named Mo Ran. Such speed elicited exclamations from the surrounding crowd.

Seeing Xiao Yan’s rapid speed, Mo Ran’s face became even more gloomy. He sneered and scratched his finger on his storage ring, and a pair of pitch-black, spike-covered boxing gloves flashed out.

Quickly putting on the gloves, a ferocious wind surged out from in front of him, mixed with a piercing sound, slamming fiercely towards Xiao Yan’s head.

Gripping his fists, the yellow fighting qi light condensed rapidly on the gloves, releasing a faint ripple of energy. Facing Xiao Yan’s Heavy Ruler attack, the middle-aged man did not retreat. He seemed to excel in hard-hitting combat, so he did not dodge. Instead, he stepped forward, his sharp black iron gloves, carrying a robust fighting qi, meeting the black Heavy Ruler with a fierce impact.

“Clang!” The crisp sound of metal striking metal reverberated from their clash, and as the sound waves spread, a circle of fierce energy surged out between the black ruler and the gloves. Immediately, cracks appeared on the ground beneath both Xiao Yan and the middle-aged man.

Gripping the Heavy Ruler, Xiao Yan stepped back several steps during the fierce collision. In contrast, Mo Ran only retreated half a step before stabilizing his body.

“Oh, it turns out you’re just a little stronger than that guy. You still dare to act tough in front of me,” Mo Ran said with a sneer, taking a step back and looking at Xiao Yan, who had stepped back several steps. After this initial contact, he had managed to roughly gauge Xiao Yan’s strength. Smirking contemptuously, he said, “You think you can handle me? Think again.”

Ignoring his words, Xiao Yan suddenly stomped his foot, and his body shot out like an arrow again. His massive black ruler, swinging with tremendous force, created a strong gust of wind. As his body approached Mo Ran’s attacking range, Xiao Yan’s foot suddenly pushed off the ground, and his body strangely shifted to Mo Ran’s left. His hand tightened, and the black ruler swung down towards Mo Ran’s head.

From the previous contact, Xiao Yan had also vaguely sensed Mo Ran’s capabilities. Although earth-based fighting qi was extremely suitable for long-term combat, due to its dense nature, his speed was not particularly fast. Therefore, Xiao Yan could use his own swift speed to launch a ferocious attack.

Mo Ran was also very aware of his own weaknesses, so he did not bother with futile evasions. He wielded his black iron gloves in a tight, impenetrable manner, and any attack that got close to his body was met with an even more powerful counter-attack, sending the attack back forcefully.

“Clang, clang!” As the two engaged in a dazzling exchange of attacks and defenses, the crisp sounds of metal colliding filled the spacious square, echoing in the air for a long time.

As the battle between the two intensified, Mo Ran, who had initially been somewhat dismissive of Xiao Yan’s Fighter-level strength, began to feel a bit surprised. His greatest pride was his endurance in combat, yet this young man had chosen to confront him head-on from the start. A Fighter versus a Great Fighter in a head-to-head battle? And he seemed to have taken no damage at all?

“This guy must be practicing a high-level martial technique; otherwise, it would be impossible for him to engage in such a wasteful battle of fighting qi with me!” Mo Ran’s eyes narrowed, watching the black-clad youth moving swiftly around him, and he thought to himself grimly.

“Let’s end this quickly. Being dragged down by a Fighter for so long, if the others in the clan find out, I’ll become their laughingstock.” Thinking quickly, the middle-aged man’s face gradually turned fiercer.

“Clang!” The glove struck the Heavy Ruler again, and the sharp spikes on the gloves were already dulled significantly.

“Boy, it’s over!” Blocking Xiao Yan’s attack, the middle-aged man suddenly stepped sideways, blocking Xiao Yan’s path of evasion. He snarled, “Ground Bursting Star Fist!”

As the middle-aged man’s voice fell, a furious yellow fighting qi condensed wildly on his fist, forming a yellow sand whirlpool. At the center of the whirlpool, there was a dark hole, and the fierce energy was rapidly gathering within.

“Die, boy!” With a grin, a savage look appeared on the middle-aged man’s face. His arm suddenly slammed out, and a deep yellow energy surge, like a fierce storm, erupted along his arm.

The yellow sand whirlpool on the glove suddenly paused, and from the dark hole, a nearly solid ball of yellow energy, carrying a fierce gale, smashed onto Xiao Yan’s Heavy Ruler. The moment it touched, the yellow energy ball fluctuated, and then, like a bomb, it exploded violently.

“Boom, clang!” The sudden metallic symphony was like thunder, resounding throughout the square. The intense sound waves made the surrounding crowd involuntarily cover their ears, staring in shock at the scene.

Xiao Yan’s face changed slightly as the fierce energy ball struck the Heavy Ruler. He stepped back rapidly, each step leaving a deep footprint on the hard stone surface. After retreating nearly a dozen steps, the Heavy Ruler in Xiao Yan’s hand suddenly trembled and forcibly slipped out of his grip, flying obliquely to land on the open ground nearby.

“Shh…” As Xiao Yan’s Heavy Ruler flew out of his hand, the Sand Mercenary Group members immediately let out scornful whistles, and mocking laughter echoed across the square.

On the other side, the Mote Iron Mercenary Group members sighed in disappointment, their faces showing a hint of dejection.

“Haha, why the long face? Have you forgotten what happened when Little Yan’er sparred with Second Captain?” Xiao Ding, with his hands in his sleeves, looked at Xiao Yan in the arena and whispered with a smile, “Without that strange black ruler, Little Yan’er is in his strongest state!”

Leaning against the boulder, Xiao Li’s breathing had stabilized. He looked at Xiao Yan, who had lost his weapon, and shook his head with a wry smile, “This guy, he should be serious now, right?”

Stopping his rapid retreat, Xiao Yan steadied himself, glancing at the Heavy Ruler not far away. He lightly shook his almost numb hand, took a deep breath, and exhaled, expelling the oppressive feeling in his chest caused by the other’s attack.

“Cough…” Coughing lightly, Xiao Yan rubbed his slightly swollen chest, calculating the difference in their strengths. His true strength, as Master Yao said, was a four-star Fighter, but perhaps due to the Earth Heart Green Lotus Flame, Xiao Yan could sense that his true level was around a five-star Fighter!

As for his martial technique, after consuming the alien flame, the ‘Feng Jue’ evolved to a middle-tier Xuan Level, but with its unique properties, its actual power was not inferior to a high-tier Xuan Level martial technique. Therefore, in terms of combat power, Xiao Yan, who practiced a martial technique equivalent to a high-tier Xuan Level, should be able to match an ordinary seven-star Fighter.

Adding to that, the ‘Eight Pole Collapse’ and the hardened flesh from the Earth Heart Green Lotus Flame, Xiao Yan was confident that he could contend with a nine-star Fighter.

Of course, a nine-star Fighter was still a significant gap from a one-star Great Fighter. However, for Xiao Yan, who possessed the Earth Heart Green Lotus Flame and the Earth Tier Fighting Technique: Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, this gap was not insurmountable!

Thus, although this was the first time facing a Great Fighter, Xiao Yan did not feel any fear. Instead, he was filled with a burning desire to fight.

“Boy, do you see the consequences of interfering now? Haha, but you’ve missed your best chance to escape, so, obediently give me your life!” Mo Ran twisted his neck, the yellow fighting qi on his body becoming even more intense. He looked at Xiao Yan, who had lost his weapon, and grinned cruelly.

Xiao Yan raised his eyes, ignoring the noisy guy. His body trembled slightly, and after a brief pause, the fighting qi veil outside his body suddenly rose to about half a meter. The green fighting qi, like a swirling green flame, completely enveloped him, and wisps of heat surrounded him. Cracks spread from his feet, slowly spreading across the stone surface.

The surging fighting qi continued to rise, and a mighty aura surged out from Xiao Yan. Under this aura, the sarcastic remarks from the Sand Mercenary Group members gradually diminished until they completely ceased.

Seeing Xiao Yan’s aura rising continuously, Mo Ran’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes. Was this guy actually hiding his strength, matching the level of a seven or eight-star Fighter?

“Hmph, boy, no matter how you struggle today, you will only meet your end!” Anger flared in Mo Ran’s heart, and he said coldly.

In the arena, when Xiao Yan’s aura reached a certain level, it finally stopped. Under the green fighting qi, a faint green flame lingered in his dark eyes.

“Boom!” Lifting his foot slowly, Xiao Yan then stomped down, and with a loud explosion of energy, his figure transformed into a tiny ray of light, closing the distance to the middle-aged man in just a few breaths.

Seeing Xiao Yan’s speed increase dramatically, the middle-aged man’s face changed, his pupils constricting as he focused on the black light growing in his vision.

Feeling the fierce incoming energy, the lightning-fast shadow suddenly paused, his body instantly shifting to the side, reappearing behind the middle-aged man. Spinning his body, he tightly clenched his fist, surrounded by a swirling energy, and delivered a powerful blow. At this moment, there was even a slight sonic boom in the air.

“Boom!” With a muffled sound, Xiao Yan’s fist landed squarely on the middle-aged man’s back, the sound causing the surrounding crowd to shiver.

“Crack!” The spot where Xiao Yan stood, several cracks rapidly spread, indicating the overwhelming force of the blow.

“Such speed! But do you really think a Great Fighter’s defense is so easily broken?” Hit by Xiao Yan, Mo Ran’s body shuddered violently. After a brief silence, he suddenly kicked back fiercely with his left leg, his mouth emitting a sinister laugh.

As his fist connected, Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed. It felt like he was hitting not a human, but a layer of tough armor.

His body writhed like an eel, and Mo Ran’s fierce leg, accompanied by a sharp gale, grazed past his waist. Even with the protection of the fighting qi veil, Xiao Yan’s skin still prickled with small bumps.

Ducking Mo Ran’s attack, Xiao Yan pressed forward, using his agile evasion and swift speed to dart around the older man like a flea. Each time he appeared, his fierce, energy-filled fist would strike the other’s body.

Under Xiao Yan’s relentless assault, the arena was filled with continuous muffled impacts.

“Boy, hahaha, I told you, with your strength, you can’t break a Great Fighter’s defense!” Mo Ran roared with laughter, standing still, letting Xiao Yan attack wildly. Only when an attack aimed at a vital point did he move to block, otherwise, he let the blows land on his body.

“Boom!” Another muffled sound, and Mo Ran’s clothing, after enduring dozens of attacks, finally burst open. As the clothing tore, Xiao Yan’s eyes suddenly narrowed. Beneath Mo Ran’s clothes, a faintly glowing, yellow-brown breastplate wrapped around his upper body. On the breastplate, faint marks of the previous punches could still be seen, clear evidence of Xiao Yan’s earlier strikes.

“Heh, boy, this is the fighting qi armor that only a Great Fighter can form. It’s the evolved version of a Fighter’s fighting qi veil. Unfortunately, I haven’t been at this level for long, or I could have covered my whole body. But even so, your attacks can’t break it!” Mo Ran cast a pitying glance at the shining yellow breastplate, then laughed, giving Xiao Yan a sideways glance.

“Fighting qi armor, huh? No wonder.” Seeing the bright, solid-looking breastplate, Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed, and he sneered, “I don’t believe your turtle shell is unbreakable!”

Stomping the ground again, Xiao Yan charged directly at Mo Ran. His body twisted strangely, dodging the sharp gauntlets. He then lunged forward, forcing his body into an odd arc, and his elbow, filled with fierce energy, slammed down onto the breastplate.

“Eight Pole Collapse!” A mental shout, and Xiao Yan’s aura suddenly became as sharp as a drawn sword. At the tip of his elbow, the fierce energy produced a series of extremely sharp sonic booms.

Feeling the suddenly terrifying energy at the tip of Xiao Yan’s elbow, Mo Ran’s laughing face changed. He hadn’t expected Xiao Yan to deliver such a powerful attack. He hurriedly channeled his fighting qi, and the glow on his breastplate intensified.

“Boom!” The elbow hit the breastplate, and a burst of invisible energy surged out. Instantly, cracks spiderwebbed across the stone surface.

“Good boy, I didn’t expect you to know such advanced fighting techniques. I underestimated you!” Mo Ran’s face turned grim as he saw the cracked fighting qi armor. His eyes filled with rage, and he clenched his fist, about to deliver a powerful blow, but two dull thuds suddenly sounded within his body.

As the internal thuds sounded, Mo Ran’s body shuddered violently, his face turning pale and then red. A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

“Concealed force?” Wiping the blood from his mouth, Mo Ran’s enraged face was like a tiger, extremely terrifying. He hadn’t expected to be caught off guard and humiliated by Xiao Yan in front of everyone.

Clutching his trembling fist in anger, Mo Ran let out a roar, his fighting qi carrying the roar, silencing all other sounds in the square.

“Little bastard, today, you must die!” Roaring with a fierce snarl, Mo Ran’s left hand suddenly shot out, grabbing Xiao Yan’s wrist before he could pull back. His right fist rapidly condensed yellow fighting qi, and in an instant, a terrifying energy surge that made Xiao Yan’s face change, slammed into his chest. Judging by the momentum, if the blow hit, even if he survived, he would be seriously injured and lose his fighting ability.

The intense, pressing gale made it slightly difficult for Xiao Yan to breathe. Biting his teeth, he pulled his arm with all his might, but Mo Ran was determined to finish him in one go. No matter how hard he tugged, Mo Ran’s grip remained firm, like a claw.

After another futile struggle, Xiao Yan’s heart finally filled with rage. A flash of viciousness crossed his face. His right hand trembled, and green fighting qi enveloped it. He then slammed it into the crack in the breastplate he had created earlier.

The two arms, slightly different in size, brushed past each other, the energy they contained making both of them wary. Xiao Yan did not block Mo Ran’s attack, clearly ready to fight to the death.

Watching Xiao Yan’s fierce, determined expression, the middle-aged man’s face showed a savage, cruel smile. To think this guy was competing in endurance with a Great Fighter; had he lost his mind?

The surrounding crowd, seeing the two men entering a brutal, bloody battle, couldn’t help but whistle again. Xiao Yan’s stance of going toe-to-toe with a Great Fighter made many think he had lost his reason.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the fists of Xiao Yan and Mo Ran, accompanied by the piercing sound of wind, were about to strike each other’s bodies. In that instant, everyone held their breath, staring intently at the two fighters, all sensing that in this clash, one would definitely fall. Perhaps it would be the powerful Great Fighter, but more likely, it would be the thin, black-clad youth. After all, it was hard to believe that such a thin body could hide the power to match a Great Fighter.

As Xiao Yan’s fist was about to hit Mo Ran, it suddenly trembled strangely. From the fist, a strand of green flame appeared, wrapping around his fist.

When the seemingly insignificant green flame appeared, the space around Xiao Yan’s fist began to warp, and the air seemed to become extremely hot in that moment.

The sudden change in the air also drew Mo Ran’s attention. He lowered his head, seeing the flickering green flame. Confusion flashed in his eyes, then his pupils shrank to pinpricks, his face filled with horror, making him look particularly ugly and terrifying.

“Boom!” The two fists, each containing terrifying energy, finally slammed into each other. Instantly, both their faces turned pale.

At that moment, the two, who had been like thunderous forces, suddenly froze. The ground beneath them was torn apart by the violent energy, resembling a field plowed by a bull.

The surrounding crowd fell silent, their eyes fixed on the two motionless figures. The training ground was filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, making the audience’s breathing quicken, but they dared not take a deep breath, their faces flushing red.

After a few minutes of silence, Mo Ran’s body suddenly trembled slightly. As his body shook, Xiao Yan’s face flushed red, and a mouthful of blood spat out.

Seeing Xiao Yan suddenly spit blood, the Mote Iron Mercenary Group members’ hearts sank. Even under the blazing sun, a bone-chilling coldness lingered around them, refusing to dissipate.

“Failed?” One member of the Mote Iron Mercenary Group sighed, shaking his head with a bitter smile, his eyes filled with disappointment.

The surrounding crowd’s faces turned somber, all remaining silent. A dark, heavy atmosphere of shattered hope enveloped everyone, making their hearts feel like they were weighed down by a boulder.

Xiao Ding’s hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched tightly. His eyes, unwavering, watched the young man in the arena, his body trembling slightly. In his mind, he muttered, “Did we really fail?”

But at that moment, Xiao Ding’s body suddenly trembled violently, and a smile appeared on his face. He had clearly seen the young man in the arena smile at him.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xiao Yan, who they thought should have fallen, suddenly coughed violently, turned around, and walked to the side. He slowly picked up the Heavy Ruler, slung it over his shoulder, and walked towards Xiao Ding and the others.

As Xiao Yan turned, Mo Ran, who was still frozen, leaned backward and then collapsed heavily, his face, still filled with terror, visible to all.

A series of shocked gazes swept over Mo Ran’s body, finally stopping on his chest. There, where the thick fighting qi armor had been, the area was now charred black, with a large, dark hole in the center. Looking inside the hole, everything was reduced to nothing.

“Shh…” Seeing Mo Ran’s terrible death, the surrounding crowd’s scalps tingled, their faces filled with shock. They took a deep, cold breath, and their fearful eyes shifted to Xiao Yan. No one had expected this seemingly harmless young man to be so ruthless.

“Gulp…” Watching Xiao Yan approach, the Mote Iron Mercenary Group members involuntarily stepped back. Clearly, Mo Ran’s death had instilled a new fear in them towards Xiao Yan.

Xiao Ding stood his ground, not stepping back. He smiled at Xiao Yan, then took a few steps forward, patting him on the shoulder, and said with a light laugh, “Kid, are you alright?”

Xiao Yan smiled, covering his mouth as he coughed violently, splattering blood onto his palm. He casually glanced at it, then wiped it off on his sleeve. Gently pulling open his outer garment, he pointed to the inner armor given to him by Yun Zhi in the Magical Beast Mountains, and said with a smile, “Thanks to this, or else I might have been seriously injured.”

“Tsk, tsk, you really are amazing, you actually killed a Great Fighter.” Glancing at Mo Ran’s distant corpse, Xiao Ding couldn’t help but exclaim. This was the first time he had seen Xiao Yan display his true strength.

Xiao Yan took out a recuperation pill from his storage ring and swallowed it, taking a deep breath. Truth be told, he had won this battle rather luckily. Though he still had cards up his sleeve, Mo Ran had only used one Fighting Technique. If Mo Ran hadn’t been a bit careless due to his higher rank, the difficulty of the fight would have increased manifold. Furthermore, Mo Ran was overly confident in his fighting qi armor, so when Xiao Yan summoned the alien flame, Mo Ran had already lost his last line of defense. It was unimaginable how fragile the seemingly sturdy fighting qi armor was against the Earth Heart Green Lotus Flame, which even the Queen Medusa feared.

So, the fist covered by the alien flame easily penetrated Mo Ran’s defense. Due to Xiao Yan’s unfamiliarity with controlling the alien flame, it surged into Mo Ran’s body, instantly incinerating all his internal organs. That was why Mo Ran met such a ghastly end, and Xiao Yan was truly not intending to be so cruel.

“Kill these guys too,” Xiao Yan said with a light smile to Xiao Ding, then turned to the large group of Sand Mercenary Group members on the other side of the training ground, beaming at them.

Now, because Xiao Yan had unexpectedly brutally killed the Great Fighter Mo Ran, the shock he generated had made his aura extremely intimidating. Seeing him look their way, the Sand Mercenary Group members hurriedly stepped back, pushing and shoving each other, their morale completely shattered.

Suddenly drawing his Heavy Ruler, Xiao Yan charged towards the Sand Mercenary Group members. Seeing his action, the mercenaries, who had already lost their leader and morale, cried out in panic and fled from the Mote Iron Mercenary Group headquarters in a very disheveled manner.

“Che…” Seeing the Sand Mercenary Group members fleeing in a panicked mess, Xiao Yan curled his lips, shook his slightly dizzy head, and looked down at the blood on his hand, chuckling softly. For the first time in so many years, he had faced an enemy he found hard to defeat, but he still insisted on using his own strength. And he succeeded!

“Haha, kid, well done. I thought I would have to step in, but you relied on your own strength. Perhaps you didn’t even realize it, but relying on and believing in your own strength—that’s the belief of a true strong person,” Old Yao, who had been silent, suddenly spoke with a warm, gratified voice in Xiao Yan’s heart.

“Now, you are gradually becoming a true strong person.”