In the grand hall, everyone gazed at Xiao Yan with faces full of astonishment. They never expected that this young man, who seemed to be adept at alchemy, would be no less formidable in combat than Mu Zhan. The earlier lightning-quick exchange, though brief, was clearly perilous to the discerning eye. Mu Zhan’s combat talent was almost unparalleled among the younger generation in the Imperial Capital, and there were few peers in the Gama Holy City who could match him. Especially after two years of military training, Mu Zhan was undoubtedly stronger and more ferocious. However, in the earlier battle, he did not seem to have the upper hand.
“Didn’t expect that Rock Python’s combat ability would be so impressive…” the little princess exclaimed in surprise. She was well aware of Mu Zhan’s combat talent, but he did not beat Rock Python into a humiliating state. Instead, they ended in a draw.
Liu Ling’s lips twitched slightly. Not seeing the anticipated scene of Xiao Yan being beaten to a pulp, his mood was not good. Hearing the surprise in the little princess’s voice, he felt a bit displeased and said coolly, “If Mu Zhan had fought with all his strength, I dare say Rock Python would not have been a match for him!”
“Perhaps,” the little princess smiled noncommittally. As a woman, her observation was much more meticulous than Liu Ling, who harbored resentment. She noticed that when Mu Zhan retreated, his foot movement was somewhat unnatural. It seemed that in the earlier clash, Mu Zhan had suffered a hidden injury.
“Rock Python, are you alright?” Ya Fei, with a worried expression, hurried forward and asked. Simultaneously, she grabbed the sleeve of his robe, clearly not wanting him to fight again.
“I’m fine,” Xiao Yan smiled slightly. Under his sleeve, his fist trembled slightly, slowly expelling the pain.
“This guy is indeed very strong, probably around the level of an eight-star or even nine-star Dou Shi…” Xiao Yan mused inwardly, feeling the pain in his fist.
“But… I bet he isn’t feeling too good either… Fire overcomes wood, and the scorch from the Earth Heart Lotus Flame must have dealt him a hidden blow.” Xiao Yan cast a glance at Mu Zhan’s feet, a cold smile curling his lips.
Mu Zhan glared at Xiao Yan with a fierce expression. The intense pain in his foot made his mouth twitch. His Dou Qi rapidly flowed, enveloping his foot and tinting it a faint green. Mu Zhan’s Dou Qi, which belonged to the Wood Attribute, had some healing properties. Thus, as the Dou Qi circulated, his injured foot gradually recovered.
“Kid, not bad… I didn’t expect a pampered Alchemist like you to know such a sharp fighting style,” Mu Zhan grinned at Xiao Yan, resembling a ferocious tiger baring its teeth. This guy, if placed on a battlefield, would undoubtedly be a rare and fierce general.
Xiao Yan smirked, his green Dou Qi still swirling around his body, not relaxing in the slightest.
“But… whoever you are, don’t touch the woman I like!” The smile on Mu Zhan’s face vanished, and he roared fiercely. A powerful surge of Dou Qi erupted from his body, and a faint outline of a Dou Qi armor began to appear on his surface.
Seeing the Dou Qi armor on Mu Zhan’s body, Xiao Yan’s pupils contracted. He didn’t expect this guy to summon a Dou Qi armor, which only Great Dou Shi could possess. Although his armor was still in its initial form, its defensive power far exceeded that of a Dou Shi’s Dou Qi robe.
“This guy is getting serious…” Xiao Yan muttered to himself, his expression growing grave. Concentrating his mind, he pulled out strands of Earth Heart Lotus Flame from his Qi Vortex, ready to unleash their terrifying energy at any moment.
“Mu Zhan, you madman, stop it!” Ya Fei, furious, her pretty face turning ashen, shouted.
Ignoring Ya Fei’s angry shout, the Dou Qi around Mu Zhan’s body grew denser. A powerful aura emerged from his body, causing those with weaker cultivation in the hall to change their expressions.
“I’ve said it before, anyone who dares to touch you, I’ll kill them!” Mu Zhan’s foot slammed down, cracks spreading out like a spider web. His body tilted slightly forward, then he shot towards Xiao Yan like a green shadow, leaving a one-foot deep groove in his wake.
The entire hall turned into chaos. Sensing the fierce aura emanating from Mu Zhan, Xiao Yan solemnly pulled Ya Fei behind him. Under his sleeves, the green flames began to dance eerily.
Mu Zhan’s speed was extremely swift, appearing just a short distance from Xiao Yan in the blink of an eye. Raising his fist high, the fist was covered in sharp green wooden thorns, looking extremely menacing.
“Green Wood Thorns!” With a low growl, Mu Zhan’s fist, bristling with green wooden thorns, charged at Xiao Yan with a sharp force.
Xiao Yan’s black eyes coldly watched the approaching fist, the oppressive wind pressing his clothes tightly against his skin. Under the pressure, the green flames in his sleeves danced more intensely, condensing their scorching energy.
Just as Xiao Yan was about to counter with the Earth Heart Lotus Flame, he suddenly sensed something and paused. At the same time, a clear, stern voice rang out in the hall.
“Mu Zhan, stop it right now!” As the voice sounded, a moon-white figure shot out from another corner of the hall like lightning, floating strangely in mid-air before appearing in front of Xiao Yan.
Glancing at Nalan Yanran’s strange movement in mid-air, Xiao Yan’s eyebrows twitched imperceptibly. This woman had improved a lot in three years…
“Thousand Wind Rigidness!” Nalan Yanran, materializing in front of Xiao Yan, her pretty face cold, looked at Mu Zhan, who was still attacking. She extended her slender, snow-white hand from her loose sleeves, and her long, jade-like fingers flicked, creating five tendrils of light green whirlwind at her fingertips, resembling sharp green claws.
The five sharp, whirling winds, spinning crazily, tore through space, and with a slight flick, the whirling wind force shot out, striking Mu Zhan’s fist, covered in green wooden thorns.
*Boom!*
With a loud bang, splinters of wood flew from Mu Zhan’s fist. The fierce force carried by the whirlwind forced Mu Zhan back several steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the floor.
When the final step landed, Mu Zhan’s shoulders trembled violently, and an invisible force burst out, leaving a deep mark on the pillar behind him.
“Nalan Yanran? Heh, I didn’t expect you to get so much stronger in just two years. Looks like Master Yun Yun has been teaching you well,” Mu Zhan said, licking the blood off his fist, ignoring the pain.
“Mu Zhan, this is the Nalan family, not your Mu family. Mr. Rock Python is a guest of our Nalan family, and you cannot behave so recklessly here!” Nalan Yanran exclaimed.
Mu Zhan’s eyes narrowed, clenching his fists, and his gaze swept across the hall, landing on Nalan Jie and Nalan Xuan, who were walking over. Realizing he had lost the opportunity to attack Xiao Yan, he helplessly shrugged, raising his chin and staring at Xiao Yan. “I’ll let you off today because of Yanran, but in the future, stay away from Ya Fei! Otherwise…”
“Anytime…” Xiao Yan replied with a cold smile. After the earlier confrontation, he knew Mu Zhan was a bit higher in rank, but with his trump cards, the outcome was still uncertain.
“Got guts! I didn’t expect to meet someone I can trample on right after returning to the capital. I’m excited…” Mu Zhan grinned at Xiao Yan, revealing his white, sharp teeth.
“Trample? You should measure your own strength first, or you might end up hurting yourself,” Xiao Yan retorted, not backing down from this audacious youth.
“Enough, both of you. Today is the Nalan family’s gathering; don’t ruin everyone’s enjoyment,” Nalan Yanran chided, her brows furrowed in frustration.
Xiao Yan shrugged, his gaze shifting from Mu Zhan to the beautiful woman standing behind him. His eyes narrowed, and his fingers gently tapped inside his sleeves. Nalan Yanran’s earlier move was the first time Xiao Yan had seen her display her skills since he met her.
Her single strike had forced Mu Zhan, who was evenly matched with him, to retreat. In three years, this woman’s strength had grown significantly. Though her technique might have been advanced, without solid strength, a high-level skill would be of little use in a close match.
“The Yunlan Sect has really put in all their effort to cultivate her. This three-year agreement is going to be interesting…” Xiao Yan mused, his eyes lingering on Nalan Yanran’s graceful figure.
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