High in the sky, beyond the chaotic battlefield, several figures stood suspended and facing each other. Behind one of them, a massive blood-red orb was particularly eye-catching.
“Give me three minutes!” Xiao Yan’s gaze swept over Zi Yan and the other two, shouting suddenly.
Upon hearing this, Zi Yan and her companions were taken aback, and then they nodded slightly.
“Tan Jie, do you think that with just three Dou Wangs, or even two who are only halfway there, you can hold me back?” Fan Tao sneered.
“Old man, you sure do talk a lot,” Zi Yan retorted, smirking, and then shouted to Liu Qing and Lin Xiuyan beside her, “I’m going in; you two watch your backs!”
Just as she finished speaking, without waiting for them to reply, her petite figure trembled and shot towards Fan Tao, forming a tight small fist charged with terrifying energy.
Seeing Zi Yan attack, Liu Qing and Lin Xiuyan had no choice but to act, launching themselves after her. Their Dou Qi was already at its peak, knowing very well that their opponent was far stronger than any previous ones. A single mistake could result in serious injury or even instant death.
The sudden aerial support from Zi Yan, Liu Qing, and Lin Xiuyan naturally became the focus of attention for all the Inner Academy students on the ground. The battle between four of the top strong fighters in the Inner Academy and a Battle Emperor expert excited many, causing some students, such as Lin Yan and Yan Hao, to flush red with excitement, their chests filled with battle fervor. In the entire Inner Academy, only they were qualified to participate in such high-level battles.
“A bunch of youngsters daring to be so arrogant?” Fan Tao sneered, his pale, withered hand trembling. Instantly, three streams of blood-red Dou Qi surged out, solidifying into three snakes as thick as an arm. With a snap of his fingers, the blood snakes shot out, their mouths gaped wide, emitting a foul smell.
As the blood snakes shot towards her, Zi Yan sensed the ferocious, frigid energy within them. Her face turned serious, slowly opening her fist and pointing her five fingers at the snakes, “Break!”
With a roar, Zi Yan closed her fingers, and an invisible wave spread like lightning. In front of her, ten meters away, the space seemed to crumple under an immense force, crushing the blood snakes into a bloody mist.
Shattering the attack, Zi Yan glanced at Liu Qing and Lin Xiuyan, who were slightly disoriented by the blood snakes, and flicked her finger, sending powerful gusts that shattered the remaining snakes into another burst of bloody mist.
Liberated from the blood snakes, Zi Yan leapt, her lithe figure appearing like a phantom before Fan Tao. With a twist of her waist, her slender leg swung up in a half-moon arc, delivering a fierce kick to Fan Tao’s head.
Zi Yan’s slender leg looked fragile, but anyone who underestimated the terrifying power within it would learn a painful lesson. With years of experience in the chaotic Black Corner Region, Fan Tao knew not to make such a mistake. From the moment he saw Zi Yan smash his blood spear with one punch, he knew that this seemingly delicate girl possessed monstrous strength!
Therefore, Fan Tao dared not ignore or underestimate Zi Yan’s close-range attack. His withered hand moved rapidly, and a torrential surge of blood-red energy emerged, forming a sticky, blood-like round shield on his left side.
Boom! Zi Yan’s foot, accompanied by a low-pitched sonic boom, struck the blood shield. A deep explosion sounded, and ripples rapidly spread across the shield. The tremendous force caused the energy shield to compress into an ominous arc, but just as the tip of her foot was inches from Fan Tao’s face, the force was completely neutralized. With a snap, the compressed energy shield rebounded, flinging Zi Yan’s foot away from Fan Tao’s body.
“Hmph!” Despite the blocked attack, Zi Yan merely huffed. Using the rebound, she floated slightly upwards, darting into Fan Tao’s arms. Her slender arms moved rapidly, leaving afterimages of devastating power striking his chest.
Despite Fan Tao not underestimating Zi Yan, he was still caught off guard by her quick reflexes and acute combat instincts. Initially, he was hit several times by her fists, the terrifying power causing him to change color. This kind of physical strength was rare, even among specialized Dou Wangs!
“Blood Sucking Armor!” Although he took several direct hits, Fan Tao, a seasoned Battle Emperor, quickly recovered. Seals formed in an instant, and a dark red armor, resembling coagulated blood, appeared on his body.
Clang, clang! Zi Yan’s frenzied strikes clashed against the dark red armor, ringing like metal. The armor’s defense was formidable, withstanding Zi Yan’s attacks. Fan Tao retreated, his armor blocking much of the force, but he was still pushed back, his face growing increasingly stormy under the intense scrutiny.
The countless spectators were awed by Zi Yan’s display. She rarely showed her true strength in the Inner Academy, and even during the Strong Ranking Competition, her full potential was never revealed. Many doubted her, but today, her strength was undeniable—a Battle Emperor being driven back by a mere Dou Wang—her place at the top of the rankings was truly unassailable!
Clang! Another heavy fist collided with the armor, shattering it. But before Zi Yan could celebrate, a more powerful wave of blood energy erupted from Fan Tao. The force of his aura was so strong that it sent Zi Yan reeling back.
Fan Tao did not hesitate, shouting, “Bloody Demon Hand!” A sudden windstorm filled with a trace of blood filled the air. Zi Yan looked up, her face changing, seeing a two-zhang wide blood-red palm appear above her, slamming down.
“Sky-Cracking Mountain!” As the massive blood hand shot towards Zi Yan, a loud shout echoed, and a sharp, golden wind blasted into the sky, colliding with the blood hand. An explosion like thunder reverberated, and surging energy ripples shook the air.
Fan Tao was shocked by the shattered attack, seeing the pale, panting Liu Qing. Could the Inner Academy students be this strong? His earlier attack, which would have severely injured a normal Dou Wang, was dispelled by someone barely at the threshold.
“Green Void Sword Aura!” As Fan Tao was stunned, a green figure flashed overhead. The green sword emitted a clear sound, and dense energy gathered. In an instant, the sword was enveloped in energy, creating small cyclones around it.
With a roar, the sword launched, merging with the cyclones into a swift, silent blur, shooting towards Fan Tao’s head!
Lin Xiuyan’s ambush was lightning-quick. By the time Fan Tao noticed, the terrifying energy was already at his head. He had to forgo his Dou Qi techniques, and a wave of blood energy surged from his body, like a sea of blood.
The green sword penetrated the blood sea, causing violent turbulence. Suddenly, Fan Tao roared, “Condense!” The blood sea waved, and the sword, about to emerge, was trapped, gradually slowing down.
As the stickiness of the blood sea intensified, the green sword finally froze two feet from Fan Tao’s head. A full-strength blow had failed, and Lin Xiuyan’s face changed, realizing the vast gap between their strengths.
Swoosh! As Lin Xiuyan was in shock, a blood handprint shot from the blood sea, smashing into his unprotected body. Coughing up blood, he staggered, his Dou Qi wings flickering.
Seeing Lin Xiuyan’s injury, Liu Qing’s face changed. Just as he moved, a blood handprint shot towards him. Moving too slowly, Liu Qing watched in horror as the handprint approached.
Just before impact, a small figure appeared, punching the air, creating a compressed air cannon that collided with the handprint, spraying blood mist.
Fan Tao’s icy eyes glared at Zi Yan, his blood-red wings fluttering, and he dove into the vast blood sea.
“A pack of fish, time to deal with you all,” his cold voice echoed from the blood sea.
“Be careful!” As Fan Tao disappeared into the blood sea, Zi Yan frowned, warning Liu Qing, feeling the sea roil violently. “Blood Sucking Seal!” A cold shout resonated from the sea, and a large, peculiar blood handprint shot out, surrounded by blood waves.
Sensing the chilly energy, Zi Yan focused, knocking Liu Qing back and charging her fists with a bright, jade-like glow, almost transparent. Clasping her fists, she released a crisp, melodic chime, facing the looming blood handprint. A strong, jade light then exploded from her body.
Her fists struck, causing the space to shake, and a terrifying force collided with the blood handprint.
Bang! The earth-shattering sound drew the gaze of countless bystanders. “Hmpf!” The energy collision sent Zi Yan staggering, while the blood sea roiled fiercely, blocking further attacks.
“A brainless Dou Wang… get lost!” The blood sea contracted, and a mocking laugh came from within. A dark, several-zhang wide blood handprint shot out, and seeing it, Zi Yan’s expression changed, her internal energy still slightly weak.
The blood handprint traced an arc in the sky, appearing in front of an unguarded Zi Yan, “Die!” A sinister laugh emerged from the blood sea, chillingly cold.
Just as the handprint was about to strike Zi Yan, a faint thunderclap resounded, and a black figure appeared in front of her, a massive, dense green flame easily blocking and incinerating the handprint.
Seeing the handprint, infused with Fan Tao’s strongest attack, so easily thwarted, Liu Qing, Lin Xiuyan, and the countless students on the ground were dumbfounded. Then, a familiar, shocking voice rang out, “You old dog, you truly live up to your name.”
A young man in black robes stood firm, his awe-inspiring aura matching Fan Tao’s!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage