*Boom! * A thunderous roar, like a mountain crumpling and the earth cleaving, echoed across the sky. In that moment, countless people were momentarily deafened by the overwhelming sound. Amidst the clear sky, an energy ripple, like a tornado, surged from the contact point where the azure energy and the blood-red energy collided. It then swept across the skies amidst the myriad of shocked gazes!
At the junction of the energies, the space distorted severely, deep wrinkles clearly visible. In this full-force clash between Xiao Yan and Fan Lao, even the very fabric of space was almost shattered. The confrontation between Battle Emperor powerhouses was so terrifying.
The energy storm, filled with azure flames and blood-red energy, was as big as several dozen feet, resembling a giant standing between heaven and earth. As the storm madly rotated, the destructive power it released caused even the strongest figures in the sky to change their expressions.
At the bottom of the energy storm, connected to the Inner Academy, countless buildings and pavilions were utterly destroyed. Except for the jet-black Sky Blaze Spirit Tower, all the houses and even trees within a few hundred meters were reduced to ruins by the storm’s rampage! The terrifying destructive force left the students watching from afar dumbstruck.
The storm came swiftly and departed quickly too, leaving behind a devastated corner of the Inner Academy before gradually weakening until it finally dissipated. After the storm subsided, the slightly gloomy sky returned to its clarity, but it left behind a scene of chaos.
In the sky, many elders, looking down at the devastated Inner Academy, couldn’t help but twitch their lips. If they had another few battles like this, the Inner Academy would probably be completely destroyed before the Falling Heart Flame even erupted.
Compared to the sorrowful faces of the elders at the destruction of the Inner Academy, the strong figures from the Black Corner Region were shocked to see the black-robed youth in the distance. They hadn’t expected Xiao Yan to emerge unscathed after such a powerful strike from Fan Lao.
“The young man’s Dou Technique earlier must at least be Earth Tier, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to fully resist Fan Lao’s Great Blood Buddha Feast.”
Thinking of the mighty aura of the ruler earlier, which seemed to cut through the void, everyone felt a bit clearer. Then, they secretly began to take the distant youth more seriously. At their level, ordinary Heavenly Tier Dou Techniques had little effect. Only Earth Tier Dou Techniques could have such a miraculous effect. Therefore, Earth Tier Dou Techniques posed a true threat to Dou Wangs or Battle Emperors.
However, most Earth Tier Dou Techniques were created and passed down by ancestors with great wisdom and immense opportunities. Creating a Dou Technique required not only a harsh requirement on one’s strength but also some luck. Thus, those who successfully created Dou Techniques were all famous figures on the continent, and those who created Earth Tier Dou Techniques were even rarer.
Therefore, throughout the entire continent, Earth Tier Dou Techniques were rare. An ordinary second-rate force would consider having just one as their true treasure. Some powerful individuals who only knew how to train diligently, besides having a robust Dou Qi, often had no substantial Dou Techniques. Such people, while common, would face significant challenges in battle. If their opponents were far weaker, they could easily defeat them with simple Dou Qi attacks. However, when facing equally skilled opponents, they might end up being defeated.
Superficial strength was merely a deterrent. True determinants were still dependent on one’s combat power, which relied on three main conditions: personal strength, cultivation technique, and Dou Techniques. If one possessed all three, challenging higher levels or even ranks wasn’t difficult…
Xiao Yan was exactly this type of person. On his journey, most of the opponents he faced were stronger than him. Yet, most of these opponents ended up as his defeated adversaries. He relied on his “Flame Decisive Formula” and powerful Dou Techniques. Therefore, high-level powerhouses above Dou Wangs placed a lot of importance on Earth Tier Dou Techniques. When they saw someone of Xiao Yan’s age wielding a Dou Technique strong enough to match Fan Lao’s “Great Blood Buddha Feast,” they couldn’t help but feel a mix of envy and jealousy.
High in the sky, Fan Lao’s grim face had paled, indicating that the “Great Blood Buddha Feast” had taken a considerable toll on him. Despite using such a powerful Dou Technique, he still hadn’t achieved much. Looking at the still-standing black-robed youth, Fan Lao felt like vomiting blood.
“This brat is indeed very strong. If we keep this up, I won’t accomplish much.”
His sharp nails sliced through the air, leaving a cold trail, as chilling as his gaze. “I don’t know what happened, but this guy’s sudden surge in strength must not be his own. He must have used some strange secret technique. But even the strangest secret techniques have time limits. Once that time is over and his strength returns to its original level, killing him will be easy!”
Fan Lao, a true veteran of the Black Corner Region, had guessed some of the truth. However, Xiao Yan was well aware of this. He wasn’t foolish and wouldn’t give Fan Lao any chance to stall. Since Fan Lao was determined to kill him, he had no reason to be merciful. If given the chance, killing Fan Lao and eliminating future threats would be the best course of action. After all, a vengeful Battle Emperor could be extremely troublesome.
With these thoughts, Xiao Yan acted without hesitation. He flipped his hand, and the Heavy Ruler disappeared into his ring. Without the weight, Xiao Yan’s speed surged.
A flash of silver light appeared beneath his feet, followed by a faint thunderclap. His figure trembled and turned into a black line, darting towards Fan Lao like a bolt of lightning!
As Xiao Yan moved, Fan Lao, who had been focusing on him, noticed and quickly decided to retreat. Flapping his blood wings, he rapidly retreated.
“Trying to run?” Xiao Yan’s cold voice echoed in the sky. With a faint thunderclap, Xiao Yan’s figure appeared before Fan Lao like a specter.
Even Fan Lao was startled by Xiao Yan’s sudden speed. However, his reaction was fast. The moment Xiao Yan appeared, he slashed his sharp nails at Xiao Yan’s neck.
Instead of retreating, Xiao Yan lunged forward. A flash of silver light, and Xiao Yan’s figure suddenly appeared in front of Fan Lao. Clenching his fist, he struck Fan Lao’s chest.
*Boom! * Xiao Yan’s punch hit Fan Lao’s chest, but a layer of blood membrane emerged, dissipating most of the force. Still, the remaining energy forced Fan Lao to stagger back two steps.
Seizing the advantage, Xiao Yan didn’t stop. He dashed forward again, his fists blurred with residual images, each blow whistling like a cold wind.
Under Xiao Yan’s relentless assault, Fan Lao was entirely on the defensive, constantly evading. Occasionally, Xiao Yan would land a heavy blow, causing Fan Lao’s face to pale even more.
In the distance, the countless Inner Academy students watched, their eyes gleaming with unrestrained enthusiasm, witnessing Xiao Yan overpower a Battle Emperor, leaving him no chance to retaliate.
Shifting their gaze to the larger battlefield in the sky, they saw figures flashing, the continuous explosions of colliding Dou Qi ringing in their ears. Occasionally, individual figures would fall from the battleground, their wobbly forms indicating serious injuries. However, the injured were not just the elders of Gan Nan Academy; some from the Black Corner Region were also wounded in the chaos.
Of course, the main conflict still centered on Su Qian and the Gold and Silver Elders. Focusing on their battle, they heard the roaring clashes of energy, but could hardly see the figures, glimpsing only vague shadows intermittently.
This conflict with the Black Corner Region was the largest and most intense in years, with nearly sky-obscuring energy ripples. The students below felt a surge of excitement and fervor, reminded of why they devoted their lives to becoming the strongest, the ones others looked up to.
While everyone was engrossed in the chaotic sky, no one noticed the black energy membrane at the top of the shattered Sky Blaze Spirit Tower, which had somehow thinned again. Close observation revealed a pair of chilling, triangular snake eyes beneath the membrane!
The snake eyes slowly moved across the sky, finally settling on Han Feng and Xiao Yan. Especially when the two ignited their strange flames, the temperature in the eyes surged, accompanied by a deeply human-like avarice…
It seemed both Xiao Yan and the snakes wanted to devour the Falling Heart Flame.
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