Beneath the watchful eyes of all present, Xiao Yan slowly rose to his feet. With a swift leap, he stamped his foot on the stone chair. A loud explosion echoed through the air as his figure shot straight down like a rocket. He flipped mid-air and landed steadily on the vast stone square.
“Who is this guy? I’ve never seen him before.”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t seem to be from Tianbei City. Could it be that the Han Family invited him from outside?”
“From the looks of this kid, he doesn’t seem capable of defeating Hong Chen. What is the Han Family thinking?”
“This move by the Han Family must have its reasons. After all, this match is about Han Yue’s lifelong fate.”
As soon as Xiao Yan appeared, whispers surged around the square, and many pairs of surprised and questioning eyes swept over him.
From the Hong Family’s seating, Hong Li frowned as he gazed at the unfamiliar Xiao Yan. Based on his understanding of the Han Family, it was improbable they would find a random scapegoat for such an occasion. But if not, could they really think this young man could stand up to Hong Chen?
Next to Hong Li sat an elderly man in gray robes, his eyes half-closed, indifferent to the commotion. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, and he leaned against the back of his chair. On his chest, there was a silver-blue emblem, depicting a tower with faint lightning entwined around it.
Hearing Hong Li, the elder opened his half-closed eyes and glanced at Xiao Yan in the arena, then remarked in a raspy voice, “This boy is also very strong. I wonder where the Han Family found such a helper.”
“Really? Then, can Hong Chen beat him?”
Hong Li stiffened slightly at the elder’s comment. If this old man gave such an evaluation, it was clear that this seemingly ordinary young man was not just a scapegoat.
“Most of the high-priced fighting techniques of my Wind Thunder Northern Pavilion, Hong Chen has mastered. The cultivation method he practices is one of the top techniques. His combat power is formidable, even capable of battling peak Battle Emperor. Among his peers, there are indeed people in the Central Plain who can beat him, but in this Tianbei City, no one has yet appeared.”
After speaking, the elder closed his eyes again.
The gray-robed elder’s words relieved Hong Li, and a mocking smile appeared on his face. He was eager to see how the Han Family, specifically Han Qi, would react after losing.
On the stone square, Hong Chen lazily scanned Xiao Yan and said, “State your name.”
Xiao Yan smiled, ignoring the arrogant tone, and said, “I am Xiao Yan, a nobody, not as famous as Young Master Hong Chen.”
“Stop playing with words. You have ten seconds to decide: leave on your own, or I’ll cripple you and throw you out.”
“Let’s skip the formalities and get started,” Xiao Yan shook his head, still appearing harmless. This Hong Chen was indeed as others said, extremely arrogant.
Hong Chen’s gaze darkened, staring sinisterly at Xiao Yan. “Since you want to die, don’t blame me for not showing mercy.”
A burst of lightning surged from Hong Chen’s body, enveloping him in a layer of lightning-light barrier.
“Lightning attribute battle qi, huh?” Xiao Yan observed the deep silver battle qi swirling with lightning around Hong Chen. Clearly, the method he cultivated was known for its powerful offensive capabilities.
“Remember my name, Hong Chen. Losing to me will be an honor for you!” sneered Hong Chen, stomping his foot. A thick, arm-sized bolt of lightning, like a giant snake, shot towards Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and lightly stomped his foot. A jet of emerald-green battle qi, like a flame, shot out, colliding with the lightning bolt. A dull boom resounded, leaving a half-foot-deep pit in the stone.
“Let’s get straight to it, Young Master Hong Chen. No need for these petty tricks.”
“Heh, more arrogant than me, huh? Let’s see if you have what it takes!”
Hong Chen’s eyes flared with intense cold, and a brilliant silver light erupted. In a blink, he appeared in front of Xiao Yan, his lightning-coiled fist striking with a hiss towards Xiao Yan’s head.
Facing the fierce lightning force, Xiao Yan sidestepped, and the lightning-coiled fist flew past his ear.
With a cold laugh, Hong Chen stretched his hand, curling his fingers into a claw and ripped downwards at Xiao Yan’s shoulder.
As the claw descended, it suddenly froze. Xiao Yan’s fingers, wrapped in intense battle qi, pierced the claw’s palm, blocking the force entirely.
“Nice moves,” Hong Chen’s eyes widened in surprise. He roared, “Try the Wind Thunder Pavilion’s Wind Thunder Claw!”
The lightning around his hand flared, forming a pair of sharp claws. With a roar, the force in his claws surged, forcing Xiao Yan’s fingers back and slashing down with immense force, tearing the air apart, leaving a blurry silver afterimage in the sky.
Impressed by the fierce claw, Xiao Yan shifted his fingertips, and emerald-green battle qi mixed with a hint of flame slammed into Hong Chen.
*Bang!*
Hong Chen staggered, quickly recovering. His eyes glinted with ferocity, and his claws whipped through the air, creating a web of afterimages. The whistling sound of his attacks filled the square.
Despite the fierce assault, Xiao Yan’s expression remained unchanged. Using his fists and palms, he formed a defense, and with the help of his soul perception, he detected each attack, countering them with precise strikes.
Claw against fist, endless afterimages swirled before their eyes, shocking the onlookers. No one expected Xiao Yan to hold out so long against Hong Chen.
“Wind Thunder Kill!”
Unable to make any progress, Hong Chen’s eyes sharpened with seriousness. His claw changed, and a rumble of thunder sounded. All the afterimages coalesced, forming a massive, thunderous claw. With a roar, the claw lunged at Xiao Yan’s heart, intent on tearing it out.
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, stepped back, and his black eyes flashed with cold intensity. A mountainous surge of battle qi erupted from his body, fully displaying his seven-star Battle Emperor strength.
The sudden surge of battle qi from Xiao Yan made the onlookers gasp.
“Battle Emperor?”
“This man’s strength might even surpass Han Yue’s! No wonder…”
With the battle qi surging, Xiao Yan clenched his fist, paused, and then unleashed a devastating blow.
*Eight Extremes Collapse*
Mid-swing, the force doubled. A deafening sonic boom exploded around his fist, crashing into Hong Chen’s lightning claw.
*Boom!*
A low, reverberating collision echoed, sending shockwaves of energy through the surrounding stone.
As the cracks spread, a figure was sent flying, leaving a long trail on the ground. Everyone turned to look, shock evident on their faces. It was Hong Chen who was sent flying?
Everyone’s gaze snapped back to the young man, who had only taken two steps back. The shock was palpable. This man had gained the upper hand in a direct confrontation with Hong Chen?
Xiao Yan lightly shook his sleeves, his fingers flashing as he struck his arm. He flicked his finger, and a burst of electric force was expelled.
“Is this lightning hidden force enough to hurt me?”
Hong Chen, regaining his balance, looked at Xiao Yan grimly. “Didn’t expect you to be a seven-star Battle Emperor. You’ve hidden your strength well. No wonder the Han Family chose you. You’re qualified to be my opponent. But to defeat me, you’re not strong enough yet!”
With a low growl, Hong Chen’s body crackled with electricity, wrapping him in a mesh of lightning, and his aura surged.
“Given that you managed to push me back, I’ll show you the Wind Thunder Pavilion’s secret technique today!”
*Thunder God’s Descent!*
With a stomp, countless silver snakes burst from his feet, enveloping the area in a storm of lightning. In the eye of the storm, Hong Chen looked like the god of thunder himself, terrifying in his power!
Seeing Hong Chen use *Thunder God’s Descent*, the Han Family’s expressions changed. Han Xue and Han Yue exchanged worried glances, but when they looked at Xiao Yan, they saw him as calm as ever, unperturbed by Hong Chen’s transformation.
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