The distant horizon watched as two wraith-like silhouettes launched themselves from the cloud-shrouded mountains, each delivering brutal punches laced with terrifying energy potent enough to chill ones marrow. Under countless gazes, these spectral blasts roared mercilessly straight toward Xiao Yan’s head. Yet just when everyone expected Xiao Yan to suffer misfortune, a mighty ripple exploded outward from himself as the epicenter, sweeping through the sky with an overwhelming might. As it surged forward, those formidable wraiths, even He Bo Dong would hesitate to oppose head-on, seized up abruptly beneath the gaping onlookers. With a suffocating thump, they disintegrated dramatically… Stunned visages adorned everyone watching the obliteration above as even Ji Xingtian and others distantly away appeared slightly lost for an instant; as Battle Emperor experts, they fully attuned their senses to perceive the might held by these wraiths—certainly, these weren’t illusions but solid energy manifestations invoked through an unknown technique of Yun Shan. In plain honesty, solely comparing the strength radiated, the wraiths could equal two Battle Emperor experts… Nonetheless, even that estimate would consider only that strength magnitude; should a Battle Emperor expert face against mere spectral projections, the difficulty of quelling such would never compare to encountering two fully-fledged Battle Emperor. After all, these were merely echoes, nowhere as tough or resistant to punishment like living斗皇 experts would boast. Not least when Hai Bodong was caught off-guard previously, it was that which had let slip his advantage.
“This… strength…” Suspended mid-air Hai Bo Dong gawked in surprise at Xiao Yan, feeling the titanic force well outward from his aura suddenly. For a short moment he gazed on, sudden realization lighting within his features, wonder glimpserising, “…Could that brat really harness the hidden strength at long last?”
“How in the skies did Xiao Yan’s battle prowess shoot forth such levels, almost instantaneously?” Ji Xingtian queried the old man Fahma beside him with astonishment laced in his voice.
“I can give no words of clarity,” answered Fahma helplessly with shaking head, face contorted within near sense-of-shock—a sensation so often invoked by the inexplicable acts from this youthful prodigy below the tender ages. Now fresh astonishment crashed upon these aged bastions of wisdom.
Over upon ruins, Yun Yun’s stunning eyes fastened onto Xiao Yan floating distantly with flickering focus while gentle fingers lifted instinctively toward crimson lips held slightly agape.
Across the tattered plazas, Yunnan sect acolytes stared upward in awe as well—anxiously aware of might within those ghostly phantoms. Their perceptive capacities failed grasp true profundity; they witnessed their leader’s flashes collide against even Hai Bodong, though, grasping their terrifying strength through such fragments alone. Yet that power which resisted Battle Emperor was dashed into oblivion by Xiao Yan—yet a mere Doudi!
For Yunnan Zong disciples reverently idolizing Yun Shan all their lives, reality was too much to bear—a moment that cracked minds within the compound’s atmosphere into awestruck stases as they fixated amidst the sudden cataclysmic flare.
Yunshan himself instantly felt the severance of those extensions and hastily shrugged from Queen Medusa’s entrapments before directing heavy, focused vision on a not-distant Xiao Yan. “Never did I expect he’d possess such reserves… No matter—you face such odds—I need only watch.”
“Your power… it’s definitely not entirely yours,” Queen Medusa observed, briefly stunned then turning curious at Xiao Yan below and muttering thoughtfully at this force that rose like an onyx phoenix.
Above the clouds as torrential energies receded into his flesh, faint downward glances through flickered white-and-gold flames regarded Yunshan coldly as calm yet thunderous proclamation rumbled far afield: “The Yunnan Sect leader… is but a flash in the pan; henceforth I claim leave; no strength in Yunnan shall bar my path ever again.”
Somber visage mirrored growing ire within him, his own not-insubstantial aura coiled forth as he stepped across skies with but slight ripples to appear opposite Xiao Yan. Furrowing brows darkened further while stating in measured tones: “You have exceeded my assumptions—possessing such force hidden well… but tell me… this welling power—is it not of your blood?”
Wisdom of Yunnan dictated, regardless of any talent or enhancements one might devour, Xiao Yan—so young—should not contend against Battle Sect-level might so seamlessly without external interference. This much, Yunshan knew instinct.
“Regardless whether that power comes from my self or external, its leash is wholly mine,” replied calmly Xiao Yan while raising up an arm—an intense white flame erupting forth, flickering nimbly at digit fingertips playfully yet ominously, like specters dancing.
“Relying solely on external artifacts betrays true potential. I dare you won’t manage this blaze long,” Yunshan chuckled scorn.
“But still, that act cost you my sect elders and left shame upon us! If allowed smooth departures from you—does the Yunnan Sect have any face in the Empire?”
“By all means… try.”
Unbothered, “Xiao Yan” stood cloaked in frosty indifference—voice never wavered, eyes lifted once, white inferno exploding with force above.
“For decades across I have desired prey, none yet vanished from within claw.”
Casting a frost-lanced glare while sealing intricate formations, the air around Yunshan rippled under rising pressure, forming wild gales encircling his frame. With these gusts intensifying, a sharp glacial whiteness flickered upon Yun Shan’s fingertips.
“He thinks I have grown weaker, my powers not reaching even three or two parts of total mastery… how naive.”
Below, sensing the imminent clash, acolytes hastily found cover behind scattered rocks while even distant allies Hai Bodong likewise wisely retreated—lest even aftershocks drag into doom.
Above stood Yun Yun observing tension rise, worry knitting brows. Knowing he was Pharmacist Yan destroyed earlier clarity. Emotion swirled in tempests within her chest. Even organization of dazed disciples lay in chaos as she forgot her leadership entirely.
“Master… do… Do you know Xiao Yan?” breaking quiet a trembling inquiry arose at shoulder—the familiar voice of Na lan Yan Ran biting her lips, tear-riddled and staring deeply within her mentor.
Seeing such a sight before her, for strange reasons unplaced unease tugged Yun Yun inwardly despite composed exterior she projected—a heart calmed hastily to reply warmly to the broken lass before her: “We met briefly—albeit behind disguises he always wore. My blindness led surprise upon seeing he was that figure I never encountered face to face till meeting anew.”
“Indeed, his deceptions know depth…”, whispered Yan Ran sourly—her first male piqued affection had shattered into a hollow illusion of deception—a far worse wound than failing in that three year challenge.
Nodding inward agreement, Yun Yun noted her disciples’ fixated attention back on the confrontation above… a realization striking softly: “Yanran… Tell me… Have you grown into liking him?”
Surprised then flaring fluster, she ducked low in mock denial: “How could it be? I’ve long hated the likes of him!”
Not further words from the elder, just silently regarding that faking smile, until the dam cracked.
Yan Ran flung herself sobbing into Yun Yun: “Such a heartless revenge! My decision, my mistake, regret swallows me whole.”
Sighing, Yun Yun combed those flowing black tendrils, adding gently: ”I bear part fault too. Perhaps not conceding to aid you disengage had been better choices.”
“Teacher… Then what awaits me now?”
Caught at such sorrow and uncertainty as tear-riddled glances pulled at her heart’s tides… She was uncertain too—Xiao Yan’s affairs swirled within her own soul; enmity between him the sect stood cemented now. Past dealings had revealed his disposition—a nature harboring only bitter enmity with no tolerance for forgiveness or sentiment. That broken engagement scar, a chasm no bridge might span now.
Understanding the look she met, Na Lan Yan-Ran gave but weary reply to silence, muttering:“Perhaps, I am the root of ruin…”
“I implore,” she lifted, determination rising in hallow voice:“After this battle, guide me through Death Gate?”
“Death Gate!” Startled: “Entry demands no less than Dou ling strength… while indeed your resonance with the gate calls—your timing feels so perilous…”
“The gate shelters our lineage’s slumber for eons… surely the spirits guide me if I must pass… Master… please agree,” she pleaded with solemn refusal to remain dormant.
Sighing in reluctant surrender, Yun Yun gently pet the resolve hardened beneath those silk threads: “Though uncharted it’s meant only for heir-to-the-robes’ trial… very well, afterward I shall petition my Master—we shall attempt a prior communion with fate, a test for strength early indeed might foster you…”
Watching her smile weakly at the nod, eyes returned once more above… as two figures in the sky clashed full-bore!
The awaited battle erupted—clashes heralded legends enough to shake an entire realm as equal Battle Sect powerhouses collided, forging legends beneath gasping sky.
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