Xiao Yan: "This Is Absolutely Impossible..."

As that aged sigh rang out, a strange layer of white energy suddenly surged around Xiao Yan's body. When the fairly powerful wind vortex unleashed by Nalan Yanran came into contact with that white energy, it shattered without the slightest resistance.

"Xiao Yan was actually still hiding his strength... That aura just now had probably already reached the Dou Wang level!"

"So young, yet already possessing the strength of a Dou Wang—this boy's future accomplishments will be limitless!"

On the high platform, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong both revealed looks of astonishment at this sight.

Fa Ma, beside them, spoke with slight smugness, "Hehe, old Jia, old Bing, do you two believe what I said earlier now?"

"Fa Ma, could it be that you have known this Xiao Yan for a long time?"

Hearing Fa Ma's words, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong asked almost simultaneously.

"Don't you two find Xiao Yan's figure somewhat familiar?" Fa Ma continued to keep them in suspense.

Hearing this, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong both turned their gazes toward Xiao Yan in the arena. After watching him for a while, a strange glint flashed in Jia Xing Tian's eyes. He then asked tentatively, "Could this Xiao Yan be Yan Xiao from the Alchemist Conference...?"

"Haha, old Jia, you may be old, but your memory is still quite good." Fa Ma laughed as he stroked his beard. "I already said that there was basically no suspense in this duel. That boy Xiao Yan is certain to win."

At this moment, it was not only Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian who were surprised. Nearly everyone present was astonished by the power Xiao Yan had just unleashed, staring at him with bewildered expressions.

"How is this possible? How could that brat from the Xiao Family have become so powerful?" Yun Leng's aged eyes were filled with disbelief.

The Misty Cloud Sect disciples in the arena grew somewhat restless because of the powerful force Xiao Yan had erupted with. As a result, the neat formation of a thousand people temporarily lost its former oppressive aura.

"That aura again? He actually borrowed someone else's soul power even while dueling Junior Sister Yan Ran. I truly thought too highly of Xiao Yan before!"

Staring at Xiao Yan in the arena, Liu Ling spoke with anger on his face.

"Senior Brother, at that instant just now, I also sensed that something seemed off about Xiao Yan... So you already knew that Xiao Yan had borrowed someone else's soul power..." Hearing Liu Ling's words, Xiao Yi Xian could not help frowning.

"I fought him before when we were training in the Tagor Desert. He was originally only a Dou Master, but he must have borrowed someone else's soul power to raise his strength to the Dou Zong level. In the end, though, I called Xiao Jin over and had him deal with him." Liu Ling briefly recounted what he knew.

"So that's how it is... Xiao Yan nearly died beneath the wind vortex just now, so he borrowed that power to save himself. If he still refuses to admit defeat and continues using that power to attack Yan Ran, I'll make him regret it!" After hearing Liu Ling's words, Xiao Yi Xian said coldly.

At this moment, after discovering that Xiao Yan had suddenly erupted with power comparable to a Dou Wang, Nalan Yanran could not help gaining a few more solemn traces in her eyes.

"I never expected that, in these three years, you would also have reached such a level!"

"Master was right. I cannot look down on anyone in this world!"

"Since you have also reached the Dou Wang realm, let us have a true bloody battle and settle this grudge!"

As she pondered inwardly, Nalan Yanran put away the contempt she had held toward Xiao Yan.

At the same time, after Elder Yao acted to block Nalan Yanran's wind vortex attack for him, Xiao Yan stood frozen in place.

Just moments ago, Elder Yao had told him that Nalan Yanran's attack already possessed the might of a Dou Ling expert, a full major realm above him.

"Do not bully the young because they are poor... Hehe, Xiao Yan, don't forget... You and I are both young. If I could be stronger than you three years ago, then today, three years later, I will only be stronger than you!"

Remembering what Nalan Yanran had said before, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a burning pain across his face.

"It seems I have been a frog at the bottom of a well... Over these three years, it was not only me who worked hard. She, too, has been advancing at an incredible pace."

"In today's battle, I have been utterly defeated by Nalan Yanran!"

"Father, Xiao Yan has failed you and brought shame upon you..."

Just as Xiao Yan was recalling these things in unwillingness, frustration, and shame, a cool voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Xiao Yan, you are very impressive... From here on, neither of us should hold back or test the other any longer. Show me your true skill, and let us settle everything!"

Hearing that cool voice, Xiao Yan, still dazed, revealed a bitter smile. He slowly raised his head to look ahead. Just as his lips parted and he was about to say something about conceding defeat, his pupils suddenly contracted, and the astonishment in his eyes reached its limit.

In Xiao Yan's vision, Nalan Yanran's figure had left the ground and risen into the air. Behind her, there was actually a pair of enormous azure feathered wings over ten feet long.

The aura Nalan Yanran displayed, along with the conspicuous pair of Dou Qi wings behind her, all told Xiao Yan that she had already reached the Dou Wang realm.

"This... This is absolutely impossible!" Xiao Yan's body trembled as he cried out, his mind nearly collapsing.

"That girl Yan Ran has actually reached the Dou Wang realm!"

At the same time, upon seeing Nalan Yanran reveal her Dou Wang cultivation, Nalan Jie spoke with incomparable excitement, followed by a surge of wild joy.

"Nalan Yanran has broken through to Dou Wang! As expected of a disciple personally chosen by the Sect Leader. Heaven truly favors our Misty Cloud Sect!" Yun Leng, who was presiding over the match, also revealed a deep look of delight on his aged face.

"Nalan Yanran actually hid herself so deeply as well... Now that both she and Xiao Yan have revealed Dou Wang cultivation, who will prove superior?"

At this moment, Nalan Yanran's eruption of Dou Wang strength undoubtedly brought a new point of interest to this supposedly "suspenseless" duel. Everyone present was guessing who would ultimately emerge victorious.

Under countless watching eyes, Nalan Yanran, flying in the air, caused the longsword in her hand to flash with an extremely dazzling radiance.

Beneath that radiance, terrifying energy was rapidly gathering.

Her beautiful eyes fixed directly on Xiao Yan below, Nalan Yanran drew a deep breath. Her jade hand tightly gripped the longsword, which had become somewhat heavy, and slowly moved it at such a sluggish pace that it was almost impossible to tell it was moving. As the longsword shifted, the spreading energy ripples grew increasingly violent.

"Little Yan, what are you still standing there for? There is no way to salvage today's matter. You are still young. If you failed to catch up to this girl in three years, what is wrong with pursuing her for another three years?"

PS—After being a lazy fish doing two updates a day for two months, I added an extra update today at the readers' request, though I'm still a lazy fish...

(End of chapter)