Nalan Yanran, I'm here to break off the engagement

"I'll stay for half a month. During the next half month, Yao Lao and I will train you together. In that time, you'll need to spar with all kinds of third-rank magical beasts. Oh, right—you're not allowed to kill them." This was something Zhang Tian had discussed with Yao Lao beforehand. By not killing them, if Xiao Yan faced the same magical beast again, they could see his progress more directly.

"During this period, after you defeat a magical beast, I'll refine some body-tempering spirit liquid to help you recover, but only after you've defeated it. You are not allowed to take pills during battle." Yao Lao floated over as well, looking like a stern teacher, and spoke to Xiao Yan with rare seriousness.

"Mm, I understand." Although Xiao Yan could feel the Dou Qi inside his body being suppressed, every bit of Dou Qi that circulated through him made both his Dou Qi and his body a little stronger and tougher. Though it was only a trace, it was clearly visible.

"In that case, let's begin now." Yao Lao nodded, clearly rather satisfied. Then he had Xiao Yan follow him and began searching for a third-rank magical beast.

Before long, under Yao Lao's Soul Power perception, they found a target.

A third-rank Fire Salamander. This Fire Salamander was a full zhang in size and lived in a place close to the volcano. Its long, forked tongue, like that of a lizard, dripped bits of molten lava.

"This is a Fire Salamander that feeds on volcanic magma. Its entire body has an extremely terrifying temperature, and it also carries intense fire poison. Be careful not to let its tongue stab you," Zhang Tian reminded him. Xiao Yan nodded, then barely managed to lift the huge Mysterious Heavy Ruler from his back into his hands. The moment he gripped it, it sank heavily, yet for some reason, it brought Xiao Yan a faint sense of security.

"Right, Xiao Yan..." Zhang Tian opened his mouth, then closed it again. He had originally wanted to teach Xiao Yan the Vast Sea Seal, but when he remembered that this Earth Rank Advanced Dou Technique could not be used at all without Dou Wang strength, he dismissed the idea.

Xiao Yan seemed not to hear him. Carrying the Mysterious Heavy Ruler, he slowly walked toward the Fire Salamander. Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had clearly startled the Fire Salamander. It suddenly moved and began climbing around everywhere.

Looking at the Fire Salamander crawling along the mountainside of the volcano like a gecko, Xiao Yan's expression flashed with helplessness. The Mysterious Heavy Ruler was too heavy; he could not get up a mountainside with this kind of slope.

"Roar." The Fire Salamander examined its surroundings, seeming to discover there was no threat, only a little fellow at the Dou Shi level. A fierce light abruptly appeared in its eyes, and with the savage, violent aura of a beast, it leaped down at Xiao Yan like a fierce tiger pouncing on prey.

"Hah." Xiao Yan let out a low shout. Gripping the Mysterious Heavy Ruler with both hands, he swung it down like he was brandishing a door plank. Bang! The Fire Salamander's head seemed to be struck by some tremendous force and was smashed into a pile of broken rocks, while Xiao Yan's entire body shook as he retreated several steps in succession.

If he had not tempered his body with Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, that blow probably would have made him spit out a mouthful of blood.

His face turned pale. The Fire Salamander's tremendous strength made Xiao Yan feel extremely uncomfortable.

The Fire Salamander charged out from the broken rocks, its entire body carrying high heat. Wherever it swept past, the surrounding grass and trees gradually scorched yellow and withered.

The Fire Salamander's enormous tail lashed toward Xiao Yan. When it struck the Mysterious Heavy Ruler, Xiao Yan's arms ached, and the magical beast's powerful brute force made him feel as if both his arms were about to snap.

Xiao Yan was ruthless too. An Eight Extremes Collapse blasted into the Fire Salamander's exposed waist. His punch smashed a dent into the Fire Salamander's tough flesh, but Xiao Yan's arm was split open by the force rebounding back.

"Hiss." The enormous pain tore at his nerves, but when the Fire Salamander's huge mouth, filled with scorching heat and the smell of sulfur, bit toward him, he hurriedly used the Mysterious Heavy Ruler to block in front of himself.

"Xiao Yan can't win this fight." Zhang Tian carefully observed the situation. The Fire Salamander's combat strength was indeed fierce. Without the strength of a Three-Star Great Dou Shi, it would probably be impossible to do anything to it.

In the battle that followed, Xiao Yan was in an extremely sorry state. His entire body was tattered, and his wounds carried traces of a scorched stench. Those were all burns caused by the Fire Salamander's high-temperature skin.

"Huff, huff, huff." Xiao Yan gasped heavily, one breath after another. The Dou Qi circulating inside his body was extremely sluggish. In another collision, the Fire Salamander instantly sent Xiao Yan flying, and the Mysterious Heavy Ruler in his hand also flew from his grip.

Xiao Yan barely propped up his body, blood spilling from his mouth. His hands formed seals, and the energy between heaven and earth gradually became scorching hot. In his hands, two flames formed, one purple and one green.

The fifth-rank magical beast Secluded Valley Spirit Snake's Secluded Snake Spirit Fire.

The sixth-rank magical beast Amethyst Winged Lion King's Accompanying Purple Fire.

The two flames trembled slightly, absorbing the Dou Qi inside Xiao Yan's body. Under the enhancement, they swelled against the wind, dragging long tails of flame behind them.

"That's enough. Xiao Yan, you've lost." Zhang Tian's brows twitched, and he blocked in front of Xiao Yan. The energy of heaven and earth formed a giant hand that seized the Fire Salamander, rendering it unable to move.

"The Mysterious Heavy Ruler left your hand, so it no longer served to suppress your Dou Qi. You lost." Yao Lao also floated over.

Xiao Yan opened his mouth. Although he was extremely unwilling, he still dispersed the two Beast Flames in his hands.

"I'll train twice as hard," Xiao Yan said in a low voice.

Zhang Tian nodded.

"Then next, you'll practice combat techniques with me. I'll suppress myself to around the level of a Three-Star Dou Shi."

"All right, teacher. Let's begin."

Zhang Tian did not stand on ceremony and took out the Dragon Yin Halberd.

"Eh, wait a moment, teacher." Xiao Yan's survival instinct was extremely strong. The moment he saw Zhang Tian take out the Dragon Yin Halberd, he immediately lost his nerve.

"What is it?" Zhang Tian was stunned. Why did Xiao Yan look like that?

"Teacher, please be careful. Don't stab me to death." Looking at Zhang Tian's expression and Yao Lao's stern gaze beside him, Xiao Yan swallowed and quietly reminded him.

"Don't worry, I can hold back." Zhang Tian nodded, indicating that he understood. Then he took the lead and attacked Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan tried to counter and defend.

Boom!

After only one or two exchanges, Xiao Yan was blasted flying.

After comprehending the Quick Spear Technique, Zhang Tian's spear arts improved every day.

"Your combat skills are too poor. Although the Mysterious Heavy Ruler is heavy, it combines offense and defense." Zhang Tian shook his head helplessly. Xiao Yan, unwilling to admit defeat, charged up again.

However, a burst of lone courage could not increase combat strength. Within three moves, Zhang Tian still sent the Mysterious Heavy Ruler flying with a sweep of his halberd.

For the next half day, Xiao Yan was beaten brutally the entire time, but his progress was very small, because Zhang Tian was too fast.

"Give up using your eyes. Use your soul and mind to capture the enemy's movements." Zhang Tian suddenly had an idea and passed the method from Control Sword with Qi to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan's heart trembled, as though he had understood something, but he could not grasp the essentials.

The Dragon Yin Halberd thrust horizontally. An attack that he originally could not see clearly was now captured in faint traces, and by some strange coincidence, he dodged this move.

For the next half month, Xiao Yan constantly fought all kinds of third-rank magical beasts and sparred with Zhang Tian, making great progress. Without using Beast Flame, Xiao Yan could already use the strength of a Seven-Star Dou Shi to suppress a Three-Star Great Dou Shi, and he had also comprehended a little of the hidden force of Eight Extremes Collapse.

Unfortunately, in this method of using spirit and soul to capture an enemy's movements, he made no progress over the entire half month. He could never grasp the essentials. After using it once, it was as if there had been no further development.

Today, Xiao Yan and Zhang Tian ended their sparring early.

"Let's go. We'll change clothes and head to the Yun Lan Sect."

Xiao Yan nodded. He had already waited half a month for this day; it was just that, immersed in cultivation, the thrill of increasing his strength had left him unable to stop.

Now, half a month later, Xiao Yan could already exchange over a dozen moves with Zhang Tian in sparring, and could even occasionally counterattack once.

About half an hour later, Zhang Tian formed wings from Dou Qi and pulled Xiao Yan through the air. On the surface, Xiao Yan was extremely composed, but judging from the excitement and agitation he let slip without realizing it, he was not nearly as calm as he appeared.

Zhang Tian's arrival naturally caused no small commotion, but he paid no attention to the disciples and elders of the Yun Lan Sect. Instead, he went straight to the place on Yunlan Mountain where Yun Yun handled affairs.

After they chatted for a while, Yun Yun stared at Zhang Tian curiously.

After going into seclusion in the Yun Lan Sect, this Second Elder had left the sect for over half a month. She did not know what business had brought him back this time.

"Let someone else explain this matter." Hearing Yun Yun's curious question, Zhang Tian revealed a smile.

Yun Yun was startled, and a faint bad premonition instinctively rose in her heart.

"Sect Leader Yun, I've come to cancel the engagement." A steady yet youthful voice rang out, making the smile on Zhang Tian's face grow even brighter.

When Yun Yun heard that voice, her expression darkened. Her beautiful eyes carried traces of disbelief as she looked at Zhang Tian.

"Is this the Second Elder's intention?"

Zhang Tian shook his head slightly, and when Yun Yun clearly saw the young figure slowly walking over, her delicate body trembled, as if she had seen something unbelievable.

"Eight-Star Dou Shi!"