Sparring

There were still quite a few people in the Dou Technique Hall, and waves of cheers from boys and girls rang out from the training ground to the west.

As Xiao Yan entered, the atmosphere around the training ground grew even more fervent. How could anyone not recognize the family's brightest star?

"That's Xiao Yan, right? Why has he come to the training ground?"

"Hey, look over there. Isn't that Xiao Shuang? Could they be about to spar?"

As the crowd discussed it, one young man's expression darkened. His name was Xiao Ning. His cultivation talent was fairly good, and as the Great Elder's grandson, he often came to the training ground to spar.

In his words, it was all for tempering himself!

But only he knew the truth. He simply enjoyed being praised. Yet now that Xiao Yan had come here, his limelight had been snatched away!

"Cousin Xiao Ning, do you want to go up and challenge Xiao Yan? Just treat him as part of your training," the young man beside Xiao Ning asked.

Xiao Ning turned around and shot the youth an annoyed look. He could tell the other had no ill intent; he was just a little foolish.

"Xiao Ke, what are you thinking? When geniuses like us spar, what if we fail to hold back in time? Getting injured is a minor matter, but have you considered the impact it could have on the family's future?"

Xiao Ning spoke with a righteous expression, and the youths following beside him applauded and began flattering him. Xiao Ning, still rather young, thoroughly enjoyed it.

What a joke. Xiao Yan is already at the Ninth Stage Dou Qi. Wouldn't I just be asking for a beating if I went up there?

Even though that was what Xiao Ning thought, he could not say it aloud. He could only stand where he was, hoping Xiao Yan would leave soon so he could reclaim the spotlight.

"Haha, it seems a lot of people are looking forward to our match." Xiao Yan glanced around at the fervent atmosphere and laughed. He enjoyed this feeling as well.

With a helpless sigh, Xiao Shuang slowly walked into the training ground. Though he rarely interacted with the members of the family, his iceberg-like temperament was highly alluring. The girls around them had stars in their eyes, and for a moment, his popularity even eclipsed Xiao Yan's.

Xiao Yan had refined features, and his young face still looked somewhat childish, but his confident smile was utterly captivating.

"Shall we begin?"

At Xiao Shuang's nod, the two first exchanged the customary courtesies before a match. Then, Dou Qi could be seen swirling around their bodies.

"Hey, look! Xiao Shuang's Dou Qi is blue!"

"What? Attribute-infused Dou Qi? Could he be about to break through to Dou Zhe?"

"Xiao Yan's Dou Qi has an attribute too! What dense Fire Attribute!"

"As expected of the family's geniuses. It's truly shocking. In less than half a year, these two will both become Dou Zhe, won't they?"

Xiao Ning looked at the two in the arena, bitterness rising in his heart. If nothing unexpected happened, he would never be able to compare to these two geniuses...

Before they had even exchanged blows, the two had already deeply shocked everyone present. But the pair standing in the center of the training ground had no time to care what others thought.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath. Fiery red Dou Qi wrapped around his hands, and with a stomp of his foot, he shot toward Xiao Shuang.

The distance between them rapidly closed, but Xiao Shuang did not sit idly by. He reached out with both hands and, protected by Dou Qi, directly seized Xiao Yan's forearms.

This was what a clash between low-level fighters looked like. Neither of them used any Dou Techniques; they simply fought with the Dou Qi within their bodies and their instinctive physical reactions.

"Hm? You're pretty strong." Xiao Yan raised a brow, forcefully breaking free from Xiao Shuang's grip. The Dou Qi around his hands grew denser, and once his strength reached its peak, he threw a punch.

Seeing this, Xiao Shuang did not dodge. Icy blue Dou Qi covered his right hand, and he immediately struck out with his palm, fiercely meeting Xiao Yan's fist head-on.

A muffled impact rang out as fist and palm collided. Both of them staggered back several steps before steadying themselves.

"What do you think?" Xiao Yan dispersed the Dou Qi around his body and smiled at Xiao Shuang.

"Let's call it a draw." Xiao Shuang nodded. It had only been a sparring match, so stopping at the right point was enough. Besides, they had both given it their all in that exchange, so calling it a draw was perfectly reasonable. Forcing a winner and loser would only spoil things.

"Fine by me. Your Dou Qi is really strange. My hands still feel a little cold." Xiao Yan shook his hands, then even slipped one into Xiao Shuang's collar.

"See? I told you it was cold."

Xiao Shuang helplessly pulled Xiao Yan's hand back out and said expressionlessly, "Stop pretending. Your Dou Qi isn't simple either. I don't believe something at this level could make your hands feel cold."

Hearing that, Xiao Yan could only put aside his teasing. Fiery red Dou Qi covered his hands, and in just a few seconds, they returned to their normal temperature.

He swung his arms and, finding no discomfort left at all, called out to the boys and girls watching around them, "Hehe, have you all seen enough? We're heading down now."

The youths burst into laughter as well. This battle could be considered the pinnacle among the family's younger generation, and they had truly been treated to a spectacle today. Although the fight between the two had been crude and brief, nothing more than fist against fist and palm against palm, their Ninth Stage Dou Qi already gave them combat strength not inferior to that of Dou Zhe. The others could only envy their talent...

"Cousin Xiao Yan is so handsome!"

Xiao Mei walked forward, looking at Xiao Yan with admiration. A young girl's worship was not false, and it was precisely because it was sincere that Xiao Yan found it so pleasant.

Xun'er looked at Xiao Yan's hands with slight concern. A wisp of golden flame appeared in her eyes, and only after examining them carefully did she finally let out a relieved breath.

Brother Xiao Shuang's physique is anything but ordinary, Xun'er pondered inwardly. This had only been a casual spar, yet Brother Xiao Yan's hands had turned icy merely from touching Xiao Shuang's Dou Qi.

Could this physique be the Extreme Cold Physique recorded in ancient texts? Although it has not awakened yet, that distinctive Ice Dou Qi is already obvious.

Xun'er gave a bitter smile. Fortunately, Xiao Shuang's physique had not fully awakened yet. Otherwise, Brother Xiao Yan's hands would have been difficult to deal with.

However, with her here, Brother Xiao Yan would never come to any harm!

At that thought, Xun'er broke into a radiant smile, leaving the boys and girls who saw it somewhat stunned.

It seems I'll have to find a chance to talk to Brother Xiao Shuang about his physique. I hope Brother Xiao Shuang can become Brother Xiao Yan's support.