Double Flame Crimson Wings, Crushed to Ash!

Deep within the cave, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, the Purple Cloud Wings scroll spread open before him.

Old Yao's voice emerged from the Storage Ring:

"Flying Fighting Skills rely on the power of heaven and earth to condense wings into form."

"Even those below the Dou King rank can manifest Dou Qi wings—the method of creation is nearly lost."

"You lucky brat, what a find!"

A hint of approval colored Old Yao's voice. After a moment's thought, he added:

"You'll probably reach Dou King soon enough anyway. Treat this as a stopgap."

His words trailed off, and within the ring, Old Yao couldn't help but chuckle:

If it were anyone else, he'd have to explain thoroughly.

But who could blame him when his own disciple was such a freak?

Who knew how long until Dou King? This pair of wings was just a stepping stone.

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the scroll in his hands:

Flying Fighting Skill? Wrong!

It should be wing fashion!

"Got it."

A smile tugged at the corner of Xiao Yan's lips as he replied softly.

Then he closed his eyes, beginning to sense the flow of Dou Qi within his body.

In a corner of the cave, Xiao Yi Xian leaned against a stalactite, resting.

Her injuries had improved somewhat, but she remained weak and drained.

She stole a glance at Xiao Yan, gratitude welling in her heart.

"That young man..."

She bit her lip, a flicker of complex emotion in her eyes:

How reckless—just carrying a girl straight in like that.

She didn't even know his name yet.

At that thought, a faint blush crept up her neck.

Thinking of his formidable strength, a sense of reassurance spread through her.

Xiao Yan's perception was razor-sharp. Though he appeared focused on merging with the Purple Cloud Wings, he still caught Xiao Yi Xian's gaze, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

He accelerated the fusion process.

As Dou Qi circulated through his body, the patterns of the Purple Cloud Wings gradually connected with his meridians.

A warm energy surged from the scroll into his body, like countless tiny currents racing through his channels.

But then, a sudden change occurred!

Xiao Yan felt his Dou Qi turn violent.

Within him, the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame blazed with crimson light, and the Purple Cloud Wings' patterns began to twist and swell.

The originally pale purple energy shifted to a deep red, dazzling like burning flames.

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted—had the energy attribute of the Purple Cloud Wings been assimilated?

The single-wing pattern started to split and reform, ultimately shaping into two complete pairs of wings!

"It evolves too?"

Shock flashed through Xiao Yan's mind, but he didn't panic.

Even if this Purple Cloud Wings went berserk, under the suppression of the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame, it would have to behave.

Crimson light burst from within his body, illuminating the entire cave.

Two pairs of wings, vivid as fresh blood, solidified out of the void.

Every feather shimmered with Crimson Flames, both gorgeous and dangerous.

"Boom!"

A tangible shockwave exploded outward!

A powerful pressure radiated, cracking even the cave ceiling above.

"Wh..."

Xiao Yi Xian felt the pressure, her face turning pale.

She tried to step back, but her body uncontrollably pitched forward.

Xiao Yan's figure blurred into an afterimage, appearing before her in an instant.

He pulled her into his arms, a warm, smooth sensation meeting him.

The youth's breath filled her nostrils.

"Don't be afraid."

Xiao Yan's voice sounded by her ear, carrying a hint of reassurance.

Xiao Yan withdrew his pressure in time, but the cave had already set off a chain reaction.

"Boom!"

Cracks began to form in the ceiling.

He took a deep breath, his Dou Qi surging wildly within him.

"Hang on tight!"

He barked, and two pairs of crimson wings burst open.

With Xiao Yi Xian in his arms, he transformed into a streak of red light and shot out in an instant.

"Boom!" The cave collapsed completely, dust billowing everywhere.

In the sky, the crimson streak arced across a distance and landed somewhere on the outskirts of the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

His toes touched the ground, and Xiao Yan looked down at Xiao Yi Xian in his arms.

Her face was flushed from the fright, her breathing rapid.

They were so close now that they could even feel each other's heartbeats.

"You alright?"

Xiao Yan's lips curled into a faint smile as he asked softly.

Xiao Yi Xian looked up, met his gaze, and quickly averted her eyes.

She wanted to break free from his embrace, but for some reason, she didn't move.

At this moment, she seemed to feel an unprecedented sense of safety.

"I... I'm fine."

She said softly, a hint of shyness in her voice.

Xiao Yan's eyes sparkled with amusement as he set Xiao Yi Xian down:

"Time to go. There are at least a dozen smoke signals in this outer area."

"Looks like someone's looking for me."

Monster Beast Mountain Range, another forest on the outskirts:

Mu She ran his hand along the broadsword at his waist, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

Heng Meng immediately pulled out a signal tube:

"According to the brothers on tracking duty, that kid might be in the southwest corner of the mountain range."

"Bang!"

A sudden explosive sound rang out, and everyone turned to look.

A custom-made firework from the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group burst in the sky not far away!

A vicious grin spread across Mu She's face as he vaulted onto his horse and galloped off.

The thunderous pounding of hooves shook the ground!

On the other side, Xiao Yan withdrew his hand and looked down at the corpses of two mercenaries on the ground.

He shook his head lightly as faint hoofbeats reached his ears from a distance:

"Sigh, I don't even get experience for killing monsters."

"Why rush to deliver yourselves?"

Turning around, under Xiao Yi Xian's puzzled gaze, he hid her among the branches of a giant tree:

"Wait for me a moment. I'll be right back."

The moment he jumped to the ground, a deafening roar of battle cries came from afar.

"Found him! Right here!"

"Surround him for me!"

Countless mercenaries surged in from all directions, encircling them.

At the head was a burly man with a face full of rough flesh and fierce eyes.

He was none other than Mu Li's father, the leader of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, Mu She.

"It's you!"

Mu Zhan stared at Xiao Yan, his eyes blazing with fury:

"Who gave you the guts to lay a hand on my son, Mu She, you bastard?!"

"Today, I swear I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Xiao Yan didn't bother with much of a reaction, just said flatly:

"Eager to die, huh? That's a rare sight."

"But I'm a kind soul—no need to pay the fare for the ride to hell."

Before the words faded, his figure had already vanished from where he stood:

"Boom!"

The ground cracked open in jagged lines as Instant Step activated!

Xiao Yan flickered through the air, appearing before one of the mercenaries:

"Shk! Crack!"

The Heavy Black Ruler swept out, tearing through the air!

The sheer force pulverized the bones inside that man's body.

His corpse burst apart in an instant, exploding into a bloody firework!

Not even a scream escaped. The other mercenaries had no time to react to the scene.

They just saw a ghostly figure already before them, radiating the oppressive pressure of a Great Dou Master Eight Stars!

They'd never witnessed such terrifying attack speed and destructive power.

They froze on the spot!

"Th-this... how is this possible?"

One mercenary stammered:

"G-Great Dou Master!"

Mu Zhan's face turned ashen:

"Charge! You've got no choice left!"

But Xiao Yan gave them no chance at all.

He turned into a blur of afterimages, weaving through the mercenary ranks.

Every strike claimed multiple lives:

"Eight Extremes Collapse!"

His fist shot out, wrapped in monstrous force, eight layers of hidden power stacking and exploding!

"Boom!"

The air detonated, and one mercenary's body was blasted into a pulp of flesh.

The ground itself was gouged into deep furrows by the terrifying impact.

Blood splattered, screams rose and fell.

Though the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group had numbers on their side, they were like ants before Xiao Yan—utterly helpless!

"No, we can't win!"

"Why did we have to face an enemy we can't possibly beat!"

"Run, run!"

"Not enough!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes:

If you don't pull the weeds out by the roots, they'll grow back with the spring breeze!

Since you came, you'd better be ready to die!

He took a deep breath, and the Dou Qi inside him spun wildly.

Nine colossal fire dragons surged from his body, coiling through the air!

Each dragon radiated overwhelming flame power, warping the air around them!

"Roar!"

The dragons' phantom roars shook the soul!

"Nine Flame Lock Scales!"

"Burn!"

He bellowed, and the nine fire dragons lunged at the mercenary swarm in an instant!

Wherever the flames passed, everything turned to ash!

The members of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group were utterly unable to withstand this terrifying power.

Mu She, too, dissolved into ashes within the flames, having only managed to utter one harsh threat from start to finish.

The entire mercenary group was thoroughly crushed to dust in the blink of an eye.

"It's over."

Xiao Yan withdrew the flames and cast a glance at the ashes scattered across the ground.

He turned his head to look at the tree he had deliberately spared:

Xiao Yi Xian sat perched on a branch, staring in stunned disbelief.

She had never witnessed such overwhelming strength before; Xiao Yan's display left her both awestruck and frightened.

Seeing her expression, a mischievous thought suddenly stirred in Xiao Yan's heart:

"Miss, you..."