Deep within the cave, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged before the unfurled scroll of the Purple Cloud Wings.
Old Yao's voice came from the Storage Ring:
"Flying Fighting Skills are fighting skills that use the power of heaven and earth to condense wings."
"Even those below the Dou Wang realm can manifest Dou Qi wings. The method of crafting them has nearly been lost."
"You brat, you really are lucky!"
There was a touch of gratification in Old Yao's voice. After thinking for a moment, he added:
"You probably won't be a Dou Wang for long anyway. Just treat them as a temporary measure."
After his words fell silent, Old Yao could not help but chuckle within the ring.
If it had been anyone else, he would definitely have explained it properly.
But his own disciple was simply too monstrous.
Who knew how soon Xiao Yan would reach Dou Wang? These wings were merely transitional.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon the scroll in his hands:
A Flying Fighting Skill? Wrong!
It should be wing-themed fashion!
"Understood."
A smile curled Xiao Yan's lips as he answered softly.
He then closed his eyes and began trying to sense the flow of Dou Qi within his body.
In one corner of the cave, Xiao Yi Xian leaned against a stalactite, resting and recuperating.
Her injuries had improved somewhat, but she was still weak and powerless.
She secretly glanced at Xiao Yan, gratitude stirring in her heart.
"That boy..."
She bit her lip, a complicated emotion flashing through her eyes:
Who would be that reckless, carrying a girl straight inside?
She... she did not even know his name yet.
At that thought, a faint blush crept up her neck.
Yet when she thought of the boy's formidable strength, a sense of security spread through her.
Xiao Yan's senses were exceptionally sharp. Though he appeared focused on merging with the Purple Cloud Wings,
he could still detect Xiao Yi Xian's gaze, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.
He accelerated the fusion.
As Dou Qi circulated through his body, the patterns of the Purple Cloud Wings gradually connected with his meridians.
A warm energy poured from the scroll into his body, as though countless tiny currents of electricity were coursing through his meridians.
However, just then, a sudden change occurred!
Xiao Yan suddenly felt the Dou Qi in his body turn violent.
The Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame within him blazed with crimson light, while the patterns of the Purple Cloud Wings began to twist and expand.
The originally pale violet energy gradually turned crimson, brilliant as burning flames.
Xiao Yan's pupils abruptly contracted. The energy attribute of the Purple Cloud Wings had actually been assimilated?
The pattern of the originally single pair of wings began to split and reorganize.
It ultimately formed two complete pairs of wings!
"It can evolve too?"
Xiao Yan was startled, but he did not panic.
No matter how wildly the Purple Cloud Wings mutated and rampaged, under the suppression of the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame, they had to behave.
Crimson radiance burst from his body, illuminating the entire cave.
Two pairs of blood-red wings solidified in the air.
Every feather flickered with crimson flames, beautiful and dangerous.
"Boom!"
A tangible shockwave exploded outward!
A powerful pressure spread with it, causing even the rocks on the cave ceiling to begin cracking.
"Wha..."
Feeling that pressure, Xiao Yi Xian's face immediately turned pale.
She wanted to retreat, but discovered that her body had lost control and was tipping forward.
Xiao Yan turned into an afterimage and instantly appeared before her.
He pulled her into his arms, a warm and delicate softness reaching him.
The boy's scent filled her nose.
"Don't be afraid."
Xiao Yan's voice sounded beside her ear, carrying a trace of reassurance.
Xiao Yan promptly restrained his pressure, but a chain reaction had already begun inside the cave.
"Rumble!"
Cracks began appearing across the ceiling.
He took a deep breath as the Dou Qi within his body surged madly.
"Hold on tight!"
He shouted lowly as his two pairs of crimson wings spread wide.
Holding Xiao Yi Xian in his arms, he transformed into a crimson streak of light and shot away in an instant.
"Rumble!" The cave completely collapsed, dust and smoke filling the air.
In the sky, the crimson streak crossed a distance before landing somewhere on the outskirts of the Monster Beast Mountain Range.
The tips of his feet touched the ground, and Xiao Yan lowered his head to look at Xiao Yi Xian in his arms.
Her cheeks were flushed from the fright just now, and her breathing was hurried.
They were so close that they could even feel each other's heartbeats.
"Are you alright?"
A slight curve formed on Xiao Yan's lips as he asked softly.
Xiao Yi Xian raised her head and met his gaze, then hurriedly looked away.
She wanted to break free from his embrace, yet for some reason, she did not move.
At that moment, she seemed to feel an unprecedented sense of safety.
"I... I'm alright."
She answered softly, her voice carrying a trace of shyness.
Amusement glimmered in Xiao Yan's eyes as he set Xiao Yi Xian down:
"We should go. There are at least a dozen smoke signals in this outer region."
"Looks like someone is looking for me."
Elsewhere in the outer forest of the Monster Beast Mountain Range:
Mu She stroked the large saber at his waist, his eyes glinting with crazed killing intent.
Heng Meng immediately pulled out a signal tube:
"According to the brothers tracking them, that brat may be at the southwest corner of the Monster Beast Mountain Range."
"Bang!"
A sudden explosion sounded, and everyone immediately turned to look.
A special firework of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group exploded in the sky not far away!
A vicious grin instantly spread across Mu She's face as he mounted his horse and galloped away.
The thunderous sound of hooves shook the surroundings!
On the other side, Xiao Yan withdrew his hand and looked at the two mercenary corpses on the ground.
He shook his head lightly as faint hoofbeats reached his ears from afar:
"Sigh, killing monsters doesn't even give me experience."
"Why are they rushing over to deliver themselves?"
Turning around, he hid Xiao Yi Xian among the branches of a towering tree beneath her puzzled gaze:
"Wait for me a moment. I'll be done soon."
The moment he landed on the ground, deafening cries of battle and slaughter rang out from afar.
"Found him! He's here!"
"Surround him!"
Countless mercenaries surged in from all directions, encircling them completely.
Leading them was a burly man with a fierce-looking face and savage eyes.
He was 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 filled with fury:
"Who gave you the guts to fucking lay a hand on my Mu She's son?!"
"Today, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
Xiao Yan showed no extra reaction and merely said indifferently:
"It's rare to see people so eager to seek death."
"But I'm kind-hearted. You don't need to pay for your ticket to hell."
Before his words had faded, his figure had already vanished from where he stood:
"Boom!"
Cracks burst across the ground as Instant Step activated!
Xiao Yan's figure flickered, and he appeared before a mercenary:
"Screech! Crack!"
The Heavy Black Ruler swept out, tearing through the air!
The overwhelming force directly crushed every Bone in the man's body.
The corpse instantly broke apart, exploding into a blood-red firework!
Before he could even scream, the other mercenaries had no time to react to the sight.
All they saw was a ghostly figure already standing before them, radiating the pressure of a Great Dou Master Eight Stars!
They had never seen such terrifying attack speed and destructive force.
They froze on the spot!
"H-How is this possible?"
One mercenary said, trembling:
"G-Great Dou Master!"
Mu Zhan's face turned livid:
"Get him! You no longer have a choice!"
However, Xiao Yan gave them no chance at all.
His entire body became an afterimage as he weaved through the mercenary ranks.
Every strike took several lives:
"Eight Extremes Collapse!"
His fist blasted out with terrifying force, eight layers of hidden strength erupting together!
"Boom!"
The air exploded, and one mercenary's body was blasted directly into pulp.
The terrible force even plowed deep trenches into the ground.
Blood sprayed everywhere, while screams rose one after another.
Although the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group had great numbers,
before Xiao Yan, they were as insignificant and helpless as ants!
"No, we can't win!"
"Why did we come to face an opponent we can't possibly defeat?!"
"Run! Run!"
"Not enough!"
A vicious glint flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes:
If the roots aren't pulled out, they'll grow again with the spring breeze!
Since they had come, they had to be prepared to die!
He took a deep breath, and the Dou Qi within his body began circulating madly.
Nine enormous fire dragons surged from his body and coiled through the sky!
Each dragon radiated overwhelming fiery power, warping the air without restraint!
"Roar!"
The illusory roar of the fire dragons struck fear into their hearts!
"Nine Flame Lock Scales!"
"Burn!"
With an enraged shout, the Nine Fire Dragons instantly pounced upon the mercenary crowd!
Wherever the flames passed, everything was reduced to ashes!
The Blood Wolf Mercenary Group had no way to withstand such terrifying power.
Mu She, too, was reduced to ashes in the flames, having uttered only a single threat from beginning to end.
In the blink of an eye, the entire mercenary group was utterly crushed to dust!
"It's over."
Xiao Yan withdrew the flames and glanced at the ashes scattered across the ground.
Then he turned to look at the tree he had deliberately spared:
Xiao Yi Xian sat on a branch, staring in stunned disbelief.
She had never seen such overwhelming strength before. Xiao Yan's display left her both shocked and afraid.
Seeing her expression, an evil thought suddenly rose in Xiao Yan's heart:
"Miss, you..."
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