Chapter 26

"Ah—"

The girl's scream tore through the air and shot straight into the clouds.

A strip of fabric on her delicate shoulder had been sliced apart, exposing skin as smooth and pale as ivory. That snowy whiteness gleamed alluringly in the courtyard.

"Why are you screaming like that? You're making it sound like I did something to you!"

Fang Xuan frowned, deeply dissatisfied with the girl's reaction. He believed he had already held back; otherwise, that slash just now could have sent Dugu Yan flying.

"Despicable, shameless, filthy, disgusting!"

Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed red. Her crystalline purple hair stood on end as she snapped, "Fang Xuan, I'm going to kill you!"

Her reason collapsed as rage rushed to her head, and her emotions spiraled completely out of control. The Jade Scale Snake coiled through the air and roared madly, making the entire courtyard tremble.

"Roar!"

The Jade Scale Snake fixed Fang Xuan with icy, murderous eyes and suddenly spewed out a cloud of eerie purple mist.

"Third Soul Skill, Jade Scale Purple Poison!"

This was Dugu Yan's strongest technique at present. The Jade Scale Snake Poison unleashed with the enhancement of her third Soul Skill was terrifyingly toxic, capable of instantly poisoning fifty adult cattle to death!

"Yanyan, stop! You can't use that poison—someone could die!" Ye Lingling's face went pale when she saw Dugu Yan use the Jade Scale Snake Poison in her panic. She tried to stop her, but it was already too late.

What should she do?!

Fang Xuan would be killed!

The silver-haired little girl clenched her hands tightly, her small face full of worry.

"Poison..."

Facing the incoming Jade Scale Purple Poison, Fang Xuan's gaze turned cold, with not a trace of fear in his eyes.

He remembered that in the original story, the Jade Scale Snake Poison, which was bragged about as being powerful enough to poison all the Shrek Seven Devils to death, had been effortlessly countered by the cheat-code Tang San with realgar, alcohol, and a fire!

Fang Xuan did not believe he had the Chosen One's halo, so he did not dare attempt such a cheat-code method.

"Nine Heart Begonia... Blade of Healing!"

Pure moonlight rose from the Shadowless Blade. Petal-like white blossoms drifted through the air, carrying a sacred radiance, as though the blade had broken through a storm without fear and charged straight into the poisonous mist of the Jade Scale Snake Poison!

Something miraculous happened!

The incomparably poisonous Jade Scale Snake Poison rapidly dissipated at a visible rate beneath the holy radiance released by the Nine Heart Begonia!

The purple mist that had originally been enough to cover half the courtyard vanished in great swathes. Fang Xuan raised the glowing Shadowless Blade high, broke through the encirclement of Jade Scale Snake Poison, and headed straight for Dugu Yan at its center!

"My poison... My poison was actually broken? How is that possible?!"

Panic appeared on Dugu Yan's charming face. She could not believe that Fang Xuan had countered her Jade Scale Purple Poison.

The long blade tore through the air, whipping up a fierce gale. She could clearly feel the chill emanating from Fang Xuan's blade, as if her heart were about to be pierced, throwing her into a panic.

"Ah~ No!"

The Death Aura washed over her. Even with Dugu Yan's stubborn temperament, she could not help screaming in fear as she hurriedly retreated, trying to evade Fang Xuan's attack.

But Dugu Yan's mind was already in chaos and her steps were unsteady. How could she possibly avoid Fang Xuan's precise, fierce attack?!

"Whoosh!"

A flash of cold light swept past. A sharp, snow-white long blade was already pressed against the girl's swan-like neck. Cold light flowed along the blade, making every hair on Dugu Yan's body stand on end.

"You lost..."

Fang Xuan stared coldly at Dugu Yan, the Shadowless Blade radiating a bone-chilling chill.

"Gulp."

Looking at this man as cold and merciless as a god or demon, Dugu Yan felt fear for the first time in her life. She could not help swallowing, staring blankly at Fang Xuan.

Soul Power +18!

From this battle, Fang Xuan had absorbed a full eighteen points of Soul Power, more than he would gain from three days of cultivation. It would not be long before he could level up again.

This gave him a useful idea. In the future, he could challenge some powerful students at the academy to practice his Blade Drawing Technique. Cultivating this way was far more efficient than training alone.

Calmly, he moved the Shadowless Blade away from Dugu Yan's neck and sheathed it again. He had not harmed this big blood bag; perhaps he could absorb another wave of Soul Power from the girl in the future.

Just as Fang Xuan turned around, Dugu Yan seemed to have gone mad. Apparently unwilling to lose like this, she suddenly raised her fist, gritted her teeth, and charged at Fang Xuan in a fury. "You bastard..."

You're courting death!

Fang Xuan snorted coldly. The blood throughout his body boiled as golden Soul Power erupted like magma. Two sharp glints shot from his eyes. Raising his right fist, he threw it out violently. Fierce Punch Force ripped through the air, and his massive fist crashed like a cannonball into Dugu Yan's ample chest!

"Crack!"

The sound of bones breaking rang out. Dugu Yan's pretty face turned deathly pale, and a portion of her chest was smashed inward. Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth as her body flew backward like a kite with its string cut. She was sent flying seven or eight meters before crashing heavily into the outer wall.

With one punch, Fang Xuan defeated Dugu Yan. His black hair hung loose, his eyes cold, like an enraged Demon God, his entire body giving off icy Killing Intent. At first, he had refrained from striking hard out of consideration for Ye Lingling, but Dugu Yan had clearly been spoiled rotten. She had repeatedly come looking for trouble with him, and he was no softhearted person. He sent her flying with a single punch, taking it as a lesson for her.

"Yanyan! Are you all right?!"

Seeing this, Ye Lingling was frantic with worry. She hurried to Dugu Yan's side, activated the Nine Heart Begonia, and sent a milky white radiance onto the girl's body, instantly healing all her injuries.

Fang Xuan had only wanted to teach Dugu Yan a lesson and had not intended to kill her. Otherwise, that blow could have killed her. Yet she clearly had not realized that Fang Xuan had held back. The moment she recovered, she flew into a rage and spat out a threat.

"Fang Xuan, you... just you wait!"

Dugu Yan was furious and unwilling to accept defeat at Fang Xuan's hands. Her pretty face was icy as she glared fiercely at him. "I'll remember what happened today. When the Genius Battle comes, I'll beat you until you're crawling around looking for your teeth! Hmph. Lingling, let's go!"

After saying that, she grabbed Ye Lingling's little hand, turned, and left.

Looking at Dugu Yan in her tattered clothes, Fang Xuan said, "Dugu Yan, come spar again when you have time."

Hearing this, Dugu Yan stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. She turned around and shot Fang Xuan a vicious glare before leaving without looking back.

In the vast courtyard, Fang Xuan was the only one left. Leaning against the wall, he quietly stared into space. "Genius Battle..."