Xiao Yi Xian's Thoughts

"Yes."

The corner of Su Yun's mouth curved up. He also wanted to see how strong Xiao Yan was now.

"Thank you, Senior, for granting this."

Xiao Yan's expression turned solemn.

Nalan Jie frowned. "Yan Xiao, you're an alchemist. You aren't skilled in combat, are you?"

He thought highly of Yan Xiao, but only in terms of alchemy.

"Exactly. How could an alchemist be good at fighting?"

Everyone found it strange.

Nalan Yanran also tried to dissuade him. "Come back, Yan Xiao."

Liu Ling sneered coldly. "A clown trying to draw attention to himself, nothing more. He just wants Lord Su to remember his name!"

Liu Ling disliked Xiao Yan immensely. This man was a formidable rival on his path to winning the championship!

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Yan and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, which left her puzzled.

At that moment, a faint voice reached her ears. "Xian'er, do not underestimate him. This boy is not simple."

Xiao Yi Xian's expression shifted slightly as she turned to look at Su Yun, yet she had not seen him open his mouth.

It's Teacher's soul transmission...

A solemn look flashed through Xiao Yi Xian's eyes.

"Please enlighten me, Miss Xian'er."

Xiao Yan spoke in a deep voice and assumed a stance. Impressive Fire Attribute Dou Qi rose around him.

Hai Bodong narrowed his eyes, the same thought as Xiao Yi Xian surfacing in his mind.

"I didn't notice before... but now that I see this kid's fighting stance, why does he look so much like that bastard who stole half of my Fragmented Map?"

At the same time, Xiao Yan moved.

"Eight Extremes Collapse!"

His furious shout cracked like thunder. A dazzling halo of Dou Qi abruptly gathered at Xiao Yan's elbow. He stomped hard with his right foot, shattering the bluestone tiles beneath him, and shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow!

Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes narrowed. Her slender fingers moved with extraordinary agility as they rapidly formed seals. Purple-green Dou Qi surged from her palms, condensing in midair into a palm imprint that emitted a ghostly glow!

"Poisonous Fiend Seal!"

The massive glowing seal tore through the air and collided violently with Xiao Yan's elbow. The two torrents of berserk energy clashed fiercely, and waves of air rippled outward in layer after layer.

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, scarlet light flickering in his eyes as Dou Qi churned within his body!

"Burst!"

The hidden force buried in his elbow erupted like a volcano!

Eight Extremes Collapse appeared to be merely a Dou Technique of immense brute force, but once cultivated to a profound level, each attack contained hidden force. At its peak, it could unleash eight layers of hidden force!

"Boom—!"

The ground cracked inch by inch beneath the shockwave, shattered stones and dust filling the sky. Yet unfortunately, even with the second eruption of Xiao Yan's force, he failed to shake the glowing seal!

His force shattered and dissipated. The Poisonous Fiend Seal hovered three inches before Xiao Yan's face. Had it moved any closer, it would have smashed straight into his forehead!

Xiao Yan gave a bitter smile and cupped his hands. "A famed teacher produces outstanding disciples. Miss Xian'er truly deserves to be Senior Su's disciple!"

"You let me win."

Xiao Yi Xian exhaled a breath of stale air and voluntarily dispersed the Poisonous Fiend Seal, secretly thinking that it had been close.

If not for her teacher's reminder, she truly might have... failed to defeat Xiao Yan in a single move.

Her teacher had yet to teach her any Dou Techniques, but fortunately, the Mite'er Family did not lack Mysterious-Tier Dou Techniques. She usually practiced them for fun, and today they happened to come in handy.

By now, Xiao Yan's sleeves were already tattered beyond recognition, and he felt deeply regretful.

"If I had cultivated Eight Extremes Collapse to mastery, allowing eight layers of hidden force to erupt together, its power would rival an Earth Tier Fighting Skill. Then perhaps I could have... Sigh, I was just a little short."

Xiao Yan had only cultivated seven layers of hidden force. A tiny difference could lead to a vast gap!

A faint smile appeared on Su Yun's face. "Not bad."

With Su Yun's appraisal, everyone began praising Xiao Yan's strength as well.

Although he had still lost to Xiao Yi Xian and had not even lasted a single move, forcing Xiao Yi Xian to use a Dou Technique was already an extraordinary achievement.

"Every generation brings forth new talents."

Nalan Jie sighed. "With Miss Xian'er's talent, perhaps she will surpass this old man in another three years."

Su Yun merely cast him a light glance and said nothing.

"Uh..."

For a moment, Nalan Jie had no idea how he had offended Su Yun.

"Hahaha!"

Hai Bodong patted him on the shoulder. "You, you've underestimated Miss Xian'er far too much!"

Nalan Jie's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He felt that Su Yun and Hai Bodong were overly confident in Xiao Yi Xian.

Dou Wang was a watershed dividing the strong from the weak. The great bottleneck of breaking through to Dou Wang was far more solid than ordinary people could imagine.

No matter how talented Xiao Yi Xian was, she would still need to be stuck for at least a year or half.

Of course, there was no way he could say that aloud.

If Su Yun knew what he was thinking, he would probably laugh out loud just like Hai Bodong.

Using common sense to measure a Woeful Poison Body was absurd to begin with.

After the sparring match ended, the sound of strings and wind instruments rose once more. Maidservants carried gilded wine jugs and filled the guests' cups with fine wine. Only deep into the night did the banquet gradually come to an end.

"Old Master Nalan, we'll be taking our leave first."

Mittel Tengshan cupped his hands with a smile.

"Be sure to visit the estate often in the future."

Nalan Jie quickly rose to see them off.

In a corner of the courtyard, Xiao Yan silently watched Su Yun's departing back and called out in his heart, "Teacher."

"I'm here. I've always been here."

Old Yao's voice was weak as he asked, "Why didn't you use Flame Splitting Wave Ruler just now?

With the power of an Earth Tier Fighting Skill, combined with your flames, taking one move from that girl should not have been too difficult."

A trace of guilt flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. "I wanted to save Flame Splitting Wave Ruler for Nalan Yanran.

My identity will be impossible to hide sooner or later. If I use it now, she will be on guard when the Three-Year Agreement comes... I cannot lose!

I'm sorry for disappointing you."

"Why apologize? You have learned patience, learned to conceal your trump cards... You have grown a great deal. Your teacher is very gratified.

It is merely a pity about that Ice Skin Spirit Cleansing Pill."

Old Yao's tone was full of encouragement, though it also carried a trace of regret.

"Teacher, I've wanted to ask for a long time. Is that Ice Skin Spirit Cleansing Pill really so remarkable?"

"Yes. It is an ancient Pill Formula that was lost a thousand years ago. I never expected him to be capable of refining such a pill."

Old Yao nodded and said softly, "The preciousness of this pill lies in its extremely low drug resistance.

Take ordinary Sixth-Grade Pills, for instance. The Imperial Pill can raise a Dou Huang's cultivation, but after taking one, taking another is useless.

Yet the Ice Skin Spirit Cleansing Pill only completely loses its effect after nine pills have been consumed...

This means that even if you are a good-for-nothing, after nine pills enter your body, you can become a genius!"

"The Ice Skin Spirit Cleansing Pill is actually this terrifying!"

Xiao Yan sucked in a cold breath.

"Yes. Go to the Mite'er Family first. Give that thing to him and have him protect you on your way to the Misty Cloud Sect... Given my current condition, I have the will but lack the strength."

"Yes!"

Mite'er Family.

After Su Yun returned to the estate, he praised Xiao Yi Xian. "You did well today."

Xiao Yi Xian's heart was sweet with joy.

"Go rest."

Su Yun waved a hand. He too needed to refine poison and raise his cultivation.

"Teacher..."

At that moment, Xiao Yi Xian looked at Su Yun with pleading eyes.

Su Yun paused. "What is it?"

"Can you give me that Ice Skin Spirit Cleansing Pill?"

Su Yun said, "You and I both possess the Woeful Poison Body. We have no need for this pill to refine our aptitude."

"But didn't you say that the Ice Skin Spirit Cleansing Pill could make one's skin fair and smooth like congealed fat, with the effect of icy skin and jade bones?"

Xiao Yi Xian's delicate jade hand tugged lightly at Su Yun's sleeve, swaying it gently. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with watery light, her thin lips pouted slightly, and her sweet voice seemed rich enough to drip honey.

"Teacher, give it to me. Please give it to me~"