A Sparring Match with Xiao Yu, Stopped Just Short

Below the platform, Xiao Yu stared at the large golden words above it, her red lips slightly parted and her face filled with shock.

He really was Three Star! They had not seen each other for a year, yet he had actually reached the same level as her!

Xiao Yan's eyes widened as well. In the past, he had only felt that aside from cultivation, his Third Brother had no flaws.

Now, he felt that his Third Brother was utterly perfect, without a single flaw to be found.

Handsome, capable, and blessed with such terrifying cultivation talent.

Truly invincible!

A golden flame flickered through Xiao Xun'er's eyes, and surprise surfaced in their depths as well.

When she had caught sight of Brother Xiao Yuan earlier, he had indeed been at Two Star.

How had he become Three Star after stepping onto the platform?

No, he had not become Three Star after getting onstage. He should have already been Three Star before returning to his seat.

Had he broken through after leaving with Sister Ya Fei earlier? What terrifying talent... "Second Elder?"

Seeing that the Second Elder had been stunned speechless, Xiao Yuan curled his lips in amusement before calling out.

"Oh!"

The Second Elder came back to his senses at his words. He gave an awkward smile, cleared his throat, and continued with the next procedure.

"Ahem, the ceremonial retest has been completed. According to the usual rules, Xiao Yuan will accept one challenge. The challenger's realm must not exceed... Xiao Yuan's Three Star Fighter realm. Who wishes to step forward?"

The Second Elder had initially intended to say, as before, that the challenger could not exceed the Fighter realm. But after considering Xiao Yuan's strength, he changed his wording at the last moment.

Yet the moment those words fell, the entire venue went silent.

The younger generation of the Xiao Clan merely looked at one another, not daring to say a word.

How could someone with only a few stages of Dou Qi challenge a Three Star Fighter? Never mind that Xiao Yuan knew Dou Techniques—even if he did not, they could not possibly be his match.

Strictly speaking, among those taking the test today, only Xun'er could contend with Xiao Yuan. But Xiao Xun'er would never be bored enough to go up and compete with him.

"I'll do it!"

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.

Xiao Yuan immediately sighed upon hearing it. This was definitely someone coming to make trouble! Below the platform, Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er stared at the Xiao Yu who had risen to her feet, both looking utterly dumbfounded. Sister, this is a Coming-of-Age Ceremony. What are you joining in for?

Looking at the eager Xiao Yu, Xiao Yuan helplessly turned his gaze toward the Second Elder.

Who would have thought that the Second Elder would instead smile at Xiao Yu and say, "Sure. You are both Three Star Fighters, so this is a good chance for you to spar. But stop at the right point!"

"Alright!"

Xiao Yu had only stepped forward on impulse, but upon hearing that the Second Elder did not object, she immediately leaped onto the platform in delight. She stored the longsword at her waist in her Storage Ring and assumed a stance.

On the high platform, a hint of amusement also entered the Great Elder's eyes.

It seemed his granddaughter really did have good taste! Heh!

"Wait, Second Elder, aren't you going to ask whether I'm willing to accept?"

Xiao Yuan said, caught between laughter and tears.

"You brat, stop acting like you got the short end of the stick after getting such a bargain. Begin!"

The Second Elder glared at Xiao Yuan, then stepped aside and yielded the space to the two on the platform.

"Hehe, let your sister properly test you and see whether you've spent this past year only cultivating Dou Qi without practicing any Dou Techniques!"

A smile curled Xiao Yu's lips as she gave a soft snort.

"Sister Xiao Yu, don't cry when you lose later."

Xiao Yuan smiled faintly. As the Dou Qi within his body began to circulate, an icy aura emerged.

"Ice Attribute Douqi."

It was also Xiao Yu's first time seeing Xiao Yuan make a move, and a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

Xiao Yu did not underestimate him. The moment she returned home, she had cornered Xiao Ning and questioned him about Xiao Yuan. Later, she had even specifically sought out her grandfather, the Great Elder of the Xiao Clan, to ask about Xiao Yuan.

Thus, she had heard about how Xiao Yuan had once fought two opponents alone and, with the strength of an Eight Stage, defeated two Nine Stage opponents.

So, Xiao Yu immediately circulated her own Water Attribute Douqi. With a sharp cry, she charged toward Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan remained calm. With the Swimming Dragon Step beneath his feet, he leisurely evaded Xiao Yu's first attack.

Seeing Xiao Yuan's swift reaction, Xiao Yu nodded in satisfaction within her heart. His level was indeed worthy of a Three Star Fighter.

In that case, she could attack without holding back! With a thought, Xiao Yu swung her long, sexy legs toward Xiao Yuan in a kick.

Xiao Yu had possessed an almost narcissistic attachment to her long legs since childhood. And indeed, her pair of slender, beautiful legs were exceptionally eye-catching. Though they were currently covered by her academy trousers, the faintly visible outline beneath the clothing only made them even more alluring.

Whoosh! Hearing the sound of wind tearing through the air, Xiao Yuan's face remained entirely unruffled.

Against opponents of the same level, Xiao Yu's attacks were indeed sufficiently fierce.

But to Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yu's attacks were simply not much to look at.

It was clear that Xiao Yu was using some kind of leg technique Dou Technique, but it was probably only at the Yellow Rank High Level.

Xiao Yuan's movement technique Dou Technique, however, was at the Low Xuan Rank. Coupled with his equally terrifying talent for cultivating Dou Techniques, Xiao Yu's leg technique—which should have been an unceasing, wave-like barrage—looked like a stuttering image to him, riddled with openings everywhere.

Simply put, in Xiao Yuan's eyes, Xiao Yu's attacks were not much different from the Thug Excitement Fist.

With legwork like that, would it not be easy to dodge?

But!

Xiao Yuan did not dodge.

After filling his palm with Dou Qi, Xiao Yuan sidestepped Xiao Yu's kick. Taking advantage of the instant when her momentum had been spent, he reached out and grabbed her ankle.

Mm, even her ankle was so smooth!

?

Xiao Yu had not expected Xiao Yuan to identify the pattern of her leg technique right away, much less actually catch her leg.

Hiss! Immediately afterward, Xiao Yu felt an icy sensation at her ankle. From the corner of her eye, she saw black frost spreading outward from Xiao Yuan's hand across her ankle, while a stiff, numb sensation slowly emerged there as well.

Xiao Yu's expression changed slightly. Dou Qi erupted from her jade-like leg, knocking Xiao Yuan's hand away. She then pulled back and widened the distance between them.

Seeing the grave look Xiao Yu gave him, Xiao Yuan could not help smiling.

Then, with the Swimming Dragon Step beneath his feet, his body shot out in a strange blur. He rushed before Xiao Yu at extreme speed and threw a punch.

Yellow Rank High Level Dou Technique, Iron Mountain Fist!

Xiao Yu's pupils contracted. She hurriedly raised an arm to block.

However, Xiao Yuan's hand changed from a fist into a palm in an instant, and more than half its force dissipated. Then, like a butterfly weaving through flowers, it slipped around Xiao Yu's arm and pressed forward, shoving Xiao Yu back several staggering steps.

Yellow Rank Low Level Dou Technique, Crushing Stone Palm.

The feel was a little strange, though... No, this was bad!

"Sister Xiao Yu, I didn't mean to—"

Realizing that something serious had happened, Xiao Yuan hurriedly prepared to apologize and beg forgiveness.

If he had not withdrawn his force just then, Xiao Yu would very likely have been injured. But where his palm had landed was somewhat awkward, and after withdrawing his force, it instead looked as though he had deliberately taken advantage of her.

That said, the feel really was... "I lost."

Xiao Yu steadied herself and spoke expressionlessly, but Xiao Yuan noticed that the tips of her ears had turned slightly red.

Below the platform, everyone watched Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yu exchange two moves as if they were children playing house before the winner was decided. Their faces were filled with confusion.

What just happened?