Training Ground, Crushing Victory over Xiao Yan

Time flew by, and events unfolded more or less as Xiao Ce had expected.

No matter how mature four-year-old little Xun'er was, she could not withstand Xiao Ce's "cunning old fox" ways. Their bond grew deeper by the day.

Xiao Yan had likewise begun to show his brilliance over the years. At only ten years old, he had already reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi, causing quite a sensation.

Had he not given the Juqi Powder slot to his second brother, Xiao Li, he would likely have broken through to the Dou Zhe realm by now.

Compared to him, Xiao Ce was eleven years old and at the eighth stage of Dou Qi. Though he could be considered a genius, he was far from dazzling.

Training Ground!

The area was packed with young members of the Xiao Clan. A sea of heads filled the surroundings, all eyes fixed on the two youths standing opposite each other at the center of the Training Ground.

The one on the left wore a fitted black outfit. His handsome face was still youthful, and a trace of arrogance lingered between his brows.

It was none other than Xiao Yan.

The youth on the right wore a fitted blue outfit. Tall and handsome, he had a faint smile at the corner of his lips, his entire bearing radiating calm composure.

Naturally, it was Xiao Ce.

Several years had passed. Though Xiao Ce had always kept a low profile within the clan, his talent and strength were plain for all to see. No matter how low-key he tried to be, he was bound to become one of the clan's focal points whenever he appeared.

Especially after defeating Xiao Yan twice in a row, keeping a low profile had become impossible.

Xiao Ce smiled at Xiao Yan.

"Cousin Xiao Yan, this is your third time challenging me, isn't it?"

"Still not giving up?"

Whispers buzzed through the crowd.

"Here we go again. Cousin Xiao Yan is challenging Cousin Xiao Ce for the third time. Who do you think will win this time?"

"Is that even a question? If Cousin Xiao Yan could win, he would have done so the first two times. Why would he wait until a third challenge?"

"That may be true, but I feel Cousin Xiao Yan is really different this time. I heard he broke through to the ninth stage of Dou Qi half a month ago. He's just been waiting for today to wipe away his humiliation!"

"Today is definitely Cousin Xiao Yan's best chance yet!"

"Enough boasting. The first time, Cousin Xiao Yan was at the sixth stage of Dou Qi while Cousin Xiao Ce was at the fifth, and he lost. The second time, Cousin Xiao Yan was at the eighth stage while Cousin Xiao Ce was at the seventh, and he still lost. This time probably won't be any different!"

Hearing all those voices doubting him, Xiao Yan could not help curling his lip.

"What a bunch of short-sighted fools. Since you all think I'll lose, then I'll make sure to win today and show you who the true number one genius of the Xiao Clan is!"

At that thought, blazing battle intent flared in Xiao Yan's eyes as he looked at Xiao Ce.

"Xiao Ce, don't get cocky too soon. The first two times were nothing but accidents. Do you think I came unprepared this time?"

"This time, you will definitely lose!"

Xiao Ce raised an eyebrow and gently shook his head.

The skies had cleared, the rain had stopped, and Brother Yan thought he was invincible again!

Fine, then he would help him curb that arrogance once more!

"If that's the case, then come at me!"

"Let me see how much you've improved over this past year."

Xiao Ce extended a hand and crooked a finger at Xiao Yan. The casual gesture instantly ignited the crowd.

"Go, Cousin Xiao Ce!"

"Cousin Xiao Yan will definitely win this time!"

Supporters on both sides cheered for their chosen fighters, and the atmosphere in the Training Ground immediately soared.

Several older members of the Xiao Clan watching in secret stroked their beards and smiled.

"The younger generation is becoming more and more impressive."

"The Xiao Clan will have worthy successors!"

Meanwhile, at the center of the Training Ground.

"You'll find out soon enough!"

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and fiercely kicked off the ground. His body shot forward like an arrow as he threw a punch at Xiao Ce's chest, a fierce gust of wind accompanying his fist.

Since his cultivation realm was higher than Xiao Ce's, Xiao Yan fought with considerable aggression. Every move brimmed with sharpness and force.

Yet the instant he moved, Xiao Ce moved as well. He had no intention of avoiding Xiao Yan's edge just because his realm was lower.

On the contrary, Xiao Ce fought with extreme aggression, choosing to meet Xiao Yan head-on.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Their figures crisscrossed through the arena as the sounds of fists and kicks colliding rang through the air. Dozens of exchanges passed in an instant, yet Xiao Ce showed no sign of being driven into a disadvantage.

Over the years, Xiao Ce had never slacked off for even a single day. Thanks to the Yin-Yang Foundation Establishment Chapter of the Xuantian Yin-Yang Dao, his foundation during the Dou Qi stage was exceptionally solid. Thus, although he was only at the eighth stage of Dou Qi, the richness of his Dou Qi did not pale in the slightest compared with Xiao Yan's ninth-stage Dou Qi.

As the two fought fiercely, the atmosphere around them reached its peak.

"Go, Cousin Xiao Yan! You're the best!"

Behind Xiao Yan, a pretty young girl in a pink dress cheered for him in a sweet voice.

She was one of Xiao Yan's current little admirers, Xiao Mei.

Opposite her, a girl in green whose graceful beauty was just beginning to emerge also watched the two intertwining figures at the center of the Training Ground. Her eyes, bright as a starry river, shimmered with a hint of admiration.

Gu Xun'er—no, Xiao Xun'er now—heard Xiao Mei cheering for Xiao Yan and immediately refused to be outdone, cheering for Xiao Ce as well.

"Go, Brother Xiao Ce! You're the best!"

Whenever Xiao Ce was absent, Xiao Xun'er was always cold and quiet, as though surrounded by an aura that kept strangers away.

But before Xiao Ce, she was a lively and innocent little sister.

On the other side, several Xiao Clan youths led by Xiao Ning stood together.

Watching Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Mei cheer for the two fighters, Xiao Ning felt utterly sour inside.

"Cousin Xiao Mei is one thing, but why is Cousin Xun'er like this too? She usually doesn't even like talking."

"Is it just because Xiao Ce is more talented?"

"No, Cousin Xun'er is closer to Xiao Ce because she lives next door to him. Sigh, if I'd known, I would have fought for it myself back then."

While Xiao Ning muttered in regret, the battle at the center of the Training Ground had already reached a fever pitch.

Xiao Yan grew increasingly anxious. Every strike carried his full strength, but Xiao Ce was like an invisible wall. No matter how fiercely he attacked, he could not shake him in the slightest.

The advantage of ninth-stage Dou Qi over eighth-stage Dou Qi seemed not to exist at all before Xiao Ce.

"This guy is clearly one stage below me in Dou Qi. How the hell is he doing this?"

Xiao Yan cursed inwardly, a flash of resolve appearing in his eyes.

He could not drag this out any longer. Otherwise, even if he exhausted all his Dou Qi, he might not be able to defeat Xiao Ce.

In that case...

Xiao Yan took a deep breath. The Dou Qi within his body surged wildly, all of it pouring into his right palm at this moment.

"Xiao Ce, let's see how you deal with this palm strike!"

Xiao Yan shouted. The next moment, a faint yellow glow appeared over his right palm as fierce energy condensed in his hand.

"Low-grade Yellow Rank, Stone-Shattering Palm!"

This strike was fiercer than any attack he had unleashed before.

The palm wind howled as it carried the force to split monuments and shatter rocks, slamming toward Xiao Ce's chest.

The surrounding spectators immediately held their breath.

Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Xiao Xun'er's fair little face.

Xiao Yan actually dared use Stone-Shattering Palm before Brother Xiao Ce. He was simply showing off before an expert.

As one of the few people who knew Xiao Ce's true abilities, Xiao Xun'er knew very well just how profound Xiao Ce's mastery of Stone-Shattering Palm was.

Sure enough, the instant Xiao Yan struck, a subtle curve rose at the corner of Xiao Ce's lips.

"Stone-Shattering Palm?"

"What a coincidence. I know it too—just a tiny bit."

Before his words had even faded, Xiao Ce raised his right hand at the same time. A bright yellow glow condensed in his palm, and then he sent out a palm strike.

It was the same Stone-Shattering Palm, yet the momentum it unleashed was completely different from Xiao Yan's.

Under Xiao Yan's astonished gaze, the two palms collided in midair.

Bang!

A muffled impact rang through the air.

Xiao Ce stood where he was, unmoving as a mountain. Xiao Yan, however, felt an enormous force crash into him, traveling from his right palm through his entire body.

Then, as though he had been struck by a charging magical beast, his feet left the ground and he flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.

In an instant, the entire arena fell silent.

They had used the same combat technique, and Xiao Yan's realm was even one stage higher than Xiao Ce's, yet the outcomes were completely opposite.

Xiao Yan, sprawled on the ground, was equally dumbfounded.

"This... this is Stone-Shattering Palm?"