When the Third Elder saw Xiao Yan appear, fury practically blazed from his eyes.
"You're Xiao Yan?"
Xiao Yan didn't answer. His gaze shifted from Xiao Zhan to the Third Elder.
"The people of the Misty Cloud Sect sure have some nerve."
The Third Elder gave a cold snort. "You killed one of our people and still dare to act so arrogantly? Get him!"
The five Dou Ling disciples charged at Xiao Yan all at once.
The Third Elder didn't stay idle either. He flashed to the side and attacked.
Six against one.
Lying on the ground, Xiao Zhan saw what was happening and his face changed dramatically. "Yan'er, watch out!"
The elders held their breath.
Six powerful opponents were attacking at once, including a Dou Wang. No matter how strong Xiao Yan was, he couldn't possibly stop them, could he?
But in the next instant, everyone was stunned.
Xiao Yan raised his hand and struck out with his palm. The two Dou Ling disciples at the front were sent flying and hit the ground, lifeless.
The remaining three paled and tried to retreat.
Xiao Yan flashed forward and struck each of them once.
Bang, bang, bang.
After three dull thuds, all three Dou Ling disciples fell.
Only then did the Third Elder's palm strike arrive.
Xiao Yan didn't even look at him. He turned and struck back with one palm.
Their palms collided. A tremendous force surged through the Third Elder, sending him flying.
The Third Elder spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed to the ground.
He struggled to get up, but a sharp pain shot through his chest.
Several of the Third Elder's ribs were broken.
He stared at Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with fear.
All five Dou Ling disciples were dead, and he, a Dou Wang expert, hadn't even been able to withstand a single move.
Just how strong was this Xiao Yan?
An unprecedented fear welled up in the Third Elder's heart. He wanted to flee.
But the moment the Third Elder moved, Xiao Yan was already walking toward him.
Xiao Yan planted a foot on the Third Elder's wrist.
Crack—the sound of breaking bone.
"Ah!"
The Third Elder let out a scream.
Xiao Yan looked down at him, his face expressionless.
"You stepped on my father's face?"
The Third Elder trembled all over from the pain. He couldn't even speak.
Xiao Yan lifted his foot, then brought it down on the Third Elder's face and ground it into the dirt.
"That's payback for stepping on my father."
The Third Elder's face was pressed into the ground, his mouth full of blood.
"You—you can't kill me..." the Third Elder said. "I'm an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. If you kill me, the Misty Cloud Sect won't let you get away with it."
Xiao Yan looked down at the Third Elder. "The Misty Cloud Sect? Two of your elders have already died, and that still isn't enough? You want a few more to die?"
The Third Elder shuddered.
"Fourth Elder, after you die..." Xiao Yan said calmly, "I'll kill the remaining elders one by one."
The Third Elder's eyes widened. "You... you dare..."
"Let's see if I do."
Xiao Yan finished speaking and struck down with his palm. The Third Elder's body went rigid, then lay still.
The courtyard fell into utter silence.
The elders stood there with their mouths agape, unable to close them for a long time.
The First Elder stared at the bodies on the ground, his legs trembling.
The Second Elder's face was deathly pale. He couldn't utter a word.
The Third Elder's eyes were wide open. He couldn't believe what he'd just seen.
Six powerful opponents—a Dou Wang and five Dou Ling—had all died at Xiao Yan's hands, without even a chance to fight back.
Xiao Zhan got to his feet and stared at Xiao Yan in shock.
Xiao Zhan knew Xiao Yan was strong, but he hadn't expected him to be this strong.
The Third Elder was a Dou Wang, and he had five Dou Ling with him. Yet they hadn't even been able to withstand a single move from Xiao Yan.
A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Xun'er's eyes as she stood to the side.
Brother Xiao Yan was even stronger than she'd expected.
Xiao Yan turned and walked over to Xiao Zhan.
"Father, are you all right?"
Xiao Zhan shook his head. "I'm fine. Just a minor injury."
"Your face..." Xiao Yan looked at the footprint on Xiao Zhan's face, a chill flashing through his eyes.
"It's nothing," Xiao Zhan said. "Just a superficial wound."
Only then did the elders come back to their senses.
The First Elder stepped forward and looked at Xiao Yan, his lips moving.
"Xiao Yan, you... just how strong are you?"
Xiao Yan glanced at the First Elder but didn't answer.
The First Elder awkwardly shut his mouth, not daring to ask again.
The Second Elder and Third Elder exchanged a glance. They saw the fear in each other's eyes.
Xiao Yan was terrifying. Killing a Dou Wang expert was as easy for him as crushing an ant. A person like that must never be provoked.
Xiao Xun'er walked over to Xiao Zhan and asked with concern, "Uncle Xiao, are you really all right?"
Xiao Zhan smiled. "I'm really fine, Xun'er. Don't worry."
Xiao Yan raised his hand, and a ball of flame gathered in his palm.
The Dou Qi flame was scorching hot, warping the air around it.
Xiao Yan flicked his hand, and the flame landed on the bodies.
The corpses quickly burned in the flames, turning to ash.
After just a few breaths, only several blackened marks remained on the ground.
Seeing this, the elders felt an even deeper chill in their hearts.
"Father, come with me," Xiao Yan said.
Xiao Zhan nodded and followed Xiao Yan toward the Inner Academy.
The elders stood where they were, watching Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan walk away. Not one of them followed.
Inside the Inner Academy, Xiao Yan had Xiao Zhan sit in a chair.
"Father, I'll treat your injuries."
Xiao Zhan nodded.
Xiao Yan raised his hand. Gentle Dou Qi gathered in his palm, which he pressed against Xiao Zhan's chest.
The Dou Qi slowly flowed into Xiao Zhan's body, repairing his damaged meridians and internal organs.
Xiao Zhan felt a warm current flowing through him, and the pain in his chest eased considerably.
After roughly the time it took to burn a stick of incense, Xiao Yan withdrew his hand.
"Father, how do you feel?"
Xiao Zhan moved his body and found that the pain in his chest had disappeared.
"Much better," Xiao Zhan said.
Xiao Yan took a pill from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xiao Zhan.
"This is a third-grade healing pill. Take it, and your injuries will be completely healed."
Xiao Zhan took the pill and put it into his mouth.
The pill dissolved in his stomach, and its medicinal power spread through him. Xiao Zhan immediately felt much better, and color returned to his face.
"Yan'er, this pill..."
"Third-grade," Xiao Yan said.
Xiao Zhan drew in a sharp breath.
Third-grade pills were already extremely precious in the Jia Ma Empire, yet Xiao Yan could produce one at the drop of a hat.
Xiao Zhan looked at his son, his heart filled with emotion.
His son was no longer the boy who needed his protection.
"Father, get some rest over the next few days," Xiao Yan said. "I'll take care of things outside."
Xiao Zhan nodded. "Yan'er, be careful yourself. The Misty Cloud Sect has lost so many people. They won't let this go."
Xiao Yan said calmly, "If one of them comes, I'll kill one. If two come, I'll kill both."
Xiao Zhan looked into Xiao Yan's calm eyes and suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
"Father, you should go back now," Xiao Yan said.
Xiao Zhan stood, patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, and left.
Xiao Yan sat in the chair with his eyes closed.
Four-star Dou Wang. Just one step away from five-star.
If the Misty Cloud Sect sent more people, Xiao Yan wouldn't mind killing a few more.
Before you continue