Unbending Battle

"Good, good, good. It is a good thing for a young man to have backbone, but you must also know that those who adapt to the situation survive. I would like to see just how hard your bones really are."

Having said that, Yan Yun struck first, showing not a shred of the demeanor expected of an elder.

Li Xingluo had long been guarding against Yan Yun; he raised his hand to block the strike and countered with a palm of his own.

Yan Yun did not take Li Xingluo's attack seriously at all, using his Dou Qi to form a protective barrier that withstood the force of the palm strike head-on.

Yan Yun gave a sinister smile, his stomach swelling rapidly as if he had inhaled a massive amount of gas.

Seeing this, Li Xingluo looked up and met Yan Yun's eyes. Realizing something was wrong, he withdrew his palm force, performed a 720-degree spin, and put some distance between them.

The residual energy from the rebound of the protective barrier was enough to make Li Xingluo grit his teeth just to hold his ground.

"Kid, you've got some ability."

Yan Yun gave his approval for Li Xingluo's series of agile movements and his grasp of the combat situation.

"But this little bit of ability is not enough."

Yan Yun casually condensed his Dou Qi, forming a palm print that he propelled toward Li Xingluo. Li Xingluo was quick-witted and fast-handed; he grabbed a table and threw it out, then broke through the window to escape.

Yan Yun chased after him, splitting the air with another palm strike toward Li Xingluo. Li Xingluo dared not take it head-on and could only use clever maneuvers to evade the tyrannical attack.

Xiao Yi Xian also stepped out of the room, only to see Li Xingluo battling someone in the small courtyard.

She instinctively wanted to step in and help, but was stopped by Li Xingluo. Yan Yun's strength was already that of a Dou King; even with Xiao Yi Xian joining in, they would not be able to win.

Furthermore, it was better for one person to be injured than two. Xiao Yi Xian had no choice but to give up, standing on the steps with furrowed brows as she watched the two clash.

In the once-tranquil courtyard, two figures stood opposite each other. They were empty-handed, yet they radiated an invisible Dou Qi. The moonlight spilled over them, reflecting their resolute faces.

Li Xingluo's figure was lithe and his movements agile; every step carried the rhythm of power. His eyes revealed boldness and decisiveness, and every move was as swift as lightning.

Yan Yun, on the other hand, was as steady as Mount Tai, his aura calm and composed. His steps were firm and powerful, and every strike contained profound Dou Qi. His expression was cool and collected, as if everything were under his control.

The battle between the two was like a storm; crisp sounds rang out whenever fists and palms collided. Blue and red Dou Qi in two different forms surged between them, kicking up wave after wave of energy.

Their movements were as agile as birds, their techniques as exquisite as art.

The entire courtyard was shrouded in their Dou Qi, as if they had entered a different world. The battle was not just a contest of strength, but a duel of will and skill.

In this intense battle, Li Xingluo displayed extraordinary strength and an unyielding spirit.

As a spectator, Xiao Yi Xian was filled with worry, while Yan Gui wore a look of triumph, wishing Yan Yun would drag Li Xingluo over and throw him at his feet.

He could already see Li Xingluo beaten black and blue, kneeling at his feet to beg for mercy, and the corners of his mouth could not stop curling upward.

Yan Yun had not expected Li Xingluo to be able to hold out against him for so long, and his old face clearly could not hold up.

"Kid, you are indeed quite good, but it is time to end this."

Yan Yun formed seals with his hands and muttered an incantation. Blue Dou Qi swirled around his body, gathering at a single point.

A palm print, larger than the courtyard itself, hung above Yan Yun's head.

With a shout of "Go!", the palm print, wrapped in massive Dou Qi, rapidly closed in on Li Xingluo.

Li Xingluo felt his body being heavily suppressed by a tremendous force, rendering him unable to move.

"Don't come over!"

Even while fighting Yan Yun, Li Xingluo noticed Xiao Yi Xian's intention to take the blow for him and shouted out. Xiao Yi Xian's forward-stepping foot stopped dead in its tracks.

Li Xingluo smiled and nodded at Xiao Yi Xian to indicate he could handle it. Xiao Yi Xian's brows furrowed slightly, her eyes revealing a hidden worry.

She bit her lip, seemingly wanting to say something, but hesitated and remained silent.

Her hands were unconsciously clasped together, trembling slightly as if she were struggling to suppress her inner anxiety. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, showing her inner tension.

Her breathing became somewhat rapid, her chest heaving slightly as if an invisible pressure were enveloping her.

Li Xingluo's body was surrounded by a layer of red Dou Qi at a speed visible to the naked eye, slowly forming a semi-circle.

He raised his hands slightly, his feet planted on the hard floor, his gaze firm. There was not a shred of cowardice, let alone any thought of surrender.

The palm print drew closer and closer; in the courtyard, there seemed to be nothing but the sound of breathing and heartbeats.

The palm print crashed with a "boom" onto the red semi-circular protective barrier. With just the initial collision, a slight numbness traveled through Li Xingluo's arms.

Yan Yun seemed to be enjoying himself; he did not use much Dou Qi at the start, but instead increased it bit by bit.

With every increase, Li Xingluo's arms bent further downward, and his right foot slid slightly backward, using the ground to alleviate the pressure brought by the palm print.

Beads of sweat had just emerged from his skin when they were instantly evaporated; his soaked clothes dried rapidly in the clash of Dou Qi.

The semi-circular protective barrier sank lower and lower until Li Xingluo's entire body was bent, his upper body parallel to the ground.

The semi-circular barrier began to show cracks. As a sound like shattering glass rang out, a cloud of dust rose from where Li Xingluo stood.

The dust spread, and in an instant, the entire courtyard was shrouded in it.

Yan Yun looked down, very pleased to see his handiwork.

The dust slowly dissipated, and a giant palm print was clearly imprinted in the courtyard.

Xiao Yi Xian searched for traces of Li Xingluo and was shocked to find him standing within the palm print. Ignoring the danger, she ran toward Li Xingluo and jumped into the crater.

She reached out to support him. This time, Li Xingluo did not refuse. Covered in dust and with his clothes stained with a few traces of blood, Li Xingluo raised his head and looked at Yan Yun with an unyielding gaze.

Yan Yun was shaken by Li Xingluo's unyielding spirit and the resolute gaze in his eyes.

Yan Yun flew down to land on the edge of the crater, looking down at Li Xingluo within.

"Kid, do you submit?"

Li Xingluo wiped the sweat from his forehead, his defiant eyes staring straight at Yan Yun.

"I do not!"

"Kid, you still don't submit? Grandfather, hurry up and beat him until he does."

Yan Gui was overjoyed, looking smugly at the filthy Li Xingluo, who remained spirited despite being at the end of his rope.

Though he spoke the most vicious words, a single glance from Li Xingluo was enough to make Yan Gui gasp in fright.

"Kid, as long as you hand over the item, this old man won't make things difficult for you. How about it?"

"Not interested." Li Xingluo refused sternly, without a moment's hesitation.

Yan Yun never imagined that even in this state, Li Xingluo would remain as stubborn as ever.

"Fine, fine, fine. You certainly have backbone. Then let this old man test your bones once more."

With that, Yan Yun prepared to strike again, but Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward, blocking the path in front of Li Xingluo.

"Xiao Yi Xian..."

Before Li Xingluo could finish his sentence, Xiao Yi Xian, standing before him, turned back and replied firmly.

"This time, I won't listen to you."

Xiao Yi Xian's attitude was resolute, giving Li Xingluo no chance to argue, and he could only sigh inwardly.

The movement aggravated his injuries, causing him to cough uncontrollably as a trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly moved to his side to support his swaying frame.

Just as Yan Yun gathered his Dou Qi to strike, a voice pierced through the night sky.

"Stop!"