Mu Xiao

Boom—

A violent roar erupted. Amid a surge of dense Dou Qi, Yao Yan's charging momentum was stopped by the other man's single arm. As they drew close, he finally saw the man's face—a rough-looking, one-eyed man of considerable age. The man's expression held a trace of surprise, as though he had not expected anyone to sneak attack him.

The man frowned slightly, and the Dou Qi of a Three-Star Dou Huang burst forth from within him, instantly sending Yao Yan flying.

However, he did not strike to kill, because he had recognized Yao Yan's identity.

Yao Yan steadied himself after being sent flying and rubbed his numb wrist, unable to stop himself from sighing. "As expected of a Dou Huang expert. It really is different."

With the power of the Indestructible Diamond Body First Level at major completion, even ordinary Dou Wangs could only be beaten down by him. Unfortunately, that power still fell far short against a Dou Huang. But that was precisely what he wanted.

"What do you mean by this, little brother?"

The rough, one-eyed man stared at Yao Yan and questioned him in a slightly grave tone.

Yao Yan smiled and looked at him. "Why ask when you already know? You killed to silence them, yet you still ask me why. Don't you find that ridiculous? Still, I should thank you for dealing with these nuisances for me. Otherwise, killing them one by one would probably have taken quite a bit of time."

At those words, the veins on the rough man's forehead twitched. He had not expected Yao Yan to expose the truth so directly. The mercenaries on the ground had indeed been arranged by him. Whether they succeeded or failed, their final fate was to be eliminated by his hand. Unlike those mercenaries' understanding of the Yao Clan, anyone whose cultivation had reached the Dou Emperor level knew full well what a colossal force the Yao Clan truly was.

Compared to the various powers openly known across the Dou Qi Continent, the Yao Clan and the several Imperial Clans on par with it were the true kings.

Back then, he had offended a Yao Clan disciple and had one of his eyes gouged out...

"Little brother of the Yao Clan, it seems you have misunderstood something. I am Mu Xiao, one of the administrators dispatched by the Shennong Sect to Shennong City. Since you purchased some items within my jurisdiction, I learned of your whereabouts. I only just received word that these mercenaries were ambushing you today, which is why I arrived so late."

"Given the relationship between the Shennong Sect and the Yao Clan, it is naturally my responsibility to ensure your safety within my jurisdiction..."

Mu Xiao's heart was in turmoil, but his face wore a helpless expression. He raised a hand and pointed at the mercenaries around them as he explained himself to Yao Yan.

This was an explanation he had prepared long ago. Even if someone from the Yao Clan came to interrogate him, it would be flawless.

"Finished explaining?"

The smile on Yao Yan's face faded. His pitch-black eyes seemed capable of seeing through a person's heart as he calmly watched Mu Xiao perform.

Mu Xiao frowned and fell silent. He sensed that Yao Yan was not the sort of person who enjoyed listening to explanations. He was the kind of person who believed whatever he thought was right. Such people were quite common on the Dou Qi Continent. So long as one possessed sufficient strength and influence, there was no need to listen to anyone else's explanations.

The final right to explain had always belonged to the strongest.

Yao Yan crooked a finger at Mu Xiao, fiery battle intent gradually rising in his eyes. "Come on. Let's fight."

Mu Xiao's gaze narrowed as he looked at the excessively handsome youth before him. He had not expected him to say such words. They stirred the Killing Intent in his heart. If he had not known that Yao Yan was from the Yao Clan, and very likely a gifted genius of status, he would have rushed forward and taught him how to speak before torturing him beyond recognition.

But reason made him restrain himself. He tugged at the corner of his mouth and revealed what he believed was a friendly smile. "Little brother, you truly have misunderstood."

Yet Yao Yan had no intention of wasting words. He did not like speaking too much nonsense with irrelevant people, especially enemies.

Whoosh—

As he activated the Movement Dou Technique Wandering Dragon's Chant, his figure shot toward Mu Xiao. At the same time, he fully unleashed the Indestructible Diamond Body. Amid the roaring Blood Qi within him, his skin instantly turned an indestructible bronze color, and his speed surged once more under the all-around enhancement of his physical strength.

His speed was so great that a trace of shock appeared in Mu Xiao's eyes. In the next instant, Yao Yan had already arrived before him. There was no dazzling Dou Skill, only a simple, unadorned fist and terrifying power.

He threw a punch.

It slammed heavily into Mu Xiao's crossed arms. The dreadful force directly caused the surrounding air to explode and sent Mu Xiao retreating rapidly as he used the motion to dissipate the force.

A Body Refining Dou Skill?

How old could this brat possibly be?!

Mu Xiao's gaze darkened as he looked at the youth whose entire body gleamed bronze, unable to stop envy from rising in his heart. The Dou Qi within Yao Yan was at most at the Great Dou Shi level, yet his physical strength was enough to rival a Dou Huang's. How vast would the resources required be to cultivate one's body to such a level at that age?

Body Refining Dou Skills were not something ordinary people could afford to practice.

They required not only physical talent, but also enormous cultivation resources. If those resources were used to cultivate Dou Qi instead, they would be enough to reach the same level as body refinement, perhaps even higher. Moreover, Dou Qi itself possessed body-refining effects. Thus, only those who did not lack cultivation resources dared to cultivate this way!

During the few breaths he spent pondering, Yao Yan had already attacked again, forcing Mu Xiao to unfold his Dou Qi Wings and rise into the air.

Using that, he widened the distance between them.

Mu Xiao did not want to continue tangling with Yao Yan. No matter how jealous or furious he was, it could not change Yao Yan's identity and status. To reach such a level at that age, Yao Yan was simply someone he could not afford to provoke. Even the Shennong Sect behind him could not afford to provoke him.

At that thought, Mu Xiao began to retreat. He cupped his hands and said, "Little brother, since you do not believe me, then I shall take my leave."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Yao Nong, seal off this space."

Yao Yan snorted as he watched Mu Xiao prepare to depart. At the same time, he stomped heavily on the ground, replacing Dou Qi with pure physical strength as he executed the Movement Dou Technique Wandering Dragon's Chant and charged toward Mu Xiao by stepping through the air.

This was something he had recently figured out.

Its only flaw was that it placed too great a burden on his body and was far less convenient and effortless than using Dou Qi.

However, Yao Yan was not worried about the burden being too great. He even found it insufficient. His body contained a large amount of the Medicinal Power of Body Tempering Pills, and combined with the Bloodline Power of the Spirit Clan Dou Di and the body-tempering effects of the Illusory Gold Flame, it could rapidly heal all hidden injuries. At present, he only found his body refinement too slow. The waterfall's pounding no longer had much effect. Only fighting people or magical beasts head-on could speed up his body refinement.

This Three-Star Dou Huang before him was the target he had chosen.

His strength was just right.

He would use this man to enter the Indestructible Diamond Body Second Level!