Unleashing Potential

Yao Nong? Sealed Space?!

Just as Mu Xiao was about to leave, Yao Yan's words made his heart skip a beat. Goosebumps rose all over his body in an instant, and he felt the suffocating sense of facing death. Without the slightest hesitation, Dou Qi erupted from within him. Activating his Dou Qi Wings, he turned into a streak of light and flew toward Shennong City.

Unfortunately, he was too late.

High in the sky, a figure had appeared at some unknown moment. Standing upon empty air, he caused the void beneath his feet to ripple like the surface of water. He raised a hand and clenched it in the air, instantly sealing off the space within dozens of miles. An invisible Space Barrier descended over the ground like an enormous overturned bowl.

"Whoosh!"

Mu Xiao came to a halt in midair, his expression ugly. Looking at the sealed space, he could not help but raise his head toward the figure in the sky. Cupping his hands, he explained, "Senior of the Yao Clan, there may be some misunderstanding here. Please consider that this junior is a disciple of the Shennong Sect and allow me to explain."

Yao Nong, standing upon the void, had no intention of speaking. He merely stood there coldly, waiting for this battle of a trapped beast to end.

At the same time.

A sharp sound of something tearing through the air came from behind Mu Xiao. Yao Yan was charging toward him on air, each shift in his movement causing the air beneath his feet to explode. At the same time, those eyes burning with fighting spirit locked onto him.

He's treating me as a whetstone?!

Mu Xiao instantly understood Yao Yan's intentions. An indescribable sense of humiliation and fury surged up within him, yet he had no choice but to suppress it. He even had to actively cooperate with Yao Yan and help him cultivate his Body Refining Dou Skill. Clenching his fists, pale golden Dou Qi curled around his body as he suppressed his rage and asked in a low voice, "Senior, aren't you worried that I'll cripple him?!"

Unfortunately, no one answered his question. The only response was Yao Yan's fist, brimming with force, striking his arm until it ached.

"Damn it!"

Mu Xiao was thoroughly enraged. Cursing inwardly, the Dou Qi around him surged. He raised a hand and condensed a golden palm imprint several yards wide, ruthlessly smashing it toward Yao Yan. Like swatting a fly, he slammed Yao Yan into the ground, crushing everything in its path.

With a thunderous boom, the ground shook violently.

Mu Xiao felt no joy. Instead, his breathing became a bit more hurried as he raised his head and glanced at Yao Nong in the sky, deeply worried that this mysterious expert would slap him to death.

However, the other party did not move at all.

Instead, Yao Yan's laughter came from below. "A Dou Huang's strength really packs a punch, haha."

Along with that laughter.

Yao Yan, covered in dust and dirt, appeared in Mu Xiao's line of sight. His clothes were somewhat torn, but his aura had not been affected in the slightest. He did not even have any real injuries. Meanwhile, the light in his eyes grew increasingly bright and blazing as he stared fixedly at Mu Xiao.

Yao Yan dusted off his clothes and chuckled. "Come down. My Movement Dou Technique, Soaring, isn't very flexible. Fight me without using your Dou Qi Wings. If you can beat me until I lose my ability to fight, I'll let you leave. How about it?"

He could tell that Mu Xiao was somewhat wary of hurting him and did not dare to attack at full strength. That was clearly not what he wanted.

"Is that true?"

Hearing this, a bit of hope appeared in Mu Xiao's eyes as he asked solemnly.

"There is no point in lying to you."

Yao Yan replied softly.

Mu Xiao glanced at Yao Nong and pondered briefly before descending toward Yao Yan. He knew he had no choice. He could only gamble that Yao Yan would keep his word. As for taking the opportunity to capture Yao Yan and threaten Yao Nong with his life to let him go, such behavior would be utterly foolish before an expert at the Dou Zong level or above.

Yao Yan rolled his shoulders, then took out a Rank 6 Body Tempering Pill from his Storage Ring and swallowed it. As Illusory Gold Flame surged around his body, the medicinal effect of the Body Tempering Pill began to course through his limbs and bones. He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and said solemnly, "Begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he launched an attack on Mu Xiao, still using nothing more than plain, unadorned fists.

The power of the first level of the Indestructible Diamond Body could only blast apart the air. Only upon reaching the second level could it distort space and even unleash Air Cannons with astonishing killing power.

"Boom! Boom!"

The two clashed, and the commotion of their exchange was immense.

The longer Yao Yan fought, the more exhilarated he felt. Every part of his body became a lethal weapon, relentlessly striking Mu Xiao's vital points without any intention of Holding Back At All.

Mu Xiao, meanwhile, grew more alarmed the longer they fought, because he could clearly feel Yao Yan's strength continuously increasing, as though it had no limit. Yao Yan's body seemed to possess inexhaustible potential. As they battled, the power contained within him kept pouring forth.

At first, Mu Xiao could still suppress him, casually sending him flying with every strike. But now, Yao Yan could actually withstand his attacks.

This was simply absurd.

Mu Xiao even had the illusion that if this continued, he would be the one who lost in the end.

Mu Xiao decided to stop holding back and finish him with one move.

"Mystic Mid-Grade - Sharp Gold Feather!"

Mu Xiao shouted inwardly. He retreated several steps, widening the distance between himself and Yao Yan. At the same time, his hands formed seals as Dou Qi rapidly surged out from within him, condensing hundreds of sharp golden feathers before him. They shone brilliantly under the sunlight, and in the next moment, they descended upon Yao Yan.

Yao Yan's gaze narrowed as Soul Power spread out. While tracking the golden feathers, he swung his fists and smashed them apart. However, there were simply too many incoming golden feathers.

Very quickly, the golden feathers engulfed him. Like a violent storm, they continuously bombarded his body.

"Go down!"

Mu Xiao's gaze was cold. Not only did he not hold back, he increased his strength instead. He wanted to finish Yao Yan in one go. As for whether it might endanger Yao Yan's life, that was clearly not something he needed to consider. That mysterious expert in the sky was not there for decoration.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Every feather was like a cannonball, madly bombarding the ground. The violent explosions were endless, as though they intended to flatten the dense forest spanning several miles.

After roughly a dozen breaths.

Mu Xiao furrowed his brow, because he could clearly sense Yao Yan's vitality increasing. That was right—rather than weakening under his attacks, Yao Yan's vitality had begun to surge after encountering lethal strikes. It was extremely obvious, even showing signs of growing more intense.

His expression became increasingly ugly. Gritting his teeth, he rapidly formed seals with both hands as Dou Qi surged violently from within him. Countless golden feathers before him began gathering together, forming a Golden Greatsword dozens of yards long.

This was a derivative Dou Skill of Sharp Gold Feather: the more Destructive Power-focused Mystic High-Grade - Gold Sword Art. This Dou Skill brought the sharpness of metal-attributed Dou Qi to its utmost limit. With his strength as a Three-Star Dou Huang, using this Dou Skill was enough to pose a fatal threat to a Six-star Dou Emperor. Even a Nine-Star Dou Huang could be seriously injured if caught off guard.

"Slash!"

Mu Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly as he locked onto Yao Yan's aura and controlled the Golden Greatsword to slash down.

Naturally, this scene fell into Yao Nong's eyes. With his Soul Power, he could easily sense the entire battlefield, and he could also sense Yao Yan's changes. The potential contained within Yao Yan's body had begun erupting in every aspect under the pressure of this Three-Star Dou Huang.

"Possessing the power of several Dou Di Bloodlines... this potential is truly terrifying..."

Yao Nong muttered softly.

He did not know about the experiments Hun Xuzi had conducted on Yao Yan, nor would Hun Xuzi explain anything to him. Yet during this period of guarding Yao Yan, he could clearly sense Yao Yan's body continuously transforming. The greatest change had occurred when he devoured a member of the Stone Clan, and it was also the most direct sensation Yao Nong had experienced.

That uncontrollable power of Blood Qi... if he had not immediately sealed the surrounding space, it would certainly have drawn a large number of magical beasts.

It was also because of that incident that he came to understand Yao Yan's uniqueness.

That skin color, identical to that of the Stone Clan member...

And after leaving Shennong City this time, Yao Yan's vitality had become even more vigorous, Comparable To a humanoid magical beast. At the same time, his face had become exceptionally handsome, which made Yao Nong think of the Spirit Clan, the Dou God Clan renowned for longevity and beauty.

Yet what astonished him most was Hun Xuzi's methods.

The means of gathering the power of multiple Dou Di Bloodlines into one body was truly inconceivable. Perhaps only a great figure like Hun Xuzi could accomplish such a thing.

Clearly, Yao Nong did not know of the Tunling Clan, that special race which had vanished a thousand years ago.