Internal Injuries

After hearing Xiao Xun'er's cry for help, Xiao Yan lightly pointed at the blue-gold Heavenly Flame in midair.

The fiercely surging Heavenly Flame suddenly froze, shifting from utmost motion to utmost stillness. It silently dissolved where it stood, eventually scattering into the air as pure particles of fire element and vanishing without a trace.

Xiao Yan's masterful fire-control technique made Xiao Xun'er's eyes shine, and it also stopped Ling Ying in his tracks some distance away.

Ah, I'm old. I have no choice but to admit defeat. There are more and more little monsters these days, Ling Ying thought as he watched Xiao Yan, whose bearing already carried the faint air of a grandmaster.

"Xun'er, you lost."

Xiao Yan made as if to walk over.

"No, I haven't lost yet. Brother Xiao Yan, stand right there. Don't come over."

Xiao Xun'er suddenly said in a sweet voice.

"Hm? Xun'er, are you trying to cheat? Why can't I come over?" Xiao Yan laughed dumbly, glancing at his feet before looking up at Xiao Xun'er.

"I'm a girl, so of course I can cheat." Xiao Xun'er pouted.

"Brother Xiao Yan, shall we do it again? This time, we'll both use our ultimate moves and decide the winner in one round."

Xiao Xun'er continued her adorable offensive.

"Fine, then one round will decide the winner."

Xiao Yan looked amusedly at the cheating Xiao Xun'er. He did not often get to see this little girl in such a sorry state.

"Brother Xiao Yan, be careful!"

"Earth-Tier Dou Technique: Eight Trigrams Wandering Dragon Palm!" A crisp shout rang out.

Xiao Xun'er's nimble footwork shifted, instantly changing into a set of Eight Trigrams steps. At a glance, the footwork could draw one's mind into it, as if it possessed an effect that bewitched the senses.

A palm far too fair and delicate struck toward Xiao Yan.

"Roar!"

Nine dragon-shaped blasts of Dou Qi, each nearly a zhang in size, coiled around Xiao Xun'er's arm and let out repeated roars. Their lifelike cries and the fine scales on their bodies made them seem as though they might transform from Energy Entities into living, flesh-and-blood dragon-type magical beasts at any moment.

"Roar!"

Even an untrained person could tell that the vibrating soundwaves spreading through the air were filled with surging power. Xiao Yan's expression finally turned serious at the sight.

"Dou Qi Armor, appear!" Xiao Yan shouted in a low voice, and the Dou Qi within him surged forth, forming a solid blue-gold suit of Dou Qi Armor around his body.

Clearly, Xiao Yan had no intention of using a Dou Technique to respond. Instead, he planned to summon his Dou Qi Armor and take the attack head-on.

"Yan brat, you're being too arrogant this time. That's an Earth-Tier Dou Technique, after all. Get out of the way!"

Yao Lao, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up to warn Xiao Yan.

"Teacher, don't worry. She's only a three-star Dou Zhe." Xiao Yan smiled faintly.

Xiao Xun'er watched as Xiao Yan merely summoned his Dou Qi Armor and remained where he was. By then, even if she wanted to stop, she could no longer control the eruption of the Earth-Tier Dou Technique.

"Hmph, hateful Brother Xiao Yan. So what if you've broken through to Da Dou Shi? This time, I'll make you suffer a little."

"Bang!"

The nine dragon-shaped blasts of Dou Qi, each nearly a zhang in size, slammed viciously into the Dou Qi Armor Xiao Yan had summoned.

Xiao Xun'er raised her head, her hands hanging slightly at her sides. From this close, she could even see the fine hairs on Xiao Yan's face.

Xiao Yan lowered his head and looked at the astonished Xiao Xun'er. Flashing a confident grin, he said, "Xun'er, look at you. With your Dou Qi cultivation only at three-star Dou Zhe, using an Earth-Tier Dou Technique is still too much for you."

"Look, you couldn't even break through the Dou Qi Armor I summoned."

"Crack."

It sounded as though something had shattered.

"Eh, why does my body feel so much lighter? Never mind."

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow and continued speaking to Xiao Xun'er. The increasingly astonished look on her face was simply the best praise he could receive, so he became more and more animated as he spoke.

"Xun'er, learn from this lesson. When you duel someone next time, remember not to be overconfident."

"Hey, why do I have a nosebleed? Xun'er, I feel a little dizzy. Help me up."

"Crack!"

The blue-gold Dou Qi Armor finally shattered completely, breaking apart into fragments that scattered through the air.

"Thud!"

Xiao Yan could no longer hold on and collapsed into Xiao Xun'er's arms.

"Xun'er, what's going on?"

Xiao Yan felt somewhat dizzy now, and his condition did not seem very good. He felt as if he were floating.

At that moment, Yao Lao sat cross-legged within the dim space inside the Storage Ring, extending his soul power to sense everything happening outside.

Heh heh, serves you right for acting so big. Let's see if you dare underestimate your opponent next time. You were hit by an Earth-Tier Dou Technique. Even if it was used by only a three-star Dou Zhe, it's impressive that you didn't pass out after taking such a fierce blow. Your physical body is quite tough, brat.

Heh heh, I won't worry about it. With that little Xun'er girl here, she'll take good care of you, Yan brat. It wouldn't hurt to make you lie in bed for two days. Heh heh heh. Yao Lao watched on with schadenfreude. Clearly, Xiao Yan's injuries were not serious.

"Waaah, Brother Xiao Yan, don't die! It's all my fault for competing with you in Dou Qi and using an Earth-Tier Dou Technique on you. I didn't think you would be this weak!" Xiao Xun'er cried as she held Xiao Yan.

"This weak, this weak..."

Xiao Yan felt as though he had suffered a second blow. He was only a little dizzy, that was all. Well, perhaps with a little nosebleed at most.

"..." Yao Lao looked at Xiao Yan, whose condition remained steady under his unique soul-power perception.

What are girls on the Dou Qi Continent doing these days? Back when I was in the Central Plains...

As Yao Lao thought on, he eventually forgot all about his beloved disciple and became immersed in the irretrievable memories of his youth.

"Waaah, Brother Xiao Yan, don't die! I have medicine here."

As she spoke, Xiao Xun'er frantically pulled out a large pile of jade medicine bottles from her Storage Ring. The wafting medicinal fragrance suggested that they were all high-grade healing pills of considerable value.

Ling Ying, the Dou Emperor who had long since sneaked over, watched Xiao Xun'er as she seemed ready to continue taking out more pills. The corners of his eyes twitched. After all, in his perception, Xiao Yan was still full of life, and he had been about to speak up and remind the young lady.

"Elder Ling, Elder Ling! Hurry over! Why haven't you appeared yet? Come save Brother Xiao Yan!" Xiao Xun'er suddenly cried anxiously.

"..." Ling Ying.

Who did I offend?! Ling Ying roared silently.

"Ahem, Young Miss. Young Master Yan merely suffered a sudden heavy impact, so his head is a little dizzy. He'll be fine after resting for a while. Also, Young Miss, it would be better if you stopped strangling Young Master Yan's neck. It seems Young Master Yan can barely breathe." In the end, Ling Ying still flashed to Xiao Xun'er's side and gently reminded her.

"Oh, oh, Brother Xiao Yan, I'm sorry." Xiao Xun'er hurriedly loosened her hold and released Xiao Yan.

"Thud!" Something seemed to fall to the ground.

P.S. Third update