"Hey, did you hear? A few days ago, Lin Xiuya and Yan Hao came out of seclusion together, and both made it into the top twenty of the Strong Ranking!"
"Yeah, and I heard that Liu Qing, Lin Yan, and Qin Zhen have all improved greatly in strength too!"
"Looks like the Strong Ranking is about to see some changes!"
Along the way, Xiao Yan heard many people discussing it. He smiled and said, "In less than a year, Lin Xiuya will probably stand at the very peak of the Inner Academy. And the Three-Year Agreement is getting closer and closer for me as well."
After sighing over it for a while, Xiao Yan realized he had arrived at Xun Er's residence.
Xiao Yan was about to give Xun Er a surprise when he discovered that someone was inside.
Xun Er was sitting in a chair, talking with Han Yue across from her. During this time, Xun Er had not relaxed in the slightest, drawing upon the power of her bloodline.
Over these five months, Xun Er had gained six whole stars, reaching the level of a seven-star Da Dou Shi.
Meanwhile, Han Yue was only at the peak of Da Dou Shi. Thinking back to when they had first entered the Inner Academy—
Han Yue had already been a five-star Da Dou Shi, while Xun Er had only been a Dou Shi. Yet after just a few short months, their strengths were nearly equal.
Han Yue smiled and said, "Little Sister Xun Er, why not think it over some more? After all, we're both girls, so we can look out for each other."
Xun Er did not know how to refuse when she suddenly noticed Xiao Yan walking into the courtyard.
"Brother Xiao Yan!" Xun Er rushed over and threw her arms around Xiao Yan.
"Xun Er, did you miss me?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.
Xun Er nodded.
Xiao Yan looked at Han Yue, who was somewhat embarrassed and did not dare meet his gaze.
"Han Yue, did you come to see Xun Er?" Xiao Yan asked.
Xun Er said, "Sister Han Yue wants me to join the faction they recently established. I think it's called Ling. It's entirely made up of girls."
Xiao Yan thought for a moment. He seemed to remember that Han Yue had indeed founded an all-female faction, and that it had developed rather well.
Han Yue hurriedly explained, "I just thought it would better protect us girls. If everyone united, we could protect ourselves. But since we're newcomers and all too weak, I wondered whether Little Sister Xun Er could join us."
The moment Xiao Yan heard that, he understood Han Yue's intentions. Wasn't she just trying to use Xun Er to force him into backing Ling?
Xun Er understood Han Yue's meaning as well. She had already politely declined earlier, but Han Yue had kept pleading with her.
That was why the matter had dragged on until now.
Han Yue naturally knew about Xun Er and Xiao Yan's talents. She knew that in less than a year, the two of them would be without rivals in the Inner Academy.
That was why Han Yue so desperately wanted Xun Er to join Ling this time.
"Han Yue, I think it would be better to let Xun Er decide this matter. After all, neither of us has the right to make a decision for her," Xiao Yan said with a smile, giving both sides a way out.
Xun Er looked at Han Yue. In the end, she could not bring herself to cruelly refuse.
So Xun Er agreed to Han Yue's request. Xiao Yan knew that this decision might bring her some trouble in the future, but he was not afraid in the slightest.
The Inner Academy was full of young people. Xiao Yan did not take this level of conflict seriously at all.
Having received Xun Er's answer, Han Yue finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With just a few words, Xiao Yan sent Han Yue on her way.
"Xun Er, you haven't slacked off during this time either. You're already a seven-star Da Dou Shi," Xiao Yan said happily.
Looking at Xiao Yan's darkened skin, Xun Er said with some heartache, "Brother Xiao Yan must have suffered a lot this time. And you successfully advanced to Dou Ling as well."
Xiao Yan nodded. Just as the two were sharing a tender moment—
Lin Yan walked in from outside.
"Hahaha, I heard someone saw you returning from the back mountain just now! You really came back, brat! You hid for five months, huh? I finally caught you today!" Lin Yan said excitedly.
Xiao Yan asked impatiently, "What do you want with me?"
Lin Yan continued, "I came today to take back my Strong Ranking position! This place is too small. Come outside with me!"
Xiao Yan was speechless. Lin Yan had already reached six-star Dou Ling. It seemed Lin Yan had made tremendous progress during this time as well.
But Xiao Yan was not afraid at all.
"With your current strength, why are you so determined to take my forty-fifth-place ranking? You could obviously challenge someone higher," Xiao Yan said, so irritated that he laughed.
Yet Lin Yan was stubborn as ever. With an imposing air, he said, "Xiao Yan! Don't think you can use this to humiliate me! I have to take back my former ranking! Otherwise, I don't want any other Strong Ranking position!"
Xiao Yan kissed Xun Er, then said, "Xun Er, wait at home. I'll go deal with something first."
Xun Er knew Xiao Yan's combat strength could not be judged by his realm, but she was still a little worried.
"Brother Xiao Yan, come back early."
The arena!
"How interesting! Ever since Lin Xiuya defeated Liu Qing here last time, there hasn't been a battle this exciting!"
"Exactly! That match between them was incredible! I heard that after the fight, both of them went into seclusion. Maybe when they emerge after some time, they'll both break through to seven-star Dou Ling!"
"It seems our generation is the strongest one so far!"
"Not necessarily! Xiao Yan, who's fighting today, is a newcomer, but his strength is beyond question! This is Lin Yan's revenge match, so keep your eyes wide open!"
Lin Yan held his great axe. Thick breaths blasted from his nostrils. From the look of him, Xiao Yan could tell that the fire poison had invaded him more severely. It seemed Lin Yan had entered seclusion rather frequently lately.
"Xiao Yan! Take out your weapon!"
Lin Yan shouted. Everyone knew that Xiao Yan's weapon was the Mysterious Heavy Ruler!
But Xiao Yan merely raised his fists and said with a smile, "These fists of mine are the strongest weapons. Just come at me."
Lin Yan snorted and said disdainfully, "You still dare hold back before me? Don't say I bullied you."
With that, Lin Yan swung his massive axe down.
Earth-Splitting Axe!
Watching the cracks rapidly surge toward him, Xiao Yan's expression turned cold as he threw a heavy punch.
He used his bare body to forcibly withstand Lin Yan's Dou Technique.
The crowd erupted in cheers!
Lin Yan's eyes widened. "Are you a magical beast or something? Your physical strength is actually this powerful!"
Xiao Yan shook his numbed hand and said with a smile, "I originally wanted to test my new Dou Technique on you, but there's no need now. The results of my hard cultivation during this time aren't something an ordinary person can withstand."
Eight Extremities Collapse!
Faced with the sudden attack, Lin Yan only felt as though all the air around him had been sucked away, leaving him unable to breathe.
"What a powerful Dou Technique!"
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