Alliance leader Xiao Yan faced Ling Qingbai, the Spirit Clan's third elder and an expert at the peak of the Two-Star Dou Saint level.
When they had first discussed their assignments, they had not intended for Xiao Yan to face Ling Qingbai. But Xiao Yan had volunteered. As alliance leader, he could not shirk this responsibility.
The alliance was still in its infancy. This surprise attack on the Spirit Clan was both its first battle and, quite possibly, the battle that would lay its foundations. Its importance went without saying. Xiao Yan had faced doubts even before becoming alliance leader, and those doubts would not disappear. What he could do now was win over his allies through his actions.
Of course, Xiao Yan would not lose his head just to prove himself. Ever since the battle with the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, he had known he could hold his own against a Three-Star Dou Sheng.
Still, a Dou Sheng from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan could not be judged by the same measure as one from the Spirit Clan. Xiao Yan had therefore chosen an opponent who had not actually broken through to the Three-Star Dou Sheng level, but stood at the peak of the Two-Star Dou Saint level.
Xiao Yan had set himself one demand: he had to prove his worth in this battle.
The moment Xiao Yan and Ling Qingbai exchanged blows, both were taken aback.
Ling Qingbai was surprised by Xiao Yan's extraordinary combat strength. An ordinary Early-Stage Two-Star Dou Sheng could never have exerted such pressure on him. Although Xiao Yan was a full step weaker, he still held his ground, and Ling Qingbai could find no weakness to exploit.
Xiao Yan, meanwhile, was surprised by how much harder the Spirit Clan's Dou Sheng was to