No One Dares to Fight

"What?" Nalan Jie said in disbelief.

Jia Xingtian gave a wry smile and said, "There's no mistake, and he doesn't even look like a low-star Dou Emperor. Who among us would be confident about catching that punch just now?"

Everyone in the stands only just recovered from their shock. Mu Chen of the Mu Family, Teng Shan of the Mite'er Family, and Gu He the Pill King shook their heads one after another. Yun Leng was a long-renowned powerhouse in the Jia Ma Empire, and if it were them, the outcome would not have been much better. They were well aware that Yun Leng had held nothing back in his fury just now.

At this moment, endless regret churned in Nalan Jie's heart, and he thought, Xiao Lin, you have a good grandson. If only I had stopped Yanran from annulling the engagement back then...

Fa Ma said, "Then who is going to stop him now?"

After all, everyone present knew that Yun Yun was most likely not in the sect at this moment, and Yun Leng, as the Great Elder, had already been carried away by his disciples. Who else in the Misty Cloud Sect could take charge right now?

Jia Xingtian shook his head and said, "If this goes on, I'm afraid that person will come out too. Let's wait and see a bit longer. If all else fails, I'll just have to see if this old face of mine still carries any weight."

Seeing the Misty Cloud Sect so shaken by his single strike that no one dared to step forward, Xiao Yan flicked his Storage Ring. The bulky, archaic black heavy ruler appeared in his hand. He thrust the ruler straight into the ground, and cracks immediately spider-webbed across the Misty Cloud Sect's floor, which was as tough as fine iron.

"Within a single day, Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan challenges all experts of the Misty Cloud Sect."

The supremely arrogant voice, carried by the Dou Qi of a Dou Emperor expert, spread across the entire Misty Cloud Mountain.

Wasn't this enough? Everyone present felt their scalps tingle. Xiao Yan, who had defeated Misty Cloud Sect Great Elder Yun Leng with a near-invincible posture, still showed no signs of stopping!

As the number-one sect in the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect had powerhouses as numerous as clouds. Yet, after witnessing Xiao Yan cripple Yun Leng with a single punch, the entire Misty Cloud Sect fell into a dead silence, with not a single person daring to step forward.

Jia Xingtian, who had originally been thinking about how to mediate and quietly drafting words in his heart, could only smile bitterly as he sat down and sighed, "The Misty Cloud Sect has provoked an enemy they shouldn't have."

Xiao Yan's words were tantamount to humiliating the Misty Cloud Sect; there was no longer any possibility of a peaceful resolution. Yet everyone present remained silent.

From the standpoint of reason, it was Yun Yun who supported Nalan Yanran in annulling the engagement. For a betrothal set by elders to be broken off unilaterally was already extremely improper, let alone using one's influence to oppress others. Furthermore, Xiao Yan was the stronger party at this moment, so his actions were entirely appropriate.

From the standpoint of sentiment, no one wanted to offend such a terrifying young genius like Xiao Yan at this time. Regardless of which faction in the Jia Ma Empire they belonged to, everyone had long since grown tired of the Misty Cloud Sect's dominance.

Although Nalan Jie had the heart to dissuade him, given his status at this moment, stepping forward directly might actually produce the opposite effect.

Because when the Misty Cloud Sect used their fists to intimidate others, they should have expected a day when they would be intimidated by others in return.

Whether it was the Mu Family, the Mittel Family, or the imperial family, they actually relished the outcome. The Misty Cloud Sect had been powerful for a day or two, and seeing them struck down now filled the others with a greater sense of schadenfreude.

Of course, the Nalan Family was the exception. At this very moment, Nalan Jie's heart was already a swirl of mixed emotions. Personally driving away such a powerful grandson-in-law left his face so gloomy that water could practically drip from it.

Nalan Yanran's emotions were even more complex. Earlier, when Xiao Yan and Yun Leng exchanged blows, she had been caught in the aftermath, and her aura had instantly become unstable. Looking at Xiao Yan standing proudly at the center now, she could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes.

Was I like this three years ago? Endless regret permeated Nalan Yanran's heart like shifting desert sands. She herself did not know whether she regretted her arrogant actions from three years ago, or because she had lost Xiao Yan, who now stood before her like a god of war.

Several elders of the Misty Cloud Sect were nearing a state of madness. They had been very close to Yun Leng, and the might of that single punch still left their auras in disarray. To make matters worse, Yun Yun's transmission talisman could not be reached. At this moment, elders, deacons, and disciples alike felt only bewilderment. Being directly challenged inside their own sect was a situation the Misty Cloud Sect, accustomed to lording over the Jia Ma Empire, had never encountered or even imagined.

As for Xiao Yan, he quietly sat cross-legged and began to cultivate.

Everyone was simply shocked by his terrifying strength, yet how could they know the dangers he had faced while subduing the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame? That ordeal could truly be described as a narrow escape from death. The Crimson Lotus Karma Flame would stir up the resentment hidden deep within one's body. Although Xiao Yan had never killed wantonly, the lives on his hands were certainly not few. At the time, he had almost been overwhelmed by the flood of resentment.

After resolving the resentment, the torrential Dou Qi from the Heavenly Flame entering his body had almost blown Xiao Yan apart. It was Yao Lao who protected his heart meridian on one end while using soul power to suppress the massive wave of Dou Qi, allowing him to gradually absorb it. Even so, a full two years had passed, and only ten days ago had Xiao Yan managed to completely absorb the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame, advancing himself to a two-star Dou Emperor. This was already the result of Xiao Yan desperately holding his advancement back, but having jumped straight from Dou Shi to Dou Emperor, his entire reservoir of Dou Qi was extremely unstable. That was why Fa Ma and the others had misjudged him in their initial assessment. His cultivation method had also upgraded directly to Earth-class medium grade, but before he could carefully experience his gains, he had rushed in a flurry to the Misty Cloud Sect.

As a matter of fact, at this very moment, his Dou Qi was not even half of what it was at his peak.

"Little fellow, you really know how to stir up a ruckus," Yao Lao's teasing voice rang out.

"Nalan Yanran insulted my Xiao Clan, so I must give them a reality check. How is your condition, Teacher?" Xiao Yan replied.

"Not bad. Although the energy of the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame is useless to me, I absorbed a portion of your unstable Dou Qi. The Misty Cloud Sect has a Dou Zong; ensuring you leave safely later will not be a problem. Go all out and do as you please—what can't a disciple of Yao Chen do?"

"A Dou Zong, eh? That sounds like a good opponent. It seems I won't have to worry about solidifying my foundation."

Amidst the exchange between Xiao Yan and Yao Lao, inside the main hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Leng finally regained consciousness after being treated with two tier-5 medicinal pills.

Looking at the few people surrounding him, he immediately asked, "Where is Xiao Yan?"

The Third Elder beside him said, "That brat Xiao Yan said he wants to challenge the entire sect and is waiting outside right now."

Upon hearing those words, Yun Leng's newly pacified Dou Qi instantly plunged into disorder again, and a mouthful of fresh blood spewed from his mouth. The elders nearby were startled and hurriedly gathered to check on his condition, for they had no way of dealing with the menacing Xiao Yan waiting outside.

Yun Leng struggled to fish a white flute out of his Storage Ring and slowly began to play it.

At the back peak of the Misty Cloud Sect, a terrifying aura carrying pressure akin to collapsing heavens and toppling mountains swept across the sect. Misty Cloud Sect disciples with cultivation below Da Dou Shi were actually forced to their knees by this pressure.

"He's here." Xiao Yan, sitting cross-legged on the ground, stood up and stared intently in the direction from which the aura originated.

Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma exchanged glances, both seeing fear in each other's eyes.

"Is that fellow really still not dead?"

"The former Misty Cloud Sect master—Yun Shan."