A Small Test of Skill

As soon as the mechanical voice fell silent, Yao Feng felt a warm current surging wildly through his body. His whole body tingled and itched. The sensation came quickly and vanished just as fast. In mere moments, Yao Feng felt himself grow much stronger. Although his realm had not advanced, his entire body brimmed with power.

"Divine Grade?!" This was the bloodline grade Xiao Xun'er had only possessed after breaking through to the Dou Zun level in the novel. Yet he had obtained it so easily. Was this the treatment reserved for someone with cheats?!

"How about it? Are you afraid?"

"Ding, detected that the host is facing his first provocation. Defeat the opponent to receive a reward provided by the system!"

There are rewards for this too? It seems this system isn't as simple as a sign-in system.

"The power of this system is beyond the understanding of ordinary people. Host, please do not judge the system with your vulgar gaze."

"Uh..." Yao Feng was speechless. He had not expected the system to have a temper. But wasn't it strange to say something like that in such a solemn tone?! Yao Feng grumbled inwardly, then looked at the crowd watching him and helplessly shook his head.

"Fine. I've been wanting to see whether battles in fantasy novels are really as dazzling as they're made out to be." Yao Feng cracked his knuckles and stepped forward with eager interest.

"I thought you wouldn't dare come up."

Yao Xingji sneered, a triumphant glint flashing through his eyes.

"If all you can do is talk big, then I'd advise you to surrender early."

Yao Feng spoke mockingly. Even a clay figurine had some fire in it. Yao Xingji's relentless aggression had made Yao Feng rather displeased. Besides, he was the son of Yao Wangui, the Yao Clan's Elder of Punishment. In the original story, Yao Wangui had driven Yao Lao out of the Yao Clan, so his character was hardly admirable. Though the Four-star Dou Sheng had ultimately chosen to self-destruct to defend the Yao Clan, it was still difficult for Yao Feng to dispel his prejudice against him.

"Heh. Whether it's just talk or not, we'll find out after we exchange a few moves!"

Yao Xingji gave a vicious grin, fully releasing the aura of a One-star Dou Zhe.

"Lesser Withered Glory Palm!"

"Heavens, Yao Xingji was still at the ninth stage of Dou Qi yesterday. How did he break through to Dou Zhe overnight...?"

"Did he take some pills!?"

"So he broke through to Dou Zhe. But coming to pick a fight with me right after breaking through—that's quite a bit of confidence."

As they watched the two youths facing off on the platform, an old man among the elders frowned slightly. He had a gloomy face and thin lips like blades, his expression somewhat unpleasant. He was Yao Xingji's father, the Yao Clan's Elder of Punishment—Yao Wangui. Although Yao Xingji was his son, Yao Wangui did not approve of this. Not only was Yao Feng naturally more talented, making Yao Xingji's chances of victory slim, but as the son of the Elder of Punishment, he had challenged the clan leader's son in front of everyone. Wasn't that basically saying his father had things going too well?!

"Clan Leader, my son is immature and has caused trouble for the clan."

"Elder Wangui, you are being too serious. Such rules already exist within the clan, and only competition brings progress. Our clan may not have declined, but compared to the Soul Clan, the Gu Clan, and even the Ancient Void Dragon clan, we have fallen far behind. If we wish to restore the glory of our Yao Clan ancestors, we must rely on these younger generations to strive forward."

Yao Dan looked at the spirited youths on the platform, a trace of gratification flashing through his eyes. He naturally understood his own son. If it had been in the past, with Yao Feng's indifferent temperament, there was an eighty or ninety percent chance he would not have stepped onto the platform. But now he had done so, proving that he still possessed a young man's competitive spirit. With that, along with his extraordinary talent, it would not be impossible for him to surpass Yao Dan in the future.

"The Clan Leader is magnanimous. I was narrow-minded." Yao Wangui nodded somewhat shamefully before turning his gaze back to the two youths in the arena.

When Yao Xingji was only half a meter away from Yao Feng, his palm abruptly turned brown. It contained a strange force as it shot straight toward Yao Feng's chest.

Yao Feng calmly watched the incoming palm. Unhurriedly, he raised his hand. His slightly curled palm suddenly spread open, and fiery-red Dou Qi burst forth.

As their palms met, a strange force invaded Yao Feng's hand. He snorted coldly, and his dense Dou Qi surged through his palm, driving out every trace of that force.

Yao Xingji's expression changed drastically. His palm felt as though it had been struck by a red-hot iron hammer. He staggered back several steps before finally steadying himself in a sorry state.

On the platform, the elders were also surprised by the scene. One old man spoke. "Both are One-star Dou Zhes, but Yao Feng's Dou Qi is clearly much denser. He has improved tremendously compared to before!"

"Elder Wanhuo is right. Judging by the richness of Yao Feng's Dou Qi, it likely does not lose out to that of an ordinary Three-star Dou Zhe." Yao Wangui echoed him, though he was inwardly puzzled. It was not as if he had never paid attention to Yao Feng before, but this improvement was simply too outrageous. He could not make heads or tails of it.

"Burning Fire Palm—a Yellow Tier Mid-grade Dou Technique—and it actually has such power!" Yao Xingji said warily as he looked at Yao Feng's slightly reddened hands.

"A Dou Technique is not necessarily better just because it is higher ranked. Even if a Dou Zhe cultivates a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique, they may not be able to defeat someone who cultivates a Yellow-tier Low-grade Dou Technique. Your Lesser Withered Glory Palm may be a simplified version of the Earth-tier High-grade Dou Technique, Withered Glory Palm, but a One-star Dou Zhe cannot bring out its full power."

Having fused with the memories of his former self, Yao Feng also knew something about the Withered Glory Palm. It was the signature Dou Technique of Yao Wangui, the Elder of Punishment. Its power was formidable, but it required powerful Dou Qi to unleash its full strength.

Though Burning Fire Palm was a low-grade Dou Technique cultivated by his former self, it had already been mastered to perfection. Naturally, Yao Feng could still use it now. Moreover, he had just obtained a Divine Grade Bloodline. No matter how one looked at it, he completely outclassed Yao Xingji.

"Are you telling me what to do?! Iron Sand Palm!"

Watching Yao Xingji charge at him again, Yao Feng helplessly shook his head. His right hand abruptly clenched, and a fierce suction force shot from his palm. "Profound Tier Dou Technique—Absorbing Palm!"

Seeing Yao Feng's movement, Yao Xingji's gaze narrowed, and the momentum in his hand intensified further.

Yet before Yao Xingji could get close, the suction force violently yanked his body forward, sending him flying in an arc through the air.

Seeing that he could not break free, Yao Xingji simply used the force to push his speed to the limit. His palm gleamed with a gray metallic sheen as it struck straight at Yao Feng's shoulder. If this palm landed, Yao Xingji was confident he could make Yao Feng vomit blood and lose his fighting ability.

Iron Sand Palm was a Yellow-tier High-grade Dou Technique with considerable power. Only those above the ninth stage of Dou Qi could unleash its full strength, and Yao Xingji had only recently mastered it.

Yao Feng narrowed his eyes as he sensed that sharp force. He slowly exhaled, and the Dou Qi in his body suddenly began to circulate. "Profound Tier Dou Technique, Wildfire Prairie."

This had originally been a Mid-grade Profound-tier Dou Technique cultivated by his former self. Before taking the stage, Yao Feng had familiarized himself with its circulation route in his mind. Now that he used it, it came quite naturally to him.

Scorching flames burst from Yao Feng's body. With a sweep of his hand, the flames began to whirl before shooting fiercely toward Yao Xingji. Yao Xingji had no time to dodge and could only stretch his palm forward to resist the scorching flames. Even his gray Iron Sand Palm was nearly charred black, his clothes became disheveled, and his face turned pale.

"You're still no match for me. Admit defeat."

Looking at the exhausted Yao Xingji, Yao Feng slowly lowered his hand and spoke with apparent calmness. Inwardly, however, he was wildly excited. So this is a Dou Zhe's battle? This is incredible! But I still have too few Dou Techniques. I'll need to sign in more often and get more rewards in the future!

"Ding, congratulations to the host for defeating the opponent. You have received one bottle of upgraded Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. It has been placed in the system warehouse."

"Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid? Isn't that Yao Lao's exclusive formula? And it's even an upgraded version. This system really is powerful!"

With a thought from Yao Feng, an illusory panel appeared before his eyes. Its interface closely resembled the warehouse screen from an online game in his previous life. Yao Feng secretly marveled at it. Seeing that no one else could see the warehouse panel, he contentedly put it away. When he had time later, he would have to experience the effects of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.