Test

As the lead Snake Person died, fear flooded the faces of the remaining Snake People. They let out several shrill cries, then flicked their tails and fled toward the depths of the desert.

Xiao Li did not order a pursuit. The Tagore Desert was the Snake People's territory. If they ventured too deeply, they might draw out Snake People experts at the Dou King level. If that happened, they would be finished.

Turning to the others, Xiao Li asked, "Is everyone alright?"

"We're fine."

The group looked at Xiao Li with admiration in their eyes. The sexy woman gazed at the smiling Xiao Li, her heart fluttering with strange emotions.

"That's good. Everyone..."

Xiao Li had just been about to tell them to rest up and head back when a sudden change occurred.

A figure descended from the sky, kicking up sand and dust that filled the air. For a moment, everyone's vision was obstructed, and they could not see what had happened.

"Everyone, be careful!" Just as Xiao Li's voice fell, a longsword glowing with blue light slashed toward him.

Xiao Li hurriedly retreated, stunned. When had this person arrived? I didn't notice a thing!

Xiao Li had barely steadied himself when the blue-glowing sword stabbed at him again.

Though he could not see his surroundings clearly, the blue-glowing sword remained conspicuous. Xiao Li spotted the attack immediately and raised his spear to block it.

Bang!

With a crisp metallic clash, fierce Dou Qi ripples spread outward from Xiao Li. The sand and dust on the ground were stirred up once more, lowering visibility again.

The figure who had descended was naturally Xiao Yun. Looking at Xiao Li, who was vigilantly watching his surroundings, he twisted his sword, forming a blue sword flower.

"Found you!" Seeing the sword flower appear ahead, Xiao Li was delighted.

He tightened his grip on the spear and thrust straight forward.

Clang!

Xiao Yun blocked the incoming spear with the flat of his sword. Xiao Li did not withdraw his spear. Instead, he increased his strength.

The spear immediately bent into an arc under Xiao Li's pressure. If its shaft had been any less resilient, it would have snapped at once. Yet no matter how hard Xiao Li pressed, the spear could not advance even an inch.

Seeing this, Dou Qi began circulating rapidly in Xiao Li's palm.

"Ha!"

Xiao Li shouted fiercely, and electric current-like energy crawled along the spear shaft.

Xiao Li's Dou Qi attribute was lightning. When used against enemies, this type of Dou Qi could paralyze them, and the effect could be transmitted through blades and swords.

But Xiao Li did not know that the sword in Xiao Yun's hand was not forged from metal or stone. It had been condensed from Xiao Yun's powerful Dou Qi, so it did not conduct electricity.

Xiao Li quickly discovered that after his Dou Qi was unleashed, it vanished like a stone sinking into the sea, without stirring even the slightest ripple.

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Li leaped into the air. He raised his spear and performed a strange spear technique midair before smashing it down fiercely at Xiao Yun.

"Black Tier Low-Level Dou Technique: Three-Stage Lightning Arc Dance!"

Three snake-like lightning arcs, each several meters long, suddenly appeared around Xiao Li's spear, carrying immense energy.

Xiao Yun had not expected Xiao Li to unleash a Black Tier Low-Level Dou Technique in such a short time. Xiao Li's strength greatly exceeded his expectations, but he could tell that Xiao Li had yet to use his full strength.

With a flick of his sword, Xiao Yun sent out a powerful surge of Dou Qi, blasting the descending Xiao Li away.

"Use your full strength." Xiao Yun deliberately lowered his voice so Xiao Li would not recognize him.

Xiao Li was astonished. He had used a Black Tier Low-Level Dou Technique, along with the paralyzing effect of his lightning-attributed Dou Qi. With his current strength as a Four-Star Dou Master, even a Seven-Star Dou Master would not dare take it head-on so casually.

Yet Xiao Yun had effortlessly sent him flying.

"Just what level is this guy at?"

Xiao Li pondered inwardly. Someone who could easily receive that move could not be weaker than a Nine-Star Dou Master. It seemed he had to use his trump card.

Knowing that the opponent was likely a Nine-Star Dou Master, Xiao Li would have panicked in the past when faced with such a disparity.

But the experiences of the past few years had made his composure far greater than before. He quickly calmed down.

Circulating the Dou Qi in his body with all his strength, Xiao Li used another Dou Technique.

"Thunder Lion Spear!"

This was an Earth Tier Low-Level Dou Technique. Xiao Zhan had given it to Xiao Li when he and Xiao Ding went out to train. It had taken Xiao Li an entire year to master this Earth Tier Low-Level Dou Technique.

An illusory lion's head formed from Dou Qi condensed on the spear in Xiao Li's hand.

This was Xiao Li's strongest killing move. With his current strength, after using it, sixty to seventy percent of the Dou Qi in his body would be depleted.

Clang! A crisp sound rang out. Seeing that his attack had struck its target, Xiao Li was immediately delighted.

Even a Nine-Star Dou Master would definitely have a hard time enduring this move.

"Got you." Gripping his spear tightly, Xiao Li smiled faintly at Xiao Yun, whose appearance he still could not make out.

Hearing Xiao Li's words, Xiao Yun shrugged and said, "Your attack power is decent, but you were too careless. As long as the enemy has not fallen, anything can happen, including turning defeat into victory."

This time, Xiao Yun did not disguise his voice. The somewhat familiar tone left Xiao Li slightly stunned, and a feeling of impending misfortune rose in his heart.

He looked toward the tip of his spear. There, the full-force strike he had unleashed had been steadily caught by the tip of a sword.

The surrounding sand and dust had settled considerably, making it possible to barely see the scene around him. Xiao Li raised his head in shock, and a pair of pitch-black eyes entered his sight.

Xiao Yun chuckled softly and raised his left hand. Under Xiao Li's astonished gaze, he lightly slapped forward.

A faint sound of air tearing rang out, and Xiao Yun's palm struck Xiao Li in the chest.

Although Xiao Yun's palm strike looked as though it carried little force, Xiao Li felt a terrifying power behind it.

His expression changed as he tried to use a defensive Dou Technique, but the force Xiao Yun had unleashed gave him no such opportunity.

Bang! With a dull, muted impact, an enormous force struck Xiao Li. He shuddered as if hit by lightning, and his face turned slightly pale.

At the last moment, Xiao Yun had withdrawn eighty percent of his strength. Otherwise, Xiao Li would have been bedridden for half a month after taking that palm strike.

"Xiao Li, your mindset still needs some tempering." Xiao Yun said with a soft laugh.

Xiao Li finally saw Xiao Yun's face clearly, and the tension in his heart immediately dissolved.

Ignoring his injuries, he broke into a foolish grin, his heart filled with excitement and joy. "Uncle, you scared me to death!"

"Hahaha." Xiao Yun laughed. "Better to scare you to death now than have someone beat you to death later."

Xiao Yun patted Xiao Li on the shoulder. "It's been over a year. You've completely grown into a handsome young man."

Xiao Li took a deep breath and suppressed the excitement in his heart. The expression on his face gradually calmed as he said, "Uncle is still as handsome and dashing as ever."

"Hahaha, smooth-talking brat."

Hearing the laughter and conversation, the mercenaries around them gathered around Xiao Li and Xiao Yun. Looking at the two of them, they had no idea what was going on.

They had been fighting one moment, so how had they suddenly become so close the next?

"Second Commander, do you know each other?"

Xiao Li looked at everyone and nodded in introduction. "This is my uncle."

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