Sparring

At dawn, when the sky was only beginning to brighten, Xiao Yan got up and dressed as usual. After washing up, he quietly opened his door, ready to take the breakfast Xun'er had prepared and head to the Back Mountain for training. It all seemed to have become a habit.

But today was different from before. The moment Xiao Yan opened his door, he saw a red-clad figure standing before him, carrying a food box in her hand. Her exquisite, slender figure and subtly developing chest were full of allure, while a faint blush colored her youthful face. The lovely sight before him made Xiao Yan's heart stir, and he stared at Xun'er without blinking.

"Xiao Yan gege..." A sweet voice rang out, slightly bashful.

Hearing Xun'er's sweet voice, Xiao Yan finally came back to his senses. He muttered softly, "She's still so young, yet already this alluring. What will happen when she grows up?"

Xiao Yan coughed lightly twice to conceal his embarrassment, then asked with a smile, "Why are you dressed so beautifully today, Xun'er?"

"Does it look good?" Xun'er asked softly.

"Uh, y-yes, it looks good! But you're still too young. Don't wear such mature clothes too early," Xiao Yan said blandly, rubbing his nose.

"Hmph! Xun'er isn't that young anymore. I'm almost fifteen," Xun'er said discontentedly, wrinkling her little nose.

"All right! Then today..." Xiao Yan had wanted to ask why Xun'er had not left quietly after delivering breakfast today, but when the words reached his lips, he did not know how to say them. After all, she had made breakfast for him for over a month, and he had not even thanked her.

"Xiao Yan gege wants to ask why Xun'er didn't leave the breakfast behind and sneak away as usual today, right?" Seeing Xiao Yan's awkward expression, Xun'er said playfully.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose without speaking. How was he supposed to answer that? Was he supposed to say yes?

"Hehe, Xun'er was a little bored today and wanted to spar with Xiao Yan gege. Is that all right?" Xun'er asked with a smiling face.

"Uh, this..." Xiao Yan was somewhat troubled. He still wanted to train and study the fusion of battle techniques!

"Agree to it! Training without actual combat won't do. This little girl already has Ninth Duan Dou Qi, so she can serve as your sparring partner." Just as Xiao Yan was hesitating, Medicine Elder's voice suddenly sounded in his heart.

Ninth Duan Dou Qi already? Xun'er's improvement speed isn't slow either! Xiao Yan thought.

"Is that not okay?" Seeing the troubled look on Xiao Yan's face, Xun'er's little face instantly fell.

"Uh, it's fine!" Since even Medicine Elder had no objections, Xiao Yan naturally agreed. He also wanted to test the results of this past month's training. He had knocked Xiao Ning down in just a few punches and kicks, which had been far from satisfying.

"Yay! Xiao Yan gege is the best. Hurry and eat breakfast. Once you're done, we'll go straight there." Xun'er entered the room, placed the breakfast she had carefully prepared on the table, then rested her chin in both hands and quietly waited for Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan did not stand on ceremony. He pulled out a chair, sat down, and began eating. The food smelled delicious and contained plenty of meat, leaving his mouth glistening with oil.

Seeing Xiao Yan eat with such enjoyment, a happy smile also appeared on Xun'er's little face.

Seeing Xun'er smiling as she watched him, Xiao Yan slowed his eating a little. After taking a sip of tea, he finally asked the question that had been in his heart. "Xun'er, why did you suddenly think of making breakfast for me?"

"Hehe, I thought Xiao Yan gege wouldn't ask! It's because Xiao Yan gege brought Xun'er food when we were little too," Xun'er said with a smile.

"But Xun'er, I remember I only brought you food a few times," Xiao Yan said in confusion.

"It was only a few times! But you also helped Xun'er... No one has ever touched Xun'er's little feet before!" Xun'er's voice gradually lowered. She slightly lowered her head, and a rosy blush appeared on her face.

"What are you saying? Why are you speaking so softly?" Xiao Yan had only heard the first half. He had not caught the latter half at all.

"Hurry and eat, Xiao Yan gege! We still have to go train after this!" Xun'er clearly did not want to continue, so she hurriedly changed the subject.

Seeing that Xun'er did not want to talk, Xiao Yan did not press further. Even if he asked, she would only respond with a smile. He quickly finished breakfast and wiped his mouth.

"Let's go! We'll spar at the Back Mountain. I also want to see how strong Xun'er is," Xiao Yan said to Xun'er with a smile, letting out a satisfied burp.

"Hehe! I won't disappoint Xiao Yan gege." Xun'er linked her arm through Xiao Yan's and spoke with a giggle.

The two arrived at the summit of the Back Mountain, where Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er stood facing each other. The sun had already fully risen. With summer approaching, the temperature was neither too high nor too low, making it very comfortable.

Looking at Xun'er standing quietly opposite him, a sly smile curled Xiao Yan's lips. He first twisted his body and rolled his neck, causing his bones to crack loudly. He interlocked his fingers, clenched his hands, and stretched them outward with his palms turned out.

Seeing Xiao Yan gege warming up so seriously, Xun'er simply stood there quietly and watched his performance.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan forcefully pushed off with both feet and shot toward Xun'er. As he neared her, his fist, carrying fierce Force Qi, blasted toward her.

Faced with the incoming fist, Xun'er merely shifted to the side and avoided Xiao Yan's fierce strike.

Seeing his full-powered attack brushed aside so effortlessly, and recalling Xun'er's seemingly slow yet incomparably swift movement, Xiao Yan asked, "Is that a movement technique?"

"Yes!" Xun'er answered with a smile.

After receiving Xun'er's confirmation, Xiao Yan felt somewhat envious.

Great clans really are different. They have good movement technique battle techniques so casually available. Judging by that speed, it's probably no lower than mid-level Profound Rank.

Damn it! So what if she has a good movement technique battle technique? I refuse to believe I can't hit her!

Xiao Yan moved his feet rapidly. When he neared Xun'er, his legs bent slightly before he suddenly exerted force. His body sprang into the air, and his right leg swept through an arc, kicking at Xun'er with a piercing whistle through the air.

Eight Extremes Collapse! This time, Xiao Yan used a battle technique.

Sensing that Xiao Yan's attack was anything but ordinary this time, Xun'er did not dare be careless. A faint golden glow surfaced on her hands as she raised them and gave Xiao Yan's right leg a gentle push. Xiao Yan felt a soft force strike his leg. Though gentle, it was immensely powerful. It not only dissolved his attack, but also pushed him several meters away. After landing, Xiao Yan staggered back several steps before steadying himself.

"Is this the true power of Ninth Duan Dou Qi?" After defeating Xiao Ning, who possessed Seventh Duan Dou Qi, Xiao Yan had thought that even if he could not defeat Xiao Xun'er, the gap between them would not be great. But after seeing his two powerful attacks easily neutralized by Xun'er, Xiao Yan finally realized how narrow his view had been.

"Now you know the gap, right? Even if you reach Ninth Duan Dou Qi, you may not necessarily defeat her. This little girl has plenty of tricks. And is that how you use Eight Extremes Collapse? Its force is certainly important, but Eight Extremes Collapse is classified as a close-combat battle technique. Its moves are the true essence. You only focus on force and neglect the moves. How foolish!" Medicine Elder's slightly teasing voice sounded in his heart.

That really was foolish. Thinking of how he had only focused on studying the force generated by Eight Extremes Collapse and had paid no attention to the moves, Xiao Yan silently cursed himself.

"Does Xiao Yan gege need a rest?" Seeing Xiao Yan stand motionlessly after attacking twice, Xun'er asked with a smile.

"You dare laugh at your brother? Take this!" Xiao Yan stomped fiercely on the ground, leaving a deep footprint behind. Like an arrow, he charged straight toward Xun'er.

Mountain-Shaking Sea-Crashing!

Eight Extremes Collapse had four close-range techniques—pressing, poking, squeezing, and leaning—and four methods of exerting force—collapse, shake, thrust, and strike. A collapse fist was like an arrow, shaking could move mountains and crash seas, a thrust was like thunder, and a strike was like lightning.

Seeing Xiao Yan charge at her, Xun'er did not dare be careless, for she sensed the extraordinary nature of this move. Her hands traced half a circle, then suddenly swung forward to stop Xiao Yan's collision.

Bang!

Xun'er's body was knocked back one step. After feeling that strange pushing force, Xiao Yan's charging body also retreated half a step. However, once Xiao Yan regained his footing, his body suddenly tightened like a drawn bow. Taking advantage of Xun'er's retreat, he fiercely threw a punch.

Arrowlike Collapse Fist!

Facing Xiao Yan's incoming punch, Xun'er swung her little hand toward his arm, knocking his fist several inches off course.

As his fist veered aside, Xiao Yan changed his fist into an elbow and struck fiercely at Xun'er again, forcing her back another step.

Faced with Xiao Yan's unceasing assault, like waves rolling onward with each wave stronger than the last, Xun'er was given no chance to catch her breath. Only then did she become serious. A faint golden glow appeared on her palms as her hands drew a Tai Chi-like pattern through the air before she thrust both hands forward.

Seeing that he had forced Xun'er to retreat continuously, Xiao Yan was feeling pleased. Suddenly, he felt as though his body had been struck by a carriage, and he was sent flying backward. He stumbled back several steps without managing to stop himself, then landed hard on his backside and rolled backward several times.

When Xiao Yan got back to his feet, his face was full of bewilderment, because he was now at least a dozen meters away from Xun'er.

"What battle technique was that? Its power is so strong?" Xiao Yan asked aloud.