Duel Begins

As for Xiao Yan's reputation in the Imperial Capital, while it had not fully spread yet, the upper circles of the Imperial Capital had long since erupted.

A boy not even sixteen had actually slain a city lord at the Peak Great Dou Master level? What kind of joke was that?

Most people's first reaction upon hearing it was disbelief, and Jia Tianyu was naturally among them.

But once the further investigation results came out, everyone learned that it was actually true! Though the exact circumstances were still unclear, the matter itself was real. As a result, among the upper circles of the Imperial Capital who knew of it, Xiao Yan had instantly earned the title of number one genius.

The Jia Ma Imperial Family, which had been the first to grasp the situation, made a decision before anyone else and sent Jia Tianyu to Wutan City. From beginning to end, there had been only one purpose: to bring Xiao Yan back.

As for Wu Jin's death, the imperial family hoped Jia Tianyu would discuss it directly with the Xiao Clan and come up with a reasonable explanation to report back. That was why Jia Tianyu had felt relieved when Xiao Yan said that killing someone for trespassing into a private residence was not a crime. One of the matters he had come for had already been resolved—and it was not even fabricated, but the truth!

However, Jia Tianyu was furious over Xiao Yan's refusal to go to the Imperial Capital. Seeing Xiao Yan openly challenge him, Jia Tianyu sighed at his overconfidence and said, "Since that is the case, I saw that the northern side of Wutan City was sparsely populated on my way here. Let us fight there. What do you say?"

"Fine." Xiao Yan nodded, then walked out first.

Jia Tianyu snorted coldly and quickly followed after him.

"Oh no! Th-this... Xiao Yan is being far too impulsive this time," the First Elder said anxiously.

The other members of the Xiao Clan also revealed worried expressions.

"There is no use saying any of this now. Let us follow them and take a look first." Xiao Zhan sighed. Though he desperately wanted to believe Xiao Yan was not acting recklessly, the worry between his brows would not fade. Shaking his head, he followed after them as well.

The First Elder closely followed Xiao Zhan.

Seeing that the two highest-ranking members of the Xiao Clan had gone after them, everyone else hurriedly set off toward the northern part of the city.

By the time they reached the north of the city, Xiao Yan and Jia Tianyu were already facing each other across dozens of meters of open ground.

Quite a few Wutan City residents passing by had also stopped to watch, and Xiao Zhan and the First Elder were among them.

"Xiao Yan, if you come back with me now, you can still suffer less. Do not remain stubborn!" Jia Tianyu said darkly. With a flash of light in his hand, a green longsword appeared in his grasp.

The sword was two inches wide and seven feet long. Purple patterns climbed across it like coiling dragons, while the smooth blade gave off an icy glint. Though it bore no bloodstains, even an ordinary person could clearly sense the lingering murderous aura that had accumulated upon it over the years.

What a fine sword! Xiao Yan marveled. Then he waved his hand, summoned the Black-Weight Ruler from his Storage Ring, and lifted it onto his shoulder.

"This junior has already said it. We can talk after we fight." Xiao Yan remained unmoved, smiling confidently.

"Hmph, hopelessly stubborn!" Seeing this, Jia Tianyu had no intention of wasting more words. He only wanted to seize Xiao Yan and bring him back first. His right hand tightly gripped the longsword, and with a tremor of its blade, violent green Dou Qi surged from his body. In an instant, it wrapped around the sword, forming a unique vortex-like structure.

"Wind-attribute Dou Qi, huh? Tch, that will be a little troublesome." Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue. For someone like him, who relied on raw destructive power, opponents with such speed were the most troublesome, because he might not be able to hit them.

Even so, Xiao Yan could not possibly fear him just like that. Both hands gripped the Black-Weight Ruler as he tilted it forward. Blue-red flames immediately coiled around the black giant ruler. Even the Black-Weight Ruler, forged from meteoric iron, began to glow with a faint dark red under the intense heat.

"What... kind of flame is that?" Jia Tianyu narrowed his eyes, puzzled. Though he did not know what flames Xiao Yan was using, he keenly sensed a trace of danger. So this was why he could so easily kill Wu Jin?

But a Great Dou Master is still a Great Dou Master. I am a Dou Spirit. No matter how powerful the flame is, it can only display its true might in the hands of a sufficiently strong master!

Though he had sensed the terror of the blue-red flames, Jia Tianyu did not care. He intended to charge straight in and defeat Xiao Yan in the very area Xiao Yan took the most pride in!

Bang!

Leaning forward, he stamped heavily on the ground, leaving behind spiderweb-like cracks. Accompanied by a violent sound nearly like a sonic boom, Jia Tianyu shot toward Xiao Yan at extreme speed.

The distance of dozens of meters vanished in an instant. Wild winds capable of tearing apart everything gathered along the seven-foot blade as it slashed from lower left to upper right, straight at Xiao Yan's chest.

Faced with the sudden attack, Xiao Yan not only showed no panic, but instead curled his lips into a smile.

Jia Tianyu, who had been watching Xiao Yan closely, instantly sensed that something was wrong, but it was already too late. The black giant ruler in Xiao Yan's hands had long been raised high, and dense blue-red Dou Qi spread from Xiao Yan's body along with an overwhelming aura that was almost no weaker than Jia Tianyu's.

"A Great Dou Master? This is fucking already Dou Spirit level!" Jia Tianyu cried inwardly. Though Xiao Yan's aura clearly appeared to be that of a Great Dou Master, what was with this level of energy that did not lose out to a Dou Spirit at all?

As Jia Tianyu screamed inwardly, the flaming giant ruler in Xiao Yan's hands came crashing down!

Not good! Jia Tianyu was greatly alarmed. With his speed, he could have landed his attack on Xiao Yan first, but then he would be unable to evade Xiao Yan's strike. Xiao Yan's flaming giant ruler was clearly stronger than his own blade, so trading injuries would leave him at a disadvantage.

Left with no choice, Jia Tianyu could only urgently change the direction of his sword to block Xiao Yan's giant ruler.

Boom!

A muffled explosion accompanied by bursting sparks and violent winds erupted between the two.

Jia Tianyu's longsword successfully blocked Xiao Yan's giant ruler, but the vortex around it had already been shattered. Under the pressure of the flaming ruler, the blade bent and turned red.

Jia Tianyu's expression changed. He hurriedly used his movement technique to escape from beneath Xiao Yan's giant ruler.

The flaming giant ruler, having lost its resistance, crashed heavily into the ground with its remaining force, leaving behind a deep fissure.

"Th-this... did Young Master Xiao Yan just gain the upper hand?" The First Elder's lips trembled as he spoke in disbelief.

But Xiao Zhan beside him did not answer, because he was even more shocked than the First Elder. He stood there completely stunned.

Not far from Xiao Yan, Jia Tianyu came to a stop and steadied himself. He glanced at the crack beneath Xiao Yan's feet, then looked at the dark red discoloration on his sword. Though the exchange had lasted only an instant, Xiao Yan's flames had nearly melted Jia Tianyu's treasured sword in two.

That level of power sent a chill through Jia Tianyu.

No wonder he was so arrogant. He truly has the strength to back it up! Jia Tianyu put away his contempt for Xiao Yan and focused completely.

The wind-attribute Dou Qi that surged forth once more not only wrapped around the sword, but also enveloped Jia Tianyu's body, continuously producing howling gusts.

Seeing Jia Tianyu's actions, Xiao Yan knew that he was surely planning to use the speed wind-attribute Dou Qi excelled at. He clicked his tongue again. What a lucky bastard. If this were not a duel, I would have split him in half with that last strike!

Taking up his stance again, Xiao Yan stared fixedly at Jia Tianyu's figure in the distance.

Whoosh. It was as though a gentle breeze had passed by. By the time Xiao Yan came back to his senses, the figure in the distance had vanished from its spot without him noticing.

Not good! Alarm bells instantly rang in Xiao Yan's mind.

"Flame Emperor Armor!" Xiao Yan roared. His body shook violently as raging flames surged from the meridians within him like a flood, rapidly condensing into a blazing suit of armor that covered his entire body.

Just as Xiao Yan finished forming the Flame Emperor Armor, an icy voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.

"Frostwind Sword, sever!"