Three Years Later, Dou Ling

Time flew. Three years later.

Black-Corner Region.

This was the lawless land universally acknowledged across the Dou Qi Continent. There were no imperial laws here, no sect rules, no moral restraints. The only rule was that the strong devoured the weak, and strength reigned supreme.

GOOGLE Search TWKAN

Wanted criminals from the Northwest Continent, Southern Continent, and countless other empires, destitute fugitives, desperate bandits, and mercenary groups living on the edge all gathered here. Every sort of power was tangled together.

In this chaotic region, murder, arson, rape, and kidnapping were commonplace. No one condemned such things. The phrase "strength reigned supreme" was carried to its utmost extreme here.

Forces were wiped out every day, and new names were remembered every day. Almost no one capable of surviving in this land was decent.

Yin Bone City.

The night was as dark as ink, with the stars and moon hidden away, lending this inconspicuous city on the Black Region Great Plains an even eerier air.

Dozens of corpses lay scattered across the city's main street. Blood flowed through the cracks between the bluestone slabs, pooling into small dark-red puddles in the potholes of the damaged road.

A thick stench of blood filled the air. It was impossible to tell whether it came from the dead bodies or whether this city had always smelled this way.

"Five-Star Dou Ling..."

Nalan Chenfeng stood before a collapsed wall. Though his moon-white robe had been soaked through with blood, he was in high spirits, his sharp gaze fixed on the bald man opposite him.

Compared to three years ago, thirteen-and-a-half-year-old Nalan Chenfeng had grown much taller. His shoulders and back were broad, his waist lean, and the childish roundness had faded from his face, leaving clear-cut features and a sharp jawline.

What drew the most attention were Nalan Chenfeng's eyes. They were black as an abyss, so calm that they did not seem to belong to a young man.

More than a year of bloody combat and experience had stripped away much of Nalan Chenfeng's youthful innocence. He was no longer the boy who had first arrived in the Black-Corner Region and became nervous even when killing someone.

"If you don't make a move now, you may never get another chance."

Nalan Chenfeng took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.

Since joining the Jia Nan Enforcement Team more than a year ago, he had long lost count of how many missions he had completed. The vicious criminal before him, Yin Tu, was undoubtedly the strongest opponent he had ever encountered.

However, compared to more than a year ago, he had also grown far stronger. His current strength could not be compared with his former self.

"Don't think that killing those useless men of mine makes you my opponent. A mere One-Star Dou Ling dares to spout nonsense before me?"

"You little brats from Jia Nan Academy, relying on your bit of talent, truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

A hint of disdain showed in the bald man's triangular eyes. When he opened his mouth, the scar slashing diagonally from his forehead to his jaw trembled, adding to his vicious aura.

Not long ago, he had killed several Jia Nan Academy students. He had thought he had left no trace, yet the Jia Nan Academy Enforcement Team had arrived so quickly.

But for a mere little brat to dare come after him was simply too great an insult.

"Then let's find out."

Nalan Chenfeng did not waste any more words. He stomped down hard, instantly shattering the bluestone bricks beneath his feet, and shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Flame Explosion Fist!

Golden flames of Dou Qi surged from Nalan Chenfeng's body, forming a scorching layer of light around his fist. Wherever it passed, the surrounding air erupted with sonic booms.

Bone-Shattering Claw!

Yin Tu snorted coldly at the sight. His fan-sized hand shot out, black Dou Qi clinging to it as his five fingers curled into a claw. Five sharp energy blades condensed and crashed fiercely against Nalan Chenfeng's fist.

Bang!

A dull collision rang out as a blast of air spread outward, flinging corpses, rubble, and bloody scraps across the ground.

Nalan Chenfeng staggered back more than ten steps, while Yin Tu did not move an inch.

"He really is a Five-Star Dou Ling. An ordinary High Mystic Rank Dou Technique can hardly overcome such a gap."

Nalan Chenfeng frowned slightly, and an urge for Earth Tier Dou Techniques rose within him.

The Flame Explosion Fist he had used was one of the few fire-attribute High Mystic Rank Dou Techniques possessed by the Nalan Clan.

Over the years, he had studied and practiced it relentlessly. Now that he had broken through to Dou Ling, its power had increased severalfold when he used it again, yet it had achieved no result at all.

Clearly, the Dou Technique Yin Tu had used was also of no low rank. On top of that, Yin Tu's cultivation realm was much higher than his, leaving Nalan Chenfeng with no real advantage.

Therefore, if he wanted to defeat someone far stronger than himself head-on, mastering powerful Dou Techniques was crucial.

During the three years he had spent at Jia Nan Academy, although the academy had focused on nurturing him, it had not given him any special treatment regarding cultivation methods or Dou Techniques.

The Two-Marked Green Spirit Pill, Purple Star Barrier-Breaking Pill, and other medicinal pills that raised the star levels of Dou Shi and Da Dou Shi had all been obtained by earning contribution points through hard work in the Enforcement Team, then paying a certain amount of gold coins.

Jia Nan Academy was an institution of learning and treated all students equally. Some things could only be earned through one's own efforts.

Still, no matter what, he had to thank the academy. With such a platform, he had been able to display his abilities.

That was why he had advanced from Dou Zhe to Dou Ling in three years. Without the aid of those medicinal pills, his strength could not have improved so quickly.

"Is that all you've got?"

Yin Tu grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "The gap between a One-Star Dou Ling and a Five-Star Dou Ling is not something your little tricks can make up for."

Before his words had faded, Yin Tu's massive body bore down on him. Black Dou Qi surged as he swung out a palm aimed straight at Nalan Chenfeng's throat.

Wind Flame Step!

Dou Qi surged beneath Nalan Chenfeng's feet, and a whirlwind of scorching air burst outward. With a flicker of his body, he instantly retreated several paces away from Yin Tu.

In the next instant, Yin Tu's Dou Qi-covered palm swept past, smashing the stone wall behind where Nalan Chenfeng had just stood and sending dust flying everywhere.

"A Xuan Tier movement Dou Technique? But how long can you keep using that?"

Yin Tu did not let up his attack. Palm after palm came crashing down, each one wrapped in dense black Dou Qi like rolling tidal waves.

Nalan Chenfeng retreated again and again, doing his best to avoid the brunt of the attacks.

Yin Tu wore a savage grin as his attacks grew fiercer. "Once I kill you, I'll hang your head at Yin Bone City's gates and see what your bunch of trash from Jia Nan Academy can do to me..."

"Killing a genius, this is simply—"

Before he could finish, Yin Tu's voice came to an abrupt halt.

At that moment, Nalan Chenfeng stopped retreating. His feet planted firmly on the ground, and his entire body became like a sword drawn from its sheath as his aura suddenly soared.

Within those abyss-black eyes, a ring of extremely fine black light began to spin silently deep within his pupils.

"Stop."

Nalan Chenfeng's lips moved slightly as he uttered a single word.

Before Yin Tu could understand what that word meant, everything around him had already frozen.

Nalan Chenfeng darted before Yin Tu. Dou Qi surged from his right hand and transformed into a long sword.

Condensing Dou Qi into an object was the mark of a Dou Ling expert.

Immediately afterward, Nalan Chenfeng thrust the Dou Qi sword toward Yin Tu's most vulnerable spot—his neck.

Time resumed flowing.

Yin Tu only felt a chill at his neck, followed by agonizing pain spreading from his throat through all four limbs and every bone in his body.

Yin Tu looked down to see a golden sword tip of Dou Qi protruding from his throat, blood dripping down the blade.

"How... is this possible..."

Yin Tu opened his mouth, forcing out the words with difficulty.

He could not understand it at all. He had clearly held the upper hand, so how could this...

Yin Tu's body swayed before crashing heavily to the ground.

In less than three breaths, a Five-Star Dou Ling had perished.

"Though it was a somewhat unfair victory, a win is a win."

Nalan Chenfeng chuckled, and his black eyes returned to normal.

Three breaths was the limit of how long he could currently stop time.

Since breaking through to Dou Ling, this special ability of his had grown considerably. Against someone at the same realm, he could stop time for a full three breaths.

One breath was roughly three seconds. Three breaths amounted to no more than ten seconds. It sounded short, but in a battle between people of the same realm, even an instant could determine life or death.

Unfortunately, this ability was weakened against people stronger than him, and he could only use it once per day.

Just like when he had dealt with Yin Tu, whose Five-Star Dou Ling cultivation far surpassed his own, the three-breath freezing effect had not fully taken hold.

Though it had still been enough, Nalan Chenfeng could clearly sense the speed at which time had continued to flow.

And he had not only reached this conclusion now. Back at Jia Nan Academy, he had secretly sought out a Dou Wang elder to test it.

His special ability could affect stronger experts, but the stronger he became, the longer he could control time and the larger the range it could cover.

"The wealth of a Five-Star Dou Ling... hopefully there's something worthwhile in there."

Nalan Chenfeng did not dwell on it any longer. With a light clench of his hand, he pulled the Storage Ring from Yin Tu's hand through the air.

During his year-plus of training in the Black-Corner Region, collecting spoils of war was when he felt happiest. Yin Tu had fully deserved what happened to him.

"Over ten million gold coins, two High Mystic Rank Dou Techniques, two Xuan Tier cultivation methods... and all the miscellaneous items add up to quite a bit as well..."

After sending his soul power into Yin Tu's Storage Ring to inspect it, Nalan Chenfeng's lips curved upward in satisfaction.

Although gold coins could hardly buy truly high-grade treasures, they remained extremely useful at his current level.

As for those cultivation methods and Dou Techniques that conflicted with his attributes, even if he could not practice them himself, he could use them as bargaining chips or exchange them for value at auctions.

"Junior Chenfeng!"

Just then, an urgent voice came from the far end of the street.

Nalan Chenfeng looked up to see a thin young man rushing toward him.

"Senior Zhao Yuan."

Nalan Chenfeng responded.

The newcomer was a member of the Jia Nan Academy Enforcement Team, and Nalan Chenfeng had known him for a year.

"Junior Chenfeng, it's good that you're all right."

Seeing that Nalan Chenfeng was unharmed, Zhao Yuan finally let out a breath of relief.

Several elders in the academy had specifically instructed him to ensure Nalan Chenfeng's safety. If anything had gone wrong, he would have had a difficult time explaining himself.

"Mm... Yin Tu is dead...?"

Suddenly, Zhao Yuan spotted Yin Tu's corpse on the ground. His expression changed dramatically, disbelief filling his eyes.

He knew Yin Tu's strength well. Yin Tu was a Five-Star Dou Ling, powerful even among those of the same level, yet he had unexpectedly died here.

"Junior Chenfeng, could it be that some expert secretly intervened just now?"

For a moment, that thought surfaced in Zhao Yuan's mind.

"I killed him."

Nalan Chenfeng shook his head and replied.

"You..."

Zhao Yuan froze for a moment, then carefully examined Nalan Chenfeng. Only after a while did he withdraw his gaze.

"Haha, I never expected Junior Chenfeng to possess such strength. I was blind."

Nalan Chenfeng merely smiled and offered no further explanation.

He would not tell anyone about his secrets.

"Let's go. This mission is complete, so it's time for us to head back."

Jia Nan Academy.

The new recruitment assembly had begun. Nalan Chenfeng took the opportunity to hitch a ride with the recruitment team heading to the Jia Ma Empire.

There were still around six months until the annual Inner Academy selection tournament. There was no use rushing, and during this half-year of free time, he could make a trip back to the Jia Ma Empire.

The four months needed for the round trip would not interfere with his cultivation of Dou Qi.