Xiao Yan had never mentioned anything about the Heavy Xuan Ruler to anyone.
Even Xiao Yan's two older brothers did not know its name. They only knew of the strange suppressive effect the Heavy Xuan Ruler had on Dou Qi.
Yet Su Tian, who stood before Xiao Yan now, not only knew the strange secret hidden within the Heavy Xuan Ruler, but also knew its name.
This made Xiao Yan all the more wary of Su Tian.
"It's just the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Of course I know about it. Otherwise, how could I have prepared in advance when we exchanged blows just now?"
Hearing Xiao Yan's startled question, Su Tian paid it little mind. He casually picked his ear and grinned.
However, Su Tian was just as guarded against Xiao Yan.
Their earlier exchange had been brief, but the power the Heavy Xuan Ruler displayed in Xiao Yan's hands had given Su Tian a slight shock.
With the strength of a Two-Star Dou Shi, Xiao Yan had unleashed a sudden burst of power far beyond that of an ordinary Two-Star Dou Shi. Had another One-Star Great Dou Master faced him, a moment of carelessness might well have cost them.
Unfortunately, Xiao Yan's opponent was Su Tian.
Given how well Su Tian understood Xiao Yan, he knew just how formidable Xiao Yan was in battle and would not underestimate him in the slightest.
Thus, although Xiao Yan's earlier strike had been powerful, it had still fallen within Su Tian's expectations. Only after experiencing it firsthand had he felt a faint surge of admiration.
As expected of Xiao Yan. With the strength of a Two-Star Dou Shi, he can unleash such tremendous power. No wonder he defeated Luo Bu, the leader of the Sand Mercenary Group!
Su Tian gave Xiao Yan a long look and exhaled, his fighting spirit burning ever hotter.
With Su Tian's current strength, very few at his level could defeat him.
Even Mo Bass had once suffered a considerable setback at Su Tian's hands.
That exchange had laid a solid foundation for Su Tian, greatly increasing his combat experience.
Now, although Xiao Yan could fight above his level, Su Tian was not at any disadvantage for the moment. In their earlier exchange, he had even seemed to hold a slight edge over Xiao Yan.
"Who exactly are you?"
A grave expression appeared on Xiao Yan's delicate features. Looking at Su Tian's handsome face, he demanded again in a low voice.
Su Tian merely grinned and said casually, "Want to know that badly?"
"Tell me!"
"Hehehe, if you want to know, defeat me first!"
Faced with Xiao Yan's aggressive questioning, Su Tian showed not the slightest fear. His gaze sharpened, and he gave a low shout.
Then Su Tian stamped down hard once more and shot toward Xiao Yan, his right fist clenched. A surge of robust Dou Qi instantly gathered around it, radiating a faint pressure.
Bang!
Su Tian became like a cannonball fired from its barrel, appearing before Xiao Yan again in the blink of an eye.
"Hmph, a One-Star Great Dou Master?"
Watching Su Tian hurtle toward him, Xiao Yan showed no trace of panic either. He merely snorted, his gaze calm as he spoke softly.
"Sorry, but perhaps that still isn't enough!"
The next instant, Xiao Yan tightened his grip on the Heavy Xuan Ruler and suddenly gave a low shout. A powerful aura erupted from his body.
Bang!
Then, dragging the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his right hand, Xiao Yan charged straight at Su Tian. The Dou Qi within him surged like raging waves, waiting for the moment to erupt.
"If you want a fight..."
"Then fight!"
In an instant, low shouts rang from Su Tian and Xiao Yan. Both charged furiously at the other with unstoppable momentum.
At that moment, Su Tian and Xiao Yan had eyes only for each other!
Boom...
In the blink of an eye, Su Tian and Xiao Yan collided again. The Heavy Xuan Ruler rose high before slashing furiously down at Su Tian once more.
This time, Xiao Yan's strike was almost a full-force blow.
Power like a towering wave poured unreservedly through the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Su Tian still kept his right hand clenched, dense Dou Qi gathering around his fist as he smashed it toward the descending ruler.
"Get out of my way!"
Su Tian suddenly roared. His right fist, wrapped in dense Dou Qi, slammed heavily into the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
Bang...
The instant fist and ruler collided, a deafening, muffled blast erupted. Invisible ripples of energy spread outward from the point of impact.
For Su Tian and Xiao Yan, however, these spreading shock waves were nothing to fear.
Their eyes still held only each other's figures.
Su Tian had already prepared for the Heavy Xuan Ruler. He instantly formed a thin membrane of Dou Qi, using it to briefly delay the ruler's strange Dou Qi-suppressing effect.
Whoosh...
Just then, Su Tian suddenly drove more force into his right fist. Taking advantage of the brief delay in the Heavy Xuan Ruler's effect, a powerful surge poured along the ruler. Xiao Yan's left hand loosened, and the Heavy Xuan Ruler flew away.
Had anyone been there to see Su Tian knock Xiao Yan's weapon away, they might have thought Xiao Yan's defeat was already in sight.
But Su Tian did not think so.
Instead, the instant the Heavy Xuan Ruler left Xiao Yan's hand, Su Tian's gaze grew solemn, and his wariness intensified.
Su Tian knew very well that only once Xiao Yan was freed from the Heavy Xuan Ruler's restraints would he reveal his true strength!
Sure enough, the moment the Heavy Xuan Ruler flew away, an aura even stronger and more robust than before erupted from Xiao Yan's body.
In an instant, it was as though an invisible tornado had formed around him.
Eight Extremes Collapse!
Without the slightest hesitation, a low shout rang through Xiao Yan's mind. His right hand rose instantly and struck fiercely toward Su Tian's chest.
At that moment, Su Tian clearly sensed an extremely dangerous aura coming from Xiao Yan's right hand.
Eight Extremes Collapse?
Su Tian narrowed his eyes, his mind tense as he murmured inwardly.
It certainly lives up to its reputation. If I hadn't noticed that hidden force, I would probably have suffered considerable injuries.
Unfortunately for Xiao Yan, Su Tian knew his moves extremely well.
With no time to think further, Su Tian drew a deep breath and suddenly stepped back, opening a little distance between himself and Xiao Yan. Then he abruptly clenched his right fist.
Army-Breaking Dragon Fist!
Su Tian likewise shouted inwardly. The Dou Qi within him instantly underwent six compressions, then traveled along a specific route through his meridians and gathered in his right fist, radiating an even more powerful presence.
Noticing this, Xiao Yan's eyes flashed, and a bad premonition suddenly rose in his heart.
"This is bad..."
"Back off!"
Before Xiao Yan could finish, Su Tian roared and smashed his right fist, carrying a rolling wave of pressure, straight at Xiao Yan's right hand.
In an instant, an enormous scarlet-flame dragon head enveloped Su Tian's right fist. Its jaws suddenly opened wide, as though it would swallow Xiao Yan's entire right hand, radiating an intense sense of oppression.
"The aura of this Dou Technique..."
Feeling that enormous dragon head roar toward him, Xiao Yan knitted his brows. He seemed to sense something familiar within it.
The next instant, realization dawned on Xiao Yan, and he could not help exclaiming softly, "He's actually using an Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique!"
Xiao Yan had never expected that Su Tian would also possess an Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique.
Through this series of exchanges, Xiao Yan had also realized how troublesome Su Tian was. He was far beyond an ordinary One-Star Great Dou Master, never once falling behind during their battle.
Although Xiao Yan had only seen Su Tian use this one Dou Technique from the beginning until now, that only further proved how formidable Su Tian was.
After all, in their previous exchanges, even when Xiao Yan had used Dou Techniques, Su Tian had still withstood them steadily, without showing the slightest sign of faltering.
This made Xiao Yan realize that the young man before him was not as easy to deal with as he had imagined.
But the situation before him left Xiao Yan no time to think.
The enormous dragon head, wreathed in scorching flames, was already upon him. Xiao Yan could even feel a wave of heat rushing into his face.
"Let me see whether your Eight Extremes Collapse is stronger, or my Dou Technique has the edge!"
Su Tian seemed to notice Xiao Yan's astonishment. An excited grin curled his lips as he shouted.
Hearing Su Tian name his Dou Technique so accurately, Xiao Yan felt as though fierce winds and towering waves had risen in his heart, refusing to settle.
Boom...
All this took time to describe, but it happened within only a few breaths. The next instant, Su Tian's fist and Xiao Yan's palm collided with a thunderous crash.
The moment they made contact, the enormous dragon head savagely snapped at Xiao Yan's right palm, as though it meant to tear his right hand clean off.
Boom, boom, boom...
Immediately afterward, Eight Extremes Collapse erupted. Savage bursts of hidden force exploded outward, seemingly intent on following Su Tian's right fist into his body.
Yet before those bursts of hidden force could reach Su Tian's right fist, the enormous dragon head covering it unleashed an even fiercer power, instantly annihilating the spreading forces.
At the sight, Xiao Yan's expression shifted slightly, and his gaze toward Su Tian grew much graver.
Damn it, this Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique seems even stronger than I imagined!
"Never underestimate an Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique. Each is a powerful attack created from an expert's lifetime of learning, containing power that can overturn heaven and earth!"
At that moment, Yao Lao's voice rang through Xiao Yan's mind, carrying a note of solemnity.
Clearly, Yao Lao had also sensed how extraordinary Su Tian was. He gave Su Tian a long look and quietly offered the warning.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan merely nodded silently and said nothing more.
Xiao Yan also understood the power of an Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique very well.
After all, Xiao Yan himself possessed an Earth Tier Dou Technique.
Boom...
With a muffled blast, Xiao Yan suddenly grunted and withdrew his right palm, his feet involuntarily thudding backward in rapid succession.
Meanwhile, a faint tremor ran through Xiao Yan's right palm. Clearly, he seemed to have fallen into something of a disadvantage in that exchange.
Whatever the case, the power of an Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique was not so easily resisted.
A flush appeared on Xiao Yan's face, and his breathing grew noticeably more hurried. The Dou Qi within him surged and churned violently.
"Cough, cough..."
Xiao Yan coughed dryly a few times and could not help clutching his chest. A thin trickle of scarlet blood slowly ran from the corner of his mouth, which he then wiped away.
After blasting Xiao Yan back, Su Tian did not press his advantage. He calmly withdrew his right fist and looked at Xiao Yan.
"Show me your true strength. Otherwise, you're certain to lose this battle!"
Su Tian spoke lightly, yet his voice carried unquestionable confidence, as though defeating Xiao Yan were no difficult matter in his eyes.
That was indeed the truth.
In cultivation, Su Tian far surpassed Xiao Yan, while Xiao Yan held no advantage in Dou Techniques either. As for cultivation methods, although Xiao Yan's Flame Mantra had already reached yellow tier mid grade, Su Tian's formidable strength made up for that.
Moreover, Su Tian's talent was no worse than Xiao Yan's.
Because of his emperor clan bloodline, even Su Tian's physical strength was beyond Xiao Yan's ability to match.
This was also why Su Tian could exchange blows evenly with Xiao Yan using his physical strength and robust Dou Qi.
As a result, the advantages Xiao Yan enjoyed against others amounted to little against Su Tian.
This also meant that Su Tian and Xiao Yan had erupted into a battle in which both gave their all.
"Heh, you really are strong. Among people our age, I've rarely seen anyone who can compare to you."
Xiao Yan drew a deep breath, doing his utmost to calm the violently fluctuating aura within him. His gaze regained its composure as he looked at Su Tian and chuckled.
"However..."
The next instant, an equally powerful aura erupted from Xiao Yan's body again. With a movement of his right hand, the Heavy Xuan Ruler that had been flung into the distance was drawn back, and he seized it firmly.
"You're not the only one who possesses an Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique!"
Then a scorching aura spread over the Heavy Xuan Ruler, and a stream of purple Dou Qi surged from Xiao Yan's body.
Under Su Tian's gaze, it swiftly climbed onto the Heavy Xuan Ruler.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan's eyes never left Su Tian's face. A resolute expression appeared on his delicate features.
"This move is called..."
"Flame Splitting Wave Ruler!"
Xiao Yan's expression turned cold, and he suddenly roared. The Dou Qi within him instantly flooded into the Heavy Xuan Ruler, and a scorching aura spread abruptly. His robes billowed without wind, snapping loudly.
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