Come Out and Fight Me One-on-One!

Everyone present was a renowned second-generation alchemy prodigy. They either came from alchemist families with deep traditions or possessed extraordinary talent that had caught a famous master's eye, earning them instruction from childhood.

Given their backgrounds, they knew at least something about the continent's hidden secrets. Yet the information Xiao Yan had shared was completely unheard of to them.

After all, the continent's clearly documented history only stretched back about ten thousand years at most. Events from fifty thousand years ago were simply too remote.

Ignoring everyone's astonished gazes, Xiao Yan continued, "After primordial times, many schools vanished from the continent. Only the Dou Qi and alchemist schools continued to flourish, though numerous Dou Di experts still existed during this period.

"This period, when many schools declined but Dou Di experts still remained, is what the continent now defines as the ancient era. It lasted roughly from fifty thousand to ten thousand years ago.

"Then, around ten thousand years ago, something truly terrifying happened on the continent: one Dou Di expert after another began slowly disappearing.

"From that point onward, there were fewer and fewer Dou Di experts on the continent, and Emperor-Grade Alchemists gradually disappeared as well. The last Emperor-Grade Alchemist was the founding ancestor of today's Yao Clan-the Medicine Emperor!

"With the disappearance of Dou Di experts and Emperor-Grade Alchemists, the continent's highest level of power and alchemy ceased to exist. Alchemy was no longer at its peak, and Ninth-Rank Alchemists became the pinnacle of the age.

"In other words, the furthest an alchemist can advance today is the ninth rank. Some of the more famous Ninth-Rank Alchemists of the past thousand years include..."

Xiao Yan spoke for a good ten minutes or so. Many faces showed dawning understanding or utter bewilderment, while some listeners grew so excited that their breathing quickened.

Their backgrounds were impressive, but that was only relative. Some of these youths had never even heard of the Yao Clan.

What Xiao Yan was explaining came from records held only by the ancient clans. Although the information was not classified, it rarely circulated beyond them.

At that moment, stars of admiration sparkled in many of the girls' eyes as they looked at Xiao Yan. Even Cao Ying and Dan Chen watched him with burning gazes.

That's right. Keep looking at me with that adoring gaze.

Xiao Yan maintained a calm smile, not readily allowing his inner feelings to show on his face.

"Teaching assistant Song, I'm finished," Xiao Yan said, looking at Song Qing.

"Hm? Finished?"

Song Qing froze for a moment, then nodded, still hungry for more. Suddenly remembering his original purpose, he saw the stars in Cao Ying's eyes as she gazed at Xiao Yan, and his expression darkened again.

"Student Xiao Yan gave a fairly good explanation. However, we're alchemists. Ancient subjects like the formation Dao and soul Dao were rather unnecessary. Please sit down."

Song Qing spoke coolly.

Is this bastard starting to pick a fight? Xiao Yan frowned and sat down without betraying his thoughts.

I hope you won't stick your own face under my foot, Xiao Yan thought.

But Song Qing clearly had no intention of letting Xiao Yan have his way. In his eyes, Xiao Yan was now a thorn in his eye, a splinter in his flesh, and he would not rest until he had removed him.

"Student Xiao Yan, explain this..."

"Although what you said was correct..."

Watching Xiao Yan's face gradually darken, Dan Chen poked him a little fearfully.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Xiao Yan smiled at her, then glanced at Cao Ying beside him, who was still enjoying the trouble without a care.

"Xiao Yan, the classroom is a serious setting. I know you're very talented, but I hope..."

Song Qing was basking in his success at putting this peerless genius in his place when a calm voice rang out.

"Have you fucking said enough?"

"Hm?" Song Qing's voice stopped abruptly. For all his calculations, he had never imagined Xiao Yan would dare insult him outright in class.

"Student Xiao Yan, are you talking to me?" Song Qing's expression grew even darker. Having spent years among the Pill Tower's upper ranks, he could still project authority without anger. That expression frightened quite a few of the inexperienced youths.

"You're damn right I'm talking to you. Why the fuck do you have so much bullshit to say?" Unfortunately, that expression certainly could not intimidate Xiao Yan. He stood up and launched into a tirade. "Who are you showing that long fucking face to? Trying to offer it up so I can wipe my shoes on it?"

"What are you staring at? Your daddy?"

"You, you..." Publicly insulted by Xiao Yan, Song Qing's face alternated between green and white. He had been reprimanded by the Pill Tower's higher-ups before, but which of them would curse like a street thug?

"You're an insult to civilized conduct! You're a disgrace to the alchemy world!" Song Qing pointed at Xiao Yan for ages, unable to string together even a few curses.

"An insult to your fucking mother, you dumbass! What the fuck are you staring at? If you've got a problem, come out and fight me one-on-one!"

Xiao Yan's mastery of the language of cursing was pure perfection. Not only did he curse until Song Qing's face trembled, but the geniuses of the Youth Class were also left dumbstruck, their gazes filled with fear.

This guy was not only powerful and talented, but shameless too. He turned hostile as easily as flipping a page, hurled insults without hesitation, and now looked ready to throw punches.

"You said one-on-one. Do you mean it?" Song Qing, who had been cursed into speechlessness, suddenly brightened at the mention of a duel.

"Of course I mean it! Come out if you dare, and I'll beat you until your own mother can't recognize you." Xiao Yan sneered.

"Fine, Xiao Yan! I accept! Let's go outside and fight one-on-one!" Song Qing was delighted. Xiao Yan was merely a two-star Dou Emperor, while he was an Eight-Star Dou Emperor. Once they fought, Song Qing refused to believe he could lose.

And if he won, he could thoroughly crush this brat in front of Cao Ying.

"Then let's fight! You think I'm scared of you?" Xiao Yan roared with a fierce front that concealed his weakness, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes.

The brat's scared! Seeing Xiao Yan's strained expression, Song Qing was instantly overjoyed.

He strode outside, looking back at Xiao Yan as he said, "If you're a man, don't just talk."

"My word is a nail driven home!" Xiao Yan seemed to hesitate before letting out a cold snort.

"Heh heh, I'll make sure to humiliate you thoroughly in front of Ying'er today." Song Qing sneered, flapped his Dou Qi Wings, and flew out.

"Xiao Yan, you're no match for senior brother Song!" Cao Ying tugged at Xiao Yan, a trace of worry finally appearing on her face. She realized things seemed to have gotten a little out of hand!

"Hmph. Once I've dealt with him, I'll come back and deal with you." Xiao Yan sneered, making Cao Ying's heart tremble.

"Don't... don't go." A small hand caught the hem of Xiao Yan's clothes.

Xiao Yan, who had been in a towering rage all this time, paused. He reached out and stroked Dan Chen's little head, giving her a gentle smile. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine!"

With that, he formed wings from Dou Qi and flew out.

"Hurry! Let's go watch!" The youths clearly had no fear of trouble growing bigger as long as they could enjoy the spectacle, and they all ran outside.

The class's top dog fighting a teacher was enough to set the blood of youths their age boiling.

"If Xiao Yan can beat teacher Song, I'm following him from now on," one boy said excitedly.

"Heh, if Xiao Yan wins, he won't need Cao Ying anymore. I'll warm his bed," a girl said.

"You people really don't care how big this mess gets." Ye Zhong realized with a worried expression that being class monitor did not seem easy at all.

Watching the boys and girls holding watermelons and drinking Beast Milk as they enjoyed the spectacle, he suddenly gritted his teeth and ran toward director Xuan Kongzi's office.