Ye Zhong had shouldered heavy burdens since childhood and was somewhat older, so he understood the seriousness of things getting out of hand. Most of these youths, however, were half-grown boys at an age when no spectacle was ever too big.
"Go! Go!" the youths shouted excitedly, though it was impossible to tell whom they were cheering for.
Dan Chen watched Xiao Yan confronting Song Qing in the sky, her little fists clenched tightly and worry written across her face. Cao Ying did not look much better.
If the two fought, her fanning the flames would certainly be part of the reason. Moreover, Xiao Yan's final remark had stirred a trace of nervousness in her heart.
"Xiao Yan, you're no match for me. Admit defeat now and leave Cao Ying. Out of respect for Venerable Yao, I can let you off!" Song Qing said coolly, looking at Xiao Yan from high in the sky.
Frankly, he did not want to forge a bitter feud with Xiao Yan. This boy's future achievements were very likely to surpass his own, and he was reluctant to offend him lightly.
But if that meant giving up Cao Ying, it was absolutely out of the question.
"Who the fuck are you trying to impress?" Xiao Yan's remark nearly choked Song Qing.
"Kowtow and beg for mercy now, and I can still spare your life. As for that little chick Cao Ying, this young master has already reserved her as his bedwarming maid." Xiao Yan gave Song Qing a sidelong look.
Since he meant to humiliate his opponent, he could hardly look him squarely in the eye.
"You, you..." How could Song Qing compete with Xiao Yan in a war of insults? His face twitched with anger several times before he finally sneered.
"Fine! I see Venerable Yao has spoiled you for far too long. You truly don't know how high the heavens are or how deep the earth runs. Today, I'll teach you a proper lesson and show you that there's always someone beyond you!" He roared, his body trembled slightly, and he vanished from the spot.
Venerable Yao, my ass. As if he could spoil me. Xiao Yan curled his lip, but ultimately left the words unspoken.
He still had to show some respect for the elderly.
Just then, a gust of wind swept toward him, and a fist wrapped in azure light smashed straight at his face.
Boom! Before everyone's eyes, the azure-lit fist punched straight through Xiao Yan's head.
"Ah!" Some of the kinder girls could not help covering their eyes. Dan Chen's little face went white with fright, while only Cao Ying furrowed her brows slightly.
As Song Qing's fist passed through, not a single drop of blood flowed from Xiao Yan's head. Instead, it slowly began to dissipate.
"An energy body!" Song Qing's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly turned and threw another punch.
"Your Dou Technique is pretty good. Unfortunately, your mastery of it isn't." A fist collided with Song Qing's, producing a dull thud. Song Qing involuntarily retreated three steps, while Xiao Yan was sent flying backward dozens of yards.
"Hahahaha! Xiao Yan, your movement technique is indeed powerful. I admit I'm not as fast as you, but with that Dou Qi of yours, do you really think you're a match for me?"
Seeing Xiao Yan hurled so far away, Song Qing could not help laughing loudly, a smug expression spreading across his face.
"Even if you're a peerless genius, you're still only a fifteen-year-old boy. The vast gap between a Two-Star Dou Emperor and an Eight-Star Dou Emperor isn't something talent alone can bridge."
Besides, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi seemed rather insubstantial. It felt terribly weak.
"Ah, the Dou Qi from this Flame Mantra really is feeble right now..." Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly.
Even if the High-grade Yellow Tier Flame Mantra turned the heavens upside down, how could it compare with Song Qing's Earth Tier Cultivation Method?
As the Pill Tower Grand Elder's disciple, it would hardly be surprising if Song Qing possessed a High-grade Earth-tier Cultivation Method. At the very least, he could practice a mid-grade Earth Tier Cultivation Method. The sheer depth of his Dou Qi was fully comparable to that of an ordinary Nine-Star Dou Emperor.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan had already dropped to a Two-Star Dou Emperor. Coupled with the Flame Mantra's kidney-deficient nature, he could probably only compare with an ordinary One-Star Dou Emperor.
Only his consummate mastery of Dou Techniques and immensely powerful physique had allowed him to exchange a head-on blow with Song Qing. An ordinary Dou Emperor would have coughed up blood from that strike.
After all, the quality of Song Qing's Dou Techniques was far from ordinary.
It was not that the Xiao Clan backing Xiao Yan could not provide better Dou Techniques. Rather, for Dou Emperors, these techniques were already approaching the limit of what they could handle. Even better techniques would not be easy for them to use.
"Xiao Yan, if that's all you've got, you'd better behave and beg for mercy." Song Qing sneered. The Dou Qi Wings on his back beat once, and he surged forward again.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The two repeatedly exchanged blows, the surging aftermath of their Dou Qi stirring waves of energy through the sky. Many elders and disciples poked their heads out to watch.
"Look, it's that genius Xiao Yan. How did he end up fighting Song Qing?"
"Perhaps this is just how geniuses refuse to yield to one another. Song Qing is also a genius our Pill Tower nurtured. When two young men's sharp edges meet, they want to settle who's superior."
"Did I ask you to stand here giving commentary? Hurry up and bring me a stool and some sunflower seeds!"
"Yes, Teacher."
"And a flask of wine."
"Yes, Teacher..."
"Xiao Yan, if you think you can hold out just by dodging like this, I advise you to forget it!" After driving Xiao Yan back with a palm strike, Song Qing sneered.
Xiao Yan's movement technique was indeed a little faster than his own, but his Dou Qi was flimsy and powerless. He had probably already used up half of it by now. Song Qing, by contrast, still had ample reserves, having expended only around a tenth.
"Be good and admit defeat. Leave Cao Ying, and I can spare you," Song Qing said with a smile.
"Heh heh, I already told you. That chick is mine." Xiao Yan suddenly let out a sinister chuckle, rubbed his fists, then seized the upper half of his black robe with his right hand and ripped hard.
With a tearing sound, the expensive black fabric split apart, revealing the youth's slightly lean yet powerful upper body.
"Crimson Refining Flame Demon Body, activate!" Xiao Yan shouted in a low voice. The Azure Lion tattoo on his back began to glow, flames seeming to burn along its azure lines. A moment later, a mighty power that had lain dormant awakened within him.
Crack, crack. A series of sounds came from Xiao Yan's joints. He suddenly grew another half a head taller, reaching nearly two meters, while his already firm muscles began to swell and engorge.
Now he stood tall and straight, his muscles looking as though they had been cast from molten bronze. Their contours were sharply defined, like a work of art carved by heaven itself, or a perfect warrior.
Roar! A deep lion's roar resounded from within Xiao Yan, and the Azure Lion tattoo on his back seemed to come alive.
"Wow, he's so handsome!" Several girls could not help shrieking.
"With a body like that, I'd be getting the better end of the deal if I warmed his bed."
Hearing their remarks, Cao Ying knitted her brows and gave an involuntary snort. Only then did those little hussies quiet down.
Yet her own long, beautiful eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yan's perfect physique.
Beside her, Dan Chen covered her eyes, her little face faintly flushed. The gaps between her slender, delicate fingers, however, did not obstruct her view in the slightest.
Men lusted after beauty, and women did too. They were merely restrained by something called modesty.
"Song Qing, it's my turn now!" Xiao Yan sneered. Before the image of his body in its original position could dissipate, several more afterimages appeared in the air.
Nine Illusory Flashes! The next instant, his fist smashed toward Song Qing with terrifying force. Wherever it passed, even space itself faintly showed a thin, pitch-black fissure.
Song Qing's expression changed drastically. His hands formed seals faster than they ever had in his life, swiftly condensing a small red shield the size of a human head.
Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique: Profound Fire Shield!
Crack! Xiao Yan's fist paused against the small red shield for only a moment before smashing it apart. Its momentum diminished slightly, then it slammed into Song Qing's chest.
Song Qing's face went pale as Xiao Yan's blow smashed him out of the sky.
How can he be this terrifying? Song Qing looked horrified. If protective armor had not guarded his chest, Xiao Yan would probably have already beaten him into coughing up blood.
No, I'm no match for him. Song Qing hurriedly activated his movement technique, turning into a streak of azure light as he tried to flee. Unfortunately, how could his speed possibly surpass Xiao Yan's?
Several more afterimages flashed through the sky, and Song Qing felt a tremendous force strike his back.
Thud! A dull impact rang out. Song Qing's face turned pale, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Xiao Yan, I surrender! I surrender!" He begged for mercy as he fled, but another punch was his answer.
After three punches, Song Qing fell to the ground, deathly pale, and passed out.
"That's what you get for showing off!"
"Keep showing off, why don't you!" Xiao Yan withdrew his power and viciously stomped on Song Qing's face with the strength of an ordinary person.
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