The sudden appearance of Huo Ba caused the expressions of the Dou Di experts outside the arena to change instantly. Such ghostly speed was difficult for even them to detect, let alone Xiao Yan, a mere Half-Emperor.
"What terrifying speed! Xiao Yan is in big trouble!"
At this moment, everyone's only thought was that Xiao Yan was doomed!
At such close range, without prior preparation, not only Xiao Yan, but even the Dou Di powerhouses around him would not have been able to do it.
Meanwhile, in the void not far from the arena, Zhuo Lin stared sharply at Xiao Yan. He believed that since Xiao Yan was able to survive the attacks of the Four Great Sects leaders, he wouldn't have survived this long if he didn't have a strong foundation.
Sure enough, in everyone's eyes, just as the giant sword was about to fall on Xiao Yan's head, Xiao Yan gently raised his eyes, a sharp light flashing deep within them.
"Haha, Xiao Yan, die! I'll deliver your corpse to the sect for you!"
A mocking laugh came from Huo Ba's mouth, and at the same time, the greatsword in his hand fell heavily.
But the next moment, when Huo Ba's giant sword fell heavily and pierced through Xiao Yan's body, the expression in his eyes suddenly changed drastically.
"This... afterimage... how is this possible!"
Huo Ba was utterly shocked. This was simply unbelievable. Just a moment ago, Xiao Yan was clearly under his control, but in the blink of an eye, he had become nothing more than a blur. This was truly too unbelievable!
When this scene appeared before everyone's eyes, not only Huo Ba, but also the group of Dou Di powerhouses, as well as Zhuo Lin and Zhuo Bentang who were behind Huo Ba, all had different expressions on their faces.
Zhuo Lin was alright. Although he was quite surprised by what he saw, he had expected it. Seeing Xiao Yan's afterimage gradually disappearing under the giant sword, he quickly calmed down.
However, those Dou Di powerhouses who stood outside the battle were suddenly shaken by this bizarre scene.
At such close range, facing an attack from a Three-Star Dou Di, Xiao Yan actually vanished so abruptly without them noticing. This is simply too terrifying!
"How... how did this guy do that? Even with the Heavenly Severing Steps, his mere Half-Emperor strength couldn't possibly allow him to move at such a terrifying speed! This guy... he's simply inhuman!"
The group of Dou Di powerhouses stared in horror at Xiao Yan's fading afterimage on the field, their shock growing even stronger.
"Young Master, I never expected that Xiao Yan would actually..."
"Heh, to become a wanted criminal jointly by the Four Great Sects, he must have some skills. Even what you've seen right now is probably just the tip of the iceberg of Xiao Yan's true strength. If he were to really go all out, even if both of our families combined our full strength, we probably wouldn't be able to take him down."
Before Zhuo Bentang could finish speaking, Zhuo Lin immediately shook his head and chuckled softly.
As he spoke, Zhuo Lin's gaze suddenly shifted, looking towards a certain spot in the void above the plaza. At the same time, a figure dressed in black robes slowly stepped out of the void. Judging from his appearance, who else could it be but Xiao Yan?
When Zhuo Bentang heard Zhuo Lin's words again, he couldn't help but frown for me. He thought for a moment, then looked at Zhuo Lin and frowned, saying:
"Young Master's words sound rather disrespectful to me."
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Lin raised an eyebrow and smiled, then glanced sideways at the latter and calmly replied with a smile:
"You say I'm undermining my own prestige? Hah, do you think you could have dodged that move Huo Ba just made?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Bentang's expression faltered slightly. He opened his mouth slightly, but ultimately frowned and remained silent.
Although unwilling to admit it, Zhuo Bentang knew in his heart that even he himself would not have been very confident in dodging Huo Ba's move just now. However, Xiao Yan had managed to dodge it mysteriously under the watchful eyes of so many Dou Di experts. This alone was enough to make him admit his inferiority.
"But young master, Xiao Yan is merely riding on the momentum of the Heavenly Severing Steps. Otherwise, how could a mere Half-Emperor like him compare to Huo Ba, a dignified Three-Star Dou Di?"
"Hmph, you say Xiao Yan borrowed the power of the Heavenly Severing Steps, but didn't he rely on his Dou Di strength? When fighting, everyone should rely on their own abilities. Never keep the concept of fairness in mind. Otherwise, why don't you fight him with your Six-Star Half-Emperor strength?"
"This... I..."
Zhuo Bentang paused, and before he could utter a word, Zhuo Lin quickly followed up:
"You should feel fortunate that you're a Three-Star Dou Di; otherwise, the outcome of the match would be very different! Even Sun Hanxi, a One-Star Dou Di, died at Xiao Yan's hands. Opponents of the same level are nothing but mud to him; he can crush them at will!"
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Bentang was completely brought back to his senses. Just thinking about how Sun Hanxi, a Dou Di expert, had died at Xiao Yan's hands, he realized just how powerful Xiao Yan must be!
Thinking of this, Zhuo Bentang couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat on his wrinkled forehead. He realized that Xiao Yan's power was far greater than he had thought. He was already so powerful at the Half-Emperor level. It was hard to imagine how terrifying Xiao Yan Xiao Yan's strength would be once he had fully grown up!
In the void, Zhuo Lin and Huo Ba looked at Xiao Yan, who had appeared somewhere in the void. Zhuo Lin's gaze contained solemnity, but also a hint of mockery.
As for Huo Ba, his face was ashen. He, a dignified Three-Star Dou Di, had his fatal attack dodged at such a short distance. What was most infuriating was that the person who dodged his attack was only a mere Six-Star Half-Emperor!
Normally, Huo Ba would have easily slapped such a person, but Xiao Yan right now filled him with both shock and anger.
"Huffing and puffing..."
Xiao Yan, who had just emerged, was panting heavily, as if he had just finished some strenuous exercise; his breathing was rising and falling.
Although Xiao Yan perfectly dodged that attack, his opponent was, after all, a Dou Di expert. As Xiao Yan fully activated the Heavenly Severing Steps, it naturally consumed a tremendous amount of Dou Qi within his body.
That action just now consumed nearly one-fifth of Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, a considerable price to pay. Of course, in return, Xiao Yan narrowly avoided Huo Ba's sudden attack.
"Hmph! Even if you're lucky enough to escape this once, there will never be a second chance!"
With a gloomy expression, he cursed under his breath. Then, Huo Ba's body suddenly trembled, and he charged at Xiao Yan once again.
Having witnessed what had just happened, Huo Ba dared not be careless this time. In the instant his figure flashed, he transformed into a dazzling stream of light, like a star in the night sky. This speed was undoubtedly even more terrifying than before.
Even though the two were a hundred feet apart, in the eyes of Dou Di expert, it was only a matter of a moment. The next moment, Huo Ba's burly body appeared in front of Xiao Yan once again, like a wall. He raised his giant sword high above his head, and the moment his figure appeared, the giant sword in his hand brought down on Xiao Yan's head with an incomparably sharp sword aura.
At the same time, Xiao Yan's expression quickly turned sharp. He put the Heavy Xuan Ruler into his Storage Ring, and with a change of footwork, he immediately unleashed the Heavenly Severing Steps. The next moment, everyone present clearly saw that the instant the giant sword in Huo Ba's hand fell, Xiao Yan's figure transformed into a gust of wind and disappeared from the square in the blink of an eye.
"Laugh..."
Immediately afterwards, Huo Ba's giant sword missed its target once again.
"Kindness?!"
Huo Ba was suddenly shocked, but then his gaze suddenly shifted to a certain spot in the void above, where Xiao Yan's figure reappeared.
"Drink! Xiao Yan, prepare to die!"
A thunderous roar suddenly erupted from his mouth, and at the same time, Huo Ba's figure flashed away once again at an extremely fast speed.
At the same time, Xiao Yan's figure flashed up repeatedly as Huo Ba surged forward. The Power of the Great Dao, combined with the wonders of the Heavenly Severing Steps, allowed Xiao Yan to gain the upper hand every time, dodging Huo Ba's fierce attacks. For a time, the latter was unable to do anything to Xiao Yan.
Off the field, Zhuo Lin and Zhuo Bentang quietly observed the situation, but showed no intention of making a move.
Huo Ba was naturally aware of this, knowing that the Zhuo Clan's hungry wolf would only act when faced with a dangerous situation. Therefore, he stopped Huo Tianyi, who was originally planning to help, so that someone on his side could restrain the Zhuo Clan. Otherwise, once Huo Tianyi and his forces were largely depleted by Xiao Yan, even if they captured Xiao Yan, they would ultimately only be doing the Zhuo Clan a favor, which was not something Huo Ba was willing to do.
"Bang!"
Finally, after a long chase, Xiao Yan could no longer escape Huo Ba's relentless pursuit. Although their collision lasted only a brief moment, Xiao Yan was blasted back hundreds of feet by Huo Xiao Yan's attack, landing at the very edge of the plaza. Behind him lay an endless abyss, and his foot had landed right on the very edge of the plaza. Although he hadn't truly lost his footing, Xiao Yan seemed to sense it and quickly pulled back.
"Hmph, Xiao Yan, you think you're so good at running? Now, let's see where you can run to!"
With a swift movement, Huo Ba stood not far from Xiao Yan in the blink of an eye, his gaze fixed menacingly on Xiao Yan. Having taken his attack, Xiao Yan must be quite injured by now. After all, no matter how you compare, he is Three-Star Dou Di expert. In front of a true Dou Di expert, even the most powerful Half-Emperor would pale in comparison!
"Laugh!"
He shuddered violently with the giant sword in his hand, and unparalleled sword energy surged forth, causing the void around him to hum and tremble.
Immediately afterwards, an extremely terrifying aura swept out from Huo Ba's body, pressing heavily on Xiao Yan at this moment.
"Snort..."
The next moment, feeling the terrifying pressure that suddenly descended upon him from above, Xiao Yan's already pale face, due to the lack of Dou Qi, turned completely bloodless, and he couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
With a furrowed brow, Xiao Yan's mind raced, and the Dou Qi flowing through his meridians immediately began to circulate, attempting to use it to resist the latter's oppressive aura. Unfortunately, under Huo Ba's powerful aura, even the speed at which Xiao Yan's Dou Qi circulated was significantly affected, making it impossible for him to contend with it.
"Haha, this is like a mayfly trying to shake a tree! With your mere Half-Emperor strength, you think you can withstand my overwhelming aura? You're overestimating yourself!"
Sensing the unusual movement within Xiao Yan's body, Huo Ba grinned, his smile filled with disdain.
As for Zhuo Lin, who was standing off the field at the moment, he couldn't help but frown slightly when he saw this scene. Zhuo Bentang, who was standing next to him, also raised his eyebrows slightly, and then smiled at Zhuo Lin:
"Is the young master thinking about Xiao Yan again?"
"Kindness."
Zhuo Lin nodded slightly in response.
"Hehe, Young Master, you seem to be overestimating Xiao Yan. Even if he's exceptionally strong and has outstanding cultivation talent, even if he's incredibly powerful, reality is ultimately cruel. His strength is only that of Half-Emperor, not Dou Di. Half-Emperor can never be a match for Dou Di. Even if he killed Sun Hanxi, it only proves that his puppet was extraordinary. Young Master, you're probably being a bit too focused."
Zhuo Bentang stared intently at Zhuo Lin before him and spoke respectfully.
"Oh? I really overestimated him?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Lin slowly turned his head, staring at Zhuo Bentang with a terrifyingly calm expression, and said.
"Well..."
Seeing Zhuo Lin reveal that chilling gaze once again, even the seasoned and shrewd Zhuo Bentang felt a chill run down his spine.
Zhuo Lin withdrew his gaze without any change in expression, and turned it back to Xiao Yan on the field.
"Staying stuck in the past and being unable to adapt is the reason why my Zhuo Clan has been unable to replace the Four Great Sects."
This sudden remark caused Zhuo Bentang's expression to change drastically, and before he could stop him, Zhuo Lin immediately spoke up, saying:
"It's not that I think too highly of Xiao Yan, but you all, as Dou Di powerhouses, think that no one on this continent is your match? Little do you know the principle that there are always people stronger than you, and heavens beyond heavens. Have you ever seen anyone other than Xiao Yan who comprehends the Power of the Great Dao at the Half-Emperor level?"
"This... no..."
"Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist! My Zhuo Clan is nothing but frogs in a well when we look at the entire Origin Martial Continent. But do you think these so-called Four Great Sects are any better?"
Each cold rebuke was filled with self-mockery. As the eldest son of the Zhuo Clan, Zhuo Lin was a genius in the entire Western Region. Naturally, he also harbored his own ambitions. Perhaps in the eyes of others, the Four Great Sects were already the most powerful forces in the Western Region, and being able to join them was considered extremely fortunate.
Even within the Zhuo Clan Zhuo Lin's family, many members shared this sentiment. However, unlike them, Zhuo Lin believed that becoming the future leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect was destiny. Even so, the Heavenly Sword Sect was merely a starting point for him. Under his immense power, the so-called Four Great Sects were nothing more than stepping stones in his eyes. His future would certainly not be limited to this. Of course, this also depended on the choices his family made.
If the Zhuo Clan is willing to take him as their leader and devote all their strength to sending him to a high position in the government, the future of the Zhuo Clan will surely rise accordingly. But if not, the Zhuo Clan will probably be imprisoned in a small corner of this continent for generations to come!
"A great man who wishes to accomplish something must not be bogged down in trivialities, nor should he be complacent, stubborn, or inflexible!"
"As for now, just watch. Xiao Yan survived the combined attack of the Four Great Sects; how could a mere brute like Huo Ba be easily dealt with!"
After a cold rebuke, Zhuo Lin finally fell silent and stopped talking. As for Zhuo Bentang, who was standing to the side, he stared at Zhuo Lin in horror. He never expected that his young master would have such a temperament at such a young age. This was something that even he admired!
With admiration in his eyes, Luo Bentang sighed inwardly. Immediately afterward, he also turned his gaze to Xiao Yan in the arena. After Zhuo Lin's words, he was now convinced that Xiao Yan was not as simple as they seemed.
Of course, the others on the field were unaware of the conversation between the two. Various gazes were fixed on Xiao Yan, some filled with suspicion, some with pity, and some with sneers, as if Xiao Yan was already in a hopeless situation.
"Hmph."
At this moment, Huo Ba's lips curled into a disdainful smile. He glanced at the two members of the Zhuo Clan behind him out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that the two of them did not make any move, he couldn't help but feel suspicious. At the same time, Huo Ba carried his giant sword and walked slowly towards Xiao Yan with heavy steps.
It took him a full two minutes to walk a distance of several dozen feet.
Arriving before Xiao Yan, Huo Ba noticed that the latter's expression was solemn, with a terrifying pressure looming over him. He was drenched in sweat, but it was all cold sweat. Huo Ba stared intently, and to his surprise, Xiao Yan's face, which should have been pale, was now flushed red, as if it had been roasted by fire.
Immediately afterwards, Huo Ba casually ignored these details, slowly extended his left hand, and as the cold smile on his lips widened, finally, he gently pressed it against Xiao Yan's chest.
"You mere Half-Emperor dare to act so recklessly before me? Killing you would be as easy as turning my hand, as simple and easy as crushing an ant!"
Huo Ba gave a mocking sneer. At the same time, the palm imprinted on Xiao Yan's chest trembled slightly. Then, extremely terrifying Dou Qi erupted from his palm like a volcanic eruption. In the next moment, it completely pierced through Xiao Yan's entire body from front to back!