Several days later, Xiao Yan's meridians were finally completely healed under the dual tempering of the Pulse-Protecting Pill and the Vajra Body.
The spatial cracks hidden deep within the meridian walls have completely healed, and the newly formed meridian tissue, nourished by the medicinal properties, is even more resilient and expansive than before the injury.
The effects of the Calming Heart Pill were completely absorbed into the depths of his soul, and the residual malevolence he brought back from the Slaughter City was completely refined and eliminated.
His mind returned to the composure and clarity he had before entering the Slaughter City.
On this day, when Xiao Huohuo pushed open the door and entered the stone house, he saw Xiao Yan with bright eyes and a harmonious aura.
"It seems he has almost fully recovered."
Xiao Huohuo leaned against the door frame, looked him up and down, and a smile appeared on her lips.
" Yao Lao said you need to test the extent of your meridian recovery in actual combat. Perfect, I have an idea."
A sly glint appeared in his eyes as he said this.
Half an hour later, at the martial arts training ground on the back mountain of the Inner Academy.
This training ground is located in a wide valley behind the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. It is surrounded by mountains and has a flat terrain. It is a venue in the Inner Academy specifically used for challenges and large-scale sparring among the Strong Ranking.
The training ground is paved with special obsidian slabs, which, reinforced by an array, can withstand attacks from Dou Wang level opponent without breaking.
The stadium is surrounded by a ring of gradually rising stands, which are now packed with people.
Xiao Huohuo had someone spread the word in advance that his "avatar" had been greatly enhanced after being reforged and that he would spar with several top experts in the martial arts arena and the Inner Academy.
The news caused a sensation throughout the Inner Academy.
An avatar is extremely rare on the Dou Qi Continent, and an avatar with autonomous combat capabilities is even rarer, let alone an avatar personally crafted by Xiao Huohuo.
For the students of the Inner Academy, this level of competition is something they usually only see during the Strong Ranking Tournament.
Now that they have the opportunity to see it up close, they naturally flock to it.
Great Elder Su Qian was also alarmed. Accompanied by several elders, he sat in the highest position of the stands, his white beard fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.
As he sipped his tea, he observed the young man in black robes in the center of the training ground, feeling a strange, inexplicable quality about this so-called "avatar."
Having dealt with Xiao Huohuo for so long, he had some understanding of his methods.
That kid plays with fire, not with creating clones.
Suddenly, a "clone" appeared with the exact same face but a completely different aura. The old man was not unaware of the trickery involved.
But since Xiao Huohuo used this excuse, he must have his reasons, and he couldn't very well expose him in public.
Lin Xiuya sat on the other side of the stands, holding his long sword. His gaze fell on Xiao Yan, who stood quietly in the center of the arena. His brows were slightly furrowed, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
Lin Yan, standing next to him, had his legs crossed, his face full of eager excitement.
Wu Hao leaned against the railing of the stands, still as taciturn as ever, but his fingers were already tapping lightly on his greatsword.
Hu Jia, with her hair tied in a high ponytail, held a bunch of grapes she had just taken from the cafeteria. While eating, she whispered to the disciple beside her about Xiao Yan's performance in the battle at the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower plaza.
Zi Yan sat in the front row of the stands, her legs dangling over the railing and swinging back and forth.
Those big purple eyes stared unblinkingly at Xiao Yan, a blade of grass she'd plucked from somewhere dangling from her mouth.
Xiao Huohuo stood in the center of the martial arts arena, cleared his throat, and his voice, amplified by his Dou Qi, clearly resonated throughout the entire stands:
"Everyone, the reason I called you all here today is because this clone of mine was damaged in the battle against the Black Alliance, and I have been refining it over the past few days."
Their strength has recovered to its former level. However, the exact extent of their recovery still needs to be tested in actual combat.
So I'd like to ask a few of my old buddies to help me give it a try.
Lin Xiuya, Lin Yan, Wu Hao, Hu Jia —the four of you, practice with this clone of mine.
The four people whose names were called exchanged glances, each seeing varying degrees of excitement in the other's eyes.
Lin Xiuya was the first to leap down from the stands, his figure landing lightly in the center of the training ground like a falling leaf.
He still held his longsword in his arms, a faint blue Dou Qi flowing on the scabbard. He was like a sword yet to be drawn, its sharpness concealed, yet making people dare not look directly at him.
Immediately afterwards, Lin Yan also jumped down from the stands. When he landed, his feet hit the obsidian slab with a dull thud.
A layer of light red, fiery battle Dou Qi had already enveloped his body.
Wu Hao followed closely behind, still as taciturn as ever, but his blood sword was already drawn, its dark red blade gleaming with a cold luster in the morning light.
Hu Jia was the last to leap off the stands, making a crisp whooshing sound as she landed directly on the stands.
Xiao Yan stood in the center of the training ground, his gaze calmly sweeping over the four people in front of him.
Each of them was a top expert among the younger generation of the Inner Academy, with strength at the Dou Wang realm.
With four people working together, even Dou Huang expert wouldn't dare to be careless.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly as a greeting, then raised his right hand.
The Green Lotus Core Flame and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame ignited simultaneously in his palm, the green and pure white flames leaping and dancing alternately, dazzling in the morning light.
A series of hushed gasps erupted from the stands.
Although the newly admitted junior students had seen Xiao Yan make a move from afar in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower Square.
But seeing those two completely different colors of flame appearing simultaneously in one person's hand up close now is a visually stunning experience that surpasses any legend.
Although the veteran students had seen it before, a complex light still flashed in their eyes when they saw that familiar bluish-white flame again.
That was Heavenly Flames that even Han Feng didn't take seriously; it was a flame controlled by the clone of their idol Xiao Huohuo.
Although they didn't know what this clone was all about, just seeing the flames was enough to get their blood pumping.
The battle began in silent, unspoken agreement.
"Haha, Huohuo, Xiao Xin out!"
Lin Xiuya made the first move.
His fighting style is completely different from Xiao Huohuo's.
Lin Xiuya's style is elegant and graceful, with the transitions between sword moves flowing smoothly like clouds and water, without a single unnecessary pause.
He raised his right hand slightly, and the longsword transformed into a streak of azure light the instant it was drawn from its sheath.
The sword light was initially only three feet long, like a green snake winding and slithering through the air.
Immediately, the sword tip trembled slightly, and the azure light surged, transforming into a sword aura several meters long that slashed down towards Xiao Yan's head.
" Green Wood Sword Art ".
Known for its speed, the sword strikes like the wind, arriving in an instant.
Before the sword's edge arrived, its intent preceded it, filling the air with a rich fluctuation of Wood Attribute Dou Qi.
He poured at least 70% of his Dou Qi into this sword strike, not to injure Xiao Yan, but to see how Xiao Yan would respond.
He still vividly remembered the bizarre methods Xiao Yan used on the Black Alliance battlefield.
But he wanted to know just how powerful this "clone" really was in a pure clash of Dou Qi.
Xiao Yan neither retreated nor immediately used any Soul Skill.
What he wanted to test was the extent of the meridians' recovery, not to overwhelm them with the advantage of his Soul Skill.
He wanted to see if his physical body could withstand the impact of a direct attack from a Dou Wang level fighter.
Facing the azure sword light carrying a sharp sword intent, he simply touched the ground with his toes, his entire body tracing a smooth arc in mid-air.
With an almost impossible agility, he narrowly missed the side of the sword's edge.
His robes were torn in several small rips by the aftershocks of the sword energy, but his movements did not falter in the slightest.
At the same time, Lin Yan's attack arrived.
Lin Yan Blazing Flame Fist Art is fierce and domineering, leaving a trail of flames wherever his fists strike.
At this moment, his fists were enveloped in blazing Lie Yan, with pale red flames forming a pair of fiery gauntlets on his knuckles.