Chapter 155: Defeated in One Move, Yun Leng Stirs Trouble
Jia Ma Empire, Yunlan Sect Square
"Life or death, we leave it to fate!"
As Xiao Yan's words echoed across the square, the Yunlan Sect's Great Elder, Yun Leng, immediately wore a dark expression.
This was their Yunlan Sect, yet Xiao Yan dared to speak so brazenly? If Yun Leng didn't teach this brat a lesson today, what face would he have left as the sect's Great Elder?
Just as Yun Leng prepared to reprimand Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran spoke coldly:
"Fine. Life or death, each to their fate. Just don't regret it!"
Nalan Yanran wasn't the least bit concerned about Xiao Yan's current strength. Over the past three years, her meteoric rise from a three star Dou Zhe to a one star Dou Shi had cemented her as the Yunlan Sect's most gifted disciple in its history.
Even if Xiao Yan had miraculously regained his talent, it was impossible for him to surpass her. Three years ago, he was just a waste with three stages of Dou Qi, and no amount of effort could change that.
She glanced at the purple wings on Xiao Yan's back and dismissed them as nothing more than a flight based Dou Technique, similar to what her teacher, Yun Yun, used.
As the sect's young master, Nalan Yanran naturally had the knowledge and confidence befitting her position.
Xiao Yan's Resolve
"Hah, regret?" Xiao Yan sneered, his tone icy. "Do you even know what I've endured for this day? No, you don't. Let's end this here and now."
His voice carried the weight of three years of relentless struggle, humiliation, and countless brushes with death. He had waited too long to reclaim his honor.
Across from him, Nalan Yanran felt a chill at Xiao Yan's growing aura. Refusing to back down, she activated her Dou Qi Armor, the shimmering shield enveloping her body with the force of a one star Dou Shi.
"Let's see who triumphs!" she declared, drawing her sword.
Her movements were swift and calculated. As soon as her sword left its sheath, she struck its hilt with her palm, propelling the scabbard toward Xiao Yan like a speeding arrow.
The First Clash
The scabbard hurtled through the air with a sharp whistle, but Xiao Yan didn't even blink. With a single swing of his Heavy Xuan Ruler, he met the attack head on.
Clang!
A deafening collision echoed through the square as the scabbard shattered upon impact. Shards of metal scattered, a testament to the raw force behind Xiao Yan's seemingly casual move.
The crowd fell silent, captivated by the display of power.
Nalan Yanran's confidence faltered as she witnessed the effortless counter.
"Too weak," Xiao Yan muttered dismissively before launching himself forward.
Xiao Yan Takes the Offensive
With a sudden burst of strength, Xiao Yan leaped like a cannonball, leaving behind a crater in the stone platform where he had stood. The sheer power of his takeoff drew gasps from the audience.
"Such explosive strength! He's already comparable to a high ranking Dou Shi!" an observer exclaimed.
Nalan Yanran, mid charge, also noticed Xiao Yan's incredible speed and agility.
"How is this possible?" she thought, her heart pounding. This level of strength and precision was far beyond what she could have imagined for the boy she once dismissed.
Refusing to falter, she planted her foot firmly and propelled herself forward with a burst of Dou Qi. Her sword clashed with Xiao Yan's Heavy Xuan Ruler.
Clang!
The weapons collided, freezing both fighters momentarily. Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, while Nalan Yanran's face flushed under the immense force.
It was then that she realized the boy she once considered a failure had grown into a terrifyingly powerful opponent one far beyond her capabilities.
The Decisive Strike
"Too weak," Xiao Yan repeated, his voice calm but cutting. "Let's end this."
Before Nalan Yanran could respond, Xiao Yan released his grip on the Heavy Xuan Ruler, freeing his body from its weight. With the heavy weapon no longer suppressing his Dou Qi, his strength surged explosively.
In a blink, he closed the short distance between them.
"Eight Extremities Collapse!"
The Xuan Class High Level Technique exploded from Xiao Yan's fists, aimed directly at Nalan Yanran.
Panicking, she tried to block with her sword, but the overwhelming force shattered the blade into fragments. The remnants of Xiao Yan's punch struck her chest like a thunderbolt.
Victory in One Move
"Nalan Yanran!" Yun Yun shouted in alarm as she watched her disciple's body rocket backward like a cannonball. Nalan Yanran slammed into the protective barrier with a resounding crash, then crumpled to the ground, unconscious and gravely injured.
Xiao Yan stood still, his Heavy Xuan Ruler returning to his grasp as if by instinct. He placed it on his back with practiced ease and looked around the silent square.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, his cold voice carrying across the arena, "I believe the outcome is clear. Is there any need to continue?"
The crowd was stunned. No one had expected the duel to end so swiftly or so decisively.
The Yunlan Sect had gone to great lengths to publicize the event, inviting prominent figures from across the empire to witness the spectacle. Yet, their prodigious young master had been defeated in a single move.
Shock and Awe
All eyes were now on Xiao Yan, who stood tall and unyielding in the center of the square. Their gazes shifted between him and the crumpled figure of Nalan Yanran.
What was supposed to be a grand display of Yunlan Sect's strength had turned into an embarrassing debacle.
For three years, rumors had spread about this fight between the "fallen genius" of the Xiao Clan and the "brightest star" of the Yunlan Sect. No one had expected such a one sided result.
But now, the truth was undeniable. The young man who had once been labeled a waste had utterly dominated the Yunlan Sect's most gifted disciple.
"Hiss... This boy's talent is terrifying! Just three years ago, he was a waste with only three stages of Dou Qi, yet now he's risen to become a remarkable young genius. Truly extraordinary!" Jia Xing Tian couldn't help but marvel in his heart.
"Impressive as always, Xiao Yan. To end the fight so quickly... truly remarkable." Hai Bodong also felt a sense of pride, as though he were somehow part of Xiao Yan's success.
Others in the audience shared similar thoughts.
"Shall we continue?"
Xiao Yan's calm voice echoed across the silent square, snapping everyone out of their shock.
"Damn it!" Yun Leng, the Great Elder of Yunlan Sect, clenched his fists tightly, his face livid.
He had gone to great lengths to make this duel a grand spectacle, fully confident that Nalan Yanran would secure victory. But now, she had failed to withstand even one single move.
The humiliation was overwhelming. Not only was Yun Leng deeply frustrated, but he was also seething with rage over the outcome.
As he prepared to declare the result, Yun Yun stood up, her voice calm yet firm:
"The duel is over. Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan is the victor!"
Xiao Yan's Declaration
Acknowledging Yun Yun's announcement with a nod, Xiao Yan retrieved a scroll from his storage ring. It was the letter of annulment he had written three years ago. Tossing it into the air, he flicked his finger, sending out a streak of green flame.
"Hiss!"
The scroll ignited instantly under the power of his Heavenly Flame, reduced to ashes in mere moments.
With a voice like steel, Xiao Yan declared:
"From this moment onward, Nalan Yanran and my Xiao Clan of Wutan City have no further connection!"
Within his heart, Xiao Yan silently spoke: "Father, I have reclaimed the honor that was lost three years ago."
He then turned his gaze toward Yun Yun, who was tending to the unconscious Nalan Yanran on the ground. Her figure, which had haunted his thoughts for so long, stirred a sense of nostalgia.
However, he remembered their agreement if they ever met again, they would not speak of the time they had spent together, regardless of their identities or past relationship.
With a sigh, Xiao Yan tore his eyes away and prepared to leave.
Yun Leng Stirs Trouble
Before he could take another step, Yun Leng's icy voice cut through the air:
"Wait, Xiao Yan! There is a matter that this old man finds perplexing. May I trouble you to answer a question?"
Several Yunlan Sect elders immediately descended from the stands, blocking Xiao Yan's path.
The onlookers exchanged puzzled glances, sensing an unsavory turn of events. Could Yun Leng be so petty as to refuse to accept the result?
Turning back, Xiao Yan's gaze was sharp and cold as he asked:
"Great Elder Yun Leng, what is the meaning of this?"
"Don't worry. This old man wouldn't stoop to such lows. I merely have a question for you, Xiao Yan," Yun Leng sneered.
"Ask away."
Xiao Yan's fists clenched slightly as he surveyed the Yunlan Sect disciples surrounding him.
The Accusation
Yun Leng's eyes gleamed maliciously. "Did you kill the head of the Mo Clan, Mo Cheng, who was also a deacon of my Yunlan Sect?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Mo Cheng, head of the Mo Clan of Salt City and a Dou Ling level expert, had been dead for some time. To implicate Xiao Yan a four star Da Dou Shi, as revealed during the duel in such an act seemed ludicrous.
Some spectators whispered among themselves: How could Yun Leng make such an accusation?
Even if Xiao Yan had unparalleled talent, it was near impossible for someone to leap an entire realm to kill a Dou Ling expert.
Was Yun Leng truly willing to offend such a promising genius over a dead man?
Xiao Yan's Calculated Silence
Xiao Yan remained silent, his expression cold and unreadable.
He wasn't afraid of Yunlan Sect, nor of Yun Leng. His arsenal of trump cards and techniques gave him confidence.
However, he couldn't ignore the potential repercussions for his family. While he might not fear retaliation, the Xiao Clan of Wutan City couldn't withstand Yunlan Sect's wrath.
For this reason, Xiao Yan had held back during the fight, ensuring his attack on Nalan Yanran would incapacitate rather than seriously harm her.
"Answer me!" Yun Leng pressed. "Was Mo Cheng killed by you?"
A Veiled Threat
Finally, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a frosty smile.
"Is this the Yunlan Sect's way? Unable to accept defeat, so you fabricate excuses to trap me? Great Elder Yun Leng, do you think I am so easily bullied?"
"Don't think you can squirm your way out of this!" Yun Leng retorted sharply. "Mo Cheng was killed by a powerful Heavenly Flame. And as far as I know, only one person in Jia Ma Empire possesses such a flame: a certain alchemist named Yao Xiao, also known as Yao Yan.
But let me ask Xiao Yan, isn't Yao Yan just another name for you?"
Yun Leng's words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Nalan Yanran's Heartbreak
As Yun Leng spoke, Nalan Yanran still recovering under Yun Yun's care slowly regained consciousness.
Her heart sank as she pieced together the implications.
The man she had once admired, who had helped her grandfather expel poison and shone so brightly at the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Conference, was none other than Xiao Yan, the boy she had humiliated and dismissed.
"This... is your revenge?" she thought bitterly, tears of frustration and regret welling in her eyes.
If Xiao Yan and Yao Yan had been two separate people, she could have accepted her defeat gracefully. But now, knowing the truth, she felt utterly humiliated.
Consumed by despair, she reached for a broken sword, intending to end her life.
"Smack!"
Yun Yun reacted swiftly, knocking the blade from her hands. "Yanran, don't be foolish!"
Clouds Gather
Standing tall amidst the turmoil, Xiao Yan turned his gaze back to Yun Leng and Yun Yun.
"Yao Xiao," Yun Yun began cautiously, addressing him by his alchemist alias, "is what the Great Elder said true?"
(End of Chapter)
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