"Good, you've got guts!" A sharp gleam surged within Liu Qing's eyes as he replied in a deep, resounding voice.
As his voice echoed across the arena, a wild and violent energy fluctuation suddenly swept through the air like a tide crashing against stone. In that instant, the expressions of the Elders seated in the judges' area—and those of Lin Xiuya, Han Yue, and Xiao Yu—shifted drastically.
Han Yue and Xiao Yu's gazes turned solemn, their eyes locked onto the arena without blinking. They had heard of this technique before—Xiao Hua had once mentioned it to them in passing. Yet until now, they had never witnessed it firsthand. Liu Qing had deliberately kept it hidden, unwilling to expose it before the Grand Competition.
And now, he had chosen to unveil it—not against Lin Xiuya, nor any of the academy elites—but against a dark horse… a junior who had only entered the Inner Academy this very year.
"It seems he's truly going to use that technique… Xiao Yan really does deserve Elder Xiao Hua's attention," Lin Xiuya murmured softly, shaking his head with a faint sigh.
Nearby, Yan Hao and the others furrowed their brows, unable to fully grasp Lin Xiuya's meaning. Even so, they could sense the shift in atmosphere—the technique Liu Qing was preparing to unleash was far from ordinary. Just from Lin Xiuya's reaction alone, they knew: a terrifying strike was imminent.
As the natural energy between Heaven and Earth surged violently around Liu Qing, the distant Xiao Yan felt a sudden chill prickling across his skin. That fierce aura—razor-sharp and unyielding—had already locked firmly onto him.
Xiao Yan, with his exceptionally keen spiritual perception, sensed it even before the others in the platform. There was no doubt—Liu Qing was about to unleash the Di-Class Dou Technique that Xiao Hua had once entrusted to him.
"Senior Liu Qing, come at me with everything you've got! I, Xiao Yan, will secure my place in the top ten today!"
Yet, despite the mounting pressure, no trace of fear appeared on Xiao Yan's face. With a sharp step forward, he let out a clear, fearless laugh that echoed across the arena. His thunderous laughter reverberated throughout the arena, stirring the blood of those in the distant viewing gallery.
That pride—unyielding and aimed straight for the heavens—was enough to ignite the fighting spirit of all who witnessed it.
Slamming the heavy ruler in his hand onto the ground with a heavy sound, Xiao Yan raised his right hand high, his fighting spirit soaring. And then, another surge of wild and violent energy suddenly rippled across the arena as he raised his hand.
"These two fellows… aren't they getting a little too hot-blooded?" Even the Elders, despite their strength and composure, couldn't help but feel a trace of unease at this moment. Though both combatants were merely at the Dou Ling level, they knew full well—the clash between these two techniques would be anything but ordinary.
There was no doubt: once these two forces collided, the situation would spiral into something dangerously unstable, and intervention from them would become inevitable.
As the violent energy ripple within the arena grew stronger, faint threads of pale-red, substance-like energy began to seep from the empty air around Xiao Yan. The searing hot force gradually enshrouded his body and spun wildly around him.
As this pale-red energy rotated, a fierce wind suddenly surged outward, sweeping across the arena like a storm. The force was so intense that even the heavy rocks scattered across the ground were sent tumbling a few times.
On Liu Qing's side, dense golden-colored energy streams emerged from the surrounding earth, thick and heavy as molten metal. That power surged up and wrapped around his tall figure, churning slowly with terrifying weight.
The very pressure of that earthen energy caused some of the boulders nearby to sink slightly into the soil, while fine cracks silently spread across the arena floor like creeping spiderwebs.
…
By now, almost everyone in the stadium had sensed the strange transformations occurring around Xiao Yan and Liu Qing. Countless stunned gazes turned toward the arena, and even those students with weaker eyesight—who hadn't noticed anything at first—began to realize that something extraordinary was about to unfold.
Even those with exceptional strength and status within the Inner Academy were momentarily stunned when they saw what was unfolding in the arena—Xiao Yan's body wrapped in a cocoon of fiery-red energy, and Liu Qing enveloped by dense, solid-like earthen-golden light.
"Th-this… what exactly is this…?" Yan Hao's eyes widened blankly, resembling a dead fish, as he stared unblinkingly at the two figures standing within the raging storm of wild energy.
His throat bobbed slightly. After a brief silence, a hoarse voice escaped his lips, carrying a trace of chill, "T-That… that Dou Technique… what level is it…?"
Anyone with even the faintest knowledge could tell that Xiao Yan and Liu Qing were each unleashing something far more terrifying than anything they had revealed before.
Compared to this, even the earlier Flame Lotus that Xiao Yan unleashed paled in comparison.
"They're using… Di-Class Dou Techniques." Lin Xiuya drew in a deep breath, attempting to calm the fierce pounding of his heart. His voice was low and slightly strained. "Only techniques at that level could stir the natural energy of Heaven and Earth to such an extent…"
"Di-Class…? Where did those two get their hands on such things…? Don't tell me you have one too, Lin Xiuya…"
As those two simple words left his mouth, Yan Hao and the others could only stare wide-eyed, their faces painted with shock and disbelief. Near the end, all their gazes turned sharply toward Lin Xiuya.
"We received them from Elder Xiao Hua," Lin Xiuya said calmly, offering no attempt to hide the truth. He continued, "Aside from Liu Qing and myself, Lin Yan, Han Yue, and Xiao Yu were also given one. I believe Xiao Yan has likely received one from him as well."
To put it bluntly, Xuan-Class Dou Techniques were already considered rare. But for those capable of entering the Strong Ranking, possessing one or two Xuan-Class techniques was not unheard of. However, a Di-Class Dou Technique… that was something entirely different. Among all those who had stood at the peak of the Inner Academy, not a single one had ever displayed such a technique before.
Except for Lin Xiuya and the others.
And now, witnessing these terrifying powers unfold before their eyes, how could the others not feel a strong surge of envy toward those who had been fortunate enough to receive such techniques?
Lin Xiuya ignored their reactions and kept his gaze firmly locked on the two figures within the arena. Like Liu Qing, he too trained his Di-Class Dou Technique. Only after personally using it did he come to understand the vast gulf between a Xuan-Class and a Di-Class technique.
Most Xuan-Class Dou Techniques relied heavily on the user's personal strength to unleash their full potential. But a Di-Class Dou Technique… that level already tapped into the natural energy of Heaven and Earth, unleashing a power akin to divine judgment. One drew from the strength of man, the other from the might of the world itself. There was simply no comparison.
Because of this, he had always been curious about the techniques granted to Liu Qing, Han Yue, and Xiao Yu. Unfortunately, each of them treated their Di-Class Dou Technique as a closely guarded secret and would not reveal it unless absolutely necessary.
'This is my first time witnessing a true clash between high-level Dou Techniques… Just watching it makes my blood surge with excitement,' Lin Xiuya thought, a rare smile playing on his lips as a glint of anticipation flashed deep within his eyes.
…
The moment the fluctuation of natural energy surged from Xiao Yan's side, Liu Qing's pupils narrowed into pinpoints. And yet, there was no shock in his expression. He remained calm, unsurprised that Xiao Yan possessed a Di-Class Dou Technique of his own.
He was truly curious—which of the two techniques would prove superior in this clash? After all, he could clearly sense that both Dou Techniques were equal in class and level. That being the case, the deciding factor would come down to execution, will, and mastery. He wanted to see whose technique would reign supreme.
Moreover, with the battle having escalated to this point, retreat was no longer an option. Even if Xiao Yan's strength had suddenly surged to the Dou Wang level, Liu Qing could only raise his spear and face him head-on. His character would never allow him to shrink back—especially when his opponent was still a new student.
Letting out a long breath, Liu Qing exhaled the suppressed energy in his chest. With the golden energy swirling fiercely inside his body, his figure radiated a brilliance as blinding as the noonday sun—so intense that many in the audience could hardly bear to look at him directly.
Lifting his Mountain Splitting Spear high into the air, Liu Qing let out a low shout. The natural energy of Heaven and Earth, drawn by his presence, surged upward and condensed into a towering pillar of golden light that shot into the sky, several meters tall.
As more golden energy gathered above him, it began to churn violently, condensing into a stormy cloud of earthen-golden radiance—dense, heavy, and awe-inspiring.
A sharp glow flashed across Liu Qing's eyes as the true clash drew near. He could feel the blood within his veins beginning to boil—an exhilarating sensation he had not experienced in a long time. The last time he felt this surge of battle-lust was during his fierce duel with Lin Xiuya in the past.
"Ha ha! Xiao Yan, come—let's see who will stand victorious today!"
His hearty laughter, filled with unshakable confidence and overwhelming dominance, rolled through the arena like thunder. The oppressive atmosphere surged to its peak, pushing the entire crowd to the height of excitement.
Even on the viewing platform, many students were so stirred that their faces turned flush red. Some, unable to restrain themselves, shot to their feet and shouted with all their might toward the arena.
"Senior Liu Qing! Xiao Yan will definitely take a top ten spot!"
At that moment, the black-robed youth slowly raised his head. Not the slightest trace of fear could be seen on his face, even under the immense pressure of Liu Qing's domineering presence. His figure stood tall and proud—straight as a spear—exuding an unshakable might of his own.
That fearless posture caused many of the watching female students to momentarily lose themselves, a flicker of admiration and curiosity flashing in their eyes.
"Very well. In that case, I want to see whether your strength is truly worthy of that confidence!"
Liu Qing's voice echoed like thunder, vast and imposing. Above him, the brilliant golden cloud churned with increasing ferocity and density. Its pressure grew so intense that even the air trembled, and faint distortions appeared in the surrounding space.
Xiao Yan's gaze locked onto the golden cloud that now blanketed nearly half the arena. In response, a surge of fiery red energy gathered around his palm. A jade-green flame suddenly ignited within his hand, its glow intense and wild. The red-hot energy swirling around his body instantly responded, rotating violently before converging onto his hand and condensing into a small, green-colored orb of fire.
The moment the fiery orb formed, the surrounding temperature surged dramatically. Waves of searing heat rolled out, causing the air to ripple, and the very space around him to distort.
Then, under a soft cry from Xiao Yan, torrents of nearly substance-like, wild red energy abruptly poured into the green orb without pause. As the orb grew larger under this terrifying infusion of power, its color began to shift.
A strange dark-red hue slowly bled into the green, and soon, faint traces of purple emerged, blending within it like a storm of raging fire and venom.
Once the orb swelled to the size of a palm, it began to stretch, as if pulled by invisible hands—reshaped by Xiao Yan's will. In the blink of an eye, it elongated and transformed into a massive fiery bow, several meters in length, its blazing form laced with purple flame and surging heat.
Once the fiery bow took form, Xiao Yan calmly extended his hand and pinched the blazing string. With a composed expression, he slowly drew it back. As the string was pulled taut, strands of fiery, substance-like crimson energy seeped from the empty space around him, while a stream of verdant flame surged out from the bow's core. The two energies intertwined, merging into a single, brilliant line that followed the path of Xiao Yan's drawing motion.
By the time the bowstring reached its limit, a massive, blazing arrow had taken shape—fierce and volatile, waiting only for Xiao Yan to release it.
As the technique reached completion, Xiao Yan locked eyes with Liu Qing across the arena. A fierce smile simultaneously appeared on both their faces—battle intent raging between them like fire and steel.
"Xiao Yan! If you can take this strike of mine head-on, I will hand over my third place on the Strong Ranking to you with both hands!" Liu Qing's voice boomed with pride and confidence, his spear raised high as the golden cloud above him churned to its absolute limit.
"If you can withstand this arrow," Xiao Yan replied, his voice bold and unyielding, "then I, Xiao Yan, will give up on the top ten without hesitation!"
The hazy-purple flaming arrow fully stabilized, its sharp, radiant tip locked firmly onto Liu Qing. Even the space around it began to ripple, as if the arrow were tearing through the fabric of the world itself. Xiao Yan's face flushed red from the exertion, but his voice erupted with a wild, untamed laugh.
"Ha ha! Good! Good! Good!"
As his unrestrained laughter echoed across the arena, the surging golden cloud above Liu Qing suddenly stopped churning. In the next instant, the previously blinding mass of golden energy began to dim—its core glowing even brighter as all of the energy condensed inward, gathering into a single, blinding streak of golden light.
"Let the victor be decided in a single strike!"
With a sudden motion, Liu Qing's hand trembled violently as he brought the Mountain Splitting Spear crashing down like a bolt of lightning. The strike carried an overwhelming, domineering force. As the heavy spear descended, it tore through the air with a deep, humming roar, the sound of rushing wind echoing across the arena.
The moment the spear struck the ground, a terrifying shockwave surged outward. The earth beneath Liu Qing's feet instantly split apart with a thunderous crack, spiderweb-like fissures spreading in all directions with him at the center.
"Heaven-Piercing Line!"
In the next instant, a radiant line of golden light erupted silently from the core of the condensed energy above, descending like divine judgment. Though it made no sound, the sharpness of its aura and the weight of its power were undeniable.
The moment the golden line swept downward, the already fractured earth beneath it shattered even further. As it surged forward, the ground collapsed slightly under its passage, leaving behind a glowing, destructive trail—causing countless stunned gazes from the viewing platform to widen in awe and disbelief.
To think that Liu Qing's full-force strike could be this terrifying!
The expressions of everyone in the stadium changed the moment that majestic attack descended. Even the Elders seated in the judges' area wore solemn looks. Liu Qing's might was not just formidable—it was astounding.
They had known that Xiao Hua had bestowed a Di-Class Dou Technique upon Liu Qing. But none of them had expected his mastery over it to reach such a level. Even among the experienced Elders, some were inwardly shaken. It felt as though this technique had been created specifically for him.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan's dark, obsidian-like eyes were filled with the blinding brilliance of the golden light closing in from all directions. As the target of the attack, he could clearly sense the overwhelming sharpness and oppressive force contained within that descending radiance.
Yet, he stood unfazed.
Xiao Yan had absolute confidence that his fiery arrow would pierce through any attack—even one of this caliber.
This Dou Technique—this Heavenly Bow—was one he had received from Xiao Hua the day after they celebrated for Xiao Yan's recovery and thanking Xiao Hua for his assistance in this matter with his two elder brothers in Rock Desert City. Though he had fallen unconscious from drinking too much that night, Yao Lao later told him that Xiao Hua had left behind a technique before departing.
At the time, he hadn't looked at it. Yao Lao had warned him that his strength was far too lacking to use it and the lightest injury he will received is enough to cripple him.
However, when he was recuperating after being pursued by the Misty Cloud Sect, he finally took it out without hesitation and began to study it.
To his shock, the Heavenly Bow technique bore a striking resemblance to the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame he had developed. But unlike the latter, which leaned toward overwhelming destruction, the Heavenly Bow focused entirely on piercing power.
And yet—once the arrow's tip penetrated its target, all the suppressed destructive force within would detonate in an instant, burning away even the soul itself. It was a technique meant to ensure a clean kill, leaving no room for revival.
What shocked Xiao Yan the most was that this Di-class high-level Dou Technique actually possessed the potential to evolve into a Tian-class low-level technique—provided he simultaneously activated four Heavenly Flames. Moreover, the technique's grade would continue to rise with each additional Heavenly Flame he merged into it.
This revelation was nothing short of astonishing. Never had he imagined that he would one day wield a Tian-class Dou Technique. Though its elevation depended on the harsh condition of fusing four Heavenly Flames, the mere possibility was enough to stir his heart.
Even with such a restriction, Xiao Yan believed firmly that this technique would become a terrifying trump card—one that would allow him to challenge and even defeat opponents several levels above his own strength.
He drew in a deep breath of slightly heated air, slowly regaining focus as his mind returned to the battlefield. His body stood tall beneath the countless gazes fixed upon him. The hand gripping the fiery arrow trembled slightly. On his arm, veins bulged like countless writhing serpents, revealing the immense pressure he was enduring.
Across the arena, the audience fell into dead silence. Everyone held their breath, eyes locked onto Xiao Yan. They could tell—he was about to unleash his Di-Class Dou Technique.
Their excitement surged to the peak, their faces flushed red from the tension.
Under the unwavering focus of countless gazes, Xiao Yan's arm trembled once more—this time with even greater clarity. In the next instant, his fingers loosened, and the fiery arrow tinged with a faint purple hue shot forth!
"Break it! Heavenly Bow: Coreflame Arrow!"
Two fierce shouts rang out simultaneously, and in that moment, the blazing arrow exploded forth like a divine comet, streaking across the sky with a furious roar. A trail of purple flame followed in its wake—beautiful to the eye, yet carrying a force so terrifying it seemed capable of burning through space itself.
Bang!
The moment the arrow was released, the air around it shuddered violently—as if a massive stone had been hurled into the still waters of a lake. The searing force rippled out in waves, and a half meter-wide crack line surged along the path of the glowing arrow, spreading swiftly across the already devastated arena beneath countless stunned gazes.
Regardless of one's cultivation level, not a single person dared to blink. All eyes were riveted on the fiery trail and the descending golden radiance, their expressions tense and their hearts pounding.
This was a clash between Di-Class Dou Techniques—something rarely seen even once in a lifetime. None among the spectators would allow themselves to miss a single breath of this battle!
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