Apanied by an aged sigh, a strange yer of white energy suddenly surged around Xiao Yan's body. When Nan Yanran's powerful wind vortex attack came into tact with this energy, it shattered effortlessly.

  "Xiao Yan is still hiding his strength... That aura just now might have reached the Dou King level!"

  "To possess Dou King power at such a young age, this young man’s future potential is limitless!"

  On the high ptform, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong both revealed astonished expressions at the sight.

  Beside them, Fa Ma smirked slightly and said proudly, "Heh, Old Jia, Old Hai, do you two believe me now?"

  "Fa Ma, could it be that you’ve known this Xiao Yan for some time?"

  Hearing Fa Ma’s words, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong almost simultaneously asked.

  "Don’t you two find Xiao Yan’s figure somewhat familiar?" Fa Ma teased, keeping them in suspense.

  At this, Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong turheir gazes to Xiao Yan in the arena. After a few gnces, Jia Xing Tian’s eyes fshed with a peculiar light, and he asked tentatively, "Could this Xiao Yahe same Yan Xiao from the Alchemist vention?"

  "Haha, Old Jia, though ye is catg up with you, your memory isn’t bad," Fa Ma chuckled, stroking his beard. "I told you before, this duel has no suspense. Xiao Yan is bound to win."

  At this moment, not only Jia Xing Tian and Hai Bodong were shocked, but almost everyone present was taken aback by the power Xiao Yan had just dispyed. tless astonished gazes turoward him.

  "This ’t be true! How could that boy from the Xiao family bee so powerful?" Yun Leng’s old eyes were filled with disbelief.

  In the arena, the disciples of the Yun La were equally disturbed by Xiao Yan’s sudden surge in power, causing the inally oppressive aura of their thousand-man formation to waver.

  "So it’s that same aura again. In his duel with Junior Sister Yanran, he dares to borrow someone else’s soul power? I overestimated this Xiao Yan before!"

  Staring at Xiao Yan, Liu Ling spoke angrily.

  "Senior Brother, I sensed something unusual in that brief moment as well... So, you knew all along that Xiao Yan borrowed another’s soul power?" asked Xiao Yixian with a frown.

  "During our experien the Tagore Desert, I fought him once. Back then, he was only at the Dou Practitioner level. It must have been someone else’s soul power that elevated him to the Dou Aor level. In the end, I had Xiao Jin deal with him," Liu Ling expined briefly.

  "I see... So Xiao Yan nearly died to that wind vortex earlier and used that power to save his life. If he refuses to surrender and tinues using that painst Yanran, I won’t let him off!" Xiao Yixian’s voice was icy as she spoke.

  At the ter of the square, Nan Yanran grew more cautious after notig Xiao Yan’s sudden dispy of Dou King-level strength.

  "To think that, in just three years, you’ve reached such heights!"

  "Master’s words were indeed wise; never uimate anyone in the world!"

  "If you’ve reached the Dou King level, the’s have a true battle of bloodshed to settle this grudge ond for all!"

  With these thoughts, Nan Yanra aside her previous disdain for Xiao Yan.

  Meanwhile, on Xiao Yan’s side, after Yao Lao interveo bloan Yanran’s wind vortex, Xiao Yan stood frozen in pce.

  Just moments earlier, Yao Lao informed him that the attaan Yanran unleashed carried the might of a Dou Spirit, a realm one full level above his own.

  "Don’t uimate the youth of today... Haha, Xiao Yan, don’t fet... we are both still young. Three years ago, I was strohan you, and three years ter, I will only be stroill!"

  As Xiao Yan recalled Nan Yanran’s words from earlier, his face suddenly burned with a searing sense of shame.

  “It seems I’ve been a frog at the bottom of a well… These three years, it wasn’t just me who worked hard. She, too, has been improving rapidly.”

  “Today’s battle… I’ve been utterly defeated by Nan Yanran.”

  “Father, it’s Xiao Yan’s failure. I’ve disgraced you…”

  Just as Xiao Yan was drowning in unwillingness, frustration, and shame while revisiting old memories, a cold voice suddenly reached his ears.

  “Xiao Yan, you’re impressive... But now, let’s stop holding bad probing each other. Bring out your real strength, a’s end this ond for all!”

  Hearing this frosty tone, Xiao Yan’s bitter smile deepened. Slowly raising his head, he looked forward. Just as he opened his mouth, intending to admit defeat, his pupils suddenly tracted. His eyes were filled with shock—so inte was as if the world had shifted.

  In Xiao Yan’s view, Nan Yanran had risen into the air, leaving the ground behind. What shocked him even more were the massive, wings of energy spanning more than tehat unfurled behind her.

  The aura radiating from Nan Yanran and the unmistakable Dou Qi wings told Xiao Yan a single, crushing truth—she had reached the Dou King level.

  “This... This is impossible!” Xiao Yan’s body trembled, his spirit nearly colpsing as he shouted in disbelief.

  “Yanran, that girl, has actually reached the Dou King realm!”

  At the same time, Nan Jie, seeing Nan Yanran dispy her Dou King strength, excimed in untainable excitement. Soon, his shock gave way to urained joy.

  “Nan Yanran has broken through to Dou King! No wohe sect master personally selected her as a disciple. Truly, the Yun La is blessed!” said Yun Leng, the elder presiding over the duel, his aged face brimming with delight.

  “To think Nan Yanran has been hidirength so deeply… Now, with both of them revealing Dou King abilities, who will prevail?”

  Nan Yanran’s revetion of her Dou King power turhis duel—initially believed to be “without suspense”—into ahralling test. The crowd buzzed with specution about who would emerge victorious.

  Amid tless gazes fixed upon her, Nan Yanran, h in the air, raised her longsword. A radiant glow burst forth from it, sht it dazzled everyone present.

  Uhis brilliaerrifying energy began to verge at an arming rate.

  Her beautiful eyes locked onto Xiao Yan below, and after taking a deep breath, Nan Yanran gripped the increasingly heavy longsword in her jade-like hand. Moving with excruciating slowness, her sword seemed almost stationary, yet the energy waves it unleashed grew more inteh every passing moment.

  “Xiao Yan, what are you still dazing out for? Today’s battle is beyond salvaging. You’re still young. If you couldn’t catch up to this girl in three years, what’s stopping you from chasing her for ahree?”

  ? Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! ?

  Hello, beloved readers and supporters!

  I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon unity, you'll unlock a treasure trove of bes, including:

  ? Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore neters, experieng the twists and turns of our tales well ahead ur readers. Your jourhrough our stories doesn't have to wait!

  ? ect with the unity: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage iing discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.

  ? Support the Creator: Your patronage directly tributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the tent you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!

  Patreon./anish_44