Wu Hao's words, like a venomous serpent's bite, seared into Yao Yan's soul. They were more potent than any earth rank dou technique, leaving a deep, indelible mark. Even the most level-headed would be shaken by them, but for former Xiao Yan, whose heart was a tempest of hidden arrogance, they were a devastating blow.
Yao Yan's heart was not just filled but consumed by a seething, all-consuming hatred towards Wu Hao and Xiao Ning, whom he believed were the architects of his current plight. This hatred, like a raging inferno, fueled his every action and thought.
A glint of icy determination flickered in his eyes as a massive black ruler materialized in his right hand. Yao Yan's grip tightened around the heavy Xuan ruler, its weight a testament to his resolve. In an instant, a swirling cloak of dou qi enveloped his body, a sign of the power about to be unleashed.
Years of life-and-death battles had honed Wu Hao's senses to a razor's edge. He was acutely aware of the slightest shift in the air, the faintest hint of danger. And when Yao Yan's murderous intent flickered, it was like a beacon in the darkness, impossible to miss. His senses, like a finely tuned instrument, were ready to respond to any threat.
His blood-red eyes fixed on Yao Yan's figure as if a hunter was staring at his prey. A broad sword similar to Yao Yan's ruler appeared in his hand—the moment Wo Hao took out the sword, a pungent, metallic smell of blood spread throughout the arena. The remaining blood stains on the sword, a grim reminder of the lives it had taken, were enough to strike fear into his opponents.
Yao Yan was momentarily startled by the strong stench of blood in the air. However, Yao Chen's timely reminder quickly brought him back to reality, and he fixed Wu Hao with a steady, serious gaze. He acknowledged that his opponent was a formidable force to be reckoned with. Suddenly, Wu Hao disappeared in a strange flash of movement, reappearing behind Yao Yan with a deadly swing of his heavy sword - his mastery of the weapon evident in every stroke. The bloodied sword sliced through the air with alarming speed and precision, aimed directly at Yao Yan's head.
'Clang!' Yao Yan responded quickly, raising the black ruler above his head and defending against Wu Hao's attack. His strength and speed were no lesser than Wu Hao's, a testament to his own formidable skills. Moreover, both had a similar battle style with its core based on speed and strength, showcasing their mastery of their craft.
In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged numerous blows, their movements so swift that they were mere blurs to the onlookers. Except for the truly strong in among the crowd, others could only see blurry shadows on the arena, a testament to the lightning speed of their combat.
Yao Yan and Wu Hao engaged in an intense battle, each displaying their mastery of various dou techniques, leaving onlookers in awe. The confident Gu Xun Er even found herself worried for Yao Yan as the battle grew more intense with each passing second.
'Yan'er, you can't sustain this; you must end this swiftly,' Suddenly, Yao Chen's voice echoed in his mind. Yao Yan was taken aback; a bitter smile played on his lips.
Yao Yan was aware of the reason behind his situation, but he felt powerless to change it. The qi method he practiced was classified as a yellow class and was incomparable to others. He chose it only because of its distinctive characteristic of being able to evolve.
'Yes, teacher,' he silently responded, taking back the ruler. Yao Yan's sudden change made Wu Hao vigilant, and the latter stopped a few steps apart and stared carefully.
The next moment, Yao Yan's dou qi boiled , and he conjured an icy white flame in his left palm. Simultaneously, a purple flame flickered above his right palm, catching everyone off guard.
Wu Hao watched the flames warily, unsure of Yao Yan's next move. He could only defend himself passively.
Yao Yan took advantage of Wu Hao's hesitation and merged the flames by bringing his palms together.
Two distinct flames were in his possession, each with its own attribute that prevented them from merging. If someone were to forcefully merge the flames, they would backlash and cause a massive explosion.
However, Yao Yan's situation was anything but ordinary, and the two flames began to merge.
"Are you mad?" Wu Hao shouted as he watched Yao Yan's actions. He felt an immense threat from the two flames merging into one. With the slightest mistake, it could explode and take him out with Yao Yan. Despite his cruelty, drops of sweat formed on his forehead.
Yao Yan concentrated on combining the two flames, which drained the last of his dou qi reserves and consumed much of his mental strength.
The Deputy Headmaster, a respected figure in the academy, and other Dou Emperors, also stared at Yao Yan thoughtfully. Their bodies were tense, ready to intervene if necessary, a testament to the gravity of the situation.
Yao Yan gazed at the two flames of different colors that had taken the form of a lotus. The corner of his mouth curved upwards as he admired the delicate and exquisite work of art.
As soon as it took shape, both students and instructors fixated their gaze on the mesmerizing and powerful two-colored flame lotus. However, only a few individuals who grasped the immense power it held felt a shiver of fear run down their spine.
With death knocking on his door, Wu Hao raised the blood-red broadsword and poured his remaining Dou Qi into it with a solemn expression.
Yao Yan gently flicked his palms, released the lotus towards Wu Hao, and spoke confidently, "It's over."
The lotus flew toward the arena's center, rapidly expanding in size. The unstable energy that Yao Yan had stabilized temporarily with his mental strength exploded. The monstrous two-colored flames, swallowed everything within its reach and burned everything to ash. The audience held their breath, unsure of what would happen next.