Regardless of whether it was a Dou Zong or a Dou Zun, the three of them were considering their options. If anything unexpected happened later, they wouldn't help Xiao Yan, but they definitely wouldn't help the Yunlan Sect either. Otherwise, it could cause a great disaster and their families could be destroyed in an instant.
Nalan Yanran extended her jade hand in the arena and the emerald ring on her finger flashed with a bright light. A slender pale blue long sword appeared, with its blade tilted and reflecting a cold light under the sunlight. The coldness in her eyes was even more chilling than the sharpness of the sword.
"Xiao Yan, three years ago, your master insulted me in front of everyone when there was no one around to protect me. Today, I will use your life to resolve my resentment. As for your master, if he dares to come to the Yunlan Peak for revenge, my Yunlan Sect has strong fighters waiting for him, and he won't be able to leave the mountain alive!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's face showed a hint of sarcasm, and he coldly laughed: "Ants dare to talk about slaying dragons, you do not know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
"Nalan Yanran, you're still the same as you were three years ago, without any progress, always thinking that the Yunlan Sect is the pinnacle of this world. It's simply ridiculous."
Nalan Yanran's beautiful face flashed with anger, unwilling to say any more. She stomped fiercely on the ground, causing the hard stone pavement to shatter with ease. Holding a pale blue long sword in her hand, a swirling blue aura wrapped around the blade, giving off a dangerous feeling.
As Nalan Yanran's Dou Qi surged, the huge square fell silent, and everyone's gaze focused on them. The life-and-death battle had begun.
In the square, Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes and exhaled a long breath. Suddenly, his eyes opened, and a fierce light flashed in his deep green pupils. His face became somewhat ferocious, filled with a hint of excitement.
Feeling the opponent's momentum change, but seeing no action, Nalan Yanran didn't hesitate. With a low shout, she leaped up and brought down her sword.
The pale blue long sword traced a blue arc in the air, its edge cutting towards Xiao Yan's neck.
Xiao Yan's face carried a hint of disdain as he stood still. When the sword was just half a meter from his neck, he suddenly moved.
"Clang!"
A sound like the clash of metal rang out.
Xiao Yan thrust out a hand and shattered the Dou Qi vortex on the blue sword's blade. Then he firmly grasped the pale blue long sword that Nalan Yanran had swung down, bringing the sword's momentum to a stop.
The sudden change almost made Nalan Yanran drop her sword. Feeling the intense recoil transmitted from the sword, her slender arms trembled, and a look of pain suddenly appeared on her face.
In contrast, Xiao Yan appeared calm and relaxed. After just one move, the outcome was clear, and there was a considerable gap between the two.
After a moment of hesitation, Nalan Yanran's expression quickly changed from surprise to horror. She couldn't believe what she saw and gritted her teeth, forcefully injecting her Dou Qi into the pale blue long sword in her hand, trying to turn the blade and shatter Xiao Yan's hand.
But she felt her Dou Qi dissipate like mud sinking into the sea. The pale blue straight-edged long sword had already turned with a terrifying curvature, but the sword blade held by Xiao Yan remained unmoving, and it was impossible to move it even a bit.
Just as Nalan Yanran's face turned pale and she felt powerless and desperate, a hint of sinister coldness flashed across Xiao Yan's face. He suddenly released the long sword in his hand and retreated.
Nalan Yanran was puzzled for a moment, but soon her face brightened again. She couldn't believe that Xiao Yan, who had a much lower level of Dou Qi cultivation than her, had surpassed her in just three short years.
She had received careful guidance from a Dou Huang powerhouse and had access to the resources of the Yunlan Sect. She had a constant supply of medicinal pills. How could Xiao Yan be better than her?
Her expression became resolute and confident once again. Nalan Yanran leapt into the air, and her long sword began to vibrate rapidly. It moved slowly, leaving a solid trail of sword-shaped afterimages every time it moved even a tiny bit.
"Black-tier Intermediate Dou Technique, Wind Spirit Splitting Sword!"
Nalan Yanran floated down like a drifting willow, her long sword accompanied by numerous sword shadows, raining down on Xiao Yan like a torrent of swords.
With one hand resting on his waist and the other moving rapidly, Xiao Yan instantly extinguished every sword-shaped afterimage that contained a large amount of Dou Qi in a flash of lightning. In the end, just like at the beginning, he firmly grasped the pale blue long sword in his hand.
Nalan Yanran couldn't make any progress and couldn't withdraw her sword. Her face rapidly darkened, but just when her Dou Qi was about to run out, Xiao Yan released his grip on the sword.
During the time in the Tager Desert, it was genuine and difficult training without any pleasure. Sometimes, Xiao Yan would pretend to be exhausted to give the already hopeless Snake-People a glimmer of hope, causing them to revive and resist with an extreme desire to survive. He did this repeatedly, and their hope was shattered time and time again.
When he finally killed them, the look on their faces was truly one of defeat and hopelessness, giving Xiao Yan a sense of satisfaction.
On the square, the disciples of the Yunlan Sect gradually realized that something was wrong. Strong resentment rose in their hearts, and the elders' faces were grim, with their beards trembling in anger.
This little bastard was actually repeatedly teasing and humiliating the Little Sect Leader of their Yunlan Sect!
Yun Yun, sitting on the high seat, clenched her slender hand deep into the stone chair, her eyes brimming with killing intent as if she could strike at any moment.
Jia Xing Tian and the others had strange expressions. They were arrogant with their backs against the big tree, daring to humiliate Nalan Yanran in front of thousands of people from the Yunlan Sect. They had left no face for the sect.
Hai Bodong on one side of the square couldn't help but feel bitter. Since the first time Xiao Yan released Nalan Yanran's long sword, he knew what Xiao Yan was thinking. But he had already made up his mind to join Li Xiu's faction and could only be prepared to protect Xiao Yan at any time.
Xiao Yan's face was indifferent. He observed Nalan Yanran's changing expression while also paying attention to the commotion on the side of the square. When he felt that the people of the Yunlan Sect could no longer bear it, he finally made up his mind to kill.
Stepping forward, the blue stone ground within a radius of several meters cracked open, and his figure shot forward like a released arrow, arriving in front of Nalan Yanran in an instant.
Nalan Yanran had been tormented to the point of collapse and despair by Xiao Yan, but she still raised her sword to block, albeit futilely.
With a low growl, Xiao Yan twisted his waist, clenched his fists and lifted his elbows, and his body slammed into Nalan Yanran's embrace like a cannonball.
With a muffled bang, accompanied by a continuous sound of bones breaking, Nalan Yanran's body blurred and rapidly flew away. A large cloud of blood was left in the air, and when she fell to the ground, her body was already in tatters and almost unrecognizable!
Hai Bodong saw this familiar scene and couldn't help but twitch his face. Xiao Yan really had no sympathy for beautiful women. He treated Nalan Yanran, who had a beautiful and moving appearance, just like he had treated the Snake-People in the past, with the same viciousness, cruelty and bloodiness.
Upon seeing this, Yun Yun flew out of her high seat and in a fit of rage, abandoned any thought of rescuing Nalan Yanran. She charged towards Xiao Yan, lifting her hand to release a light sword made of Dou Qi that was several meters long, slashing it towards him.
However, Hai Bodong appeared next to Xiao Yan in a flash and blocked the attack with a thick ice shield.
"Yun Yun, we agreed before the competition that we would accept the outcome, regardless of life or death. You must not act impulsively and ruin the reputation of the Yunlan Sect!"
Hai Bodong barely managed to block Yun Yun's attack and shouted at her with a pale face.
Yun Yun's Dou Qi surged around her body as she said angrily: "He has repeatedly humiliated the next leader of the Yunlan Sect during this competition. This matter cannot be easily resolved. I will take his life to console the past leaders of the Yunlan Sect!"
Hai Bodong realized the situation was not in his favor and quickly shouted towards the direction of the giant tree in the square: "Old man, come down and help me. I guarantee that you won't lose in the future!"
Jia Xing Tian hesitated for a moment but then flew up together with him. Also flying away from the giant tree were Mu Chen and Fa Ma.
Seeing this, Hai Bodong was also somewhat surprised. He had hoped to persuade Jia Xing Tian with their many years of friendship, but he didn't expect Mu Chen and Fa Ma to follow him as well.
Thinking the situation was suspicious, Yun Yun believed that the imperial family had colluded with others to plot against the Yunlan Sect. Without much thought, she took out a cloud-white flute from her storage ring and blew it fiercely.
A strange and sharp sound suddenly spread rapidly and continuously around the entire Yunlan Mountain, lasting for a long time.
Following this, a mighty and terrifying pressure emerged from the back mountain of the Yunlan Mountain, with an unmatched power and momentum.
"Oh no, that old guy Yun Shan hasn't died yet, and it looks like he even broke through to the Dou Zong level."
Hai Bodong said with a changed expression and a sense of urgency.
"Xiao Yan, don't hesitate. Take out the Mountain River Fan. When you see a figure rising from the back mountain of the Yunlan Mountain, just swing the fan at him without any hesitation."
"If Yun Shan senses anything, we might not even have a chance to protect you while you swing the fan!"
Hearing that a Dou Zong level expert would appear in the Yunlan Sect, Xiao Yan nodded heavily with a serious expression. He tightly grasped the Mountain River Fan in his arms and was about to take it out when he felt the fan tremble suddenly.
A hint of joy flashed through his eyebrows and he looked towards the distant sky with a sense of anticipation...