"Winds Peak: Dazzling Sunset!"
"Deep Forest Assassination!"
Both are Black Rank High-level Dou Techniques, with little difference in power. The disparity lies in the user's level of control.
Crack~
Boom!
A crack appeared on the sword light of the Daybreak, followed by a crisp sound of shattering, the sword light was completely shattered. The giant tree, covered with sharp wooden thorns, resembled a towering pillar, smashing towards Nalan Yanran!
"I lost," Nalan Yanran pursed her lips. She, who had been strong-willed since childhood, now had to lower her proud head.
The giant tree hovered less than three centimeters in front of Nalan Yanran's chest.
Gurgle~
Nalan Yanran involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva. She had thought she wouldn't escape such a blow, but unexpectedly, the other party stopped at the critical moment. This deepened her admiration for Yun Tianming even more!
To control with such ease was not a simple matter. Especially with their strength, using the Black Rank High-level Dou Technique was already quite strained. If it were Nalan Yanran, she wouldn't have the ability to retract the Extreme Wind: Dazzling Sunset once it was launched. However, Yun Tianming achieved it.
Yun Tianming tightly hugged the giant tree with both hands, and in the next moment, under the lack of infusion of Dou Qi, the giant tree visibly withered rapidly, as if its life force had been drained, eventually shattering into countless wood chips.
"Yanran Junior Sister, you are modest," Yun Tianming raised his hand and caught the Mountain-crushing Staff amidst the scattered wood chips, waved it twice, wiping away the residual Dou Qi energy on the weapon, and then retrieved it into his Spatial Ring.
So cool!
Nalan Yanran was momentarily stunned, a hint of blush appearing on her pretty face.
"Yanran Junior Sister? Are you okay?," Yun Tianming carefully assessed her from top to bottom, confirming that she had no apparent injuries, just some excessive Dou Qi consumption.
"I-I'm fine, Senior Tianming. You are the first peer who has made Yanran willingly admit defeat," Nalan Yanran hurriedly waved her hand, her eyes filled with admiration, the young girl's heart faintly stirring.
"Hehe, Yanran Junior Sister is too kind," Yun Tianming smiled indifferently, completely unaware of the budding affection in the young girl's eyes. It's not that he lacked emotional intelligence, but rather she wasn't within his scope of interest, so he subconsciously chose to overlook it.
"Mmm~" Nalan Yanran puffed her cheeks, inwardly criticizing Yun Tianming for being "emotionally dense," as he couldn't sense her girlish feelings.
However, Nalan Yanran wasn't worried. Since the two spent their days together, apart from her and their teacher, Yun Tianming didn't seem close to any other girls in the entire Misty Cloud Sect.
The only threat was Ya Fei from the Miteer family, but she had left the Imperial Capital over a year ago to train at the Miteer family branch in another city. Taking everything into account, Nalan Yanran felt she had a significant advantage!
"Tianming Senior Brother, thank you for accompanying Yanran during these two years of practice," Nalan Yanran's gaze was firm as she looked at Yun Tianming. This was her most sincere feeling. Over the past two years, the two of them had practiced and sparred together every day, except for eating and sleeping. Almost always together, the saying 'familiarity breeds fondness' was indeed true.
"It's mutual. Practicing together with Yanran Junior Sister, I've also benefited a lot," Yun Tianming replied.
Yun Tianming felt deeply moved.
In two years of training, he had progressed from a 1-Star Dou Practitioner to a 9-Star Dou Practitioner. Such growth speed was rare even across the entire Dou Qi Continent, let alone in a place like the Jia Ma Empire, considered a "remote and backward" area – undoubtedly, he was a super genius!
By the way, Nalan Yanran's strength had also reached the level of a 7-Star Dou Practitioner. Compared to the original novel's 3-Star Dou Practitioner at the same period, she had improved by a remarkable 4 stars! All of this was thanks to Yun Tianming; the influence of a transmigrator was becoming increasingly significant.
"Tianming Senior Brother."
Nalan Yanran's eyelashes drooped slightly, her face showing a hint of hesitation. After some internal struggle, she finally seemed to have made a decision and looked up with a serious expression.
"Do you happen to know about the Xiao Family in Wu Tan City?"
"The Xiao Family in Wu Tan City?"
Yun Tianming raised an eyebrow, then calmly asked, "I've heard a bit, what about it, Yanran Junior Sister?"
"I... I have a marriage contract with the Xiao Family," Nalan Yanran pursed her lips, as if afraid of being misunderstood, she hastily offered further explanation, "It was decided by my grandfather without my consent!"
Here it comes! The inevitable has arrived!
Yun Tianming's heart stirred; he knew the upcoming plot like the back of his hand.
"In that case, how does Yanran Junior Sister plan to resolve it?" Yun Tianming pretended to ask inquisitively.
"I plan to personally go to the Xiao Family to annul the engagement!"
"My life, I Nalan Yanran's life, should be decided by myself. I will never marry someone I don't love!" Nalan Yanran's expression was resolute, showing a determined stance of defiance against fate.
According to the traditions of the Dou Qi Continent, marriage matters were usually decided by parents, especially for children from prominent families, where arranged marriages for the sake of family interests were the norm.
Therefore, Nalan Yanran's defiance of the engagement was seen negatively by society, labeled with terms like "disobedient" and "rebellious." After speaking, Nalan Yanran cautiously looked at Yun Tianming, seemingly afraid of seeing disgust or disdain on his face.
However, reality proved otherwise. As a transmigrator, Yun Tianming's thoughts were liberated, and he always scoffed at feudal ethics. In his view, the freedom of marriage was a basic constitutional right bestowed upon citizens. Nalan Yanran's marriage was purely her personal freedom, and no one had the right to interfere!
"If you believe you are right, you should speak out loudly and act resolutely. This has always been the life philosophy I adhere to."
"Yanran Junior Sister, no matter what your choice is, I will stand by your side."
Yun Tianming expressed firm support for Nalan Yanran's stance, partly out of camaraderie and partly to maintain good relations, intending to leverage this connection to approach Yun Yun in the future. The plan was smooth and perfect!
However, Nalan Yanran seemed to have misunderstood something. A flush crept up her charming face, her eyes filled with tenderness, almost falling for the young man before her.
"Tianming Senior Brother, why are you so kind to Yanran?"
In Nalan Yanran's self-imagined scenario, Yun Tianming willingly stood on the opposite side of society for her, fighting against the entire world together!
"Why? Isn't this the natural thing to do?" Yun Tianming smiled calmly. In his heart, he thought: I aspire to be the man your teacher, and in the future, you'll have to call me Master-in-law!
"Is it natural?" Nalan Yanran first showed a pensive expression on her face, and it's unclear what she imagined, but suddenly her cheeks turned as red as ripe apples, covering her chest like a deer's startled heart: Could it be that Tianming Senior Brother has feelings for me?
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