Similarly, Xiao Yan was uncertain in his heart. In the past, he would have had no fear. He believed that with the prestige of being the "Number One Genius of Wutan City," even if he couldn't defeat the lackeys behind Jia Lie Ao, they wouldn't dare to lay a hand on him.
The situation would ultimately turn into a duel between him and Jia Lie Ao. With his Dou Qi cultivation, dealing with Jia Lie Ao would have been incredibly easy.
But now things were different. Recently, his Dou Qi had dropped again, making him four staged Dou DIsciple. A duel with Jia Lie Ao would undoubtedly end in defeat.
He couldn't afford to lose. If he did, the secret of his Dou Qi's disappearance would be exposed. He could already imagine the scene once the Xiao Clan and the entire Wutan City learned of his Dou Qi loss.
The name of the genius would disappear, replaced by endless ridicule and scorn.
"Jia Lie Ao, get out of the Xiao Clan's market, and I'll pretend none of this happened." Forcing down his anxiety, Xiao Yan issued a harsh threat.
As soon as those words were spoken, the crowd around them started to jeer:
"Jia Lie Ao, get lost! Young Master Xiao Yan is being merciful."
"Yes, yes, Young Master Xiao Yan is Wutan City's number one genius, the youngest Dou Zhe in a century. Don't make the mistake of not appreciating his kindness."
"Haha, Jia Lie Ao, be careful or Young Master Xiao Yan might cripple you."
Hearing the ridicule and insults coming from the crowd, Jia Lie Ao's face darkened completely. Veins bulged on his face as he angrily challenged Xiao Yan: "Xiao Yan, do you dare to fight?"
The entire crowd was shocked into silence by this sudden challenge.
After a brief moment of quiet, the crowd erupted in laughter.
"Hahaha… Jia Lie Ao, a mere Dou Disciple Stage 7, dares to challenge Young Master Xiao Yan, who has already broken through to become a Dou Zhe? That's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—completely overestimating his abilities."
"Yeah, Young Master Xiao Yan, accept the challenge."
"Beat him up, Young Master Xiao Yan!"
Looking at the enraged Jia Lie Ao across from him, Xiao Yan furrowed his brows. The current Xiao Yan, who hadn't yet gone through his three years of downfall, wasn't as composed or tactful as he would be later.
Provoked by Jia Lie Ao, Xiao Yan felt stuck in a difficult situation. How could he fight? A mere Dou Disciple Stage 4 going up against a Stage 7?
Would he use his precious Extreme Eight Palm? But what if it didn't work during the fight?
Seeing Xiao Yan's dilemma, Xun'er, standing beside him, stepped forward. Considering Xiao Yan's current condition, she said to Jia Lie Ao, "Jia Lie Ao, you are not worthy to challenge him. How about I test your skills instead?"
"Not worthy?" Hearing this, Jia Lie Ao, who had initially felt some regret over his impulsive decision, was enraged. Avoiding Xun'er's gaze, he turned to Xiao Yan and sneered, "What? The great genius of the Xiao Clan has to hide behind a woman?"
As he spoke, he gave a signal to the thin, scrawny man next to him. The man instantly understood and, being well-versed in verbal confrontations, began to hurl insults.
"Haha! So it turns out Xiao Yan is just a little man. The so-called genius title is just empty praise."
With the thin man's lead, Jia Lie Ao's lackeys also began to insult Xiao Yan.
"I bet he doesn't even have a real man's tool!"
"What kind of genius is this? Our Young Master Jia Lie is the real genius!"
The mercenaries loyal to the Xiao Clan wouldn't stand by idly. To them, supporting Xiao Yan meant currying favor with the entire Xiao Clan. They quickly retorted:
"Nonsense! What kind of Young Master Jia Lie? He's nineteen and only at Dou Qi Stage 7! He should look in a mirror and see how pathetic he is!"
"Exactly, Young Master Xiao Yan, go ahead! We've got your back!"
Amidst the verbal exchange between the two sides, Xiao Se watched the scene in front of him and nearly burst out laughing. He muttered to himself, "It seems Xiao Yan's secret of losing his Dou Qi won't stay hidden after today."
"Brother, it felt like someone was scanning you with soul power just now," a pleasant voice echoed in Xiao Se's mind, making him frown slightly.
"I know, Long Kui. Unless it's life-threatening, don't reveal yourself," Xiao Se whispered back, clenching his fists, his knuckles turning white. He hated the feeling of having his life in someone else's hands. The person scanning him with soul power could only be Ling Ying, the Dou Huang under Xun'er's command.
"I understand, Brother," Long Kui replied, though her tone was now a bit more fiery compared to before. Xiao Se knew that this response had come from the red Long Kui.
As they conversed, Xiao Yan couldn't resist the wave of public pressure and the pride that came with being in the spotlight. Reluctantly, he accepted Jia Lie Ao's challenge.
The mercenaries from the Xiao Clan's market and Jia Lie Ao's lackeys tacitly stepped back, clearing enough space for the two young masters to fight.
Now, standing ten meters apart, Xiao Yan and Jia Lie Ao faced off. Both were uncertain, and neither made the first move.
Though neither struck first, some of the onlookers couldn't resist stirring things up. Several onlookers loudly began chanting:
"Young Master Xiao Yan is invincible!"
"Young Master Xiao Yan is amazing!"
The support for Xiao Yan surged through the crowd like a wave. Even Jia Lie Ao's lackeys didn't seem to have much faith in him.
Amid this overwhelming support, Xiao Yan's confidence briefly returned. Seeing the fear on Jia Lie Ao's face, Xiao Yan's confidence grew stronger. He even began to think: Perhaps, with his Dou Disciple Stage 4 cultivation, he really could defeat Jia Lie Ao.
As the two faced off, all eyes were on them. The crowd grew larger by the minute.
Not far behind Xiao Yan, Xun'er clenched her delicate hands tightly, her gaze fixed on the scene. A hint of concern flickered in her autumn-like eyes.
The truth was, no matter how blindly confident Xun'er was in Xiao Yan, Dou Disciple Stage 4 was still Dou Disciple Stage 4. Unless he used special means, he couldn't possibly defeat someone at Stage 7.
This was an unbreakable law in the Dou Qi continent.
Under the weight of so many expectant eyes, Xiao Yan decided to take the initiative.
Taking advantage of Jia Lie Ao's hesitation, Xiao Yan crossed his hands, his palms faintly glowing with Dou Qi. With a powerful push off the ground, he shot towards Jia Lie Ao.
"Crushing Stone Palm!"
Drawing close to Jia Lie Ao, Xiao Yan lifted his right palm, channeling all his strength into it, and struck towards Jia Lie Ao's chest.
Crushing Stone Palm: A Yellow Rank Intermediate Martial Skill, available for cultivation by any member of the Xiao Clan who had reached Dou Disciple Stage 5 or higher.
Jia Lie Ao had not expected Xiao Yan, a Dou Zhe, to resort to a sneak attack. With no time to dodge, he had to use his Dou Qi to block, taking the blow directly to his chest.
However, to his surprise, the expected intense pain never came. It was merely a slightly stronger than normal force, akin to what one might feel from an average adult.
With a muffled sound, Jia Lie Ao's body was sent flying a few meters before landing on the ground, sitting down hard.
"Well done!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Xiao Yan sent Jia Lie Ao flying with a single palm strike.
On the other side, Jia Lie Ao's lackeys quickly rushed to his side, helping him up.
"Young Master, are you alright?" the thin man asked anxiously as he helped Jia Lie Ao to his feet.
Jia Lie Ao patted his chest, his face filled with confusion. He had just taken a direct hit from a Dou Zhe, yet he wasn't hurt at all.