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Chapter 54: Monster
"Hey, Cousin Xiao Yan." Xiao Ning walked up and lightly placed a hand on Xiao Yan's shoulder. "Are you really planning to take a year off?"
"Mm."
Xiao Yan didn't say much, just nodded with a firm expression.
Looking at Xiao Yan's unquestionable gaze, Xiao Ning was stunned for a moment, then sighed softly.
"I was still hoping to have some fun with you at the academy," Xiao Ning continued, lightly patting Xiao Yan's shoulder, smiling. "But since this is your own decision, I naturally have no right to stop you. Good luck!"
After speaking, Xiao Ning stepped back to the sidelines, waved to the Xiao family members to step aside and make room, and everyone else also moved away. In an instant, only Xiao Yan and Instructor Ruo Lin were left standing face to face in the courtyard.
Ruo Lin waved her slender hand, sending her whip from her waist, the blue-colored douqi surging out. She lightly raised her chin at Xiao Yan.
"Go choose a weapon from that rack."
"No need." Xiao Yan looked at Ruo Lin and replied indifferently, "I haven't received any weapon training, using a weapon would only slow me down."
"Is that so..."
Ruo Lin murmured softly, the whip in her hand lightly tapping the stone floor, causing a trace of water to appear, before she raised an eyebrow.
"Shall we begin?"
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, slightly turned his body, clenched his fists tightly, his gaze fixed on Ruo Lin's graceful figure. He responded sternly, "Begin!"
Bang!
Just as the word left his mouth, the whip immediately reached above Xiao Yan's head. Xiao Yan's body instinctively jerked to the side to narrowly avoid it, but the whip struck the stone floor, leaving a long crack in the ground.
So fast!!!
Having narrowly dodged that strike, Xiao Yan's heart tightened. His body became more tense as a thought flashed in his mind.
Any moment of slack, and I will be defeated!
As Xiao Yan thought this, Ruo Lin furrowed her brows slightly.
Although she had restrained herself somewhat during that last strike, Ruo Lin did not believe that a three-star Dou Practitioner like Xiao Yan could dodge such speed.
At that moment, Ruo Lin recalled the inner academy selection tournament from the beginning of last year, and her vigilance increased.
It seemed that the Xiao family juniors couldn't be judged by common standards.
Clearly, Ruo Lin did not want to give Xiao Yan a year off. Not only would it be difficult for her, but she also didn't believe that Xiao Yan could achieve better results from it than if he stayed at Jia Nan Academy.
Therefore, for both her own sake and Xiao Yan's, she didn't want Xiao Yan to get this year off!
"Xiao Yan, be careful."
Ruo Lin coldly reminded, and in the next second, the shadows of her whip flashed, the black whip surged forward like a spirit snake, rushing towards Xiao Yan.
Whoosh!
Xiao Yan's eyes could barely keep up with the speed of the whip, relying only on his long-practiced battle instincts to successfully dodge again.
Ruo Lin raised her eyebrow, her whipping motion never ceased. She continued to strike at Xiao Yan relentlessly, leaving him with no room to think about anything other than avoiding Ruo Lin's attacks.
From the perspectives of others, they saw Xiao Yan dodging with swift movements in the black flashes, barely visible to the naked eye. Everyone's faces showed deep shock.
Though they couldn't intervene, no one other than Xiao Yu could achieve such a level of evasion!
But it wasn't enough.
Xiao Yu furrowed her brows tightly.
Only she could see that Xiao Yan's dodging had become increasingly strained. His shoulder had been whipped twice, and though the others hadn't noticed, Xiao Yan could feel his body weakening.
At this rate, he wouldn't last more than twenty exchanges!
This wasn't only noticed by Xiao Yu; Xiao Yan himself was also very aware of it!
Those two strikes that had grazed his shoulder had already drained his strength. He could barely lift his arm, requiring all his might just to keep it up!
If a leg were to be hit, it would truly be over!
I can't keep dodging!!!
A determined look flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes, and he suddenly stopped his evasive movements, allowing the incoming whip to slam into him.
The force was so great that the sound of the wind could be heard!
"Xiao Yan! Get out of the way!!!"
Xiao Yu's face was filled with shock. If that whip hit, it would not be something trivial!
(This kid?!)
Ruo Lin was also surprised upon seeing this scene. She never imagined that Xiao Yan would give up evasion and stand still!
As the attacker, she knew very well the power behind that strike. It was a force Xiao Yan could never withstand!!!
In an instant, Ruo Lin regained her senses and immediately prepared to retract her whip, intending to prevent Xiao Yan from being seriously injured.
But the next moment, what she saw made her pupils contract.
Xiao Yan, facing the black whip coming towards him, suddenly raised his arm and blocked it, not evading, allowing the whip to strike directly against his arm. The moment the whip and Xiao Yan's arm collided, everyone in the area clearly heard a loud crack.
Even without confirming, they could understand: Xiao Yan's arm was broken.
While everyone, including Ruo Lin, was in shock, the whip wound around Xiao Yan's arm. He gritted his teeth, reached out, and tightly grasped the whip, then forced his body forward, charging toward Ruo Lin.
No more! Just one strike! I need only one strike!!!
I know I am weaker than Ruo Lin! I also understand that she is far stronger than me!
So, I will drain every ounce of strength from my body! Until there is nothing left! All my strength is concentrated in this one blow!
By the time Ruo Lin realized what was happening, Xiao Yan was already in front of her, and with all the strength he had left, his fist slammed toward her beautiful face, shouting as he did.
"Eight! Extreme! Collapse!!!"
Whoooosh!!!
With a gust of wind, a thunderous boom echoed in Ruo Lin's ears!
Ruo Lin's eyes widened as she stared blankly at Xiao Yan's face, which showed both pain and unyielding determination. She mechanically turned her head, watching as his arm shot past the side of her head, a chill of survival creeping up her spine.
Though Ruo Lin had increased her attack's force, she never expected Xiao Yan would have a chance to retaliate. She never considered the need for defense.
But Xiao Yan took advantage of her moment of hesitation to strike back!
Ruo Lin could feel the power of that punch. If it had landed on her unprotected head, even if she didn't die, she would be seriously injured!
A Dou Practitioner seriously injured a Da Dou Shi? Ridiculous!
But Ruo Lin knew, this was no joke!
Because she was the one experiencing it!!!
Despite her underestimation of Xiao Yan, what was more important was the ruthlessness Xiao Yan displayed—he was willing to break his own arm to strike back!
"Instructor Ruo Lin." As Ruo Lin was stunned, Xiao Yan slowly retracted his arm. His face, weak to the point of exhaustion, barely managed a smile. "Does this mean I won?"
"..."
Ruo Lin didn't speak, silently staring at the boy before her.
She had guessed that both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu were talents who couldn't be judged by normal standards.
But she never expected Xiao Yan to be far more terrifying than she had imagined!
This had completely surpassed the realm of talent.
Ruo Lin slightly turned her head, looking at the aftermath of the battle: the ground was cracked with a long trench, several dozen meters long, the shattered stones mixed with dirt, and even the surrounding walls had a large hole in them.
At this moment, Ruo Lin's heart was filled with fear.
This child is a monster.
(End of chapter)
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