"Sister, Xiao Yan's situation doesn't look good." Xiao Ning's voice was tense as he watched the weaponless Xiao Yan in the arena.
Xiao Yu's face was grim: "I don't care if he dies. He just had to play the hero—and now look at him. Not only has he failed spectacularly, but he's being humiliated in front of everyone." She paused, then sighed: "Get ready to intervene. That bastard Jie Lie'ao looks like he's about to go for the kill."
Xiao Ning nodded awkwardly, not daring to push her further.
In stark contrast to their anxiety, Xiao Xun'er remained perfectly composed. Her eyes swept over Xiao Yan, who seemed at a disadvantage in every exchange, and a faint smile touched her lips.
Xiao Yan twisted awkwardly to avoid another strike. But before he could retreat, Jie Lie'ao—his speed enhanced by his Wind-attribute technique—closed the gap in an instant. His fist, clenched tight, hammered toward Xiao Yan's skull with a look of savage intent.
Behind Xiao Yan, a wall loomed. Cornered with no room to dodge, his expression remained calm as still water. He exhaled slowly. Pale yellow Dou Qi surged from his fist, carrying with it an unyielding, fierce momentum as he met Jie Lie'ao head-on for the first time.
The crowd murmured in surprise. The gap in their cultivation levels was obvious. Had Xiao Yan continued dodging, he might have bought himself some time. But choosing a direct confrontation could only end in immediate defeat.
Just as everyone mourned Xiao Yan's presumed fate, his tightly clenched fist suddenly opened. A powerful, invisible force erupted from nowhere, slamming squarely into Jie Lie'ao's chest.
The blow sent Jie Lie'ao hurtling backward. His face went white, panic flickering through his wild eyes: "What Dou Technique is this? How can it be so bizarre?"
Those watching stared in astonishment as Jie Lie'ao suddenly flew backward in midair, as if struck by some unseen hand.
"Suction Palm!"
Xiao Yan's open palm locked onto Jie Lie'ao as he flew backward. With exquisite timing, he seized the perfect moment. A fierce, irresistible suction yanked Jie Lie'ao violently back toward him.
Being tossed about like a ball in midair, Jie Lie'ao's rage boiled over. Through gritted teeth, he glared at Xiao Yan, who grew closer by the second. Cruelty twisted his features as he clenched his right fist, azure Dou Qi condensing rapidly on its surface until it formed a tiny vortex: "Profound-tier Low-Grade Dou Technique—Azure Wind Spiral Fist!"
His fist cut through the air with a piercing whistle. The tremendous wind pressure blew away every scrap of debris near Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan squinted against the onrushing gale. His expression grew solemn. After a heartbeat of stillness, he suddenly pivoted. His right foot slammed into the wall behind him, leaving an imprint half an inch deep. Using the wall's recoil, he spun in midair, his right leg extending in a peculiar, coiled arc of force. In that instant, even his soft trouser leg seemed as rigid as steel.
"Eight Pole Collapse!"
Lips pressed tight, his face hard as iron, Xiao Yan completed his nearly perfect gather of force in midair. Then, before everyone's eyes, his foot collided with Jie Lie'ao's charging fist.
"Don't think you're the only three-star Dou Warrior here!"
The instant fist and foot met, yellow Dou Qi erupted from Xiao Yan's leg. His quiet words made Jie Lie'ao's face drain of color.
BOOM! The impact sent a deep, resonant crack through the air like muffled thunder.
CRACK! The sharp sound of bone fracturing pierced the air. In the same instant, both fighters were hurled backward.
Xiao Yan's body slammed into the wall behind him. A metallic sweetness rose in his throat, and he spat out a spray of blood that scattered across the ground like crimson stars.
The watching mercenaries sighed in pity. But just as they assumed Xiao Yan had lost, the sight before them froze their words in their throats. Jie Lie'ao—who had crashed to the ground simultaneously—was now clutching his right arm, rolling across the ground in a wail of agony.
Several keen-eyed observers spotted what had happened. When they saw Jie Lie'ao's arm, twisted grotesquely out of shape, a collective gasp swept through the crowd. Their faces were masks of shock.
The street, which had been buzzing with noise, fell into sudden, absolute silence. Every eye fixed upon the young man leaning against the wall, gasping for breath. After a long moment, cheers erupted like a thunderclap.
Xiao Yu's lips parted in disbelief as she stared at Jie Lie'ao writhing on the ground: "That little rascal actually won?"
"Looks like it. He broke Jie Lie'ao's arm..." Xiao Ning swallowed hard. The ruthless force of Xiao Yan's attack sent a chill through him as he recalled his own painful encounter. But this—Jie Lie'ao's state was far worse, ten times worse at least. He could see the bone protruding through the flesh. The arm was almost certainly ruined.
Xiao Yu was speechless for a long moment. She shot a fierce glare at Xiao Yan, who was still gasping for air: "That little bastard had already broken through to Dou Warrior rank. No wonder he was so confident."
...
It took a full ten minutes on the ground before Xiao Yan slowly pulled himself upright. His cold eyes swept past the stunned Liu Xi. Dragging his numb right leg, he picked up a nearby iron rod, his face dark with murderous intent, and made his way with difficulty toward Jie Lie'ao, who lay on the ground screaming.
Jie Lie'ao's attack had revealed his intent to kill. And Xiao Yan showed no mercy to those who sought his life.
Lying on the ground, watching Xiao Yan approach with every step, Jie Lie'ao's face twisted between hatred and fear. He swallowed hard, catching the killing intent in Xiao Yan's eyes, and blurted: "I surrender!"
Xiao Yan's expression didn't change, as if he hadn't heard. His grip on the iron rod only tightened.
Watching the cold-eyed young man in the arena, even the battle-hardened mercenaries felt a chill. This Xiao Yan was hard to reconcile with the smiling youth they had known.
Xiao Yan stopped, standing over Jie Lie'ao. He suddenly bared his teeth in a smile. But those straight, white teeth made Jie Lie'ao's blood run cold. Only now did he understand: this youth who had always hidden behind a mask of gentle compliance possessed a heart far more ruthless than his own.
"Die, trash..."
A soft laugh. Xiao Yan's dark eyes blazed with killing intent. The black iron rod whistled through the air, crashing down toward Jie Lie'ao's skull.