Chapter 166: One Against Five—Let the Inner Academy Feel a Little Heavenly Flame Shock
As Xiao Yuan gazed at the intense cold aura swirling around the four White Devil Team members, he raised an eyebrow. With identical elemental Dou Qi working in harmony, the amplification of their power was nothing to scoff at. Judging from this alone, the White Devil Team's overall strength clearly surpassed Sha Tie's Black Devil Team.
Still, this didn't pose any pressure to Xiao Yuan.
Although he had suppressed his cultivation and was only using Four-Star Da Dou Shi strength with Heavenly Flame Triple Mystic Transformation, barely stepping into the Dou Ling level, his combat strength was by no means comparable to an ordinary Dou Ling!
Add to that his deep understanding of ice-type Dou Qi, refined through experience passed down by Hai Bodong, and even without relying on his Heavenly Flame, Luo Hou would not surpass him in controlling cold attributes.
Now, although Luo Hou brought four teammates to fight him, Xiao Yuan's Heavenly Flame provided overwhelming elemental advantage. Paired with his extraordinary battle prowess, he could more than make up for the difference in numbers.
As the two sides' Dou Qi burst forth, the tension between them sharpened like drawn swords.
From a distance, several defeated seniors had gathered after hearing the commotion. Seeing that Xiao Yuan was facing five opponents alone, some couldn't help but sneer.
"This freshman wants to go one against five? Arrogant fool!"
"Yeah, looks like he's just used a secret technique to boost his strength. Same level or not, Luo Hou has four Six-Star Da Dou Shi teammates helping him. That Xiao Yuan kid's dreaming if he thinks he can win."
"I wouldn't be so sure. That Xiao Yuan's no pushover. Without Luo Hou, the other four wouldn't even last one round."
This odd opinion drew many glances—it came from a team leader who had previously been crushed by Xiao Yuan. He had the most firsthand experience.
Even Luo Hou wouldn't have defeated all five of them that swiftly and decisively.
To him, even if Xiao Yuan didn't win, he definitely wouldn't lose.
While the spectators whispered, Xiao Yan and the others had already clashed with the Black Devil Team.
Sha Tie, who was barely half a step into the Dou Ling realm, was clearly at a disadvantage against Xiao Yan, who had activated Heavenly Flame Triple Mystic Transformation. He was steadily being suppressed.
Hu Jia and Wu Hao were also dominating their matchups, and Xun'er—especially with Xiao Yu assisting—was effortlessly keeping the pressure on her opponents.
But most attention still focused on the main event—Xiao Yuan versus the White Devil Team.
After all, a lone freshman facing a Dou Ling-led five-man team? That was unheard of in Jia Nan Academy's history.
Zing!
Under Luo Hou's command, the four subordinates silently pulled out half-meter-long white iron rods. As chilling air poured from them like waves, the cold swept toward Xiao Yuan.
Then, all four attacked at once—a probing strike, testing Xiao Yuan's strength.
Testing me?
With Heavenly Flame Triple Mystic Transformation already active? Who wants to waste time?
Xiao Yuan's eyes flashed coldly. Noticing Luo Hou was still observing from behind, he didn't bother dodging. His hands blurred into seals.
A terrifyingly intense heat began to build in his palms.
Just as the four iron rods reached him, his seals finished. With both hands pushing out, black and white flames surged forward.
The extreme heat erupted into scorching waves, instantly suppressing the icy aura from the four attackers.
Trees around them began to dry and crack. The rods in their hands glowed red, softened, and even showed signs of melting.
Far above the forest, the two elder observers, who had been watching casually, suddenly sat up straight.
"Is that… Heavenly Flame?!"
"That damned Hu Qian didn't tell us about this!"
"Wait a minute… that Xiao Yan has one too! You kidding me?! Both brothers wield Heavenly Flames?!"
Years of composure shattered. Jia Nan Academy had risen to prominence from just a single Heavenly Flame—now two freshmen, brothers no less, each had one?
Even if they had backing, refining a Heavenly Flame at their age was insane. Their talent was terrifying.
Luo Hou's eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor breaking. Because of his ice attribute cultivation, he was hyper-sensitive to temperature. The moment Xiao Yuan's blue flame appeared, he felt his own Dou Qi slow down inside him.
"What kind of flame is that?! It's messing with my Dou Qi flow?!"
Shocked, he gripped his weapon tightly, trying to force the sluggish energy to move normally.
Profound-Rank Mid-Tier Dou Technique—Blazing Fire Burn!
Xiao Yuan's black and white flame waves surged forward, pressuring the four opponents into momentary dazes.
Even a Three-Star Dou Ling couldn't release an attack like this. This guy's terrifying.
The four instinctively tried to counter, only to find their Dou Qi was too slow—no time to build a proper defense.
Luo Hou realized immediately: Xiao Yuan was trying to take out his teammates first. If he didn't act, his entire team would fall!
He leapt to their defense, gripping a meter-long cold-iron staff. Misty frost danced around it as he shouted:
"Whirling Frost Staff!"
He spun the weapon in an arc, forming a vortex of cold air that shielded himself and his teammates.
Xiao Yuan's lips curled into a strange smile.
From the flaming storm around him, black snowflakes began to fall—visibly cold, yet dangerously hot. They drifted down onto Luo Hou's icy barrier.
In moments, the white ice shield turned black as snowflakes melted and refroze it into cracked crystals, steaming and hissing as moisture clashed with burning chill.
The other four White Devil members tried to help, releasing their own frost energy.
But none noticed: the black snow was freezing the ground around their feet, inching closer and closer.
"Damn, this freshman's pushing back five veterans?!"
The crowd gasped. Who was the real boss here?! Xiao Yuan looked more like a final-stage boss than the White Devils!
"If this guy trains for a year in the Heavenly Flame Training Tower, he could crack the top ten rankings!"
"I wouldn't doubt it!"
The arena buzzed, but no one dared to interrupt.
The White Devil Team's expressions turned grim. They finally realized the truth—this was a Heavenly Flame!
And everyone in Jia Nan Academy knew: equal rank or not, the side with a Heavenly Flame held a huge advantage. Without extreme resistance, normal Dou Qi couldn't compete.
Xiao Yuan, now on par with Luo Hou, wielded a Heavenly Flame with mastery. His Profound-Rank technique hit like a high-tier attack. At this level, it could determine the outcome of the battle.
"Urgh!"
Feeling the intense pressure of fire and the rising frost behind him, Luo Hou clenched his teeth. He had figured out Xiao Yuan's plan: break the team fast. If he could just survive this wave, Xiao Yuan would suffer Dou Qi fatigue—then they'd have a chance.
With a growl, he channeled everything into his staff. Layers of ice thickened it until it became a massive frozen pillar.
He roared and swung it upward, cleaving through the firestorm. The wind and force shook the forest.
Spectators leaned forward. Could Luo Hou turn this around?!
BOOM!
A blast rang out. Sha Tie was sent flying. The rest of the Black Devils had also fallen.
"Holy shit!"
Even the veterans cursed. Xiao Yan's team was still standing—and had strength to spare!
Even if Xiao Yuan lost now, the White Devil Team probably couldn't win either. Their energy was nearly spent—and Xiao Yan still had that scary flame too!
Some even began to pity the White Devils.
What rotten luck—to run into freshmen who not only had power but the perfect element to counter you.
"Xiao Yan-gege, should we go help?"
Xun'er asked.
"No need," Xiao Yuan replied, sweeping the battlefield with his spiritual sense. "Third Brother's got this."
He ended his transformation state, relaxing.
Unlike Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yan wasn't as skilled in using Heavenly Flame Triple Mystic Transformation, so he couldn't hold it for long without consequences. Xiao Yuan, meanwhile, had protective ice, wood, and water Dou Qi, plus greater mastery—he used it with ease.
Xiao Yu sighed with relief. She trusted Xiao Yan's judgment. These brothers knew each other too well to be wrong.
And sure enough, as Luo Hou shattered the fire wave with his ice pillar… he realized Xiao Yuan was gone.
He tried to dash forward—only to lose his footing.
His legs were frozen to the ground by black ice crystals. So were his teammates.
"…No way."
ROAR!
A deafening dragon's cry echoed. From the sky, a massive Ice Dragon descended, its shadow engulfing the entire White Devil Team.
(END CHAPTER)
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