Chapter 206 – Battle Against Fan Lao Once Again
Fan Lao's chilling, murderous voice echoed through the sky, drawing considerable attention.
Yuan Yi, the leader of the Eight Gates, shuddered slightly after repelling three Dou Wang Elders. He glanced in Fan Lao's direction and immediately saw the white-clothed figure with black ice wings on his back—Xiao Yuan.
Sensing a familiar aura from the young man's Dou Qi, Yuan Yi's eyes flashed with surprise.
This young man's aura was extremely similar to that of the mysterious Ice Empress—clearly, he had cultivated the same technique!
To have reached the Dou Wang level at such a young age, this talent was no weaker than the Ice Empress herself. There was likely a close relationship between the two.
If Fan Lao truly endangered that young man's life, would the Ice Empress appear again?
Yuan Yi pondered silently and slowed his pace against the three Elders. Han Feng's offer wasn't worth risking his life. If he could coast through this conflict, he certainly wouldn't overexert himself.
If the chance arose, perhaps he could even save that young man's life. It could earn him a connection with the Ice Empress. Being able to raise two prodigies of this caliber—surely, they had an exceptional background.
Even on potential alone, these two youths were worth an olive branch.
Meanwhile, Fan Lao's blood-red eyes were filled with killing intent.
If it hadn't been for that damned Ice-type Dou Huang, he wouldn't have been injured so badly. His son wouldn't have died, with not even a complete corpse left behind.
Clearly, although Fan Lao didn't know who had killed his son Fan Ling, he had placed all the blame on Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan, of course, realized this. He sneered coldly and said,
"Old bastard, tired of living?"
"Arrogant brat! Die!"
Enraged by Xiao Yuan's insult, Fan Lao's fury boiled over. With a furious roar, his figure became a blur of scarlet as he appeared behind Xiao Yuan.
The reeking scent of blood suddenly wafted from behind, causing a chill to run down Xiao Yuan's spine. In a flash of cyan lightning, he vanished and reappeared a hundred meters away.
"Three Thousand Lightning Movement? So you really were involved in Ling'er's death!"
Seeing the technique, Fan Lao immediately recognized it as the same one used during the Black Seal City auction. His killing intent surged again.
"A weak, floating Dou Qi scrap like him? Dead is dead. Your main got deleted—go level up a new alt."
Xiao Yuan sneered. A pair of dark-purple wings sprang from his back, overlapping with the black ice wings. With a flap, he vanished once more.
The afterimage he left behind was shredded instantly by the charging Fan Lao.
"Elders, leave this old thing to me. Go assist the others," Xiao Yuan waved off the three approaching Elders, then turned back to Fan Lao with a cold smile. "Old man, killing me won't be that easy. Are you prepared to die?"
"Good! Very good!"
Fan Lao's blood-colored Dou Qi wings flared as he laughed darkly, filled with venom. "When I capture you, you won't die quickly. I'll turn you into a blood slave and drain your fresh blood day and night—to honor my dead son!"
"Try it, old dog," Xiao Yuan replied coldly, his black eyes filled with frost and disdain.
Being called "old dog" repeatedly by someone so young pushed Fan Lao into a rage. He silently vowed to make Xiao Yuan suffer.
His withered palms spun slowly, and a flood of blood-red Dou Qi surged from him like actual blood. It wove into countless strands that whistled as they coiled around him.
Sensing Fan Lao's terrifying pressure, Xiao Yuan's gaze sharpened. This was his first time fighting a Dou Huang as a Dou Wang—but he was confident.
Not long ago, during a treasure hunt with Zi Yan, he had obtained and refined the Yin-Yang Flame Lotus. The Yin-Yang origin energy it provided had greatly strengthened his dual flame. Based on his own sensing, it was no weaker than Han Feng's Ocean Heart Flame.
Heavenly Flames were especially effective against the cold, sinister Dou Qi Fan Lao used. This meant Xiao Yuan's attacks would be boosted while Fan Lao's would be weakened. In this exchange, Fan Lao had no real chance of victory.
In the chaotic battlefield above, the standoff between Xiao Yuan and Fan Lao naturally drew many Inner Academy students' attention. Their expressions changed as they realized Xiao Yuan had stepped forward to confront a powerful enemy.
Respect bloomed in many hearts. Having trained here for years, they held strong feelings toward the Inner Academy. With enemies attacking, they all felt united in spirit. Yet, due to strength or status, they could only watch helplessly from afar.
Now, with Xiao Yuan standing tall, he had become their symbol of hope. Deafening cheers erupted from the student crowd, and Xiao Yuan's popularity instantly soared past Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing.
Startled by the roar of support, Xiao Yuan glanced toward the noise. Seeing the fervent admiration on the students' faces, he felt a mix of surprise and passion rise within him.
Years of cultivation—wasn't it all to be able to stand up at a moment like this?
"I'll make sure you lose all that glory in an instant. A little Dou Wang dares act like a hero?" Fan Lao sneered, then waved his hand.
Blood-red energy threads whistled out, blotting out the sky and sealing off every escape route. Knowing Xiao Yuan practiced the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, Fan Lao aimed to suppress his speed from the start.
Facing the web of blood threads, Xiao Yuan didn't flinch. Calmly, he snapped his fingers, and black-and-white flames erupted from him, wrapping him in a blazing shell.
Seeing the flames, Fan Lao's expression changed. With his experience, he recognized them as Heavenly Flames—but his attack was already underway. No matter what the opponent used, he had to continue.
Besides, his son's killer had to die. Xiao Yuan, though only a Three-Star Dou Wang, couldn't possibly challenge a Dou Huang, even with a Heavenly Flame—right?
In a blink, the blood threads pierced the space between them—but three meters from Xiao Yuan, the intense heat flared.
The cold-natured threads melted into nothing instantly.
Though his flames countered the blood threads well, the sheer number overwhelmed them. Gradually, Xiao Yuan's flame barrier began to shrink.
Seeing this, Fan Lao grinned. With a wave of his hand, the blood threads twisted together and wove into a blood-red sphere, trapping Xiao Yuan inside.
"What good is a Heavenly Flame if your strength is too weak?" Fan Lao laughed darkly. From the blood energy, he formed a blood-colored spear that shimmered with killing intent.
"Die, brat!"
With a flick of his arm, the spear shot like lightning toward the blood sphere.
But then—Fan Lao's smile froze.
Inside the sphere, Xiao Yuan smirked. His hands danced through seals, and the black-and-white flames exploded outward. The blood sphere vanished into ash, and the spear dissolved before it reached him.
At the same time, Xiao Yuan's aura soared—from Three-Star to Six-Star Dou Wang!
If it were the old version of his dual flame, it might not have been enough. But now, using the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Change, the boost was significant.
Feeling Xiao Yuan's surge, Fan Lao's face darkened. This power, combined with a Heavenly Flame, was enough to go head-to-head with him.
Still, as a veteran powerhouse of the Black-Corner Region, Fan Lao wasn't about to be intimidated. He charged forward, blood Dou Qi roaring.
This time, Xiao Yuan didn't dodge. After testing Fan Lao's power, he knew—he could win.
Black-and-white flames gathered into a vortex in his hand. With a flash, he met Fan Lao's strike directly, hurling the vortex forward.
Boom!
The vortex burst, sending shockwaves through the air. Fan Lao was forced back, glancing down at the charred marks on his hand with a twisted face.
"Come again, old dog!"
Xiao Yuan appeared beside him like a ghost. His flaming fists flew, each strike echoing like thunder, crashing toward Fan Lao.
Fan Lao reacted swiftly. With a snarl, he conjured a sticky, blood-colored shield on his left side.
Bang!
Xiao Yuan's fist smashed into the shield, sending ripples through it. Though the impact was strong, the shield barely held, stopping the blow just half an inch from Fan Lao's face.
But Xiao Yuan knew how to deal with rebound defenses.
He followed up immediately, pounding like a pile driver. Once broken, such shields would backlash on their user.
Even if it wouldn't injure Fan Lao seriously, a moment of delay was all Xiao Yuan needed.
Sure enough, the shield shattered under the relentless assault. Fan Lao staggered, and Xiao Yuan seized the opening. Fists blazing, he pounded on Fan Lao's chest.
Each blow was like a drumbeat of war. His Dou Qi defenses collapsed, his robe burned black, and his chest was scorched and split open.
"Pff!"
Fan Lao spat blood—only for it to turn into a bloody arrow aimed at Xiao Yuan.
But with a crack of thunder, Xiao Yuan reappeared behind him and kicked him square in the back.
Wind Hawk Kick!
Once just a high-level Yellow-rank Dou Technique, now it struck like a Xuan-rank technique—amplified by Xiao Yuan's strength and flames. Fan Lao was launched into the air.
Before he could recover, he cast a defensive blood armor—Blooddevour Armor!
The instant it formed, Xiao Yuan appeared again and unleashed a storm of punches.
Clang! Clang!
His flaming fists hammered the blood armor like metal. It held—but Fan Lao kept retreating, unable to absorb all the force. It was a humiliating sight for such a high-level expert.
Watching from afar, countless students were stunned. Just days ago, they had only known Xiao Yuan as someone who defeated a Dou Ling. Now he was forcing a Dou Huang back step by step!
Clang!
Another punch landed—and the armor finally shattered!
Xiao Yuan had no time to follow up—because a monstrous surge of blood energy erupted from Fan Lao's body, blasting him backward.
As Xiao Yuan tried to steady himself, a sinister voice roared behind him—
"Blood Demon Hand!"
(END CHAPTER)
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