The Strange Flame Rekindles in Battle Through the Heavens

Chapter 14 Swallow's Counterattack

After Xiao Yan stood up, he saw Xun'er pouting at him, clearly upset that he had hit her too hard.

Xiao Yan rushed over to check and saw that Xun'er's little hands were a bit bluish. He felt sorry for her and rubbed them for her.

"It's all Brother Xiao Yan's fault, he hit too hard," Xiao Yan said apologetically.

Seeing Xiao Yan's concerned expression and the hands that were gently rubbing her forearms, Xun'er blushed, gently removed Xiao Yan's hands, and said shyly, "It's just a friendly spar! Xun'er was being a little pretentious."

"Then I'll use less force later," Xiao Yan said, scratching his head sheepishly.

"No need, Xun'er underestimated Brother Xiao Yan's strength. Brother Xiao Yan's strength is indeed astonishing, and his attacks are swift. But Xun'er is only at the ninth level of Dou Qi! If Brother Xiao Yan has to give way to me, wouldn't Xun'er be just a pretty face? Brother Xiao Yan, be careful, Xun'er is about to retaliate." Xun'er said softly. Then, with elegant steps, her body as light as a butterfly, she walked towards Xiao Yan. Just as she was about to reach Xiao Yan, she gently pushed him with her small hand.

The two shifted their offensive and defensive stances, and Xiao Yan dared not be careless, for carelessness could lead to great losses. Facing Xun'er's outstretched palm, Xiao Yan channeled all his strength and thrust out with both palms.

"Bang!" The force generated by the two people sent the leaves of the surrounding trees flying everywhere.

Seeing Xiao Yan withstand the palm strike, Xun'er's face lit up with a sly smile, and she said playfully, "Xun'er's attack isn't that simple!"

As soon as Xun'er finished speaking, Xiao Yan felt another surge of force from her palm. This force was incredibly powerful, sending Xiao Yan flying backward. Taking advantage of Xiao Yan's flight, Xun'er unleashed a barrage of attacks like a storm. Unable to gain any leverage while in mid-air, Xiao Yan could only passively endure the blows.

Only after Xiao Yan landed on the ground did Xun'er lightly touch the ground with her feet, her body flying backwards before gently landing.

Feeling pain all over his body, covered in bruises, Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and muttered, "Women! They say they're fine, but they hold grudges more than anyone else."

"Hehe, is Brother Xiao Yan alright?" Xun'er asked softly with a smile, her laughter full of smugness.

"I'm fine, but you'll be in trouble soon." Xiao Yan stood up, his whole body trembling. This pain was nothing more than a tickle to him. He moved quickly and attacked Xun'er again.

The two exchanged blows, only resting when their fighting spirit was exhausted. Once their fighting spirit recovered, they would spar again. It wasn't until the sun gradually set and they were both completely drained that they lay down together on a large rock to watch the beautiful sunset.

Seeing the beautiful scenery, Xun'er couldn't help but use Xiao Yan's arm as a pillow, her face full of a happy smile.

Feeling the soft body of the woman in his arms, Xiao Yan's heart stirred, and he reached out to stroke Xun'er's hair. He sighed inwardly, "Alas! I must cultivate diligently! Otherwise, Xun'er might end up in someone else's arms..."

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan could no longer care about enjoying himself and immediately got up to cultivate, since the best time to cultivate was when his physical strength and fighting spirit were exhausted.

Seeing Xiao Yan suddenly sitting cross-legged on the boulder to cultivate, Xun'er didn't understand why Xiao Yan, who had been so affectionate just moments before, had suddenly changed his demeanor.

Seeing that Xiao Yan was cultivating, Xun'er felt it was boring for her to watch the sunset alone, so she had no choice but to cultivate with him.

As dusk fell and the sun completely set, Xiao Yan stopped cultivating once he felt his internal energy was full. Seeing that Xun'er was also cultivating, Xiao Yan was surprised, as he had never seen this girl so diligent before; she usually spent most of her time playing or reading.

Sensing that Xiao Yan had finished his cultivation, Xun'er also stopped and gradually opened her eyes.

"When did Xun'er become so diligent?" Xiao Yan said jokingly.

"I learned it from Brother Xiao Yan. Brother Xiao Yan doesn't stay with Xun'er, he actually goes to cultivate. Is Xun'er that unattractive?" Xun'er rolled her eyes.

"This... Hahaha! I just want to get stronger quickly." Xiao Yan looked left and right, his eyes darting around as he spoke.

"Then why did Brother Xiao Yan become stronger?" Seeing Brother Xiao Yan's wandering eyes, Xun'er asked again.

"Well, getting stronger is getting stronger, what reason is there! Does getting stronger need a reason?" Xiao Yan argued.

Seeing that Xiao Yan refused to say anything, Xun'er stared intently at him with her bright eyes.

Feeling a little flustered by her gaze, Xiao Yan changed the subject, asking, "Was that fighting technique that Xun'er used today that pushed me so far away?"

"Advanced Xuan-rank fighting skill: Swallow Counterattack... When mastered, it can reflect the opponent's attack back. I am only at the initial stage now, and can only reflect about one level of power." Seeing that Xiao Yan directly changed the subject, Xun'er had no choice but to say helplessly.

"Swallow Counterattack? That's not a very good name. I think 'Shifting Stars' would be more imposing." Xiao Yan felt that this fighting technique was somewhat similar to Murong Fu's ultimate technique, Shifting Stars, in martial arts novels. Both were moves that used the opponent's force against them.

"Shifting Stars?" Xun'er looked puzzled upon hearing this somewhat unfamiliar term, but it did sound much stronger than Swallow Counterattack. She then smiled and said, "Brother Xiao Yan's name is much better; from now on, this fighting technique will be called 'Shifting Stars'."

"Isn't it nice to hear?" Xiao Yan was deeply influenced by the online TV dramas of later generations. There were countless moves and martial arts skills in them, so giving them a nice name was not a difficult task.

"Does Brother Xiao Yan want to learn?" Xun'er asked with a sly look.

Xiao Yan was genuinely moved. After all, being able to return the enemy's attack to him and kill him would allow him to taunt him, "To die by your own signature fighting technique, you can die a worthy death, without any regrets."

No, the more I thought about it, the more tempted I became, and then I said shyly, "Is it okay?"

Seeing Xiao Yan's embarrassed and awkward expression, Xun'er chuckled. She then lightly tapped her finger, and a golden scroll appeared in her hand, which she gently handed to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan took the scroll, his soul perception instantly immersing itself in it to examine the cultivation method of this high-level fighting technique. It took him the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to finish reading the contents; he was truly astonished by what he found! This was the second high-level Xuan-rank fighting technique Xiao Yan had encountered.

This Swallow Counterattack—no, the fighting technique Xiao Yan renamed "Star Shift"—is even more profound than the Eight Extremes Collapse. After all, the difficulty of the Eight Extremes Collapse lies mainly in physical strength; the acupoints and meridian pathways are relatively simple, at least compared to other high-level Xuan-rank fighting techniques.

"Brother Xiao Yan, let me teach you the basic usage now," Xun'er said calmly.

After all, fighting techniques need to be taught step by step, so Xiao Yan didn't stand on ceremony and started learning directly from Xun'er.

By the time Xun'er finished teaching, it was already getting dark. But Xiao Yan didn't care about the darkness; he was eager to learn this fighting technique.

Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes, recalling the acupoints and meridian pathways of the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi technique. He then channeled his Dou Qi within his body, slowly circulating it along these acupoints and meridians.

Xiao Yan unconsciously raised his hands slowly, palms facing each other, forming a circle, about level with his navel. His left palm faced down, his right palm up, his hands crossed in a yin-yang shape. He slowly separated his hands to the left and right, as if drawing a flat, circular arc. When his palms faced each other again, he gently pushed them out, instantly feeling a gentle yet powerful force in his hands.

"I never imagined that Brother Xiao Yan could learn it in just one time. Back then, it took Xun'er almost half a month to master it!" Xun'er said with some envy.

"It's all thanks to Xun'er's excellent teaching!" Xiao Yan said happily. He hadn't expected to learn it so quickly. He felt as if this fighting technique was tailor-made for him.

"Would Brother Xiao Yan like to try out its power?" Xun'er asked with a smile.

"Uh, is it okay?" Xiao Yan looked around and saw that it was completely dark, and the moon had already come out. However, with the appearance of the moon, the sky actually became a little brighter.

"Hehe, I also want to know how powerful this fighting technique will be in Brother Xiao Yan's hands!" Xun'er said with a smile. Then, a faint golden light appeared on her palms, and she gently pushed forward.

Seeing that Xun'er had already made her move, Xiao Yan dared not be careless. He immediately circulated all the Dou Qi in his body and poured it into the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi acupoints, and gently pushed out both palms.

Two gentle forces collided. Xiao Yan only felt a slight push, but Xun'er was sent flying backward.

Seeing Xun'er fly out, Xiao Yan instinctively rushed to where Xun'er was about to land and caught her in his arms.

Looking at Xun'er in his arms, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. Their eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat ambiguous.

Finally, Xun'er blushed and said shyly, "Put me down now."

"Oh, I was just worried you'd fall." Xiao Yan put Xun'er down, scratched his head awkwardly, and said embarrassedly.

"I'm going back now." Xun'er said with her head down and quickly ran down the mountain.

Seeing Xun'er run faster than a rabbit, Xiao Yan put his hand to his nose, smelled it, and said with a smile, "It smells quite nice!"

(End of this chapter)