The Strange Flame Rekindles in Battle Through the Heavens

Chapter 35 Xiao Yan VS Nalan Yanran

Nalan Yanran initially thought Xiao Yan was a good-for-nothing, so she accepted the annulment of the engagement. However, Xiao Yan's cultivation talent proved to be even more terrifying than hers, and Nalan Yanran now felt quite regretful. But words spoken are like water spilled; it was impossible for her to take them back. She still had some pride.

"Hmph! So what if your cultivation talent has recovered? I, Nalan Yanran, simply don't like arranged marriages and I want to annul the engagement!" Nalan Yanran said firmly.

"Hehe, does Old Master Nalan know about this?" Xiao Yan asked with a cold smile, seeing Nalan Yanran's firm attitude.

"Grandpa doesn't know about this. But it's my own business and has nothing to do with him." Nalan Yanran felt a little displeased when Xiao Yan mentioned her grandfather, since her grandfather had always opposed the annulment of the engagement.

"Since the engagement is our own business, how about we resolve it ourselves?" Xiao Yan said calmly.

"How do we solve this?" Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan with a puzzled expression, wanting to hear his solution.

"In the Dou Qi Continent, strength ultimately prevails. My method is simple: since you're so confident in your abilities, let's have a match. If you win, the marriage contract will be yours, and I'll write the contents however you want; the reverse is also true. How about that? Fair enough?" Xiao Yan said calmly.

"It is indeed very fair, I agree." Nalan Yanran lowered her eyes and pondered for a while before agreeing.

Nalan Yanran was quite confident in her own strength, because she was a three-star Dou Zhe, while Xiao Yan was just a newbie who had just entered the Dou Zhe realm. Moreover, the Yunlan Sect's techniques and Dou skills were far superior to those of a small family like the Xiao family.

Seeing that Nalan Yanran agreed so quickly, Ge Ye was a little worried. After all, he felt that the aura emanating from Xiao Yan was no weaker than that of Nalan Yanran, and might even be stronger.

"Alright! Let's go to the training ground together!" Seeing that Nalan Yanran agreed, Xiao Yan turned around and headed towards the family training ground.

Seeing that Ge Ye was still hesitant, Xiao Zhan smiled and said, "Mr. Ge Ye, this is a matter for the younger generation, and they should handle it themselves. We will just watch from the sidelines."

"Sigh! That's all we can do!" Ge Ye sighed and followed Xiao Zhan to the training ground.

The rest of the family naturally didn't want to miss the duel between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, because whoever lost would become a laughing stock.

On the huge blue stone training ground, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran stood facing each other, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, all eager to witness who would win.

One of them is the daughter of the Nalan family and the young sect leader of the Yunlan Sect, with remarkable talent in cultivation. The other is a prodigy who broke through from the third stage of Dou Qi to Dou Zhe in just one year.

On the high platform to the left of the bluestone arena, Xiao Zhan and three elders sat with Ge Ye on the platform, witnessing the match between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran. None of them were calm, for this match concerned the reputation of the Yunlan Sect and the Xiao family. If Xiao Yan lost, the Xiao family would never be able to hold their heads high in the eyes of the world again. After all, in the Dou Qi Continent, for a woman to break off an engagement with a man was an extremely shameful thing.

Of course, if Nalan Yanran loses, the consequences will be even more severe. Nalan Yanran represents the Yunlan Sect and is its young sect leader. If she loses, it will deal a huge blow to the Yunlan Sect's reputation. Going to annul the engagement, only to be annuled herself—if word gets out, she'll be laughed at.

"Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan are having a martial arts competition here today. The purpose is to exchange skills. Both sides should stop when they have reached their limit and not cause any harm to each other's lives," the Grand Elder shouted from the high platform.

The Grand Elder spoke cautiously, not daring to explicitly state that the two were engaging in the competition because of a broken engagement. After all, if this matter truly angered the Yunlan Sect, the Xiao family could not afford their wrath. The Yunlan Sect could easily annihilate the Xiao family by sending just a few Dou Wang and Dou Ling warriors; the Xiao family's strength was still far too weak at the moment.

Hearing the Grand Elder's call, Xiao Yan smiled slightly. Today's events couldn't be hidden by simply stating the facts. Although this competition was only taking place in the small city of Wutan, if Xiao Yan lost, it wouldn't matter much. After all, the Xiao family was just a small clan, and no one would care too much. Even if people were gossipy, it would be difficult for the news to spread beyond Wutan City.

However, if Nalan Yanran were to lose, the news would instantly spread throughout the entire empire. After all, the Yunlan Sect had been a heavy burden on the Jia Ma Empire's royal family for a long time, and they had always dreamed of eliminating this force that threatened their imperial power. Given such a good opportunity, they were naturally eager to strike a heavy blow against the Yunlan Sect.

Nalan Yanran stood on the stage, looking at Xiao Yan who had a smile on his face and a confident expression. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she gently bit her lip.

"Hmph! I don't know where your confidence comes from. I am a three-star Dou Zhe, while you are just a rookie who just entered the Dou Zhe realm. Today, I'll show you the difference between us." Nalan Yanran sneered. She then drew the cyan sword she always carried, pointing the tip at Xiao Yan.

Seeing Nalan Yanran draw her sword, Xiao Yan smiled slightly, then bent his right palm into a claw shape and drew it towards a large sword on the weapon rack on the right side of the blue stone training ground. The sword seemed to be caught by a hand, pulled from the weapon rack, drawing a perfect arc in the air before landing steadily in Xiao Yan's hand.

Upon seeing Xiao Yan's action, the entire audience fell silent, gasping in unison.

"Such precise control of battle aura! It's simply divine skill!"

Absorbing weapons is not unusual; some people who have reached the level of a Battle Master can do it. But who has ever seen someone pull a weapon up from a shelf?

Upon seeing Xiao Yan's actions, Ge Ye frowned even more, her heart filled with even greater worry.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Xiao Yan smiled.

"It wasn't for nothing that I practiced for several months! That great hero's signature move is just so incredibly cool!" A smug smile appeared on Xiao Yan's lips. After all, who doesn't like to look cool!

Xiao Yan picked up the broadsword and tossed it around in his hand. Although it was very light, it was still usable.

Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with seriousness. She dared not be negligent in the slightest, immediately channeling her Dou Qi into her sword, and a powerful aura instantly spread out. Her slender legs were also enveloped in pale blue Dou Qi. With a slight push of her feet, she pounced towards Xiao Yan like a bird. The sword drew a graceful arc in the air, directly piercing towards Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the sword Nalan Yanran was thrusting at him. His Dou Qi erupted, channeling it into his broadsword, which was now enveloped in two distinct colors of Dou Qi—one yin and one yang—making it exceptionally magnificent and emanating an eerie aura. Just as the sword was about to reach Xiao Yan, he deflected it and slashed fiercely at Nalan Yanran's chest. Nalan Yanran quickly parried with her sword, but was still sent flying backward, blood trickling from her mouth, her feet slid a considerable distance before she came to her stop.

Ge Ye, who was on the high platform on the left, was shocked to see this scene. He never expected that Xiao Yan's seemingly effortless attack would have such power.

"Sigh! What if the young sect leader really loses..." Ge Ye didn't dare to think any further.

The Xiao family members were not surprised by this scene. After all, they had already witnessed Xiao Yan's terrifying strength and defense during his last match with Xiao Ning.

Nalan Yanran's hands, gripping the sword, trembled uncontrollably, clearly shaken by Xiao Yan's power. Xiao Yan's strength was simply immense, like a demonic beast; how could Nalan Yanran, a woman, withstand it?

Nalan Yanran stood up and wiped the blood from her mouth. She said calmly, "I didn't expect you to have specifically trained your body. I really underestimated you. But I only used three-tenths of my strength just now. How much did you use?"

"Uh... I'd say it's barely two-tenths of my strength!" Xiao Yan said after a moment of silence.

"Ah! I'll kill you!"

(End of this chapter)