BTTH: I have a key to travel to Wu Dong Qian Kun.

Chapter 160: Victory or Defeat

At the end of the long stone steps, shrouded in mist, lay a vast plaza. This plaza was paved entirely with massive stones, exuding a sense of ancient grandeur. At its center stood a towering stone monument, recording the names of past sect leaders and individuals who had greatly contributed to the Yun Lan Sect.

On this day, all the elders, deacons, and disciples of the Yun Lan Sect gathered here, including Nalan Yanran. She sat cross-legged on a separate stone step, wearing a moon-white robe, her eyes closed. A gentle breeze blew, pressing her robe against her delicate figure, revealing her perfect curves.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Suddenly, the sound of something cutting through the air came from the distance, and a figure flew onto the Yun Lan Sect's plaza. Upon arrival, the figure shouted towards the rear, "Hahaha, Old Mu, Old Nalan, you're both a step slower than me!"

A withered old man snorted and said, "Feng Shan, what's there to be proud of? You just took a Dou Ling Pill from the Xiao family, so your cultivation is one star higher than ours!"

Upon arriving, he glanced worriedly at his granddaughter. The Xiao family had an alchemist capable of refining at least sixth-tier pills, so there was a good chance his granddaughter would lose today.

Feng Shan chuckled and said, "Nalan Jie, don't be upset. If you have the ability, take one yourself!"

"You three old geezers from the capital have been arguing your whole lives!" A burly middle-aged man landed, followed by a thin old man.

Feng Shan looked at the two and exclaimed, "Yan Shi, Feng Li, you came too."

Feng Li smiled and said, "This is a duel between the juniors of two Dou Huang forces. Naturally, it's an event worth attending!"

With the continuous arrival of figures, nearly all the top ten new and old experts of the Jia Ma Empire who could attend were present.

The last to arrive was an old man in plain yellow clothes, with a youthful face and white hair. Seeing him, everyone respectfully greeted, "Elder Jia!"

This elder, known as Jia Xingtian, was the guardian of the Jia Ma Empire's royal family.

"Whoosh!"

At that moment, Yun Yun, holding Yun Xiao, landed on the viewing platform of the plaza. She wore a tight purple and gold-trimmed robe, her long hair styled elegantly, exuding an air of nobility that was hard to conceal. Her serene and beautiful face was like a clear spring in a secluded mountain, inspiring both reverence and a touch of admiration.

Beside her, Yun Xiao wore a blue dress, her hair in pigtails, looking as adorable as a porcelain doll.

Seeing Yun Yun, Jia Xingtian smiled and said, "Sect Leader Yun, your wind Dou Qi has become purer over the years. Even I am left in the dust by your progress!"

Yun Yun smiled back, "Elder Jia, your mountain-breaking Dou Qi has become even more formidable. I could sense its dominance from afar!"

Jia Xingtian waved his hand and said, "I'm old now, not as good as you young ones."

As they chatted, Yan Shi curiously asked, "Is that little girl Sect Leader Yun's adopted daughter? Why do they look so alike?"

"I think so too," others nodded in agreement, clearly sharing the sentiment.

Feng Shan shook his head, "Sect Leader Yun has never admitted it. She says the girl is adopted, but that's just what Elder Yun Ling and others claim."

Hearing this, everyone looked at Nalan Jie and asked, "Old Nalan, your granddaughter is Yun Yun's direct disciple. She should know something, right?"

"You're all too old to be nosy about this," Nalan Jie rolled his eyes and said quietly, "Yanran said Sect Leader Yun went into seclusion for several months and came out with this little girl. But I don't know the details."

From Nalan Jie's words, everyone began to speculate even more.

"Rustle, rustle~"

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from the stone steps below, growing louder.

Instantly, everyone stopped talking and looked down. Under thousands of gazes, Xiao Yan walked up the steps, carrying a long sword on his back.

His eyes scanned the crowd before finally landing on Nalan Yanran.

"Xiao Yan from the Xiao family, here for the appointment!"

As he spoke, many disciples of the Yun Lan Sect looked at him with hostility. Nalan Yanran was their dream goddess, and this guy had the audacity to break off their engagement, which was a slap in the face to the Yun Lan Sect.

Nalan Yanran's clear eyes focused on Xiao Yan. She could faintly recognize the boy from three years ago. The passage of time had worn away his immaturity and sharp edges, leaving a deep and composed young man. Seeing him remain calm and collected in front of thousands of Yun Lan Sect disciples and elders, Nalan Yanran's gaze became complex.

"Nalan family, Nalan Yanran!"

Standing up gracefully, Nalan Yanran exuded the presence of a proud snow lotus. Her beautiful eyes locked onto Xiao Yan, her voice equally calm.

"So you are Xiao Yan," Yun Yun stood up and smiled, "I am Yun Yun, the leader of the Yun Lan Sect. This duel is meant as a friendly sparring match, so remember to hold back."

Xiao Yan stared at Nalan Yanran and said coldly, "The three-year agreement, I am here as promised. Let's settle our past grievances today."

Nalan Yanran responded indifferently, "I will decide my own marriage. Even after three years, I don't think I was wrong. If there was a mistake, it was not considering Uncle Xiao's feelings."

"Words are useless. Let's decide right and wrong with our skills!"

Xiao Yan's foot stomped down, cracking the stone slab beneath him. His fiery red Dou Qi surged out violently.

Nalan Yanran extended her jade-like hand, and a pale green sword appeared from her ring. She gripped the sword tightly, and a light green Dou Qi burst forth from her body.

Seeing their Dou Qi, the plaza fell silent.

Nalan Yanran leaped into the air, her sword trembling and leaving behind several afterimages.

"Wind Spirit Splitting Sword!"

Nalan Yanran shouted, and five energy swords shot towards Xiao Yan.

The energy swords tore through the air, seemingly ripping apart space itself, and descended upon Xiao Yan like meteors.

"I will show you that real strength makes everything else meaningless!"

Xiao Yan remained calm as red Dou Qi formed an armor around him.

"Boom!"

He punched out, and the powerful Dou Qi shattered the five energy swords.

"Dou Qi armor?"

"Xiao Yan is actually a Da Dou Shi!"

"No wonder the Xiao family is so formidable!"

Seeing the Dou Qi armor on Xiao Yan, the crowd was shocked.

Nalan Yanran's face finally showed surprise as she saw the Dou Qi armor. She had never underestimated the Xiao family or Xiao Yan, but she hadn't expected him to rise from a level below a Dou Zhe to a Da Dou Shi.

Taking a deep breath, Nalan Yanran's face turned serious as she tightly gripped her sword. Light green Dou Qi formed an armor around her, though it was more ethereal than Xiao Yan's, indicating her level was lower than his.

"Another Da Dou Shi!"

The crowd was astonished again, realizing both Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan, at only eighteen years old, had reached the Da Dou Shi level.

"Da Dou Shi, huh?" Xiao Yan smiled and said, "I surpassed that long ago."

As he finished speaking, he released his full aura.

"Boom!"

In an instant, Xiao Yan's aura surged past the Da Dou Shi level, stopping at the five-star Dou Ling level.

"This... this..."

"Five-star Dou Ling! He's not a Da Dou Shi but a five-star Dou Ling!"

"What? How is that possible?"

The entire plaza was in shock, except for Yun Yun. In the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Ling was already considered a powerful force. Xiao Yan's achievement at such a young age meant he could become a Dou Huang in a few years. The thought of the Xiao family having three Dou Huangs made everyone feel breathless.

The most shocked was Nalan Yanran. The boy she once dismissed had now surpassed her by far.

Xiao Yan said calmly, "Nalan Yanran, there is a major level and more than ten minor levels between us. It looks like you will lose today."

"I won't know if I'll lose until I fight!" Nalan Yanran said stubbornly, biting her lip.

She looked at Xiao Yan with complex emotions before closing her eyes. Her body floated into the air without any visible effort or flight technique, surrounded by surging energy. A circle of light green ripples spread out, giving a sense of danger.

Her sword rose slowly, and sunlight converged onto it, making it shine like a second sun.

"Unexpectedly, Sect Leader Yun even taught her the pinnacle of wind techniques!"

"This is the ultimate skill of the Yun Lan Sect?"

"To harness the power of the heavens and earth, it must be at least Earth-grade!"

Feeling Nalan Yanran's energy, Jia Xingtian and others couldn't help but discuss.

Nalan Yanran pointed her sword at Xiao Yan and said, "Xiao Yan, let's decide the outcome with one strike!"

As she unleashed her full power, her sword emitted a clear hum, and the dazzling sunlight intensified, overshadowing the sun in the sky.

"Wind's Pinnacle: Falling Sun Glory!"

Nalan Yanran shouted, and a terrifying energy mixed with sharp sword Qi descended upon Xiao Yan. The ground cracked under the pressure of the sword Qi.

Feeling the attack, the Yun Lan Sect disciples formed a giant energy shield covering most of the plaza.

"Clang!"

Xiao Yan's long sword finally unsheathed, emitting a brilliant red light like a burning flame.

"What kind of sword is that? Even I sense danger."

"What a powerful weapon! This is the Xiao family's foundation?"

Seeing the sword, even Jia Xingtian looked serious, while Yan Shi and others were envious.

"I heard Xiao Tian's master is from Zhongzhou. This sword must be from there," Feng Shan said.

Hearing this, the envy disappeared as they couldn't afford to offend a Zhongzhou expert.

"Heaven Breaking Sword!"

Xiao Yan shouted, and red sword Qi shot out, forming a line that pierced the sky, shaking the void as if it would tear it apart.

"Boom!"

The red sword Qi shattered the Falling Sun Glory and split the light green sword within it. If the sword hadn't left Nalan Yanran's hand, she would have been split too.

Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran and said, "Nalan Yanran, you lost."

"Xiao Yan, you won..." Nalan Yanran's voice was hoarse, filled with bitterness. "By our previous agreement, I should be your servant. But for the sect's honor, please forgive me for not fulfilling it. In your eyes, I'm already unreasonable, so let me be willful once more."

With that, she drew a dagger and moved to cut her neck.

"Stop!"

The Yun Lan Sect members were frantic.

"Whoosh!"

Yun Yun flicked her finger, sending a burst of energy to knock the dagger from Nalan Yanran's hand.

"Master!"

Nalan Yanran looked at Yun Yun, tears streaming down her face.

"Sigh!"

Xiao Yan sighed and said, "I have no interest in making you my servant. You don't need to go to such lengths to protect the Yun Lan Sect's honor."

(End of the chapter)

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