The crowd couldn't clearly see if Xiao Ning was alive or dead, and the entire arena fell silent once more.
In just a moment, eyes wide as if they had seen a monster, they turned their heads towards the high platform, looking at the black-robed youth. Although many people didn't understand what exactly had just happened that caused Xiao Ning's strength to suddenly surge, everyone had witnessed one undeniable truth: unexpectedly, despite Xiao Ning's surging strength, he was defeated even more miserably and decisively than before, gravely injured by a single punch.
Seated in the VIP section, watching the sudden turn of events in the arena, Ya Fei slowly raised a slender, fair, jade-like arm to her alluring red lips. Her full bosom rose and fell slightly as a series of heart-stopping shocks flashed through her mind.
"What a powerful Dou Technique. What level is that? Profound-tier? How is that possible?" Ya Fei softly drew in a breath of cold air, murmuring, her heart filled with shock. She was perfectly aware of how difficult it was to cultivate a Profound-tier Dou Technique.
Stunned into a daze for a long while, Ya Fei's mind slowly regained clarity. Recalling the image of Xiao Yan using that powerful Dou Technique earlier, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her thoughts became a little chaotic. "If I recall correctly, the Xiao family's highest-grade Dou Technique is a Profound-tier cultivation method, 'Furious Lion's Roar', along with the mid-tier Profound-tier Dou Technique, 'Lion Mountain Split', isn't it?"
"But the Dou Technique Xiao Yan used earlier was clearly not 'Lion Mountain Split'." Her long eyelashes fluttered, and Ya Fei's jade-like hand suddenly gripped her teacup tightly. She murmured to herself, "Could it be that this Dou Technique wasn't taught to him by Xiao Zhan?"
Her beautiful eyes narrowed, a glint of light flashing within them. The shock on Ya Fei's face vanished without a trace, but just as she turned, she saw a look of bewilderment and shock on Xiao Zhan's face.
"As expected, Xiao Zhan didn't provide this Dou Technique..." Ya Fei let out a soft breath, her full bosom rising and falling. Her slender, jade-like hand toyed with the teacup for a moment. Recalling Xiao Yan's mastery of the Dou Technique, her heart couldn't help but tremble violently. "This young lad must have a mysterious master behind him? Otherwise, a Profound-tier Dou Technique like that couldn't be mastered to such a flawless degree by a mere youth like him through his own exploration and understanding."
"To be able to teach a Profound-tier Dou Technique to such an extent, that mysterious master's strength must be at least at the Dou Spirit level, perhaps even stronger!" A trace of solemnity flashed across her beautiful face. Ya Fei elegantly set down her teacup, her beautiful eyes, holding a hint of an unreadable expression, slowly assessed the handsome youth in the arena. "This young lad... seems to be getting more mysterious by the day. He truly makes one unable to resist feeling a little curious."
"Ai... This boy Yan'er, he truly becomes more unfathomable by the day." While Ya Fei's thoughts were racing, Xiao Zhan, who was beside her, couldn't help but let out a sigh in his heart. Even he, when Xiao Yan used that Dou Technique earlier, couldn't help but praise it inwardly. Judging that Dou Technique from the perspective of its clear offensive power, it was indeed perfect enough to surpass the family's Profound-tier Dou Technique, 'Lion Mountain Split'.
Slowly shaking his head, Xiao Zhan let out a soft breath, a glint flashing in his eyes. "Behind Yan'er, I'm afraid there's someone teaching him!"
“Who taught him that?” Rubbing his face, Xiao Zhan suddenly found his gaze involuntarily drawn to Xun’er, who was standing far below the platform. At this moment, a smile bloomed on her face, her eyes soft and calm, carrying a hint of amusement as she looked at the young man on the platform.
“Could it be her again?” A multitude of doubts swirled in his heart. Recalling Xun’er’s daily closeness with Xiao Yan, only then did a certain realization dawn on Xiao Zhan.
On the high platform, Xiao Yan slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. His palms, hard as rock, quietly returned to normal, and his sleeves, as if by his will, gently slid back down.
Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Yan looked down from the platform. Xiao Yu was hurriedly carrying the unconscious Xiao Ning down. His face was calm, but his heart still felt a little uneasy. If it weren't for the two great Xuan-tier Dou Skills protecting him this time, he feared Xiao Ning's previous punch might have broken his right arm. If others accused him of being merciless in his strike, he wouldn't foolishly try to be a good person by making excuses.
Slowly retracting his fist, Xiao Yan turned his head to look at the Second Elder, who was standing agape on the side. He said indifferently, “May I ask if the match is over?”
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, the Second Elder, having just regained his composure, hurriedly nodded. Just as he was about to shout for the match to end, a furious cry suddenly rang out, interrupting his intention.
“Wait!” Xiao Yu, below the platform, seeing Xiao Ning covered in fresh blood, his life or death unknown, angrily bit her red lips and shouted with hatred.
The Second Elder raised an eyebrow and sternly rebuked, “Xiao Yu, what do you think you're doing?”
Xiao Yu carefully handed the unconscious Xiao Ning to a clan member behind her. Then she angrily stepped onto the platform, glaring at Xiao Yan with resentment, and furiously said, “Xiao Ning is your cousin after all, why did you strike so viciously?”
Seeing Xiao Yu's self-righteous accusatory manner, Xiao Yan smiled, tilted his head, and sneered, “This was nothing more than a meaningless challenge. Yet he violated the rules by consuming a medicinal pill. When he attacked so fiercely earlier, did you see him show me any mercy? If I hadn't counterattacked, the one lying down there right now would be me. At that time, would you have gotten angry and yelled at him like this for my sake? Is Xiao Ning human, and I, Xiao Yan, am not? Xiao Yu, besides being able to act haughty and boast outside, what else can you do?”
Being continuously reprimanded by Xiao Yan and having her thoughts exposed, Xiao Yu felt suffocated. Her beautiful, rosy face turned pale, devoid of all color. Normally, her temperament was arrogant, so how could she endure being lectured like this in front of everyone by someone she considered inferior? Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her surging anger and said coldly, “I don't care how deceitful you are; all I know is that you severely injured my cousin. Now I challenge you next. If you have the skill, then continue to fight!”
“Xiao Yu, get down! This is not a place for you to interfere. The rules of the match state that if you are not a combatant, you have no authority here.” From the side, the Second Elder reprimanded her.
Xiao Yu stubbornly bit her lip, glaring at Xiao Yan with resentment. She said coldly, “Are you perhaps afraid to accept?”
"This foolish woman!"
Gritting his teeth in anger, he cursed inwardly. Having fought with Xiao Ning earlier, Xiao Yan had expended a considerable amount of Dou Qi. Now, his strength was only on par with a three-stage Dou Disciple. Therefore, Xiao Yu's challenge was clearly intended to put him at a disadvantage.
"Surely you're not afraid to accept a challenge from a mere woman, are you?" With a somewhat cold and sinister gaze fixed on Xiao Yan, Xiao Yu, inwardly delighted, sneered.
Rubbing his nose, Xiao Yan's mouth twitched slightly, and a fierce glint suddenly appeared in his dark pupils.
Just as Xiao Yan was preparing to go all out and give this girl a beating, a delicate, bell-like girlish laugh rang out, but she subtly and gracefully glided onto the stage.
"Cousin Xiao Yu, Brother Xiao Yan is completely exhausted now. If you challenge him at this moment, you might inadvertently put him in danger. If Cousin Xiao Yu truly wishes to challenge someone, why don't I, Xun Er, spar with you instead, okay?"