The space around Lin Ran twisted violently, like a paper box being crushed and crumpled by a massive invisible hand. It collapsed in on itself, distorting wildly.
'Boss!'
'Lord Lin Ran!!'
In the distance, Lü Yi and Bai Ya cried out in alarm. Yet the bloody explosion they feared never came. Instead, within the collapsing space, crimson-gold Dou Qi flowed in a steady current. The sight made the white-robed elder frown.
'Interesting...'
The crimson-gold Pure Yang Dou Qi continued to condense within the shattered void. Bathed in this golden brilliance, the silhouette inside appeared divine—resplendent, majestic, and immensely powerful.
Staring at Lin Ran, whose aura suddenly soared, the elder's expression shifted. The gravity in his gaze deepened further. From the pressure emanating from this youth, he could faintly feel a sense of suppression.
"Indestructible... poison-immune... unbreakable... invincible..."
Suddenly, the elder's eyes widened as if struck by realization. He stared at Lin Ran and muttered, 'Such a fierce, domineering Pure Yang Physique. So that's your secret. No wonder you've reached this level at such a young age. You possess not only a rare constitution but also hidden arts!'
As a member of the Ancient Clan, this white-robed Dou Venerate had access to countless ancient records. It was only natural that he recognized Lin Ran's unique physique. His expression turned serious.
A beam of golden light erupted from the collapsing space, and Lin Ran stepped out from within.
His original black hair and black eyes were now drowned in golden radiance. His pupils glowed like molten metal, golden rays shooting from them. It was as if he were clad in divine armor of light, exuding an aura of supremacy.
'Sacred Origin—Blood Ignition!'
Lin Ran's deep voice resonated as his golden eyes locked on the elder. In the next instant, he vanished in a flash of light.
Within a heartbeat, Lin Ran's afterimage flickered into view, blurred by sheer speed. His glowing golden fist howled through the air, crashing toward the elder's head with violent, unstoppable force.
'What?!'
Seeing the fist grow rapidly in his vision, the white-robed elder's pupils contracted. He hastily raised his arms to block, barely catching the blow. But the terrifying power behind the punch instantly numbed his limbs.
His body staggered backward, forced to retreat several steps through the sky.
'This level of enhancement—how is that possible?!'
Without pausing, Lin Ran's figure trembled and flickered again, like a teleporting ghost. He reappeared right in front of the elder and launched another storm of vicious strikes.
The elder's frown deepened as he activated a movement technique. His body left behind multiple afterimages as he retreated rapidly across the air.
But before he could widen the gap, Lin Ran's silhouette once again flashed before his eyes—already back in front of him.
'That speed...'
Even the Dou Venerate's expression shifted. He, a top-tier expert, couldn't shake off a Dou Ancestor in speed. This boy's movement technique—could it be even higher-ranked than his own?
"Buzz!!"
Lin Ran's body transformed into a streak of golden light, appearing directly before the white-robed elder once more.
This was the Aurora Dragonstep, a high-grade Earth-Tier movement technique—one of Lin Ran's trump cards. He wouldn't have used it unless he had no other choice.
But facing a Dou Venerate of the Ancient Clan, whose foundations were likely stronger than his own, Lin Ran had no choice but to go all out. Otherwise, there was no point in fighting at all.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
With a calm face, Lin Ran's fists rained down in a golden storm, every punch faster and fiercer than the last.
His attacks compressed the surrounding air into warped arcs. The air exploded in rapid-fire sonic booms that echoed endlessly across the sky.
Under this relentless barrage, the white-robed elder was forced into retreat, unable to withstand the sheer force of Lin Ran's assault.
On the ground below, countless cultivators looked up in awe.
A Dou Venerate—actually getting beaten back by a Seven-Star Dou Ancestor?!
This was unheard of.
'Teacher...'
Xiao Yan slowly regained consciousness. His gaze instinctively rose toward the sky—and froze.
He stared in disbelief at the intense aerial battle unfolding above.
Then his thoughts snapped back to the present, and he turned quickly toward Yao Chen beside him.
'I'm fine,' Yao Chen said, helping Xiao Yan up. But the heaviness on his brow did not fade.
Another thunderous explosion roared from the sky. Xiao Yan gulped involuntarily. The terrifying energy pressure descending from above made his legs tremble.
He had witnessed Dou Kings fight back in the Magic Beast Mountains. But compared to what he was seeing now—that was child's play.
"This is true power..."
Xiao Yan murmured in his heart. After seeing the sheer destruction of this level of battle, he felt like a new world had opened before his eyes.
The descriptions in those ancient texts—of Dou Ancestors and Dou Venerates—weren't exaggerations after all.
"That guy... is he even human? He fought Teacher just moments ago, and now he's clashing with that white-robed elder... Can he really just be a normal Dou Ancestor?"
"That white-robed elder is a Dou Venerate, right? He should be able to win... right?"
Yao Chen, standing beside him, stared into the distance with furrowed brows. After a moment, he shook his head slowly.
'Hard to say. That kid has too deep a foundation. The Dou Techniques he uses are all top-tier. Add to that his terrifying special physique... Even a typical Dou Venerate might not be able to handle him.'
"This fight... really could go either way."
Suddenly, Yao Chen turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, whose body was still trembling slightly. He smiled faintly.
'What, shaken?'
'Of course! Compared to monsters like them, the so-called experts of our Jia Ma Empire are like ants...'
Xiao Yan paused, eyes flashing with realization.
'Wait, Teacher... if that elder loses...'
He leaned closer and whispered, 'Should we run?'
'I don't know why he's helping us, but it's clear he's here for you. If he wins, great. But if he loses, we'll be next. Let's not wait around—let's leave quietly.'
Yao Chen blinked, then chuckled in disbelief.
'You're not going to see your big brothers?'
'...No,' Xiao Yan was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
'The dead are gone. The living must move forward. Not attending Eldest Brother's funeral may be improper, but right now, there's no choice.'
'As for Second Brother… that guy was saved when that man fought for revenge. Even if it was for a maid in Second Brother's camp, it shows he's not bloodthirsty. And now that Second Brother serves under him... he shouldn't be in danger.'
'Besides, he's here for you, Teacher. If we stay, we might drag Second Brother into it as well. Better to leave now and avoid pulling him down with us.'
'You're not wrong,' Yao Chen sighed, no longer hesitating. His figure turned into a stream of light and returned into the Bone Flame Ring.
Their retreat truly wasn't cowardice—it was wisdom.
That white-robed elder might be a Dou Venerate, but Lin Ran's strength was terrifying. Xiao Yan's concerns weren't unfounded.
Rather than gamble on the outcome, it was smarter to disappear while they still could.
(End of Chapter)