Chapter 217 – Dan King Gu He? One Hit KO, What's There to Talk About?
As the clear, laughing voice echoed across the sky, countless eyes on the plaza turned upward in unison. High in the sky, a young man in white robes—Xiao Yuan—hovered with folded arms, his Dou Qi wings spread wide.
At the wedding platform, Yun Shan's expression darkened upon hearing that voice. He raised his head and, as though piercing through space itself, locked eyes with the white-robed youth above, his cold voice resounding across the entire plaza:
"Heh, just a mere Dou Wang dares to cause trouble at my Misty Cloud Sect?"
His mocking tone stirred whispers and astonishment throughout the crowd.
"So what if I'm a Dou Wang? Everyone here—how many of you reached that level at eighteen?"
Xiao Yuan was utterly unafraid of Yun Shan. If not for Yun Yun's sake—wanting to spare her unnecessary pain—he would've made his move already.
But his question left the crowd speechless.
Forget the people present—even throughout the Jia Ma Empire's history, few had reached Dou Wang before twenty.
And this young man? Eighteen as a Dou Wang. Nineteen, Nine-Star Dou Wang.
From starting at nothing at fifteen, Xiao Yuan had achieved all this in just four years.
A rare genius on the entire continent.
"And you are...?"
Yun Shan's tone shifted. For someone to break through to Dou Wang in such a short time, their background had to be impressive—not someone to provoke lightly.
"Xiao Yuan? What the—did you take some miracle pill? You're a Dou Wang now?"
Dressed in coarse robes, Jia Xing Tian appeared beside Xiao Yuan, sensing the oppressive power radiating from him. His heart skipped a beat, though he kept his expression neutral.
"Elder Jia, it's been a year. I trust you're well?"
Xiao Yuan greeted him with a warm smile.
"Cut the small talk! What the hell happened to you this year? You were a Da Dou Shi, and now you're a Dou Wang?"
Jia Xing Tian was thoroughly confused.
"Is it really that hard to become a Dou Wang?"
Xiao Yuan looked genuinely puzzled. To be honest, if it weren't for needing to master at least one of the Six Qi Transformations to break into Dou Huang, he could've advanced using pills while traveling.
Now, his Shaoyin Sovereign Flame was almost fully refined.
"...?"
Jia Xing Tian was completely floored. He didn't even know how to respond.
"No wonder I didn't see Hai Bodong today—it was you causing the trouble."
He muttered as he tried to shift the conversation.
"I'm not the one making trouble—Yun Shan is."
Xiao Yuan shook his head, turning to look at Yun Yun, whose figure trembled slightly in her crimson bridal robes. A trace of warmth flickered in his eyes.
Tsshh!
A crackle of lightning rang out, and Xiao Yuan appeared beside Yun Yun in a flash. He lifted the red veil from her head, revealing her elegantly made-up face.
Caught off guard, Yun Yun looked startled. She turned away instinctively—toward Gu He—and then turned sharply back.
Gu He's face darkened.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
Xiao Yuan asked gently, voice teasing but soft.
"Why are you here?"
Yun Yun bit her lip and met his gaze with a mix of embarrassment and stubbornness.
"If I hadn't come, you wouldn't be the you I know."
Xiao Yuan shook his head, ignoring Gu He's scowl. He looked up at Yun Shan and sneered.
"Yun Shan, sealing your disciple's Dou Qi just to trade her like a bargaining chip for Gu He? Some master you are."
His words caused an uproar. Many guests hadn't known the truth—and now they whispered fiercely.
From the VIP seats, Nalan Jie was reeling.
What the hell? Xiao Yuan and Yun Yun have a thing?!
"Yun Yun is my disciple. It's not your place to tell me how to handle her!"
Yun Shan snapped coldly.
Though he now realized Xiao Yuan's identity and was shocked by his rapid progress, he was still a Dou Zong. What could a Dou Wang with no notable backing do to him?
Even though he feared the Hall of Souls, he still held his head high over the Jia Ma Empire.
"Do you want to marry Gu He?"
Xiao Yuan ignored Yun Shan's barking and looked Yun Yun in the eyes, serious.
Yun Yun froze. It was obvious that Xiao Yuan had come here—risking everything—for her. But Yun Shan was a Dou Zong. Even if Xiao Yuan had reached Dou Wang, the gap between them was still a chasm.
Yes, she didn't like Gu He.
But could she let Xiao Yuan put himself in danger?
She tried to speak, but Xiao Yuan gently raised a hand to stop her.
"I understand. You don't want to embarrass your master."
His tone was sharp. Even those around him felt a chill.
Yun Yun opened her mouth to refute him, but Xiao Yuan wouldn't let this stubborn beauty say something against her heart.
"It doesn't matter whether you want this or not. I already said it—this wedding, I don't agree to it. So unless you marry me today, no one else will. No one will marry you—not if I'm alive."
As he spoke, he pulled Yun Yun into his arms and soared into the sky, his wings bursting open.
A pulse of Dou Qi shattered her wedding gown, scattering red fragments into the wind, revealing the familiar white robe beneath.
"Wearing my clothes makes you mine."
Xiao Yuan grinned at the sight of her in white.
High above, the couple in matching robes stood together.
Everyone understood now: Yun Shan had tried to break up a pair of lovers—and got himself a wedding crasher instead.
No wonder the Miteer family hadn't sent anyone—they knew their future son-in-law was a romantic.
As they looked up at the matching robes fluttering in the sky, Yun Shan and Gu He's faces turned pitch black.
Jia Xing Tian, meanwhile, looked highly entertained.
"Xiao Yuan, today is my wedding day! What you're doing is outrageous!"
Gu He's voice was cold and furious.
"I'm here to crash it. Don't like it? Tough."
Xiao Yuan responded, already circulating his Dou Qi to locate Yun Yun's seal.
Though difficult for most, it was child's play for him—with his flame, and the Snake Seal Technique.
"Arrogant brat. I'll crush you myself and see if your mouth still runs."
Yun Shan growled, his aura surging.
"Sect Master, I'm partly to blame. Let me handle this one!"
Gu He interjected, his face dark.
"Oh?"
Yun Shan stroked his beard and paused.
"Gu He, combat is not your strength. Don't stoop to his level. I'll capture him and hand him to you later."
Gu He shook his head and glanced at Yun Yun, blushing in white.
"I want her to see that I'm the one worthy of her."
Yun Shan frowned but finally nodded.
"Xiao Yuan, whoever you came for, you disrupted my wedding. If you leave now, I'll let it go. If you persist—I'll show you I'm not someone to trifle with!"
Gu He shouted.
"Can you win?"
Yun Yun whispered.
"You just need to trust me. Follow me, Yun-jie."
Xiao Yuan whispered with a smile.
His breath against her ear made Yun Yun tremble, her knees going weak. But then—her Dou Qi surged.
Her sealed power returned after nearly a year. She was stunned.
"Today, I'll take you. Not even Yun Shan can stop me!"
Xiao Yuan's confident grin shone. He gently pushed Yun Yun away, letting her stabilize herself midair. Her eyes stayed locked on his back.
"Arrogant fool! Face me first!"
Gu He sneered as purple fire wings spread behind him. He floated to meet Xiao Yuan in the sky.
"Let's fight. I've always been curious—how strong are you, rising star?"
"Arrogant? Hahaha!"
Xiao Yuan laughed loudly.
His Nine-Star Dou Wang aura exploded—silencing the entire plaza.
"I'm tired of hiding. Today, I'll show you what arrogance truly means! What will you do? What can you do?"
His voice, infused with Dou Qi, thundered across the sky.
And for the first time in nearly a year, a faint smile curved Yun Yun's lips.
The youth from the Magic Beast Mountain Range had finally grown into a powerful force of his own!
But Yun Shan's expression was anything but pleasant—Xiao Yuan's strength had far exceeded his expectations.
He knew Xiao Yuan's age. Yet it wasn't until Xiao Yuan fully released his aura that Yun Shan realized the youth wasn't just a freshly advanced Dou Wang—he was already at the peak of the Dou Wang realm, just one step away from Dou Huang!
Such a genius would inevitably become a Dou Zong in the future. Compared to that, Gu He truly paled in comparison.
Still, Xiao Yuan was a member of the Xiao Clan. Sooner or later, they would stand on opposite sides. Would it not be better to strike now, while this boy was still relatively weak?
With a flicker of malicious thought, Yun Shan's killing intent for Xiao Yuan had been set.
"Hmph!"
Gu He, sensing the tension, showed no fear. His figure trembled, and the aura of a Dou Huang exploded forth, standing on equal footing with Xiao Yuan. He spoke with pride:
"I've already advanced to Dou Huang. Even if you're a Nine-Star Dou Wang—"
Before he could finish, his vision blurred—Xiao Yuan had suddenly appeared before him like a ghost.
"Dou Huang? It's not like I haven't killed one before."
Xiao Yuan held no kindness toward Gu He. Knowing full well Yun Yun didn't love him, Gu He still accepted the marriage proposal—such shameless opportunism deserved no mercy.
"Xiao Yuan, be careful. Gu He has already advanced to Dou Huang and possesses a formidable flame. Though not a Heavenly Flame, it's still very dangerous."
From the VIP seats, Fa Ma sent a discreet voice transmission warning Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan nodded slightly, glancing at the purple flame wings on Gu He's back. He wasn't worried. As long as it wasn't a Heavenly Flame, it posed no true threat to him.
Down below, the guests had never seen Xiao Yuan in action and remained skeptical. Some of Gu He's allies even smirked in disdain, dismissing Xiao Yuan as a cocky brat, talented or not.
Back on the high platform, Yun Shan had once again seated himself, watching the sky with a subtle smirk. Though Xiao Yuan's strength had surprised him, this would force Gu He to fight with all his strength. Even if Gu He lost, Xiao Yuan would be injured—making him easy prey for Yun Shan to capture.
Far in the distance, Yun Yun gazed at the white-robed figure in the sky, utterly entranced. She had already lost hope, prepared to end her life after the wedding. Yet this boy had arrived—just in time—risking his life for her. Her heart overflowed with joy.
"Today, I will defeat you in front of her!" Gu He declared, unleashing a wave of powerful purple Dou Qi that engulfed his body like roaring purple flames.
Xiao Yuan glanced indifferently at Gu He and said flatly:
"If you insist on playing Yun Shan's lapdog, don't expect any mercy from me."
The sharpness in his words made Gu He's face flush with anger. Without another word, he conjured a deep purple longsword, flames burning fiercely along its blade. The violent energy even caused the surrounding air to ripple.
The next moment, Gu He flapped his purple flame wings and shot toward Xiao Yuan like a purple blur, sword aimed directly for his chest.
Tsshh!
Xiao Yuan calmly raised a hand. Two pale fingers—index and middle—caught the sword mid-strike, stopping it cold.
What?!
Gu He's eyes flashed with disbelief. But with years of experience, he quickly dispelled the front of the blade, recondensed it, and surged his Dou Qi into a new attack. The blade began vibrating, creating countless mirage-like afterimages in front of him.
"Thousand Flame Sword Barrage!"
In mere seconds, a tide of sword shadows filled the sky. With a flick of his arm, Gu He unleashed them all toward Xiao Yuan like a storm.
The fiery illusions bore incredible force—if dealt with casually, the hidden real sword strikes within could easily catch someone off guard.
Even onlookers were impressed. Gu He truly wasn't some ordinary opponent. With this technique empowered by his purple flames, his strength soared. Cheers erupted from the crowd, while Jia Xing Tian and others tensed slightly.
But Xiao Yuan?
His gaze remained calm. He raised a hand.
Fwoooosh!
Black and white flames surged out of his sleeve—the Yin-Yang Heavenly Flames. In an instant, they swallowed the sea of purple sword shadows.
Gu He, too, was consumed by the roaring fire.
His expression changed dramatically.
As an alchemist, he knew well how terrifying Heavenly Flames were. To control them at such a scale required a staggering level of soul power. He himself could barely create a small fire sea with his purple flame, even at full effort.
But Xiao Yuan?
He'd conjured this inferno with ease!
That… was not a good sign.
Outside the fire, Xiao Yuan remained calm. After that brief exchange, he had a clear read on Gu He's power—roughly a One-Star Dou Huang. Perhaps with his purple flame, Gu He could match a Two-Star or Three-Star Dou Huang.
But...
Even without any special techniques, Xiao Yuan—equipped with a high-grade Earth-level cultivation method, a Heavenly Flame, and a monstrous body—could easily overpower that level of strength.
With a sigh of boredom, Xiao Yuan surged his Dou Qi. His entire body flooded with energy, his every move packed with devastating force.
Sensing the shift, Gu He responded by channeling all of his Dou Qi. With so many powerful people watching, he couldn't afford to lose face—not in front of Yun Yun. If he lost here, everything was over.
But Gu He had already lost the moment he agreed to marry Yun Yun against her will. In her heart, he no longer mattered.
Determined, Gu He began forming a strange claw shape with his hand, purple flames flickering within.
Charging?
Xiao Yuan wasn't going to wait.
"Blazing Flame Crush!"
With a mental shout, Xiao Yuan unleashed a surge of flame. The sea of fire rolled and crashed like a tsunami, smashing down on Gu He.
A moment later, Gu He's charred figure shot out of the flames and crashed hard into the ground. His aura was scattered—he was completely defeated.
"You gave me a Qi-Gathering Powder once. I won't kill you. But if you ever think of Yun Yun again, I won't be so kind. When my Heavenly Flame burns, you won't even leave ashes behind. Here—have ten pills back!"
Xiao Yuan flung down a jade box containing ten Qi-Gathering Pills. Then, with a wave of his hand, the fire vanished. He looked up at Yun Shan with a mocking smile.
"Sect Master Yun, sacrificing a pharmacist to tire me out? Pretty cunning. But a Dou Zong afraid of a Dou Wang brat like me? Is your advancement that shallow?"
Yun Shan's face turned even darker.
"If you walk out of Misty Cloud Sect alive today, what face do I have left as its master?"
"Tch!"
Xiao Yuan scoffed and fired back:
"You sealed your own sect master and tried to sell her off as a bargaining chip. You call yourself a teacher? A leader? You've disgraced Yun Potian's name. You advanced to Dou Zong, and instead of building your sect, you conspire in the shadows, trying to control the empire? Is that all your vision amounts to?"
His searing words stunned the audience. Jia Xing Tian, Fa Ma, and others turned grim. They had long suspected changes within Misty Cloud Sect after Yun Shan's return—his people had been infiltrating everywhere. But now, with Xiao Yuan publicly exposing everything, there was no turning back.
"Hmph! You're not leaving Misty Cloud Sect alive today!"
Yun Shan's eyes turned cold. With a roar, a monstrous aura burst from his body.
The terrifying pressure made it hard for many onlookers to even breathe. Under the weight of that Dou Zong aura, their Dou Qi slowed to a crawl.
This... was the power of a true Dou Zong!
Yun Shan looked up coldly. His voice echoed across the sky:
"I'll let all of Jia Ma Empire know—those who offend my sect… shall die without mercy!!"
(END CHAPTER)
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