Chapter 70: One Move

All the mercenaries held their breath.

Xue Lan covered her cherry lips with her jade-like hand, her ample chest trembling slightly.

Mo Xing was a Dou Shi!

Just what level of strength did this young man possess? How could he have killed Mo Xing so effortlessly?

No matter how one looked at it, even Luo Bu wouldn't have been able to take him down in such a short time.

In just moments, the Sand Mercenary Group had lost a Dou Shi and over a dozen elite mercenaries.

Everyone exchanged stunned glances before shaking their heads in disbelief.

This young man's strength is truly unfathomable!

"Next, it's two-on-one!" Xiao Yan pointed his blade toward Luo Bu, who was locked in battle with his second brother.

The chilling aura behind him forced Luo Bu to retreat from Xiao Li, momentarily ceasing their fight.

When his eyes fell upon the headless corpse on the ground—especially upon recognizing Mo Xing, his second-in-command—Luo Bu was utterly shocked.

"Useless trash!" Luo Bu growled furiously. "Just a few breaths, and he's already dead?!"

Xiao Li let out a hearty laugh. "Not only was he useless, but he was also a complete idiot! Xiao Yan is my third brother, and that fool Mo Xing actually thought he could tempt him with women from my Desert Iron Mercenary Group."

"He's… Xiao Yan?"

Xue Lan blinked her long lashes, licking her red lips. As she recalled the series of events, a look of growing astonishment took over her face.

She had only heard rumors about the commander's younger brother being exceptionally gifted—but seeing him in person, he was even more terrifying than the legends described.

Luo Bu lifted his gaze toward Xiao Yan. The moment he spotted the silver-glowing alchemist emblem on Xiao Yan's chest under the sunlight, his brows furrowed.

A Tier-2 Alchemist!

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were already troublesome enough.

And now, their youngest brother wasn't just monstrously powerful—he was also a Tier-2 Alchemist?! What kind of monstrous family produced such a freak?!

Xiao Yan spoke indifferently, "I'll give you a chance to live. If you can withstand a single move from me, you can take your men and leave. Otherwise, the Sand Mercenary Group will be absorbed into the Desert Iron Mercenary Group."

"One move?"

As soon as Xiao Yan's words fell, a commotion erupted among the surrounding mercenaries.

Luo Bu was a Da Dou Shi—a powerful warrior with an impenetrable battle qi armor. Ordinary weapons and Dou Techniques would struggle to break through it.

Defeating or even severely injuring him in just one move? That would take someone at least at the Dou Wang level!

And yet, here was a boy who looked barely in his teens, making such an audacious declaration.

Even though many knew Xiao Yan's strength wasn't ordinary, they still couldn't help but shake their heads.

This guy… is way too arrogant!

Even Xiao Li was stunned by Xiao Yan's words, gripping his spear tightly.

Xiao Yan… has your strength grown to such a terrifying level in this short time?

Faced with such arrogance, Luo Bu let out a furious laugh.

"Fine! I accept your challenge! Let's see what makes you so confident!"

Although both mercenary groups had momentarily ceased fighting, the tension in the desert grew even more suffocating.

Xiao Li spoke in a grave tone. "Xiao Yan, be careful! Luo Bu is a two-star earth-affinity Da Dou Shi, and he's highly skilled in defense."

Xiao Yan gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping across the earthy-yellow battle qi armor covering Luo Bu's body.

Once all warnings had been given, Xiao Ding and the remaining mercenaries slowly backed away, creating a wide space for the duel.

Xue Lan's bright eyes remained fixed on the black-robed youth, feeling as though she couldn't look away. His youthful face radiated pure confidence.

"Yellow Rank Advanced Dou Technique – Vajra Mountain Shield!"

Luo Bu let out a deep roar. The diamond-shaped Dou Crystal within his Qi Cyclone trembled violently, unleashing a surge of refined Dou Qi.

He swiftly traced his hands through the air, and a golden phantom layer formed over his body once again.

"Going all out on defense?" Xiao Yan chuckled softly.

With a sudden stomp on the sand, his figure shot forward like lightning.

His fragmented footwork made it nearly impossible for Luo Bu to track his movements. Even though Luo Bu was confident in his near-impenetrable defense, he still couldn't help but take a cautious step back.

In an instant, Xiao Yan's swift kick locked Luo Bu in place. Without hesitation, he grabbed Luo Bu's neck with one hand, his arm clamping down like an iron vice, rendering him unable to break free.

With blinding speed, his iron fists rained down mercilessly upon Luo Bu's back, each strike carrying the force of thunder.

Despite his dual-layer defense, Luo Bu could feel his internal organs trembling from the impact. A trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth.

Yet, rather than pain, his expression was filled with smugness.

An Earth-attribute Da Dou Shi's defense isn't so easily broken!

Xiao Yan suddenly slammed his palm against Luo Bu's chest, sending him flying backward with overwhelming force.

"Step Kill – Shattered Dream!"

With a deep shout, Xiao Yan stomped fiercely against the ground. A powerful shockwave sent sand flying in all directions.

His figure blurred like a streak of lightning as he soared into the air. The short blade in his hand ignited with black and white flames, slashing downward in a diagonal arc.

This strike was as heavy as a mountain yet as swift as lightning!

Before everyone's stunned eyes, Luo Bu's Vajra Mountain Shield and battle qi armor, layered together for enhanced golden defense, shattered like fragile paper.

The surrounding mercenaries stared in absolute shock, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

Luo Bu's massive body was sent hurtling through the air uncontrollably. A deep, savage wound marred his chest as he collapsed to one knee, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"How is this possible?!"

His eyes were filled with fear and disbelief as he stared at the black and white flames flickering in Xiao Yan's hand.

"You… You're a Da Dou Shi too?"

Only Da Dou Shi-level experts could infuse their weapons with Dou Qi!

But even if Xiao Yan were a Da Dou Shi, it still shouldn't have been possible for him to break through his defense!

What… what was that black and white flame?!

Xiao Yan shook his head. "A Da Dou Shi? No, I'm not."

Then… what was he? A Dou Ling? Or even… a Dou Wang?!

At that moment, Luo Bu had no idea how to gauge Xiao Yan's true strength.

The strongest young experts he had seen were Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, both at the Dou Shi level. But someone like Xiao Yan…? This level of talent was beyond anything he had ever encountered!

Luo Bu hesitated before asking, "If you're this powerful… why bother punching me earlier?"

Xiao Yan smiled. "I just wanted to test your defense—to make sure you wouldn't die from a single slash. If you died too easily, the Desert Iron Mercenary Group would've lost a valuable Da Dou Shi-level warrior."

Luo Bu's face twisted into a bitter smile.

On the Dou Qi Continent, strength reigns supreme. The thoughts of the strong were truly impossible to predict.

Xiao Yan calmly retracted the flames on his short blade. He glanced at the weapon in his hand, noticing that parts of it had already begun to melt.

"The power of the Yin-Yang Flame combined with the Xuanhuang Flame… truly terrifying."

As the mercenaries stared at Xiao Yan's lone figure, a sense of dizziness overtook them.

In just a few moments, the most powerful force in Rock Desert City had been forcibly merged into the Desert Iron Mercenary Group!

This dramatic turn of events… felt like an impossible dream.

(End of Chapter)

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