Reaching the pinnacle from Doupo

Chapter 556 The Changing World, The Two Reunite (Supporting Character Chapter, Please Subscribe with Caution)

(As I wrote, I got carried away and spent too much time on the supporting characters. Please subscribe at your discretion.)
Upon hearing this, the old apothecary's gaze lingered on Lin Yuan's face for a long time, as if trying to guess his thoughts and weigh the pros and cons.

"Okay, I accept the bet."

After a moment, he nodded slightly and accepted the very favorable terms of the bet.

Five years of priority access to medicinal herbs was a price he could afford... After all, without a suitable ninth-grade pill formula, no matter how many medicinal herbs he collected, they wouldn't help him improve his strength as a Saint Realm cultivator.

Since that's the case, it's better to use this as a bet, gambling on a ninth-grade pill formula, and strive for the opportunity to continue improving after becoming a Battle Saint.

As for the disciples he was training, Master Yao had enough confidence!

After making the decision, the old apothecary relaxed and raised an eyebrow mischievously, teasing, "Speaking of which, you seem quite interested in that young lady. Isn't she your new love interest? With your other women around, can you handle it all?"

Among the people that Yao Lao had met around Lin Yuan, there was Queen Medusa, who had transformed into the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python, and another person with the Calamity Poison Body. These were no pushovers!
Furthermore, as far as he knew, Xuan Kongzi's precious disciple seemed to have a considerable fondness for this boy.

Now, there's another ancient celestial phoenix...

Outstanding women are often people with strong personalities, and Yao Lao has a deep understanding of this!
Hearing Yao Lao's words, Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly, then glanced at Yao Lao meaningfully and chuckled, "Hehe, Senior Yao, you're still a virgin, so don't pretend to be some kind of relationship guru!"

Once you reach the same level of strength, you can speak more freely. Even if it's Elder Yao, Lin Yuan can joke around with him at will!

This old lecher, though quite old, has had romantic entanglements with many outstanding women in the past, but so far, it seems he hasn't had a successful relationship.

Given his sentimental and loyal nature, he's probably still a virgin.

Lin Yuan exposed the true nature of his boastful talk, and even the old apothecary blushed, inwardly cursing his old friends for being so talkative.

Lin Yuan, however, seemed to have remembered something, and a playful look appeared in his eyes.

"By the way, Guild Master Xuanyi asked me to pass on a message... cough cough, the exact words were... please tell Yao Chen not to act arrogantly or recklessly in the future! If anything happens to him again, I will definitely not let him off the hook!"

After a brief pause, he gently reminded him, "Senior is no longer a child. Don't be too wishy-washy about things. Senior Xuan Yi is a very good person."

However, the old doctor gave a wry smile and said, "Let's talk about this later!"

He's currently busy breaking through to the Dou Sheng realm, developing his power, training disciples, and then he'll have to cause trouble for the Soul Palace... He has no time to think about romance for the time being.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan shrugged and said nothing more, turning his gaze to the martial arts stage.

Immediately, a slightly surprised voice rang out, and a familiar name entered the ears of the pensive old doctor, causing him to subconsciously come back to his senses.

"Nalan Yanran?!"
-
"Nalan Yanran?!"

Xiao Yan looked at the woman in the white dress whose gaze met his, and was taken aback by the slightly changed beautiful face.

He had memorized his former fiancée's appearance for three years and could never mistake her for someone else.

Six years have passed, and Nalan Yanran has lost the naivety of her youth. Every gesture she makes exudes a charming and mature allure. The spoiled girl of yesteryear has now truly blossomed into a beauty that could topple kingdoms.

Beside her, Mu Qingluan also sensed Xiao Yan's unusual behavior. Following his gaze, she frowned slightly... Who is this woman?!

Aside from Gu Xun'er, this was the second woman Xiao Yan had ever met who could make him waver.

Just as she was wondering, a chilling roar brought the chaotic square to a moment's halt: "You bitch, how dare you show your face in front of me?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Wang Chen staring at the woman in the white dress with a sinister expression and murderous intent in his eyes.

"Isn't the lesson I gave you last time enough to teach you such an insolent remark?" Nalan Yanran withdrew her gaze from Xiao Yan, turned around, and looked indifferently at the scarred man with a murderous look on his face. A powerful aura at the Dou Zong level surged out from him.

Her trip was for training, to gain fame, and to prepare for the competition for the position of young sect leader of the Flower Sect. Naturally, she would not allow a mere Wang Chen to humiliate her.

The Flower Sect boasts numerous talented disciples, far surpassing the former Cloud Mist Sect.

As an outsider who took over the Flower Sect, Yun Yun, no matter how much she loved Nalan Yanran, could not directly grant her the position of Young Sect Master as she had done in the Cloud Mist Sect.

As a direct disciple, Nalan Yanran also wanted to make a name for herself to support her master. Therefore, after breaking through to the Dou Zong realm at the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, she chose to participate in the upcoming Four Directions Pavilion Tournament, hoping to win the championship...

Based on past experience, a Dou Zong level cultivation level is enough to make a great impression at the Four Directions Pavilion Tournament, and the chances of winning the championship are quite high!
Sensing Nalan Yanran's powerful aura, the people on Leishan Mountain immediately expressed their admiration.

"There are rumors that during the opportunity at the Blood Pool of Tianshan a few days ago, a woman clashed with Wang Chen and severely injured him. Is this the woman?"

"She really is a stunning beauty, how could Wang Chen bring himself to do it?"

"Another Dou Zong. With such strength, he is comparable to the disciples of those Venerables... Another dark horse."

"That was awesome! So awesome!"

"This woman is at the Dou Zong level. I wonder how she compares to Miss Feng and Miss Mu in terms of strength?"

The emergence of a new favorite to win the championship naturally sparked heated discussions among the spectators, especially since this person was a woman with an exceptionally outstanding appearance.

On the other side, Wang Chen's face was ashen. Thinking of the Yellow Spring Venerable's expression just now, his heart was filled with killing intent.

He must deal with this woman here to restore his master's reputation, otherwise... the Yellow Springs Pavilion is not a good place, and the Yellow Springs Venerable is not a benevolent master.

Thinking of this, Wang Chen clenched his fist, and two jet-black daggers fell from his sleeve into his palm.

"Heh heh, you're not the only one who's a Dou Zong!" He sneered, and jet-black Dou Qi surged out from his body, like a huge ink pillar soaring into the sky. The strength of this Dou Qi was in no way inferior to that of Nalan Yanran.

Due to the rise of the "competition for the rankings" trend in Zhongzhou—the butterfly effect brought about by Lin Yuan—the younger generation has generally become stronger, and Wang Chen is no exception.

At that time, he was originally only a Quasi-Dou Zong, but now he has become a true Dou Zong!
"Last time, I was still recovering from my injuries, which gave you an advantage, but this time, you won't have the same luck."

"You bitch, I'll make you regret offending the Yellow Springs Pavilion!"

As the eerie voice fell, Wang Chen's body trembled slightly, and he transformed into a black rainbow, flashing out and appearing behind Nalan Yanran in the blink of an eye. His dagger moved with lightning speed, aiming straight for the latter's neck and back, two vital points.

"Keng——"

A crisp sword sound rang out as Nalan Yanran drew her longsword and appeared behind him with a "whoosh," deflecting her opponent's fierce attack.

Despite his failed attack, Wang Chen's expression remained unchanged.

With a thought, he coiled black battle qi around the dagger, transforming it into two giant black battle qi pythons that bypassed the gleaming sword blade and shot straight at Nalan Yanran's head.

Faced with her captivating beauty, he showed no mercy, displaying a deadly intent.

Nalan Yanran spun around, her slender hand gripping the sword tightening suddenly. Five cyan sword energies instantly separated from the sword's edge with a "whoosh." Two of them cut down the giant battle qi python, while the other three shot towards Wang Chen's head, throat, and heart, respectively.

Faced with the crisis, Wang Chen unleashed his immense fighting spirit, which condensed into a pitch-black barrier on his body, firmly protecting him.

“Ding——” “Ding——” “Ding——”

Three cyan sword energies collided fiercely, and three crisp sounds, like metal clashing against stone, rang out in the square where the fierce battle was taking place.

"Wind Spirit Whirlwind Kill!" Under everyone's gaze, Nalan Yanran's free left palm quickly formed a hand seal, and a wave of energy rippled outwards.

The three sword energies, which should have dispersed after colliding, instead converged into a cyan cone of light. While absorbing the energy of heaven and earth, it began to spin at high speed, transforming into a high-speed rotating drill that emitted a terrifying "whooshing" sound.

"Go!" With a sharp shout, the drill rushed towards Wang Chen's head, attempting to break through the dark barrier directly.

At the same time, Nalan Yanran's thoughts stirred, and a vast amount of battle qi surged from her body, causing the power on the sword's edge to surge and sweep towards Wang Chen with the force of a whirlwind.

Seeing this, Wang Chen decided to retreat temporarily and regroup.

However, he was surprised to find that there was a strange swirling force on the opponent's sword, which held the clashing "Yellow Springs Twin Daggers" firmly in place, preventing them from being pulled back.

This approach clearly indicates an intention to wage a war of attrition, aiming to win through the majestic and powerful characteristics of wind-attribute battle aura.

Realizing this, Wang Chen felt a chill run down his spine—his battle aura was ruthless and unpredictable, putting him at a complete disadvantage compared to wind-attribute battle auras of the same level.

This woman is indeed difficult to deal with!
In just one exchange, the offensive and defensive positions of the two had already been reversed—this unexpected development caught the attention of the spectators.

As time went on, Nalan Yanran's dominance became increasingly apparent.

Nalan Yanran's talent is quite remarkable to become a Dou Zhe at the age of thirteen. After being brought into the Flower Sect by Yun Yun for three years, this talent was gradually developed!
As for Wang Chen, feeling the cold, sharp gaze falling upon him from the high platform, a surge of madness welled up from the bottom of his heart. He knew clearly that if he were to be defeated by this woman again, he would face terrible punishment when he returned!

As Wang Chen thought of this, his madness grew stronger and stronger. Then, a low growl, like that of a wild beast, finally came from his throat.

"The Bloody Battle of Underworld!"

In an instant, the tiny blood vessels under the skin burst open, turning him into a hideous blood-soaked figure.

His aura instantly surged to the level of a three-star Dou Zong, and a vast and fierce jet-black energy burst forth from his body, shattering three high-speed rotating wind-attribute sword energies. It also sent Nalan Yanran flying backward, and swept some Dou Huangs out of the square in the process.

Upon seeing Wang Chen's actions, Tang Ying and the others gasped in shock: "This guy actually used the Yellow Springs Blood Technique... Has he gone mad?"

The Yellow Springs Blood Technique is the Yellow Springs Pavilion's top secret technique, but it has extremely serious side effects.

Wang Chen, however, disregarded everything else. The moment his aura reached its peak, he moved, and the intense corrosiveness of his battle qi caused a long trench to appear in the ground.

"The Bone-Eating Dagger Dance!"

At this moment, Wang Chen was much faster than before, and in a flash, he appeared in front of Nalan Yanran.

Immediately, the dagger transformed into countless black rays, carving out dark marks in the space. The eerie arc of the dagger's movements almost permeated the space around Nalan Yanran, and a chilling aura emanated from the black rays.

"Wind Shadow Dividing Spirit Sword!" Nalan Yanran's eyes narrowed slightly, and the long sword in her hand moved at this moment, transforming into a dense sword net that enveloped her body inch by inch.

"Ding Ding Ding-"

A deluge of black light poured onto the sword net, accompanied by a continuous burst of crisp sounds.

Each time a crisp sound rang out, a massive energy surge would erupt rapidly, creating spiderweb-like cracks in the plaza.

Those who were closer to the Dou Huang were all shocked and coughed up blood.

The outcome of this confrontation was completely different from before. Wang Chen, who had gained an advantage in cultivation through a secret technique, was now in complete control. Soon, the woman's moon-white robe was stained with a lot of dazzling scarlet color.

As the situation developed to this point, Nalan Yanran's eyes were filled with solemnity. While trying her best to resist the attacks, she was making a decision in her heart.

She also knows the secret techniques to enhance strength, but the side effects are quite significant.

Once used, it will inevitably enter a period of weakness. In that case, let alone fighting Xiao Yan again and winning the Four Directions Pavilion Tournament, it will be impossible to accomplish either of these two things, and even the safety afterward cannot be guaranteed!
After all, in order to achieve the best results during this training trip, the teacher specifically sent her out alone (of course, this was just her own opinion).

If that's the case, there's only one strategy left—delay!

The preliminary rounds will be suspended until Wang Chen's secret technique ends, or until the top eight are decided.

With her mind settled, her battle tactics changed accordingly. She adopted a completely defensive stance, creating wind barriers and using the profound fighting techniques of the Flower Sect to slow down Wang Chen's offensive.

On the other side, Wang Chen gradually noticed this change as well. With a quick thought, he guessed his opponent's intentions.

"That bitch, so cunning!" Wang Chen cursed inwardly, noticing that the number of people on the stage was dwindling. A fierce glint appeared in his eyes. "Master is watching from up there. We can't delay any longer. We need to win in one decisive blow... even if it means paying a higher price."

"Regardless of the outcome, at least we must be truly committed to the attitude of 'being willing to pay any price to make Master happy'!"

This is the most important experience that enabled him to survive and rise in the Yellow Springs Pavilion.

Once he had made up his mind, Wang Chen no longer hesitated. He stomped his foot on the ground and leaped into the sky.

At the same time, wisps of blood-red flames ignited on his body, and his aura, which was nearly three-star Dou Zong, surged again, directly breaking through the three-star Dou Zong barrier.

"This madman, in order to win, he actually burned his life essence!"

Tang Ying, an old rival, looked at Wang Chen's actions with a deep sense of apprehension—this kind of reckless madman has always been a troublesome opponent.

Many spectators also glanced at him slightly; after all, someone who dares to engage in a death match always deserves to be looked at with respect!
High in the sky, Wang Chen's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He clenched his fist suddenly, and dark energy condensed like lightning. A strong stench of corpses quickly emanated from his right arm, and then his entire arm turned as black as ink!

"The Corpse Arm of the Underworld!"

With a low roar, the Yellow Springs Pavilion's signature fighting technique, carrying the power of annihilation, burst forth.

Under this ferocious power, space itself cracked open, and the surrounding silver thunderwood rapidly lost its luster under the corrosive force, becoming like withered wood...

Sensing that her aura had been locked, Nalan Yanran's expression changed, and she quickly formed several profound hand seals.

"Thousand Winds Mysterious Wall!"

Having lost the initiative, it was too late to activate her secret technique. She released all the remaining battle qi in her body, transforming it into layers of raging wind walls to block her.

At the moment of impact, the layers of blue wind barrier shattered instantly.

A sinister smile crept across Wang Chen's lips as he shattered all the wind barriers with unstoppable force. His dark arm showed no mercy as it hurtled towards the pale-faced beauty.

This scene made everyone on the scene feel a pang of anxiety... Could it be that such a stunning beauty was about to perish here?

However, the thought of the Yellow Springs Venerable above instantly dissipated any desire to help.

The Yellow Springs Pavilion—they are people we can't afford to offend!
Just then, a faint sound of wind breaking rang out, and a streak of earthy yellow fire flashed past.

The next instant, the tall young man in black robes stood firmly in front of Nalan Yanran, his slender hand reaching out like lightning to precisely intercept the dark arm that was about to kill the beauty. His clear voice then echoed across the square.

"The outcome of this battle is already decided, so there's no need to commit further killings... Brother Wang, please give me, Chen Yan, some face and show mercy!"

　In order to write that final scene, I unknowingly and uncontrollably wrote an entire chapter, which is hard to judge... As an immature author, I sometimes really can't control my writing style, please forgive me, fellow readers.

　　P.S.: Personally, I feel that it's easier to write low-level battle scenes, but unfortunately the protagonist is beyond that level!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)