Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

Chapter 202: Mo Yu: It's Okay, I'll Step In

Seeing Xiao Yan merging two types of flames in the arena, Mo Yu knew exactly what that signified. As the future Flame Emperor's ultimate move, the Buddha's Fury Lotus was already beginning to show its terrifying potential, even in this early form. However, the current technique, which combined the Green Lotus Core Flame with a special beast flame, could only be considered a smaller version of the Buddha's Fury Lotus.

Yet, even as a smaller version, its power was enough to make everyone present change their expressions. A thunderous roar suddenly echoed across the vast square, resembling the wrath of a thunder god, causing everyone's hearts to tremble in fear. After the roar, an explosive clash of energies erupted like a volcanic eruption. The two violent energies collided in midair, unleashing their terrifying power in all directions.

A fierce wind suddenly whipped through the square, and at the point of contact between the two energies, even the very air seemed to warp and distort under the immense pressure. The violent wind howled past, and the raging energy storm that followed swept across the square toward Nalan Yanran like a descending inferno.

"Boom!"

The energy storm first struck the defensive barriers set up by some of the Yun Lan Sect disciples, but they had clearly underestimated the terrifying force behind the collision of these two energies. The fragile barriers were instantly shattered, and several of the weaker disciples turned pale, spitting out blood from the impact.

"Strengthen the barriers!" Yun Leng's face darkened as he saw his disciples collapsing under the energy storm. He quickly shouted the order.

Hearing Yun Leng's command, nearly a thousand Yun Lan Sect disciples responded in unison. Multicolored Dou Qi erupted from them, merging into a massive protective shield.

The sturdy square trembled continuously under the violent energy storm, with cracks slowly appearing and spreading outwards.

"Great Elder, it seems things are getting out of our control. That Xiao Yan is really strong!" one of the Yun Lan Sect elders said, his expression shifting uneasily.

Yun Leng furrowed his brows, stroking his beard slowly. After a moment, he spoke in a low voice, "Let's wait and see. We must ensure that Yanran doesn't lose, or else, in front of so many powerful figures, how can the Yun Lan Sect keep face?"

"What do you mean, Great Elder?" the surrounding white-robed elders asked, frowning slightly.

"Let's just wait," Yun Leng replied, waving his hand, his expression remaining dark as he looked up at the sky.

Mo Yu, watching from the side, raised an eyebrow. It seemed that the Yun Lan Sect was not willing to accept defeat easily.

As the audience held various thoughts, the situation in the arena rapidly changed.

"Boom!"

In the sky, Nalan Yanran was suddenly struck by an energy shockwave, her face turning pale as she spat out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, Yun Leng's pupils contracted sharply. The scene before him clearly indicated that Nalan Yanran was on the verge of defeat.

"Xiao Yan, I hope you will show some mercy for the Yun Lan Sect's sake. We will reward you handsomely afterward!" Yun Leng furrowed his brows, secretly transmitting a message to Xiao Yan.

However, before his message could be fully delivered, a playful laugh interrupted it.

"Great Elder Yun Leng, isn't this against the rules of the duel?" Mo Yu's cold voice rang out.

Yun Leng was momentarily stunned that his secret message had been intercepted by a junior, causing his expression to falter slightly.

"Hmph, this doesn't concern you!" Yun Leng retorted, attempting to transmit his message to Xiao Yan once again, ignoring Mo Yu's interference.

Seeing this, Mo Yu merely chuckled coldly and chose not to stop him. He knew that Xiao Yan was not someone who would be swayed by external influences.

As expected, Xiao Yan was briefly surprised, then smiled lightly. Without any hesitation, he suddenly thrust his arm forward, releasing a powerful burst of energy that surged like a volcano toward the pale-faced Nalan Yanran.

The overwhelming energy blasted out from Xiao Yan's hand, sending Nalan Yanran flying like a kite with a broken string. A mouthful of blood sprayed out from her lips like a tragic red rose.

Nalan Yanran was defeated!

The entire arena fell into a dead silence, as quiet as a graveyard.

Nalan Yanran, the most outstanding young disciple of the Yun Lan Sect, the personal disciple of the Sect Master, and the future leader of the sect, had actually been defeated by a young man from a minor family!

Whether they were ordinary Yun Lan Sect disciples or powerful figures like Fa Ma and Jia Xingtian from the Jia Ma Empire, everyone was utterly shocked.

To be accepted as a disciple by Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Yun Lan Sect, was a testament to Nalan Yanran's talent. Yet, this prodigy had been forcefully defeated by Xiao Yan, who came from a lesser-known family. It was simply unbelievable.

As for Nalan Jie, his face turned ashen. What had started as a favorable marriage alliance had now turned into a complete disaster, leaving him full of regret.

"Damn brat!"

On the other side, Yun Leng's palm slammed heavily onto the stone platform beside him, his face livid with anger. He hadn't expected Xiao Yan to show such blatant disregard for his warning. His previous message had had no effect at all.

"Great Elder, what do we do now? Yanran has lost," one of the Yun Lan Sect elders asked bitterly.

Yun Leng's expression was conflicted. Nalan Yanran represented the entire Yun Lan Sect, and her defeat would undoubtedly damage the sect's reputation. With the Sect Master absent, it was up to him to try to salvage the situation.

Seeing this, Mo Yu's expression also grew serious. He knew Yun Leng's personality and was certain he wouldn't let the Yun Lan Sect's reputation be tarnished so easily.

In the original story, Yun Leng had used Xiao Yan's killing of Mo Cheng as an excuse to make trouble. But now, with Mo Cheng's death being Mo Yu's doing, and Yun Yun, the Sect Master, having already severed ties with the Mo Clan before its downfall, Yun Leng couldn't use that to threaten Xiao Yan.

So what excuse would Yun Leng use this time to stir up trouble and restore the Yun Lan Sect's honor in front of everyone?

As Mo Yu pondered this, in the center of the square, Xiao Yan, who had just won, smiled and said, "Three years ago, I said something, and today, I'll say it again."

"Nalan Yanran, from this day forward, you and the Xiao Clan have no further ties. You are free. Congratulations."

"Everyone, the show is over. Let's all go home."

After speaking to Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan then looked up at the stone platform and smiled, "Cousin Mo Yu, I've completed the mission. I've won."

Seeing Xiao Yan's slightly relaxed smile, Mo Yu also smiled. The three-year agreement, the heavy burden on Xiao Yan's shoulders, was finally over.

Mo Yu clapped his hands, watching as Xiao Yan pulled the massive Heavy Xuan Ruler from the ground and casually slung it over his back. The two exchanged smiles and, under countless gazes, slowly walked out of the square.

Sunlight poured down from the sky, and as people watched the slender backs of the Xiao Clan's Twin Dragons, they couldn't help but think that perhaps the Xiao Clan would one day become famous across the empire.

Just as they were about to step out of the square and descend the steps, the voice Mo Yu had been dreading finally sounded.

"Wait a moment, you two. Please stay. The Yun Lan Sect suspects there was an issue with this duel!"

Upon hearing the voice slowly rising from the square, Mo Yu's foot, which was about to step off the platform, suddenly paused. Seeing the confused expression on Xiao Yan's face beside him, Mo Yu shook his head slightly and then turned around, speaking calmly.

"As one of the referees for this match, I didn't notice any issues. What exactly are you questioning?"

The voice belonged to a white-robed elder from the Yun Lan Sect. Seeing Mo Yu and Xiao Yan about to leave, this elder, known for his zealous loyalty to the Yun Lan Sect, was determined to stir up trouble, even if there was no valid reason.

"Hmph! Xiao Yan is just a mere Da Dou Shi (Battle Grandmaster). How could he use such a powerful Dou Technique? I suspect he cheated and had someone prepare that final move for him in advance. Otherwise, our Young Sect Leader, Yanran, wouldn't have lost. This is unfair!"

The elder's accusation caused an uproar among the crowd. Everyone had been watching Xiao Yan's every move during the match, and if there had been any cheating, it would have been noticed. Clearly, the possibility of Xiao Yan cheating was very low.

Even Yun Leng's face darkened upon hearing this. He knew the excuse provided by the Yun Lan Sect elder was flimsy and poor, and even he found it hard to accept. However, the matter had already been raised, and as the Great Elder of the Yun Lan Sect, Yun Leng couldn't very well dismiss the concerns of his own people. Besides, Xiao Yan had just ignored his warning, leaving Yun Leng frustrated and angry.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Yun Leng slowly stood up, his gaze coldly fixated on Mo Yu and Xiao Yan as he spoke in a deep voice, "Yes, Elder Yun Lan's words reflect the stance of our Yun Lan Sect. We suspect that Xiao Yan cheated, making this match unfair!"

Yun Leng's statement carried much more weight than that of Elder Yun Lan. As a result, whispers began to spread among the crowd. After all, the Dou Technique Xiao Yan had just used was incredibly powerful, seemingly beyond the capabilities of a mere Da Dou Shi. If that were the case, Xiao Yan's victory over Nalan Yanran would indeed be seen as unearned.

Seeing the Yun Lan Sect muddying the waters more and more, a flicker of anger flashed in Xiao Yan's black eyes. Just as he was about to step forward and argue, a large hand stopped him.

"Cousin Mo Yu, what are you...?" Xiao Yan asked.

Mo Yu responded with a calm smile, "I told you before, you only need to focus on winning. Leave the rest to me. Our Xiao Clan is not one to be bullied."

Seeing Mo Yu's calm expression, Xiao Yan was taken aback but then smiled and let his anger dissipate. "Then, I'll leave it to you, Cousin Mo Yu."

Xiao Yan had great trust in Mo Yu.

Mo Yu smiled gently, patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, and then turned to face Elder Yun Lan. He wasn't surprised by the Yun Lan Sect's underhanded tactics. In the original story, Yun Leng had seized on the excuse that Xiao Yan had killed Mo Cheng to try to detain him forcibly. Although it was true that Xiao Yan had killed Mo Cheng, it had been with the help of Yao Lao. Without Yao Lao's help, a young Xiao Yan could never have killed a Dou Ling (Battle Spirit) on his own.

For Yun Leng to have used such a flimsy excuse to try to frame Xiao Yan showed just how far the Yun Lan Sect would go to protect its reputation.

"Elder Yun Lan, you claim that Xiao Yan couldn't possibly use such a powerful Dou Technique and that he must have cheated?" Mo Yu's silver eyes flashed slightly as he carefully assessed the elder's strength. He was a three-star Dou Ling. Mo Yu's lips curled into a slight smile.

Elder Yun Lan hesitated under Mo Yu's scrutinizing gaze but then cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. "That's right. The Dou Technique Xiao Yan used was so powerful it even shattered our Yun Lan Sect's protective barrier. Clearly, this is beyond the capabilities of someone who has just reached the Da Dou Shi level. I have every reason to believe that the Xiao Clan prepared some underhanded tactic for this match. The Yun Lan Sect will not stand for this!"

As he shouted, many people began to look at Xiao Yan with suspicion. If these accusations were true, the Xiao Clan would indeed be seen as disgraceful.

But in the face of all these accusing eyes, Xiao Yan remained calm. He glanced at the young man in the center of the square, a slight smile playing on his lips. He had complete faith that Mo Yu would find a way to resolve the situation.

"Are you certain that a Da Dou Shi couldn't possibly wield such power?" Mo Yu asked in a calm tone.

Elder Yun Lan frowned slightly. To be honest, he hadn't seen any clear evidence of Xiao Yan cheating, but at this point, he could only double down on his accusation. "Yes, a Da Dou Shi…"

Before he could finish, his expression suddenly changed. He noticed that the young man before him had undergone a drastic shift in his aura. A terrifying pressure began to emanate from Mo Yu's body, not Dou Qi, but something invisible—a powerful soul force!

Faced with this soul force, Elder Yun Lan felt a deep sense of fear.

Before he could think further, he saw the young man's hands slowly move, forming a strange hand seal. As the seal took shape, a vast and overwhelming soul force quickly gathered in his palms. Faintly, in the space around them, a spiral imprint began to form.

Seeing this spiral imprint, everyone present turned pale. The pressure was so immense that even they felt it.

What shocked them even more was the thought that Mo Yu might actually be preparing to strike against a three-star Dou Ling elder of the Yun Lan Sect.

Could Mo Yu, who was merely a Da Dou Shi, possibly be capable of this?

On the giant tree, Gu He, a sixth-tier alchemist, saw this and his face changed slightly. "Is this a Dou Technique enhanced by soul power?"

With this thought in mind, Gu He's gaze toward Mo Yu grew more serious.

Yun Leng's face darkened when he saw this. He seemed to guess what Mo Yu was planning and quickly shouted, "Elder Yun Lan, be careful! This kid has some strange tricks!"

As soon as Yun Leng's warning rang out, Mo Yu's immense soul power suddenly condensed, and a spiral-like soul imprint shot out like lightning, aimed directly at Yun Lan!

Elder Yun Lan quickly reacted, unleashing his Dou Qi in a surge. His dry hands curled and waved, sending out sharp winds to intercept the soul imprint. It was a fast and fierce defense, worthy of a Dou Ling's skill.

However, as he completed these defensive maneuvers, Elder Yun Lan glanced at the young man opposite him and noticed that Mo Yu was now wearing a cold, sinister smile.

Seeing this, Yun Lan's heart was gripped by a sudden sense of dread.

As soon as that feeling arose, a blinding flash of lightning erupted in Mo Yu's silver eyes.

"Thunderstorm!"

With a low shout from Mo Yu, lightning flashed, and a terrifying thunderclap echoed in Yun Lan's mind. It was as if the lightning had pierced through space and struck directly into his brain, exploding within.

As the thunder exploded in his mind, Yun Lan's body froze. At the same time, his movements came to a gradual halt.

Seeing the opportunity, Mo Yu's spiral soul imprint followed through, its immense soul force surging directly into Yun Lan's body.

Yun Lan's body was like a leaf in the autumn wind, thrown backward in a pitiful state, scraping deep grooves into the stone floor as he skidded across it.

After being dragged across the ground for over ten meters, Yun Lan finally snapped out of the effects of the Thunderstorm technique. But as he sensed his own severely injured state, his pale face reflected nothing but shock and disbelief.

"You…" Before he could finish speaking, a mouthful of blood spurted out, and Yun Lan immediately lost consciousness.

Silence!

A deathly silence fell over the vast square. It was as if the atmosphere had frozen solid. The expressions on everyone's faces had become rigid, their gazes fixed in shock on Mo Yu, who looked as calm as ever.

Their minds, previously working in overdrive, now ground to a halt under the weight of Mo Yu's stunning display of power.

This Yun Lan Sect elder, who had just confidently declared that a Da Dou Shi could never exhibit such immense strength, had been defeated by a young Da Dou Shi.

Could both of the Xiao Clan's Twin Dragons be this terrifying?

(End of Chapter)

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