BTTH : Emperor Yang

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**

Xiao Yan's figure, under the watchful gaze of the entire crowd, resembled a raging magical beast.

The Heavy Xuan Ruler, skimming just above the ground, dragged along the stone-paved plaza, leaving a long trail of sparks and deep gouges in its path.

Nalan Yanran remained calm as she watched the black shadow charge straight toward her.

Her cultivation technique belonged to the wind attribute, making speed and agility her greatest strengths.

Only when Xiao Yan approached within ten meters did Nalan Yanran finally move.

With a light tap of her toes, her figure fluttered like a leaf caught in a storm. In a flicker, she passed by the charging black shadow with dazzling speed.

At the moment their bodies crossed, the longsword in Nalan Yanran's hand swept horizontally with fluid grace. Borrowing the momentum of her movement, several fine wind blades shot out from the sword, slashing toward Xiao Yan's neck.

But his charging body halted abruptly. With a slight lift of the massive black ruler, a few metallic clangs and sparks rang out — the wind blades didn't even slightly hinder Xiao Yan's momentum before they dissipated entirely.

After parrying the blades, Xiao Yan's gaze rose slightly. His cold eyes swept across the graceful figure who had just passed by him.

With a swift motion of his arm, the Heavy Xuan Ruler whipped up a ferocious gale and swept behind him in a powerful arc.

The pressure from the strike caused Nalan Yanran's robe to cling tightly against her skin, outlining her slim willow-like waist.

Sensing the rushing gale behind her, Nalan Yanran's brows arched slightly. She seemed surprised at his keen perception and swift reaction. In response, her sword thrust forward violently — the pale green blade leaving a crescent arc in the air.

The sharp sword tip appeared to pierce through the resistance of the wind. With a crisp metallic ding, the blade struck directly against the incoming heavy ruler.

As sword and ruler clashed, the overwhelming power stored within the massive weapon bent the slender sword into a dangerously exaggerated arc.

Yet despite the terrifying curve, the sword did not break.

Nalan Yanran's foot stomped lightly against the ground, and the green light on her sword flared explosively.

With a sudden burst of force, she repelled the heavy ruler with a loud boom.

Using the rebound from their clash, Nalan Yanran leapt into the air. Her face grew solemn as the longsword in her hand began to tremble rapidly, then started to move slowly.

Each time the sword shifted slightly, a phantom sword image was left in its wake — solid as if it were real.

Wind Spirit Fractal Sword!

Below, Xiao Yan's green flames surged to life. The heavy ruler swept upward, infused with vast power, and smashed directly into the series of sword phantoms.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion of energy rang through the air. The intense green light was so blinding that many onlookers instinctively shut their eyes.

Immediately after—

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Fierce clashes echoed repeatedly across the void.

This battle had no warm-up — no probing.

From the first exchange, it had already entered a white-hot phase.

In the viewing stands—

Wei Yang sipped his tea leisurely and yawned, looking rather bored.

A fight between two Da Dou Shi really wasn't anything worth watching. To him, it was no different from children playing house.

A duel between two weaklings.

Xiao Yan was a Three-Star Da Dou Shi, and Nalan Yanran was Four-Star.

This so-called iconic showdown… seemed pretty underwhelming now. If he hadn't promised Yao Lao, he wouldn't have bothered showing up.

After all, the outcome was already certain: Nalan Yanran would lose.

Still, this first trip to the Yun Lan Sect wasn't dangerous. Just accompanying the group once and repaying a favor — not a bad deal.

Even in the second trip to come, only Yun Shan would be barely worth a glance.

Wei Yang was already considering whether he should even bother coming along for that second visit to the Yun Lan Sect. Maybe he'd just head straight to the Black-Corner Region instead.

Honestly, there wasn't much left in the Jia Ma Empire to hold his interest.

"Forget it… once this matter is done, I'll set out for the Black-Corner Region." Wei Yang stretched lazily and muttered to himself.

After all, in the Black-Corner Region, there was the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva, Han Feng's Heavenly Cauldron, the Sea Heart Flame, the High-Level Earth Grade technique Flame Creation Art from Demon Flame Valley, as well as the method to refine the Sky Demon Puppet—all things worth making a move for.

Moreover, since the plot had already slightly shifted, Yun Leng no longer secretly went to the Xiao Clan to exact revenge afterward. Perhaps the Xiao Clan would remain unharmed.

Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan, might also not go missing or get captured by the Hall of Souls.

So whether there would even be a second attack on the Yun Lan Sect was still uncertain.

But whatever. In any case, Wei Yang no longer intended to get involved in this matter.

…

As time passed, the battle in the arena was nearing its conclusion.

Wind's Peak: Dazzling Sunset!

Flame Splitting Tsunami!

A blazing sun-like sword of light collided violently in midair with the green flame ruler light.

Boom!

A massive explosion erupted, its deafening roar echoing across the entirety of Cloud Mist Mountain.

Ferocious gales swept through the sky, and the surging energy shockwave quickly spread outward in all directions.

The solid plaza quaked under the fierce energy ripple. Cracks slowly appeared on its surface and began spreading outward like spiderwebs.

Ssshh! Ssshh!

Two figures were blasted out of the explosion's aftermath, shooting toward the ground below.

Swoosh!

One of them spread out a pair of black wings behind their back just before hitting the ground, stabilizing in midair.

The other, however, crashed heavily onto the stone platform, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Xiao Yan floated in the air, arms crossed over his chest. The black wings behind him gently flapped as his pitch-black pupils coldly stared down at his opponent.

Nalan Yanran's face was pale as paper. One hand clutched her chest, and though she struggled several times, she still failed to stand.

In the end, she let out a despondent sigh and slowly closed her eyes.

"I… lost…"

…

The plaza was silent.

Everyone wore different expressions as they looked at the scene before them.

The young man who was once rejected and humiliated three years ago had now, before all eyes, defeated his former fiancée and cleansed the disgrace from his name.

Xiao Yan slowly descended, the wings on his back retracting. He walked over to Nalan Yanran, stood before her, and looked down.

"It's over, Nalan Yanran."

At that moment, the resentment that had been suppressed in his heart for so long began to slowly dissipate.

His entire body felt unspeakably relaxed, and even his soul felt clear and unburdened.

Nalan Yanran kept her eyes closed and spoke softly, "Life and death are fated. I have nothing more to say. Do it."

"This…" The Yun Lan Sect members' expressions tensed at her words.

The phrase life and death are fated only applied during the battle itself.

Now that the match had ended and the outcome was decided, the victor was no longer justified in taking the opponent's life.

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly bent down, energy faintly surging around his palm.

"Xiao Yan, you mustn't!" Yun Leng stood up and spoke firmly, "The result has already been decided. Nalan Yanran has lost. Why go so far as to strike a killing blow?"

"There's no need for Elder Yun to speak," Nalan Yanran suddenly shouted.

Then her voice softened with a trace of bitterness. "According to the agreement back then, if I lost this duel, I, Nalan Yanran, would become your slave or servant, to be disposed of as you see fit."

"However, for the sake of the sect and my clan's reputation, I'm afraid I cannot fulfill that promise. Anyway, in your heart, I'm already seen as unreasonable and self-willed. So… just allow me to be willful one last time. My life… is yours."

She suddenly raised her beautiful face and met Xiao Yan's eyes. His raised hand looked as though it could fall at any moment. Her teeth bit down on her lip, and the stubbornness on her face was identical to that which Xiao Yan himself had worn the day he was rejected.

Nalan Yanran opened her mouth and said, "But I don't regret it! I said it long ago—even if time rewound, I would still go to the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement. My marriage, my fate, does not need to be decided by anyone else. So, go ahead!"

Xiao Yan gazed calmly at the proud Nalan Yanran, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a bit disinterested. A trace of fatigue flickered in his dark eyes.

He leaned down abruptly, pressing his palm lightly against her chest. His lips moved close to her ear, and in a voice like a whisper to himself, he murmured:

"I never said you were wrong for breaking the engagement. It's the method you chose that was wrong. Sadly, your pride has never allowed you to realize that."

"If you didn't want it, you only had to tell me plainly. I wouldn't have pestered you endlessly. But why did you have to come to my door and break off the engagement in front of everyone? Do you know where that left me? Do you know what that did to my Xiao Clan?"

"But now that everything's come to this, there's no point in saying more. Right and wrong no longer matter. From now on, there will be no more ties between us. You go on being the Yun Lan Sect's young sect master, and I'll continue my path as a wandering cultivator."

"As for making you a servant or slave—I have no interest in that whatsoever. From today onward, there is no more connection between us."

"The Three-Year Agreement… is over, Nalan Yanran."

As the soft whisper fell—

Xiao Yan's palm, still pressed to her chest, suddenly pulsed with force.

Pfft!

A surge of force exploded from his palm.

A pained groan emerged from Nalan Yanran's throat, and a mouthful of blood spurted from her lips. The vibrant red contrasted sharply against her delicate lips—miserable, yet strikingly beautiful.

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