86: Chapter 86 Even if you're a Battle Master, it won't work! Yun Yun: This little guy is really something.

Swoosh!

Following the deacon's announcement, the match began.

Yun Lange, holding a longsword, flew out with rapid movements.

With the enhancement of the Dou Qi Gauze Armor, his speed, strength, and other aspects were all improved. At this moment, he performed the Cloud Mist Sect's Xuan-rank Mid-grade movement technique, Ethereal Steps, moving so fast he left afterimages in the air.

In just a few breaths, Yun Lange reached Gu Han. He stomped hard on the ground and leaped high, channeling his already mobilized Dou Qi into his longsword with an arrogant expression: "Gu Han, it's over."

Five streaks of green energy Sword Qi condensed around the longsword. The moment they descended, each one split—one into two, two into four.

Dozens of sword glows, like a heavenly maiden scattering flowers, blocked all of Gu Han's paths of retreat from the front.

"Thousand Wind Sword Transformation, a Xuan-rank Mid-grade Dou Skill. My nephew has already practiced it to the level of Major Achievement. Truly not bad!" Yun Ling, sitting on the high platform, commented, making no secret of his admiration.

Yun Sheng showed a satisfied smile: "Lange, this child, has always worked very hard, taking his two Elder brothers as role models. But his talent is actually even stronger than his brothers'."

"Facing a combination of two Xuan-rank Mid-grade Dou Skills, even a Three-Star or Four-Star Dou Master would have to respond cautiously," an Elder close to Yun Sheng remarked. "In this match, the outcome is already decided."

"It is indeed decided," Yun Yun and Yun Shang suddenly spoke at the same time.

The expressions of Yun Ling and the other Dou Wang and Dou Ling Elders instantly became serious.

On the arena stage, the Sword Qi from the Dou Skill Yun Lange performed all passed through Gu Han's body.

No, it should be said that they passed through his afterimage, while his true body had instantly retreated thirty feet, perfectly dodging Yun Lange's attack.

Boom!

The Sword Qi struck the arena, creating a cloud of smoke that obscured the vision of both combatants.

But the onlookers could clearly see Gu Han moving rapidly, like a flexible swimming snake, his movements light and agile.

His speed was also extremely fast, even exceeding Yun Lange's earlier Ethereal Steps, as he transformed into a bolt of lightning on the stage.

"Hmm?"

Yun Lange heard the sound of breaking air behind him and whipped his head around, just in time to see Gu Han finishing a hand seal.

In the next moment, an Icy Palm condensed in mid-air. Under the enhancement of ice-attribute world energy, it continued to expand with intimidating power.

"World energy, a High-level Xuan Rank Dou Skill!?" The expressions of many experts shifted slightly.

It was well known that the Cloud Mist Sect excelled at nurturing wind-attribute Cultivators, followed by earth and fire attributes.

For rare variant attributes like lightning or ice, the Sect's Legacy was not very extensive.

Yet Gu Han had performed a High-level Xuan Rank Dou Skill; he must have had a stroke of luck!

"Not good!"

Yun Lange instinctively drew his sword to block.

But when it touched that Icy Palm print, he was directly sent flying.

"Pfft!"

Landing at the edge of the stage, Yun Lange spat out a mouthful of blood. A layer of ice appeared on the surface of his body, restricting his movements.

"I yield," Gu Han said calmly, pulling back his hand.

Hiss!

The sound of many ordinary Cloud Mist Sect Disciples drawing in cold breaths rang out across the scene.

Gu Han had only displayed a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner cultivation, yet he had actually crossed levels to insta-kill Yun Lange in one move.

One must know that Yun Lange was no ordinary One-Star Dou Shi. He possessed a High-level Xuan Rank Cultivation Technique, at least two Xuan-rank Mid-grade Dou Skills, and was a Genius Dou Master taught by a Dou Wang father. He wouldn't even fear a Middle Stage Dou Master who was a Loose Cultivator.

To be defeated by Gu Han across levels—just how strong was this person!?

Could it be that Liu Suifeng really was killed by Gu Han across levels?

"Yun Lange..."

The deacon began to announce the result of the match.

After all, Yun Lange was significantly injured. Gu Han had clearly held back at the end; otherwise, he could have caused even greater injury or taken the opportunity to follow up with a finishing blow, which the former would have been unable to effectively block.

So, Yun Lange had already lost.

But before the deacon could finish his sentence, Yun Lange swallowed a Medicinal Pill. A faint red glow surfaced around him, melting the ice as he roared: "I haven't lost yet."

As he spoke, Yun Lange gripped his sword and leaped high, performing Thousand Wind Sword Transformation even faster.

This time, that green Sword Qi also carried a layer of faint fire glow.

"A third-grade pill, the Wind-Flame Pill," Yao Lao's voice appeared in Xiao Yan's mind. "It can double the Dou Qi of a wind-attribute or fire-attribute Cultivator for a short time. The Dou Qi will carry both fire and wind-attributes; the wind aids the fire's intensity."

"The effect lasts for half an incense stick of time. The side effect is the inability to control the Qi cyclone or mobilize Dou Qi for three days."

"In this kind of setting, one can still consume such pills?" Xiao Yan instinctively frowned, feeling that Yun Lange was going too far.

"Taking it is useless. Before Little Fellow Gu, he's still unable to withstand a single blow," Yao Lao said.

And the moment he finished speaking, everyone saw Gu Han closing in on Yun Lange even faster, striking him with a palm.

A plain and simple Icy Palm.

Boom!

A blast of cold air enveloped Yun Lange, sending him flying out of the arena to crash into a large pit, with smoke rising.

Clap! Yun Sheng slapped his seat and stood up, his eyes extremely cold.

"At such a young age, to be so ruthless toward a fellow Disciple... this boy should spend some time at the Meditation Cliff on the back mountain," Yun Ling spoke slowly, actually intending to punish Gu Han.

"What, does the Grand Elder want to steal the work of my Punishment Hall?" Yun Shang parted her red lips, speaking with sharp mockery: "The one who was disrespectful from the start was Yun Lange."

"The one who revealed Dou Master cultivation, Dou Qi Gauze Armor, and performed two Xuan-rank Mid-grade Dou Skills right from the start was also Yun Lange. We all know he practices a High-level Xuan Rank Cultivation Technique."

"At that time, Grand Elder, you and the Second Elder only had words of praise."

"When Gu Han knocked Yun Lange back the first time, you couldn't have failed to see that he held back. Otherwise, heh."

"Now that Yun Lange has taken a pill to temporarily boost himself and is attacking without restraint, Gu Han is the one to be punished instead?"

"Why not just internally decide Yun Lange as the winner? Why bother holding an Outer Sect Disciple Competition?"

Yun Ling and Yun Sheng's expressions were very ugly. They naturally knew that what Yun Shang said was the truth.

But Yun Lange was the younger son of the Second Elder Yun Sheng, a direct descendant of the Cloud Mist Sect.

While Gu Han, though a Genius, was just an orphan.

They hadn't expected that Yun Shang would stand up for him without hesitation.

"Matters of punishment are naturally for you, the Punishment Elder, to decide." Seeing Yun Yun's expressionless face, Yun Ling guessed she was also displeased. He cursed himself for being foolish and not choosing to confront Yun Shang directly.

Yun Sheng sat back down, his expression grim as he spoke: "Lange's skills were inferior; he cannot blame others."

"Then I shall give this prize to Gu Han. You two won't have any objections, right?" Yun Shang knew how to twist the knife, taking out two Medicinal Pills and a longsword.

These were exactly the prizes Yun Yun, Yun Ling, and Yun Sheng were meant to give to the top-ranked Outer Sect Disciple.

Yun Ling's expression soured further, and Yun Sheng's heart was bleeding, but he still spoke up: "One must accept defeat. There is nothing to say. For the Sect to produce a Disciple with Gu Han's talent, he should indeed be nurtured with care."

The corners of Yun Shang's lips curled slightly as she smiled: "Then once the competition officially ends, I will hand these things over to Gu Han."

Everyone knew in their hearts that since Yun Lange had suffered a crushing defeat against Gu Han, the others were even less of a match.

In fact, after Gu Han became first and Yun Lange was moved to second, the Disciples ranked third through tenth also knew they were no match for Gu Han.

However, they all coincidentally made the choice to challenge Gu Han.

"Senior Brother Gu Han, please give us some guidance."

Gu Han: "..."

Actually, it wasn't strictly necessary to give guidance during the official match; he wouldn't mind teaching them privately either.

Ultimately, Gu Han became the first among the Outer Sect Disciples with an indisputable performance, shining brilliantly.

Yun Yun looked at the youth, thinking of the words he had said two months ago, a trace of a smile appearing in her eyes.

"He keeps his word. This little fellow really is something."