At the city gate, a dense crowd gathered, their eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity, fixed upon the two figures standing in the open space. In recent times, Xiao Yan's name had become nearly universally known throughout the Jamara Empire. Many had only heard of this legendary figure—someone who dared to challenge the entire Yunlan Sect single-handedly—yet now, having the rare opportunity to witness him in action, everyone was filled with eager expectation. They wondered whether the widespread rumors were truly accurate: could this young man, barely twenty years old, truly possess the strength to defeat a Duke-level warrior? His wooden and iron arms encircled his chest, standing like a towering black iron fortress, silent yet exuding an unmistakable, spine-tingling presence. From the subtle aura he radiated, it was evident that his strength far surpassed that of Meng Li. According to Xiao Yan's assessment, this middle-aged man had likely reached the pinnacle of the Du Li stage—remarkable for his age, especially considering his cultivation potential. Of course, years of relentless combat had undoubtedly played a significant role. The battlefield, with its constant life-and-death struggles, remained the ultimate crucible for rapid growth. At present, Wood-Iron was keenly observing Xiao Yan, who had now drawn out his massive black ruler—a weapon that had become almost synonymous with the young man. Indeed, in the current capital of Jia Ma, an increasing number of young warriors were beginning to adopt this unconventional weapon. Yet, in Wood-Iron's eyes, the rulers of these imitators could never hope to match Xiao Yan's peculiar black ruler. When the ruler first appeared, Wood-Iron had clearly sensed that Xiao Yan's posture had slightly dipped—proof that the ruler's weight was no mere afterthought. "Since the Deputy Commander Meng Li intends to step in personally, as the highest leader of 'Zhun Gui Guan,' I believe it's only natural that you two compete on my territory—so I shall certainly hear out my rules." Glancing at Meng Li, who had drawn a blood-red great sword from his necklace, Mu Tie smiled slightly. With a firm stomp of his foot, two cracks spread out from beneath his foot, quickly merging into a large circular formation that precisely enclosed Xiao Yan and Xiao Yan. "Both of you are quite strong. I'm concerned about potential damage to the surroundings—after all, constructing such a setup does come at a cost...咳. Therefore, the boundary will be this circle: whoever is forced out of it shall be considered the loser. However, I'd like to emphasize that this isn't a life-or-death contest—there's no need for you to fight until one of you is completely defeated. Otherwise, should Deputy Commander Meng Li be rendered incapacitated by Xiao Yan, where shall I find a suitable deputy in the near future? Hah!" Hearing Mu Tie’s mocking laughter, Meng Li’s lips slightly twitched. He knew well that at the "Town of Ghosts Pass," Mu Tie and he had been nearly at odds—yet he hadn’t expected such a public display of disrespect. "Hmph," Meng Li coldly exhaled, his gaze sharpening on Xiao Yan. The crimson greatsword tilted slightly, and a deep yellow aura swiftly enveloped it, instantly diffusing a faint scent of blood from the blade. Unfazed by Meng Li’s anger, Mu Tie continued to chuckle, "But don’t let your guard down, Xiao Yan—Meng Li’s deputy practices a basic earth-based cultivation technique at the玄 stage, and even his blood-slaying sword technique, which is also at the basic玄 level, I have to treat with caution myself." "Mu Tie, you’re going too far!" Meng Li’s face turned ashen upon hearing how effortlessly Mu Tie had revealed his own strengths. "Hah! Very well—I’ll say no more." Nodded happily, Mu Tie shrugged slightly and then waved his hand, speaking calmly, "Let's begin." Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan gripped the handle of his Xuanzhong Chi, fixing his gaze on Meng Li, who stood across from him with a fierce expression. Just as he was about to move, a voice from Ye Lao suddenly echoed in his mind: "Let me handle this. Don't waste any more time. Leave Ga-ma Empire as soon as possible—don't want to create any further complications." "Hmph... alright." With a resigned shrug, Xiao Yan abandoned his intention to test out the "Heavenly Fire Triple Transformation" at this moment, closing his eyes slowly under the astonished glances of the others. "Heh, what a boastful fellow!" Seeing Xiao Yan's demeanor, Meng Li was instantly incensed. How had he, of all people, ever been treated so lightly? With a cold laugh, a mighty stream of deep yellow battle energy surged forth from within him. Instantly, at the city gate, yellow sand surged and swirled. The fierce aura rising from the sand caused the surrounding mercenaries to step back hurriedly, only to then look on with admiration—Battle Spirit level was no mere dream, but a realm countless had longed for. As the sand gradually settled, Meng Li emerged into view, fully enveloped in a layer of yellow battle armor. The sharp blade of his blood-red greatsword flashed with radiant energy, leaving deep impressions on the ground. Nourished by the battle energy, the blood-red blade grew even more vibrant. Fixing his gaze firmly on the closed-eyed Xiao Yan, Meng Li remained still for a moment before suddenly roaring, shattering the quiet atmosphere. With a powerful footstep, he launched forward, his body moving like a cannonball, swiftly gliding through several strides to reach Xiao Yan. Holding his blood-sword high, he delivered a sweeping, decisive strike filled with the intensity of bloodshed and martial power, as if cleaving the earth in two, and drove it straight down. "His Blood Blade Technique is truly becoming more and more refined. With this momentum, even a regular four-star Soul Spirit would find it difficult to withstand." Feeling the overwhelming pressure of Monti's blade, Mu Tie furrowed his brows, then turned his gaze to Xiao Yan, who remained closed-eyed as if untouched, murmuring, "This guy... what's he up to? I sense his aura—only around the level of a Great Combatant. Is this his true strength?" A sharp, rushing wind pressure erupted above his head. As Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, strange flickers of a blue and white flame danced within his dark pupils. Monti, his face filled with murderous intent, paused momentarily, yet his blood blade remained unwavering, pressing down with relentless force toward Xiao Yan's head. "Clang!" Lifting his palm slightly, the massive Xuanzhong Chi-Staff suddenly rose, colliding with the blood-blade infused with fierce energy. Instantly, sparks flew, and a visible wave of energy radiated outward from the point of contact, sweeping up yellow sand in waves across the ground. With one hand gripping the staff, Meng Li pressed the blood-blade firmly against its surface. Despite his flushed face and increasing efforts to channel more strength, the staff remained utterly still—seemingly suspended in midair. Compared to Meng Li, who was breathless and visibly strained, Xiao Yan stood in stark contrast—calm, composed, with barely a ripple in his breathing or expression. Around the city gate, the mercenaries and soldiers gathered in stunned silence, gazing at Meng Li, who had effortlessly repelled the fierce assault with a simple block. Though Meng Li's strength wasn't among the very top in the "Town of Ghosts," he had consistently ranked in the top five, and throughout his career, his blood sword had decapitated countless arrogant bandits. Yet today, that unyielding blade was halted with ease by a young man, who moved calmly and deliberately. "Get out of the way," said Xiao Yan, his eyes flickering with two hues of flame, a cold smile playing at the corners of his lips. With a fluid motion, his left hand flashed like petals being plucked from a tree, pressing swiftly upon Meng Li's chest. The palm curved slightly, and a surge of power erupted forth. "Pfft…!" The force of the blow felt as though a thousand-pound stone had crashed into his chest. Meng Li's eyes widened in shock, and then he violently expelled a stream of blood, his body hurling backward and crashing heavily against the city wall. Amidst the stunned silence, he fell further, spitting out another mouthful of blood, his body now curled like a silken cocoon. His defensive aura armor shattered instantly under the impact. At this point, those who had initially been only slightly intrigued by the substantial reward offered for capturing Xiao Yan finally lost all interest. Observing the former's ruthless actions, it seemed likely that the rumor of him having slain Yun Ling was indeed true—after all, a single warrior capable of defeating a top-tier Duke-level combatant would surely be beyond the reach of even the combined efforts of the entire mercenary company, let alone a few swift strikes. Hearing the Elder's voice, Xiao Yan was first startled, then his face couldn't help but pale as his heart suddenly quickened. He clearly heard a hint of… panic in the Elder's words. With his throat slightly moistening, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his thoughts raced rapidly. Even when facing the powerful Douzong-level warrior Yun Shan, the Elder had never shown the slightest hesitation. Yet now—how could this be? What exactly was causing such emotion? His mouth suddenly felt dry. At this moment, Xiao Yan dared not ask any further questions. He swiftly folded his heavy staff and stored it in his storage amulet, then turned to Wood-Iron Commander, "Wood-Iron Commander, may I now leave?" "Of course," the commander chuckled, "I've already said—once you defeat Meng Li, you may enter or exit the 'Zhun Gui Pass' freely." "Thank you." Xiao Yan smiled lightly, then, under the watchful eyes of hundreds around him, walked steadily toward the city center. As he approached the dark passage, his steps suddenly halted. As the central figure of the scene, the hushed murmurs around him instantly fell silent. A steady stream of warm glances followed his slender, youthful silhouette, with many women expressing admiration and reverence that left others speechless. "Wood Iron Commander, this favor—I will repay the Wood family someday," Xiao Yan said, turning to the slightly stunned Wood Iron with a calm tone. After a brief moment of surprise, Wood Iron smiled, knowing that conversing with a thoughtful person was always a breeze. "Also, Deputy Commander Meng Li—" His gaze shifted to Meng Li, who was being gently supported by Meng La and still flushed with effort. Xiao Yan slowly scanned the hundreds of people at the city gate, paused in silence, then turned with graceful ease, vanishing into the darkness, while his soft voice lingered quietly behind. "Please tell Yunshan that, whether in two years or five, I Xiao Yan will return. When I do, I will have him clean his neck—my own hand will take his life. And thus, settle today's grievances." Hearing the steady, quiet voice, even Mu Tie, at the city gate, could not help but look utterly stunned. To ask a Douzong-level master to clean his neck—what a bold gesture! In the Jia Ma Empire, this young man might very well be the first to have made such a declaration.