As the two cold syllables emerged from Luo Hou's lips, the entire heap of stones and the slope fell abruptly silent. Given the tense atmosphere, everyone clearly understood that today's matter would not end well—surely a fierce battle was inevitable. Xiao Yan fixed his gaze on Luo Hou's face, and after a moment, gave a slight nod, his voice likewise growing colder: "Since Master Luo is unwilling to allow passage, we shall have to offend him." He slowly grasped the hilt of the Xuan Zhong Chi, then suddenly drew it with a sharp motion. The black shadow tore through the air, and a strong gust of wind sent several fragments of stone skimming across the ground. The tip of the staff inclined toward the earth, and vibrant green qi surged forth from within Xiao Yan. By now, they could no longer afford to abandon their course due to any unforeseen circumstances—therefore, only one path remained: to fight! With Xiang Yan's actions, the three members beside him—Xun'er and the others—also began to feel their ki surge rapidly. Waves of powerful energy continuously rose, their aura steadily locking onto the figure at the very center—Luo Hou. By capturing the king first, this White Shad team's most formidable opponent, Luo Hou, would be the key. Once he was defeated, the rest would pose little challenge. "Heard this, all four members of the White Shatter Team responded in solemn tones, their inner ki surging and strands of cold energy rising from within them. It appeared that every single member of the White Shatter Team had cultivated ice-based ki. Observing the cold aura surrounding the four, Xiao Yan was subtly impressed. With compatible elemental ki flowing in synergy, their combined power significantly amplified. This indicated that the White Shatter Team's overall strength surpassed that of Sha Tie's Black Shatter Team by a notable margin—hence, their status as the final defenders. 'This Luo Hou dares to face four of us single-handedly. If he weren't overly confident, then he must possess some hidden strength or reserves.' After a moment of internal reflection, Xiao Yan quietly addressed the three women, saying, 'This battle doesn't require warm-up. Therefore, don't hold back—strike swiftly and decisively. Aim to defeat him as soon as possible, without wasting a single moment. Otherwise, things may change by the time you act.' 'Understood.'" The three nodded slightly, their qi flowing through their meridians like a surging flood, swiftly rushing from one end to the other. Waves of powerful energy surged around them, creating a vibrant and dynamic presence. With only a slight movement of their bodies, they could unleash thunderous attacks in perfect harmony with their intentions. "Regardless, there's always a chance. As for the rest, I can't be certain. After all, whether it's individual strength or overall team strength, the Bai Sha team clearly outshines the Hei Sha team. While Xiao Yan and his companions have managed to defeat us, they may not necessarily hold the upper hand when facing the Bai Sha team." Sha Tie shook his head, offering Su Xiao a somewhat vague response—just as uncertain about the outcome himself. Unimpressed by this ambiguous answer, Su Xiao only sighed and turned his gaze back toward the jagged pile of stones, where the atmosphere was growing increasingly tense. With everyone's attention focused on it, the air grew steadily more charged, and each person's face grew progressively serious. The glow of their aura, pulsing and shifting, mirrored the mounting tension among them, unable to settle. "Crack…" A gentle breeze swept past, and a fragment of stone from a mountain cliff suddenly rolled down and struck another rock with a heavy thud, shattering into scattered pieces. The sudden, crisp sound was无疑 like dropping a massive stone into the tranquil lake surface, instantly sending out massive waves. Amidst the scattered rocks, dozens of streams of qi of varying hues surged forth, vibrant and splendid in color. The force of this qi surge dramatically intensified the pressure in the arena, bending even the tall grasses under the sheer weight of the qi's pressure. At the very instant the sound of the drink had faded, Xiao Yan suddenly clenched the jade staff tightly in his hand, then forcefully stomped the ground with his foot. A surge of emerald energy erupted from beneath his feet, and the powerful wave of momentum propelled him directly into a black silhouette, streaking straight toward Luo Hou at the center of the scattered stones. As Xiao Yan moved, Xun'er and the other two followed immediately, maintaining a distance of just one meter between them. Within this range, they could at any moment coordinate to face off against fierce attacks coming from any direction. "Charge!" Behind the four of them, a large group of fresh squads roared forward, their formations scattered yet their collective momentum giving them the strongest presence on the field due to their numbers. Four members of the Bai Sha team maintained a calm expression, showing no fear whatsoever despite the strength and momentum of Xiao Yan and his companions. Their hands trembled slightly, and four white iron poles, each half a mu in length, materialized instantly. With a low cry, the poles struck the ground, propelling the four members forward as they launched themselves swiftly past Xiao Yan and his group. Finally, the four poles spun and danced with fierce momentum, effectively blocking dozens of new recruits behind them. After the azure aura of qi surged forth, Xun'er and her two companions also unleashed three powerful qi gusts. The four gusts sliced through the air, generating a pressing wind, and struck Luo Hou with great force. Observing the four surging streams of qi gusts rushing toward him with a composed expression, Luo Hou's hands slightly trembled. Then, a long, cold iron staff—about nine feet in length, forged entirely of ice—materialized in his hands. He gripped it tightly, and the tip of the staff thrust forward. Instantly, a continuous series of staff shadows appeared in the air, each one solidly impacting the four gusts. Repeatedly, these impacts shattered the four gusts, which had carried immense qi power. The sheer strength of this performance was truly astonishing. "Indeed a top-tier Qi Spirit-level master—such a sharp and powerful attack." Luo Hou's offensive caused a slight change in Xiao Yan's expression. Simply from the way he deflected the four streams of罡mang, it was clear that Luo Hou's strength had surpassed significantly that of the Blood Sect's junior chief Xiao Yan had defeated in Black Angle Domain—though naturally, that junior chief's strength had been somewhat artificial, relying on an overly clever method of cultivation, which resulted in his internal qi being somewhat hollow. When truly engaged in combat, Luo Hou's actual strength would only reach the peak of a Great Combatant. The thought swiftly passed through Xiao Yan's mind and faded away. With a serious expression, Xiao Yan raised his heavy staff, which hissed as it sliced through the air, forming a dark silhouette, carrying a deep, resonant pressure. His body rose into a half-leap stance, and he forcefully descended, delivering a powerful downward strike. "Shhh—" Following Xiao Yan, the golden flame energy seal, the green whip, and the blood-colored heavy sword each generated strong gusts of force, forming a fan-shaped barrier that completely enveloped Luo Hou's surroundings. Gazing at the dense assault launched by the four young men below, several senior students on the slope couldn't help but grow visibly uneasy, for they knew well that if it were their turn, they would likely suffer a defeat even in their very first encounter. "These four are indeed formidable—especially that young man in the black robe…" murmured several seniors, their voices filled with quiet sighs. Only by witnessing the freshmen's performances firsthand did they finally understand why the senior students who had participated in the "Fire Energy Hunt" competition had fared so poorly. Now, they felt a sudden clarity: it wasn't that the seniors participating in the "Fire Energy Hunt" were weak, but rather that this year's freshmen were simply far stronger. As Luo Hou finished his cry, a misty cold aura swirling around the cold iron staff surged upward, swirling in a mysterious arc. The staff spun rapidly, and as it did, the cold aura formed a circular, shield-like ice barrier that completely enveloped Luo Hou. "Thud! Thud!" Four powerful attacks, coming from above and striking downward, crashed onto the ice shield formed by the staff's swift rotation. The deep, resonant sounds echoed throughout the scattered stones. The strong force of the impact flowed down the shield and was skillfully deflected by Luo Hou onto the stones beneath his feet, causing them to crack and splinter. Finally, with a thunderous explosion, the stones shattered into fragments. "Get out of the way!" "With a slight bend in his posture, Luo Hou roared coldly, and the swiftly rotating cold iron staff suddenly froze, then swiftly snapped out at the tip, immediately transforming once again into a swirling array of staff strikes that forcefully impacted the weapons of Xiao Yan and his three companions. The sudden burst of force sent all four retreating two steps. Facing one against four, he still showed no sign of defeat—indeed, the gap between a Du Ling and a Da Doushi truly proved unmeasurable. 'Hooray! Show these arrogant newcomers what we're made of!' As Xiao Yan's group failed in their first assault, cheers erupted across the slope. The three members of Fūn, who had also retreated to stand beside them, furrowed their brows, asking questions as they felt utterly at a loss—much like a tiger trying to eat a hedgehog, unable to make any headway. Xiao Yan glanced at the chaotic battlefield behind them, his own brows tightening. The strength of the four members from the Bái Shà team had also exceeded their expectations. With their four iron poles, they formed four solid shields, and whenever new attacks struck, they not only failed to penetrate but were instead deflected back by an unusual aura emanating from the poles. As a result, within less than five minutes of the battle's commencement, no fewer than five new recruits had been struck by the poles, collapsing from weakness. And with the current pace, it seemed that a new recruit would lose their strength nearly every minute. The gap between classes was evident here in the battlefield—forty or so junior students at the Battle Master level were utterly unable to overcome just four senior students at the Grand Battle Master level. This stark disparity left many in awe of the chasm between the two groups. "Um…" Su Xiao and the others nodded. While this year's overall strength wasn't significantly better than in previous years, it had never before seen someone as capable as Xiao Yan—someone who could effectively gather all the new recruits under one banner. Nevertheless, even with his team being understaffed and weakened, they still found themselves struggling against the White Shad team, the strongest obstacle. This battle couldn't be delayed; the longer it dragged on, the more不利 it would be for Xiao Yan and his group. Based on the new recruits' current performance, they simply couldn't encircle and defeat the White Shad team. In fact, if the situation continued, it would likely be resolved within twenty minutes—by then, once the White Shad team members were freed, Xiao Yan's group would have no chance to recover. "Sha Tie sighed helplessly. Though he held the strange, jade-colored flame of Xiao Yan in high regard, no matter how effectively it countered Luo Hou's ice-based aura, the latter's masterful staff techniques remained sufficient to block their advance. It seemed his earlier sense of amusement had come too soon. While Sha Tie and his companions were discussing the disadvantages facing Xiao Yan and his companions, Xiao Yan himself had also noticed this. He took a long, deep breath and spoke softly, "We can't delay any longer." "Crack!" With a firm motion, Xiao Yan drove his heavy staff into the fissures of the rock. Turning to Xun'er and the others, he said firmly, "Hold him steady—give me a moment!" As he spoke, he curled his fingers and launched a purple pill into his mouth. After gently chewing it, he exhaled a vibrant purple flame right before everyone's eyes, which settled onto the palm of his hand. Watching Xuanyin suddenly expel a tangible cluster of purple flame, a wave of astonishment rippled across the slope. Those who had previously been concerned about Xuanyin and his companions' disadvantages—Sha Tie and the others—were now utterly stunned, never having expected that, in addition to his ability to wield green flame, Xuanyin could also command a purple flame. Even Su Elder and Qing Elder, seated on the stone platform, raised their brows slightly in mild surprise. Ignoring the murmurs and exclamations filling the arena, Xuanyin clutched the purple flame firmly in his left hand while slowly raising his right. With a gentle twist of his fingers, the graceful green flame surged once more, coalescing into a compact orb that hovered in his right hand. As the green flame appeared, the temperature in the area surged noticeably. The rising twin flames illuminated the wide-eyed faces of the onlookers, casting a particularly comical light upon them. "This... this..." As the shimmering blue flame appeared, Su Elder and Qing Elder, who had been lounging comfortably against the back of their chairs, instantly saw their expressions shift. Their bodies straightened abruptly, and their eyes fixed intently on the flowing blue flame. After a moment, they exchanged glances, each reading astonishment in the other's eyes: "A rare flame?" With their extensive experience, far surpassing that of Sha Tie and the others, Su and Qing had immediately recognized the nature of the Blue Lotus Earth Heart Flame as soon as it manifested. "This stubborn Huoqian—how could he not have informed us of this? Truly, he's as forgetful as an old fool," murmured both elders, still visibly stunned. Staring intently at the two-toned flames in Xiao Yan's hands, Luo Hou's usually cold expression finally grew extremely serious. As a practitioner of ice-based battle energy, he was highly sensitive to changes in temperature. At the very moment the green flame appeared, he was nearly astonished to realize that his internal flow of ice battle energy had slowed down. "What kind of flames are these? They're affecting the flow of my battle energy!" With a serious expression, Luo Hou's face also bore a touch of shock. He gripped his cold iron staff tightly, vigorously channeling his battle energy to try and overcome the sensation of blockage. Observing the dual-toned flames in Xiao Yan's hands, Xun'er and the other two immediately understood his intent, nodded in unison, and then formed a triangular formation, charging directly at Luo Hou with a surge of battle energy, fully unleashing their internal energy. Faced with the fierce attacks from Xun'er and the other two, Luo Hou could not afford to be careless. Though he deeply feared the one behind—Xiao Yan—right now, he had no choice but to swing his cold-iron staff, deflecting all three attacks and launching a vigorous counteroffensive, hoping to defeat them swiftly. That way, once Xiao Yan was left without his allies, his combat effectiveness would significantly diminish. Of course, this was a sound strategy, yet Xun'er and the other two were no ordinary freshmen. After several days of coordinated combat, they had developed a solid sense of teamwork and synergy. While they still couldn't penetrate Luo Hou's sturdy staff defense, they at least managed to keep him occupied, preventing him from interfering with Xiao Yan. With the delays caused by Xun'er and the others, Xiao Yan's two palms had gradually begun to make contact under the watchful eyes of everyone present. Observing this, although the older students in the academy didn't feel anything unusual, Su Elder and Qing Elder seated on the stone platform were visibly startled. With their extensive experience, they were well aware of the immense power generated when flames fused—along with the extreme danger involved. "Such a reckless young man... Should we intervene?" Qing Elder murmured, then turned to ask Su Elder. Su Elder maintained a furrowed brow, his eyes fixed steadily on Xiao Yan's calm and composed expression. After a moment, he gently shook his head, saying, "He seems confident." "How is that possible? Even a Duke-level warrior would hesitate to attempt such a thing—once the flames lose control and explode, the resulting devastation would be truly terrifying," Qing Elder remarked firmly. "Watch this..." Su Elder's gaze remained utterly still, and he merely spoke softly. "You... ah..." Seeing this, Qing Elder could only sigh in resignation, his powerful qi already beginning to circulate within him, ready to respond to any sudden developments—after all, there were still many students watching. Under the collective gaze of everyone present, the jade-colored flame and the purple flame in Xiao Yan's hands finally came into contact. Instantly, tendrils of vibrant cyan-purple flame surged rapidly from the point of contact, and the space around the junction was torn and warped by the intense force. With a calm expression, Xiao Yan smoothly raised both hands and slammed them together. A crisp, resonant sound followed, and the two flames were forcibly fused into a single mass of cyan-purple flame. Qi from his soul surged forth from his brow, maintaining a delicate, intricate balance within the fusion. The indigo-purple flame continuously twisted and writhed, then rapidly shrank under the stunned gazes of Su and Qing elders. It finally came to a halt when reduced to the size of a clenched fist, gently pulsing before slowly fracturing into a magnificent indigo-purple lotus of flame, drifting gracefully before Xiao Yan.