The sudden emergence of a dual aura wings of qi behind Lin Xiu'ya not only astonished Xiao Yan, but even those familiar with him, such as Yan Hao, were left utterly stunned, taking several moments to recover before gradually regaining their composure and exchanging glances, their expressions now serious. Although Yan Hao, as Lin Xiu'ya had described, had managed to touch upon a barrier of the Duke-level, that mere contact only made him slightly stronger than an ordinary Duke-level peak master. To achieve Lin Xiu'ya's feat—forming his own dual aura wings through sheer strength—was still a considerable gap. This clearly demonstrated that Lin Xiu'ya had once again surpassed Yan Hao. The transformation of qi into wings is one of the most iconic achievements in the cultivation of qi, symbolizing a critical milestone that separates the realm of the continent's true strong. Everyone knows that once a cultivator achieves this, they have successfully crossed into the tier that has long halted countless others—the Duke-level! Just two characters—simple in appearance, yet the very standard that countless gifted individuals strive to achieve throughout their lives. Yet the arduous journey these two characters represent often causes a large number of people to halt and quietly withdraw. Though only one rank apart, the gap between Duelist and Duel King is greater than that between any of the previous ranks. Before reaching Duelist level, combatants could only expend their internal Duel Energy, relying on it to fight. While figures like Xiao Yan might possess more abundant or refined internal Duel Energy, no matter how potent, such energy inevitably wanes and reaches a limit over time. And for the Sovereign Warrior, once he reaches this rank, his internal ki begins to resonate and respond with the vast, seemingly boundless energy of the external world—drawing upon and transforming it into his own power. With such formidable strength, even tearing mountains and splitting lands becomes effortless. From this, the difference between the two becomes evident: one relies solely on personal power, while the other harnesses the power of the heavens and earth. Who is stronger, who is weaker—clearly apparent at a glance. Thus, when everyone saw the dual energy wings behind Lin Xiu'ya, they all looked at him with this expression. "Severe Azure Wind Slash!" Amidst the astonishment of all present, a sharp, commanding voice erupted suddenly from Lin Xiu's lips. As the voice fell, the wind flowing through the valley seemed to instantly freeze in place. Then, a powerful gust surged, rapidly gathering strength in the air above—within mere eyeblinks, the force had fully coalesced, and with a powerful surge, it tore through the atmosphere, producing a sharp, piercing wind that sounded like a horn and echoed continuously in the ears of the onlookers. "Whoosh!" A faint, shimmering green silhouette shot downward from the sky, carrying an exceptionally strong gust of wind. Though the green form was somewhat blurred, its overall shape clearly revealed a long, energy-embodied green sword. However, the sword moved with astonishing speed, and the swirling gusts visible on its surface suggested it was formed by compressed, swirling winds—thus, a solidified energy construct. Combined with the execution of his combat technique, this energy form generated an immense power. The azure shadow's attack was clearly aimed at the Snow Demon Tian Yuan situated several feet below Lin Xiu's cliff. Though the latter had gained momentum and ascended into the sky thanks to the thrust, lacking any point of leverage, it could not maneuver as freely as it had when on the ground. Even so, the Snow Demon Tian Yuan sensed the powerful, surging qi rushing toward it, yet remained powerless. It could only open its jaws wide, emitting a low roar, while a radiant, pale-energy shield surged forth from within its body at lightning speed, eventually solidifying into a massive, icy sphere that completely encased the target. The ice sphere had only just coalesced when a sharp gust of wind slammed into it instantly, causing a violent collision. The crowd heard a thunderous roar from the sky, after which the massive sphere plummeted rapidly, crashing heavily into scattered stones near the valley entrance. At the moment of impact, the sheer force of the landing was so powerful it hurled the ground like a cannonball, carving out a deep gash over ten meters wide. Cracks as thick as human arms radiated outward in all directions, spreading steadily into the forest. Several sets of eyes were fixed intently on the spot where the ice ball had settled, dust swirling around it. In the air, a silvery shadow flashed downward and finally landed steadily on a tree branch. As the crowd turned their gaze, they saw Lin Xiu'ya, slightly pale, while the pair of aura wings behind him had begun to thin out gradually. Moments later, with a subtle crackling sound, the wings dissolved into scattered light points and slowly faded away. "This opponent is indeed formidable. I didn't expect so many people to be able to hold him back effectively. If it weren't for the unusual nature of my cultivation technique, which allowed me to勉强 form these aura wings, I might have been struck down by a single palm. Though I've escaped unharmed, the aura consumption has been truly immense." Lin Xiu'ya gripped his long, slender jade sword tightly, offering a weary smile to Yan Hao and the others. "Due to the nature of my cultivation technique?" Hearing this, Yan Hao and the others were momentarily taken aback, then quickly understood, silently easing their breaths. "Originally, relying on his technique, I thought—though this guy has already taken half a step toward the Battle King rank, it still seemed unlikely that he could successfully coalesce his battle aura into wings all at once." Hidden among the trees, Xiao Yan had just heard Lin Xiu'ya's earlier remarks and felt a moment of realization, murmuring to himself. Generally speaking, anyone capable of forming battle aura wings through their own power is considered a near-Battle King strength; if those wings can hover and fly in the air for a sustained period, they are truly Battle Kings. However, these achievements depend on the strength of their foundation and the support of their techniques—thus, they don't count as exceptional. Moreover, they were well aware that Lin Xiu'ya trained in wind-type battle aura, which typically forms wings more easily than other types. Therefore, Lin Xiu'ya had not truly crossed the chasm between Battle Spirit and Battle King ranks. "Lin, has the battle really ended?" Outside the battlefield, Han Yue also smoothed out the lingering astonishment in her beautiful eyes at Lin Xiu'ya's earlier overwhelming strength, softly asking. Upon hearing Han Yue's question, Yan Hao and the others quickly regained their composure, turning their attention downward to the swirling dust, leaning in to listen closely. To their surprise, there was no movement at all—only quiet, and a subtle sense of both relief and mild curiosity spread across their faces. Lin Xiu'ya frowned, gazing down at the stillness. He was well aware of the power of his initial attack, which had indeed inflicted some wounds on the Snow Demon Tian Yuan, but to claim it had been enough to defeat the creature outright was simply impossible. With a few thoughts passing through his mind, Lin Xiu'ya gently waved his sleeve, and a sudden gust of wind surged forth, sweeping away all the dust from below. As the dust gradually settled, the massive crater below came into view. However, due to its great depth, the onlookers could only see a deep, dim darkness and thin layers of ice spreading around the edges of the crater. Intently gazing into the deep abyss, Lin Xiu'ya suddenly stiffened. He noticed a faint, eerie glow of a subtle crimson hue emanating from within the crater. "Something's off—be careful!" With his heart tightening, Lin Xiu'ya calmly cautioned. His warning immediately made Yan Hao and the others grow serious. Their inner ki surged powerfully, enveloping their bodies completely. From a distance, they appeared as distinct, differently colored luminous orbs, each continuously radiating strong energy pressure. Xiao Yan remained hidden, also surprised by the strange developments unfolding on the field. His keen spiritual perception allowed him to sense, almost imperceptibly, that something terrifying was about to surge forth from the dark pit. "Be careful," the Yeold's voice suddenly echoed in Xiao Yan's mind, tinged with a sense of satisfaction and amusement. "The Snow Demon Celestial Gorilla's energy is rapidly intensifying. I seem to have been right—this beast has indeed awakened its furious bloodline. Their coordinated attacks will likely falter." Quiet—lasting approximately three or four minutes—the eerie crimson glow within the black hole grew increasingly intense, eventually brightening so vividly it seemed like fresh blood. This strange spectacle stirred a sense of unease in Lin Xiu'ya and the others; had it not been for the irresistible allure of the "Earth-Core Body-Quenching Milk," they likely would have decided to retreat on the spot. Standing atop a tree, Han Yue's jade hand was clenched tightly, her palms soaked in cold sweat. Though she was quite distant from the battlefield, she couldn't help but feel as though the crimson-hued black hole was fixed upon her with a fierce, wild gaze—perhaps the intelligent beast sensed that, had it not been for her accidental discovery of the hidden "Earth-Core Body-Quenching Milk," it would have brought no such disturbances. "Boom!" Just as Han Yue was lost in thought, a sudden crackling sound of ice shattering emerged from the black hole. As the sound faded, everyone felt a sharp tightening in their chests. Then, a faint, blurred crimson glow swept out from the black hole—so swift it was astonishing. Amid this breathtaking speed, the crowd stood stunned for a moment before their faces turned pale. Without any prompting, they all rushed like rabbits, scrambling to flee. The crimson glow first appeared before Lin Xiu'ya, who had already begun retreating. Even before he could clearly see the figure, he felt a piercing, intensely cold gust of wind slashing through the air and crashing directly into him. Feeling the fierce force of the wind, Lin Xiuya quickly spun his long sword, rapidly weaving a network of wind currents before him. However, when the icy gust struck, the wind network held only for an instant before bursting into fragments. The residual icy wind then slammed directly into Lin Xiuya’s body, forcing him to spew out a geyser of blood. His body, like a cannonball, was launched forcefully into the forest. In just one exchange, the strongest fighter here, Lin Xiuya, was defeated and forced to retreat, leaving Yan Hao and the others with visibly troubled expressions. At the treetop, Han Yue also spotted the crimson figure rushing toward her. Though her composed, elegant face grew slightly pale, she did not panic or flee. She knew well that Lin Xiu'ya’s speed and strength were far beyond the reach of this creature—should she turn and run, she would likely be slain on the spot. If she chose to fight with all her might, there might still be a slim chance of survival. In that fleeting moment, this intelligent woman, though under pressure, did not falter or lose her composure. Instead, she actively sought out that slim chance of life in the midst of crisis. With a delicate grasp of her hand, white cold qi surged rapidly within the jade-like palm. Yet before she could fully gather her qi, the crimson glow suddenly darted forward, and a fierce, monstrous face, bearing murderous intent, appeared between the reflection of her beautiful eyes. "Roar!" A roar brimming with deadly intent echoed across the heavens. A fiercer, colder wind than before tore through the air, hurling itself with force directly at Han Yue, whose pale face and delicate frame swayed like flowers in the wind. Nearby, Yan Hao and the others saw the scene and their eyes flared with rage and compassion—yet, constrained by their own strength, they could do nothing but watch helplessly as a beautiful, poised snow lily withered and fell in the most poignant manner. Faced with this near-fatal blow, Han Yue let go of any futile hope, slowly closing her beautiful eyes, her elegant, cool features etched with a heart-wrenching sorrow. "A soft hiss—" The piercing wind showed no sign of abating, still rushing fiercely toward Han Yue. Yet, as it was about to make contact with her head, a sudden black silhouette flashed by with a thunderous roar, and the force of the wind instantly missed its mark. The Han Yue who had been expected to be crushed under a single palm now vanished completely. At some distance, Yan Hao and the others were momentarily stunned by this unexpected turn of events, quickly shifting their gaze to see a black figure darting into view atop a tree a hundred meters to her left. There, Han Yue lay softly cradled in the figure's arms, as if utterly startled. At the treetop, the figure bowed down, gazing at the delicate face cradled in his arms—once so cold and captivating, now pale and fragile, appearing so tender. Though his arms comfortably encircled her slender waist, the presence of several sets of eyes watching from afar compelled him to gently lift her up, smiling lightly. "Han Yue, are you all right?" Upon hearing his voice, Han Yue's long, tightly closed eyelashes trembled slightly, then fluttered open with a touch of surprise. As her gaze settled upon the clear, youthful face before her, she suddenly froze, her words emerging in a hesitant, almost unbelieving tone. "Y-You... you... Xiao Yan?"