The suddenly appearing young man in black robes caused an immediate, brief silence in the bustling arena. Upon hearing his words, the crowd instantly recognized who he was. The members of the Pan Gate immediately erupted into thunderous cheers, while the onlookers glanced at Xiao Yan with a mixture of interest and genuine anticipation. Xiao Yan's skill in alchemy had become well-known throughout the inner courtyard following his demonstration against Han Xian. However, excellence in alchemy did not necessarily equate to unmatched combat prowess. In this fiercely physical environment, only the strongest punches could command genuine respect—everything else, such as title or status, held little weight. Thus, as Xiao Yan stepped forward, the crowd naturally wondered whether this alchemical prodigy also possessed the solid, undeniable combat strength worthy of true admiration. At the very moment Xu was pushed back, he felt the familiar force. However, the powerful golden light gathered in his jade hands began to fade, allowing the gentle force to carry him outside the battlefield. With a gentle gaze toward the tall figure in the center of the arena, he slowly eased the tension in his heart. "Xiao Yan, brother, it's now your turn." "Hmph, Xiao Yan, you've finally come out!" Bai Cheng shook his shoulders, firmly planted his feet on the ground to release the pressure, then looked up at the black-robed youth with a cold smile. Xiao Yan glanced at him, then, with a swift motion of his hand, his large, dark, heavy ruler flashed into the air. Holding the handle tightly in his right hand, he swung it forcefully, and a strong gust of wind roared through the arena with a continuous whistling sound. "It seems Bai Cheng has been thinking of me quite a bit. But alas, Bai Cheng is not a woman—otherwise, I'd have been delighted to have him join me." "Haha." Hearing Xiao Yan's teasing voice, a wave of laughter erupted among the spectators on the stands. With a slight twitch of his eyelid, Bai Cheng coldly remarked, "Sharp-tongued and quick-witted—this time, I'm wondering what excuse you'll come up with to escape!" "No need for excuses. Wu Hao's challenge to you—I've accepted it. I've been waiting for this day for a long time. All past grievances, settled now." With a light chuckle, Xiao Yan stepped firmly onto the hard floor, his weight so strong that it caused fine cracks to appear in the surface. He looked up at Bai Cheng with a warm smile. "Haha, excellent courage! Though if you end up humiliated, don't blame me—I'll fight with all my might." Seeing Xiao Yan not only refuse to retreat but actively step forward to face him, Bai Cheng's face brightened with satisfaction and he laughed heartily. "Bai Cheng, your verbosity has never changed." Xiao Yan smiled calmly, his expression peaceful, yet the words he spoke only deepened Bai Cheng's growing displeasure. "I hope you don't say a single word of surrender right now." said he coldly, and at that, Bai Cheng finally stopped speaking. He clenched the long spear of deep yellow in his hands, and as he did, the spear trembled slightly, thick yellow combat energy surged forth from within him, instantly enveloping the entire shaft. "Earth-type combat energy," observed Xiao Yan, raising an eyebrow. This familiar energy was notably enduring and solid—compared to others of the same level, it would extend the duration of battle significantly. More importantly, it emphasized defense; when fighting someone with such energy, one could rely on its steadiness and depth to wear down the opponent over time. To effectively counter such a defender, a strong, sudden offensive assault would be most effective in the early stages. Gently shifting his body, a powerful azure qi surged forth from Xiao Yan's interior. As the qi flowed out, a strong aura radiated from within him, and upon sensing the intensity of this aura, several spectators were momentarily stunned. "An Ether Spirit stage?" On the viewing platform, Xun'er, Huoga, and Wu Hao exchanged glances, their eyes filled with astonishment and excitement. They hadn't expected that, after two months, Xiao Yan had truly advanced to the Ether Spirit level. With one stage per month, such a pace was simply unmatched—even if he had been practicing day and night within the "Heaven-Burning Qi Tower" all along. "这家伙... just less than two weeks apart, and he's already reached the Ether Spirit stage?" Lin Xiu'ya and the others were equally astonished. When they had first encountered Xiao Yan deep in the mountains, the latter's strength had only reached the eighth or ninth star level of a Grand Battle Master. Though at that level, one was already close to a Grand Spirit Master, those who had personally experienced the transition knew well how arduous and demanding the journey from Grand Battle Master to Grand Spirit Master truly was. Now, witnessing Xiao Yan's current aura, they could hardly believe their eyes. "It's no wonder he's facing Bai Cheng directly—clearly, he's advanced to the Grand Spirit Master level. Yet even so, there's still a six-star gap between them. That's no small margin to close." Yan Hao, amazed, smiled and added, "I believe he'll win." By the side, Han Yue's cold, elegant features softened into a smile. Back then, Xiao Yan had only been a mid-to-high tier Grand Master, yet he had already made even the three-star Grand Spirit cultivators feel wary. Now, having greatly strengthened his prowess and ascended to the Grand Spirit level, even though Bai Cheng was six tiers above him, Han Yue still held considerable confidence. "I also have confidence in him—I wonder what he's thinking," Lin Xiu'ya lazily stretched his back, his gaze fixed on the dark area where a faint figure began to emerge. He chuckled softly. Xiao Yan's body subtly trembled, the crisp sounds of his bones colliding within him echoing like fireworks, continuously resonating. After this lasted for a while, he finally exhaled deeply, feeling the immense strength contained within his muscles and bones, and smiled faintly. He raised his gaze to Bai Cheng, tightly gripping the handle of the measuring ruler in his hand, and slowly took a few steps forward. The heavy ruler dragged gently across the floor, producing a soft rustling sound, and as it moved, it left a clear white trail on the hard surface. With a solid heel strike upon the ground, Bai Cheng transformed into a streak of yellow light. At the tip of his spear, ki rapidly condensed, and leveraging the momentum, his body overlapped with the spear shaft, nearly merging with it under the enveloping aura. The long spear sliced through the air, emitting sharp hissing sounds of considerable force. As a six-star Spirit Master, Bai Cheng's accumulated power was sufficient to shatter even massive stones upon impact. Yet, facing this opening assault of such vigor, Xiao Yan did not immediately meet it head-on. Instead, a faint silver glow shimmered subtly on his feet, and as his body shifted, he mysteriously vanished from his original position. The sudden loss of his target caused Bai Cheng's expression to subtly shift. He could only catch a fleeting glimpse of a black line darting past—so swift was Xiao Yan's movement. This speed had never been seen before in him. Even with the advancement in his rank, it was inconceivable that he had achieved such a level of velocity. A flash of thought surged through his mind, and at the same instant, Bai Cheng suddenly turned his long spear, driving it violently toward his back. "Clang!" A crisp sound, accompanied by sparks, erupted across the arena. Bai Cheng's spear met and held firm against the massive black ruler, the ruler's powerful force pressing the spear so strongly that it slightly bent. "How much his strength has grown! This is remarkable—after reaching the next rank, one would expect such a surge, but not this dramatic. Now, compared to before, in terms of strength, speed, and reaction, he's completely transformed, as if reborn. Sensing the force returning through the spear, Bai Cheng's face changed, and within his mind, a storm of astonishment surged. Xiao Yan naturally paid no attention to Bai Cheng's astonishment. With his heavy staff, which carried a powerful, pressing wind, he resolutely slashed down at Bai Cheng. Though the staff was originally so heavy, in Xiao Yan's hands it moved with greater agility and precision than Bai Cheng's long spear. Under the force of Xiao Yan's powerful attack, even Bai Cheng, who had initially been caught off guard, began to feel slightly disoriented. Nevertheless, as Bai Cheng was a six-star Soul Spirit cultivator, he gradually stabilized himself under Xiao Yan's overwhelming assault. His robust, six-star Soul Spirit energy surged forth in a steady, flowing tide, successfully countering Xiao Yan's heavy blows. As their exchange grew familiar, Bai Cheng also began to launch fierce counterattacks. With his spear, he moved like a venomous snake concealed beneath the yellow sand—precise, sharp, and deadly—each strike targeting Xiao Yan's vital points. On the field, two figures darted and flashed, their azure and golden ki hues casting the battle zone into two distinct color zones. With every impact between the heavy staff and the long spear, visible ripples of force surged outward, spreading across the hard floor and continuously widening cracks throughout the plaza. "Heard this, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a cold smile. In the presence of all watching, he suddenly drove the heavy staff firmly into the ground before him, quickly forming an unusual hand seal. As the hand seals were activated, a vibrant, scorching green flame surged forth from within him, enveloping Xiao Yan completely like a man of fire. After a moment, the flame abruptly receded, then surged back into his body with lightning speed. 'Heavenly Fire Triple Transformation: Qinglian Transformation!' A low exclamation echoed in his mind. Xiao Yan's body shuddered, and a surge of powerful energy erupted violently from his meridians, flowing throughout his entire body like a continuous flood. Feeling the sudden surge of qi within him, Xiao Yan smiled slightly, grasped the handle of the Xuangong Staff once more, and turned to Bai Cheng, chuckling lightly, 'One more time!' As soon as the words fell, Xiao Yan crashed forward like a streak of black ink, charging directly at Bai Cheng. With each footfall, he left a half-inch-deep impression on the ground. The powerful momentum surged forward, vivid and dynamic—like a towering humanoid beast, creating a striking visual impact!