A ripple spread through space, and Gu Yao's figure suddenly vanished from his original position. In the next instant, he abruptly appeared not far behind Lin Yuan.
"Overturning Sea Seal!"
He thrust out a palm. A dazzling light suddenly erupted from his hand, and an enormous emerald energy seal, more than a zhang wide, shot violently from his palm and tore through the sky toward Lin Yuan.
"Sun Radiance Seal!"
A cyan light seal was also unleashed from Lin Yuan's palm, crashing fiercely into the emerald crystal seal.
Immediately, the two forces collided and entered a brief stalemate.
Sensing Gu Yao's little trick, Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. Purple light circulated within his deep eyes, while brilliant silver light suddenly erupted from the soles of his feet. The radiance rapidly spread upward, enveloping his entire body in the blink of an eye.
"Three Thousand Lightning Movement: Three Thousand Lightning!"
The instant the light faded, space rippled slightly, and three silver figures identical in appearance to Lin Yuan shot out. Their true and false forms were impossible to distinguish through perception.
At this moment, the emerald crystal seal broke through the obstruction of the cyan light and, carrying the remaining momentum of its tremendous energy, engulfed the motionless "Lin Yuan" standing in place.
Under the impact of the energy, the "Lin Yuan" in that location immediately dispersed.
"Another afterimage?" Even Ling Quan could tell what had happened. He gritted his teeth. "Damn it! The power of the Deputy Commander's Overturning Sea Seal is clearly far greater than Lin Yuan's attack, yet he still managed to evade it so easily. It can't cause him any damage at all."
"Gu Yao himself should understand this," Gu Zhen said calmly.
He watched Gu Yao's movements, and a strange look appeared in his eyes.
"Looks like he has already come up with a plan. This battle should be nearing its end!"
Meanwhile, high in the air, after releasing the Overturning Sea Seal, Gu Yao did not relax in the slightest. Instead, his expression became even more solemn.
"The Overturning Sea Seal alone cannot defeat that slippery fellow."
Gu Yao had a clear understanding of this.
"The previous attack was merely a probe. The true decisive strike will be the next one…"
A faint excitement surfaced on Gu Yao's face. His hand seals changed like lightning.
"Mountain Splitting Seal!"
With a cold shout in his heart, an energy light seal emerged in Gu Yao's palm. However, his hand seals did not stop. Instead, they changed at an even more dazzling speed.
He needed a stronger move.
A decisive move.
"Overturning Sea Seal!"
Another relatively smaller but brilliantly radiant energy seal appeared in his palm. It quickly merged with the Mountain Splitting Seal, and the two finally fused together.
"Earth Covering Seal!"
With a soft shout in his heart, brilliant purplish-brown crystalline light erupted from Gu Yao's palm before transforming into a crystal-layered light seal only the size of a fist. It slowly fused into the two previous seals.
"Emperor Seal Technique: Three Seals Combined!"
The instant the three seals completely merged, tiny fragments of space fell from the void before rapidly disintegrating.
Looking at the dazzling light seal in his palm, a trace of pride flashed through Gu Yao's eyes.
The Emperor Seal Technique, Three Seals Combined. Among the younger generation of the Ancient Clan, only he and Gu Qingyang could currently accomplish such a feat.
Having painstakingly studied the Emperor Seal Technique for many years, this was also his strongest move at present.
"An afterimage?"
Looking at the three indistinguishable figures, Gu Yao sneered. With a thought, a tremor spread from the three combined seals.
In an instant, three enormous energy ripples swept outward.
The three figures were struck by the energy ripples. The two figures behind and to the side of Gu Yao immediately flickered before exploding and completely disappearing.
The figure in front and below, however, was not greatly affected. It looked at Gu Yao in astonishment.
A sharp glint flashed through Gu Yao's eyes.
"Found you. You are the real body! Lin Yuan, lose for me!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Yao flicked his finger. The light seal in his palm trembled violently, and a low hum emerged from within it. It then shot across the sky like lightning toward the astonished figure below and ahead.
The light seal expanded rapidly with the wind. In a flash, it transformed into an enormous energy palm several dozen zhang in size.
Under Lin Yuan's shocked expression, the gigantic energy palm instantly engulfed his figure, unable to escape, and slammed him violently into a mountain peak.
"Boom!"
A tremendous explosion suddenly resounded.
The energy palm embedded in the earth erupted completely, and a terrifying energy storm swept outward. The entire mountain peak trembled violently beneath the raging storm.
The spreading energy ripples flattened vast stretches of forest with overwhelming force, sending countless magical beasts fleeing in panic.
The energy ripples continued spreading, causing the earth to shake violently as though it were about to be overturned.
When the dust finally settled, a gigantic crater several dozen zhang deep appeared before everyone's eyes.
The enormous consumption of energy, combined with the fact that the time limit of the Blood Transformation Technique was about to expire, left Gu Yao's body somewhat unsteady.
Yet, as he gazed at the deep crater before him, his own handiwork, a confident smile appeared on his face.
That figure just now had definitely not been an afterimage. After taking that attack head-on, even if Lin Yuan's physical body were as powerful as a seventh-grade magical beast, he would undoubtedly have been defeated.
This battle was his, Gu Yao's, victory.
His perception spread downward as he attempted to investigate the bottom of the crater, but he found nothing. There was not even the slightest trace of Lin Yuan.
"Hmm?"
Gu Yao stared at the deep crater and carefully scanned his surroundings once more. His brows furrowed slightly.
"Reduced to nothing but bones and ashes? Forget it. It's not surprising, considering the power of the three combined seals. What a pity to lose such a good opponent, but that is the nature of battle."
Looking at the crater, Gu Yao's emotions were rather complicated.
There was the relief and joy of finally defeating a powerful opponent, the unreal feeling brought about by such an easy victory, and the melancholy of seeing a formidable opponent suddenly die.
All kinds of emotions intertwined, and even his normally indifferent expression became somewhat complicated and indescribable.
"We won!"
Below, Ling Quan took a deep breath, a joyful smile appearing on his face.
"Did we really win?"
Gu Zhen, however, frowned slightly. His gaze turned toward the people from Jia Nan Academy. He could not quite understand the atmosphere over there.
Among the Jia Nan Academy group, Xiao Yixian suppressed her anxiety and glanced at Zi Yan, who was holding her hand. Seeing that the latter still wore her usual carefree and unconcerned expression, the turmoil in her heart gradually settled.
Just now, after sensing Lin Yuan's aura disappear, she had almost lost control. It was Zi Yan who stopped her in time.
Afterward, she remembered something Lin Yuan had once told her: he and Zi Yan could vaguely sense each other's condition. Only then had she managed to avoid going berserk.
Su Qian glanced at Zi Yan before turning his puzzled gaze toward the seemingly empty space in the distance.
Meanwhile, high in the sky.
Gu Yao still could not sense Lin Yuan's aura. He put aside his complicated emotions and was just about to deactivate the Blood Transformation Technique.
At that very moment.
"Heh heh."
A familiar, clear laugh suddenly echoed through the void.
"Gu Yao, how does victory taste?"
Before the words had even finished, the space behind Gu Yao suddenly rippled like the surface of water.
In the next instant, a figure surrounded by violet light emerged from the center of the spatial ripple like a purple dragon soaring into the sky.
"However, it is time for this to end…"
Not Far from the Battlefield
Behind a slightly distorted section of space, two figures dressed in black stood casually in the void, watching Lin Yuan with astonishment.
"As expected, it's the spatial concealment technique of the Earth Demon Old Ghost."
Qian Mu stroked his beard and chuckled.
"But that kid Lin uses it far better than that old ghost. His control over space is exceptionally smooth. This little fellow's talent in spatial power, although not as great as Little Zi Yan's, is still extremely impressive!"
"Heh heh, who could say otherwise?"
Bai Lie nodded, looking at Lin Yuan with satisfaction.
"This kid is truly clever."
"When he created the Three Thousand Lightning Movement's light shadows, he even mixed an energy clone with a physical body among them, while concealing himself with spatial concealment!"
"With such a tiny expenditure, he easily neutralized that troublesome attack from the Ancient Clan's youngster."
"From this alone, it's clear that this kid's talent in battle is in no way inferior to his talent in alchemy."
"If that fellow Mang Tian Chi knew what happened today, he would probably be overjoyed. Our Jia Nan Academy actually produced a student of this caliber. At such a young age, he can suppress a genius of the Ancient Clan who is several years older than him."
"And judging from how effortlessly he is fighting, he hasn't even used his full strength."
"This battle is about to end."
The instant Lin Yuan stepped out of the spatial ripple, he attacked without the slightest hesitation.
"Soul Profound Seal!"
A silver light seal containing immense soul power, wreathed in scorching cyan flames, shot out from Lin Yuan's palm. It streaked toward Gu Yao like lightning, leaving a pitch-black spatial crack in its wake.
The light seal reached Gu Yao in an instant before suddenly expanding, transforming into a gigantic flaming seal several zhang in size.
"You how could you, Damn it…"
Seeing this, Gu Yao's eyes turned cold. He forcefully gathered what little Dou Qi remained within his body and clenched his palm. Pale-white Profound Ice surged violently from within him.
In an instant, layers of Profound Ice condensed and completely covered his right arm.
"Break!"
With a low shout, Gu Yao threw a punch. Under the countless gazes watching, his fist slammed heavily into the gigantic flaming seal, immediately producing a heaven-shaking explosion. Terrifying waves of energy, interwoven with ice and fire, swept across the sky like a storm.
Before long, the extreme coldness contained within the Profound Ice Fist completely extinguished the cyan flames on the flaming seal.
And then…
"Bang!"
A deep, muffled sound suddenly echoed across the sky.
"Hmph!"
A low groan escaped from Gu Yao's throat. Although he had extinguished the flaming seal, his complexion turned pale. His soul felt as though it had suffered a heavy blow, leaving him dizzy, and he staggered two steps through the air.
"This is a soul attack, a Soul Technique?"
That brief moment of dizziness was enough to completely change the course of the battle, and Lin Yuan naturally would not waste it.
A flash of lightning appeared, and Lin Yuan had already arrived before Gu Yao. His hand seals flowed together as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water.
The instant Gu Yao recovered from his dizziness, a cyan light seal had already condensed in Lin Yuan's palm, and Lin Yuan directly pressed it toward Gu Yao's chest.
"Three Radiance Seal Art · Sun Radiance Seal!"
A bone-chilling sense of danger flooded Gu Yao's mind. He hurriedly mobilized his Dou Qi. Relying on his extraordinary ability to control and mobilize energy, a layer of Profound Ice Armor condensed over his chest.
The instant the ice armor appeared, the Sun Radiance Seal arrived as expected!
Under the gazes of everyone present, a thunderous explosion suddenly resounded across the sky. A terrifying, visible energy ripple erupted from the point where the two figures collided before frantically spreading in all directions.
The defense Gu Yao had hastily condensed naturally could not completely withstand Lin Yuan's attack.
In merely a moment, the Sun Radiance Seal broke through the defense of the Profound Ice Armor and poured its tremendous energy completely into Gu Yao's body.
Gu Yao's face immediately turned pale. He could no longer suppress the blood in his throat, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out. His body fell from the sky like a meteor, crashing heavily into the sea of trees below and carving out a deep ravine several dozen zhang long.
When the dust finally settled, Gu Yao's condition was revealed to everyone.
He lay weakly within the ravine, his chest rising and falling rapidly. However, he had not fainted. He merely stared blankly at Lin Yuan in the sky.
At this moment, Lin Yuan stood calmly in the void, his aura still vigorous and powerful.
As for Gu Yao, he had suffered severe injuries, his Dou Qi was completely depleted, and even the Blood Transformation Technique had been forcibly deactivated. The aura around his body had fallen all the way back to the level of a three-star Dou Ancestor.
Lin Yuan calmly glanced at Gu Yao and did not continue attacking him.
But Gu Yao understood in his heart.
He had lost.
He had been completely defeated by a young man from a remote region who was even younger than himself.
With a light laugh, Lin Yuan turned his gaze toward the Jia Nan Academy group and nodded at everyone before his eyes finally settled on Gu Xun'er among the group.
He raised his eyebrows and said calmly, "Junior Xun'er, I believe you can announce the result now?"
As Lin Yuan's words fell, the gazes of everyone present instantly turned toward Gu Xun'er, who was standing beside Xiao Yan.
Gu Xun'er nodded. She unfurled her golden flame wings and flew between Lin Yuan and Gu Yao. A gentle breeze lifted her three-thousand strands of azure hair. Combined with her elegant features, her entire being radiated an ethereal beauty that was difficult to forget.
"Xun'er this time, I…"
Seeing the breathtakingly beautiful Gu Xun'er, the weakened Gu Yao struggled to stand. He stretched out a hand toward Xun'er, only to let it fall dejectedly a moment later.
As the loser, he had no right to say anything more at this moment.
Gu Xun'er glanced indifferently at Gu Yao, a trace of coldness flashing through her eyes.
She had always remembered the humiliation he had inflicted upon Xiao Yan.
Then, her gaze shifted toward Lin Yuan, and she carefully examined him for a moment.
Seeing that Lin Yuan still looked completely at ease, making it impossible to determine the depth of his strength, Gu Xun'er sighed inwardly.
She had originally thought that she had already greatly overestimated him.
Reality had told her that she had still underestimated him.
"At the future Pill Gathering where Xiao Yan Ge-ge and he will compete, can Xiao Yan Ge-ge really defeat this person?"
Although she had always possessed absolute confidence in Xiao Yan, at this moment, she could not help but feel a trace of worry in her heart.
Taking a deep breath, Gu Xun'er dispelled her chaotic thoughts and announced solemnly,
"I hereby announce that the winner of this battle is Lin Yuan! These belong to the victor."
As she spoke, she handed the Beginning Venerable Pill and Void Transfer to Lin Yuan.
"Heh heh."
Lin Yuan smiled faintly before saying seriously, "It should be said that the victor is Jia Nan Academy. Don't you agree, Gu Yao? I remember you once said, 'Etiquette is the crown prepared for the strong.' Do Jia Nan Academy and I deserve this crown?"
Hearing Lin Yuan's words, Gu Yao's expression alternated between green and pale.
After a moment, he slowly exhaled and said solemnly, "This time, I was the one who offended Jia Nan Academy's rules. I ask everyone to forgive me."
Hearing this, Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
It seemed that although Gu Yao was arrogant and did things according to his own will, he could still be considered someone who could accept defeat.
He also possessed sufficient respect for the strong.
As long as one was strong enough, dealing with him was actually quite easy.
"Deputy Commander Gu Yao really lost? How is that possible…"
Looking at Gu Yao, Lin Yuan, and Gu Xun'er, Ling Quan and the numerous Black Annihilation Army soldiers still wore expressions of disbelief.
Gu Yao was an absolute powerhouse in their hearts. Among the younger generation of the Ancient Clan, he was currently regarded as one of the strongest contenders for the top positions.
Yet he had actually been defeated by an unknown nobody from the outside world.
The cruel reality left them completely bewildered.
Gu Zhen looked at that tall and straight figure and said solemnly,
"In this world, the strong do not exist only among our ancient clans. Broaden your horizons in the future."
As though sensing Gu Zhen's gaze, Lin Yuan turned his head and gave him a friendly smile.
A thoughtful look flashed through his eyes. Then, as though he had thought of something, a meaningful expression appeared on Lin Yuan's face.
His lips moved slightly, and his voice condensed into a thin thread of sound that precisely entered Gu Zhen's ears.
"Gu Zhen, if you don't mind having an alchemist friend, feel free to come find me in the back mountain tonight. The location is."
----
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