"Please, go ahead," Xu Ran shrugged nonchalantly.
He truly relished the thrill of parting from life and death.
"Teacher," Xiao Yan looked at Yao Chen with despair, already knowing their inevitable end. Xu Ran didn't even consider a Dou Sheng worthy of his attention, let alone Yao Lao being a match for him.
Yao Lao could not contend against Xu Ran at all.
"Little Flame, you must persevere in your cultivation, let your teacher help you one last time," Yao Chen said.
"Back then, at that relic site, I found not only the 'Burning Decision' but also some other things."
Soul Power was violently burning all over Yao Chen's body, his soul instantly enveloped in flames.
"This is…" Xu Ran was taken aback as he watched Yao Chen, never expecting him to make such a decision.
"Haha, Xu Ran, if you dare, give Little Flame a few years' time. Dou Sheng? Little Flame will reach it sooner or later," Yao Chen looked back at Xu Ran, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if to carve his image deep into Xu Ran's soul.
In an instant, Yao Chen's power transformed into pure Dou Qi and Soul Power, and even the Bone Spirit Cold Fire began to merge into Xiao Yan's body at that moment.
Yao Chen was prepared to use his own life to lift Xiao Yan to greatness.
"Tsk tsk tsk, such selflessness," Xu Ran watched the scene in silence. Yao Chen was indeed a good person, but it was a pity he ended up with two worthless disciples. Han Feng was corrupt, and Xiao Yan was not much better. The only difference was that Han Feng would harm Yao Chen, while Xiao Yan would not.
To be successful, one must first become a decent person, but even this simple truth was lost on Yao Chen.
"Teacher, teacher, why would you…" Xiao Yan's eyes turned red in an instant, tears streaming down uncontrollably. He was no fool; he knew what Yao Lao was doing right then.
Yao Lao's Soul Body was gradually disintegrating, turning into pure Soul Power and infusing into his own body. And the surge of Dou Qi energy was also continuously flooding into him.
Since he and Yao Lao practiced the same cultivation technique, the infusion of Yao Lao's power did not cause any discomfort but felt perfectly harmonious instead.
"Teacher… Disciple Xiao Yan would rather not have this power," Xiao Yan wept bitterly. At that moment, Yao Lao had surpassed his father, Xiao Zhan, to become the most revered figure in his heart, unrivaled by anyone.
Yao Lao was even willing to give up his own life for him.
Yao Lao himself was a Soul Body, but now he was disintegrating his Soul Body to infuse all of his strength into him and make him successful.
If successful, he could even instantly become a high-rank Dou Huang.
But the power gained that way would come at the cost of Yao Lao's life.
How could he bear it?
"Little Flame, you must be strong. As long as you can kill Xu Ran, you will have avenged your teacher and your senior brother. You must not defy Xu Ran again, stay low and grow, waiting for the right moment, and never confront Xu Ran without absolute certainty," Yao Lao advised.
"Moreover, you must realize that apart from you, the most powerful force on the continent also loathes Xu Ran to the bone. You need to understand how to use others to eliminate your enemy, exploiting the power of that force to strengthen yourself," Yao Lao's body became infinitely transparent, instructing Xiao Yan in the last moments before he faded away.
Only with the power of the Soul Hall could there be a chance for retaliation. This was Yao Chen's final instruction to Xiao Yan.
Yao Chen now clearly knew Xiao Yan's identity, and as long as Xiao Yan sought refuge with Soul Hall, he would definitely receive their attention. At that time, both Soul Hall and Xiao Yan had a common enemy, and Soul Hall would certainly increase resources to cultivate Xiao Yan.
"Teacher." Xiao Yan knelt on the ground, his eyes already red from crying.
He had now completely become a lone and isolated individual.
His family, his beloved, and now his teacher, who had accompanied him throughout his growth, was also dead.
Ha ha ha…
Could it be that he, Xiao Yan, was born with the constitution of a Life-Destroyer Lone Star? Was his very existence destined to lead to the death of those around him?
"Xu Ran, in this life, I, Xiao Yan, must kill you! If I fail, I will fall into the Eighteen Layers of Hell, never to be reincarnated!" Xiao Yan roared furiously, his voice, mixed with powerful and rich Dou Qi, traveled far and wide.
Xiao Yan now possessed boundless strength within his body, and as long as he properly refined it, he would quickly break through to Dou Huang and become a powerful figure in his generation.
It should be noted that even the elders of Canaan Academy only possessed the "Cultivation Level" of Dou Huang. In the Black Corner Region, there were not many Dou Zong experts. Should Xiao Yan break through to Dou Huang, he would then firmly establish himself in the Black Corner Region and become a local power.
"Xu Ran, I will soon break through to Dou Huang. The harm you've done to me, the harm you've brought upon the people around me, I will keep firmly etched in my memory. The revenge is not yet served, the time has not come. One day, I will let you know that I, Xiao Yan, am not so easily bullied."
"If you kill me now, you might still manage it, but if you wait for me to grow stronger, that will be your end." Xiao Yan's eyes were filled with a dead stillness, and it was only when looking at Xu Ran with resentment and hatred that he seemed to be a living person.
Xiao Yan's heart had thoroughly turned cold.
He had nothing left to care for in the world.
Family, love, the bonds of master and disciple… everything had been destroyed by Xu Ran.
All who were close to him were killed by Xu Ran in the end, and each death had been witnessed by him firsthand. This was an immense torment for him. To watch helplessly as those around him died because of him, who could endure such a blow?
If it had been before, knowing this would come to pass, he would have chosen death without hesitation.
But now, there were countless unjust deaths weighing on him. He had to avenge them.
Last time, it was his two older brothers; now, it was his master and senior brother…
Once, the hatred Yao Lao felt for Han Feng made him believe that his greatest enemy in life was Han Feng, and that he needed to help Yao Lao eliminate Han Feng to avenge him. But who could have thought that his true enemy was always only Xu Ran?
Even his senior brother Han Feng eventually came to a realization and turned over a new leaf, becoming a good person. But Xu Ran never would; even if Xu Ran stopped persecuting him, the harm he had caused was forever unforgivable.
He would fight to the very last moment, and unless he died, he would never let Xu Ran have peace.
"You, with just your abilities? Your senior brother Han Feng and your master Yao Lao both died at my hands. The three experts from Soul Hall were all renowned figures on the continent, and they too died by my hand. What makes you think you can defeat me?" Xu Ran mocked.
"Because I have an indomitable spirit. I, Xiao Yan, if I'm not dead, am determined to fight you to the end. I will also take back all that's mine. My Xun Er…" Xiao Yan clenched his fists so hard that his long fingernails directly dug into the flesh of his palms, but he felt no pain.
Now, he had only Xun Er left. Although Xun Er was misled by Xu Ran, at least she was still alive. If he persisted, if he defeated Xu Ran, he could once again live a life of enviable love with Xun Er.