On the training field, Xiao Yun and Xu Ning stood at opposite ends, facing each other.
"I'll suppress my Dou Qi to your level and only use techniques below the Black Tier. If you can force me to use a Black-Tier technique, I'll consider it your win," Xu Ning said calmly.
He shrugged off his instructor's robe, and with a flash of light from the spatial ring on his finger, the robe vanished. In its place, a long crimson blade appeared in his hand.
The blade was entirely red, inscribed with glowing Dou Qi runes that shimmered with fiery energy. A fire-colored magic core was embedded in the hilt, radiating intense heat. Even standing dozens of meters away, Xiao Yun could feel the weapon's immense power.
Just from its appearance, it was clear—this was a magic core weapon, and not just any weapon. The energy infused within it matched Xu Ning's own fire-type Dou Qi. With both enhancing each other, Xu Ning's combat power likely surged by thirty percent or more.
Xiao Yun's mouth twitched. "Instructor, if you're trying to kill me, just say so. I don't even have a weapon, and you bring that monster of a blade to a duel."
Xu Ning raised a brow, then smirked. "Fine, I'll lend you one."
He pulled a steel short sword from his spatial ring and gave it a flick. The blade shot through the air like a shadow, whistling toward Xiao Yun.
Reacting quickly, Xiao Yun coated his hands in Dou Qi and caught the blade midair, neutralizing the energy behind it. He gave it a few awkward swings, frowning. He'd never learned swordsmanship, so the weapon felt foreign in his grip.
"Ready?" Xu Ning asked, planting his long blade into the ground.
With a soft thunk, the sword pierced the stone tiles like tofu. Heat rippled from the blade, searing the stone red.
Xiao Yun nodded, exhaling slowly. "Please go easy on me, Instructor."
Dou Qi surged through his meridians, flooding his body. A wave of crimson energy rolled off him, spreading outward like a tide. Then, as if controlled by will, the energy contracted, forming a thin defensive layer just above his robe.
It was the iconic Dou Qi Veil, a signature ability of any true Dou Master. It wasn't flashy, but it gave significant boosts to defense, speed, and strength.
Then—boom!
Xiao Yun shot forward like a streak of red lightning, aiming to strike first. He had no real combat experience to speak of, certainly nothing compared to Xu Ning. His only hope was to act fast, to force the instructor's hand.
But he had underestimated the gap between them.
Xu Ning didn't even flinch. He simply raised his long blade and began a series of lightning-quick slashes. Each swing left fiery trails in the air, blazing like comets.
In mere moments, countless flame slashes wove together into a blazing net that surged straight toward Xiao Yun.
Realizing he couldn't stop in time, Xiao Yun clenched his teeth and focused his Dou Qi into the short sword, trying to pierce through the net with sheer force.
Clang!
The moment the short sword met the blazing web, the weapon shattered into shards. A massive force rebounded through Xiao Yun's arms, blasting him off his feet.
He crashed onto the stone floor, pain erupting through his entire body. His organs felt like they'd been jumbled together. Gritting his teeth, he fumbled for a healing pill from his ring, popped it into his mouth, and sat cross-legged to recover.
Within minutes, the medicine kicked in. The pain eased, and his Dou Qi stabilized.
When he opened his eyes, Xu Ning was already standing before him, arms crossed, wearing an expression of deep disappointment.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Xu Ning said. "One move. I used one move, and you're on the ground. You didn't even take real damage—just a minor internal surge—and you burned a pill already?"
Xiao Yun scratched his head sheepishly. "Well, Instructor, I've never actually fought anyone before… So, I'm not exactly used to it."
Xu Ning sighed heavily. "Fine, I guess that's understandable for someone your age and talent. In that case, today I'll give you a proper lesson in how to fight."
Xiao Yun's eyes lit up. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, Instructor!"
And thus began the beating.
Screams echoed across the training field, sharp and pained. It sounded like someone was being skinned alive.
Time passed. The sun began its descent, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson.
By now, Xiao Yun's body was battered, but his spirit remained unbroken. His powerful soul strength allowed him to endure the abuse. He wasn't a master yet, but he could at least trade a few blows with Xu Ning.
Facing off once more, Xiao Yun's legs trembled slightly. His gaze never left Xu Ning for a second. He now understood clearly the difference between a Dou Master and a Dou Grandmaster.
Xu Ning's combat instincts were leagues ahead. A single mistake could lead to immediate defeat.
So Xiao Yun focused entirely on Xu Ning's every movement, trying to read his next move from even the tiniest shift in posture.
Xu Ning smiled approvingly. Then—he lunged.
With a burst of flame-covered Dou Qi, his fist became a roaring comet of energy, punching straight toward Xiao Yun's face.
Xiao Yun ducked low, exploiting the height difference between them. Then, with desperate agility, he rolled to the side, executing what he privately dubbed the Clown Flip—a clumsy-looking but surprisingly effective evasion.
The flaming punch missed and slammed into a stone pillar behind him, shattering it cleanly in two.
Xiao Yun stared wide-eyed. If that had landed on me… I'd be bedridden for weeks!
"You still have time to daydream?"
Xu Ning's voice snapped him back to reality. Before he could react, Xu Ning closed in with terrifying speed and drove a punch straight toward Xiao Yun's chest.
This time, Xiao Yun managed to intercept it with his palm.
Boom!
Their clash erupted in a shockwave of Dou Qi, blasting air outward in every direction.
"Good reflexes. But your strength is pathetic," Xu Ning sneered.
A surge of power exploded from his fist, blasting Xiao Yun's arm aside. Then, with a swift kick to the ribs, Xu Ning sent him flying.
Xiao Yun barely had time to regroup before Xu Ning flashed forward again, slamming an elbow into his chest. Pain exploded through him as he was thrown backward once more, this time coughing blood.
Despite the injury, Xiao Yun gritted his teeth and stood up. "Again!"
He swallowed another healing pill, suppressed the surging energy in his body, and charged in once more.
The two clashed repeatedly, Dou Qi roaring around them. Dust swirled, and cracks spiderwebbed across the once-smooth stone tiles.
"Shattering Palm!"
"Stone-Splitting Kick!"
"Heart-Strike Elbow!"
Under the boost from his soul perception, Xiao Yun could finally keep up. He unleashed every technique he knew, albeit all Yellow-Tier. He had learned some Black-Tier techniques, but they consumed far more energy—and at his level, that was a luxury he couldn't afford.
Despite his best efforts, Xu Ning remained calm, easily parrying each move. His expression even carried a trace of mockery.
Finally, after another failed attack, Xiao Yun staggered back, panting hard.
"Giving up?" Xu Ning called out. "Now you see it? A real fight isn't about how many techniques you know. It's about how strong they are. Tossing around low-tier moves against a skilled opponent is just wasting your energy."
Xiao Yun's eyes widened in sudden realization. "I understand now, Instructor. Thank you for the lesson."
Xu Ning smirked. "Alright, then. Let's end this with one final move."
"Agreed." Xiao Yun steadied himself. "Let's decide it with a single blow!"
Xu Ning raised a brow. "Show me what you learned from Elder Huo."
Xiao Yun inhaled deeply, gathering every drop of Dou Qi in his body. Crimson energy surged around his arms, condensing, boiling, roaring—until it erupted into the sky.
The red light spiraled upward, twisting into the shape of a massive flaming palm, five meters wide.
"Crimson Flame Palm!"
The burning construct crashed toward Xu Ning, sending waves of heat across the field. The sheer pressure made Xu Ning's robe flutter wildly.
Xu Ning's eyes gleamed. "Impressive. Looks like Elder Huo really did teach you something."
He raised his arm, and with a flick of his wrist, the magic-core longsword reappeared in his grasp. Flame-coated runes lit up the blade, ready to meet the storm.