Xue Ling, ignoring the sharp pain in his arm, clamped his hand over Xue Ying's mouth.
He really didn't want to hear Xue Ying speak.
Elder Xue Tian was known to be capricious, and he was the overseer of their branch.
Angering Xue Tu might result in a scolding, but offending Elder Xue Tian meant only death.
"Alright, alright," Xue Ying pulled Xue Ling's hand away and took a deep, sudden breath.
"You nearly suffocated me, you brat. I won't speak anymore if that's what you want."
"Do you know that trouble comes from the mouth?" Xue Ling casually covered his injured shoulder.
"There's a gatekeeper on your lips; otherwise, no one could save you."
Xue Ying pouted and remained silent, his eyes fixed on Qin Xuan and the other.
Qin Xuan naturally noticed the shallow trench in front of Xue Tu and the others.
"I hope you mean what you say."
"Do you think I'd lie to a junior like you?" Xue Tian sneered.
"We both know those tricks are meaningless."
"Your words are at least honorable, not disgracing the reputation of a Grandmaster," Qin Xuan remarked.
Xue Tian narrowed his eyes.
"I want to see what kind of strength you, a junior, possess to make you so arrogant."
"At least you are no match for me."
"Arrogant! Let's see if your mouth is still so tough after we capture you."
"Coincidentally, that's what I'm thinking too."
As soon as the words fell, both figures exploded forward simultaneously, charging at each other.
Without warning.
The gazes of the onlookers couldn't keep up with their speed. They could only see their forearms locked, like two bulls wrestling.
The battles of Grandmasters were not something below that level could participate in, nor even have the right to spectate.
They simply couldn't see.
"Brat, you remind me of someone."
"At a time like this, you still have the leisure to be distracted?"
Qin Xuan thrust out a palm, aiming straight for Xue Tian's abdomen.
*Bang.*
A dull thud, and their palms met.
"Brat, your strength is decent, but unfortunately, your technique is lacking."
Xue Tian twitched his wrist and applied force to his palm.
They separated, each retreating three steps.
"Whether my technique is lacking or not, you'll find out if we keep fighting," Qin Xuan raised his hand, glanced at it, and let out a cold laugh.
"I haven't even used my full strength yet; don't fall, kid."
"Anyone can talk big; just be careful not to twist your tongue."
Both figures moved simultaneously.
Close-quarters combat!
Speed against speed.
Xue Tian was a legitimate Grandmaster expert; neither his physical strength nor his martial arts attainments were comparable to the earlier Xue Tu.
Although the defense of the Vajra Scripture wasn't easily broken even by the power of a Grandmaster, resisting a Grandmaster's strike with one's physical body would naturally not be easy.
Qin Xuan dodged, but more importantly, he was gauging the true caliber of this Grandmaster.
This was his first time fighting a Grandmaster, and he wanted to see what a Grandmaster martial artist was truly capable of.
To put it bluntly, Qin Xuan intended to use Xue Tian as a whetstone.
Otherwise, with Qin Xuan's strength, he could have easily killed Xue Tian within a few moves by overwhelming him with absolute power.
Grandmaster experts were rare gems in the entire Dragon Country, and Qin Xuan naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity.
As the fight wore on, Xue Tian grew increasingly alarmed. What kind of monstrous talent was he facing?
He had been taking this seriously, yet this young man seemed not to be using his full strength.
Could this young man, who looked no older than twenty, possess such terrifying strength? Or was he a Great Grandmaster?
From the initial, unskillful clash of raw power to now countering his moves with ease.
If this were the result of years of arduous training, enduring the bitter cold of winter and the sweltering heat of summer, it would be understandable.
But this fellow had undergone such a transformation in just over ten minutes.
In such a short time, he seemed like a different person.
What kind of opponent was truly terrifying?
An opponent like this was the most terrifying!
You were expending your stamina, while he grew stronger and more vigorous with every exchange.
How could one fight this?
Gradually, Xue Tian became more and more fearful. The Qin Xuan before him slowly merged with a figure in his mind.
That figure was once the taboo of the Dragon Country, and he remained so now.
To Xue Tian, that figure was a nightmare.