"Is he insane?"
"He must be. Otherwise, why would he say something like that!"
"Challenging Sect Leader Wang to a duel of alchemy and medicine... I can't believe he even thought of it!"
"How incredibly arrogant!"
"..."
After a brief silence, countless murmurs broke out.
Everyone thought that Yang Xiao had lost his mind.
Even Yann Xu, who had been targeting Yang Xiao all this time, hadn't expected him to say such a thing.
"A duel of alchemy with my master? You're not worthy!"
This was a servant of the Wang Family.
But the moment the words left his mouth, a ray of starlight shot over and pierced straight through him.
"Wang Qianhe is my enemy. His lackeys must die too!"
A single, indifferent sentence sent a shiver through the hearts of most onlookers.
Most of these spectators who had come to watch the spectacle were from the Outer Mansion, though a few had been sent by the Inner Mansion to gather information.
But regardless, with very few exceptions, their strength and status were not high.
Now, Yang Xiao had killed again.
They were instantly rendered speechless.
'As expected, this world still respects the strong. I've been far too lenient with these people.'
Yang Xiao sneered inwardly.
But his expression was one of pure arrogance.
Everyone else thought he was insane for challenging Wang Qianhe to a duel of alchemy.
But in his heart, a mere Wang Qianhe was the one who was truly unworthy of having an alchemy duel with him.
Utterly unworthy.
'He actually killed someone in front of me again!'
A coldness filled Yann Xu's heart.
But at this point, he knew he wouldn't be able to find fault with Yang Xiao anytime soon. Similarly, whether Sect Leader Wang would accept the challenge was not something he could decide.
Just as he hesitated, a voice came from behind him.
"This old man accepts your challenge on behalf of Wang Qianhe. Boxuan, go inform Wang Qianhe in a moment. Since he claims the fault is not his, and Young Friend Yang says it is, then let's follow the rules and have a duel. Who wins and who loses will be clear at a glance!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned to look at the speaker.
They saw an ordinary-looking man, who appeared to be just a common, easygoing elder. They all muttered to themselves, guessing at his identity.
However, a sharp-eyed person noticed the middle-aged man beside him.
Their heart skipped a beat.
Connecting this with the words that had just been spoken, they deduced the newcomer's identity.
Elder Yao.
The Supreme Elder of Medicine Peak, the former Sect Leader of Medicine Peak, a Sixth-level Great Pharmacist—the legendary Elder Yao, who was rumored to have already retired!
"So, it is Your Excellency, Elder Yao."
As the Vice-Leader of the Law Enforcement Hall and a Direct Disciple of the previous Sect Leader, Yann Xu naturally recognized Elder Yao and immediately bowed respectfully.
"Go. Tell Wang Qianhe what I said. In three days, this old man will personally preside over this duel."
But Elder Yao paid Yann Xu no mind.
He spoke indifferently and turned to leave.
Cheng Boxuan glanced at Yang Xiao, then immediately followed after him.
It seemed there was more he wanted to say, but he had no way to explain it to Yang Xiao.
'It seems this Elder Yao doesn't believe me.'
Yang Xiao, however, saw the deeper meaning.
'If he believed me, he probably wouldn't have come here. His appearance is clearly to verify things for himself. But whether he believes me or not, it no longer matters.'
He had issued the challenge.
Right and wrong, success and failure—it all hinged on this one duel of alchemy.
As long as he won...
...he would naturally be the victor.
And he would have the chance to reclaim all justice.
If he lost...
...he would be the loser.
A madman, whom the entire Purple Sun Sect would cast aside like a stray dog.
And Elder Yao would be no exception.
The truth would no longer matter.
"Since Elder Yao himself has intervened, we of the Law Enforcement Hall will withdraw. Yang Xiao, in three days, I will personally come to watch you. To see how you die!"
Yann Xu sneered.
He didn't dare say anything about Elder Yao ignoring him and forcefully intervening.
But that didn't mean he wasn't furious inside.
Besides, with how things had developed, there was no longer any point in him staying here.
Elder Yao had spoken.
Even the Sect Leader would have to listen.
Would he, Yann Xu, dare to obstruct him?
If he really dared...
...he would be dragged into the mire in minutes.
This was a figure ten times more formidable than Elder Huaa.
So, after spitting out a snide, malicious threat, Yann Xu left with his men.
The others also dispersed.
But as they left, the news that Yang Xiao would challenge Wang Qianhe in three days would spread throughout the entire Purple Sun Sect.
"Xiao'Er, are you confident?"
Once the courtyard was empty save for Yang Xiao, his father, and Yun'Er, Yang Zhentian immediately stepped forward to ask.
"Of course I am. Otherwise, why would I have issued the challenge?"
Yang Xiao smiled.
Yang Zhentian's heart was immediately put at ease.
In the past few days, he had witnessed Yang Xiao's miraculous medical skills.
At the very least, he knew that Wang Qianhe certainly couldn't cure his septicemia, but his Xiao'Er could.
Although he had many doubts in his heart, as long as he remembered that Xiao'Er was his son, Yang Zhentian felt that everything was as it should be.
He also didn't press for details.
He didn't ask for reasons.
"By the way, Father, I've completely mastered the Starburst Skill. I'll teach it to you now."
Yang Xiao smiled faintly.
"Really? That makes sense. What you just used must have been the Starburst Skill."
Yang Zhentian was first startled, then relieved.
With his strength, he could naturally tell that Yang Xiao's aura was the same as yesterday—still at the Martial Master Peak level. Even though his Physical Strength had increased significantly, it still hadn't surpassed the Martial Artist level.
But the technique he had just displayed was almost equivalent to that of an Innate Fourth Layer expert.
"Mm, the foundation of the Starburst Skill lies in transforming the physical body into a Star Array to draw the Nine Heavens Star Power into the body and condense Star Fire. The Star Array itself is divided into three levels, starting with either the Heavenly Gang Array, which connects thirty-six acupoints, or the Earth Evil Array, which connects seventy-two..."
Yang Xiao began to explain.
He held nothing back from his father.
Soon, Yang Zhentian, who had been clueless about the earlier parts of the Starburst Skill's description, gradually began to understand.
It turned out that the most crucial part of the Starburst Skill was to connect the acupoints within the body and use a special method to turn them into the Array Foundation for a Star Array. This would then draw down the Nine Heavens Star Power to ignite the Star Fire.
And among them, there were four recorded Star Arrays, divided into three levels.
The first level: the Heavenly Gang Array and the Earth Evil Array, which could unleash 10 times one's own power.
The second level: the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Evil Array, which could unleash 30 times one's own power.
The third level: the Array of the Celestial Stars and Constellations, which could unleash 100 times one's own power.
If anyone else heard of such power, they would be scared to death. And even if they weren't scared to death, they wouldn't believe it for a second.
But Yang Xiao knew this was the true power the Starburst Skill was supposed to have.
Otherwise, how could it be called a Dominator Level foundational Secret Skill?
Previously, in a single night of cultivation, Yang Xiao had successfully formed the first-level Heavenly Gang Array—the more dangerous, but faster, of the two.
And by perfectly unleashing ten times his own destructive power, he was able to kill Yang Xiong in one blow and defeat Qin Ritao, the Steward from the Law Enforcement Hall.
As for the second-level Heavenly Gang and Earthly Evil Array, it posed no difficulty for him either. Mastering it was only a matter of time.
"Father, for the Heavenly Gang Array and the Earth Evil Array, one requires opening thirty-six acupoints, and the other requires seventy-two. Their power is equivalent, but the acupoints opened by the Heavenly Gang Array are all fatal points, making it more dangerous. The Earth Evil Array opens the 'Yin Sha' acupoints, which are more hidden. However, I can point them out to you one by one."
After finishing his explanation, Yang Xiao suggested that Yang Zhentian first cultivate the safer Earth Evil Array.
The greatest difficulties of this Secret Skill lay in setting up the array and identifying the acupoints. But for Yang Xiao, this was all too simple. He even knew of the bone acupoints that no one else recognized, so naturally, he could identify the others.
With his guidance, he believed that Yang Zhentian would soon be able to successfully cultivate the Starburst Skill, and by then, his strength would surely increase dramatically.