Gu Qingyang initially wanted to test Xu Ran's strength. Of course, he looked down upon those so-called geniuses who did not come from Ancient Families.
On this Continent, those with poor backgrounds were rarely able to break through to the Dou Sheng Level, and it was highly unlikely for someone capable of threatening the top talents of their Ancient Families to exist outside. This wasn't just Gu Qingyang's prejudice but also a widely held belief among the strong members of the Bloodline Families and races.
Arrogance and prejudice often went hand in hand. It was the presence of prejudice that led to arrogance.
As long as one came from a major family, this attitude would persist until they received a thrashing.
Originally, upon learning of Zi Yan's identity, Gu Qingyang had held Xu Ran in higher regard.
But now...
As a man, he could no longer sit still.
What kind of scum was this?
While in the company of Miss Xun Er, he had so many stunning beauties by his side. Each possessed top-tier beauty and incomparable temperament. As a genius of the Gu Clan, he had never enjoyed such good fortune. Yet a person from outside...
Gu Qingyang felt his face flush with a mix of green and red, and his expression was very unsightly.
This fellow Xu Ran, he seemed to be living more comfortably than any of them. Basking in the pleasures of women's company daily was simply the peak of manhood.
"Xu Ran, will you only hide behind women? It seems you're nothing more than that," he sneered.
"Look at you, just a charlatan living a lie. Your strength isn't apparent, but you certainly have a knack for deceiving women," he added disdainfully.
Not just the quivering Gu Qingyang, but even the Ancient Clan Elder behind him couldn't help but curse inwardly. In his youth, he was dedicated to cultivation and never enjoyed such good days. By the time he regretted it, his vigor was no longer what it used to be.
"Before coming here, 'Cultivation Level' had already broken through the Dou Sheng Level. If you don't have the strength of a Dou Sheng, then perhaps you shouldn't challenge me," Zi Yan, whose 'Cultivation Level' was at Douzong, believed that Qian Renxue and the others were also at the Douzong Level.
Gu Qingyang's 'Cultivation Level' fell just short of achieving the Dou Sheng Level, but considering he was representing the strongest talent of the Gu Clan to confront Xu Ran, and it would be embarrassing to show up with a lower 'Cultivation Level', he was granted several opportunities that allowed him to rapidly break through to Dou Sheng.
And Gu Qingyang, upon reaching the Dou Sheng 'Cultivation Level', had become somewhat conceited.
In short, he only wanted to teach Xu Ran a lesson and expose his hypocritical façade.
He thought Xu Ran was just using deceitful tactics to charm those beautiful girls everywhere, much like the legends surrounding Xu Ran's own exploits.
"Dou Sheng Level?"
The ladies were all momentarily startled; they all now possessed the 'Cultivation Level' of a Dou Sheng.
Although they were not Divine Kings, the way Xu Ran treated them was no less favorable than that accorded to Divine Kings. It was simply that their personalities did not suit dealing with affairs of the Divine Realm. Qian Renxue originally had the talent for it, but after becoming a divine being, she had grown tired of that so-called power.
"Let's do this one by one, I already claimed first, so I'll strike first," Qian Renxue was not about to let anyone else have her chosen opponent.
One by one?
Gu Qingyang's lips twitched as his heart bled.
He envied Xu Ran's good fortune with these radiant beauties, and even the usually composed him felt intense jealousy.
"This is the perfect opportunity to showcase my strength, and after defeating them, if I beat Xu Ran as well, perhaps I will also earn their favor," Gu Qingyang secretly rejoiced in his heart. In the Gu Clan, Gu Qingyang had never shown a desire for women, but that was because he had never encountered true stunning beauty. Upon seeing the visages of Qian Renxue and others, he was deeply attracted by their holy and noble temperament, and his heart was fiercely moved.
"My lady, please make your move first," Gu Qingyang said with a gentlemanly gesture, hoping to leave a good impression in their eyes.
Qian Renxue did not respond to Gu Qingyang's words and, holding the Angelic Holy Sword, three pairs of angel's wings crazily sprouted from her back, with a pure golden light constantly radiating from her.
Such Light energy made Gu Qingyang and the others feel a shock in their hearts.
Light, this kind of attribute does not exist in the Fighting Spirit Continent.
"Not good! This energy!"
Gu Qingyan and the Ancient Clan Elder were both utterly shocked because this energy was unmistakably at the Dou Sheng level.
"Earth-Ranking Low-tier Combat Skill, Great Annihilation Technique!"
At this time, Gu Qingyang could no longer afford to posture humility in front of Qian Renxue; he frantically channeled his Dou Qi and directly executed one of his strongest combat skills, the Great Annihilation Technique.
"Holy Sword!"
Qian Renxue raised the Angelic Holy Sword and slashed fiercely towards Gu Qingyang.
The two powerful energies explosively collided, and the terrifying fluctuations could have severely damaged Canaan Academy if not properly handled. Xu Ran intervened, containing the energy from their clash within the area and preventing it from spreading in all directions.
Nevertheless, the commotion of the fight still scared the old folks at Canaan Academy stiff.
Before, Zi Yan's battle was only at the Douzong "Cultivation Level" and the commotion was neutralized by Gu Qingyan and the Ancient Clan Elder, so it didn't cause too much of a stir.
But now, it was a battle between two Dou Shengs!
"Angelic Light Feather!" Qian Renxue didn't stop; three pairs of angel's wings fluttered behind her, countless golden feathers surged out, shooting towards the opponent from all directions. These feathers were not real ones, but instead made of golden light, filled with the power of Light.
Xu Ran estimated that Qian Renxue's strength would be incredibly effective against Soul Hall's Soul Secret Techniques and those Soul Bodies. But even without those dark powers, Qian Renxue's combat ability was still formidable.
"Pfft."
As the dust in the sky settled, in the large crater, Gu Qingyang stood in a sorry state, with multiple wounds on his body caused by the Angelic Light Feathers condensed by Qian Renxue. Though not fatal, they caused numerous injuries on Gu Qingyang.
Gu Qingyang had underestimated his opponent, and only when Qian Renxue had fully charged did he hurriedly use a Heaven-Ranking Combat Skill. Acting arrogant backfired on him spectacularly.
Otherwise, with Qian Renxue only recently becoming familiar with the use of this world's power, who would win in a normal fight would be uncertain.
"Damn!"
Gu Qingyang cursed inside. He could never have imagined that such a beautiful girl by Xu Ran's side would possess such off-the-charts combat power. With such startling beauty, if she was also powerful, wouldn't she have become famous on the Continent and been well known by all for numerous seekers' pursuits?
He thought a beauty he didn't recognize couldn't possibly be too strong, at best, similar to Zi Yan. That's what he had originally thought, but reality far exceeded his expectations.
Even if he hadn't been careless, he likely wouldn't have been confident in definitely defeating this mysterious golden-haired girl.
And that kind of power, unheard of, what exactly is it?