“If Ninth Master hears about this, he’ll tear Ling Xiao apart alive,” Ling Fei sneered.
“Ninth Master probably won’t act himself, if he did, it’d give others a handle to attack him, bullying the weak as a senior isn’t a good look, the gossip alone could drown him! But Ling Chong has a cousin, Ling Tieshou, ranked eleventh in the Elite Hall, just below Ling Feng, he’s at peak third-layer Martial Vein, he’ll likely step in.”
…
Back at his quarters, Ling Xiao had the doctor examine his grandfather.
Broken ribs weren’t hard to treat, but required rare herbs—expensive ones.
The ninety taels of silver he’d just earned turned into herb money in an instant.
He didn’t regret it, healing his grandfather was worth it.
“All set, Young Master, I’ve listed the herbs, instructions for external and internal use are clear, stick to it for a month, and he should recover.”
After seeing the doctor off, Ling Xiao fetched the herbs, brewed medicine, settled his grandfather, then stepped out.
He knew beating Ling Chong would bring more trouble, he had to keep growing stronger.
With Tiger Descending the Mountain Steps mastered, it was time to unlock Soaring Cloud Steps’ first heaven.
To avoid interruptions, he scaled the wall and headed to a grove seven or eight hundred meters from the Ling estate.
“With Tiger Steps and Explosive Qi, I beat Ling Fei, how strong will Soaring Cloud Steps be?”
Ling Xiao felt a thrill.
Using his Mountain and River Martial Soul, he unlocked Soaring Cloud Steps’ first heaven.
It was just the start, mastery required practice, but it simplified the process.
A wondrous skill indeed, tough and complex, but its effects wouldn’t disappoint.
That belief fueled his drive.
Perhaps thanks to his Tiger Steps foundation and the martial soul, he grasped the first heaven in just an hour.
Though Soaring Cloud Steps had nine heavens, this was only the beginning.
Testing it in the grove, Ling Xiao felt the effort was worth it!
He concluded—
Even without Explosive Qi, Soaring Cloud Steps’ first heaven matched Tiger Steps’ full mastery.
With Explosive Qi, it outstripped Tiger Steps under the same boost by a wide margin.
And this was just the first heaven!
Could Soaring Cloud Steps be an advanced skill, not a pinnacle one?
Otherwise, how could it be this good?
This thought fired up his training zeal.
Simple logic, he chose Soaring Cloud Steps over Bull Demon Technique because light-body skills aided both combat and escape.
He only had one life, staying alive meant getting stronger.
While he honed his strength, Ling Chong was carted to the clan’s medicine hall.
The Ling clan’s hall handled pill-making and healing.
“Who hurt my son!”
Ling Jiu and Ling Tieshou arrived, seeing Ling Chong’s state, Ling Jiu smashed a stone bench in rage.
“Ling Xiao!”
A disciple who’d brought Ling Chong trembled as he answered.
“Ling Xiao? That trash Ling Xiao?”
Ling Jiu froze, expecting some expert, not him!
“It’s him, he’s got some knack for blending skills, terrifyingly strong, took down Senior Brother Ling Chong in one move.”
“Trash!”
Ling Jiu cursed.
“Yes, yes, that Ling Xiao’s trash.”
“Not him, my son Ling Chong!” Ling Jiu fumed, frustrated and humiliated.
He’d bent clan rules to get his son advanced skills and pills, yet Ling Chong couldn’t rank in the Elite Hall and lost to Ling Xiao.
Beaten twice in one move, how dumb could he be!
“Ninth Uncle, don’t be too mad, Ling Chong’s still your son, I’ll handle that Ling Xiao for him!”
Ling Tieshou smiled.
“Tieshou, you’re the reliable one, sigh, why aren’t you my son! Just a year older than Ling Chong, yet you’ve mastered sixty percent of Giant Spirit Palm and hit peak third-layer Martial Vein, crushing Ling Xiao would be like squashing an ant.”
Ling Jiu clearly favored Ling Tieshou.
“Ninth Uncle, all these years, I’ve seen you as my real father, my useless dad died early, without you taking me in, I wouldn’t be here.”
Ling Tieshou said.
“Good! Well said! From now on, you’re my son, anything you want, just ask, I’ll make it happen! But beating a dog depends on the owner, Ling Xiao needs a lesson, though with the annual competition nearing, no rush, we’ll disgrace him in front of all the Ling disciples then!”
…
Ling Xiao didn’t know this exchange, but even if he did, his plans wouldn’t shift.
After Soaring Cloud Steps’ first heaven, the second demanded mastering two mid-tier light-body skills.
No choice, he paused, turning to Meteor Fist and Red Sun Technique.
His plan was to perfect both before picking two mid-tier light-body skills.
Combat wasn’t just about fleeing, he needed fighting power.
To reach peak second-layer Martial Vein fast, he had to train Red Sun Technique and Meteor Fist.
For raw strength growth, techniques and inner skills outdid light-body skills.
Secret techniques offered no cultivation boost.
Most martial artists focused on inner skills and techniques, not juggling too many skills.
In one day, Ling Xiao reaped big gains!
Red Sun Technique hit the fifth layer!
Meteor Fist grasped its ninth form—Meteor Fall!
Full mastery was close, just needing combat to refine it, not mere practice.
Via his Mountain and River Martial Soul, he saw his true qi had thickened by fifty percent in a day.
Thicker qi meant more Explosive Qi uses and stronger Meteor Fist strikes.
The clearest change in the Mountain and River diagram was the altar’s flame, now far fiercer.
Ling Xiao vaguely sensed everything in the diagram tied to his body somehow, though he couldn’t yet grasp it.
