“Pfft!”
The clone and real body’s attacks merged into one, boosting Ling Xiao’s strike by seventy percent, astral energy condensed at the sword tip, piercing straight through Shi Feiyu’s shoulder.
The defense of *Iron Garment Divine Technique* was like paper before this strike.
Not only that, the sword carried a chilling yin energy that invaded his body, freezing Shi Feiyu in an instant, unable to dodge.
“Concede!”
Ling Xiao withdrew his sword and sheathed it.
One move!
Truly just one move!
Terrifying, this Ling Xiao was far scarier than Ling Yihang.
“We underestimated him, he might actually be the top young talent in the Ling family.”
“He shouldn’t be a match for Ling Chen, though, Ling Chen’s at mid-sixth-layer Martial Vein, higher than Li Xinghui, while Ling Xiao’s only at peak fifth-layer.”
“True, but Ling Chen hasn’t fought yet, who knows his real strength, high realm doesn’t always mean skill, combat’s full of variables.”
Ling Chen watched, stunned.
He knew of *Shadow Sword Technique*, but always thought it was trash, who’d have guessed someone mastered it?
This Ling Xiao couldn’t be allowed to grow further.
Good thing he’d only grasped the first layer, or he’d be unstoppable.
In Ling Chen’s mind, mastering *Shadow Sword Technique* was already tough, he never considered Ling Xiao might have reached the fourth layer’s Great Accomplishment.
The technique had just five layers.
Ling Xiao was one step from perfection, where it’d evolve further, though no one had achieved it, and the manual’s records were vague.
So, no one knew.
“Hahaha, good brother, I knew you could do it, that move was slick, I’ve never even heard of it!”
Ling Yihang knew Ling Xiao was strong, but seeing him in action, he realized his estimate still fell short.
This guy kept delivering surprises.
Choosing to befriend Ling Xiao over opposing him was the right call.
Ling Yixue’s eyes sparkled, her joy outshining even her own victory over Shi Feiyu for third place.
Shi Feiyu was carried off by his family, Ling Xiao took his spot on the fourth arena.
“What a Ling family, down goes Ling Yihang, up comes Ling Xiao, looks like Ling Xiaotian’s years of holding back are paying off.”
“Yeah, the Ling family’s been a laughingstock at Tianfeng Gatherings, now they’ve got four top disciples, add Ling Feifan who’s not even here, their young generation’s stacked.”
Tianfeng City’s families were scheming.
Some saw the Ling family’s rise as unstoppable, planning to ally with them.
Others aimed to cripple their geniuses, keeping them down.
Family power struggles were always this dirty.
“Look, someone’s challenging Shi Yulian!”
As the city lord’s daughter and Tianfeng’s top beauty, Shi Yulian rarely faced challengers.
No one wanted to cross the city lord, and many guys didn’t want to harm such a charming woman.
But as the gathering neared its end, restraint wore thin.
Wang Zui challenged her first.
He’d had a rough day, third of last year’s Four Young Masters, now eighth, unbearable.
After sizing up options, he picked Shi Yulian.
She hadn’t fought, her depth unknown, while he had no confidence against those ahead.
Another tragedy for Wang Zui.
Against Shi Yulian, he lasted twenty moves before losing.
Others might think she was weaker than him or Ling Yihang.
But Ling Xiao saw it, she’d gone easy on Wang Zui.
This woman knew how to play nice, crushing him in one move would’ve enraged the Wang family.
So she dragged it to twenty.
All calculated.
“She’s dangerous, strong and cunning, gotta watch out for her,” Ling Xiao warned himself, Ling Yihang, and Ling Yixue.
Ling Yihang and Ling Yixue had wanted to challenge her, fifth-ranked, early on, people avoided the Four Young Masters tier.
Ling Xiao had cautioned against it.
But after Shi Yulian’s twenty-move win, Ling Yihang forgot the warning, thinking he could take her.
She beat him in twenty-one moves.
“Calculated, as expected,” Ling Xiao wryly smiled.
This Shi Yulian was confident, handling Ling Yihang’s fierce saber skills with ease, even multitasking her moves.
Scary.
He hoped she wouldn’t target Senior Sister Yixue, who wasn’t her match yet.
Ling Yixue’s top-tier martial skill was too new, give her a year, she’d outstrip Shi Yulian.
What you fear comes true.
Shi Yulian smiled at Ling Yixue, “Only two girls in the top four, let’s spar.”
“Sure,” Ling Yixue wouldn’t back down.
She trusted Ling Xiao, but even knowing she’d lose, she’d fight to not lose.
Plus, something odd had happened to her lately, maybe Ling Xiao hadn’t factored it in, she might win.
A clash between two beauties sparked wild cheers.
It started standard, trading blows.
After twenty moves, Shi Yulian shifted, ready to end it.
Ling Xiao’s Mountain River Martial Soul hummed, slowing her actions in his eyes.
“Mortal Martial Fragment Mystery!”
No mistake, post-twenty moves, Shi Yulian’s attacks carried a special mystery.
Not full mortal martial, but with its effects.
Her fragment mystery boosted attack speed instantly, Ling Yihang fell to it.
But Ling Yixue was stronger than him.
Back at the Ling family spar, Ling Xiao sensed something off about her, his martial soul confirmed it.
She might not be human.
Possibly Soul Clan.
Among ancient races, humans had the worst martial talent unless they awakened a soul, if Ling Yixue was Soul Clan, her rapid growth made sense.
“Twenty-two moves, she didn’t win!” Ling Xiao nodded, suddenly intrigued.
Maybe Ling Yixue could pull it off.
He didn’t know much about Soul Clan’s unique traits.
