Elder Bai sighed. “Listen, Ling Xiao. Inner sect disciples can’t interfere with the outer sect, so they can’t spar with outer disciples normally. But during joint training, that rule doesn’t apply. The inner sect’s punching bags take it out on the outer disciples sent there.”
“They want to use me as a punching bag? Let’s see if they’ve got what it takes,” Ling Xiao said with a confident smile.
“Great! I knew you’d handle it!” Immaculate Heavenly Venerable was pleased with Ling Xiao’s attitude. “Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, take my Immaculate Token and the inner sect’s invitation letter, and go with Xiao Yan and Lin Feng for joint training.”
The outer sect’s top disciple needed such boldness.
He didn’t expect Ling Xiao to shine during the training, but as long as he didn’t lose to the inner sect’s bottom-tier punching bags, that was enough.
Xiao Yan and Lin Feng were the outer sect’s second- and third-ranked disciples, both half-step masters.
Ling Xiao had met Xiao Yan before. At the Death Tower, he’d crushed Xiao Yan’s arrogance with a single finger.
Later, Xiao Yan lost to Zhao Zhi in a competition. Only after Zhao Zhi advanced to the inner sect did he reclaim second place.
Lin Feng, twenty-six years old, had long been the unshakeable outer sect fourth.
With recent promotions, he’d risen to third.
Ling Xiao wasn’t close to either, but their relationship was decent.
Nearly all outer sect disciples had received his guidance, including these two.
Both were on the verge of a breakthrough. If they performed well in the joint training, advancement was likely.
But in the inner sect, almost every genius would see them as prey, eager to trample them for a confidence boost.
Ling Xiao didn’t know how many geniuses the inner sect held.
But Lan Yu’er, Ming Tian, and Leng Hao were one-in-ten-thousand prodigies, and others of similar talent likely existed.
Hei Suo and Zhao Zhi were a step below but could still easily crush outer disciples like Xiao Yan and Lin Feng.
The inner sect was a gathering of elites.
Ling Xiao saw this as a chance to study these geniuses, preparing for the Moon Advent Festival’s tower-climbing ceremony.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll never lose.
Confident but not arrogant, he believed understanding his opponents was key to victory.
Leaving the outer sect’s main hall, Ling Xiao resumed cultivation.
The successful creation of sword soul clones had boosted his cultivation speed significantly.
With inner sect joint training approaching, he needed to strengthen himself to avoid embarrassment.
He figured plenty of inner sect disciples would be gunning for him.
Every bit of strength reduced the chance of humiliation.
It was morning when he left the main hall.
When he opened his eyes from cultivation, the moon was high.
Breakthrough!
From peak Mortal Realm first level to early Mortal Realm second level—a process so effortless it almost felt unreal.
This was likely due to his solid foundation.
In the Martial Vein Realm, he’d maxed out all three potentials. Upon breaking through, he’d already completed marrow cleansing, blood renewal, and meridian opening.
His rapid progress was only natural.
Now, he’d far surpassed Zhao Zhi, Zhao Ci, and Dai Yuling.
Even prodigies like Ming Tian and Leng Hao were likely only his equals.
For ordinary martial artists, moving from Mortal Realm first to second level could take a lifetime.
Even immortal-grade treasure body geniuses needed months.
Divine-grade treasure bodies might take less, but not under a month.
But Ling Xiao’s unique circumstances—<Nine Dragons Divine Art>, ancient Golden Dragon blood, and Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul—let him achieve it in days.
After reaching early Mortal Realm second level, he assigned one sword soul clone to consolidate his cultivation.
The other focused on practicing entry-level gold-grade martial arts to upgrade <Cloud Dragon Divine Movement> and <Shadow Clone Technique>.
At Mortal Realm second level, <Cloud Dragon Divine Movement> was lagging behind his cultivation and needed a boost.
<Shadow Clone Technique> was similarly outdated.
He’d acquired plenty of entry-level gold-grade martial arts from the Yuehua Sect’s outer sect Moonlight Tower, Wan Ben’s mansion, and Sword King Sect disciples—enough to enhance these techniques.
Body movement was a priority, non-negotiable.
His main body didn’t cultivate but began assessing his current strengths:
– **<Nine Dragons Divine Art>**: High-tier gold-grade martial art, early fifth layer. Transforms the body, granting full Heavenly Dragon blood, transcending mortal limits. Enables blood-drop rebirth!
– Blood-drop rebirth isn’t invincibility—if obliterated to dust by overwhelming force, no rebirth is possible. But in the Mortal Realm, killing him is no easy feat.
– With just his bloodline and physical strength, he can overpower anyone below Mortal Realm first level without using true essence.
– **<Celestial Phenomenon>**: Labeled precious-grade gold martial art, possibly top-tier or higher. Third layer, mastering wind, thunder, and rain, freely applied to techniques.
– Few in the Mortal Realm reach the third layer.
– **<Prison King Fist>**: Precious-grade gold martial art, five forms. First four mastered perfectly; fifth form, “Snowstorm,” comprehended about sixty percent.
– The fifth form is a culmination, its power equaling the sum of the first four. When used, it’s terrifying—especially with <Celestial Phenomenon>.
– **<Cloud Dragon Divine Movement>**: Entry-level gold martial art, perfected, still deepening.
– Aiming for transcendent mastery, rivaling precious-grade martial arts.
– **<Sword Control Technique>**: Perfected, can deploy the Tiangang Sword Array for trapping or ambushing enemies.
– **<Shadow Sword Art>**: Top-tier gold martial art, two phases. First phase requires thirteen sword soul clones.
– Currently two clones formed, just starting.
With his arsenal cataloged, Ling Xiao prepared for the inner sect joint training, ready to face whatever challenges awaited.
