Ling Xiao’s expression remained utterly indifferent, showing no trace of nervousness under Elder Jin’s questioning.
The more nervous he appeared, the more likely he was to slip up.
Besides, he had a clear conscience, unafraid of ghosts knocking at midnight, though some things still needed to be concealed for now.
“Let’s talk about the mission first.”
Ling Xiao replied slowly, “The reason those three failed is simple, they were not only weak but also foolish! Knowing the Plague Demon King excelled in plagues and formations, they brought no plague-resistant elixirs nor invited a disciple skilled in formations to join them.”
“Such arrogance, do you think your strength surpasses theirs?”
“Indeed!”
Ling Xiao nodded, brimming with confidence.
“Hahaha, has this kid lost his mind?”
“He claims he’s stronger than Wanyan Jun? Wanyan Jun was a peak Mortal Realm Third Layer warrior!”
“He must be panicking under pressure, spouting nonsense now, right?”
Moments later, laughter erupted among the inner disciples, all elites with at least early Mortal Realm Third Layer cultivation, naturally looking down on an outer disciple.
Ling Xiao ignored their mockery and continued, “As for the formation outside, I did set it up, but I merely utilised the Plague Demon King’s existing Plague Bone-Dissolving Formation, it wasn’t difficult. I studied formations with the Formation Hall at Moonflower Sect, and, coincidentally, I have some talent in this area.”
“I can vouch for that! This boy even spotted flaws in the Guanghan Hall’s grand formation, using them to slay two traitors who trespassed!”
Venerable Guanghan spoke up, “Speaking of which, Venerable Demon Flame’s desire to kill him is closely tied to this incident.”
“Fine, even if that’s true, your claim of being stronger than Wanyan Jun, Chen Zui, and Shangguan Lei is hard to believe.”
Elder Jin frowned.
“Supreme Elder, high cultivation doesn’t always mean greater strength!”
Ling Xiao didn’t want to over-explain, as more words risked exposing flaws.
He only needed to prove his strength surpassed Wanyan Jun’s and that he was skilled in formations to explain why he completed the mission.
As for Wanyan Jun and Chen Zui’s deaths, there was no evidence. Unless Elder Jin was shameless enough to pin the blame on him, Ling Xiao had nothing to fear.
The key issue now was one thing alone.
Was Ling Xiao stronger than Wanyan Jun, a peak Mortal Realm Third Layer warrior?
If he could prove he was stronger, all doubts would be resolved. Even if Elder Jin and the others remained suspicious, without evidence, they couldn’t touch him.
Let’s not forget, Venerable Guanghan was here, and she wouldn’t let Elder Jin or Elder Tu act recklessly.
As for Venerable Golden Light, he was clearly neutral, helping neither side.
Shangguan Lei hadn’t come this time, but he’d already been questioned at the sect.
In his account, Ling Xiao was practically a core disciple-level powerhouse, not only assisting them greatly but also saving him in the end. Unfortunately, the enemy was too strong, so Wanyan Jun and Chen Zui were killed.
This story was coordinated with Ling Xiao, though Shangguan Lei exaggerated slightly.
Neither wanted to mention Wanyan Jun and Chen Zui’s betrayal of the Moonflower Sect. Though true, splashing dirt on the dead would invite disdain and suspicion.
To avoid trouble, they kept silent.
The sect’s higher-ups had doubted Shangguan Lei’s words, but now Ling Xiao said the same. If Ling Xiao was truly powerful and skilled in alchemy and formations, he might indeed be as formidable as Shangguan Lei described.
“Supreme Elder, since this boy speaks so boldly, let me test his strength!”
Hei Suo already held a grudge against Ling Xiao, and after being tormented by the Plague Bone-Dissolving Formation, his pent-up anger had nowhere to go.
Now that Ling Xiao claimed to be stronger than Wanyan Jun, he saw his chance.
“Hei Suo, you’re an early Mortal Realm Fourth Layer warrior, far stronger than Wanyan Jun. Is it appropriate for you to test him?”
Venerable Guanghan frowned.
“Venerable Guanghan, if Ling Xiao claims he completed the mission alone, his strength should surpass Wanyan Jun, Chen Zui, and Shangguan Lei combined. I’m only slightly stronger than their combined strength.”
Hei Suo said with a smile.
“That’s not how it works. If three people can’t unite, their strength might be less than one. How can you calculate it like that?”
Venerable Guanghan retorted.
“Guanghan, how about this? I propose Ling Xiao doesn’t need to defeat Hei Suo, just withstand fifty moves against him to pass. How’s that?”
Elder Jin truly didn’t believe a mere Half-Step Master, even with some fearsome martial skill, could match an early Mortal Realm Fourth Layer warrior.
In his two hundred years, he’d never heard of such a thing.
That was normal, as Ling Xiao wasn’t a Half-Step Master but a peak Mortal Realm Second Layer warrior.
He had simply used the Mountain River Martial Soul template to conceal his cultivation.
“Well, Ling Xiao, what do you think?”
Venerable Guanghan looked at Ling Xiao.
“As long as the elders agree, I have no issue!”
Ling Xiao smiled and nodded, “But are you really letting Hei Suo fight? Back in Cloud Empty City, he was already my defeated opponent.”
“That’s because you used despicable tactics.”
Whenever Cloud Empty City’s White Cloud Temple incident was mentioned, Hei Suo felt half his body ache.
Back then, with his terrifying strength, he trampled all the experts at White Cloud Temple, including Master White Cloud.
Yet, against Ling Xiao, then only a Martial Pulse Realm Eighth Layer warrior, he suffered a crushing defeat, nearly dying.
Ling Xiao was practically his nightmare, a hurdle on his martial path.
He desperately wanted to kill Ling Xiao, to eliminate this nightmare and break through his martial barrier.
Yet, despite repeatedly sending people to deal with Ling Xiao in secret, Ling Xiao thwarted them all, leaving him frustrated.
Even his master, Venerable Demon Flame, was gravely injured because of this boy and was still recovering.
“Despicable? Do you expect enemies outside to fight you fairly face-to-face? How laughable, and you call yourself an elite inner disciple.”
Ling Xiao said disdainfully, “Back then, with your Mortal Realm Third Layer cultivation, you bullied Martial Pulse Realm warriors. That’s the real shamelessness, yet you dare call others despicable.”
