Ling Xiao, at early Mortal Realm Sixth Layer, faced a half-step Heavenly Venerable, an existence beyond peak Mortal Realm Ninth Layer.
By all accounts, he shouldn’t be a match for Bai Feifei.
Yet, the situation favored him.
He could draw true essence from the half-step Heavenly Venerable powering the platform’s formation, matching Bai Feifei’s strength.
In any other setting, he’d likely have to flee unless he used his Ancient Golden Dragon form.
But here, circumstances were unique, and Bai Feifei’s lack of combat experience and adaptability was glaring.
If he couldn’t beat her, Ling Xiao would deem himself unworthy of his Mountain River Martial Soul, a complete failure.
The half-step Heavenly Venerable maintaining the formation felt his true essence draining, assuming it was due to the battle’s strain, unaware Ling Xiao was siphoning it.
Ling Xiao stood calmly, eyeing Bai Feifei’s sword with mild surprise.
Her blade, once pristine, now bore strange inscriptions glowing with multicolored light.
As it trembled faintly, it emitted an eerie musical sound.
To others, it might sound merely enchanting, but to Ling Xiao, it was like demonic music, stirring a strong sense of foreboding.
Still, his face remained impassive, showing no emotional ripple.
This expression infuriated Bai Feifei.
She expected her Demonic Sound Sword Art and pipa martial soul to leave Ling Xiao stunned and helpless.
Her terrifying killing intent and ferocious momentum, aimed at a mere early Mortal Realm Sixth Layer warrior, felt like overkill.
She thought Ling Xiao would kneel and beg for mercy.
But reality defied her expectations.
“I despise that look of yours! A mere early Mortal Realm Sixth Layer warrior, how dare you act so calm, so confident, so in control before me, a half-step Heavenly Venerable?” Bai Feifei gritted her teeth. “You hypocritical fool, show your fear and panic, and maybe I’ll spare you!”
“Oh, really?” Ling Xiao shrugged. “Sorry to disappoint you, Sister, but your performance hardly excites me, let alone scares me. If this is all you’ve got, it’s truly underwhelming.”
Psychological warfare was part of the battle.
Against an inexperienced fighter like Bai Feifei, a few words could drive her to madness, stripping her of reason.
As expected, her expression grew more enraged.
With a wild cry, she leapt forward, her sword trembling as she thrust it at Ling Xiao.
Demonic Sound Sword Art, Heart-Slaying Strike!
A strange sound accompanied the move, her pipa martial soul beginning to play.
The music entranced the spectators, urging them to cheer for Bai Feifei.
But to Ling Xiao, it was lethal, a brain-piercing demonic sound that felt deeply unsettling.
Bai Feifei, knowing she couldn’t outtalk or outwit Ling Xiao, aimed to crush him with her superior cultivation.
Ling Xiao stood unflinching, analyzing her strike through his Mountain River Martial Soul, which revealed her target and weaknesses.
As she closed within a foot, he suddenly raised his Ice Dragon Sword, aiming straight for her heart.
No defense!
If he’d dodged with his movement technique or used the formation, Bai Feifei might’ve been frustrated.
But seeing him trade blows, her heart blazed with glee, her expression turning sinister. “Fool, die! Repent in the underworld!”
She spoke rapidly, redirecting her sword to block his Ice Dragon Sword.
Yet, her face betrayed a smug grin.
From beneath her blade, a sword light split off, shooting toward Ling Xiao’s heart.
Her Demonic Sound Sword had such a mystic edge!
Ling Xiao didn’t hesitate. His right hand kept the Ice Dragon Sword locked with hers, while his left drew the Thunder Shadow Sword, recently bought from the Divine Weapon Hall.
If she used demonic sound, he’d counter with thunder!
Buzz!
The Thunder Shadow Sword clashed with her sword light, unleashing a bizarre roar.
Many disciples below turned pale, spitting blood.
Some fainted on the spot.
The sonic attack was terrifying, invisible, and nearly impossible to block.
But Ling Xiao’s thunder broke her demonic sound, rendering her move useless.
Though her technique was countered, Bai Feifei’s eyes flashed with shock.
Yet her assault didn’t stop.
Demonic Sound Sword Art, Scattered Blossom!
Suddenly, her sword conjured over a dozen phantoms, the pipa martial soul playing an even faster tune.
Countless glowing musical notes rained toward Ling Xiao like a storm.
Too close, too powerful!
Ling Xiao couldn’t clash head-on!
Cloud Dragon Divine Movement, Phantom Array!
Knowing his cultivation was far inferior, Ling Xiao frowned but showed no panic.
In an instant, he became a flickering, illusory figure, darting across the platform.
The glowing notes bombarded the stage, booming loudly, and the half-step Heavenly Venerable’s face grew paler.
“Let me take over!”
At the critical moment, Heavenly Eye Heavenly Venerable, the Inner Hall Master, stepped in to reinforce the platform’s formation, preventing its collapse and injury to the spectators.
The earlier sound leakage was likely due to the half-step Heavenly Venerable’s dwindling true essence.
He couldn’t let it happen again.
Bai Feifei, frustrated by Ling Xiao’s ghostly movement, could only pour more true essence into her attack. The pipa’s sound grew urgent, like battlefield drums.
The glowing notes became denser, leaving Ling Xiao little room to evade.
The spectators cheered wildly.
“Who’d have thought this seemingly one-sided fight would be so thrilling? It’s beyond my expectations!”
Even Master Chang Yueying was deeply moved.
Everyone loved such a battle.
A one-sided thrashing might be satisfying, but it ended too quickly to savor.
Ling Xiao versus Bai Feifei—a clash of cunning versus raw power—was truly captivating.
