To deal with Bai Feifei, Ling Xiao expended less than ten percent of his strength, meaning he was still essentially at full power.
There was no need to fear Tantai Lingzi.
Killing Tantai Lingzi now would save a lot of trouble in the future; this venomous woman had to die, or Ling Xiao would never be at ease.
“How can this Ling Xiao be so terrifying? Even if he can fight above his level, challenging a Half-Step Heavenly Venerate with only ten percent of his power at the Eighth Peerless Realm is a bit outrageous, isn’t it?”
“Exactly, it’s incomprehensible. The *Snow Lotus Sword Art* isn’t even a top-tier gold-grade martial art, so how can it be so formidable?”
“I suspect there’s something peculiar about his martial soul inheritance!”
“The martial soul inheritance from the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, is it really that powerful? Look at Ling Xiao, he’s clearly aiming to sweep through the disciples of the former sect leader, the former law enforcement hall master, the former grand sect leader, and the former inner sect elder, Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate.”
“Probably. Those people have all wronged him in the past. Now that Ling Xiao is stronger, he’s naturally here to settle the score.”
The discussions below the stage rose and fell, though the voices were soft, those with sharp ears could still hear everything clearly.
“Master, with your profound cultivation, can you see what’s unusual about Ling Xiao?” Chang Yueying asked Chang Yueli.
“I suspect what Ling Xiao obtained in the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda wasn’t a black dragon martial soul but some terrifying primordial martial soul inheritance, on the same level as Tantai and Dai Yuling. However, he hasn’t summoned his martial soul to fight yet, so it’s impossible to identify what it is,” Chang Yueli replied.
As an old hand in the martial world, Chang Yueli had indeed spotted something odd about Ling Xiao’s martial soul.
But that was understandable; without such insight, she wouldn’t have become the sect leader of the Moonlight Sect.
“Given how much the Moonlight Heavenly Maiden protects this boy, could he have obtained our founder’s martial soul inheritance?” Elder Jin said, frowning.
“If that’s true, it’s bad news. We must kill this boy as soon as possible. If he keeps growing stronger, one day, even we won’t be able to suppress him,” Chang Yueli said, her brows tightly furrowed.
But as long as Ling Xiao didn’t leave the Moonlight Sect’s gates, they had no way to deal with him.
No matter how anxious they were, they could only wait for the Four Factions Martial Assembly.
On the combat stage, Ling Xiao was looking at Tantai Lingzi, gesturing for her to step up.
“You should rest for a bit first, otherwise my victory would be unfair!” Tantai Lingzi said, clearly trying to buy time, hoping Meng Yuan or Ming Tian would show up to test Ling Xiao’s true strength.
However, her little scheme couldn’t fool Ling Xiao’s sharp eyes.
“No need for that. Dealing with you is simple enough!” Ling Xiao declared loudly.
His words caused another uproar.
Tantai Lingzi’s strength was now greater than Bai Feifei’s, yet Ling Xiao dared to underestimate her. Could he have even stronger tricks up his sleeve?
“Wait a moment, Ling Xiao. If you want to challenge Tantai, you’ll have to get through me first!” Suddenly, Meng Yuan appeared out of nowhere.
“Hmm?”
There was something strange about Meng Yuan’s aura. Ling Xiao could tell at a glance that this man’s body had been possessed by a black spirit.
Were there still black spirits alive?
This Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate was truly bold, defying the world. What was he planning? Did he really think no one could stop him?
“Get lost!” Ling Xiao roared, thrusting a qi sword through the air.
Before Meng Yuan could reach the stage, his body was pierced. Then, a cloud of black mist emerged from the top of his head.
“Still trying to escape? Nine Veins Qi Sword: Cage!” Nine qi swords shot out, transforming into dozens of thin threads, completely trapping the black mist inside.
“Boom!” But the next moment, the black mist exploded, turning into a rain of blood that stained the cage red.
“What’s going on?” Wu Xiang asked in shock.
“Sect Leader, that was a black spirit!” Ling Xiao reported. “I didn’t expect it to possess Meng Yuan. How despicable!”
Although Meng Yuan had been struck by Ling Xiao’s qi sword, for a martial artist of the Transcendent Realm, such an injury wasn’t fatal.
“Come, seize Meng Yuan and interrogate him thoroughly!” Wu Xiang ordered.
“Sect Leader, have mercy! Have mercy! It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me, it was—ah!” Meng Yuan’s words were cut off as his chest suddenly exploded, his heart completely shattered, his nine martial veins severed, and his life extinguished in an instant.
How ruthless, Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate!
Ling Xiao naturally knew this was the work of Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate, but he had no evidence. With the body dead, even if he claimed it was Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate’s doing, few would believe him.
So he stayed silent.
His current cultivation wasn’t enough to confront Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate himself, though he could handle his disciples.
“Ling Xiao, do you dare accept my challenge?” Just as Meng Yuan died, another figure flew in—it was Ming Tian.
There was no trace of a black spirit in Ming Tian’s aura, but something was off about him too.
His eyes, with their narrow, elongated pupils glowing red, were not human eyes at all.
Had this man completely surrendered himself to the control of a nine-tailed demon fox?
Ling Xiao felt a mix of感慨 and pity.
Once, Ming Tian had abandoned his mentor Bai Yun to grow stronger, becoming a disciple of Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate.
But now, he had completely lost his soul, becoming an empty shell controlled by a demon fox.
Was this deserved?
Or was it tragic?
Ming Tian stood on the combat stage, bowing to Wu Xiang. “Sect Leader, I request that this battle be declared a life-and-death match. Let fate decide the outcome, and no one should seek trouble with the other side, no matter who dies.”
“Absurd!” Wu Xiang slammed his chair.
“Sect Leader, you’re mistaken. The Moonlight Sect allows life-and-death challenges, though they’re supposed to take place in the Deathmatch Tower. We can change the location, but you can’t outright refuse,” Chang Yueying said, standing up.
“Exactly, Sect Leader Wu. In the past, Ling Xiao himself initiated a life-and-death challenge. Are you saying he can challenge others, but others can’t challenge him?” Chang Yueli added with a smile.
“Sect Leader, you must be fair. Or are you afraid Ling Xiao isn’t Ming Tian’s match?” Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate sneered.
Wu Xiang was cornered. Refusing would seem unjust, but agreeing risked Ling Xiao’s safety.
Just as he struggled, Ling Xiao chuckled lightly. “If someone wants to die, I’ll oblige. Sect Leader, no need to worry.”
“Ling Xiao, you—!” Wu Xiang could sense something abnormal in Ming Tian’s aura, which was why he hesitated to allow the challenge.
“Sect Leader, rest assured, I won’t lose, and I won’t die!” Ling Xiao said, taking a deep breath.
“The life-and-death challenge is set. Please proceed to the Deathmatch Tower!” The Deathmatch Tower’s overseer spoke coldly, then leapt away.
Ming Tian followed, soaring through the air.
The spectators, eager for drama, left in droves.
At Ling Xiao’s signal, Dai Yuling and the others departed first.
