Thinking of making a move, Feng Yaorao smiled faintly and said, “Speaking of which, I have no real grudge with your Moonlight Sect. However, someone believes you might hinder the rise of the Heavenly Dragon Academy, so they asked me to cause trouble for your sect. How about this? If you can survive one strike from me, I’ll spare you and leave your Moonlight Sect alone.”
“You seem to have already tried that just now,” Ling Xiao reminded her.
“That was different. The earlier attack was wide-ranging, its power too dispersed. It’s not impossible for you to dodge or block it, but this next strike is different. It’s aimed solely at you, and its power might be several times greater,” Feng Yaorao said, shaking her head with a smile.
“And if I refuse?” Ling Xiao asked.
“Then we’ll have to fight to the death,” Feng Yaorao replied with a smile.
“Fine. It’s not the time to clash with you head-on. I’ll take your one strike,” Ling Xiao decided quickly.
He could defeat Feng Yaorao, but it wouldn’t be easy. With several others nearby waiting to take advantage of the situation, it was better to avoid conflict for now. Otherwise, even if he killed Feng Yaorao, he’d likely be weakened and vulnerable to others.
“Your confident expression is impressive. Let’s see if you truly have the ability,” Feng Yaorao’s expression suddenly turned cold and sinister. A shadow emerged behind her, a winged black ant, far larger than the smaller ones from before.
Clang!
Ling Xiao drew his Rain-Covering Sword, and his entire aura shifted. Standing there, he was like a sword, its edge fully revealed. Not only that, the sword exuded an evil killing intent and a bloodthirsty aura, as if he were a terrifying demonic blade that had slain countless beings.
“Killing Will? I didn’t expect you to possess the same Killing Will as Bei Duanchang, and far stronger than his! No wonder that fool died by your hand,” Feng Yaorao exclaimed, her face showing surprise.
But in an instant, she regained her composure. She knew that when fighting a warrior with a Will, the first thing to do was to avoid being intimidated by their soul pressure, or the battle would be lost.
With a delicate shout, Feng Yaorao produced a long whip. As she spun it, it moved faster and faster, forming a black tornado in front of her.
Ling Xiao recognised this tornado as similar to the one that killed those warriors earlier, only far more powerful.
“Black Wind Demon Whip!”
As the whip lashed out, its terrifying destructive force became evident even before it left Feng Yaorao’s side. The surrounding ground crumbled continuously, and nearby walls began to tremble. Fortunately, the chamber was reinforced with powerful arrays; otherwise, her attack would have collapsed the entire structure.
Without a doubt, this move could easily kill a Half-Step Heavenly Venerable with fifty percent power. Even one with seventy percent power would struggle to resist.
For most, an attack’s power weakens with distance, but Feng Yaorao’s grew stronger the farther it travelled.
Ling Xiao stood firm, his gaze like lightning. His black hair swayed in the wind, his clothes flapping loudly. Despite the swirling sand and stones, his feet seemed rooted to the ground, showing no intention of retreating.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a blood-red sword light shot out, transforming into a humanoid sword qi. The blinding light turned the entire passage blood-red, completely overshadowing the glow of the light-gathering array.
Boom!
A single massive clash resounded. Neither moved from their spot, but their feet sank deep into the ground, which was now shattered beneath them.
“Such terrifying Killing Will! How can it be so fearsome?” Feng Yaorao’s face paled slightly, her expression one of disbelief.
Though warriors with Wills were rare, she had encountered a few, including four or five with Killing Will. Yet none had a Killing Will as potent as Ling Xiao’s, almost tangible, striking a deep wound in her spiritual sea.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Ling Xiao appeared unchanged, his expression calm as ever.
In their exchange, their attack power was roughly equal, but Ling Xiao’s defence was far superior, meaning Feng Yaorao had taken the worse end.
“Haha, I didn’t expect you to be this strong. No wonder even the Holy Son holds you in high regard. I finally understand why he wants you dead at all costs. You’re too terrifying. If you keep growing, the Heavenly Dragon Continent won’t be able to contain you,” Feng Yaorao said with a wry smile.
She had thought she could easily kill Ling Xiao, but he had taught her a lesson. Both were Mortal Realm warriors and Half-Step Heavenly Venerables, yet strength wasn’t always determined by realm alone.
“She shouldn’t have provoked me,” Ling Xiao said calmly.
“Hahaha, what a bold kid. I really want to see whether you or the Holy Son will become the Chosen One of this generation on the Heavenly Dragon Continent,” Feng Yaorao said, trembling with laughter.
“The Chosen One? What’s that?” Ling Xiao asked, puzzled.
“You don’t even know about the Chosen One? That’s the only person who can represent the Heavenly Dragon Continent on the Path of the Chosen, heading to the Great Gate of the Chosen. It’s the highest honour, with endless benefits beyond your imagination,” Feng Yaorao said, surprised. “You really don’t know.”
Seeing Ling Xiao’s confused expression, she seemed to understand the source of his strength. Some young people, oblivious to the outside world, focus solely on the path of martial arts. Such people were often the most formidable.
As Feng Yaorao was about to elaborate, her brows furrowed. Ling Xiao also turned to look down the passage.
Someone was coming.
Their speed was swift, their steps light, clearly a warrior with exceptional movement techniques.
“Such speed. It must be Luo Tianyu,” Feng Yaorao said with a smile.
“No, it’s not him,” Ling Xiao shook his head. “I’ve only met Luo Tianyu once, but his movement doesn’t sound like this. This is my senior sister, Lan Yuer.”
“Your senior sister?” Feng Yaorao was stunned. She hadn’t expected another powerful young warrior from the Moonlight Sect besides Ling Xiao.
The sound stopped, and as expected, Lan Yuer appeared in the passage. It seemed she had encountered some opportunity, as her cultivation had advanced from sixty percent power Half-Step Heavenly Venerable to seventy percent. She had been close to a breakthrough when she left the Moonlight Sect, and something in the True Demon Forbidden Land must have triggered it.
“Ling Xiao!”
“Feng Yaorao!”
Lan Yuer’s face lit up with joy upon seeing Ling Xiao, but her expression turned tense when she noticed Feng Yaorao.
