This battle had truly humbled Ji Mingkong.
She had lost completely, utterly defeated.
No matter how unwilling she was, she could not change the outcome.
“Kill me!”
Ji Mingkong shouted weakly, “I’d rather die than be your slave!”
“Heh, don’t worry, I’ve no interest in making you my slave. But from now on, you’d better stay out of my affairs, or I’ll kill you without hesitation!”
Ling Xiao sneered disdainfully, his hand gripping Ji Mingkong’s neck as he continued, “Though I won’t kill you, I’ll take some interest. Your Ancient Nature Dragon Martial Soul, I’ll claim it!”
“Ling Xiao, you dare!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the Holy Emperor, “If you touch her, I’ll wipe out your entire clan!”
A cold, mocking smile crossed Ling Xiao’s lips as he glanced at the Holy Emperor. By now, he was thoroughly disappointed in him.
“Holy Emperor, are you being childish or just ignorant? At this point, do such words even matter?”
With that, Ling Xiao forcibly extracted the Ancient Nature Dragon Martial Soul from Ji Mingkong’s body, trapping it within his Mountain River World.
Perhaps because the Ancient Nature Dragon had been with Ji Mingkong for so long, it was fiercely loyal to her. Upon entering the Mountain River World, it grew wildly violent, attempting to wreak havoc.
But could it succeed?
The Mountain River World was Ling Xiao’s domain!
“Dragon Slaughter, make it submit!”
The King of the Ancient Hell Dragon, named Dragon Slaughter, was also the name of Ling Xiao’s Hell Dragon Soul.
In the Mountain River World, he was far stronger than the Ancient Nature Dragon King.
The will of the Mountain River World alone was enough to overwhelm the Ancient Nature Dragon.
Ignoring the battle within the Mountain River World, Ling Xiao kicked Ji Mingkong away without a hint of mercy.
Ji Mingkong plummeted toward the ground, but since she was conscious, she likely wouldn’t die.
At that moment, though the heavens still rumbled, the stands were eerily silent.
Everyone stared in shock at the arena, at Ji Mingkong.
They gazed at the Holy Son, once lofty as the clouds.
Their faces showed utter disbelief.
Especially those from the Heavenly King Sect and the Holy Dynasty’s royal family, they wished they could gouge out their eyes and replace them, convinced they’d seen wrong. This couldn’t be happening.
Ji Mingkong!
The most outstanding genius of the younger generation in the entire Heavenly Dragon Continent. At just twelve, she had swept through all martial artists under twenty, earning the title of the Holy Dynasty’s top prodigy.
At fourteen, she entered the Heavenly Human Realm, becoming the most remarkable youth after Yu Xuanyue and Ji Fuling.
Now, at fifteen, sixteen by nominal age, she was a martial artist at the Two仪 Heaven stage of the Heavenly Human Realm.
Such cultivation speed ranked among the top three in ten thousand years on the Heavenly Dragon Continent.
Yet this prodigy, this Holy Son, hailed as untouchable, had been defeated by a martial artist born a beggar.
This beggar, even after joining the Twelve Sects, had entered the lowest-ranked Moonlight Sect.
This reality was unacceptable to many.
Most had seen Ji Mingkong as an invincible goddess, yet she lost to an obscure nobody.
But setting aside bias and thinking carefully, many realised that before this Ling Xiao, any so-called genius would feel inferior.
According to reliable intelligence, just a year ago, Ling Xiao was merely a martial artist at the lowest level of the Martial Vein Realm, unaware even of the Mortal Realm’s existence.
Yet now, he had transformed into a Heavenly Human Realm expert, surpassing the Mortal Realm.
It was unimaginable, his rise like a myth.
“He’s only fifteen!”
Such a calm and dominant figure, aside from his slightly youthful face, could hardly be associated with fifteen.
Most young martial artists at fifteen were only at the seventh or eighth stage of the Mortal Realm.
The exceptional ones might reach Half-Step Heavenly Venerate.
At this Martial Arts Festival, Ling Xiao wasn’t the youngest, but among the twenty prodigies, he was the youngest and the strongest.
Thinking of this, Qin Bixue, Bai Qianjiao, Mo Wushang, and others who had fought Ling Xiao swallowed hard, their faces showing shock.
Even the sect leaders were stunned.
Such astonishing potential at such a young age, what would his future hold?
“What a pity!”
Sikong Zun shook his head, his expression complex.
If he had paid more attention to Ling Xiao back then, such an outstanding disciple wouldn’t have ended up with the Moonlight Sect’s bunch of mediocrities.
Now, not only could he not take Ling Xiao as a disciple, but they were destined to be enemies.
“Damn it! Why did I choose Ming Tian over him?”
Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate was even more regretful.
He had sent disciples to steal a student from Master Baiyun, taking Ming Tian, thinking it would infuriate Baiyun.
He had invested heavily in Ming Tian.
But now, he realised he’d been blind. What if he had chosen Ling Xiao?
“I’m thoroughly convinced. This kid is catching up to us old folks.”
At the Moonlight Sect, Golden Light Heavenly Venerate shook his head with a wry smile.
He had once thought Ling Xiao merely had potential and was clever, good for his disciple to follow.
But now, he saw he’d underestimated the boy.
“His progress is completely different from Ji Mingkong’s. Every step has been between life and death. Many times, he could’ve lost his life. To persevere to this point is remarkable.”
Heavenly Eye Heavenly Venerate nodded. He had once been biased against Ling Xiao, thinking him too ruthless.
But now, he realised that if Ling Xiao had been soft-hearted, he’d have died without a trace left.
“When I saved him from Demon Flame, I knew he had boundless potential. But defeating the Holy Son in front of so many, that’s still a shock.”
Even Broad Cold Heavenly Venerate’s cold eyes held immense surprise.
“Look, enough with the感慨, Senior Brother Ling just defied the Holy Emperor and crippled the Holy Son. He’s in danger!”
Leng Hao scratched his head anxiously.
“No fear. With me here, no one will harm him unless I’m dead!”
Moon Lady’s cold voice rang out, her eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
“But you lot, while things are still chaotic, leave now. If a fight breaks out, I won’t have time to protect you.”
