It did not take long for Lin Xiao and the group to fly to the top of a mountain peak.
This peak had been levelled with a single sword strike. The flattened surface stretched a full thousand zhang in all directions and was covered in dense criss-crossing marks left by blades and swords.
As they arrived above the peak, Bi Zhuang, Bi Yao, and the others all stopped at the periphery. Lin Xiao halted alongside them.
“This sparring platform is protected by a formation. Any disciple may activate it with blue spirit stones. After you.”
Xuan Hua gestured toward Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao flew down and landed in the centre of the platform.
At that moment, Xuan Hua also descended to the edge where the array flag stood. He inserted an unknown number of blue spirit stones. Brilliant light immediately rose around the platform, enveloping the two combatants.
Whoosh!
At this point, Kong Hongjun, who had earlier been sent flying by Lin Xiao’s punch, came hurtling back. He looked rather dishevelled. His gaze filled with astonishment as he glanced at the two on the platform, then turned to the other two Fifth Layer Martial Emperors beside him and asked, “You both lost too?”
In his view, it was obvious they had been defeated. Otherwise, there would have been no need to come to the sparring platform.
What puzzled him, however, was that even if they had come here, it should have been Zhuo Yifan who fought next. Why had the strongest among them, Xuan Hua, stepped up directly?
Could it be that because he had been blasted away with one punch and the Azure Dragon Sect had lost face, Xuan Hua intended to reclaim it personally?
The two Fifth Layer Martial Emperors merely shook their heads. Zhuo Yifan spoke from the side, “They did not lose. I did. In a direct clash of physical strength, I was defeated.”
“What?
You lost too?”
Kong Hongjun stared at Zhuo Yifan in shock, then looked toward Lin Xiao on the platform, his face full of disbelief.
This fellow was actually this strong?
Even Zhuo Yifan at the Sixth Layer Martial Emperor realm had been beaten?
If he was that powerful, then what the hell had he been doing earlier? He had basically offered himself up for a thrashing! Kong Hongjun’s expression turned extremely unsightly.
“Little brother Lin Xiao, I believe you can definitely beat him!”
At that moment, Bi Yao began cheering loudly from the front. Her voice was delicate and sweet, as though it did not belong to her at all.
Kong Hongjun could not help twitching. Everyone in the Azure Dragon Sect knew how rough Bi Yao’s voice usually was. Yet now she was producing such a sound.
The very thought sent shivers down his spine.
On the sparring platform, Xuan Hua stopped fanning himself. An aura of the Fifth Layer Martial Emperor realm burst forth from his body. Terrifying pressure bore down on Lin Xiao.
“Only the Fifth Layer Martial Emperor realm?”
Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised.
Was Xuan Hua not the strongest among them?
How could he only be at the Fifth Layer Martial Emperor realm?
Did that mean his combat strength was extraordinarily high?
“Although my cultivation is only at the Fifth Layer Martial Emperor, among the five of us I possess the greatest strength. Be careful. Here I come!”
With that, Xuan Hua flicked his folding fan. A fierce gale howled into existence. Dazzling light condensed into a fan-shaped wave of power that smashed down toward Lin Xiao from above.
Lin Xiao did not dodge. He circulated the Reverse Chaos Second Form. Terrifying yuan power surged. He threw a punch. Blazing fist radiance shot forth like an upside-down torrent of chaotic water, piercing straight through the air. The fearsome power seemed capable of tearing the void apart.
Boom!
When the two forces collided, rolling shockwaves erupted, surging violently in all directions. The surrounding light barrier emitted intense sizzling sounds.
Both fighters stood within the waves of qi, resisting with raw force, unmoving.
“Your martial technique is also impressive! In that case, let us fight for real.”
Xuan Hua closed his fan. He clenched his right fist. His aura soared. A howling, whistling sound rang out. Azure-green light blossomed from his fist. An ancient, desolate presence billowed from his body.
Sensing the powerful aura, Lin Xiao summoned the Nether Heaven Demon Pillar. He circulated the Nether Heaven Demon Art. Billowing black qi surged from his body. Terrifying pressure swept outward in all directions, meeting Xuan Hua’s momentum head-on.
“Demonic attribute power!”
At the sight, Kong Hongjun and the others on the periphery revealed shocked expressions.
Although people who possessed demonic attribute power were not rare, such attribute power was still extremely strong.
None of them had expected that Lin Xiao actually possessed this kind of gift.
Even Xuan Hua opposite him showed a trace of surprise before his own power rose yet again. He stared straight at Lin Xiao and spoke calmly, “What I am about to use is one of the core martial skills of our Azure Dragon Sect, the Lone Dragon Secret! You had better watch out.”
“Heavenly Mountain Lone Dragon!”
Xuan Hua’s aura shot to the heavens. His entire presence became as towering as a mountain. With a thunderous shout, he smashed his fist forward. Terrifying power erupted from the front of his fist, condensing into a vast azure-green dragon. A dragon’s roar resounded. The dragon-shaped fist radiance emitted a strange howl. Carrying horrifying fluctuations, it charged straight at Lin Xiao.
That might far exceeded what an ordinary Fifth Layer Martial Emperor could produce. Even a typical Sixth Layer Martial Emperor would be unable to unleash such momentum.
“Xuan Hua’s Lone Dragon Secret has improved again.”
Bi Zhuang silently sighed to himself.
The other four were equally startled.
Worry appeared on Bi Yao’s face.
Xuan Hua was a genius of the Second Vein. Among the second-tier geniuses, his attainment in the Lone Dragon Secret was the highest. Its power was unrivalled. Even her brother would find it hard to defeat him quickly.
Whether Lin Xiao could win against him was unknown.
Boom!
Lin Xiao swung the Nether Heaven Demon Pillar downward. Black qi exploded outward. Terrifying black radiance condensed into an enormous black pillar that seemed almost solid, containing unimaginable power. It smashed down from above toward the oncoming dragon-shaped fist.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion like rolling thunder rang out. Vast, ocean-like shockwaves detonated. Unmatched fluctuations surged in all directions. The entire mountain peak trembled.
This clash was once again evenly matched.
“Dragon Path Overlord!”
Xuan Hua threw another punch. Another dragon-roar-like howl sounded. An immense dragon-shaped fist radiance formed, carrying an ancient desolate wave of qi. It rolled forward together with the lingering shockwaves of the previous strike, smashing toward Lin Xiao.
The terrifying dragon-shaped fist radiance was like a path carved through giant waves, or a flying dragon soaring over the sea. It pierced straight through the air as though it could shatter a hundred peaks and mountains. Its power was tyrannical beyond compare, far stronger than the previous blow.
“Nether Heaven Demon Art, fifth layer!”
In the previous strike, Lin Xiao had only used the fourth layer of the Nether Heaven Demon Art. Even with the amplification from wielding the Nether Heaven Demon Pillar through the technique, he had still held a slight advantage thanks to the treasure.
Now, seeing the opponent unleash an even stronger attack, he had no choice but to raise the Nether Heaven Demon Art to the fifth layer.
Boundless demonic yuan surged violently within Lin Xiao’s body. Demonic flames seemed to dance across his skin. Rolling black qi poured from him. Terrifying fluctuations billowed from the Nether Heaven Demon Pillar.
Lin Xiao swung the pillar downward with both hands. Black radiance even more horrifying than before condensed into a black pillar several zhang thick.
The black pillar carried an aura of dread. Billowing black qi whipped up a storm of strange howls. It smashed diagonally forward through the air, giving the impression that the heavens themselves were about to collapse. Its power was utterly terrifying.
