“Miss Piaoxue excels in both song and dance. Whoever wins today’s contest may enjoy a private performance of her singing and dancing. What say you?”
The Emperor stroked his beard and smiled.
“Excellent!”
Jia Yun was the first to stand, his breathing quickening.
Moments ago, he had been jealous and angry because Ling Xiao sat beside Feng Yanran. Now, with an even more beautiful woman present, he forgot Feng Yanran entirely.
This man truly belonged to the playboy type.
The others all agreed enthusiastically.
Only Ling Xiao made no response.
He had no desire to compete, nor any interest in Feng Ming Piaoxue.
Yet the Emperor addressed him directly. “Ling Xiao, are you willing?”
Ling Xiao glanced coolly at Feng Ming Piaoxue. The scene from outside Divine Phoenix Academy flashed through his mind. He disliked this woman.
Or rather, he disliked those who thought themselves superior and could casually order or trample others.
Feng Ming Piaoxue was precisely one such person.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I caught a chill today and feel unwell. I must decline the contest.”
Ling Xiao shook his head.
He still gave the Emperor some face, avoiding harsh words.
After all, he was now a disciple of Qingxu Academy. His words and actions could affect the academy. Caution was best.
“Unwell? I think you simply lack courage!”
Yan Peng sneered disdainfully.
“Heh, say what you will, defeated foe!”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, finding Yan Peng ridiculous.
He had not been Yan Peng’s match at Divine Phoenix Auction House back then, but now, with his cultivation and strength greatly improved, the other could not possibly rival him. Yet Yan Peng still dared such arrogance.
Did he feel safe because the Emperor was present?
Ling Xiao spoke lightly, but the blow landed hard.
Yan Peng’s face darkened at once. He fell silent.
He had tried to paint Ling Xiao as a coward, but Ling Xiao’s counterattack made Yan Peng seem a bully relying on borrowed power.
Hearing this, many exchanged smiles. One good show followed another today. Ling Xiao was truly arrogant, calling a Great Peng clansman a coward before the Emperor. Interesting. Truly interesting.
They did not know that Ling Xiao not only said this but believed deep down that Yan Peng was a coward.
A scum-level coward.
A vile person who only harmed others using family and status!
A scoundrel!
A shameless wretch!
“Your Majesty, you heard him. How arrogant this Ling Xiao is. He shows no respect even for you. You invited a contest, yet he makes excuses to refuse. This is gross disrespect.”
Unable to best Ling Xiao in words, Yan Peng redirected the fire towards the Emperor.
A clever move.
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. “Very well. Though this humble subject is ill, since someone insists on forcing my hand, so be it. But I have two small requests. I hope Your Majesty will grant them.”
“Speak!”
“First, if I win, I want only material rewards, preferably spirit stones. Miss Piaoxue’s song and dance can be excused. I have no interest.
Second, if we must compete, I wish to face Yan Peng first.”
As he spoke, Ling Xiao glanced contemptuously at Yan Peng.
You insist on forcing me to act? Then I shall oblige.
His words thoroughly offended Feng Ming Piaoxue, but he cared not. Offend her he would. He had never held any fondness for this woman.
“Ling Xiao, do you know my true identity?”
Feng Ming Piaoxue had never suffered such grievance.
She had offered to perform personally, yet someone rejected her outright, as if it meant nothing.
“Miss Piaoxue, if my words offended you, I apologise. But I am a practical man. I prefer spirit stones. I have little interest in romantic matters.”
Ling Xiao smiled. “As for your true identity, I am truly not very interested.”
“You may not wish to know, but I insist on telling you!”
Feng Ming Piaoxue snapped.
“Fine, fine. Speak then.”
Ling Xiao felt speechless. Why was this person so persistent? He was not interested in her identity, yet she insisted he listen?
Very well. He would listen. It was no great matter.
“Do not pretend disinterest. Once you hear my true identity, you will regret rejecting the Emperor’s kindness.”
Feng Ming Piaoxue was truly furious with Ling Xiao.
Though raised in the Ice Phoenix clan of Divine Phoenix Continent, her status far surpassed even the seated Emperor.
Due to certain reasons, she had been fostered here. Strong protectors always accompanied her. If not for maintaining balance, she would long ago have ordered them to destroy Qingxu Academy.
There would be no rivalry between Qingxu and Divine Phoenix Academies.
Yet the tiger showed no might, and this Ling Xiao truly treated her as a sick cat.
“Listen well. I am a candidate for Saintess of Changle Immortal Island, one of the five great immortal islands!”
Feng Ming Piaoxue stared at Ling Xiao, enunciating each word.
“Oh my, how shocking. So Miss Piaoxue is the Saintess of Changle Immortal Island. Oh, a candidate.”
Ling Xiao was somewhat surprised by her identity. After all, Changle Immortal Island was a power above the Divine Phoenix Empire. It could not be underestimated.
But only somewhat surprised.
On Tianlong Continent, he had even confronted the Holy Emperor. What was a mere candidate Saintess of Changle Immortal Island?
Though the Holy Dynasty had declined, the Holy Emperor was still a sovereign.
Changle Immortal Island was powerful, but the Saintess was merely symbolic. Moreover, Feng Ming Piaoxue was not even the Saintess, only a candidate.
How could he care overly?
Not to mention, he had exchanged souls with the Human King. His vision far exceeded many.
Feng Ming Piaoxue posturing before him only earned greater disdain.
“You!”
Feng Ming Piaoxue trembled with rage but found no words.
The other merely refused to fawn. What could she do?
“Insufferable! Who will teach this ignorant fool a lesson for me!”
Deep down, Feng Ming Piaoxue was proud. She likely believed everyone in the small Divine Phoenix Empire must flatter her.
Ling Xiao’s refusal thoroughly offended her.
Thus, she would use her methods to deal with him and vent her anger.
“Miss Piaoxue, allow me to teach this brat a lesson.”
The speaker was Kong You, of the Peacock clan, from the same clan as Kong He, one of the ten Phoenix Sons.
Ling Xiao glanced coolly at Kong You. This man was far stronger than Yan Peng, but posed no threat to him.
He had come to drink and eat, not to fight. He truly wished to avoid wasting energy.
