“Hahaha! Should I call you naive or stupid? A lowly human sparring with us noble peacocks. Dead is dead. I only meant to cripple your cultivation. That was already merciful. Yet you’re still dissatisfied?”
Kong You burst into laughter.
On the pavilion, laughter wove into a chorus.
Only Feng Qingyan and Feng Yanran remained cold-faced. They vaguely recalled similar scenes before, where those laughing endlessly ended up crippled or dead.
“Very funny?”
Ling Xiao asked faintly.
“More than funny. The biggest joke in the world! Seems humans are born with a sense of humour.”
Kong You suddenly turned cold. “Next, don’t fight back. I promised only to cripple your cultivation. Move once, and I’ll kill you!”
With that, Kong You struck the water surface.
The lake trembled. A massive creature rose slowly from the depths.
Then seven or eight tentacles wrapped tightly around Ling Xiao, pinning him above the water.
It was a giant octopus.
Its aura rivalled a peak Seven Star Heaven warrior.
“Your Majesty, does this count as breaking rules?”
Feng Yanran grew anxious.
“This is part of the natural conditions. Not a violation. Just Ling Xiao’s bad luck.”
The Emperor sighed.
“Heh, not a violation. Interesting.”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. Though bound by tentacles, his face stayed calm, no panic.
“Kid, still laughing? Unable to move, you’re just fish on my chopping board!”
Kong You stared, puzzled. Had Ling Xiao gone mad to laugh now?
“To deal with you, do I need hands or feet?”
Ling Xiao said disdainfully. From his body, astonishing sword intent erupted.
Killing and destruction fused in the intent.
It almost condensed into substance!
Crack, crack, crack!
The octopus tentacles snapped one by one. Without any weapon, blood poured from Ling Xiao.
The octopus roared in terror and dove underwater.
This stunned everyone.
Though weaker than Kong You, the octopus was peak Seven Star Heaven. Yet Ling Xiao repelled it so easily?
“Scared?”
Ling Xiao approached Kong You slowly, treading the water as if solid ground, no discomfort.
Behind him, the lake raged like a furious beast, waves rising several metres.
Terror brewed in the waves.
“What!”
Kong You watched in shock, not daring to slack. A sword appeared in his hand. He gathered a sword move and thrust.
Sword qi wrapped lake water, forming a water-blue phoenix pouncing at Ling Xiao.
“Break!”
Ling Xiao advanced. Right hand extended, golden light flashing. He crushed the water-blue phoenix.
People watched in astonishment, hearts pounding at Ling Xiao’s strength. How could he be so powerful?
A mere early Six Arts Heaven warrior causing such terror?
And that daunting sword intent. What was it?
It moved the lake to attack. Unheard of.
Ling Xiao seemed ordinary, unadorned.
But those sensing his terrifying aura gasped.
Was this guy a god descended? So overwhelmingly strong!
Jia Yun’s face changed.
Feng Ming Piaoxue’s expression darkened.
Kong You, at the forefront, was utterly dumbfounded.
He never dreamed Ling Xiao was this strong.
If he’d known, he’d never have stepped up.
He only wanted Feng Ming Piaoxue’s favour. Losing his life for it was not worth it.
Ling Xiao stopped, about five metres from Kong You. “Peacock clan Kong You, know why I refused your challenge earlier? Boring. You’re unworthy of my effort.
But since you want to cripple me, per my style, I’ll cripple you. Hope you won’t regret it!”
Shadow Step!
The ultimate realised in the first step of Shadow Mystery was Shadow Step.
Ling Xiao used it only when gravely wounding Feng Ming Wanzhong.
This time, he’d let Kong You see.
Shadow Step differed from Swift Light Divine Travel.
Less speed, but terrifying invisibility upon use.
With Shadow Armour, even better.
Shadow Cone!
Shadow Step paired with Shadow Cone.
Invisible, traceless.
At Kong You’s level, he couldn’t detect Ling Xiao’s position or strike timing.
Even without breakthrough, post-Shadow Step Ling Xiao’s combat power multiplied.
No aura from start to end.
Kong You sensed nothing, so he fled!
He spread peacock tail feathers, desperately flying to the pavilion. He believed the Emperor’s presence would protect him from Ling Xiao.
Too bad, no chance.
Shadow Step was fast!
Shadow Cone faster!
Full defence might have resisted briefly. Fleeing meant Shadow Cone pierced his heavenly vein. Terrifying shadow power ravaged his body, slamming him from mid-air onto the water.
Gulp!
On the pavilion, all swallowed in shock.
Now they understood. Ling Xiao wasn’t afraid of Kong You. He disdained fighting him.
Kong You, to impress Feng Ming Piaoxue, wanted Ling Xiao as tribute, threatening to cripple him.
That one word, that thought, pushed him into the abyss.
No death-seeking, no death. Why not understand?
Ling Xiao used one move on Kong You: Shadow Cone.
Counting movement, barely two.
So clean, effortless, domineering.
“Terrifying strength. Really just early Six Arts Heaven?”
“I can’t comprehend!”
On the pavilion, all eyed Ling Xiao warily.
Even the Emperor frowned tightly.
He couldn’t recruit Ling Xiao. This invitation was a Hongmen Banquet, testing his talent, whether to eliminate at all costs.
Now certain.
This man must not live!
