“You! You actually crippled me!”
Only Yan Peng knew what had happened.
From the outside, Ling Xiao had merely tapped him once. In reality, a miniature Shadow Cone had pierced his body and was now rampaging through his heavenly vein.
Seeing this, everyone in the crowd felt a chill from the depths of their hearts.
This Ling Xiao was truly arrogant and unrestrained.
Whether it was the Emperor, Jia Yun, or the Zhengqi League, they seemed nonexistent to him.
He was a complete madman. No one wanted to provoke such a person.
Especially these royal nobles and great family scions.
They preferred bullying the meek and submissive fools.
As the saying goes, the good horse is ridden, the good man is bullied.
The more you endure and yield, the more excessive they become.
So Ling Xiao never tolerated such things.
If merely insulted or slandered, he cared not. But if someone wanted to cripple or kill him, what was there to endure?
Kill without mercy!
Only bloody retaliation could make these self-righteous royals and nobles understand whom not to provoke.
Kneeling on both knees, Yan Peng glared at Ling Xiao with venomous eyes. He finally tasted the bitter fruit of evil begetting evil.
“I suppose you’ve never heard ‘a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye’. Do not do unto others what you would not have done unto you! The moment you incited Kong You to cripple me, your tragedy was sealed.”
Ling Xiao glanced faintly at Yan Peng. “You hate me now, right? But I seem to recall at the Divine Phoenix Auction House, you were gleeful killing human slaves. Did you never think such a fate might befall you one day?”
He would not kill Yan Peng.
Because Yan Peng’s life belonged to Qin Huo.
At the Divine Phoenix Auction House, Yan Peng had killed Qin Huo’s younger brother right in front of him.
This grudge was as deep as the sea.
Finishing his words, he drank a cup of wine, then scanned the surroundings, saying faintly, “Now, who else wishes to teach me a lesson for Feng Ming Piaoxue? I’m short on cash. Perfect to earn some pocket money.
Anyone except the Emperor can fight me, including you, Feng Ming Wushan!
And you, Feng Ming Piaoxue!
You’re no saints either. Think I don’t understand your intentions?”
His domineering challenge echoed in the pavilion. Everyone frowned sharply, pupils contracting.
This Ling Xiao was truly arrogant, not even regarding Feng Ming Piaoxue and Feng Ming Wushan?
Ling Xiao continued drinking wine and eating dishes, paying no heed to those present.
True, Feng Ming Wushan and Feng Ming Piaoxue were among the top ten phoenix sons, stronger than the peacock and heavenly peng phoenix sons.
But Ling Xiao feared them not.
Even if outmatched, today would serve as good combat training.
Of the rest, Feng Yanran and Feng Qingyan would not oppose him.
The Emperor was excluded.
The other wastes, he truly disregarded.
If they sought death, he did not mind sending them off.
Many eyed Ling Xiao warily, expressions flickering.
They feared him, especially his decisive killing nature. Fighting him was no joke.
They might end up the next Kong You or Yan Peng.
“Not stooping to a madman’s level!”
Soon, they found an excuse to back down.
Yet in the field, three battle intents suddenly rose and locked onto Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao set down his cup, looked up, and smiled. “As expected, you three. Who first?”
The three were Jia Yun, Feng Ming Wushan, and Feng Ming Piaoxue.
None replied, seemingly weighing pros and cons.
They could not gauge Ling Xiao’s true cultivation.ocortic
But earlier, with mere early Six Arts Heaven power, he had crippled Kong You at early Eight Desolate Heaven.
Such cross-realm prowess was terrifying.
Feng Ming Wushan was cautious.
Far stronger than Kong You, he still hesitated to act. Releasing intent was just to avoid weakness.
Losing would be humiliating.
Even winning, as a top ten phoenix son defeating Ling Xiao, was no glory.
Moreover, he wanted pills from Ling Xiao. Relations were strained but not broken.
He could still buy them. Total fallout meant no chance.
Thinking this, he laughed and shook his head. “Haha, admire Brother Ling’s courage. But I won’t bully the weak or rely on strength. When you join the top ten phoenix sons, we’ll fight properly.”
With that, Feng Ming Piaoxue could not spar either. Acting would make her seem less magnanimous than Feng Ming Wushan.
Plenty of chances to kill Ling Xiao, better in secret than publicly.
“I dislike bullying the weak too!”
Feng Ming Piaoxue ultimately relented.
Jia Yun hesitated.
His strength was peak Eight Desolate Heaven, stronger than Kong You but still within that realm.
He pondered if fighting this madman was worth it.
Win chance perhaps fifty percent!
Hmph, after breaking through to Ninth Heaven, I’ll deal with you!
He wanted greater certainty. Already peak Eight Desolate Heaven, Ninth Heaven was near.
The Zhengqi League focused on him.
With his talent, no need to risk here.
Losing meant Ling Xiao would not spare him, likely crippled.
Even winning, on home ground, others would say tricks were used.
Likely a pyrrhic victory.
Wasting cultivation time, not worth it.
Thinking this, he shook his head. “This is Lingyue Villa. I don’t bully guests!”
These three, most likely to beat Ling Xiao, all refused.
Others certainly would not clash.
No one wanted Kong You or Yan Peng’s fate.
“Shame. No one spars. I miss millions in low-grade spirit stones. Your Majesty, where do I claim these twenty million low-grade spirit stones?”
Ling Xiao asked smiling.
“Claim from the Ministry of Revenue later.”
The Emperor, unhappy, stood. “I feel unwell. I’ll return first. Continue.”
“Farewell, Your Majesty!”
All rose, watching the Emperor leave the pavilion and Lingyue Villa, then sat again.
