Ling Xiao stared coldly at Jia Yun and said, “Indeed, I seek military merits to change my fate. So what? Can you stop me? Let me warn you: for my goals, I will stop at nothing. Dare stand in my way, and I will kick you aside like a stumbling block!”
His words rang with righteousness, neither humble nor arrogant.
Arrogant!
Truly arrogant!
To speak thus to the young master of the Righteous Alliance: either foolish or genuinely formidable.
“Good show ahead!”
“Heh, seems there’s a story. Interesting!”
“Humph, I always knew your tongue was sharp. This young master won’t stoop to your level. Let us settle it with skill!”
Unable to outtalk Ling Xiao, Jia Yun snorted and leaped into one passage, ready to begin.
Ling Xiao stepped from the ranks to the other passage.
“Please, Young Master Jia. Let me witness the grandeur of the Righteous Alliance’s young leader!”
“Watch closely!”
With that, Jia Yun shot forward. Mid-air, he roared. The barbaric bear beast on the ground prostrated, allowing him to mount.
“Excellent!”
Deafening cheers erupted from Divine Phoenix Academy, all rooting for Jia Yun.
Jia Yun smiled smugly, urging his mount onward.
He neutralised the first, second, and third waves effortlessly, strolling as if in his garden.
Yet he could not shatter arrows without moving, as Leng Mei had.
He must breach the arrow towers, or failing to surpass Leng Mei would be a joke.
Fourth wave: a sword appeared in Jia Yun’s hand. One thrust shattered both arrows.
“Beautiful!”
Cheers rose again.
Fifth wave: still handled with ease.
Tension mounted.
One more wave, and Jia Yun would eclipse Leng Mei, breaking the record. Divine Phoenix hoped for it.
Qingxu did not.
Sixth wave struck fiercely, almost overlapping the fifth. Jia Yun faltered; his arm was grazed.
Yet he evaded the sixth.
“Young Master Jia! Young Master Jia! Young Master Jia!”
Roars thundered. Divine Phoenix warriors beamed. Jia Yun broke Leng Mei’s record: a delight.
Sikong Zun clapped too.
Seventh wave was terrifying, nearly simultaneous with the sixth. Jia Yun used his mount to block one arrow, mimicking the earlier contestant.
But he fared better.
As the beast blocked one, his treasure sword parried the second.
Though blood trickled from his mouth from the shock, he endured the final wave.
“Excellent!”
Sikong Zun shouted joyfully, “Worthy of the Righteous Alliance’s young master, worthy of Divine Phoenix Academy. Well done! Now seize the banner!”
Sword in hand, Jia Yun stood, white robes fluttering, eliciting screams from countless female disciples.
He glanced triumphantly at Ling Xiao.
“Boy, just piss off. This banner is mine, Jia Yun’s!”
Ling Xiao watched, a cold smile curling his lips. What he saw, Jia Yun might not.
The brink of success could be the moment of utter failure.
Jia Yun leaped gracefully toward the banner.
Next instant, a massive boom. He was blasted back, body charred black.
Injuries light, but face utterly lost.
“What happened?”
Divine Phoenix warriors looked puzzled at Sikong Zun.
This stage was not in the test he described.
Sikong Zun was baffled too, asking Lü Chenglong, “General Lü, what is this?”
“Report, Commander. I merely added common battlefield thunder-crack bombs at the end. No army allows banner seizure. Such traps surround them usually.”
Lü Chenglong smiled, “On real battlefields, these are far stronger. Even Celestial Realm warriors can die. Failing to guard against this, what banner talk? Truly pampered.”
“General Lü, this is improper. Why no prior report to me?”
Sikong Zun fumed.
“Report, Commander. As deputy, I have this authority. If dissatisfied, report to the Emperor. Remove my position.”
Lü Chenglong feared Sikong Zun not.
Moreover, truth. No need to report trifles.
Reporting everything would exhaust the commander.
“Hahaha, I was overly excited. Indeed, these youths need hardship.”
Sikong Zun’s expression shifted swiftly. Realising he could not touch Lü Chenglong, he adopted another tone.
Then to Jia Yun, “Young Master Jia, fret not. This final thunder-crack bomb is beyond your student abilities to detect and counter. Your result is already the best.”
“Commander Sikong’s words are too hasty. Battlefields change instantly. Failing to sense thunder-crack bombs means early death, bones unburied! Had he observed surroundings instead of gloating, this would not happen. Decent strength, talent, but ultimately mud that cannot stick to the wall!”
A cold voice rang, shocking all.
Who dared criticise Jia Yun publicly?
And deny Sikong Zun?
They followed the voice.
Again, that Ling Xiao kid!
“This boy is deliberate!”
“But he speaks reason. Commander Sikong was hasty. The kid has not gone yet.”
“His result cannot top Young Master Jia’s.”
“Talking is useless. We will see.”
After murmurs, all eyes focused on Ling Xiao.
Sikong Zun said coldly, “You call me hasty. So you can seize the banner?”
“Why not?”
Ling Xiao smiled.
“Heh, thunder-crack bombs exposed. Naturally you fear not. Dare we reset the traps?”
Sikong Zun pressed.
“If Commander Sikong sets a trap even Cave Heaven Realm dancers cannot withstand, I cannot. But I trust you are not that shameless?”
Ling Xiao asked with a smile.
