At this moment, Ling Xiao had long entered the Soul Possession state, perceiving everything with perfect clarity.
Of course, the attacks from Ling Shisan and Ling Jiu were indeed seasoned and perilous. Both had been at the sixth level of the Martial Vein for a long time, far surpassing Ling Xiao, Ling Chen, and Li Xinghui, newcomers to the sixth level, in experience and combat skill.
But battles aren’t won on experience alone.
In his Soul Possession state, Ling Xiao maximized the analytical power of his Mountain River Martial Soul, making judgments precise to the tiniest fraction.
That’s how he used Soaring Cloud Steps: Young Dragon to deftly evade their killing blows.
Dodging wasn’t the goal, counterattacking was.
Heavy Shadow Sword Technique, Fourth Layer!
Facing Ling Shisan and Ling Jiu, Ling Xiao decided to take one out first. The moment he gripped his Ice Glass Sword, he unleashed the Heavy Shadow Sword Technique at its current peak.
In an instant, one Ling Xiao split into four.
All four thrust their swords simultaneously at the stronger Ling Jiu.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Four streaks of sword light merged into one, the terrifying glow amplifying nearly fourfold. Combined with the fearsome gang qi of the Snow Lotus Qi Formula, it stabbed ruthlessly toward Ling Jiu.
Ling Jiu had his back to Ling Xiao and made the dumbest choice possible.
He tried to dodge the fused quadruple sword light with his movement technique.
Unfortunately, his agility was nowhere near Ling Xiao’s.
Splurch!
The sword light pierced through Ling Jiu’s protective gang qi without resistance, then tore through his body, unleashing devastating force.
A strange chill instantly spread through Ling Jiu’s frame. Even if he wasn’t dead yet, his body stiffened rapidly.
“No!” Ling Jiu’s face twisted in shock and horror, “Three clones! How could you have trained the Heavy Shadow Sword Technique to the fourth layer?”
At the Tianfeng Grand Meeting, Ling Xiao had only ever used the second layer, never even touching the third.
So Ling Jiu’s astonishment was understandable.
He never imagined Ling Xiao had held back so much strength during that event.
This strike had basically finished Ling Jiu.
But Ling Xiao wasn’t about to give him any chance to survive.
“Old grudges and new, settled today. Reflect well in the underworld!” As he spoke, Ling Xiao twisted his sword, the terrifying gang qi shredding Ling Jiu’s body, on the verge of ending him completely.
“Brother Shisan, save me!”
Ling Shisan had no real bond with Ling Jiu, but he wouldn’t just watch Ling Xiao kill him.
Meteor Sword Technique!
In truth, the moment Ling Xiao pivoted to attack Ling Jiu, Ling Shisan had already chased after him with his movement technique.
But Ling Xiao was too fast. By the time Ling Shisan reached him, the sword had already pierced Ling Jiu.
This strike was swift and ruthless.
If Ling Xiao wanted to finish Ling Jiu, he’d have to face Ling Shisan’s ferocious counterattack.
“Junior Brother, watch out!”
“Brother Ling Xiao!”
“Ling Xiao, dodge!”
The remaining five hundred Ling family members cried out in alarm.
Ling Xiao had already shocked them enough, facing two peak sixth-level Martial Vein warriors and nearly killing one.
They admired him immensely.
But now, seeing him in danger, they couldn’t bear the thought of him dying on the spot.
Yet Ling Xiao didn’t move.
His sword still flared with brilliant light, grinding Ling Jiu’s heart into fragments.
“Father!” Seeing Ling Jiu’s eyes lose their spark as he slumped to the ground, the traitor Ling Chong let out a scream of terror and disbelief.
“Uncle Shisan, avenge my father!” Ling Chong roared in fury.
“Don’t worry!” Though Ling Shisan was stunned, it only hardened his resolve to kill Ling Xiao. Letting someone this dangerous live was too risky.
A sword struck Ling Xiao’s back!
A cold smirk curled Ling Shisan’s lips.
Ling Jiu’s death was fine by him, less competition for power.
Now, he could almost picture Ling Xiao’s wretched expression, and it filled him with glee.
From the day Ling Xiao injured his son Ling Feng, he’d wanted him dead.
But within the family, Ling Xiao had been protected, leaving him no chance to act.
Now, the opportunity had finally come, heaven truly had eyes!
“Junior Brother!” In that instant, Ling Yixue’s emotions burst forth. Her aura shifted dramatically, her jet-black hair turning white in a flash.
Her power surged upward!
Perhaps while Ling Xiao lived, she’d kept her feelings buried.
But seeing him struck by Ling Shisan’s sword, the emotions she’d locked away erupted fully.
She couldn’t lose this junior brother.
She wouldn’t!
She’d rather it be her!
“What’s happening with that woman?” Even Shi Long’s side was stunned. Ling Yixue’s power was rising too fast, beyond reason.
Fifth-level Martial Vein peak!
Sixth-level Martial Vein initial!
Sixth-level mid!
Sixth-level late!
Sixth-level peak!
And still climbing!
“Soul Clan!” Fei Yun’s brow furrowed as he glanced at Shi Long, “No more waiting, kill that woman now! She’s Soul Clan, her bloodline’s awakened, using a secret technique to boost her cultivation. If this keeps up, she’ll hit seventh level before stopping!”
“Protect Ling Yixue!” With Ling Xiao dead, Ling Xiaotian decisively chose to shield Ling Yixue.
The Ling family needed a survivor, blood or not, as long as they carried its spirit!
“No rush, I’m not dead yet!” Just as the battle teetered on the edge, an unexpected voice rang out.
Who else but Ling Xiao?
“I’m not seeing things, am I? There are two Ling Xiaos, and it doesn’t look like a shadow clone from the Heavy Shadow Sword Technique!”
“Too bizarre!”
Indeed, it was strange.
Ling Shisan’s sword had pierced one Ling Xiao.
But it was merely his martial soul clone.
Killing the dying Ling Jiu didn’t need his real body, a clone sufficed.
So when Ling Shisan’s sword struck, Ling Xiao’s true self was no longer there, having slipped into the Mountain River World.
Entering the Mountain River World required a condition.
There had to be a martial soul clone outside. If it was destroyed, he couldn’t stay hidden.
But this was enough.
Before the clone fell, Ling Xiao reemerged.
Dodging was just a means, his goal was to kill Ling Shisan.
Now, he stood behind Ling Shisan. With a gentle thrust of the Ice Glass Sword, it pierced Ling Shisan’s throat.
No fancy moves.
Ling Shisan was completely unguarded.
In this state, even a three-year-old could’ve killed him.
A peak sixth-level Martial Vein warrior lacked passive true yuan protection, gang qi alone couldn’t stop a mundane treasure sword.
Let alone one infused with Ling Xiao’s terrifying snow lotus gang qi!
“How!” Ling Shisan’s sword clattered to the ground as he collapsed, life draining from his eyes.
Even in death, he couldn’t fathom how Ling Xiao appeared or killed him.
He wasn’t alone in his confusion.
Many couldn’t understand it.
They’d clearly seen Ling Xiao pierced by a sword, how had he reappeared and taken out Ling Shisan?
