After all, there was a significant gap in cultivation between Ling Xiao and the Poison Soul Venerable. In this head-on clash, Ling Xiao was directly knocked back dozens of metres.
After those dozens of metres, Ling Xiao finally came to a stop.
His Ghost Shadow Sword had carved a trail dozens of metres long in the ground.
A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He was clearly injured.
But it was not severe.
At this moment, the Poison Soul Venerable was also looking at his own chest in surprise.
Somehow, another mark from Ling Xiao had appeared there.
Though it was only a shallow scratch and still caused him no harm whatsoever, he was starting to feel irritated.
“Four moves down, old evildoer!”
Ling Xiao spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged saliva, revealed a proud smile, and spoke.
“Heh heh, you blocked the fourth move in such a sorry state. Do you truly think you can withstand the next three?”
The Poison Soul Venerable laughed disdainfully.
Though he laughed on the surface, inside he felt some anger. Clearly a direct collision, yet he had not gained much advantage.
Even if Ling Xiao was injured, as long as he was not killed, it meant nothing.
He was a dignified third Cave Heaven Realm warrior, yet he could not easily kill a mere Celestial Human Realm youth.
If word of this got out, it would be utterly humiliating.
Fortunately, three moves remained. He would not give Ling Xiao another chance to speak.
“Cannot withstand them?”
Ling Xiao gave a contemptuous cold laugh. “Have you not realised yet, old evildoer? I have already left three marks on your body! If our cultivations were equal, you would be dead by now. I am not merely resisting your attacks. I am trading blows with you!”
“Your feeble attacks are nothing more than scratching an itch for this old man.”
The Poison Soul Venerable said with considerable displeasure.
“Is that so? Then I shall continue scratching your itch.”
Ling Xiao never did anything without purpose.
He knew the Poison Soul Venerable possessed astonishing defence, so from the start, he had not intended to breach it.
What he considered was how to defeat the opponent without breaking through that defence.
Yes, defeat him!
Even if the chance was a pitiful one percent, he was still willing to fight for it.
Without fighting, there would be nothing.
By fighting, there might still be a chance.
An even more terrifying sword intent ignited.
The world behind Ling Xiao became clearer.
Sun and moon alternated within that world, releasing an incomparably powerful pressure.
The domineering will of the Mountain River World could crush any battle intent in the Profound Realm.
It complemented perfectly his state of controlling heaven and earth.
Ling Xiao was not angry. He had simply developed killing intent.
He had done nothing wrong, yet people kept coming to trouble him time and again. It was simply because some believed him weak.
Today, even if he could not kill the Poison Soul Venerable, he would certainly not let the fellow off easily.
Take his life in seven moves?
What did this person take Ling Xiao for?
An ant?
Or the little beggar from the streets who once allowed anyone to bully him?
He was displeased.
Very displeased.
Though no anger showed on his face and no rage burned in his heart, his mind had turned chillingly cold.
When faced with humiliation from others, anger solved nothing. Defeating them, killing them, striking back. That was what Ling Xiao should do.
From the beginning, he had never intended merely to evade the Poison Soul Venerable’s seven moves.
After the seven moves, he would shock everyone.
“That Ling Xiao. He does not truly believe he can defeat the Poison Soul Venerable, does he?”
“You understand nothing. That is called dignity! A warrior must defend his dignity! Even knowing defeat is certain, he absolutely cannot compromise on this matter!”
“Exactly. It seems Ling Xiao has broken through to Ten Directions Heaven cultivation. Even so, he is no match for the Poison Soul Venerable. This battle is his fight for dignity!”
“Indeed. As long as he can leave even a single wound on the Poison Soul Venerable, that would be enough to take pride in!”
In the crowd, many people held their breath for Ling Xiao. Some were even moved by his actions.
But no one favoured Ling Xiao’s chances.
The cultivation disparity was too great.
It would be difficult enough for Ling Xiao to preserve his life. How could he possibly injure the Poison Soul Venerable?
The final outcome of this battle might truly be Ling Xiao lasting until the seventh move, only to suffer a crushing defeat and lose his life.
But if, before dying, he could leave even the slightest wound on the Poison Soul Venerable, that would be good.
Ling Xiao, however, harboured none of these stray thoughts.
His soul was an unyielding soul, a proud soul, a stubborn soul!
To fight even when knowing victory is impossible.
That was Ling Xiao!
In harsher terms, he was a madman!
But the number of times Ling Xiao had been called a madman was far from few.
“Hahaha, hahahaha! Foolish boy, do you really believe that with your Ten Directions Heaven cultivation you can contend against this old man’s third Cave Heaven Realm? You are simply delusional!”
Though the Poison Soul Venerable laughed loudly, inside he was unusually furious.
The fact that the opponent could attack meant he had not suppressed him completely!
This was nothing short of a monumental disgrace!
The emerald-green poison toad gradually changed colour. Its body turned multicoloured, appearing very beautiful yet extremely dangerous.
This move was one the Poison Soul Venerable had originally intended to use against opponents stronger than himself. Yet today, facing Ling Xiao,
he unleashed it.
Because he wanted Ling Xiao dead!
And he wanted to kill him with the fifth move!
He did not wish to drag it out any longer. Prolonging it would wear down his battle intent, while Ling Xiao’s would only grow stronger.
Ling Xiao watched him calmly. Power gathered once more in the Ghost Shadow Sword in his hand.
This was a Ghost Shadow Sword!
But it was also a Sword of Impermanence, a Sword of Slaughter, a Sword of Destruction!
The same weapon, wielded by different people, could produce entirely different effects.
The Ghost Shadow Sword had chosen Ling Xiao because it believed he was the master most suited to it.
At this moment, Ling Xiao was completely enveloped in sword intent, like an unsheathed peerless divine weapon.
The sharp sword intent seemed capable of piercing even the heavens!
“Having only just broken through to Ten Directions Heaven, yet his sword intent is several times stronger than before! Such rapid breakthrough speed and such massive improvement. He is truly an anomaly!”
Watching this scene, Mang Tian felt shock in his heart. “This boy cannot be allowed to live. If left alive, he will sooner or later become a calamity!”
Looking at Ling Xiao, he too harboured killing intent.
Though Yue Nü had brought him tremendous shock, he believed the chief of their Black Python Family, Mang Wu, could certainly block her attacks.
In that case, they might truly be able to kill Ling Xiao.
He only needed to decide when to act and report to the chief.
With that thought, he whispered a few words to a subordinate behind him. The man immediately turned and quickly departed.
“Good, good. Battle intent is strong! Sword intent is dense! But Ling Xiao, without domain elemental force, how will you contend against me, a third Cave Heaven Realm warrior?”
The Poison Soul Venerable laughed coldly. Around his body, a domain gradually condensed.
