To protect Ling Xiao, Ling Xiaotian had tightly sealed off all news, so outsiders only knew of the divine sword’s descent, not Ling Xiao’s stunning feats.
Ling Yihang, Ling Zhan, and the others burst into laughter.
Only they knew how terrifying Ling Xiao was. Forget two Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak experts, even if a real Martial Vein Seventh Stage Early Martial Master showed up, Ling Xiao might not win, but he could certainly escape.
If they went, they’d only burden him.
No one wanted to be dead weight.
“What are you laughing at?”
The bloodied messenger glared, furious.
“Don’t worry, with him there, the black-scarf bandits are done for,” Ling Yihang said with a grin. “Get yourself treated and wait for the good news.”
The messenger eyed them skeptically.
He noticed a white-haired woman among them radiating the terrifying aura only a Martial Master could possess. Even she called this Ling Xiao strong.
That must mean something.
…
On a main road leading to Tianfeng City.
A battle was unfolding.
It was a one-sided slaughter.
Dozens of martial artists were trapped in the center, surrounded by scores of black-scarf bandits steadily tightening the circle.
Each tightening claimed a martial artist’s life or left them gravely wounded.
Ximen Xun watched a bandit’s blade inch toward his chest, closer and closer, but he was powerless.
He was a prodigy.
At just twelve, he’d reached Martial Vein Fifth Stage Peak.
But his family was tiny, far smaller than the Ling Clan, with scant resources and martial techniques for him to study.
To succeed, he had to join a stronger family.
The Ling Clan of Tianfeng City had recently gained a towering reputation, so he’d come to pledge himself.
Yet before he could even meet them, he faced death.
He wasn’t resigned!
Not at all!
“Crack!”
Suddenly, the blade about to pierce him shattered.
A towering figure appeared before him, vanishing in a flash.
That figure became a blur, circling the encirclement once.
Of the sixty-plus bandits, twenty or thirty dropped dead instantly.
Over a dozen trapped martial artists were saved by that figure.
“Who are you, and why are you ruining our black-scarf business?”
The bandit leader saw this newcomer was no pushover. Instead of attacking, he hoped to scare them off with their name.
“Ling Xiao!”
The figure hovered midair, hands clasped behind his back, like a god descending.
“A Ling Clan member?”
“Great, the Ling Clan sent an expert to save us!”
“We’re saved!”
“But he’s alone, and there are over forty bandits left.”
“Yeah, can one person handle it? They’ve got two Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak fighters, and he’s only at Fifth Stage Peak.”
The surrounded martial artists went from elation to deep disappointment.
Only then did Ling Xiao realize he hadn’t updated his disguise, so to others, he still appeared as a Martial Vein Fifth Stage Peak fighter.
“Let’s rush them together. With the Ling Clan guy, we might escape.”
Someone suggested.
“Right, he’s Fifth Stage Peak, and we saw his strength. Even if he can’t beat them, escaping shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Escape? None of you are leaving today!”
The bandit leader sneered. Since this was a Ling Clan member, they couldn’t let him go.
“Just watch, no need to help!”
Ling Xiao spoke calmly, the Ice Glass Sword already in his hand.
The Shadow Sword Technique had reached perfection—it was time to test its might. These dozens of bandits were perfect practice.
“Big talk, kid, aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue?”
The bandit leader paused at Ling Xiao’s words, then roared with laughter.
Ling Xiao didn’t respond. His figure flickered, splitting from one into five.
Three shadow clones, one martial soul clone, plus his real body.
The bandits were dumbfounded.
Before they could react, only two of the forty-odd remained.
One move wiped out nearly forty bandits.
Ling Xiao’s terror far exceeded everyone’s expectations.
Now, whether it was the two surviving Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak bandit leaders or the rescued martial artists, disbelief reigned.
“Kid, you’ve got skills. Join our black-scarf army. If you do, you’ll be a leader right away.”
“Bit late for that offer, don’t you think?”
Ling Xiao sneered.
“Kid, you’re courting death!”
The two bandit leaders exchanged a glance, then leaped from their horses, attacking Ling Xiao from both sides.
Ling Xiao didn’t move, standing still as if frozen.
He’d tested the Shadow Sword Technique. Now, he’d try another killing move.
Earth Core Ice Lotus Bind!
Sheathing his sword, he channeled the Snow Lotus Qi Art, unleashing a secret technique from Ling Yixue.
With the Snow Lotus Qi Art at perfection, the Earth Core Ice Lotus Bind’s power surged.
A bizarre scene unfolded.
Midair, the two Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak bandits froze in their attack poses.
Fully encased in ice, they plummeted to the ground.
“Crack!”
They shattered like ice blocks.
No blood, just fragmented bodies—dead beyond dead.
“Too strong!”
Ximen Xun swallowed hard, unable to believe Ling Xiao’s power. Was this a Ling Clan disciple?
Looked like he’d made the right choice.
“How can he be this strong?”
The other martial artists were equally stunned.
“Head to the Ling Clan. The Divine Sword Sect’s just starting—you’ll find great prospects there,” Ling Xiao said, glancing back at them.
“Expert, aren’t you coming with us?” Ximen Xun asked.
“I’m going to the black-scarf lair. They’ve roamed the Fulong Mountains long enough—it’s time they were wiped out.”
What!
Ling Xiao’s words left the martial artists gaping.
What was with this guy? Beating these bandits was already a feat, and now he wanted to hit their lair? Wasn’t that overconfidence?
“Expert, we don’t doubt your strength, but their lair has eleven Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak fighters. You alone can’t do it—go get reinforcements,” Ximen Xun shouted.
“Thanks for the heads-up, but no need to worry.”
Ling Xiao didn’t elaborate. With a flicker, he shot dozens of yards away, vanishing in moments.
“So fast!”
“Yeah, that speed’s insane. He’s not just Fifth Stage Peak, right?”
“Even if he’s Sixth Stage Peak, facing eleven of the same level plus hundreds of bandits—can he win?”
“Who knows? But he just killed dozens of them effortlessly, so maybe he’s fine.”
“How about we sneak over and check it out?”
