The group of young martial artists wanted to follow and watch the excitement.
Only then did they realize they had no idea where the black-scarf bandits’ lair was.
And Ling Xiao’s speed was so fast they couldn’t keep up even if they tried, so after chasing a short distance, they helplessly gave up and headed toward Tianfeng City.
If a single Ling Clan disciple was this powerful, how terrifying must the Ling Clan itself be?
By now, Ling Xiao was miles away, thanks to another upgrade in his “Soaring Cloud Step.”
This time, the upgrade didn’t come from integrating another top-tier movement technique, but from his comprehension of the mysteries within the Mortal Martial Art fragment.
He fused that insight into the “Soaring Cloud Step,” transforming “Soaring Cloud Step: Young Dragon” into “Soaring Cloud Step: Ice Dragon.”
When activated, what was once a two- or three-meter-long dragon now stretched over ten meters.
Not only that, if Ling Xiao wished, everywhere he passed would turn into a crystalline world of ice.
The “Soaring Cloud Step” had evolved from a pure movement technique into a blend of movement and combat skill.
And “Soaring Cloud Step: Ice Dragon” elevated it from a rare top-tier martial technique to an advanced top-tier one.
In other words, beneath Mortal Martial Arts, it was the strongest movement technique.
Similarly, “Bull Demon Technique: Transformation” successfully advanced into “Bull Demon Technique: Ice Demon.”
Also an advanced top-tier martial technique.
Like its predecessor, when activated, his body would be encased in a massive Bull Demon Clan shell, but now it felt far more real.
As if coated in ice crystals, paired with the “Snow Lotus Qi Art,” it was utterly striking.
Though Ling Xiao hadn’t fully mastered the five moves of the “Snow Lotus Sword Art,” the gains from its mysteries were substantial.
Now, relying on “Soaring Cloud Step: Ice Dragon,” he moved as if dancing freely in the sky, no need to touch the ground for leverage.
And his speed was incredible.
In the air, he was like a transparent blur streaking past, so fast that unless someone was strong or paying close attention, they might think they’d imagined it.
Before long, Ling Xiao reached the black-scarf bandits’ lair.
With the Mountain River Map’s guidance, finding it was effortless, which was why he dared to ask Ling Xiaotian to let him go alone.
Fulong Mountains, black-scarf bandit lair.
Suddenly, a dragon’s roar echoed.
The big boss, seated in the head chair, shot to his feet.
“What’s going on?”
“Report!”
A panicked lackey burst in, shouting, “To all the bosses, a strange ice dragon appeared outside, slaughtering our brothers mercilessly!”
“Ice dragon? Are your eyes playing tricks? Beasts of that level went extinct ages ago,” the second boss said coldly.
“I wouldn’t dare lie, bosses! It’s definitely an ice dragon, but there seems to be a person inside. He claims he’s Ling Xiao from the Ling Clan!”
“A Ling Clan member? A Martial Master?” One of the seated men paled.
“No way. If any of the Ling Clan’s Martial Masters moved, we’d know. Must be some reckless fool,” the big boss waved dismissively. “This is worth reporting? Were you raised by pigs? Go kill him already!”
“But, big boss, he’s really strong, at least Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak!”
“So what if he’s Sixth Stage Peak? You’ve got hundreds, including plenty of Sixth Stage fighters. Can’t you handle one guy?”
“Report!”
Just then, another lackey rushed in, shouting, “Bosses, that guy’s too powerful! We tried shooting him with crossbows, but he smashed them all effortlessly!”
“Report! Ling Xiao has breached the mountain! We’re taking heavy losses!”
“Report! Casualties are up to a hundred!”
“Report! A hundred fifty dead, including three Martial Vein Sixth Stage Mid fighters who couldn’t last one move against him!”
“Report! He’s brutal, everywhere he goes, a hundred meters freeze solid, and another hundred got iced over!”
The relentless reports turned the faces of the eleven remaining Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak bosses grim.
“Big brother, we can’t wait. Let’s go kill him!” the third boss stood, shouting.
“No, wait for him to come in!”
The big boss shook his head, “Order everyone to stand aside and clear a path for him.”
Though the lackeys didn’t understand, they obeyed. They couldn’t stop Ling Xiao anyway, better to retreat and survive than die pointlessly.
Once the lackeys left, the big boss said, “Looks like this guy’s strong, a top-tier Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak fighter. The eleven of us will ambush him here. When he walks in, we strike together, no chance for him to turn it around.”
“Brilliant, big brother!”
The others suddenly got it.
But they didn’t realize this move already put them at a disadvantage in spirit, admitting they couldn’t match Ling Xiao.
They didn’t care, though. As bandits, their goal was to kill the enemy.
Ganging up was their specialty.
“Hmph, if that kid dares come in, he’ll be a corpse. Does he think he’s Ling Xiaotian or something?”
“I’m here, but I’m curious how you’ll make me a corpse.”
A calm voice came from the doorway as Ling Xiao strode in boldly.
“Eleven, huh. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down.”
“Surround him!”
The big boss fumed at Ling Xiao’s audacity, walking in like he didn’t take their eleven bosses seriously.
He ordered them to encircle Ling Xiao.
“Kid, you’ve walked into a trap today. Even if Ling Xiaotian himself came, he couldn’t save you!”
Once surrounded, the eleven bosses laughed heartily.
They could tell Ling Xiao wasn’t a Martial Master.
If he wasn’t a Martial Master, even a Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak fighter couldn’t survive their combined assault.
Especially since Ling Xiao’s apparent realm seemed only Martial Vein Fifth Stage Peak.
As they closed in, they secretly channeled their gang qi, ready to strike together and kill him in one blow.
“Save me? Why would I need saving? You should be wondering if the Ninja Clan you serve will send someone to rescue you!”
Ling Xiao’s expression remained calm, not a hint of nerves.
“Kid, no point pretending to be tough. Ling Xiaotian sent you here to die, and you’re still blindly doing his bidding,” the big boss laughed. “Join our black-scarf army and serve His Majesty the Ninja Emperor. Riches and glory await.”
“If I said I killed two of your bosses, would you still invite me?”
Ling Xiao asked, looking at the big boss.
“No big deal. Join us, and killing a couple’s nothing. A real man doesn’t sweat the small stuff!”
