“Bandits are bandits, heartless even toward their own brothers. How could I, Ling Xiao, ever stoop to your level?”
Hearing the big boss’s words, Ling Xiao shook his head lightly.
“Looks like you’re truly seeking death!”
The big boss’s face darkened.
“Big brother, enough talk with this kid. Grab him before things get messy!” the second boss shouted.
“Go!”
With a wave of the big boss’s hand, all but him—the remaining ten bosses—attacked at once.
Eagle Hunt Fist!
Flowing Stream Sword!
Wind-Breaking Blade!
Wolf Hunt Kick!
…
Ten bosses, all Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak fighters.
Each unleashed their signature moves, converging on Ling Xiao.
The big boss held back, ready to block Ling Xiao if he tried to flee.
To them, Ling Xiao’s only threat was his speed.
That much was clear from the lackeys’ reports.
Yet Ling Xiao stood there, showing no intent to run or even fight.
He just stared at the big boss, a faint smirk of disdain creeping onto his face.
These bandits had holed up in the Fulong Mountains for years, preying on the weak, never daring to provoke Tianfeng City’s four great families.
That made them true rats in a well—arrogant and ignorant, nothing more.
Clang!
Swish!
Boom!
Crack!
…
Since Ling Xiao didn’t dodge, all ten bosses’ attacks landed squarely on him.
Bull Demon Technique: Ice Demon!
In that instant, Ling Xiao’s body seemed to swell.
But in truth, a two-to-three-meter-tall Ice Demon shell encased him.
The ten bosses’ strikes hit the shell, not only failing to harm Ling Xiao but rebounding off the sudden burst of Snow Lotus gang qi, injuring them instead.
This gang qi came from the perfected advanced top-tier Snow Lotus Qi Art.
Its terrifying power was far beyond what Martial Vein Sixth Stage fighters could handle.
Worse, the ten bosses, focused solely on attacking, hadn’t defended themselves. The icy gang qi invaded their bodies, freezing them solid in an instant.
Boom, boom, boom…
Seizing the moment, Ling Xiao unleashed Meteor Fist, delivering a punch to each of the ten bosses.
They flew back, crashing hard.
Once frozen, hitting something solid spelled their doom.
Even a divine immortal couldn’t save them now.
The big boss, who hadn’t joined the fray, gaped in shock, frozen in place, utterly dumbfounded.
He’d imagined many outcomes, but not this.
This young man’s strength far outstripped an average Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak fighter. Though not yet a Martial Master, calling him a half-step Martial Master wouldn’t be an overstatement.
“When did the Ling Clan produce such a freak?”
The big boss’s mind reeled.
He’d heard of the Tianfeng Gala’s outcome, but a kids’ event never piqued his interest.
Now, that felt like a grave mistake.
“Now that I’ve killed all twelve of your brothers, you shouldn’t linger either. Let them have company on the road to the underworld.”
Ling Xiao looked at the big boss leisurely.
“Kid, you’re ruthless!”
The big boss gritted his teeth.
“Ruthless? Compared to the black-scarf bandits slaughtering common folk and low-level martial artists, I’m nowhere close.”
Ling Xiao said coolly.
“Little brother, I know you hate us, but we’ve got no old grudges or fresh beef. You’ve already killed twelve of my brothers and tons of my men—hasn’t that vented your anger?”
“What are you getting at? Spit it out.”
Ling Xiao said coldly.
“Straight shooter, huh? Fine. Today, I’ll hand over all the black-scarf army’s wealth for my life. How’s that?”
The big boss’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“You think you’re in a position to bargain?”
Ling Xiao replied calmly.
“Don’t get too cocky, kid. I admit you’re strong, but I’ve got a treasure. If we fight for real, it’ll be mutual destruction.”
The big boss pressed.
“Hm, letting you go isn’t impossible, but your loot better be worth your life.”
Ling Xiao mused.
Hearing this, the big boss beamed, “Don’t worry, little brother, you’ll be satisfied. Follow me!”
Ling Xiao nodded and trailed the big boss toward the treasure stash.
Unbeknownst to the boss, as he turned, Ling Xiao made a subtle move.
They reached an underground vault in the lair—a massive treasury.
Even Tianfeng City’s four great families rarely owned storage rings.
The black-scarf bandits had maybe four or five, all low-grade, with spaces just a few yards square—too small for all this loot.
When the vault doors opened, Ling Xiao was met with a sea of gold.
Without a close look, he could tell there was enough gold here to push his Nine-Turn Golden Body Art to the eighth turn.
Beyond gold, there was heaps of silver and a smaller stash of spirit stones.
Spirit stones were far rarer than gold or silver, as mentioned before.
Ling Xiao had just a hundred low-grade spirit stones on him, but this vault held at least thirty or forty thousand—a fortune.
“So, little brother, satisfied now?”
The big boss, seeing Ling Xiao captivated by the treasure, sidled up with a grin.
Then, a sudden twist.
Black Tiger Heart Gouge!
In that moment, the big boss erupted with gang qi, unleashing the beginner top-tier Black Tiger Fist’s signature move, aiming straight for Ling Xiao’s back.
Too close!
Too fast!
It seemed Ling Xiao had no time to react, let alone defend.
After all, the big boss was a Martial Vein Sixth Stage Peak fighter too.
The punch slammed into Ling Xiao’s body, and the big boss’s face twisted into a狂笑.
“Kid, didn’t anyone tell you never to trust a bandit?”
“No one did, but I’ve learned my lesson this time!”
Ling Xiao’s voice came from behind the big boss.
A shiver ran through him, his mind turning to mush.
He couldn’t grasp it—he’d clearly killed Ling Xiao, so how was he behind him?
“You! How’d you do it?”
Nothing shocked him more than this.
This kid wasn’t just strong—he had too many tricks, impossible to guard against.
“Sigh, I was worried I’d go soft and spare you after taking your stuff. But since you made a move, I’ve got no reason to hesitate!”
Ling Xiao sighed. As the big boss reached for something at his waist, Ling Xiao flicked his hand.
A sword light flashed.
Faster than even Ling Xiao’s own movement technique.
The big boss’s motion halted.
The sword light pierced his throat. His mouth moved, but no words came out in the end.
