Ling Feifan’s movements slipped into a profoundly mysterious state, this spear thrust almost perfectly blended with the surroundings.
But it fell just short.
Clang, a gust of wind erupted around him, his spear aimed at Lin Chen, conjuring a force that tugged at nature itself.
This wasn’t just aura, it was aura fused with the power of the natural world.
The hallmark of Mortal Martial Arts.
Yet Ling Feifan’s mastery was lacking, in the fusion process, he abruptly lost that perfect harmony.
“Flying Snow Spear!”
The stone tablet he’d studied was the same one Ling Xiao had deciphered.
Though the execution differed, the essence was identical.
Clang, the thrust unleashed a power noticeably stronger than his earlier spearplay.
Below Martial Master, few would dare meet this head-on.
“Great!”
“What move is that, feels scarier than top-tier martial arts?”
“Is that the legendary Mortal Martial Art?”
“No, just scraps of its mysteries, a full Mortal Martial Art is way deadlier!”
Ling Feifan’s strike stunned the crowd.
They marveled at his youth and insight.
Many veteran warriors couldn’t glean a thing from Mortal Martial scraps, pulling off even a half-move marked you as a genius.
But Lin Chen was no pushover.
Groomed by Lin Ze himself, he was only Martial Vein Sixth Layer peak, not a Martial Master or even half-step.
Yet his combat skill was elite.
He didn’t retreat, he advanced, slashing upward.
No flashy aura, just a precise strike at the weak point of Ling Feifan’s move.
The once-bold Ling Feifan staggered back from the recoil, then got mercilessly booted off the stage by Lin Chen.
“That’s a move from Mortal Martial scraps, right?” Lin Ze said coldly, eyeing Ling Feifan, “Kid, you haven’t mastered top-tier arts yet, but you’re chasing lofty dreams, this move’s power, it doesn’t even match a rare high-grade technique!”
“If you’d perfected an entry-level top-tier art, it’d outshine wasting time on this, looks flashy, but it’s pathetic!”
This time, Lin Ze didn’t spare Ling Feifan’s feelings, he didn’t want delusions to ruin the kid.
He hoped Ling Feifan would buckle down.
In his view, the boy had talent, steady work could still make him a Martial Master someday.
The harsh words bowed every head in the crowd.
They saw the gap clear as day.
One of Tianfeng’s Four Princes, crushed so easily by a peer.
Impossible!
Ling Feifan lay dazed on the ground, too shocked to stand.
His prized move, worthless against that guy, what happened?
“Hahaha, Tianfeng’s Four Princes, more like four bugs!” Wan Renwang cackled.
He didn’t back Lin Ze or Tianfeng, he was here to stir the pot, gleeful at anyone’s disgrace.
“Not necessarily!” a voice cut through.
It was Wang Zui, a survivor.
The Wang Clan fell to Feimu, but one man couldn’t kill everyone, some escaped, including Wang Zui, shielded by his clan’s dying loyalists.
He was their hope for revenge.
He’d planned to avenge them, then came unconfirmed news: Ling Xiao and Ling Yixue had killed Feimu.
He’d had friction with them, but no deep grudge, now he admired them fiercely.
“Oh, you think you can?” Wan Renwang sneered.
“No,” Wang Zui shook his head, “But you might not know, this year’s Tianfeng Grand Meet saw a kid named Ling Xiao beat everyone, took first.”
“Ling Xiao?” Lin Ze glanced at Lin Chen.
“No clue, sir, the Grand Meet’s big in Tianfeng, but it barely registers in Baiyun,” Lin Chen said with a wry smile.
“Shame, Tianfeng’s talent, can’t it serve me?” Lin Ze sighed, rising to leave.
Some things couldn’t be forced, he wouldn’t stoop to Tiannin Academy’s talent-snatching.
“Hahaha, this Ling Xiao you hype’s probably just a coward, where’s he at to show his stuff?” Wan Renwang jeered.
“No need for Ling Xiao to deal with you!” a voice rang out.
A white-clad figure soared onto the stage.
Lin Ze halted mid-step.
He felt it, the unique aura radiating from her.
Strong!
And confident!
“Who’re you?” Wan Renwang demanded.
“Ling Yixue!” the girl replied.
She bowed to Lin Ze, “General Lin, if I beat him, can I join the Border General’s Mansion?”
She pointed at Wan Renwang.
She could take Lin Chen too, but she itched to school Wan Renwang.
“Hahaha, of course!” Lin Ze laughed, delighted.
Wan Renwang and Lin Chen were evenly matched, beat one, you’d beat the other.
He’d rather Wan Renwang play the fool if someone had to lose.
“Don’t trip over your tongue, girl!” Wan Renwang floated onto the stage, Lin Chen stepped aside.
Ling Yixue had learned to mask her aura, so her Martial Master status wasn’t obvious.
That’s why Wan Renwang had no qualms.
To him, Tianfeng had no one worth a damn.
“Ready?” Ling Yixue asked coolly.
“I’ll give you three free shots, don’t say I bullied the weak,” Wan Renwang scoffed.
She didn’t reply, just flicked her hand.
“Earthcore Ice Lotus Bind!”
Instantly, Wan Renwang froze solid.
A casual palm strike from her sent the ice block crashing down.
If Lin Ze hadn’t intervened, Wan Renwang would’ve died.
“Miss, give me some face,” Lin Ze said.
He’d love to see Wan Renwang dead, but that’d shred his truce with Governor Wan Ben.
Not yet, he didn’t want Baiyun Province in chaos.
“Senior Sister, let it go, trash like that’s not worth killing, don’t dirty your hands,” a boy’s voice called from the crowd.
Barely fourteen, he was as tall as an adult, exuding a mature, steady vibe.
Hard to peg him as a kid.
It was Ling Xiao, naturally.
