“Less talk, if you want to fight, let’s fight!”
Ling Xiao didn’t like trouble, but he wasn’t afraid of it either, especially not Ling Chong, who he no longer took seriously.
Plus, with Ling Jiu constantly obstructing his cultivation, if he couldn’t take on the father, couldn’t he at least handle the son?
“Heh, interesting, you’re not scared?”
Ling Chong sneered coldly. “Don’t think breaking through to the second Martial Vein lets you strut in front of me, today you’ll kneel!”
He had reason to look down on Ling Xiao—
A peak second-layer Martial Vein cultivation, honed for nearly half a year.
And advanced martial skills to boot.
“You talk too much, I’ve got to get my grandfather treated.”
To Ling Xiao, Ling Chong was just a clown now.
“You little punk, acting so cocky!”
Being scorned by someone he’d bullied for nearly a year set Ling Chong ablaze, he channeled true qi into his palms.
In the past few days, his Giant Spirit Palm had been refined under his father’s guidance, far stronger than before.
Add the qi-boosting pills his father had procured, and he brimmed with confidence.
One palm struck, like a giant descending, the wind from it whipping Ling Xiao’s hair wildly.
“Whoa, Ling Chong’s got the Giant Spirit Palm down to this level, maybe thirty percent mastery?”
Advanced martial skills were tough to grasp, for a peak second-layer like Ling Chong to reach thirty percent was impressive.
Even Ling Yixue looked surprised, then annoyed.
Ling Chong’s talent and effort lagged behind hers, yet he got piles of pills and advanced skills—unfair.
She was nearing the fourth Martial Vein, only earning one advanced skill through sheer talent.
She knew how hard they were to master.
And their power.
Even at thirty percent, an advanced skill crushed all mid-tier ones, a gap in class.
“That force! That power! That speed! At least twice as strong as last time! Having a good dad sure helps!”
Ling Xiao didn’t underestimate Ling Chong, but he never slacked in a fight.
His Mountain and River Martial Soul kicked in, revealing all of Ling Chong’s stats.
He confirmed, though Ling Chong’s realm hadn’t advanced, his combat strength had doubled!
But it was shaky.
Unsteady!
Likely from overusing pills.
“Heavenly Fire Assault!”
Spotting Ling Chong’s weakness with his martial soul, Ling Xiao didn’t hesitate, activating the Red Sun Technique, his fists glowing crimson, then launching with Tiger Descending the Mountain Steps, pouncing like a tiger.
Today, he wouldn’t dodge the Giant Spirit Palm, he’d meet it head-on, crushing Ling Chong outright!
A bigger blow would keep Ling Chong off his back, he had no time to waste on this guy.
Ling Chong flinched at Ling Xiao’s counter, shocked by the ferocity of his fists.
But then he reasoned, his Giant Spirit Palm was advanced, while Ling Xiao’s Meteor Fist was just mid-tier, nothing to fear.
What happened next terrified him.
Explosive Qi Technique!
To shatter Ling Chong completely, Ling Xiao unleashed it again, this time holding nothing back, blasting out all his true qi.
Meteor Fist, eighth form—Heavenly Fire Assault!
Boosted by the Explosive Qi Technique, its power surged several times over.
In that moment, Ling Chong didn’t see Ling Xiao, but a blazing meteor!
A tiger streaking from the sky!
Boom!
No frills, fist met palm in a brutal clash.
The Giant Spirit Palm’s edge was strength and presence!
The Meteor Fist’s edge was strength and presence too!
A giant versus a meteor!
With the Explosive Qi Technique’s aid, Ling Xiao pushed Heavenly Fire Assault to a level that even advanced skills would balk at.
Advanced skills were just more potent, but amplify a mid-tier skill’s power enough, and the gap vanished.
“Crack… crack…”
“Ah—!”
Ling Chong screamed, his arms snapping under Ling Xiao’s terrifying force, the impact hurling him backward.
“Thud!”
He slammed into a wall, spitting blood, his eyes glazing over.
“He’s not dead, right?”
The power startled even Ling Xiao, he feared he’d killed Ling Chong.
If he had, Ling Jiu would come for blood, killing versus injuring were worlds apart.
“No! Impossible! How could my advanced skill lose to you, how!”
Ling Chong wasn’t dead, he slid to the ground, struggling up, arms dangling uselessly.
He shook his head wildly, unable to accept it.
One move again!
Defeated by Ling Xiao in one move, again!
The Ling disciples watching breathed heavily, tense.
Such an outcome was hard to swallow.
In same-level fights, anything could happen, but a one-move loss? Unthinkable.
Especially since the loser wielded an advanced skill known for strength.
“Good he’s not dead, I’m out!”
Confirming Ling Chong lived, Ling Xiao hurried off with the doctor.
His true qi was truly spent now, another challenger would finish him.
Watching him leave, Ling Yixue’s lips twitched slightly.
She hadn’t expected this.
“Didn’t think the Explosive Qi Technique with Meteor Fist could outpower the advanced Giant Spirit Palm! This Ling Xiao might shock everyone at the annual competition.”
“Senior Sister, what sorcery did he use, how could he beat Ling Chong in one move?”
Seeing Ling Chong carted off for treatment, Ling Fei seethed with jealousy.
Ling Xiao’s one-move win in front of Ling Yixue left a deep mark.
“Sorcery? Hmph, I’d advise you to focus on training, not daydreaming, your talent’s decent, if you’d worked harder, you wouldn’t have lost today’s light-body match!”
Ling Yixue said coldly, “Both at the second Martial Vein, but Ling Xiao’s true qi is thicker than Ling Chong’s, and he’s a master at combining skills, that punch fused Meteor Fist, Tiger Descending Steps, Explosive Qi Technique, and Red Sun Technique, who else could pull that off?”
“What! How’s Ling Xiao that good? Has he been playing weak all along?”
Someone asked.
“Probably not, maybe he had a sudden breakthrough!” Ling Yixue shook her head.
“But where’d he get all those mid-tier skills?”
Another question.
“Not sure, but mid-tier skills can be bought at auctions, none of what he used are exclusive, so it’s not surprising.”
Ling Yixue was puzzled too, but Ling Xiao’s prowess was undeniable.
