With one move, Ling Xiao slew Murong Shao.
His strength left every Hidden Dragon Camp disciple on the scene dumbfounded.
But it also landed him in hot water.
Hua Nongying seemed to have anticipated this, arriving with the enforcement team in tow.
“Ling Xiao, do you know your crime?” Hua Nongying demanded coldly.
“No idea,” Ling Xiao replied flatly.
“Don’t play dumb. Hidden Dragon Camp rules forbid killing or crippling fellow members. You killed Murong Shao—still claiming innocence?” Hua Nongying barked.
“I know the rules, but he’s no comrade,” Ling Xiao said coolly. “Twice he’s come at me while I was in seclusion, nearly drove me to qi deviation, and gravely injured Leng Mei. What kind of comrade is that?”
Ling Xiao’s tone was firm and righteous.
“Hmph, so what if you went berserk? He didn’t break camp rules. That maid of yours? Just a slave—her death wouldn’t matter, let alone injuries. But her daring to fight back against a camp captain? That’s a death sentence!” Hua Nongying sneered.
“Heh.” Ling Xiao let out a dry laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Hua Nongying snapped.
“I’m laughing at your shameless gall,” Ling Xiao said calmly. “Touch Leng Mei today, and see if you end up like Murong Shao.”
“You’re forcing my hand?” Hua Nongying’s brows furrowed.
“Unjust rules—why should I follow them? Make your move if you want,” Ling Xiao shot back.
He’d long wanted to test Hua Nongying. He’d suspected the masked assassin from that mission was this very man.
Only a fight could confirm it.
“Fine then. I’ll take you down first, then kill your maid—call it justice for Murong Shao,” Hua Nongying said, taking a deep breath. “Ling Xiao, I’ve wanted to spar with you for a while. Defeating an early Seventh Layer Martial Master with just peak Sixth Layer cultivation during that mission? Impressive. But against me, you’re just a sideshow!”
His true essence erupted, a terrifying aura pressing down on the surrounding disciples.
“Enough talk—fight,” Ling Xiao said, unfazed.
In Hidden Dragon Camp, only General September and Dai Yuling gave him pause.
Everyone else? Fearless.
“Put down that maid. Don’t want anyone saying I took advantage,” Hua Nongying said, eyeing Leng Mei in Ling Xiao’s arms.
“Junior brother, leave Leng Mei to me,” Ling Yixue said, appearing out of nowhere.
“Thanks, senior sister.”
Hua Nongying wasn’t like Murong Shao.
Murong Shao had just hit Seventh Layer, his cultivation shaky and essence muddled.
Hua Nongying, a mid-Seventh Layer Martial Master for two years, outclassed him in both essence quantity and quality.
Ling Xiao wouldn’t underestimate him. Handing Leng Mei to Ling Yixue was a safe bet.
“Now we can fight,” Ling Xiao said, facing Hua Nongying.
“Good!”
A glint of killing intent flashed in Hua Nongying’s eyes. His true essence surged, blooming into a bizarre rose-red hue.
A crushing aura burst forth, forcing the onlookers back a few steps to avoid getting caught in the fallout.
The might of a mid-Seventh Layer Martial Master was undeniable.
Flower-Plucking Finger!
Hua Nongying didn’t summon his soul fragment—perhaps he figured his current level was enough to crush Ling Xiao.
His mid-Seventh Layer aura unfurled fully, true essence blazing like a roaring inferno.
Yet this ferocious power shaped a graceful move.
A single finger struck, its force morphing into rose petals—less explosive visually, but lethal in strength.
The fluttering petals alone made onlookers feel a slicing pain just from watching.
Meteor Strike!
Ling Xiao punched, his massive fist condensing into a flame-wreathed meteor, streaking through the void with a thunderous roar, as if it’d punch through the earth itself.
Boom!
Meteor met rose petals.
It was like twin thunderclaps colliding. The terrifying force erupted, waves rolling out over a dozen meters, kicking up dust and stones, peeling a layer off the ground.
A sandstorm swallowed the combatants whole.
The sheer power forced the spectators back again, yet they still looked ragged.
Some had their clothes shredded.
Others bore bloody scratches on faces and hands.
They’d braced themselves fully, yet still ended up this battered. Shock painted their faces as they retreated further.
Bull Demon Art: Ice Demon!
Meteor Fist!
A regular Meteor Fist might not match Ling Xiao’s current level, but in his Ice Demon form, its power rivaled top-tier martial arts.
Coupled with his soul-entered state’s uncanny insight—reading his foe like an open book—even a high-level move like Meteor Fist became monstrous in his hands.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A barrage of strikes put Hua Nongying on the defensive, forced back step by step, the air booming like rolling thunder.
To the crowd, it looked like a dozen icy-white meteors pummeled Hua Nongying relentlessly.
The frigid chill made everyone shiver.
For a moment, Hua Nongying could only block—no chance to counter.
“Impossible! I’m a mid-Seventh Layer Martial Master—how’s this happening? Wait—you broke through to Seventh Layer too!”
Hua Nongying finally pieced it together, explaining the fight’s awkward flow.
He’d started off not underestimating Ling Xiao, but treating him as just an early Seventh Layer Martial Master.
After all, Ling Xiao had beaten an early Seventh Layer foe at peak Sixth Layer.
Now it hit him—Ling Xiao was a Martial Master too.
If he could match an early Seventh Layer at peak Sixth, how strong was he now as a Master?
No wonder Murong Shao fell in one strike—this kid had broken through!
The onlookers caught on, buzzing with chatter.
“Ling Xiao’s a freak. When he got here, he was just early Sixth Layer, right?”
“Probably hiding his strength back then.”
“Still, jumping to Martial Master this fast—his talent’s insane.”
“Looks like under the three commanders, it’s him and Ling Yixue now.”
“Not so fast—Hua Nongying’s getting pummeled with no comeback.”
“Heh, Commander Hua hasn’t used his martial soul yet. And his swordplay’s his real forte.”
“You think Ling Xiao’s got no soul? That Meteor Fist’s all he’s got?”
“Hmph, I don’t buy he can beat Commander Hua!”
…
The fight raged on.
Now that Hua Nongying knew Ling Xiao was a Martial Master, he’d have to switch tactics.
