One move to kill Murong Shao.
Ling Xiao’s strength shocked all the Hidden Dragon Camp disciples present.
But because of this, he also ran into trouble.
Hua Nongying seemed to have anticipated this, as she had brought the enforcement team with her.
“Ling Xiao, do you know your crime!” Hua Nongying asked coldly, staring at Ling Xiao.
“I don’t know!” Ling Xiao replied calmly.
“Don’t play dumb. In Hidden Dragon Camp, the rules strictly prohibit killing or severely maiming fellow members, yet you killed Murong Shao and still claim ignorance?” Hua Nongying snapped.
“Of course I know this rule, but he doesn’t count as a comrade,” Ling Xiao said coolly. “He’s come to harass me twice while I was in seclusion, not only gravely injuring Leng Mei but nearly causing me to suffer qi deviation. What kind of comrade is that?”
Ling Xiao spoke with righteous conviction.
“Hmph, so what if you suffered qi deviation? He didn’t break Hidden Dragon Camp’s rules. Besides, that maid of yours is just a slave – her death wouldn’t matter, let alone her injuries. Yet she dared to fight back and attack a Hidden Dragon Camp captain – she deserves death!” Hua Nongying sneered.
“Heh,” Ling Xiao let out a dry laugh.
“What’s so funny?” Hua Nongying asked.
“I’m laughing at your shameless audacity!” Ling Xiao said calmly. “Try touching Leng Mei today and see if you end up like Murong Shao!”
“Are you forcing me to act?” Hua Nongying frowned.
“Unreasonable rules – why should I follow them? If you want to fight, then fight,” Ling Xiao retorted.
Ling Xiao had long wanted to face off against Hua Nongying, as he’d suspected that the masked assassin who tried to kill him during a mission was none other than her.
Only through combat could he confirm this.
“Very well, I’ll capture you first, then kill your maid – consider it justice for Murong Shao,” Hua Nongying said, taking a deep breath. “Ling Xiao, oh Ling Xiao, I’ve wanted to spar with you for a while now. During that mission, you managed to defeat an early Seventh Layer Martial Master with just peak Sixth Layer Martial Vein cultivation – truly remarkable. But in front of me, you’re just a showpiece!”
As she spoke, her true essence surged violently, the terrifying aura exerting immense pressure on the surrounding Hidden Dragon Camp disciples.
“So much nonsense – let’s fight,” Ling Xiao said, unfazed.
If there was anyone in Hidden Dragon Camp he still feared, it would be General September and Dai Yuling.
Everyone else? He had no fear.
“Put down that maid, lest anyone say I’m taking advantage of you,” Hua Nongying said, glancing at Leng Mei in Ling Xiao’s arms.
“Junior brother, leave Leng Mei to me,” Ling Yixue said, appearing at the scene unnoticed.
“Thank you, Senior Sister.”
After all, Hua Nongying wasn’t like Murong Shao.
Murong Shao had only just broken through to Seventh Layer Martial Vein, his cultivation still unstable, his inner energy a chaotic mess.
Hua Nongying, however, was a mid-Seventh Layer Martial Master who had been at this level for two years. Whether it was the quantity or quality of her true essence, she far surpassed Murong Shao.
So Ling Xiao didn’t dare underestimate her. Entrusting Leng Mei to Ling Yixue put him at ease.
“Now we can fight!” Ling Xiao said, turning to Hua Nongying.
“Good!”
A flash of killing intent glinted in Hua Nongying’s eyes. As she spoke, her true essence exploded, taking on a strange rose-red hue.
A formidable aura burst forth, forcing the watching prodigies to retreat a few more steps to avoid getting caught in the fallout.
The might of a mid-Seventh Layer Martial Master was indeed impressive.
Flower-Plucking Finger!
Hua Nongying didn’t summon her soul fragment – perhaps she thought her current cultivation was enough to easily defeat Ling Xiao.
The full aura of a mid-Seventh Layer Martial Master unfurled, her terrifying true essence igniting like a roaring blaze.
Yet this ferocious energy manifested in an exquisitely graceful move.
With a single finger, it was as if a beauty were plucking a flower. The finger’s force transformed into the shape of rose petals shooting outward. Though the scene wasn’t overtly explosive, its power was undeniable.
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 that streaked through the void with a thunderous roar, as if it could pierce the earth itself.
Boom!
The meteor collided with the rose petals.
It was like two thunderclaps crashing together. The terrifying force erupted, waves of energy rolling out over a dozen metres, stirring up sand and stones, peeling a layer off the ground.
Dust filled the air, completely engulfing the two fighters.
This fearsome power forced the watching prodigies to retreat again, yet even so, they were left in disarray.
Some had their clothes entirely shredded.
Others had blood streaking their faces and hands.
They hadn’t been caught off guard – they’d fully braced themselves – yet still ended up this battered. Horror crept onto their faces as they backed off even farther.
Bull Demon Art: Ice Demon!
Meteor Fist!
A regular Meteor Fist might not keep up with Ling Xiao’s current cultivation, but in his Ice Demon form, its power rivalled top-tier martial arts.
Combined with the uncanny insight of his soul-entered state – reading his opponent like an open book – even a high-level technique like Meteor Fist became terrifying in his hands.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
In a relentless barrage, Hua Nongying found herself on the defensive, forced back step by step by Ling Xiao, the air rumbling with continuous thunder-like booms.
To the onlookers, it was as if a dozen meteors relentlessly bombarded Hua Nongying, now turned an icy white.
The chilling cold made everyone shiver involuntarily.
For a moment, Hua Nongying could only defend, with no chance to strike back.
“Impossible! I’m clearly a mid-Seventh Layer Martial Master – how can this be? Wait! You’ve broken through to Seventh Layer too!”
Hua Nongying finally realised why this fight felt so off.
She hadn’t underestimated Ling Xiao at the start, but she’d treated him as just an early Seventh Layer Martial Master.
After all, Ling Xiao had fought early Seventh Layer Masters at peak Sixth Layer.
But now she understood – Ling Xiao had broken through too. He was a Martial Master now.
If he could match an early Seventh Layer at peak Sixth, how strong was he as a Master?
No wonder Murong Shao died in one move – this kid had advanced!
The watching prodigies picked up on it too, buzzing with discussion.
“This Ling Xiao is a monster. When he arrived, he was probably just an early Sixth Layer Martial Vein cultivator, right?”
“He must’ve been hiding his strength back then.”
“Still, breaking through to Martial Master in such a short time – his talent is terrifying.”
“Right now, under the three commanders, it’s him and Ling Yixue.”
“Not necessarily – Hua Nongying’s getting pummeled with no counter.”
“Heh, Commander Hua hasn’t used her martial soul yet. And her swordsmanship is her real strength.”
“You think Ling Xiao has no martial soul? That he only knows Meteor Fist?”
“Hmph, I don’t believe Ling Xiao can actually beat Commander Hua!”
The battle raged on.
Since Hua Nongying now knew Ling Xiao had reached Martial Master, she naturally had to adjust her strategy.
Clang!
A slender longsword appeared in her hand, and behind her bloomed a massive rose.
“Oh, that’s Commander Hua’s Rose Soul Fragment – and it’s at 60% completion!”
The onlookers grew excited.
Hua Nongying was getting serious, and it thrilled them.
“That masked assassin was definitely Hua Nongying!”
Ling Xiao’s heart confirmed it.
Though Hua Nongying hadn’t used her “Flower Sword” technique yet, his terrifying perception had already detected the same aura as the masked killer.
Clink!
He drew his Ice Glass Sword and summoned his own martial soul.
This time, he chose the Giant Sword Soul.
Since it was a sword-based soul, it enhanced sword techniques more than fragments like Ghost Ship or Blood Blade.
Among his incomplete souls, aside from two fully formed ones, the Giant Sword Soul had the highest completion rate.
“Five percent martial soul completion – Ling Xiao really is full of surprises!”
Though it lagged behind Hua Nongying’s, Ling Xiao’s breakthrough had levelled up his Mountain River Martial Soul, unlocking a new ability –
True Essence Devouring!
Simple in concept: during combat, he could absorb an opponent’s spent true essence and convert it into his own.
The longer the fight, the greater his edge.
His foe’s essence dwindled while his stayed nearly full.
Not game-breaking, but against peers, it was practically an invincible advantage.
Flower Sword: Rose Whirlwind!
Hua Nongying didn’t seem worried about being recognised. There was no hard proof she was the masked killer anyway.
Besides, plenty of fighters used Flower Sword techniques or had Rose Souls – it didn’t prove anything.
And she had no choice now. Without her Flower Sword and Rose Soul, she couldn’t suppress Ling Xiao.
With a flick of her slender blade, a whirlwind roared to life, rose petals swirling within, the howling growing louder.
The ferocious storm surged with potent true essence, charging at Ling Xiao.
Giant Sword Shadow King Slash!
A specialised Shadow King Slash.
Enhanced by the Giant Sword Soul, it far outpowered the standard version.
As Ling Xiao swung his Ice Glass Sword, a towering phantom brandished a massive blade, stabbing at Hua Nongying.
The figure, four or five metres tall, moved with startling speed, no hint of clumsiness.
It thundered forward, its momentum earth-shaking.
Buzz, buzz, buzz –
The giant sword phantom clashed with the rose whirlwind, neither yielding instantly.
The whirlwind spun wildly, trying to blow the phantom away.
But the colossal figure stood rooted like a boulder, unshaken.
Crack!
The rose whirlwind split apart under the giant sword phantom, torn like paper.
“How is it this strong?!”
Hua Nongying hadn’t anticipated her Flower Sword and Rose Soul combo losing to Ling Xiao!
This was her strongest move.
This kid, post-Martial Master breakthrough, was absurdly powerful.
Fear crept into Hua Nongying’s heart, wiping away her earlier arrogance and superiority.
But she wouldn’t give up so easily.
The fight pressed on.
Though Ling Xiao still dominated, he only held a clear advantage – victory wasn’t a sure thing yet.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Boom!
The two figures darted into the sky.
Dropped to the ground.
Locked in close combat.
Blasted essence from afar.
Sand flew, winds howled.
“Ling Xiao’s not actually winning, is he?”
“No way. He’s a new Martial Master – Commander Hua’s been one longer, with thicker essence. Time drags on, Ling Xiao’s toast.”
“Right. Strike hard, then fade – first surge, then decline, then collapse. Ling Xiao’s ahead now, but he can’t end it quick. He’ll burn out.”
Ten moves, twenty, thirty…
As their clash stretched on, Ling Xiao’s attacks didn’t weaken.
They seemed to grow stronger.
The Hidden Dragon geniuses who’d doubted him gawked, their chatter dying out.
Hua Nongying, past thirty moves, started flagging.
Her essence kept draining, while Ling Xiao’s “True Essence Devouring” kept him at peak form.
One waned, the other waxed – Ling Xiao appeared to only get mightier.
This wasn’t just suppression. His recent breakthrough had only raised his realm – combat power needed testing.
Fighting Hua Nongying clarified things. Ling Xiao even experimented with new move combos.
He turned this duel into a live-fire test of his elevated realm.
Finally, after fifty moves –
Ling Xiao tanked a sword strike from Hua Nongying, then landed a fist that sent her flying, coughing blood, crashing into the crowd.
Hua Nongying’s sword left no mark on him.
He’d just wanted to test his Nine-Turn Golden Body Art at the eighth turn.
Clearly, after fifty moves, Hua Nongying’s depleted essence dropped her strikes to early Seventh Layer levels – harmless against Ling Xiao.
“Seize him now!”
Defeated, pale-faced, Hua Nongying abandoned one-on-one honour, yelling for the four enforcers to act.
“Enough!”
General September arrived, graceful as ever.
“General, Ling Xiao broke camp rules, killed Murong Shao. I came to arrest him, and he resisted, injuring me,” Hua Nongying said, wiping blood from her mouth.
“I know the full story. Murong Shao deserved it – Ling Xiao’s not at fault,” General September said calmly. “You didn’t know the details, so you’re not to blame either.”
“What’s that mean?” Hua Nongying blinked, confused.
Not just her – the onlookers were puzzled too.
General September’s voice turned icy, “Murong Shao was a spy from Tianren Academy. Is that reason enough?”
“A spy!”
“Murong Shao was a mole from the Ninja Clan!”
The camp geniuses who’d cozied up to him paled, fearing guilt by association.
General September continued, “Those tied to Murong Shao before can be forgiven – you didn’t know his identity. His infiltration was my oversight, not your fault. But going forward, train hard – don’t waste Commander Lin’s efforts.”
