Li Xinghui had harbored resentment toward Ling Xiao since the Tianfeng City competition, later learning that his brother, Li Xingyun, was killed by Ling Xiao. Many Li Clan warriors who attacked the Ling Clan also perished at Ling Xiao’s hands. Thus, Li Xinghui had long sought revenge.
He arrived in Yunkong City before Ling Xiao and broke through to the Seventh Layer of Martial Vein earlier. Back in Tianfeng City, his cultivation was already far ahead of Ling Xiao’s, around the peak of the Sixth Layer. After recent tests, his potential was notable—three stars at ninety percent for all three aspects, considered high-tier, near peak aptitude for a Mortal Body martial artist. Trained by Wan Ben and Tianren Academy in Yunkong City, he had reached mid-Seventh Layer, confident he surpassed Ling Xiao.
Previously, Ling Xiao’s time in the Hidden Dragon Camp gave Li Xinghui no chance for vengeance. Meeting today, with Ling Xiao outshining him in potential, he couldn’t let the opportunity slip.
Ling Xiao was about to refuse but thought of the materials needed to restore the Seven-Star Flower and changed his mind. “A challenge is fine, but there should be a wager.”
“Name it!” Li Xinghui said.
“One high-grade treasure weapon, ten natural crystals!” Ling Xiao asked only for what he needed to repair the Seven-Star Flower.
“Agreed, but we fight on Baiyun Temple’s Life-and-Death Cliff, with a life-and-death contract—until one dies!” Li Xinghui gritted his teeth.
“Have you thought this through?” Ling Xiao wasn’t one to kill recklessly. He killed Li Xingyun for murdering his kin and Li Clan warriors for attacking his family. But with Li Xinghui, there was no deep enmity warranting a fight to the death.
“What, are you scared?” Li Xinghui sneered. “Is the Hidden Dragon Camp’s commander such a coward?”
“Yeah, the Hidden Dragon Camp is full of cowards!”
“Spineless!”
Tianren Academy’s geniuses began jeering.
Wan Ben added, “As a martial artist, one should disregard life and death. Only between life and death can breakthroughs occur. Lin Ze, your disciple doesn’t seem impressive.”
“He’s just kind-hearted, unwilling to cause unnecessary bloodshed,” Lin Ze said calmly.
“Hahaha, I think he’s just afraid of death,” Wan Ben mocked.
“Fine, since you seek death, I’ll oblige. To the Life-and-Death Cliff, with a life-and-death contract. But I’ll add one more wager—a quasi-Mortal martial technique!”
“No problem!” Wan Ben answered for Li Xinghui. “As governor, I guarantee if Li Xinghui dies, you’ll get what he owes.”
“With the governor’s word, I’m at ease,” Ling Xiao said with a faint smile, signing the life-and-death contract with Li Xinghui before the crowd. They proceeded to Baiyun Temple’s Life-and-Death Cliff.
The cliff was Yunkong City’s place for settling disputes beyond the law, where martial force decided outcomes, and no one was held accountable for life or death.
Ling Xiao stood there, the center of attention. Even Master Baiyun, Zuo Leng, and Ming Tian in the True Spirit Hall watched the duel through a special mirror.
“I’ve heard of a fourteen-year-old genius from the Hidden Dragon Camp named Ling Xiao—is that him?”
“Yes, only fourteen, yet already a martial master. Such talent is shocking, no wonder Master Baiyun chose him as an entry disciple.”
“They say he can wield multiple martial soul remnants—is that true?”
“Probably, rumors like that aren’t baseless. He did defeat Lu Xing.”
“Li Xinghui also defeated Lu Xing, nothing special there.”
“True, Li Xinghui surpassed Lu Xing right after reaching early Seventh Layer. With Governor Wan Ben’s training, he’s now mid-Seventh Layer, definitely stronger than Lu Xing.”
“I heard at the last monthly sparring, Li Xinghui would’ve been sent if the Hidden Dragon Camp wasn’t deemed too weak. Lu Xing took a silent loss—should’ve sent Li Xinghui.”
“Potential isn’t strength. Ling Xiao’s potential may exceed Li Xinghui’s, but his strength likely doesn’t. If he dies today, it’d be a pity.”
“Will Master Baiyun intervene?”
“If Ling Xiao were a true disciple, maybe, but as an entry disciple, Master rarely cares.”
This came from someone in the know.
Most didn’t favor Ling Xiao in this fight, especially a life-and-death battle where Li Xinghui’s brutal beast martial soul shone.
They felt it a shame—Ling Xiao’s superior potential could surpass Li Xinghui given time, but dying today would be a waste.
Hearing the chatter, Ling Xiao felt like laughing. Most of these people were seeing him for the first time—hadn’t they heard he’d already beaten Li Xinghui in Tianfeng City? He’d won once and wouldn’t lose again.
“Ling Xiao, your potential is indeed impressive, even surpassing mine,” Li Xinghui said coldly, standing opposite. “But understand, no matter how great your potential, without strength, you’ll still die!”
To him, Ling Xiao was already a corpse.
Ling Xiao replied calmly, “You’re right, potential without strength is useless. A dead man has nothing. But unfortunately, the one dying today will be you.”
“Big talk!” Li Xinghui shouted. “Don’t think you can win again just because you did once. With your strength, you’d be mid-to-low tier at Tianren Academy. The Hidden Dragon Camp is nothing.”
Belittling the Hidden Dragon Camp in front of Lin Ze was likely Wan Ben’s doing.
Lin Ze was displeased but couldn’t stoop to argue with a Seventh Layer martial artist, swallowing his anger for now.
Seeing Lin Ze’s expression, Wan Ben smirked, feigning a scolding glance at Li Xinghui, “Nonsense, how dare you slander the Hidden Dragon Camp’s strength? Though they’ve lost nearly every monthly sparring, you shouldn’t say that.”
Li Xinghui said coolly, “I’m just straightforward, speaking the truth. If I’ve offended General Lin or the Hidden Dragon Camp, I ask for forgiveness.”
“Quite the straightforward one!”
As the Hidden Dragon Camp’s commander and someone who respected Lin Ze, Ling Xiao was deeply irked by Li Xinghui’s insults. “I’d planned to spare you, considering how hard it was to reach martial master, but your words have angered me. If I can’t defeat you in six moves, I’ll take my own life!”
His words, cold and resolute, stunned everyone.
Lin Ze frowned, shaking his head. He’d thought Ling Xiao was calm and composed, but facing this situation, why had he become so impulsive?
