Roar!
A phantom image of a white tiger burst forth from his body, its terrifying aura tearing through the rocks of Life-Death Cliff, leaving them scarred as if clawed by the beast itself.
The surrounding air shattered like glass, instantly forming a brief vacuum.
“Hahaha! An 80% complete Martial Soul Fragment! This time, Ling Xiao is doomed! Forget about defeating Li Xinghui in six moves—he’s going to lose right here!”
Feiyu laughed wildly, exhilarated.
The pressure of an 80% complete Martial Soul Fragment was overwhelming. In the entire Tianren Academy, aside from the ninja clansmen who possessed complete Ninja Spirits, this was the strongest Martial Soul Fragment one could wield.
He didn’t even dare to blink, eager to see Ling Xiao devoured and torn apart by the colossal white tiger.
Wan Ben also wore a satisfied smile.
Ling Xiao, with his terrifying potential, had aligned himself with Lin Ze. Sooner or later, he would become a threat—both to Wan Ben and Tianren Academy. His death here was nothing but good news.
On the Hidden Dragon Camp’s side, Lin Ze and General September’s expressions darkened. Just moments ago, Ling Xiao had held an overwhelming advantage.
But now, with Li Xinghui’s Martial Soul Fragment suddenly breaking through, their worries surged once more.
Only Ling Yixue remained utterly confident.
She believed Ling Xiao had anticipated this from the very beginning. To others, Li Xinghui’s breakthrough was unexpected—but to Ling Xiao, it was all part of the plan.
Many thought Ling Xiao’s greatest strength was his potential. But Ling Yixue knew better—they were all wrong.
What made Ling Xiao truly terrifying was his calculations.
“Perfect timing!”
Just as Ling Yixue had predicted, Ling Xiao had already accounted for Li Xinghui’s breakthrough.
Not only that—his relentless attacks were designed to force it.
The stronger the opponent, the greater the pressure.
And Ling Xiao intended to use that very pressure to break through his own cultivation.
For days, his training had brought him to the brink of advancement—all he needed was the right trigger.
Today, he had created that opportunity.
Or rather, Li Xinghui had delivered it to him on a silver platter.
Faced with this devastating assault, Ling Xiao’s inner energy surged violently.
A barrier within his seventh Meridian shattered.
At long last, the breakthrough he had been waiting for had arrived.
And Li Xinghui?
He was nothing more than a pawn in Ling Xiao’s game.
This wasn’t a Martial Soul Fragment breakthrough—it was his cultivation leaping from the early stage of Meridian 7 to the mid-stage.
A single minor realm might seem insignificant, but for Ling Xiao, it meant an explosive surge in power.
“Thank you, Brother Li.”
Ling Xiao grinned at Li Xinghui, his entire body radiating with newfound energy.
“This brat must die!”
Wan Ben’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.
He didn’t care that Ling Xiao was the newly accepted disciple of Grandmaster Baiyun.
He felt the threat—this boy’s schemes had not only manipulated Li Xinghui but played him for a fool as well.
As the esteemed Governor of Baiyun, how could he swallow such humiliation?
“Hahaha! This kid… had me worried for nothing! Turns out, worrying about him is pointless—he’s the most reliable one here!”
Lin Ze burst into laughter, his mood soaring as he realized Ling Xiao’s breakthrough had been orchestrated from the start.
General September muttered in awe, “I knew Ling Xiao’s talent was monstrous… but I never imagined it had reached this level.”
If Li Xinghui’s mid-battle breakthrough was shocking, then what Ling Xiao had just done was nothing short of legendary.
Breaking through under immense pressure was rare—most cases were accidental.
But to control that pressure so precisely, to harness it without wasting a single ounce?
He had never seen anything like it.
Today, he had witnessed history.
And what was even more terrifying?
The sheer force of Ling Xiao’s minor realm breakthrough surpassed even what most warriors achieved when leaping an entire major realm.
This proved one thing—Ling Xiao’s foundation was unshakable. Every step of his cultivation was solid, flawless.
**BOOM!**
With a single step forward, the phantom behind Ling Xiao shifted.
From the Blood Blade Soul Fragment to the Giant Sword Soul Fragment.
A towering sword intent erupted, its razor-sharp aura piercing the heavens—even the clouds above were split apart.
“He really has two Martial Soul Fragments?!”
“I thought it was just a rumour!”
“This is insane… Two perfected 70% Martial Soul Fragments? Is this kid even human?!”
As the crowd erupted in shock, even within the True Spirit Hall, Zuo Leng turned to Grandmaster Baiyun in disbelief.
“Master, you once said a warrior can only possess one soul auxiliary at most… So how does he have two? This defies all logic!”
Grandmaster Baiyun could only shake his head helplessly.
“Even I am at a loss… Perhaps his physical structure is simply different from ordinary humans.”
Even as a Transcendent Realm expert, this was the only explanation he could offer.
Not because he was lacking—but because the Mountain and River Martial Soul was a mystery far beyond his comprehension.
Ling Xiao gripped his sword with both hands, his gaze locking onto Li Xinghui.
As the white tiger phantom lunged, he struck.
“Pity. You won’t last until the sixth move.”
With his breakthrough, Ling Xiao’s power had skyrocketed. There was no need to drag this out.
“What’s happening?! My energy—!”
“Mine too! It’s being pulled toward the battlefield!”
The spectators suddenly realized their inner energy was being forcibly ripped from their bodies, surging toward Ling Xiao’s Giant Sword Soul Fragment.
The phantom’s aura grew even more terrifying.
Most of these geniuses were only at Meridian 7—completely powerless to resist. Their faces paled in horror.
“Heretical arts!” Wan Ben snarled, waving his hand to seal off the energy drain.
Only then did the stolen energy finally settle.
Lin Ze scoffed. “Governor, you’re mistaken. Energy naturally gravitates toward righteousness, toward the path of light. How is that heresy?”
Even he found it bizarre, but he refused to let Wan Ben slander Ling Xiao.
Wan Ben merely snorted, his attention fixed on the battle.
Though the Giant Sword Soul Fragment’s aura didn’t grow further, Ling Xiao’s attack was already primed.
**Giant Spirit Slash!**
This sword strike was terrifying.
Ruthless.
Unstoppable.
A monstrous sword shadow materialized, as if capable of splitting the heavens and earth itself.
It struck the white tiger phantom—
**BOOM!**
The moment they collided, the tiger phantom shattered like glass.
The sword shadow weakened slightly but never slowed, piercing straight through Li Xinghui’s Violet Crystal Shield—
And then through Li Xinghui himself.
The boulder behind him exploded into dust.
Li Xinghui’s body swayed… then crumpled.
Ling Xiao showed no mercy.
Nor did he need to.
He would never kill indiscriminately—but for those who sought his life?
He would never hesitate.
“NO—!”
