Worthy of the Twelve Sects, the disciples here are truly strong!
Lan Yuer glanced at Ling Xiao, hoping to see a trace of panic or fear on his face, something to balance her own feelings.
Yet, not only was Ling Xiao free of fear, he wore a faint smile.
No way, was this kid hiding his strength?
That was the only explanation, why else would he be unfazed by such a clash of titans?
“Ling Xiao, there’s still time to back out!”
Yang Cheng, on the challenge platform, smirked at Ling Xiao, brimming with confidence.
“Back out? Why would I?”
Ling Xiao strolled onto the platform, beckoning Li Anle below, “I’ll deal with you first, then Yang Cheng. Yang Cheng, you’d better go rest up.”
“Utterly clueless!”
Yang Cheng snorted, leaping off the platform, where a seat for resting awaited him.
Li Anle chuckled, “Brother Yang, you might not get a turn. If he can’t even beat me, he’s got no right to face you.”
“Don’t be careless, remember last time.”
“Relax, Brother Yang, I won’t underestimate him or hold back.”
With that, Li Anle sprang onto the platform.
Compared to the earlier half-step master duel, this fight drew more eyes.
A Martial Vein Eighth Peak warrior challenging a half-step master, the gap was massive.
In Moonlight Sect’s history, this was unprecedented.
Many came just to see Ling Xiao get crushed.
Especially after seeing him with Lan Yuer, that urge grew stronger.
“Outer disciple Ling Xiao challenges rank twenty-six, Li Anle!”
Elder Bai announced, expressionless.
Though he didn’t favor Ling Xiao, he held a sliver of anticipation.
The outer sect, with fewer recruits and top talents siphoned to the inner sect or taken as personal disciples by inner sect elders, lacked true geniuses. Cross-tier challenges happened, but never succeeded.
Thus, the top thirty, aside from rank shifts, saw no new blood through challenges.
Only when a top-thirty disciple reached Mortal Realm and joined the inner sect would a spot open.
This dulled the outer disciples’ competitive drive, the top thirty faced little pressure.
That wouldn’t do, he wanted change, a lesson for them.
He hoped someone could break through, stirring this stagnant pool.
But while he thought this, others didn’t.
Hearing the names, the crowd erupted in mocking laughter, showing Ling Xiao no respect. Some even hurled eggs and rotten vegetables at him.
“Scram!”
Ling Xiao wasn’t one to take abuse. He roared, true essence surging, sending the eggs and vegetables back like hidden weapons.
Those who threw them, caught off guard, were struck, blood streaming from their heads.
To an expert, even rotten leaves were weapons.
“Who’s causing a ruckus? Get out! Disgraceful!”
Elder Bai snapped, his terrifying aura blanketing the plaza.
The outer disciples fell silent, cowed.
His Mortal Ninth Heaven aura could drive one to despair.
No one dared shout.
Those hit didn’t dare either, quietly treating their wounds with healing salves.
“Heh, quite the show, but you’re out of luck facing me!”
Li Anle grinned at Ling Xiao.
“A defeated foe dares talk like that?”
Ling Xiao said coldly.
“I underestimated you that day, not today.”
Li Anle stressed.
“Less talk. I beat you in one move then, and I can do it again!”
As he spoke, Ling Xiao moved.
To him, Li Anle wasn’t worth sparring, he just wanted to vent for Wu Xiang and himself.
So he struck without giving Li Anle a chance.
In that instant, Li Anle only saw Ling Xiao move.
The next moment, he felt his body flung back, crashing heavily to the ground.
A gaping, bloody hole marred his chest, gruesome.
“Agh!”
Li Anle wailed like a slaughtered pig, writhing in pain.
“Elder Bai, this challenge is over, right?”
Ling Xiao turned to the stunned Elder Bai.
“Yes, yes, it’s over. Ling Xiao versus Li Anle, Ling Xiao wins!”
Though a seasoned expert, Elder Bai had never seen a Martial Vein Eighth Peak warrior cripple a half-step master in one move.
On closer look, Ling Xiao’s right hand had turned into a beastly claw, resembling a dragon’s.
Ling Xiao had fused “Slaughter” from one technique with “Demonization” from another, creating this staggering effect.
Even he was surprised.
This was just partial demonization, the amplification was incredible.
“Yang Cheng, get up here!”
After defeating Li Anle, Ling Xiao didn’t pause, directly calling out Yang Cheng.
“We’ve both just fought, so it’s fair!”
Yang Cheng, still reeling from shock, snapped to attention at Ling Xiao’s call, his eyes flashing with ferocity as he leaped onto the platform.
Li Anle’s defeat was too swift.
He hadn’t expected it, nor seen how Ling Xiao won.
But he was confident he wouldn’t lose, after all, he could also one-shot Li Anle.
He forgot Ling Xiao had done so at Martial Vein Eighth Peak.
To him, Ling Xiao was barely on par with Liu Qiang, still just a loser to him.
On the platform, Ling Xiao and Yang Cheng faced each other.
“Ling Xiao challenges outer sect rank ten, Yang Cheng, begin!”
Elder Bai, recovered from shock, fixed his gaze on Ling Xiao, hoping to glean something from the boy’s fight.
This youth’s combat skill mastery far surpassed his own.
The earlier scene ended too fast for most to follow, but he saw clearly.
Ling Xiao’s strength wasn’t just in moves, but in combat tactics, achieving maximum impact with minimal effort.
“Ling Xiao, you think beating Li Anle qualifies you to challenge me?”
