After a long moment, Ming Tian snapped out of his daze.
His ashen face regained color, but a confident sneer curled his lips. “Ling Xiao! Truly worthy of being my junior brother. In just two months, you’ve grown this strong. But you’ll never catch up to me—never!”
…
“Hee hee, I told you, no need to worry about Junior Brother Ling’s strength. He’s not just powerful but versatile and brilliant. Jian Renwang trying to outscheme him was just asking for trouble! Yuling, Zhao Zhi, you can relax now, right?”
Below the platform, Lan Yu’er showed a flicker of surprise before her face lit up with joy.
Honestly, she’d always had faith in Ling Xiao, but his Martial Law stunned her.
Her captivating eyes sparkled with excitement as she turned to the others.
Lan Yu’er was now convinced of Ling Xiao’s extraordinary self-learning ability.
She’d worried his prolonged stay in the outer sect would limit his access to advanced martial arts.
Now, that concern seemed laughably unnecessary.
Hearing her, Dai Yuling and Zhao Zhi were thrilled.
They were even more shocked than Lan Yu’er.
They could grasp Ling Xiao’s first repulsion of Jian Renwang—his physical prowess and robust true essence explained it.
But that “Martial Law” in the second exchange? They’d never even heard of it.
Unknowingly, Ling Xiao had grown stronger—absurdly so.
“But where did he learn this Martial Law?”
Lan Yu’er, Zhao Zhi, and Dai Yuling shared the same question.
So did Hei Suo and Ming Tian.
They were certain no such martial art existed in the inner sect’s Yuehua Tower.
All eyes turned to Ling Xiao on the platform.
“This guy’s probably hiding plenty more secrets! From the day he joined the Yuehua Sect, he’s been creating miracles.”
…
At the platform’s edge, Deacon Wang, overseeing the spar, glared at the crumpled Jian Renwang, his face dark.
He was bitterly disappointed. He’d wanted to see Ling Xiao begging for mercy.
What was this?
Why was Jian Renwang the one defeated, not Ling Xiao?
He turned to Ling Xiao, searching for any sign of injury.
But the youth stood with hands behind his back, his slightly youthful face unmarred by even a speck of blood, let alone wounds.
His clothes were pristine, as if he hadn’t fought at all.
Deacon Wang sighed helplessly, preparing to climb the platform and declare the spar over. Suddenly, a powerful, malevolent aura made his face pale.
His half-jumped body froze, settling back down.
On the platform, Jian Renwang, previously limp in a pool of blood, sprang up like a demon reborn.
His once-modest true essence surged several-fold, his frame visibly bulkier.
His eyes glowed with manic red light, hair disheveled over his shoulders.
*Boom!*
An explosive gust rang out as he shot forward like lightning, the platform quaking.
The watching inner disciples gasped in shock.
Mid-charge, Jian Renwang’s face twisted into a ghastly snarl, green blood still staining his lips.
He roared, “Little beggar, your life is mine!”
After a moment of shock, Deacon Wang smirked.
He could’ve stopped Jian Renwang but chose not to.
He knew what had happened.
Fueled by rage and having taken a “Demonization Pill” from an evil alchemist, Jian Renwang’s true essence had skyrocketed, his strength surging, transforming him into a monstrous figure.
In this state, Jian Renwang’s destructive power was staggering.
Deacon Wang hoped he’d kill or at least cripple Ling Xiao before succumbing to madness, easing the hatred in his heart.
Stronger inner disciples noticed too but cared little for Ling Xiao’s fate.
They could sense Jian Renwang’s strength had spiked to peak Mortal Realm third heaven.
Against such a terrifying opponent, Ling Xiao was likely doomed—or at least gravely injured.
“Master, trouble! Jian Renwang took a Demonization Pill!”
Dai Yuling, a Medicine Hall disciple with broad knowledge of pills, recognized it from texts. Her face paled as she shouted to Lan Yu’er.
“Damn it!”
Lan Yu’er, who rarely swore, was livid. “Jian Renwang couldn’t have gotten a Demonization Pill himself. Someone gave it to him. If I find out who, they’re done!”
“Master, shouldn’t we save Ling Xiao?” Dai Yuling urged.
“Yuling, don’t worry. With me here, Ling Xiao will be fine!”
Lan Yu’er’s true essence seeped out, snaking along the platform’s cracks to envelop it. If Ling Xiao’s life was in danger, she could act instantly.
But she couldn’t intervene yet.
Sparring rules banned pills for boosting strength, but if she stepped in now, Ling Xiao wouldn’t be pleased.
She knew his temperament too well.
In the crowd, Meng Yuan smirked. He’d given Jian Renwang the Demonization Pill.
While Jian Renwang waited for Ling Xiao, Meng Yuan arrived, handed it over, and explained its use.
Against an outer disciple like Ling Xiao, he didn’t need to act himself. Given Lan Yu’er’s stance, she’d block him if he tried.
On the platform, Lan Yu’er’s threats had no effect.
In his demonized state, Jian Renwang was fixated on killing, deaf to external voices and fearless.
He was nearly upon Ling Xiao.
His hands joined, forming a strange black sword aura.
Roaring, “Demon Sword Slaughter!”
The sudden surge in strength, cloaked in malevolent aura, made the move devastating.
It whipped the air into a frenzy, creating oppressive wind pressure.
Ling Xiao’s clothes flapped loudly.
Yet his eyes never wavered, remaining cold and calm as he faced Jian Renwang.
Many expected Ling Xiao to dodge, biding his time, given his reputed agility.
But his choice defied their expectations.
