Below the challenge platform, nearly everyone expected Ling Xiao to dodge, evading the onslaught of the empowered Jian Renwang.
Yet, to their surprise, Ling Xiao showed no intent to retreat. He stood firm, calmly assuming a stance.
His fists clenched, and a faint phantom of a Ghost King shimmered around him.
In that moment, Ling Xiao seemed like a terrifying Ghost King poised to strike. Seconds later, his fists roared forward.
“Foolish!”
Seeing Ling Xiao attempt to meet Jian Renwang head-on, Meng Yuan sneered inwardly, mocking him.
A peak Mortal Realm third heaven martial artist, comparable to a mere outer sect half-step master?
“Celestial Phenomenon of Thunder: Ghost King Annihilation!”
Thunder rumbled overhead, deafening.
In that instant, Ling Xiao’s fists, under countless stunned gazes, collided with Jian Renwang’s Demon Sword Slaughter.
*Bang!*
Their fists met in midair.
After a brief silence, the red glow in Jian Renwang’s eyes vanished, his ferocious expression turning deathly pale.
Blood mixed with organ fragments sprayed from his mouth.
Ling Xiao deftly sidestepped the gushing blood, his face cold as he pushed his fists forward.
His arms seemed to crackle with thunder.
With a thunderous boom, Jian Renwang’s body, like fragments scattered by a lightning bomb, flew off the platform under countless horrified stares, crashing into the crowd.
The bizarre scene made Deacon Wang, Hei Suo, Meng Yuan, and Ming Tian’s pupils shrink, each drawing a sharp breath.
A half-step master defeating a peak Mortal Realm third heaven martial artist?
Ling Xiao’s not-so-tall figure suddenly seemed terrifying and mysterious.
The crowd stared at Jian Renwang, embedded over a foot into the ground.
The outcome—Jian Renwang’s fate uncertain—was unthinkable.
Moments later, their gazes returned to Ling Xiao, as if beholding a monster.
They might not know what pill Jian Renwang took, but they felt his strength surge to near or at peak Mortal Realm third heaven.
Yet, against all expectations, the vastly empowered Jian Renwang lost so miserably and decisively.
One punch!
A thunder-infused punch nearly shattered Jian Renwang’s body.
Below, Lan Yu’er withdrew her true essence.
But the sudden turn left her unsettled.
“What a terrifying technique! What level is this power? Precious-grade gold? High-tier? Top-tier? No way!”
Her graceful figure trembled, betraying her inner turmoil.
As one of the Yuehua Sect’s ten core disciples, she’d trained in top-tier gold-grade martial arts.
That’s why she knew their difficulty.
Even with her talent, mastering the basics was an achievement. How could an outer disciple like Ling Xiao manage it?
After prolonged shock, she regained her composure.
Analyzing Ling Xiao’s technique, she realized it was a fusion of two martial arts.
One was likely an entry-level gold-grade technique, unlisted in the Yuehua Sect but documented.
But the other, paired with it—what was it?
Could it be…?
Lan Yu’er grew worried.
She knew the risks of that technique. When had Ling Xiao learned it?
…
On the platform, Ling Xiao exhaled slowly, the thunder fading as he retracted his true essence-clad hands.
A pity—the fight ended too quickly. Jian Renwang didn’t even have time to summon his martial soul.
Martial artists rarely deployed their martial souls early in combat.
While they offered immense power, the cost was equally steep.
Brushing off the dirt, Ling Xiao glanced indifferently at Jian Renwang, unconscious below.
He’d controlled his force precisely to avoid killing Jian Renwang.
Not out of kindness, but due to sect rules.
He didn’t want to give anyone an excuse to target him.
Jian Renwang’s coma likely stemmed from the poison and the Demonization Pill’s side effects.
If he died from those, it wasn’t on Ling Xiao.
He was furious, wishing Jian Renwang would just die.
That moment had been perilous.
If he hadn’t unleashed his Mortal Realm second heaven true essence at the last second, Jian Renwang might’ve killed him.
Since the man was so ruthless, why play the naive saint?
Ling Xiao was no saint, never blindly pitying or sparing without principle.
Shifting his gaze, he ignored Jian Renwang’s state and looked at Deacon Wang. “Deacon Wang, the spar’s over, right?”
“Oh!”
Deacon Wang swallowed hard, snapping out of his shock.
Ling Xiao’s performance had far exceeded his expectations.
He was loath to end the fight.
But the outcome was clear—what could he do?
As he prepared to announce the result, someone stepped from the crowd, stopping him.
“Wait, Deacon Wang. Sect rules state that an outer disciple killing or severely crippling an inner disciple in a spar faces death!”
It was Meng Yuan—Demonic Flame Heavenly Venerable’s top disciple and one of the ten core disciples.
He spoke with an air of fairness.
“Look, it’s Meng Yuan!”
“So handsome!”
“A core disciple’s presence is unmatched!”
As a core disciple, Meng Yuan was not only powerful but dashing, with a scholarly warrior’s charm, earning him many inner sect fans.
His tone seemed just, but Ling Xiao, Lan Yu’er, and Dai Yuling saw through it—he was clearly looking for trouble.
Lan Yu’er’s brows furrowed. “Meng Yuan, what are you playing at?”
Meng Yuan smiled faintly. “Senior Sister Lan, it’s not about me. It’s the sect rules. Jian Renwang is an inner disciple. This outer sect trash was so vicious, severely injuring him. Per the rules, that’s a death sentence!”
Before Lan Yu’er could respond, Ling Xiao scoffed. “This senior brother’s words are laughable!”
“What did you say?”
Meng Yuan’s eyes flashed with killing intent. “What right do you have to speak to me, you outer sect garbage?”
