After registration, only two days remained until the annual competition.
Even with just two days left, no one was willing to waste time.
Including Ling Xiao, nearly all the registered disciples began a short seclusion, hoping to achieve some breakthrough in these final days.
After all, many had been building up strength over the past year, and a breakthrough might be imminent.
Moreover, the trace of gang qi generously gifted by Grandpa Ling earlier had profoundly impacted many disciples.
For some, that trace of gang qi had sparked a qualitative leap in their strength.
Ling Xiao wasn’t the only one!
In those last two days, Ling Xiao worked hard and condensed ninety percent of the gang qi in his third martial vein.
The final ten percent, however, refused to budge.
It seemed he’d have to wait until the Gang Qi Pill was refined.
Anyway, even if the competition started, it would span several days, and it wasn’t unheard of for disciples to break through during the event.
The night before the annual competition.
Ling Xiao stopped all training, opting instead for a good night’s sleep.
Nothing restored stamina better than rest.
After days of intense cultivation, he truly needed it.
By now, “Soaring Cloud Steps: Dragon Transformation” had reached the third layer.
“Bull Demon Technique: Condensed Evil” had also hit the third layer.
Ling Xiao’s understanding of these two techniques was deepening.
He realized that “Bull Demon Technique” was a unique internal energy method. It could enhance any martial technique he’d absorbed, transforming them qualitatively.
For instance, “Meteor Fist” became “Bull Demon Technique: Meteor Evil Fist”;
“Hundred-Step Flying Sword Technique” turned into “Bull Demon Technique: Hundred-Step Evil Qi Sword”;
And there were others like “Bull Demon Technique: Explosive Qi Formula,” “Bull Demon Technique: Qi Recovery Formula,” “Bull Demon Technique: Red Sun Evil Qi,” and “Bull Demon Technique: Barbaric Bull Evil Qi Force,” among others.
As long as he raised the level of “Bull Demon Technique: Condensed Evil,” the power of these techniques would naturally increase—no need to train them separately.
The same technique, wielded by him, carried a different potency. This was his greatest trump card for victory.
Even without gang qi, he wouldn’t fear facing an average Martial Vein Third Layer martial artist.
“Tomorrow will mark the birth of a new legend!”
Ling Xiao glanced at the moonlight outside, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile.
In a courtyard within the Ling family’s main residence.
Under the moonlight, a figure in white moved like snow, his longsword swaying with the breeze. With one thrust, a distant boulder split apart, crumbling to dust.
The sword light flashed like lightning, its power unmatched!
This single strike, if aimed at the Howling Moon Wolf that once troubled the Li family’s disciples, would likely wound it.
A seemingly simple thrust, yet its might rivaled Li Xingyun’s Wild Wind Sword from back then.
This strike could dominate most Martial Vein Third Layer fighters.
“Feng’er, you’ve essentially grasped the essence of ‘Willow Breeze Sword.’ It wasn’t in vain that I shamelessly begged for this advanced sword technique for you. To master an advanced technique to full power at the peak of Martial Vein Third Layer is a rare feat—you should be proud!”
Standing a dozen meters away was a man in his thirties, a middle-aged martial artist. Seeing the少年’s swordsmanship reach mastery, he couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.
The少年 was Ling Feng, ranked third in the Elite Hall, and the man was his father.
“That’s not all! I’m close to grasping the trick of transforming qi into gang. If I can break through during combat, even Ling Yihang won’t be worth my notice!” Ling Feng said with a laugh.
“Let’s not mention Ling Yihang, but that kid Ling Xiao—you can easily crush him now,” the middle-aged man said.
“Ling Xiao? That little beggar? Father, do you really think I’d take him seriously?”
Ling Feng scoffed. “My goal this time is the top ten on the stone wall ranking! Ling Xiao’s nothing!”
“Hahaha, well said, well said. I was the one thinking small!”
If Ling Feng had felt a sliver of wariness toward Ling Xiao during registration, now that he’d fully mastered “Willow Breeze Sword,” he no longer saw him as a threat.
—
Elsewhere in the Ling family, in a wooden hut.
Ling Yixue was drenched in sweat.
Yet her bright eyes sparkled with excitement.
Someone sat on the windowsill, smiling at her.
“Yixue, I didn’t expect you’d condense gang qi right before the competition. Now, aside from Ling Yihang, no one in the Elite Hall can match you!”
The person on the windowsill was none other than Ling Feifan—one of Tianfeng City’s Four Young Masters and the undisputed top genius of the Genius Hall.
“Don’t call me so familiarly, Ling Feifan. We’re not that close. And don’t forget, this competition lets the Elite Hall’s top ten challenge the Genius Hall. When the time comes, you’d better not lose to me!” Ling Yixue retorted.
“Hahaha, I’ll be waiting!”
Ling Feifan stood with a hearty laugh, his gaze deepening. “You’re probably the only one who could beat me. Who can blame me for liking you?”
“Don’t get too full of yourself. Ling Yihang will absolutely be your biggest threat this time!”
“Hm, Ling Yihang’s decent. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the top three, but beating me? Heh, he’s still too green,” Ling Feifan said with a faint smile.
“Looks like you’ve done thorough research on Ling Yihang. But there’s someone else who might surprise you,” Ling Yixue said, Ling Xiao’s image flashing in her mind.
“Who?”
Ling Feifan asked.
“You’ll find out after the competition. This person might be a strong contender against you, me, and Ling Yihang.”
“Oh? I didn’t expect you to rate someone so highly, Yixue. Now I’m even more curious. Alright, I’m off. Good luck, Yixue. If you make the Elite Hall’s top ten, you’ll get to compete in the Genius Hall matches.”
With that, Ling Feifan’s figure flickered, vanishing into the night sky.
—
At the Ling family’s Ninth Elder’s mansion.
A lavish and wealthy estate.
Ling Jiu’s expression was dark.
“Chong’er, I know you don’t have much hope, but you’d better break into the top fifty this time, or don’t come asking me for anything anymore!”
“Father, I won’t just make the top fifty—I’ll use Ling Xiao as my stepping stone!” Ling Chong gritted his teeth.
Ling Jiu ignored him, turning to Ling Tieshou. “Tieshou, you lost to Ling Xiao last time because you were too careless and overconfident. Now that your ‘Giant Spirit Palm’ has reached mastery, take back your honor yourself!”
“Understood, Ninth Elder!”
Ling Tieshou clenched his jaw. “If I face Ling Xiao, I’ll make him taste the price of humiliating me!”
On registration day, his “Giant Spirit Palm” hadn’t reached full power. Now, with the aid of medicine, he’d hit that mark.
Not just for the top ten, but to wash away his shame.
—
In a secret training room, Ling Yihang suddenly opened his eyes.
“A breakthrough! Finally!”
Martial Vein Fourth Layer—Ling Yihang had broken through at this critical moment, thanks to the trace of gang qi from Grandpa Ling Xiaotian.
“Ling Feifan! It’s time your top spot changed hands!”
Among all the Genius Hall and Elite Hall disciples, Ling Yihang now only had eyes for Ling Feifan.
No one else mattered to him anymore.
