The fear and panic in Heisuo’s heart had completely vanished.
The terrifying martial soul brought by the Death Dark Flame allowed him to look down on Ling Xiao with a lofty, condescending gaze.
He flashed a smug smile and sighed, “Why did you force me to use the Death Dark Flame? I, your senior brother, didn’t want to take your life, but once this move is unleashed, even I find it terrifying and uncontrollable!”
Hypocrite!
Ling Xiao looked at Heisuo coldly, as if staring at a fool basking in borrowed glory atop a giant’s shoulders.
Suddenly, he thrust his Ice Dragon Sword forward.
Still “Flying Snow.”
His fastest strike!
“The same move, and you think it can harm me?”
Heisuo sneered as the sword came at him, a domineering aura surging skyward. The massive flame monster behind him stretched out its palm, effortlessly blocking Ling Xiao’s strike.
But at that moment, the seemingly dissipated sword strike surged in power, piercing straight through the flame monster’s palm.
“Impossible!”
Heisuo’s expression changed drastically once again.
He had lost count of how many times Ling Xiao had shocked him.
Each time, it caught him completely off guard.
“Block it!”
The pierced palm reformed, crushing Ling Xiao’s sword energy and finally neutralizing the attack.
“Something’s off!”
Just as Heisuo was about to counterattack, he suddenly noticed Ling Xiao’s other hand, previously hidden, now emerging.
In that hand was another sword.
“Damn it, I forgot this kid can multitask!”
Heisuo had seen Ling Xiao wield two swords, executing entirely different techniques simultaneously.
But he never expected to fall for it today.
The Floating Snow Sword struck, still using “Flying Snow.”
This move was fast enough that even if the opponent noticed, they couldn’t react in time.
“Pfft!”
A sword energy tore through the void, piercing Heisuo’s body, leaving a glaring streak of blood.
“Tch!”
Ling Xiao cursed inwardly, “What a pity. At the critical moment, Heisuo dodged a vital spot, or that strike would’ve killed him.”
What!
Everyone was stunned.
The onlookers!
The Moonlight Sect’s inner disciples!
The four elders!
Their gazes froze, unable to believe their eyes.
How could this happen?
How was it possible?
Heisuo had used the Death Dark Flame, not only mutating his ghost fire martial soul but also boosting his cultivation to Mortal Realm Fourth Stage Peak in an instant.
In everyone’s eyes, Ling Xiao had no chance of survival. He was doomed.
Yet, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Ling Xiao taught them a lesson they’d remember forever.
Was the opponent’s attack powerful?
Then strike first!
If you’re intimidated by their terrifying power and freeze, or instantly assume defeat, then even if you could win, you’d surely lose!
Through his actions, Ling Xiao taught everyone a lesson and gave Heisuo a painful one.
Elder Jin’s heart trembled.
In all his years, he had never seen such a terrifying young man. Despite the overwhelming disadvantage and the Demon Flame Heavenly Sovereign’s fearsome aura, Ling Xiao had pierced Heisuo’s body!
He had nearly killed Heisuo with one strike?
“No—!”
Heisuo was hit hard this time, letting out a beastly roar from his throat.
The massive flame monster behind him grew ferocious and terrifying.
It swung its enormous arms, slamming them toward Ling Xiao. The aura of destruction spread, and Heisuo had completely lost control.
“Die! Die! Die!”
Continuous roars poured from Heisuo’s mouth as the giant palms, brimming with destructive power, pounded the ground. The underground palace began to collapse, on the verge of total destruction.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~~
Figures darted out of the underground palace, landing on the open ground outside.
They didn’t want to be caught in Heisuo’s frenzied attacks—that would be too unjust a death.
Amid the giant flaming hands, one figure moved with ease, dodging the seemingly ferocious attacks as if strolling leisurely.
Ling Xiao loved facing reckless disciples.
With the power of his Mountain River Martial Soul, he could spot every flaw in his opponent, precisely calculating the attacks of rash foes.
The angrier, wilder, and more reckless the enemy, the better he could control the fight.
So, Heisuo’s attacks, though frenzied, were ultimately futile.
The glacier and ocean shadows behind Ling Xiao had vanished. Now, only the faint shadow of a black leopard loomed behind him.
“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
Heisuo couldn’t accept that his body had been pierced!
If he hadn’t dodged a vital spot at the last moment, that strike would’ve pierced his heart, killing him on the spot!
This was an utter humiliation!
At that moment, his cultivation had surged to Mortal Realm Fourth Stage Peak, yet the opponent had so easily injured him. How could he accept this?
Not to mention, he had used the Demon Flame Heavenly Sovereign’s Death Dark Flame, shaming not only himself but his master too.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, Ling Xiao, still dodging, thrust his sword at the giant flaming palm.
“Pfft!”
In that instant, Ling Xiao was sent flying by the massive palm, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
“Pah, this thing’s pretty strong!”
Landing, Ling Xiao spat out blood-tinged saliva.
The onlookers thought Ling Xiao was irrational. He could’ve just kept dodging—why go head-to-head?
“Is Ling Xiao stupid?”
“Yeah, in a pure strength contest, he’s no match for Senior Brother Heisuo. If he kept dodging and wearing him down, Heisuo wouldn’t last long.”
“This must be what they call overestimating yourself!”
“Foolish!”
Many were baffled and exasperated by Ling Xiao’s unwise move.
“You lot know nothing!”
Jinguang Heavenly Sovereign stood there, greedily eyeing Ling Xiao, as if eager to forcibly take him as a disciple.
“Do you know what battle spirit is? What a martial artist’s heart is? Ling Xiao isn’t like you cowards. Facing a strong enemy is a perfect chance to boost cultivation and strength! Who’s the fool here?”
He was right. Ling Xiao had abandoned dodging for head-on combat because he felt his cultivation was on the verge of breaking through.
If he could use this flame monster to elevate his cultivation, it would be a great opportunity.
Though he fought with cold calculation, aiming to control the battle precisely, his character brimmed with a bold, adventurous spirit—sometimes bordering on madness.
