“No!”
The Black Spirit expert’s face twisted in shock, abandoning his attack to channel all his true essence into a protective barrier, hoping to defend himself fully.
The Black Spirit National Master and Black Dragon King leapt forward, attempting to rescue the expert.
But it was too late.
When Ling Xiao struck, how could he fail?
His qi sword pierced straight through the expert’s protective barrier, then through his throat, blood and flesh spraying.
Half his neck was severed, his head dangling precariously.
*Thud.*
His corpse hit the ground. Moments ago, the arrogant Black Spirit expert was now a cold, mutilated body.
Only then did the Black Dragon King and the National Master arrive. One kept a wary eye on Ling Xiao while the other checked the expert’s condition.
To their despair, the expert’s injuries weren’t just external—his organs were obliterated by sword qi.
Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal couldn’t save him.
And they were far better at killing than healing.
“Those I, Ling Xiao, aim to kill, no one can save! Knowing I nearly killed the Poison Dragon King, he still dared to charge at me. I admire his courage, but he was just a reckless fool,” Ling Xiao said, hands behind his back, standing tall as the breeze stirred his long hair and robes.
He carried the air of a grandmaster.
The others didn’t interest him—only the Black Dragon King and the National Master sparked his desire for a challenge.
Killing them would likely push his cultivation further.
He’d eliminated too many in the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, especially Ming Tian and Shen Tianlin.
He knew what awaited him outside.
He had to grow stronger, fast.
The stronger, the better!
Strong enough that no one dared falsely accuse or slander him!
Strength was a great thing—the stronger you were, the higher your status.
Your words carried weight, believed by more.
And he never forgot his parents.
Grandpa Hong Qi had said he couldn’t learn about them until his strength reached a certain level.
So, he had to grow stronger!
Stronger!
“Youngster, what vicious methods, what a ruthless heart! Killing is one thing, but was such cruelty necessary?” the Black Dragon King glared at Ling Xiao, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
Yet, Ling Xiao’s slaying of the Black Spirit expert made him more cautious, holding him back from acting rashly.
This young man was no pushover—one misstep could capsize him.
“Is that so? The old Dragon Emperor treated you with immense kindness, yet you, Black Dragon King, not only assassinated him but nearly wiped out the Golden Dragon Clan. And you dare speak to me of cruelty?”
Ling Xiao sneered, “What’s more, you conspired with the Black Spirit Organization to escape the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda and wreak havoc on the Moonlight Sect. With me here, you’ll never succeed.”
“Nonsense! What proof do you have?” the Black Dragon King retorted coldly.
“A joke. Many know you killed the old Dragon Emperor but dare not speak out. As for your collusion with the Black Spirit Organization, need I say more? The National Master beside you is one of them, and the man I just killed was too.”
Ling Xiao said calmly, “Black Spirits differ from humans and dragons in both appearance and internal structure. Care to let everyone inspect that corpse, Black Dragon King?”
“Hmph, you’re not worthy!”
The Black Dragon King snorted, “Daring to slander the National Master, I’ll kill you now to show you the Dragon Emperor’s majesty cannot be challenged!”
Then, via voice transmission, he added, “So what if you know? I’ll kill you, then slaughter the Moonlight Sect!”
“Enough talk. Let’s settle this with action!”
Ling Xiao knew reasoning with the unreasonable was pointless. Better to fight than argue.
With that, he entered his human-dragon form, true essence surging, a clear dragon’s roar echoing through the sky.
Behind him, a faint vision of mountains and rivers appeared.
For the first time, he used the Will of Mountains and Rivers to manifest a shadow of his martial soul.
The image was blurry, barely discernible.
“What kind of martial soul is this?”
Everyone here knew Ling Xiao had a martial soul, but none had seen one so grand and dazzling, as if it encompassed the entire world.
The hundreds of elites led by the Black Dragon King paled.
Even the spectating dragons were stunned.
“Kill! Everyone, attack together! Surround him, don’t let him escape!” the Black Dragon Young Master ordered.
Hundreds of elites moved, summoning earth dragons and one-eyed beasts to encircle Ling Xiao in an airtight formation.
Chivalry?
No one cared about that. Killing the enemy was the only goal.
“A bunch of idiots!”
Ling Xiao sneered, the Rain-Covering Sword gleaming in his hand.
Instantly, dark clouds rolled in, lightning flashing, thunder rumbling.
“Rain-Covering Sword: Corrosive Sword Rain!”
This was a special technique of the Rain-Covering Sword, capable of wide-area damage with a strong corrosive effect. The stronger the wielder, the more potent the corrosion, though limited to the Mortal Realm.
In an instant, torrential rain fell.
But they weren’t water droplets—they were sword blades!
Sharp, corrosive blades that could erode anything.
“Ah!”
“No!”
“What’s happening?”
Screams rang out endlessly.
In one move, hundreds of elites were reduced to dozens, the rest felled by the corrosive sword rain.
As a group attack, its power was slightly weaker, so it dealt limited damage to stronger dragon warriors.
“You bastard!”
The Black Dragon King attacked in fury, staying in human-dragon form rather than transforming fully, his black dragon claws slashing toward Ling Xiao.
Black true essence surged like a dark mountain crushing down.
“Black Mountain Claw!”
This wasn’t a dragon technique.
Ling Xiao suspected the Black Dragon King stayed in human-dragon form to use this skill, likely learned from the Black Spirit Organization or Demon Flame Heavenly Lord.
Ling Xiao didn’t retreat. His Rain-Covering Sword struck repeatedly, shattering the Black Mountain Claw’s true essence.
Seven strikes, infused with the Will of Mountains and Rivers, pulverized the claw.
Dust flew, the ground cracked.
After the clash, the Black Dragon King’s face paled, his claw trembling slightly.
Ling Xiao’s footing crumbled, his face flushed, legs shaking.
This exchange was a perfect match.
