Chen Meng was eager to see, when Tianlong Academy is established, whether those martial artists who despised her for being close to the three southern sects would be so shocked that they’d bite their own tongues off.
By then, sects like Yuehua Sect, Beast King Palace, and Divine Sword Sect, if they didn’t submit to Tianlong Academy, would be on a path to destruction.
While Chen Meng was lost in these thoughts, Bei Duanchang was already standing in the beast-fighting arena.
However, someone was even faster than Bei Duanchang.
Not only did this person stand in the arena, but he also issued a challenge.
Seeing this person, Bei Duanchang was momentarily stunned.
Someone actually dared to stand in front of him, truly reckless.
The people of the Poison King Sect were always ruthless. If you crossed them, they’d take your life without hesitation.
This was the typical style of their sect.
This time was no exception. Bei Duanchang was a few years older than Ling Xiao, but only just. However, he was shorter than Ling Xiao. Standing behind him, he looked almost like a lackey.
This made Bei Duanchang, a vicious disciple of the Poison King Sect, furious.
“Who’s that young man?”
“No idea. Standing in front of Bei Duanchang? Isn’t that just asking for death?”
“Someone should warn him. Bei Duanchang’s methods are ruthless.”
“Even if he’s ruthless, can he just kill someone for no reason?”
“Hmph, you’re right about that. A few days ago, at a tavern, some people at the next table were talking a bit loudly, and Bei Duanchang killed them all. Poisoned them, too. Their deaths were gruesome.
Just yesterday, Bei Duanchang and another martial artist both wanted the same item. Because the other person bid higher, he killed him on the spot.
Stories like this are countless. This guy is not to be messed with.”
“How can he be so brutal? Isn’t anyone doing anything about it?”
“Do something? Who dares? Bei Duanchang is the top core disciple of the Poison King Sect, ranked third among the three southern sects, and he’s close to the Crown Prince of Beihan Kingdom. Who would dare challenge him? That’s just asking for death.”
“Tch, what a shame. A fine young man is about to meet his end.”
In the stands, murmurs of pity and discussion rose and fell.
Everyone seemed to envision Ling Xiao’s tragic fate.
But no one dared to warn him, because warning him meant offending Bei Duanchang, and they might end up dead like the young man.
At that moment, Bei Duanchang’s lips curled into a cold smirk. He glanced back at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince of Beihan Kingdom shook his head, indicating he didn’t know this young man.
Seeing this signal, Bei Duanchang acted immediately.
He pointed a finger, its tip glowing with a sickly green light, clearly laced with deadly poison.
Phantom Light Finger.
“Ah!”
Someone gasped, feeling pity for the young man, while others gloated, thinking he was foolish for offending Bei Duanchang.
But in the next moment, Bei Duanchang’s Phantom Light Finger hit nothing but air. The young man had sidestepped the attack with a light movement.
“Huh?”
Sounds of astonishment echoed. No one expected this young man to dodge Bei Duanchang’s poisonous move so effortlessly.
“Isn’t that Ling Xiao?”
At that moment, Ba Tianhu finally recognised the young man in the arena.
“It’s really Ling Xiao.”
Wang Lang, Li Hu, She Jiao, Chen Meng, and Jian Feng all recognised him too.
Those who had been shocked moments ago were no longer surprised.
For Ling Xiao, who had defeated Ba Tianhu and Chen Meng, dodging Bei Duanchang’s Phantom Light Finger didn’t seem like a big deal.
“Who’s Ling Xiao?” the Crown Prince of Beihan Kingdom asked, frowning.
“Yuehua Sect’s top core disciple,” Chen Meng said calmly.
“Hmph, so he’s from the same sect as my nephew Zhao Zhi,” the Crown Prince of Beihan Kingdom sneered, his eyes glinting with intense killing intent.
His position as Crown Prince was somewhat tainted in its acquisition.
Thus, he feared nothing more than Zhao Zhi returning to challenge his throne.
The Crown Prince looked at Ling Xiao in the arena, now facing Bei Duanchang.
“Why did you ambush me for no reason?” Ling Xiao asked coldly.
His eyes shimmered with a dark golden light, his hair turned dark gold due to the influence of his Ancient Hell Dragon Martial Soul, giving him an eerie, cold aura.
“No reason. You just stood in front of me. When you see a stone blocking your path, you naturally kick it away,” Bei Duanchang said indifferently. Though surprised that his attack didn’t kill Ling Xiao, he still looked down on the young man.
No other reason, just because he was strong, and thus confident.
“Oh, I see. So, now that you couldn’t kick this ‘stone’ away, what’s next?” Ling Xiao asked with a smile.
Bei Duanchang suddenly grinned menacingly. “You have two choices. One, stand there obediently and let me kill you, maybe you’ll die quickly. The other, get lost and leave this challenge to me.”
“Pretty arrogant. You must be a disciple of some major sect, right?” Ling Xiao asked, half-smiling.
“That’s right. I’m the top core disciple of the Poison King Sect. If you know what’s good for you, get out of my way, or I’ll show you what I’m capable of,” Bei Duanchang said loudly.
“Poison King Sect, huh? Heh, I wonder if you’re ranked in the top hundred among the twelve sects?” Ling Xiao asked.
Bei Duanchang didn’t want to answer. He wasn’t going to respond to every question. But he also wanted to show off, so he declared loudly, “Listen well, I’m ranked ninety-six among the twelve sects.”
“Ninety-six? With how arrogant you are, I thought you were one of the Six Young Masters of the Holy Dynasty. What a disappointment,” Ling Xiao sighed.
At this, many in the stands gaped. This young man had some nerve. Ranked ninety-six among the twelve sects was within the top hundred, yet he called it disappointing?
The disciples of the three southern sects glared at Ling Xiao, their eyes filled with anger. Looking down on Bei Duanchang was no different from looking down on them.
“Kid, I gave you a chance. Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit,” Bei Duanchang’s face darkened, his tone icy and laced with threat.
Ling Xiao sneered. “That’s rich. When you ambushed me from behind, I didn’t see you giving me any chances. Now you’re pretending to be the good guy?”
“Looks like you’re beyond reasoning,” Bei Duanchang said, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
The only reason he hadn’t acted yet was because he couldn’t find an opening.
His earlier rash attack had failed to kill Ling Xiao, a miscalculation. He couldn’t afford to be careless now, lest he lose face or, worse, his life.
“Enough talk, kid. You’re not strong enough. Step aside and let Bei Duanchang take the stage,” the Crown Prince of Beihan Kingdom interjected.
“And who are you?” Ling Xiao asked coldly, his expression far from friendly.
