Peacock Plume. Ten Thousand Purples, Thousand Reds!
Suddenly, a thousand-hand phantom appeared behind Tang Jiu. His peculiar peacock plume feathers unfurled, and beams of multicoloured light shot towards Ling Xiao.
The Peacock Plume, one of the Tang Sect’s ten great hidden weapons, possessed terrifying power. When paired with the right martial techniques and true essence, it was virtually unstoppable.
“Nine-Vein Air Sword. Rising Sun Sword Rays!”
Ling Xiao didn’t draw his sword. Instead, he moved his hands, a radiant sun hovering above his head, and countless golden sword rays burst forth.
The sharp, blinding sword rays drew gasps from the onlookers.
Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop…
The sound of true essence clashing rang out continuously.
For every beam of light from the Peacock Plume, Ling Xiao’s air swords matched with an equal number of rays, their power surprisingly even.
They collided in mid-air, exploding and ultimately dissipating into nothingness.
“This kid actually broke Tang Jiu’s Peacock Plume? What’s going on? Could he really be that strong, not just boasting?”
“Boasting? I’ve heard some things about this Ling Xiao recently. They say he single-handedly took on nearly all the inner disciples of the Sword King Sect!”
“He’s no pushover!”
“Right, and did you notice? His air swords contain a trace of destructive will. If that destructive will were stronger, Tang Jiu would have been the one at a disadvantage just now.”
“And that strike wasn’t just the power of a half-step Heavenly Venerable with twenty percent strength. He’s definitely hiding his true cultivation!”
“When did the Moonlight Sect produce such a monster?”
Even the self-assured participants from the previous Martial Arts Festival were shocked by Ling Xiao’s performance.
Tang Jiu’s expression grew increasingly ferocious, like a demon from hell.
The stronger Ling Xiao proved to be, the more Tang Jiu wanted him dead.
This man could not be spared, or he would become an even greater threat in the future.
He had to be killed!
Fortunately, Tang Jiu was still stronger than Ling Xiao, so he had a chance.
“Ling Xiao, you’re hiding deep! If I let you live, you’ll surely be a disaster in the future. Today, you must die!”
Tang Jiu let out a cold shout, the Peacock Plume in his hand shining even brighter.
He had only used seventy percent of his power before, thinking it enough to kill Ling Xiao easily. Now, he prepared to unleash ninety percent, refusing to believe he couldn’t finish him off.
The Peacock Plume’s radiance flared, whipping up a gust of wind and dust. Its sharp aura forced many martial artists to hurriedly retreat from Tang Jiu’s vicinity.
Even the undead soul perched far away on its throne glanced in their direction.
The undead soul seemed not to attack unless martial artists entered a certain range, as if it were guarding something.
Ling Xiao took a deep breath, wielding the Rain-Covering Sword and the Purple Lightning Sword simultaneously.
His left hand flickered with electric light, the will of destruction rising steadily.
His right hand shimmered with red light, the will of slaughter rapidly intensifying.
Against Tang Jiu, he intended to end it in one strike to avoid prolonged trouble.
“Stop it!”
Suddenly, Yan Liehuo and Ya Qianxue appeared between them, shouting almost in unison.
Yan Liehuo, ranked fifty-first, a disciple of the third-ranked Mysterious Fire Sect among the twelve sects.
Ya Qianxue, ranked fifty-fifth, a disciple of the top-ranked Heavenly King Sect.
Their intervention drew everyone’s attention.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
Tang Jiu asked coldly.
He was wary of these two, but only wary, not afraid.
Still, he had to consider that continuing his attack might turn it into a three-against-one situation.
“Now’s not the time for infighting. You know that. Even if you want to kill Ling Xiao, it won’t be settled quickly. Let’s deal with the undead soul first.”
Ya Qianxue explained.
“Exactly, Brother Tang. You know what’s more important, don’t you? Once the undead soul is dealt with, if you still want to kill Ling Xiao, we won’t stop you.”
Yan Liehuo also urged.
“Tang Jiu, listen to them. Later, I’ll join you to take that kid down.”
Though Li Youdao was bloodthirsty, he seemed to have some sense in critical moments.
Tang Jiu’s aura didn’t relent, but he found their words reasonable. Teaming up with Li Youdao later would make killing Ling Xiao effortless.
And as Ya Qianxue rightly pointed out, even if he tried to kill Ling Xiao now, it would likely be a case of injuring the enemy by a thousand while losing eight hundred himself. Not worth it.
“Fine, I’ll give you face. I’ll deal with him later!”
Tang Jiu said, slowly retracting his true essence.
But at that moment, two sword beams flashed out.
“Outrageous!”
“Stop!”
Yan Liehuo and Ya Qianxue tried to intervene, but it was no use.
The sword beams were too fast!
Too terrifying!
In the blink of an eye, Tang Jiu’s body was cleaved into four pieces, blood splattering everywhere.
“You idiot. Did you think I’m a fish on a chopping board, to be killed or spared at your whim?”
Ling Xiao held both swords, blood still dripping from their blades.
He looked coldly at the now-dead Tang Jiu and said, “The moment you attacked me, you should have known there was no peaceful resolution between us. To retract your true essence during a fight? If you don’t die, who will?”
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Their minds were in disarray.
What just happened?
Tang Jiu tried to kill Ling Xiao, only to be killed first?
This Ling Xiao was exactly as the rumours said: he never took a loss.
“Ling Xiao, you’re courting death!”
Ya Qianxue was so furious he nearly spat blood. Yan Liehuo was also deeply displeased.
“You’re the ones courting death!”
Ling Xiao said calmly. “Has no one ever told you not to interfere in someone else’s life-and-death battle?”
“You!”
Ya Qianxue couldn’t stand it. As an inner disciple of the Heavenly King Sect with eighty percent half-step Heavenly Venerable power, his words were treated like nothing. The frustration was unbearable.
“What’s that? Are all Heavenly King Sect disciples so arrogant? The Holy Son was like this, and so are you?”
Ling Xiao said disdainfully.
In truth, among everyone, Ya Qianxue was the one he respected least.
This man specialised in soul techniques, but Ling Xiao could sense that Ya Qianxue’s soul techniques were far inferior to his own. Killing him would take mere moments.
“Damn it!”
Ya Qianxue was about to act, but Yan Liehuo stopped him.
“This kid’s trouble. Don’t act rashly!”
Yan Liehuo looked at Ling Xiao coldly and said, “You killed Tang Jiu, costing us a powerful fighter. If we can’t defeat the undead soul, none of us will get inside. How do you explain this?”
This guy was skilled at pinning blame, instantly making Ling Xiao the target of everyone’s ire.
But Ling Xiao just smiled faintly. “Do Mysterious Fire Sect people always love putting others on the spot like this? Fine, everyone step aside. I’ll handle the undead soul!
As for the rewards, I’m generous. Everyone will get a share!”
