The situation with Feng Renjie and Liang Xiao didn’t escape Ling Xiao’s notice. Feng Renjie’s martial soul had actually fused with Liang Xiao’s.
At this moment, Liang Xiao’s aura was many times stronger than Po Qianjun’s, granting him the absolute right to challenge the top ten.
This wasn’t against the rules, as there was no prohibition on using such secret techniques.
Liang Xiao took the stage, facing Zhai Jun.
In theory, their battle should have been evenly matched and thrilling to watch.
But in reality, Liang Xiao defeated Zhai Jun with a single palm strike.
“Sigh, this has practically become an internal battle of the Heavenly King Sect. Their talented disciples are terrifyingly numerous. Among other sects, apart from the Jade Water Divine Palace and the Mysterious Fire Sect, each with seventeen or eighteen people advancing to the second round, most have only one or two, or maybe three or four. Yet the Heavenly King Sect has almost half the total participants.”
“Having many isn’t scary. What’s scary is having many strong ones. So far, the Holy Son, Mo Wushang, and Dao Wuming all maintain perfect win records.”
“Indeed, the Holy Son and Mo Wushang are probably unbeatable.”
“Perhaps Qin Bixue from the Blood Blade Sect could put up a fight!”
“The Red Carp from the Jade Water Divine Palace isn’t weak either.”
“Hmm, it seems the fight for first place will be among these four.”
“Nonsense, have you forgotten Long Chen? Even Dai Yaoling from the Spiritual Medicine Manor lost to him. Do you dare underestimate him?”
Though Liang Xiao’s performance was astonishing, Ling Xiao’s earlier display was even more dazzling, so the discussion shifted from Liang Xiao individually to the overall strength of the Heavenly King Sect.
Everyone had their own views on the ranking battles.
Yet, so far, no one saw Ling Xiao as a strong contender for the top ten, some even thinking he was inferior to Long Chen.
“Brother Ling, these people are blind, don’t mind them.”
Long Chen stood beside Ling Xiao, having just defeated Dai Yaoling from the Spiritual Medicine Manor and come over during a break.
“Heh, why would I?”
From start to finish, Ling Xiao paid no heed to the crowd’s chatter. His only goal was Ji Mingkong.
As for the others, he didn’t care about them.
Lan Yuer sighed: “Truly, each generation produces new talents, each stronger than the last. Back at the True Demon Forbidden Land, the top hundred from the last tournament were so spirited, yet now, they’re either dead or eliminated, with only a few making it into the top hundred.”
“Indeed, the competition is fierce. New talents replace the old. If those people hadn’t been eliminated, there’d be no room for newcomers like Yu Ling, Leng Hao, Sister Lan, Long Chen, or me to break into the ranks of the outstanding.”
Ling Xiao smiled: “As it stands, the three southern sects have completely declined, with not a single person in the top hundred, while our eastern sects are thriving more than ever. Though Jian Wuji, that coward, defected to the Heavenly Dragon Academy, our Moonlight Sect has risen strongly. With Long Chen and Ying Wuya, we have six people in the ranks of the outstanding.
That’s quite rare.”
“Enough talk, it’s my turn!”
Lan Yuer was full of spirit, growing bolder with each battle.
In combat, her mastery of techniques became more refined.
Ling Xiao firmly believed that, given time, Lan Yuer could break into the ranks of the Six Princes of the Holy Dynasty.
For now, reaching the top twenty shouldn’t be too hard with a bit of guidance.
The top ten might be tough, but he could perhaps help.
“Sister Lan, wait a moment.”
Ling Xiao touched her forehead, injecting soul force to point out the weaknesses she’d shown in previous battles and suggest improvements.
In the short term, this was all he could do.
“Thank you, junior brother!”
Lan Yuer’s face lit up with surprise and joy. She knew her mastery had flaws but wasn’t clear on what they were.
Now, she understood.
In the next battle, Lan Yuer didn’t end it quickly. Instead, she used the fight to apply Ling Xiao’s advice on fixing her weaknesses.
She fully integrated these lessons into her own skills.
After nearly two hundred moves, she smiled, then struck her opponent off the stage with one palm, winning easily.
She was noticeably stronger than before.
Not only could she feel it, but her opponent could clearly sense it too.
Ling Xiao nodded with satisfaction, then shifted his focus to his group’s matches.
As for Leng Hao and Dai Yuling, their fates were up to chance.
Their strength gap made it unlikely for them to reach the top fifty. No matter how much Ling Xiao helped, it was up to them to fight for it.
The battles continued, and Ling Xiao’s opponents grew wiser, conceding one after another.
Until he faced Liang Xiao.
During this time, Liang Xiao had been on a winning streak, defeating Zhai Jun, Feng Mo Ting, Liu Lan, and Po Qianjun in succession, his momentum even fiercer than Ling Xiao’s.
So, facing Ling Xiao, he absolutely wouldn’t concede.
Before the match began, the crowd could already sense it would be a thrilling battle.
Their excitement was palpable.
They didn’t care what had happened to Liang Xiao.
They only cared about who would win this clash.
Both had unbroken win streaks, though “luckily” neither had faced Mo Wushang or the Holy Son Ji Mingkong.
Only the perceptive knew this was deliberate.
Some didn’t want Ling Xiao to face the Holy Son or Mo Wushang too soon, preferring to use Liang Xiao to test Ling Xiao’s true strength.
On the stage, Liang Xiao unleashed his fused martial soul, not only gaining all of Feng Renjie’s power temporarily but also a special ability—levitation.
It wasn’t true flight, just prolonged hovering, allowing him to engage enemies mid-air.
The stage had a formation with a thirty-metre height limit, making it easy for Liang Xiao to use his levitation technique.
Though he’d gained Feng Renjie’s power, greatly increasing his strength and easily defeating Po Qianjun, he still didn’t dare underestimate Ling Xiao.
Stepping on strange air currents, Liang Xiao looked down at Ling Xiao from above.
In his view, keeping distance made Ling Xiao’s moves easier to counter.
Levitation itself was a huge advantage.
Combined with his movement technique, his speed was remarkable. Even if Ling Xiao launched a surprise attack, at this distance, he could dodge.
Thirty metres was the basis of his confidence.
“Ling Xiao’s in trouble now, isn’t he? Who’d have thought Liang Xiao could fly? It’s not true flight, but on this small stage, it’s more than enough.”
The crowd below brightened with excitement.
