On the martial arts stage, it was as if the air itself had frozen.
Ling Feifan’s spear thrust, though not swift, completely sealed off all of Ling Xiao’s escape routes.
The entire spear seemed to blaze with fire, the air crackling with a “pop, pop” sound that sent shivers down one’s spine.
“What sort of spear technique is this? It’s terrifying!”
From the spectator stands, some disciples, unable to withstand the overwhelming force, chose to flee.
“Indeed, it’s like a spear technique straight from the Nine Nether Hells, brimming with a murderous aura!”
“Father, we can’t let this continue, both Ling Feifan and Ling Xiao are talents of our Ling family, losing either would be a great blow to the clan.”
Second Master Ling grew anxious, he could see that Ling Feifan’s strike was utterly fearsome, with an intent to kill Ling Xiao, so he shouted urgently.
“Second Brother, that’s where you’re wrong, the match isn’t over yet, and Ling Xiao hasn’t conceded, how can we stop it?”
Ling Jiu was the first to object.
“Exactly, Second Brother, I know Ling Xiao is your man, but you can’t protect him like this unless he surrenders himself.”
Ling Shisan also stood up to speak.
Ling Xiaotian frowned slightly and asked, “Ling Xiao, are you willing to concede?”
“Concede? Thank you for your concern, Clan Leader, but there’s no need!”
Ling Xiao fixed his gaze on Ling Feifan, this spear thrust didn’t frighten him, rather, it filled him with excitement.
This kind of battle was thrilling, the kind that aided his growth.
Facing the crowd’s doubts, Ling Xiao offered no further explanation, merely letting his inner aura surge, rising from Early Martial Vein Fifth Layer to Late Martial Vein Fifth Layer.
This scene stunned everyone once more.
“Did this lad eat some heavenly treasure? How is he cultivating so quickly, Late Martial Vein Fifth Layer? No wonder he fears not even Ling Feifan!”
The head referee’s expression grew solemn, he truly hadn’t expected that, even at this stage, Ling Xiao still had tricks up his sleeve.
“Come on, Ling Feifan, let’s see if this strike of yours can harm a single hair on me!”
At that moment, Ling Feifan could no longer hear Ling Xiao’s voice, all his focus was poured into this one thrust.
A thrust with no turning back!
A thrust that staked everything!
No chance for regret!
“Boom!”
Finally, the spear clashed with Ling Xiao’s hands once more, two bursts of flame shooting skyward.
With no choice, several more Ling family experts leapt forward, straining to maintain the protective barrier, narrowly preventing it from being pierced.
“Rip!”
“What? Ling Xiao’s golden body is breached!”
Those closer to the stage suddenly noticed that the golden light enveloping Ling Xiao’s fists had been pierced with a small crack by the spear’s tip.
“It seems the strongest offence is about to overcome the strongest defence!”
“My goodness, it’s finally over! To push Senior Brother Feifan to this point, Ling Xiao can hold his head high.”
“Indeed, defeated but still honourable.”
“Defeated?”
A cold smirk slid across Ling Xiao’s lips, “It’s indeed time to end this, half an hour has passed, now, it’s my turn to strike back!”
“Strike back?”
His words left the crowd below the stage dumbfounded.
So, all this time, he wasn’t powerless to retaliate, he truly intended to give Ling Feifan half an hour to attack?
This was too absurd, wasn’t it?
“Boasting, it must be boasting, his golden body’s already cracked, what else can he use to counter?”
“Exactly, his prized Nine Transformations Golden Body Art is failing.”
“Hahaha, this young man’s spirit of refusing to give up is admirable, but talking big isn’t so wise.”
On the referee’s bench, some shook their heads and chuckled.
Yet the next moment, they suddenly noticed a strange shift on the battlefield.
Bull Demon Technique: Meteor Fury Fist!
Abruptly, the flames on Ling Xiao’s body extinguished, replaced by a startling chill that, in an instant, froze the air around him solid.
Snow Lotus Qi Art!
Indeed, he had finally unleashed the Snow Lotus Qi Art, paired with his strongest offensive technique, Meteor Fury Fist.
The once blazing meteor now turned frigid, like a massive ice ball materialising and crashing straight into Ling Feifan’s spear tip.
Having reached the Transcendent Realm, the Meteor Fury Fist rivalled the power of a top-tier martial skill at the Mastery Realm!
Combined with the top-tier inner cultivation method Snow Lotus Qi Art, this was an explosive strike.
Crack!
Crack, crack, crack!
A bizarre scene unfolded on the stage.
Starting from the spear tip, Ling Feifan’s weapon was enveloped in frost, turning to ice, then the shaft, then his hand.
The purple flames darted wildly, trying to escape the chill’s assault.
But it was futile.
Ling Feifan, his qi nearly depleted, was utterly spent, unable to lend the purple flames any aid.
Ling Xiao, however, still had stamina to spare.
“Stop!”
Suddenly, a furious shout rang out from the spectator stands.
“That’s Ling Feifan’s grandfather!”
“I heard Senior Brother Feifan lost his parents young and was raised by this grandfather!”
“Right, and this grandfather is a Grand Elder of the Ling family, his status no less than the Clan Leader’s!”
Ling Xiao naturally heard the chatter, but he couldn’t stop.
He could sense that Ling Feifan still harboured enough power within to kill him.
If he stopped now, Ling Feifan would surely counterattack, and then he’d either die or be gravely injured.
So, not only did he not stop, he pressed his assault, slamming both fists into Ling Feifan’s chest.
Ling Feifan didn’t fly back.
But in that instant, his entire body froze solid, the ferocious and shocked expression on his face locked in ice.
“You wretch, I told you to stop!”
Suddenly, a figure charged onto the stage, a palm strike aimed at Ling Xiao.
The speed was too great, no one reacted in time, and no one could save Ling Xiao.
Yet that palm never landed.
Ling Xiao had anticipated it all, standing behind Ling Feifan, he calmly regarded the white-haired elder before him and said, “You must be the Grand Elder of the Ling family, do you, too, intend to break the rules of this annual competition?”
“You wretch, the annual competition forbids taking lives!”
The old man bristled, but he was powerless, if he made a move, Ling Xiao could absolutely kill Ling Feifan outright.
“Grand Elder, you jest, I haven’t taken Ling Feifan’s life.”
Ling Xiao said coolly, “It was Ling Feifan who just now truly intended to take mine.”
“Thaw him at once!”
Though a qi-stage martial artist’s body was robust, able to survive without breathing for a short time even when frozen, too long would still cause serious harm.
“Thawing him is fine, but you’ll need to agree to two conditions,” Ling Xiao said.
“You wretch, you’re in no position to bargain with me!”
“Oh? Is that so? Then forget it, you can thaw him yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn you, this chill came from the Fulong Mountain Range, apart from me, I doubt anyone can undo it, feel free to try if you don’t believe me.”
Ling Xiao grinned, suddenly using Soaring Cloud Steps to dart far away.
He needed to keep some distance from this old man, making it easier to stay on guard.
