Among the twenty prodigies, only Holy Son Ji Mingkong, Qin Bixue, Hong Li, and Liu Taiyin had yet to face Ling Xiao.
Liu Taiyin was certainly no match for him. Ling Xiao was on the verge of becoming a legend, defeating five of the Holy Dynasty’s Six Princes single-handedly. Even if he lost to Ji Mingkong, Qin Bixue, or Hong Li, it wouldn’t matter much. He had already proven himself. A spot among the Six Princes was assured.
The Clearwater Divine Palace’s master looked displeased. Losing to a human was unacceptable to her. Losing to Holy Son Ji Mingkong might be tolerable, and even losing to Qin Bixue, now in the Heaven-Human Realm, could be grudgingly accepted. But losing to Ling Xiao, an opponent of equal realm, was intolerable.
“After this, throw Bai Qianjiao into the Cold Pool. She doesn’t come out until she breaks through to the Heaven-Human Realm! And Hong Li, if you can’t defeat Ling Xiao, join your sister there,” the palace master warned. Unable to act against Ling Xiao herself, she pinned her hopes on Hong Li to restore some of the palace’s dignity.
“Hah, this kid’s tough. The upcoming fights will be interesting. But Bai Qianjiao saying he’s stronger than me? What a joke!” Qin Bixue, already intrigued by Ling Xiao, grew even more interested after his fight with Bai Qianjiao. “You’d better not lose before we face off, or I’ll be disappointed!”
The Ling Xiao-Bai Qianjiao duel was the highlight of the fifteenth round, dominating discussions afterward. The anticipated Ji Mingkong versus Fire Demon Lord fight was a letdown, as Fire Demon Lord conceded without a fight.
After the fifteenth round, the warriors ate and rested longer before the sixteenth round began. The opening match was intriguing: Mo Wushang versus Long Chen. Many thought Long Chen stood no chance against Prince Mo Wushang, predicting a ten-move defeat. Though Mo Wushang had lost to Ji Mingkong, Ling Xiao, and Qin Bixue, he had never lost to others, winning with relative ease.
Yet, Long Chen’s performance was stunning. A golden dragon formed behind him, its terrifying combat and defensive power troubling even Qin Bixue. Far from a quick defeat, they fought for two hundred exchanges, neither injuring the other, and the chief referee declared a draw. Mo Wushang’s illusions were formidable, but Long Chen’s dragon aura and defence nullified them. Ling Xiao estimated a fight lasting over five hundred exchanges, with Mo Wushang likely prevailing due to his experience. However, the prodigy contest’s three-hundred-move limit forced a draw, as prolonged fights tired spectators.
The focus remained on Ling Xiao and Ji Mingkong. Ling Xiao’s opponent was Liu Taiyin, who didn’t concede but fell to a single Hell Dragon Sword strike, cementing Ling Xiao’s legend of defeating five of the Six Princes. This tale would soon spread across the Heavenly Dragon Continent.
Ji Mingkong faced Bai Qianjiao in a clash of titans. After her loss to Ling Xiao, Bai Qianjiao’s Clearwater Sword Art had improved, and her cultivation broke through to the early First Heaven stage. These prodigies, already at the Mortal Realm’s peak, needed only a spark to advance. Though defeated, Bai Qianjiao had gained much. Yet, against Ji Mingkong, she stood no chance.
On the stage, Bai Qianjiao fought with all she had, unlike Fire Demon Lord, determined to leave a mark on Ji Mingkong with her sword art. But the fight didn’t unfold as she hoped. Ji Mingkong was too strong, countering every sword technique with a single, ordinary Holy Ancestor Long Fist. Its terrifying force warped the stage’s protective barrier, which, reinforced by the chief referee and others, nearly collapsed.
“What kind of attack power is this? The barrier can’t hold!” spectators exclaimed.
“Others only broke the stage, but this barrier is far tougher, nearing the defence of a peak Two-Aspect Heaven warrior, yet it’s warping!” another said.
“Feels hopeless again,” someone sighed.
“The Holy Son is leagues above everyone else. Even Ling Xiao’s nothing before her,” a voice agreed.
“Every time she acts, it’s pure despair,” another added.
“She’s not even using her full strength. How could she rely only on that flawed Golden Grade technique?” someone noted.
“If she went all out, the barrier would be gone,” another speculated.
Not just the audience, but all young warriors except Ling Xiao were stunned. Heavenly King Sect disciples swelled with pride. With such a senior sister, their opportunities would multiply. If Ji Mingkong claimed the Nine Cauldrons’ destiny, the sect’s fortune would soar, benefiting all its members.
“Time to end this, Bai Qianjiao. You’re impressive, but far below me,” Ji Mingkong said after a few playful exchanges. Her final punch left Bai Qianjiao unable to rise, forcing her to concede.
It began with a punch and ended with one—domineering and awe-inspiring. This was the Holy Son, deemed the strongest of her generation.
“Sigh, I’m no match for you,” Bai Qianjiao admitted. “But beating me doesn’t mean you can beat Ling Xiao. You won’t know his terror until you face him.”
“What a joke!” Ji Mingkong sneered. “Ling Xiao? He’s nothing!”
