Under the sunlight, the slender sword in Ji Mingkong’s hand gleamed with an eerie light, clearly no ordinary weapon.
At the very least, it was likely an immortal-grade treasure, possibly with special effects.
Ji Mingkong’s pupils contracted slightly in her beautiful eyes, but then she smiled. “There’s no point in talking now. Back then, I sought justice for the Sword King Sect, yet you remained obstinate. I wasn’t wrong, you were!”
“Justice?” Ling Xiao wanted to laugh.
Even Ji Mingkong herself probably didn’t believe that.
“I’ve seen shameless people, but ones as shameless as you are rare,” Ling Xiao said, his face turning cold as the light from his Purple Lightning Sword grew brighter.
“Let’s begin. There’s nothing more to say to someone like you.”
Feeling the terrifying Heavenly Essence Force surging from Ling Xiao’s body, a flicker of surprise passed through Ji Mingkong’s eyes.
This kid wasn’t just posturing. A Heavenly Vein martial artist with nearly ten percent Heavenly Essence Force was something most in his realm couldn’t achieve.
No wonder he defeated Qin Bixue.
But against me, he still has no chance, she thought.
Her delicate hand gripped the slender sword, a whirlwind of Heavenly Essence Force swirling around it.
The energy spilling out clashed against the protective barrier and the arena platform.
Despite recent repairs, the arena was scarred with grooves and gashes from the sharp Heavenly Essence Force, looking unsightly.
Ji Mingkong raised her sword, pointing it at Ling Xiao, its sharp edge like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, exuding a terrifying threat.
As their Heavenly Essence Force surged, their auras grew stronger.
The atmosphere in the arena turned tense.
The air seemed to freeze, and everyone appeared as if under a spell, unable to speak or move.
Their eyes were fixed on the arena, eager to see the outcome.
Would Ling Xiao, the dark horse, triumph and defeat the six prodigies of the Holy Dynasty?
Or would Ji Mingkong defend her honour?
On the arena, Ling Xiao took a deep breath, his eyes blazing with black-gold flames.
“Ling Xiao, remember, your opponent is the Holy Son, the legal heir of the Holy Dynasty! You’d better…” the Holy Emperor called from the VIP seats, still uneasy, trying to convey his intent.
But to his frustration, before he could finish, Ling Xiao moved under everyone’s gaze. His body became a blur, thrusting his sword toward Ji Mingkong with incredible speed.
“No need for words, let’s fight!” Ling Xiao threw the remark at the Holy Emperor as his sword flashed.
Since they’d already shed all pretence, there was no need for restraint.
The fury in his chest would erupt today, without mercy!
Like a beast waiting to hunt, Ling Xiao wouldn’t stop now.
Ji Mingkong coldly watched him charge.
Her eyes held a trace of disdain.
She possessed both the Natural Dragon Soul and the inherited “Heavenly Mechanism Martial Soul” of the Holy Dynasty.
The Heavenly Mechanism Martial Soul allowed a martial artist in the Mortal Realm to fly and unleash terrifying killing techniques.
The Natural Dragon Soul gave her vitality and near-immortal recovery.
The Heavenly Mechanism Martial Soul granted her fearsome attack and defence capabilities.
So Ji Mingkong had reasons not to fear or respect Ling Xiao.
When Ling Xiao was less than ten metres away, she finally moved.
At that moment, a strange pavilion appeared behind her, covered in countless mysterious inscriptions.
This was the manifested form of the Heavenly Mechanism Martial Soul.
With a whoosh, as the pavilion’s inscriptions glowed softly, Ji Mingkong’s speed became astonishing, crossing ten metres in an instant, passing Ling Xiao.
Because of their speed, many didn’t see that in that fleeting moment, they’d clashed once, shaking the heavens.
Ji Mingkong’s eerie slender sword quivered, its sharp Heavenly Essence Force turning into sword qi aimed at Ling Xiao’s throat.
In that instant, Ling Xiao struck back.
The Purple Lightning Sword flashed with cold light, thunder crackling, easily shattering Ji Mingkong’s sword qi.
After destroying it, Ling Xiao didn’t pause.
His cold eyes gleamed with intense killing intent.
He thrust his sword at Ji Mingkong’s back.
The terrifying sword qi compressed the air almost to a solid state, causing some to hallucinate that Ji Mingkong’s body was distorting.
Feeling the fierce sword qi behind her, Ji Mingkong frowned.
She hadn’t expected Ling Xiao’s reactions and judgement to be so sharp.
She’d seen his previous fights and knew him somewhat. Though she claimed to disdain him, she was wary.
So she fought seriously.
Yet this time, Ling Xiao’s performance surpassed all his prior battles.
Frowning, Ji Mingkong thrust her slender sword backward at a bizarre angle, blocking Ling Xiao’s Purple Lightning Sword.
A metallic clang rang out, but the Purple Lightning Sword wasn’t stopped. With terrifying lightning power and destructive sword intent, Ling Xiao held the upper hand.
The slender sword bent, nearly breaking.
Gasps came from the Heavenly King Sect disciples.
They never imagined the fight would start like this, with Ling Xiao daring to face the Holy Son head-on.
But Ji Mingkong was Ji Mingkong.
Surprised but not panicked, she channelled a surge of Heavenly Essence Force into her sword. The slender blade widened instantly, its immense force sending Ling Xiao and his sword flying back.
“Is that the Heavenly Mechanism Sword?” someone in the stands recognised it.
“No mistake. She’s using the Heavenly Mechanism Sword, passed down through the Holy Dynasty, along with the Heavenly Mechanism Sword Technique!”
“Rumour has it the Heavenly Mechanism Sword is a set, ranging from mortal-grade treasures to legendary divine Heavenly Path artifacts. Who knows how many remain in the Holy Dynasty?”
“That’s not the point. The key is it’s extremely hard to master. Each level mastered unlocks a transformation of the Heavenly Mechanism Martial Soul. With thirty-six levels, only the Human King has fully mastered it.”
“Right. Other royal heirs are lucky to reach the first level by twenty. But it seems the Holy Son has mastered the third level’s ‘form transformation,’ so her Heavenly Mechanism Sword can change size.”
