The young man who acted was only fifteen or sixteen, yet his skill was remarkable. Without using any martial techniques, he had defeated three martial artists of similar cultivation.
If he wasn’t a genius, who would believe it?
It seemed Tianlong Continent wasn’t, as rumoured, full of trash. Geniuses existed there too.
The girl watched her three lackeys fall, heavily injured. Her face twisted with fear, anger, and confusion.
“You… how dare you!” she stammered, trembling as she backed away.
She suddenly recalled a family warning: don’t be too arrogant outside, or you might provoke someone deadly.
“Do you still want me to kneel and cripple myself?” Ling Xiao asked, stepping toward her, his face cold and merciless. He disliked bullying the weak or using his power to oppress others.
But if someone targeted him, he never held back.
Back in the Sword King Sect, when they killed members of his Divine Sword Sect, he nearly wiped out their inner disciples.
That was his way.
In this unstable world, excess mercy only hastened death.
He had already reasoned with her.
But this spoiled woman ignored him, escalating her demands to kill him and force him to destroy his martial arts.
Such humiliation enraged him.
Since he was angry, he had to act.
At this point, it wasn’t about his lack of mercy. Some people didn’t deserve it.
“Stop! You can’t kill me! Do you know who I am?” the girl cried, collapsing to the ground in panic.
She thought her three Tianmai martial artist bodyguards were enough, especially in the Shenhuang Empire’s capital, where no one would dare touch her.
But she hadn’t checked the almanac before leaving and met someone like this.
“I’m not interested in your identity,” Ling Xiao said coldly. “All I know is you’ve angered me, and this won’t end well.”
Who had he ever feared?
In Tianlong Continent, he defied the Holy Son and even clashed with the Holy Emperor.
He hadn’t struck hard today because others were present. Alone, he’d fear no one, no matter how powerful her backing. If they couldn’t catch him, it was pointless.
“What do you want?” the girl asked, truly panicked. This man was impervious to reason.
“You told me to cripple my martial arts, right?” Ling Xiao said.
“You! You want to destroy my cultivation? No! You don’t know the consequences!” she shouted, crawling backward.
“Crippling you is for your own good, to save you from provoking someone worse and losing your life,” Ling Xiao said coldly.
Once he decided, no one could change his mind.
Destroying her cultivation was already lenient.
“You dare cripple me? I’ll make you wish for death, exile your friends, enslave the men, and turn the women into camp prostitutes!” she spat viciously.
“You shouldn’t have said that. I was about to spare you, thinking you’re just a pitiful idiot. But those words make me want to kill you,” Ling Xiao said.
He hated threats against his friends and family most.
“No! What are you doing? Stop!” the girl screamed, her earlier bravado gone as he approached.
“Friend, spare those who can be spared. Why bully a girl?” a voice called out.
A figure appeared in Ling Xiao’s path, moving swiftly, with cultivation far superior to the girl’s three lackeys.
All eyes turned to the newcomer.
It was a woman in fine silk, her graceful figure striking.
Two maids followed, carrying newly bought clothes.
She had likely been on the second floor, watching everything.
Don’t think this clothing shop couldn’t attract big names. Its stock, especially imported silks from Tianlong Continent, was prized by Shenhuang Empire’s nobility.
So, notable figures appearing here wasn’t surprising.
This woman, older than the girl, perhaps in her twenties, exuded elegance and a scholarly air.
“Isn’t that Feng Yanran from Qingxu Academy? She’s here shopping. No chance for this satisfying drama now,” someone whispered.
“That spoiled girl, relying on her status, never respects anyone. She needs someone worse to tame her. Too bad Feng Yanran showed up,” another said.
“No matter how strong that boy is, he can’t afford to offend Qingxu Academy,” a third remarked.
“She’s a sight, beautiful and refined. And she’s in Qingxu Academy’s Young Phoenix Class,” another added.
“Yes, the Young Phoenix Class has only thirty students, the elite of Qingxu Academy. Cross them, and you’re asking for trouble,” someone else said.
Anyone familiar with Shenhuang Continent knew Qingxu Academy’s power. With their intervention, who would dare act?
Feng Yanran clearly knew the girl, stepping in to protect her.
Though the crowd disliked the girl, her high status meant even Feng Yanran had to help.
That was the privilege of rank and power.
Ling Xiao looked at Feng Yanran calmly.
Undeniably, she was beautiful, with a captivating aura.
But to him, it meant little. Compared to Yue Nü or Ling Yixue, she fell short, even more so against Ji Mingkong, a former Holy Son.
Having seen many beauties, Ling Xiao was immune.
Facing Feng Yanran, his expression remained indifferent.
“Are you stopping me?” he asked, frowning.
Feng Yanran felt a pang of frustration. Seeing the lovely women around Ling Xiao, her confidence turned to embarrassment, urging her to leave.
Beauty and aura needed comparison, and she fell short.
But she couldn’t leave. If the girl was crippled, it would cause a major incident.
