Having broken through to the sixth level of the Martial Vein, Ling Xiao could clearly feel that his gang qi had improved significantly. In terms of sheer volume of gang qi, he was likely on par with a mid-stage seventh-level Martial Vein martial artist.
With his realm advanced, the power of his martial techniques should also increase across the board. Right now, Ling Xiao’s strongest desire was to find an opponent to spar with.
That way, he could gauge just how much his martial techniques had improved.
With this in mind, he left the training room, freshened up, ate a good meal, and went to find Ling Yihang.
Ling Yihang’s residence was close to his, and his strength wasn’t weak, making him a convenient sparring partner.
But today, the kid wasn’t home.
According to his family, Ling Yihang had gone to the Fulong Mountain Range.
Probably to hone his skills out there.
After all, Ling Yihang specialised in saber techniques, which thrived on slaughter. Without killing a fair share of demonic beasts, it’d be hard to cultivate the domineering, unrivalled essence that saber techniques demanded.
“Junior Brother, here to spar with Ling Yihang again?”
He didn’t find Ling Yihang, but Ling Xiao unexpectedly ran into Ling Yixue.
At this point, Ling Yixue had broken through to the early fifth level of the Martial Vein. That wasn’t surprising, but what was odd was the faint trace of the blue-robed woman’s aura from the forest that lingered on her.
Soul Clan?
Or had she cultivated some secret Soul Clan technique?
Ling Xiao shook his head, dismissing the thought. Whether Ling Yixue was human or what she cultivated didn’t concern him.
All he needed to know was that she treated him well, and that was enough.
“Yeah, I just had a breakthrough, so I wanted to test myself against Ling Yihang, but he’s not around.”
Ling Xiao gave a wry smile.
“No worries, I’ll be your sparring partner. I’ve got some things I need to test out too.”
Ling Yixue smiled lightly.
“That’s perfect.”
Ling Xiao’s hands were itching for action. Having just broken through, he was eager to verify his strength, and Ling Yixue was a suitable opponent.
“Since Senior Sister is helping me out today, you can make the first move.”
Ling Xiao gestured politely.
“Then I won’t hold back.”
Ling Yixue nodded. “Junior Brother, be careful. This move is a family heirloom technique, not something from the Ling Clan. I don’t even know its exact level, but it’s very powerful.”
“Got it!”
Ling Xiao didn’t dare take it lightly and assumed a defensive stance.
“Here it comes!”
With a soft cry, Ling Yixue didn’t seem to move much, but Ling Xiao felt an intense sense of danger.
“From below?”
In that instant, Ling Xiao leapt into the air. His entry-level top-tier movement technique, Soaring Cloud Steps: Dragon Transformation, failed to escape as a lotus flower from underground latched onto his right leg.
Then, the ice lotus froze in an instant, locking his right leg in place.
“Break!”
Ling Xiao unleashed his gang qi, easily shattering the ice and breaking free.
But consider this: he was using the gang qi of a sixth-level Martial Vein cultivator.
“Pfft!”
Ling Yixue suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and smiled bitterly. “With this move, I can instantly kill a low-tier sixth-level demonic beast. I didn’t expect it to do absolutely no damage to you, Junior Brother.”
“Senior Sister, is that a secret technique?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Yes, it’s a family secret technique engraved in my mind—Earth Core Ice Lotus Binding. It’s divided into nine layers, and I’ve only cultivated it to the limit of minor mastery, the third layer.”
Ling Yixue answered.
“If I’m not mistaken, it requires both gang qi and soul power, right?”
“Yes, Junior Brother, how did you know?”
Ling Yixue asked, surprised.
“Senior Sister, come here for a sec!”
Ling Xiao beckoned her over.
Though a bit puzzled, Ling Yixue trusted Ling Xiao enough to believe he wouldn’t harm her, so she walked over.
Suddenly, Ling Xiao pressed a finger to her forehead, and their souls made brief, intimate contact.
“Soul Condensation Technique? An entry-level top-tier secret technique? One specifically for cultivating soul power?”
Ling Yixue stared at Ling Xiao in shock. “Junior Brother, this isn’t right. If the clan finds out you passed this to me, you could get in trouble.”
“What’s the big deal? Ling Shisan, Ling Jiu, and others pass advanced martial techniques to their useless sons all the time.”
Ling Xiao shrugged it off.
He didn’t want to be a lone wolf. At the very least, he needed to build a few friendships—or allies—within the clan.
Ling Yixue was one, and Ling Yihang was another. That way, if something happened, he wouldn’t have to face it alone.
Besides, the Soul Condensation Technique wasn’t some extraordinary top-tier martial art—it was just entry-level. Techniques like this could still be bought at auctions.
“Alright, then thank you, Junior Brother. But as a return gift, I won’t hold back either. I’ll pass you the Earth Core Ice Lotus Binding.”
Ling Yixue thought it over and shared her secret technique with Ling Xiao.
Though it was a family heirloom, as long as it wasn’t a mortal-level technique, passing it on wasn’t a big deal. Plus, she didn’t like owing anyone favours.
Ling Xiao shook his head. “If I’m not mistaken, Earth Core Ice Lotus Binding should be a superior top-tier martial art. How about this: I’ll accept it, but I’ll give you another top-tier martial art as compensation.”
He’d obtained six top-tier martial arts from the third floor of the library. He’d learned three, leaving three that didn’t suit him.
One of them, an entry-level top-tier defensive technique called Seven-Coloured霞衣 (Seven-Coloured Glow Garment), wasn’t as good as the Nine-Turn Golden Body Technique but was easier to cultivate and suited only female practitioners.
It was like passing on a borrowed flower, really.
Ling Yixue didn’t refuse further, and the two exchanged techniques, both feeling quite satisfied.
That fleeting moment of soul contact earlier went unspoken, but they both knew it had brought them closer.
“Senior Sister, the key to Earth Core Ice Lotus Binding is soul power—gang qi is just supplementary. When you used it earlier, there was a slight misstep. This technique shines in ambushes. If you catch an opponent off guard in battle, it’s almost guaranteed to hit.”
Ling Xiao advised.
“Thanks for the tip, Junior Brother. Now, let me see what you’ve got.”
Ling Yixue knew she wasn’t Ling Xiao’s match, but since she’d agreed to spar, she wouldn’t back out.
Ling Xiao, of course, wouldn’t overwhelm her with his realm—that wouldn’t test anything. He planned to suppress his strength to match Ling Yixue’s level and test the power of his Heavy Shadow Sword Technique.
The result was astonishing.
Ling Yixue blocked Ling Xiao’s attack, only to realise it was a shadow clone.
In the end, she was powerless as Ling Xiao placed his sword against her neck.
“Junior Brother, you’ve actually mastered the legendary Heavy Shadow Sword Technique? This is a top-tier martial art deemed impossible to cultivate within the Ling Clan. No one who enters the third floor of the library ever picks it.”
Ling Yixue was utterly stunned.
Ling Xiao was becoming more mysterious to her by the minute.
“Just got lucky.”
Ling Xiao smiled, offering no further explanation.
Ling Yixue didn’t press him. She wasn’t the type to pester. Everyone had their secrets, and pushing too hard would only annoy people.
“Ling Yixue, you filthy woman!”
Suddenly, a furious shout rang out from atop the wall.
