The combined attack of the avatar and the true body boosted Ling Xiao’s offensive power by seventy percent. Gang Qi concentrated at the tip of his sword, piercing through Shi Fei Yu’s shoulder.
The defense of "Iron Armor Divine Skill" seemed virtually non-existent in front of this strike.
Not only that, but the sword also carried a terrifying chill that invaded the entire body. In an instant, Shi Fei Yu wanted to dodge, but it was impossible; his body was almost completely frozen.
"Thank you for the match!"
Ling Xiao withdrew his sword and then sheathed it.
It really took only one move!
It was terrifying, Ling Xiao was simply too fearsome, seemingly much more so than Ling Yihang.
"We might have underestimated him, he could be the top master among the younger generation of the Ling Family."
"He shouldn’t be a match for Ling Chen, though, since Ling Chen is already at the intermediate stage of the Martial Meridian Sixth Layer. He has a higher cultivation level than Li Xinghui, whereas Ling Xiao is only at the peak of the Fifth Level Martial Pulse."
"That’s true, but since Ling Chen hasn’t made a move, who knows how strong he is? Some with higher realms aren’t as formidable, and there are too many variables in real combat."
Ling Chen was also dumbfounded watching.
He was not ignorant of "Heavy Shadow Sword Technique," yet he always thought it was a useless set of sword techniques. Who would have thought someone could actually master it?
This Ling Xiao, he mustn’t be allowed to continue growing stronger.
Lucky for him, he had mastered only the first layer, or else it would have been truly difficult to deal with him.
In Ling Chen’s view, mastering "Heavy Shadow Sword Technique" was already extremely difficult, so he never considered the possibility that Ling Xiao had cultivated the "Heavy Shadow Sword Technique" to the fourth layer’s Great Achievement Realm.
The "Heavy Shadow Sword Technique" had only five layers in total.
Ling Xiao was just one step away from reaching the Perfect Realm. Should he reach the Perfect Realm, the "Heavy Shadow Sword Technique" would undergo new changes. However, since no one had achieved it, the records in the martial arts secret books were not very clear.
So it remained unknown to everyone.
"Hahaha, my good brother, I knew you could do it! But that move was sleek. I’ve never even heard of it!"
Ling Yihang knew Ling Xiao was strong, but it was only when Ling Xiao actually made a move that he realized how much he had underestimated him.
This guy always managed to give a pleasant surprise.
It seemed that choosing to become friends with Ling Xiao instead of enemies was indeed the right decision.
Ling Yixue’s beautiful eyes gleamed with delight. The surprise she felt surpassed even the joy of defeating Shi Fei Yu and securing the third place.
Shi Fei Yu was carried away by the Shi Clan while Ling Xiao took his place on the fourth arena.
"Well played, Ling Family—Ling Yihang steps down, and Ling Xiao steps up. It seems like Ling Xiaotian has been keeping his dignity in silence all these years, truly about to breathe easy now."
"Yeah, in the past few years at the Tianfeng Festivities, the Ling Family has always been the laughingstock. Now, out of nowhere, they have four top disciples, and Ling Feifan hasn’t even shown up yet. With Ling Feifan included, the younger generation is too formidable."
In Tianfeng City, every family had their own calculations.
Some felt the rise of the Ling Family was unstoppable, so they planned to curry favor with them.
Others planned to cripple the genius disciples of the Ling Family, preventing their rise.
Since ancient times, the struggle for power and profit among families has always been dirty and treacherous.
"Look quick, someone is challenging Shi Yu Lian!"
As the daughter of the City Lord’s Mansion and the number one beauty in Tianfeng City, Shi Yu Lian seldom faced challenges.
For one thing, nobody wanted to offend the City Lord’s Mansion, and for another, many men were reluctant to injure such a charming beauty.
However, as the Tianfeng Festivities drew near to the end, there was always someone who couldn’t hold back.
The first to challenge Shi Yu Lian was Wang Zui.
Wang Zui felt extremely aggrieved today; as the third-ranking of the Four Young Masters last year, he only secured the eighth place. How could he tolerate this?
After looking around, he decided to challenge Shi Yu Lian.
Since Shi Yu Lian hadn’t made a move, her strength was unknown, while he was uncertain of victory against those who had ranked before him.
However, Wang Zui met with tragedy once again.
Under Shi Yu Lian’s hands, he lasted for only twenty moves before defeat.
To others, Shi Yu Lian might not compare with him and Ling Yihang.
However, Ling Xiao could tell that Shi Yu Lian had gone easy on Wang Zui, holding back considerably.
This woman knew how to play her cards right, if she had defeated Wang Zui in one move, she would have seriously offended the Wang Clan.
That’s why she insisted on fighting for twenty moves.
Everything was within her calculations.
"This woman is terrifying, not only is she strong but she’s also cunning with her plans. I must be careful if I encounter her in the future."
Ling Xiao silently reminded himself, and also warned Ling Yihang and Ling Yixue.
In fact, Ling Yihang and Ling Yixue had longed to challenge Shi Yu Lian, especially since she ranked fifth and initially, everyone didn’t want to directly face a martial artist of the Four Young Masters’ level.
It was Ling Xiao who reminded them not to challenge Shi Yu Lian.
However, after Shi Yu Lian defeated Wang Zui within twenty moves, Ling Yihang forgot Ling Xiao’s words, thinking he might have a chance to win.
So he also went to challenge Shi Yu Lian.
In the end, Shi Yu Lian defeated him using twenty-one moves.
"It was indeed calculated."
Ling Xiao smiled bitterly.
This Shi Yu Lian was truly confident; even facing Ling Yihang’s domineering saber technique, she was able to handle it with ease while also calculating her moves.
Hopefully, she won’t challenge Yi Xue Senior sister—as of now, Yi Xue Senior’s strength is not yet her match.
After all, Ling Yixue hasn’t had the top martial arts for long. Given another year, she would definitely be stronger than Shi Yu Lian.
It’s like whatever you worry about always happens.
With a light laugh, Shi Yu Lian turned to Ling Yixue and said, "Among the top four, you’re the only lady. So, shall we have a little spar?"
Ling Yixue was not one to avoid a battle.
Although she believed Ling Xiao’s words, even if she knew she would lose, she would still strive not to be defeated.
Moreover, some special things had happened to her recently, which perhaps not even Ling Xiao had accounted for. Maybe she could win.
The battle between the two beauties naturally spurred countless cheers and excitement.
Their fight, at first, was by the book.
Both parrying and attacking in turn.
After twenty moves had passed,
Shi Yu Lian suddenly changed her tactic, seemingly preparing to end the fight.
Within Ling Xiao, his Mountain and River Martial Soul’s energy flowed, and in his eyes, Shi Yu Lian’s movements instantly slowed down.
"Transcendent Martial Arts Fragmentary Secret!"
There was no mistaking it—after twenty moves, Shi Yu Lian’s attacks clearly included a special mystic art.
This mystic art wasn’t a Transcendent Martial Art, but it had some of the effects of one.
Shi Yu Lian’s Transcendent Martial Arts Fragmentary Secret seemed to be able to boost attack speed instantly; previously, Ling Yihang was defeated because of this very thing.
However, Ling Yixue’s strength was already greater than Ling Yihang’s.
Ling Xiao had noticed something special about Ling Yixue during sparring sessions at the Ling Family. His Mountain and River Martial Soul could sense it.
Ling Yixue might not be human,
She was likely from the Soul Clan.
In the world of the Ancient Ten Thousand Clans, humans had the poorest aptitude for practicing martial arts unless they awakened a Martial Soul.
If Ling Yixue truly was from the Soul Clan, that would explain the rapid improvement in her strength.
"Twenty-two moves now; as expected, she couldn’t win!"
Ling Xiao nodded, suddenly taking more interest in this fight.
Perhaps, Ling Yixue might indeed win.
The special characteristics of the Soul Clan, he really didn’t understand.