"Chen’er, you have just exerted yourself greatly in the battle with Shi Yu Lian. It might be better to rest for half a shichen before you take on another challenge."
At this moment, Ling Xiaotian stood up and reminded him.
This was a battle for the pinnacle, and there was no room for error.
If they could secure first place, then the Ling Family would truly stand above the other clans.
Even though Ling Chen was proud, he understood this principle.
"I don’t mind, you can rest as long as you like. Don’t mention half a shichen, even a day is fine. After all, defeating you will only take three moves," Li Xinghui said with an indifferent attitude.
Also, Ling Xiao felt that Li Xinghui was exactly like Ling Chen in his demeanor, treating everyone with disdain, and carrying a lofty attitude.
Ling Chen snorted coldly but said nothing, instead starting to rest in a seated position.
"Ling Xiao, go and challenge Li Xinghui. Test his strength on behalf of Ling Chen," Ling Xiaotian sat back down, but Supreme Elder Lingyin stood up and looked at Ling Xiao, issuing the command in his capacity as the Elder Supreme.
"You want me to pave the way for Ling Chen?"
A cold smile slid across Ling Xiao’s face.
Although you’re the Elder Supreme and I’m still a disciple of the Ling Family, and I shouldn’t openly refuse you, do you think I’m stupid? Anyway, there’s no big loss even if I fail the challenge. I’ll just play along.
With that thought, he stood up and leapt onto the first arena platform.
"Li Xinghui, what relation are you to Li Xingyun?"
Ling Xiao stood there and suddenly asked.
"Xingyun is my younger brother!"
A murderous intent flashed through Ling Xiao’s eyes.
Since Li Xingyun had killed the people he held dearest in this world, he had no good feelings toward any member of the Li Clan.
Furthermore, Li Xinghui had been continuously investigating the cause of Li Xingyun’s death. Sooner or later, his inquiries would lead back to Ling Xiao.
Instead of sitting around waiting for that to happen, it might be better to strike first.
But obviously, the arena was not the right place to strike. If he killed Li Xinghui in front of so many people, regardless of the justification, he would become the target of the Li Clan’s scrutiny.
So he decided to stick to the original plan: exchange a few moves, then feign defeat.
After Ling Chen fought Li Xinghui, he would be able to gauge the true depth of their abilities. Then, whether he chose to challenge Ling Chen or Li Xinghui, he would be much more confident.
After all, he wasn’t a deity, just a Martial Artist at the early Sixth Level Martial Vein.
Even though his ability was enhanced by his Mountain and River Martial Soul, and he was more formidable than the average young Martial Artist, he shouldn’t be careless or underestimate his enemies.
"What a pity. I encountered Li Xingyun in the Fulong Mountain Range, and we did have some fate. Although there were some misunderstandings between us, it’s really regrettable that he died in such a mysterious way," Ling Xiao sighed and said to Li Xinghui, "The Elder Supreme of my Ling Family has ordered me to challenge you. So, I must comply. Take my punch first."
After speaking, he clasped his hands together and then clenched his fists, hurling them like twin meteors wrapped in fiery light towards Li Xinghui.
At that moment, his state was still controlled at the Peak of Fifth Level Martial Pulse, and he did not use the Snow Lotus Qi Technique for this move but the Crimson Sun Technique instead.
Li Xinghui sat there, totally disinterested in even standing up, even leisurely reading a book.
Ling Xiao had yet to witness Li Xinghui’s strength, but this man’s ability to show off was definitely top-tier in Tianfeng City.
Ling Xiao chuckled to himself silently. Had he not intended to feign defeat, that punch would have definitely made the arrogant Li Xinghui suffer considerably.
He pulled back his power mid-attack.
Meteor Fist was only brought to the realm of Great Achievement.
The Crimson Sun Technique as well was only utilized to the realm of Great Achievement.
His fists, wrapped in fiery light, viciously smashed toward Li Xinghui’s head. To onlookers, the power seemed formidable, but Li Xinghui did not even spare it a glance.
He probed with his left hand, which quickly transformed into a claw, resembling the paw of a wild beast.
That instant, Ling Xiao distinctly felt the aura of Monster Beasts emanating from Li Xinghui.
What seemed like a simple grasp targeted Ling Xiao’s weakest point between his fists, tearing through the sleeves of his robe.
Even the arm protected by the "Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique" bore shallow marks from the grip.
"Oh my goodness, so strong!"
Ling Xiao allowed himself to be sent flying backward, and, as if by fate, landed precisely on the fourth arena.
Those with discerning eyes could see that Ling Xiao was feigning defeat.
Lingyin was no fool; of course, he could see through it as well.
"Ling Xiao, you truly disgrace the Ling Family!"
He cursed loudly in anger.
Sitting on the arena, Ling Xiao laughed and said, "Elder Supreme, why lose your temper? I followed your order to challenge Li Xinghui, but alas, he’s simply too strong, I couldn’t hold him off."
Everyone around burst into loud laughter upon hearing this.
They all realized that Ling Xiao had a sour relationship with the Ling Family’s Supreme Elder Lingyin and was deliberately irritating him.
"I heard that Ling Feifan is Lingyin’s grandson. Ling Xiao defeating Ling Feifan definitely wouldn’t make Lingyin happy."
"The guy won fair and square over Ling Feifan. Lingyin is really petty, huh? And he’s also the Supreme Elder of the Ling Family?"
"No wonder the Ling Family used to be so weak. With someone like him in charge, it’s no surprise. Thankfully, Ling Xiaotian recruited outside disciples, otherwise, at this Tianfeng Festival, the Ling Family would have been the joke of the day."
"Enough talk, look, someone else is challenging Li Xinghui. It’s Shi Yu Lian!"
Shi Yu Lian was truly bold. Such challenges, even if one fails, can still be immensely beneficial.
Opportunities like these don’t come often.
No wonder Shi Yu Lian had improved so much over the year; when one is free from other worries and solely focused on improvement, it’s terrifying.
As Shi Yu Lian stepped onto the stage, Ling Xiao was also recalling his recent exchange with Li Xinghui.
It might have been just one move, and he might have feigned defeat,
But from that single exchange, much could be discerned.
Li Xinghui seemed to underestimate his opponents but, in reality, he certainly did not.
Moreover, Li Xinghui’s grasp hit right at his weak spot. Though Ling Xiao could have dodged it, others might not have been able to do so.
He speculated that Li Xinghui must possess some special trait. Otherwise, a Martial Artist of this level shouldn’t be able to achieve that.
Identifying an opponent’s weakness in an instant was the most terrifying skill in Ling Xiao’s opinion.
"Yu Lian knows she is no match, but she still wishes to exchange a few moves with Young Master Xinghui. May she?"
By then, Shi Yu Lian had already taken her position opposite Li Xinghui.
"Go ahead, make your move."
Li Xinghui slowly stood up, his gaze landing on Shi Yu Lian. Perhaps it was an illusion, but for a moment, Ling Xiao saw a glint in his eyes, resembling the gaze of a poisonous snake.
"Eight Trigrams Wandering Body Palm!"
Shi Yu Lian’s expression turned serious as she initiated a top-tier elementary realm Body Movement Technique combined with Martial Skills.
This technique was a fusion of body movement and Martial Skills, both exquisitely intricate. When executed, one’s body became supple and boneless, able to twist like a serpent.
There was no doubting Shi Yu Lian’s strength.
She had successively defeated Wang Zui, Ling Yixue, and also managed a commendable fight against Ling Chen without any sign of being overpowered.
She even pressured Ling Chen to the brink of defeat in the first twenty moves.
It was only due to the gap in their levels that she ended up being slightly inferior.
Therefore, many held her in high regard for challenging Li Xinghui.