Upon hearing Ling Luo’s words, Ling Xiao felt puzzled. He was the top-ranked disciple in Genius Hall, yet he didn’t receive the qualification to participate in the Tianfeng Gala, which was quite abnormal.
This was a rare opportunity for exchange and learning, and Ling Xiao had always been frustrated by the lack of worthy opponents. The Tianfeng Gala seemed as if it had been tailor-made for him.
He had assumed that his participation was a certainty, which was why he had been keeping an eye on the time, only to be told now that he wasn’t qualified?
"Ling Luo, don’t get angry just yet. Tell your brother what exactly is going on."
Ling Xiao didn’t act rashly; he needed to clear things up.
"I don’t know the specifics, but according to the senior brothers, the three Supreme Elders all refused to let you compete. They said you have an eccentric and solitary nature and like to stir up trouble. Afraid that you might cause some incident, they cancelled your qualification," Ling Luo said indignantly.
"Although Clan Leader still hopes you can go, it wouldn’t be right for him to confront the three Supreme Elders on your behalf. So, that’s the decision that was made."
"Who did receive the qualifications?" Ling Xiao asked.
"Ling Chen, Ling Yun, Ling Yihang, Ling Feng!" Ling Luo replied.
"Ling Chen and Ling Yihang are indeed qualified, but what about that Ling Yun? In that battle that day, I saw for myself that his strength isn’t even a match for Yi Xue Senior. What gives him the right to compete? And is that Ling Feng supposed to be a joke?"
Ling Xiao felt displeased.
"Exactly, brother," said Ling Luo, equally frustrated. "I heard that after the great competition, Ling Shuang, Ling Zhan, Ling Xiaopeng, Ling Dapeng, and others went into closed-door cultivation and couldn’t participate in this Tianfeng Gala. Ling Feifan also went out for experience. Even so, how could it be Ling Feng’s turn? He didn’t even make it to the finals."
Ling Luo was very dissatisfied.
Ling Xiao suddenly gestured for Ling Luo to stop talking, then turned towards the door.
Two people walked in from outside, one was Clan Leader Ling Xiaotian, and the other was Second Master Ling.
"Clan Leader! Second Master!"
Ling Xiao and Ling Luo saluted with a cupped fist.
"You already know about the Tianfeng Gala. The quota was decided between the three Supreme Elders and me, and it cannot be changed now. However, to compensate you for your loss, I have specially brought a top-tier Beginner Stage Martial Arts book today," said Ling Xiaotian, his attitude seemingly decent but failing to grasp what Ling Xiao truly needed.
What Ling Xiao needed was to spar with masters, not a top-tier Beginner Stage Martial Arts book.
What he needed even more was respect!
"Clan Leader, please forgive my impudence. I do not need this top-tier Beginner Stage Martial Arts book; please take it back," Ling Xiao said to Ling Xiaotian.
Although he felt fondness towards Ling Xiaotian, as the Clan Leader who couldn’t handle even this minor matter, it was very disappointing. How could he expect to win people’s hearts this way?
Compared to Ling Wuheng, this Ling Xiaotian really was past his prime.
"Father, you think you can gloss over this matter with a mere top-tier Beginner Stage Martial Arts book? Don’t you think that’s too childish? Could it be that the Ling Family has become the personal property of the three Supreme Elders?" Ling Wuheng was also feeling indignant.
Among the three people he had befriended, only Ling Yihang had finally obtained the qualification, while Ling Xiao and Ling Yixue surprisingly did not.
Ling Xiaotian’s face changed as his attitude suddenly hardened, "Enough has been said. This top-tier Martial Arts book—if you don’t want it, so be it, but this is what has been decided by the family, and you must accept it, even if you are reluctant."
With that said, his tone softened considerably, and he sighed, "Young man, I appreciate your character, but too much rigidity can break easily, and sometimes it’s better to be flexible."
With those words, he shook his head and walked away.
Perhaps there was some truth to Ling Xiaotian’s words.
But Ling Xiao could not accept them.
This was clear injustice, and he would absolutely not just swallow his pride and accept it.
Ling Yun and Ling Feng were going to the Tianfeng Gala?
"Hehe, I have a grudge against Ling Shisan, it seems I must do something about it."
He didn’t tell anyone about this plan, including Second Master Ling or Ling Yixue.
A day later, it was the very day of the grand gathering in Tianfeng City.
The Ling Family suddenly changed the list of participants for the competition; four slots became Ling Chen, Ling Xiao, Ling Yixue, and Ling Yihang.
The reason was simple.
Because the previous night, Ling Yun and Ling Feng were attacked within the family, both sustaining injuries that prevented them from competing.
Ling Shisan was furious, but he couldn’t find any trace of the perpetrator.
Although Clan Leader Ling Xiaotian suspected that Ling Xiao was behind it, he still found it hard to believe. Could Ling Xiao have really deceived Ling Shisan and inflicted serious injuries on Ling Yun and Ling Feng?
According to eyewitnesses from that night, the assailant injured Ling Yun and Ling Feng with a single move each before swiftly leaving.
Their faces were not seen clearly, and even their body movement techniques were indiscernible.
Was Ling Xiao really that powerful?
Clan Leader Ling Xiaotian and the three Supreme Elders were all doubtful.
The matter was temporarily dropped.
Of course, it was Ling Xiao who had done it; he was not so rigid. Since you don’t play by the rules, then I have no choice but to break them.
On the day of the competition, he went to the City Lord’s Mansion with Ling Yixue, Ling Yihang, Ling Chen, and ten disciples from Genius Hall tasked with support, along with the team leader Clan Leader Ling Xiaotian and Supreme Elder Lingyin.
On the way, Ling Yixue intentionally lingered behind with Ling Xiao.
"Junior Brother, it was you who did it, wasn’t it?"
"What do you think, Senior Sister?" Ling Xiao did not directly answer, but a smile laden with profound meaning said it all.
"Thank you. I wouldn’t have had the courage to do that," Ling Yixue didn’t think there was anything wrong with what Ling Xiao had done.
Like Ling Xiao, she was a disciple recruited from outside, initially swearing loyalty to the Ling Family, believing it in her heart too.
After all, they were both very grateful to the Ling Family at the beginning.
However, as time passed, many of the Ling Family’s actions had left them disheartened.
Although they wouldn’t go as far as to be enemies with the Ling Family now, the feelings of gratitude and indebtedness had long since dissipated.
To them, the Ling Family was nothing more than a place to practice martial arts, devoid of any so-called familial affection.
"It’s okay; they were the ones who broke the rules first."
Ling Xiao smiled. They had already reached the City Lord’s Mansion.
The City Lord’s Mansion of Tianfeng City occupied a vast area, and this time’s grand gathering was held on the mountain behind the mansion.
There were pavilions, towers, and each of the Four Great Clans occupied a tower with prepared teas and snacks, very thoughtful indeed.
The other families, however, could only sit in pavilions, and some even didn’t have pavilions to stay in—they had to sit on the ground.
That was the difference in treatment.
Ling Xiao had always been immersed in his cultivation and so was not very familiar with the other three families outside of the Ling Family, nor did he know if they had any experts.
However, he paid more attention to the Li Clan.
The Li Xingyun he had executed was from the Li Clan.
"Ling Xiao, you seem quite interested in the Li Clan. That man there is Li Xinghui, ranked number one among the four young masters, firmly surpassing Ling Feifan, and he is also the brother of the slain Li Xingyun!" Ling Yihang pointed to someone in the Li Clan’s tower and said.
"It looks like you don’t quite believe it. Honestly, I didn’t either, but I saw it with my own eyes. At last year’s grand gathering, it was this Li Xinghui who completely dominated and defeated the other three young masters with a single move each time!" Ling Yihang was afraid that Ling Xiao would underestimate the enemy and spoke very seriously.
"To defeat Ling Feifan with a single move? Indeed impressive!"
Although he said this, in his heart, Ling Xiao didn’t think much of it. Observing Li Xinghui’s aura, he knew that this man specialized in an unorthodox, attack-oriented style.