Batian Martial Soul

Chapter 14582 Stealing Masters

But the next second, Ling Xiao's blood started to boil!

Since embarking on the path of cultivation, he has been struggling on the edge of life and death, cutting a path forward in desperate situations.

The threat of the monitor was like a sword hanging over his head, and the safety of the Overlord Empire was like a fire burning in his eyes. He had no time to proceed step by step; he could only seek enlightenment through battle and pave his way with blood!

"Walk."

Zhang Ming said no more, his figure transformed into a streak of light, and rushed straight into the depths of the mountains.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, banishing all distracting thoughts, channeling demonic energy into his legs, and his figure shot forward like an arrow, closely following behind.

Along the way, three layers of poisonous miasma were as black as ink, and anything that touched them would cause decay. Ling Xiao used his demonic energy to protect his body and forcefully broke through them.

The seven icy ravines were bottomless, their waters so cold they could shatter a cultivator's meridians. He and Zhang Ming walked on air, their toes barely touching the water's surface, splashing up a shower of ice flowers.

After traveling for an unknown amount of time, the two finally stopped in front of a solitary peak.

Beneath the solitary peak, a colossal creature lay prostrate on the ground, resembling a Qilin but with a ferocious dragon head. Its entire body was covered in dark golden scales, each scale adorned with ancient runes, and its spines were covered with towering bone spurs, like inverted spears.

Each of its breaths was like a rumbling thunder, shaking the earth slightly and causing ripples to spread through the surrounding air.

Sensing the presence of the two, the giant beast slowly opened its eyes.

In an instant, two golden beams of light shot out from its eyes, like raging flames in a furnace, scorching the space around them and causing it to distort slightly.

It swept over Zhang Ming, finally fixing its gaze on Ling Xiao, its voice rough and hoarse like the clash of metal and stone:

"It's you again, you little rascal."

"This time, they even brought along a... ignorant little bug?"

Zhang Ming remained expressionless and spoke calmly:

"I've brought you a formidable opponent."

The giant beast's golden eyes narrowed slightly as it carefully examined Ling Xiao, and after a long while, it said:

"His demonic intent is restrained, but his foundation is solid, without the ostentation of ordinary cultivators."

"Little brat, dare you fight me?"

Ling Xiao stepped forward, his battle blade pointing diagonally at the ground, demonic energy flowing along the blade and emitting a buzzing sound.

"We are ready to fight."

"But according to the rules."

"Regardless of life or death, we will use any means necessary."

The colossal beast slowly rose, its massive body piercing the clouds, as majestic as a mountain. Each step it took caused the earth to tremble violently, cracks spreading like a spiderweb.

"The loser shall have his soul scattered and his body used as food!"

Zhang Ming flashed away and retreated to a boulder ten feet away, where he observed the situation.

He had never fought this ancient dragon, but he knew that Su Miao had fought this giant beast dozens of times, and each time he had suffered a crushing defeat with no chance of winning.

Ling Xiao narrowly defeated Su Miao; perhaps he can create a miracle today?

Ling Xiao moved!

Without any further probing, he pushed his movement technique to its limit, his body becoming a blur, like a black lightning bolt piercing straight for the Ancient Qilin Dragon's left eye... that was the thinnest part of its scales and the weakest point in its defense!

However, before the blade could even touch the dragon's eyelids, a massive, overwhelming claw slammed down from the sky!

The sheer power of his physical body whipped up a raging gale, forming an invisible wall that blocked all of Ling Xiao's space to maneuver and dodge.

At the critical moment, Ling Xiao twisted his body sharply, his battle blade touching the ground, using the recoil to somersault in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the devastating claw attack.

But the ancient dragon seemed to have predicted his landing point. Its long tail swept out like a steel whip, with a sharp whistling sound that cut through the air, and crashed solidly into the battle blade that Lingxiao was blocking!

"clang……!"

The sound of metal clashing was deafening. A terrifying force surged into Ling Xiao's body through the battle blade. He was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing into three huge rocks several meters high before he could barely regain his footing.

A metallic taste filled his throat, and blood uncontrollably spilled from the corner of his mouth, dripping down his chin and staining his chest red.

Absolute suppression!

Speed, strength, and fighting spirit—the Primordial Qilin Dragon completely overwhelmed Lingxiao!

This is the terror of an ancient species that has lived for three thousand years. Every move it makes contains combat experience honed through countless trials, without a single superfluous action.

Zhang Ming's voice drifted from the boulder, carrying a hint of solemnity:

"It has lived for three thousand years and has experienced more major battles than you have breathed."

"Don't take any chances. Show me your full strength, or today will be your death day!"

Ling Xiao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked up at the towering figure, and saw no fear in his eyes, but rather a raging fire burning within them.

In that attack just now, he keenly noticed that at the moment the dragon exerted its power, there was a barely perceptible opening and closing of the gaps in its scales... Even the most perfect defense has a momentary flaw!

"continue!"

Ling Xiao let out a low shout and charged out again.

This time, he no longer launched a direct attack, but instead pushed his movement technique to its limit, circling the Primordial Qilin Dragon like a swimming fish.

The blade flashed like falling stars, each strike precisely targeting the dragon's joints, eyelids, and the junction of its reverse scales—areas where its defenses were relatively weak.

The Primordial Qilin Dragon launched a fierce attack, with claw strikes, tail sweeps, and tooth bites, each move containing earth-shattering power. Yet, Ling Xiao always managed to dodge at the last second, by the slightest margin.

His figure moved as nimbly as the wind, and despite the overwhelming pressure, he managed to find room to maneuver.

On the boulder, Zhang Ming's eyes gradually brightened.

He could clearly see Ling Xiao dancing on the edge of a knife, each dodge meticulously calculated, each move like a chess piece, each move intricately linked.

Under the terrifying pressure of the Primordial Qilin Dragon, he was able to maintain such terrifying focus, willing to spend half an hour waiting for a fleeting opening!

The sky changed from dusk to darkness, and then from darkness to light.

The man and the beast fought for a full six hours.

The foothills crumbled, rocks flew through the air, the once meandering stream was forcibly diverted, the ground was covered with bottomless ravines, and the air was filled with the strong smell of blood and the violent aura of colliding demonic energy.

Ling Xiao was covered in blood, his clothes were torn to shreds, and his exposed skin was covered with hideous wounds. The tiger's mouth of his hand holding the knife was split open, and blood dripped down the hilt of the knife, staining the ground beneath his feet red.

But in his eyes burned an unprecedentedly intense light—a thirst for power and an unwavering determination to win!

During the six-hour battle, he did not rush to achieve victory. Instead, he adapted to the rhythm of the Qilin Dragon, learned its combat techniques, and gradually etched the combat experience of this ancient species into his own instincts.

His swordplay, initially hesitant and impatient, gradually became smooth and fluid, flowing like water, subtly conveying the fierceness and agility of the Qilin Dragon's attack.

Suddenly, the Primordial Qilin Dragon stopped its attack, its massive body pausing slightly, and a hint of human-like surprise flashed in its golden eyes:

"Little guy, are you secretly learning my 'moment'?"

Ling Xiao braced himself against the ground with his sword, breathing heavily, yet a smile played on his lips:

"You flatter me, senior."

"Interesting, really interesting."

The Primordial Qilin Dragon lowered its body, and its terrifying pressure slightly subsided:

"After three thousand years of cultivation, this is the first time I've encountered a little fellow like you."

"Let's rest for a moment, then fight again!"

"I'd like to see just how much of my skill you can steal!" (End of Chapter)