bookandnovel Chapter 14576 Challenge
Chapter 14576 Challenge
Lin Muying stood up, walked to the palace gate, looked at the gloomy sky outside, and her tone was filled with resentment and struggle:
“Qingluan never speaks recklessly. Since she says so, the waters behind Lingxiao are probably much deeper than we imagine. If we harm him, even if we manage to obtain the treasure, the foundation of my Jueling City, built up over thousands of years, may not be able to withstand that catastrophic disaster…”
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, the turmoil in her eyes had been forcibly suppressed, leaving only a cold resolve: "Pass down the order! No one within the territory of my Jueling City is allowed to provoke Ling Xiao, let alone try to take anything from him!"
"...Yes, sir." The old man in black bowed and replied, his figure slowly dissipating into the hall like smoke.
At this moment, Lin Lang, who had been waiting outside the hall, hurriedly ran in, bowed deeply, and spoke with suppressed resentment and unwillingness:
"Lord! I have urgent news to report! A newcomer named Ling Xiao arrived at the Death Arena today. He is arrogant and domineering, and his martial arts are unpredictable and ruthless. He not only seriously injured me, but also forcibly stole Source Crystals. He openly defied the rules of the Death Arena and is simply lawless!"
“I know.” Lin Muying interrupted him, her tone leaving no room for doubt, her eyes as cold as frost. “This person is someone you cannot afford to offend, nor can you touch. Go down, and do not mention this matter again.”
Lin Lang was stunned. He looked up abruptly and met the city lord's cold eyes. A chill ran through him, and all his resentment and bitterness were instantly suppressed by fear.
He quickly lowered his head and respectfully replied, "Yes! Your subordinate understands!" As he turned to leave, his back was already soaked with cold sweat... Even the city lord was so wary of that kid; his previous desire for revenge was simply courting death!
……
In the desolate village on the edge of the Deathmatch Arena, a cold wind howls amidst the broken walls and ruins.
Ling Xiao casually sat on a broken stone tablet, which was covered with blurry ancient patterns, revealing the vicissitudes of time.
He held the black knife in his hand, a rough whetstone slowly polishing the blade, the eerie light flowing across the edge, illuminating his profile with a cold and distinct look.
Zhang Ming stood not far away, watching him with a furrowed brow.
"You were too impulsive," Zhang Ming couldn't help but say, his tone tinged with worry.
"Lin Lang is a veteran of the deathmatch arena, and he has some authority over challenge matching and arena scheduling. You have completely offended him today, and he will definitely trip you up within the rules in the future... such as matching you with opponents far stronger than you, or secretly tampering with your fights. Here, survival is always more important than pride."
Ling Xiao didn't even raise his head, a faint, cold smile curving his lips as he continued wiping his hands: "I know what you want to say... A moment of patience brings peace, a step back opens up a vast sky, right?"
“Isn’t that right?” Zhang Ming retorted, his tone urgent. “In this desperate situation, it’s better to avoid trouble. There’s no need to push yourself into a corner just for the sake of pride.”
"It might be true for others, but for me, swallowing my anger is worse than death."
Ling Xiao stopped wiping, raised his hand to grasp the hilt of the knife, the blade reflecting the sharpness in his eyes. "I, Ling Xiao, never provoke trouble, but when trouble comes, I am not afraid of it. If one's breath is not in harmony, one's Dao heart will be clouded; if one's Dao heart is not clear, what is the use of cultivation? One might as well go home and farm!"
Zhang Ming was silent for a moment, then said in a serious tone, "He won't retaliate against you openly; he'll only use more insidious methods."
"Let him do it." Ling Xiao tossed the whetstone aside, sheathed his sword, and said in a calm but resolute voice, "Whether it's open or covert attacks, or conspiracies and tricks, I'll take it on."
After saying that, he closed his eyes, his aura suddenly became more restrained, and his breathing gradually became longer.
Every detail of my fight with Lin Lang replayed in my mind like a slow-motion video:
The old man's claw techniques, the trajectory of his palm strikes, the opponent's weaknesses when demonic intent invaded... His fingertips occasionally tapped unconsciously on the hilt of his sword, the rhythm in harmony with his breathing, his whole being seemed to merge with the stone tablet beneath him, exuding a calm sharpness.
Zhang Ming's eyes flickered slightly as he watched Ling Xiao enter a debriefing mode.
At this moment, he had shed his previous sharp edge and was more like a sword sheathed... All his sharpness and killing intent were concealed, and only when he was unsheathed would he unleash a shockingly cold light.
Showing off one's talent is a sign of sharpness; knowing how to conceal one's talent is the true wisdom of a strong person.
He suddenly realized that his earlier concern about "a sword that is too strong to break" might have been premature. Shaking his head slightly, Zhang Ming turned and left, leaving Ling Xiao to ponder the silence.
About an hour later, Ling Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance in them quickly turning into a knowing smile. The review he had just experienced had given him a new understanding of the fusion of demonic intent and sword techniques, and the previously blocked points had suddenly become clear.
He stood up, picked up the sword from the ground, and flicked the blade with his finger.
"Om..."
A clear, resonant hum echoed throughout the deserted village, the aura of the blade spreading outwards, causing the surrounding rubble to tremble slightly.
“Brother Zhang,” he said, looking at Zhang Ming who had returned at some point, his tone filled with eagerness, “I’m going to the arena again.”
Zhang Ming nodded, a hint of anticipation in his eyes: "I'll go with you, so I can support you."
On the way, Ling Xiao suddenly asked, "Are there any other demonic cultivators here?"
"Of course!" Zhang Ming replied without hesitation, his tone tinged with apprehension. "This place is adjacent to the Demon Abyss, and there are hundreds of demonic cultivators openly present in the deathmatch arena. Each of them is ruthless and powerful, and many of them are well-known and formidable figures!"
Hundreds of demonic cultivators...
Ling Xiao's eyes lit up instantly, and a strong fighting spirit surged within him. Clashing with demonic cultivators of different styles and realms was the fastest way to hone his demonic skills! He was already impatient.
Once again, Lin Lang, who had left earlier, returned behind the stone table.
Upon seeing Ling Xiao's figure, his eye twitched involuntarily. He quickly lowered his head, pretending to fiddle with the jade slip in his hand, as if he hadn't seen him... The city lord's orders were still ringing in his ears, and he dared not provoke this evil god again.
Ling Xiao leaped onto the arena, walked straight to the stone table, and looked at him with a half-smile: "Deacon Lin, are your injuries any better? I was still not satisfied with the 'guidance' just now, would you like to spar a few more times?"
Lin Lang froze, raised his head, his face so dark it could drip water, but he dared not lash out. He could only grit his teeth and say, "If you want to challenge, follow the rules. If you don't want to challenge, then get off and don't bother others!"
Ling Xiao shrugged, no longer provoking him, and waved his hand to place ten source crystals on the table.
Lin Lang didn't even glance at it. With a flick of his sleeve, a blue light talisman shot out and disappeared into the array at the edge of the arena. A moment later, blue light surged on the other side of the arena, and as the array operated, a figure slowly solidified.
He was a young man dressed in a brocade robe, with a handsome face and a refined air about him, holding a fine steel longsword in his hand... (End of this chapter)