Batian Martial Soul

Chapter 14571 I Only Believe in Myself

After saying that, Zhang Ming gave Ling Xiao another deep look before turning around and walking away quickly, his figure disappearing into the desolate shadows.

"You don't actually believe his attempts to sow discord, do you?" Su Miao frowned slightly, her gaze towards Ling Xiao filled with inquiry, her tone slightly displeased.

Ling Xiao's lips curled into a faint, cold smile as he rubbed the storage ring he had just acquired, his tone nonchalant: "In this world, I trust no one but the power in my own hands."

Su Miao was taken aback by what she heard. She frowned as if she wanted to speak, but in the end she just pursed her lips and said nothing more... She knew that people who could survive in this desperate situation were not simple-minded.

Ling Xiao said no more and probed his storage ring with his divine sense.

The interior space was not large, but it was filled with several things:

A jet-black battle blade floated silently, its blade covered with fine scales. Although it lacked any spiritual energy, it exuded a chilling killing intent, far surpassing his previous bare-handed combat skills.

Twenty fist-sized source crystals lay in the corner, their dark purple light shimmering, containing pure yet obscure energy—the very essence of survival Su Miao had mentioned.

In addition, there was a black iron token engraved with obscure patterns, as well as several bottles of healing pills, several pieces of compressed dry food, and other miscellaneous items.

“This place is devoid of spiritual energy, so even divine weapons cannot unleash their power and are no different from ordinary iron.” Su Miao’s gaze fell on the black knife, her tone carrying a hint of approval. “But this knife is made of extraordinary material, forged from deep-sea black iron. It is incomparably hard and is the most formidable weapon in this perilous place.”

A knowing glint flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes. He gripped the hilt of the sword with his fingertips. It was cold and heavy to the touch. The weight of the blade reassured him. He solemnly fastened the sword to his waist and carefully put away the source crystal and the token.

The two arrived side by side in front of the ancient teleportation array, and Su Miao raised her hand to open the pitch-black metal box.

A flash of light appeared inside the box, revealing a cold-looking black iron token and over fifty strange source crystals with a deep purple glow. Next to it were several vacuum-packed food packages, a pot of water, and a set of simple healing ointments.

Su Miao reached out and took out the token and ten amethyst crystals, handing them to Ling Xiao in a calm tone: "You contributed the most, this is what you deserve."

"Split it evenly." Ling Xiao said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the contents of the box. "The token is useless to me. I need thirty source crystals, plus half the food and ointment, that will be enough."

In the outside world, he possesses profound cultivation and can abstain from food; however, this forbidden land restricts spiritual energy, preventing him from replenishing his internal strength, making him no different from an ordinary person. Food and healing medicine are the only things that can sustain his life.

Su Miao's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously wanted to refute... Of the fifty amethyst crystals, Ling Xiao asked for thirty, which seemed like he had gotten a good deal.

But then she thought, if Ling Xiao hadn't restrained Luo Ying and subdued Zhang Ming, she probably would have died long ago, let alone been able to divide the spoils.

This request is actually not excessive.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the barely perceptible awkwardness in her heart, and nodded: "Okay."

Ling Xiao accepted the source crystals and supplies, casually storing them in his storage ring. Suddenly, he asked, "Are there any prizes for fighting here?"

"Yes." Su Miao pointed to the distant horizon, where a huge, floating arena could be vaguely seen. "The 'Blood Battle Arena' is ten miles away. The winner can take the source crystals paid by the loser. The more consecutive wins you have, the rarer the resources you can exchange for. Do you want to go?"

“Exactly.” Ling Xiao looked up, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit, and a hint of demonic energy unconsciously overflowed from his body. “I need to fight, and I need enough Source Crystals.”

Su Miao said no more, turned around and led the way: "Follow me."

After leaving the dilapidated village, the two trekked for nearly an hour through the barren wasteland.

The road was strewn with jagged rocks and shrouded in black mist, with the occasional roar of an unknown beast carrying a chilling sense of danger.

Finally, an incredibly magnificent suspended arena came into view!

The arena was built of unknown dark blue-green boulders, hundreds of feet high and covering thousands of acres. It was suspended in mid-air, surrounded by a faint blood-red halo, and the killing aura lingering on it could be felt from afar.

Below the arena, a few dozen figures stood sparsely, all young, yet each exuding a sharp and formidable aura, like a drawn blade. Their youthful faces were etched with an arrogance and world-weariness beyond their years, their eyes sharp as eagles, clearly distinguishable from one another, and filled with intense wariness.

"Those who can step into this forbidden land are all the outstanding young talents of various forces."

Su Miao's voice carried a hint of etherealness as her gaze swept over the crowd below.

"Either you have a powerful background or an extraordinary opportunity, otherwise you wouldn't have survived this long. The top spot on the Blood Battle Arena is a one-in-a-million ruthless character... If you can reach the top, the benefits will be endless, but the difficulty is as high as ascending to heaven."

Ling Xiao looked up at the high-altitude arena, where two figures were fighting for their lives.

There were no fancy techniques, only the most basic fists and feet, the most ruthless moves. Every strike was aimed at the vital points, the energy roared, rocks flew everywhere, and you could even see the blood droplets splattering in arcs through the air.

He slowly clenched his fist, his palm slightly burning from the intense fighting spirit, and the black sword at his waist seemed to respond, emitting a soft hum.

"Then... let's fight to the top."

Ling Xiao took a step forward, and the dormant aura around him suddenly erupted, like a ferocious beast slowly awakening after slumbering for millennia, a chilling pressure spreading outwards. His eyes became incredibly resolute, and only one thought occupied his mind… to fight!

Ordinary people struggle for three meals a day and a place to live, while martial artists defy the heavens, fighting against the heavens, the earth, fate, and calamity!

If you can endure even this little humiliation, and don't even dare to fight for what you want, what's the point of practicing martial arts? What's the point of seeking to become stronger?

Non-contention is not detachment, but rather incompetence!

"boom……"

A powerful demonic aura erupted uncontrollably from his body, sweeping out like a black wave and causing the surrounding temperature to drop sharply.

Although he forcibly suppressed it in an instant, his state of mind was completely different... It was a transformation that shed all the lukewarm shells and revealed the unyielding spirit within, and his Dao heart became more and more clear and firm.

Just then, the winner was decided on the stage.

The victor, covered in blood, staggered off the stage, while the loser collapsed on the stage, barely breathing, and was quickly dragged away by two expressionless men in black, his fate unknown.

Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp and piercing, like a gushing demon's lair.

He leaped up, his figure shooting like an arrow onto the high platform, heading straight for the gray-robed old man sitting cross-legged at the edge of the arena... This man had white hair and beard, was as thin as a rake, and had his eyes closed, seemingly asleep but not quite. He was the person in charge of the rules for the Blood Battle Arena challenge.

As Su Miao had previously instructed, Ling Xiao took out ten Nether Purple Origin Crystals and the Xuan Iron Token he had obtained from Zhang Ming, placed them on the stone table in front of the old man, and said in a cold and clear voice: "Senior, this junior, Ling Xiao, has come to challenge you."

The old man slightly raised his eyelids, his cloudy gaze sweeping over the source crystal and token on the stone table. Without uttering a single word, he casually swept his withered hand, and the source crystal and token vanished without a trace. (End of Chapter)