"Enough talk.Make your move."
On the martial platform, the young man's brow was resolute, an innate aura radiating from him.
Yet, judging by his cultivation level, he hadn't even stepped into the Ethereal Spirit Realm; he appeared completely ordinary.
"Hmph, Ling Tian, you've lost seventy-three matches in a row. Are you out of your mind? If you weren't a young master of the Ling Clan, do you think you'd even be qualified to stand here?" Opposite him, a young noble from a prominent family, dressed extravagantly with an arrogant expression, sneered mockingly.
Although Ling Tian was the Second Young Master of the Ling Clan, everyone in Hantian Ancient City knew he held no status within the clan.
Before the age of ten, Ling Tian was the most outstanding prodigy of the Ling Clan.
Many of the clan's elders were convinced he was the hope for the Ling Clan to regain its former glory.
But no one expected that at the age of ten, this talented youth suddenly fell from grace, not only losing all his cultivation but reportedly having his Dan Hai (Core Sea) shattered as well.
Of course, that was what outsiders believed.
Although Ling Tian was young at the time, he remembered clearly: his Dan Hai was ruthlessly dug out by that woman, Xuan Yuan Yue!
Over the years, he endured the scorn and ridicule from everyone inside and outside the clan but never revealed the truth of that year.
Because, until now, he hadn't possessed the strength to challenge Xuan Yuan Yue.
But now...
Heh. Ling Xiao, my dear elder brother, this time you return, I have a tremendous surprise prepared for you.
Recently, the Ling Clan had begun preparations to select the heir.
His experiences these years taught Ling Tian a profound lesson: if a person is strong enough, they will never lack followers.
If he could prove to the clan elders that he was superior to Ling Xiao, the position of heir would undoubtedly be his.
Moreover, Xuan Yuan Yue rarely returned to the Ling Clan now. Once he became the Ling Clan heir, it wouldn't be so easy for that woman to harm him again.
The engagement banquet.
Pfft!
Ling Xiao, I will make you understand what true humiliation is!
A Ling Clan Young Master defeated by his good-for-nothing younger brother—probably the Ethereal Dao Palace wouldn't be willing to marry their Saintess to him anymore, right?
To lose everything!
That was the taste Ling Tian wanted Ling Xiao to experience.
Just wait, Xuan Yuan Yue. It won't be long before I make you and your son kneel before me, begging for mercy.
Three years. Finally, I can use that power!
"Brother Si, you should go easy on him. If you break our little young master, the Ling Clan won't let you off."
"Pah! What kind of young master is he? The Ling Clan has only one direct-line young master: Young Master Ling Xiao!"
"True. On the martial platform, life and death are irrelevant. Since he dares to stand here today, we must teach him a lesson no matter what!"
"Brother Si Cong, get him!"
Below the platform, a group of noble young men and women gathered, sneering and mocking.
The young man named Si Cong, however, just shook his head with a smile. "Ling Tian, if you admit defeat now, I won't make a move. Otherwise, later, I might accidentally kill you."
Everyone in Hantian City knew that the brothers Ling Xiao and Ling Tian did not get along.
Often, it was Ling Xiao behind the scenes, deliberately sending people to humiliate Ling Tian.
The Ling Clan typically turned a blind eye to this.
Moreover, this Ling Tian had been coming to the martial platform repeatedly lately, asking for a beating.
Clearly a good-for-nothing, yet he insisted on provoking the proud talents of Hancheng.
If they didn't show him some severity today, he probably wouldn't learn his lesson.
"Is that so? In that case, I'll just kill you first."
Ling Tian nodded calmly, gently raising the ancient sword in his hand, then gently lowering it.
"Buzz."
An overwhelming sword intent suddenly erupted from Ling Tian.
A flash of blue light appeared between heaven and earth, blurring the eyes like mist.
Opposite him, the face of the lavishly dressed young man stiffened. He hurriedly summoned his power to block in front of him.
But all his spiritual energy seemed utterly useless before Ling Tian's sword intent.
A streak of blood light shot towards the sky, accompanied by Si Cong's agonized scream.
"Ah!!!"
The entire martial platform fell silent instantly.
Everyone stared at Si Cong, writhing in his death throes in a pool of blood on the platform, and at the calm-faced Ling Tian standing before him. Their eyes were filled with profound shock.
"How... is this possible?"
Just moments ago, there wasn't the slightest fluctuation of spiritual power from Ling Tian. So what was that sword intent?
Why could a good-for-nothing sever the arm of a Soul Sea Realm expert with one sword stroke?
This was just too absurd!
"Sword Dao Principle? Quite interesting."
Ling Xiao stood high in the sky, hands behind his back, coldly watching the martial platform below.
He could clearly see the terrifying sharpness contained in Ling Tian's single sword stroke.
This sharpness could sever heaven and earth, let alone a mere ant at the Soul Sea Realm.
"2000 Fortuna Value, Sword Vein Divine Body, awakened Dao Principle power... I wonder if there's a Prison Tower inside this Ling Tian. Truly worthy of being a Son of Destiny whose Dan Hai I dug out."
Ling Xiao instantly understood the situation.
As he had guessed, Ling Tian had awakened other talents after having his Dan Hai.
Although in the path of cultivation, the Dan Hai is the foundation.
Without a Dan Hai, one cannot absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Without absorbing spiritual energy, how can one comprehend the vastness of the Great Dao?
But Ling Tian was different. He used the sword as his core, the Dao as his sea. He didn't cultivate spiritual power; he cultivated the Sword Dao directly, comprehending a trace of Dao Principle power.
So, even though he had no cultivation level to speak of, below the Divine General Realm, few could withstand a single sword stroke from him.
This was a true Sword Dao monster.
Compared to Ling Tian, Ye Qingchan's Sword Dao was merely a path of awakening past wisdom.
In fact, if he hadn't transmigrated here, Ling Xiao's return to the clan this time would likely have ended with him being publicly crippled by this Ling Tian.
A Young Master of the Ling Clan—sounded impressive. If the young master was strong enough, he would naturally be revered by all, with masters showing kindness and servants respect.
But if the young master was weak, he would probably be replaced sooner or later.
Such things were not uncommon in any supreme legacy.
After all, to ensure a lineage's prosperity, sometimes kinship and emotions had to be set aside.
Ling Xiao had no doubt that when Ling Tian could easily kill him, he would undoubtedly become the new pride of the entire Ling Clan.
Even if he was the direct-line eldest young master, the clan elders certainly wouldn't blame Ling Tian for it.
On the battle platform, life and death are irrelevant. Besides, who would want the future heir of their clan to be a good-for-nothing?
What a pity.
No matter how well he hid, no matter how strong his cultivation, how could he possibly be a match for Ling Xiao?
"The path of a villain is long and arduous."
Ling Xiao smiled wryly, but a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.
A new Son of Destiny... to kill or to subdue?
The enmity between them made killing the simpler option.
But...
Images from their childhood suddenly surfaced in Ling Xiao's mind.
Back then, when he couldn't cultivate and was bullied and humiliated by clan members...
Wasn't it always this now-good-for-nothing younger brother who stubbornly stood in front of him?
Ah, well. Even if it's a bit troublesome...