Boom!
Overwhelming demonic energy blotted out the heavens and the earth in that instant.
Ling Rui, who just a second ago was the picture of calm composure, was sent flying horizontally, vanishing beyond the great hall.
The entire sacred hall fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone stared at the figure that had shot up like a skyrocket and then plummeted back down, swallowing hard.
Even Ling Shan hadn't fully processed how the imposing Ling Rui had been kicked over eight hundred miles by Ling Xiao's single foot.
It was crucial to remember that the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Seal of their branch was not just an offensive immortal art; it was equally terrifying in tempering the physical body.
Ling Rui was now a half-step into the Paragon Breakthrough Realm, while Ling Xiao was merely at the Soul Sea Realm...
Of course, no one present believed Ling Xiao could leap from the early Soul Sea Realm directly to the Paragon Breakthrough Realm in half a month.
It was unrealistic, absurdly fantastical.
In fact, looking through the entire history of the Holy State, no one had ever crossed two major realms in half a month!
The silence lasted for a long while, until a sudden whistling sound came from outside the hall.
Ling Rui's figure reappeared in the great hall. But compared to his high-spirited demeanor earlier, he now looked somewhat disheveled.
On his once peerlessly handsome face, a footprint was distinctly visible.
Blood trickled from his nose and the corner of his mouth, and his whole body was covered in dust.
His aura, however, showed no change.
In other words, Ling Xiao's kick, while humiliating, hadn't actually injured him.
"Ling Xiao!!" Ling Rui, who had never suffered such humiliation, roared. Golden light flashed around his entire body. A golden seal gradually condensed above his head, mysterious and profound, like an edict of the Great Dao itself.
"You actually dared to sneak attack me!!"
"He's right! Cousin Ling Rui wasn't ready at all! This Ling Xiao is truly treacherous!"
"Exactly! All he knows are underhanded tricks!"
"Cousin Ling Rui, teach him a proper lesson!"
The gathered Ling Clan geniuses were filled with righteous indignation, shouting curses at Ling Xiao.
Usually within the clan, they feared Ling Xiao's status to some extent and kept their distance. But today, with the Grand Elder clearly intending to discipline this arrogant direct-line young master, they felt emboldened.
With eight branches united, were they afraid of just Ling Tianlin and his son?
"Cousin Ling Rui, you said you'd let me have three attacks. That was only one... Ah, forget it, forget it. I've made one move, so I'll give you a chance. You make one move now." Ling Xiao shook his head and sighed, wearing a pained, regretful expression.
"Ling Xiao! You asked for this!!" By now, Ling Rui had forgotten all about the three-attack promise. He only wanted to crush Ling Xiao underfoot as quickly as possible.
The golden light around him blazed anew, and the golden seal above his head radiated a brilliance too dazzling to look upon directly.
An invisible, overwhelming pressure spread out, like a sun illuminating eternity!
"Incredible!"
"Cousin Ling Rui's Heavenly Silkworm Divine Seal... I'm afraid even an ordinary Paragon Breakthrough expert would struggle to withstand it!"
"This time, that Ling Xiao will be crushed to dust!!"
But!!!
Just as Ling Rui's aura surged, as he focused on condensing the Heavenly Silkworm Divine Seal, Ling Xiao moved again!!
He actually flashed in front of Ling Rui once more, raised his foot, and kicked him squarely in the face.
Thump!!
Ling Rui's figure, along with the glowing red-gold seal, instantly flew out of the hall, tracing a graceful arc across the sky before plummeting down, scattering golden radiance.
The entire Ling Clan sacred territory was in an uproar.
Everyone watched the golden spiritual light sprinkling down from the sky as if bathing under the protection of an Immortal King, their faces wearing expressions of bliss.
"A miracle! Look, another miracle!"
"Ling Xiao!! I'm going to kill you!!!" This time, Ling Rui could no longer suppress the killing intent in his heart. Carrying an unstoppable momentum, he soared up from where he had fallen and charged headlong back towards the sacred hall.
This beast had sneak-attacked him again!!
"What's wrong with Cousin Ling Rui? Why is he so angry?" Ling Xiao looked at the crimson-faced Ling Rui with feigned surprise. It wasn't anger that reddened his face—it was the force of the kick.
"Ling Xiao! You are shameless!!" Blood trickled from the corner of Ling Rui's mouth. The sight of Ling Xiao's harmless expression made him clench his fists so tight his nails nearly pierced his palms.
"I said I'd let you make one move. I didn't say I wouldn't fight back. Not fighting back when someone hits you... isn't that just being an idiot?" Ling Xiao smiled faintly.
A chorus of angry shouts immediately erupted in the hall.
"Shameless! I've never seen someone so shameless!"
"Underhanded! How can our Ling Clan have such an underhanded young master!"
"It's true! Ling Xiao's reputation in the Holy State is already foul!"
At the head of the hall, Ling Tianlin glanced meaningfully at Ling Xiao, a trace of amusement curling his lips.
He looked inconspicuously at Ling Shan and saw the Grand Elder's face had turned green with rage, yet he couldn't find fault with Ling Xiao's logic.
He was indeed shameless, but he wasn't wrong.
In a fight between experts, a single second could turn the tide. No one would give you time to prepare.
Looked at that way, Ling Rui and the others were indeed too naive.
In a life-or-death battle, would the enemy just wait peacefully to die?
"Ling Xiao!! If you have any skill, fight me fair and square! Stop using these underhanded tricks!!" Ling Rui's eyes blazed with overwhelming hatred.
He had originally wanted to teach this arrogant direct-line young master a lesson he wouldn't forget. Instead, he had been toyed with repeatedly.
His face hurt.
It truly hurt.
"Underhanded? Cousin, if I get serious, I'm afraid your frail body won't be able to take it." Ling Xiao shook his head, seeming somewhat reluctant.
"You're talking nonsense! Have the guts to fight like a man!!" Ling Rui roared, having long lost his earlier composure.
"Fine. Today, I'll let you witness what a true peerless genius looks like. As for you lot..." Ling Xiao turned to look at the other geniuses below. A cold glint in his eyes instantly made them tense up, assuming defensive postures.
"...Keep clapping! Keep cheering!"
"You motherf--!!" Their faces contorted with rage.
If Ling Rui weren't currently challenging Ling Xiao, they would have already rushed forward to stomp this arrogant, ignorant bastard into the ground.
"Ling Xiao, enough empty talk! Let me see what you're truly capable of!" Ling Rui took a deep breath. He had lost count of how many times he'd tried to calm his mind.
While a disturbed spirit was a major taboo in battle, facing a scoundrel like Ling Xiao, few could truly maintain their cool.
"Then... as you wish." Ling Xiao nodded with a smile. His gaze deepened as he looked at Ling Tian, and a faint cyan light suddenly ignited around him.
At first, the light was dim, not attracting much attention.
Then, a cool breeze swept through, inexplicably sending a chill down the spines of everyone in the hall.
Next, an indescribable, terrifying sharpness swept out, overwhelming heaven and earth.
In the span of a single breath, it transformed into a vortex of wind, completely enveloping Ling Xiao's figure.
"This fluctuation... This is... This is..."