Judging from Ling Xiao's combat, no one would have considered him merely a mid-level Xuanzhe. However, from the surface, he clearly possessed only that level of cultivation, which was truly unbelievable.
This was a fact known only to Ling Xiao himself. Killing those above his level was nothing new to him, after all, he was a formidable time traveler.
"Isn't that young man the young master of the Lan family? I heard he's already broken through to the Xuanshi level. His moves are truly extraordinary!" Someone recognized Lan Kuangsheng the moment he appeared.
"With a Xuanshi level attack, this kid wouldn't have nine lives left."
"That's not necessarily true. He easily dispatched two high-level Xuanzhe. His strength shouldn't be underestimated."
"Regardless of the situation, this kid is doomed. He dares to stir up trouble on Li family territory. He's truly tired of living."
The patrons of Zui Xiang Lou were chattering non-stop. In the hall, Lan Kuangsheng's confidence soared when he saw Ling Xiao being forced back by a single blow. He was determined to capture this arrogant brat in front of Li Qingqing and win her heart.
"Give up, brat, and I'll spare you some of your suffering." Lan Kuangsheng, one hand behind his back, opened his white fan with the other, looking self-assured and unrestrained.
"Hehe, I've seen many shameless people like you, but in the end, I beat them like dogs and made them beg for mercy." Ling Xiao smiled faintly while maintaining a vigilant attitude.
This was his first battle against a Xuanshi-level warrior. He knew full well that the Xuanshi-level warrior's profound energy was undeniable and their strength was not to be underestimated. Although he had achieved some success in cultivating the Vajra Five Transformations, he still had to be careful and avoid any setbacks.
"You bastard, you're so brave!" Lan Kuangsheng, enraged, kicked his foot and pounced on Ling Xiao like a leopard, his eyes revealing his unwavering determination to kill. "Flower Fan Becomes Blade"—the white fan swung repeatedly, several cyan shadows slicing towards Ling Xiao like sharp blades.
This was a powerful technique unique to the Xuanshi class, unleashing its profound energy. It was definitely not a phantasmal technique deliberately conjured by high-level Xuanists, but rather a technique energized by their own attributes, a physical attack.
"All for show"—Ling Xiao flashed a disdainful smile, and with his feet, "Cloud Trace Phantom," he instantly dodged Lan Kuangsheng's attack. Simultaneously, the Blue Crystal Sword stabbed Lan Kuangsheng's side eight times, each strike imbued with the utmost profound energy, determined to reverse the situation immediately.
A typical Xuanist would have been stunned by Lan Kuangsheng's attack and dared not retaliate. However, Ling Xiao was no stranger to the Xuanshi class's powerful techniques. After two weeks of being bombarded by five Xuanshi class members of varying attributes, he had a good understanding of their offensive methods, allowing him to easily dodge and launch a counterattack. Lan Kuangsheng hadn't expected Ling Xiao's quick reaction, but he was no ordinary fighter. His white fan swirled, blocking eight of Ling Xiao's strikes.
"Ding-dong... Ding-dong..." Sparks flew everywhere.
"Butterfly Fan Frenzy"—Lan Kuangsheng not only blocked Ling Xiao's attack but also seized the opportunity to counterattack. His white fan unleashed a stream of vibrant blue butterflies, a striking sight, yet incredibly powerful.
Despite Ling Xiao's unparalleled speed, he had his weaknesses. He had underestimated the Xuanshi-level's attacking methods.
"Bang... Boom..." Several blue butterflies slammed into Ling Xiao, sending him flying several meters away and knocking over many chairs in the hall.
"Young Master!" Bai Yuxi exclaimed, quickly leaping towards Ling Xiao. "The battle is over. Xuanshi's power is truly terrifying."
"Indeed, that guy is dead. I thought he'd have some tricks up his sleeve, but he died like this. How utterly tedious."
"I don't know if this guy is mentally retarded. Throwing his life away for a woman is truly despicable. Hasn't he heard the saying that beautiful women bring disaster? I still prefer the romantic life of Zui Xiang Lou. I wouldn't put myself through hardship for a mere slave."
...
Upstairs, Du Ying and Gu Lang Murong Gudu simply watched the show quietly, not taking any action. This was Li family territory; if anything went wrong there would naturally be someone else to deal with it.
When everyone realized Ling Xiao was doomed, only Du Ying and Gu Lang stared at Ling Xiao, their eyes filled with confusion. Bai Yuxi reached Ling Xiao's side, her heart sinking. She threw herself on him, crying, "Master, please don't die! Master, I don't want you to die! Wake up!"
If Ling Xiao died for her, she would never live alone. This was her current thought.
"Don't worry. A mere low-level Xuanist wouldn't be able to kill me, your Master. Besides, how could I bear to leave my Xixi behind?" Ling Xiao opened his eyes and slowly climbed to his feet, joking.
Looking at Ling Xiao's playful smile, everyone was stunned. A low-level Xuanist had struck him with all their might, yet he could still climb up unharmed. It was unbelievable.
It seemed like a mid-level Xuanist would be injured by a full-strength attack from a low-level Xuanist, yet this mid-level Xuanist, like an indestructible cockroach, was completely unharmed. No one would believe it. Lan Kuangsheng was stunned for a moment, unable to accept the reality, and roared, "You're actually fine? That's impossible."
Ling Xiao pushed Bai Yuxi aside, twisted his neck, and said with a smile, "You want to kill me with this little trick? I'll have to wait for it in my next life."
Ling Xiao smiled, and then took the opportunity to swing the blue crystal sword in his hand, its light dazzling and brilliant.
"Sword Mark!"
Lan Kuangsheng had already witnessed this move of Ling Xiao's before. Although he didn't immediately see the flaw, he was prepared. He spun the white fan in his hand, and the azure ring of light gradually expanded, like a large azure shield, completely blocking Ling Xiao's sword beams.
However, he had no idea that Ling Xiao's move was just a distraction. He had already circled around Lan Kuangsheng and activated his Wind God Kick, which he had been gathering strength for a long time.
"Not good!" Lan Kuangsheng exclaimed, noticing Ling Xiao's unusual movement, but it was too late. "Strong Grass in the Wind"'s footsteps were like blades, densely packed against Lan Kuangsheng's waist.
Puff!
Lan Kuangsheng flew backward like a broken kite, a mouthful of blood spraying the air.
"I want you to be utterly annihilated!" Lan Kuangsheng barely managed to stay put. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his handsome face becoming ferocious and terrifying. He clasped the white fan in his hands, and then shouted, "Fan the Flower Bones."
Instantly, the ribs of Lan Kuangsheng's low-level, second-grade white fan grew longer, revealing the blades hidden within. Strangest of all, the blades flew directly out of the fan, and then another row of blades flew out.
The fan held a hidden secret!
Dense rows of blades flew towards Ling Xiao, at an incredibly terrifying speed and with such unexpected force that even Ling Xiao was caught off guard. "If you want to die soon, I'll grant your wish!" Ling Xiao sneered, shaking the tattered cloak behind him and hurling it towards the sharp blade.
"Cloaking in the Clouds and Moon" was a move Ling Xiao had actually used to defend himself.
Then, the Silver Ghost Blood Blade behind Ling Xiao finally unsheathed.
The bloodthirsty, murderous gleam was incredibly sinister, its silver light like a rainbow, slicing a semicircular arc. The incredibly powerful blade, seemingly a physical object, slashed directly towards Lan Kuangsheng's face.
Lan Kuangsheng felt a chill in his heart. He had never imagined that Ling Xiao would not only block his hidden attack, but also follow it up with such a powerful and ferocious one. The blade's shadow filled him with a wave of fear, and he raised the white fan in his hand to meet it.
"Ding-dong!"
The white fan was instantly severed by the Silver Ghost Blood Blade, but its momentum remained unstoppable!
"No!" Lan Kuangsheng roared in horror, but the outcome remained unchangeable.
"Puff!"
Lan Kuangsheng was unexpectedly split in two, his body splitting apart, a foul-smelling blood mist scattering everywhere.
The scene was so horrifying that many of the timid ones vomited on the spot.
Upstairs, Li Qingqing's face was utterly pale. Her hands were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh, and she felt a sharp pain in her heart.
Although she had never expressed her acceptance of Lan Kuangsheng, her heart had long been set on him. In terms of both appearance and strength, Lan Kuangsheng was an excellent choice for the younger generation. Breaking through to the Xuanshi level at the age of twenty-five was considered a remarkable talent in Meteorite City. She had intended to tease Lan Kuangsheng a little longer, knowing that the easier it was for a man to get something, the less he would cherish it. Therefore, she had always maintained a distant relationship with him.
Now, Lan Kuangsheng had stood up for her, only to be killed by an unknown boy. How could she not be furious? But what good was this anger? There weren't any Li family masters guarding the area. Two mid-level and high-level Xuanists had been slain, and even Lan Kuangsheng, a low-level Xuanshi, had fallen at his hands. How could she, a mere mid-level Xuanshi, possibly defeat the man before her?
At this moment, she was filled with fear and anger, but reason told her she had to flee, or she would be dead.
Although Ling Xiao had slain Lan Kuangsheng, his Xuanli had been drained, and his meridians began to ache slightly. Fortunately, he was able to suppress it, unlike when he used "Sword Mark" at the Martial Apprentice level, which caused a backlash. This was due not only to his own increased strength but also to his recent physical strengthening.
Ling Xiao marveled inwardly, "Without reaching the Xuanshi level and being able to unleash my Xuanli, it's impossible to forcefully use the Six Secrets of Aoxue."
The Six Secrets of Aoxue is the Nie family's inherited sword technique. Ling Xiao had just used the first move, "A Glimpse of Shocking Cold," a powerful one. Combined with ice-type Xuanli, its power would be even more terrifying. In his previous life, Ling Xiao had thoroughly studied Feng Yun's martial arts, and now he could wield them with perfect grace. It was simply that his own strength hadn't yet reached the point where he could wield them with unfettered ease.
"You bitch upstairs, are you coming down on your own, or am I...going up to personally beg you to come down?" Ling Xiao said quietly, looking up at Li Qingqing.
"You damned slave! How dare you insult me? Do you know I'm from the Li family? And since you killed Kuang Sheng, the Lan family will never let you go. You better save yourself!" Li Qingqing's face turned blue with anger, but she knew she was no match for them, so she couldn't help but bring up her family again to bolster her courage.
"The Li and Lan families? If I were afraid, I wouldn't be killing people here. Foolish woman! I'll count to three. If you don't come down and kneel and kowtow to my woman, this day next year will be your death anniversary," Ling Xiao said coldly to Li Qingqing.
Before he even began counting, someone else jumped out to challenge him. "You are the last gasp of your strength. Today I will kill you, this arrogant brat, for the Li family."