Chapter 310: An Unexpected Delight

Wang Changguang’s body was sent flying by Lin Xiao’s strike. Yet, as a late-stage Dark Force expert, he lived up to his reputation. His Bright Force and Dark Force merged seamlessly, flowing through his entire body without the slightest flaw.

So, despite his miserable appearance, he sustained no serious injuries.

Though his injuries weren’t debilitating and didn’t hinder his ability to fight, Wang Changguang was far from comfortable. His internal organs trembled violently, and he nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Wang Changguang forcibly swallowed the blood rising to his throat. His fury surged to its peak as he lifted his gaze and glared fiercely at Lin Xiao.

At the same time, a faint trace of fear crept into his heart. He truly hadn’t expected Lin Xiao to be this strong.

In just a few minutes, he had been completely suppressed, wounded multiple times, while Lin Xiao remained unscathed.

However, though he felt a flicker of dread, surrendering now was out of the question. He was only at a disadvantage, not yet defeated, with no hope of victory.

Moreover, this was the Gold Claw Sect’s territory. If he admitted defeat here, how could he face the sect’s disciples and students afterward?

He was a renowned expert across Jiangdong Province. To be forced into submission by a mere youth—how could he continue to hold his ground in the martial world?

Clenching his teeth, Wang Changguang charged at Lin Xiao once more. Yet, to his surprise, Lin Xiao’s oppressive momentum from before seemed to have waned. He was still strong but no longer carried that overwhelming, domineering aura.

Wang Changguang’s heart leaped with joy.

“As I thought. This kid is still too young. His stamina is lacking, and his earlier ferocity was just a three-move burst.”

With that thought, his spirits lifted. He unleashed his full repertoire of techniques, bringing all his lifelong martial skills to bear, determined to defeat Lin Xiao swiftly.

However, he was unaware that his actions aligned perfectly with Lin Xiao’s intentions.

Why was Lin Xiao suppressing his cultivation?

It was precisely to observe and study the techniques of a powerful opponent, to fill in the gaps in his own skills, and to refine his mastery of Chen-style martial arts.

As Wang Changguang unleashed an array of intricate moves, the battle appeared even—Wang seemed to have the upper hand.

Wang Changguang’s confidence soared, and his attacks quickened.

But he failed to notice the faint smile forming at the corner of Lin Xiao’s lips.

During his previous fight with Duan Changhan, Lin Xiao had learned the Gold Claw Sect’s prized Eagle Claw Technique. Yet, he had discovered a flaw in it—a subtle imperfection that left him with lingering regret.

Now, however, watching Wang Changguang—the sect master—demonstrate the Eagle Claw Technique, he noticed something different. This version was more refined, devoid of the flaw he had encountered before.

It had to be the complete, final version of the Eagle Claw Technique.

‘Well, well… Isn’t this what they call planting willows by chance and ending up with shade?’ Lin Xiao mused inwardly.

A gift from the heavens, and refusing it would be a crime.

Having stumbled upon the complete Eagle Claw Technique, there was no way Lin Xiao would let this opportunity slip.

He appeared to be struggling under Wang Changguang’s fierce assault, but his full focus was on dissecting and analyzing Wang’s techniques.

Around them, the Gold Claw Sect disciples and even Wang Changguang’s fellow Dark Force disciples watched with satisfaction, their faces brimming with smugness.

“Hah! See? This freak is strong, but he’s no match for the Sect Master!”

“Of course! Do you even know who the Sect Master is? He’s a legend in Jiangdong Province’s ancient martial arts world!”

“Exactly! That brat dared to offend the Gold Claw Sect. I say, he’s not walking out of here alive today!”

The crowd’s chatter buzzed with pride and confidence, as if Lin Xiao’s defeat was already certain.

Among them, however, one person frowned—Duan Changhan, who had previously fought Lin Xiao.

His eyes fixed on the battle, he felt a strange déjà vu.

Suddenly, a memory surfaced—their fight at the Chen Martial Hall.

Back then, it had been the same. Lin Xiao had seemed to be on the defensive while he himself unleashed attacks relentlessly. Yet, in the end, Lin Xiao emerged unharmed—and worse, he had stolen the Eagle Claw Technique from him.

“No… Impossible!” Duan Changhan’s face twisted in disbelief. “Master is at the late stage of Dark Force! How could this… If this is the same as last time, then… doesn’t that mean…?”

A terrifying thought flashed through his mind, and he shook his head violently, trying to dispel it.

Nearby, Xu Changjun, who noticed Duan’s reaction, smirked mockingly.

“What’s wrong, Senior Brother Duan? You don’t look too happy. Aren’t you excited that Master is about to win?”

Duan Changhan’s expression darkened as he shot Xu a cold glare.

“Don’t talk nonsense, Xu Changjun. Watch your mouth.”

Despite the suspicion gnawing at him, the thought was too far-fetched, too absurd. Even he found it hard to believe.

Besides, from the outside, Wang Changguang held the upper hand. If he voiced his absurd theory now, no one would believe him. They’d only accuse him of cowardice.

So, he kept his unsettling guess to himself.

“Hmph,” Xu Changjun sneered but said no more. He had only wanted to shake Duan Changhan’s confidence.

Duan Changhan was already injured. There was no way he’d recover fully. And Xu Changjun had long coveted the position of the Gold Claw Sect’s senior disciple.

Ignoring Xu, Duan Changhan turned his attention back to the fight. Although Wang Changguang still dominated the exchange, the unsettling thought lingered, gnawing at his mind.

Meanwhile, the tide in the arena was shifting.

As a seasoned late-stage Dark Force master, Wang Changguang’s combat instincts ran deep. Though he had attacked furiously at first, he gradually sensed something amiss.

No matter how he pressed, Lin Xiao absorbed his blows effortlessly, like striking into a bottomless abyss.

Though the heat of battle left him no time to dwell on his unease, his instincts screamed at him. Wariness crept in, and he slowed his assault.

But how could Lin Xiao, while unraveling WangChangguang’s techniques, let him retreat?

As Wang Changguang’s strikes eased, Lin Xiao increased the intensity of his internal force, forcing Wang back into a faster tempo, cornering him into a grueling exchange.

Sweat beaded on Wang Changguang’s forehead.

The sensation was unmistakable—like struggling within a spider’s web. The more he fought, the tighter it wound around him. Yet, to stop struggling meant certain death.

It was like dancing on a blade’s edge or oil feeding a roaring fire—one slip would mean his end.

Yet the crowd remained oblivious.

Seeing their master’s blistering attacks, the Gold Claw Sect disciples roared with excitement.

“Go, Sect Master!”

“Crush him, Sect Master! Show him the might of the Gold Claw Sect!”

“Yeah! He dared cross us, he’ll be dead without a grave!”

The air thundered with their cheers.

But a sudden shift on the battlefield silenced them all in the very next instant. Their mouths gaped wide, their faces frozen in shock.