Chapter 182: Daring!

The next day, Lin Xiao woke up promptly at 5 a.m.

Silently dressing, he opened the window, leaped out, and headed to the nearby park where he practiced daily.

After a night’s rest, Lin Xiao had regained seventy to eighty percent of the mental energy he had expended during the previous day’s practice.

Finding a secluded area in the park, he began his cultivation of the Thunderbolt Decree.

Others, upon reaching the Flowing Force stage, might relax significantly, for in the realm of ancient martial arts, being at this level was considered to be at the pinnacle.

The Transcendent Force stage was but a legend. Although it was rumored that Penglai, one of the three major forces in the ancient martial world, had Transcendent energy masters, these were, after all, just rumors unseen by anyone.

Lin Xiao, however, was different. Despite achieving the Flowing Force stage, he deeply understood that the martial path was endless. In the vast world, his current level of cultivation was not particularly remarkable.

The incomplete Thunderbolt Decree explicitly stated that he was currently at the second layer of Qi Initiation, which was divided into three layers.

Beyond Qi Initiation were the stages of Qi Refinement and Spirit Ascension.

Though Lin Xiao currently only possessed the technique for the three layers of Qi Initiation, having a goal meant he could not afford to stop advancing merely because he had achieved the Flowing Force.

As Lin Xiao’s practice progressed, the corner of the park gradually filled with the sound of low thunder rumbles, mixed with the breaths of fierce beasts.

This thunder was the sound of Lin Xiao’s bones and muscles vibrating, as well as his blood surging.

When the vibrations of bones and muscles mixed with the surging of blood, it created an unceasing rumble of thunder. This was known as the Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound.

Every breath Lin Xiao took was profoundly deep.

Inhaling as if a giant whale drawing in water, exhaling as if a fierce wind sweeping through the sky.

Since entering the Flowing Force stage, Lin Xiao’s strength continually increased, becoming stronger with each passing day. He could distinctly feel his body undergoing a profound transformation.

The spar yesterday with Jiang Linfeng and the five masters he brought was immensely beneficial. The more time passed, the greater the benefits Lin Xiao derived from the experience.

With a deep exhale, Lin Xiao concluded his daily Thunderbolt Decree practice and opened his eyes. A brief red gleam flickered before fading.

He stretched his body and suddenly raised his left hand, his fingers curved like an eagle’s claws, thrusting forward.

With his bandaged fingers, he grasped deeply into the side of a large tree. With a casual tear, he ripped off a large piece of tough bark.

Eagle Claw Skill, Eagle’s Drill Strength!

This grip, if used on a person, could create five deep holes.

This was a technique Lin Xiao deduced from watching Jiang Linfeng and his group’s moves yesterday.

Before this, his cultivation was high, but he had a significant lack of techniques, limited to the Thunderbolt Fist and the military boxing he practiced during his army days. Although they were formidable at advanced levels, relying solely on these two forms made it easy for opponents to find and exploit weaknesses.

Until now, Lin Xiao had overwhelmed his opponents without anyone exploiting weaknesses in his techniques, due to his rich combat experience and his cultivation always being superior.

However, should Lin Xiao face an opponent of the same cultivation level one day, his techniques would undoubtedly be exploited for weaknesses, making it easy to be put at a disadvantage.

Thus, foreseeing potential challenges, Lin Xiao spent yesterday’s exchange at Chen’s Martial Arts Hall deducing the techniques of Jiang Linfeng and his group.

Next, Lin Xiao adopted the Eight Trigrams stance and executed the Eagle Claw Skill, integrating all he had learned and the techniques deduced from yesterday, refining and assimilating them, thoroughly reevaluating them anew.

After finishing his practice, Lin Xiao was enveloped in warmth, his spirit vibrant, and his eyes as bright as the morning stars.

Returning to Yuan Yu’s home and having breakfast together, Lin Xiao then changed into formal clothes and headed to Brilliant Tower.

Upon entering the lobby, he coincidentally saw Ning Xi. Despite it being just a day since their last meeting, Lin Xiao felt a spark of brightness seeing her again.

Today, Ning Xi wasn’t dressed in her usual office lady attire but chose a more casual outfit instead, exuding elegance and a laid-back charm.

At that moment, Ning Xi was conversing with some company staff. Seeing Lin Xiao enter, a glint of amusement flashed in her beautiful eyes as she signaled him with a glance.

Lin Xiao, understanding her signal, moved to a corner of the lobby, hands in his pockets, and waited quietly.

A few minutes later, Ning Xi approached Lin Xiao, examining him closely, her gaze finally resting on the white bandage on his hand. 

“Lin Xiao, what did you get up to yesterday that you ended up injured again?” she asked, her voice laced with concern and mild chiding.

Lin Xiao, with a gentle smile and not inclined to share the details of the previous day’s events, deftly changed the subject, “Ning Xi, let’s save that discussion for later. I think we should head to the CEO’s office now. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

Ning Xi glanced around to make sure they weren’t being noticed and suddenly grabbed Lin Xiao’s wrist, leading him swiftly to a secluded corner of the lobby.

Though Lin Xiao was unsure of Ning Xi’s intentions, he trusted she meant no harm and allowed himself to be led away without protest.

Reaching the corner, Ning Xi released Lin Xiao’s wrist and stood with her hands on her hips, smiling inscrutably and fixing Lin Xiao with a direct gaze.

“Ning Xi, what’s the matter?” Lin Xiao, feeling slightly disconcerted by her intense and forthright gaze, broke the silence.

“Did something happen between you and Miss?” Ning Xi stood before Lin Xiao, tilting her chin up slightly, revealing the deep valley between her bosoms. “Come clean, don’t force me to resort to extreme measures to extract the truth.”

“Nothing happened between the CEO and me. Why would you ask that?” Lin Xiao replied, his gaze steady and composed.

“It seems I have to employ some tactics to get the truth out of you,” Ning Xi sighed, then suddenly threw herself into Lin Xiao’s arms, her arms wrapping around his neck, her entire body clinging to him.

Ning Xi’s sudden move caught Lin Xiao off guard. Instinctively, he lifted his hands to wrap around Ning Xi’s slender waist.

Their bodies pressed closely together, with Ning Xi’s ample chest pressed tightly against Lin Xiao’s chest.

“Lin Xiao, if you don’t spill the beans now, I’ll start calling out for people,” Ning Xi said, her face flushing red, her expression half-teasing, “If someone sees us like this, you can look forward to your reputation being ruined.”

“…”

Faced with Ning Xi’s jesting attitude, Lin Xiao was at a loss for words, almost tempted to roll his eyes.

Lin Xiao had gotten to know Ning Xi’s way of interacting with people. While she wasn’t as cold as Wan Caixuan, she wasn’t exactly easy to approach either. Her interactions weren’t as dismissive as Wan Caixuan’s but were polite and distant, like a beautiful illusion, always maintaining a certain detachment.

With her enticing figure, stunningly beautiful face, and aloof yet friendly demeanor, many in the company idolized Ning Xi as their dream woman.

In the logistics department that Lin Xiao nominally oversaw, quite a few were smitten with Ning Xi, including Luo Xiaofeng, the head of the security team appointed by Lin Xiao, who revered Ning Xi as his goddess.

Yet, for this goddess in the eyes of the company’s employees to make such a bold move in public, it was truly audacious.