Chapter 390: Fierce and Ferocious

Facing Lei Qianting, a powerhouse at the half-step Flowing Force stage, Lin Xiao finally revealed his true strength.

In an instant, his entire qi and blood were fully activated.

His powerful heart pounded vigorously. Scalding blood surged rapidly through his body, and the energy contained within it was continuously channeled into his limbs and bones. Like a high-performance machine, his body operated at full capacity under the guidance of his will.

A faint white mist began to rise from the top of Lin Xiao’s head, swirling like smoke.

His eyes gleamed with divine light, radiant and dazzling. In his pitch-black pupils, it was as if lightning flickered. A complete transformation had taken place—his entire being now exuded a terrifying presence that made it nearly impossible to look directly at him.

Once Lin Xiao had finished transforming, the atmosphere in the villa suddenly turned eerily silent. All murmurs and whispers ceased at once.

Everyone was stunned by the change in Lin Xiao’s body.

Yang Yuanji’s mouth gaped open. He stared blankly at Lin Xiao, so shocked he couldn’t form coherent words: “This… this… this…”

He stammered for a long time without managing to say anything meaningful.

Living in Jiangnan Province, a region where traditional martial arts had declined, he had never witnessed such a shocking sight.

Although transportation was well-developed nowadays and he had interacted with people from other provinces, his own cultivation had only recently advanced from Bright Force to Dark Force after a fierce battle at the Chen Martial Hall.

Before meeting Lin Xiao, he had rarely even encountered experts in the Dark Force stage.

Zhou Chenguang was equally dumbfounded. He alternated glances between Lin Xiao and Yang Yuanji, feeling as though his worldview had been completely overturned.

The rest of the crowd wasn’t much different—each of them was deeply shaken.

There was only one reason—Lin Xiao’s display was simply too astonishing, bordering on myth.

Lei Qianting, as a top expert from the imperial capital, was renowned throughout the country. He personally possessed peak Dark Force cultivation and was in the prime of his life. His strength was not surprising.

But Lin Xiao? How old was he?

Barely twenty years old. Even if he had started training in the womb, it would have been just twenty years!

And yet, this very young man was now demonstrating strength on par with Lei Qianting, a seasoned master—completely matching him in momentum!

Everyone present had trained for ten or twenty years, some for most of their lives.

But compared to Lin Xiao, it felt like all those years had been lived in vain.

Among the crowd, a short, stocky man with a ruddy face swallowed hard and muttered what was on everyone’s mind, “I must’ve practiced fake martial arts.”

Ji Wei and Tang Heng’s previously proud expressions faded. Their eyes locked on Lin Xiao, filled with complex emotions.

The two of them were Lei Qianting’s prized disciples, exceptionally gifted in martial arts. Otherwise, Lei Qianting wouldn’t have taken them under his wing and trained them personally.

They hadn’t disappointed him either, stepping into the Dark Force stage in their early twenties.

Even in the imperial capital, where talents abounded, they were considered outstanding among the younger generation, second only to a select few prodigies.

They usually took pride in this, often holding others in contempt. But after encountering Lin Xiao, their pride and confidence had been easily crushed into dust.

Lin Xiao made them realize what it meant that there is always someone better, and that there are heavens beyond the heavens.

“This guy… among our generation, maybe only those monsters could deal with him,” Ji Wei’s eyes flickered. Though filled with strong unwillingness, she had no choice but to acknowledge the gap between herself and Lin Xiao.

If she couldn’t face this, it would be hard for her to progress further in martial cultivation.

Tang Heng’s temperament was far inferior. The stronger Lin Xiao appeared, the darker Tang Heng’s face became, the deeper the gloom in his eyes.

‘So what if you’re strong? You’re still no match for my master!’ he seethed inwardly, his handsome face slightly contorted with resentment.

“Besides…”

As if recalling something, the corners of his lips curled into a faint smile.

Lin Xiao paid no attention to what anyone below the stage thought. He loosened his joints, looked at Lei Qianting, and his fighting spirit flared like wildfire: “Master Lei, please make your move.”

Lei Qianting narrowed his eyes slightly, a serious glint flashing through them. His voice, like muffled thunder, reverberated through the villa: “Didn’t expect this. Truly didn’t expect it. Master Lin, so young and already such high cultivation. The younger generation truly surpasses the old. Let me see your skills once more.”

As he finished, Lei Qianting stomped down hard—Boom!

The stone slabs beneath him shattered with a loud crash.

Using the force of that stomp, Lei Qianting’s massive body burst forward with a speed that belied his size. Wind roared around him as he charged toward Lin Xiao like a runaway vehicle.

At the same moment Lei Qianting charged, Lin Xiao moved as well.

He raised his left foot and stomped down hard.

A deep boom echoed. The ground seemed to shake. A deep footprint was embedded in the stone floor, cracks spreading outward in a spiderweb pattern.

Right after stomping, Lin Xiao kicked off the ground. His body turned into a blur, crossing several meters in an instant. Charging straight at Lei Qianting, he threw out a punch.

His fist tore through the air with a fierce, low-pitched whistle, like a blaring horn.

His arm, as it struck out, seemed to transform into a massive hammer, his fist the hammerhead. The fierce and wild power of Thunder Fist was unleashed in full by Lin Xiao.

“Good! What a fierce punch!”

A flash of light shot through Lei Qianting’s eyes. He widened them like an angry Vajra and let out a thunderous roar. Muscles bulged on his arms, veins twisting like small snakes. His bowl-sized fist punched forward.

Boom!

The two fists clashed with explosive force. Waves of qi energy blasted outward. Even from over ten meters away, one could feel the wind slam against their face.

Both Lin Xiao and Lei Qianting stepped back two paces—perfectly matched, neither gaining the upper hand.

Without pause, both advanced again, exchanging blows in rapid succession.

The sound of fists and feet clashing rang out like a drumroll. Lin Xiao and Lei Qianting fought while moving, like two prehistoric beasts locked in a death match. Everywhere they passed, the ground cracked and stone shattered. A scene of absolute ferocity.

The spectators were dazzled and alarmed, retreating instinctively, afraid of being caught in the shockwaves of the battle.

Lin Xiao and Lei Qianting’s strikes and movements were too fast. Aside from Yang Yuanji, Zhou Chenguang, Wei Chengxue, and a few others, most couldn’t see clearly—only two blurred figures clashing.

“Master Yang, who do you think will win between Master Lin and Master Lei?” Zhou Chenguang asked in a low voice beside Yang Yuanji.

Yang Yuanji’s expression was serious. His gaze stayed fixed on the fight, eyes unblinking. Without turning his head, he replied, “Right now, Master Lin and Master Lei are evenly matched. Though our Master Lei is immensely strong, Master Lin’s depth is unfathomable. It’s hard to say.”