Chapter 453: Lesson

These students from Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall might have been arrogant, but they weren’t stupid. They knew who could be provoked and who absolutely could not.

Lin Xiao was someone they could not afford to offend.

Around them, aside from the Blazing Sun students, many people from martial arts schools in other provinces and cities had come to the Martial Alliance to register.

Among them was no shortage of experts. A single glance and they could tell that Lin Xiao’s strength far exceeded that of the Blazing Sun students. Immediately, someone spoke up with a tone of schadenfreude.

“These Blazing Sun punks rely on their A-rank status and the fact that they’ve got a Dark Force expert behind them. Always acting high and mighty, looking down on others, picking fights everywhere. This time they’ve kicked a steel plate, haven’t they?”

“More than that, I’m curious about that young expert. He doesn’t look older than twenty-five at most, yet his cultivation is so strong. Do you guys know who he is?”

“You all really don’t know who he is? How ignorant.”

A low and hoarse male voice rang out from the crowd. “A while back, the Golden Claw Sect was challenged by a young expert. You’ve all heard about that, right?”

“Of course. The Golden Claw Sect might not be one of the Seven Great Powers, but it’s still a well-known sect. Their sect master is even a Dark Force peak-stage expert. The entire Jiangdong martial world was shaken by that news. Who wouldn’t have heard of it?”

“So… you mean to say that young expert is…”

“Exactly. That was none other than Master Lin Xiao, who single-handedly defeated all ofthe Golden Claw Sect.”

The speaker’s tone was filled with pride. “Master Lin is the number one expert in Jiangnan Province. Let me tell you another secret. Have you heard of Lei Qianting from the Imperial Capital?”

“Heard of him.”

“They say he’s a well-known expert from the capital. Was already at Dark Force peak a few years ago. Now in his prime, stepping into Flowing Force in the future wouldn’t be impossible. But what does that have to do with what you’re saying?”

The man grinned. He was from Jiangnan Province and had been present when Lei Qianting challenged Lin Xiao in Jinghai.

Because of its weakness, Jiangnan had always been looked down upon by other provinces. Now, they could finally hold their heads high.

With great pride, he said, “Of course it’s related. Just recently, Lei Qianting sparred with Master Lin. Guess what happened?”

“Don’t tell me Lin Xiao actually beat Lei Qianting?”

“You guessed it. Lei Qianting admitted defeat to Master Lin and acknowledged his inferiority. I saw it with my own eyes.”

Hiss!

Gasps spread through the crowd. Everyone was stunned by the revelation.

If it was just Lin Xiao defeating the aging sect master of Golden Claw Sect, who might have already been in decline, then they could still rationalize it. Lin Xiao was young and strong, while the sect master was past his prime.

But defeating Lei Qianting? That was a whole different matter.

“You’re not just bragging, are you?”

“He’s so young, and you’re saying he defeated someone at Dark Force peak? Why not just say he’s already Flowing Force?”

“Whether you believe it or not, I don’t. That’s just too unbelievable…”

The man’s face turned red with frustration.

“I swear to the heavens, every word I said is true. If you don’t believe me, go ask others. Aside from me, many of our peers from Jiangnan’s martial world saw it happen.”

“Jiangnan? Oh, so you’re from Jiangnan’s martial community. That explains it. I get it—you guys are weak and desperate for recognition, but you can’t just make stuff up.”

“Exactly. Even if this young expert is the only Dark Force stage fighter in Jiangnan, hyping him up like this is just embarrassing.”

Hearing that he was from Jiangnan, the crowd responded with mockery and disdain.

They had always looked down on Jiangnan’s martial world. Naturally, they didn’t believe a word of what he said, dismissing it all as wild boasting.

All the chatter reached Lin Xiao’s ears.

He hadn’t expected his name to have spread so far, nor to be regarded as Jiangnan’s number one expert. For a moment, he was slightly dazed.

Taking advantage of that daze, Qin Sheng, who stood before Lin Xiao, withdrew his fist, gave him a glare filled with resentment and fear, and turned to flee.

Qin Sheng knew he wasn’t Lin Xiao’s match. A wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him. What’s a little humiliation? As long as Lin Xiao was still entangled with Chen Lingxin, he’d have plenty of chances to settle the score.

But Qin Sheng had barely taken two steps before he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck. The next moment, his feet left the ground. He’d been lifted into the air by Lin Xiao, gripping the back of his neck.

With one hand, Lin Xiao raised him high above his head in front of everyone.

“Let me go! Let go of me!”

Qin Sheng thrashed and howled, his limbs flailing wildly, but he couldn’t even touch the hem of Lin Xiao’s clothes.

Lin Xiao’s hand was like the Five Finger Mountain of the Buddha, and Qin Sheng was the Monkey King trapped beneath. No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t break free.

“Let go of Senior Qin!”

“You dare hurt someone from Blazing Sun Martial Arts?”

“What do you think you’re doing to Senior Qin? I’m warning you, Blazing Sun is an A-rank school! Our head instructor is a Dark Force expert. Do you think you can afford to provoke us?”

“Our young master is on his way. If you let him go now, we might spare your life!”

The other Blazing Sun students pointed at Lin Xiao, shouting threats and warnings.

“How laughable,” Lin Xiao said calmly. His voice wasn’t loud, but it drowned out all others. “You don’t even know who I am, and you dare threaten me? A-rank school? Dark Force expert? Heh. Today, no one can save him, not even the emperor himself. Look closely. This is the price of provoking me.”

As the words fell, Lin Xiao slammed Qin Sheng into the ground.

Qin Sheng’s face twisted in horror. His heart nearly stopped. He struggled even more violently, but it was useless. He could only watch as his face got closer and closer to the ground.

Thud!

With Lin Xiao’s overwhelming strength, Qin Sheng’s face smashed against the hard ground, making a dull thump that made everyone’s scalp tingle. His nose was shattered, the bridge collapsed inward into a bloody mess, and three or four front teeth were broken off. It looked like a crushed tomato. Blood splattered everywhere.

Qin Sheng felt his mind go blank as if struck by a giant hammer. His vision spun, stars danced before his eyes, but the pain was clear.

It wasn’t ordinary pain, but searing, indescribable agony.

With his cheek pressed to the ground, Qin Sheng let out muffled, miserable screams. He tried to cradle his face, but Lin Xiao had him pinned tightly, rendering him completely immobile.

With one hand pressing Qin Sheng down, Lin Xiao slowly raised his head and looked toward the Blazing Sun students. In his pitch-black eyes was a chilling, terrifying coldness.

At that moment, all noise vanished.

The Blazing Sun students averted their gazes, afraid to meet his eyes. What filled their hearts was not just hatred, but deep, unmistakable fear.

Seeing Qin Sheng’s fate, they all felt a sense of dread, as if their own end might be the same.

Even the bystanders were stunned by Lin Xiao’s ruthless display.

No one had expected that Lin Xiao would truly make a move against Qin Sheng—and in such a brutal, savage manner. Just by looking at Qin Sheng’s miserable state, they could imagine the agony he was enduring.

What Lin Xiao did, in broad daylight and in full view of everyone, meant that he had completely torn ties with Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall. There would be no reconciliation—no peaceful resolution from here on out.