Chapter 467: The Whole Arena in Shock

“What?!”

Zhang Li’s body trembled violently. His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and an extremely strange expression spread across his face. As an internal strength martial artist, his perception was sharp. He sensed that Lin Xiao’s aura was overwhelmingly powerful—so powerful, in fact, that it might even surpass his own.

Shock, disbelief, absurdity, denial. His expression changed like a chameleon’s.

If one had to describe Zhang Li’s current state of mind, it would be like witnessing a housecat suddenly transform into a tiger.

Beyond shock and absurdity, Zhang Li also felt an intense sense of danger emanating from Lin Xiao.

His eyelid twitched, and his heart churned with crashing waves as he screamed inwardly in disbelief. 

“What kind of joke is this?! Could this guy… could this guy be at peak Dark Force?”

Not only Zhang Li, but even the members of the seven great sects sitting in the front row felt the powerful aura Lin Xiao had just unleashed, each of them revealing astonished expressions.

“This kind of presence… it’s at least late-stage Dark Force!”

“Since when did Dark Force-level experts become as common as cabbages?”

“No wonder he dared to say those things to Zhang Li. To have such strength at such a young age, he’s already quite something.”

“But compared to Zhang Li, that monster… he should still be a bit lacking. After all, Zhang Li is from Scarlet City Sect, one of the seven major forces, and his master is one of the strongest in the South…”

The audience below the ring murmured among themselves, whispering in low voices.

In the Ten Absolutes Sect area, Jiang Long had originally been resting with her eyes closed, uninterested in what was happening on the stage. But at the moment Lin Xiao released his aura, her eyes snapped open. Her sharp, bright gaze locked onto Lin Xiao.

“Late-stage Dark Force? Or even higher?”

Her eyes flickered as she tried to feel out Lin Xiao’s qi, but she couldn’t make an accurate judgment.

Before long, she shook her head. 

“Impossible. To have reached even late-stage Dark Force at that age is already world-shaking. At least, I’ve never seen anyone so young reach that level.”

***

Lei Wen lounged diagonally in his seat, his massive frame relaxed, a playful smile curling at the corners of his lips. 

“Looks like Zhang Li has finally met his match. A good show is about to start. Not a waste of my waiting.”

He had known about Lin Xiao’s strength for a while. So when Zhang Li rushed up to the stage, he had simply been waiting to be entertained.

In the front row grand chair, Tian Junliang’s eyes glimmered with intrigue. 

“I didn’t expect… I actually misjudge someone. That young man’s skill at concealing his aura is extraordinary.”

“To have reached late-stage Dark Force at such a young age… what’s his background?”

Chunyu Yan sat with a face like still water, fingers gently tapping the armrest of his grand chair, gaze fixed on Lin Xiao as thoughts turned rapidly in his mind.

Even someone like Zhang Li, whom he regarded as the hope of Scarlet City Sect—a peerless talent with a real chance of reaching Huajin—had only reached late-stage Dark Force in his early thirties. But Lin Xiao looked to be only twenty or twenty-one, yet already had the strength of a late-stage Dark Force expert.

The age of thirty was the golden period for martial artists to advance; blood and vitality were at their peak. After forty, the body began to decline, making further breakthroughs difficult.

The difference was plain to see.

Regardless of Lin Xiao’s origins or talent, Zhang Li was Chunyu Yan’s personal disciple, the future of the Scarlet City Sect, into whom he had poured tremendous effort. He could not allow anything to happen to him.

‘Should I step in and stop this?’ Chunyu Yan hesitated for once.

But then he thought again. Zhang Li was his direct disciple, outstanding among his peers, with solid real-world combat experience. There was no way he’d lose.

‘Let’s wait and see. If he’s truly in danger, I can step in then.’

Chunyu Yan made his decision, his expression returning to calm as his fingers ceased tapping.

Had he known Lin Xiao’s true strength, he would not have remained so composed.

The truth was, Lin Xiao’s aura-concealing skills were far too refined—something that even a peak Dark Force could not see through.

Not just Chunyu Yan, but even Tian Junliang, Wang Zhaotian, Xue Fanjia, and the others had all misjudged Lin Xiao.

After all, someone in their early twenties at late-stage Dark Force was already unheard of. Across all of the southern provinces, there were only a few such prodigies under thirty.

As for peak Dark Force?

That would be nothing short of terrifying. Unless he was a descendant of one of the three great powers, such people were rare even across the entire Xia Country.

In the viewing stands, everyone had their own thoughts. The murmurs gradually died down, and all eyes locked on Lin Xiao and Zhang Li, comparing their strength.

Zhang Li slowly withdrew his hands from his pockets and stood tall. A powerful aura rose from his body, no less than Lin Xiao’s. A trace of murderous intent flickered across his handsome face.

“I admit I underestimated you before. With your strength, you’re qualified to fight me. Fine. Since I can’t crush you with a finger, I’ll slap you to death with a palm.”

Lin Xiao’s brows rose slightly. “I just doubt you’ve got what it takes.”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Zhang Li sneered. “I’ll show you what true despair feels like.”

Zhang Li slowly closed his eyes, then reopened them.

Swish!

Sharp beams of light shot from his eyes, each several inches long, making them resemble small searchlights.

His gaze turned icy and cruel, like a venomous snake locking onto its prey, chilling to the bone.

He clenched his hands tightly, then suddenly spread his fingers. All ten fingers came together like blades. His strong hands turned bluish-black, and his half-inch nails gleamed with a cold, metallic light—like sharpened files.

That wasn’t all. He took a deep breath and unleashed a surge of inner strength.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

His body suddenly grew several inches taller. His muscles swelled, stretching his white training uniform to its limit. Veins writhed like small snakes along his exposed arms.

He raised one arm and swung it forward. A deep whoosh sliced through the air. Even Lin Xiao, standing three meters away, could feel the sharp pressure of the wind.

Zhang Li’s late-stage Dark Force aura was fully revealed, many times stronger than before.

“Well? Scared yet?” Zhang Li licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust. “I’ll give you three minutes to prepare. Then I’ll tear you apart.”

“Oh?” 

Facing Zhang Li’s undisguised malice, Lin Xiao remained calm. His eyes were indifferent, without a hint of nervousness. 

“Three minutes isn’t necessary. Three seconds will be enough.”

He let his arms hang at his sides, legs slightly apart in a relaxed but stable stance. Then he opened his mouth and took a deep breath.

As Lin Xiao inhaled, it brought to mind the image of a giant whale drawing in seawater. Though his body was far smaller, the momentum was the same.

When the breath was complete, a faint white mist rose above his head. In the next instant, his body shook—and a deep, thunderous sound erupted from within him.

Like a great river flowing eastward—vast, boundless, and unstoppable.

It was the sound of blood coursing through his veins. That it could be heard so clearly spoke volumes about the vitality surging within Lin Xiao. His body was like a massive furnace, radiating endless heat. Though his outward appearance hadn’t changed much, in Zhang Li’s senses, the danger he posed had multiplied exponentially.

Boom!

Lin Xiao opened his fingers, then suddenly clenched his fist. The air between his fingers exploded with a dull blast.