Chapter 469: Malice

Lin Xiao’s body stood as steady as a mountain. Even if Zhang Li’s hands carried the force of a thousand catties, he couldn’t shake him in the slightest.

Zhang Li shifted his move. Lin Xiao’s left hand, which had been hanging quietly at his side, suddenly shot upward. His five fingers clenched tightly into a fist and struck forward in a rising arc, straight for Zhang Li’s chin.

Chen-style Fist Technique—Force Form.

But this was no ordinary Chen-style move. After mastering the technique, Lin Xiao had integrated the power of Thunderbolt Fist into it, more than doubling its original force. His fist tore through the air like a cannonball, producing a low, howling wind. The force of the punch lifted Zhang Li’s clothes at the chest.

“Not good!”

Zhang Li was suddenly struck by a strong sense of danger. The hair on his back stood on end. Without hesitation, he released Lin Xiao’s arm and withdrew the attack, retreating.

Whoosh!

Lin Xiao’s fist grazed past Zhang Li’s cheek. The wind from the punch scraped his skin painfully, making his expression change slightly.

He felt firsthand just how terrifying that strike was.

With such power, even with his inner energy for protection, if he had taken that punch directly, it would have meant broken bones at the very least.

“So what if your strength is impressive? If it doesn’t land, it’s useless.” Zhang Li’s eyes gleamed with cold cunning. “Besides, my master is watching from the stands. I don’t believe you’d dare harm me in front of him.”

That was Zhang Li’s greatest source of confidence.

With Chunyu Yan as his backer, he feared no one. There was nothing to be afraid of.

Zhang Li retreated several steps, his eyes radiating killing intent as he once again charged at Lin Xiao, launching a flurry of fierce attacks like a violent storm.

After Lin Xiao’s first strike had driven him back, he now seemed more restrained. His attacks appeared to lose their previous overwhelming power.

Lin Xiao’s seemingly weakened assault only confirmed Zhang Li’s assumptions. Without any more hesitation, Zhang Li unleashed a flurry of deadly strikes. He was determined to bring Lin Xiao down, even if it meant mutual destruction.

There was also a hidden thought in Zhang Li’s mind—he had to kill Lin Xiao.

This guy looked even younger than he was, yet his martial skills were comparable.

Didn’t that mean his martial talent surpassed his own?

That was something Zhang Li could never tolerate.

The South’s greatest genius could only be him. Always him!

Splitting strikes, hand wraps, pressure points. All kinds of Scarlet Fist techniques flowed from Zhang Li’s hands—each one precise and powerful, completely suppressing Lin Xiao.

“Hahaha! Weren’t you supposed to be so great? Didn’t you say I was nothing in your eyes?” Zhang Li shouted while attacking, “Look at you now, you trash, you useless scum. What happened to all that arrogance?”

Zhang Li lifted a foot and kicked at Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao easily dodged.

Zhang Li didn’t even realize that his technique was falling apart. His moves lost the precision they once had; he was blindly attacking, completely ignoring his own defense.

To Lin Xiao, Zhang Li’s offense was riddled with holes. If he hadn’t wanted to study the Scarlet Fist, the fight would’ve ended long ago.

Below the platform, when Chen Lingxin heard Zhang Li repeatedly insult Lin Xiao as trash, her face turned red with anger. Her chest heaved rapidly. She looked like she wanted to leap up and beat Zhang Li herself.

In contrast to Chen Lingxin’s agitation, Lin Xiao felt nothing at all. He had never taken Zhang Li seriously. In his eyes, Zhang Li didn’t even qualify as a real opponent.

“Li’er is too agitated. If this continues, it could work against him.” Chunyu Yan frowned. He did place great value on his disciple Zhang Li, so much so that he would abandon all reason for him. “Looks like I’ll have to help him… just a little.”

Chunyu Yan narrowed his eyes. A cold and subtle malice flowed along his gaze, striking toward Lin Xiao on the stage.

“Hmm?”

While fending off Zhang Li’s assault, Lin Xiao sensed Chunyu Yan’s malice.

When two people of equal cultivation fought, a sudden surge of ill intent—especially from a peak-level Dark Force master—could cause a lesser fighter to lose focus and expose a fatal opening.

Chunyu Yan’s intent was utterly unscrupulous, without a hint of concealment.

Unfortunately for him, the person he targeted was Lin Xiao.

To ordinary Dark Force fighters, that kind of malicious pressure would feel like a thorn in the flesh. But to Lin Xiao, it was merely a breeze brushing past his face.

But this time, Chunyu Yan had finally provoked Lin Xiao’s fury.

‘So when your disciple can’t win, the master steps in from the shadows?’

A cold sneer rose in Lin Xiao’s heart. His previously calm and deep gaze turned icy and merciless, waves of killing intent surging beneath the surface.

‘Very well. Let’s see how far you’re willing to go for your disciple.’

Zhang Li, oblivious to what was coming, was still cursing wildly.

“You trash! You worthless piece of garbage! Blind fool! Come at me if you’ve got the guts—I bet you don’t even have the balls!”

“Done with your ranting?”

For the first time, Lin Xiao spoke, his voice carrying a coldness that was difficult to describe.

“Oh? The trash can talk now.” Zhang Li laughed mockingly, his attacks not letting up. Each move was cruel and ruthless, aimed directly at Lin Xiao’s vital points. He threw a punch toward Lin Xiao’s head.

“So what if I insult you? What’re you gonna—”

Boom!

Before Zhang Li could finish, a surge of killing intent exploded from Lin Xiao’s body.

Cold. Brutal. Bloodthirsty. Deep.

And cloaked in boundless darkness. His eyes flashed with a red hue.

This killing intent was overwhelming, surging toward Zhang Li like a tidal wave, engulfing him in an instant.

Zhang Li was stunned, his mouth agape. He felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit. His mind went blank. He couldn’t say another word.

Lin Xiao’s eyes glowed faintly red, and under the weight of that killing aura, he looked like a demon arising from hell.

“If you like insulting people so much… then how about staying silent? Forever.”

As the words fell, Lin Xiao extended his arm. His fingers opened wide, and the entire limb gleamed with a metallic sheen as if forged from steel. He grabbed directly at Zhang Li’s incoming fist.

Lin Xiao caught Zhang Li’s full-force punch with ease.

Lin Xiao’s fingers closed around it, locking Zhang Li’s fist in place.

The impact snapped Zhang Li out of his shock. Looking at the transformed, terrifying Lin Xiao, his heart went cold. He no longer dared to keep fighting. He jerked his arm back, trying to escape by leaping off the stage.

But no matter how he pulled, his arm didn’t budge. It was as if his fist had grown roots inside Lin Xiao’s palm. He was completely immobilized.

Staring into Lin Xiao’s cold, merciless eyes, Zhang Li suddenly felt true fear.

The shadow of death loomed over his heart.