Chapter 474: Spreading Impact (Part 1)

“Patriarch, what should we do now?”

As soon as Chunyu Yan stepped off the stage, the members of Scarlet City Sect immediately surrounded him.

“Send Zhang Li to the hospital. Have his injuries examined to see whether there’s any chance of recovery,” Chunyu Yan said coldly, not stopping his pace as he walked straight toward the exit of the venue. “Also, keep close watch on the movements of those two. If they attempt to leave Dongzhou, inform me immediately.”

“Yes!”

Several Scarlet City Sect disciples leapt onto the stage at once, lifting the barely breathing Zhang Li, and hurriedly followed Chunyu Yan out of the venue.

After such an incident, they all felt humiliated and dared not even lift their heads as they left.

“Young man, are you all right?” Tian Junliang asked Lin Xiao gently.

“Thank you for your concern, Sect Master Tian. I’m fine,” Lin Xiao said calmly, his tone composed, completely different from the fierce and violent image he had shown just moments earlier.

“I thought as much. Young man, your strength is extraordinary, even I can’t discern your depth. I imagine in that fight just now, you probably didn’t even use your full strength, did you?” Tian Junliang said meaningfully, “Chunyu Yan is narrow-minded and vindictive. You’ll need to be very careful in the days to come.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Sect Master Tian. I’m well aware,” Lin Xiao replied with a calm expression.

At that moment, Xue Fanjia also walked over, giving Lin Xiao a few curious glances.

“Pardon my forwardness, Mr. Lin, but your bearing and demeanor are very much like that of a soldier. May I ask, have you spent time in the military?”

Lin Xiao was briefly surprised but quickly nodded in response.

“That’s right. I’ve been in the military until not too long ago.”

It wasn’t anything to be ashamed of, and he had no intention of hiding it.

However, it seemed Xue Fanjia misunderstood something. His attitude toward Lin Xiao suddenly shifted significantly. “If you’re willing, I hope you can visit me sometime in the future.”

“Understood.”

Though Lin Xiao didn’t quite understand what Xue Fanjia meant, he still nodded readily in agreement.

“Sect Master Xue, let’s step down. Though there was a small incident, the Chen Martial Hall’s assessment isn’t finished yet. Let’s continue the process,” Tian Junliang said, nodding to Lin Xiao. In the next moment, without any warning, his body lifted into the air and gently floated off the stage like a leaf falling without a sound.

Just that move alone made it clear that Tian Junliang’s martial skills had reached the peak of mastery.

Xue Fanjia also gave Lin Xiao a slight nod and left the stage.

In the blink of an eye, only Lin Xiao and Chen Lingxin remained on the platform.

However, Lin Xiao had already demonstrated strength sufficient to defeat a late-stage Dark Force expert. No one dared to step forward to challenge him anymore.

Five minutes passed quickly, and the announcer loudly declared that the Chen Martial Hall had successfully passed the assessment and retained its Grade B martial hall status.

The two returned to the spectator seats, one after the other. Everywhere they went, people stood aside respectfully, giving way to express their admiration for Lin Xiao.

In the martial world, the strong were revered. With his astonishing performance, Lin Xiao had conquered the hearts of even the most prideful martial artists.

“Master, are you really all right? That old turtle Chunyu Yan may be lacking in character, but his cultivation is still very high,” Chen Lingxin said with concern after they sat down.

Although she had appeared full of confidence in Lin Xiao earlier, facing a peak expert of the southern region, she couldn’t help but worry deep down.

Lin Xiao smiled and said, “Yes, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

“Good. But that old bastard was just too much, launching a sneak attack on Master from behind!”

Even though the matter had passed, Chen Lingxin was still angry, her teeth grinding in frustration. 

“And to think he’s a vice chief of the Southern Martial Alliance. He has no sense of right or wrong, using dirty tricks like that. He’s not even as good as an ordinary person.”

Lin Xiao knew she was speaking up for him, and warmth rose in his heart, though he said nothing in response.

“By the way, Master, are you already at the peak of Dark Force?” Chen Lingxin suddenly leaned in close, lowering her voice as she asked. Her breath was soft and fragrant, and her lips nearly touched Lin Xiao’s ear.

Lin Xiao tilted his head slightly. “What makes you say that?”

“Because I’ve noticed you’re a lot stronger than before,” Chen Lingxin said, hugging one of Lin Xiao’s arms with a cheerful smile. “But there’s no way you could’ve reached peak Dark Force so quickly, right?”

Lin Xiao smiled slightly and gave a noncommittal nod.

He was afraid that telling her the truth would deal a serious blow to her confidence. After all, she had always seen him as her goal to chase.

While Chen Lingxin and Lin Xiao talked, the martial hall assessment continued.

More and more martial artists stepped onto the stage to accept challenges, the fights growing increasingly intense.

There was no shortage of skilled experts among them. Lin Xiao sat in the audience, watching attentively. Even though those people were far weaker than he was, he still found the experience rewarding.

Influenced by Lin Xiao, Chen Lingxin also stopped talking and focused intently on watching the battles.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, evening came.

The first day of the Southern Martial Exchange Conference had come to an end.

A lot had happened this day. Many talented figures had emerged, but the brightest among them was undoubtedly Lin Xiao.

Like a dark horse appearing out of nowhere, he captured everyone’s attention.

His defeat of Zhang Li on the stage, followed by his direct confrontation with Chunyu Yan, spread rapidly through the entire southern martial world. In just half a day, the news had already circulated across all of Dongzhou and was quickly spreading through the surrounding provinces.

***

Dongzhou City, a five-star hotel.

In a luxury suite on the top floor, Tian Junliang sat cross-legged on the balcony, facing the vast night sky, eyes half-closed, regulating his breath. His long, steady breathing merged with the wind whistling past.

Behind Tian Junliang, several young men and women in white training uniforms sat silently, waiting.

They were the elite disciples of the West Sea Sect. Senior brother Lei Wen was among them.

They waited like this for twenty minutes.

Tian Junliang suddenly opened his mouth, releasing a breath of internal energy as straight as a sword. At the same time, two streams of white mist shot from his nostrils like twin slender white serpents, dancing alongside his cheeks.

He opened his eyes. Calm and clear like a still lake, his pupils seemed to flicker with lightning. 

“What do you think regarding today’s events?” he said plainly.

“Master, which event are you referring to?” a refined young girl asked softly.

“The matter concerning that young man named Lin Xiao and the Scarlet City Sect.”

The expressions of the young geniuses from the West Sea Sect became subtly uneasy.

They had always been proud and arrogant, looking down on anyone outside the seven major factions. But Lin Xiao’s appearance had deeply shaken their confidence.

“That Lin Xiao is very strong. Among us, aside from Senior Brother, none of us would be his match,” the young girl said honestly.

Lei Wen lowered his eyes and remained silent.

“What did you think of his fight with Zhang Li?”