Chapter 41: Arrogant and Disdainful

“Secret Art: Soul Sucking!”

Ling Yu was holding Ling Xiao's arm, speaking with a beaming smile, when suddenly a strange, eerie light flashed in her eyes.

This sudden change left the onlookers greatly astonished.

Although many knew that such a secret art existed within the Library Pavilion—one that could instantly bewitch a person's mind and strip them of their ability to think—very few had actually practiced it.

This was because the technique could only be practiced by women, and specifically those born with a natural, seductive charm.

No one expected that Ling Yu would actually succeed in mastering it.

"Ling Xiao is finished!"

At such close proximity, being struck by the Soul Sucking technique meant there was absolutely no possibility of resistance.

To be honest, even the referees felt that Ling Xiao's defeat would be somewhat unjust. If he had acted sooner, things might not have come to this.

This woman was too terrifying; to be so skilled at seducing men at such a young age, what would she be like when she grew up?

"Hmph!"

However, in the next moment, an unbelievable scene unfolded.

The one knocked off the martial stage was not Ling Xiao!

With a cold snort from Ling Xiao, Ling Yu let out a scream as if she had seen a ghost. She jumped off the stage in a frenzy and crouched on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Ling Xiao also felt a lingering sense of fear. Had it not been for his cultivation of the *Bull Demon Art: Condensing Malice*, which provided specialized resistance against such mind-disturbing secret arts, he would have truly been in trouble.

However, Ling Yu had brought this upon herself. After such a blow, she likely wouldn't dare to cause him trouble again anytime soon.

"Number 9588 wins, ninety-one consecutive victories!"

The referee dithered for a long moment before remembering to announce the result. At this point, even the referees hadn't quite grasped what had just happened.

Ling Xiao hadn't even made a move, yet Ling Yu had somehow lost inexplicably.

"Ling Xiao, you dare harm my sister Yu! I will never forgive you!"

At some unknown point, the seed contestant Ling Feng had appeared by Ling Yu's side. Looking at her trembling form, he roared almost in a frenzy.

"Is a woman like that worth it?" Ling Xiao said indifferently.

"That is none of your business! As long as we cross paths again, I will make you pay!" Ling Feng said with a face full of resentment.

"Is that so? I'm afraid you lack the ability," Ling Xiao smiled faintly and turned to leave.

Ling Feng was no longer his target. He was more interested in the top ten of the Genius Hall, as well as Ling Yihang and Ling Yixue.

"Brother Feng, Brother Feng! That guy is a monster! A monster! You must avenge me, you must avenge me!" Ling Yu clung to Ling Feng's arm like a frightened rabbit, repeating her plea incessantly.

"Don't worry, I will!"

Ling Xiao didn't take Ling Feng's words to heart at all. His battle continued.

Ninety-two consecutive wins!

Ninety-three consecutive wins!

Ninety-four consecutive wins!

Ever since that match where he had frightened Ling Yu away, no one had dared to face him for three consecutive rounds. Three people had simply chosen to forfeit.

No one was a fool; if they couldn't win, why waste their energy? It wasn't as if a single loss meant immediate elimination.

Perhaps spurred by Ling Xiao's performance, Ling Ziran's strikes had become increasingly ruthless, and almost no one was willing to face him either. Thus, Ling Ziran also successfully achieved the feat of ninety-four consecutive wins through his opponents' forfeitures.

"Once I reach one hundred consecutive wins, I can take a rest. I wonder if the Medicine Hall has successfully refined the Astral Qi Pills. I'm really looking forward to it!"

By now, Ling Xiao's mind was no longer on the competition; he was more anticipating the breakthrough that would follow the consumption of the Astral Qi Pills. He wanted to go further, and the safest way was to break through to the fourth level of the Martial Vein realm!

Ninety-five wins, another forfeit.

Ninety-six wins, another forfeit.

It seemed there would be no doubt regarding the hundred-win streak.

Just as many were thinking this, the situation changed.

"Number 9588 versus Number 20!"

"Ling Xiao against Ling Ziran?"

"Now it's getting interesting! The two closest to the hundred-win mark are facing off early. One of their streaks is bound to end!"

The crowd erupted! The spectator stands were in a complete frenzy!

The disciples who were ineligible for the finals and those unable to reach a hundred wins loved watching this kind of spectacle the most.

"Do you think that when Ling Xiao meets Ling Ziran, he'll still dare to use basic martial arts?"

"Haha, don't be ridiculous. Ling Ziran isn't one of those wastes. If he dares to use basic martial arts, he'll lose miserably."

Although many didn't believe Ling Xiao would actually use basic martial arts against Ling Ziran, truth be told, they all held a sliver of expectation in their hearts. After all, people love to watch a spectacle.

"Sister Yu, I will teach this Ling Xiao a lesson for you right now. I'll show you whether that boy Ling Feng is better, or if I am!" Ling Ziran said excitedly.

He had been looking forward to this fight with Ling Xiao. In this battle, he wouldn't just defeat Ling Xiao; he would beat him so badly that Ling Xiao would be unable to continue fighting, resulting in a humiliating elimination! If he did that, he could win Ling Yu's favor.

He absolutely did not believe he would lose. With advanced martial arts and the strength of the peak third level of the Martial Vein realm, how could he possibly lose to a martial artist who had only recently broken through to the third level?

"Ling Xiao, if you have the guts, don't use lightness skills!"

Facing Ling Xiao, Ling Ziran's only concern was that Ling Xiao might avoid a direct confrontation by using movement techniques to dodge, which would make things troublesome.

"Don't worry. Not only will I not use lightness skills, but basic martial arts will be more than enough to deal with you," Ling Xiao said calmly as he looked at Ling Ziran.

He felt a certain disdain for this idiot who had been completely bewitched by a woman.

*No way, no lightness skills? And he's going to use basic martial arts? Is Ling Xiao looking down on Ling Ziran too much?*

The scene was filled with an uproar, as no one expected Ling Xiao to be so arrogant.

"Hehe, he's definitely bluffing. He'll definitely use lightness skills later, otherwise, he's insane!"

"Not necessarily. Maybe this Ling Xiao is just that arrogant!"

"There's another possibility: maybe he only knows basic martial arts and has nothing else to use."

"Trying to beat Ling Ziran with basic martial arts is too difficult; it's almost impossible."

...

"Sigh, that child is too impulsive. He was provoked by a single sentence!"

In the referee stands, someone shook their head, feeling it was a pity. Even the referees felt that if Ling Xiao used nothing but basic martial arts against Ling Ziran, defeat was inevitable. They thought Ling Xiao had fallen for Ling Ziran's psychological provocation.

In reality, Ling Ziran had no intention of using provocation; he simply wanted to humiliate Ling Xiao to demonstrate his own power. But he hadn't expected Ling Xiao to look down on him so much.

*What is this? A little beggar! An outsider dares to look down on me, Ling Ziran! To look down on a member of the main Ling clan!*

He felt insulted! In fact, many members of the main Ling clan felt insulted as well.

"This beggar-born fellow is truly audacious, daring to disregard our main clan disciples!"

"Brother Ziran, cripple him!"

They said *cripple*! Not *defeat*!

Because they were truly angry. How could the high-and-mighty members of the main Ling clan tolerate the provocation and insult of an outsider?