Chapter 12: Too Much Luck?

Noticing Ling Fei's expression, Ling Xiao couldn't help but shake his head.

These disciples of his own clan were all incredibly arrogant and narrow-minded. You could step on their shoulders, and if they used their feet to help you up, they would still get angry.

He didn't bother arguing with Ling Fei; he was in a hurry to have the doctor examine his grandfather's injuries.

Unexpectedly, just as he took a step forward, a white shadow flashed past, and the doctor's medicine box vanished into thin air.

It had actually been hung by Ling Fei on a tree branch over ten meters high.

"What are you doing?" Ling Xiao asked with a frown.

"Nothing much, I just wanted to test your lightness skill," Ling Fei said calmly, as if he had done nothing of consequence.

"Who is that person?" Several disciples couldn't help but look at Ling Xiao, appearing confused.

Of course, some among them recognized him.

"Him? He used to be a beggar. He entered our Ling family through the clan's grand examination a year ago. In this past year, his strength has only reached the first level of the Martial Vein. He has offended two elite hall disciples, Ling Chong and Ling Feng, and even Ling Yu, who used to be so attentive to him, has now become Senior Brother Ling Feng's woman..."

"Hmm, I've heard of this fellow too. Senior Brother Ling Chong gave him a chance, yet he used despicable means to launch a sneak attack. Simply shameless!"

"However, it seems he has already promoted to the second level of the Martial Vein. A few days ago, he went to the Library Pavilion and was punished for trying to steal a book."

"A person like this truly doesn't deserve to be a member of our Ling family. No wonder Senior Brother Ling Fei is teasing him."

"It looks like that medicine box won't be coming down today. He probably doesn't know any lightness skills."

Those Ling family disciples, who had been flattering Ling Fei like sycophants, were now evaluating Ling Xiao with tones of mockery and disdain, as if they were vastly superior.

"I was just playing with him. You saw it just now—he actually attempted to attack me!" Ling Fei shamelessly twisted the truth, attempting to provide a rational explanation for his actions.

Ling Xiao's brow furrowed deeply.

It was just as he thought; without strength, one could only be bullied everywhere.

Ling Chong, Ling Feng, Ling Fei, Ling Yu—if he remained a piece of trash at the first level of the Martial Vein, he feared even more people would bully him in the future.

Fine. Since it happened to be today, he might as well test the power of the "Tiger Descending the Mountain Step."

Ignoring Ling Fei and the others, he looked up at the medicine box hanging on the ten-meter-high branch. Suddenly, he mobilized his true qi and unleashed the "Tiger Descending the Mountain Step"...

*Bang—*

"Ouch, damn it!"

Ling Xiao hadn't expected that by exerting too much force all at once, he would end up slamming his head straight into the tree.

As expected, using such a vigorous movement technique for the first time made it a bit difficult to control. He would have to hold back a little next time.

"Hahaha... what an idiot!"

Ling Fei and the others burst into laughter. Some laughed so hard they crouched on the ground, tears streaming down their faces.

Ling Xiao didn't care.

Everything has a first time. He had simply used too much force just now; next time, he would just restrain himself a bit.

Activating his Mountain and River Martial Soul, a perfectly measured surge of true qi flowed into his legs, and the "Tiger Descending the Mountain Step" was suddenly unleashed.

Ling Xiao was like a fierce tiger emerging from the mountains, roaring as he lunged toward the tree trunk.

This time, he successfully scaled the tree, though he was still a hair's breadth away from the medicine box.

However, the laughter instantly froze. Everyone stood agape.

Ling Fei was also greatly shocked.

He could tell that Ling Xiao's movement technique was not bad at all. Such lightness skill was something even some disciples in the Elite Hall might not be able to match.

"It's fine, Senior Brother Ling Fei, the kid doesn't even know what he's doing himself!"

"Yeah, look at his expression, he's still completely bewildered. It must have been a fluke, pure luck!"

"Exactly. Even if he obtained a lightness manual from the Library Pavilion, it's only been a few days. How could he possibly have learned it?"

"That was just him jumping a bit higher because of the true qi propulsion."

Despite their grim expressions, these people always found excuses to comfort themselves.

However, next, they truly had no excuses left.

With a low shout, Ling Xiao, like a lithe tiger or a nimble wildcat, stepped once upon the tree trunk. His body drifted upward gracefully, he snatched the medicine box, and then glided back down.

He landed steadily on the ground.

At this moment, those people could no longer find any excuses to comfort themselves. Such lightness skill was likely something even Ling Fei might not be able to match.

"Intermediate movement techniques are indeed powerful. I wonder how the 'Cloud Soaring Step' compares to the 'Tiger Descending the Mountain Step.' I'll try to see if I can cultivate the 'Cloud Soaring Step' when I get back."

Ling Xiao felt immensely gratified.

It wasn't just because he had struck back at those who slandered him, but more importantly, he felt increasingly confident about his future.

"Is this guy a genius?"

"Right, going from knowing no lightness skill to such mastery in just a few days... that's too ridiculous!"

As the crowd regained their senses, many felt somewhat unconvinced. Some of them had been practicing lightness skills for a year or two and still couldn't compare to what Ling Xiao had just shown. Naturally, they felt uneasy.

"Let's go, Doctor. My grandfather is still waiting for his treatment."

The doctor had also been watching in a daze and only snapped back to reality when Ling Xiao reminded him.

"Young Master, your lightness skill has truly opened this old man's eyes."

The doctor was just an ordinary person, so he had already assumed Ling Xiao was some young master of the Ling family; otherwise, how could he possess such incredible skills?

"Young Master? You idiot, this guy is just a little beggar! He just got lucky. If you're so capable, do it again!"

"Yeah! If he does it again, he'll definitely expose himself!"

The disciples shouted loudly, clearly unwilling to let a little beggar ride over their heads.

Ling Xiao wanted to leave, but these people blocked his path.

To be honest, he didn't have much confidence in defeating so many people at once. After all, among them, including Ling Fei, there were several martial artists at the third level of the Martial Vein.

Since these people wanted to lose face even more, he would perform the lightness skill one more time for them.

In any case, the "Tiger Descending the Mountain Step" was only a foundation; what he truly wanted to practice was the "Cloud Soaring Step." It didn't matter if he exposed himself.

"Since you want to see, I'll show you again."

Having said that, Ling Xiao pointed to a fruit on the large tree and said, "That fruit there. If I get it down, stop bothering me."

"You're bluffing! That fruit is about twenty meters above the ground. Even Senior Brother Ling Fei might not be able to do it!"

"Exactly! If you can really get that fruit down, I'll climb around this tree twice and then bark like a dog!"

Ling Fei also said indifferently, "For a third-level Martial Vein martial artist, the maximum height a lightness skill can reach is roughly fifteen meters. Ling Xiao is talking big."

He was speaking of common logic, and the surrounding Ling family disciples agreed, all waiting to see Ling Xiao become a laughingstock.

"Is that so?"

Ling Xiao chuckled inwardly. Ling Fei had repaid kindness with enmity, and now someone wanted to bark like a dog—it was the perfect opportunity to crush their arrogance and ensure they wouldn't dare bully him casually in the future.

He secretly circulated his energy. His true qi condensed within his Martial Vein and flowed into his legs through his meridians.

"Qi Bursting Art!"

"Tiger Descending the Mountain Step!"

Ling Xiao knew very well that while Ling Fei was right about common logic, if he used the Qi Bursting Art, reaching a height of over twenty meters with his Tiger Descending the Mountain Step was absolutely possible.

*Whoosh—!*

A gust of wind sounded as Ling Xiao leaped into the air, instantly soaring to a height of nearly twenty meters.

Just as he was about to successfully pluck the fruit, a pebble suddenly shot toward him from the side.

(End of Chapter)