Chapter 4: Defeating the Enemy in One Move

On the martial arts training ground.

Ling Xiao also saw the aggressive Ling Chong.

A sneer of disdain appeared on his face.

"What’s wrong, trash? Looking to avenge your grandfather?"

"Hahahaha!"

Ling Chong’s contemptuous question made the surrounding Ling family clan disciples burst into laughter as well.

They felt that Ling Xiao was simply overestimating his own abilities.

"You have humiliated me time and again, and I have not held it against you because my skills were inferior. But you hurt my grandfather, and I cannot forgive you!"

Ling Xiao looked at Ling Chong. Although he felt a bit nervous inside, he also possessed a strong sense of self-confidence.

The appearance of the Mountain and River Martial Soul had opened a door to success for him.

And today’s duel with Ling Chong was the perfect test.

"You won't forgive me?"

Ling Chong acted as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. He sneered, "If I could break that old beggar’s ribs, I can break yours too!"

"Ling Chong, just finish it in one palm strike. This kid is just as useless as that old beggar."

Someone from the side egged him on.

"Hahaha, if I, Ling Chong, can't finish off this kind of trash in one strike, what face would I have left to stay in the Ling family?"

Amidst the loud laughter, Ling Chong suddenly moved. His entire body seemed to transform into a giant, looking down upon Ling Xiao.

The powerful aura forced Ling Xiao to the point of breathlessness.

Is this the strength of a second-level Martial Pulse cultivator? Even though it is only one realm higher than the first level, isn't the gap a bit too large?

The crowd nearby, seeing the shock in Ling Xiao’s eyes, all wore expressions of schadenfreude.

In their eyes, the battle hadn't even begun, yet it was already over.

How could Ling Xiao possibly be a match for Ling Chong?

Suddenly, Ling Chong struck out with a palm toward Ling Xiao. The palm clearly looked like the size of a normal person's hand.

Yet, strangely, in Ling Xiao’s eyes, it transformed into a giant palm the size of a millstone, truly like the hand of a giant.

This palm strike actually made Ling Xiao feel as if he were seeing a giant—a giant that could crush him to death with a casual flick.

"That must be the 'Giant Spirit Palm'! I remember that being a high-level martial art!"

Among the Ling family clan disciples, there were naturally those with a keen eye who recognized Ling Chong’s technique and couldn't help but exclaim.

"Are you kidding? No matter how strong Ling Chong is, he’s only a second-level Martial Pulse cultivator. What right does he have to learn a high-level martial art? I have the same strength as him, and I can only choose primary martial arts; I’m not even qualified to pick intermediate ones."

"How can you compare yourself to him? Ling Chong has a good father! His father is the Ninth Master of our Ling family! His grandfather is our Old Patriarch Ling..."

"No wonder Ling Chong has always been so arrogant; he doesn't even get punished for breaking the old beggar’s ribs."

"With the high-level martial art 'Giant Spirit Palm' out, Ling Xiao has no possibility of winning."

"Did you think he had a chance to begin with? Unless he is a peerless genius, dreaming of challenging someone across realms is pure fantasy."

The massive advantage brought by a high-level martial art put immense pressure even on those in the clan with higher cultivation than Ling Chong.

The reason martial arts are graded is because their power and effects differ!

If a second-level Martial Pulse cultivator practices a high-level martial art, it is entirely possible for them to defeat a third-level Martial Pulse cultivator.

"Ling Chong, you really think highly of me, actually using a high-level martial art!"

Ling Xiao couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion. If not for obtaining the Mountain and River Martial Soul, he would certainly have had a few ribs broken today.

Someone like him wasn't even qualified to learn primary martial arts; he could only learn basic ones. He had already lost at the starting line.

Without the Mountain and River Martial Soul, he feared it would be very difficult for him to ever get ahead.

In that instant, under the immense pressure of the high-level martial art, Ling Xiao actually smiled.

Of course he smiled.

Because another Ling Chong had appeared within the Mountain and River Map, and every weakness and flaw exposed by this Ling Chong while performing the Giant Spirit Palm was being pointed out one by one.

Of course, no one else knew this; only Ling Xiao himself knew.

However, even knowing Ling Chong’s flaws, he still had to seize the opportunity perfectly to land a hit.

Fortunately, he had practiced diligently over the past year, and having been bullied by Ling Chong frequently, his experience in duels was quite rich.

Moreover, his body had already been transformed by the Mountain and River Martial Soul; his reflexes and senses had improved more than several times over. This was his assurance of victory.

Seeing the smile on Ling Xiao’s face, Ling Chong couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart, as if his entire being had been completely seen through by Ling Xiao.

"Playing tricks! Take my Giant Spirit Palm: Destruction!"

The Giant Spirit Palm consisted of only four moves, and the "Destruction" move was the most powerful—a move meant for killing.

Although Ling Chong couldn't unleash the true power of this move due to his cultivation level, he still felt it would be effortless to deal with Ling Xiao, who was only at the first level of the Martial Pulse.

"Destruction" implied a force capable of shattering the heavens and destroying the earth.

Although Ling Chong couldn't achieve that, to the onlookers, it appeared as if a phantom image condensed from true energy had manifested around him, and a massive golden palm was crashing down toward Ling Xiao’s head.

"So fast! So ruthless!"

The onlookers, forced to retreat by the terrifying aura, gained a new level of understanding regarding high-level martial arts.

With this move, Ling Xiao wouldn't just be defeated—he would surely die!

Although the Ling family did not allow disciples to kill each other—injuring someone was fine, but killing would result in severe punishment—Ling Chong was the Ninth Master’s son and the Old Patriarch’s grandson. Who did he have to fear?

Just as many felt Ling Xiao was doomed, Ling Xiao moved.

His body seemed to transform into a wild bull, crashing directly into Ling Chong’s chest.

Ling Chong didn't even realize what was happening before his entire body flew out like a kite with a broken string.

Strike the snake at its seven-inch mark!

Although Ling Xiao used a basic martial art, he had struck Ling Chong’s exact weak point, turning his grand, imposing palm strike into a joke.

What happened?

Why was it Ling Chong who flew out?

Because Ling Xiao’s movements were so fast, they hadn't even seen clearly what had occurred.

"My ribs!"

Ling Chong, lying on the ground, began to scream in agony.

"I said, I will never forgive those who hurt my grandfather. You wanted to defeat me in one palm, so I defeated you in one move!"

Although he was nervous and excited inside, and could hardly believe it was real, Ling Xiao, who had grown up among beggars, displayed a composure beyond his years.

He knew exactly how he had defeated Ling Chong.

The analysis and simulation of the Mountain and River Martial Soul, combined with his own daily diligence, had led to today’s outcome.

However, what puzzled him was that at the moment of his attack, he felt as if his body had turned into a gust of wind.

That speed was much faster than usual!

Could that be another function of the Mountain and River Martial Soul?

"Ling Chong lost? My god, are my eyes deceiving me?"

"He really lost, and his ribs were broken!"

"What just happened with Ling Xiao? Is the 'Wild Bull Strength' really that powerful?"

The scene was already in an uproar because they were shocked that Ling Xiao, who was completely written off, had actually severely injured Ling Chong in a single move.

...

"Ling Xiao, you are too vicious! I wasn't using my full strength, yet you wanted my life!"

Compared to the pain of his broken ribs, Ling Chong seemed more concerned about his reputation, so he lied immediately, spouting complete nonsense.

Yet, even with such an unreasonable excuse, there were actually people who supported him.

"No wonder I thought Ling Xiao could win; it turns out Ling Chong was holding back. This Ling Xiao really doesn't know what's good for him!"

The Ling family clan disciples in the crowd said, seemingly convinced.

Ling Chong was the one who lost, but in their eyes, he represented the main family disciples. Losing so miserably was a humiliation to the entire main family.

"Holding back?"

Ling Xiao couldn't help but sneer. According to the Mountain and River Map’s analysis and simulation, Ling Chong’s palm strike had been intended to kill him. The so-called "holding back" was pure nonsense!