Chapter 118: First Victory Secured, Martial Arts Turmoil Begins
The oppressive aura of the Kongtong Sect Leader surged forward, striking Zheng Zhentian and his three companions with overwhelming force.
“Pfft—!”
All four spat out fresh blood simultaneously.
“Retreat!”
Jian Wusheng shouted sharply, and the four swiftly leapt back.
The Kongtong Sect Leader sneered coldly.
“Trying to run? Do you think you can escape before me?”
With a mere grasp at empty air, a surge of supreme energy instantly enveloped Jian Wusheng and his three deputy hall masters in a powerful energy field, sealing off all their escape routes.
The four paled dramatically.
The Kongtong Sect Leader’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“Once I kill these four, and then Ling Xiao, whether they are disciples of Kongtong or Guigu, all will become my subordinates!”
The weak have always relied on the strong.
This was precisely why he had never once been flustered from beginning to end.
At the sixth level of Martial Sovereign, within the entire Chinese martial world, he already stood among the elite!
Even if he went to the Dragon Division, he would have more than enough qualifications to be appointed grand marshal commanding the armies!
Strength was the foundation of his dominance across the land!
The strong fear no disaster.
After locking onto the four, the Kongtong Sect Leader clenched his fist, condensing his energy wildly, attempting to crush the four deputy hall masters at the third level of Martial Sovereign into mere meatballs!
Ling Xiao’s expression was calm.
“Is that all your strength amounts to?”
“Hm?”
The Kongtong Sect Leader narrowed his eyes.
“Such arrogance! Your four trusted lieutenants are about to be slaughtered by me, yet you still look down on me? Have you lost your mind?”
Ling Xiao shook his head.
“Enough. It’s a waste of time to reason with a frog at the bottom of a well like you.”
With those words, Ling Xiao raised his hand and swept it horizontally.
A simple move—yet a silver-white sword light shot forth directly.
There was no dazzling brilliance, no stirring ripples; it was an utterly ordinary, exceedingly simple sword strike.
The Kongtong Sect Leader scoffed disdainfully.
“Such petty tricks, daring to challenge me? Ridiculous beyond measure!”
He snorted lightly and unleashed a punch.
In an instant, the air exploded with resounding cracks.
The formidable fist power clashed with the air, sparking bursts of fiery sparks and lightning bolts.
The sheer force of this punch made everyone behind Ling Xiao tremble in their legs!
Too powerful!
The sixth level of Martial Sovereign was already beyond ordinary men—calling it superhuman was no exaggeration.
Yet, even this overwhelming punch instantly withered and vanished without a trace upon meeting Ling Xiao’s seemingly mundane sword light!
“What?”
The Kongtong Sect Leader exclaimed in shock, realizing for the first time that Ling Xiao’s sword concealed boundless killing intent.
“Damn it!”
He immediately released his grasp on Jian Wusheng and the others, forming rapid hand seals.
Utilizing his supreme power, he attempted to counter Ling Xiao’s sword light.
“Break it!”
The Kongtong Sect Leader unleashed blow after blow.
Each punch possessed enough power to easily demolish a hundred-meter-high building!
His speed rivaled that of a bullet, capable of throwing hundreds of punches per second.
Yet, these powerful punches could not in the slightest resist the seemingly unremarkable sword strike Ling Xiao wielded!
“No—!”
Gritting his teeth, cold sweat poured down the Kongtong Sect Leader’s forehead.
Only now did he suddenly grasp the enormity of his mistake.
Ling Xiao was simply beyond his capacity to provoke!
At last, the sword came, slicing across the Kongtong Sect Leader’s body.
His fists instantly dropped, his pupils dilated.
A sixth-level Martial Saint slain in a single move!
Everyone present—whether Guigu disciples or Kongtong elders—was filled with fear and awe toward Ling Xiao at that moment.
This was a true master.
A single strike to kill a sixth-level Martial Saint.
Ling Xiao then began to ascend toward the throne above.
Before he could reach it, a former Kongtong elder hurried forward, kicking the corpse of the sect leader aside.
Using his spiritual energy, he meticulously cleaned the steps.
“Young Lord, please take your seat!”
Ling Xiao did not glance at him, quietly stepping onto the platform.
He cast a brief look at the throne but did not sit.
“What is your name?”
The elder’s ears seemed to be struck by thunder at the faint words, and he immediately knelt.
“Reporting to the Young Lord, my name is Li Er, former eighth elder of Kongtong.”
“You are quite sensible.”
“The Young Lord is the destined dragon among men, a king descended from heaven. I merely follow the way of heaven.”
“Enough with the flattery. From today onward, Kongtong is under your charge.”
“Thank you for the Young Lord’s grace! I will devote myself wholeheartedly, for Guigu, and for the Young Lord, to walk through fire and water! I will not fear death!”
“I need not say more. You know what must be done, right?”
“Rest assured, Young Lord! I will immediately issue a broad notice. From today, Kongtong is incorporated under the Guigu banner, serving at your command!”
“Go. Also, prepare a carriage—I am returning to Jiangzhou.”
“Yes, sir!”
...
Outside Yanjing lay a vast base.
Its area exceeded that of a city, but the entire base was buried deep underground.
Above it stretched desolate wilderness and forests, seldom visited by people.
Hidden within the dense mountains was a large underground entrance, above which hung a crimson wooden plaque inscribed with the words “Dragon Division” in vigorous, bold characters.
Beneath the base, in a spacious conference room, a solemn and serious meeting was underway.
Those attending held a rank no lower than Dragon Division upper general.
“Everyone, the once-in-a-century Hundred Sect Tournament begins today! As always, we expect each Dragon Division branch to strictly guard the martial sects under their jurisdiction.”
“Although the tournament’s opening day will see the Dragon Division easing its surveillance over the martial world, this does not mean lawlessness will be tolerated! Remember, the tournament must not disturb the world’s stability. Whoever dares to break the rules, regardless of sect, will be immediately punished and disqualified!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Regarding this Hundred Sect Tournament, all situations must be anticipated in advance to swiftly resolve any emergencies.”
“The Chief Judge is right. The seventh team has already consolidated intelligence on this tournament. Now, let the leader of the seventh team report to everyone.”
A tall man stepped forward from the crowd, holding a report, his expression calm as he read aloud:
“This year’s tournament shows no significant changes from previous years.
Kunlun remains the strongest sect in China.
Reliable sources confirm that three months ago, Kunlun’s Young Master, Xuanyuan Lingyu, broke through to the sixth level of Martial Sovereign!”
“Whoosh~!”
A collective intake of breath echoed throughout the conference room.
“If I recall correctly, Xuanyuan Lingyu is only twenty-nine this year, right?”