Popping Pills

Seeing Xiao Lingtian sent flying by a single punch, everyone in the arena stood frozen like wooden chickens.

A sword cultivator not using a sword, but sending a warrior of the same realm flying with nothing but his fists?

Who would dare believe that?

Xiao Zhentian looked at Xiao Chen, standing proudly below, and a flicker of astonishment passed through his eyes.

How can a sword cultivator possess such a terrifying physique? This is simply inconceivable!

He murmured inwardly. Xiao Chen's punch had truly stunned him.

If a sword cultivator also possessed such a terrifying body, he scarcely dared imagine the kind of combat power that would produce.

It was simply heaven-defying!

"Little Friend Xiao Chen's physique is actually three parts stronger than I had imagined. Truly terrifying!"

"Zhenbei King, did you perhaps give Little Friend Xiao Chen some heavenly treasure, miraculous elixir, or Spiritual Herbs?"

Zhang Qitian also sighed sincerely, assuming that some top-secret method of Zhenbei King Manor had forged Xiao Chen's extraordinarily powerful physique.

"Senior, you think too highly of me. Zhenbei King Manor has no method capable of giving a sword cultivator such a terrifying physique."

"Oh? It wasn't you? Then could it be that Little Friend Xiao Chen has encountered some other fortuitous opportunity? His luck is simply heaven-defying!"

A strange glint flashed through Zhang Qitian's eyes.

"Zhentian, hurry and see how Lingtian is doing! He's coughing blood already. How could Chen'er strike with so little sense of proportion?"

Wen Wanrong looked at Xiao Lingtian lying on the ground, her face full of heartache.

Zhang Qitian glanced at Wen Wanrong, surprise surfacing in his eyes.

Clearly, Xiao Lingtian had launched a sneak attack with the intent to take Xiao Chen's life. Xiao Chen had merely defended himself—how had it become a matter of Xiao Chen not knowing his limits in Wen Wanrong's mouth?

Besides, Xiao Lingtian had only suffered some minor injuries. Was there any need to be this anxious?

With a flash, Xiao Zhentian appeared directly beside Xiao Lingtian. After examining him, his expression darkened.

That single punch from Xiao Chen had actually caused Xiao Lingtian a trace of internal injury. Though it was not serious, it would more or less affect his cultivation and delay the academy tournament coming soon.

He fed Xiao Lingtian a precious Minor Return Pill, then rose and looked toward Xiao Chen with an icy gaze. "Unfilial son, he is your own younger brother. How could you strike him so heavily? Come over at once and apologize to him!"

Xiao Zhentian's form of address for Xiao Chen had changed from "beast" to "unfilial son," which was tantamount to indirectly acknowledging their father-son relationship before everyone.

In Xiao Zhentian's eyes, this was a step down. At this moment, Xiao Chen ought to gratefully accept it, admit his mistake to Xiao Lingtian, and thereby return to Zhenbei King Manor.

Yet Xiao Chen had not the slightest interest. Looking at Xiao Zhentian, he sneered. "Oh? Xiao Zhentian, you really do cherish this youngest son of yours. For such a trifling injury, you actually gave him a precious Spiritual Herb like a Minor Return Pill. You truly are willing to spend."

The Minor Return Pill was a sacred healing medicine, exceedingly precious. It could suppress injuries within a warrior's body in a short time and, to a great extent, erase any possible lingering aftereffects.

A single Minor Return Pill was worth one thousand taels of gold, and even then, it was something money could not buy.

Even Zhenbei King Manor did not possess many Minor Return Pills.

Back then, Xiao Chen had been beaten into grievous injury by Xiao Lingtian and stood at death's door. Xiao Zhentian had not even gone to look at him, much less given him a single ordinary healing pill.

Yet now, Xiao Lingtian had merely suffered minor injuries, and Xiao Zhentian had actually taken out a Minor Return Pill.

By comparison, Xiao Chen had been worth less than a dog in Zhenbei King Manor!

"Impudent! Is that how you speak to your father?"

Xiao Zhentian flew into a rage.

Even if you, Xiao Chen, possessed peerless talent, you had no right to be this arrogant.

What son in this world spoke to his father like that?

"Xiao Zhentian, your memory truly is poor. Have you forgotten that you and I have already severed our father-son ties?"

Xiao Chen replied blandly.

In his heart, there was none of the previous fury at being treated coldly, nor any unwillingness to accept the unfairness of fate.

He merely felt exceedingly fortunate.

Because parents like these were simply unworthy of the respect and love he had given them over all those years.

Fortunately, he had cut ties with this family. Otherwise, he would likely have been killed by Xiao Lingtian in the end.

And in Xiao Zhentian and his wife's eyes, there was only Xiao Lingtian. There had never been Xiao Chen.

"From childhood until now, everything you used and ate was provided by my Zhenbei King Manor. You think you can sever ties just because you say so?"

Xiao Zhentian narrowed his eyes, a flash of fury passing through them.

"Then tell me—how much is your son Xiao Lingtian's life worth?"

Xiao Chen sneered.

He did not believe he owed Zhenbei King Manor anything!

"You..."

Xiao Zhentian was rendered speechless for a moment.

He understood Xiao Chen's meaning. He had saved Xiao Lingtian's life, which counted as repaying Zhenbei King Manor for raising him—and then some. Xiao Zhentian had no right to bring it up again.

And Xiao Zhentian truly had no way to refute him.

"Chen'er, we are a family bound by blood. How can you be so heartless?"

Wen Wanrong stepped forward, her expression filled with sorrow.

"Drop the act. Xiao Lingtian was bent on taking my life just now—don't tell me you failed to see it? Yet you said I was too ruthless. The one you're bound to by blood is probably only Xiao Lingtian, isn't it?"

Xiao Chen sneered.

"Chen'er, it's not what you think. You are both Mother's treasures. How could Mother possibly play favorites?"

Wen Wanrong hurriedly explained.

"Mother, there's no need to waste words on him. Xiao Chen, don't get cocky. I was merely careless just now and fell for your trick. Don't think you're stronger than me. Come, let's have another fair and proper battle!"

The Minor Return Pill was indeed miraculous. In just a short while, color had returned to Xiao Lingtian's face. He rose to his feet, ready to fight Xiao Chen again!

"You? To be honest, in my eyes, you're nothing more than an ant."

Xiao Chen said disdainfully.

"You..." Xiao Lingtian froze slightly. He had not expected Xiao Chen to become so arrogant. Gritting his teeth, he said, "You're all talk—"

His words came to an abrupt stop.

A white Qi Sword had appeared at some unknown moment, suddenly pressing against the center of Xiao Lingtian's brow. Its razor-sharp Sword Qi cut his skin with searing pain.

He stared at Xiao Chen in disbelief, countless flashes of shock passing through his eyes.

Xiao Chen had merely moved a finger, yet a Qi Sword had suddenly come to rest against his brow. He had not even had time to react before he was instantly defeated.

Was this the strength of a sword cultivator?

He had seen some sword cultivators before. Though they had been formidable as well, not one of them possessed Xiao Chen's strength while at the same realm.

Everyone present was dumbfounded as well.

With a single thought, Qi condensed into a sword!

Was this the method of a sword cultivator?

Truly terrifying!

At this moment, Xiao Chen had truly shown the world what it meant to be invincible within the same realm.

Xiao Chen and Xiao Lingtian were both at the seventh level of the Disciple Realm, yet Xiao Lingtian was utterly incapable of withstanding even a single exchange with Xiao Chen. He could not even fight back.

This was invincibility!

"Xiao Lingtian, you really are trash. Zhenbei King Manor has poured so many resources into you, and this is all you can do?"

"Even a Heaven-Jealous One like me can surpass you ten thousandfold. If I were you, I'd buy a block of tofu and bash myself to death with it!"

Xiao Chen said lightly.

The mockery rang in his ears, and Xiao Lingtian's face immediately flushed scarlet!

In the past, Xiao Chen's Born King Physique had kept him so suppressed that he could not raise his head. He had finally endured until he destroyed Xiao Chen's dantian through a scheme, believing he could turn his life around completely. Yet Xiao Chen had unexpectedly recovered his dantian and become a sword cultivator, even more terrifying than before.

Even Ye Qingxuan, who had originally agreed to marry him, had suddenly gone back on her word.

Overnight, nearly everything he possessed had been destroyed.

It was all Xiao Chen's fault!

All because of him!

He wanted Xiao Chen dead!

Dead immediately!

He suddenly pulled a medicine bottle from his robes, removed a round pill glowing with scarlet light, and swallowed it in one gulp.