Battle a Martial Master

As the pill entered his mouth, a terrifying force of qi and blood suddenly spread from Xiao Lingtian's body, and his aura surged at a horrifying speed.

Martial Disciple Realm, eighth level!

Martial Disciple Realm, ninth level!

Martial Master Realm, first level!

In just a few moments, Xiao Lingtian's cultivation had actually leaped from the seventh level of the Martial Disciple Realm straight into the Martial Master Realm.

The sight left everyone present utterly horrified.

A flicker of shock burst from Xiao Zhentian's eyes. "Bloodburst Pill—Lingtian actually used a Bloodburst Pill!"

The Bloodburst Pill could burn away all the qi and blood within a martial artist's body in a short time, unleashing a terrifying strike far beyond their own strength. But after that strike, the martial artist would fall into a state of complete weakness and need a month to recover.

The academy competition was only three months away, and this was precisely the time to train desperately. Using a Bloodburst Pill now would be extremely detrimental to Xiao Lingtian's chances of competing for a ranking in the academy competition three months later.

Xiao Zhentian truly could not understand how deep Xiao Lingtian's hatred for Xiao Chen ran. He had actually resorted to a Bloodburst Pill. They were clearly blood brothers—how had things become like this, as if they were sworn enemies?

"Zhentian, stop Lingtian at once! Even if Chen'er is a sword cultivator, he absolutely can't withstand a Martial Master Realm strike from Lingtian!"

Worry surfaced on Wen Wanrong's face. Though her eldest son was astonishingly gifted and possessed exceptional strength, he was still only at the seventh level of the Martial Disciple Realm. If he took a strike from Xiao Lingtian at the Martial Master Realm, there was no chance he would survive.

She doted on her younger son, but she did not want to watch her eldest die on the spot either.

A trace of gravity appeared on Xiao Zhentian's face as well. His figure shifted, and just as he was about to intervene, Xiao Lingtian's hoarse voice sounded by his ear. "Father, Mother, this is a private grudge between Xiao Chen and me. I want to settle it with him alone. If you stop me, I will kill myself right here!"

Xiao Lingtian's eyes were blood-red. Like a ferocious beast, he stared fixedly at Xiao Chen, his gaze brimming with venomous hatred!

Why was it not enough that you possessed the Born King Physique? Why did you also have to be an unparalleled genius of the sword?

Why was it that after suffering the Curse of the Heavenly Dao, not only were you completely fine, but your cultivation instead advanced a thousand miles in a single day?

Why did every goddess favor you? Lin Qingxian was like this, and so was Ye Qingxuan?

In what way am I, Xiao Lingtian, inferior to you? Why must Heaven treat me this way?

"Lingtian, stop this nonsense! He is your brother!"

Xiao Zhentian let out a low shout, yet his body remained where it was. He feared that if he intervened, Xiao Lingtian really would kill himself. Judging from his current state, he had completely lost his reason.

Everyone present was stunned by this sight and looked at Xiao Zhentian in disbelief.

Your younger son took drugs to kill your eldest son, and as the father, you truly stood there without moving just because of a single threat from your younger son? You were going to ignore whether your eldest lived or died?

Xiao Lingtian was currently in the Martial Master Realm. Though he only had one strike in him, it was still not something Xiao Chen, a mere seventh-level Sword Disciple, could withstand. Someone would really die!

Even if, as a father, you could not treat both sons equally, you should not favor one so outrageously!

"I have no brother. I will become the sole heir of Zhenbei King Manor. Xiao Chen, die!"

Xiao Lingtian looked like a madman as he suddenly hurled a punch at Xiao Chen.

Terrifying qi and blood swept through the surroundings, and quite a few people were sent flying by the powerful energy shockwave.

Feeling that terrifying power, everyone's expressions changed drastically. The Bloodburst Pill truly was formidable. Xiao Lingtian's punch was far, far stronger than before. Xiao Chen would likely die a miserable death beneath it.

"Xiao Chen, dodge! That punch already carries the might of a Martial Master—don't take it head-on!"

Lin Qingxian's expression changed abruptly as she hurriedly warned him.

Ye Qingxuan had just been about to speak when she realized Lin Qingxian had beaten her to it. A flash of jealous fury immediately passed through her eyes, and she turned to berate Xiao Lingtian. "Xiao Lingtian, if you dare hurt him, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life."

"Ye Qingxuan, I love you so much, yet your heart holds only Xiao Chen. I'll kill him now and make you give up!"

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Lingtian had arrived before Xiao Chen with a roar.

At this moment, the aura around him had burned to its peak. He was like a blazing furnace, radiating scorching heat!

Chou Wantian narrowed his eyes and flicked a finger. A terrifying streak of Sword Qi instantly tore through the air and shot toward Xiao Lingtian.

A mere junior dared kill his student before his very eyes—did he take this Sword King for dead?

When Xiao Zhentian saw Chou Wantian make his move, his expression changed drastically. His figure flashed, and in the time it took for a spark to fly from flint, he appeared directly before Xiao Lingtian and scattered the Sword Qi with a punch.

Yet the moment he came into contact with that Sword Qi, he instantly sensed that something was wrong, and his heart skipped a beat.

The Sword Qi had form but no substance; it possessed almost no power at all.

Chou Wantian had never intended to kill Xiao Lingtian!

But by blocking it, he had pushed Xiao Chen into a dead end!

"Lingtian, stop at once!"

Xiao Zhentian hurriedly shouted.

But Xiao Lingtian turned a deaf ear. With Chou Wantian's Sword Qi no longer blocking him, his Martial Master Realm punch smashed directly toward Xiao Chen.

At the sight, a sudden chill rose in Xiao Chen's heart. When he was about to be killed, Xiao Zhentian stood aside and watched. Yet when Xiao Lingtian was in danger, he intervened without hesitation.

Heh!

If others did not know better, they might think he had been adopted!

But Xiao Lingtian was already upon him, and Xiao Chen had no time to think further. He had no idea how much Xiao Lingtian's combat power had risen after temporarily reaching the Martial Master Realm, but it made Xiao Chen feel pressure unlike anything he had ever faced before.

He even sensed a trace of death's threat.

He truly could kill enemies above his realm, but without mastering a sword technique, he had no confidence in fighting across an entire major realm.

But Xiao Lingtian's fist was about to reach his face. He had no choice but to fight.

At death's door, he raised his sword to meet the enemy, seeking life amid death.

"Are you insane? Run! You can't possibly defeat a Martial Master!"

Seeing Xiao Chen still overestimating himself and swinging his sword to clash head-on, Lin Qingxian cried out anxiously.

Xiao Chen could instantly kill a Half-Step Martial Master, but he could never be a match for a Martial Master.

Though their realms were separated by only a thin line, that line was already the difference between heaven and earth!

"Xiao Zhentian, if anything happens to Xiao Chen, my Sword Immortal Academy will slaughter your entire family!"

Chou Wantian knew the situation was beyond saving. In his fury, he crushed the wine jug in his hand.

If Xiao Zhentian had not intervened just now, he would certainly have blocked Xiao Lingtian's attack.

He knew his limits. At most, Xiao Lingtian would have suffered minor injuries; even his foundation would not have been damaged.

But with Xiao Zhentian stopping him, it was all over.

Xiao Chen was doomed to die!

When Xiao Zhentian saw that Xiao Lingtian had truly gone for Xiao Chen's life, he too froze in shock, standing rooted to the spot without moving.

Zhang Qitian had not expected Xiao Lingtian to be so utterly reckless. Nor had he expected Xiao Zhentian to care only for his younger son while completely disregarding the life or death of his eldest. By the time he wanted to save him, his arm was too short to reach that far. He could only look on with a face full of regret.

"Chen'er, my child!"

Only then did Wen Wanrong notice that her eldest son was about to die, and she let out a grief-stricken cry.

Not far away, Ye Qingxuan closed her eyes, unable to bear watching the tragedy about to unfold.

"Hahaha! My son, your great vengeance is about to be avenged! That bastard Xiao Chen can never withstand a punch from the Martial Master Realm!"

Zhang Mohu, meanwhile, was beside himself with joy.

Aren't you impressive, Xiao Chen?

You may have instantly killed a Half-Step Martial Master, but I refuse to believe you can instantly kill a true Martial Master Realm expert too.

The next instant.

Xiao Lingtian's all-out punch finally arrived before Xiao Chen.

The terrifying force of his blood and qi sent waves of needle-pricking pain across Xiao Chen's skin.

For the first time, Xiao Chen felt immense pressure!

So powerful!

More than ten times stronger than Zhang Shiyi, that Half-Step Martial Master!

But at this moment, he had nowhere left to retreat.

Damn it, isn't it just death?

I'll stake my life against yours!

"Heaven-Defying Demon Slayer Art!"

"With one sword descending, all enemies perish—forge ahead without turning back!"

He suddenly let out a thunderous roar and fiercely swung his sword forward!

This sword was his furious roar against the injustice of fate!

It was his determination to shatter the hardships of his destiny!

Since countless trials were fated to come, then let him break them all with a single sword!

Sword light flashed like lightning!

Sword Qi gleamed like frost!

The razor-sharp killing intent shook the four directions!