The Astonishing Xiao Yao

Six days later, at the Xiao Clan's martial arts hall.

At this moment, aside from the servants who were cleaning, only Shātu Demon Sage Zhu Ding and Xiao Ting had arrived early.

Xiao Ting gazed at the martial arts platform built from Sect Tier stone. He could already picture Xiao Yao, who possessed the Chaos Body, being defeated by him.

"Disciple, your cultivation is currently at the First level of the Mana Condensation Realm, and your strength is around the Mana Condensation Realm third level peak, so there's no way you can lose today."

"But Xiao Yao possesses the Chaos Body. Even if he loses to you today, he'll definitely surpass you in the future. You don't need me to tell you what your circumstances—and your father's—will be then, do you?"

Zhu Ding had said enough to make his point. He knew that if he said much more, he would surely be implicated after Xiao Yao was crippled or even killed.

Xiao Ting pondered for a moment, then fully agreed with his master.

So today wasn't about deciding who won or lost. It was about fighting to the death.

Brother Xiao Yao, don't blame me for being ruthless. Blame yourself for standing in my way.

Looking at Xiao Ting's gloomy face and sinister smile, Zhu Ding knew his hint had done the trick.

An hour later.

Aside from First Elder Xiao Wei, the other eight elders and the clan members with real authority had all taken their seats. The rest of the clan had packed the martial arts hall until it was bursting at the seams.

In an unoccupied spot outside the martial arts hall, Xiao Wei looked directly at Xiao Ting and said with satisfaction, "Your cultivation and strength are both quite impressive now, but I still feel uneasy."

"So take this Hun Yuan Pill. It can temporarily raise your strength. If things start going badly for you, take it!"

Xiao Ting wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but when he felt the unyielding intensity of Xiao Wei's gaze, he could only take the pill and put it into his Storage Ring.

Meanwhile, in the Young Clan Leader's courtyard.

"Disciple, it's almost time for your duel!" Dongfang Xuetong reminded him.

Xiao Yao immediately ended his meditation and stood up. "Master, what do you think my chances are of beating Xiao Ting?"

"Ten out of ten!" Dongfang Xuetong replied with absolute certainty.

In just six days, her disciple Xiao Yao had advanced to the Peak of Transcendent Realm Ninth Layer.

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would have thought he was bragging.

Xiao Yao nodded slightly. Aside from the tenfold increase in cultivation speed from the Flash Time Golden Fruit, every subsequent sign-in reward had been a cultivation resource that accelerated his progress without side effects.

At the thought, he realized he hadn't signed in today. So he silently said, "Sign in!"

[Drip! Sign-in successful. Since this is your first sign-in after completing seven consecutive days, the reward's grade has been raised to Saint tier.]

[Drip! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the Saint tier bloodline Heavenly Spirit Eyes. This bloodline has three stages, but at present you can only use the first: extraordinary insight. It lets you observe the flow of power, cast and see through illusions, and copy spells that aren't exclusive to bloodlines.]

The first stage alone was this powerful?

That meant his odds of beating Xiao Ting had just gone up again!

Zzzzt!

After a crackling sound, Xiao Yao discovered that everything he saw looked completely different from before.

He could clearly see spiritual energy flowing through the air, as well as the amount of spiritual energy within all kinds of living creatures.

When his gaze fell on his master, the vast, mighty force of her Mana dazzled him.

Dongfang Xuetong hadn't noticed anything unusual about Xiao Yao. She simply asked, "Disciple, are you ready?"

"Of course!" Xiao Yao answered firmly, looking full of energy.

Whoosh!

With a single thought, Dongfang Xuetong tore open space and wrapped Xiao Yao's body in Mana before stepping into the spatial rift.

The next instant, she and Xiao Yao appeared on the martial arts platform in the hall.

"Tearing open space—they say only those who've reached the Saint Realm can do that."

"But the Young Clan Leader's master isn't at the Saint Realm. She's the Lotus Sword Emperor, with Emperor Tier cultivation."

"Wow! An Emperor! I've only ever heard of them from storytellers or read about them in textbooks. I never thought I'd get to see one with my own eyes!"

"Too bad she's covered by White Immortal Light. Otherwise, we could've seen what the Lotus Sword Emperor really looks like."

"Even so, I can tell the Lotus Sword Emperor is unbelievably beautiful. I'm completely satisfied!"

Actually, Dongfang Xuetong could have avoided tearing open space and simply used a spatial teleportation spell.

But she wanted to build up Xiao Yao's presence, so of course she chose a method that made the grandest impression.

"Disciple, the fight is yours from here."

Xiao Yao nodded and gave a firm "Mm." Then he looked toward Xiao Ting, who had become even more handsome and demonic after being tempered by Shātu Demon Sage.

Whoosh!

Dongfang Xuetong appeared atop the martial arts hall's wall and stood still. The breeze lifted her hair, making her look even more ethereal.

"Brother Ting, you'd better use all your strength. Otherwise, you'll lose very quickly!"

Xiao Ting wasn't the least bit afraid of Xiao Yao's words. He even replied calmly, "Brother Xiao Yao, I'll return those words to you exactly as they are."

The next instant, Xiao Ting's aura erupted, revealing his First level of the Mana Condensation Realm cultivation.

"Holy crap! First level of the Mana Condensation Realm?"

"I remember Xiao Ting was at the Ninth level of the Mortal Transformation Realm peak seven days ago. That cultivation speed is terrifying!"

"Looks like his master at the Saint Realm isn't one to be trifled with!"

"Though the Young Clan Leader has an Emperor Tier master to guide his cultivation, seven days is far too short. If he can even reach the First level of the Mortal Transformation Realm, that'll be impressive!"

The Xiao Clan members didn't have much hope for Xiao Yao.

That was because the Mortal Transformation Realm was the stage where one most needed to stabilize their foundation. Most people wouldn't choose to force a breakthrough.

Besides, they all thought this duel was just the Young Clan Leader doing First Elder a favor.

But just then, Xiao Yao's aura erupted as well, and his cultivation at the Peak of Transcendent Realm Ninth Layer appeared before everyone's eyes.

"This... This can't be real!"

"Peak of Transcendent Realm Ninth Layer? Could the Young Clan Leader have been hiding his cultivation all along?"

Xiao Wei stared at the scene. He was absolutely certain that seven days ago, Xiao Yao had been a good-for-nothing with no cultivation at all.

So what had Xiao Yao gone through in these seven days?

This also confirmed the worry he'd had earlier.

Was this the confidence that had led the Young Clan Leader to challenge Ting'er?

Second Elder Xiao Long and the other seven elders stared wide-eyed. They hadn't expected the Young Clan Leader's era to arrive so soon.

Before, they'd thought it would take at least a year or two!

Xiao Ting's expression turned grave. Like everyone else, he hadn't expected Xiao Yao to be this outrageous.

Zhu Ding furrowed his brows deeply. From what he could tell, Xiao Yao's foundation was stable; his cultivation clearly hadn't been forced upward.

This rate of cultivation was completely beyond his understanding.

Was the Chaos Body really that powerful?

Fortunately, Xiao Ting still had a considerable advantage in cultivation.

With the Hun Yuan Pill given to him by his father and the hint he'd received, Xiao Ting should be able to eliminate Xiao Yao. If so, the Lord's plan would surely succeed.

"The duel between Young Clan Leader Xiao Yao and Xiao Ting begins now!" Xiao Wei shouted.