Misty Sect, Training Ground.
Xiao Huohuo swept his gaze around.
Those mocking laughs reached his ears, and he couldn't help clenching his fists.
"Were they all fantasies?"
"Were Hermit Experts all fake?"
Xiao Huohuo sneered inwardly, yet steadied his mind and slowly unclenched his fists.
At that moment, he truly wanted to shout angrily at everyone and tell them that Hermit Experts really did exist.
His Master was the legendary Hermit Expert!
However, if he said all that now, everyone would merely think he was dreaming again and laugh at him for it.
After all, even his father, who loved him most, hadn't been able to accept the fact that his Master was a Hermit Expert at the first opportunity.
How much less could these short-sighted fools?
Xiao Huohuo stared fixedly at Xu Ling'er.
Once he defeated the so-called heaven's favored daughter before him, he would be able to prove it for his Master.
His Master was a Hermit Expert.
Under his Master's tutelage, there were no Waste materials. Even he himself had surpassed those prodigies from the outside world after only five short months of cultivation!
Feeling the blazing battle intent in Xiao Huohuo's sharp gaze, Xu Ling'er let out a helpless sigh and drew the long sword hanging from her waist:
"I never expected that I would leave such a deep shadow on you back then."
"After this battle..."
"I'll find you a peak Houtian realm martial artist among the Elders to take you as a disciple. Consider it compensation for you."
There was a thick hint of charity in the young girl's voice.
Her gaze made it seem as though she were taking pity on him.
The surrounding disciples began discussing among themselves:
"The Young Sect Master really is kind. Faced with such a Waste material, she not only speaks gently to him, but is even willing to find him a Master."
"To have a connection with a woman like the Young Sect Master is truly that youngster's good fortune."
"She is beautiful, kind, and powerful. The Young Sect Master is practically an immortal maiden impossible to find among mortals!"
Xiao Huohuo swept his sleeve and said indifferently:
"There is no need to trouble you."
"I have already taken a Master."
"The best Master under Heaven."
As he spoke, Xiao Huohuo looked toward Chu Feng with utmost sincerity.
Somewhat puzzled, Xu Ling'er followed Xiao Huohuo's line of sight, only to find it landing on the young man beside the Earthquake and Disaster Reduction Martial Arts Stage.
That young man stood with his hands behind his back and his chest thrust out, looking utterly confident. Yet there wasn't the slightest hint of aura about him. He was completely an ordinary person.
The Elders who often descended the mountain from the sect had once said that the swindlers below the mountain who deceived people with false claims all looked like this!
Xu Ling'er knitted her brows slightly and kindly reminded him:
"Don't let some wandering swindler deceive you."
"The Elder I introduced you to may not compare to the Sect Master's Master."
"But if he were placed outside, he would be a One-Sided Overlord. Even throughout our entire province, he would count as an expert!"
"With an Elder like that assisting you, plus the compensation I'll give you, you might even break through to the First-rate realm in the future."
She pondered for a moment before continuing:
"I know you feel a little dissatisfied inside, or perhaps you're ashamed that you received my favor."
"But this is a Master-disciple opportunity that countless people could crack their heads open begging for and still never obtain."
"If you gave up such a chance just to indulge in some ridiculous spite, then I truly would have thought too highly of you."
Hearing Xu Ling'er's words, Xiao Huohuo seemed to have heard some hilarious joke and said disdainfully:
"First-rate?"
"The number of First-rate martial artists who have died by my hand has already exceeded ten."
"And those rare Houtian realm martial artists you mentioned have had three of their kind defeated and kneeling at my feet."
At those words, the surroundings fell abruptly silent. Then thunderous laughter echoed from every side.
"I think Xiao Huohuo really has gone mad from reading storybooks. He refuses to take a peak Houtian realm martial artist as his Master and insists on taking that wandering swindler as his Master instead."
"He claims to have killed more than ten First-rate martial artists and beaten Houtian realm martial artists until they knelt on the ground? Even bragging doesn't work like that, does it?"
"Does he think he's the Young Sect Master?"
"Actually, even the Young Sect Master only broke through to the Houtian realm in the past six months. She really hasn't killed that many First-rate martial artists. He is bragging even more wildly than the Young Sect Master!"
"With merely Third-rate strength, he is simply laughable..."
On the Small Immortal Terrace, the various sect leaders shook their heads one after another.
The Moon Sword Sect Master said coldly:
"I thought this was a junior with decent character, but who would have expected him to be nothing more than a fellow who dreams in broad daylight, spouts wild claims, and deceives himself?"
The Mountain Gate Sect Master beside him also laughed.
"Xu Ling'er should just beat him up and make him swallow this humiliation so that he learns his lesson."
The several sect leaders who had originally felt regret for him all changed their opinions of Xiao Huohuo at that moment.
What they hated most were those arrogant fellows who could only talk without acting, dream in broad daylight, and refused to recognize reality.
On the Training Ground, Xu Ling'er was utterly speechless as well. A serious expression filled her eyes.
"Since you're this beyond saving, I won't say anything more."
"Let me bring you back to reality!"
As her voice fell, Xu Ling'er placed her long sword behind her back and struck toward the youngster with one palm.
Xu Ling'er's tall figure was remarkably nimble. Her speed was so great that it seemed she could shrink the earth to an inch; after taking only a few steps, she had already arrived before Xiao Huohuo.
A fierce gale surrounded her palm as it struck toward the youngster's chest.
The palm strike looked gentle and did not seem to carry much force, yet the violent gale within it was enough to cleave stone.
If a Third-rate martial artist took such a palm, he would probably be bedridden for ten days to half a month.
Xiao Huohuo merely looked on indifferently, as though he hadn't even reacted.
The palm thrust straight toward him, about to strike his chest.
Only then did he turn his hand and cover it, his movement utterly casual, blocking the attack.
Xu Ling'er braced herself against his palm, yet Xiao Huohuo pressed down on her firmly, preventing her from advancing even an inch. Shock filled her face as she looked at him.
"I am a Houtian realm martial artist. Although I didn't use my full strength in that palm just now, even an ordinary First-rate martial artist couldn't block it."
"You... how is this possible...!"
Yet the youngster before her said nothing. He merely sneered, then turned his hand and punched violently toward her.
That seemingly plain and unadorned punch rapidly expanded in Xu Ling'er's eyes. She hurriedly raised her guard.
Immediately afterward, a terrifying force crashed into Xu Ling'er's arm.
After taking the punch, she retreated more than ten steps before managing to steady herself. Clutching her chest, she felt her blood and qi roil violently.
With a single punch, she had actually been sent flying more than ten meters!
Xu Ling'er stared with wide, beautiful eyes, looking over Xiao Huohuo as though she had never known the youngster before.
She lifted her snow-white sleeve, revealing her delicate arm.
On that fair skin was a purplish mark, dark enough to verge on black!
Xu Ling'er inhaled deeply in disbelief, her trembling eyes fixed on Xiao Huohuo.
"How is this possible?"
"To achieve this level, he must at least be a Houtian realm martial artist!"
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