Is He Truly a Genius?

Seeing Xiao Yang accept the challenge, everyone present showed shocked expressions.

What a joke?

Even if his cultivation was extraordinary and he had defeated those centurions, defeating Commander Huo Gang, a Fifth Grade Vajra Realm cultivator, was still a pipe dream.

"Xiao Yang, don't be reckless. Hurry up and hand over the Tiger Tally and go back!" Azure Luan hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

Although Ning Hongye remained silent, she clearly meant the same thing.

If he stepped onto the Life and Death Stage, it could not be said that there was no hope of surviving, but the odds were extremely slim.

"Since ancient times, there has never been a first in literature, but there must be a second in martial arts! Who's stronger or weaker can only be known after we fight!"

Xiao Yang was brimming with confidence, radiating an air of looking down upon the world, as if he placed no one in his eyes.

In fact, he had not accepted this death battle on impulse. He had thought it through carefully.

Earlier, when he killed Kato and beat up the centurions, he had always held the advantage. His opponents had been too weak, and he had won far too easily!

But Huo Gang counted as a true powerhouse!

Xiao Yang planned to use Huo Gang as a whetstone to temper his own strength.

"Ninth Young Master, do you really mean that?" Huo Gang asked again.

"I mean it! Come—fight!"

Xiao Yang crooked a finger at him.

"What an ignorant calf that fears no tiger! Since that's the case, then follow me to the Life and Death Stage!"

Huo Gang strode out of the tent, walked several hundred meters, and arrived at an ancient arena.

It covered a large area and was riddled with marks left by sabers and axes, as well as mottled bloodstains.

Over the past thousand years, who knew how many martial artists had shed their blood there?

"Look! Commander Huo is going to have a life-and-death battle with someone!"

"Who's so bold as to challenge Commander Huo?"

"I heard he's General Ning's fiancé—the heir of King Zhenbei's Mansion!"

"A pampered young master who's never been on a battlefield actually dares to fight Commander Huo to the death? Isn't that just an ant trying to shake a tree, completely overestimating himself?"

Many soldiers from the Vermilion Bird Army also gathered around to watch the battle, chattering among themselves.

But public opinion was completely one-sided. Everyone supported Huo Gang.

"Ninth Young Master!"

At that moment, Huo Gang stood on the Life and Death Stage and looked toward Xiao Yang from afar. "I'm a Fifth-grade Martial Artist, and I cultivate the Thunderclap Saber Technique, which I've mastered to perfection! I won't bully you. I'll give you three moves!"

"No need!"

Xiao Yang shook his head and said seriously, "Commander Huo, you should attack first! Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll fall the moment I make a move!"

He was not exaggerating.

Earlier, Ning Hongye had given him the Thunderclap Saber Technique, but under the effect of his Double Pupils, it had directly transformed into the King-level Technique, Thunder Prison World Destroying Saber, and he had also learned its first move, Heavenly Thunder Flash.

But the power of Heavenly Thunder Flash was too great. It could be called a sure-kill move.

However, to everyone else, his words sounded like mockery.

"Arrogant brat!"

Huo Gang instantly flew into a rage. His eyes reddened, and an astonishing aura erupted from his body.

"I joined the army at sixteen and followed Old General Ning in campaigns across the realm. My long saber has been stained with blood, and the enemies I've slain are beyond counting!"

"And you, a wet-eared brat, actually dare look down on me?!"

As soon as he finished speaking—

"Clang!"

Huo Gang drew the War Saber from his waist and cleaved downward. It was like a streak of cold lightning tearing through the sky as it shot toward Xiao Yang.

"So fast!"

Xiao Yang was secretly startled. Huo Gang truly was a Fifth-grade Martial Artist. He was more than a little stronger than those centurions and had even left afterimages as he streaked through the air.

However, he had already cultivated the Thunder Prison World Destroying Saber to perfection. He understood Huo Gang's moves completely and could see every change and weakness.

"Thud!"

Xiao Yang merely shifted his feet and turned sideways slightly, easily avoiding the attack.

"Consider yourself lucky. Take another saber strike!"

Huo Gang missed with his first attack and attacked again, each saber strike faster than the last.

For a moment, the Life and Death Stage was filled with saber shadows.

"As expected of Commander Huo!"

"That attack is enough to chop that kid into pieces and flay him with ten thousand cuts!"

The elite soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Army watching from the sidelines were all visibly excited.

But what happened next was beyond everyone's expectations!

Facing the overwhelming saber shadows, Xiao Yang used the same trick again, dodging with ease. His body was as nimble as a loach.

Not only was he uninjured, even the hem of his clothes remained intact.

Huo Gang, on the other hand, was genuinely panting heavily after his continuous attacks, as if he were the one at a disadvantage.

"Brat, do you only know how to dodge? Don't you dare clash with me head-on?"

Huo Gang was extremely frustrated. He felt as if his opponent had seen through all his moves, leaving him unable to bring his strength to bear.

In all his years since entering the martial world, this was the first time he had encountered such a strange opponent!

"Commander Huo, your saber lacks force, your footwork is sluggish, and not one of your moves is decent. You've really disappointed me! Do you have anything else up your sleeve? Go ahead and use it!" Xiao Yang said.

The King-level Thunder Prison World Destroying Saber he had completely mastered was an improved and upgraded version of the Thunderclap Saber Technique, approaching perfection.

Now, watching Huo Gang's saber technique was like a university professor watching an elementary school student solve an advanced math problem. The flaws were everywhere.

"You!"

Huo Gang was enraged. He felt that his dignity as a martial artist had been trampled underfoot.

"Brat, since you're courting death, I'll let you see my true ability!"

The next moment, he gripped the War Saber, and his entire aura changed completely, as if he had merged with the world around him.

"Thunderclap Saber Momentum!"

With a loud roar, he swept toward Xiao Yang with an unstoppable force.

"My heavens, it's saber momentum!"

"Commander Huo actually comprehended such a profound essence. It seems he isn't far from breaking through to the Sixth Grade!"

"Even if that kid had ten lives, they wouldn't be enough for him to die!"

The elite soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Army were all brimming with excitement. They were certain Xiao Yang was doomed.

However, Xiao Yang was not afraid in the slightest. Instead, his Battle Intent soared to the heavens.

"Commander Huo, I'll teach you what the true Thunderclap Saber Technique is!"

The next moment, he also drew the War Saber and directly unleashed Heavenly Thunder Flash.

"Whoosh!"

Lightning flashed, cleaving through the firmament.

Before this saber strike, Huo Gang's saber momentum instantly shattered, collapsing at the first contact.

It was suppression at the level of rank!

"This... How can he be so strong? It's over. I'm doomed!"

Huo Gang instantly sensed the enormous gap. He felt as if he had lived all these decades for nothing. His will to resist vanished in an instant, and he closed his eyes to await his fate.

The next moment, a cold War Saber pressed against Huo Gang's neck.

But at the final moment, Xiao Yang withdrew his strength. He merely cut the skin at Huo Gang's neck without taking his life.

"My heavens! Commander Huo actually lost?"

"Someone pinch me! This can't be a hallucination, right?"

The elite soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Army present were all incredulous.

"You... Why didn't you kill me?!"

Huo Gang's face was ashen. His lips trembled as he could not help looking toward Xiao Yang.

According to the rules of the Life and Death Stage, there was no reason he should have survived.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yang said, "Everywhere beneath the green hills, loyal bones may rest. Why must they return wrapped in horsehide? Commander Huo, you're a warrior. Even if you must die, you shouldn't die here. The battlefield is your final destination!"

Hearing those words, Huo Gang's entire body trembled.

Loyal bones beneath the green hills, returning wrapped in horsehide...

He had never heard such a fine poem before. He never expected it to come from the mouth of a young master of the royal household.

"Thump!"

Suddenly, Commander Huo dropped to one knee and said respectfully, "Ninth Young Master, I was rude earlier and offended you and Eldest Miss!"

"Since you spared my life, from now on, I'm willing to atone through meritorious service and die on the battlefield!"

"Commander Huo, there's no need for that. Get up!"

Xiao Yang helped him to his feet, and the two of them walked off the Life and Death Stage together.

"Commander!"

The few centurions who had caused trouble earlier also gathered around, their expressions complicated as they were momentarily speechless.

"You few, don't you owe General Ning an apology?" Huo Gang said solemnly.

They hesitated for a long while before finally walking toward Ning Hongye.

"General Ning, we're sorry..."

"We were wrong. We shouldn't have killed your horse!"

"Please punish us as you see fit!"

"Hundred strokes of the staff, and demotion to common soldiers!" Ning Hongye said coldly.

"Yes, we are willing to accept the punishment!"

The centurions nodded one after another and were led away by the guards.

Afterward, Ning Hongye looked toward Xiao Yang again, her beautiful eyes shining with unusual brilliance.

She had only recently taught Xiao Yang the Thunderclap Saber Technique. How had he already mastered it? That final move even seemed to have been improved.