Is He Truly a Genius?

Seeing Xiao Yang accept the challenge, everyone present revealed expressions of astonishment.

What kind of joke was this?

Even if his cultivation was extraordinary and he had defeated those centurions, wanting to triumph over Commander Huo Gang, a Fifth Grade Vajra Realm expert, was still a pipe dream.

"Xiao Yang, don't be stubborn. Hurry up and hand over the Tiger Tally and go back!" Azure Luan quickly urged him.

And though Ning Hongye remained silent, she shared the same sentiment.

If he stepped onto the Life and Death Stage, wanting to come down alive—not to say it was hopeless—but the odds were exceedingly slim.

"Since ancient times, civil arts have no first, but martial arts have no second! Who is strong and who is weak, we'll only know after fighting!"

Xiao Yang was brimming with confidence, exuding an aura that looked down upon the world, as if he held no one in his eyes.

In truth, accepting this deathmatch was not a rash impulse but a decision made after careful consideration.

Previously, when he killed Kato and beat up the centurions, he had been fighting downhill battles—his opponents were too weak, the victories too easy!

But this Huo Gang counted as a true strongman!

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

"Ninth Young Master, are you serious about this?" Huo Gang asked again.

"Dead serious! Come—fight!"

Xiao Yang beckoned him with a curl of his finger.

"Well said—a newborn calf that fears no tiger! Since that's the case, then follow me onto the Life and Death Stage!"

Huo Gang strode out of the camp in large steps, walking several hundred meters until he reached an ancient arena.

It was vast in size, covered in marks from blades and axes, as well as mottled bloodstains.

Over the millennia, countless martial artists had shed their blood upon it.

"Look! Commander Huo is about to fight someone to the death!"

"Who's bold enough to challenge Commander Huo?"

"Word is it's General Ning's fiancé, that young master from King Zhenbei's Mansion!"

"A pampered young master who's never set foot on a battlefield, daring to fight Commander Huo to the death—isn't that an ant trying to shake a tree, overestimating himself?"

Many soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Army gathered around to watch, buzzing with discussion.

But public opinion was one-sided, all supporting Huo Gang.

"Ninth Young Master!"

At this moment, Huo Gang stood on the Life and Death Stage, gazing from afar at Xiao Yang: "I am a Fifth-grade Martial Artist, and I cultivate the Thunderclap Saber Technique, which I have mastered to perfection! I won't bully you—I'll let you have three moves!"

"No need!"

Xiao Yang shook his head instead, speaking with utter seriousness: "Commander Huo, you should strike first! Otherwise, I'm afraid that once I make my move, you'll fall on the spot!"

He was not exaggerating.

Earlier, Ning Hongye had gifted him the Thunderclap Saber Technique, but under the effect of the Double Pupils, it had directly transformed into the King-level Technique Thunder Prison World Destroying Saber, and he had also learned the First Form, "Heavenly Thunder Flash."

But the power of Heavenly Thunder Flash was too great—it could be called a finishing move.

Yet these words, falling on the ears of others, sounded like mockery.

"Arrogant whelp!"

Huo Gang instantly flew into a rage, his eyes bloodshot, an astonishing aura erupting from his body.

"This Commander joined the army at sixteen, followed Old General Ning on campaigns across the land, my long saber stained with blood, having slain countless enemies!"

"And you, a yellow-mouthed child, dare to look down on me?!"

The moment the words fell!

"Clang!"

Huo Gang drew the War Saber at his waist and slashed out, like a cold bolt of lightning tearing through the sky, shooting straight toward Xiao Yang.

"So fast!"

Xiao Yang was secretly startled. This Huo Gang truly lived up to being a Fifth-grade Martial Artist—far stronger than those centurions, even leaving afterimages as he streaked through the air.

However, he had already cultivated the Thunder Prison World Destroying Saber to perfection, and he understood Huo Gang's techniques inside out, able to see every change and weakness.

"Stomp!"

Xiao Yang merely shifted his stance slightly and sidestepped, easily dodging.

"You got lucky! Take another strike from me!"

Huo Gang, having missed his hit, attacked again, each slash faster than the last.

In an instant, the Life and Death Stage was filled with a sky full of saber shadows.

"As expected of Commander Huo!"

"With an assault like this, he could chop that brat into eight pieces and slice him to ribbons!"

The elite soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Army watching on the scene were brimming with excitement.

But contrary to everyone's expectations!

Faced with the overwhelming rain of saber shadows, Xiao Yang repeated his tactic, dodging with ease, his body as nimble as a loach.

Not only was he unharmed, not even a corner of his clothes was torn.

As for Huo Gang, after a relentless onslaught, he was indeed panting heavily, as if he were the one at a disadvantage.

"Kid, why do you only know how to dodge? Don't you dare face me head-on?"

Huo Gang was deeply frustrated, feeling as if all his moves were seen through, his strength useless.

In all his years on the battlefield, he had never encountered such a bizarre opponent!

"Commander Huo, your saber strikes are weak, your steps sluggish, not a single move is decent—you've disappointed me! Do you have any trump cards left? Bring them out!" Xiao Yang said.

He had fully mastered the king-grade Thunder Prison World Destroying Saber, an improved and perfected version of the Thunderclap Saber Technique.

Now, watching Huo Gang's saber technique was like a university professor grading an elementary school student's Olympiad math problems—flaws everywhere.

"You!"

Huo Gang was furious, feeling that his dignity as a martial artist was being trampled.

"Brat, since you're asking for death, let me show you my real skill!"

The next moment, he gripped his War Saber, his entire aura shifting dramatically, as if merging with heaven and earth.

"Thunderclap Saber Momentum!"

He roared, sweeping toward Xiao Yang with an unstoppable, devastating force.

"Heavens, it's Saber Momentum!"

"Commander Huo has comprehended such an essence—he's not far from breaking through to the Sixth Grade!"

"That kid could have ten lives and still not be enough to die!"

The elite soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Army were all wide-eyed with excitement, utterly convinced Xiao Yang was doomed.

Yet Xiao Yang showed no fear; instead, his Battle Intent soared to the heavens.

"Commander Huo, let me teach you what true Thunderclap Saber Technique really is!"

The next moment, he too drew his War Saber and directly executed "Heavenly Thunder Flash."

"Shwa!"

Thunderlight flashed, tearing through the sky.

Before this single strike, Huo Gang's Saber Momentum shattered instantly, crumbling at the first touch.

It was a crushing suppression of rank!

"This... how can he be this strong? It's over, my life is done!"

Huo Gang instantly sensed the vast gap, feeling as if his decades of life had been wasted. His will to fight collapsed, and he closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.

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

But at the final moment, Xiao Yang pulled his strength, merely grazing the skin of his neck instead of taking his life.

"Heavens! Commander Huo actually lost?"

"Someone pinch me—is this an illusion?"

The elite soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Army were all in disbelief.

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

Huo Gang's face was ashen, his lips trembling as he couldn't help but look at Xiao Yang.

By the rules of the Life and Death Stage, he had no reason to leave alive.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yang spoke: "Green mountains everywhere bury loyal bones—why need horsehide wrap corpses returning? Commander Huo, you are a warrior. Even if you die, it shouldn't be here. The battlefield is your final resting place!"

Hearing this, Huo Gang shuddered.

Green mountains bury loyal bones, horsehide wraps corpses returning...

He had never heard such fine poetry before, never mind from the mouth of a prince's son.

"Thud!"

Suddenly, Commander Huo knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "Ninth Young Master, this Huo was previously rude, offending you and the Eldest Miss!"

"Since you spared my life, from now on, Huo is willing to atone for his crimes and die on the battlefield!"

"Commander Huo, no need for this. Rise!"

Xiao Yang helped him up, and they walked down the Life and Death Stage together.

"Commander!"

The several Centurions who had caused trouble earlier also gathered around, their expressions complex, momentarily speechless.

"All of you, don't you owe General Ning an apology?" Huo Gang said in a deep voice.

They hesitated for a long while, but ultimately walked toward Ning Hongye.

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

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

"Punish us as you see fit!"

"A hundred strokes of the rod, demoted to common soldiers!" Ning Hongye said coldly.

"Yes, we accept the punishment!"

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

Then, Ning Hongye turned her gaze to Xiao Yang, a strange light flickering in her beautiful eyes.

She had taught him the Thunderclap Saber Technique not long ago—how had he already mastered it? And that final move seemed to have been improved upon as well.