Qiangu Dongfeng: Big Brother, don't kill me, I was wrong.

Qiangu Dongfeng stared at Lin Xiu before him, unable to fathom how anyone would dare block his path. He shouted in fury, "Lin Xiu, get out of my way! I have to go save someone!"

"Save who, exactly?" Lin Xiu looked at the enraged Qiangu Dongfeng and asked with a mocking smirk. He held nothing but contempt for those who resorted to such petty schemes, especially when they orchestrated a crisis just to play the hero and then dump the blame on the Spirit Pagoda staff. It had to be said, Qiangu Dongfeng's plan was quite the fantasy.

But was his brain not working right? Wouldn't Leng Yaozhu and her sister be suspicious?

Or perhaps this young master Qiangu Dongfeng hadn't even considered that point.

Whatever, this wasn't something worth overthinking. Better to just beat this guy into the ground first.

"Qiangu Dongfeng, don't think I don't know who released those thousand-year soul beasts. As for your little hero act, you'll have to get through me first." Three purple soul rings rose slowly from beneath Lin Xiu's feet. He gripped his scythe, no longer hiding his killing intent toward Qiangu Dongfeng.

Facing Lin Xiu and the palpable killing intent radiating from him, Qiangu Dongfeng realized this guy truly wanted him dead. "You damn bastard, it seems I really underestimated you."

One yellow and two purple soul rings rose from his feet, and a Coiling Dragon Staff instantly appeared in his hand.

The reason Qiangu Dongfeng's first soul ring was a hundred-year one was that he had awakened with Innate Full Soul Power. Qiangu Dieting had captured a hundred-year soul beast he had kept for a long time to let him practice, which served as a test to see if he could become the next successor.

As for his eldest son, it was a pity his martial soul wasn't the Coiling Dragon Staff, a fact that Qiangu Dieting found deeply regrettable.

The Coiling Dragon Staff was the exclusive martial soul of the Qiangu Clan and came with a dragon soul, though Qiangu Dongfeng was still too weak to support the awakening of that soul. Still, he believed that as a genius of the Qiangu Clan, he was no weaker than Lin Xiu.

"Level 37 assault-type battle soul master, please advise!" Lin Xiu seemed completely unbothered by Qiangu Dongfeng, speaking with a cheerful smile.

"Level 37?" Qiangu Dongfeng hadn't expected Lin Xiu's Soul Power Level to be two levels higher than his own. Since the duel was already decided, he could only grit his teeth and say, "Level 35, assault-type soul master, please advise!"

High up in the Spirit Pagoda, Qiangu Dieting frowned once more. He hadn't expected his second son to be stupid enough to pull such a stunt. It would be troublesome if Old Leng came to him for an explanation.

However, his gaze returned to Lin Xiu. "Level 37—which family does such a genius come from?"

Just as these thoughts churned in Qiangu Dieting's mind, the two on the field had already clashed. The crisp sound of colliding soul power tore through the air, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Qiangu Dongfeng brandished his Coiling Dragon Staff, the shaft wreathed in faint soul power. Every strike was vicious and sharp, aiming directly for Lin Xiu's vitals in a relentless, storm-like assault.

Facing this fierce onslaught, Lin Xiu showed no intention of blocking head-on. His figure moved like a phantom, using the momentum of his opponent's attacks to dodge and weave. He was essentially using Qiangu Dongfeng as a "kite" to guide his own movements. While he appeared to be dodging in a panic, every step was perfectly timed, keeping him exactly an inch away from the staff.

Immersed in his own fierce attack, Qiangu Dongfeng didn't notice the composure and amusement in Lin Xiu's eyes. He assumed Lin Xiu was intimidated by the power of his Coiling Dragon Staff, and a smug smile appeared on his face as he boasted, "What, are you scared now? Beg for mercy, and I might spare your life!"

"Oh, yes, yes, I'm absolutely terrified."

Hearing this, Lin Xiu nodded repeatedly, his tone dripping with undisguised perfunctoriness. He tilted his body slightly to easily evade a horizontal sweep of the staff, tapped his toe lightly against the weapon to propel himself back several feet, and continued his calm evasion.

His eyes narrowed slightly, his mind made up: this Qiangu Dongfeng was indeed incredibly immature. He was skilled in underhanded tricks, but his temperament was too volatile; he didn't understand the essence of combat at all. Taking him down wouldn't be difficult.

However, he didn't rush to finish it, knowing that Qiangu Dongfeng's father, Qiangu Dieting, was likely watching. He chose a strategy to break the boy's spirit.

As for whether there would be repercussions later, he would just have to ask a certain Thunder Whale for help.

Watching the battle, Qiangu Dieting was furious to see his son being toyed with like a kite and wanted to send a voice transmission to warn him.

A voice stopped him. "Brother Qiangu, you're going a bit too far."

"Old Leng." Qiangu Dieting looked at the man who had stopped him and ultimately abandoned the idea, forced to watch his second son being played like a monkey.

Qiangu Dongfeng wasn't a fool; he soon realized he was being led around like a kite and flew into a rage. "You're treating me like a monkey, aren't you?"

"Tsk~ you only just realized?" Lin Xiu stopped, looking with amusement at Qiangu Dongfeng, who was panting heavily but trying to maintain his composure. "Are you tired already?"

"Young Master Qiangu, if you're weak, you should get it treated! Otherwise, how will you carry on the family line?" Lin Xiu mocked him mercilessly, completely disregarding the fact that Qiangu Dieting was watching from the shadows.

Sitting at his desk, Qiangu Dieting couldn't help but crush his teacup. Beside him, the head of the Leng Family laughed until he was doubled over. "Hahahaha, Brother Qiangu, is Dongfeng really as weak as that kid says? That won't do. Do you want me to give you a prescription?"

"Hahahaha..."

Qiangu Dieting glanced at the laughing head of the Leng Family, ignored him completely, and stood up to leave.

Seeing this, the head of the Leng Family immediately stepped forward. "Brother, you aren't going to lose your cool and go teach that kid a lesson, are you? That won't do; it's beneath your dignity."

"Are you trying to stop me?" Qiangu Dieting realized that Old Leng seemed to have a different perspective on the two boys.

"Oh, don't be like that." Old Leng chuckled. "Kids are fighting; adults shouldn't interfere. If your hands are itching, how about I spar with you instead?"

"Hmph!" Hearing this, Qiangu Dieting realized his suspicions were correct. He brushed off Old Leng's hand without ceremony and said, "I'm not that shameless. I just want to invite the two youngsters to join the Spirit Pagoda."

"I see. Then I'll accompany you." Old Leng chuckled and followed Qiangu Dieting's pace.

On the battlefield, Qiangu Dongfeng's soul power was now exhausted. He leaned against his Coiling Dragon Staff, glaring furiously at Lin Xiu, who hadn't lost a shred of soul power. "If you've got guts, stop running!"

"Sure!" Lin Xiu's figure suddenly appeared beside Qiangu Dongfeng, his voice sounding like a ghost's as his scythe rested against the boy's neck.

At that moment, Qiangu Dongfeng felt the blade against his throat and realized the terrifying, imperceptible speed of his opponent. Fear gripped him. Even though this was the Spirit Ascension Platform and he wouldn't truly die, the pain would be immense.

He immediately knelt down in terror. "Big brother, don't kill me, I was wrong."

Lin Xiu: "?"

Seriously, man? You have no backbone at all? Does your dad know about this?

Lin Xiu couldn't have imagined that Qiangu Dongfeng would be so cowardly and react this way. Where was the pride of the Qiangu Clan?

Are you sure you're Qiangu Dongfeng and not an impostor?