Hearing Chao Lingyi's explanation, Huang Xiao laughed heartily. "You really did guess right. You're a sharp one."
Despite Huang Xiao's praise, no joy showed on Chao Lingyi's face. Instead, she asked worriedly, "Young Master, is that old bastard really a spy for the God-Burying Hall? What should we do?"
"You needn't worry about that. Remember, you must watch your expression and every move you make now. Don't let anyone with an eye out notice anything. You played along well this time. For now, they probably won't think I've broken through," Huang Xiao said.
"Then... then you've already reached the Martial Realm, Young Master?" Chao Lingyi asked again. Although Huang Xiao had said so earlier, he had not stated it outright.
"That's right. Having mastered the tenth stage of the Heavenly Demon Skill, I naturally broke through to the Martial Realm," Huang Xiao said with a nod.
"Wonderful, wonderful! You're already a Martial Realm expert, Young Master!" Chao Lingyi said excitedly. "Young Master, you have no idea. When the people in the hall learned that Pang Yi had broken through to the Martial Realm, everyone was guessing how long it would take you to break through!"
"Oh? How did everyone react?" Huang Xiao asked with some curiosity.
"Most people believed you would break through soon, Young Master. After all, when you broke through to the Void Martial Realm last time, you weren't far behind Pang Yi." At this point, Chao Lingyi's little face darkened again. "But some people were making snide remarks. They said... said... said..."
"What did they say? Go on. Would I really care about such things?" Huang Xiao said with a chuckle.
"In short, they said there was no way you could break through to the Martial Realm without at least half a year, Young Master. They even