Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Appearance of Master Lingfeng

Yang Xiao likewise released his aura, preparing for battle, though his cultivation still appeared to be at the fourth level of the Spiritual Awareness stage. Ji Ben, upon sensing Yang Xiao’s cultivation, did not underestimate him. Though on the surface Yang Xiao’s strength seemed to be at the fourth level, Ji Ben inexplicably felt a faint sense of unease—a subtle pressure emanating from Yang Xiao that he could not see through. This feeling was certainly not a good omen, so Ji Ben regarded Yang Xiao with ongoing caution.

Both Yang Xiao and Ji Ben stood ready, yet neither made a move. Although the time for the competition drew near, the sect master, Master Lingfeng, had not yet made his formal appearance. Without his official announcement, the match could not truly begin.

Other pairs of disciples faced off on the vast arena, also waiting for Master Lingfeng to arrive. At that moment, someone below the arena noticed Yang Xiao’s presence. With surprise, he called out to him—this was He Ming, who had not seen Yang Xiao in nearly two months. At first, He Ming felt a surge of excitement at Yang Xiao’s appearance, but this was quickly replaced with concern. On the arena, the arts were merciless; a single misstep could lead to serious injury.

Several others near He Ming, who also knew Yang Xiao, were far less optimistic about his chances. They remembered well that Yang Xiao’s cultivation had long been at the bottom, and now, seeing him surpass them, they found it hard to accept. In truth, they hoped to see Yang Xiao suffer defeat, perhaps even be knocked down from the arena in disgrace.

He Ming argued with those around him, choosing instead to trust Yang Xiao. Yet, after hearing their talk, even he could not help but feel anxious for Yang Xiao, despite defending him aloud.

Yang Xiao, for his part, noticed He Ming and the others, offering only a faint smile in response. He did not concern himself with their actions or opinions.

As more disciples gathered at the summit of Great Spirit Mountain, the scene grew a little noisy—until the appearance of three young women suddenly quieted the crowd. Each was beautiful as a blossom, but the one in red at their head drew every eye. She was none other than Ling Yunmei, whom Yang Xiao had met two months prior.

Ling Yunmei and her two junior sisters immediately became the focus of the entire sect. “Aren’t these the disciples of Uncle Wither-Glory? How can all of them be so lovely?” someone whispered.

“Uncle Wither-Glory certainly knows how to choose disciples. Especially Senior Sister Ling Yunmei—she’s an absolute beauty, like a fairy come to earth.”

“I’ve heard that all of Uncle Wither-Glory’s disciples were taken in recent years, and Ling Yunmei is the most outstanding. Don’t be fooled by her youth; in the whole sect, only Senior Brother Qing Yuhe could match her.”

“Is Senior Sister Ling Yunmei really that strong? She looks about our age. How did she reach such a high cultivation?”

“Well, with Uncle Wither-Glory personally instructing her, she’s naturally exceptional. I hear she reached the ninth level of Spiritual Awareness in just over a year. Compared to Senior Brother Qing Yuhe, she’s even more of a prodigy. Perhaps our sect will soon have a third master at the Qi Condensation stage.”

The disciples’ chatter quickly centered on Ling Yunmei, drawn by her extraordinary talent and beauty, which inspired both admiration and envy.

Ling Yunmei and her junior sisters ignored the crowd’s whispers and ascended directly onto the arena. The guards at the edge, eager to please, immediately handed her three tokens. There was no need for any verification—Ling Yunmei’s status was unquestionable, and her companions clearly possessed considerable cultivation. Since Master Wither-Glory had sent them, they were certainly no ordinary disciples. The guards were only too eager to ingratiate themselves and would not risk offending them.

After stepping onto the arena, Ling Yunmei soon noticed Yang Xiao. She deliberately passed by him, exchanging a few words before moving to her designated position.

Her actions sparked a fresh wave of rumors among the disciples. They could not understand how Yang Xiao, in their eyes so insignificant, could have formed a connection with Ling Yunmei—their goddess—and seemingly a close one at that. Those who knew Yang Xiao felt a mix of envy and resentment, unable to fathom how such an extraordinary woman could know someone like him, let alone share such familiarity.

Even Ji Ben, standing before Yang Xiao, began to doubt his own judgment of Yang Xiao’s cultivation and dared not underestimate him any longer.

After Ling Yunmei’s arrival, two more disciples appeared, further stirring excitement in the crowd. One was Hao Gang, whom Yang Xiao had met before; the other, Master Lingfeng’s most prized disciple, Qing Yuhe.

Hao Gang was well-known among the disciples. Though his cultivation was a little lower than Qing Yuhe’s, he was infamous for constantly challenging others to duels and always emerging victorious, earning him the nickname “Mad God.” He held a high position in the eyes of many.

However, few knew that Yang Xiao had once defeated Hao Gang in the marketplace. Only Yang Xiao, Ling Yunmei, and Hao Gang had witnessed that battle. Neither Yang Xiao nor Ling Yunmei had spread word of it, and Hao Gang certainly would not boast about his defeat, so it was unsurprising that others remained unaware.

When Hao Gang stepped onto the arena, he immediately spotted Yang Xiao and approached him. “Junior Brother Yang Xiao,” he said, “last time I lost to you, but in these past two months I’ve trained hard and advanced further. This time, I’m confident I can defeat you. I’ll be waiting for you in the final match—don’t disappoint me. And more importantly, I want you to know—I’ll never give up on Senior Sister Ling Yunmei.”

With these words, Hao Gang departed, leaving a trail of astonished gazes in his wake. Ji Ben, in particular, was so stunned he could hardly close his mouth. If what Hao Gang said was true—that he had once lost to Yang Xiao—then Yang Xiao was far more formidable than Ji Ben could ever hope to contend with.

Ji Ben silently regretted his choice of token; it seemed he had been most unfortunate to draw Yang Xiao as an opponent. His chances in this competition now appeared slim indeed.

As more disciples took their places, Master Lingfeng and Master Wither-Glory appeared together at the front of the arena. The competition was about to begin.