Chapter 373: Tenth on the Celestial Ranking? That’s all?
The two Grandmasters finally faced each other. The atmosphere began to solidify.
Li Lingqing’s expression was grave, her body trembling slightly. The members of the Xing Family, however, were all invigorated, their faces filled with wild joy. As long as the Xing Family Patriarch made his move, they had nothing to worry about.
Their confidence stemmed from the Xing Family Patriarch, Xing Zirong, who was ranked tenth on the Heavenly Rankings!
As for the King of the Miao of the Li Clan, Lin Wudi, he was merely sixteenth on the Heavenly Rankings. What Miao King? What ’Wudi’ for ’undefeated’? In front of the Xing Family Patriarch, he was nothing but an ant!
The Xing Family members instantly relaxed, smiling and chatting amongst themselves. It seemed that as long as the Xing Family Patriarch was present, even the most powerful enemy was no different than the weakest commoner. The Xing Family Patriarch could crush them at any moment.
Over Hongfeng Lake, the night breeze was cool. Stars twinkled, their light dappling the surface of the water. Two figures stood facing each other across the air.
Xing Zirong was over fifty years old, the younger brother of Xing Yong and the uncle of Xing Chong. He had stepped into the realm of a Grandmaster at the age of thirty-eight and immediately began to challenge the others. He had challenged almost every Grandmaster on the Heavenly Rankings, suffering not a single defeat. At forty, he battled Qin Chuan of Demon City. Using only one hand, he defeated him within three moves and took his place on the rankings. From then on, he was unrivaled by anyone outside the top ten.
Afterward, for reasons unknown, the Martial Arts World lost track of Xing Zirong. Some rumored that he had fought a Grandmaster from the top ten and, after losing, went into seclusion to heal his wounds. Others claimed he had won and, feeling he had no rivals left, traveled overseas in search of a breakthrough. Regardless of the reason, Xing Zirong was a true powerhouse in the Martial Arts World. To challenge the top ten was a feat glorious even in defeat! To enter seclusion for cultivation meant emerging even stronger!
This was the source of the Xing Family’s confidence. Otherwise, how could they dare to claim the title of Southern Sky’s number one family? How could they dare to force the Saintess into marriage? It was all because the Xing Family had a Martial Arts Grandmaster of this caliber protecting them.
***
"I never imagined that River City’s Lin Wudi was also the King of the Miao in Southern Sky’s Miao Territory."
Though over fifty, Xing Zirong looked to be in his early thirties. He had a tall stature, and his aura was completely restrained, making him seem like an ordinary middle-aged man. His eyes, however, glowed like embers, holding a deep crimson hue.
Hearing this, Lin Mu smiled faintly. "And the so-called number one family of Southern Sky is nothing but a clan of traitors who have abandoned their ancestral teachings."
"Impudence!"
"How audacious!"
"Brat, say that again!"
Before Xing Zirong could even speak, the Xing Family members erupted in a chorus of curses. With Xing Zirong’s appearance, their confidence had surged.
Lin Mu merely smiled, a flicker of sword intent flowing between his fingers.
Xing Zirong’s gaze sharpened. "As a Grandmaster, aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock for attacking these people?"
Lin Mu sneered. "According to the ancestral teachings of the Li Clan, offending the Miao King is a capital offense!"
Xing Zirong stated coldly, "My Xing Family is not part of the Li Clan!"
"But your Xing Family still schemes to marry the Saintess of the Li Clan," Lin Mu retorted, his eyes filled with indifference.
Xing Zirong fell silent. On this point, the Xing Family was clearly in the wrong.
"This is a matter between the younger generation. Why must you, Lin Wudi, interfere?" Xing Zirong sighed, as if trying to reason with him.
"If the two were in love, I would have nothing to say," Lin Mu said coolly. "But your Xing Family plotted to use my disciple’s essence blood to break your curse, forcing her into marriage. Did you ever stop to consider this day would come?"
"Lin Wudi, do you really think I don’t dare to kill you?!" Xing Zirong’s aura erupted, causing the lake to tremble. The power of a Grandmaster could already commune with heaven and earth.
"Heh, don’t you want to kill me, too?" Lin Mu scoffed, having already sensed a powerful killing intent radiating from Xing Zirong.
"Since that’s the case, I’ll stop wasting my breath!" Xing Zirong suddenly sneered. "After I kill you, the essence blood of the Li Clan’s Saintess will still help me break my bloodline curse!"
He no longer bothered to conceal his murderous intent. This was his true objective!
Without breaking the curse, one can never achieve Reaching the Divine. This was the curse that had plagued the Xing Family for generations.
Xing Zirong was exceptionally talented, having touched the threshold of Reaching the Divine by the age of fifty. Extremely confident in his abilities, he had entered seclusion at the bottom of Hongfeng Lake for ten years, seeking a breakthrough. However, though his cultivation level had deepened over the past decade, he could not break through that final barrier. This led to the matter of the Dragon of the Xing Family proposing to the Saintess of the Li Clan.
It had all been part of Xing Zirong’s plan. As for Lin Mu, he was merely a minor, unexpected complication. Xing Zirong had never taken him seriously. The revelation that the Miao King was Lin Wudi had surprised him, but that was all. It was of no real consequence.
Is the fight about to begin... Li Lingqing murmured to herself, her eyes brimming with confidence. So what if he’s tenth on the Heavenly Rankings? He’s still no match for Master!
The Xing Family members were equally confident in Xing Zirong, hoping their Patriarch would teach Lin Mu a harsh lesson.
"Lin Wudi, to have become a Martial Arts Grandmaster before the age of thirty... I must admit, even I am surprised." Xing Zirong spread his arms, and columns of lake water rose as if drawn by a great whale, coalescing in his hands to form two massive spears.
"But you are far too young, after all." Xing Zirong’s face turned grim, his voice filled with cold disdain. "I became a Grandmaster at thirty-eight and was unrivaled outside the top ten by forty. And I have certainly fought against those in the top ten!"
A shocking aura exploded from Xing Zirong, and a fierce wind howled between heaven and earth. "After ten years in seclusion, I have already touched the barrier of the Grandmaster realm. I am on the verge of stepping into the Divine Communion Realm!"
Xing Zirong gripped the two water spears, pointing them directly at Lin Mu. His aura surged, making him look like a god of war incarnate.
He smiled faintly. "Therefore, to die by my hand can be considered your good fortune."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
As soon as he finished speaking, Xing Zirong swept out with the spears. His power seemed capable of uprooting mountains and scattering a thousand armies!
The Xing Family members watched with fervent excitement. Wielding lake water as spears was not a feat achievable by human strength.
Li Lingqing’s face, however, turned pale, a hint of worry in her eyes. Can Master really do this?
Lin Mu’s expression remained calm. He met Xing Zirong’s words with a placid smile. "Boasting to me about your past achievements? Xing Zirong, I don’t know if seclusion has fried your brain, or if your cultivation has simply rotted it!" His words were laced with equal disdain.
"Lin Wudi, today I will show the world who is truly undefeated!"
"Die!" With a firm grip on the two enormous spears, Xing Zirong’s eyes blazed with murderous intent. "After I kill you, I might as well take your seat as the King of the Miao of the Li Clan!"
With a loud laugh, Xing Zirong hurled the spears. They shot through the air, aimed straight for Lin Mu’s chest. This single strike was powerful enough to kill him.
"You want my position?" Lin Mu suddenly let out a resonant laugh, his long hair whipping wildly in the wind. "I’m afraid you lack the ability!"
As he spoke, Lin Mu thrust out both hands. His Mana instantly condensed into two giant hands, each one grabbing a spear. With a vicious squeeze, he clenched his fists.
BANG!
The spears shattered, turning into a torrential downpour that rained down from above. It was as if a massive storm had descended upon a hundred-meter radius of Hongfeng Lake.
Lin Mu shook his head slightly.
"Tenth on the Heavenly Rankings? Not so impressive after all."