Chapter 566: Chapter 565: The Most Loyal Fan (Added updates for ’Raised a Little Dragon Girl’, 8/9)
"Everyone kept saying that Shi Xiaole was just a genius of Shuntian City’s standard, but they were all wrong. This type of person would surely shine brightly even in Tian State!"
"From today onward, he is not just a mere genius. He is a colossal figure in Shuntian City’s martial world. He might even be able to fight some of the top ten masters."
All present were emotionally stirred. Some were excited by Shi Xiaole’s triumph over Peng Dian and Ou Wukai; others shivered at the significance of today’s event.
In retrospect, Shi Xiaole stepped into the scene not even half an hour ago, and yet he’d managed to topple three formidable opponents.
They were the twelfth-ranked Xiahou Zong from Shuntian City and Peng Dian and Ou Wukai from Tian State, who despite their origins, potentially ranked in the top ten of Shuntian City.
That was a terrifying record!
At least in the past few decades, nobody had accomplished such a feat. But he had done it all with such nonchalance, as if it were as effortless as the gentle drift of a cloud.
The women present watched with glistening eyes.
Everyone said how terrifying ’Green Demon’ Ou Wukai was. Yet, this same person was thrown to the ground by only a few blows from Shi Xiaole, crippling him like a dog losing his home.
So who was the more terrifying one?
"I thought he’d be the lead character of the Xuanwu State’s Martial World in ten years. Now it seems, it could be halved. No, even lesser."
Ai Renxiong let out a breath, feeling a little dizzy.
"Father, I disagree with your words," Ai Yinglong suddenly spoke.
"Oh? What’s not right?"
"The current Master Shi already is the protagonist of the Xuanwu State’s Martial World."
Ai Renxiong was stunned and could only bitterly smile and shake his head in disbelief. He couldn’t even refute it.
"No, I still haven’t used my strongest trick. I haven’t lost."
Ou Wukai’s face twisted as he struggled to rise from the ground. Exerting his strength, his wounds opened, and blood began to pour out, pooling on the ground.
"In my hands, you’ll never have the chance to use your so-called trump card."
Shi Xiaole’s single line made Ou Wukai’s whole body tremble. He vomited a mouthful of blood.
The scales were tipped. Shi Xiaole’s attack was fierce like a storm yet carried a gentle touch like a drizzle. Ou Wukai didn’t want to admit it, but he reluctantly concurred that if it happened again, he would still fall into the opponent’s trap and lose his advantage.
This was the gap in their comprehensive strength, not just a stroke of luck.
"A brief victory or defeat means nothing. Many people have defeated me before. But now, their hearts are in my collection box," Ou Wukai laughed maliciously.
"Your bluff only highlights your cowardice. You know clearly that you will never have the opportunity to defeat me," Shi Xiaole matter-of-factly stated.
"You don’t believe me? Just wait and see."
"Enough with the nonsense, get lost, or I’ll kill you."
Though Shi Xiaole wished to kill Ou Wukai on the spot, he decided against it for now. Ou Wukai hailed from the infamous Dreamy Sect of the Demon Door and wasn’t an ordinary disciple. If he were to kill him, Shi Xiaole might bring the wrath of the Dreamy Sect upon himself.
Given Shi Xiaole’s current position, he could not afford to cross that line just yet.
But of course, he had plans of his own for today’s events.
Whoosh!
Just when everyone thought everything would come to an end, a huge fireball suddenly appeared out of thin air, furiously launching toward Shi Xiaole. The fireball was ablaze with an intense flame. Yet, it did not emit heat but a deadly coldness steeped in murderous intent.
"Turning the existent into nonexistent."
A silver-grey aura revolved around Shi Xiaole, encirclement by countless transparent sword Qis. The fireball clashed against him, only to incinerate into ashes amid a hissing sound.
The fireball then entirely engulfed Shi Xiaole. The momentum was so fierce that it even dragged out tens of meters of red tail flames behind him, resembling a comet falling from the sky. The protective array system light shield in the distance was scorched by the sparks, leaving traces of light dots before finally disappearing.
"Master Shi!"
The crowd cried out in alarm, screams and shouts all merging into one.
When Peng Dian saw this surprising turn of events, he suddenly burst into hearty laughter: "Deserves to die!"
In the flames that could melt metal, a figure gradually revealed himself amidst the sparks. Other than his left sleeve being mostly burned away, he was unharmed. Who else could it be but Shi Xiaole?
"Inferno Fist, it turns out you’ve been nothing but a petty thief all these years."
Shi Xiaole turned his gaze to the distant eaves.
An emaciated old man was appearing there; his beard hung at his waist. Where he stood, the air constantly crackled with the sound of burning flames; the eaves under his feet had been mostly burned away. The building seemed to be on the brink of collapse.
"Inferno Lord, it was you!" Yu Qinghe’s pupils shrunk.’
The Inferno Lord was ranked eighth in Shuntian City and was undeniably one of the top ten masters. From the previous strike, one could gauge his profound strength.
But when they thought about Shi Xiaole somehow remaining unscathed after such an attack, everyone found it incomprehensible.
"Inferno Lord, considering your stature, to resort to a sneak attack on a junior, aren’t you afraid of tarnishing your lifelong reputation?" Heavenly Inquiry Ancestor wanted to rebuke, but when the words reached his lips, they suddenly carried an undertone of inquiry and wariness.
They couldn’t help but be wary. Shuntian City’s top ten masters, apart from the first ranked Xin Zhuliu, were all older, well-established figures. They had amassed great prestige in the martial world.
Although Xiahou Zong was ranked twelfth, he was not considered on the same level as the top ten by others in the martial world.
Many people had previously thought that Peng Dian and Ou Wukai were enough to challenge the top ten, but after witnessing the Inferno Lord’s momentum, they harboured severe doubts.
Without paying any heed to the crowd, the Inferno Lord merely stared at Shi Xiaole, stating dismissively, "Your strength isn’t bad, but it can’t fool my eyes. Peng Dian is not inferior to you but just because he was competing with you in terms of skill, he was defeated."
"Ou Wukai’s strength, on the other hand, surpasses you by a margin. All he needs to do is to keep you at bay, resort to long-range combat against you, and your defeat would be undoubted!"
On hearing this, Ou Wukai coldly sneered.
Shi Xiaole did not argue, but only asked, "What do you want?"
"At my age, concepts like surprise attacks no longer hold any meaning to me. Though my move just now was unforeseen, I only used fifty percent of my strength. For you to escape unscathed, that’s pretty impressive. I’ll spare your life today."
The Inferno Lord turned to leave.
In the shadows, the members from Four Symbols Mountain were in a hurry, what was the elder brother thinking, why would he spare that kid?
The rest of the crowd, on the contrary, heaved a long sigh of relief, wishing nothing more than for the Inferno Lord to disappear quickly.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Shi Xiaole suddenly sneered, "Old man, you think you can just walk away after launching a surprise attack? Is there such a cheap bargain in this world?"
"Oh, tired of living, are you?"
The Inferno Lord stopped in his tracks, a chilling murderous intent bursting from his turbid eyes.
No one knew, that his strike just now was not at fifty percent as he claimed, but rather at a full eighty percent. That was also the major reason behind the Inferno Lord’s decision to leave.
Of course, he did not think that Shi Xiaole was entirely unscathed. He believed it was hidden by his opponent. However, even then, the Inferno Lord did not wish to continue the fight.
He had earlier agreed to Four Symbols Mountain’s request, thinking that the target was easy to deal with and would not require much effort. However, having found the task tougher than expected, he quickly reconsidered his decision.
Given the Inferno Lord’s status and prestige, it provided no benefits to painstakingly defeat an up-and-coming talent. Since he did not succeed on the first attempt, he should just leave gracefully.
However, if Shi Xiaole were to be intentionally provocative and openly ridicule him, then it would be a different story altogether.
"The one who’s tired of living isn’t me, it’s probably you."
Shi Xiaole proclaimed slowly, his Hidden Edge Sword slowly being unsheathed, its momentum building up throughout this process.
Everyone was aghast, especially those close to Wuling Villa who were at a loss for words. The Inferno Lord was about to leave, why would Shi Xiaole provoke him?!
If anything unfortunate were to happen, wouldn’t they become the laughing stock of the Martial World?
"Good, very good. It seems that after my years in seclusion, many have forgotten the majesty I once held."
Clenching his fists until they cracked, the Inferno Lord’s anger surged like a raging lion. The imposing aura that radiated from him was as frightening as a wildfire. The three-story building beneath him bore the brunt of his fury, reduced to rubble.
His aura continued to spread its destructive reach. By the looks of it, all of the buildings in the villa within a hundred metres would be destroyed.
Shi Xiaole wasted no more time on him, with eyes and hair as sharp as a sword, he focused his full sword momentum into one fatal blow, seemingly slow but fast, and swung forward.
Whish!
Whoosh!
As gentle as a breeze passing by, it seemed as if nothing had happened.
He sheathed his sword.
"Hahaha, what a joke! The so-called number one talent, such bullshit swordsmanship!"
Peng Dian burst into derisive laughter.
The Inferno Lord snorted coldly and raised his palm, ready to teach Shi Xiaole a significant lesson. Suddenly, a sharp pain surged from his chest, spreading throughout his body.
Following this, his legs began to numb and lose sensation.
Looking down, the Inferno Lord’s face drained of all color. From the sole of his feet, they began to disintegrate in the whirling Sword Qi, then the calves, the thighs, spreading upwards.
He tried to channel his inner energy to counter, but his Dantian was unknowingly pierced, all his strength dissipated.
"What...what kind of swordsmanship is that?"
The Inferno Lord asked, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Wind of Lingxi."
Shi Xiaole replied.
Like a sand sculpture swept away by the wind, the Inferno Lord vanished on the spot.
Gasps!
Sounds of sharp intakes of breath echoed one after another.
This scene was deeply etched into the minds of everyone present at the scene, never to be forgotten.
Peng Dian’s face turned red like someone was choking him, then cyanotic, then pale. Ou Wukai, on the other hand, looked as if he had seen a ghost.
Earlier, when the Inferno Lord mocked Shi Xiaole, saying that he only defeated the two of them out of sheer luck, Shi Xiaole did not argue back. Many people thought he agreed.
Now people realised that Shi Xiaole did not agree. Instead, he was simply too disdainful to refute. The answers to all lay in that mysterious and unpredictable sword move moments ago.
Who could resist?
No one!
"Our leader is truly a god. With him leading us, why fret about the rise of Wuling Villa!"
Far away, a group of teenage boys and girls, full of fighting spirit, gazed at Shi Xiaole worshipfully as if they were regarding a god.
They were the best out of tens of thousands of artisan children and the first batch of true disciples in Wuling Villa.
Many years later, some of them were well-known throughout the Flying Horse Dynasty, worshipped by thousands. But before that man in green, they would always be his most faithful followers!
