Sword Intent      

"Congratulations, Ling Xiao!"

Ling Yixue was the first to congratulate him.

"Thank you!"

Ling Xiao smiled. Although he was bad at expressing it, he had a favorable impression of her.

Soon, the judges announced the rankings.

Without a doubt, Ling Xiao's winning streak had guaranteed him first place.

First Place: Ling Xiao

Second Place: Ling Yihang

Third Place: Ling Feng

Fourth Place: Ling Yixue

Fifth Place: Ling Tieshou

Sixth Place: Ling Cheng

...

Although Ling Feng was unable to participate after losing to Ling Xiao, that had been his second-to-last match. Therefore, he had only lost two matches.

However, there was no meaning to his place. Because of his severe injuries, he would not recover in the week before the finals.

Ling Feng had no chance to participate in the finals unless he somehow obtained spirit-grade pills.

Obtaining first, it was impossible for Ling Xiao to not be happy.

However, he was not too excited.

This first place was not that important. He needed a first place in the upcoming finals!

However, compared to half a month ago when he had just hoped to participate in the annual competition, this achievement was really outstanding.

At that time, how could he have imagined being first in the Elite Hall? He had only hoped to enter the top 1000.

Without a doubt, all this had originated from the awakening of his Landscape Martial Soul.

At present, it possessed the ability to analyze, deduce, and produce items.

Nevertheless, he felt that his Landscape Martial Soul was not so simple. At present, it was level-three, nothing more. If it leveled up, would it gain any new functions?

Most likely!

Ling Xiao believed that he had only touched a corner of its miraculous effects. He was still far away from displaying its full potential.

When the results of the elimination rounds were announced, the disciples of the Genius Hall also couldn't help but comment.

"Humph, didn't you say that the current disciples of the Elite Hall are very powerful? I don't think there is anyone worth mentioning besides Ling Yihang and that Ling Xiao!"

Ling Zhan mocked.

"Hee, hee, Ling Zhan, don't underestimate Ling Yixue. She still has some hidden cards she didn't use. Don't overturn your boat in a sewer!"

Ling Shuan said with a grin.

"Humph, hasn't she only touched the edge of gang qi? She is of no concern."

Ling Yun snorted. With disdain in his eyes, he added, "Originally, I thought that Ling Yihang would be able to challenge Ling Feifan, but he actually lost to that Ling Xiao! What trash!"

"In any case, that Ling Xiao will have a miserable fate!"

Ling Zhan suddenly grinned.

"Why do you say that?"

Ling Shuang asked.

"Did you forget? Ling Yun is Ling Feng's biological younger brother!" Ling Zhan looked at Ling Yun with a smirk.

"FengYun (Wind and Cloud)! No wonder! Here I was thinking about how your name matched Ling Feng's name so well!" exclaimed Ling Shuang.

"Ling Xiao! Hehe, although my trash big brother is not particularly good, he is not someone you can injure at will. I will settle this with you in the finals. Well, I might not even need to make a move in person. With his current strength, it is impossible for him to win against anyone within the top ten!"

Ling Yun laughed; he didn't take Ling Xiao seriously at all.

"Now, I'm only thinking about how to defeat Ling Feifan."

While speaking, Ling Yun glared at Ling Xiao. His gaze had a hint of killing intent.

The Landscape Martial Soul was very sensitive to killing intent, so Ling Xiao suddenly turned around and met his opponent's gaze.

At the audience stands, a group of disciples of the Genius Hall watched him with queer smiles.

Some had ridiculing looks.

Some had gloating looks.

Some had looks of pity.

And some even had looks of disdain.

"Ling Xiao, you have to be careful. That Ling Yun is Ling Feng's biological younger brother. He ranks second in the Genius Hall, second only to Ling Feifan in strength!"

Ling Yixue beside him frowned.

"He's Ling Yun?"

Ling Xiao examined Ling Yun. He could clearly feel the other party's enormous pressure.

"Peak Rank Four Martial Realm!"

Although the Landscape Martial Soul could not reveal much, his opponent's strength was clearly analyzed.

Ling Yun had a thin figure. He wasn't a strength-type martial artist. Skilled in the sword, he walked the path of the quick sword.

"Oh? He actually doesn't fear my sword intent!"

While Ling Xiao analyzed him, Ling Yun also observed Ling Xiao.

One should know that sword intent was very difficult to comprehend. In the entire Ling Clan, only he alone had comprehended it.

However, Ling Xiao was unexpectedly not afraid, which annoyed him.

"Ling Xiao, don't disdain his cultivation of Peak Rank Four Martial Vein. Relying on his sword intent, he can easily defeat ordinary Rank Five Martial Vein experts. Not only you can skip a rank, but he also can too!"

Ling Yixue worried that Ling Xiao would provoke Ling Yun, so she hastily warned him in a lowered voice.

"Sword intent? Interesting!"

Ling Xiao naturally knew what a sword intent was. An illusory thing like a martial soul, one depended on fortune to awaken it.

Most people would never awaken it in their lifetimes, but some talents would comprehend it quite early.

"Let's go! There's nothing more to watch. After a week, the finals will start. That will be the main course!"

Ling Yun retracted his gaze and his sword intent.

Although Ling Xiao resisting his sword intent had somewhat surprised him, he didn't care too much about it.

Some people were born with strong willpower; it was normal for some to not fear it.

Even without it, he could easily defeat Ling Xiao.

He didn't need to care.

Ling Xiao also turned away.

He had to quickly improve his strength.

The top ten of the Genius Hall were all Rank Four Martial Vein martial artists. In fact, the second, third and fourth were actually Peak Rank Four Martial Vein martial artists.

As for Ling Feifan, since Ling Xiao had never seen him, he didn't know his actual strength.

However, he couldn't be weaker than these people.

It was currently impossible for Ling Xiao to defeat these people who each had their own specialties. If he looked down on them, he would definitely eat rotten fruit.

"Senior apprentice sister Yixue, I'll leave first!"

After Ling Xiao had such a thought, he was unwilling to waste any time.

With his current strength, he could enter the top ten of the Genius Hall without any problems. Of this, he was confident.

However, if he wanted to defeat the top four, it would be a relatively difficult matter.

Still, it was impossible at present for him to enter the top three.

As for the first place, he didn't even need to think about it.

He had once heard that Ling Feifan had fought Ling Yun, Ling Shuang, and Ling Zhan simultaneously, but he hadn't been disadvantaged at all.

This had happened last year.

No one knew how much he had improved.

Ling Feifan, who was reputed to be the number one genius of the Ling Clan, certainly wouldn't have stagnated and waited for other people to catch up to him.

In seven days, the finals would start.

Ling Xiao wouldn't force himself to defeat Ling Feifan; that was a little beyond his current reach.

His current goal was to fight for one of the top three places.

He had to succeed. He clearly knew what he needed.

Currently, he lacked the means to attack and defend himself.

He also had to improve his cultivation.

He required peak martial arts!

To view all the Ling Clan's peak martial arts, he needed at least third place.