A Demon's Path Chapter 52

Everyone was staring at the field in shock, surprise filling their minds. Was this the extent of the power of a seven soul cultivator? No! Definitely not! When they considered how secretive Ling Xiao was, they became all the more confident in their conjecture.

Finally, Shen Nanfeng's expression changed from its rigidity. He glanced at his son with a deeply meaningful expression on his face.

Shen Xuan helplessly shook his head. "Daddy, how could I know this boy was so good at concealing his strength?" As these words left his lips, he flung a string of curses at his father in his mind, Weren't you the one who threw him at the Northern Jade Sect like he was trash? You're the one with the worse eye for things! Yet you still have the balls to blame me for almost killing a genius.

A raging fire seemed to be burning in Li Yuanchong's grave and stern gaze. His whole face flushed a lewd shade of red from excitement. "A seven soul cultivator! Finally, a worthy opponent!"

Cheng Qiantai helplessly sighed. He was most unwilling to see Ling Xiao reveal this trump card, but his disciple was forced to play it; there was no other way out of the corner he'd been backed into.

When he spotted the gaze in Shen Nanfeng and Shen Mingfang's eyes, he understood they fancied Ling Xiao. It was the same look they had five years ago, when Li Yuanhuan showcased his prowess. Back then, Cheng Qiantai had strong grounds to stand on only because Li Yuanhuan himself was adamant on staying in the Northern Jade Sect. However, those eyes were now fixated on Ling Xiao. The temptation of acquiring a seven soul cultivator eclipsed that of a three soul cultivator. He knew, there was no way he could keep his disciple this time around.

Ling Xiao looked at the four kneeling before him. He said without a hint of complacency, "Get up. I'm not your Master. There's no need to kneel before me. Take a hike like good children. I won't kill you."

It was as though they'd received an amnesty. Every single one of them pissed their pants in terror as they fled the field with their tails tucked between their legs. How could they still have the heart to consider their reputation? Although they normally paraded their arrogance wherever they went, today was their reckoning; their bodies were filled to the brim with embarrassment. And their comrades didn't miss it. They rejoiced in their misfortune, a similar thought running through their heads, Serves you right for being so damn cocky all the time!

The tournament continued.

Ling Xiao put the ballot organiser in a predicament. The Free for All round was supposed to decide the ninth and tenth contestants to move on to the next round. Although he was now in ninth place, he had killed two competitors while the other four ran away scared out of their wits. With there being no candidate for tenth place, how would the next round be arranged?

Shen Mingfang didn't seem fazed. She called forth the four disciples who'd slipped away and asked them to draw lots. The one who drew the fated ballot would become the final contestant moving on to the ranked matches.

When the four disciples were about to leave dejected, they were thrown a lifeline. They never expected such luck to befall upon them. Hurriedly, they rushed up to Shen Mingfang and drew the lots, terrified someone else would get the lucky ballot.

Such inherently disgraceful behaviour triggered a wave of sorrowful sighs from the crowd. How childish!

The 10 contestants moving on to the next round were finally decided. The lucky fellow gaining the last spot was the disciple who fought Ling Xiao with a hammer. He was Guan Chui from the Heavenly Hammer Party. Lil' Hammer was the nickname his comrades gave him.

With the 10 disciples accounted for, the drawing of lots commenced once more.

Ling Xiao let the rest draw their losts first before he slowly walked up to Shen Mingfang. He spoke to her in a hushed voice, "Maiden Shen, I have something to say to you."

Sheng Mingfang looked at Ling Xiao with a hint of surprise. She showed the most brilliant smile as she asked, "What is it you want to say?"

Ling Xiao mischievously chuckled. "You're really pretty."

Ling Xiao's real intention was to mock Shen Mingfang for playing such a beautiful hand with the ballots. But he knew he definitely wasn't going to live past tonight if he dared to mock her so brazenly. He could only find another way. After masking his words, he spoke the sentence that turned him into the splitting image of a dirty old man. Like this, he could seize this wonderful opportunity to disrespect her with his words without having to fear for his life.

It was only in this aspect he could take advantage of her. Unable to expel the resentment from being matched up with Li Yuanchong, he needed a way to vent. So he turned to a play on words and achieved exactly what he wanted. Naturally, Shen Mingfang wouldn't throttle a potential peak expert in the cradle because of this one sentence. Ling Xiao was rather confident about this.

Shen Mingfang faintly smiled, revealing a pair of beautiful dimples. She was really too damned attractive! Ling Xiao wished he could rush up and nibble her fair cheeks, but he let the thought pass when he recalled her unfathomably immeasurable age and strength. Giving in to lust would be the death of a person.

Even though Ling Xiao spoke in a quiet whisper, the other nine beside him heard his words as clear as day. Every single one of them almost spat out a river of blood. T-this boy is really fucking grand!

He was the idol of all men!

Li Yuanchong coldly laughed without saying a word.

The results of the ballots were out. Ling Xiao drew a good ballot this time around. He would face a familiar opponent, one who'd already pissed his pants in front of him before. It was naturally Lil' Hammer.

Once Guan Chui heard that his opponent was Ling Xiao, he shook his head like a kid playing the rattle-drum. "I'm not going to play anymore. I'm done. I'll settle with tenth place."

Ling Xiao entered the top five before the match for the top 10 even began!

The spectators seemed to shoot Ling Xiao well-knowing glances. They seemed to fully understand the reason behind his exchange of words with Shen Mingfang. What else could he have said if not for that? There was only a single thing they wanted to say to him, Brother, you're truly competent. We surrender to you!

Li Yuanchong's opponent, Lu Tie from the Mad Blade Sect, also surrendered before the match even began. Li Yuanchong and Ling Xiao were the first two to the top five.

It was Ling Xiao's turn to be a spectator for once. He devoted all his attention in watching all three matches at the same time. He centralised his attention to such a high degree that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

With his understanding of Shen Mingfang, he concluded his next match wouldn't yet be the confrontation with Li Yuanchong. Instead, it would most likely be one of the six currently in combat. Three individuals in particular had a high chance of moving on to the next round: Yang Chao, Yue Mingming, and Zheng Hao. The three of them comprised the second Sunken Wind Valley's preparatory team.

Shen Mingfang truly deserved some recognition for her work in rigging the ballots. If the Sunken Wind Valley trio won their matches, Ling Xiao almost certainly would have to fight one of them in the next round.

Ling Xiao couldn't quite place his finger on the why, but he held a grudge against this preparatory team he couldn't dispel. He reckoned these three would fight him to the death, just to give Li Yuanchong an edge in the final match.

The relationship between Li Yuanchong and the Sunken Wind Valley naturally didn't escape Ling Xiao. He was well aware of the impact Li Yuanchong's result would have on the Sunken Wind Valley's reputation. So, all Ling Xiao could do was amply prepare for whoever of the three he would face. The goal was simple: beat them with as little energy as possible, but not at the cost of his own health.

Sure enough, the match concluded as Ling Xiao expected. The opponents facing the Sunken Wind Valley's preparatory team only put on a front of fighting them, but conceded soon after. They had already reached their goals by securing a spot in the top 10. It wasn't worthwhile to continue fighting the disciples from the Sunken Wind Valley and risk death.

The names of the five strongest newcomers were finally out. Aside from Ling Xiao, the other four were all members of the Sunken Wind Valley.

Not only did such an outcome cause those on the field to feel a little dejected, they weren't all too surprised either. The feeling they exuded resembled a sense that they'd long since come to expect such an outcome.

Until the very end, Ling Xiao couldn't discern the true strength of the other four still competing. He shook his head, feeling a little disappointed.

"Immature thing, what are you shaking your head for?" a crisp and sweet-sounding voice resembling silver bells rang out from behind Ling Xiao. He bitterly smiled without turning his head around. "Senior Sister, are you here to laugh at me?"

Cheng Yu and Li Yuanhuan walked to Ling Xiao's side. Li Yuanhuan patted his shoulder in encouragement and said, "Good job, Junior Brother Ling! Continue working hard and bring first place back home!"

"Yeah," Ling Xiao responded and turned his gaze on Cheng Yu.

Unexpectedly, the words that came from her lips weren't to attack him, but rather she looked him straight in the eyes. Her eyes were shining with emotions. "Boy, fight well. The Northern Jade Sect's reputation is in your hands."

Ling Xiao returned her gaze in shock. He never expected her to relay encouraging words to him.

Cheng Yu was reminded of the intimate gaze they shared that day in the small alley when she saw his eyes. Her face burned at the thought and she hastily turned her head away, ignoring him.

Cheng Qiantai was both elated and worried at the same time. He didn't know what to say, so he silently looked at Ling Xiao who was already on his way to Shen Mingfang. Only after a moment did he notice that his wife had taken her seat beside him.

Next up was to decide who would duke it out and secure a place in the finals. One person would draw an empty ballot, both luck and misfortune on their side. They would automatically be ranked third in the tournament.

These were the rules. No one could do anything about it. If the individual possessed the strength of a champion but drew the empty ballot, that only illustrated luck wasn't on their side. They could only resign to third place.

Ling Xiao and Li Yuanchong knew that neither of them could dream of drawing that ballot with Shen Mingfang around.

Chapter end