Chapter 53: The First Battle of the Pavilion Tournament

Lin Xiaobao extended his spiritual sense and saw his name displayed on Arena Eight. His opponent was none other than Ye Jingming, one of the six men who had nearly ended his life on Mount Mudou.

“Go, Big Fool!” At the same time, Lin Xiaobao also found Wang Dasha’s name on Arena Eleven. Seeing that his opponent was merely a disciple of the eighth level of Innate Martial Arts, he wasn’t concerned. After offering a word of encouragement, he flickered and reappeared atop Arena Eight.

As Lin Xiaobao’s feet touched down, Ye Jingming appeared on the arena at the same instant, making it impossible to discern who had arrived first.

The moment both of them entered the stage, the defensive formation laid upon the stone pillars activated, casting a cerulean shield that sealed off the entire platform.

“Who would have thought a worm like you would ever rise again!” Despite Lin Xiaobao’s formidable display before the formal disciples at Lexuan Hall, Ye Jingming believed he could have done the same, so he felt little fear.

“Do you remember that day I asked for all your names?” Lin Xiaobao’s lips curled into a faint smile—a habitual expression whenever rage stirred within him. “At that moment, I swore to myself that as long as I lived, none of you would know peace. Today, I begin to collect that debt—from you.”

“If you have the ability, I don’t mind. But even if Elder Lin Tian himself were here, he wouldn’t be able to save you today!” The memory of losing his contribution points to Lin Xiaobao still burned in Ye Jingming’s chest. As he spoke, he flicked his wrist; a five-foot-long staff forged from Wind-Thunder Iron appeared in his hand.

“In that case, let’s see the truth in our hands!” With a ringing sword-cry, the Seven Star Sword appeared in Lin Xiaobao’s grip.

“Take this!” With a thunderous shout, Ye Jingming poured spiritual power into the Wind-Thunder Staff, which flared with violet light and crackled with thunder. He charged Lin Xiaobao at full speed, and when the staff was just three meters away, he flicked his wrist, splitting the staff into a dozen afterimages that darted like venomous snakes, sealing off all avenues of escape.

Such speed! Such force! Even before the staff shadows reached him, Lin Xiaobao felt a powerful gust surging toward him. It was his first time facing an expert at the ninth level of Innate Martial Arts. From the very start, he had locked his spiritual sense onto Ye Jingming, and though Ye Jingming’s attack was swift, Lin Xiaobao’s keen senses tracked the trajectory with clarity.

With a mighty cry, Lin Xiaobao thrust the Seven Star Sword, weaving through the chaotic shadows to find the true Wind-Thunder Staff, the sword tip meeting the end of the staff.

With a ringing clang, the shadows vanished. Sword and staff formed a straight line, each man surging his spiritual power forward, striving to force the other back and seize the advantage.

A tingling numbness traveled up the hilt of the sword. Lin Xiaobao hadn’t expected the Wind-Thunder Staff to carry the power of lightning as well. His whole body felt as if struck by thunder, numb and sluggish. If not for his meridians, tempered by Old Mo’s training, being different from ordinary people’s, he would have already been forced back.

A flash of surprise crossed Ye Jingming’s eyes as well. He knew his staff’s properties intimately, yet Lin Xiaobao had not been immediately repelled as expected. On the contrary, an immense force surged from Lin Xiaobao’s blade, battering his own arms. Only now did Ye Jingming finally accept that Lin Xiaobao’s strength matched his own, and from this moment, he cast aside all contempt, regarding Lin Xiaobao as a true peer.

Both men poured more spiritual power into their weapons. Sword and staff began to bend, neither willing to prolong the stalemate. Almost simultaneously, they both let out a shout, and with a sharp crack at the point where sword and staff met, they each leapt back several meters.

After this probing exchange, each had gauged the other’s strength, and neither dared to act rashly. Instead, they fixed their gazes on one another, watching for the slightest flaw in the other’s defense.

Having reached the ninth level of Innate Martial Arts, Ye Jingming had developed spiritual sense as well. Now, he enveloped Lin Xiaobao with it; should Lin Xiaobao make any move, his Wind-Thunder Staff would respond instantly with a ferocious counterattack.

But Lin Xiaobao’s patience seemed even greater than his. Unmoving, he waited, and so did Lin Xiaobao. The atmosphere atop the arena turned strange, and after a few breaths, an invisible pressure pressed down on both men.

Lightning Wolf Staff!

Ye Jingming, whose spiritual strength was no match for Lin Xiaobao’s, began to falter under the mounting pressure. With a furious cry, he leapt high, brandishing the Wind-Thunder Staff overhead, then brought it crashing down dozens of times in rapid succession. The shadows merged to form a colossal staff more than three meters in diameter, which came down at Lin Xiaobao with overwhelming force.

My energy is locked! For the first time, Lin Xiaobao felt this sensation—his entire aura ensnared by Ye Jingming’s spiritual sense. No matter how he tried to dodge, he could not evade the coming blow. He had no choice but to meet it head-on.

The staff’s shadow swept forth with such force that Lin Xiaobao’s face burned as if lashed by wind. As the shadow descended, he felt himself engulfed by its looming darkness. Time was running out. He too let out a shout.

Dragon Emperor’s Soar!

The second move of the Dragon-Slaying Sword Art; Lin Xiaobao had only mastered this after reaching the ninth level of Postnatal Martial Arts.

In a flash, Lin Xiaobao’s feet pressed hard against the ground and he soared to the same height as Ye Jingming. Spinning rapidly in mid-air, countless sword shadows unfurled from his body, making him look like a porcupine blazing with radiant light.

With a mighty cry, the sword shadows shot forth like flying needles, but under the control of Lin Xiaobao’s formidable mind, they did not scatter at random.

Seventy percent of the shadows flew toward the massive staff in the sky, while the remaining thirty percent targeted Ye Jingming himself.

As the sword shadows pierced through, the giant staff shadow above began to dim, as if it might disperse at any moment, while the other thirty percent formed a huge net that fell toward Ye Jingming.

Up above, Ye Jingming’s face changed. If he didn’t withdraw now, the staff shadow might strike Lin Xiaobao, but with most of its power spent, it wouldn’t do him much harm. If he were caught by the sword net, however, he’d be riddled with wounds.

Risking one’s life is one thing; throwing it away is another.

Yet this Wind-Thunder Staff Technique was one of the top arts of the Snowstorm Pavilion—how could it be so simple? With a flash, Ye Jingming halted the staff’s descent in mid-air and swept it sideways at the incoming sword net.

With a thunderous crash, the net shattered, and the enormous staff shadow vanished as well.

Yet there was no hint of frustration on Ye Jingming’s face—only wild, unbridled madness. “Lin Xiaobao, today I’ll show you the true power of the Wind-Thunder Staff!”