Batian Martial Soul

"If I lose, you can do whatever you want with Batian City, kill or torture it as you please; if I win, you will all get out of the Great Town Dynasty and never set foot here again, how about that?"

Ling Xiao's voice was loud and steady, echoing in the hall for a long time.

Before he finished speaking, the copper bell on the eaves suddenly rang without any wind.

The crisp sound of the bell seemed particularly jarring in the silent atmosphere, like the eerie laughter of fate.

Everyone was startled, their eyes turning to the eaves, a strange unease rising in their hearts.

The young demon king remained calm and composed, leaning back in his chair with a languid and casual demeanor.

My fingertips lightly glide across the cold tabletop, a seemingly casual movement that leaves a thin, almost invisible white mark.

He tilted his head, a slight smile playing on his lips, and the purple ribbon in his hair fluttered gently with his movements, adding to his alluring charm.

"Lord Lingxiao has quite the plan. He doesn't want to destroy the foundation of Batian City, but he also wants to test the depths of my Demon Sea?"

His clear eyes seemed to penetrate people's hearts, staring straight at Ling Xiao as if trying to see through his thoughts.

Ling Xiao listened, his face still bearing a faint smile, and said unhurriedly:
"You're wrong. This would be good for your Demon Sea as well."

"After all, if war really breaks out, many of your demons will die. My suggestion is very fair."

"Besides, even the Demon King wouldn't lack confidence in facing me, would he? Are you afraid?"

He deliberately used reverse psychology to try and provoke the young demon king.

These words made the young demon king raise an eyebrow slightly, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. That smile contained both admiration for Ling Xiao and a touch of disdain.

“In the Demon Sea, no one has dared to challenge me since I was ten years old.”

His pride was undisguised, as if he were recounting something perfectly ordinary, as if Ling Xiao's challenge was nothing more than a trivial farce.

Ling Xiao smiled slightly, gently shook his wrist to loosen his muscles, and said:

"I am very fortunate to see just how strong you, young demon king, really are."

"I hope you won't let me down."

His eyes were filled with fighting spirit, like a beast about to be released from its cage, ready to fight the young demon king.

"interesting."

The young demon king's lips curled up slightly, revealing a half-smile, his eyes full of mockery and provocation.

He simply raised his right hand slightly, the movement casual and effortless, as if he were merely waving it casually.

In an instant, a withered tree branch ten feet away seemed to be summoned by some mysterious force, and flew over with a "whoosh" and landed steadily in his hand.

To everyone's astonishment, the originally rotten and lifeless withered tree branch underwent a strange transformation in the hands of the young demon king.

The mottled marks on its surface gradually faded, and the originally dry branches became warm and smooth like jade, radiating a soft yet mysterious light, as if they had been given new life.

"However, let me warn you, with your strength, you have absolutely no chance of winning against me."

The young demon king toyed with the branch in his hand, looking at Ling Xiao with disdain. "How about I lend you the Demon Lord Black Sky Sword first?"

"That's a peerless weapon; it might help you hold out a little longer."

"No need!"

Ling Xiao shook his head without hesitation, his eyes firm and resolute.
"I said I would take back the sword that belongs to me by my own skill."

"Moreover, that sword seems to only favor the strong. It's willing to follow you, perhaps because it thinks you're stronger than me."

"In that case, I don't need it anymore. Once I beat you, it will naturally come back to me."

"As for you, I advise you to use a better sword."

Ling Xiao's gaze swept over the branch in the young demon king's hand, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"You think you can beat me with just a tree branch? No way."

"Don't lose too badly and embarrass your Demon Sea."

The young demon king shook his head slightly, his eyes full of disdain:

"To deal with you, a single twig is enough."

"Don't think that just because you have some skills you can act presumptuously in front of me."

"Heh, you really are being looked down upon."

Ling Xiao sneered, a surge of anger rising in his heart.

He has entered the cycle of reincarnation several times, experienced countless storms, and witnessed the vicissitudes of the world.

In his eyes, this young demon king was nothing more than an immature brat. Although his strength was indeed not to be underestimated, such carelessness and underestimation of his opponent was simply courting death.

"Little brat, you're so arrogant. If you're going to use a branch, I'll just use my bare hands."

Ling Xiao deliberately emphasized the words "little brat," his eyes full of provocation.

"let's start."

Ling Xiao shouted loudly, his voice echoing like a great bell in the hall.

At his command, the young demon king moved like lightning, instantly transforming into a black afterimage as he sped towards Ling Xiao.

The branch in his hand whistled through the air as it pierced straight towards Ling Xiao's throat, moving so fast that no one had time to react.

However, Ling Xiao was no ordinary person.

Just as the branch was about to pierce him, he flashed and simultaneously created three afterimages.

The three illusory figures moved in unison, waving their arms with a cold light flashing, each pointing at one of the young demon king's three vital points—his chest, abdomen, and throat.

The young demon king was caught off guard by Ling Xiao's unexpected move and hastily retreated to defend.

He hurriedly swung the branch, trying to block the three fierce attacks.

But he was still a step too late. With a "thud," the tree branch barely managed to block the attack aimed at his throat and abdomen, but another cold light slashed across his chest, and blood instantly stained his clothes.

"too slow."

Ling Xiao's voice, tinged with contempt and disdain, seemed to come from all directions simultaneously, as elusive as a ghost, yet also like a cold bolt of lightning, piercing straight into the young demon king's ears.

The young demon king felt a blur before his eyes, as if he were in a fog, and everything around him became indistinct.

He instinctively tried to swing the branch to defend himself, but his body seemed to be bound by invisible ropes, and his movements were slow and clumsy.

Before he could make any effective reaction, ten sword marks appeared on his body.

The sword wound was long and sharp, like ten ferocious venomous snakes, deeply embedded in his skin.

Blood gushed from the wound instantly, slowly sliding down his clothes and pooling on the bluestone slabs into shocking pools of blood.

A piercing pain surged towards him like a tidal wave; every inch of his skin trembled, and every nerve screamed.

However, this unbearable pain did not plunge the young demon king into panic and despair; instead, it acted like a shot of adrenaline, making him even more clear-headed.

Ling Xiao's words kept echoing in his mind: "You are stronger than me, but in terms of martial arts, experience, and skill, you are far inferior to me." (End of Chapter)