Chapter 18

"If Lord Ninth finds out about this, he will surely tear Ling Xiao to pieces alive," Ling Fei said with a cold laugh.

"Lord Ninth probably won’t act personally. After all, once he does, it will give others a handle to attack him. Bullying the young and the weak won’t sound good, and the criticism will drown him! However, Ling Chong has a cousin named Ling Tie Shou, who ranks eleventh in the Elite Hall, just below Ling Feng. He has reached the peak of the third level of martial pulse cultivation. I think he will be the one to act."

...

After returning home, Ling Xiao asked the doctor to diagnose his grandfather’s condition.

A broken rib, in fact, isn’t hard to treat, but it requires some rather precious medicinal materials, which are quite expensive.

The ninety taels of silver Ling Xiao had just obtained instantly turned into the cost of the medicine.

However, he didn’t regret it. Healing his grandfather was worth it.

"Alright, young master, go and get these medicines. I’ve clearly written down the external and internal applications. If you use them consistently for a month, he should be fully recovered."

After seeing the doctor off, Ling Xiao went to get the medicine, returned to boil it for his grandfather, and then, after ensuring his grandfather was resting well, he went out again.

He was very clear that since he had injured Ling Chong, trouble would surely follow. He needed to continue improving his strength.

Now that the "Tiger Descending the Mountain Step" was fully cultivated, it was time to activate the "Soaring Cloud Step."

To avoid being disturbed, Ling Xiao directly climbed over the wall and went to a forest about seven or eight hundred meters away from the Ling family residence.

"The 'Tiger Descending the Mountain Step' combined with the 'Explosive Qi Technique' can already defeat Ling Fei. I wonder how powerful the 'Soaring Cloud Step' will be?"

Ling Xiao felt a bit excited.

Through the Mountain and River Martial Soul, Ling Xiao activated the "Soaring Cloud Step" to the first level.

However, this was just the activation. To master it, he still needed to practice, but this would make the practice much simpler.

This extraordinary technique is indeed extraordinary. Despite the complicated cultivation and high difficulty, the results would definitely be excellent.

Because of this, Ling Xiao had the motivation to practice.

Perhaps due to the foundation of the "Tiger Descending the Mountain Step" and the effect of the Mountain and River Martial Soul, Ling Xiao only took about an hour to master the first level of the "Soaring Cloud Step."

Although the "Soaring Cloud Step" has nine levels in total, this was just the beginning.

However, after trying out the effects of the "Soaring Cloud Step," Ling Xiao felt that no matter how hard it was, it was worth it!

He tried the "Soaring Cloud Step" in the forest.

The final conclusion was—

Even without using the "Explosive Qi Technique," the first level of the "Soaring Cloud Step" could achieve the same effect as the "Tiger Descending the Mountain Step" at its peak without the "Explosive Qi Technique."

When using the "Explosive Qi Technique," it was significantly stronger than the "Tiger Descending the Mountain Step" with the same technique.

This was just the first level!

Could it be that the "Soaring Cloud Step" is not an ultimate martial art but an advanced one?

Otherwise, the effect couldn’t be this good!

Thinking about this, Ling Xiao’s motivation to practice the "Soaring Cloud Step" became even stronger.

It was simple. He chose to practice the "Soaring Cloud Step" instead of the "Bull Demon Technique" because this lightness technique was not only good for combat but also for escaping.

Ling Xiao only had one life. To continue getting stronger, he needed to protect his life.

While he was busy practicing and improving his strength, Ling Chong had already been sent to the family’s medicinal hall.

The Ling family’s medicinal hall was responsible for refining medicines and treating illnesses.

"Who injured my son!"

Ling Ninth and Ling Tie Shou had already arrived at the medicinal hall. Seeing Ling Chong’s pitiful state, Ling Ninth was so angry that he shattered a stone bench with a single palm strike.

"Ling Xiao!"

The disciple who brought Ling Chong to the medicinal hall said nervously.

"Ling Xiao? That waste of a Ling Xiao?"

Ling Ninth was taken aback. He thought it was some expert, but it turned out to be Ling Xiao!

"It’s really that Ling Xiao. That guy seems to have mastered a technique that can combine multiple martial arts, making him incredibly powerful. He defeated Ling Chong with just one move."

"Waste of a person!"

Ling Ninth cursed.

"Yes, yes, that Ling Xiao is indeed a waste of a person."

"I’m not talking about him; I’m talking about my son, Ling Chong!" Ling Ninth was both angry and frustrated.

He had broken the family rules to get his son advanced martial arts and a large number of pills, but in the end, his son not only didn’t rank in the Elite Hall but was even defeated by Ling Xiao.

To be defeated twice in a row, both times in one move, how stupid could he be!

"Uncle Ninth, don’t be too angry. Ling Chong is still your son. I will take care of that Ling Xiao for you!"

Ling Tie Shou smiled.

"Tie Shou, you are the one I can rely on. Sigh, why aren’t you my son! Only one year older than Ling Chong, you have already mastered 60% of the 'Giant Spirit Palm' and reached the peak of the third level of martial pulse cultivation. If you were to deal with that Ling Xiao, it would be as easy as squashing an ant."

Ling Ninth seemed to hold Ling Tie Shou in high regard.

"Uncle Ninth, for so many years, I have always regarded you as my father. My waste of a father died early, and if it weren’t for you taking me in, I wouldn’t be where I am today."

Ling Tie Shou said.

"Good! Well said! From now on, you are my real son. Whatever you want, just say it, and I will fulfill it! However, when dealing with a dog, one must consider the owner. That Ling Xiao needs to be taught a lesson, but the annual competition is coming up. We don’t need to rush. At that time, we will make that boy lose face in front of all the Ling family’s descendants!"

...

Ling Xiao naturally didn’t know about this conversation. Even if he did, what he needed to do wouldn’t change.

After the first level of the "Soaring Cloud Step," the requirements became higher. He needed to cultivate two intermediate lightness techniques to activate the second level.

With no choice, Ling Xiao temporarily stopped and turned to cultivating the "Falling Star Fist" and the "Crimson Sun Technique."

His plan was to cultivate the "Falling Star Fist" and the "Crimson Sun Technique" to their peak and then choose two intermediate lightness techniques to cultivate.

After all, in combat, one can’t just think about running away; one must also improve combat strength.

Moreover, to quickly reach the peak of the second level of martial pulse cultivation, he needed to cultivate the "Crimson Sun Technique" and the "Falling Star Fist."

In terms of enhancing one’s strength, martial techniques and internal cultivation methods are stronger than lightness techniques.

Secret techniques themselves do not help in advancing cultivation.

Therefore, ordinary martial artists generally don’t cultivate too many martial arts and focus more on refining internal cultivation methods and martial techniques.

After spending a day, Ling Xiao truly had a bountiful harvest!

The "Crimson Sun Technique" had been cultivated to the fifth level!

The "Falling Star Fist" had finally comprehended the ninth move—Falling Star!

The only thing lacking for perfection was the refinement, which couldn’t be achieved through cultivation alone but required practical combat experience.

At this moment, through the display on the Mountain and River Martial Soul, he could clearly see that his true qi was 50% thicker than the day before.

The thicker the true qi, the more times he could use the "Explosive Qi Technique," and the greater the power of the "Falling Star Fist."

The most noticeable change in the Mountain and River Map was the flame on the altar, which had become much more vigorous.

Ling Xiao vaguely felt that everything in the Mountain and River Map seemed to have some connection with his body, but he wasn’t quite sure yet.