Chapter 57: Duel with Si Ma Ling

Xiao Li's voice was indifferent, but his words made Si Ma Ling jump like thunder.

"Fine, an unruly freshman; today I'll make you learn the inner courtyard's rules!" Si Ma Ling raised a three‑foot sword, unleashing unmatched might, clearly displaying the second‑strongest power in the inner courtyard.

Xiao Li remained calm, pointing his Thunder Scale Spear at Si Ma Ling, battle intent rising in his eyes; a Peak‑of‑Battle‑Spirit strongman who had defeated him, he thought he must be a minor master himself.

In front of Lei Zong's base, the onlookers cleared a large space; a duel of this level was beyond ordinary students, and even some inner‑courtyard elders, hearing the commotion, came nearby out of curiosity to watch.

"Go ahead and strike first." Si Ma Ling, confident as the second‑ranked strong one, naturally would not be the first to act against a freshman.

Xiao Li did not decline; taking two steps forward, his power leapt to an Eight‑Star Battle Spirit, bearing blood‑cursed Heaven‑slaying Thunder; he was confident he was invincible at his tier, even a Nine‑Star Battle Spirit could be suppressed with a flick.

Si Ma Ling narrowed his eyes. This kid really had some skill, even rose to Five‑Star, no wonder Fu Ziyi wasn't a match.

At Canaan Academy, unlike the mixed‑quality Heijiao Yu, where talent is extraordinary and techniques refined, Si Ma Ling had rarely seen anyone fight beyond their rank here.

Moreover, Si Ma Ling was no ordinary person; he was also a genius who, with Nine‑Star Battle Spirit power, could endure a incense‑stick under a Fighting King‑rank elder.

Blood‑cursed aura and light‑spirit qi wore each other down; murderous aura surged on Xiao Li, his Thunder Scale Spear now cloaked in a blood‑colored glow, the thunder jiao snarling.

In the next moment, the flood‑dragon descended from the sky, roaring in anger.

Si Ma Ling's azure blade sliced the heavens, its sharp blue light cutting through white clouds, heading straight for the dragon's illusory form.

The blood‑cursed aura formed blooming blood blossoms; the dragon was split in two by the blade, and the sword light vanished into nothingness.

Si Ma Ling frowned; he had just employed the power of a Nine‑Star Battle Spirit, so why did they cancel each other out?

This Xiao Li really did have some skill.

Xiao Li's expression remained unchanged; the dragon rose again, carrying him up into the sky.

"Si Ma Ling, you dare to lose focus when dueling me, take my move!"

"Mystic Thunder, Shocking Flash!"

The spear rose, sounding like thunder; the thunder jiao's eyes sparked with spirit, as if it had a soul and came alive.

Si Ma Ling sneered coldly, "What of it? You're just a freshman. The fact I can use a combat technique already gives you a lot of face."

His long sword danced; Si Ma Ling's gaze grew solemn. Though he had spoken lightly, he knew deep down that Xiao Li was definitely a peer‑level opponent.

"Earth‑level low‑grade combat technique, Sea‑overturning Azure Blade!"

The sharp aura surged again; a single strike, and heaven and earth fell silent, the three‑foot azure blade bearing the force that overwhelms the world, as if it drowned all sounds.

Only the thunder persisted.

Xiao Li felt a cool breeze brush his cheek, his ruthless glare unchanged; even a Nine‑Star Battle Spirit mattered little—anyone who injured him, even a fellow inner‑courtyard student, must leave something behind.

The thunder jiao clashed with the blade light; instead of a swift cancellation, they remained locked in the sky.

Xiao Li stood atop the thunder jiao; a gale rushed from ahead, and watching the sword light just a breath away, his heart stayed unmoved.

He took a step forward, leaping beyond the dragon's head, yet his figure showed no sign of descending.

"Ascending the heavens in nine steps, the third step."

Blood‑colored lightning surged violently, entwining the force of heaven and earth; endless blood‑cursed energy gathered behind Xiao Li, and a pair of crimson wings appeared at his back.

The blood wings fluttered lightly, and Xiao Li's figure hovered mid‑air.

Si Ma Ling's eyes widened in shock, "Fighting King!"

From a Three‑Star Battle Spirit to a Fighting King, what combat technique had this kid mastered to be so defiant of the heavens!

Not only him; the students and elders watching below all wore stunned expressions.

Fighting King, freshman

They all knew those four words, yet when combined they seemed so niche.

The thunder jiao danced again, ravaging the sky; the previously placid heavens now churned with waves.

Si Ma Ling's gaze dimmed, his long sword fell to the ground, emitting a crisp "Clank."

Weakened, he knelt on the ground, his head bowed, murmuring, "I lost…"

Fang Ao appeared behind Si Ma Ling, helping him to his feet; no one else present could grasp Si Ma Ling's feelings.

Since they entered the outer courtyard eight years ago, enduring countless hardships to achieve the top‑two rankings, Si Ma Ling's defeat by this suddenly‑appearing freshman Xiao Li was, of course, disheartening.

"Fang Ao, I… lost, he's a Fighting King," Si Ma Ling said tremblingly.

Fang Ao nodded, "But that's the effect of the combat technique."

Si Ma Ling shook his head wildly, "No, no, even if it's a combat technique, he forged it himself; I'm inferior… I'm inferior to him."

Suddenly Si Ma Ling's eyes sparkled again, "Fang Ao, you have emerged from the barrier…"

Fang Ao gently shook his head; the gleam in Si Ma Ling's eyes faded as he closed his eyes in pain.

Fang Ao said little, merely nodded at Xiao Li and led Si Ma Ling away, "Rest well for a few months; you've pushed yourself too hard."

Watching their departing backs, Xiao Li felt a sigh; Si Ma Ling had lost, and though he didn't know why the reaction was so strong, he guessed it was some lingering obsession, even if he had always acted for the Xiao family.

Xiao Li had no intention of probing; Si Ma Ling's affairs were none of his concern, and he had no leisure to make friends.

"Are you okay?"

Xiao Li walked over to Lin Xiuyai and the others, asking softly.

Lin Xiuyai wiped the fresh blood from his mouth, leaned against the wall panting heavily, and shook his head lightly to indicate he was fine.

Xiao Li's burden eased; Si Ma Ling must have shown mercy, otherwise a Peak‑of‑Battle‑Spirit strike could have grievously wounded or even killed Lin Xiuyai and the others.

"Can't tell, you're so attached to me?" Xiao Li teased.

Lin Xiuyai let out a helpless chuckle, "In this past month I've realized: the inner courtyard values the strong above all, the weak have no standing. A month ago, newcomers didn't join us; now they're crying to ask me to let them in, because only we don't take their fire energy."

He said, then lifted his head to meet Xiao Li's gaze, "So, I'm willing to stick with you."

Xiao Li chuckled, "Alright, you'll have to work hard; there will be plenty of places for you to be useful later."

Lin Xiuyai's mouth twitched into a smile; he knew their bond with Xiao Li had deepened a step.

"Now we'll start recruiting the academy's senior students; I need more people to join."

"Fine," Lin Xiuyai said, not asking what Xiao Li was planning, as it wasn't his business.

The title of this chapter is quite proper.

(End of chapter)