Chapter 37 Xiao Ming vs. Lin Fan

Lin Fan delivered a final kick to his waist and abdomen, sending him flying like a tattered sack of grain! The direction was unerring, straight toward the arena where Xiao Ming was located!

On the other side, Luo Li, who had just landed on the stage, was reprimanding Xiao Ming. Her exquisite face was as cold as frost, but her peach-blossom eyes could not hide her concern and nervousness.

Seeing his Revered Master Luo Li's duplicitous display of concern, Xiao Ming smiled slightly. "Ah, yes, yes, yes! Revered Master is right to lecture me. This Disciple will certainly be more mindful of his restraint next time."

Right at that moment, a dark shadow accompanied by the sound of rushing air and a thick scent of blood came crashing toward their position! It was Zhang Xiaotian, whom Lin Fan had used as a punching bag and kicked over!

Seeing this, a cold light flashed in Luo Li's eyes. She raised her jade-like hand and slapped him away, sending him flying to parts unknown.

After doing this, she slowly turned sideways and cast her gaze into the distance, the coldness in her eyes intensifying.

Xiao Ming also looked over. Seeing Lin Fan, whose face was distorted by anger and jealousy as he glared fixedly at him, he gave a triumphant smile.

Perhaps because Luo Li was standing extremely close to him, Xiao Ming happened to notice his Revered Master's ice-blue hem. It seemed to have become slightly disheveled from the previous battle, with one corner slightly wrinkled.

Under the watchful eyes of the public, under the gaze of the various Peak Revered Masters on the high platform and the tens of thousands of Disciples below, Xiao Ming actually bent down very naturally, reached out his hand, and carefully smoothed out the slightly wrinkled corner of Revered Master Luo Li's hem!

His fingertips seemed to inadvertently brush against the cool, silky fabric as he gently smoothed the wrinkles. The movement was extremely subtle and fast. Blocked by the bodies and angles of the two, it perfectly avoided some of the gazes from the high platform and below the arena.

But this incredibly bold action made Luo Li, who was right beside him, feel as if she had been struck by a bolt of heavenly lightning!

Luo Li's delicate body trembled violently. That familiar sensation of the Wicked Disciple inadvertently touching her skin felt like a hot current that surged from the soles of her feet to the top of her head with a 'boom,' making her beautiful cheeks flush like a drunken sunset, instantly turning a blood-red!

"Wicked Disciple! You... how presumptuous!" Luo Li squeezed out a trembling scolding from her throat, her voice so low only the two of them could hear. Subconsciously, she wanted to slap this audacious Rebellious Disciple away, but when she raised her arm, it was soft and weak. She couldn't bring herself to strike for a long time. What made her even more flustered was that some Disciples below seemed to have noticed this subtle movement.

"Whoa! I think I just saw something incredible. Did... did Senior Brother Xiao just touch Peak Master Luo's skirt?" Below the stage, a sharp-eyed female Disciple covered her mouth and spoke to her companions in disbelief.

"Shh! Don't talk nonsense! You must be seeing things. Senior Brother Xiao and Peak Master Luo are Revered Master and Disciple."

"Besides, is it not allowed for a Disciple to brush some dust off their Revered Master's clothes?"

"But... Peak Master Luo's face seems a bit red!" more hushed discussions drifted over.

These whispers pricked Luo Li's sensitive nerves like needles. She forcibly suppressed all the shame, indignation, and panic in her heart, regaining her dignity as the cold Revered Master. Her figure transformed into an ice-blue streak of light, and she fled back to her seat on the high platform in a state of flustered embarrassment.

She sat upright on her jade throne, forcibly calming her racing heart and the burning temperature on her face. She resumed her cold posture like a ten-thousand-year-old iceberg, but her slightly hurried breathing and the lingering flush on her ears betrayed her extreme inner turmoil. At this moment, she had already cursed this Wicked Disciple Xiao Ming countless times in her heart: 'This Wicked Disciple! He's becoming more and more lawless. Once we return, I'll definitely give you what for!'

On the other side, Lin Fan, who had taken all of this in, felt his vision go dark. His blood and Qi flowed in reverse, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood!

What had he just seen?

That piece of trash Xiao Ming actually... actually had the audacity to publicly touch the skirt of Peak Master Luo, whom he regarded as his moonlight, someone not to be desecrated! And that Luo Li, who should have been murderous... actually did nothing, and even... even fucking blushed and fled? That flustered and bashful appearance was something he had never seen before! How was this still the cold and aloof Heartless Peak Revered Master?!

"Pfft—!" Finally, Lin Fan could no longer suppress his churning blood and Qi. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body swaying. He pointed toward Xiao Ming with a trembling finger, his throat making a "he-he" sound, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Time flew by, and after several more rounds, both of them had already experienced several fierce battles. Now, they stood on the final championship arena.

Xiao Ming was dressed in black, his posture upright and his face calm as still water. Only his deep eyes carried a hint of amusement and disdain. He had seen Lin Fan's previous Moves and had a general understanding of his techniques and methods. It could be said that if Lin Fan didn't have some Heaven-Defying trump card, then today would be the day he died.

Xiao Ming's Aura was restrained yet as unfathomable as an abyss. He hadn't used his full strength before and had easily defeated many strong enemies. The eeriness and power he displayed had been deeply etched into everyone's hearts.

Lin Fan, on the other hand, appeared somewhat wretched. His clothes were now torn in many places and stained with dark red blood. His Aura was slightly disordered due to the successive hard battles, but his eyes were terrifyingly bright, burning with unyielding fighting spirit and... a bone-deep killing intent and jealousy toward Xiao Ming! Relying on his tenacious will and endless trump cards, he had survived time and again. His combat experience was improving rapidly, and his Aura was faintly touching the threshold of the Golden Core Peak!

"Xiao Ming! Today, I will kill you!" With Lin Fan's roar, the battle had already begun! His movement was like lightning, and his sword incantations drew out streaks of incomparably sharp sword Qi laced with Devilish Qi, attacking Xiao Ming like a violent storm! Clearly, he wanted to repeat his previous tactic, using the battle with Xiao Ming to attempt a Breakthrough in his current Realm.

Xiao Ming's expression remained indifferent. He fully deployed his Magic Light Escape, his figure weaving through the sky full of sword Qi like a ghost, easily dodging all of Lin Fan's attacks. He also took the opportunity to manifest his Heavenly Demon Phantom Body, creating several phantom images to neutralize Lin Fan's fierce offensive one by one.

The two figures crossed paths at high speed on the arena, sword light flashing everywhere. The battle was incredibly intense, drawing constant gasps from the crowd below.

"Senior Brother Lin Fan's sword technique is becoming increasingly sharp!"

"Senior Brother Xiao's movement is too eerie; he can't even touch the hem of his clothes!"

"The two seem evenly matched!"

However, Luo Li and Luo Hongyi on the high platform, as well as some Elders with sharp eyes, frowned slightly. They could see that Xiao Ming was clearly not using his full strength, and they were puzzled.

On the arena, Lin Fan grew bolder as he fought. He could feel that under the immense pressure brought by Xiao Ming, the demonic power within him was surging restlessly. That solid barrier to the Golden Core Peak was slightly loosening! It felt as if he was just one step away!

"Now is the time! I'll use your power to help me break through!" Lin Fan was ecstatic. His offensive became even more ruthless, once again adopting that desperate style of fighting for his life to seek a Breakthrough!

He wanted to repeat what he did in previous matches, using his opponent to break through his Realm, and also to return the humiliation Xiao Ming had given him.

However, just as his Aura climbed to its peak and the demonic power in his body surged, about to impact the Bottleneck...

Xiao Ming's figure suddenly drifted back several yards, landing steadily on the other side of the arena.

He stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching Lin Fan, who was at the height of his Aura and ready to break through in one go. A nearly imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. His voice was clear and reached across the entire square:

"Junior Brother Lin, wait a moment."

Lin Fan's poised strike came to a sudden halt. The surging spiritual power in his body stagnated, nearly causing a backlash, making his face turn pale from the discomfort. He looked up in shock at Xiao Ming and said angrily, "Xiao Ming, what kind of trick are you trying to play now?"

The crowd below was also in an uproar, not understanding why Xiao Ming had suddenly called for a stop.

Xiao Ming showed a concerned expression on his face, as if saying "I'm doing this entirely for your own good," and said loudly:

"I see that Junior Brother Lin's Aura is surging and his demonic power is agitated, with a faint sign of a Breakthrough. Clearly, you have reached the Bottleneck of the Late Golden Core Stage and are seeking a Breakthrough through the pressure of battle."

His tone shifted, becoming incredibly "sincere" and "magnanimous":

"However, breaking through a Realm requires total focus and natural progression. If you force a Breakthrough during combat, any slight error could result in a damaged Foundation at best, or Qi Deviation and total ruin at worst! Although I, Xiao Ming, have this life-and-death battle with you, we are both Disciples of the same Sect. How could I take advantage of someone in such a position?"

His voice was impassioned. His gaze swept over the many Disciples below before finally returning to Lin Fan, saying decisively:

"Therefore, I, Xiao Ming, am willing to pause the match here! Junior Brother Lin, you may break through in peace! I will protect you here. Once you successfully ascend to the Golden Core Peak, it won't be too late for us to have a fair fight and determine the winner!"

These words were like a thunderclap exploding over the square!

In an instant, the entire place fell silent!

All the Disciples stared dumbfounded at the "righteous" Xiao Ming on the stage, as if they were seeing him for the first time.

After a brief silence, there was a mountain-shaking wave of praise and admiration!

"Heavens! Senior Brother Xiao... actually has such broad-mindedness!"

"For the sake of fairness, Senior Brother Xiao Ming is actually willing to give up his advantage and wait for his opponent to break through before fighting?"

"This is the true style of a Prodigy! A model for our generation!"

"Compared to those villains who take advantage of others, Senior Brother Xiao's character is noble and admirable!"

In particular, many female Disciples looked at Xiao Ming with eyes full of admiration and fervor. Even some neutral Elders on the high platform nodded slightly, showing looks of appreciation. Vice Sect Master Luo Hongyi's beautiful eyes also sparkled with extraordinary light, her gaze toward Xiao Ming becoming increasingly appreciative. Only Luo Li felt that this Wicked Disciple was definitely up to no good, but seeing his wicked look, she seemed to like him even more.

Hearing these words on the arena, Lin Fan's blood and Qi flowed in reverse, nearly making him unable to suppress a spray of blood. His eyes were filled with endless resentment, frustration, and an anger that was about to explode!

'You... you... Xiao Ming! You are shameless!!' he roared frantically in his heart!

Where did he need Xiao Ming to "yield"? He originally intended to use the combat pressure to break through! Xiao Ming's words seemed magnanimous, but in reality, they pushed him into a corner! Now, with the whole crowd watching, Xiao Ming's image of "high moral character" had been established. If he, Lin Fan, ignored everything and continued the fight now, and then failed the Breakthrough, he would become a laughingstock! But if he didn't break through... he also sensed Xiao Ming's strength; without breaking through, he would definitely be no match. Moreover, looking at Xiao Ming's posture, it was clear he was certain that even if Lin Fan broke through, it would be useless!

This was an open scheme by Xiao Ming! Blatant humiliation and calculation!

"Junior Brother Lin, what's wrong? Are you exhausted from the battle just now? Quickly meditate and prepare for your Breakthrough. Don't waste your Senior Brother's good intentions, and don't keep our fellow Disciples waiting too long," Xiao Ming said with a "concerned" face, his tone incredibly sincere.

"You...!" Lin Fan was shaking with rage. Looking at the Disciples below who were casting admiring glances at Xiao Ming, and then at the Elders on the platform with their various expressions—especially Luo Li, whose eyes were full of him—he suddenly felt a surge of fury rush to his head, and his vision went black.

Caught between a rock and a hard place! Truly caught!

Under the gaze of all, Lin Fan's expression shifted constantly. Finally, endless humiliation and sky-high hatred overrode all reason! A flash of madness appeared in his eyes!

"Fine! Fine! Xiao Ming! You forced me!" Lin Fan squeezed these words through his teeth. He suddenly sat cross-legged and formed hand seals, actually beginning to force a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Peak!

However, his mind was already in turmoil, and the breath of relentless momentum had dissipated. How could a Breakthrough be easy? The Devilish Qi around him fluctuated violently, his face turned from green to white, veins popped on his forehead, and sweat poured down like rain. It was clearly extremely difficult.

Time passed bit by bit.

Whispers began to emerge from the crowd below.

"Why is it taking so long?"

"It looks like he's having a very hard time!"

"Is he not able to do it?"

"Could it be that Senior Brother Xiao... judged wrongly?"

Hearing these discussions, Lin Fan grew even more anxious, and the Devilish Qi impacting the Bottleneck became increasingly disordered.

Xiao Ming stood aside leisurely, as if he were truly protecting him, but the sneer at the corner of his mouth was clearly visible to the nearby Lin Fan.

Just as the crowd was becoming impatient and some even started to heckle slightly...

"Boom!"

It sounded as if something had shattered inside Lin Fan! His Aura suddenly exploded, forcibly breaking through that barrier and stepping into the Golden Core Peak!

However, an unusual flush appeared on his face, which then quickly faded, leaving him somewhat pale. Deep in his eyes, a flash of pain and weakness that was hard to hide flickered. Only those with high cultivation could see that this Breakthrough was far from perfect. He had certainly paid a significant price, and might have even damaged part of his Foundation!

"It's a success! Senior Brother Lin Fan really broke through!"

"Golden Core Peak! Now he should be evenly matched with Senior Brother Xiao!"

Waves of gasps erupted from below.

Lin Fan snapped his eyes open. They were bloodshot, filled with madness and killing intent! He stared fixedly at Xiao Ming, his voice raspy like a beast's:

"Xiao Ming! I have broken through! Now, you can go die!"

He endured the faint sense of emptiness coming from his Dantian, his Aura suddenly surging, several times stronger than before! His hands rapidly formed seals, and a highly condensed giant devil palm, entwined with dark green wind and thunder power, instantly took shape. With a piercing whistle that tore through the air, it pressed down toward Xiao Ming like a mountain. This was his trump card, which he hadn't used before.

"Wind Thunder Devil Palm! Suppress!"

This strike contained all his power and killing intent. Its power was astonishing, causing waves of gasps from below!

"This Aura, Golden Core Peak! It really is extraordinary!"

"The power of this palm is probably comparable to a strike from a Nascent Soul expert!"

"Senior Brother Xiao is in danger!"