Tyrant Sky Martial Soul

Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Genius Privilege_1

Ling Xiao arrived at the competition arena when the final had already been going on for nearly half a shichen.

The finals adopted a challenge match system.

That is, the one hundred and ten participants in the finals, could challenge someone with a higher ranking based on their initial rankings.

However, there was a restriction that one could not challenge someone more than ten ranks ahead at a time.

This was to avoid a situation where a martial artist would be worn down by successive battles.

After all, the total amount of Gang Qi for disciples in the Genius Hall at this stage wasn’t much, and if they were to be challenged continuously, their chances of losing were quite high.

Furthermore, only those who were lower in the rankings could challenge those above them to prevent higher-ranked disciples from seeking personal revenge or deliberately humiliating lower-ranked ones.

Under such rules, even arriving half an hour late wouldn’t affect the overall pace of the competition.

”Ling Yihang challenges Ling Dapeng and wins, currently ranked sixth!”

The voice of Ling Xiaotian rang out across the competition arena. As the Clan Leader of the Ling Clan and a top-level expert of the Ling family, his personal hosting of this final demonstrated the importance of the event.

Ling Xiao looked up to see the vast field with only one Martial Arts Platform, which was obviously larger than those used before, and the protective barriers seemed even more robust.

Apparently, the Martial Arts Platform had been damaged during the elimination round when Ling Yihang fought Ling Xiao, which caused some concern for the higher-ups of the Ling family. So, they had enhanced the protective barriers for safety.

Near the Martial Arts Platform, where one hundred and ten competing disciples were supposed to be seated, there were two empty stools at the moment.

One belonged to Ling Feifan.

One belonged to Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao noticed that Ling Yihang, Ling Yixue, Ling Tieshou, and Ling Fei had already taken their challenges, as all four had entered the top hundred, with Ling Yihang even ascending to the sixth rank.

Ling Yixue’s rank had also entered the top twenty.

”Honorable judges, disciple Ling Xiao was delayed due to some troublesome matters and hence arrived a step late, I hope for an opportunity.”

Ling Xiao knew he was at fault for arriving late and adopted a rather sincere and humble attitude.

”Regardless of any reasons, being late is definitely not good,” hence the respectful demeanor.

”Hey, Ling Xiao is here, that lower-ranked disciple who ranked first in the elimination round!”

”Wow, his cultivation level has grown to the Martial Vein Quadruple Layer Pinnacle, hasn’t it? That’s too fast of an improvement.”

”He was probably cultivating, judging by his tardiness.”

Since Ling Feifan hadn’t arrived yet, Ling Xiao’s appearance naturally attracted a lot of attention.

”A country has its laws, a family has its rules. No matter how good your performance was in the elimination round, being late means you forfeit voluntarily, and you lose the right to participate.”

The chief judge liked Ling Xiao very much but had to shake his head. If a family has no rules, it cannot last long, and lawlessness would be the beginning of chaos.

Ling Xiao silently grimaced. Although he had anticipated this outcome, he was still somewhat disappointed by the result.

How could he not be disappointed? If he had taken first place, he could have had the chance to sneak into the Book Collection Pavilion. What he urgently needed now was a set of top-tier martial skills and soul cultivation secret techniques, but he didn’t have any.

As he was about to turn around and leave, suddenly another figure appeared, bypassing everyone and landing on the seat of the one ranked first.

”It’s Ling Feifan!”

”What an impressive Lightweight Body Technique!”

”The number one of the Genius Hall is indeed number one, so cool!”

”But he’s also late, isn’t he? Can he still participate?”

”That shouldn’t be the case, if Ling Xiao can’t participate, wouldn’t it be against the rules for him to do so?”

”What qualifications does Ling Xiao have to compare with Ling Feifan? First place in the elimination round is just the first among the trash, how can that compare with the first of the Genius Hall?”

Hearing such discussions, Ling Xiao’s steps, once ready to leave, halted again; he actually wanted to see how these senior members of the Ling Family were going to handle the situation.

”Hahaha, Feifan, you’re late. However, it doesn’t matter — you’re an exceptional case, and the rules can’t bind you!”

Upon seeing Ling Feifan, the chief referee revealed a smile and laughed heartily.

”Thank you, Chief Referee, and thank you, all the referees!”

Ling Feifan did not rise to his feet; he simply sat there and cupped his hands in a bow, his arrogant posture as if he was already the number one expert in the Ling Family.

”Hold on!”

Ling Xiao suddenly shouted, ”Chief Referee, I thought you handled things impartially. If Ling Feifan, who arrived even later than me, is qualified to compete, why am I not qualified?”

The chief referee also felt a bit embarrassed; he was about to speak when one of the referees coldly sneered, ”What are you worth? Ling Feifan is the top disciple of the Genius Hall, the foremost talent of the Ling Family, critical to the prosperity of the Ling Clan. The future of our family hinges on him. Naturally, we have to give him an opportunity. What makes you think you can compare to him? Do you have the qualifications?”

”Exactly!”

Before Ling Xiao could speak, another voice rang out, this one from Ling Shisan in the spectator stands.

Ling Shisan’s face was extremely grim.

He stood up and said, ”Everyone is well aware that Feifan is a disciple that our Ling Family focuses on cultivating. He enjoys special privileges in the Ling Family. Ling Xiao, you’re not even worthy of carrying his shoes, yet you dare to equate yourself with him?”

Ling Xiao frowned, this person was indeed shameless to the extreme.

He was almost certain that the one who had hired the Black Scarf Thieves to kill him was none other than Ling Shisan.

He had not yet settled his account with Ling Shisan, yet here he was, relentless and unabated. It seemed that Ling Shisan must be dealt with sooner rather than later.

”That’s right, what is Ling Xiao? He’s merely a lower-ranked disciple who, relying on cunning and schemes, won the first place in the knockout round, and now he’s gotten too big for his boots.”

”Indeed, there is no absolute fairness in this world. You want privileges? Earn them by defeating Ling Feifan.”

”Hahaha, he wants to beat Ling Feifan? He probably won’t even get past Ling Yun.”

There were no small number of people within the family who delighted in Ling Xiao’s misfortunes.

After all, dark horses like Ling Xiao who suddenly emerged from the lower ranks were not liked by the privileged class.

They naturally wanted to kick him while he was down.

”Humph!”

A sudden cold grunt sounded as Second Master Ling stood up.

Squinting his eyes, he glanced over the crowd; immediately, many fell silent and dared not speak.

”Earlier, I heard someone say, ’The nation has its laws, the family has its rules.’ If Ling Feifan can break the rules, then why can’t Ling Xiao? If you’re going to be fair, have Ling Feifan also withdraw from this final competition.”

Second Master Ling had once tried to win over Ling Feifan but was rejected, as Ling Feifan was too proud and did not regard anyone but Elder Ling as worthy of his attention.

However, his attempt to win over Ling Xiao had succeeded, so naturally, he was going to speak up for Ling Xiao at this time.

”How can Second Brother say such things? Ling Feifan is Bai Yu, while Ling Xiao is nothing more than an unpolished stone. How can they be compared?”

Ling Jiu stepped forward to oppose.

”Enough!”

Ling Xiaotian could no longer stand by and watch; as he spoke up, all murmurs in the crowd stopped.

”Ling Xiao, I can give you a chance. Out of these one hundred and ten people, as long as you can win against any one of them, I’ll allow you to compete. How about it?”

As the Clan Leader and the foremost expert of the clan, Ling Xiaotian’s judgment was not poor; he did not wish to offend Ling Feifan, nor Ling Xiao.

After all, both were the future hopes of the Ling Family. Thus, proposing such a middle ground should satisfy everyone, shouldn’t it?