Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 23: Chapter 22: The Battle between the Tiger and the Snake

Today was the crucial day to determine whether Xiao Yi was fit to assume the position of Young Master, and all the clan members had been waiting early at the family’s Martial Arts Arena.

In the past, each Family Head of the Xiao Family, with the assistance of the nine elders and the support of all clan members, were the top figures in Purple Cloud City and even dominated the region as Martial Artists.

One could imagine the importance of the Family Head.

As the future successor, the significance of the Young Master went without saying.

On the Elder’s Seat, for the first time, Xiao Yi’s figure appeared, sitting below the Third Elder.

”Xiao Yi, please step onto the Martial Arts Arena,” a Postnatal Deacon suddenly called out loudly.

This was the referee from last time.

Xiao Yi took a step and leaped onto the Martial Arts Arena.

”Xiao Yi has taken the stage.” Everyone’s eyes brightened, filled with hope and anticipation.

They all wanted to see whether the Family Head’s only son could truly be fit for the position of Young Master.

They were even more eager to see if Xiao Yi could once again dazzle everyone with his brilliance, just as he had defeated the other outstanding youths of the family half a month ago.

After Xiao Yi ascended the stage, he glanced at the elders on the Elder’s Seat. To his surprise, all nine elders were present today, including the rarely seen Second Elder and Great Elder.

”Xiao Yi, are you willing to accept the challenge of any youth?”

The referee’s voice drew Xiao Yi’s gaze back to the Martial Arts Arena.

Xiao Yi nodded indifferently, his demeanor calm and graceful, exuding pride and confidence all over, which was quite extraordinary.

”Good,” the referee asked loudly again, ”Is there any youth who would like to come up and challenge?”

Among the youths still in the family were only those young kids and those who had entered the Purple Cloud Cave for cultivation more than ten days ago; the rest of the youths had already been sent out for training.

There was no need to mention those young kids, as they were simply there to watch the commotion.

Therefore, the referee’s eyes merely swept over the youths at the Mortal Realm Sixth Layer.

The usually proud youths all avoided eye contact, and not a single one responded.

Ever since Xiao Zimu was defeated effortlessly by Xiao Yi at the family’s martial arts competition half a month ago, they knew they stood no chance against Xiao Yi.

”I will.”

Suddenly, a cold voice sounded.

The voice came from the Elder’s Seat, precisely from Xiao Ruohan, who was sitting below the Fifth Elder.

Xiao Ruohan too took a step and leaped onto the Martial Arts Arena.

Actually, all the clan members knew that today was essentially the battle between Xiao Yi and Xiao Ruohan.

Of course, they were more optimistic about Xiao Ruohan. After all, Xiao Ruohan had been the most dazzling talent in the Xiao Family since childhood, and he was also a Yellow Rank Martial Soul owner, whose minimum achievement in the future would be becoming an Innate Realm Martial Artist.

Xiao Ruohan was undoubtedly the number one among the younger generation of the Xiao Family.

Since someone had stepped up to challenge, it meant that the martial arts competition was about to begin, and the referee advised, ”The same rule applies, decide the outcome without taking lives.”

Xiao Yi and Xiao Ruohan nodded at the same time.

”Begin the competition!” Having said this, the referee stepped aside.

The vast Martial Arts Arena became the battlefield for Xiao Yi and Xiao Ruohan.

”Xiao Yi, you go first. Otherwise, the moment I make a move, you won’t last even a second,” Xiao Ruohan said with feigned magnanimity.

In the eyes of the other clan members, Xiao Ruohan was a cultivation genius, as well as a refined, elegant, and mature disciple.

Xiao Yi smiled faintly and said, ”Since you’re the one challenging me, you should make the first move, so you can’t say I didn’t give you the chance.”

Though the fight had not yet begun, the air was already thick with gunpowder. Their arrogant words showed nothing but disdain for each other.

In the end, Xiao Ruohan, eager to take down Xiao Yi, was the first to strike.

”Xiao Yi, since you’re so arrogantly overconfident, don’t blame me for being merciless. To deal with you, I don’t even need to use my Martial Soul,” Xiao Ruohan shouted, instantly launching an attack toward Xiao Yi.

Xiao Ruohan swiftly approached Xiao Yi and struck out with his palm.

”Ha, the one who’s arrogant is you!” Xiao Yi snorted coldly and retaliated with a palm strike of his own.

The elders watched the fight with stern, intense gazes.

Meanwhile, the other clan members were already boiling with excitement.

”Xiao Ruohan made the first move; it is said that when he emerged from Purple Cloud Cave, he had already reached the Mortal Realm Ninth Layer. In terms of strength, he’s even stronger than the average adult clansman.”

”What is Xiao Yi doing? He’s neither dodging nor evading. Is he planning to take that palm strike head-on?”

”Xiao Yi will be blasted off the Martial Arts Arena by that strike, right?”

The clan members looked at Xiao Ruohan with surprise and satisfaction but looked at Xiao Yi with doubt and concern.

”Boom”

When Xiao Yi and Xiao Ruohan’s palms clashed, the atmosphere suddenly froze, leaving only a loud noise on the Martial Arts Arena.

Xiao Yi took Xiao Ruohan’s palm strike head-on, without budging an inch; it was Xiao Ruohan who was forced back several steps.

”How is this possible?” Shock filled Xiao Ruohan’s eyes.

”There’s nothing impossible about it,” Xiao Yi said coldly, and his aura burst forth.

”Xiao Ruohan, don’t think you’re the only one at the Mortal Realm Ninth Layer.”

Xiao Yi roared, then transformed his palm into a fist and sent Xiao Ruohan stumbling back a dozen steps with a punch.

”Mortal Realm Ninth Layer?” The Third Elder on the Elder’s Seat exclaimed in surprise.

Beside him was another old man exuding an intense look of astonishment; it was the Second Elder.

”This lad, I clearly remember he was only at the Mortal Realm Fifth Layer before entering Purple Cloud Cave. Now he’s at the Mortal Realm Ninth Layer. Doesn’t that mean he jumped four layers in just ten short days?” The Second Elder’s gaze toward Xiao Yi shifted immediately, burning with intense fervor.

The surrounding clan members also came to this realization and their looks toward Xiao Yi were beyond astonished; they were utterly shocked.

”If I remember correctly, wasn’t Xiao Yi at the Mortal Realm Fifth Layer during the family competition?”

”Yes, that’s right.”

”In just ten days, to jump four layers, my God, when did Xiao Yi become so powerful?”

”By that count, isn’t his talent much stronger than Xiao Ruohan’s?”

”Breaking through four layers in ten days, has anyone in the Xiao Family ever achieved this before?”

The surprise on the clan members’ faces was more than apparent; some even found it hard to believe what they were seeing.

Listening to the clan members’ admiration and astonishment, the faces of the Fifth Elder and Xiao Ruohan turned completely sour.

”This little waste actually broke through to the Mortal Realm Ninth Layer?” The Fifth Elder cursed internally, ”Damn it, I should have killed him at all costs before.”

On the Martial Arts Arena, killing intent appeared on Xiao Ruohan’s face, ”What if you’ve reached Mortal Realm Ninth Layer? With my Yellow Rank Martial Soul, I have more than enough to crush you.”

With that thought, Xiao Ruohan launched another attack, and a Fire Cloud Python appeared out of nowhere, bringing with it a sky-covering fire, full of momentum.

”Fire Cloud Python, go!” Xiao Ruohan shouted loudly.

The enormous python, engulfed in flames, uncoiled, its fierce fiery tongue intending to wrap around and swallow Xiao Yi.

”Yellow Rank Martial Soul, indeed extraordinary,” Xiao Yi’s eyes narrowed, and his expression became serious.

Xiao Ruohan, using the power of his Martial Soul, was several times stronger than just moments ago.

Of course, Xiao Yi was still full of confidence.

”Hmph, do you dare shine when you’re nothing more than rice grains?” Xiao Yi snorted coldly, his hands transforming into claws.

A tremor-inducing tiger roar echoed, and Xiao Yi’s figure changed; he was enveloped in flame, like a fiery Fierce Tiger.

”There it is, Xiao Yi’s strange techniques have appeared again?” the clan members exclaimed.

In their eyes, the battle had turned into a fierce contest between a Fierce Tiger and a Fire Snake, even more intense and dangerous.

It was uncertain whether the Fire Snake would strangle the Fierce Tiger or if the Fierce Tiger would tear the Fire Snake apart and trample it underfoot—no one dared to jump to conclusions.