Ling Tian Sword God

Chapter 799: Chapter 797 Sima Xiaoyao_1

Ling Chen frowned. Despite his superior perceptive abilities, he hadn’t sensed the arrival of this handsome, elegant young man, which was quite sudden. It was well known that all the young talents present were at the Sky Apex Realm or higher; each could perceive a certain area around themselves with impressive acuity. For this young man to appear so silently indicated a terrifying level of strength.

”Sima Xiaoyao!”

Tang Ze’s brow furrowed sharply. Anyone who could rank in the top ten on the Ten Thousand Years Green History Wall was an absolute prodigy, let alone Sima Xiaoyao, who had previously held fifth place. Moreover, Sima Xiaoyao was ranked first on the Southern Martial World’s Hidden Dragon List; his strength was unfathomable.

Not a single prodigy from the Nine Great Families was to be trifled with, to say nothing of Sima Xiaoyao—the Shen Dao Family’s foremost talent, even stronger than Tang Haotian, the Tang Sect’s own leading prodigy.

Rumor had it that, in the last twenty years, he was the only person below Saint Level Strength to have emerged alive from the deadly Abi Ghost Domain. The Abi Ghost Domain itself was a Saint-level forbidden area; entry required comparable power, otherwise, it was a one-way trip. Sima Xiaoyao was the exception.

The fact that this man could rank highly on both the Green History Wall and the Hidden Dragon List was sufficient proof that Sima Xiaoyao was a top-tier genius, with exceptionally powerful strength and aptitude.

Tang Ze could afford to slight others, but not this man.

”If we can’t fight in the True Dragon Pavilion, then we can do it outside, right?” Li Qing said, his face grim.

”The hundred-li area around the True Dragon Pavilion is a sanctuary for geniuses,” Sima Xiaoyao stated coolly. ”Tang Ze, since you’re not here to test, leave the True Dragon Pavilion at once. If you intend to cause trouble here, I’ll have to teach you a lesson on behalf of your senior, Tang Haotian.”

”You!”

Tang Ze’s face darkened, but he dared not act. He was fundamentally a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong; he didn’t dare to challenge someone like Sima Xiaoyao.

After a series of expressions flickered across his face, Tang Ze had no choice but to concede. Bargaining with Sima Xiaoyao was foolish. The weak have no right to negotiate with the strong. Compared to Sima Xiaoyao, they were the weak—an unchangeable fact.

Taking the severely injured Li Qing with him, Tang Ze fled into the distance, soon departing the True Dragon Pavilion’s territory.

”Thank you.”

Ye Ming and his two companions offered Sima Xiaoyao a cupped fist salute. Had the latter not intervened, forcing Tang Ze back would not have been so easy.

”No need to thank me,” Sima Xiaoyao responded, his expression unchanging. ”Why, do you think I was helping you? In reality, your strength is comparable to theirs. If you truly fought with all your might, you wouldn’t necessarily lose. I simply find those from the Prince Party disagreeable.”

”The Prince Party has become increasingly arrogant and domineering because they have the Heavenly Sword Sect backing them.”

Ye Ming and his companions nodded in agreement. Sima Xiaoyao was a member of the Rainbow Robe Association, which was at odds with the Heavenly Sword Sect. The Prince Party was merely a lackey of the Heavenly Sword Sect, so Sima Xiaoyao’s actions were understandable.

”Among you, who is Ling Chen?” Sima Xiaoyao’s gaze swept across the group, finally resting on Ling Chen.

Ling Chen, unsure of Sima Xiaoyao’s intentions, replied, ”I am.”

”It’s you.” Sima Xiaoyao nodded. He didn’t mean anything by it; he had simply noticed an unusually conspicuous new name on the Ten Thousand Years Green History Wall, ranked above him, pushing his own name down. He was merely surprised.

”Impressive. You must be just over twenty, I presume? You still have significant room to grow. In the future, you may well be able to contend with those two.” Sima Xiaoyao sized up Ling Chen. The ”two” he referred to were, naturally, Peerless Sword and Liu Mengru, ranked third and fourth on the Ten Thousand Years Green History Wall. Sima Xiaoyao didn’t even consider comparing Ling Chen to the Taibai Sword Immortal or Empress Yunyao.

”Interesting. The contest among the top talents of the Nine Provinces Land will soon have new blood.” Sima Xiaoyao laughed, then his figure flashed, transforming into an elegant white shadow that soared away silently, like a fleeting phantom.

”It seems even Sima Xiaoyao holds Ling Chen in high regard, considering him a future competitor,” Yuwen Jie and Dong Yaotian remarked with emotion as they watched Sima Xiaoyao depart.

Only a monstrous talent like Ling Chen, ranked in the top five on the Green History Wall, would garner such attention from Sima Xiaoyao.

Ye Ming turned to Ling Chen and said, ”Sima Xiaoyao is the leader of the younger generation in the Southern Martial World. He’s free-spirited, easygoing, and rarely resorts to killing. He’s very popular among our generation.”

”Although the Rainbow Robe Association is nominally led by Liu Mengru, Sima Xiaoyao is its de facto core. Compared to the Heavenly Sword Sect’s blatant aggression, the Rainbow Robe Association operates much more discreetly. However, in terms of power, they are not the least bit weaker.”

”Hmm, he does indeed possess a leader’s charisma,” Ling Chen nodded. Some people are born leaders, possessing a natural commanding presence. Without it, they would struggle to keep others in line; even if their subordinates obeyed on the surface, they wouldn’t do so from the heart. Someone like him lacked that leadership presence. Ling Chen’s nature had always been unrestrained, his mind entirely focused on the Martial Arts, leaving no room to consider other matters.

This is an era of geniuses, and competition is fierce. Aptitude is only one aspect; it needs to be converted into actual strength. Several thoughts surfaced in Ling Chen’s mind. He wouldn’t just sit back and wait to become a peerless expert simply because he had ranked fifth on the Green History Wall. Aptitude isn’t static; ultimately, it comes down to the individual. External power isn’t true strength; inner strength makes one a true expert. Aptitude provides a foundation and also room for growth. That’s why Ling Chen achieving fifth place caused such a stir—because next time, he might rank even higher.

「A hundred li away.」

”Damn it! Intercepted by that bastard Sima Xiaoyao! Otherwise, I would’ve definitely captured that kid!” Tang Ze’s face was dark with rage.

”Failing to capture that kid this time... I’m afraid he’ll become a major threat in the future,” Li Qing, who was beside him and severely injured, said weakly. ”This Ling Chen is ranked fifth on the Ten Thousand Years Green History Wall, pushing even Sima Xiaoyao down, second only to Peerless Sword and Liu Mengru. If he’s allowed to reach his full potential, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Who are Peerless Sword and Liu Mengru? They are prodigious talents second only to the Taibai Sword Immortal and Empress Yunyao, leaders of the two great Genius Factions: the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Rainbow Robe Association. In the last five hundred years, only these four have shown such aptitude. It’s said that with enough time and smooth development, they are almost certain to become Saints—even Great Saints whose fame will echo through history.

Tang Ze’s indifferent expression vanished. After several shifts in his countenance, he said coldly, ”So what if his aptitude is comparable to Peerless Sword and Liu Mengru? Aptitude isn’t everything; strength is paramount. Besides, Peerless Sword and Liu Mengru have such noble backgrounds. What right does a mere nobody like Ling Chen have to be compared to them?”

Geniuses are inherently proud and rarely admit inferiority. Moreover, in Tang Ze’s eyes, Ling Chen’s background was utterly base. Mere aptitude like that was hardly enough to intimidate them.