Chapter 122: Severing the Channels, Cutting the Meridians

Xin Lang looked at Ling Tian and smiled, "Consider this a lesson: stop acting so arrogant. It’s easy to get hurt when you try too hard to show off!"

Ling Tian had not previously considered Xin Lang a worthy opponent, assuming he was merely a mediocre first-rank Grandmaster who could be dealt with effortlessly. After their brief exchange, however, Ling Tian was forced to re-evaluate; he no longer dared to underestimate him.

Ling Tian’s gaze sharpened. Suppressing the surging blood in his chest, he said, "I admit, I underestimated you just now. You are indeed qualified to be my opponent."

Xin Lang chuckled, "What? You couldn't take me down with a single finger, so you're looking for a way to save face?"

Xin Lang’s words were biting, aimed directly at Ling Tian’s vulnerabilities, nearly causing the blood he had just suppressed to surge again.

"Hmph!" Seeing that he was no match for Xin Lang’s sharp tongue, Ling Tian chose to ignore him, instead flicking his finger and launching another attack.

"Heaven-tier Intermediate Technique: Meridian-Severing Finger!"

Ling Tian struck again, this time unleashing a Heaven-tier intermediate martial art. The *Meridian-Severing Finger* targeted an opponent's meridians, using inner energy to sever and destroy them. A minor hit would temporarily disable the flow of energy in the affected area, while a direct hit could result in severe damage to the meridians and the total destruction of one's cultivation.

Xin Lang realized that the power behind Ling Tian’s *Meridian-Severing Finger* was several times greater than his previous *Heart-Piercing Finger*. He knew he could not risk blocking it with his Golden Silk Inner Armor.

"Heaven-tier Intermediate Footwork: Phantom Vanishing Steps!"

As Ling Tian closed in, Xin Lang’s body flickered, suddenly splitting into two ethereal afterimages that were impossible to track.

"What footwork is this? Xin Lang just vanished and turned into two phantoms!" exclaimed one of the gamblers.

In the private box, Shangguan Ningyu said with disdain, "Heaven-tier intermediate footwork! With his level-one Grandmaster energy, he can at most use such a high-level technique once. It seems he is destined to lose."

However, another voice in the room countered, "Hard to say. Let’s wait and see before drawing conclusions."

In the Grandmaster realm, each advancement expands the meridians and the Dantian, exponentially increasing the capacity for inner energy. While ordinary Grandmasters have a strict limit on their energy storage, monsters like Xin Lang, who possess "Heaven-Defying Meridians," could store vast amounts of energy even at the first rank—rivaling that of a seventh or eighth-rank Grandmaster.

Seeing Xin Lang employ a Heaven-tier intermediate technique, Long Zhan Yi exclaimed excitedly, "Interesting. A first-rank Grandmaster capable of using a Heaven-tier intermediate technique—he truly has the capital to be a bit arrogant!"

Hu Qingqing felt both joy and a flicker of concern; she worried that Xin Lang’s energy might not hold out for the duration of the duel.

Murong Yueyin was inwardly shocked: "Phantom Vanishing Steps! He actually adapted my *Phantom Fists* into footwork! I can't tell if he's a genius or a fool."

She could see that Xin Lang’s *Phantom Vanishing Steps* was an evolution of her own *Phantom Fists*, modifying the footwork while abandoning the strikes to focus purely on movement. If Xin Lang had chosen to counterattack with his fists instead, Ling Tian would have had a ninety percent chance of being struck.

"Why doesn't he strike? Is his energy so depleted that he can only manage the footwork? But that shouldn't be possible!" Murong Yueyin couldn't fathom it. Xin Lang had already demonstrated the ability to project energy as "blades"; he shouldn't be lacking that little bit of power.

With his hands behind his back, Xin Lang’s two phantoms danced around, and despite Ling Tian’s best efforts, he could not lock onto the real target.

"Heaven-tier intermediate footwork! Hmph, let’s see how long your energy can hold up!" Ling Tian was not panicked; he was certain that a first-rank Grandmaster could only sustain such a technique for so long.

He pursued the phantoms relentlessly, while Xin Lang remained nonchalant, his hands clasped behind his back, looking like a supreme master playing with a child.

"Damn it, how is that Ling family brat so useless? A sixth-rank Grandmaster struggling this long against a first-rank? I put a heavy bet on him!" complained one gambler.

His companion replied, "You placed a heavy bet? Do you have more at stake than me? If that Ling kid dares to lose, I’ll find someone to finish him off!"

"Fine, if he loses, I’ll pay half the cost for the hit," the first gambler agreed.

"Really?"

"Heh, keep your voice down, I'm just joking!"

Many in the capital harbored resentment toward the Ling family but dared not speak out, let alone cross them. These two gamblers were just venting their frustrations.

As he dodged, Xin Lang used his "Upgrade System" to study Ling Tian’s *Meridian-Severing Finger*. Because it was a Heaven-tier technique, the learning process took longer, requiring him to observe the technique in its entirety.

Xin Lang’s system currently had 413 experience points. Learning a low-tier Heaven technique from an opponent cost 100 points, but a mid-tier one like this required 200.

"Xin Lang, are you only capable of running away?" Ling Tian, unable to land a hit, grew irritable.

"Heh," Xin Lang smiled, "Ling Tian, your family is a prominent clan in the capital, and you are considered a young talent. I’ve been dodging only to keep you from losing too quickly. I’m trying to save some face for you and your family!"

"How boastful! You think you can beat me? Keep dreaming!" Ling Tian retorted.

"To beat you, I only need two fingers."

Xin Lang suddenly moved. Like Ling Tian, he pressed his middle and index fingers together: "Heaven-tier technique: Phantom Vanishing Steps combined with Meridian-Severing Finger!"

With ethereal grace, Xin Lang vanished and reappeared behind Ling Tian, his right hand striking out to hit the meridian point on his arm, severing the flow of inner energy.

*Bang, bang, bang...*

Xin Lang struck seven times in quick succession, traveling from the arm down to the wrist—clean and decisive. Seeing the same technique performed by Xin Lang made the difference in skill painfully obvious.

"Ah!" Ling Tian cried out in pain as his right arm went limp.

"How do you know my *Meridian-Severing Finger*?"

Ling Tian backed away, clutching his hanging arm, staring at Xin Lang in horror.

Xin Lang did not pursue him. "The *Meridian-Severing Finger* isn't exclusive to your family; what's so strange about me knowing it? I’ll give you one last chance to concede. You don't have to kowtow; just kneel and admit your mistake. This is your final chance—I suggest you take it."