"Junior Brother Yang, we heard you awakened the bloodline of an Ancient Divine Beast. Would you allow us to witness it?"
Five True Inheritors.
Moreover, they were the top five True Disciples.
Every single one of them was at least as strong as Lin Tianhao—if not stronger.
One of them, dressed in white and exceptionally handsome, was the first to speak.
He was the number one True Inheritor.
He was an unparalleled figure, a prodigy spoken of in the same breath as Xuan Tianzhan.
Qin Rufeng, peerless in both alchemy and the sword.
Qin Rufeng carried himself like a perfect gentleman and was the undisputed number one True Inheritor of Medicine King Valley. His cultivation was sublime, having already reached the Martial Grandmaster Sixth Layer.
Truly extraordinary.
Moreover, Yang Xiao could sense that his strength was immense, likely even greater than that of Elder Yun, who had presided over the competition a few days ago.
Besides Qin Rufeng, the other four were Yang Su of the Bright Moon Celestial Blade, Liu Wang the Nine Flames Earth Dragon, Jin Wuming the Celestial Evil Fire God, and Lu Fangliang of the Flaming Dragon Spear.
Their strength and rankings descended in that order.
Ranked second was Yang Su, at the Peak of Martial Grandmaster Fourth Layer. His handsome features rivaled Qin Rufeng's, though his expression was one of great pride. He carried a long blade on his back. One glance was all it took for Yang Xiao to see that the blade was extraordinary. It appeared to be a Sacred Artifact.
Ranked third was Liu Wang, at the Middle Stage of Martial Grandmaster Fourth Layer. He was short, with the most ferocious aura of the group, and his features were quite ugly. But Yang Xiao could tell that despite his brutish exterior, he was in fact a man of deep cunning.
Fourth was Jin Wuming, at the Early Stage of Martial Grandmaster Fourth Layer. Evil Qi billowed from his body. If Yang Xiao wasn't mistaken, his primary study was likely the Evil Fire Sword.
Furthermore, his mastery of the Evil Fire Sword was more than ten times greater than Lin Tianhao's. The Fire Evil Qi around him had already condensed into a visible mist.
If he were to cultivate the Seven Evils Life and Death Technique, he would likely make another breakthrough very quickly.
However, Yang Xiao obviously wasn't about to teach him this Cultivation Technique.
As for the final member, his surname was Lu, and his given name was Fang Liang.
He was the most unremarkable of the group, and his strength also seemed to be the weakest.
He was also the only one who had not yet reached the Middle Stage of Martial Grandmaster, being only at the Peak of Martial Grandmaster Third Layer. He carried a purple-gold spear on his back and had a completely harmless expression, keeping a very low profile.
But when Yang Xiao's eyes fell on him, he was inwardly shaken.
'It's actually him?'
This was immediately followed by a surge of joy. 'To think I searched high and low for this, only to have it fall right into my lap. To think a true Greater Yang Treasure Body is right here beside me.'
'Lu Fangliang, haha! The heavens are truly on my side.'
Yang Xiao burst into laughter.
His outburst made all five of them frown.
They didn't know why Yang Xiao was acting this way.
"We may have been presumptuous in coming here, Junior Brother Yang, but there's no need for this. If we aren't welcome, we will simply leave," Yang Su said coldly.
Just now, Qin Rufeng had spoken, but Yang Xiao hadn't answered. Instead, he had stared at Lu Fangliang and laughed loudly.
As someone with immense pride, he was greatly displeased.
Only his refined upbringing kept him from saying something insolent.
But the chill in his eyes was like ten-thousand-year-old glacial ice, enough to make one's blood run cold.
Unfortunately for him, he was facing Yang Xiao.
For a being who had lived three lifetimes, such a meager display of cold intent was beneath notice.
However, Yang Xiao didn't make things too awkward for them. After all, a visitor is still a guest. Though they had come with ill intent, Yang Xiao wasn't so boorish as to ignore all etiquette.
Offering a cupped fist salute, Yang Xiao apologized. "My apologies for the spectacle. I just felt an immediate kinship with Brother Lu and couldn't help but laugh out loud. I meant nothing by it."
"As for the Ancient Divine Beast bloodline, it's something I obtained through a stroke of fortune. Senior brothers, are you sure you want to see it?"
Yang Xiao swept his gaze over the five and asked with a smile.
He had previously and deliberately claimed to have awakened an Ancient Divine Beast bloodline to lay the groundwork for revealing his Qilin True Body at the Nine Sects Grand Competition.
Previously, to kill Xuan Tianzhan, he would have had to unleash his Qilin True Body and use its full destructive power.
But the battle a few days ago had changed his mind.
The Qilin Transformation might just be enough for him to fight Xuan Tianzhan.
The so-called Qilin Transformation was actually a way to channel the power of the Qilin True Body through his physical body.
Previously, Yang Xiao could only unleash ten times his normal power. Any more, and his body would be unable to bear the strain, resulting in injury.
But now, things were different.
Yang Xiao had broken through to the Observing Micro High Level. His control over his body and power had improved further, reaching a Spiritual Level almost equivalent to a Martial Saint's.
As a result, his Qilin Transformation had evolved.
He could now perform partial enhancements, like he did when he killed Lin Tianhao.
Furthermore, he could now control the bizarre phenomenon of scales sprouting directly from his skin, something he previously couldn't.
Of course, to best unleash the power of the Qilin True Body, transforming completely into a Qilin remained the optimal form for combat.
However, this only applied to the current Yang Xiao.
In half a year, things would be different again.
Yang Xiao was about to cultivate the Nine Yang Celestial Skill.
By then, his strength would see a massive increase.
Exposing the power of his Qilin Transformation would be a small matter in comparison.
In fact, it could serve as a good diversion.
Since these people in front of him wanted to see the Qilin Transformation, Yang Xiao was naturally willing to oblige.
"A stroke of fortune? So, you're saying you're not an Alien who was born with the bloodline of an Ancient Divine Beast, Junior Brother Yang?"
Liu Wang's interest was piqued.
A hint of disappointment flickered across his face.
Yang Xiao, of course, knew the source of his disappointment.
This man was known as the Nine Flames Earth Dragon, supposedly because his body contained a trace of Earth Dragon True Blood, which was the source of his immense power.
In a real fight, without the Sacred Celestial Blade he carried, the second-ranked Yang Su would likely be no match for him.
His combat prowess was immense.
He had initially been quite interested, assuming Yang Xiao was just like him.
But now...
But now that Yang Xiao had claimed it was a stroke of fortune, his interest waned.
"As far as I know, the flesh and blood of our Human Race is exceptionally receptive, capable of containing all sorts of Alien Powers and Alien Blood. The Ancient Divine Beast bloodline I acquired was because I consumed a strange Spirit Fruit."
"This Spirit Fruit was shaped like a Qilin. I don't know its grade, but after I consumed it, I felt as if there was a living Qilin in my dantian."
"Once activated, it grants me immense power. Please, see for yourselves, Senior Brothers."
Yang Xiao paid his reaction no mind.
Instead, he explained patiently. The moment he finished speaking, his Qilin Transformation manifested in its complete form.
With a sudden WHOOSH, he transformed into a purplish-red Qilin.
The ferocious, baleful aura emanating from its body startled all five of them.
Even the ever-calm Lu Fangliang's eyelids twitched upon seeing this. The Greater Yang Treasure Pattern within his body nearly stirred, ready to transform into a Greater Yang God Arrow and annihilate Yang Xiao.
Ultimately, however, he managed to suppress the urge.
Yang Xiao then reverted to his human form.
He then feigned exhaustion, saying, "Senior Brothers, activating this bloodline consumes a vast amount of my Essence, Qi, and Spirit. It's the reason my cultivation has stagnated. Whether it's a blessing or a curse, it's hard to tell."
Sighing, Yang Xiao put on a look of resignation, an expression that just begged to be punched.
Qin Rufeng and the other four exchanged a look, collectively breathing a sigh of relief.
Especially Qin Rufeng. His cultivation was the strongest, and he could tell that when Yang Xiao transformed into that fearsome Qilin, his strength was probably about the same as his own.
Perhaps even a little weaker.
If that was the case, a duel was imperative.
Yang Su of the Bright Moon Celestial Blade was the first to step forward. "Junior Brother Yang, I hear that as long as the wager is sufficient, anyone can challenge you. I wonder if you would grant me the honor of a battle with me, Yang Su?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Yang Xiao's expression changed slightly.
But inwardly, he was ecstatic.
'Another one, rushing to deliver Spirit Medicine to my doorstep.'
(PS: Chapter 3 is here. Please keep adding this to your collection! We're just twenty-odd away from the next hundred. If we make it today, I'll release another chapter right away.)