Chapter 531: Chapter 529: The Terrifying 8 Feet

As the words fell, the entire place fell deathly silent—quiet as the grave, unmoving as stagnant water.

Everyone stared, dumbstruck, as if they couldn’t believe their own ears.

Even Yue Hong’s facial muscles twitched slightly.

Make Xiao Ming kneel and beg you?

You actually dare to say that.

That was basically provoking Xiao Ming to fury!

Sure enough!

Xiao Ming’s face darkened, so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water—enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.

Buzz!

An intangible wave swept across heaven and earth.

Amidst the stillness, a violent wind howled, carrying a force sharp enough to rend everything apart.

Five-colored spiritual radiance welled up, swirling around Xiao Ming, as if he were a Five-Colored Spirit God incarnate!

Majestic, towering, unattainable!

That aura alone enveloped the Martial Arena, forming its own domain, bringing terror, oppression, and awe.

Even some True Monarch Perfection powerhouses felt their scalps tingle, their hearts thrown into chaos.

"Now this is Xiao Ming’s true strength."

"He’s enraged!"

"Just facing him kills all my fighting spirit!"

Could a Martial Artist of Dongyang Profound Sect ever be weak?

Yet at this moment, not one could escape this terrifying feeling.

The strength of Xiao Ming—seen so clearly!

"Xu Yang, all you can do is talk. I’ll show you what happens when you provoke me!"

"Lock!"

Xu Yang shouted sharply, voice booming, without the slightest hesitation, not giving Xiao Ming a moment to react.

A five-zhang, four-cun Spirit Mark appeared out of thin air, suspended horizontally above Xiao Ming.

The Spirit Mark shone with crystalline spiritual light, within it invisible chains surged and intertwined.

Boom!

Heaven and earth plunged, space compressed tight!

Xiao Ming’s whole body trembled, terror flashing in his eyes.

"He can actually seal almost forty percent of my power..."

He had never regarded Xu Yang as worthy of his notice.

Xu Yang’s strength, in his eyes, was nothing special.

Yet his Spirit Mark could actually reach such a level.

If he ever rose to the same realm as myself, what would that mean?

While these shockwaves rolled through his mind, Xu Yang silently appeared behind Xiao Ming.

An all-out slash exploded like lightning, tearing open a rent in the space behind Xiao Ming.

"How is that possible? What did he do?"

"Has Xiao Ming been sealed?"

The crowd erupted like a tide, staring in disbelief at the pair—one frozen, one in action.

Xiao Ming was clearly immobilized on the spot, unable to move.

"Monster." Zuo Guangchen couldn’t help crying out, his scalp numb.

Chen Xuanji, hearing this, sneered coldly, face dark: "He thinks he can seal Xiao Ming? Dream on! Just wait and see."

Zuo Guangchen frowned slightly.

Though it looked that way, he, too, couldn’t believe Xu Yang had really sealed Xiao Ming?

Boom!

The terrifying slash, just as it was about to touch Xiao Ming’s body, erupted with thunderous roar, metal clanging and deafening, shaking earth and sky!

But at that moment, cold killing intent surged in Xiao Ming’s eyes.

"Seal me?"

"Your Spirit Mark is astounding—for a mere five-zhang torch, it almost matches the ones of others on the Celestial Pride List at around seven zhang!"

This pronouncement sent everyone gasping.

What kind of Spirit Mark was this?

Five zhang rivaling seven zhang?

And as comparison—those with seven were all top freaks on the Celestial Pride List. Utterly insane!

Before anyone could react, Xiao Ming’s body suddenly became ethereal, five-colored radiance surging through him, as though he held a vast Five Elements Spirit Realm inside.

He didn’t budge, taking the slash head on.

Boom!

Light shot everywhere.

Xiao Ming’s body shuddered, then gracefully spun, facing Xu Yang from several meters away.

The roiling light on him churned, then slowly subsided, encircling him in brilliant, mysterious five-colored patterns.

He was unscathed!

Xu Yang’s eye twitched wildly.

How was that possible?

He’d put everything into that slash, but couldn’t even scratch Xiao Ming?

The whole arena fell deathly silent, shaken to their core.

Seeing the shock on Xu Yang’s face, Xiao Ming grinned coldly: "That’s the difference between you and me. Your best, to me, is nothing but a tickle."

"Five-zhang, four-cun Spirit Mark?"

He looked up at Xu Yang’s Spirit Mark, then sneered disdainfully.

Whoosh!

Five-colored radiance burst from his body, gathering overhead.

In an instant, a brilliant Spirit Mark coalesced.

Eight zhang!

"I can break through to True Monarch Perfection at any moment!"

"What do you have that can compare?"

Xiao Ming gazed down arrogantly, his expression cold.

"Eight zhang?"

"A True Monarch Spirit Mark maxes out at nine zhang—he’s only a zhang from perfection!"

"Hiss!"

"Is this the power of the Spirit Realm’s number one Celestial Pride? Who could ever hope to catch up?"

"How much is Chen Xuanji’s Spirit Mark? I remember Mr. Zuo’s is only about six zhang!"

...

Such a gap—it fills one with despair!

A kind of hopelessness that kills any thought of catching up.

Xu Yang swallowed hard, shock and bitterness flashing in his eyes.

The gap was just too great.

Boom!

Suddenly Xiao Ming’s body resounded, his aura soaring like wildfire.

Five lights blazing, ten colors bursting forth!

His cultivation rose straight from High-tier True Monarch to True Monarch Perfection, without the slightest pause!

It was all as natural as breathing!

The Five Elements essence surged, gathering in the sky above—towering clouds nearly covered half the Dongyang Profound Sect, swathed in multicolored light, a celestial omen as if some world-shaking treasure had appeared.

Vast Spiritual Qi poured in.

Xiao Ming spread his arms slightly, indulging in the surge of power, basking in the awe-struck gazes of the crowd, an expression of utter satisfaction spreading across his face.

That aura was all-encompassing, overwhelming, enough to shake heart and soul!

It was as if godly peaks, boundless seas, and heaven and earth itself pressed down upon everyone’s flesh and soul.

Body and spirit, utterly crushed!

Zuo Guangchen couldn’t help but tremble all over.

He felt he couldn’t even take a single move from Xiao Ming now.

Chen Xuanji’s face was incomparably grave—though he was second on the Celestial Pride List, Xiao Ming had always been his target. But seeing this display now, even he felt true despair.

After a long moment, Xiao Ming said with playful mockery: "You want the Earth Spirit Milk?"

"No need to defeat me. Just kneel now, beg for mercy, admit you’re nothing but a country bumpkin, and I’ll give you five drops of Earth Spirit Milk."

"That’s a sure-win trade. Five drops of Earth Spirit Milk! You know better than anyone how much that means to you; all it costs is your dignity. Those who accomplish great things don’t fuss over trifles—what does this matter?"

"Well, Xu Yang—what do you say?"

That calm laughter drifted through the heavens, making goosebumps rise over everyone’s skin.

Just your dignity?

It really isn’t much.

When facing death, anything can be sacrificed as long as you live!

Just as Xiao Ming said, it’s a winning bargain!

But for a Celestial Pride, the most precious things are dignity and pride!

If you kneel, it’ll be nearly impossible to ever stand tall again!

You’ll lose all your backbone.

Maybe others would swallow it and kneel in surrender!

Xu Yang’s expression didn’t change at all, as if he hadn’t heard anything, and he took a deep breath, saying each word with steely resolve: "Many have tried to make me kneel before, and some even made me look up to them."

"But none have ever succeeded!"

"You, Xiao Ming, are indeed very, very strong. The Earth Spirit Milk is also crucial to me!"

"But my dignity, I refuse to lose. No one can make me throw it away!"