Chapter 138: I Am Already a Martial Venerable

Su Yannan took a deep breath.

"Since you are so intent on courting death, I shall grant your wish! I will let you witness my true strength!"

As he spoke, Su Yannan stomped heavily on the ground, and an even more formidable pressure erupted instantly. His figure vanished from where he stood. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared directly behind Ling Xiao.

That ghost-like movement made the surrounding crowd collectively gasp in terror.

"What terrifying strength! Once the Martial Saint Su gets serious, the result is truly extraordinary! It seems this battle is about to come to an end."

Su Yannan threw a punch. In the silence, the air emitted a sharp hum, as if it had been completely drained of breath. When that fist struck Ling Xiao’s back, it exploded upon impact, unleashing a monstrous wave.

The onlookers couldn't help but sigh, believing that this battle had surely concluded with that single blow. However, as the water settled back into the lake, they did not see Ling Xiao; instead, they saw Su Yannan’s expression, which was grave and heavy.

"What’s going on? Why does Martial Saint Su look so grim?"

"Is that boy dead?"

Zhang He and the others turned their gaze toward Shen Tianjun, only to find him equally silent, his eyes fixed on a different spot. As the crowd followed his gaze, their minds roared as if struck by thunder.

There, Ling Xiao stood upon the surface of the water, completely unscathed. His hands were clasped behind his back, and not even a single wrinkle marred his clothes. Su Yannan’s strike had failed to harm him in the slightest.

Heavens! This boy was defying the very laws of nature!

Su Yannan retracted his fist, his face solemn. "I have traveled across the Jiangnan region for decades, and I have never seen anyone as formidable as you at your age. I have changed my mind; I want to give you a chance."

He paused, then added, "If you are willing to take me as your master, I will forgive all your past transgressions."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the crowd lit up. To have the opportunity to become Su Yannan’s disciple—what an immense honor! Surely, Ling Xiao would stop fighting now and choose to submit.

Yet, Ling Xiao merely uttered three words with cold indifference:

"You are unworthy."

The crowd felt like rushing forward to kick Ling Xiao. This guy was simply ungrateful! A Martial Saint was offering him a chance, and he didn't know how to grasp it! Was he trying to get himself killed?

Su Yannan shook his head slightly. "I cherish talent, but you are truly ungrateful. It seems it is time for me to show you my true power."

As he spoke, the aura surrounding Su Yannan began to swell rapidly. A force, far greater than before, surged out frantically. The lake water seemed to be pressed by an invisible weight, spreading rapidly toward the banks.

Feeling this power, the usually composed Martial Saint of Jiangbei, Shen Tianjun, could no longer maintain his composure. His pupils dilated, and he stared at Su Yannan on the lake in shock, his facial muscles trembling.

"Martial... Martial Venerable realm! Su Yannan, he... he has actually broken through to the Martial Venerable realm?"

The crowd was stunned to the point of absolute disbelief. The Martial Saint of Jiangnan had ascended? He had become a Martial Venerable?

Good heavens! Su Yannan was a man of the secular world! He did not belong to any martial arts sects or the Dragon Organization; he had climbed to this peak step by step through his own efforts! And now, he had surpassed the Martial Saint realm to reach the legendary Martial Venerable realm! Who could compete with such perseverance and talent?

After the shock subsided, Shen Tianjun let out a self-deprecating laugh and shook his head. "I am truly laughable! I foolishly thought I had worked hard enough and that my talent was monstrous enough. I even wanted to spar with Brother Su earlier. But now, compared to him, I realize how ridiculous and insignificant I am. Brother Su, in the end, you have stayed one step ahead of me!"

The crowd was filled with emotion. Shen Tianjun and Su Yannan had vied for years; they were like enemies yet friends, a rivalry celebrated by the people of both Jiangnan and Jiangbei. But from this day forward, it seemed there would be only one myth left: Su Yannan.

The crowd sighed, filled with both awe and regret. From now on, who could possibly stand against Su Yannan?

Out on the lake, as his strength surged, Su Yannan began to levitate. His power was so immense that the supreme spiritual energy enveloped his body, expanding outward. The distance between him and the lake surface grew, and the water was pushed away, creating a massive depression beneath him—a phenomenon that was utterly terrifying.

Su Yannan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing proudly at Ling Xiao with a hint of pity and coldness in his eyes.

"This is the first time I have fought someone with the power of a Martial Venerable! You should feel honored. You will be the first person I kill after my breakthrough. I will personally erect a tombstone for you here on this lake to commemorate my first battle as a Martial Venerable."

The onlookers sighed. The battle was truly over. This time, there would be no more surprises or doubts. Once a Martial Venerable strikes, who can contend with him? But today had been spectacular; having witnessed the power of a Martial Venerable, they felt the journey had been worth it.

Su Yannan stomped his foot. In an instant, a ten-thousand-meter-long dragon formed, roaring as it soared into the sky before crashing down directly toward Ling Xiao’s head under Su Yannan’s command.

This dragon, in both power and sheer size, far exceeded the hundred-meter dragons from before. Its destructive force was easily ten times greater. This time, Ling Xiao was surely doomed!

"Die!" Su Yannan commanded softly.

As the giant dragon descended, the heavens and clouds stirred. The onlookers were so terrified by the supernatural display that their legs shook, and they nearly lost control of themselves.

Yet, Ling Xiao remained unmoved, his hands still clasped behind his back, as if he did not care at all. In the eyes of the crowd, this was merely a sign that Ling Xiao had accepted his fate. He must have reached the pinnacle of despair.

But just as the dragon arrived, Ling Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly.

In that instant, the ten-thousand-meter dragon suddenly went silent, as if frozen in mid-air.

"What? How is this possible?"

Everyone’s jaws dropped to the floor as they stared in disbelief, as if they had seen a ghost.