Chapter 130: Level Seven Spirit Beast

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two "Essence Blades" streaked toward Huangfu Huijing. She had never imagined that Xin Lang would suddenly unleash a "Saint-level martial art." In her mind, Xin Lang had been merely a first-level Grandmaster only a short while ago; that he could transform into a "Martial Saint" in the blink of an eye was something she refused to believe, even if it meant her death.

Consequently, when Xin Lang’s two "Essence Blades" arrived before her, she didn't even attempt to dodge. She stood still, allowing the blades to slice through her garments and graze her skin.

Rip!

Two openings were slashed into Huangfu Huijing’s clothing by the blades—one across her chest and another at her side—instantly exposing the fair skin beneath.

"A Saint-level martial art! You... you... are you a Martial Saint?" Huangfu Huijing stared at Xin Lang in shock. She had forgotten the battle entirely, standing there in a daze.

Xin Lang landed on the platform and rubbed his chest, thinking to himself, "This little brat’s 'Imperial Origin Return Technique' is formidable. If I hadn't been wearing my Golden Silk inner armor, I would have been blown apart by that last hit! It’s a pity that the time was too short for me to use the Leveler to learn her technique!"

Ignoring her question, Xin Lang asked, "Classmate Huangfu, shall we continue, or are we done?"

"Hmph, no wonder you’ve been so arrogant and fearless—you’ve been playing the pig to eat the tiger all along! With your cultivation as a Martial Saint, how do you expect me to fight you?" Huangfu Huijing huffed indignantly.

"So, does that mean Classmate Huangfu is conceding?" Xin Lang asked, unable to stop himself from swallowing as he stared at her chest.

Only then did Huangfu Huijing realize she was exposed. She immediately covered her chest with both hands, but in doing so, she inadvertently revealed a large patch of pale skin at her side, leaving a hint of her curves visible.

"Don't you dare look!"

Unable to cover her side while guarding her chest, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson and her eyes welled up with tears. As the First Princess of the Great Xia Dynasty, she had never suffered such humiliation.

Shangguan Ningyu, seeing her distress, stepped in front of her to shield her from view, blocking Xin Lang’s lecherous gaze.

With the view obstructed, Xin Lang felt a surge of disappointment, but there was little he could do. He couldn't exactly tell Shangguan Ningyu to move aside so he could ogle her friend.

Xin Lang fished a vial of trauma medicine from his person and handed it to Shangguan Ningyu. "This is a Treasure-grade healing potion. It won't leave a single scar. Please pass it to Classmate Huangfu behind you."

Shangguan Ningyu instinctively took the vial and replied politely, "Thank you."

"Hehe, no need for thanks! Such a beautiful chest—it would be a shame if it were marred by a scar," Xin Lang remarked casually.

Hearing that he had offered medicine, Huangfu Huijing’s resentment softened slightly, but his follow-up comment made her want to give him a sound thrashing. Unfortunately, she was no match for him. Though she was a ninth-level Grandmaster, the pinnacle of mortal martial artists, she was still far removed from the threshold of the Immortal Path that a Martial Saint occupied.

She was now certain of Xin Lang’s identity: he must have ties to an Immortal sect, perhaps a disciple sent out into the world for experience. The fact that he could produce a Treasure-grade potion so casually only confirmed her suspicion. Turning to Shangguan Ningyu, she said, "Ningyu, we’ve lost. Let’s go."

"Oh," Shangguan Ningyu replied, turning to follow her off the platform.

She had not expected Xin Lang to be a Martial Saint, and she had to abandon her plan to teach him a lesson. A Martial Saint was a towering figure in the mortal realm, a protector of the dynasty, and an agent of the Immortal sects! She finally understood why Xin Lang was so arrogant—with an Immortal sect backing him, he had no reason to fear a mere dynasty. Looking back, his previous insults to the Prince and his disrespect toward the Princess now seemed entirely consistent with his background.

"Wait!" Xin Lang called out as they began to leave. "Did I win our match?"

Huangfu Huijing stopped and replied without turning around, "Your Saint-level martial art has left me humbled, Xin Lang. I concede."

"Oh... hehe..." Xin Lang chuckled. "Since you’ve conceded, shouldn't you fulfill our wager and tell me about your relationship with Classmate Shangguan?"

Huangfu Huijing frowned, but her expression soon relaxed into a cunning smile. "My relationship with Ningyu is the same as my relationship with you, Classmate Xin Lang—we are all classmates!"

"Ugh..." Xin Lang hadn't expected her to be so clever as to play word games with him. "That’s not what I meant! I’m talking about that... unusual relationship between you two!"

Huangfu Huijing ignored him entirely. Holding Shangguan Ningyu’s hand, she walked out of the nineteenth arena, calling back, "I have fulfilled the wager; I have the right to refuse to answer that question!"

With that, they disappeared from the arena.

"Damn! That little brat is too sly!" Xin Lang muttered in defeat.

His plan had been foiled, though he hadn't come away entirely empty-handed—he had at least caught a glimpse of the Great Xia Princess’s beauty!

"Shangguan Ningyu, you won't escape my grasp!" Xin Lang thought, turning his frustration toward the princess. "Little brat, if you interfere with my courtship again, don't blame me if I decide to court you as well!"

With only the little cat Rou Rou left in the arena, Xin Lang picked the creature up. He suddenly noticed an astonishing change: its tail had split from one into seven.

"What is going on?"

Xin Lang checked the Leveler’s interface and opened the Pet section. He discovered that "Rou Rou" had leveled up—it was now a seventh-level Spirit Beast!

"A seventh-level Spirit Beast?" Xin Lang wasn't sure how pet levels were divided, but he knew that when he had first hatched the creature from the golden egg, it had only been a first-level Spirit Beast. "How did it suddenly jump to the seventh level?"