The sunlight grew scorching.
The temperature in the Fulong Mountains surged abruptly, feeling somewhat stifling.
Ling Xiao leaned under the shade of a tree, gazing towards the foot of the mountain.
He found it odd, why were there so many herb-gathering martial artists entering the Fulong Mountains today?
These people clearly bore no hostility towards him, purely here to gather herbs, he wasn’t one to kill innocents, so naturally, he wouldn’t touch them.
While waiting, he didn’t neglect his cultivation.
Two sword soul clones sat on either side of him, while his main body toyed with an air sword in his hand.
He had a feeling.
Only after condensing nine air swords would their true power manifest, just like how one could only begin cultivating sword techniques after forming thirteen sword shadow clones.
So he was eager to advance.
What seemed like idle play was actually comprehension.
Suddenly, he noticed something off about these herb gatherers.
Ling Xiao had gathered herbs himself, learning proper techniques from Yang Danlin, he remembered every detail clearly.
But today, most of these herb gatherers paid no attention to basic techniques, as if they knew nothing about herb gathering.
Seeing this, his suspicions grew.
He recalled his sword soul clones, intending to grab someone for questioning.
If they were truly innocent, he’d let them go, but if they were posing as herb gatherers to target him, that was despicable!
Moments later, he dragged a herb gatherer to a secluded spot.
“Tell me, what are you really doing? Speak the truth, and I’ll spare your life, otherwise, you’re dead!”
“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!”
These martial artists were already terrified by Ling Xiao’s notorious reputation, how could they resist?
“We were forced into the mountains by Exquisite Fairy, she said to signal everyone with a flare the moment we spotted you.”
“Hmph, as expected!”
Ling Xiao always trusted his instincts, and it seemed he was right, that woman had entered the mountains.
Since she’s here, it’s much easier, living might be hard, but dying? That’s simple enough.
Ling Xiao sneered and continued, “How many of you are there, and what’s their strength?”
“Most are below fifth-level Mortal Realm, but there are three from Moonlight Sect, all above seventh-level Mortal Realm, and a core disciple from Beast King Palace, eighth-level Mortal Realm.”
“Not bad, you’re honest, oh, and that thunderbolt flare, hand it over!”
Ling Xiao said with a grin.
“Y-y-yes, but please don’t kill me, I really don’t want to die, that woman forced us!”
“Enough, just give me your storage ring, then you can scram.”
Ling Xiao said calmly.
The martial artist hurriedly removed his storage ring and handed it to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao checked it, confirming the martial artist had nothing else, then kicked him, “Scram!”
After the martial artist left, Ling Xiao set up nearby, using all his fire snake refining array stones.
These fools, if they’re not afraid to die, he’d make sure they died enough.
The fire snake array’s power wasn’t fixed, with good materials and skilled execution, its strength would be far greater.
This batch of fire snake refining array stones could definitely kill third-level Mortal Realm martial artists.
Take out a batch first.
Those above fourth-level Mortal Realm might not die from the fire snake array, but they’d still be affected, injury was certain.
Take it slow.
When he was idle in the sect, he didn’t know other arrays, just refined this fire snake array.
After setting everything up, he fired the signal flare.
In that instant, he sensed extremely powerful auras approaching him.
“Tch, all here, huh? Outside, I might fear you, but this is the depths of the Fulong Mountains, if you’re not afraid to die, come on, I’ll play you to death!”
Ling Xiao smirked, quickly hiding in the shadows, leaving only a sword soul clone to wait for the enemies.
Moments later, a large group arrived.
Ling Xiao noticed Exquisite Fairy hiding behind a man.
If he guessed right, that man was likely Wang She, the tenth-ranked core disciple of Beast King Palace, slightly weaker than Ying Wuya.
There were also three others, he had their details in mind—
Zhan Liu, Wu Yang, Qin Wu, three of Meng Yuan’s Four Wood Guests.
He killed one, Iron Fir, and now these three came chasing, such brotherly loyalty, rushing to their deaths.
“Ling Xiao, let’s see where you run today!”
Exquisite Fairy saw Ling Xiao’s sword soul clone standing there brazenly and cursed in fury, “Killing so many martial artists, you’re already the public enemy of the twelve sects.”
“Heh, how laughable, worry about yourself, soon you’ll be joining your Cold Face brother in hell.”
“You little beast! So bold as to slaughter sect mates, surrender now, and we might go easy, leaving you an intact corpse, otherwise, we’ll tear you to pieces!”
Before Exquisite Fairy could speak again, Qin Wu roared in uncontrollable rage.
“Bullshit! If Iron Fir hadn’t come to kill me, I wouldn’t have bothered with him, you four idiots, clearly duped by Meng Yuan, and still not waking up, if you scram now, for the sake of sect camaraderie, I won’t kill you.”
Ling Xiao cursed, this was clearly the villain crying foul first, how shameless, did they expect him to lie down and let them kill him without it being considered slaughtering sect mates?
“Qin Wu, no need to waste words, kill!”
Zhan Liu roared, already charging forward.
“That kid has a top-grade gold martial art secret, whoever grabs it keeps it.”
At this moment, Exquisite Fairy shouted.
She no longer cared about treasures, as long as Ling Xiao died, nothing else mattered, otherwise, she’d never sleep soundly again.
“Grab it!”
No wonder they say men die for wealth, birds for food.
Those martial artists hesitated briefly, then lunged forward.
Even knowing Ling Xiao had killed hundreds like them, greed still made them unable to ignore a top-grade gold martial art.
“Fire Snake Array · Activate!”
Ling Xiao swiftly recalled his sword soul clone and triggered the fire snake array.
In that instant, dozens of fire snake arrays activated simultaneously, thousands of fire snakes hissing, spewing terrifying flames at the martial artists.
These flames, enhanced by Ling Xiao with Death Dark Flame, gained a fearsome “death ability”.
Legend has it, Death Dark Flame was the flame of death, once touched, unless you died, the flames wouldn’t extinguish.
