Though Ling Xiao used his sword soul clone to dodge the Blood Frenzy Grass’s attack, the creature reacted swiftly.
It pierced through the remaining sword soul clone, and its hundreds of leaves trembled simultaneously, shooting toward Ling Xiao like a torrential storm of pear blossoms.
“A ninth-grade ferocious beast is troublesome enough, but this thing’s also highly toxic. What a pain,” Ling Xiao muttered.
Having plucked only one Longevity Fruit, he had no time to grab a second.
Keep going!
Sword Soul Clone!
Ling Xiao released three more sword soul clones to draw the creature’s attention, while his real body hid beside the Longevity Fruit tree, blending into a plant-like aura.
The Blood Frenzy Grass was likely the herb garden’s guardian. It didn’t care about other herbs but seemed to avoid attacking the Longevity Fruit tree.
This gave Ling Xiao a perfect opportunity.
Despite his formidable defence and Earth Spirit Body, he had no desire to clash head-on with a ninth-grade ferocious beast. The smartest, most efficient way was best.
As the Blood Frenzy Grass attacked his clones, Ling Xiao moved again, securing two more Longevity Fruits.
Even with its speed, the creature couldn’t strike him now.
But then, an unexpected twist occurred.
The remaining two Longevity Fruits fell into another’s hands.
This person’s speed surprised Ling Xiao, and their decisiveness and perfect timing caught him off guard, despite his precautions.
“Junior Brother Ling, I’ll be taking these two Longevity Fruits!”
Ming Tian!
His voice came from nearby, but Ling Xiao couldn’t pursue. As Ming Tian fled with the fruits, he used a secret technique scroll to conjure a wall of flames in Ling Xiao’s path.
The flames reached the top of the seven-coloured cloud, impossible to cross.
Behind Ling Xiao loomed the frenzied Blood Frenzy Grass!
“Ming Tian, stealing my things and trying to kill me? You’ll pay a heavy price!”
Ling Xiao didn’t know what had happened to Ming Tian, but his strength had surged to Mortal Realm Seventh Stage.
More puzzling, the aura he emitted was no longer the familiar Ming Tian’s but that of a ferocious beast.
A terrifying one!
Even so, Ling Xiao wouldn’t let anyone who stole from him get away.
Killing the Blood Frenzy Grass now seemed unlikely, so he opened his mouth and inhaled.
The flame wall left by Ming Tian was sucked entirely into his mouth.
Then, Ling Xiao spat it at the Blood Frenzy Grass.
The roaring flames, its greatest fear, forced the creature to retreat a great distance.
Seizing the moment, Ling Xiao uprooted the entire Longevity Fruit tree, stored it in his Mountain and River World, and sped after Ming Tian.
Ming Tian was fast, but not compared to him.
Cloud Dragon Divine Movement: Golden Light Dragon Wings!
For the first time in the sect, Ling Xiao unleashed his Golden Light Dragon Wings, his speed surging. In moments, he blocked Ming Tian’s path.
“Ming Tian, hand over the Longevity Fruits, or die!”
Hearing Ling Xiao’s voice so close, Ming Tian was genuinely startled.
But after Elder Jin’s modifications to his body, he was brimming with confidence. Ling Xiao, kill him?
He didn’t believe it!
“Junior Brother, don’t be stubborn. You’ve got three Longevity Fruits, I’ve got two. Let’s call it even. Otherwise, I’ll have to kill you!” Ming Tian stopped, sneering.
“Nonsense! I worked hard to create this chance, and you swoop in to steal? You dare threaten me?” Ling Xiao frowned.
“The Longevity Fruits go to the worthy. It doesn’t matter how I got them—I have them!” Ming Tian said coolly.
“Fine, no need for more talk. Die!”
Reasoning with the unreasonable was foolish, so Ling Xiao chose action.
He’d long wanted to teach Ming Tian a lesson.
He’d held back in the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, knowing death here wasn’t real and would only waste true essence. But now, he had no choice.
Nine Pulse Qi Sword: Nine Swords Unite!
Ling Xiao pointed his right hand, and a massive qi sword tore through the air, ripping space like paper.
“Qi sword? It can pierce space? You’ve learned some impressive tricks,” Ming Tian said, his pupils contracting. Unable to dodge, he struck with a palm.
A blood-red demon fox feather cloak reappeared, thicker and more controlled than in Tianfeng City.
Boom!
A blood-red claw enveloped Mingலை
System: Ming Tian’s hand, wrapping his entire body.
The terrifying qi sword clashed with the claw, producing a muffled boom. True essence scattered, igniting the ground.
Ming Tian staggered back several steps, planting a foot to steady himself. He glared coldly at Ling Xiao, “I didn’t want to waste energy, but since you’re begging for death, I’ll oblige!”
In truth, he shared Ling Xiao’s reluctance to fight here.
Killing was pointless and drained true essence—a bad deal.
But Ling Xiao left him no choice, clearly determined to reclaim the two Longevity Fruits.
“You’re shameless! You could’ve stayed a genius, but now, forget it!” Ling Xiao’s eyes gleamed with killing intent “‘
The Nine Pulse Qi Sword hadn’t killed Ming Tian, as expected.
But that he was unharmed was surprising.
Had something changed in Ming Tian’s body?
No matter—kill him anyway!
“Junior Brother Ling, with Elder Jin’s full aid, I’ve fused seventy percent of my body and soul with the Nine-Tailed Saint Beast of the Ninja Clan. I have no martial spirit, but I’m stronger than those who do!” Ming Tian sneered. “I’ve yet to test this power in combat. Since you want to be the first, I won’t refuse!”
“Ninja Beast Fusion?”
Ling Xiao had heard of a cruel, evil secret technique in the Ninja Clan that fused living beasts with humans, body and soul.
Eight out of ten who underwent it died.
The survival rate was abysmally low.
But those who survived became immensely powerful, no longer human but half-beasts!
Half-beasts couldn’t use martial spirits but could wield the full power of the beast implanted in them, growing stronger as their cultivation advanced.
