Though they all viewed Ling Xiao as an enemy, Tantai Lingzi, this woman, was remarkably patient. Since entering the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, she had done nothing to harm Ling Xiao.
However, she meticulously observed every battle or experience Ling Xiao went through.
Bang!
As the two were talking, a muffled sound rang out.
“Crack!”
Immediately after, they saw the head of the beautiful woman smashed clean off, her bones shattered.
“Using the Ice Dragon Sword on such trash would be a waste, bare hands are enough.”
After dealing with it, Ling Xiao clapped his hands with a grin, then turned to the crowd and said, “I’ll take the lead. It seems whoever defeats this monster gets to enter that door behind!”
“Creak!”
As the metal door opened, everyone could see a pile of treasures behind it.
“That bastard, he’s got the upper hand again!”
Bai Feifei gritted her teeth, trying to rush towards the metal door, but the monster now shifted to a new defensive mode against her.
In an instant, it transformed into a peak ninth-level beast, comparable to a half-step Heavenly Sovereign.
However, the monster didn’t attack proactively; it simply stood there, guarding the metal door.
Ling Xiao roughly understood.
The monster adjusted its defensive mode based on the challenger.
From initial sonic attacks to illusionary attacks, then to seductive charms, and now to raw power.
Missing the earlier opportunities made entering later even harder.
Behind the metal door lay over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, which Ling Xiao promptly collected.
There was also a jade-green sceptre, a rare-grade artifact. Ling Xiao no longer needed rare-grade artifacts, but it could be sold for money or traded for something else later.
Such a fine item would never lack a use.
Additionally, there was a gourd filled with pills. Ling Xiao sniffed them carefully; they were for restoring stamina and relieving mental fatigue.
Though not of high grade, they were still very useful for martial artists.
For instance, during this trial, Ling Xiao had to constantly fight and strategize, leading to physical and mental exhaustion. This gourd held fifty pills, more than enough.
Ling Xiao casually popped one into his mouth. The pill melted instantly and took effect quickly.
Moments later, he felt all the fatigue from this period vanish completely.
Though it didn’t boost his cultivation, it was already excellent.
Collected!
There was one more item.
It was an exquisitely crafted metal card, engraved with the image of a stunningly beautiful woman, identical to the final form of the monster guarding the metal door.
“A sealing card?”
Ling Xiao read the text on the metal card:
“In ancient times, the Human King established the Holy Dynasty. Yet, with demons rampant, the King was troubled. A great figure in the court created the Book of Seals, capable of sealing all manner of wonders. Each page of the Book of Seals could hold a card, known as a sealing card, one of the two great innovations of the Human Holy Dynasty alongside martial souls…”
The description was vague, likely with more details in the so-called Book of Seals.
Unfortunately, Ling Xiao had never heard of sealing cards or the Book of Seals.
It seemed this was another significant treasure lost to history.
Sealing cards and martial souls, perhaps they shared some unique connection?
With this in mind, he continued reading the instructions for using the sealing card.
“The Book of Seals is required to unlock a sealing card. Each card has a distinct unlocking incantation, clearly marked in the Book of Seals. This card, named ‘Maiden of Illusory Dreams,’ possesses powerful illusionary abilities.”
Though Ling Xiao didn’t know the exact use of the sealing card, he was certain it was tied to significant historical secrets. He decided to keep it for now.
As for how to obtain the Book of Seals, he believed that with the right opportunity, he would eventually acquire it.
After all, the world was vast, and he hadn’t even left the small region of Northern Han yet, let alone explored elsewhere.
The moment Ling Xiao stored the sealing card, the monster outside suddenly turned into a beam of white light and entered the card.
This scene was clearly witnessed by those outside.
“That kid got some kind of treasure, its aura feels incredibly powerful!”
Though Qin Wu feared Ling Xiao, he was joined by Wu Yang, Bai Feifei, Shen Tianlin, and others, all eager to deal with Ling Xiao. Seeing the sealing card, though unsure of its nature, they knew it was extraordinary for subduing the monster so easily.
Thus, the flames of greed quickly ignited within them.
“At the very least, it’s a divine-grade artifact. That monster’s combat strength was no less than Senior Sister Bai’s, yet it was subdued in an instant…”
Shen Tianlin’s eyes also gleamed with greed.
He had originally planned to deal with Ling Xiao in the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda.
But along the way, not only had he failed to take Ling Xiao down, but Ling Xiao had gained numerous benefits.
He could tolerate the other items, but this mysterious metal card was too much for him to ignore.
Perhaps he could even snatch other things from Ling Xiao!
The rules of the Pagoda Ascension Ceremony included one key point:
Items that had been used wouldn’t drop upon death, but unused items would completely drop.
This meant that Zhao Zhi, having integrated the Black-Winged Great Peng martial soul into his body, had “used” it, so it wouldn’t drop if he died.
But if Ling Xiao died, all his treasures, martial arts secrets, Longevity Fruits, Vein-Strengthening Grass, and the newly acquired metal card would drop.
In that case, Ling Xiao’s efforts would be in vain, merely paving the way for others!
This was Shen Tianlin’s plan.
He glanced at Bai Feifei, hoping for her support.
But Bai Feifei shook her head.
She no longer wanted to provoke Ling Xiao. She suspected he had tampered with the antidote he gave her earlier.
She didn’t want to die or be eliminated so soon, so she suppressed her anger for now.
Shen Tianlin was disappointed, but Qin Wu and Wu Yang nodded to him. The two were willing to team up with Shen Tianlin to kill Ling Xiao and seize his treasures.
The three exchanged glances, communicating with their eyes, and made up their minds.
When Ling Xiao emerged from the metal door, the original tunnel had vanished, replaced by an open path.
“Junior Brother Ling, don’t you think you’re being a bit too greedy? Since entering the Moonlight Treasure Pagoda, others haven’t gotten anything, yet you’ve taken so much. Don’t you think you should share some with everyone?”
Shen Tianlin, Wu Yang, and Qin Wu surrounded Ling Xiao, cutting off any chance of escape.
As one of the top ten core disciples, Shen Tianlin’s strength was undeniable. As he spoke, powerful true essence surged forth.
He wielded a sword as well.
And his sword, also a rare-grade artifact, was no less impressive than Ling Xiao’s.
