“Hmph, that’s just your speculation, kid. I’ll kill you all now and make you regret it!”
The puppet clone sneered.
“Go ahead and try. We won’t really die anyway, so give it a shot.”
Ling Xiao was confident he had the upper hand, remaining utterly calm.
“Besides, haven’t you noticed? You’re already deeply poisoned. If you act now, you’ll only hasten your own demise!”
The puppet clone’s expression shifted, and after a moment’s hesitation, it turned and left.
“You little brat, just wait. Once I purge this poison, I won’t let you off!”
Its voice echoed through the depths of the path.
“Idiot, you’re just a puppet clone. If it were the Demon Flame Heavenly Sovereign himself, I might be wary, but you? You’re not worthy.”
Ling Xiao glanced at Dai Yuling and Leng Hao, saying, “Let’s move quickly. That guy’s true essence is strong; purging the poison is only a matter of time. We’d better pass the second stage before he catches up.”
“Got it!”
Dai Yuling and Leng Hao now had complete faith in Ling Xiao.
Whatever he said, they would listen and believe.
To them, Ling Xiao was simply too incredible. Even the meticulous schemes of an old fox like the Demon Flame Heavenly Sovereign had been undone by him. What couldn’t Ling Xiao do?
But Ling Xiao wasn’t so optimistic.
They had uncovered the Demon Flame Heavenly Sovereign’s secret, and he would surely scheme to trap them in the Moonlight Pagoda. The future was uncertain.
Still, fear was useless. It was better to face it head-on.
From birth to now, he had faced danger countless times. As long as he stayed calm, he always found a way to turn peril into safety.
The trio pressed forward. Ling Xiao stopped consuming snake gallbladders, as he had just broken through and needed to consolidate his cultivation. Taking more now wouldn’t help.
This allowed Dai Yuling and Leng Hao to benefit.
After consuming a few gallbladders, their cultivation surged rapidly.
Ling Xiao, at Transcendent Realm Sixth Stage, could advance a minor realm. They, at Transcendent Realm Third and Fourth Stages, progressed even faster.
After fully refining the gallbladders, Dai Yuling reached the early Transcendent Realm Fourth Stage.
She had broken through an entire major realm.
With a lower cultivation base, breakthroughs came quickly.
Leng Hao’s progress was no less impressive, advancing from the peak of Transcendent Realm Fourth Stage to the early Fifth Stage.
This was partly due to the pills Ling Xiao had given them earlier, combined with the gallbladders’ effects, which accelerated their breakthroughs.
With their strength increased, Ling Xiao had an easier time. Most of the subsequent battles were handled by them, while he focused on watching for stronger hidden monsters preparing to ambush.
“Senior Brother Ling, you’re incredible, like you’ve been here before.”
Leng Hao’s smooth journey was entirely due to following Ling Xiao.
This only deepened his admiration for his choice.
“It’s not some great skill. Anyone with strong enough soul force can do it.”
Ling Xiao brushed it off casually.
At that moment, he suddenly waved his hand.
“What’s wrong, Senior Brother Ling?”
Leng Hao asked, puzzled.
“We’ve reached the end of this path. Beyond it, we should merge onto a main road, but it seems the way is blocked.”
Ling Xiao knew what was blocking them but couldn’t say too much, lest he arouse suspicion.
It was a giant python, over ten metres long, nearly transformed into a flood dragon.
There were also dozens of golden snakes and thousands of venomous snakes.
A single golden snake was already troublesome; dozens would be even more so.
And the giant python, a peak level eight beast, would be no easy foe.
The trio continued for a while until they saw a dense swarm of venomous snakes, led by dozens of golden snakes, rushing towards them. Behind them was the roaring giant python.
Behind the python was a chest.
No doubt, it was one of the treasures in this monster’s lair.
Ling Xiao had chosen this path precisely for that chest.
“Bad news! Senior Brother Ling, run! Your movement technique is fast, you can escape. I can hold them off for a moment!”
Leng Hao was terrified by the horrifying scene.
Yet in this dire moment, he made a remarkably brave decision.
“Yes, Ling Xiao, go! Don’t worry about us. We’ll find a way to hold these snakes back, even if just for a moment, so you can escape.”
Dai Yuling chimed in.
Both knew Ling Xiao’s movement technique. If he fled at full speed and left them behind, he could easily escape without issue.
But Ling Xiao just smiled and shook his head. “No need. You two, step back.”
He was touched. Friends who stood by him in danger were rare.
Yet his face showed no trace of emotion, only a confident smile.
What?
Dai Yuling and Leng Hao exchanged glances, confused.
“Senior Brother Ling, even Zhao Zhi sacrificed himself for you. We can do the same. Don’t worry about us.”
Leng Hao thought Ling Xiao was reluctant, so he spoke again.
“Junior Brother Leng, I’m not some sentimental fool. When it’s time for you to sacrifice, I won’t stop you. But right now, it’s unnecessary. Just stay back over there.”
Ling Xiao took a deep breath.
“Let’s go.”
Dai Yuling knew Ling Xiao too well. If he said this, he wasn’t being polite, he meant it.
She pulled Leng Hao to hide behind a boulder.
Once they were gone, Ling Xiao took another deep breath and murmured, “I’ve always wanted to test the true power of the *Nine Veins Qi Sword*. Since you’ve come to me, perfect!”
After condensing nine qi swords, he had comprehended a sword technique from the *Nine Veins Qi Sword*, but he hadn’t used it yet.
“Nine Veins Qi Sword: Rising Sun Sword Ray!”
This was the true technique of the *Nine Veins Qi Sword*, distinct from its varied applications. It brought not just a change in form but a surge in power.
Terrifying true essence poured out, and between Ling Xiao’s hands, a rising sun seemed to form.
Then, the sun’s rays illuminated the entire cave, countless qi swords shooting towards the snakes with near-seamless density.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
Thud, thud, thud…
Sword light flashed, and countless snakes fell, shattering into pieces upon hitting the ground, without even a chance to struggle.
Ling Xiao stood there, like a sword deity, divine light bathing his entire body. His once-dark hair now seemed to glow golden, astonishing all who saw.
Leng Hao nearly dropped to his knees.
The scene was so breathtaking, it caught him completely off guard.
