Among the many divine weapons, Ling Xiao chose the disc that could lead to the fourth stage.
This wasn’t an easy choice. Most people would probably pick a divine-grade spiritual artifact, since even entering the fourth stage might lead to immediate elimination, potentially leaving them with nothing.
The moment Ling Xiao placed the disc into his storage ring, a powerful aura surged from outside the secret chamber.
Boom!
The entire chamber shook.
“Ling Xiao, get out here now!”
It was the Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable’s clone, Wang Nan, but his aura seemed much stronger than before.
Yet, his body appeared weakened.
Boom!
The chamber began to self-destruct.
Ling Xiao had no choice but to rush out of the formation.
There was no helping it. If the Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable had arrived earlier, he could have used the chamber’s formation for protection, but now that was impossible.
Outside the chamber, Ling Xiao saw more clearly.
Wang Nan’s body was covered in bleeding wounds. He had likely forced his way through the Dragon Trapping Formation, injuring himself in the process.
It was clear the Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable hated Ling Xiao to the core, his eyes burning with intense malice, as if he wanted to tear him to pieces.
“Well, you’re still alive, eh? Where’s Bai Feifei?” Ling Xiao asked with a smile.
“You wretch, Ling Xiao, go to hell! I can’t hold back anymore!”
Normally, the Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable wouldn’t dare kill a trial disciple in the Moonlight Pagoda, as it might provoke the pagoda’s rejection.
But at this moment, he’d had enough!
Ling Xiao had to die!
As long as he killed Ling Xiao and sought help from the Ancient Ship King, he could likely evade the Moonlight Pagoda’s scrutiny.
Whoosh!
Wang Nan’s figure flashed, appearing before Ling Xiao, striking with both palms, full of power.
With the chamber destroyed, he no longer needed Ling Xiao’s formation-breaking skills and was determined to kill him.
Ling Xiao instantly transformed into his human-dragon form, then opened his mouth to gather true essence.
“Will of Mountains and Rivers: Roar of the Death Dragon!”
“You’ve still got tricks up your sleeve!”
Seeing Ling Xiao unleash the strength of an eighth-level Mortal Realm warrior and enter his eerie human-dragon form, Wang Nan was stunned.
However, relying on his current ability to wield ninety percent of a Half-Step Heavenly Venerable’s power, he still didn’t take Ling Xiao seriously.
“No matter what, you’re dead! Resistance is futile!”
Dark Flame Divine Palm!
In an instant, his palms ignited with foot-long black flames, exuding a terrifying aura of death that even Ling Xiao could feel.
Boom!
The Dark Flame Divine Palm clashed with the Roar of the Death Dragon, two masses of black flames battling in the air before exploding.
Wang Nan didn’t budge, but Ling Xiao was thrown back over ten metres by the terrifying force, narrowly avoiding a collision with the wall thanks to his agile movement.
“This clone Wang Nan is too strong. Even in my Primordial Golden Dragon form, I’m no match for him, but…”
A cold smirk flashed in Ling Xiao’s eyes.
Before, he might have had to flee, but now, he had no fear.
“Little beast, meet your end! Rest assured, you’ll die here forever! Of course, your body will be mine to use, haha!”
Having gained the upper hand, Wang Nan’s momentum soared, his expression growing more ferocious, vowing to kill Ling Xiao here and now.
He could see Ling Xiao’s body was extraordinarily resilient. If he could use it, his clone’s strength would increase significantly.
“It won’t be me who dies, but you!”
Ling Xiao summoned the Book of Sealing.
“Release: Five-Faced Monster!”
The Five-Faced Monster, at ninety percent of a Half-Step Heavenly Venerable’s strength, matched Wang Nan. With Ling Xiao’s help, killing the clone would be effortless.
Moreover, the Five-Faced Monster card could be used three times. Even if he used it once here, he’d have two more chances.
For a Mortal Realm monster card like this, Ling Xiao planned to use it early. His cultivation was progressing quickly, and once he reached Half-Step Heavenly Venerable, he’d likely have no need for such cards.
No time like the present.
Boom!
Suddenly, the massive Five-Faced Monster appeared before Ling Xiao.
“Kill him!”
Ling Xiao gave a single command, and that was enough.
Wang Nan, eager to press his advantage and kill Ling Xiao, struck with a palm, only to be blocked by a powerful force.
The Five-Faced Monster’s five heads unleashed different attacks, matching his palm strike perfectly.
“What’s going on? Why is there a Five-Faced Monster here, and why is it obeying him?”
Wang Nan was shocked, completely baffled.
He knew nothing of the Book of Sealing or the sealing cards, and faced with this sudden attack, he could only react hastily.
“If I’m not mistaken, if I kill you here, the Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable will definitely feel it. I wonder if the old man’s recovered yet. Losing his clone will surely hurt him even more, haha, that thought alone makes me happy.”
The Five-Faced Monster battled Wang Nan.
Ling Xiao sat atop its head, looking utterly relaxed.
If anyone thought he was slacking, they’d be gravely mistaken.
Ling Xiao wasn’t attacking immediately because he was looking for an opening, a chance to kill Wang Nan in one strike.
Rather than attacking recklessly, he preferred a single, fatal blow. He had plenty of time to analyse now.
“You wretch, I won’t let you off! Just you wait!”
Wang Nan began to consider retreating.
He knew he couldn’t defeat the Five-Faced Monster and Ling Xiao combined.
But the moment this thought emerged, Ling Xiao’s pupils contracted sharply.
An opportunity!
“Will of Mountains and Rivers: Condensed Water!”
He summoned the Ice Dragon Sword, and a dazzling sword light, paired with the Five-Faced Monster’s attack, stabbed toward the Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable.
Wang Nan, focused entirely on the Five-Faced Monster, paid little attention to Ling Xiao’s attack.
However…
Slash!
This sword, infused with the Will of Mountains and Rivers, was terrifyingly powerful. With Wang Nan’s physical strength and protective true essence, he couldn’t possibly block it.
Only the Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable himself could have.
At the critical moment, Wang Nan tried to dodge.
Too late.
The Condensed Water’s most terrifying aspect was its chilling intent, capable of freezing an opponent.
Wang Nan’s limbs stiffened, unable to move.
The Five-Faced Monster seized the moment, its attack instantly obliterating Wang Nan.
“What a pity it’s just a clone. If it were the main body, that’d be even better.”
Ling Xiao watched Wang Nan’s body disintegrate, shaking his head.
At the same time, in the Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable’s Volcano Palace…
“No—!”
The Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable, whose injuries had mostly healed and whose cultivation had greatly improved, let out a heaven-shaking scream.
“Ling Xiao! Ling Xiao! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
