“It’s simple, because I’m stronger than you! Because the Sword King Sect is stronger than all of you!”
The host looked at Ling Wuhen with disdain, speaking calmly.
“Go to hell!”
Suddenly, Wu Zui, snapping back to his senses, drew a dagger from his waist and thrust it fiercely towards Ling Wuhen’s heart.
Ling Wuhen was caught off guard, blocked by the host, and had no time to defend.
Pfft!
A flash of sword light, and a head rolled!
But it wasn’t Ling Wuhen who died; it was Wu Zui!
Ling Xiao had acted.
How could he stand by and watch his former benefactor and friend be killed by such a despicable person?
Wu Zui deserved to die!
The Sword King Sect deserved to be eradicated!
Ling Xiao stood there, like a demonic god!
A terrifying aura of slaughter and destruction surged overwhelmingly.
“You! You’re insane! You dare break the beast-fighting arena’s rules? Are you seeking death?”
The host, stunned for a moment, saw Wu Zui’s head on the ground and roared at Ling Xiao.
“Rules? Weren’t you the ones who broke them first?”
Ling Xiao’s icy voice was like a whisper from a demon king in the depths of the underworld. The host felt his blood freeze, retreating several steps in terror, stammering, “You’d better think carefully. Doing this means making an enemy of the entire Sword King Sect. Does your Moonlight Sect really want to be wiped out?”
“Just you?”
With those words, a sword light shot from his hand, and the host’s head flew, landing on the ground in a graceful arc.
“Scoundrel! Who dares cause trouble in the beast-fighting arena?”
No sooner had the host died than three terrifying auras appeared.
These were likely the powerful warriors guarding the arena, three half-step Heavenly Venerables at five-tenths power.
For the Sword King Sect, deploying three such formidable warriors was enough to keep anyone visiting the arena in line.
After all, most who came here were warriors below the half-step Heavenly Venerable level.
Ling Xiao ignored them entirely, turning to Ling Wuhen and asking, “Where’s Ling Yihang?”
Ling Yihang was a close brother Ling Xiao had met back in the Ling family. They had bonded through conflict, and though they rarely saw each other after Ling Xiao left the Ling family, friends remain friends, no matter the distance!
Ling Wuhen’s condition was serious, but Ling Xiao was confident he could handle it. His greater concern was Ling Yihang’s fate.
“He…”
Ling Wuhen started to speak but stopped, unable to continue, his eyes filled with pain and resentment.
“Tell me!”
Ling Xiao said coldly.
“Ling Yihang was turned into a human puppet by these beasts, with only his soul left residing in the puppet!”
Ling Wuhen roared, “Just because Yihang refused to fight in the beast-fighting arena, they did this to him!”
“Where is he now?”
Ling Xiao’s heart was ice-cold; the entire Sword King Sect was now on his death list.
But he knew finding Ling Yihang was the priority.
As long as his soul remained, Ling Xiao could bring him back.
What others couldn’t do, Ling Xiao could!
“He’s locked in the arena’s cage!”
Ling Wuhen replied.
“Take me there!”
Ling Wuhen nodded and dashed towards the cage.
Ling Xiao followed closely.
But just five metres out, they were blocked by three masters, the Sword King Sect’s three half-step Heavenly Venerables at five-tenths power guarding the arena.
“Get lost!”
Ling Xiao had no time to deal with these old fools. Without hesitation, he drew a sealing card.
“Demon Fortress Lord, release!”
A half-step Heavenly Venerable at six-tenths power against three at five-tenths power should be no trouble.
Boom!
With a loud crash, the three half-step Heavenly Venerables were blasted away.
Ling Wuhen and Ling Xiao charged straight through, reaching the arena’s cage.
Inside, Ling Yihang’s body was preserved, submerged in a large vat of liquid.
Next to it was a fully metallic puppet, and Ling Xiao could still sense Ling Yihang’s aura.
“The body is fairly intact. They must have planned to turn it into a flesh puppet. Wuhen, guard the outside. I’m going to return Ling Yihang’s soul to his body.”
Since the body was well-preserved, there was no need to find another. Ling Xiao planned to use materials he had to enhance the body, not only restoring its vitality but making it stronger than before.
Outside.
“What’s going on? Does Senior Brother Ling know that slave?”
Leng Hao asked Dai Yuling curiously, “You’re both from Cloud Sky City. Do you know anything?”
Dai Yuling shook her head, saying, “Ling Xiao was originally from a small family in Sky Peak City before coming to Cloud Sky City. I don’t know the details, but it seems they do know each other, and their bond is strong.”
“Let’s go check it out. We three are like branches of the same tree as Ling Xiao. His friends are our friends. We can’t just stand by!”
Lan Yuer suggested after a moment’s thought.
“Alright!”
Dai Yuling and Leng Hao had no objections.
With the Demon Fortress Lord holding off the three half-step Heavenly Venerables at five-tenths power, their path to the cage was clear.
Upon entering and seeing the horrific, infuriating scene, they felt a chill down their spines.
“These beasts!”
Lan Yuer cursed angrily.
“Senior Brother Ling, tell us what to do. We’re with you.”
Leng Hao looked at Ling Xiao inside and said.
“Guard the outside for now. I have things to take care of!”
Ling Xiao had gathered the materials and was setting up a formation, placing Ling Yihang’s body and the puppet at its centre.
He didn’t want to think about anything else now. Saving Ling Yihang was the priority.
Leng Hao and the others didn’t disturb him further, joining Ling Wuhen to stand guard outside.
During this time, Dai Yuling and Lan Yuer helped remove Ling Wuhen’s bronze mask and repaired his severely damaged face.
Lan Yuer was skilled in medicine, while Dai Yuling excelled at cultivating herbs. Together, they were a perfect team.
Though Ling Wuhen endured some pain, seeing his face restored to its original smoothness in the mirror made it worthwhile.
“Fusion!”
As Ling Wuhen rejoiced over his restored face, Ling Xiao reached the final step of his work.
Fusing a soul with a body was something most warriors couldn’t achieve, not even those at the Yin-Yang Realm.
But Ling Xiao could.
As a formation master, alchemist, and someone with immense soul power, he could do it.
The “Soul Control Secret Technique” from the Lampfish Clan and his recently enhanced Mountain River Will played a critical role.
When Ling Yihang’s eyes slowly opened, Ling Xiao finally let out a long sigh of relief.
This risky endeavour had succeeded!
