“Let me handle it.”
Ling Xiao sighed. He truly had not expected that a simple act on his part would inspire such devotion.
This old man was willing to face death rather than speak ill of him. If he stood by and did nothing today, he would truly be unworthy of being the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Dynasty.
From Tianfeng City to Yunkong City, then to the Moonlight Sect, on to the Divine Phoenix Empire, and finally back to the Heavenly Dragon Continent.
This was the first time Ling Xiao had been worshipped so fervently by complete strangers. It gave him a dreamlike sensation.
As if he had already lived for many years.
Yet in reality, from leaving the Ling family at fifteen to becoming the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Dynasty at seventeen, only a little over two years had passed.
With his own efforts, he had composed a magnificent and unparalleled myth.
And this myth was merely the beginning.
“If Ji Mingxing had not attacked Ji Mingkong, I might have left him alone. But now he must pay the price.”
A cold smile curved Ling Xiao’s lips. He had been away from the imperial capital for over half a year, and unexpectedly, the people here no longer took him seriously.
At that moment, the grip of the lavishly dressed warrior tightened further, and the old merchant’s face had turned from red to purple.
His hands struggled desperately, trying to pry away the warrior’s grasp.
“Mercy should be shown where possible. He is just an ordinary merchant. There is no need to be so enraged.”
Ling Xiao suddenly spoke up.
“Who the hell are you to meddle in my affairs?”
The lavishly dressed warrior grew even angrier upon seeing that it was Ling Xiao who had spoken.
With beauties accompanying him on both sides, and now trying to play the hero, how could the warrior be pleased?
Slap!
A crisp slap echoed through the market, stunning the nearby crowd.
The lavishly dressed warrior who had been choking the old merchant was sent flying, crashing into the crowd. For a long while, he could not recover.
“When you go out, it is best to watch your mouth!”
After striking, Ling Xiao said indifferently, “I just heard that even if Ling Xiao were here, you would make him die. Well, I am Ling Xiao. Feel free to try!”
Ling Xiao pointed at himself, a faint smile on his face.
What!
Hearing this name, the lavishly dressed warrior on the ground turned pale with fright.
He had claimed not to fear Ling Xiao only because Ling Xiao was not present. Now facing the real person, how could he still dare to act arrogantly?
Moreover, that slap from Ling Xiao had truly hurt. How could he not realise that he was no match for Ling Xiao?
The entire market fell into brief silence because of this name.
He had appeared!
The Ling Xiao who once turned the Divine Phoenix Imperial Capital upside down had appeared again!
He had not died in Sin City, and he was even stronger than before.
This news began to spread through the market.
“Old sir, are you alright?”
Ling Xiao bent down, carefully checked the old merchant’s pulse, and only relaxed after confirming there was no serious issue.
“You are His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor! It really is His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor!”
Though the old merchant had never seen Ling Xiao in person, he had seen the statue of Ling Xiao that had not yet been erected.
He looked exactly like it.
The old man trembled with excitement. He had never imagined that His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor would be so approachable, willing to fight other warriors for an ordinary merchant like him.
“That’s right. I am the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Dynasty, Ling Xiao. I am sorry you had to suffer, old sir. From now on, all Heavenly Dynasty merchants doing business here should remember this. If anything happens, go directly to the Heavenly Dynasty Chamber of Commerce here. For problems they cannot solve, I will handle them personally.”
Ling Xiao intended to establish his authority, to let everyone know that the Heavenly Dynasty Empire was not something others could bully at will.
If even conducting trade abroad was unsafe, then there was no point in developing the Heavenly Dynasty Empire’s economy.
“Brother Ling, I am truly sorry. I did not know you were here.”
The lavishly dressed warrior who had been slapped away stood up, walked over, and spoke with deep respect.
By now, all his earlier arrogance had vanished, replaced entirely by meek obedience.
He had long heard of Ling Xiao’s fearsome reputation. Not only was he a genius, but he was also one who bore grudges.
At this moment, all he could think of were the gruesome fates of those warriors killed by Ling Xiao.
The thought made him tremble all over.
How could he be so unlucky as to encounter Ling Xiao?
“Sorry?”
Ling Xiao gave a cold smile. “If apologies were useful, why would warriors of the Profound World bother training?”
As he spoke, killing intent already flickered in his eyes.
Kill one to warn a hundred!
Make an example of the chicken to scare the monkeys!
This was his most direct thought.
If he could not deter these people, Heavenly Dynasty merchants would likely continue to be bullied here.
However, just as he was about to act, a patrol of soldiers approached.
“Everyone stop! This is a market, not a place for you to cause trouble!”
The leading captain shouted loudly.
Ling Xiao withdrew his hand and said indifferently, “When this man was bullying a Heavenly Dynasty merchant earlier, where were you?”
“Where we were is none of your business. I know you are Ling Xiao, and you are impressive! But this is my territory. Even a dragon has to coil for me here. I am the law. Heavenly Dynasty merchants? What do Heavenly Dynasty merchants have to do with our Divine Phoenix Empire? If they get beaten to death, they deserve it.”
The captain held his head high, like a proud rooster.
Hearing these words, Ling Xiao’s first reaction was not anger, but amusement.
He had been away from the Divine Phoenix Imperial Capital for just over half a year, and somehow such a clown had emerged?
This sort was even less classy than Feng Mingyu.
“Interesting. So you do not care about the safety of our Heavenly Dynasty Empire’s merchants? Then do not blame me for overstepping.”
Ling Xiao’s expression hardened. No one saw clearly how he moved. They only vaguely caught a glimpse of sword light.
Then, the lavishly dressed warrior slumped softly to the ground.
Dead!
“You killed him?”
The captain was stunned.
“That’s right. I killed him!”
“You bastard, do you know who he is?”
The captain roared.
“I only know that he tried to kill one of my people. As the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Dynasty, I had to kill him.”
Ling Xiao said calmly.
“You are finished. Done for. A mere Heavenly Emperor of the tiny Heavenly Dynasty dares to touch a person of the Mingxing Phoenix Prodigy. You must be tired of living.”
“Mingxing Phoenix Prodigy?”
Ling Xiao paused. Among the Ten Phoenix Prodigies, there did not seem to be anyone by that title.
“Young Hero Ling, you may not know. Half a year ago, the Peacock Phoenix Prodigy had his cultivation crippled, so he relinquished the title and went into seclusion to cultivate. This Mingxing Phoenix Prodigy is Ji Mingxing, personally conferred by the Emperor himself. There is no mistake.”
A nearby warrior bystander explained.
This was clearly one of Ling Xiao’s admirers.
“I see. I did so much for the Divine Phoenix Empire, yet this Emperor never rewarded me with anything. Ji Mingxing has done nothing, yet what qualifies him to be one of the Ten Phoenix Prodigies? This Feng Ming Wuliang is really a bit too ungrateful.”
