“How is that possible? I clearly heard his voice correctly. He looked exactly the same, and that Cave Heaven Realm aura could not be faked.”
The junior disciple rushed over and knelt on the ground, searching for any trace of Feng Qingyan.
Ling Xiao bent down to help him up. In that instant, the junior disciple suddenly turned his head. A poison needle-like long sword shot out from his mouth, flashing with cold light as it stabbed towards him.
Another Cave Heaven Realm assassin!
Ling Xiao was shocked inside. When he was still at the Heavenly Human Realm, those Cave Heaven Realm martial artists had not taken him seriously at all. So the people they sent to deal with him were rarely Cave Heaven Realm experts.
Yet today, right after he revealed his cultivation, two such powerful assassins had appeared.
Both were masters of disguise, and both were second Cave Heaven Realm martial artists.
It seemed his enemies were starting to take him much more seriously.
“Crack!”
In that critical moment, Ling Xiao actually opened his mouth and bit down on that cold gleam, then snapped it clean in half.
“What!”
The assassin had done very well. He had hidden his killing intent perfectly, and his acting was flawless.
But unfortunately, just like the previous exposed assassin, his cultivation had given him away.
He was a Cave Heaven Realm martial artist, while Ling Xiao’s so-called junior disciple was only at the third level of the Heavenly Human Realm’s Three Talents Heaven.
If Ling Xiao could not even distinguish this level of aura, he might as well throw away his Mountain and River Martial Soul.
“You are very strong. It is just a pity you exposed yourself too early. Otherwise, if the two of you had joined forces, I might really have been killed.”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. He had no intention of striking back.
The assassin knew it was impossible to act now. He immediately leaped out the window and fled into the distance.
This was exactly the quality a qualified assassin should have.
Just as Ling Xiao had once told Feng Xidao, an assassin should never confront an opponent head-on. Otherwise, they would lose their greatest advantage.
They had lured Ling Xiao here precisely because the place was empty. The real Feng Qingyan had gone to Fenghin Mountain.
But if the fight here became too intense, someone would surely be alerted.
Ling Xiao did not pursue.
It was not that he wanted to let the assassin escape. He simply had a better plan.
“Leng Mei, do not chase him.”
Outside, Ling Xiao spotted a fleeting figure and immediately called out to stop her.
“Understood, Master.”
Leng Mei never asked why. She knew that if Ling Xiao did this, there must be a reason.
The assassin glanced behind him. Seeing no one in pursuit, he immediately relaxed his guard. He failed to notice that on the back of his clothing, a strange rune was faintly flashing.
After escaping Qingxu Academy and entering the woods outside, someone was already waiting to receive him.
“What happened? Failed again?”
There were four people waiting. Two stood farther away, while the other two were almost right beside the assassin.
“No good. That Ling Xiao is too cunning. He discovered us before we even made a move. That guy must have some ability to see through other people’s cultivation.”
The assassin shook his head helplessly.
“Wait, what is that on your back?”
Finally someone noticed something wrong.
But in that very instant, the assassin’s body exploded.
The two people closest to the assassin were instantly killed on the spot.
Although the other two were farther away, one had a leg blown off, and the other lost an eye.
All their black masks were torn apart, revealing their true faces.
The two who died were Jia Tianfeng’s lackeys.
The one with the severed leg was actually Jia Tianfeng himself.
And the one who lost an eye was Kong Ming.
These two had tried to assassinate Ling Xiao but did not even touch a hair on him. Instead, they were completely outplayed by Ling Xiao.
“Quick! Run!”
Although Jia Tianfeng’s leg was gone and he was in agony, he suddenly thought of something terrifying. Since Ling Xiao had calculated everything up to this point, he would definitely come after them. If they did not leave now, they were dead.
Even though both were injured, they were still Cave Heaven Realm powerhouses. They quickly fled the scene.
“Master, is it really fine to let them go?”
After Jia Tianfeng and Kong Ming left, Leng Mei asked in confusion.
“Jia Tianfeng and Kong Ming are just small fish. There should be a bigger fish behind them. This is called casting a long line to catch a big fish. Those two small fish, I can kill them whenever I want. Today, let us just give them a little lesson for now.”
Ling Xiao smiled. He glanced at the three mangled corpses on the ground, his eyes turning ice-cold.
To be able to hire two such powerful assassins to target him, the person behind this was definitely no ordinary figure.
Although Feng Ming Wuliang was the prime suspect.
He needed a definite answer.
Otherwise, letting the true mastermind who wanted to harm him escape would not feel satisfying at all.
On his way back to the academy, Ling Xiao ran into Yue Nu. She had been waiting for him on the path.
“Another assassin? Do you want me to wipe out the Five Poisons Hall for you?”
Yue Nu said coldly.
She was truly angry now.
The enemies kept trying to take Ling Xiao’s life again and again. This made Yue Nu feel immense rage.
She was right by Ling Xiao’s side, yet they dared to act so brazenly. This was simply not taking her seriously at all.
Did they really think she would not dare do anything?
“Wiping out the Five Poisons Hall is not necessary. Besides, we cannot even find their main location. However, I have already confirmed the position of the Shenhuang branch. If Sister Yue Nu really wants to vent your anger, you can go and destroy that place for me.”
Ling Xiao’s patience also had limits.
He had not gone looking for trouble with the Five Poisons Hall branch, yet they had come after him repeatedly.
Did they really think he would not dare stand against the Dark God Temple?
“Fine. I will go in a bit.”
Yue Nu said.
“Not going at night?”
Ling Xiao asked curiously.
“Doing this kind of thing in broad daylight creates a bigger sensation. Sneaking around at night is pointless. If we are going to do it, we should do it openly and boldly.”
Yue Nu smiled.
“Hm. Sister Yue Nu, you really think things through. But Sister Yue Nu, and you too Leng Mei, from now on please be kinder to yourselves. I know you care about me, but you should also think more about yourselves.”
Ling Xiao suddenly said.
“Master, do you dislike me now? Do you find me annoying?”
Leng Mei panicked instantly.
Yue Nu did not speak, but she clearly looked a little stunned.
“What are you two even thinking? You two are now the people closest to me and the ones I trust the most. How could I possibly dislike or find you annoying? It is just that the enemies I will face from now on will grow stronger and stronger. You cannot keep going without rest. Only if you rest well can you fight side by side with me better!”
Ling Xiao hurriedly explained, “Right now, I still need your protection to develop properly. But it will not be long. Once I break through to the Yin-Yang Realm, I will be the one protecting you both properly!”
If Ling Xiao had said this in the past, Yue Nu and Leng Mei would probably have had some doubts. Back then, even breaking through the Heavenly Human Realm had been difficult for him.
But things were different now. In just over two years, Ling Xiao had advanced continuously from the Martial Vein Realm to the Extraordinary Realm, Heavenly Human Realm, and now the Cave Heaven Realm!
Above the Cave Heaven Realm was the Yin-Yang Realm!
For many people, that gap was something they might never cross in a lifetime of effort.
But for Ling Xiao, it was nothing special.
