“Lin Xiao, I’ll wait for you to return!” Wu Sha vowed silently, watching his resolute departing figure.
“Yanran, our Xiao’er will soon come for you,” Lin Zhantian sighed deeply.
“Yue’er, you’ve grown up, and you’ve chosen well,” Hu Mo mused, gazing at the trio’s retreating backs with a mix of reluctance and pride.
A grown daughter must eventually leave to find her own path.
Those watching Lin Xiao and his companions depart sighed inwardly.
Their figures soon vanished, and in no time, the trio had flown far from the imperial city.
But at that moment, Hu Yue suddenly halted.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Xiao stopped as well, puzzled.
Hu Yue turned to him, her expression uneasy. “We need to part ways.”
“What?” Lin Xiao was stunned, a bad feeling creeping in.
Ling Hu, beside them, looked equally surprised.
“When I was in Junzang, I received a mysterious and powerful inheritance. The backlash I suffered earlier, from forcing its use despite my insufficient strength, came from that technique,” Hu Yue explained.
Lin Xiao frowned. “And?”
“By accepting her inheritance, I must fulfill her dying wish,” Hu Yue said, taking a deep breath. “So, I can’t go with you to the Southeast Domain. I must head to the Eastern Continent, to Dongfang Tian, Yuehua Island.”
“Now?” Lin Xiao’s brow furrowed. Something felt off, but he hadn’t expected it to be because of the inheritance, requiring Hu Yue to go to the Eastern Continent, to a place called Yuehua Island, whose purpose was unclear.
The inheritance worried him deeply. What kind of technique could cause backlash even at the Martial Venerable level and demand Hu Yue fulfill a wish on Yuehua Island?
Seeing his shock and concern, Hu Yue smiled playfully. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. With that senior’s inheritance and memories, I can reach Yuehua Island safely. This technique benefits me without harm. I need to undergo a baptism there to fully accept the inheritance and revive Yuehua Island.”
“But you, alone…” Lin Xiao remained uneasy. An unknown place could be fraught with dangers.
“I’m not alone. I have Fire Spirit Rabbit and Nether Black Firefly. With my strength, it won’t be easy for others to kill me,” Hu Yue said with a mischievous grin. “Besides, Yu Jingge, Mo Yi, and Qi Mubo are waiting for me at the teleportation array.”
“Hm?” Lin Xiao was taken aback. Had they planned this before leaving Shengyuan Academy?
“The Kun Tian Giant Crocodile’s Roaring Inheritance for Yu Jingge, the Void Phoenix Clan’s Inheritance for Qi Mubo, the Winged Snake Inheritance for Ji Mo, and your Heavenly Spider Inheritance—are they all related to that mysterious inheritance?” Lin Xiao asked.
Hu Yue nodded. “Sort of. Back then, those four ancient ferocious beasts were her mounts.”
“What?” Lin Xiao and Ling Hu gasped. Four ancient ferocious beasts, merely her mounts? Who was this figure?
This hinted at the terrifying nature of Hu Yue’s inheritance.
Lin Xiao was certain it was at least on par with his Immortal Skeleton Technique and Yaoguang Inheritance.
The senior who left the inheritance might have been from Yaoguang’s era, or even older.
If she once commanded four ancient ferocious beasts, it made sense—perhaps even mandatory—for their inheritors to follow Hu Yue.
“What technique is it?” Lin Xiao asked.
“Waning Moon… Emperor Scripture!” Hu Yue said, her tone heavy with the weight of those words.
“Emperor Scripture…” Lin Xiao’s heart trembled. An Emperor Scripture was a Martial Emperor-level text, likely from an ancient Martial Emperor, as only in those distant times were techniques named “Emperor Scriptures.”
He was now certain Hu Yue’s inheritance was on the same level as his Yaoguang Inheritance.
“Once I fulfill the senior’s wishes, I’ll come find you in Zhongzhou. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I will find you,” Hu Yue said, staring at Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao took a deep breath, nodded, and said, “Alright!”
They locked eyes for a long moment. Then Hu Yue looked away, glanced at Ling Hu, and back at Lin Xiao. “Don’t be too weak when we meet again, you hear? See you!”
With that, Hu Yue, accompanied by Fire Spirit Rabbit and Nether Black Firefly, turned and flew off.
She was a strong girl, refusing to leave in tears.
“Take care!” Lin Xiao thought, watching her fade into the distance.
“You’re just letting her go like that?” Ling Hu said, stunned. He knew the bond between Lin Xiao and Hu Yue wasn’t so easily severed.
“She has her path, and it’s better she’s not with me for what lies ahead. Let’s go,” Lin Xiao said, shaking his head with a sigh.
“Alright, well…” Ling Hu sighed, shaking his head.
“Cluck, letting a fine girl go just like that,” a soft, melodious female voice suddenly rang out, reaching their ears.
“Who’s there?” Lin Xiao frowned, his gaze snapping toward the source.
A graceful woman appeared in their sight.
She looked about twenty, with flowing black hair, lotus-like shoulders, a serpentine waist, and shapely hips. Her partially covered legs gleamed like flawless jade, and her exquisite face was breathtakingly alluring, unparalleled in beauty.
Her limpid eyes held a natural charm, captivating at a glance, as if drawing one’s soul away.
Though Lin Xiao’s willpower was strong, he was momentarily stunned.
But recognizing her identity, he quickly regained composure and exclaimed, “Meitian Demon!”
This stunning woman was none other than the Meitian Demon!
Yet, the Meitian Demon before them had no wings or venomous stinger, indistinguishable from a human.
Clearly, she had fully transformed into human form.
Days earlier, after the sealing force was lifted, the Meitian Demon had left without much interaction with Lin Xiao, who assumed she was recovering from serious injuries.
He hadn’t expected her to seek him out now.
“What’s this, little man? You used the God-Control Technique on me before, and now you think you can just walk away?” The Meitian Demon swayed her slender waist, her enchanting face breaking into a bewitching smile, truly a vision of captivating charm.
“What do you want?” Lin Xiao frowned, while Ling Hu grew wary, aware of the fearsome nature of the Meitian Demon’s race.
