For the first time, Lin Xiao used the skeleton of Ling Lie, a Martial Monarch, to create a combat skeleton.
The first step in crafting a combat skeleton was to inscribe the “Tongtian” pattern onto the bones, starting from the skull down to the foot bones, followed by the hand and finger bones.
The second step was to infuse power into the patterned bones, allowing the energy to be stored within them.
The third step involved imprinting the mechanisms of various “attack pattern diagrams” into the skeleton, connecting them with the countless inscribed patterns.
The Indestructible Skeleton Technique detailed numerous attack pattern diagrams, but with Lin Xiao’s current ability, he could only imprint the most basic ones, enabling the skeleton to perform mechanical attacks.
Of course, this third step also included imprinting the attack pattern diagram for a “flight martial technique,” a substitute for the skeleton’s inability to form elemental wings.
With prior experience, Lin Xiao was no stranger to crafting combat skeletons and quickly immersed himself in the process.
At the same time, the bone pattern energy within his body circulated continuously.
Nine days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these nine days, the entire region was abuzz. The names of Lin Xiao and Ling Hu had spread through every street and alley, especially Lin Xiao’s, becoming a topic of conversation before and after meals.
Unaware of his growing fame, Lin Xiao, the centre of the region’s attention, heard none of it, focusing entirely on cultivating the Indestructible Skeleton Technique.
On the morning of the ninth day, the skeleton before Lin Xiao had countless patterns fully formed. It was now the critical moment to infuse power into the patterns. The three bone pattern energies in his spine had reached their peak, injecting malevolent force into the skeleton.
Simultaneously, his spine was inscribing a fourth bone pattern.
At this moment, within a hundred-zhang radius of Lin Xiao’s room, malevolent qi swirled, cloaking the area in an eerie, terrifying atmosphere. Approaching it felt suffocating, keeping the Ling family members at a distance.
By now, Zi Mo, Zi Ling, Ling Hu, and a group of Ling family experts had been drawn by Lin Xiao’s commotion.
Cultivating in seclusion and producing such intense malevolent qi was truly extraordinary.
Zi Ling and Ling Hu, familiar with Lin Xiao, weren’t overly surprised, but Zi Mo and Ling Zhongqian were astonished.
“This guy is cultivating such a malevolent technique,” Zi Mo couldn’t help but exclaim, staring at the swirling qi ahead.
Zi Ling, somewhat anxious, said, “The Yuanling Pool Secret Realm is about to open. He hasn’t finished cultivating yet. Will he miss it?”
“The malevolent qi is growing stronger. It seems he’s almost done,” Ling Hu remarked.
Despite the heavy toll of burning his essence blood, Ling Hu had taken a pill from his father, quickly recovering his weakened state.
Over these ten days, his cultivation had also broken through, advancing from second-stage to third-stage Martial Venerable.
He, too, planned to enter the Yuanling Pool Secret Realm.
As for Lin Xiao, Ling Hu had an inexplicable trust in him.
“Woo-woo~”
At that moment, a strange and terrifying scene unfolded above Lin Xiao’s courtyard. Phantoms of skeletons appeared—headless skeletons, armless ones, bodiless skulls—surrounded by swirling white qi and malevolent energy. Ghostly wails and howls echoed, as if from the depths of the underworld, sending chills and goosebumps through those nearby.
“Is this guy breaking through with an evil technique?” Zi Ling said, utterly shocked.
The group was equally stunned.
The phenomenon persisted for a while. When the skeleton phantoms vanished, Lin Xiao still hadn’t emerged, and the malevolent qi in the courtyard continued to linger.
“He hasn’t broken through?” The group was puzzled, exchanging confused looks.
While they waited and watched, tens of thousands of miles away in the Cao family’s primary city, a dashing young man in green robes stood confidently in a pavilion by a lake.
Beside him was a white-haired elder.
Noting the young man’s self-assured demeanour, the elder nodded approvingly. “To master the Heaven-Splitting Fist at your age is unprecedented in the Cao family.”
The young man nodded slightly. “Cao Yuhua and Cao Xueqing, overconfident in their talents, neglected the Heaven-Splitting Fist for their own techniques. A foolish choice.”
“Cao Yuhua is dead, and Cao Xueqing, a mere woman, poses no threat to my position,” the young man said, gazing at the horizon. “I wonder how Xu Changkong and Lu Chao’s strengths compare?”
“They are indeed significant threats, but the clan leader has given strict orders. Your primary task in the Yuanling Pool Secret Realm is to seize Lin Xiao’s possessions—the You Tian Demon Pillar and his You Tian Demon Technique. If possible, take his other treasures, like the Void Phoenix Wings and other techniques,” the elder instructed. “Your secondary task is to refine the Yuan Pool foundation.”
“That youth named Lin Xiao?” The young man paused, a confident glint in his eyes. “I’ll take him down, and I’ll secure the Yuan Pool foundation too.”
“He’s extremely cunning. Be cautious. Cao Xueqing has the same orders to ensure you bring back his possessions. The clan leader places great importance on this,” the elder warned.
The young man nodded. “Don’t worry. A second-stage Martial Venerable? I can handle him easily. He won’t cause any trouble in the Yuanling Pool Secret Realm.”
“Also, a girl from the Zi family, a fifth-grade initial spiritual controller and the great-granddaughter of the Zi Emperor, has arrived. She poses no threat to you, but she’s acquainted with Lin Xiao and may assist him. Under no circumstances must you kill her. No matter the reason, if a Martial Emperor’s great-granddaughter dies here, our three families will face immense trouble,” the elder cautioned gravely.
The young man nodded solemnly. “I understand.”
“There’s also Ling Hu, with the Heavenly Flame Saint Tiger physique. If he’s recovered in these ten days, he’ll likely enter the Yuanling Pool Secret Realm. His cultivation isn’t high, but when he burns his essence blood, his strength surges, enough to overpower even Xueqing. Though he’s just burned his blood and it’s unlikely he can do so again soon, stay vigilant. If you encounter him, don’t give him a chance to burn his blood,” the elder added.
“Strength gained through self-damage is not true power. I can eliminate such threats with a single move,” the young man said, clearly unimpressed. Unlike Cao Xueqing, he was confident in delivering a fatal blow, even against such explosive power. He saw no need to take it seriously.
A genius who hadn’t fully developed was no genius at all.
Meanwhile, in the Cao family’s fourth city, Cao Xueqing received the same orders. Gazing eastward, her eyes were icy as she vowed inwardly, “Lin Xiao, if you dare enter the Yuanling Pool Secret Realm, I will kill you!”
