The scene was far too chaotic, with crowds of people everywhere.
Moreover, the assassin was clearly someone who had received special training. His martial soul was likely a wind-type one, best suited for slipping through crowds and ambushing enemies.
Yet when that black shadow was still four or five metres away from Ling Xiao, a tree branch pierced straight through his body. He then fled in panic.
That branch had been shot out from several hundred metres away.
The one who fired it was none other than Wine Demon Sword.
“To dare attempt an assassination under my watch on the person I am protecting, go back and tell your master this: there had better not be a next time, otherwise, death without mercy!”
Wind Demon stared at the bloody hole in his own body. Hearing the voice that transmitted directly into his mind, terror filled his heart.
That Ling Xiao!
What exactly was that guy’s identity? Why were there such powerful experts protecting him?
Even Wine Demon Sword had taken action?
Most of the celebrating teachers and students of Qingxu Academy did not notice this incident at all.
Only Ling Xiao and Len Mei glanced in the direction the assassin had fled, then looked towards where Wine Demon Sword was. They exchanged a look, both somewhat puzzled.
What puzzled them was why Wine Demon Sword, a complete stranger to them, would step in to help.
“There is no need for you to be puzzled. I have some past connection with Ji Lingyue. Back then I was unable to save her, but today I will not stand by and let her younger brother be killed. However, do not take my protection as an excuse to act recklessly and cause trouble.”
Afterwards, Ling Xiao and Len Mei sought out Wine Demon Sword. They wanted to ask him face to face for clarity.
Wine Demon Sword answered without hiding anything.
“May I ask what exactly Senior means by acting recklessly and causing trouble?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Things like what Sword Demon did, provoking others without reason. You are different. Though you may seem to stir up trouble, everything you do has reason and evidence. You act just like your sister, unafraid of the powerful. I admire that very much.”
Wine Demon Sword smiled and said, “As long as others provoke you first, feel free to take revenge. If anything happens, I will cover for you.”
“Why is Senior treating me so well?”
Ling Xiao asked, still puzzled.
“On one hand, it is because of your sister. On the other hand, it is still because of your sister.”
Wine Demon Sword smiled.
“Could Senior speak plainly?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“You are Ji Lingyue’s younger brother. I once grew up with her as childhood sweethearts. You could consider me half a brother-in-law. Protecting you is only right. That is the first reason.”
Wine Demon Sword continued, “The second reason is that, in my view, your talent surpasses both mine and Ji Lingyue’s. Therefore, you are the key to rescuing Ji Lingyue. I must protect you.”
“Senior must be joking. You are a Yin-Yang Realm powerhouse, yet even you could not save my sister. How could I possibly do it?”
Ling Xiao asked again.
“With your talent, you have a greater chance of stepping into the Reincarnation Realm.”
Wine Demon Sword sighed and said, “I can only place my hopes on you. Back then your sister was harmed by villains, but she later managed to escape. Yet she jumped out of the wolf’s den only to enter the tiger’s lair. That tiger’s lair is one even I cannot break into. Only by reaching the Reincarnation Realm would there be a sliver of possibility.”
“Reincarnation Realm!”
Ling Xiao clicked his tongue.
He was currently only at the Heavenly Human Realm, which he had reached through painstaking cultivation. He had not even touched the Yin-Yang Realm yet. To break through to the Reincarnation Realm, one had to traverse the eighteen layers of hell and cultivate the eighteen corresponding realms.
To him, that sounded like a dream.
“Cannot do it?”
Wine Demon Sword asked.
“No, I can do it.”
Ling Xiao shook his head and said, “For my sister, I must achieve it!”
Hearing this, Wine Demon Sword smiled. He suddenly spoke very gently, “When your sister was twelve years old, you were only a few years old. She took extremely good care of you. Though you may not remember those times, if your sister knew that you still think of her in your heart, she would be very happy.”
In Ling Xiao’s memories, even the images of his parents were faint, let alone his sister Ji Lingyue.
Yet the bond between family members was something that could never be severed.
Even if not blood-related, the closeness remained the same.
“Senior, do you know why those people came to Qingxu Academy this time?”
Ling Xiao felt that Wine Demon Sword must know more.
“Simple. To kill you! Of course, at the same time, it was also to stir the grass and startle the snake, to figure out exactly who is backing you.”
Wine Demon Sword laughed and said, “Have you heard of the Elders’ Council?”
“No.”
Ling Xiao frowned. He suddenly recalled that before Jia the steward died, he had uttered the word “Yuan”. Could it be related to this Elders’ Council?
“The Elders’ Council has always been the most powerful organisation on the Divine Phoenix Continent.”
Wine Demon Sword explained, “However, I do not know exactly who makes it up. I only know that the Elders’ Council existed long before your parents arrived on the Divine Phoenix Continent. In fact, they were once the behind-the-scenes force that helped your parents pacify the wars on the Divine Phoenix Continent.”
“So formidable?”
Ling Xiao’s frown deepened.
“You do not need to worry too much. No matter how powerful the Elders’ Council is, their strongest members are only at the Yin-Yang Realm. Their top seat should be about the same level as me, perhaps slightly stronger.”
Wine Demon Sword saw Ling Xiao’s furrowed brows and comforted him.
“Thank you, Senior, for telling me such important information.”
Ling Xiao knew very well that he had probably already offended this Elders’ Council. Perhaps Zhuque Phoenix Child, Thunder Eagle Phoenix Child, and Sword Phoenix Child had been sent by them.
Fortunately, the strongest seat in the Elders’ Council was only comparable to Wine Demon Sword.
In his view, Wine Demon Sword was still somewhat inferior to Moon Lady in strength.
If that was the case, then for the time being he should be safe.
But only for the time being.
Martial artists who had reached the level of Wine Demon Sword and Moon Lady could break through at almost any moment.
Once they reached the Reincarnation Realm, they would basically crush Yin-Yang Realm martial artists.
That would surely bring trouble.
So what Ling Xiao could do now was to raise his own cultivation as much as possible, avoid becoming a burden to Moon Lady, and at the same time constantly search for ways and resources to help Moon Lady improve her cultivation.
As long as Moon Lady advanced to the Reincarnation Realm, everything would be settled.
“Alright, I have arranged to drink with some friends today, so I will not talk more with you. If there is anything, I will come find you.”
Wine Demon Sword smiled, soared into the air, and transformed into a streak of sword light. He looked truly carefree.
While Ling Xiao was speaking with Wine Demon Sword.
On an island several thousand li away across the sea, another conversation was taking place.
The island was vast and extremely prosperous. Compared to the Black Crow Empire or the Divine Phoenix Empire, it was in no way inferior.
Yet such a rich land was one that no one dared to invade lightly.
That was because this island was none other than one of the Five Immortal Islands, the “Sacred Dynasty Immortal Island”.
Sacred Dynasty Immortal Island had been established by the Ji family during the first uprising of the True Demon Empire. However, its strength surpassed even the Sacred Dynasty on the Heavenly Dragon Continent.
Ji Fuling and Yu Xuanyue had once stayed here. They deeply felt that the scenery was beautiful and the resources abundant. They had originally planned to settle down here.
However, the matter concerning Ji Lingyue had forced them to leave this place.
