A direct assault carried too much risk, for Ling Xiao still did not know the true strength of the Zhengqi Alliance.
Moreover, if it provoked experts from the Five Immortals Island to intervene, the trouble would multiply.
Thus, for today’s matter, peaceful resolution was best. This was precisely why he flew the banner of punishing traitors, not of rescuing Ji Ning or overthrowing the Shenhuang Empire.
Many hands made light work. Over a hundred formations and arrays in the vicinity were completely destroyed in mere minutes.
At that point, Dark Sting withdrew, and Ling Xiao slipped onto the city wall.
As one soldier attacking him was kicked off the wall by Ling Xiao, Yue Nu, Xieli, and Leng Mei all sprang into action.
“Quick, activate the formations, attack!”
Feng Mingjun roared loudly.
Yet the attackers were only crossbowmen. All formations and arrays had failed entirely.
Mere arrows could not stop Yue Nu, Xieli, or Leng Mei.
“What is going on?”
Jia Lin, Jia Yun, and Feng Mingjun were all dumbfounded.
“Let me tell you what is going on.”
Ling Xiao’s figure appeared atop the tower, looking leisurely at Jia Lin. “General Jia, since you have heard how I used Beimo City’s formations to hold off over a million troops from the Black Crow Empire, why not consider whether I might be highly proficient with formations and arrays?”
“Kill him!”
Jia Lin ignored Ling Xiao’s words and did not analyse them. He only wanted Ling Xiao dead.
This fellow was too terrifying. How had he reached the wall without detection? Jia Lin had noticed nothing.
Feng Mingjun charged first.
Yet the instant he moved, Ling Xiao’s sword pressed against his throat.
Today’s Feng Mingjun was no longer Ling Xiao’s match.
This man was merely a Shifang Heaven cultivator. In the past, he might have crushed Ling Xiao, but now Ling Xiao paid no heed to Shifang Heaven warriors.
“Was it you who ordered the attack on us just now?”
Ling Xiao asked coldly.
Feng Mingjun froze.
He had thought his strength far surpassed Ling Xiao’s, that he simply lacked prior opportunity.
Only now did he realise his proud power was less than nothing before Ling Xiao.
He feared!
For he thought of his daughter.
She had once humiliated Ling Xiao’s people and tried to kill him, only to have her cultivation crippled.
Would he follow the same path?
“You cannot kill me!”
Feng Mingjun’s earlier bravado vanished. Terror filled his eyes.
Jia Lin hurriedly stepped forward, staring coldly at Ling Xiao.
He and Ling Xiao had met only twice. The first time in Beimo City, he had loftily blocked the Beimo army outside.
Then, Ling Xiao had seemed naive and laughable, claiming he would take Jiumo Zhiyan’s head.
This time, here, he suddenly felt he had truly underestimated this man.
Ling Xiao might be far more terrifying and cunning than imagined.
He suddenly smiled. “Supervisor Ling is indeed formidable. Yet Feng Mingjun is the Emperor’s appointed supervisor of the nine gates. Killing him would slap the Emperor’s face. I think this may be a misunderstanding. With such ability, Supervisor Ling kept Black Crow forces from entering the imperial city. He cannot be a traitor!”
This fellow was truly sly. Shameless enough to say what others could not.
To save Feng Mingjun, he now used both carrot and stick.
Threatening with the Emperor while showing intent to reconcile.
“Misunderstanding?”
Ling Xiao sneered disdainfully. “I see no misunderstanding here. I, Ling Xiao, am also the Emperor’s appointed supervisor! With illustrious battle merits. Returning to the imperial city today, yet attacked by shameless scum. I believe even if I kill him, the Emperor will forgive.”
He no longer feared angering the Emperor.
He meant to establish dominance.
The Emperor already wanted him dead. What was there to fear?
Only sufficient strength would make them wary, truly fear him!
“Ling Xiao, think carefully about the consequences of acting!”
Jia Lin bellowed angrily.
Ling Xiao glanced at him disdainfully, ignoring further talk, and turned to Feng Mingjun. “Who ordered you to attack me?”
“It, it was General Jia Lin!”
With that sharp sword at his throat, Feng Mingjun’s courage shattered. He dragged Jia Lin down too.
“Is what he says true?”
Ling Xiao asked Jia Lin.
“Indeed. Ling Xiao, you lead rebels to besiege the imperial city. Not just arrows, even killing you would be no issue.”
Seeing persuasion futile, Jia Lin abandoned it.
In his view, killing Ling Xiao with his strength would be effortless.
“Good to admit.”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. His sword thrust forward, piercing Feng Mingjun’s throat on the spot.
Against those who sought his life, Ling Xiao showed no mercy. What if Feng Mingjun was Ice Phoenix clan?
Ling Xiao feared nothing!
Returning to the imperial city today, he was prepared for a fight to the death.
“You! You madman, you really killed him!”
Jia Lin was stunned, then shouted.
“Obstructing a meritorious official, does he not deserve death? Killing him is not a crime, but a merit!”
Ling Xiao looked at Jia Lin disdainfully. “Moreover, you condoned his arrows. You deserve death too. But this supervisor has no time to waste words. Open the gates. Past matters, I can overlook!”
Killing Feng Mingjun was easy. Killing Jia Lin was troublesome.
At least, he was no match for Jia Lin. He would need Yue Nu or Xieli.
Today’s return was not for vengeance, but rescue.
If he could save Ji Ning and the others, enduring some grievance was nothing.
Yet Jia Lin courted death.
“Hahahaha, overlook? Who do you think you are?”
Jia Lin laughed wildly. “Son, did you not always want to slay this boy yourself? Today, Father gives you the chance. Kill him, then take his head to the Emperor for reward.”
“Thank you, Father!”
Jia Yun grinned ferociously.
He dreamed of killing Ling Xiao. At Lingyue Courtyard, the imperial city camp, even Beimo City, Ling Xiao had humiliated him repeatedly, made him a laughingstock.
He hated Ling Xiao to the bone.
He knew Ling Xiao’s edge was too sharp. The Emperor disliked it entirely. Killing him would please the Emperor, not invite blame.
“You want to kill me?”
Ling Xiao suddenly laughed.
As if hearing a hilarious joke.
“What, do you truly think yourself invincible? That those three women can breach the wall?”
Jia Yun looked at Ling Xiao disdainfully. “This young master need not act. You will die without burial! Men, seize this traitor!”
