Ling Xiao gave a disdainful cold laugh and said, “I will make this clear today. Anyone who dares to touch a merchant of my Heavenly Dynasty again, I will surely kill him. This man serves as an example. Even if he belongs to Ji Mingxing, or even to Bian Tianyan, I will still kill without mercy!
A worthless fool who does not know how to cultivate diligently and rid himself of the label of waste, yet likes to bully the elderly. Living like that makes him nothing but human scum.”
With those words, he led Yue Nü and Leng Mei towards the city interior.
The patrol captain surprisingly did not dare to stop them. He stood there stunned for a long while before anger finally showed in his eyes.
A mere human actually dared to show him no respect!
He actually dared to kill someone right in front of him. This was something he could never accept.
“I say, sir, you had better not get angry. Ling Xiao is not someone you can provoke. He even dares to curse the current Emperor. Compared to the Emperor, what are you?”
A bystander warrior advised the captain.
“How is that possible? Does he really have such audacity?”
The captain was stunned.
“Believe it or not. Many people witnessed that scene. This Young Hero Ling openly defied the Righteous Alliance and the imperial family, forcibly killing Sikong Zun, the vice dean of the Divine Phoenix Academy. Tell me, is that impressive or not?”
Hearing this, the captain slumped weakly to the ground.
“Good heavens, who on earth was I just speaking to?”
By this time, Ling Xiao had already entered the city.
Colourful flags fluttered throughout the city, creating a lively scene.
Every street and alley radiated a festive atmosphere. Yet all this was not for the Dragon-Phoenix Selection, but for the wedding of a man and a woman.
The groom was Ji Mingxing, descendant of the Sage Dynasty, rumoured to be the heir of the Sage Emperor, plotting to restore the Sage Dynasty and overthrow the Heavenly Dynasty.
The bride was Feng Minglian, daughter of Feng Mingxiao, a member of the Ice Phoenix Clan and imperial family, the current Emperor’s own niece.
Ling Xiao fully understood the Emperor’s intentions.
He sought to use Ji Mingxing as a puppet to seize the fruits of Ling Xiao’s victories.
After all, on the Heavenly Dragon Continent, there were still many who clung to the glory of the Sage Dynasty.
Thinking of this, Ling Xiao could not help but reveal a cold smile. “Emperor, oh Emperor, do you truly believe the puppet you support can threaten me? Today, I will make you lose all hope completely!”
He would never hand over the empire he had fought so hard to build. The remnants of the previous dynasty should abandon their delusions.
Today was likely the grand wedding ceremony of Feng Minglian and Ji Mingxing. Ling Xiao felt he had arrived at just the right time.
The entire imperial capital was celebrating this couple. It was truly worthy of an Emperor-arranged marriage, far more extravagant than any commoner’s wedding.
If he crippled Ji Mingxing in front of so many people, what expression would the Emperor wear?
Ling Xiao could not help but smile at the thought.
Ji Mingxing had crippled Ji Mingkong, who was his friend. This had touched his reverse scale and was absolutely intolerable.
Moreover, Ling Xiao found it strange. With Ji Mingkong’s cultivation and strength, how could she have been so easily crippled by Ji Mingxing?
He felt there must be something more to it.
But this was not the moment to investigate. Whatever the reason, the fact remained that Ji Mingxing had crippled his friend.
Therefore, Ji Mingxing must also be crippled, even if the Emperor tried to intervene!
His current strength was still not great enough, so he had to endure certain things and could not yet touch certain people.
If he advanced to the Yin-Yang realm, he would definitely dare to storm straight into the Divine Phoenix Empire’s imperial palace and slay Emperor Feng Ming Wuliang.
This man had tried multiple times to kill him. Though none had succeeded, a deep enmity had been forged.
Without strength, one must play the grandson. Ling Xiao did not wish to do so for too long.
“Let us go watch the excitement.”
With a faint smile, Ling Xiao stepped towards the liveliest direction in the imperial capital today.
There stood the mansion that Emperor Feng Ming Wuliang had specially bestowed upon Ji Mingxing, where today’s wedding would be held.
It was certain that the capital’s dignitaries, nobles, and generals would all come to offer congratulations.
As the King of the Heavenly Dragon, Ling Xiao had no reason not to prepare a “congratulatory gift”.
Deep within the palace, Feng Yinshan revealed a helpless bitter smile.
“This Ling Xiao really knows how to cause trouble. He has only just returned and already killed one of Ji Mingxing’s lackeys. Is he trying to slap the Emperor in the face?”
In terms of raw strength, he might be inferior to Feng Ming Qishan and Feng Ming Wuliang, but in intelligence gathering, he had trained many capable hands.
Ling Xiao’s reappearance in the imperial capital filled him with some excitement and anticipation.
Only someone like Ling Xiao could stir up the waters of the capital, allowing him to profit from the chaos.
The last time Ling Xiao visited the capital, he had gained considerable benefits.
This time, he was equally expectant.
After all, for now, he and Ling Xiao remained allies.
“Master, the current imperial capital is not the same as before. Do you think Ling Xiao can still display his unique charm as he did last time?”
Feng Yinshan looked towards the white-bearded elder, Zhou Yun, dean of the Pure Void Academy.
“No matter how many geniuses there are, they are merely foils in the end. Ling Xiao’s sword must already be thirsting impatiently. Even sitting here, your master can feel that soaring killing intent.”
Zhou Yun stroked his beard and said, “Our strategy need not change. We will continue to focus on allying with Ling Xiao. This time, I fear the commotion he causes will be even greater than the last!”
At this point, Zhou Yun paused and looked at Feng Yinshan. “How has Your Highness’s cultivation been lately? Do not let Ling Xiao catch up.”
“Rest assured, Master. With me here, Ling Xiao will forever only qualify as the second best!”
As he spoke these words, the usually refined and gentle Feng Yinshan suddenly displayed astonishing dominance.
That powerful aura clearly belonged to a Cave Heaven realm warrior, and at a high level.
“Good. It seems you have indeed not been idle. Your cultivation has broken through again.”
Zhou Yun smiled. “In ancient times, there were two outstanding figures, Yu and Liang. Yu was always suppressed by Liang, leading to the saying ‘Why was Liang born when Yu already exists?’ Today, in this old man’s view, it should be ‘With Ling Xiao born, why was Yinshan born?’ Hahaha.”
In Zhou Yun’s eyes, though Ling Xiao was powerful, he was ultimately just a piece on Feng Yinshan’s chessboard.
Including Feng Ming Wuliang, Feng Ming Qishan, Feng Mingxiao, and even himself, they were merely pieces in Feng Yinshan’s game.
Only he knew the true terror and wisdom of Feng Yinshan.
…
Near the Divine Phoenix Academy stood the former residence of the Northern Border King Ji Ning.
It had clearly been renovated anew, its luxury and grandeur probably rivalling any ducal mansion in the capital.
This was now the mansion Emperor Feng Ming Wuliang had bestowed upon Ji Mingxing.
The vermilion gates stood wide open. The plaque reading “Great General’s Mansion” had been removed and replaced with the imperial grant “Holy Son’s Mansion”.
It seemed Ling Xiao’s guess was correct. Emperor Feng Ming Wuliang truly intended to establish Ji Mingxing as the Holy Son of the Sage Dynasty, then manipulate him from behind the scenes.
From outside, one could see that within the Hero Mansion, a massive stage had been set up in the enormous courtyard.
Below it were rows of banquet tables.
