The Justice Divine Guards were, after all, only peripheral reserve troops.
Yet under the command of a First Cave Heaven realm thousand-man commander, more than a thousand of them had been killed in an instant.
In passing, more than a hundred of the so-called young prodigies from the Divine Phoenix Academy had also been eliminated.
And all of this had been done by a youth who was merely seventeen years old.
Countless people stared with wide eyes, unable to believe the reality before them.
“Do you regret it?”
Ling Xiao looked indifferently at Commander Liu, his voice cold and laced with mockery. “It was your order that caused their deaths. If I were you, I would absolutely atone with my own life.”
“It is my fault. It is my fault.”
Commander Liu murmured in a daze, his expression vacant.
Ling Xiao’s strength had completely exceeded his expectations.
Was it not said that half a year ago Ling Xiao only possessed Ninth Layer Heaven cultivation? How could he possibly break through to the Cave Heaven realm in just six months?
Was that even feasible?
Possible or not, the facts were laid bare before him. What he found hardest to accept was that even now he still had no idea just how powerful Ling Xiao’s cultivation truly was.
That terrifying Dark Sword Domain was simply too dreadful.
The profound meaning of shadow combined with a sword domain was a match made in heaven, unimaginably strong.
No matter how many enemies there were, once they entered his sword domain they had no chance of victory.
This Ling Xiao was a god within the Dark Sword Domain.
He was a demonic deity.
Ling Xiao himself was also very satisfied with this second use of the Dark Sword Domain.
Previously, he had merely fused the two together and tested its power against illusory figures in a phantom realm.
But those were, after all, fake.
Today marked the Dark Sword Domain’s first real combat use, and its might surprised even him.
Worthy indeed of the profound ultimate technique left behind by the Human King. It seemed that if he continued to comprehend along this path, he would become even stronger.
The Dark Sword Domain was already this terrifying.
Then what about the even more fearsome Light Sword Domain?
What kind of immense power would the fusion of Scarlet Sun force with the sword domain produce?
Ling Xiao felt boundless anticipation in his heart.
It was only a pity that here and now, no one remained worthy of forcing him to unleash the Light Sword Domain.
There was a saying in the martial world: once one advanced to the Cave Heaven realm, tactics relying on overwhelming numbers would become utterly ineffective.
Because every Cave Heaven realm warrior possessed their own cave heaven domain.
Once enemies entered it, they would fall completely into disadvantage.
However many came, that many would die.
And Ling Xiao had magnified this advantage to its absolute limit.
People gazed at Ling Xiao, recalling all the things he had done before. They felt an intense awe towards this young man.
“Better to provoke the imperial family than to provoke Ling Xiao.”
Such words spread widely throughout the imperial capital.
Though perhaps somewhat exaggerated, in the eyes of many, Ling Xiao’s fearsomeness had truly surpassed that of the Divine Phoenix Empire’s imperial family.
When the imperial family killed, they at least had to consider the consequences.
But Ling Xiao cared for nothing. He acted solely according to his own heart.
Pfft!
Suddenly, the sound of flesh being pierced rang out.
Commander Liu of the Justice Divine Guards, staring at the corpses strewn across the ground, could no longer bear the pressure in his heart and committed suicide on the spot.
He knew full well that if he did not choose suicide now, he would still be killed upon return.
Although the reserve troops of the Justice Divine Guards he had led were not yet particularly strong, they represented potential future power.
And now they were all dead.
How could he possibly explain this to the Emperor?
“You are at least a true man.”
Ling Xiao glanced indifferently at Commander Liu, then declared in a loud voice, “The Justice Divine Guards have been executed for their crimes. The rebellion has been suppressed. Everyone may rest assured and need not panic.”
With that, he suddenly turned his head to look at Peng Yue, the Heavenly Peng Phoenix Son.
If not for Peng Yue’s final instigation, Commander Liu would likely have chosen to withdraw.
How could Ling Xiao possibly let Peng Yue off?
He had already killed so many. He did not mind killing one more.
“Was it you who incited him to kill me just now?”
Ling Xiao stared at Peng Yue. His icy voice caused Peng Yue’s blood to seem as if it froze in an instant.
He felt unprecedented terror.
His strength was comparable to Kong He’s, slightly superior to the Star Phoenix Son, but it was still only First Cave Heaven realm cultivation.
Commander Liu had been far stronger than him, yet he had gained no advantage whatsoever against Ling Xiao.
Was he truly going to die here today?
“I am the Heavenly Peng Phoenix Son. I am the young lord of the Great Peng clan. Do you dare to kill me?”
Peng Yue was afraid. He could only use his status to intimidate Ling Xiao.
“I have only just killed the Star Phoenix Son. I do not mind killing a Heavenly Peng Phoenix Son as well. Moreover, the Great Peng clan has more than one young lord candidate. If you die, perhaps another will emerge.”
Ling Xiao revealed a mocking cold smile. “Besides, I am the Heavenly Dragon King conferred by the Emperor himself. I am a prince of the Divine Phoenix Empire. You actually dared to incite rebels to kill me. Why should I not kill you?”
Peng Yue was stunned.
Truth be told, he had long forgotten that Ling Xiao also held the title of Heavenly Dragon King.
Thinking carefully now, no matter what, the Heavenly Dragon King was still a prince of the Divine Phoenix Empire. Even as a prince of a different surname, he remained a prince.
For him to publicly incite others to kill a prince was tantamount to treason.
Although Commander Liu had claimed they were sent by the Emperor, there was no imperial edict. Now, with everyone dead, there were no witnesses. The Emperor would certainly not acknowledge it.
He had jumped into a stormy ocean from which he could never wash himself clean.
If Ling Xiao killed him, not only would the reason be fully justified, but it would also be entirely righteous. Even the Emperor could find no fault with it.
“If you kill me, are you not afraid the Great Peng clan will cause trouble for you? No matter what, I am the most outstanding youth of the Great Peng clan. They cannot possibly fail to protect me.”
Peng Yue was now thoroughly terrified. The person before him was a madman who dared to kill anyone.
He knew that saying these words might not help, but he had to say them.
If he remained silent, he would certainly die.
If he spoke, perhaps he still had a chance to live.
“Is the protection you speak of referring to these two useless fools?”
Leng Mei, who had vanished at some unknown point, reappeared. Two heads were thrown at Peng Yue’s feet.
“You! You actually killed them!”
Peng Yue’s heart turned utterly ice-cold.
The two who had been killed were bodyguards specially assigned to him by the clan. Both were Third Cave Heaven realm experts.
Yet now they had become mere corpses.
How could this be!
How could things have turned out like this!
Peng Yue trembled all over. Just what kind of madman, what kind of terrifying monster had he offended?
By his side, Jia Tian Feng and Kong Ming had quietly slipped away at some point.
The two of them felt boundless relief that they had not instigated Commander Liu nor made a move themselves.
Otherwise, they would probably now find themselves in the same perilous situation as Peng Yue.
Yet neither felt at ease in their hearts.
By standing by and doing nothing today, they would inevitably be mocked by their peers. All of this had been caused by Ling Xiao.
Therefore, they swore that upon returning to their clans, they would cultivate even more diligently. No matter what, they had to reach a level where they could kill Ling Xiao.
Otherwise, even if Yue Nü were not protecting Ling Xiao, they would still be unable to kill him. That would be truly embarrassing.
“Jia Tian Feng, Kong Ming, you two despicable cowards. When we swore brotherhood, what did you say? That we would share blessings and face hardships together. Now that I am in peril, you actually refuse to help?”
