Of course Ling Xiao knew about the enemies’ secret schemes.
He was also fully aware of the consequences of killing Ji Mingxing and thoroughly offending Fengming Wuliang.
But so what?
Would he refrain from avenging his friend just because he was afraid?
Of course not.
Ling Xiao had always been a man who followed his conscience.
If his friend was crippled and he did not seek revenge, he would truly be worse than a pig or a dog. In the future, if he encountered danger, who would be willing to risk their life for him?
If this matter brought trouble and someone wanted to kill him, then let them come.
He, Ling Xiao, had never feared others’ vendettas.
One comes, he kills one.
A pair comes, he kills a pair.
His sword greatly enjoyed drinking the blood of enemies.
Even if he died as a result, he would have no regrets. Putting himself in harm’s way for a friend was not just empty words; it was something he truly meant to do.
Why was Yue Nü willing to follow him?
Why did Leng Mei never abandon him?
Why were so many heroes and outstanding figures willing to support him in building the Tianchao Empire?
Why were so many friends willing to go mad with him?
It was precisely because he valued loyalty.
His righteousness was not mere lip service, but something he genuinely acted upon.
The kind of person one is naturally attracts the corresponding kind of friends.
People like Peng Yue, Jia Tianfeng, and Kong Ming, who thought themselves clever and chose to ignore their friends to preserve themselves, naturally ended up with equally heartless and disloyal companions.
Whereas Ling Xiao had gained true friends who would live and die with him, such as Leng Mei, Long Chen, Ji Ning, Wu Xiang, and others.
Therefore, everything he had done before, though reckless, was upright and open. He had no regrets or complaints.
At this moment, he had already returned to Qingxu Academy with Fengming Lian, Leng Mei, and Long Chen.
The battle in the distance between Yue Nü and the Divine Phoenix Ancestor had also concluded.
Yue Nü returned safely, surprisingly without a single injury. It seemed that the moonstone Ling Xiao had obtained in Sin City last time had greatly boosted her cultivation.
He did not ask about the Divine Phoenix Ancestor’s situation. As long as Yue Nü was safe, that was enough.
Qingxu Academy was now deserted.
Without the support of the Tianlong Trading Company, it probably would have collapsed long ago.
It was not due to poor management, but because of pressure from the Divine Phoenix Empire.
Almost all the talented disciples had been forcibly taken by Divine Phoenix Academy.
This caused great pain within the academy, yet there was nothing they could do.
Just half a year ago, when Qingxu Academy was still thriving, a young man had arrived and requested to join.
However, merely a month later, he switched to Divine Phoenix Academy.
His name was Shangguan Hong.
He was a man, an eighteen-year-old youth.
At that time, his cultivation had already reached the mature stage of Half-step Cave Heaven Realm.
Now, half a year later, no one knew how his cultivation had progressed.
But his departure had undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to the morale of Qingxu Academy for quite some time.
Ling Xiao’s return finally brought some life back to the academy.
Those who remained here were genuinely willing to stay.
They were filled with admiration and aspiration towards this genius disciple of Qingxu Academy.
Ling Xiao had more than once publicly stated that since he had joined Qingxu Academy, he was a disciple of Qingxu Academy.
If the academy faced difficulties, he would certainly help.
Therefore, the disciples here took pride in him. When Divine Phoenix Academy provoked them in the Tianyuan Treasure Pagoda, they would retort using Ling Xiao’s name.
The people from Divine Phoenix Academy would inevitably turn red with embarrassment.
Because to this day, Divine Phoenix Academy still had no disciple who could defeat Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao was simply the nightmare of Divine Phoenix Academy.
The moment he stepped into the academy, Ling Xiao truly felt as if he had returned home.
“It’s Senior Brother Ling!”
“Junior Brother Ling is back. This is great!”
“Yes, our academy hasn’t had such a moment of pride for a while. As soon as Junior Brother Ling returned, he eliminated Mingxing Huangzi and Tianpeng Huangzi. Well done!”
Whether it was newcomers to Qingxu Academy or disciples who had been cultivating there for a long time, they were all filled with anticipation and excitement at Ling Xiao’s reappearance.
By the time Ling Xiao returned to Qingxu Academy, everything he had done at Ji Mingxing’s wedding had already spread throughout the entire imperial capital.
The storytellers, with their eloquent tongues, depicted the tale vividly and thoroughly.
Many people whispered among themselves, “Ling Xiao is back. What kind of storm will that fearless young man stir up in the imperial capital this time?”
There was another interesting matter.
Fengming Xiao had also returned from the White Tiger Continent, bringing back the Medicine King Sun Ran and his disciple Ji Luoyu.
In the marketplace, Fengming Xiao, in a fit of anger, attempted to kill a “loose-tongued” storyteller.
Yet surprisingly, under the attack of Fengming Xiao, a powerhouse with third-level Yin-Yang Realm cultivation, the storyteller emerged unscathed.
Afterwards, Fengming Xiao left without a word.
The storyteller simply continued telling his tale.
When many people heard about this incident, they were even more shocked than hearing that Ling Xiao had killed Ji Mingxing.
Could that storyteller actually be a master?
All the major forces in the Divine Phoenix Empire speculated, but the only information they obtained was one thing.
The storyteller called himself “Hong Qi”.
Others did not know, but if Ling Xiao knew, he would certainly be so excited that he could not sleep.
Hong Qi was the name of his grandfather, the old beggar who had cared for him for over ten years.
Why had Hong Qi come to the imperial capital?
There was only one reason: for Ling Xiao.
Now, with the changing situation in the imperial capital, Hong Qi, who had gradually recovered some of his cultivation, no longer needed to worry about his own safety.
He could now quietly watch over Ling Xiao from nearby. If Ling Xiao ever faced danger, he would surely step in to help.
Unfortunately, many people did not know that Hong Qi was Ling Xiao’s grandfather.
They only thought he was a wandering powerhouse who had arrived there. As long as they did not provoke him, there would be no danger.
At this time, they were busy dealing with Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao had risen far too quickly.
Half a year ago, he was merely a martial artist at the Ninth Heaven cultivation level.
Yet now, he could easily kill Tianpeng Huangzi, who was at the First Cave Heaven Realm.
This could not help but terrify people.
Especially those who had always wanted Ling Xiao dead. New grudges and old hatreds intertwined, and anger had completely overtaken their minds.
By any means necessary, they wanted Ling Xiao to die.
Excuses?
They did not care about excuses at all.
Did one need an excuse to kill someone?
“Those who comply with me prosper; those who defy me perish.” That was their motto.
The deaths of Ji Mingxing and Peng Yue were merely catalysts for their hatred.
…
Ling Xiao truly knew nothing about Hong Qi’s appearance.
But he was well aware of those enemies’ secret schemes.
As soon as he arrived in the Divine Phoenix imperial capital, he had done such earth-shattering things. To say no one was targeting him would be something even he himself would not believe.
So, for now, he certainly needed to make some preparations.
Not fearing death did not mean being reckless or foolish.
Knowing that someone might assassinate him and still treating it lightly would simply make one an idiot.
Ling Xiao had already made full preparations for this. Even if he encountered an assassination attempt now, he could absolutely guarantee that he would escape unscathed.
