“Lingxiao, are you mad? Didn’t you hear what our Brother Shangguan said? By doing this, aren’t you afraid he will kill you?”
The warrior whose finger had been severed spoke in terror.
“Afraid?”
Lingxiao let out a disdainful sneer. “He wants to die. Do you all plan to follow him and court death together? I give you ten breaths to get out completely. Otherwise, not one will be spared!”
Too terrifying.
Too powerful.
Was this Lingxiao?
The rumoured Son of the Demon God?
Lingxiao had many nicknames, most of them rather sinister, and nearly all given by his enemies.
Far from being annoyed by these titles, he actually thought they suited him quite well.
“Lingxiao, you are truly finished.”
Despite shouting boldly, the Divine Phoenix Academy disciples on the top level of the Tianyuan Treasure Pagoda still fled as if their lives depended on it.
“Those still cultivating, get out as well. Do not make me repeat myself.”
Lingxiao glanced at the cultivation chambers. In one of them, a warrior was clearly still practising.
“I am the son of the Emperor. How dare you drive me away?”
A cold shout emerged from that chamber.
The Divine Phoenix Emperor was said to have ten sons. One ranked among the Ten Phoenix Sons, while eight others were also Cave Heaven Realm warriors, though not listed among the Ten Phoenix Sons. They were training deep within the palace, supposedly as official Justice Guards.
Only this youngest son had yet to advance to the Cave Heaven Realm.
“Get lost!”
A cold smile curved Lingxiao’s lips.
Your father the Emperor has already sent the Justice Guards to kill me. How could I not dare to drive you away?
Not killing you is already showing that old man face.
“You dare tell me to get lost?”
The Emperor’s son, Feng Ming Yashan, was so furious that words could not describe it.
Though he was not the heir apparent, he was still an imperial son, a close relative of the royal family. Yet someone actually dared to tell him to get lost?
“So much nonsense!”
Lingxiao flicked his robe sleeve. The stone door, which should have been protected by a formation, shattered with a boom. The noble Emperor’s son was blasted out forcefully.
“You!”
Feng Ming Yashan was covered in bloodstains. Though only superficial wounds, he could not endure such humiliation.
“Still not leaving?”
A ferocious grin appeared on Lingxiao’s face.
“I am leaving! But just you wait!”
Feng Ming Yashan did not dare linger. He had heard of Lingxiao’s terror. Facing this madman, he truly dared not resist. If this person wanted to kill him, he would really do it without any regard for his status.
“I will be waiting!”
Lingxiao smiled at the fleeing Feng Ming Yashan. He had heard such threats many times. They held no meaning at all.
“Lingxiao, I think you should still be careful. Feng Ming Yashan is the Emperor’s youngest son, spoiled since childhood by his nine elder brothers and his father. He has an extremely vicious heart. He is definitely the type to seek revenge at all costs, and by any means.”
Feng Yanran warned.
“I wish he would come after me.”
Lingxiao smiled faintly.
If Feng Ming Yashan did not target him, how could he find justification to deal with Feng Ming Wuliang?
“You really are something. I truly cannot see through you. So, three days from now, will you accept Shangguan Hong’s challenge?”
Feng Yanran asked.
“Of course I will go. Why wouldn’t I? This mere ant is quite curious to see just how capable that arrogant Shangguan Hong truly is.”
Lingxiao was certainly going.
What he sought now was a hearty, exhilarating battle, preferably one that appeared utterly hopeless. Only that might stimulate him enough to escape that strange state. Otherwise, stuck in this condition, though powerful, it could never bring peace of mind.
“You all cultivate here in peace. With the formation I set up, ordinary people will not be able to break it.”
After settling everyone, Lingxiao returned to Qingxu Academy and entered a secret realm to cultivate.
Feng Qingyan had arranged the best cultivation secret realm for him.
Not only because of their close personal friendship, but also because Lingxiao was currently the greatest pride of the entire Qingxu Academy.
Over these three days, all sorts of events continued to ferment.
The deaths of Star Phoenix Son and Tian Peng Phoenix Son had once again created vacancies among the Ten Phoenix Sons.
When Peacock Phoenix Son had been crippled earlier, a mysterious newcomer had taken his place and directly entered the ranks of the Ten Phoenix Sons.
Now, with the deaths of Star Phoenix Son and Tian Peng Phoenix Son, no such mysterious newcomer had appeared.
Thus, at the request of Shangguan Hong and others, the Emperor planned to hold an arena battle in the imperial capital’s plaza.
The two victors would become the successor Phoenix Sons.
The participants in this contest had already been decided: Shangguan Hong, Jia Tianfeng, Kong Ming, and Ji Luoyu.
However, if anyone was dissatisfied, they could issue a challenge on the spot.
At present, the imperial capital was abuzz with activity, filled with numerous young talents. Yet not all were interested in the title of Phoenix Son.
Therefore, it was not certain that warriors stronger than these four would step forward.
Still, the Emperor left this opportunity open for those young people.
Once one became a Phoenix Son, it meant becoming a person of the Divine Phoenix Empire. Betraying it would bring great trouble.
Thus, young people who valued freedom might not easily participate in such a challenge.
Lingxiao cultivated alone in the secret realm, but his primal spirit had detached from his body and remained fully aware of the outside situation.
He very much enjoyed joining in such lively events.
He reckoned many experts would participate when the time came. It would also be a good chance to hone himself.
Though he had been cultivating these past few days, that strange state continued to envelop him. He could not dispel it, and his progress had stalled completely.
So he stopped cultivating, intending to go out and see if he might encounter some opportunity.
After all, such matters could not be rushed. He had been pondering how to resolve his body’s predicament ever since the Tianchao Divine Capital, yet even after arriving in the Divine Phoenix Imperial Capital, he still had no solution.
The only insight he had gained was to engage in a battle that seemed certain death.
Only then might he break free from his predicament.
Such an opportunity was extremely dangerous, but without destruction there could be no creation. One must face death to be reborn. He was originally someone who loved taking risks, and with the Mountain River Martial Soul aiding him, even in a seemingly fatal situation, he believed he could turn it around.
Staying cooped up in the academy, such an opportunity would likely be hard to find.
Therefore, going out for a while might truly be worthwhile.
However, just as he stepped out of the secret realm, a familiar figure suddenly flashed past him.
Though Lingxiao could not immediately recall who it belonged to, he followed nonetheless.
This person was clearly luring him away from Qingxu Academy, probably because speaking there would be inconvenient.
After nearly a quarter of an hour, Lingxiao arrived at a desolate area outside the imperial capital.
The figure also slowed down and eventually stopped.
“Senior, just who are you? Why lead this junior here, and for what purpose?”
Lingxiao asked from about a hundred metres away.
At this distance, both attack and retreat would be convenient.
Of course, he did not notice that a graceful figure had quietly followed him as well.
This person was naturally Yue Nü.
Yue Nü’s protection of Lingxiao was truly comprehensive.
