“Of course. The top three in the White Tiger Wind and Cloud Gathering will each be rewarded with one Profound Realm Law. This law is absolute. Apart from the very strongest few people in the Profound Realm, no one can violate it. With it, you and your empire will naturally benefit endlessly.”
Hong Qi laughed as he spoke.
“The first place should get the best law, right?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Indeed. But getting first place will not be easy. Forget the Ten Phoenix Sons of the Divine Phoenix Empire for now. Even the Seven Sha Stars of the Black Crow Empire are tough to deal with. Not to mention, there will also be some young martial artists from the White Tiger Continent participating as guests. Although they are not the top geniuses of the White Tiger Continent, they are not weaker than the Ten Phoenix Sons or the Seven Sha Stars.
There are also the geniuses from the Five Immortal Islands and the Seven Martial Sect Islands. You must not underestimate them.”
Hong Qi said with a sigh.
“Just like how I took first place in the Martial Dao Festival back then, the top spot in the White Tiger Wind and Cloud Gathering will definitely be mine.”
If he did not even believe in himself, how could he expect others to believe in him?
Hong Qi looked deeply at Ling Xiao, as if seeing himself in his younger days.
But Ling Xiao was even more arrogant and confident than he had been at that age.
Today, he had originally planned to advise Ling Xiao to keep a low profile and avoid the sharp edge for now.
Yet now he found himself unable to say it.
The path Ling Xiao was taking was different from his own, and his own path had ended in failure. Because he had hidden his light and bided his time, many people harassed him without fear, making him extremely annoyed.
The current situation with Ling Xiao was much better.
Perhaps it was best to wait and see, and let Ling Xiao walk his own path.
“Grandfather, why don’t you come back to Qingxu Academy with me?”
Ling Xiao suggested.
“Better not. It is easier for grandfather to protect you from the shadows. Right now, no one knows about my connection to you, so when people calculate your fighting strength, they will not include me.”
Hong Qi smiled and said, “But there is one thing grandfather needs your help with.”
“Just tell me, grandfather.”
Ling Xiao nodded.
“This pill formula was found in a book left behind by your mother. It seems it can restore my cultivation. If possible, please help refine it. If not, do not worry about it.”
As he spoke, Hong Qi handed the pill formula to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao glanced at it. This was a top-grade Profound Rank pill. With his current level, he could not refine it at all.
However, as long as his cultivation reached the high stage of the Heavenly Cave Realm, that is, above the Seventh Heavenly Cave Realm, he might have a chance.
This was not an unreachable goal.
“Grandfather, I cannot refine this pill yet for the time being. But rest assured, it will not take long. For now, I will first help you gather the medicinal herbs.”
Ling Xiao replied.
“Then I will trouble you, little rascal. When grandfather came here earlier, I noticed a group of people lying in ambush outside Qingxu Academy. They are probably targeting you. Be careful when you go back.”
Hong Qi glanced at the Moon Lady, thinking that with her around, those people could not possibly do anything to Ling Xiao.
What he did not know was that when Ling Xiao heard this, a very excited gleam appeared in his eyes.
After parting with Hong Qi, Ling Xiao returned to Qingxu Academy together with the Moon Lady. It was already night, and a light drizzle had begun to fall.
On both sides of the mountain path leading to Qingxu Academy, dozens of dark figures lay hidden, their eyes wide open like beasts hunting in the dark.
“Sister Moon Lady, no matter what happens later, even if I am about to be killed, you must not take action.”
Ling Xiao suddenly stopped walking and spoke to the Moon Lady who was concealed in the darkness.
“I cannot do that.”
The Moon Lady said after a moment of silence.
“You must do it, even if you cannot. This might be the best opportunity for me to improve my cultivation. I do not want to miss it.”
Ling Xiao gritted his teeth and said, “If you truly care for my good, do not intervene. If you feel you cannot hold back, then hide far away and do not watch.”
The Moon Lady remained silent and did not reply.
Ling Xiao sighed. He knew the Moon Lady probably could not do it. But he also believed she could judge whether he was truly in danger or not. As long as she did not rush to act, that would be enough.
He quickened his pace and walked to the centre of the dangerous mountain path.
“It is raining, and no one is wearing a hat. Come out quickly, settle this matter, and then go home to rest.”
He stood there, his clear cold voice carrying into the pitch-black bushes.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
In an instant, dozens of figures sprang out from the bushes.
But there were still some hiding inside.
Ling Xiao could not help but show a cold smile.
His Taiji Eyes had the ability to see through things. He could directly look past the shadowy bushes and naturally knew exactly how many people were there.
“The Heavenly Dragon King truly lives up to his reputation. We are all assassins who have undergone special training, yet you still discovered us.”
One of them spoke. He appeared to be the leader of the group.
On the black cloth wrapped around his head was embroidered a silver poisonous snake.
“Who exactly are you people?”
Ling Xiao asked.
He was very interested to know who still had such great power to send so many experts after him, even after so many Justice Divine Guard trainees had been killed.
The silver poisonous snake in front of him had cultivation at the First Heavenly Cave Realm, but he felt much stronger than Peng Yue and that Commander Liu.
A thick killing intent spread out. One look and it was clear this man had killed many people.
Hiding in the bushes were four more people, also First Heavenly Cave Realm martial artists.
They were all between forty and fifty years old. On their face cloths were embroidered a scorpion, a centipede, a toad, and a spider.
Their strength was similar to that of the silver snake.
The poisonous snake did not answer Ling Xiao’s question. Instead, he questioned back, “Ling Xiao, although you are the Heavenly Dragon King, you killed over a thousand Justice Divine Guards in the street and also murdered two pillars of the empire, the Star Phoenix Son and the Heavenly Peng Phoenix Son. You have committed a monstrous crime.
If you know what is good for you, come with us. Otherwise, today this place will become your grave!”
Ling Xiao gave a slight smile. This situation today was interesting. Five First Heavenly Cave Realm martial artists joining forces, plus dozens of half-step Heavenly Cave Realm breakthrough-stage martial artists, all coming to take his life.
In the Imperial Capital, apart from the Eight Great Clans and the Righteous Alliance, no one else should have this kind of ability.
Was it the Righteous Alliance?
The Peacock Clan?
The Great Peng Clan?
Or the Ice Phoenix Clan?
Ling Xiao pondered, yet his gaze carried a trace of coldness. “There is no need to speak so nobly. Since you have come to take my life, just come out together. You few weaklings are not my opponents. As for the four hiding in the bushes, do I really need to invite you out myself?”
With that, Ling Xiao suddenly raised his hand. A powerful sword qi sliced through the bushes.
The four people also leaped out.
Poisonous Snake, Scorpion, Centipede, Toad, Spider!
“Interesting. You must be the famous Five Poisons Assassins from the Five Poisons Hall of the Dark God Temple, right?”
Ling Xiao recognised their origins with a single glance.
Because Hong Qi had just given him a rough explanation of the situation after the Holy Dynasty’s national religion split.
The Dark God Temple was one of the Twelve God Temples. They specialised in training assassins. In the past, they had made great contributions to the Holy Dynasty by assassinating many generals of the True Demon Empire.
