After Ling Xiao memorised the incantations in the Incantation Manual for Array Forging, he realised that these incantations were like living musical notes. Merely memorising the words was far from enough.
Each incantation, when chanted, required a different tone and rhythm, and it had to be paired with soul force to take effect.
This made things somewhat difficult.
Thus, he temporarily set aside trying to understand the incantations for graded array forging and focused all his energy on the basic, ungraded arrays and formations.
This way, with the aid of the array mysteries in the Canon of Conferred Gods, comprehension became much easier.
Even so, for an ordinary sect warrior to fully memorise and master these basics, it would take at least a decade or more.
A genius-level warrior might need less time, perhaps two or three years.
Even a top prodigy would likely need a few months.
However, for Ling Xiao, it took only a few days.
This was his advantage.
No wonder Yang Danlin and Yuan Zun were willing to nurture him wholeheartedly.
Such a genius, if taken by others, could become a formidable adversary.
Originally, Ling Xiao planned to spend three or four days thoroughly mastering these basics before attempting array forging.
But an outer sect deacon came to him, saying someone wanted to challenge him.
“Who?”
Ling Xiao frowned and asked.
He wondered if it could be Zhao Zhi. That fellow had terrible timing.
“The former outer sect rank ten, Yang Cheng!”
The outer sect deacon replied.
“Yang Cheng? Are you sure there’s no mistake?”
Ling Xiao was genuinely shocked.
Just less than an hour ago, he had heard that Yang Cheng was still unconscious in the infirmary. How could he now be challenging him?
“No mistake. It’s Yang Cheng, not someone with the same name, but the Yang Cheng you once defeated!”
Perhaps due to Yang Danlin’s influence, the outer sect deacon was very polite to Ling Xiao. He sighed and said, “Ling Xiao, you’d better be careful. It’s said that an hour ago, the Demonic Flame Heavenly Sovereign visited Yang Cheng, and then he issued the challenge.”
“Oh? The Demonic Flame Heavenly Sovereign went to see Yang Cheng?”
That was indeed unexpected.
What a Heavenly Human Realm powerhouse could do was impossible to predict, so Ling Xiao no longer doubted it.
“When’s the challenge?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“Tomorrow.”
“Sorry, I’m not free tomorrow. Three days. If he’s willing, I’ll accept the challenge in three days.”
Ling Xiao thought for a moment and said.
“Ling Xiao, you need to give a reason. Otherwise, I can’t explain it to Elder Bai.”
“A reason? Is helping the Guanghan Heavenly Sovereign refine pills a good enough reason?”
Ling Xiao was now boldly pulling strings. Since Yang Danlin was definitely going to refine pills for the Guanghan Heavenly Sovereign, he wasn’t exactly lying.
“That’s no problem then.”
Who would dare delay the Guanghan Heavenly Sovereign’s affairs?
After the outer sect deacon returned to the outer sect, he confirmed the timing. Yang Cheng’s side seemed to have no objections, so the challenge was set for three days later, with Yang Cheng challenging Ling Xiao.
“This Yang Cheng lost so badly before, yet he dares to challenge again. He must have some kind of backing. I can’t underestimate him!”
Though Ling Xiao didn’t know what Yang Cheng’s backing was, since the Demonic Flame Heavenly Sovereign was involved, he couldn’t afford to be careless.
He was confident but never arrogant.
After the outer sect deacon left, he continued to seize the time to study the incantations for ungraded arrays in the Incantation Manual for Array Forging, hoping to make a breakthrough soon.
Fortunately, these could be cross-referenced with the Canon of Conferred Gods, yielding excellent results—something even Yang Danlin likely hadn’t noticed.
A day later, his studies were interrupted again.
Not because he lacked progress, but because Lan Yuer arrived.
When Lan Yuer came, her face was grim, her expression almost murderous.
Ling Xiao knew something major had happened.
If it were a minor issue, Lan Yuer wouldn’t be like this.
“I heard that Yang Cheng is challenging you again?”
Lan Yuer asked.
“Yes, but as long as he hasn’t reached the Mortal Realm, I’m not afraid.”
Ling Xiao said calmly.
“You’re confident, alright. Sigh, it’s a pity your cultivation is too weak. If you were stronger, you could avenge Yu Ling.”
Lan Yuer said angrily, “That damned Demonic Flame, he’s even meddling in outer sect affairs now. Truly a wolf’s ambition.”
“What happened to Senior Sister Yu Ling?”
Ling Xiao had been slightly annoyed that Lan Yuer’s sudden visit interrupted his comprehension, but hearing this, he suddenly felt her arrival was perfectly timed.
Recalling the cryptic words Zhao Zhi had said earlier, combined with Lan Yuer’s murderous expression, it was clear that Dai Yuling was in trouble.
“Sigh, that silly girl!”
Lan Yuer gave a bitter smile, “She spent half a month painstakingly nurturing a herb, which was about to mature. Once it did, not only would her herb cultivation skills improve greatly, but her cultivation could also directly advance to the peak of Martial Vein Ninth Layer.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“But good things can turn bad.”
Lan Yuer was practically gnashing her teeth as she continued, “The day before the herb was to mature, Jin Ming, ranked third in the outer sect, Tuoba Shan, ranked fifth, and Gongyang Nu, ranked sixth, destroyed it completely.”
“Destroyed?”
“Yes, those three claimed it was an accident during a sparring session. When Yu Ling confronted them, the three ganged up on her and destroyed her martial soul.”
At this point, Lan Yuer’s eyes were practically blazing with fury.
“What!”
Ling Xiao shot to his feet, a surge of rage burning fiercely within him.
“I was furious when I heard and wanted to cripple those three, but that old ghost Demonic Flame intervened, saying outer sect matters should be settled by outer sect disciples. If I acted, he would too. Even my master told me not to interfere, but Yu Ling is my disciple! This is infuriating.”
Lan Yuer was both enraged and frustrated, or she wouldn’t have come to Ling Xiao.
“Let’s go. Take me to see Senior Sister Yu Ling!”
Ling Xiao knew all too well how devastating it was for a warrior to lose their martial soul.
Especially for someone like Dai Yuling, who had joined the Moonlight Sect solely because of her special martial soul.
Now that her martial soul was destroyed, could she remain in the Moonlight Sect?
Anger!
Unprecedented anger!
Ling Xiao felt he hadn’t been this furious since his family was killed by the Li family.
Even when the Ling family was besieged, he had remained calm.
But today, he only wanted to kill!
He knew that Dai Yuling was likely targeted because of him, and that made it impossible for him to stay calm.
Fine, since you’re courting death, I, Ling Xiao, will grant your wish!
Jin Ming, Tuoba Shan, and Gongyang Nu of the Moonlight Sect can be erased from existence!
So what if I offend the Demonic Flame Heavenly Sovereign?
At worst, I’ll roam the martial world!
