The Terrifying Finger was not unique to the Moonlight Sect, so giving it to Zhao Zhi posed no issue.
“Rare Gold Rank martial art!”
Zhao Zhi was overjoyed. He had thought befriending Ling Xiao would bring benefits, but he hadn’t expected them so soon, and so substantial. As a newly promoted inner disciple, he hadn’t yet accumulated enough points to enter the Inner Gate Moonlight Tower. This rare Gold Rank martial art was incredibly valuable to him.
“Go cultivate it. I got it in the secular world and used it before. You’ve seen its power,” Ling Xiao said with a smile. “Don’t refuse. I don’t like owing favors.”
“Alright then.”
Zhao Zhi had initially wanted to decline, but hearing Ling Xiao’s words, he accepted it.
“Junior Brother Ling, you may not take my advice, but be careful. If I’m right, those three are definitely out to get you,” Zhao Zhi said, feeling even more compelled to help after receiving Ling Xiao’s gift.
“I will!”
Back at his cave dwelling, Ling Xiao spent half an hour preparing meticulously.
He refined two batches of elixirs, adding to his existing stock, ensuring he had a full range: restoring true essence, vitality, healing wounds, and countering negative effects.
He didn’t need too many, just enough for his use.
He also prepared some Fire Snake Array Stones.
These were his most proficient attack-type formations. While they might not cause significant harm to Transcendent Realm martial artists, used strategically, they could produce unexpected results.
With time constraints, this was the best he could do.
If he became an inner disciple later, he could prepare stronger array stones.
For now, these would suffice to ensure his survival and safe return to the Moonlight Sect.
The mission started at the time of acceptance, with a one-week deadline.
Failure to complete it within a week, even if the objectives were met later, would be deemed a failure.
Normally, Ling Xiao might not have prepared so thoroughly.
But this was different.
It was his first sect mission.
He also believed Zhao Zhi’s judgment was correct: Wanyan Jun, Chen Zui, and Shangguan Lei were likely sent by Hei Suo or Meng Yuan to deal with him.
During an external mission, those three could easily find an excuse to eliminate him.
This mission’s difficulty was likely beyond Level 3, possibly reaching Level 4 for Ling Xiao.
He wasn’t just facing the mission itself but also the threat from those three.
He disliked being constantly on guard.
Thus, if he sensed any real threat to his life from them, he would strike first without hesitation.
That afternoon, after preparing everything, he left his cave dwelling to set out.
But just outside, he saw Wanyan Jun, Chen Zui, and Shangguan Lei.
The trio looked at him with smirks, as if they had him cornered.
Around his cave dwelling were many inner disciples, including Zhao Zhi, Dai Yuling, and some of Sword Man King’s allies.
“What do the three senior brothers want?” Ling Xiao asked calmly.
“Nothing much. Just a reminder: since we’ve taken this mission, it’s none of your business. You’d better not interfere, or if the mission goes wrong, don’t blame us for being unkind!” said a sharp-faced, monkey-like man. Zhao Zhi had introduced him as Chen Zui, whose animal-type Long-Tailed Monkey Martial Soul had gradually shaped his appearance.
Chen Zui’s tone was not only cold but carried a strong sense of command and threat.
Sword Man King’s allies, close to him, were thrilled. Since Sword Man King was severely injured, they lacked the courage to confront Ling Xiao directly and had been waiting for his downfall to gloat.
Today, their wish seemed fulfilled.
Zhao Zhi and Dai Yuling looked worried. The trio was already so aggressive before leaving the sect; wouldn’t Ling Xiao face even more trouble outside?
“Sect missions are about ability. If you three lack confidence, you can always give up. I’ll go ahead,” Ling Xiao retorted coldly to Chen Zui, then soared into the air.
Chen Zui moved to act, but Wanyan Jun stopped him, saying, “Follow him first. This guy’s strong. We can use him for now, and once the mission’s done…”
He made a subtle throat-slitting gesture, unnoticed by anyone except Chen Zui and Shangguan Lei.
“Good point.”
The trio followed Ling Xiao closely.
Shortly after they left, Meng Yuan and Hei Suo appeared among the crowd.
“Senior Brother, as I said, we should torment Ling Xiao thoroughly, then kill him ourselves. Letting them do it feels too easy for him,” Hei Suo said, aware of Meng Yuan’s plan, as he had recruited Wanyan Jun, Chen Zui, and Shangguan Lei.
“Junior Brother, this is a rare opportunity. We can’t touch him within the sect. Be content. If you want, I’ll have Wanyan Jun bring back his body for you to whip three hundred times to vent your anger!” Meng Yuan said with a sinister grin.
…
A day later, Ling Xiao arrived first at Plague Valley and met with the Northern Han Country’s garrison stationed there.
Wanyan Jun, Chen Zui, and Shangguan Lei followed closely.
Ling Xiao hadn’t shaken them off deliberately.
He wanted to test if they truly intended to kill him, so he could decide his next move.
Plague Valley was now a restricted zone in Northern Han Country, inaccessible to ordinary people.
Even martial artists below the Transcendent Realm would die upon entering.
Only those above the Transcendent Realm could investigate the valley’s edges without being attacked, but no one dared venture into its core.
From the garrison’s watchtower, Plague Valley appeared shrouded in a grey mist. Without special vision techniques, seeing through it was impossible.
Though Ling Xiao lacked such techniques, his eyes had been enhanced by the Mountain River Martial Soul, capable of seeing through stone, let alone mere mist.
Through the fog, he saw strange beasts in Plague Valley.
These beasts bore wounds, constantly oozing pus.
Yet they were alive, exuding a strong aura of malevolence.
