The disciples of the Beast King Palace were well aware that one was a peak eighth-level Mortal Realm expert, while the other was an early third-level Mortal Realm warrior. The gap between them was vast, Ling Xiao could defeat Hei Suo, but he could never defeat Ying Wuya. So they were thrilled, eager to see Ying Wuya teach Ling Xiao a lesson.
“Haha, so refusing your challenge makes me less of a man? In that case, Ying Wuya, why don’t you, with all your bravado, directly challenge our Yuehua Sect’s Guanghan Tianzun or Jinguang Tianzun?” Ling Xiao sneered, “That would truly show your manly side, letting that delicate lady beside you see just how fearless you are!”
“Brother Ling, you’re mistaken. Both Guanghan Tianzun and Jinguang Tianzun are far older than me, they’re seniors. Even with ten times my courage, I wouldn’t dare challenge them,” Ying Wuya replied with a faint smile, “Using such words to dodge me, Brother Ling, isn’t that a bit cowardly?”
“Oh, so even you, Ying Wuya, have moments when you don’t dare fight? Are you still a man?” Ling Xiao scoffed, “You know you’re no match for Guanghan Tianzun or Jinguang Tianzun, and that they’re older than you. So, Brother Ying, may I ask how old you are?”
“Thirty-six,” Ying Wuya said gravely.
“Exactly, thirty-six. But do you know how old I am?” Ling Xiao said calmly, “I’m only fourteen this year. Why don’t you admit you’re bullying someone younger?”
At this, the crowd erupted in agreement. Ying Wuya was thirty-six, and reaching the peak of the eighth-level Mortal Realm at that age was already impressive. But Ling Xiao was only fourteen! Ying Wuya didn’t dare challenge those older than him, yet he expected Ling Xiao to challenge him, utterly shameless. With Ling Xiao’s talent, by thirty-six, his cultivation would likely far surpass the peak of the eighth-level Mortal Realm.
Ying Wuya was stunned, he hadn’t expected Ling Xiao to set such a trap, leaving him humiliated. But he quickly recovered, saying, “Simple, Brother Ling is at the early third-level Mortal Realm, I can suppress my cultivation to that level. That’s fair, isn’t it?”
“Why bother with such trouble? Why not find three Beast King Palace disciples of my level to spar with me? Do your Beast King Palace people dare to fight?” Ling Xiao countered sharply, as soon as Ying Wuya finished speaking.
This left Ying Wuya feeling as if he’d swallowed something foul, unable to respond. The Beast King Palace disciples exchanged glances, each showing fear. Ling Xiao had killed a peak fourth-level Mortal Realm warrior in one move, what use would three of them be? They’d likely end up like She Mei.
“Hmph, so Ying Wuya, are you saying none of the Beast King Palace warriors below the fourth level are men? Since you don’t dare fight, we’ll take our leave!” Ling Xiao snorted, soaring away, leaving one final remark for the Beast King Palace.
“Ying Wuya, you and I will have a battle, and it won’t be long, a year at most. I hope by then you won’t be like them, lacking the courage of a man, hahaha!” Ling Xiao’s voice was even more domineering and confident than Ying Wuya’s.
Challenging Ying Wuya in a year? Did this boy think he could reach the peak of the eighth-level Mortal Realm in that time? The crowd was stunned. Yet many believed Ling Xiao’s words without doubt.
They’d never heard of Ling Xiao before, let alone had any contact with him, but after the Green Valley incident, they had a clearer understanding of him. This person was bold, immensely talented, and meticulous. He seemed reckless and arrogant on the surface, but in truth, he was cunning. Some of his seemingly rash actions, upon closer inspection, revealed deeper intentions.
If he were truly reckless, Ling Xiao would have fought Ying Wuya today and left defeated. Instead, he refused the challenge, declaring he’d fight Ying Wuya in a year, showcasing his sly cunning. This boy had limitless potential.
Many warriors, stronger than Ling Xiao, felt a deep wariness towards him, even surpassing their fear of Ying Wuya. They believed Ling Xiao would soon overtake this ninth-ranked core disciple of the Beast King Palace.
The Beast King Palace disciples watched Ling Xiao’s departing figure, their faces grim. To think he didn’t even take their Senior Brother Ying seriously, how arrogant was that?
“I’ll be waiting!” Ying Wuya spat out coldly, flicking his sleeve, “Let’s head back.”
A year? He didn’t believe Ling Xiao could surpass him! The path of martial arts grew harder the further one advanced. Ling Xiao’s rapid progress now wasn’t surprising, but the future was uncertain.
A day later, Ling Xiao and his group returned to the Yuehua Sect. Two days later, after discussions, the sect’s leadership, led by the Sect Leader, made a decision:
“Ling Xiao is exceptionally valiant. As an outer disciple, he completed a level-four mission during the inner sect joint training, single-handedly killed the Plague Demon King, and uncovered the revival of the True Demon Empire. He shall be rewarded!”
Though it sounded straightforward, some matters required careful consideration. The rewards for a level-four mission were clear and straightforward, with set amounts, easily handled. But killing the Plague Demon King and uncovering the True Demon Empire’s plot required deeper discussion.
First, Ling Xiao received the rewards for the level-four mission. Level-three mission rewards were modest, but level-four rewards were significantly higher: one thousand low-grade spirit stones and one thousand sect honour points.
Additionally, for killing the Plague Demon King and uncovering the True Demon Empire’s plot, he was awarded another one thousand low-grade spirit stones, one thousand sect honour points, and the special privilege of permanently accepting sect missions, equivalent to an inner disciple.
In total, Ling Xiao earned two thousand low-grade spirit stones and two thousand sect honour points from this mission. Honour points were more valuable than spirit stones within the sect, usable to exchange for martial arts manuals, weapons, and elixirs. With enough honour points, one could purchase sect honour weapons or gain special privileges, like training in the sect’s secret grounds or receiving personal guidance from elders.
In short, sect honour was akin to “privilege” within the sect. With enough honour points, even sect elders wouldn’t dare touch you lightly. While Ling Xiao needed spirit stones, he valued honour points more, and this haul left him quite satisfied.
