“Wind Celestial Force · Water Condensation!”
The Ice Dragon Sword struck the massive magma fireball spewed by the Magma Behemoth.
The icy aura clashed with the scorching heat, scattering steam across the sky. In an instant, the basin was shrouded in thick mist.
At that moment, Ling Xiao’s Martial Soul clone darted toward the six-hundred-year Mystical Spirit Grass at breakneck speed, snatching it before the behemoth could react.
*Boom!*
To Ling Xiao’s surprise, the behemoth had anticipated his move, setting an ambush near the grass.
Over a dozen magma-formed creatures—likely a manifestation of the behemoth’s ability—emerged.
These creatures were formidable, and their sudden attack nearly caused the Martial Soul clone to drop the grass.
Fortunately, the clone now possessed ninety percent of Ling Xiao’s strength, equivalent to a Mortal Realm fourth-stage martial artist!
It quickly stabilized against the magma creatures.
However, surrounded, it couldn’t immediately deliver the grass to Ling Xiao’s main body.
“You really want to die, don’t you?”
Ling Xiao had planned to grab the grass and leave, avoiding a fight with the behemoth.
But its actions forced his hand.
*Boom~~*
The magma fireball exploded in midair, forcing both Ling Xiao and the behemoth back a step.
Simultaneously, a glacial phantom materialized behind Ling Xiao, amplifying the Ice Dragon Sword’s power.
“Glacial Force · Wind Celestial Force · Water Condensation!”
Ling Xiao attacked again, giving the behemoth no chance to recover.
The behemoth refused to yield, opening its maw and lunging at him.
*Bang!*
They clashed again, a tooth from the behemoth breaking off and crashing into the ground like a massive stone slab.
This time, Ling Xiao gained a slight edge.
“Not enough! Still not enough!”
Ling Xiao flapped his Golden Light Dragon Wings, using Cloud Dragon Divine Walk to retreat swiftly, gathering strength.
Behind him, the phantom now included a vast ocean.
Glacial Force!
Oceanic Force!
Lightning sparks flickered on the Ice Dragon Sword.
“Thunder Celestial Force · Water Condensation!”
The thunder and lightning celestial forces fused.
The terrifying spectacle of thunder and lightning struck fear into the behemoth.
But it was too late.
An unparalleled sword strike, roaring with thunder, surged toward the behemoth.
*Swish!*
*Crack!*
The Ice Dragon Sword tore through the behemoth’s defenses, carving a massive gash from its head to its body.
Instead of blood, magma flowed from the wound.
*Roar~~*
Grievously wounded, the behemoth abandoned its claim to the grass, turning and fleeing frantically.
Despite its massive size, it moved astonishingly fast.
The Fulong Mountain Range’s depths offered ample space for escape.
The towering vegetation and wide terrain left large gaps.
Standing there felt like being an ant beneath colossal trees in the outside world.
As the behemoth fled, the dozen magma creatures vanished. The Martial Soul clone secured the six-hundred-year grass and handed it to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao didn’t pursue.
His goal was the grass, not the beast. Now that he had it, why waste effort?
After storing the grass, he donned the Refining Array Stone again and headed back to his cave along the same path.
He planned to refine the high-grade True Essence Pills, then head to Sha Family Fortress to deal with Fairy Linglong and her crew.
With his early Mortal Realm fifth-stage cultivation, neither Fairy Linglong nor the Cold-Faced Warrior were his match. It was time for payback.
Someone’s here!
After traveling a distance, Ling Xiao halted. His True Essence Sphere detected several martial artist auras.
“Five people, the strongest at peak Mortal Realm fourth stage! What are they doing here?”
His cave was nearby, and he worried they might discover it, so he decided to investigate.
Leaping onto a tree, he concealed his aura, even retracting his True Essence Sphere, relying on his eyes to track the newcomers.
Indeed, five people!
They were walking, seemingly searching for something.
Despite being over ten meters away, Ling Xiao’s ears were as sharp as his eyes, catching their conversation clearly.
“Damn it! We’ve been in the Fulong Mountain Range depths for days and still no sign of that kid. We’ve lost several comrades already.”
One punched a nearby tree in frustration.
“Keep it down. This place is crawling with ferocious beasts. We can’t afford more losses,” another said, lowering their voice. “But that kid’s something else. How’d he piss off Fairy Linglong so bad? She issued a bounty: a rare treasure, ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, and a hundred thousand low-grade True Essence Pills. She’s gone all out.”
Ling Xiao’s expression darkened.
Fairy Linglong hadn’t let go and was still sending people to hunt him.
Heh, that’s her style, alright. Don’t worry, Fairy Linglong, we’ll meet again soon.
But this time, you’ll be the one running!
Ling Xiao sneered, his gaze on the five martial artists turning cold, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Since they were here to kill him, he wouldn’t sit idly by.
“No clue who’ll claim that reward, but that kid’s only early Mortal Realm third stage. Probably already beast food by now. What’s the point of searching?” another said.
“Not necessarily. I heard he’s slippery as hell, escaping Fairy Linglong’s grasp. He won’t die that easily,” the first replied. “Alright, let’s rest and eat. Keep going like this, and it’s too risky. I heard a Magma Behemoth lives nearby—a level-six beast. We’re no match for it.”
Clearly, the Magma Behemoth was common knowledge in Sha Family Fortress, unknown only to outsiders like Ling Xiao.
“Magma Behemoth, huh? I thought I heard its roar earlier. Maybe it found the kid?”
