“I’m certain it’s Ling Xiao.”
Wang She maintained his usual detached expression, as if nothing could stir his emotions.
“If it’s Ling Xiao, how could his strength be so terrifying? Among the dead were Sixth Stage Mortal Realm martial artists. How could he possibly kill them?”
Fairy Linglong couldn’t believe it.
“Foolish woman, do you know what a genius is?”
Wang She said coldly, “Besides, he’s been hiding his true strength from the start. How do you know how strong he really is? Listen to me, call your people back. If I’m right, his combat power can already take down Sixth Stage martial artists single-handedly. Sending your lackeys after him is just sending them to their deaths!”
Though Wang She’s words were harsh, Fairy Linglong knew he was likely right.
A mere month might seem short, but for a genius, leaping several cultivation levels was entirely possible.
In Wang She’s eyes, Ling Xiao wasn’t just a genius—he was a monster, a level above.
Such terrifying cultivation speed was, frankly, normal for him.
“Brother Wang, if you’re willing to act, Linglong is yours to command.”
Fairy Linglong was truly scared now. At this point, she didn’t care about anything else. If killing Ling Xiao meant offering herself to Wang She, so be it.
She knew Wang She had always fancied her.
A flicker of excitement crossed Wang She’s face.
He was indeed thrilled—not for Linglong herself, but for her martial soul.
Her soul was a sub-dragon type. If she willingly dual-cultivated with him, he could absorb part of the ancient dragon bloodline.
That would elevate his snake martial soul into a divine serpent with dragon blood.
With that, he was confident he could surpass Ying Wuya, becoming the ninth-ranked core disciple of the Beast King Palace.
With a divine serpent soul, he might even accelerate his cultivation, climbing to the top core disciple spot!
“Heh, you know I don’t like forcing anyone,” Wang She said with a faint smile.
“As long as Brother Wang kills Ling Xiao, Linglong will willingly offer herself!”
Fairy Linglong said earnestly.
In the face of survival, what was chastity worth?
“Very well. Have your people pull back. Tomorrow, follow me into the mountains. Stay by my side, and no danger will touch you. Ling Xiao will die!”
Wang She paused, then asked, “By the way, wasn’t there a Seventh Stage martial artist in the search team? Tieshan, a Moonlight Sect disciple, I believe. What’s his status?”
“Don’t mention him. He didn’t join the others. Word is, he went deep into the Fulong Mountains to hunt a beast for a sect mission, not to kill Ling Xiao. Got our hopes up for nothing,” Fairy Linglong said, visibly annoyed.
“Oh, is that so?”
Wang She gave a sinister smile. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
He knew the mysterious informant who tipped him off had an aura very similar to this Tieshan. If he wasn’t mistaken, Tieshan was using the sect mission as a cover to kill Ling Xiao.
As a Moonlight Sect disciple, he couldn’t act openly.
“If Brother Wang’s guess is right, and Tieshan is secretly targeting Ling Xiao under the guise of a sect mission, we might not even need to act,” Fairy Linglong said, suddenly hopeful.
Truth be told, if she had a choice, she’d never want to face Ling Xiao again.
She was genuinely afraid of that kid.
“Let’s hope so, but the Fulong Mountains are full of dangers. Don’t get your hopes too high,” Wang She said, a trace of unease lingering. Ling Xiao’s behaviour was too abnormal. Logically, seeing a Seventh Stage martial artist enter the jungle, he should’ve fled.
Yet not only did he stay, he continued his reverse hunt.
Perhaps he didn’t fear Tieshan at all?
Or maybe this kid was just utterly insane?
…
At the same time, in the cave dwelling of Moonlight Sect core disciple Meng Yuan.
Four people sat drinking.
Meng Yuan had four capable lieutenants, known among the core disciples as the “Four Wood Guests” due to their tree-based martial souls.
All four were above Seventh Stage Mortal Realm, only slightly weaker than Meng Yuan.
Tieshan, the weakest among them, was still an early Seventh Stage martial artist, with all his martial arts at the perfected rare gold-grade level, far stronger than most peers.
“How’s Tieshan doing?” asked a sallow-skinned martial artist.
“No need to worry. With his cultivation, killing Ling Xiao is child’s play. What we should focus on is the cleanup after Ling Xiao’s death. Lady Moon has said what she said, so we can’t be careless,” Meng Yuan said coldly.
“Fair point!”
…
Another night fell.
No moonlight, no stars, the sky like an inverted black cauldron, darkness dominating the world. In the forest, nothing could be seen.
Yet on a large rock, a bonfire blazed, surrounded by tents, glaringly obvious in the inky night.
The spot was well-chosen, open enough to spot any beast or enemy early.
About fifty metres away, in the bushes, someone lay watching.
It was Ling Xiao.
Today’s hunt had been flawless.
Many reckless martial artists were killed; others fled, scared off by his ferocity. He didn’t bother chasing.
Cowards like that wouldn’t dare trouble him again, even with ten times the courage.
After a day of slaughter, Ling Xiao set his sights on the cold-faced martial artist.
He and Fairy Linglong were the masterminds. The others didn’t matter, but those two had to die.
Normally, Ling Xiao could easily kill the cold-faced martial artist.
The problem now was the powerful early Seventh Stage martial artist by his side.
Back at the sect, Ling Xiao had vaguely heard Zhao Zhi mention this guy—one of Meng Yuan’s Four Wood Guests, named Tieshan.
It seemed his feud with Meng Yuan was irreconcilable, with no room for compromise.
No, it wasn’t just Meng Yuan—Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate and Elder Jin were the same.
In the Moonlight Sect, either they’d fall, or he would. There was no other outcome.
