Early in the morning, a crowd had gathered at the gates of Linglong Immortal Palace.
The reason was simple: a corpse hung from the palace gates.
It was the body of Playboy Tyrant.
Though his head had been severed, it had been reattached.
His death was gruesome, his body riddled with stab wounds, now displayed for all to see.
Among the crowd, many secretly cheered.
Playboy Tyrant had terrorized Shajia Fort for years, committing countless atrocities, despised by all.
Yet no one had been able to deal with him.
Those weaker couldn’t defeat him.
Those stronger couldn’t be bothered.
But today, this arrogant, wicked fiend was dead, and in a wretched state.
“I don’t know who killed this villain, but I’ll build a golden statue for them and erect a shrine!”
A wealthy-looking middle-aged man, tears in his eyes, spoke with fervor.
He had been a prosperous local, but after returning from a business trip, he found his wife and daughter dead, victims of Playboy Tyrant’s failed coercion and murderous rage.
Back then, his daughter and wife had been hung from a tree at Shajia Fort’s entrance, a pitiful sight.
“I’d serve that hero like a beast of burden! Thank you, great benefactor, for avenging my wife!”
A young man in his twenties knelt on the ground, sobbing.
His wife had been abducted by Playboy Tyrant on their wedding night, her cold body found the next day.
He hated him!
He had trained diligently in martial arts, but as a mere Martial Vein Realm cultivator, revenge was nearly impossible.
Yet today, his wish was fulfilled. His wife could rest in peace.
There were many others like him. Playboy Tyrant’s blood debts were too numerous to count.
A figure emerged from Linglong Immortal Palace.
It was Wang She.
He coldly eyed the hanging corpse and asked, “Who did this?”
“Palace Master, the corpse bears a name—Ling Xiao!”
“Ling Xiao!”
At the mention of that name, Wang She’s anger flared.
He had come to Shajia Fort to hunt Ling Xiao, to avenge his junior brother, sister, and lover!
But after arriving, he coveted the Sub-Dragon Martial Soul of the Linglong Fairy.
Thinking his plan flawless, he was outwitted by Ling Xiao.
Not only did he fail to seize the Sub-Dragon Martial Soul, but he watched Ling Xiao escape, his heart burning with suppressed rage.
And now, Ling Xiao had returned.
This man had survived Thousand Ghost Forest—how? Was he not human, but a beast?
“Could someone be impersonating him? I know Ling Xiao’s strength—early Fifth Mortal Realm at best. How could he kill Playboy Tyrant so easily? Especially with several Third and Fourth Mortal Realm warriors by his side.”
Wang She frowned.
But then he recalled Tie Shan and Zhan Liu, killed by Ling Xiao.
Their cultivation surpassed Playboy Tyrant’s, yet Ling Xiao had slain them. This boy’s strength couldn’t be judged by cultivation alone, or one would suffer greatly.
“Palace Master, Ling Xiao’s been in Thousand Ghost Forest for nearly a month. Could his cultivation have risen further?” a nearby warrior asked nervously.
“Do you think the Mortal Realm is so easy to break through?”
Wang She snapped, “The higher you go, the harder it gets. Even if he’s improved in these twenty-odd days, he’s at most mid or late Fifth Mortal Realm. Even peak Fifth—what, am I supposed to fear him?”
Despite his words, Wang She felt a heavy blow.
Less than two months ago, he’d learned Ling Xiao was only early Third Mortal Realm.
Now, he had to worry about Ling Xiao’s terrifying progress.
This might be his only chance to kill him.
Miss it, and Ling Xiao’s cultivation and strength would grow even more fearsome, making him untouchable.
“I’m actually afraid of that kid?”
Wang She found it unbelievable.
But it was his true feeling—Ling Xiao’s potential was too terrifying.
“Bury the body and wait. I believe Ling Xiao will show himself soon. This time, he won’t escape.”
Wang She clenched his fists, “He could’ve taken the path to heaven, but he chose the gate to hell! If he wants death, I’ll grant it!”
Sending men to search Thousand Ghost Forest was impractical.
Most warriors now feared Ling Xiao intensely; even tenfold rewards wouldn’t entice them.
So, he could only wait for Ling Xiao to appear.
Boom!
Suddenly, Playboy Tyrant’s corpse exploded, killing two nearby Linglong Immortal Palace warriors instantly.
The blast seemed calculated, sparing the innocent.
“That damned kid!”
Wang She gritted his teeth, seething. He wished Ling Xiao would rashly charge in, ending his constant dread.
“Report—!”
Just then, a man galloped up, shouting, “Ling Xiao! Ling Xiao’s appeared!”
Reaching them, he dismounted.
“What’s going on?” Wang She asked.
“Palace Master, Ling Xiao’s here—in Shajia Fort!”
“Where is he now?”
Wang She’s face lit up with delight. Had this fool really come to Shajia Fort to die?
“Palace Master, he’s gone to the brothel district!”
“The brothel? Haha, quite the man, rushing there first thing in Shajia Fort.”
Wang She laughed, joined by the others.
“No, Palace Master, he said he’s going to destroy the brothel and free the women.”
“What!”
Ling Xiao hadn’t planned to play the hero, but he couldn’t stand it. Though he couldn’t save the world alone and had no grand ambitions, he could deal with what irked him.
Especially since the brothel was now Beast King Palace property, and he was already at odds with them. Destroying it would be satisfying.
Hearing this, Wang She asked coldly, “Did he bring help?”
“No, Ling Xiao came alone, no sign of allies.”
“Hahaha, what a fool, truly here to die. Come, let’s head to the brothel and see if this kid has nine lives to challenge us single-handedly.”
