The arrows fired by the crossbowmen shattered as they neared Ling Xiao, as if striking an invisible barrier, falling uselessly to the ground.
But the archers themselves weren’t so lucky.
Spikes shot past the frontline experts, targeting the crossbowmen in the rear.
A chorus of screams erupted.
Ling Xiao feared numbers the least.
The more enemies, the stronger he became.
Beyond his Mountain River Martial Soul’s ability to devour true essence, he now had a simplified version of the “Ten Thousand Beasts Blood Refining Array.”
This array didn’t just refine beast essence—it could refine martial artists too.
The more people died, the stronger his Malevolent Beast Soul Spear became, amplifying his combat power.
Though this fighting style seemed somewhat sinister, these were enemies, so Ling Xiao felt no qualms.
The ground glowed with an eerie red light, inscribed with terrifying runes.
“Not good! Get out! He’s set a trap!”
Wang She, experienced as he was, quickly sensed the danger and led his group of experts to break out of the Iron Mountain Cage.
“Heh, Brother Wang, don’t waste your effort. If I dared trap you here, I’m not letting you escape,” Ling Xiao said.
His Iron Mountain Cage, reinforced by Earth Spirit power, drew endlessly from the earth. Unless he was killed, no one was getting out.
“You brat, using such an evil array! If this gets out, you’re finished!” Wang She shouted.
“What a joke. You can gang up on me, but I can’t use an array?” Ling Xiao sneered. “You call my array evil? What martial technique isn’t evil if you use it to harm others?”
Wang She was speechless, glaring at Ling Xiao.
“Brother Wang, it’s time to end this. I’ve got to get back to Yuehua Sect for the tower-climbing ceremony. No time to play with you,” Ling Xiao said with a faint smile, slowly approaching Wang She.
Suddenly, the ground bulged, and a sharp claw shot up from below, aiming for Ling Xiao’s vitals.
The claw gleamed with a strange chill under the sunlight.
The attack was sudden and cunning—most would have been done for.
But Ling Xiao just smiled faintly.
Trying to outsmart him?
He had been releasing his “True Essence Ball,” detecting everything underground. He hadn’t acted earlier to lure the attacker out.
As the claw emerged, he struck. His right hand transformed into a dragon claw, grabbing the thing below and yanking it out.
It was a giant rat.
A white giant rat, as big as a dog.
This was Wang She’s prized pet, one he relied on heavily.
With it, he had ambushed and killed foes stronger than himself.
He was confident it would wound Ling Xiao.
But reality shook him to his core.
“Heh, a rat this big running loose? Not good. Let’s kill it,” Ling Xiao said, glancing at Wang She with a chuckle. True essence surged, and a thick qi sword shot out.
“Little White, watch out!” Wang She cried.
The scene shifted too fast for his expression to catch up.
He had thought Little White’s sneak attack would injure Ling Xiao, setting him up for the kill.
But now, it was the opposite.
Little White was his lifelong companion, closer than his parents.
He didn’t want it to die.
“If you didn’t want it to die, you shouldn’t have sent it out!” Ling Xiao said with a faint smile.
A piercing squeal followed.
“Squeak, squeak, squeak~~”
“Squeak, squeak—!”
“Remember in your next life to pick a better master. Don’t follow this fool.”
The qi sword pierced the rat’s body, blood pooling on the ground.
“Squeak—!”
In its final moment, the rat unleashed a dazzling attack, spewing black smoke at Ling Xiao’s head.
It didn’t know regret—it was just a mindless rat, obeying its master.
To everyone’s shock, Ling Xiao swallowed the black smoke.
“Tch, poison smoke? Tastes awful. Here, have it back!” Ling Xiao frowned, then spat.
The inhaled poison smoke shot back toward Wang She and his men.
“Hold your breath!” Wang She shouted, but the smoke was too fast. Many warriors were hit, collapsing, foaming at the mouth, and dying moments later.
Above, a figure stood on a cloud.
It was Yue Nü.
She had planned to return to Yuehua Sect alone.
But worried for Ling Xiao, she followed him to Shajia Fort.
She nearly intervened just now, only to see Ling Xiao was fine.
All that worry for nothing.
“This guy’s even scarier than I thought!” Yue Nü shook her head, continuing to watch.
If it wasn’t absolutely necessary, she wouldn’t interfere—it would hinder Ling Xiao’s growth.
“Little White!”
From the rat’s ambush to Ling Xiao killing it, it all happened in a flash.
Even if Wang She wanted to save it, he was too late.
“Here!” Ling Xiao tossed the rat’s corpse to Wang She.
But Wang She didn’t catch it, letting it fall onto the spikes.
“Trying to trick me? No chance!” Wang She said coldly.
Ling Xiao gave a wry smile, “This time, I wasn’t scheming. I just thought your pet was decent and wanted to return its body. Honestly, you’re something else.”
Wang She glanced at the corpse, his face flashing red and white.
All his emotions converged into icy, bone-chilling killing intent.
A three-meter snake spear appeared in his hand.
With a voice dripping with menace, he said to Ling Xiao, “Today, you die, no matter what!”
“You’ve said that a lot. Aren’t you tired? I’m sick of hearing it,” Ling Xiao said, rubbing his ears.
Truthfully, he wanted to say the same.
Everyone here today would die!
He didn’t care who was the mastermind or accomplice. Anyone who hunted him would pay with their life!
Letting enemies live wasn’t kindness—it was foolishness that would get him killed!
From the start, that’s how he operated. If his strength faltered even slightly, he’d be the corpse now.
