“Sister Moon Lady, when I leave the sect, I’ll trouble you to look after my friends. Now, Chang Yueli, Chang Yueying, Elder Jin, and Demon Flame Heavenly Lord have formed an alliance. They seem well-behaved on the surface, but who knows what schemes they’re plotting behind the scenes.”
Ling Xiao smiled, not worried about himself at all, but still somewhat concerned for his friends.
“I’ll take care of it. If these people obediently serve the Moonlight Sect, they might keep their lives. Otherwise, I’ll personally deal with them!”
Moon Lady nodded.
“With your words, Sister, I’m at ease. But if you kill them, it’d be a bit of a pity. I still want to challenge them myself!”
Ling Xiao laughed.
“Your ambition is quite something, but with your abilities, it won’t take long. I’ll try to keep them alive for you.”
Moon Lady nodded.
“Sister Moon Lady, I’m about to leave. Won’t you give me a proper farewell?”
After discussing serious matters, Ling Xiao suddenly flashed a mischievous smile.
“Muah!”
Moon Lady’s face flushed as she planted a kiss on Ling Xiao’s forehead, then quickly stepped back, scolding, “Satisfied now, you little flirt?”
“One more, maybe? That was too quick, I barely felt it.”
Ling Xiao chuckled.
“Get lost!”
“Heh, Sister, see you in a bit!”
With a hearty laugh, Ling Xiao soared into the air.
He had stored all his valuable and useful items in the Mountain River World and his storage ring, so there was no need to return to his cave. He headed straight for the sect’s exit.
Less than an hour after Ling Xiao left, the Sword King Sect sent an official invitation for the Four Sects Martial Arts Assembly.
The sect’s higher-ups gathered.
“This is interesting. Except for the Divine Sword Sect, which only has two slots, the other three sects, including ours, have gained an extra slot, from four to five!”
Reading the invitation, Wu Xiang smiled.
With only four slots, Dai Yuling wouldn’t have been able to compete, which would’ve been a loss.
After all, sparring with disciples from other sects is incredibly beneficial for one’s cultivation.
“Why the extra slot? Has the Sword King Sect gained more outstanding talents?”
Golden Light Heavenly Lord frowned.
“Seems so. I heard that in this trial, five Sword King Sect disciples received martial soul inheritances, two of which are ancient inheritances, no less than Tantai Lingzi and Dai Yuling.”
Wu Xiang had done his research.
“The Beast King Palace isn’t far behind, with six disciples receiving martial soul inheritances, three of which are ancient, even stronger than the Sword King Sect!”
“Hmph, it’s all Ling Xiao’s fault. If he hadn’t interfered, our disciples would’ve secured more than just four inheritances!”
Elder Jin snorted.
“Nonsense. If they hadn’t targeted Ling Xiao, would they have been eliminated? It’s their own scheming that brought them ruin!”
Golden Light Heavenly Lord cursed.
“Enough, this isn’t the place for arguments.”
Wu Xiang waved his hand, “Numbers don’t matter, strength does. One Ling Xiao is worth five of their disciples!”
Clearly, this Four Sects Martial Arts Assembly would be tougher than expected.
But Wu Xiang seemed to have immense faith in Ling Xiao, betting everything on him.
…
Tianfeng City.
The morning sun bathed the entire city, and after a night’s rest, people began their daily work.
A figure quietly landed in the city, unnoticed by the guards.
He was well-built, tall, with a black cloak, his eyes glinting with an eerie black-gold light, exuding an air of mystery.
“The Divine Sword Sect has developed well. Tianfeng City, rebuilt from ruins, is even stronger than before. Even the gatekeepers are Martial Vein Realm Sixth Layer warriors.”
Ling Xiao was surprised.
When the Divine Sword Sect was founded, Martial Vein Realm Sixth Layer warriors were rare in Tianfeng City, yet now they were mere gatekeepers.
Compared to his last visit, Ling Xiao’s aura had grown more mysterious, but little else had changed.
Even so, few recognised him on the streets.
He had tossed Bai Feifei into the beast ring, ignoring her protests.
As he approached the Divine Sword Sect, he noticed the sect’s protective formation was active, and many young people in varied attire, accompanied by others, were entering.
“Is something happening?”
Curious, Ling Xiao stepped closer and overheard discussions.
“This time, the Divine Sword Sect is recruiting disciples openly. Many talented warriors from other cities, even Yun Kong City, have come to apprentice!”
“No surprise there. The Divine Sword Sect is now the strongest sect below the twelve holy sects, with no cultivation requirements for disciples, only a heart for martial arts and diligence. Naturally, many have come.”
“I heard they’re also joining the eastern Four Sects Martial Arts Assembly. Sounds impressive. Are all the assembly’s warriors at Martial Vein Realm Ninth Layer?”
“Idiot, Martial Vein Ninth Layer is nothing. The assembly’s warriors are surely Mortal Realm experts!”
From these discussions, Ling Xiao understood that the Divine Sword Sect’s annual disciple recruitment ceremony was about to begin.
Counting the time, it had been a year since he left. By nominal age, he was now fifteen.
Following the crowd into the sect, Ling Xiao kept a low profile, curious about the ceremony.
As his own sect, it felt entirely different from the Moonlight Sect, warm and deeply connected.
The recruitment ceremony resembled the Moonlight Sect’s past process: first testing aptitude, then various qualities, and finally combat.
Ling Xiao, with time to spare, watched from start to finish, as if reliving his days joining the Moonlight Sect.
“Boom!”
As the ceremony ended, the Divine Sword Sect’s gate was suddenly kicked open.
Two figures entered, one old, one young.
The youth sneered before the crowd, declaring loudly, “I heard your Divine Sword Sect is the top sect below the twelve holy sects. Seeing it today, it’s nothing special. I’m here to challenge you. If you lose, you can kiss your sect’s reputation goodbye!”
The youth’s cultivation had reached the peak of Martial Vein Realm Ninth Layer.
Among secular sects, that was top-tier.
“Come to challenge, we welcome you. But come to make trouble, and the Divine Sword Sect isn’t so easily bullied!”
