Ling Xiao’s heart was already filled with killing intent.
This Ninja Clan Deacon was simply pushing his luck!
“I gave you face, didn’t want to deal with you, but you really think you’re something, don’t you? So greedy, not only do you want my spirit stones, but you also want to take my storage ring!”
“Lord Deacon, you’re joking, right? This is my only storage ring, and it’s the lowest grade. If I give it to you, I’ll have nowhere to keep my things.”
“Is that so? Well, out of kindness, I’ll let the storage ring slide. Just hand over another thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones, and I’ll register you,” the Ninja Clan Deacon said with a cold smirk.
“Lord Deacon, isn’t that a bit excessive?”
Ling Xiao was never one to tolerate being bullied, and now, facing this aggressive, insatiable fellow, his killing intent had grown thick.
With his current strength, killing a Second Mortal Realm martial artist was as easy as crushing an ant!
Even if the Demon Fortress Master showed up, he could put up a fight, not to mention he still had a Nine-Tailed Demon Fox seal card.
If provoked, he’d forget about investigating and simply wipe out Demon Fortress City.
“Excessive? You dare call me excessive?”
The Ninja Clan Deacon sneered, “Good, very good. In that case, all your belongings now belong to me! And you must bear the slave mark, or you’ll die!”
If Ling Xiao revealed his true strength now, this Deacon wouldn’t dare offend him.
These people were typical bullies, preying on the weak but cowering before the strong.
Of course, facing a true powerhouse was another matter entirely.
So, Ling Xiao decided he wouldn’t hold back!
Since this guy was courting death, he didn’t mind sending him on his way.
“Heh, I originally wanted to keep the peace. You took thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones, and that should’ve been enough. But you’re too ignorant. Now, not only will I not give you a single spirit stone, I’ll take yours instead!”
Ling Xiao suddenly let out a cold laugh, his voice brimming with intense killing intent.
“Courting death! No one has ever dared disrespect me like this! You’re just a Fifth Mortal Realm cultivator. I may not be your match, but what can you do alone?”
The Ninja Clan Deacon roared, and with a whoosh, over a dozen people flooded into the room.
Some were Second or Third Mortal Realm, others Fifth or Sixth. They were likely all Deacons of Demon Fortress City.
“Think numbers make you special? You’re humans, yet you collude with the Sea Clan to oppress your own kind. Truly heinous, you deserve to die!”
Ling Xiao narrowed his eyes.
“Kill this kid!”
At one’s command, except for three Fifth or Sixth Mortal Realm Deacons, the rest charged at Ling Xiao.
“Die!”
Ling Xiao didn’t use any martial techniques that might reveal his identity. A massive shadow appeared behind him, the Ferocious Beast Demon King Martial Soul.
The Ferocious Beast Demon King had no fixed form and could transform into any ferocious beast except a Primordial Giant Beast.
What appeared behind Ling Xiao now was a snarling, clawed tiger.
Roar!
Ferocious Beast Transformation, Tiger Hunt!
The massive tiger turned corporeal, leaping from behind Ling Xiao, its huge claws and gaping maw striking in succession.
In mere moments, seven or eight Second and Third Mortal Realm Deacons were killed on the spot.
“How is this possible! He’s clearly just Fifth Mortal Realm. How can he be this strong!”
The remaining three Deacons’ faces turned ashen with fear.
“Hand over all your spirit stones, and I’ll spare you three. Otherwise, you’ll end up like him!” Ling Xiao pointed at the Ninja Clan Deacon, now reduced to a pile of mangled flesh, and said coldly.
Killing a few Deacons meant nothing to Ling Xiao.
He’d already decided that since peaceful coexistence wasn’t possible, he’d go all out and destroy Demon Fortress City.
He believed many in the city were unwilling to be slaves to the Sea Clan, only held back by the terrifying power of the three Fortress Masters.
But if Ling Xiao caused a commotion, he was sure they’d rally to his cause.
“Courting death! All three of us, together!”
The three Fifth or Sixth Mortal Realm Deacons weren’t intimidated by Ling Xiao’s words.
They didn’t believe someone of similar cultivation could be that strong.
The three attacked together, a sword beam, a blade arc, and a flurry of spear shadows enveloping Ling Xiao.
“Hmph, who’s really courting death? You still don’t get it.”
Ling Xiao snorted coldly, still not intending to act himself. The tiger split into three, each pouncing on one of the Deacons.
His Sword Soul Clone could also affect his Martial Soul, something he’d tested many times.
This was the first time he’d used it in combat.
The three tigers easily shattered their powerful attacks and pinned the three Deacons to the ground, rendering them immobile.
“You can’t kill us! We serve directly under Demon General Can Xue. Kill us, and you’ll never leave this place alive.”
Now truly terrified, the three brought up their backer.
“I don’t care about some nonsense Demon General Can Xue. Hand over your spirit stones, or die!”
Ling Xiao had already killed one Demon General outside, the strongest of the seven. Why would he fear the other six?
“We’ll hand them over! We’ll hand them over!”
The three weren’t made of stern stuff. Seeing that Ling Xiao didn’t even fear Demon General Can Xue, they knew they’d hit a wall.
Handing over spirit stones meant they might recover them later, but if they died, they’d lose everything.
With that thought, the three handed over their storage rings.
Though most martial artists in Demon Fortress City didn’t have storage rings, Deacons and above certainly did.
Ling Xiao’s soul force swept through their rings, and he was delighted.
These three, plus the eight already dead, were filthy rich.
Their storage rings contained over five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones!
And nearly fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones!
Sadly, no high-grade spirit stones.
But that was expected; with their cultivation, they likely weren’t qualified to possess high-grade spirit stones.
Low-grade spirit stones no longer aided Ling Xiao’s cultivation but were somewhat useful for restoring true essence.
They could also be used for setting up simple formations.
Of course, their primary use was as currency for purchases.
In the sect world, spirit stones were the true currency; gold and silver were nearly useless.
Mid-grade spirit stones, however, were exactly what Ling Xiao needed for cultivation, and these fifty thousand were perfect.
“You bastard, release them now!”
Just as Ling Xiao tossed all their storage rings into his Mountain River Martial Soul, a furious shout rang out.
