The dishevelled death row prisoner exuded a sinister aura, chilling to the bone, as if he were not human but a demon from the Nine Nether Continent.
His strength was likely greater than that of the woman in red.
“What brings you all here so aggressively?”
Chang Yueying, who had sensed the dangerous aura earlier, appeared at the entrance of the Yuehua Sect’s temporary residence, calmly eyeing the group.
“Have Ling Xiao, Lan Yuer, Leng Hao, and Dai Yuling come out at once!”
The woman in red spoke with extreme arrogance, showing no respect for Chang Yueying.
In truth, her cultivation was inferior to Chang Yueying’s. Her boldness stemmed only from being in the Sword King Sect’s territory and her status as an inner sect elder, as well as Wu Zonglian’s master.
“When did the Sword King Sect become so ill-mannered? Do you think you can just demand to see our Yuehua Sect members as you please?”
Chang Yueying sneered.
“Enough nonsense. Those four killed hundreds of our Sword King Sect staff at the beast-fighting arena yesterday, including two core disciples. If it were you, wouldn’t you seek revenge?”
The woman in red roared in anger.
“Something like that happened?”
Chang Yueying was stunned.
She was unaware of the incident at the arena, but had Ling Xiao gone too far? Killing core disciples on someone else’s territory was like slapping them in the face.
Although the Sword King Sect had always been domineering and disrespectful towards her, leaving her with no fondness for them, this matter was too significant. She didn’t dare act rashly, so after a moment’s thought, she summoned Tantai Lingzi.
“Tantai, go fetch Ling Xiao and the others. Whatever happened yesterday must be explained clearly face-to-face to avoid unnecessary rifts between the Sword King Sect and the Yuehua Sect.”
In the end, Chang Yueying was accustomed to being the weakest, used to being bullied by the Sword King Sect and the Beast King Palace. When faced with such matters, her first thought wasn’t to argue but to apologise.
“Yes, Master!”
Tantai Lingzi didn’t know the details but dared not disobey Chang Yueying.
“No need. We’ll find them ourselves. Who knows if you’re fetching them or warning them to escape!”
The woman in red didn’t take Chang Yueying seriously and moved to barge into the Yuehua Sect’s temporary residence.
Chang Yueying hesitated but stepped forward to block her.
Her strength far surpassed the woman in red, making it impossible for the latter to proceed.
“No need to escalate over something so trivial. If you’re worried, you can send a few people with my disciple.”
Chang Yueying kept her stance low. No matter what, she wanted to avoid direct conflict with the Sword King Sect, lacking both the courage and the resolve for it.
“You three, go with her!”
The woman in red, though domineering, had come to confront Ling Xiao and the others, not to wage war with the Yuehua Sect. Knowing she was no match for Chang Yueying, she relented slightly.
Three inner sect disciples of the Sword King Sect at the ninth level of the Transcendent Realm followed Tantai Lingzi into the residence to find Ling Xiao.
At that moment, Ling Xiao was cultivating in his room.
The previous day’s battle had been exhilarating, and he had gained many insights that he needed time to process.
But just then, noisy footsteps came from outside. He frowned, slowly opening his eyes.
“Ling Xiao, get out here now!”
The roar was from an unfamiliar voice, utterly disrespectful, as if summoning a subordinate.
Bang!
The next moment, the door was kicked open, nearly sending the door panel flying.
Such an act, anywhere, would be seen as outright provocation!
The Sword King Sect disciples likely felt emboldened because they were in their own territory.
Three people entered.
Tantai Lingzi wisely stayed outside.
She knew Ling Xiao’s temper. Entering his room like this was tantamount to seeking death.
“You’re Ling Xiao?”
One of them glanced at Ling Xiao with contempt before asking.
“Get out!”
Ling Xiao didn’t answer, instead issuing a cold command.
“What?”
The three exchanged glances, wondering if this kid was foolish to act so arrogantly at such a moment.
“Do you leave on your own, or do I make you?” Ling Xiao remained seated, calmly looking at them as he asked.
“You filthy thing, how dare you speak to us like that! Don’t forget, this is the Sword King Sect, not your Yuehua Sect! You caused havoc at the beast-fighting arena, and now you dare disrespect us? You’re truly asking for death!”
Though their cultivation was inferior to Ling Xiao’s, their tempers were even bigger. Their haughty demeanour suggested they didn’t take anyone from the Yuehua Sect seriously.
They had reason to act this way, as they were accompanied by an inner sect elder of the Sword King Sect, a powerful backer. Why would they fear a mere Ling Xiao?
“Out!”
Ling Xiao was done talking. With a wave of his hand, a surge of powerful true essence erupted.
The three who had walked in were sent flying out.
“Junior Brother Ling, the Sword King Sect’s inner sect elder is here with people looking for you. It’s best not to clash with them directly. Some things can be resolved with an explanation.”
Outside, Tantai Lingzi frowned.
Like her master, she was typically one to yield to the strong and bully the weak.
“Explain what?”
Ling Xiao retorted.
“The beast-fighting arena incident. Someone must be framing you to ruin relations between us and the Sword King Sect.”
Tantai Lingzi said.
“No framing. I did everything at the arena! Hmph, I haven’t gone to them to settle scores, and they dare come to me!”
Ling Xiao snorted coldly.
“What! It was really you!”
Tantai Lingzi was shocked.
She hadn’t expected Ling Xiao to be so audacious as to openly oppose the Sword King Sect. This was sheer madness.
“Do you know the consequences? The Sword King Sect might attack our Yuehua Sect, and then the Yuehua Sect could vanish from the Heavenly Dragon Continent!”
Tantai Lingzi shouted.
“Is that so? You’ve never done such things, but over the years, haven’t thousands, if not tens of thousands, of Yuehua Sect disciples died unjustly at the hands of the Sword King Sect? And the territories they’ve taken from us are countless!”
Ling Xiao said coldly, “They’ve bullied us to our doorstep, and you still cower. How spineless!”
He stood slowly, walked outside, and glanced disdainfully at Tantai Lingzi before fixing his icy gaze on the three groaning Sword King Sect inner sect disciples on the ground.
“What do you want?”
The three were utterly terrified. They hadn’t expected Ling Xiao’s strength to be so formidable or that he would dare attack them!
