“Little child, be careful not to let the wind twist your tongue. This old man will test your skills!”
Suddenly, an old man with a white beard stepped forward.
“A Heavenly Realm expert!”
Ling Xiao sneered and said, “Which sect are you from?”
“Poison King Sect!”
“Another from the Poison King Sect? Does that sect only produce shameless scoundrels? You’re so old, a Heavenly Realm warrior, yet you dare to challenge a fifteen-year-old like me. Have you no shame in stepping forward? Is the Poison King Sect so short of people?”
Ling Xiao mocked.
“Brat, kill you, and you’ll shut up.”
The white-bearded old man flushed red with embarrassment, but at that moment, he couldn’t care less. He thought that as long as he killed Ling Xiao, all would be settled.
However, the instant he leaped forward, a figure moved even faster.
Bang!
The old man was sent flying, covered in blood, crashing heavily to the ground. His head tilted, and he was dead.
“Sister Yue, you struck too quickly. I wasn’t done talking.”
“He deserved to die!”
Yue Nü said coldly, then stood beside Ling Xiao, silent, gazing indifferently at everyone.
“What a pity. A grand Heavenly Realm expert, dead just like that. This proves one thing: never be shameless. You want to kill others, but have you considered how they might deal with you?”
Ling Xiao sighed, then turned to Zhao Yu and said, “Your Highness, where’s my reward?”
Gulp!
Zhao Yu swallowed hard and quickly had someone bring the reward.
“Oh, it’s really a Mirage Beast Core at the Beast King level. Thank you very much.”
Ling Xiao’s mood brightened instantly.
He stored the item in his storage ring, then shouted to the stands, “Disciples of the Moonlight Sect, listen up. Today’s Moonlight Sect is no longer what it once was. If you face trouble outside, like being bullied by other sects, report it to the sect immediately. The Moonlight Sect will always be your strongest backing. Those who insult you will be insulted in return! If they bully you, I’ll kill them!”
With that, ignoring the admiring gazes of the Moonlight Sect disciples, he took Yue Nü’s hand, leaped into the air, and left the Northern Han Capital.
All the materials were ready. The next step was to refine the spiritual liquid and strive to improve his cultivation.
…
In a quiet cave dwelling, Ling Xiao spent a full hour refining Golden Leaf Wolf Tail Grass, Mist Flower, and the Mirage Beast Core into a small bowl of golden-yellow liquid.
Though it seemed small, this spiritual liquid was worth over five million low-grade spirit stones. Ordinary warriors could never afford it.
Fortunately, Ling Xiao could refine the liquid himself; otherwise, it would have been a massive expense for him too.
Even with his wealth, he only had about ten million low-grade spirit stones. Spending five million at once was truly painful.
With the help of Hellfire, refining the spiritual liquid became much easier. After an hour, Ling Xiao was still full of energy, showing no signs of fatigue.
Next, he added the remaining herbs to the golden liquid, using a rare, high-quality treasure-grade cauldron for the refinement.
Another half-hour passed, and the originally small bowl of golden liquid had grown to a larger bowl, still golden but now dotted with red specks.
Even standing near the cauldron, one could feel the immense energy radiating from the liquid.
This energy was too potent. Consuming it directly would surely cause one’s body to explode, so it could only be used to make a medicinal bath for soaking.
Ling Xiao mixed the golden liquid in precise proportions with a tub of water.
The water used wasn’t ordinary; it was spiritual spring water, rich in spiritual energy and minerals, enhancing the soaking effect.
The moment the liquid touched the water, the entire tub turned golden, looking stunning.
Warm sunlight streamed through the light-gathering array, making the cave dwelling resemble a golden world.
Ling Xiao removed his clothes, sat in the water, and began cultivating.
If his estimation was correct, reaching the fifth layer of cultivation and comprehending the fifth celestial power would likely elevate him to the Half-Step Heavenly Venerable realm.
This spiritual liquid wasn’t refined for nothing.
The materials bought in the Northern Han Capital alone were worth five million low-grade spirit stones. Adding the rare herbs from his storage ring, the cost could easily exceed ten million.
If this couldn’t get him to Half-Step Heavenly Venerable, he’d be a failure.
In the wooden tub, the golden liquid rippled slightly, forming bubbles and mist as vast amounts of energy entered Ling Xiao’s body through his pores.
Ling Xiao’s chest rose and fell rhythmically, his breathing steady. Over time, the energy merged into his meridians and blood, circulating throughout his body.
In that moment, Ling Xiao shone like a golden Buddha, emitting a dazzling metallic glow.
Perhaps sensing the barrier to his cultivation loosening, a satisfied smile appeared on Ling Xiao’s face.
At that moment, a faint shadow of the Plague Demon King appeared behind him. The poisonous miasma previously absorbed from Bei Duanchang was released.
If anyone saw this, they’d surely jump in fright.
Cultivating in such an environment was suicidal.
Yet the miasma posed no threat to Ling Xiao. Instead, it interacted with the Mist Flower and Mirage Beast Core in the liquid, making the cave’s mist even denser.
Within Ling Xiao’s Mountain and River Martial Soul, faint mist began to form.
The golden lotus within started to show the faint outline of a fifth petal. Though blurry and unstable, its appearance was a promising start.
Ling Xiao didn’t ask Yue Nü for help. Relying on others when facing difficulties could breed laziness, which was highly detrimental to a warrior’s growth.
At the same time, more energy from the tub entered his body, and the rising mist blended with the cave’s fog.
The entire cave became a world of mist, with nothing visible.
Ling Xiao fully immersed himself in cultivation.
He forgot about food and sleep, even losing track of time outside.
…
One day!
Two days!
Time passed quickly, and the Holy Dynasty Martial Arts Festival drew closer. While Ling Xiao cultivated, disciples from other sects didn’t rest either.
The six young masters of the Holy Dynasty faced even greater pressure than he did.
They, too, were training desperately.
No one wanted to lose to others at the Holy Dynasty Martial Arts Festival.
