This little butterfly, nearly forgotten by Ling Xiao, merely fluttered its wings, yet it triggered a massive upheaval.
Of course, this upheaval occurred beyond the Mysterious Realm, so Ling Xiao could not possibly sense it.
What he could sense was only the peculiar aura emanating from the little butterfly’s body, which unexpectedly boosted his cultivation by a whole level.
Twenty percent Half-Step Heavenly Venerate power!
Was advancing really this easy?
Ling Xiao couldn’t help but show a shocked expression. It seemed this little butterfly had some special connection with the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul.
And it was definitely not an ordinary thing.
The boost from a single flutter of its wings nearly matched the effect of the spiritual liquid Ling Xiao had spent millions of low-grade spirit stones to concoct. It was simply heaven-defying.
“You’ve actually advanced?” Yue Nü was also somewhat surprised.
She had never heard of something that could enhance cultivation just by looking at it.
“That’s right, I’ve advanced. But it’s not because of that, it’s something else. By the way, Sister Yue Nü, are you also going to the Holy Dynasty Martial Arts Festival?” Ling Xiao asked.
“Naturally, I’m going. I want to see the strength of the Holy Emperor and the Sect Leader of the Heavenly King Sect.”
No first in literature, no second in martial arts.
Yue Nü, with her Yin-Yang Realm cultivation, had once encountered a powerful evil beast, the Demon King. But now, she was virtually invincible.
This feeling wasn’t pleasant, so she hoped to meet more formidable opponents.
The Heavenly Dragon Continent may have declined, but since the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul had reappeared on the continent, it wasn’t impossible for stronger martial artists to emerge.
However, Yue Nü didn’t travel with Ling Xiao and the others this time, perhaps feeling that staying by his side might hinder his progress.
After all, once someone has a backer, it’s easy to gradually become lazy.
Ling Xiao greatly respected and understood Yue Nü’s choice.
Thereafter, led by Wu Xiang, Jin Guang Heavenly Venerate, Guang Han Heavenly Venerate, and Tian Yan Heavenly Venerate, over a hundred Moonlight Sect disciples, selected from the inner sect, boarded the Moonlight Treasure Ship and headed for the True Demon Forbidden Land.
Just as they hadn’t gone far from the sect, a fierce, hateful gaze fixed coldly and maliciously on the Moonlight Treasure Ship.
This hateful, icy gaze didn’t escape Ling Xiao’s soul force detection.
It belonged to Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate.
Ling Xiao had considered whether to strike first against Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate, but the problem was that his spiritual body was gone, and he was definitely no match for Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate himself.
Although Wu Xiang and Yue Nü could kill Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate, he hadn’t done anything to betray the sect recently. Killing him without reason would make them no different from Chang Yue Li and others in the past.
Because of this, Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate was still alive.
However, recently, he had been very low-key, constantly in seclusion, training frantically.
Yet no matter how hard he trained, he found Ling Xiao’s strength closing in on him. Now, he felt an unprecedented sense of pressure.
Especially after carefully studying Ling Xiao’s growth trajectory, he became even more restless.
From the time Ling Xiao joined the Moonlight Sect until now, it had been only about six months. Yet everything this person did was almost awe-inspiring.
He dominated the outer sect, becoming its top disciple.
He took down the Plague Demon King, silently earning Yue Nü’s favour.
In the Moonlight Pagoda, he broke a hundred-thousand-year record and thoroughly established his authority, causing their faction to lose all influence. Even Moonlight Heavenly Maiden helped him.
Then he became a core disciple and killed Ming Tian, the top genius of the Moonlight Sect’s new generation.
At the Four Factions Martial Assembly, he shocked the world with one battle, defeating the Beast King Palace’s Ba Tian Hu and Sword King Sect’s Chen Meng so thoroughly they were lost.
Even more terrifying, when the Holy Son came to accuse him, this kid showed no loss of prestige and drove the Holy Son and his group out of the Moonlight Sect.
Now, the outside world was saying that Ling Xiao was bound to become one of the new Holy Dynasty Six Young Masters at this Martial Arts Festival.
He could defeat Jian Wuji and even challenge the Holy Son!
These terrifying achievements left Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate unable to find peace. He had planned to keep improving his cultivation, surpassing Wu Xiang and Yue Nü, so he could thoroughly crush them.
But now, it seemed that before he could surpass those two, Ling Xiao had already surpassed him.
He absolutely couldn’t sit idly by any longer.
He returned to the Volcano Palace, where a black-robed figure awaited.
“Go back and tell that lord, I accept his suggestion!” Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate said coldly to the black-robed figure.
“That’s the right choice. You should know that without our help, you’d never take the Moonlight Sect, let alone kill Ling Xiao. Farewell!” The black-robed figure smiled faintly, turned, and swiftly vanished into the distance.
“No choice now. Even if I have to become a demon, I must eliminate this Ling Xiao, or I’ll never have peace!” Gritting his teeth, Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate sat cross-legged again, black flames burning behind him.
…
Blood Desert, True Demon Forbidden Land!
A bleak red sun shone upon the land, casting an eerie glow.
The terrifying heat distorted the air like flowing water, and the ground was littered with withered bones and broken weapons.
A splendid treasure ship flew in from the distance, carrying the Moonlight Sect group.
“Sect Leader, have the Moonlight Treasure Ship land. The airspace near the True Demon Forbidden Land is very dangerous; we can’t keep flying. It’s not far anyway,” Tian Yan Heavenly Venerate, who had been here before and was familiar with the area, advised Wu Xiang as they approached.
Wu Xiang nodded and controlled the Moonlight Treasure Ship to land.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
The raging winds of the desert carried a heavy stench of blood. Even martial artists of the mortal realm, protected by true essence, felt somewhat suffocated in this environment.
“Be careful, everyone. Strange things often happen in this Blood Desert. It’s said to be the work of the ghosts of the True Demon Empire,” Tian Yan Heavenly Venerate warned, preparing himself.
But at that moment, a massive black shadow emerged from the fierce winds, rapidly charging towards them.
“Trouble! It’s a Black Demon Shadow!” Ling Xiao had heard of the Black Demon Shadow. It could be considered a natural disaster or a demonic phenomenon.
It was a black sandstorm infused with vengeful spirits, making the already ferocious storm even more vicious and granting it intelligence.
The most terrifying part was that wherever the Black Demon Shadow struck, all living beings would turn into desiccated corpses, devoid of any trace of blood.
“Quick! Everyone, focus your strength and blast this Black Demon Shadow away, or we’re all dead!” Tian Yan Heavenly Venerate roared, already gathering his power.
The others didn’t dare delay, frantically amassing their strength.
Boom!
The combined attack of over two hundred people, including Cave Heaven Realm experts, struck the Black Demon Shadow, but it only pushed it back a few dozen metres.
