Lan Yuer and the others were caught off guard, thrown back by the shockwave that rippled outward.
Lan Yuer, being the strongest, only paled slightly.
The others weren’t so fortunate. Blood trickled from their mouths, their bodies trembling, chests tight with suffocation.
“Luo Tianyu.”
Ling Xiao recognised this man, one of the warriors Wu Xiang had mentioned before. He was from the Heavenly King Sect, skilled in movement techniques, ranked sixtieth in the last Martial Arts Festival.
“Well, well, you actually remember me. How rare.”
Luo Tianyu squinted at Ling Xiao. “Not bad, kid. You blocked an attack with fifty percent of my strength. The others are just trash.”
“Good dogs don’t block the way. You attacked us. Don’t tell me it’s just a coincidence.”
Another name was added to Ling Xiao’s kill list.
He wasn’t bloodthirsty, but if someone tried to kill him, whether they succeeded or not, he wouldn’t show mercy.
Luo Tianyu’s strength was inferior to Tang Jiu and Li Youdao. Killing him would be a certainty for Ling Xiao, and it wouldn’t cost him much.
But he needed to know why Luo Tianyu attacked them and whether someone was pulling the strings.
Luo Tianyu shrugged. “Of course it’s not an accident or a coincidence. I attacked you for two reasons.
First, His Highness the Holy Son despises you.
Second, someone paid a hefty sum for your heads. I’m just earning some pocket money.”
“Who?”
Lan Yuer asked, puzzled. “Not Tang Jiu, surely?”
“No way.”
Ling Xiao shook his head. “Tang Jiu’s stronger than this guy. No need to hire someone like him. If I’m not mistaken, it’s probably the Sword King Sect.”
Lately, his hatred for the Sword King Sect had faded. He hadn’t planned on wiping them out, as his revenge was already settled.
But now, his resentment flared again.
He could be kind, but others didn’t appreciate it. Instead, they wanted his life.
In that case, the Sword King Sect had no place in this world.
“Clap, clap, clap.”
Luo Tianyu applauded. “Smart indeed. Since you’ve guessed it, I won’t beat around the bush. The Sword King Sect offered two million mid-grade spirit stones for your lives, plus a favour from Jian Wuji.
If you can offer more, I’ll kill them for you.”
This guy was shameless, lacking even a shred of professional ethics.
Even assassins kept their clients’ identities secret. This guy wasn’t an assassin, so he didn’t bother with confidentiality.
“So it is the Sword King Sect. Quite a sum, two million mid-grade spirit stones. Shame we can’t match it.”
Ling Xiao was almost tempted.
“Since you can’t pay, I’ll have to act. But I’m not one for unnecessary killing. How about this: whoever among you kills Ling Xiao, I’ll spare their life. A chance to live.”
Luo Tianyu grinned.
His vicious plan was to kill Ling Xiao and sow discord, ensuring Ling Xiao died in torment. Truly befitting the Holy Son’s lapdog.
But his scheme had no effect.
No one would turn on Ling Xiao.
Beyond their loyalty to him, none of them could match his strength. Attacking him would mean a quicker death.
“Idiot. Utterly foolish.”
Ling Xiao looked at Luo Tianyu.
“You dog, what did you say? Fine, even if you knelt and begged, it’s useless now. You must die.”
Luo Tianyu hadn’t expected Ling Xiao to insult him.
Ling Xiao said calmly, “The one who should die is you.”
Luo Tianyu’s face darkened, his expression ferocious. “You escaped Tang Jiu by luck, and now you dare provoke me? Don’t worry, I won’t kill you instantly. I’ll break every bone in your body, inch by inch, and make you beg on your knees.”
Some hundreds of metres away, Chen Meng and Ao Chu hid behind a wall, observing.
As for Jian Feng, he was long gone.
Likely unwilling to stoop to their level.
“Senior Sister, Luo Tianyu’s so strong. He’ll easily kill Ling Xiao. But isn’t two million mid-grade spirit stones too much?”
Ao Chu felt uneasy. That sum could have sustained his cultivation for a long time.
Chen Meng shook her head. “No, spirit stones are trivial. Luo Tianyu was sixtieth in the last Martial Arts Festival, now at seventy percent strength, half-step Heavenly Venerate. His movement skills make killing peers effortless.
I’m not worried about whether he can kill Ling Xiao. I’m worried whether Ling Xiao can wound him severely.”
“What do you mean?”
Ao Chu didn’t quite follow.
“You said it yourself. Two million mid-grade spirit stones is no small amount. How could I willingly give that to Luo Tianyu?”
Chen Meng said coldly.
“I get it, Senior Sister. You mean we wait for them to wear each other out, then take advantage, kill Luo Tianyu, and pin it on Ling Xiao?”
Ao Chu caught on.
“Exactly. Ling Xiao must die, and so must Luo Tianyu. Anyone who threatens our Sword King Sect must die.”
Chen Meng’s face twisted with malice.
“Senior Sister, you’re brilliant. Ruthless.”
Ao Chu marvelled, grateful he was part of the Sword King Sect, or Chen Meng might have targeted him.
While they schemed, the battle began.
Having confirmed who sent Luo Tianyu, Ling Xiao saw no need for further talk.
The Rain-Covering Sword appeared in his hand, stirring the surrounding seawater into a massive blade infused with water.
Sword light flashed, a terrifying sword aura surging toward Luo Tianyu.
In that instant, Luo Tianyu felt as if he stood atop a mountain of blades, sharp energies surrounding him, his hair standing on end.
Then he heard Ling Xiao’s voice.
“Luo Tianyu, as a disciple of the Heavenly King Sect, you had a bright future. But you shouldn’t have attacked us. From the moment you did, you were doomed to be a dead dog, forgotten forever in this True Demon Forbidden Land.”
Ling Xiao struck without mercy.
After so long in the seawater, he had mastered the second move of the Shadow Transformation Sword Art, perfect for testing on Luo Tianyu.
Luo Tianyu was weaker than Tang Jiu, an ideal target.
The Rain-Covering Sword, swollen with seawater, grew too large for Ling Xiao’s hands to wield.
But his body began to change.
