The master of Spirit Herb Manor, Dai Lingrong, had two daughters who took her surname. Her husband had abandoned her during her pregnancy, running off with another woman. For Dai Lingrong to single-handedly sustain Spirit Herb Manor was no small feat.
She didn’t refuse Ling Xiao’s kindness, though her face showed worry, likely concerned about the manor’s situation.
Spirit Herb Manor had its own flying treasure, a giant bird. When Dai Lingrong blew her whistle, the bird soared through the sky, carrying everyone toward the manor.
Flying in midair, Ling Xiao cultivated while using his World’s Eye to monitor the ground below.
The journey was filled with war and chaos, with killing and plundering everywhere.
This showed the limits of individual strength. Unless one was powerful enough to destroy heaven and earth, it was impossible to save everyone.
“Senior, are those your people from Spirit Herb Manor?”
Nearing the manor’s territory, Ling Xiao’s World’s Eye spotted a group fleeing a hundred li away, dressed in what looked like Spirit Herb Manor’s attire.
“Let’s go down and see!”
Dai Lingrong was shocked at Ling Xiao’s vision, as she hadn’t seen them herself. But she trusted his words completely. At the Martial Arts Festival, Ling Xiao had always delivered on his promises.
“Manor Master!”
“Young Mistress!”
The fleeing group, seeing Dai Lingrong and Dai Yaoling, went from panic to joy.
They had nearly lost hope, as their strongest member was only a First Heaven Realm inner sect elder, while the pursuing enemies included four Heavenly Human Realm experts, each stronger than the elder.
“Are you all that’s left?”
Dai Lingrong’s face showed grief. She had feared such a tragedy, but facing it was still hard to bear.
“Yes, Manor Master. We fought our way out, and only this hundred or so remain.”
The inner sect elder, after speaking, spat blood and collapsed dead on the spot.
“You’ve done well!”
Dai Lingrong gently closed the elder’s eyes, realizing he had been gravely injured, clinging to life only to lead the others to safety.
“Nephew Ling Xiao, please take Yaoling and the others and go to the Moonlight Sect. It’s likely the safest place on the entire Heavenly Dragon Continent.”
Dai Lingrong looked at the four figures approaching in the distance, took a deep breath, and said.
“Senior, though you’re a Cave Heaven Realm warrior, you’re only at the early stage. The strongest two of those four are Ten Directions Heaven warriors. You’re at a disadvantage, especially injured.”
Ling Xiao frowned.
“No need to say more. So many from Spirit Herb Manor have died. What meaning is there in me living? Please, protect them. Even if they join the Moonlight Sect, just keep them safe.”
With that, Dai Lingrong struck out with a palm, the force sending Ling Xiao and the others hundreds of meters away.
The Sea Clan’s four Heavenly Human Realm warriors paused, accompanied by hundreds of others, the weakest being Eighth Mortal Realm warriors and the strongest being Breakthrough Stage Heavenly Vein warriors.
“You chase those people. Leave this woman to us four.”
“Yes, my lords!”
Dai Lingrong didn’t stop the pursuers, as she had no chance to.
“Ling Xiao, I’m counting on you!”
There was another reason: she knew Ling Xiao was strong enough. If she could hold off these four Heavenly Human Realm warriors, Ling Xiao and the manor’s disciples could handle the rest.
Swoosh—
A sword light pierced the air as Ling Xiao struck.
The enemies caught up quickly, as the group’s many injured slowed them down.
He didn’t draw his sword. The sword light shot out like blinding sunlight, the air seemingly scorched by its heat.
The first to bear the brunt, a Formative Stage Heavenly Vein warrior, was burned to ash by the strike.
“What a terrifying attack. Why haven’t I seen Brother Ling Xiao use this before?”
Dai Yaoling had witnessed Ling Xiao’s strength at the Martial Arts Festival, but this attack was new to her.
A seemingly casual sword qi carried a fearsome heat that could melt anything, blinding those who saw it. It was truly terrifying.
The pursuers halted, stunned by Ling Xiao’s power, which exceeded their expectations.
“Yaoling, take your people and go. Don’t worry about me. I’ll follow behind.”
Ling Xiao didn’t want a prolonged fight, but avoiding one entirely wasn’t feasible, so he fought while retreating.
“No, we can’t let you fight for Spirit Herb Manor while we flee.”
Dai Yaoling shook her head.
“Right, we’ll fight with you!”
The Spirit Herb Manor disciples showed backbone. Despite their severe injuries, they insisted on fighting.
Others might have fled by now.
“You staying here would only be a burden. Go now!”
Ling Xiao’s words were blunt and harsh but true, “These are healing pills. Take them. Once you’ve recovered, you can fight alongside me. For now, I can handle this. Go!”
In the Nine Cauldrons Illusion, Ling Xiao had sealed many things, but the herbs and pills he refined remained. He had plenty of healing pills, collected since the True Demon Forbidden Land, and hadn’t used them up.
“Alright, let’s go!”
Dai Yaoling distributed the pills to the disciples, then turned to leave with tears in her eyes.
But she couldn’t help glancing back.
She saw Ling Xiao turn into a blur, charging into the pursuers.
To her, it was just a dazzling light.
To the pursuers, it was a deadly attack.
Anyone Ling Xiao touched burst into flames, some withering instantly.
Seeing this, Dai Yaoling stopped worrying and focused on the path ahead, leading the retreat.
After displaying his sword’s might, Ling Xiao turned to flee, his black-and-white light wings unfolding, easily catching up to Dai Yaoling and the others.
Fighting and fleeing like this, the pursuers realized Ling Xiao’s tenacity and stopped rushing in. With several Heavenly Vein warriors banding together, killing them in one go became difficult for Ling Xiao.
But that didn’t matter.
If he couldn’t kill them, stopping them was enough.
And blocking them was far easier.
