“Hahaha, truly heroes emerge young! Your prowess is remarkable, sir! I’m deeply impressed!”
After his initial shock, Ji Ning burst into hearty laughter.
Clearly, his admiration for Ling Xiao grew.
For such a young man to stand up in that atmosphere, confront the Lightning Demon King, and leave him speechless was extraordinary.
More impressively, this clever youth had outwitted the cunning Lightning Demon King, forcing him to reveal his true identity.
Though protected by the Divine Phoenix Emperor, the exposed Lightning Demon King could no longer act freely.
Unlike Ji Ning, whose straightforward nature nearly cost him his life with little gain.
“No need to call me sir, General. Just Ling Xiao will do. I’m only fifteen, hardly daring to claim such a title before you,” Ling Xiao said with a smile, shaking his head. “Your fearless bravery and steadfast loyalty have truly impressed me. That’s why I wanted to meet you today. If you don’t mind, I’d be honoured to call you a friend.”
“You’re too modest, young sir. You’re the one who’s truly fearless and sharp-witted, qualities I can’t match,” Ji Ning waved his hand. “It’s my honour to befriend someone like you!”
“You’re a straightforward man, General! I won’t beat around the bush,” Ling Xiao said directly. “I’m a disciple of the Moonlight Sect from the Heavenly Dragon Continent. The True Demon Empire is pressing hard, and the Moonlight Sect is in peril. I came to the Divine Phoenix Continent to focus on advancing my martial cultivation and to seek allies to aid in its rescue.”
“Alas, you’ve seen it yourself. The True Demon Empire is allied with the Divine Phoenix Empire. If I attacked them now, it’d be declaring war, plunging the people into chaos,” Ji Ning said, frowning helplessly.
Ling Xiao smiled, “You misunderstand, General. I’m not asking for rescue now. The Holy Dynasty still holds on, with several Yin-Yang Realm experts standing guard. The True Demon Empire can’t overpower them yet. I’m speaking of the future.”
“That’s worth considering. In my view, the True Demon Empire’s ambitions will eventually target the Divine Phoenix Empire,” Ji Ning nodded.
“Your word is enough for me, General. I’ll take my leave now. I didn’t inform my friends before coming, and they might be worried,” Ling Xiao said, standing to go after concluding the matter.
He didn’t want to pressure Ji Ning too much. Trust builds over time.
“You’re a man of loyalty and heart, young sir. Very well, I’ll see you out!” Ji Ning stood.
“Alright!”
As they stepped out of the general’s mansion, Ling Xiao was startled by the sight.
From the mansion’s gate, stretching along the road, were two long lines of people.
They suddenly knelt, shouting in unison to the masked Ling Xiao, “Thank you, Mr. Ghost Mask, for saving our lives!”
The same words echoed repeatedly, resounding through North Desert City, stirring Ling Xiao’s heart.
“What have I done to deserve such gratitude? Ji Ning truly commands the love of the people here. No wonder the royals want him dead,” Ling Xiao thought, deeply moved.
“Please rise, everyone. Your general upholds justice and loves his people. I only did what little I could!” Ling Xiao said, gently lifting his hands, his powerful Heavenly Origin Power raising the thousands kneeling before him.
Ji Ning, watching, was astonished.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Ling Xiao was only a Breakthrough Stage Heavenly Vein Warrior, yet his Heavenly Origin Power rivalled that of a Two Polarities Heavenly Realm cultivator.
A true prodigy.
“General, farewell!”
“Everyone, farewell!”
Black and white light wings spread from Ling Xiao’s back, and he shot into the sky as a streak of dual-coloured light.
“Respectfully sending off Mr. Ghost Mask!” Ji Ning and the soldiers and citizens bowed in unison, watching the figure vanish swiftly.
“Listen, soldiers! Mr. Ghost Mask is now a great benefactor of North Desert City. If he’s ever in trouble, what shall we do?” Ji Ning asked loudly.
“Do everything in our power, repay him with our lives!” the voices thundered, awe-inspiring.
“Haha, who’d have thought this lad has grown to such heights? Ji Ning, do you know who he is?” An old man emerged from the mansion.
If Ling Xiao were here, he’d recognise him as his grandfather, Hong Qi!
“Elder Sect Leader Hong!” Ji Ning looked at Hong Qi, surprised. “You know this young man? Who is he?”
“You’ve met him before, though he was just a babe in swaddling clothes then,” Hong Qi said with a smile.
“It’s him! The young master!” Ji Ning’s face lit up with joy.
“Exactly. Back then, Ji Fuling and Yu Xuanyue found a divine stone on the Heavenly Dragon Continent. They kept it close, and one day, their blood dripped onto it, cracking it open to reveal a thumb-sized infant,” Hong Qi said softly, smiling. “From then on, they raised him as their own, naming him Ling Xiao. ‘Ling’ from Ji Fuling’s name, and ‘Xiao’ from Yu Xuanyue’s nickname, Xiao Xiao.”
“It’s really the young master! No wonder he’s so exceptional. In over a hundred thousand years, only three have been born from divine stones: Emperor Haotian, heir to the Human King; the Great Ape King, from the same era; and the Stone King, the ninth Holy Dynasty Emperor. Our young master was extraordinary from birth,” Ji Ning said excitedly.
“You’re mistaken. Those three came from ordinary stones absorbing the essence of sun and moon. The stone that birthed Ling Xiao was special. His achievements will likely surpass them all,” Hong Qi said with a sigh. “I’m truly looking forward to it.”
Ling Xiao didn’t see Hong Qi, a pity.
But since Hong Qi was on the Divine Phoenix Continent, their reunion wasn’t far off.
Back at Qingxu Academy, Ling Xiao focused entirely on cultivation.
His Breakthrough Stage Heavenly Vein Warrior level was too low. He needed to advance quickly, or trouble would follow.
The best place to boost his cultivation was the Heavenly Origin Tower in the imperial city’s centre, accessible only to disciples of the two academies.
