“Hahaha, you heard that? You can’t afford to mess with Blood Skeleton. I’m not afraid to tell you, my sister is his woman. If you kill me, he won’t let you off. You’ll end up buried with me,” the red-robed warrior laughed wildly. “Think carefully. Is it worth dying for a scumbag like me?”
“Stronger than Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate? More powerful than Lightning Demon King? Even at your death, you still don’t get it,” Ling Xiao said, shaking his head lightly. His Purple Lightning Sword thrust forward, piercing the warrior’s throat before returning to his hand.
He was someone targeted by Demon Flame Heavenly Venerate and Lightning Demon King. If he feared a mere Blood Skeleton, he wouldn’t be Ling Xiao.
The strike froze everyone’s gazes, as if time stopped. Even Feng Yanran hadn’t expected Ling Xiao to kill the red-robed warrior, especially after learning his connection to Blood Skeleton, yet he acted without hesitation. Was his courage boundless?
The red-robed warrior’s shocked expression at death revealed his regret. Why had he come back to provoke trouble? If he’d left earlier, he’d only have been injured, recoverable with his Two Instruments Heaven strength. But for a bit of pride, he sought revenge, losing not only face but also Duan Yun’s life and his own. No word but “foolish” could describe it.
“Still so wild, so domineering. Does this Ling Xiao know no fear?” Qin Bixue and Mo Wushang watched, hands trembling. They’d considered joining Duan Yun to kill him, but now that seemed laughable.
Exchanging glances, they struck their own chests, their Heaven Meridians emptying of aura. “Ling Xiao, we’ve crippled our cultivation, only begging to live,” they said. Once genius heroes, this cruel choice spared their lives, a stroke of luck.
“Not enough,” Ling Xiao said, pointing two fingers from afar.
“You! You destroyed our Heaven Meridians,” they gasped. Losing their meridians meant no cultivation, only a normal life henceforth.
“What, planning to retrain and trouble me later? I spared you because I’m tired of killing today after two deaths. Now get lost,” Ling Xiao said. He didn’t spare them out of boredom; they were still useful. As ordinary people, they posed no threat, so keeping them alive was fine.
Mo Wushang and Qin Bixue felt bitter resentment, but it was meaningless. Their martial paths were severed; their names would vanish from the martial world.
“Wait,” Ling Xiao’s chilling voice stopped them after three steps.
“What more do you want?” Qin Bixue asked.
“Relax, just one question. The secret technique scroll on the Dragon-Severing Stone came from Blood Skeleton, right?” Ling Xiao asked.
“Yes, we don’t have such precious scrolls,” Mo Wushang nodded, unsure why Ling Xiao asked.
“Then it seems my kill list has a new name. Blood Skeleton? I’ll make him a true skeleton,” Ling Xiao said. He wouldn’t kill unjustly but wouldn’t spare enemies who targeted him or his friends.
Qin Bixue wanted to say Ling Xiao was no match for Blood Skeleton but stopped. He’d said similar things at the Holy Dynasty Martial Festival, only for Ling Xiao to prove him wrong each time, slapping his face with actions. Today, he dared not speak, as nothing seemed impossible with Ling Xiao. Where he was, miracles followed.
Mo Wushang and Qin Bixue left. Ling Xiao departed with Lan Yuer, Ji Mingkong, and Feng Yanran. Dai Yuling and others on the first floor had finished cultivating days ago and were likely at Qingxu Academy.
The two bodies on the third floor were cleared, and Divine Phoenix Academy warriors waited nervously for Blood Skeleton. Someone had reported the incident.
“Give the bodies a proper burial and report to the academy’s higher-ups,” Blood Skeleton said coldly, not appearing at the Tianyuan Pagoda. He began muttering a name: Ling Xiao.
The imperial city buzzed with activity, news spreading like wildfire. Today’s hottest rumour was: “Qingxu Academy’s Ling Xiao killed Divine Phoenix Academy’s Duan Yun and Blood Skeleton’s brother-in-law at the Tianyuan Pagoda, and crippled Mo Wushang and Qin Bixue’s cultivation and meridians.”
The story spread in various versions, even turned into tales by storytellers. “Remember the boy who crippled Feng Mingbo at Divine Phoenix Academy’s gate?” “Of course, wasn’t he taken by Qingxu Academy’s vice-dean?” “Right, he’s stirred up trouble again, killing Duan Yun and Blood Skeleton’s brother-in-law.” “Heard he also ruined Mo Wushang and Qin Bixue’s cultivation.” “That kid’s too bold. Divine Phoenix Academy rejected him, yet he keeps shaming them. Impressive.” “Impressive? He’s in trouble now.” “Trouble?” “He killed Blood Skeleton’s brother-in-law. Blood Skeleton will retaliate, and Divine Phoenix Academy won’t let him off easily. He’s done for soon.” “Yeah, a grasshopper in autumn, hopping for only a few days.” “True, Blood Skeleton’s a top-twenty disciple. The academy might use this to teach Qingxu Academy a lesson.”
In taverns, teahouses, streets, and homes, the talk was of Ling Xiao and Blood Skeleton, the city’s most famous figures.
Outside Qingxu Academy, a group approached grandly, led by a figure with blood-red skin and a terrifying expression. “Quick, inform the elite disciples. Blood Skeleton’s here,” a gate guard said, heart pounding with tension.
