After refining the Tianyuan Crystal, Ling Xiao grew bored and wandered the ship.
Suddenly, a familiar figure caught his eye, shocking him.
“Leng Mei!”
He almost didn’t recognise her.
Today’s Leng Mei exuded a cold, noble aura, like a goddess assassin walking on a knife’s edge.
Her lovely face was more mature than before.
The girl, leaning against a corner, toyed with a dagger. Hearing her name, she glanced up casually.
Her eyes lit up with surprise and excitement, nearly dropping the dagger.
“Master!”
Her shout drew wide-eyed stares.
Though strikingly beautiful, she sat like a death goddess, deterring anyone from approaching.
Many self-proclaimed noble martial artists tried to chat her up, only to be ignored, yet they weren’t angry, thinking even her scorn was a privilege.
But they never imagined this lofty, icy woman would rush to an unremarkable figure, calling him “Master.”
It infuriated them, feeling insulted.
How was their strength or looks inferior to that man?
Ignoring their feelings, Ling Xiao hugged Leng Mei tightly.
“It’s really you! How have you been this past year?”
Ling Xiao felt nostalgic. He’d planned to search for Leng Mei in Yuehua Sect’s Death Canyon once his cultivation improved, but events led him to Divine Phoenix Continent to boost his strength.
Though the continents weren’t far apart, the stormy ocean separated them, and he thought it’d be long before seeing her again.
Yet, they met here by chance.
“I’m fine, I’ve been cultivating. Only when I came out did I hear about the changes and that you were in Divine Phoenix Continent, so I followed,” Leng Mei said, tears in her eyes as they parted.
“Sit down,” Ling Xiao found a clean spot, holding her hand, “You should’ve gone to the imperial city to find me. Why come here?”
“On my way, I met a friend who helped me a lot. He’s heading to Pixiu Island, and I heard it’s dangerous, so I wanted to repay his kindness before finding you in the imperial city,” Leng Mei explained.
“Oh? Where’s this friend? I should thank him,” Ling Xiao smiled.
“Ximen, this is my master, Ling Xiao!” Leng Mei called to the crowd.
A man, about thirty-five or thirty-six, emerged, his cultivation at the peak of Four Symbols Heaven.
At his age, reaching this level was talented, but not exceptional.
Ling Xiao, not yet sixteen, was at First Heaven peak, soon to catch up.
“Hmph, I thought he’d be impressive, but he’s just average. Leng Mei, why call him master?” Ximen Bo sneered.
“Don’t insult my master,” Leng Mei’s face darkened.
“It’s fine, Leng Mei. My cultivation is low now, but you’ve surpassed me by far,” Ling Xiao said.
If Ximen Bo were anyone else, Ling Xiao might’ve slapped him, but since he helped Leng Mei, he let the comment slide, grateful.
“Master, I had an encounter in that canyon, but even so, my cultivation is only mid-Four Symbols Heaven,” Leng Mei said modestly.
Through his World Eye, Ling Xiao saw a powerful energy in her, identical to the Death Canyon’s aura.
She must’ve received a master’s power transfer, explaining her rapid progress.
Among martial artists, power transfer could boost cultivation quickly, but it was risky, with only a thirty to forty percent success rate, so it was rarely done.
Most transferred power remained sealed, as the recipient’s body couldn’t handle it.
Leng Mei would need years to fully assimilate it.
Still, Ling Xiao was thrilled for her success and his own luck in having such a close confidante.
“Ximen, this is your Leng Mei? Hmph, her cultivation’s decent, but why so cold?” said a fairly attractive girl, inferior to Leng Mei, likely close to Ximen Bo, sounding jealous.
“Weiwei, Leng Mei’s my friend, don’t talk like that,” Ximen Bo, seemingly fond of Leng Mei, defended her, showing hostility toward Ling Xiao.
“Hmph, pity it’s unrequited love. You pour your heart out, but she doesn’t care,” Cai Weiwei huffed, displeased.
“Mind your own business!” Ximen Bo snapped, then turned to Ling Xiao, “As Leng Mei’s friend, I’ll warn you. Reaching First Heaven peak at fifteen or sixteen is impressive, a top genius, but genius is just potential. With your strength, Pixiu Island is a death trap, and you can’t protect Leng Mei.”
His words were blunt, mocking Ling Xiao’s weakness and ambitions.
“Heh, thanks for the concern, but I’m not afraid of death,” Ling Xiao smiled faintly.
Though he couldn’t match Four Symbols Heaven cultivators yet, he had the Eight Cauldrons Human King power and Butterfly Girl, plus Qin Huo, a Tenth Heaven Realm martial artist.
Ximen Bo’s peak Four Symbols Heaven cultivation didn’t faze him.
“Foolish!” Ximen Bo wanted to drive Ling Xiao away to pursue Leng Mei.
He’d tried hard to win her over, but she kept him at a distance, frustrating him.
This rare chance to be alone with her was ruined by Ling Xiao’s arrival, infuriating him.
“That guy, my brother Ximen is right. You’re too weak, just a burden. Stay by my side as a follower, maybe I can protect you,” Cai Weiwei shouted, seemingly out of spite.
