“Reporting to the Heavenly Venerable, this guy’s a tough one. Not only did he kill our leader, but he also took out the old man who just joined us. He’s demanding you go meet him, showing no respect at all!”
The subordinate’s words weren’t much exaggerated, conveying roughly what Ling Xiao had said.
“Damn fool!”
The Leech Heavenly Venerable flipped the tea table in front of him, roaring with rage, “I’ve been in Circle Two for over ten years and seen plenty of idiots trying to rebel, but none ever ended well. Today, I want to see where this kid got the guts to provoke me!”
“With you taking action, Heavenly Venerable, success is guaranteed. That kid’s only at early Three Talents Heaven. He’s no match for you!”
The subordinates flattered him eagerly.
“Lead me to him. Don’t let that kid escape!”
“Yes!”
…
Though Circle Two was large, with the Leech Heavenly Venerable’s Five Elements Heaven cultivation, he covered the distance in an instant.
If not for needing his men to guide him, he’d have arrived even faster.
The Leech Heavenly Venerable was gaunt, as if drained, with black moles dotting his ugly face.
But the sinister aura he exuded made nearby martial artists tremble with fear.
“Heh, that idiot Ling Xiao dared to provoke the Leech Heavenly Venerable. Now that he’s here, let’s see how long Ling Xiao can keep up his bravado!” Ximen Bo sneered, annoyed by Ling Xiao’s earlier display of power.
Seeing the Leech Heavenly Venerable arrive, he wished the man would slap Ling Xiao dead on the spot.
Then he could mock him to his heart’s content.
Maybe even claim Leng Mei as his own.
“That boy’s in danger. He vented our frustrations, but his cultivation is too weak. The Leech Heavenly Venerable just broke through to Five Elements Heaven and is looking for someone to take it out on. He’s walking right into it.”
“Yeah, his cultivation looks like early Three Talents Heaven at best. He’s done for.”
“The Leech Heavenly Venerable is nothing like those useless lackeys.”
“Probably some young master from a big faction outside, used to being high and mighty, refusing to endure the humiliation here. Now he’s in trouble.”
“Better to live humbly than die pointlessly.”
The other martial artists weren’t optimistic about Ling Xiao. They didn’t stoop to gloating like Ximen Bo, but they had little faith in him.
“Kid, who’re you with? State your name. If I know you, I might spare your life!”
The Leech Heavenly Venerable had planned to attack immediately but spotted Leng Mei.
Though she suppressed her cultivation, those with keen eyes could tell.
He sensed her strength was no less than his, so he held back, probing instead.
“Just a nobody, Ling Xiao, a disciple of a small sect from the Tianlong Continent. You must be the Leech Heavenly Venerable?”
Ling Xiao replied calmly.
“Hmph, knowing my name, you should understand the consequences of crossing me!”
The Leech Heavenly Venerable snorted, “I’ll give you a chance. Join me now, and you’ll live!”
In his mind, if Ling Xiao became his subordinate, the woman beside him would too, boosting his power significantly.
Ling Xiao shook his head lightly, “You’re not worthy of my allegiance.”
“Insolent!”
The Heavenly Venerable’s men cursed Ling Xiao, their master’s authority sacred in their eyes.
“Heavenly Venerable, give me a chance to take this kid down and vent your anger!”
A sultry woman clung to the Leech Heavenly Venerable’s side.
Her clothes were thin, her charm intoxicating.
Her cultivation wasn’t weak either—peak Four Symbols Heaven, as strong as Ximen Bo.
“Alright, darling, teach this kid a lesson for me.”
The Leech Heavenly Venerable had little interest in Ling Xiao, his focus on Leng Mei.
He held back out of caution for her.
To him, a mere early Three Talents Heaven martial artist stood no chance against a peak Four Symbols Heaven one. Defeat was certain.
“I obey!”
The woman smiled, a fox manifesting behind her.
“A fox spirit, indeed!”
Ling Xiao sighed inwardly. It wasn’t a fox martial soul but a fox spirit one, unnamed but perfectly embodying its seductive traits.
“Little brother, I’ll go easy on you. Don’t be afraid of a little pain.”
The fox spirit let out a sultry laugh, making many martial artists weak in the knees.
Ximen Bo stared, practically drooling.
Cai Weiwei, nearby, shook her head.
Once, she had admired and loved Ximen Bo deeply. Now, she despised him, her feelings plummeting like a falling sword.
Seeing him ogle the seductive fox spirit, she felt no anger, only resignation and sorrow.
How had she fallen for such a man?
She’d been so blind.
“You’d better not attack, or I can’t guarantee what’ll happen.”
Ling Xiao looked at the fox spirit with a faint smile.
“Heh, I’m not scared off easily. I’ve defeated early Five Elements Heaven martial artists before. You’re nothing, little brother.”
The fox spirit’s smile was alluring, but her eyes held cruelty and menace.
“Is that so? Give it a try.”
Ling Xiao smiled, already guessing how she’d beaten a Five Elements Heaven martial artist.
Her martial soul likely had a potent charm effect. Martial artists with weak soul strength would fall easily.
But would he?
In terms of soul strength, he believed no one in the Heaven-Human Realm could match him.
“Why’s this guy so calm? What’s he relying on?”
The fox spirit was puzzled.
Ling Xiao, only at early Three Talents Heaven, showed no fear, which was odd.
“Hmph, whatever you’re relying on, it’s useless against me!”
The fox spirit snorted, dismissing his composure as a bluff to make her second-guess.
“Charm Heart!”
Her martial soul flashed with eerie red light. She blew a kiss at Ling Xiao, forming a red heart of soul and Tianyuan energy that flew toward him.
“As expected, a soul attack specialist.”
Ling Xiao nodded to himself, then opened his World Eye. As night and day alternated, fear descended upon the world.
