“Let’s go!”
Ling Xiao and Leng Mei headed to Circle One, the closest to Circle Two.
The circle gates were always locked, but they couldn’t stop martial artists.
Few dared to leave due to the cages fear built in their hearts.
Ling Xiao had no such cage, so he could leave freely.
Fortunately, he found nearly three hundred soldiers from the Tianlong Continent imprisoned there.
When Qin Huo was mentioned, they grew excited.
Ling Xiao played Qin Huo’s soul transmission, earning their trust.
“Circle One’s boss is the Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable. He reached Five Elements Heaven earlier than the Leech Heavenly Venerable. Though also early Five Elements Heaven, his combat strength is likely higher. Be careful, Young Master Ling.”
“Stay quiet for now. After I kill the Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable, take over here. When the chaos starts, join me, and we’ll escape together.”
After making arrangements with the three hundred, Ling Xiao went to find the Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable.
The Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable was slightly stronger than the Leech Heavenly Venerable.
But Ling Xiao’s cultivation had grown immensely in three days. Upon finding him, he wasted no words, unleashing the Scarlet Sun Cone.
The cone, blazing like a red sun, tore through the void and struck the Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable.
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed. The Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable didn’t even grasp who attacked before his body was pierced, and he died instantly.
At the moment of his death, he was surrounded by many subordinates.
But they only realised what happened after he was gone, howling for revenge.
They were swiftly ended by a flurry of plum blossoms.
Leng Mei had acted.
“Who are these two, daring to kill in the underground factory? Aren’t they afraid of Pixiu Island’s wrath?”
“Hmph, do they look scared? The Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable lorded over us for years, killing many experts, yet that youth took him out in one move. If I had that strength, I’d rebel too.”
“Daughter, someone’s finally avenged you! Father’s waited decades for this!”
“Father, Mother, the Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable is dead. Can you rest in peace now?”
Ling Xiao and Leng Mei came and went swiftly, killing, taking storage rings, and leaving without pause.
Circle One’s slaves were dumbfounded.
Some admired, some revered, others envied or resented.
But they didn’t care.
“Heh, the Flying Squirrel Heavenly Venerable had even more Tianyuan Crystals than the Leech Heavenly Venerable. How many did you get from his men?” Ling Xiao asked.
“About two hundred,” Leng Mei replied.
“I’ve got a full fifteen hundred!” Ling Xiao grinned, “These guys really are ruthless, hoarding so many Tianyuan Crystals.”
“Master, take these too.”
Leng Mei offered.
“No need. From now on, I take the bosses’, and you keep the subordinates’ crystals. You’re not working for free.”
Ling Xiao waved it off, “No arguments, that’s an order.”
Though he needed crystals, he wasn’t shameless enough to take from his own people.
…
The underground factory had five circles, with Circle Five the strongest. The other four bosses were roughly equal in strength.
After handling Circle One, Ling Xiao went to Circles Three and Four, collecting four thousand low-grade Tianyuan Crystals in total.
“Only Circle Five remains. They say its boss, the Earthfire Heavenly Venerable, is tricky,” Leng Mei said, looking toward Circle Five.
After counting the crystals, Ling Xiao didn’t retreat to cultivate. Time was tight.
It was the twenty-fifth, with only six days left. He had too much to do, and unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t waste time on cultivation.
Circle Five’s boss was formidable.
Rumour had it he arrived fifty years ago, already at early Five Elements Heaven.
His current cultivation was uncertain.
Some slaves said Pixiu Island didn’t want one boss ruling all five circles, as it would weaken their control.
Otherwise, the Earthfire Heavenly Venerable might already be the factory’s true overlord.
“Let’s try. If we can’t handle him, we’ll team up.”
Ling Xiao had other plans.
If they couldn’t defeat the Earthfire Heavenly Venerable together, he’d abandon the riot and escape with the three hundred soldiers.
Even if the Earthfire Heavenly Venerable was at peak Five Elements Heaven, Ling Xiao could win, though it’d be troublesome.
With Leng Mei, it’d be easier.
He only hoped the boss’s cultivation didn’t exceed Seven Stars Heaven, which would be tough.
…
“Where’s the Earthfire Heavenly Venerable?”
In Circle Five, Leng Mei held a dagger to a peak Four Symbols Heaven martial artist’s throat, demanding answers.
“Gulp, over there!” the martial artist said nervously, pointing.
“He’s not lying.”
Ling Xiao focused his soul strength into a line, extending it in that direction, sensing farther.
He felt a powerful presence, undoubtedly the Earthfire Heavenly Venerable.
“Thanks.”
Leng Mei dropped the martial artist and followed Ling Xiao toward the target.
“No matter where, the law of the jungle never changes.”
Seeing martial artists cower and hide, Ling Xiao shook his head with a smile, “In the Mysterious Realm, strength is everything. Without it, you’re controlled, doing only what others allow.
But with enough strength, you make the rules, you dominate them!”
Ling Xiao’s nature held an innate desire for control.
He hated being oppressed or manipulated.
Living like a puppet was his worst punishment.
That’s why he strove to grow stronger, to hold the rules in his hands.
Leng Mei followed Ling Xiao not just because he saved her but likely because of this inherent charisma.
Only such a person could reach the Mysterious Realm’s peak, becoming its master.
Resilient, brave, adventurous, calculating, never soft-hearted, yet not a reckless killer.
To Leng Mei, he was the ideal king.
