“Kid, you’re Ling Xiao?”
The head steward, flanked by four other Five Elements Heaven experts, strode up to Ling Xiao and Leng Mei, barking sharply.
“I’m Ling Xiao. You’re from Pixiu Island?” Ling Xiao countered.
The head steward said coldly, “Since you know we’re Pixiu Island warriors, why don’t you surrender? Or do you want us to make you?”
“Surrender? That’s a bold tone! You haven’t grasped the situation. Without outside support, you’re all doomed. Behave, and I might spare a few of you. Otherwise, if the enraged slaves kill you, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Ling Xiao said with a faint smile.
“Arrogant brat! You think that rabble can overthrow our rule here? Kill you, and they’ll scatter!” the head steward retorted.
“You’re not wrong, but who among you can take me down? Your actions are vile, your crimes heinous. You deserve what’s coming. Today, you’ll face justice!” Ling Xiao said calmly.
“Hahaha, only fools believe in justice. In the Mysterious Realm, it all boils down to four words: survival of the fittest!” the head steward laughed loudly.
“You understand survival of the fittest, do you? Then why waste words? You want to kill me, I want to crush you. Let’s settle this with strength. All your talk of justice is just an excuse,” Ling Xiao said disdainfully.
“Well said, kid. You’re sharp, but you’re foolish to provoke Pixiu Island. It’ll cost you your life!” The head steward sneered, waving his hand. “Attack! Forget martial honor, kill Ling Xiao with full force. Ignore the others for now!”
At his command, dozens of Four Symbols Heaven warriors charged at Ling Xiao, while the Five Elements Heaven warriors lurked in the crowd, waiting to ambush. Knowing Ling Xiao’s strength, they’d avoid a direct fight and strike from the shadows.
“Rabble, only fit to die. Get lost!”
Ling Xiao snorted, shaking his Golden Crow Sword. A massive Golden Crow descended from the sky, crashing into the crowd.
Flames roared. Explosions thundered. Screams rang out one after another.
The dozens of Four Symbols Heaven warriors couldn’t resist, all blasted away. The unlucky ones burned to ash on the spot. The luckier ones kept their bodies intact. The worst off were those left half-dead, wailing in agony.
Leng Mei, Meng Tong, and Xin joined the fray, inspired by Ling Xiao’s ferocity, eager to show their own strength. The three faced four Five Elements Heaven warriors, fighting fiercely.
“Head Steward, stop sending your men to die pointlessly. If you want me, come yourself,” Ling Xiao said leisurely, eyeing the steward.
With the slave army dominating and no messages getting out, he could afford to toy with them. The head steward seemed stronger than Earthfire Heavenly Lord, a better sparring partner.
“Everyone else, fall back. Deal with the slaves. I’ll handle this kid!” the head steward ordered. He saw that Four Symbols Heaven warriors couldn’t touch Ling Xiao, and the four Five Elements Heaven warriors were tied up by his allies. He had to act himself.
Brandishing a double-handed long blade, the head steward roared, slashing at Ling Xiao from a distance. The ferocious blade energy surged, splitting the air as if cleaving the sky in two.
“Immortal-grade treasure? No, it’s got a special array!” Ling Xiao activated his World Eye, analyzing the attack.
Instead of rushing in, he retreated, holding his Golden Crow Sword horizontally to defend.
*Clang!*
Metal clashed, and Ling Xiao felt his blood surge. The head steward’s strength surpassed Earthfire Heavenly Lord’s, and his blade was exceptional.
As Ling Xiao exhaled, preparing to counter, he noticed a strange inscription on the blade glowing gold.
“Phoenix Shadow Strike!”
The inscription unleashed a blade energy shaped like phoenix wings. Too close to dodge, Ling Xiao reacted swiftly. His left hand struck, a gust of force slowing the wings, allowing him to evade, though he had to step back.
“Well done, Head Steward! That kid’s done for. Kill him, and the rebellion collapses!” Pixiu Island’s side, tense, erupted in joy seeing the steward overpower Ling Xiao.
“I told you, that kid’s no match for the Head Steward! He’s at the peak of Five Elements Heaven, while that kid’s only shown Three Talents Heaven peak strength!”
“Right, and with the Head Steward’s Phoenix Feather Blade, enhanced by our island’s array masters, no one at his level can match him, let alone that kid.”
“So, a weapon enhanced by an array?” Ling Xiao mused mid-battle, feeling little pressure. The earlier moment seemed dangerous but posed no real threat. Even a direct hit wouldn’t have hurt him much.
He’d considered enhancing weapons with arrays but lacked the right blueprints. Seeing the Phoenix Feather Blade, he grew intrigued. Though he didn’t need it, he could seize it to study its array for his own weapons.
“Kid, time to die!”
The head steward’s attacks didn’t stop. After one miss, he swung his blade again, each strike ruthless and deadly.
“I’m not done living. Why die? Just because you’ve got a blade inferior to a divine-grade treasure?” Ling Xiao scoffed.
