Ling Xiao sneered, conjuring a Light-Shadow Divine Cone and hurling it at the core of the ancient array.
Though the array was formidable, its power relied on the unique terrain. Ling Xiao couldn’t destroy the array itself, but he could alter the terrain, rendering it useless.
This was easier said than done. For most warriors, the challenge wasn’t destruction but locating the array’s core terrain factor. Likely, only Ling Xiao, with his Mountain River Martial Soul, could find it.
*Boom!*
A massive explosion shook the crystal factory as the terrain shifted completely. To prevent Pixiu Island from restoring it, Ling Xiao summoned his immortal cauldron, absorbing the terrain’s soul.
In the Mysterious Realm, everything had a soul. Some were active, others dormant, but all played critical roles. Without its soul, the land became barren, impossible to restore.
“You wretch! I, Chu Mu, won’t let you go, no matter where you flee!” the humanoid light pillar roared.
“Heh, I’m tired of hearing that. Since when do people think they can scare me with such words? Do they think I, Ling Xiao, was raised on fear?” Ling Xiao smiled faintly. “When the real Chu Mu comes, tell him I’m ready anytime, but I doubt he’s capable.”
Ignoring the pillar, he led Leng Mei and the others, breaking through the array and leaving the factory. As for the slaves, with the array broken, they could escape if they chose. If fear of retaliation kept them, Ling Xiao couldn’t help.
They retraced their path to the shore, surprised to find the ship that had tricked them still docked. Even more surprising, Qin Huo had subdued the crew, including the captain.
Sensing Ling Xiao’s absence after reaching shore, Qin Huo had returned and secured the ship, waiting nearly a month in its hidden location to avoid Pixiu Island’s notice.
“General!”
“You’ve all worked hard!”
“No time for talk, General Qin. Turn the ship around. We’re heading back to the Divine Phoenix Continent. If Pixiu Island discovers the factory’s chaos, we’ll be in deep trouble,” Ling Xiao said.
He estimated the rebellion’s discovery was imminent. They needed to reach the Divine Phoenix Continent beforehand, where even an uproar wouldn’t matter.
His concerns were valid. About half an hour later, Pixiu Island noticed the factory’s situation, taking another half hour to grasp the full scope. By then, Ling Xiao’s ship had reached the continent, and his group raced toward the capital.
Pixiu Island’s pursuit was now pointless.
On the sea, a ship sped along, with Chu Mu, Pixiu Island’s Young Island Master, at its bow.
“Ling Xiao! Even if you reach the Divine Phoenix Empire’s capital, I’ll make you pay!”
Two hundred thousand Heavenly Essence Crystals, a fortune that took ages to amass, stolen by Ling Xiao, who also destroyed the factory. Pixiu Island couldn’t tolerate this. Chu Mu vowed to kill Ling Xiao to quell his rage.
Outside the capital, Ling Xiao bought a secluded, pleasant estate. With some arrays, it could rival prime cultivation sites. He settled Qin Huo, Xin, and the three hundred soldiers there.
“I’m providing food and shelter, but not for your leisure. You eat my food, drink my drink, and in return, you’ll fight and bleed for me,” Ling Xiao said bluntly. “I aim to restore human glory and rebuild the human empire. If you’re with me, train relentlessly here. I won’t skimp on resources or martial arts. If you find it too dull or unwilling, leave now. I won’t stop you. But this is your one chance to choose. Leave later, and it’s betrayal—death without mercy. Return, and you’ll face trials that are nearly fatal.”
He scanned the group, waiting for responses.
“We swear to follow the Chosen Son to the death!” Their voices were unified and loud.
No surprise, as all but Xin were soldiers. Soldiers fearing hardship? Only if they were useless in battle. Qin Huo’s men were anything but.
With resources and a training ground, they’d seize the chance. Having endured their nation’s fall, they knew strength meant everything. Without it, they’d be beaten, humiliated, trampled, treated like livestock.
“Good! I hear you. Don’t regret it. When it’s tough, look in the mirror at the tattoos on your faces—your shame! If you don’t want that again, train like your life depends on it!”
Ling Xiao tossed Qin Huo a storage ring with ten thousand low-grade Heavenly Essence Crystals and numerous copied martial arts manuals. “Distribute these. My only rule: unless you’re dead, train relentlessly. No excuses. I’m giving you resources, not charity. I expect you to fight on the battlefield!”
“I obey!” Qin Huo took the ring, hands trembling. The gift was immense. Failing to train would make them less than animals.
“Leng Mei, let’s go!”
Ling Xiao left the secret base. His future success would begin here. The Chosen Academy was his force, but those were warriors, not soldiers. These were true, disciplined soldiers.
