After leaving, Ling Xiao didn’t return directly to Qingxu Academy but headed to the Heavenly Essence Tower.
With five days left until his life-or-death duel with Blood Skull, he planned to break through to Four Symbols Heaven. Blood Skull was merely a minor obstacle on his path, not worth much concern.
His ambitions were grand, his mission monumental. The enemies he’d face were formidable. At Three Talents Heaven peak, he was far behind, insignificant compared to the Ten Phoenix Sons. That day, returning from the Divine Phoenix Auction House, he only survived the pursuing experts with Qin Huo’s help. He couldn’t always rely on others for protection.
Strengthening himself was paramount. In this world, fists spoke loudest. The harder your fist, the more people trusted and followed you. If Ling Xiao hadn’t caused that uproar at Pixiu Island’s crystal factory, would Qin Huo’s three hundred warriors have followed him so loyally? No. The title of Chosen Son was just a hollow name. Strength was what mattered.
Last time, Ling Xiao trained on the third floor of the Heavenly Essence Tower. Now, with his cultivation greatly advanced, he went straight to the fifth. The fifth floor was for Five Elements Heaven warriors. Leng Mei was at early Five Elements Heaven, while Ling Xiao, though at Three Talents Heaven peak, had combat strength surpassing ordinary Five Elements Heaven peak warriors, as shown by his easy defeat of the crystal factory’s head steward.
“Stop!”
As they reached the fifth floor, a guard blocked them.
“What’s the issue?” Ling Xiao asked, frowning.
“She’s neither a Divine Phoenix Academy nor Qingxu Academy disciple. She can’t train in the Heavenly Essence Tower,” the guard replied.
Ling Xiao said calmly, “I’ve never seen such a rule.”
He’d heard rumors that the tower was exclusive to the two academies, but upon checking, no such rule existed. It was mere hearsay.
“There’s no written rule, but it’s tradition. You can’t break it,” the guard said coldly.
“And who are you?” Ling Xiao asked, puzzled.
“I’m a Divine Phoenix Academy disciple, guarding the fifth floor.”
“I thought so. There’s no such rule, so why’s a guard enforcing it? Step aside, I won’t make trouble,” Ling Xiao said. He had no desire to stir conflict, even with a Divine Phoenix Academy disciple. His focus was training.
“Impossible!” the guard declared righteously.
“Get lost!” Ling Xiao’s brows furrowed, his killing sword intent surging like a tangible force. The guard broke into a cold sweat, scrambling aside. “Ling Xiao, I know you’re strong, but you’ll regret this. This tradition is an unspoken agreement between Qingxu and Divine Phoenix Academies. Breaking it disrupts their harmony.”
“What’s going on?”
A man and woman approached from below, noticing the scene. The man wore a Divine Phoenix Academy uniform, while the woman, in ornate clothing but no uniform, likely wasn’t a disciple.
“Senior Brother Ke, this man’s trying to break the rules, bringing an outsider to train in the tower,” the guard reported, as if saved.
“Then why waste words? Drive them out,” Ke Long said, glancing disdainfully at Ling Xiao. “By the way, this is my cousin from Pixiu Island, here to visit the tower. Is there a private room on the fifth floor?”
“Don’t worry, Senior Brother Ke. A fifth-floor private room is reserved for you. You can bring anyone, no restrictions,” the guard said, fawning like a lapdog.
“Here’s your reward!” Ke Long tossed the guard ten low-grade spirit stones. “We’re going up. Get rid of this Qingxu Academy trash. Don’t ruin my mood.”
“Yes, yes, Senior Brother Ke, please!” The guard bowed respectfully, clearing the way.
“Let’s go!” Ling Xiao sneered, grabbing Leng Mei’s hand and striding to the fifth floor.
“Kid, stop!” Ke Long shouted as they neared a private room.
The woman beside him swayed her serpentine figure, clinging to his arm. “Brother Ke Long, didn’t you say no one on the fifth floor dares defy you? Why’s this guy ignoring you?”
*Vixen!* Ling Xiao judged her instantly. Her looks paled compared to Leng Mei’s, but her fiery figure and naturally seductive voice fit the term perfectly. Most men would melt at her words. Having seen many such women, Ling Xiao had little regard for her type.
“Something wrong?” he asked, turning to Ke Long.
“Kid, the last two private rooms on this floor are mine. Get lost!” Ke Long snapped, emboldened by the woman’s prodding, his tone dripping with arrogance.
As if driving off Ling Xiao and Leng Mei was as easy as swatting flies, he couldn’t lose face before his cousin.
“Heh, you reserved them? For whom? How much deposit?” Ling Xiao asked with a smile.
Ke Long’s eyes flashed with cold anger. “Kid, bringing an outsider here already breaks the rules. Now you want to steal my training rooms? Tired of living?”
“If I’m breaking rules, what about you?” Ling Xiao pointed at the woman.
“Hmph, who am I, and who are you? A mere human dares compare to our Divine Phoenix Clan? I’m a noble of the Peacock Clan. Bringing one person, or even a group, doesn’t break any rules!” Ke Long said disdainfully.
“So, officials can start fires, but commoners can’t light lamps? What’s the point of such rules? Better to break them,” Ling Xiao said calmly.
“Brother Ke Long, he called me an outsider. Aren’t you going to teach him a lesson and show your authority?” the woman goaded again.
