"Did you get it done?"
Ye Fan frowned and glanced outside the courtyard. He seemed to hear a burst of dense footsteps suddenly coming from the distance. But it was the middle of the night—where could footsteps be coming from?
"Ling Xiao has a powerful protector backing him. I failed."
Miyong hung his head, a blank expression on his face.
"Fai… failed?"
Ye Fan jumped to his feet abruptly.
"What are you doing running to me after failing? Do you want to get me killed, damn it?!"
"Bang!"
The courtyard gate was suddenly smashed open by a powerful force. Ye Fan's face turned pale, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and fled in haste through the back door.
"Damned Ling Xiao! Damned Ye family! I'll be back sooner or later!!"
At this moment, he had no more patience to hide his cultivation. The aura of a Peak Void Spirit Realm cultivator surged out instantly, wrapping around him as he sprinted toward the darkness in the distance. He was afraid that if he hesitated for even a moment, he would die at the hands of that Holy State young noble.
Damn it—he'd underestimated that bastard after all. Even an Immortal Ascension Realm Demonic Ape had failed. Killing Ling Xiao in the future would probably not be easy. A dark glint flashed in Ye Fan's eyes, and he finally fixed his gaze on the two iron pieces in his hand. Although the time wasn't yet right, with the Demonic Ape's help, he might still be able to break into that secret realm. Moreover, after fusing the two ancient maps, he had obtained more information. The location shown on the maps was actually a legacy left by a Supreme Powerhouse from ancient times!!
A Supreme Powerhouse's relic—even in the Holy State, this was considered a heaven-defying fortune. As long as he could obtain it, killing someone like Ling Xiao would be as easy as flipping his hand!
"It's Ye Fan! Look, it's Ye Fan!!"
"So it was this bastard who tried to harm Young Master Ling Xiao and bring disaster to our Ye family! Chase him!!"
At this moment, all members of the Ye family were convinced that the demon had been transformed by Ye Fan. Otherwise, why would he be running away in the middle of the night?
"Ding! The Chosen One's mind is damaged, and he is betrayed by all. Congratulations, Host, on plundering 300 points of Destiny Value and 3000 points of Villain Value."
Above the Ye family's main hall, Ling Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, watching Ye Fan flee with a cold gaze. Elder Yin stood behind him, his expression equally cold.
"Elder Yin, have you ever heard of the Eight Desolations Glazed Soul-Suppressing Pagoda?"
"Your Young Master… I have not."
Elder Yin shook his head. He was only an outsider servant of the Ling family, so his knowledge and experience were naturally limited. However, the aura of that demonic soul just now had been truly terrifying—even he had felt his heart tremble. Yet in the end, it had still been repelled by the Young Master. Thinking this, the respect in Elder Yin's eyes grew even deeper.
"It seems I'll have to ask my mother or father when I get back."
Ling Xiao nodded with a smile. No matter where that ancient pagoda came from, it posed little threat to him. Because from Miyong's words, he had learned that the nine floors of the pagoda sealed only great demons that were rejected by the world. What was Ling Xiao? Ling Xiao was the most terrifying demon in the world today! Once he unleashed his Heavenly Demon True Body, it would be enough to make all demons in the world submit. This was evident from the Demonic Ape's reaction just now.
300 points of Destiny Value and 3000 points of Villain Value—it seemed Ye Fan had been thoroughly frightened this time. But it made sense. He had risked so much to summon that ancient demon, only to return empty-handed. Not only had he exposed his trump card, but he had also become associated with demons. The world was vast, but there would be few places left for him to hide. However, this would force him to take extreme risks and fight with all his might. And that was exactly what Ling Xiao wanted. No matter what secrets the iron pieces held, they were clearly a great fortune belonging to the Chosen One. The "treasure-hunting beast" was now active, and all Ling Xiao needed to do next was drink tea, charm beauties, and wait for Ye Fan to find the secret realm. Although this was a bit shameless, Ye Fan was at least luckier than Chu Yang—he had at least fulfilled his residual value!
"Elder Yin, follow him. Help Ye Fan clear away all obstacles in his path."
Of course, Ling Xiao—being "kind-hearted"—would never do something like reaping the rewards of others' labor without lifting a finger. He still needed to contribute. Sending a powerful cultivator to secretly protect Ye Fan could be considered a form of "not taking advantage for free."
"Yes, Young Master!"
Elder Yin nodded, but a hint of hesitation showed on his face.
"Don't worry. I'll stay in Qingfeng City for a while. Besides, in the Four Wastelands, no one can threaten my life."
Ling Xiao naturally knew what Elder Yin was worried about, so he smiled and reassured him.
"Yes! If Young Master needs anything, you can summon me with your spiritual sense."
With that, Elder Yin's figure vanished instantly.
Early the next morning, news that Young Master Ling Xiao had been attacked at the Ye family spread throughout the entire Northern Wasteland. But what surprised everyone was that the demon who had attacked the Young Master was actually Ye Fan—the "loser" of the Ye family. In an instant, all sorts of rumors about Ye Fan emerged: "child killer," "perverted serial rapist," "demon who preys on both the old and young," and more. Some even claimed to recall a horrific tragedy they had witnessed thirteen years ago—allegedly Ye Fan had eaten a young girl alive! This showed just how deeply the world feared the word "demon." In their eyes, demons were synonymous with bloodthirst and cruelty. If immortals were entitled to all the world's worship, then demons were the source of all evil. ,few people in this world had ever actually seen a demon, yet hating demons had become a universal consensus.
Ye Qingchan rushed to Ling Xiao's room early in the morning. Her eyes red and swollen, she looked at the young man sitting at the desk, calmly sipping tea. She had already heard about what had happened the night before from Ye Sheng and others. Moreover, through Ye Sheng's exaggerated account of the incident, Ye Qingchan had been left terrified and filled with remorse. If she hadn't recommended the Ye family to him, the Young Master would never have traveled thousands of miles to come here. If something had happened to the Young Master at the Ye family, not only would she be doomed, but even Xuanjian Sect would probably be destroyed. At this moment, she realized that the reason the Young Master had forbidden her from going out the night before was probably because he had long sensed danger and was afraid that the demon Ye Fan would harm her. How hateful that she had blamed him all night—she was no better than a beast!
"Ding! Ye Qingchan is deeply in love with you. Congratulations, Host, on gaining 100 points of Destiny Value, plundering 100 points of Destiny Value from the Chosen One Ye Fan, and gaining 1000 points of Villain Value."
Hearing the system's notification, Ling Xiao was slightly stunned. Deeply in love? She's already deeply in love? I haven't even said any love words, written any love songs, or done a single romantic thing—and the most beautiful woman in the Northern Wasteland is already deeply in love with me? Oh! Damn it! This overwhelming charm of mine that I can't even contain!
"Young Master…"
"Hm? Qingchan, come here quickly. I brewed this tea myself—it's from the Holy State. Taste it."
A gentle smile spread across Ling Xiao's face. He reached out, took Ye Qingchan's jade-like hand, and pulled her into his arms. At this moment, Ye Qingchan only felt her breath quicken and her heart race. For a moment, everything in the world seemed to lose its meaning. Only the Young Master's embrace was her true home!