At the same time, atop the barren mountain, the overwhelming demonic aura suddenly trembled. Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes. In that instant, it felt as if stars were falling and the seas were shifting—an indescribable, terrifying aura erupted violently, then vanished in the blink of an eye.
"Something's wrong?"
He looked toward Qingfeng City, a flash of scarlet flickering deep in his eyes.
Host: Ling Xiao
Identity: Young Master of the Ten Thousand Dao Demon Sect
Divine Body: Heavenly Demon True Body (2nd Transformation) (Forbidden Physique)
Cultivation Realm: Mid-Xuanqing Realm
Techniques: Ten Thousand Dao Demon Scripture, Heavenly Demon Scripture, Heavenly Demon True Body (Innate), Purgatory Eyes (Innate), Ancient Soul-Snatching Art (Forbidden Technique)
Destiny Value: 700
Villain Value: 0
His Heavenly Demon True Body had now broken through to the 2nd Transformation—and there was an unexpected bonus: the Heavenly Demon Scripture. This technique had appeared in Ling Xiao's mind alongside the 2nd Transformation of his demonic body. According to its records, the scripture was inherited from the Primordial Heavenly Demon and evolved through the Primordial Chaos, possessing extremely terrifying power. It detailed methods to fuse the Heavenly Dao's principles—yet these methods were infused with supreme demonic intent, requiring the practitioner to devour the original source of the world's inherent Dao principles to cultivate.
In the early stages of cultivation, cultivators only needed to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, fuse it into their Dan Hai (Dantian Sea), and transform it into spiritual power. But to reach the highest realms, one must comprehend a wisp of the Heavenly Dao's principles, deduce the origin from these principles, shed their mortal body, and attain immortality. A rare few with exceptional talent could even comprehend two types of Dao principles simultaneously, deriving different powers of origin in their spiritual consciousness.
Naturally, some were born favored by the Heavenly Dao, their bodies inherently containing the origin of Dao principles—for them, the so-called "immortal Dao barriers" were practically non-existent. Regardless, cultivators who possessed the origin of Dao principles were either incomparably powerful beings or prodigies with extraordinary talent.
To cultivate his Heavenly Demon True Body, Ling Xiao had to fuse the Dao principles within these cultivators into his own body. This path was destined to make him an enemy of the entire world! No wonder every time such a physique appeared in the Five Domains, all forces would unite to eliminate it. Imagine a cultivator whose body contained countless types of Dao origin—how terrifying would they be? Even once the demonic body reached the 9th Transformation, what difference would there be between him and the Heavenly Dao itself?
When thought of this way, the Heavenly Demon True Body truly lived up to its reputation as a Primordial Forbidden Physique. No need for cultivation, no need for comprehension—one only needed to plunder others' Dao principles and fuse them into one's own body to perfect the Heavenly Demon True Body. It was monstrous!
However, as he broke through, Ling Xiao could also feel the demonic thoughts in his body surging wildly. "To reach the 3rd Transformation, I need to fuse at least nine types of Dao principles. It seems I should start looking for prey soon." A faint, rare trace of malice flashed across Ling Xiao's lips as he stepped out of the spiritual formation.
At this moment, the sky above Qingfeng City was covered in dark clouds, and a monstrous aura loomed over ten thousand li—striking fear into the heart. "Hmm? Monsters of the demon race?" Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed, and without further hesitation, his figure vanished instantly. He had not yet fully suppressed the demonic thoughts in his body after the breakthrough when he sensed the message from Ye Qingchan. Clearly, that girl must have encountered great trouble!
In Qingfeng City: A terrifying spiritual seal slammed down. By now, Xiao Yan had completely lost the demeanor of a crown prince—he lay prostrate on the ground, soaked in his own excrement and urine. Ye Qingchan stood coldly watching the darkening sky, her eyes icy cold. A faint chill emanated from her, and within a few zhang around her, the space seemed to freeze. But Ye Qingchan had practiced swordsmanship since childhood—when had she acquired such terrifying ice power?
"Boom!" Finally, the palm print descended, completely enveloping Ye Qingchan and Xiao Yan. From the direction of the Ye family residence, all members of the Ye clan watched the smoke and dust rising in the city, their eyes filled with deep fear and despair. Ye Qingchan was the only one in the Ye family with ties to Young Master Ling Xiao. Now that she was dead, the young master would surely never spare another glance at the Ye family. Only Feng Jiao'er stood in the crowd, a faint smile playing on her lips—with Ye Qingchan dead, she could finally take her place.
Silence enshrouded the ancient city. Everyone stared at the spot where the palm print had landed, swallowing hard. Even a human cultivator at the Peak Soul Sea Realm would not be able to withstand such a strike! Ye Qingchan, the most beautiful woman in the Northern Wasteland, had met such a tragic end! Many saintesses secretly felt relieved—fortunately, Ling Xiao had not taken a fancy to them. Who could have imagined that man would be such a coward, willing to let a woman die in his place rather than face these monsters?
By now, many were secretly speculating: what terrifying identity must the white-furred girl have to make Ling Xiao feel apprehensive? She looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old, yet her cultivation had already reached the Xuanqing Realm. Could she also be from the Holy State?
But!!! Just as a disdainful sneer appeared on the dog-headed monster's face, Bai Zhixi let out a soft exclamation in mid-air. The smoke and dust gradually cleared, revealing a hundred-zhang crack in the ground. Then, everyone saw a figure standing suspended in mid-air in front of Ye Qingchan, shielding the girl in his arms. Dressed in black robes that fluttered in the wind, his expression was lazy—there was even a faint trace of mockery at the corner of his lips. His eyes, as if containing eternity, were as deep as the stars and the sea.
"Silly girl, why did you wait so long to use the talisman? Didn't I tell you to call me if anything happened?" Ling Xiao lowered his head, looking at Ye Qingchan's dazed eyes and reddening eye sockets, his tone gentle yet slightly reproachful.
"Wah!!!" At that moment, Ye Qingchan could no longer hold back the grievance in her heart. She threw herself into Ling Xiao's arms and burst into tears. Just now, she had thought she would never see the young master again! But in the instant the spiritual seal was about to land on her, that familiar black figure had suddenly torn through space and pulled her into his embrace. This had been Ye Qingchan's most desperate moment—but Ling Xiao had given her complete reassurance. She even had the illusion that even if the sky collapsed, Ling Xiao would surely hold it up for her.
Beside them, Xiao Yan tremblingly lifted his head. When he saw Ling Xiao, he cried even more bitterly than Ye Qingchan. "Young Master Ling Xiao!!! You're finally here!!! Young Master!!! You must avenge me!" He clung to Ling Xiao's leg, tears and snot streaming all over his face.
"Did he bully you?" Ling Xiao smiled calmly, looking up at Bai Zhixi in mid-air. When he sensed her Xuanqing Realm cultivation, a flash of surprise immediately crossed his eyes. "Are you also from the Holy State?"
"You are Ling Xiao?" The arrogance on the dog-headed monster's face had long disappeared, replaced by solemnity. Although he had not used his full strength in that palm strike, it was by no means something an ordinary Soul Sea Realm cultivator could easily withstand. Yet this young man had dissipated all the power of the palm strike without even lifting a finger. A powerful cultivator! Definitely a powerful cultivator!
"Beast." Ling Xiao snorted coldly, his words carrying an indescribable pressure. In just a moment, the sky above Qingfeng City turned pitch black