"Buzz!"
The resonant hum of the Dao suddenly echoed between heaven and earth. Above the dog-headed demon's head, a gloomy demonic seal materialized in an instant—before anyone could react, it shattered the void and came crashing down.
"Miss, save me!!"
The dog-headed demon howled, its voice filled with boundless fear and despair. But Bai Zhixi didn't move—or rather, she didn't dare to. She could sense that any attempt to act would cost her her life. Especially earlier, the moment she'd met the black-robed youth's eyes, her mind had nearly collapsed.
"Bang."
Before the demonic seal even hit the ground, the dog-headed demon's figure exploded into a mist of blood mid-air. A wisp of coldness instantly settled in everyone's hearts. The Eastern Wilderness demons, in particular, stood gaping at the black-robed figure below, their souls trembling. If their young lady hadn't been there, they would have fled in panic long ago!
Once again, the entire Qingfeng City fell into deathly silence. Even Ye Qingchan's pretty face was etched with shock. "There is no one in the world like the Young Master"—these words couldn't have been more fitting for Ling Xiao.
"How… how dare you kill my man?"
Bai Zhixi finally snapped out of her daze, her small face ashen. She'd known Ling Xiao was from Shengzhou (the Holy State), but she'd never imagined he'd be so brutal. To crush a Spirit Sea Realm great demon with a single wave—what terrifying demonic power was this?
"Give me a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, none of you will leave here alive today."
Ling Xiao looked up at Bai Zhixi, his voice calm as if killing these Eastern Wilderness demons was no more than a casual gesture. Naturally, no one dared to doubt his words now.
"Are… are you Ling Xiao?!"
Bai Zhixi took a deep breath, forcing down the fear in her heart. After all, she was just a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl. She'd grown up practicing cultivation in the Holy Land of Ten Thousand Demons, used to petty squabbles—but she'd never witnessed such ruthless methods. To kill without hesitation over a few words… was Ling Xiao a devil?
Moreover! Why did she feel like she was being looked down on, even though she was in mid-air and he stood on the ground?
"Hmph, Ling Xiao! I'm here today to seek justice for my nephew Ye Fan!"
Bai Zhixi put on a pretense of authority, but the fear in her pink pupils couldn't be fully concealed.
"Ye Fan… nephew?"
Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, eyeing Bai Zhixi up and down. It had to be admitted—though young, the girl was extremely beautiful: snow-white skin, delicate features, and a pair of jade-like legs exposed beneath her white fur coat, exuding an indescribable allure. Her unusual pink eyes, in particular, brimmed with seductive charm.
A top-tier loli. In modern times, she'd definitely be the goddess adored by legions of otaku! But judging by her appearance, she was clearly not human. How could Ye Fan be her nephew? Could it be… Ye Fan's birth mother was a demon?
The Holy Land of Ten Thousand Demons? A look of realization flashed across Ling Xiao's eyes. He wondered which clan this little loli belonged to in that sacred land. But no matter which clan she was from, anyone who crossed Ling Xiao would face only one fate. If her destiny aura hadn't been so tempting, he would have slapped her to death already. So what if she was at the Xuanqing Realm? Even before his breakthrough, Ling Xiao could easily kill a Xuanqing demon beast. Now that he'd reached the Mid-Xuanqing Realm, this little loli was no more than a toy in his eyes.
At the mention of "Ye Fan," the members of the Ye family froze. Since when did that good-for-nothing have such a powerful aunt?
"How do you plan to 'seek justice'?"
Ling Xiao ignored the surprise in Ye Qingchan's eyes. He'd long known Ye Fan's mother was from Shengzhou and had some background—otherwise, she couldn't have given Ye Fan such a heaven-defying ancient treasure. In the usual script, this little girl's descent to the lower realm would have made her Ye Fan's greatest backer. Unfortunately… she'd run into him.
The Holy Land of Ten Thousand Demons had three emperors and nine kings, each powerful in their own right—but they were no longer as united as they once were. With the backing of the Ling family and the Wandao Demon Sect, even if the three emperors came in person, they wouldn't dare offend Ling Xiao for a half-breed. Besides, if Ye Fan's mother had truly held a high status and cared about her child, how could she have left him abandoned in the Four Wildernesses?
"How… how dare you call my nephew a demon?!"
Bai Zhixi was left tongue-tied by Ling Xiao's question. She'd brought the great demons of the Demon God Mountain to vent Ye Fan's grievances, but she'd never expected Ling Xiao to be so overpowering—he'd killed her most loyal follower with a single strike. Even with her strength, she felt a twinge of dread. If she angered him today, none of the demons behind her would escape alive. Bai Zhixi suddenly found herself caught in a bind.
"If I say he is, then he is. Do you have a problem with that?"
A playful smile tugged at Ling Xiao's lips. Two thousand destiny points. This was what a true Shengzhou prodigy looked like! Killing her was out of the question, but scaring her a little, then using the Soul-Snatching Ancient Art to control her and keep her as a toy—wouldn't that be delightful? Lolis were the most fun, after all!
Furthermore, he had countless enemies in Shengzhou. If he could plant a pawn in the Holy Land of Ten Thousand Demons, it might come in handy unexpectedly even if his demonic true form was exposed later. The matter of the Nine Nether Clan would sooner or later become the fuse between the demon race and the Holy Sect. If Ling Xiao remembered correctly, that clan was once the imperial clan of the demon race.
"I… I demand you apologize to my nephew!"
Bai Zhixi bit her lip, trying not to appear too cowardly. But she dared not make any harsh threats, fearing she'd provoke the devil before her. The grievance in her heart was indescribable—she'd come with great fanfare, only to be so frightened by a single palm strike that she'd nearly wet herself. Bai Zhixi felt humiliated—utterly humiliated! This was nothing like the scenario she'd imagined!
Of course, the one who felt the most elated at this moment was Xiao Yan. The situation had taken so many twists and turns that he'd been scared out of his wits by the Eastern Wilderness demons. But now that Young Master Ling Xiao had appeared, crushing the dog demon and intimidating the horde of great demons—how majestic was that? Xiao Yan stood up straight, his gaze toward Bai Zhixi and the others tinged with subtle disdain.
"Hmph, so what if you're a Xuanqing great demon? Before the Young Master, you're just as scared out of your wits, stuttering when you speak!"
"To apologize to an ant—you really know how to ask for the impossible. Fine, if you want to seek justice for Ye Fan, let me see what you're capable of."
Ling Xiao sneered. Scaring a little girl was child's play for him. The terrifying aura of the Ascended Immortal Realm swept out instantly. The heavens and earth darkened completely, and visible streams of spiritual energy swirled around Ling Xiao, roaring like dragons—like a miracle.
"S-Such terrifying aura…"
In mid-air, fear and despair filled the eyes of the Eastern Wilderness demons. Even from a distance, they felt their bodies might burst apart. But just as Bai Zhixi tensed up, her expression solemn, ready to face Ling Xiao's thunderous attack—his face suddenly paled for no reason. At the same time, a strange coldness quietly spread, and the young man's eyes turned blood-red in an instant.
"Damn it!! I can't control the demonic thoughts anymore!"
Ling Xiao gritted his teeth, stuffed a talisman into Ye Qingchan's hand, and before he could explain anything, his figure flashed and vanished toward the outskirts of the city.