The first level of the Eight Desolations Glazed Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.
Ling Xiao stood with his hands behind his back in the darkness.
In the distance, the demonic ape's true form knelt silently before him.
"Sealed away, no wonder."
Ling Xiao had suspected earlier how Ye Fan, a mere Soul-Awakening Realm ant, could control this Divine Marquis Realm fierce demon.
Sure enough, it was the same old trope.
Ling Xiao snapped his fingers. A thunder sun materialized above his head, illuminating the entire ancient pagoda as bright as day.
Mi Yong tilted his head slightly, clearly unaccustomed to such intense light.
But when he looked at Ling Xiao again, profound awe flickered deep in his eyes.
Lightning Dao Principles, the power of the Great Dao.
Compared to ordinary lightning force, Dao Principles contained the very origin of things.
He no longer doubted that, even without the suppression of the Eight Desolations Glazed Pagoda, he was absolutely no match for Ling Xiao.
This Lightning Dao Principle alone was enough to shatter his physical body.
"Mi Yong, are you willing to submit to me?"
Ling Xiao stood before the demonic ape, his figure appearing extremely small.
Mi Yong instantly assumed human form, dropping to both knees before Ling Xiao.
"Master, we demons are your people to begin with."
Mi Yong's voice was filled with reverence and fear.
After learning Ling Xiao possessed the Heavenly Demon True Body, any thought of resistance had vanished from his heart.
"Good. Then I will release your seal. You may cultivate within the pagoda normally. One day, I will grant you all freedom."
Ling Xiao nodded slightly. With a wave of his hand, the chains binding Mi Yong hummed and then vanished.
"Thank you, Master!"
Genuine joy flashed in Mi Yong's eyes. He flexed his limbs casually and let out a fierce roar to the sky.
"Mi Yong, do you know who is sealed on the other levels?"
"Master, this subordinate does not know."
Mi Yong shook his head, his tone extremely respectful.
"Never mind. I'll see for myself."
Ling Xiao focused his mind, and his figure vanished instantly.
But as he reached the entrance to the second level, a strange force blocked his path.
"Hmm? A sealing force?"
Ling Xiao frowned, gently touching the seal.
Contrary to his expectations, it didn't contain a violent power but felt extremely gentle.
Clearly, the person who placed this seal wasn't trying to block entry but was signaling that the time was not yet right.
Based on Ling Xiao's experience, reaching the Illusion-Breaking Realm would easily break this seal.
Obviously, all this was prepared for the Chosen One.
Unfortunately, Ye Fan was dead.
Ling Xiao possessed treasures like the Realm-Breaking Talisman; a mere seal couldn't stop him.
But!
Just as dark light surged around Ling Xiao's hand, ready to proceed to the second level, a clear, melodious young girl's voice came from behind him.
"Why does your aura feel familiar?"
Ling Xiao's steps halted, all his hairs standing on end.
With his soul power, he hadn't sensed anyone approaching from behind.
Moreover, the Eight Desolations Glazed Pagoda now recognized him as its master; he controlled the space within.
Yet, he hadn't detected any unfamiliar presence.
Ling Xiao turned slowly, his eyes narrowing sharply as he saw a small figure sitting cross-legged in the air not far behind him.
It was a girl, snow-white skin, dressed in a black long dress.
A delicate little face, lively eyes.
She swung her little legs, blinking her large, innocent eyes as she looked Ling Xiao up and down.
"You... who are you?"
Such a cute little girl—she'd probably cry for a long time if punched.
But then, Ling Xiao found the thought absurd.
This pagoda sealed nine evil demons, one per level. None could escape.
So where did this little girl come from?
"Who am I? I don't know who I am. So who are you?"
The little girl flashed and appeared instantly before Ling Xiao.
His face paled. Just as he was about to activate his Heavenly Demon True Body, he saw the little girl merely lean in and sniff him. Her lively, innocent eyes grew even more puzzled.
"You smell nice. I like it."
"Where... did you come from?"
Ling Xiao found the scene utterly bizarre.
Following the usual tropes, a mysteriously originated, eccentric little girl like this definitely wasn't cannon fodder.
But he sensed no spiritual power fluctuations from her.
Yet she could move through space freely. How strange was that?
"I came from up there."
The little girl pointed above her head.
For a moment, Ling Xiao wondered if she was the pagoda's manifested artifact spirit.
But if she were, why hadn't he sensed her before?
Now that the pagoda recognized him as master, he should know if she were the spirit.
"Up there? The second level?"
Ling Xiao frowned, even more confused.
"I have to go back now. Will you come again? Will you come play with me?"
The little girl shook her head, looking at Ling Xiao expectantly.
"Hmm, I'll visit when I have time. But shouldn't you tell me your name? Where are you from?"
What else could Ling Xiao say? Without knowing her origins, he certainly didn't dare offend her.
"Hehe, I'll tell you next time we meet."
Having said that, the little girl vanished on the spot.
Not even a ripple disturbed the space.
"Mi Yong!!"
"Master!"
"Did you know that little girl just now?"
"Little girl? Master... what little girl?!"
Gulp.
Ling Xiao swallowed hard. Seeing the confusion on Mi Yong's face, a chill ran down his spine.
An illusion?
Impossible.
But why didn't even Mi Yong, at the Divine Marquis Realm, sense the little girl's presence?
A cold dread rose from the depths of Ling Xiao's heart. It seemed the Eight Desolations Glazed Pagoda held many secrets he had yet to uncover.
"Never mind. You... focus on your cultivation. Tell me if you need anything. Do not leave the pagoda without permission."
Ling Xiao left after speaking.
If that little girl were an evil demon sealed within the pagoda, and she could move through space freely, why didn't she escape?
Now, Ling Xiao was both afraid of meeting her again and somewhat looked forward to their next encounter.
"What's wrong with the Master? A little girl? Where did a little girl come from?"
Mi Yong looked bewilderedly at where Ling Xiao had vanished, scratched his head, and turned back into the darkness.
Although he didn't know which eight fierce demons were sealed in the pagoda, none of them could possibly be a little girl.
The Master must have been hallucinating.
Then again, it had been a rather long day.