At the entrance of the Ye residence, Elder Yin hovered mid-air. With a wave of his hand, a spatial rift tore open.
The sky suddenly darkened.
Clouds shattered, demonic winds rose, as if heralding a demonic presence.
"What is that?"
Countless experts in Qingfeng City looked up, fear in their eyes as they gazed at the terrifying figure in the sky.
These past few days, they had been on edge, terrified by the great demons from the Eastern Wasteland.
Seeing Elder Yin's unfamiliar face, a chill ran down their spines.
Some of the more timid even prepared to use their last-resort measures to flee.
"That person... looks like... Young Master Ling Xiao..."
"Young Master Ling Xiao?! Didn't... didn't he flee from that female demon?"
"Young Master, the passage is open. We can return now."
Elder Yin turned and bowed to Ling Xiao.
This teleportation array had been set up by Ling Xiao's mother, Xuan Yuanyue, specifically for his journey down. Its endpoint was within the Dan Yuan Holy Land.
This was to prevent Ling Xiao from accidentally landing in someone else's territory while crossing the realm barrier, avoiding unnecessary trouble.
The Ling Clan was powerful, but there were plenty in the Holy State who wanted Ling Xiao dead.
"Young Master, aren't you taking Feng Jiao'er to the Holy State?"
Ye Qingchan stood beside Ling Xiao, looking puzzled.
"I never planned to take her from the start."
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. A girl like her, skilled in the art of manipulation, wasn't worth his attention.
However, if Feng Jiao'er had been here today, even if he didn't take her to the Holy State, he would have left her some opportunities.
But she wasn't.
Whether her return to the sect was truly urgent or not, it was her fate.
"Oh, right, Young Master. That Xuanqing female demon came looking for you. She said... she said you should visit her at the Ten Thousand Monsters Holy Land when you have time."
"Bai Zhixi? What did she want?"
Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, then smirked.
Could she no longer resist her longing?
Ah, my damn charm.
"How should I know?"
Ye Qingchan pouted, speaking with a hint of annoyance.
"Heh, don't mind her. Let's go."
"Okay..."
Ye Qingchan nervously gripped Ling Xiao's arm. Facing such a grand array capable of crossing realms, she was still afraid.
"Hold on tight. Otherwise, the spatial forces might send you elsewhere, and that would be troublesome."
Ling Xiao deliberately frightened Ye Qingchan, who immediately wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and closed her eyes, looking utterly adorable.
But just then.
Demonic aura suddenly pressed down from the distant sky.
Every expert in Qingfeng City froze. Looking up, they saw a middle-aged man in golden robes and a golden crown walking calmly through the void, his aura unmistakably at the Xuanqing level.
Behind him, countless great demons from the Eastern Wasteland followed, as if they had all come out in force.
"That's... the Lord of Monster God Mountain!!"
"The number one expert of the Four Wastelands! The Lord of Monster God Mountain!! Run!! The demons are here to slaughter the city again!!"
"Dammit, Ling Xiao! He killed the great demons of Monster God Mountain. The Lord is probably here for revenge."
"I knew nothing good would come from this bastard's return."
Ding! Host is being cursed at. Matches villainous behavior. Villain Value +500.
That works too?
Ling Xiao was momentarily stunned, then broke into an inexplicable smile. He flashed into the sky.
He hadn't heard of the Lord of Monster God Mountain.
But a mere Xuanqing demon was nothing to him.
"Are you... Young Master Ling Xiao?"
The Lord of Monster God Mountain narrowed his eyes, his face darkening as he looked at the black-robed youth before him.
"Indeed."
Ling Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, calm and composed, a beauty in his arms—the very picture of an unbridled young master in a turbid world.
"What are you all waiting for?!"
The Lord of Monster God Mountain roared, startling many experts in the city into channeling all their spiritual power to flee madly toward the city outskirts.
This Ling Xiao was a curse! Since his arrival in Qingfeng City, there hadn't been a single day of peace!
"Kneel and apologize to Young Master Ling Xiao!!"
But the next moment, all the great demons in the sky suddenly knelt, crying out to Ling Xiao, "Young Master, spare us!!"
"Huh?"
The fleeing figures froze in place. Even Ye Qingchan's nervous little face turned blank.
Every expert in Qingfeng City stared in shock as the number one expert of the Four Wastelands, the Lord of Monster God Mountain, knelt before Ling Xiao. Their eyes held not only awe but also deep fear.
Young Master Ling Xiao was peerless in the world!
"Who was it that cursed Young Master Ling Xiao just now?"
"Whoever cursed the Young Master deserves a terrible death!"
"I pissed myself for nothing..."
"Bai Zhixi has returned?"
Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow. It seemed these people now knew his identity.
Indeed, the older one got, the more one feared death. In the face of death, dignity and shame meant nothing.
"Young Master, the Ninth Princess returned to the Holy State yesterday."
The Lord of Monster God Mountain remained kneeling, afraid of displeasing Ling Xiao.
Others might not know what the name "Ling Clan" meant, but he understood that if this Young Master decided to kill, Monster God Mountain would be annihilated in an instant.
Even the Ten Thousand Monsters Holy Land couldn't protect them!
"Alright, let's go."
Ling Xiao nodded, ignoring the pleading demons. He took one last look at the Ye family, then without further hesitation, stepped into the array with Ye Qingchan in his arms.
"Farewell, Young Master!!"
"Farewell, Young Master!!"
Hum!
The void shifted, the scenery swirling around them, bringing a slight dizziness.
Ye Qingchan kept her eyes closed, but Ling Xiao's expression grew solemn.
Given his original personality, he had indeed caused plenty of trouble in the Holy State over the years.
If not for his parents' immense power and the Ling Clan's overwhelming influence, he would have long been killed and buried.
Yet even so, there were still those in the Holy State who wanted him dead.
His half-brother, Ling Tian, was one—stealing his Dantian Sea was an unforgivable grudge.
Following the usual tropes, Ling Tian was probably already scheming against him.
Then, within the Ten Thousand Dao Demon Sect, a few core disciples resented Ling Xiao's status as Young Master.
They believed his position came not from strength but from his privileged background.
So, over the years, those little shits had openly and secretly banded together against him, even colluding with external factions.
Unfortunately, although Ling Xiao was a villainous stepping stone, his status meant that only a Chosen One could truly trample him.
Those core disciples clearly lacked such destiny.
The last was Ling Xiao's fiancée.
Though he hadn't met her, he had long heard of her reputation.
The Divine Maiden of the Ethereal Dao Palace, the most mysterious force in the eastern Holy State.
Rumors said the palace's founder had long ascended to the immortal realm, and its disciples cultivated the Path of Emotionlessness.
No one knew why the current master of the palace had personally arranged the Divine Maiden's marriage.
If Ling Xiao were a righteous young man with such a background, this match wouldn't be bad.
Butunf rtunately, Ling Xiao's notoriety was known throughout the Holy State—bullying men and women, arrogant and ignorant, wanton and dissolute...
Meanwhile, the Divine Maiden of the Ethereal Dao Palace was one of the Holy State's top talents.
Her cultivation went without saying, and her looks were hailed as the finest in the Holy State.
She was said to be so beautiful she could incite chaos among all races.
It was even rumored that she always veiled her face in public to avoid causing riots.
A heaven-chosen maiden like her would surely despise a spoiled clan heir like Ling Xiao.
So...
That engagement banquet would likely be troublesome.
Thinking of this, Ling Xiao felt a headache coming on.
Indeed, his role as a stepping stone wouldn't be easy to shake off.
But at the same time, he was no longer the same person.
Though he still had the stepping stone identity, his temperament and mindset were far from the former "clan heir."
Besides, who understood these cliché plot tropes better than him?
As for that younger brother or whatever, he probably needed a good beating.
Those sect mates? They could be killed if necessary.
And that aloof fiancée—if she truly didn't know her place, Ling Xiao wouldn't mind teaching her what villainous behavior meant.
He might not have much Destiny Value, but his status, cultivation, treasures, and talents were all top-tier among his generation.
With such advantages, if he still got easily crushed, it would be an intelligence issue.
Hum.
With a final hum, the scenery before Ling Xiao stabilized.
They were atop a mist-shrouded immortal mountain, with ethereal Dao hymns faintly audible.
Occasionally, a few cranes flew overhead, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
"Xiao'er, you're finally back! Your mother missed you so much!"
Before Ling Xiao could react, a figure appeared and pulled him into a tight embrace without explanation.
"Uh... Mother... Mother..."
After struggling for a while, Ling Xiao freed himself from the embrace of the palace-attired beauty.
This was naturally Ling Xiao's mother, the master of the Dan Yuan Holy Land, Xuan Yuanyue.
One had to admit, Xuan Yuanyue was exceptionally beautiful. She wore a deep red silk dress with a low neckline.
Her face was like a lotus flower, her eyebrows like slender willows, and her peach-blossom eyes were captivating.
Her skin was fairer than snow, her black hair styled into a high beauty bun, adorned with jewels that glittered dazzlingly in the sunlight.
She now gazed at Ling Xiao with doting eyes, examining him from head to toe.
"Oh, my son! It's only been a few days, but you've lost weight! Here, Mother has some Grade Five elixirs. Take them to replenish yourself."
Xuan Yuanyue's heartached tone made Ye Qingchan's eye twitch involuntarily.
Grade Five elixirs? Just take them to replenish himself?
What kind of tone was that? What extravagance!
The Young Master's background was truly terrifying.
Ling Xiao himself wore a bitter smile.
Indulgent mothers often ruin their sons.
The ancients didn't lie!
With Xuan Yuanyue's level of doting, it was no wonder Ling Xiao had developed such a spoiled and tyrannical personality.
She had even stolen his clan brother's Dantian Sea for him.
If Ling Xiao said he wanted the stars or the moon, Xuan Yuanyue would probably ascend to fetch them without a second thought.
"Mother! Mother! I haven't lost weight! Really, I haven't! I have matters to attend to—I need to return to the sect first..."
Ling Xiao turned to leave, but Xuan Yuanyue coldly snapped, "Halt!"
Ling Xiao winced as a sharp pain shot through his ear. Xuan Yuanyue dragged him toward a distant hall.
"Mother, let me go! I really have things to do! I—"
"What could be more important than having a meal with your mother? Yin San, take that girl to the inner sect to rest for the day. The Young Master isn't leaving today."
Xuan Yuanyue never once glanced at Ye Qingchan. Or perhaps, a mere Soul-Awakening cultivator was beneath her notice.