At the mountain gate of the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect.
An elder in black robes with white hair and beard bowed respectfully towards Ling Xiao.
"Young Master Ling Xiao, your presence truly honors our Sword Sect."
"So it's Elder Xu. Greetings."
Ling Xiao smiled warmly, exuding an air of humility and refinement.
This scene made the Heavenly Sword Sect elders' eyelids twitch.
When had this troublemaker changed his temperament?
No, absolutely not. There must be a scheme.
Although the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect was on good terms with the Dan Yuan Holy Land, Ling Xiao's temper had always been one that looked down on everyone.
His sudden visit today, coupled with such abnormal behavior, definitely meant he was up to no good.
This was the consensus of all sects in the Holy State!
"Hehe, Young Master, shall we proceed to the hall for a discussion?"
However, no matter how unwilling these Heavenly Sword Sect elders were, they dared not neglect this Young Master.
After all, behind him stood three forces even more powerful than the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect.
"Elders, please."
Ling Xiao nodded, took Ye Qingchan's somewhat stiff little hand, and walked towards the mountain peak.
"Young Master is truly amazing. You are respected wherever you go."
Ye Qingchan, looking at the elders around her with their vast and terrifying auras, had stars in her eyes.
How could she know that Ling Xiao was respected not for his strength or character,
but for his reputation of cruelty, rudeness, debauchery, and recklessness—and the three Divine Emperors backing him!
The group soared on clouds and mist, arriving at a magnificent hall atop the mountain.
The hall was built entirely of blue stone, exuding an ancient, vicissitudinous aura.
After Ling Xiao and the others entered and took their seats, Sword Sect disciples soon brought wine and spirit fruits, standing to the side curiously observing this famous Young Master of the Holy State.
But what puzzled everyone was that Ling Xiao didn't seem as cruel and arrogant as the rumors suggested. Instead, he gave off a noble and approachable feeling.
The rumors were indeed true.
This Ling Xiao was quite good at putting on an act.
"Young Master Ling Xiao, may we ask the purpose of your visit today?"
The Xu-named elder, full name Xu Jibo, was the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect. His cultivation had long reached the Divine King Realm.
Yet now, before Ling Xiao, he actually seemed somewhat restrained.
It couldn't be helped. He had good parents.
Not to mention the Ling family's influence in the Holy State; just the Dan Yuan Holy Land alone was beyond the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect's ability to provoke.
Moreover, Ling Xiao also held the title of Young Master of the Ten Thousand Dao Demon Sect, representing the Demon Sect's face. They naturally had to serve him carefully.
"I heard the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect has been desperately seeking a successor in the sword path. Coincidentally, I've brought one for you today. No need to thank me, Elder Xu. Our two sects have a close relationship, after all."
Ling Xiao grinned, took a sip of wine, his playboy nature fully on display.
"Young Master, are you referring to... this young lady beside you?"
Elder Xu's expression darkened, instantly defeated by Ling Xiao's shamelessness.
People truly couldn't be judged by appearances!
This young girl was clearly trash.
Sixteen years old, and only... Soul-Awakening Realm?
However, thinking of Ling Xiao's reputation, Elder Xu felt somewhat relieved.
The girl might lack talent, but she was pretty. Ling Xiao didn't dare keep her by his parents, so he sent her to the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect.
Yes, this fit this Young Master's style perfectly.
"Indeed. Qingchan's talent is rare in a century. Your Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect has hit the jackpot. If she didn't practice the sword path, I wouldn't give you this advantage."
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, glancing at Ye Qingchan, the affection in his eyes completely unconcealed.
He wasn't entirely lying. If the Ling family had a mighty sword path expert, he wouldn't go through the trouble of sending her to the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect.
Unfortunately, the Ling family's true strengths didn't lie in the sword path.
"Hit the jackpot?"
"Sword path genius?"
"Ahem."
The expressions of the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect elders instantly turned varied.
They desperately wanted to laugh but didn't dare offend the Ling family's eldest young master. Their faces turned red from suppression, only able to cough to mask their embarrassment.
Alright then.
Did he think the entire Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect was full of idiots?
Sending us trash, calling her a sword path genius, rare in a century—this was just a ploy to drain our sect's resources.
"Hehe, my Sunset Peak already has a hundred disciples. This old man is advanced in years and fears I lack the heart to teach another disciple."
"I plan to go into closed-door cultivation soon, trying to comprehend some Dao Principle power. Hehe, I'm not very suitable either."
The seven peak masters and seven elders of the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect all found excuses to refuse Ling Xiao.
This hot potato—whoever wanted it could take it.
If they failed to teach her properly, and this Ling young master threw a tantrum, they couldn't bear the consequences.
"Hehe, what unfortunate timing, Young Master Ling Xiao. My Dragon Horn Peak has a pig plague outbreak; it's got me running around helplessly..."
Xu Jibo forced a smile, a trace of helplessness between his brows.
While others' excuses sounded fake, they were irrefutable.
What the hell did "pig plague" mean?
Afraid of infecting people?
"Oh? What unfortunate timing indeed. It seems I'll have to send her to the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land instead."
Ling Xiao stood up, putting on a regretful expression. "Oh, right, Qingchan. What did you say you comprehended earlier? Sword Dao Principles?"
"What!!!"
The seven Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect elders, who had just relaxed, instantly widened their eyes.
They stared at Ye Qingchan in disbelief.
Was it possible?
A Soul-Awakening Realm cultivator comprehending Sword Dao Principles?
Even among these old fossils, only Grand Elder Xu Jibo had comprehended a trace of Sword Dao Origin and deduced Dao Principle power.
But if...
If Ling Xiao's words were true, then this girl wasn't just a peerless genius; she was a prodigy unseen in ten thousand years!
"Young Master Ling Xiao, please wait!"
Xu Jibo's old face fell as he stepped in front of Ling Xiao.
"Hmm? Does Elder Xu have something else?"
Ling Xiao pretended to be puzzled. Xu Jibo's face immediately squeezed out a smile.
"Earlier, Young Master said this little girl comprehended a trace of what?"
"Sword Dao Principles. But that doesn't seem related to Elder Xu anymore, does it?"
After speaking, Ling Xiao took Ye Qingchan's jade hand and prepared to leave.
"Young Master!!! Please wait!!!"
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Xu Jibo's forehead.
If the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect truly missed out on a peerless prodigy who comprehended Sword Dao Principles at the Soul-Awakening Realm, he wouldn't need the Sect Master to act—he would slit his own throat in the ancestral hall!
Soul-Awakening Realm. Sword Dao Principles.
These were two completely unrelated terms. Connecting them now felt somewhat absurd.
It also filled Xu Jibo and the other Sword Sect elders with a strange sense of anticipation.
"Elder Xu, what is the meaning of this? Do you intend to detain me by force?"
Ling Xiao's eyes turned cold, a mocking smile curling his lips.
"Wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare. I observe this girl has a pure heart and upright appearance—she looks like excellent material for sword cultivation. Girl, this Green Tower is my personal sword. Today, I gift it to you."
Xu Jibo clenched his hand, and a dazzling green blade instantly appeared in his grasp. It was a three-foot divine sword carved with intricate patterns.
"Young Master... I..."
Ye Qingchan looked nervously at Ling Xiao, feeling genuinely apprehensive inside.
These mighty experts of the Holy State were truly generous, casually gifting divine artifacts.
Whether it was this ancient Green Tower sword or the golden-threaded feathered robe, both would be considered heaven-defying opportunities in the Four Wastelands.
Being the little princess of Young Master Ling Xiao truly meant no suffering!