"Qingyun, I know you cultivate the Path of Emotionlessness, but I also know you have me in your heart."
The young man in white walked up to Nian Qingyun, a smile on his lips.
In the sunlight, his smile was clean and confident. Standing beside Nian Qingyun, they truly looked like an immortal couple.
"Lin Xi, don't talk nonsense, or I won't be polite!"
Nian Qingyun's pretty face turned cold. A chilling aura suddenly emanated from her.
The world seemed to freeze for an instant.
But Lin Xi just smiled and shook his head.
"Qingyun, I will prove to you that I am the only one in the entire Holy State worthy of you. The likes of Ling Xiao are merely spoiled nobles. How could they stand beside you?"
A shadow of gloom flashed between the young man's brows; flames seemed to dance in his eyes.
He had come today after hearing the news of Nian Qingyun's engagement to Ling Xiao.
But...
A notorious, arrogant, and tyrannical young master from an ancient clan was utterly insignificant in his eyes.
Over the years, Lin Xi had trained across the Holy State, his hands stained with the blood of many young masters from ancient clans.
In his view, those who looked down on others were merely stepping stones on his path to the Supreme position.
"The engagement was arranged by my Master. The Ling Clan is also a supreme ancient clan. I advise you not to seek your own death."
Nian Qingyun gave Lin Xi a deep look and stepped past him.
Above her head, a black shadow shot into the sky, letting out a clear cry.
Screech!
"And you say you don't have me in your heart? This is clearly concern for me."
Lin Xi rubbed his nose, seemingly unsurprised by the demonic shadow above, a smile even curling his lips.
Given Nian Qingyun's character, she never cared about the life or death of others.
For her to say such words showed that in her eyes, Lin Xi was indeed different.
They had met a year ago.
Back then, Lin Xi was just a disciple from a minor family on the border of the Holy State.
To improve his cultivation quickly, he ventured alone with his sword into an ancient battlefield, where he first saw Nian Qingyun.
At that time, Nian Qingyun was already a renowned peerless prodigy in the Holy State, hailed as the number one beauty for eternity.
So, she hadn't noticed an ant-like figure like Lin Xi.
But gradually, Lin Xi, relying on his powerful trump cards, built some reputation.
This only made Nian Qingyun aware that there was someone named Lin Xi in the Holy State.
The battle that truly made Nian Qingyun recognize Lin Xi was his epic fight against the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Flame Holy Dynasty.
The ancient battlefield was within the Heavenly Flame Holy Dynasty's borders, so Crown Prince Li Yuan was half the host.
Everyone thought a rookie like Lin Xi couldn't possibly be a match for Li Yuan, a talented genius of the Holy State.
Moreover, there was a gap in their cultivation realms.
From the start of the battle, Lin Xi was suppressed everywhere, practically ground into the dirt by Li Yuan.
Blood stained his robes, and he suffered many grievous wounds.
Yet, the young man never retreated half a step, gritting his teeth and persevering.
As it turned out, he had secretly used a method early on. Ultimately, taking advantage of Li Yuan's carelessness, he turned the tables and killed his opponent with one move.
Nian Qingyun became somewhat interested in him because of this.
Resolute, decisive, clever—mocked everywhere but never belittling himself.
Later, Nian Qingyun was bitten by a poisonous creature deep within the battlefield in a secret realm.
At the critical moment, it was Lin Xi who suddenly appeared and, disregarding his own life, sucked the venom from her jade foot with his mouth.
Nian Qingyun didn't know how he resisted the corrosive poison.
But Lin Xi became the first man to have had physical contact with her.
That alone made Lin Xi special enough.
For the next year, they cultivated separately. Nian Qingyun returned to the Ethereal Dao Palace and never descended the mountain again.
But the name Lin Xi gradually resounded throughout the Holy State.
It wasn't until a few days ago, when Nian Qingyun's engagement to Ling Xiao was announced, that he hurried here, wanting to see the Divine Maiden of the Dao Palace once more.
Unfortunately, Nian Qingyun had refused.
Lin Xi had wondered if she felt nothing for him.
But seeing the panic in her eyes just now...
Hehe.
The first meeting, I only saw a jade-like person; the second meeting, she was already the one in my heart!
"Elder Ling, are the women of the Ethereal Dao Palace all so two-faced?"
Lin Xi smiled wryly, a bitter look in his eyes.
"Supreme Emotionlessness..."
A sigh came from the black ring on his finger.
"I refuse to let her forget. Ling Xiao? Hmph, a good-for-nothing who only knows how to eat, drink, and womanize. He only dares to throw his weight around in front of others. Since he wants to marry Qingyun, I will crush him underfoot in front of the entire Holy State."
Lin Xi sneered coldly and turned to follow the direction Nian Qingyun had left.
"Xi'er, actually, you needn't be so impatient... Once you find that Eternal Heartflame, you can smoothly reach the Illusion-Breaking Realm. Then, no matter which doctrine you join, you'll be the prime candidate for the Holy Son position. By then, even the Ling Clan..."
Elder Ling's voice held some worry.
"No! I will never watch Qingyun become someone else's wife, not even a fiancée!"
Lin Xi shook his head, his tone resolute.
Ling Xiao—what right did his name have to be placed alongside Qingyun's?
I must make everyone know that only I, Lin Xi, am worthy of this Divine Maiden of the Dao Palace!
"But... the Ling Clan and the Ten Thousand Dao Demon Sect are both top forces in the Holy State. If I were at my peak, I wouldn't fear them, but now... Ah, Xi'er, I am useless."
"Elder Ling, please don't say that. If not for you, I might have been killed by enemies long ago. Don't worry. The Ling Clan considers itself the number one prestigious clan in the Holy State. The clan's experts would never easily intervene in conflicts between juniors."
A gloomy light flashed in Lin Xi's eyes, but a mocking smile touched his lips. "Besides, I just won't kill him."
"Ah, alright. Since your mind is made up, I won't try to dissuade you further. The Eternal Heartflame is about to emerge. This spirit flame is somewhat different from the one you fused with before. Perhaps you can use it as an opportunity to comprehend the Flame Dao Principles. Find a place to cultivate in seclusion then. Even if the Ling Clan wants revenge, they won't be able to find you."
The conversation between the two seemed to hold no regard for Ling Xiao, this young master of an ancient clan.
But this was understandable. Although Ling Xiao was famous in the Holy State, it was mostly due to his background.
As for his cultivation...
With the Holy State's number one alchemist as his mother, even a pig raised on spiritual pills from childhood wouldn't have poor cultivation.
Although Ling Xiao held the title of Young Master of the Ten Thousand Dao Demon Sect, very few had actually seen him fight.
After all, with so many sycophants around him, usually, just sending them out would resolve any issue. There was rarely need for Ling Xiao to act personally.
So, in the eyes of most true geniuses in the Holy State, Ling Xiao was just an arrogant second-generation clan heir.
Normally, no one dared provoke him easily, but if a fight broke out, he would likely be the one getting crushed.
A genius built up by spiritual pills—how could he compare to a prodigy like Lin Xi, tempered through life and death?
Moreover, Lin Xi's trump cards were something even the young masters of true ancient sects and heirs of Saint Realms wouldn't dare underestimate.
Crushing Ling Xiao would be extremely easy in his view.
"Three more days. I will make the entire Holy State know the name Lin Xi!!"