"Young Master Ling Xiao,Xiao Tu requests an audience!"
Just as Ling Xiao had picked up Fu Yunyao with one hand, intending to indulge in clouds and rain, a clear shout suddenly came from outside the cave dwelling.
"Dammit!"
Both of their expressions froze momentarily, forced to suppress the improper thoughts in their hearts for now as they sat back down at the stone table.
Especially Ling Xiao.
Since arriving in this world, there had been no shortage of beauties around him, but not a single one he could actually consume.
Ye Qingchan's cultivation was too low; taking her virginity would likely affect her progress.
Bai Zhixi wasn't fully tamed yet and was currently far away in the Ten Thousand Demons Sacred Land.
As for that Feng Jiao'er, she was clearly a "tea art" girl, and Ling Xiao really couldn't bring himself to take a bite.
Fu Yunyao was the only one with peerless looks and figure, possessed Fortuna, and was completely devoted to him. But just at this moment, Xiao Tu had to show up.
Ling Xiao was simmering with frustration, while Fu Yunyao glanced at him with a hint of shyness, a captivating curve lifting the corner of her lovely mouth.
"Young Master, Xiao Tu was acting very strangely today. You should be careful."
"How so?" Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking curiously at Fu Yunyao.
"Xiao Tu is famously a cultivation fanatic in our sect. He rarely shows up around the sect normally. But today he actively appeared at the battle platform to watch your fight with Qin Feng. He must have had a purpose." Fu Yunyao naturally held nothing back from Ling Xiao. Honestly, she couldn't guess why Xiao Tu was acting today either, but she just felt something was off.
"No matter. We'll ask him in a moment." Ling Xiao smirked coldly and called out towards the cave entrance, "Enter."
His voice was somewhat low, betraying neither happiness nor displeasure, yet it carried a hint of intimidation.
Perhaps it was because Ling Xiao's methods in front of the great hall earlier had been too domineering and brutal.
At this moment, a rarely seen obsequiousness actually appeared on Xiao Tu's face.
"Greetings, Young Master." Xiao Tu stepped inside. Seeing Fu Yunyao sitting to the side, his expression stiffened momentarily. "Junior Sister Fu is also here."
"What business brings Senior Brother Xiao here?" Ling Xiao neither invited him to sit nor told him to rise, simply asking in a calm tone.
Although Xiao Tu was reputed to be the strongest combatant in the Ten Thousand Daos Demon Sect, his cultivation was only at the peak Profound Clear Realm.
Even without using his Heavenly Demon True Body, Ling Xiao had ten thousand ways to crush him.
But in his memory, the two had practically no interaction. What was the purpose of this visit?
"Young Master, I come today with an presumptuous request." Xiao Tu gritted his teeth, a slight chill on his face.
"A presumptuous request? Then don't say it. I'm not particularly fond of others at my own expense." Ling Xiao's cold laugh made Fu Yunyao almost chuckle aloud.
This Young Master is really utterly shameless and arrogant beyond measure.
Xiao Tu's "presumptuous request" was clearly a polite formality, but he directly shut him down.
"Young Master..."
"What I'm curious about is why Senior Brother Xiao, who is usually as elusive as a divine dragon, appeared below the battle platform today?" Ling Xiao suddenly looked at Xiao Tu with a face full of curiosity, but a cold intent swirled in his eyes, exerting immense pressure.
"This..." Xiao Tu glanced almost imperceptibly at Fu Yunyao, then let out a bitter sigh.
"You are right. My presence at the battle platform today did involve personal motives. I originally hoped to see Qin Feng defeat the Young Master, then take the stage myself to spar with him. I never expected... the Young Master's divine might leaves me in awe."
"Hmm? You're quite frank." In truth, Ling Xiao had already guessed Xiao Tu's thoughts.
To be honest, within the entire Ten Thousand Daos Demon Sect, there were plenty who disliked him.
But those truly daring enough to move against him probably only included a rash fool like Qin Feng.
However, compared to Zhuge Liuyun, Xiao Tu's temperament was more to Ling Xiao's liking.
"Go on, then. Tell me about this presumptuous request." Ling Xiao crossed his legs, and Fu Yunyao, understanding the situation, had already moved aside to prepare tea for them.
"Young Master, I wish for you to take me to the upcoming Ten Thousand Sects Tournament." A cold light flashed again across Xiao Tu's face.
"Oh? Why?" Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Xiao Tu's visit to be about this.
For the Ten Thousand Sects Tournament, each sect and sacred land receives a certain number of slots, but the specific selection of participants is made by the Young Masters and Saint Sons.
The implications of this will be discussed later.
But...
Given Xiao Tu's status within the Ten Thousand Daos Demon Sect, it was unlikely he coveted the tournament's rewards.
Could it be for that secret realm?
"I have a sworn enemy, the Saint Son of the Yuan Yue Sacred Land. I have vowed to crush him to death with my own hands before all the powers of the Holy State." Fierce killing intent gleamed in Xiao Tu's eyes, a demonic aura surging around him.
"Oh? The Yuan Yue Sacred Land?" Ling Xiao frowned.
Xiao Tu didn't possess a shred of Fortuna Value. That he had come this far could be considered lucky.
And the Yuan Yue Sacred Land was also a supreme orthodox tradition in the Eastern Frontier of the Holy State. Their Saint Son undoubtedly possessed Fortuna.
In other words, even if Ling Xiao took Xiao Tu to the tournament, his likely outcome would be death.
"Correct. That Yuan Yue Saint Son killed my father and brother. This hatred is irreconcilable. Young Master, if you are willing to take me, I swear lifelong loyalty to you!"
According to the conventions of previous years, the Ten Thousand Daos Demon Sect would receive three slots for the tournament.
Young Master Ling Xiao would naturally get one. Judging by his relationship with Fu Yunyao, she would likely get one barring any surprises.
The last remaining one... Xiao Tu was determined to get it.
The Yuan Yue Sacred Land, with its eternal heritage, was a supreme orthodox tradition.
When its Saint Son traveled, he would inevitably be followed by Protectors.
The Ten Thousand Sects Tournament might be his only chance to face the Yuan Yue Saint Son alone.
"If I recall correctly, after the tournament, the Heavenly Origin Secret Realm is set to open, right? With your current strength, facing the Yuan Yue Saint Son would be suicidal. Why not exercise a little more patience? Once we enter the secret realm, I can help you kill him?" The rules of the Ten Thousand Sects Tournament allowed participants to choose their opponents.
Winning three matches first led to advancement.
The final top hundred would represent the Eastern Frontier in entering the Heavenly Origin Secret Realm to compete for opportunities.
In theory, although there were many forces in the Eastern Frontier, truly supreme ones were few.
Xiao Tu could easily make it into the top hundred.
But if he faced the Yuan Yue Saint Son, his chances of winning were slim, and he might even be killed on the spot.
"I can't wait any longer. And... I must kill him with my own hands before everyone!" Xiao Tu gritted his teeth fiercely, his whole body trembling.
The hatred for killing one's father is irreconcilable.
Regardless of why they initially became enemies, it was clear that Xiao Tu's resolve to kill was firm.
"Taking you isn't impossible. But I generally don't trust others easily. If you wish to submit to me, open your mind and let me plant a Soul Brand." After thinking for a long while, Ling Xiao finally decided to play it safe.
The world of cultivation was full of dangers everywhere.
A single misstep could lead to eternal doom.
Moreover, Xiao Tu's arrival was sudden; Ling Xiao didn't trust him.
No matter what he was plotting, once a Soul Brand was planted, his life and death would be entirely in Ling Xiao's hands.
"Fine!!" Without the slightest hesitation, Xiao Tu closed his eyes and opened his mind.
All these years of secluded cultivation, day and night, were for this very day.
But his cultivation had gradually hit a bottleneck.
He feared that if he waited any longer, he would fall completely behind that Yuan Yue Saint Son.
This Ten Thousand Sects Tournament was his only chance!
"So decisive? It seems you really hate that Yuan Yue Saint Son." Ling Xiao nodded. A strange light suddenly flickered in his eyes.
Xiao Tu only felt a tremor in his sea of consciousness, and then his awareness returned.
Ding. Congratulations to the Host for subduing a Soul Slave. Action aligns with the villain archetype. Reward: 3000 Villain Points!