Outside Hantian City,on a remote, isolated mountain.
Nian Qingyun gazed into the distance at the majestic ancient city nestled deep within the Sunset Divine Mountains.
Beside her, a massive phoenix, its body adorned in red-gold, stood quietly, a trace of melancholy actually visible in its eyes.
"Feng'er, do you really think I have to marry that Young Master of the Ling Clan?" Nian Qingyun's face was still veiled by white silk. Her beautiful eyes, full of uncertainty, revealed her confusion, doubt.
Yes, Nian Qingyun was.
Why must she, wholly devoted to cultivating the Path of Heartlessness, be forced to marry a philandering libertine she had never met?
Moreover, Ling Xiao's notorious reputation was known throughout the Holy State.
Countless proud young women, upon hearing his name, would silently utter a phrase like, "Tch, typical!"
She, Nian Qingyun, was a True Phoenix soaring through the highest heavens of the Holy State. Why must her name be tied to such scum?
Nian Qingyun, the fiancée of Ling Clan's Young Master Ling Xiao.
Tch, typical!
"I hope that young man... won't disappoint me..." A sudden softness flashed across Nian Qingyun's face. She turned to look at the golden phoenix beside her, reaching out to stroke its feathers.
"Feng'er, that young man we met at the mountain's base the other day... wasn't he quite heroic and extraordinary?"
"Screech!" The赤金 Spirit Phoenix raised its head and let out a cry.
...
A thousand miles away, a young man who had been meditating with his eyes closed suddenly opened them. "It's Qingyun! She's in the mountains too! Elder Ling, can you sense her aura?"
"I can. But Xi'er, are you really sure about opposing the Ling Family? I've heard that the Ling Clan's young master, Ling Xiao, is extremely vicious. Provoking him will likely bring you no peace for a long time." Elder Ling's voice held a note of concern.
In his opinion, Lin Xi only needed to quietly take the Dao Principle Spirit Fruit and the Undying Heartflame during the Ling Clan young master's engagement festivities. That would make the trip a complete success.
There was absolutely no need to provoke an ancient clan like that.
A young man at the peak of the Profound Clear Realm, while he could be called monstrously talented among the Holy State's younger generation, was nothing but an ant before an ancient clan like the Ling Clan.
Slapping the young master's face in front of all the masters of the Eastern Frontier's great orthodox traditions?
Yes, the Ling Clan probably wouldn't attack Lin Xi on the spot—they had their reputation to consider.
But wouldn't they arrange for his death behind the scenes?
Offending a supreme orthodox tradition for a woman was, in Elder Ling's view, utter foolishness.
"Elder Ling, there's no need to persuade me further. My mind is made up. From the moment I helped Qingyun expel the poison that day, I decided I would be her man." A dreamy look flashed in Lin Xi's eyes. That scent... was truly addictive.
That fragrant, sweet aroma mixed with a hint of earthy essence from her jade feet... it was the most intense stimulation he had ever experienced in his life!
"Ah, Xi'er, on the path of cultivation, all things are but scenery. Only strength..."
"Elder Ling, didn't you often teach me to 'press on like a man'? That Ling Xiao is hailed as the strongest talent in the Eastern Frontier. If I can defeat him, my fame will surely spread across the Eastern Frontier. By then, if Ling'er and Father... are still alive, they will definitely hear my name." A sudden sadness crossed Lin Xi's face.
His plan to crush Ling Xiao at the Ling Clan was the result of careful consideration.
First, it was to let all the geniuses of the Holy State know that Nian Qingyun was his; no one else should harbor thoughts of her.
Second, of course, was to make a name for himself, to achieve fame and prominence.
That way, if his sister and father heard his name, they could seek him out.
"Very well. Since you've decided, I won't say more. But remember, many powerful experts will certainly attend the Ling Clan young master's engagement. I won't be able to help you then. Be careful yourself." Elder Ling hesitated for a moment but finally added a warning. "Xi'er, although you've fused with my Nine Dragons Lightning Flame, it's best not to use it lightly before Emperor Realm experts. If they become greedy..."
"Don't worry, Elder Ling, I know!" Lin Xi sneered, suddenly clenching his fist. A massive, pitch-black heavy ruler instantly appeared in his hand.
"A good-for-nothing like him doesn't require me to use the power of my spirit flame!"
...
Ling Clan, Xiaoyun Peak.
Ling Xiao's figure flashed into appearance. Although the aura around him showed no change, a divine light seemed to flicker in his eyes when they opened and closed.
Si Zhengnan's soul had been completely fused into his Soul Palace.
Sometimes, you only get one chance. Missing it means eternal doom.
Ling Xiao was not an indecisive person.
Although he lost a potential Divine King puppet, the strengthening of his Soul Palace made it worthwhile.
Jiu You's figure sat cross-legged in the distance, now enveloped in a layer of brilliant golden light.
A terrifying surge of blood and energy churned around her. Clearly, the pills refined by Xuan Yuan Yue were beginning to take effect.
Bored, Ling Xiao opened the system mall and browsed the items.
His Villain Points had all been spent on that spirit beast egg.
He still had 1600 Fortuna Points left.
But he dared not use those lightly.
Without Fortuna, how could he match wits and courage with the Sons of Destiny?
"Ah, it seems I need to find the next Son of Destiny quickly." Ling Xiao sighed, taking out a pill his mother had sent from his Qiankun Bag.
Fifth Grade Paragon Breakthrough Pill.
When Ling Xiao returned from the Northern Wastes, Xuan Yuan Yue had sensed his cultivation had reached the peak of the Profound Clear Realm.
That's why she refined this Paragon Breakthrough Pill, hoping to help him take that final step in one go.
A seventeen-year-old at the Paragon Breakthrough Realm would absolutely shake the ages, even in the Holy State.
Although the Saint Sons and Young Masters of the supreme orthodox traditions were mostly at the Paragon Breakthrough Realm, without exception, they were all much older than Ling Xiao.
With no Villain Points left, he could only rely on pills for cultivation now.
Ling Xiao reached out and placed the pure white jade pill into his mouth.
A misty spiritual power instantly swept through his entire body. Above Xiaoyun Peak, black clouds suddenly began to gather.
...
Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, a day had gone by.
The black clouds above Xiaoyun Peak now pressed down directly upon Ling Xiao's head.
Divine thunder rumbled, creating a scene like a purgatorial tribulation.
Ling Xiao's eyes snapped open. In the next instant, just as the tribulation lightning was about to strike, he flashed and hid inside the Myriad Worlds Glazed Pagoda.
The commotion here was too great; he didn't want to expose his true strength.
Moreover, Jiu You was still nearby, reforging her physical body. If the lightning struck, it would likely affect her.
Although Ling Xiao had hidden inside the pagoda, the tribulation lightning showed no intention of letting him off.
Above the ancient pagoda, hundred-zhang long lightning dragons began to appear.
Mi Yong looked up at the heavenly punishment in terror, shock flowing in his dark red eyes.
Just then, the first bolt of lightning crashed down. Ling Xiao's body was immediately wreathed in lightning.
Having already fused with the Lightning Dao Principle, how could mere tribulation lightning shake him?
"Boom! Boom!"
Countless lightning bolts descended one after another.
Inside the ancient pagoda, the young figure rose to meet the sky, like a Thunder God descending to the mortal world. He was surrounded by endless divine light.
His demonic body surged, dazzling dark light igniting around him.
Divine palaces manifested, spanning thousands of miles of mountains, rivers, and spiritual veins.
In this moment, the sound of the Great Dao echoed softly throughout the entire Ling Clan sacred land.
Rampant spiritual energy boiled like rivers and streams, rushing torrentially towards Xiaoyun Peak!