"Who is breaking through?"
Countless figures with powerful auras emerged from their palaces, looking up towards the direction of Xiaoyun Peak.
"Is that... Xiaoyun Peak, where Young Master Ling Xiao resides?"
Even with the concealing formation, the sky above Xiaoyun Peak seemed bathed in holy radiance, exuding supreme majesty.
"Xiao'er has broken through?" Ling Tianlin stood with his hands behind his back in front of the sacred hall. Behind him, Ghost Shadow stood respectfully.
Although their cultivation levels were hard to distinguish, Ghost Shadow always maintained humility before Ling Tianlin.
"You said the Young Master single-handedly wiped out the entire Si family yesterday?"
"Yes, Sovereign."
Ghost Shadow's voice was extremely hoarse, sounding somewhat eerie.
"Was anyone else watching?"
"Aside from the two Ling Clan Divine Marquis experts, no outsiders."
"Go. Erase the memories of those two."
"As you command!" Ghost Shadow's figure vanished once more.
A profound, unreadable expression appeared on Ling Tianlin's face. "Xiao'er, you have truly not disappointed this father."
...
Boom! Boom!
The tribulation lightning lasted for a long while before finally dissipating.
Ling Xiao could now feel the spiritual power within him surging like raging waves, circulating endlessly through his meridians.
Paragon Breakthrough Realm!
Finally broken through!
With a thought, a demonic shadow descended behind Ling Xiao.
Compared to before, this shadow now flickered with Dao patterns and divine light, faintly exuding an ancient, god-like demonic might that pressed down on heaven and earth.
"Congratulations, Master!" Mi Yong knelt on the ground, not daring to look directly at Ling Xiao.
The vast, sky-like demonic intent filled his heart with terror.
"The Paragon Breakthrough Realm is truly the threshold of true cultivation. The feeling is completely different from before." Ling Xiao clenched his fist, causing the space around him to shatter layer by layer.
This feeling was like holding dominion over heaven and earth, enacting laws on behalf of the heavens!
"Time to show those old fools what's what." Ling Xiao sneered coldly.
He looked up and saw Feng Ling standing not far away, though he didn't know when she had arrived.
"The aura on you is becoming more and more like that bone."
"Oh? Then when will you take me up to see it?" Ling Xiao smiled faintly, retracting the demonic light around him as he descended from the sky.
The spirit beast egg still showed no signs of hatching. Even the life fluctuations within had fallen silent in recent days.
Ling Xiao had begun to suspect it was a dead egg...
"With your current level, you can probably only reach the second level. Of course, if you want to go to the ninth level, I can take you. But I can't guarantee you won't be crushed to dust." As they grew more familiar, a hint of teasing had entered Feng Ling's tone.
"Tch, fine, I won't go. Who are you trying to scare?" Ling Xiao rolled his eyes and glanced towards the entrance to the second level.
He was also somewhat curious about what kind of fierce demon was sealed on the second level of the Glazed Pagoda.
Mi Yong's cultivation had reached the seventh grade of the Divine Marquis Realm. The demon on the second level was probably at least at the King Realm, right?
"The guy on the second level is much trickier than this dead monkey. You'd better be careful." A sly glint flashed across Feng Ling's small face before she vanished in a flash.
"Trickier than Mi Yong?" Ling Xiao sneered. What demon would dare act recklessly before his Heavenly Demon True Body?
"Let's go. Let's go take a look together." Ling Xiao and Mi Yong, one after the other, arrived at the entrance to the second level.
This time, the previously existing seal did not block him.
Indeed, the Paragon Breakthrough Realm was the key to entering the second level.
Buzz.
The seal shattered. Ling Xiao and Mi Yong's figures instantly appeared on the second level of the ancient pagoda.
The space on the second level wasn't much different from the first—still endless darkness.
Moreover, the oppressive force of the sealing power was even more terrifying.
Although Ling Xiao was now the master of this pagoda, it was clear his strength wasn't yet sufficient to control its full power.
"Hmm? Why can't I sense the demon's aura?" Ling Xiao frowned, snapped his fingers lightly, and a sun of lightning illuminated the sky above.
"Mi Yong, be careful." Ling Xiao's gaze swept across the entire pagoda level. Still not seeing any sealed demon, he grew puzzled.
Could the great demon of the second level have been completely suppressed and died over the long years?
Ling Xiao smiled wryly and was about to turn and leave when a familiar voice came from the distance.
"Ling Xiao... save me..."
"Hmm?" Ling Xiao halted, turning towards the source of the sound.
He saw Feng Ling clutching her chest, half-sitting on the ground, despair in her eyes.
"Feng Ling!!" Ling Xiao took a step and instantly appeared beside the girl.
Only then did he notice a gaping, bowl-sized bloody hole in Feng Ling's chest.
Blood gushed like a spring, soaking her clothes. But since she wore black robes, Ling Xiao hadn't noticed at first.
"Feng Ling!!! What happened? Who injured you like this?" Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed. The gradually weakening aura coming from the girl before him felt especially absurd.
They had just parted ways. Who would have thought this mysterious little girl would be injured so severely in such a short time?
"It's... it's..." "Don't talk now. Take this pill first. Mi Yong, stay alert." Ling Xiao took a spirit pill from his robes, pried open the girl's lips, and fed it to her.
Hearing the order, Mi Yong immediately revealed his true form, warily scanning their surroundings.
Overwhelming demonic energy churned instantly. An invincible pressure enveloped the area for a hundred miles.
Since being released from his seal by Ling Xiao, Mi Yong's cultivation had shown signs of an impending breakthrough.
Three thousand years of suppression, though preventing cultivation, had surprisingly allowed this Divine Marquis great demon to find a rare tranquility.
"What exactly happened, Feng Ling? Who hurt you like this?" Ling Xiao looked at the girl in his arms, demonic light swirling in his eyes.
He didn't know her exact cultivation level, but he always sensed a thread of danger from her.
Besides, if she could come and go freely within the pagoda, who could possibly harm her?
"It was the Illusion Demon on this level. It's very wicked. It took your form earlier and tricked me, injuring my heart meridian." Feng Ling coughed, a trickle of blood immediately spilling from the corner of her mouth.
The pungent smell of blood filled the air, deepening the worry in Ling Xiao's eyes.
"Illusion Demon? What kind of Illusion Demon could escape your spiritual sense?"
"I didn't get a clear look. Ling Xiao, I'm so cold... so cold." Feng Ling reached out, holding onto Ling Xiao tightly, her helpless face pressing against his chest.
"Don't be afraid, it's alright. Do you know what realm that Illusion Demon is in? Where did it go?" Ling Xiao looked up, his gaze icy as he scanned the surroundings. The demonic light around him pulsed, his stance clearly that of facing a great enemy.
Anything that could seriously injure Feng Ling so quietly must possess formidable strength.
"Isn't it right in your arms?"