"Senior Sister Fu, you all go ahead to where the treasure emerged and wait for me." After a moment's thought, Ling Xiao prepared to dash towards the distant mountains.
"Young Master, please wait!"
But just then,an aged voice sounded from a nearby street.
Ling Xiao frowned slightly and turned to look.
He saw the fortune-telling old Taoist he had encountered back in Cold Heaven City,now looking at him with a faint, knowing smile.
"Hmm?"
For a brief moment,Ling Xiao felt a sliver of unease in his heart.
That day,he had sought a fortune from this old man primarily to create an opportunity to teach Ling Tian a lesson and foster the illusion that he didn't actually want him dead.
He never expected to run into this Taoist again here in Sunset City.
Coincidence?
Or was the old man secretly following him?
But an ant with an aura barely at the Xuan Qing realm—where would he get the nerve to tail him?
Moreover,with Ling Xiao's soul perception, how could he possibly fail to notice being followed?
Just a coincidence, then?
Or did he truly see through the secrets on me?
Rumors said figures like Heavenly Knowledge Priests shouldn't be killed.
Otherwise,one would inevitably suffer divine retribution.
Ling Xiao didn't believe that nonsense.After all, those spreading such rumors were probably these very Heavenly Knowledge Priests themselves.
He killed Sons of Destiny;why would he fear heavenly retribution?
If this old Taoist truly had sinister intentions,this day next year would be his death anniversary.
"It's you again?" Ling Xiao stepped forward, walking towards the old Taoist.
"Hehe, Young Master, what a coincidence, meeting again." The old Taoist nodded with a smile, his aged eyes seeming to hold a trace of hesitation.
"Why did you call out to me?" Ling Xiao stood before the old Taoist, a hint of mockery gradually curling his lips.
Back in Cold Heaven City,this old man hadn't shown the proper reverence expected towards a scion of the Ling Clan.
Could it be this old man has some background?
Or is his cultivation far beyond the Divine King realm, and the aura he projects is just an act?
Whichever it was,it gave Ling Xiao a sense of inexplicable pressure.
Characters who popped up inexplicably like this were usually not simple.
Especially fortune-telling Taoists—they were not to be trifled with.
"This humble Taoist sees a darkening between your brows, Young Master. I fear this journey of yours... may bring disaster." The old Taoist forced a bitter smile, his expression seeming genuine.
"Oh? And is there a way to resolve it?" Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow. Disaster?
Well, of course.
Scheming to seize the opportunities of a Son of Destiny is inherently disastrous.
Throughout history,have any villains survived till the end? No matter how impressive a villain's background, didn't they all just become stepping stones for the Son of Destiny?
But was Ling Xiao afraid?
Of course he was!Otherwise, why meticulously plunder the Sons of Destiny's luck before eliminating them?
"There are indeed methods to resolve it... However..." The old Taoist rubbed his fingers together, a greedy glint flashing in his aged eyes.
"Heh, it seems you've forgotten, Reverend, I don't believe in fate." Ling Xiao sneered coldly. A surge of demonic energy suddenly erupted from him, shooting towards the heavens, directly startling the old Taoist so badly he plopped down onto his backside.
Huh? Could this old Taoist really just be after money?
"Young Master...Young Master, spare me!"
"If I encounter you one more time..." Ling Xiao grinned, his figure vanishing from the spot in an instant.
The first meeting was a coincidence,the second was fate. If there was a third time, this old Taoist was definitely problematic.
However,Ling Xiao hadn't sensed the slightest fluctuation of power from him, and the old Taoist's reaction just now seemed genuine enough.
Most importantly,Lin Xi's aura was gradually moving away.
Squashing an Xuan Qing-level ant wasn't much effort for Ling Xiao.
But missing out on Lin Xi's opportunity because of it would be gaining a small advantage only to suffer a major loss.
The spiritual fire had emerged, yet Lin Xi had gone somewhere else.
Something's fishy. Absolutely fishy!
It wasn't until Ling Xiao's figure was far away that the old Taoist climbed to his feet. On his aged face, there was no trace of the panic and fear from moments ago.
"Thunder Dao Principle...Sword Dao Principle... I just wonder if you can smoothly grow to the Divine Emperor realm. No, Divine King will suffice."
...
Meanwhile, deep within the Sunset Divine Mountains.
Lin Xi had long shed his disguise,revealing his true appearance, and was carefully perched atop an ancient tree.
He had become thoroughly famous in Sunset City today—competing for treasures with Ling Xiao,carrying great wealth, even possessing a Soul Technique.
If he showed his face again,he'd probably end up in someone else's hands before he even got the spiritual fire.
Damn that Ling Xiao!
Just you wait. Once I fuse with the Undying Heart Flame and comprehend the Fire Dao Principle, I'll crush you.
Hmph, so what if the Soul Sword fell into your hands?
Once you're dead, all your opportunities will still be mine.
And the women too!
Although Nian Qingyun's behavior today was somewhat strange,what could Lin Xi do... except forgive her?
After all,in the entire Eastern Lands of the Holy Land, the only one worthy of him was this famously beautiful Divine Maiden of the Dao Palace!
"Elder Ling, are you sure the Dao Principle Spirit Fruit is in the ravine below?" Lin Xi frowned.
A Great Demon at the peak of the Divine Marquis realm?He had absolutely no power to resist it.
If the opportunity Elder Ling promised wasn't so incredibly tempting,he wouldn't be willing to take this risk.
"Rest assured, Xi'er. I can sense the spirit fruit is about to ripen soon." Elder Ling's voice was filled with excitement.
Wouldn't you be excited?
Ever since following Lin Xi,he'd done nothing but suffer hardships and ingest poisons, giving all the spirit herbs and divine pills to his disciple.
But this Dao Principle Spirit Fruit was different;it had boundless benefits for his soul.
Once he fused with it,he could materialize his soul and leave this damned ring.
Although he currently lacked a physical body,a Venerable Realm soul wasn't something any mere Divine King or Divine General could withstand.
Especially since if Lin Xi wanted to go to the Tianyuan Secret Realm to search for that Primordial Emperor Flame,relying on his own strength alone definitely wouldn't be enough.
What Elder Ling needed to do was ensure smooth sailing for his disciple.
"Good. Then, Elder Ling, we'll proceed according to the plan later. You temporarily inhabit the Iron Armor Puppet, lure away the Fire Wolf, and I'll seize the chance to take the spirit fruit." Lin Xi had already discussed the details with Elder Ling.
With his cultivation level,merely showing himself would probably get him crushed to dust by the Fire Wolf.
Although Elder Ling no longer possessed his former strength,his authoritative pressure remained.
By placing the ring on the Iron Armor Puppet,Elder Ling could release his aura, putting the Fire Wolf on guard.
If it left the ravine even slightly,Lin Xi could seize the opportunity to steal the spirit fruit.
Moreover,given the Fire Wolf's cautious nature, it definitely wouldn't chase too far, so Elder Ling wouldn't be in too much danger.
Once he secured the spirit fruit,Lin Xi would immediately rush towards the place where the spiritual fire had emerged.
By then...with so many people around, no matter how furious the Fire Wolf was, it probably wouldn't dare kill everyone, right?
Besides,a Great Demon at the Divine Marquis realm, to be honest, its status wasn't even as esteemed as those True Disciples from ancient sects.
If it dared attack the crowd,it probably wouldn't have a place to stand in the Holy Land for long.
It would have to swallow this bitter pill,whether it wanted to or not.
Of course,if the opportunity was right, maybe Lin Xi could even pin the blame on Ling Xiao.
Then,hehehe.
Even if the Ling Clan's foundations were terrifying,this Fire Wolf, capable of lying low in these desolate mountains for years, must harbor extremely strong obsessions.
Being targeted by a Great Demon at the Divine Marquis realm would probably make life quite difficult for the Ling Clan heir.
"Oh, so that's how it is."
What Lin Xi could never have dreamed was that directly above him,a figure clad in white robes was hidden amidst the ancient trees, nodding thoughtfully with a serious expression on his face.