"Ahhh!!! Urk..."
The Fire Wolf's terrified roar was cut short.
Where the demonic blade fell, flesh began to rot, and bones shattered layer by layer.
Threads of visible bloodline power surged violently along the blade.
They ultimately transformed into demonic energy, channeled into the primordial malevolent weapon.
Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly; he faintly sensed some inexplicable change in the blade, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
Does it grow stronger by drinking blood?
Quite fitting for a villain's sinister weapon, indeed.
Slay millions to forge a peerless divine edge!
Ling Xiao felt a flicker of anticipation. If the bloodline power of a mere Divine Marquis demon beast could cause such a noticeable change in the demonic blade, what would happen if he slew a few Demon Kings or even Demon Emperors?
Heh, heh, heh.
Meanwhile, witnessing the Fire Wolf's instant reduction to a pile of rotten bones, Zhuge Liuyun's face turned deathly pale, and he promptly fainted from sheer terror.
Too horrifying!
This Ling Xiao isn't just a young master of a demon sect; he is a Great Demon incarnate!
"Hmm?"
Ling Xiao paused, only now realizing that Mi Yong was no longer standing in front of him.
"Pfft."
Die Ying, standing to the side, covered her mouth as a light laugh escaped, her stunning features softening with an uncommonly gentle expression.
"Mi Yong, look how spineless you are. Surely you didn't think our Master would slay you along with him, did you?"
Ling Xiao finally spotted Mi Yong kneeling pale-faced behind the Fire Wolf's remains, his eyes filled with horror.
"Gulp."
The strike Ling Xiao had just delivered contained a demonic intent so profound that Mi Yong found it utterly irresistible.
Under the shadow of that blade, he had even glimpsed visions of suns and moons falling, and seas turning to mulberry fields.
Dao Charm naturally formed, Demonic Might vast and majestic!
The Master truly lives up to being the inheritor of the Heavenly Demon. If he one day ascends to the Venerable Realm... no... if he merely steps into the Emperor Realm, I fear the entire Sacred Dynasty will fall under the dominion of us demons.
No, by then, the world won't call us 'demons' anymore.
We will be... the Sovereigns!
"You did well. These few Fire Spirit Melons are your reward."
Ling Xiao gave a faint smile and casually tossed the spirit melons from his Qiankun Bag to Mi Yong.
The latter's eyes focused, his face immediately brightening with delight.
"Master... what about this insect..." Die Ying walked over to the unconscious Zhuge Liuyun, a swirling killing intent in her eyes.
Ling Xiao pondered briefly. Lightning flickered around his hand as he directly seized the ancient cauldron sealing the Undying Heart Flame mid-air.
Although this cauldron had acknowledged Lin Xi as its master, how could the soul power of a mere Xuan Qing realm cultivator possibly compare to Ling Xiao's? Thus, it didn't take much effort for him to erase the divine sense mark within the cauldron and take control of it himself.
However...
This Zhuge Liuyun was both a true disciple of Wan Rendí and the head senior brother of the demon sect. His life talisman was undoubtedly held by the Sect Master.
If he were to die here in the Sunset Divine Mountains, the Sect Master would certainly grow suspicious of Ling Xiao.
But so what if he's suspicious?
As long as Ling Xiao played his part convincingly, what could Wan Rendí truly do, even with his doubts?
Ling Xiao had promised not to personally kill Zhuge Liuyun, but he had made no such promises on behalf of the spiritual fire.
Thinking this, a cold smirk instantly appeared on Ling Xiao's face. He stepped over to Zhuge Liuyun, bent down, and gathered the unconscious man into his arms.
"Senior Brother, wake up. Did you skip a meal? How can you faint like this."
"Huh?"
In his dazed state, Zhuge Liuyun felt a stinging pain on his face. But when he opened his eyes and saw the warm face so close to his, he instantly sucked in a cold breath, his eyes rolled back, and he passed out again.
"Senior Brother... come now, drink this bowl of spiritual fire before you sleep!"
Ling Xiao let out a helpless chuckle. He brought the ancient cauldron to Zhuge Liuyun's lips and gently poured a portion inside.
"AHHHHH!!!"
A blood-curdling scream instantly tore through the air. Zhuge Liuyun's body jolted upright as if electrocuted, leaping so high that his head smacked against the ancient hall's dome before crashing back down to the ground.
Now, he was barely recognizable, his form distorted, and a faint, sickly-sweet aroma of roasted meat wafted from him.
"Uh... This spiritual fire is a bit too potent." Ling Xiao gave a wry smile.
He stored Zhuge Liuyun's corpse and the ancient cauldron, then glanced up at the Heaven-Imprisoning Cauldron enveloping the hall. Sword Principle gathered around his finger.
The ancient cauldron let out a faint chime and, before Ling Xiao's sword-enshrouded finger could even descend, shrank abruptly on its own and landed gently above his head.
"Oh?"
Ling Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then felt a wave of gentle intent emanating from the cauldron. A playful smile lifted the corner of his mouth.
Marvelous.
It seems when you're powerful enough, even a broken cauldron can turn into an obsequious follower.
"Let's go. It's time to head out."
Ling Xiao casually stored the divine cauldron in his Qiankun Bag.
He didn't have much use for these cauldrons and bells himself—after all, he wasn't an alchemist.
Moreover, summoning a cauldron during a fight wasn't particularly stylish.
But... there are a few pretty little junior sister disciples in Mother's sect. They'd probably love these divine cauldrons.
And little junior sisters... they are the most pure and adorable.
Heh, heh, heh.
Mi Yong and Die Ying's figures vanished on the spot. Ling Xiao stepped out of the great hall.
This trip could be considered a complete success.
Although Lin Xi had managed to escape in the end, whether he lived or died didn't make much difference to Ling Xiao.
If dead, Ling Xiao got the rewards for a kill.
If alive... well, he could just lead Ling Xiao to more fortunes.
BOOM!!
Just as Ling Xiao emerged at the entrance to the ruins, a terrifying wave of energy suddenly erupted from the direction of the Sunset Mountain peak.
"Hmm? Is the main event starting?"
A smirk played on Ling Xiao's lips. His figure flickered and instantly appeared outside the ruins.
There, he saw Qin Leng, standing before the crowd, his eyes filled with resentment and defiance.
Blocking his retreat were several elders dressed in white robes, their appearances solemn—or perhaps, in Ling Xiao's view, slightly sanctimonious. They stood with their hands behind their backs, cutting off all escape routes.
"Liang'er, is this the man you spoke of?" The leading Divine Marquis elder coldly boomed.
Ma Liang gritted his teeth fiercely and pointed at Qin Leng. "That's him, Elder Qiu! He's the one who killed Senior Brother Xu and the other junior brothers! He stole the fortune right from Senior Brother Xu's hands!"
"Huh? Stole Xu Youwei's fortune?" Qin Leng was stunned, a dark cloud instantly gathering in his eyes.
Dammit.
You hypocrites from the righteous path! It was Xu Youwei who killed my Qin clansmen first and stole their fortune! He got what he deserved when I killed him!
How dare you now claim that I stole his fortune?
Barefaced lies, inverting black and white! The height of hypocrisy!
While it was true that Qin Leng hadn't found that rumored Divine Artifact on Xu Youwei's body, and for some reason, the bodies had vanished without a trace...
His exhaustion was undeniably real.
He had definitely just been through a fierce battle!
A battle fiercer than taking on nine women in a single night!!
The whole experience felt somewhat surreal, unreal.
And yet... he had lived through it himself!
"That's bullshit!! It was Xu Youwei who killed my Qin clansmen and stole my clan's fortune... This is slander!" Qin Leng's expression turned icy. Even if he was no match for these Cloud Millet Immortal Sect elders, he could not let the Qin Clan's reputation and prestige be tarnished.
"You dare quibble even at death's door?! You killed Senior Brother Xu, twisted his neck, and stole the spirit melons! I saw it with my own eyes! Stop pretending!" Ma Liang's eyes swirled with killing intent, not a trace of his former timidity remaining.
"Twisted his neck? Stole the spirit melons?"
Staring at the hatred on Ma Liang's face, Qin Leng suddenly felt... confused.
Did I... really kill Xu Youwei and the others earlier?
Did I do it?
It feels like I did!
But... why does something feel off?