"Yes... Spirit Venerable!" Lin Xi gritted his teeth inwardly, but his tone grew even more humble and subservient.
To truly possess the strength to contend with Ling Xiao now, he had to obtain the Ancient Emperor's legacy within the Heavenly Origin Ancient Realm.
Therefore,he couldn't afford to tear face with Spirit Venerable just yet.
"Sigh, you needn't be disheartened. The true powerhouses tempered in an age of great strife are the ones who will become supreme rulers of the universe. Some, upon achieving Sainthood, might even crush all eras beneath them. This is the path you must walk. Before this, your journey was too smooth," Spirit Venerable sounded optimistic, though a trace of bitterness colored his voice.
"Spirit Venerable... the legacy within the secret realm... Now that I've stepped into the Breakthrough Realm, I believe that once I fuse with the Primordial Emperor Flame, I can comprehend the Fire Dao Principle... Could you take me there now?" Lin Xi asked expectantly, but Spirit Venerable fell into a brief silence.
"Xi'er, if I were..."
If you were at your peak, the very heavens and earth would be your grandsons. Yeah, I know, I know. Please stop blabbering.
"Sigh... Furthermore, the Green Demon Cauldron has now fallen into Ling Xiao's hands. Your only option now is to fuse with the spiritual fire directly inside the secret realm; you cannot bring it out. But... those ancient remnant clans... Sigh. If you enter now, it would be certain death."
"So, it seems we must wait until after the Myriad Sects Grand Competition, when the young talents of the Eastern Territories all enter the secret realm together." Lin Xi nodded, a dark, unreadable glint flashing in his eyes.
Stirring the waters to catch fish? If the water isn't muddy, how can you catch anything?
"Spirit Venerable, I've finished concocting the pill to restore your soul power. Take it now."
"Hmm,I've been feeling a bit off lately, Xi'er. I fear this remnant soul of mine might not last much longer. If we cannot find a treasure to nourish my soul soon, I'm afraid..." Spirit Venerable let out a bitter laugh.
He wasn't actually running out of time. The real issue was that Lin Xi had substituted one of the ingredients in the pill.
With Spirit Venerable's alchemy prowess,he would normally have detected the anomaly immediately.
It was his own fault,really, for trusting Lin Xi too much.
Even though he knew the young man now harbored selfish intentions,he still couldn't bring himself to believe Lin Xi would deliberately harm him.
See? Flawless Dao Heart? Bonds stronger than gold? Aren't these just personality traits written for the protagonist?
If it were you, and someone kept bragging they were a top-tier rank but kept getting stomped in low-tier matches, wouldn't you get sick of it?
Boasting is fine in moderation, just for fun.
Overdo it, and relationships break down.
Seriously.
"Spirit Venerable, don't worry. Once I stabilize my realm, I will immediately go search for soul-nourishing treasures for you. Here, Spirit Venerable, bottoms up with this pill first." Lin Xi's earnest and sworn promise immediately dispelled much of the displeasure Spirit Venerable had felt.
Young people, it's normal for them to make mistakes.
Over the past seven years,Lin Xi had faced many dangers, but overall, his path hadn't been truly arduous.
It was normal for him to feel some restlessness and arrogance.But encountering Ling Xiao now had, in a way, jolted him awake and forced him to mature.
That Ling Xiao is the perfect stepping stone for him to break through his limits.
A blessing in disguise.
As long as Lin Xi could truly recognize his own faults,this current trial, while difficult, could be a fortunate event for his growth.
"Xi'er, work hard. I believe you will stand at the pinnacle of this world one day." Spirit Venerable threw his head back and swallowed the pill. The soul light around him instantly grew brighter.
But why...did the drowsiness in his mind feel even stronger now?
Ah, it seems my time is truly nearing its end.
---
Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land
Ling Tian gazed calmly at the Holy Master of the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land seated upon the main dais of the great hall.
Elders of the Holy Land stood in rows on either side,their gazes—ranging from skeptical to grave—fixed upon the young man in white before them.
The Second Young Master of the Ling Clan. Born without a Dantian Sea.
His status is illustrious, but he's a bona fide good-for-nothing.
The Holy Master brought him back and actually plans to take him as a disciple?
If this news gets out, wouldn't all the true disciples of our Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land go mad?
Admitting someone as a true disciple solely because of his background is unfair to all other disciples.
Haven't you heard?
That Celestial Sword Immortal Lord next door just took in a new female disciple, a natural genius who comprehended a Dao Principle at birth. Her realm is low, sure, but at least she has a Dantian Sea and can cultivate!
What is this thing?
"Holy Master, I believe Ling Tian should first join the Outer Sect. We can make further plans afterwards," the leading elder, who had a stern and imposing presence, suddenly spoke. As his eyes opened and closed, a peerlessly sharp aura instantly filled the air.
Great Elder Jian Nan of the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land. A Divine Emperor expert.
In the Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty,he held a place among those standing at the absolute pinnacle of the sword path.
Hearing this, the Holy Master of Ten Thousand Swords revealed a wry smile.
This is how it often is in sects. The Sect Master might be the most talented, but the one with the highest prestige within the sect is often the Great Elder.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to hold that position.
"Great Elder, I understand your concerns. However, while Tian'er lacks a Dantian Sea, he possesses a Sword Heart. I heard from Emperor Ling that he is obsessed with swords, as if his life depends on them. Such a young man is most suited to cultivating the sword path and inheriting the will of our Holy Land." The Holy Master looked up, his gaze calm as he regarded Ling Tian.
"Tian'er, if you wish to convince everyone, you must rely on your own efforts. I will first accept you as a nominal disciple. In three days, you will attempt to ascend our Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land's Path of Ten Thousand Swords. See if you can find your own opportunity upon the Sword Mountain." Before the other elders could voice further objections, the Holy Master spoke again, his tone grave.
"The Path of Ten Thousand Swords?" Ling Tian's eyes narrowed slightly, his hands clenching tightly.
He might not have managed to kill Ling Xiao,but at least he had escaped the Ling Clan.
If he could secure a firm footing here in the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land,it would be a significant asset for his future.
Relying on his Sword Vein Divine Body,even if he couldn't cultivate spiritual power, how many sword cultivators of his generation could be his match?
"Correct. Our Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land has been passed down for millennia, giving birth to countless powerful sword cultivators. After their passing, they each placed their divine swords upon the Path of Ten Thousand Swords. If you are fortunate enough to gain the favor of one, you will have found your own opportunity. The path has a thousand steps. At its end rests the legacy Dao Artifact left by the founding ancestor of our Holy Land." The Holy Master nodded. He rather liked Ling Tian's temperament.
Furthermore, rumors said this Second Young Master had never been on good terms with the Ling Clan heir, Ling Xiao.
Therefore,it was likely he would find it difficult to return to his clan in the future.
If nurtured properly,he might become a hidden trump card for the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land to counter other supreme orthodoxies.
After all,even if he was a born waste and not valued by the Ling Clan, his father was still the most powerful Emperor in the Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty.
"Yes! This disciple will spare no effort to reach the summit of the Path!" Ling Tian bowed deeply. A strange, soaring sword intent erupted from his body, startling the Holy Land elders, their expressions turning serious.
"Hmm? This aura? This boy... might be quite extraordinary after all."
Seeing their reactions, a smile instantly spread across Ling Tian's face.
Heh, esteemed Elders, in three days, I, Ling Tian, will make the entire Holy Land cheer for me alone.
The Path of Ten Thousand Swords?
What sword could possibly resist the call of the Sword Principle?!