"What... what way?" Nian Qingyun's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Her instincts told her Ling Xiao was definitely up to no good again.
Yet,for some reason, she also felt a small flicker of anticipation.
Let's see what other wicked schemes this damned scoundrel can come up with!
"In less than half a month, it will be the Myriad Sects Grand Competition. I imagine you, my Wife, will certainly be attending, right?" Ling Xiao smiled faintly. His white robes shimmered with starlight. Standing together with Nian Qingyun, they were more than just a perfect match; they were a picture of celestial harmony.
"Naturally. The Grand Competition itself is just an opportunity, but the secret realm on Path-Enlightenment Mountain... who in the entire Eastern Territories doesn't covet it?" Nian Qingyun frowned.
What did participating in the Grand Competition have to do with the grudge between her and Ling Xiao?
"Exactly. I will be going too. How about we make a bet?" Ling Xiao grinned, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"What kind of bet?" Nian Qingyun looked at him warily. Nowadays, even just talking to Ling Xiao required her to be on high alert, lest she carelessly get cheated out of her clothes by this scoundrel.
No! Beaten to a pulp!
That doesn't seem quite right either...
Anyway, you can't even trust his expression!
"At that time, you and I will have a battle at the summit of Path-Enlightenment Mountain to thoroughly settle this grudge between us. If you win, whether you want to kill me or slice me to pieces, I, Ling Xiao, won't so much as frown. But if you lose..." Ling Xiao paused for a moment, a playful smirk suddenly curling his lips, "...you have to confess your feelings to me in front of all the sects! Of course, before we fight, I will make our agreement clear to the world."
"Confess my feelings?! Dream on! I..."
"What?Wife, are you afraid you might lose?!"
"Nonsense!How could I possibly lose to a rogue like you!" Nian Qingyun gritted her silver teeth and gave a slight nod. "Fine, as you wish. Ling Xiao, in half a month, I will be waiting for you at the summit of Path-Enlightenment Mountain."
Having spoken, Nian Qingyun didn't hesitate in the slightest. Her figure flashed and instantly vanished from the spot.
Ling Xiao was strong, blessed with a Dao Principle, his talent bordering on monstrous.
But was Nian Qingyun weak?
She was the one who could bring chaos to all races, peerless and unmatched.
In the Eastern Territories,while Nian Qingyun didn't dare claim to be invincible, the number of youths who could match her definitely didn't exceed the fingers of one hand.
Especially now that her cultivation had broken through again.As long as she stabilized her realm over the next few days, when the time came...
"Hmph! Ling Xiao, just you wait. This time, I will step on you beneath my feet in front of the entire Eastern Territories and put an end to this... ill-fated relationship of ours." Nian Qingyun stood atop a mountain peak. Beside her, the Nine Heavens Golden Phoenix looked at her with a complicated expression.
Although it hadn't been by her side these past few days,it could more or less sense...
This Divine Maiden of the Dao Palace's aura seemed somewhat different from before.
While she was still cold enough to inspire fear,beneath that layer of indifference, there was now an uncommonly mixed trace of... melancholy.
…
Watching the now empty hall, the expression on Ling Xiao's face gradually turned icy.
He hadn't fully discerned Nian Qingyun's origins,but with his current methods, defeating her wouldn't be difficult.
Moreover,he still had plenty of Villain Points in the system to use. He needed to prepare properly over the next half month.
But before that,there were a few other matters he needed to attend to.
Hum.
The space suddenly fluctuated,and a figure clad in black abruptly materialized.
Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed,but the figure before him had already bowed respectfully.
"Young Master!"
"Uncle Gui,what brings you here?" Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed further. For someone of his status to leave the Ling Clan and come personally, it must be something important.
"Emperor Ling sent me to investigate the young man who provoked you that day. I've managed to uncover some information."
"Lin Xi?"Ling Xiao was momentarily stunned, then a trace of a bitter smile flashed in his eyes.
This father of mine really does plan meticulously.
If Ling Xiao hadn't stopped him that day,Emperor Ling would probably have already sent someone to eliminate Lin Xi.
Although,given the latter's Luck Points, whether they could actually kill him was one thing.
But based on Ling Xiao's understanding of Ling Tianlin,he would definitely have tried.
After all,his father was always thorough and ruthless, never taking risks.
"Correct, Young Master. That Lin Xi hails from a small city on the border of the Eastern Territories. Originally, the Lin Clan had about thirty members. But unexpectedly, seven years ago, they were annihilated, the entire family executed. Lin Xi fell from a cliff while fleeing and was never heard from again. A year later, he began appearing in various secret realms and ancient battlefields. That's also how he became acquainted with the Divine Maiden Nian. His father died in battle that day, but..." A hint of hesitation seemed to flash across Gui Ying's face.
"What is it, Uncle Gui?" Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow. Actually, he had already roughly guessed Lin Xi's background.
A standard Yan Emperor template. Even if there were some discrepancies, the main storyline was almost identical.
What worried him now was actually that sister of his.
Or rather,her sister's identity.
Based on past patterns,that young girl named Ling'er would certainly have her own destined opportunities.
He just didn't know if this opportunity lay with a person or a power.
"His younger sister, Bai Ling, whereabouts unknown. She has not appeared in the world to this day."
"She never appeared at all?"Ling Xiao sighed, an instinctive feeling of unease rising in his heart.
For someone to hide their tracks under Uncle Gui's watchful eyes,it was clear that Bai Ling was either dead, or... the power behind her was quite formidable.
Dead is impossible.
After all,she was the sister of a Son of Destiny; she probably had great luck herself.
But in the entire Sacred Dynasty,how many could escape the notice of a Divine Emperor?
"Correct, Young Master. I suspect Bai Ling is either dead or has been hidden by someone." Gui Ying nodded.
Although he didn't know why the Young Master had stopped Emperor Ling from killing that youth named Lin Xi,he figured the Young Master likely had his own plans.
But why did the Young Master now seem uninterested in Lin Xi,but rather in his sister...
"Uncle Gui, who do you think could hide someone from your watch?" Ling Xiao smiled inexplicably. Although Lin Xi had managed to escape by breaking through at the last moment, he was likely crippled now.
Even the old grandpa in his ring was starting to become suspicious.His path was pretty much at its end.
But this sister of his...could she become the next treasure girl for him to plunder?
"The Sacred Church certainly has the capability. But among the powers of the Eastern Territories, there shouldn't be any..."
"Uncle Gui,are you suggesting that little girl isn't in the Eastern Territories?" Ling Xiao pondered, looking up at the black-clad figure before him. "Uncle Gui, did you find out who was responsible for annihilating the Lin family? Or, which power did the Lin family offend?"
"I inquired. Almost all who witnessed the Lin family's annihilation that day are dead. Only one person at the peak Xuan Qing realm luckily escaped with his life. According to him, the one who destroyed the Lin family was a swordsman dressed in white, accompanied by a Dao Principle, his realm at the Breakthrough Realm. But his appearance was unfamiliar, not someone from the Eastern Territories. As for who the Lin family offended, I did not manage to find out."
"A swordsman in white? Accompanied by a Dao Principle? At the Breakthrough Realm?!" To Gui Ying's puzzlement, Ling Xiao's face suddenly froze.
It was a long moment before he finally let out a bitter laugh."It couldn't be that much of a coincidence, could it?"