Achoo!
Ling Xiao, seated upon the Nine Dragons Golden Chariot, sneezed involuntarily.
But he was long accustomed to this.
After all,the number of people in the Sacred Dynasty who wanted him dead was beyond count.
If each of them cursed him just once a day,he'd probably sneeze himself to death.
Beside him, Jiu You's exquisite face held a trace of faint awe.
She had witnessed everything the Young Master had done these past few days.
A seventeen-year-old youth,with such cunning and methods, even Jiu You felt a sense of trepidation.
Pitiful.
Being the Young Master's enemy is truly pitiful.
Initially, Jiu You had only thought that staying by Ling Xiao's side might offer a sliver of hope for revenge.
After all,the power of the Sacred Church couldn't even be described as terrifying; it was perhaps not an exaggeration to say they held the heavens in their hands.
But now,she genuinely felt that perhaps one day, this young master before her might truly stand at the pinnacle of the Sacred Dynasty.
This chaotic era wasn't one where talent and opportunity alone could see you through to the end;temperament was especially important.
Resilience and a flawless Dao Heart were the basic qualities of every Son of Destiny.
What set Ling Xiao apart from them was his seeming ability to always guess his enemies'next moves, allowing him to prepare in advance.
"Jiu You, do you still have any trusted followers on the demon side?" Ling Xiao swirled the glazed cup in his hand, taking a small sip of the wine within.
Hearing this, Jiu You's delicate brows furrowed. It was a long moment before she finally nodded.
"When my Ming Phoenix clan was at its peak,it ranked first among the Three Demon Emperors. Back then, many demon clans clung to our feet. But hundreds of years have passed..." Jiu You seemed hesitant.
Yes, the human heart—or any heart—is the most fickle thing.
Only when one is powerful oneself does so-called loyalty and righteousness remain eternal.
Once you fall,you experience the fickleness of the world.
Even past kindness can become a reason for others to add to your misfortune.
Who asked you to give me opportunities? Who asked you to help me break through? Who asked you to protect my clan?
Who do you look down on?!
The Ming Phoenix clan had indeed been powerful for a long time,but it had also been gone for a long time.
Especially now,Jiu You, although at the Divine King realm, was no longer considered top-tier in the Sacred Dynasty.
If she revealed herself rashly,she would inevitably attract unwanted attention.
However...
"Jiu You, you are, after all, a demon. It will be difficult to achieve much in the Eastern or Western Territories. The Sacred Church likely wouldn't expect you to have reconstructed a physical body after a hundred years. So..." A thoughtful glint flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes.
What he was plotting against was the most terrifying power in the Sacred Dynasty, the Sacred Church!
It was unknown whether this Church had Venerables,but its followers and vassals were definitely not limited to a few supreme orthodoxies.
Toppling it completely was absolutely impossible for Ling Xiao alone,or even for the Ling Clan by itself.
Therefore,he needed to place many pieces on the board, pieces that could turn the tide at critical moments.
When I raise the call to arms, and forces from all four Territories rise up, what can the Sacred Church do, even if they have clouds of experts?
Slaughter the entire world?
Ling Xiao shook his head with a smile.He could do that, because he was a demon.
The Sacred Church could not,because they pretended to be immortals.
"Young Master, I've actually had this intention for a while. Although I lack for no pills by your side, I miss the tempering of real experience. As a demon, I cannot cultivate properly here in the Eastern Territories. So... let me return to the Northern Territories. As long as I carefully conceal my aura, no one will discover my identity." Jiu You's tone was particularly confident.
Of course, Ling Xiao also believed that a demon expert who had managed to survive under the nose of the Sacred Church must possess some methods unknown to him.
"Good. I'll give you a few things to take with you. With your cultivation level, you can secretly accumulate strength once you return to the Northern Territories. When the time is right, I will give you a suitable identity." Ling Xiao's mind flashed to Bai Zhixi's figure. With the measures he had put in place, that little girl was probably suffering from the pains of longing by now.
His Luck Points had been continuously increasing,surely thanks in no small part to the contributions of this Ninth Princess of the Nine-Tails clan.
Jiu You was his hidden piece among the demons.Bai Zhixi? She was, of course, the public-facing representative.
He hadn't crushed Bai Zhixi back in the Northern Wastes out of sympathy or pity,but because demons traditionally held a deep-seated hatred for humans. He needed someone to help him accumulate influence among the demon race.
Bai Zhixi was a natural-born Dao Principle body,and a rare Spatial Dao Principle at that.
In a few years,she would probably become a prodigy among the younger generation of demons, overshadowing her peers.
Raising a young maiden—that was the general idea.
Ling Xiao opened the System Mall, navigated to the Talismans section, exchanged for several spirit talismans, and handed them to Jiu You.
"These are a few Divine Escape Talismans to help you preserve your life.This one is a Spirit Concealment Talisman. With your cultivation, even a Demon Emperor might not see through your disguise." Ling Xiao pondered for a moment, then took out some pills and spiritual treasures, handing them all to Jiu You.
"Use these pills and treasures to win people over."
Just kidding.
Whether human,demon, devil, or immortal, desire was a fundamental thing that never truly vanished.
On the contrary,it only expanded with the increase in one's status and cultivation.
No one could completely resist temptation.If they could, it was only because the temptation wasn't big enough.
"Thank you, Young Master!!" Jiu You was stunned for a moment, her beautiful eyes mixed with an indescribable emotion.
In just one short month,she had gone from a remnant soul to a top-tier Divine King expert in the Sacred Dynasty.
If not for the Young Master's help,this process would have taken decades, maybe even a century.
Remembering Chu Yang's final struggles,Jiu You felt inexplicably disgusted.
A peerless young master—this phrase was only worthy of describing Young Master Ling Xiao.
"Remember, no matter what trouble you encounter, your life comes first. Our path has only just begun. If you encounter anything you cannot resolve, use the communication talisman to call me." Ling Xiao grinned.
Jiu You had already risen and bowed to him with the utmost respect.
"On the day we meet again,Jiu You will definitely not disappoint the Young Master's expectations."
Having spoken,her figure abruptly vanished, though her eyes actually held a trace of mist.
Your life comes first. This is only the beginning.
The Young Master... truly cares for me.
She understood that the Young Master sent her to the Northern Territories not just to temper herself.
He wanted to control more experts,even entire powers. Only that could be considered true strength!
A fierce glint instantly flashed in Jiu You's eyes.
Heh, heh.
Those traitors who bit the hand that fed them... your Queen has returned!
…
Only after Jiu You's aura had completely vanished did the expression on Ling Xiao's face gradually calm.
The pieces have been placed. Next, this game truly begins.
Although his foundation was still insufficient,his strength still lacking... but this is just the beginning.
Calculating the time,it had only been about a month since he transmigrated here.
And now,the power he controlled, while perhaps not enough to contend with a supreme orthodoxy, should be more than enough to annihilate a few first-rate powers!
Advance steadily, fortify at each step. Be cautious and low-key.
As a villain,he already attracted enough hatred. Killing too ostentatiously would be seeking his own death, wouldn't it?
He only had one chance.
The day Ling Xiao truly revealed his Heavenly Demon identity to the world would inevitably be the day of the final,decisive battle with the Sacred Church.
"But for now... I still need to find a way to make Cloud Millet and the Qin Clan clash head-on." Among the powers of the Eastern Territories, placing pieces was naturally Ling Xiao's first choice.
If he couldn't place pieces,then he'd just beat them into submission until they stayed quiet and kept their heads down.
The Qin Clan and Cloud Millet were both supreme orthodoxies.To make them go to war outright, the hatred stemming from just two disciples was clearly not enough.
He needed to add more fuel to the fire!
Across ten thousand miles of cloud sea, nine dragons pulled the chariot.
Who could have imagined that the youth seated upon it was currently plotting a grand scheme encompassing the entire realm?