"Three people, step forward when your names are called."
Ling Xiao nodded slightly. Though his expression remained calm, a sharp coldness suddenly flickered in his eyes.
Hearing this, three disciples in the crowd immediately lowered their heads in panic and fear, pretending as if it had nothing to do with them.
Are you kidding me? They were the three inner disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land, with cultivations merely at the early Xuan Qing realm. They wouldn't dare provoke even Ling Tian, let alone Ling Xiao. If Yu Yuntian hadn't promised them treasures and opportunities, they'd have to be out of their minds to bully the Ling Clan's Second Young Master. It wasn't that they didn't want to take the fall; it was simply that they couldn't bear the weight of it. Yu Yuntian, at the very least, had the Holy Master's protection. But the three of them… if Ling Xiao beat them to death, probably no one would even speak up for them, right?
"Not coming out?"
Ling Xiao grinned, and an overwhelming sword light instantly blazed upon the ancient sword in his hand. An unparalleled killing intent spread diffusely, startling even the Holy Land elders, causing their expressions to change.
Sword Dao Principle, Major Achievement stage!
Although they had sensed the Sword Principle aura from Ling Xiao at the peak of the Immortal Path earlier, they were far away then, not feeling it as directly as now. A seventeen-year-old monster who had comprehended a Dao Principle was already worthy of being called top-tier in the Sacred Dynasty. But now… they finally understood why Ling Xiao was hailed as having peerless immortal demeanor.
"Then I'll just kill all of you."
Ling Xiao gave a cold laugh and was about to bring the sword intent in his hand down. The faces of the Holy Land elders changed dramatically as they circulated spiritual power around their bodies, preparing to rush towards Ling Xiao. They truly hadn't expected this heir of the Ling Clan to be so savage, killing on a whim without the slightest hesitation.
"You three, get out here now!"
Angry shouts immediately rose from among the disciples, and three figures were promptly kicked flying out of the crowd. They were none other than Zhang, Xu, and Wang.
The ancient sword in Ling Xiao's hand abruptly stilled, and the figures of the Holy Land elders also halted mid-air, looking warily at the young man below.
"So, it was you three who bullied my brother?" Ling Xiao sneered, slowly walking up to the trio. "Do trash like you even have the guts for that? Speak. Who put you up to it?"
Gulp.
The three Holy Land disciples glanced at each other, seemingly hesitant.
But before they could ponder for long, Ling Xiao's ancient sword suddenly swept out horizontally, directly severing Wang Erchuan's head.
"Ling Xiao!!!"
The Holy Land elders stared wide-eyed at the Holy Land disciple collapsing to the ground, blood gushing like a spring. Only after a long moment did they let out furious, hoarse shouts.
Too arrogant! This Ling Clan heir was simply too arrogant! He actually dared to kill with his sword within their Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land! And the problem was, the sword he was using was their Holy Land's inherited Dao Artifact!
Dammit!
But at this moment, the Holy Master of Ten Thousand Swords remained unmoved, and Grand Elder Jian Nan similarly did not act. The two were the only Emperor-level experts in the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land. Once they made a move, the implications would change entirely. Furthermore, although Ling Xiao was fierce, his reason was sufficiently justified. If one had to blame someone… blame these three disciples for provoking someone they shouldn't have.
"Today, anyone who tries to stop me, I will kill. If I can't kill them, my father certainly can." Ling Xiao's expression was calm as he glanced up at the several Holy Land elders in the air.
My father is Emperor Ling. Who among you dares to move?
That statement alone was deterrent enough.
"Many rumors spread among the common folk, saying I, Ling Xiao, am cruel and violent. Today, I wish to clarify something: these are not rumors."
"Hiss!!"
Domineering! Arrogant! This Ling Xiao was indeed the most nefarious young master in the Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty! But… he truly had the capital to be!
Meanwhile, Ye Xun'er's pretty face had long frozen in stunned disbelief. Initially, she only wanted Ling Xiao to demand an explanation for Ling Tian's sake. She never expected this Ling Clan heir to be so merciless, directly drawing his sword and slaying her Holy Land's disciples! Ye Xun'er was dissatisfied with Yu Yuntian, but he was, after all, her fellow senior brother. And Ling Xiao… Suddenly, she felt caught in a dilemma.
"Still not talking?" Ling Xiao gave a grim smile, raising his ancient sword again. Seeing this, Zhang and Xu were instantly scared out of their wits, collapsing to their knees, filth streaming down their legs.
"I'll talk! I'll talk! It was Senior Brother Yu! He told us to target Junior Brother Ling Tian! He said he'd give us a third-grade spirit pill every time we beat him up! So we… we beat Junior Brother Ling Tian nine times a day! Young Master, spare us… Young—"
Swish!
A flash of clear light, there and gone in an instant, and two more heads hit the ground.
Even unto death, perhaps Xu and Zhang never figured out why, after confessing everything, they still died under Ling Xiao's sword.
How laughable. I never said I'd spare your wretched lives if you talked.
A thick, bloody scent quietly permeated the entire plaza.
Everyone stared at the figure of the young man holding the ancient sword, standing proudly and alone before the crowd, seemingly ready to face the entire Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land alone. Their eyes were filled with a mixture of fear and awe.
They had heard from the start that the Ling Clan heir had a fierce and ruthless temperament, killing based solely on his whims. But in recent days, many rumors about his chivalrous deeds had spread throughout the Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty. Especially that day atop Sunset Mountain, it was said this young master had desperately protected Qin Leng, the young master of the Qin Clan, for the sake of justice. So much so that this once heartless, cold young master now told everyone he met that Young Master Ling Xiao was the epitome of righteousness, and that he, Leng, fell far short—seemingly transforming into a young master with feelings!
Yet today, when Ling Tian was bullied and humiliated, he seemed to have reverted to his former cruel and savage self.
So it turned out…
This Young Master Ling Xiao was neither as gentle and refined as some claimed, nor was he simply cruel and bloodthirsty.
He was just… striving desperately to protect his family!!
For a moment, the crowd didn't know whether to curse him or sing his praises.
And deep down, many disciples couldn't help but wish they had such an elder brother themselves—one who, when they were humiliated, could single-handedly, with one sword, shoulder all the slander and stand against a supreme orthodox sect. Even Divine Kings and Divine Emperors couldn't make him take half a step back.
"Yu Yuntian… it was you, wasn't it?" Ling Xiao nodded slightly, the coldness in his eyes like a blizzard in deep winter, inexplicably causing a shiver of fear.
"Young Master Ling Xiao… that's enough." Finally, the Holy Master of Ten Thousand Swords spoke.
He could tolerate three inner disciples being slaughtered if it extinguished the wrath of this Ling Clan heir, Demon Sect Young Master, Divine Emperor's son, and Dao Palace son-in-law. Moreover, these three had bullied his Holy Land's Holy Son; they deserved death anyway. But Yu Yuntian… was not only his direct disciple but also had the entire Yu Family standing behind him. If he died today within the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land, it would be difficult to manage the fallout.
"Enough?" Ling Xiao's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze calm as he looked at the Holy Master. "Holy Master, I complied with your words earlier. The decision regarding the Holy Son position is not my place to intervene. But in this world, anyone can insult me, yet no one can insult my family. My father, my mother, my brother—whoever insults them shall die. Of course… if you insult me, you will die too."
Boom!!!
The entire Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land instantly fell into dead silence.
Everyone looked at the lone, cold, and proud figure of the Ling Clan heir. The shock in their eyes was beyond words.
Overbearing!
Yet it inspired a strange, inexplicable sense of… awe!