In a simple room, a handsome young man sat cross-legged, shirtless.
Even in the freezing cold of the night, he was unfazed by the chill. Instead, a faint white vapor rose from his body. Eleven veins, occasionally visible on his naked body, shimmered with a fiery red hue, a truly bizarre sight that would have captivated anyone witnessing it.
The young man had remained in this position for an entire night.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes, revealing a gleaming, spirited gaze, exceedingly bright and clear.
After a night of meditation, Ling Xiao had stabilized the profound energy in eleven of his meridians. Once he opened the twelfth meridian, penetrating his Dantian Qi Sea, he would be able to concentrate profound energy. Only then would he be considered a true warrior, with the potential to reach the pinnacle of martial arts. Otherwise, he would never achieve a true warrior's body.
In his previous life, Ling Xiao was a martial arts madman, and this life was no exception.
Beyond the desire to defy fate, one must also firmly grasp one's own destiny. His greatest ideal was to "wield the power of the world while awake, and sleep in the lap of a beautiful woman while drunk."
As soon as Ling Xiao opened the door, Bai Yuxi had already prepared warm water and was waiting for him.
Ling Xiao had long since grown accustomed to Bai Yuxi's care and readily accepted it. However, every time Bai Yuxi saw his bare upper body, a charming blush would appear on her face, making her look incredibly adorable.
After washing his face, Ling Xiao and Bai Yuxi went to the front hall for dinner.
As soon as they arrived, they saw another person there: Ling Tao, the man who had saved Ling Xiao yesterday.
Ling Tao cast two sharp glances at Ling Xiao, a look of surprise on his face, and said, "Good boy, you're healed so quickly?"
Although the high-level Huilu Pill had the effect of healing and restoring energy, Ling Xiao seemed to have suffered severe injuries yesterday. Even if it could heal only six or seven layers of his injuries, it would be a good thing. However, Ling Xiao looked full of energy and vitality, not even a trace of injury at all. Ling Tao naturally didn't know that Ling Xiao's Sanfen Guiyuan Qi already possessed self-healing properties. Combined with the Huilu Pill, the effects were undoubtedly remarkable. Furthermore, Ling Xiao had taken the opportunity last night to break through his eleventh meridian, warming all his muscles and naturally boosting his mental state.
"Thank you, Third Uncle, for saving my life yesterday," Ling Xiao said, stepping forward and bowing. Had Ling Tao not arrived so quickly, he would have perished. Who knew he could have managed to travel through time again after death? He probably wouldn't have such good luck.
Ling Tao patted Ling Xiao's shoulder and said, "Don't be polite. I'm your Third Uncle. We're family. Eat something first, and I'll take you to see the clan leader."
"Oh, okay," Ling Xiao replied, then sat down to eat.
Noticing Ling Xiao's lack of reaction, Ling Zhan asked softly, "Xiao'er, you don't have any issues with your grandfather, do you?"
Ling Xiao's grandfather was, of course, Ling Cang, the clan leader of the Ling family. This was the first time Ling Xiao had been summoned since he was deposed. Most people would have been thrilled, but Ling Xiao seemed unconcerned.
"Any opinions? What opinions?" Ling Xiao asked, stunned. He remembered his grandfather as someone who had treated him well, having repeatedly guided him in cultivating his profound strength when he was young. He was a kind old man. Although the old man had ignored him for the past two years, he harbored no complaints. This was a world where martial arts were valued. Strength brought favor, while lack of it led to disfavor. This was perfectly normal. Born into a large family, one naturally had to be prepared for this.
"Big brother, don't worry about Xiao'er. Being ignored for two years would be disheartening for anyone. Come and have a drink." Ling Xiao's rhetorical question took on a different meaning in Ling Tao's ears, suggesting Ling Xiao was angry.
Ling Zhan shook his head and fell silent. Back then, when he was deposed, his father had tried everything for him, only to give up out of desperation. Yet, he could still sense all the hard work his father had put in for him. He could only lament the frustrations of being in a high position.
After a quick bite, Ling Tao led Ling Xiao to the Ling family's inner courtyard.
The Ling family's inner courtyard, nestled in the south of the city, encompassed ten thousand acres. Its elegant buildings, with their soaring eaves and sloping tiles, were ancient and vast, as if they had weathered countless years and yet still stood proudly.
The Ling family, with its eighteen generations and nearly a thousand years of heritage, was undoubtedly the largest family in Meteorite City, its heritage unimaginable to outsiders.
Ling Xiao and Ling Tao arrived at the main gate. Two ferocious beasts, resembling tigers and lions, crouched with bloody maws, their maws gaping in awe. The gate, forged of gold and carved with images of dragons and phoenixes, exuded an air of extraordinary dignity.
This was the aura of Meteorite City's largest family!
Two high-level profound practitioners, spears in hand, stood before the gate with their backs held high, imposing and majestic.
Ling Tao and Ling Xiao attempted to enter the gate, but unexpectedly, the two profound practitioners intervened, their spears clashing. "Zheng."
"What are you doing?" Ling Tao said in a deep voice.
"The Fifth Elder has ordered that Young Master Ling Xiao must pass through us if he wishes to enter the Ling family's inner courtyard," one of the high-level profound practitioners said.
"Assholes, Ling Xiao has been summoned by the clan leader. You two, get out of the way, or I'll send you to hell." Ling Tao's temper flared up, irritated by being stopped at his own door.
"I'm sorry, Deacon Ling, we're all following the Fifth Elder's orders," the two men replied in unison.
"You!" Ling Tao raged, his spear on his back, ready to strike. He knew he couldn't attack his own guards, but in this situation, this was clearly too much.
"Uncle, don't get angry. It's not worth it for these two dogs. Let me show you how I'll deal with these two disobedient dogs," Ling Xiao quickly soothed.
As soon as Ling Xiao said this, the two high-level profound practitioners guarding the gate glared at him with wide eyes. Ling Tao glanced at Ling Xiao and immediately said, "Alright, if you can't defeat them, I'll kill these two dogs, even if it means getting kicked out of the house."
"Don't teach a dog a lesson; it's better to get bitten by them!" Just then, the Fifth Elder's grandson, Ling Rui, appeared at the gate, followed by Ma Zi and Goubizi, glaring at Ling Xiao with a mocking expression.
Yesterday, he received news that Ling Xiao had regained his profound strength, which startled him. But soon after, he heard that Ling Xiao had been attacked and seriously injured, so he began to gloat over his misfortune. Unexpectedly, today, Ling Xiao was summoned by the clan leader, which infuriated him. However, upon learning that his grandfather intended to teach Ling Xiao a lesson, he had been waiting here since morning to witness the spectacle.
Ling Xiao glanced sideways at Ling Rui. He saw that he was dressed in a gorgeous green robe and had a very handsome appearance, but his narrowed eyes were a source of dislike to him. This man before him was the one who had nearly sent him to meet the King of Hell. "A mere low-level profound practitioner dares to yell here? You're truly courting death!" Ling Xiao said disdainfully.
"You, such a sharp tongue! Humph! I wonder how you'll ever make it to the inner courtyard. A useless talent like you will only ever be fit to be a commoner!" Ling Rui shouted, his face turning purple with anger.
The day before yesterday, news of Ling Xiao's defeat of Luo Qingshuang of the Luo family had spread throughout Meteorite City. Now that Ling Xiao was mocking him, he felt truly aggrieved.
"How dare you!" Ling Xiao and Ling Tao shouted angrily.
Both began to move, but Ling Xiao's "Cloud Phantom" seemed even faster.
"Snap."
"Ah!" Ling Rui was swatted away like a fly by Ling Xiao. Ling Rui clutched his red face, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. He scrambled to his feet, pointing at Ling Tao and saying, "You... you dared to hit me? I'm going to report you to the clan leader."
"Hey, go ahead! You dared me to call you a bastard? And the clan leader is my grandfather. Isn't that an insult to the clan leader? You're disrespecting him. It's blasphemy. When I enter the inner courtyard, I'll definitely ask the elders to punish you." Ling Xiao said to Ling Rui with a smile.
At this, Ling Rui's expression changed. "Wow!" he spat out another mouthful of blood, and fainted on the spot.
Ma Zi and Gou Bizi didn't even dare to look at Ling Xiao. They picked up Ling Rui and hurried away.
"What a waste!" Ling Xiao said disdainfully.
"Haha, good! You're so kind!" Ling Tao patted Ling Xiao's shoulder heavily and smiled with great satisfaction. He looked at Ling Xiao as if he were meeting his nephew for the first time. "Alright, Third Uncle, just watch me teach these two dogs a lesson. Let them open their eyes and see the difference between dogs and humans." Ling Xiao strapped the giant sword to his back, surprisingly not intending to use it.
"Xiao'er, don't be too arrogant. They're both already at the peak of Xuanzhe cultivation. As long as they can concentrate their Xuanli and reach the level of releasing it, they can break through to Xuanshi. I think you should just draw your sword," Ling Tao advised.
"Don't worry, Third Uncle. These two mere dogs aren't worth my full effort," Ling Xiao said with conviction.
If it were before, he might not have dared to be so arrogant, but now that he had broken through his eleventh meridian and reached the ninth-level martial arts apprentice realm, he was still a long way behind the two men before him, but with his "Cloud Tracks Phantom Shadow" footwork, he could definitely achieve victory by surprise.
"Okay, be careful." Seeing Ling Xiao's determination, Ling Tao said no more nonsense and retreated. "Come on, you two fools!" Ling Xiao extended a finger and beckoned insultingly at the two high-level profound practitioners.
The two high-level profound practitioners were both annoyed, but outwardly said politely, "Excuse me."
Both high-level profound practitioners had practiced the Ling family's gray-level profound technique, "Rain Spear Execution."
Rain Spear Execution, as its name suggests, consists of five styles, each one like a dense rain of spears, impossible to defend against.
The two high-level profound practitioners simultaneously unleashed a hail of spears in front of Ling Xiao. Dots of profound energy emanated a chilling aura, and even the slightest contact with them would pierce through the body.
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, then stepped out with "Cloud Phantom," instantly dodging the two guards' attacks.
"Flowing Water and Clouds."
With both palms thrust out, all the profound energy in his body converged behind them, flowing thickly and continuously, swiftly like flowing water, striking heavily on the two men's vests. The two guards reacted incredibly quickly, simultaneously launching a counter-attack.
Ling Xiao realized these two were definitely more than just ordinary guards. They were aiming their spears directly at his throat, clearly aiming for his life.
"If that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Ling Xiao leaped up like an eagle swooping down on a rabbit, his feet creating dozens of shadowy steps that attacked the two men, his form appearing incredibly agile and graceful.
This was the second form of the Wind God Kick, "Strong Grass in the Wind," Ling Xiao's favorite technique from his previous life. This move was incredibly fast and incredibly powerful.
"Puff."
"Puff."
...