《Epic Of The Second Strongest Demonic Blade King》


 Chapter 1 - Animal Spirit Summoning

    In an enormous majestic palace that floated in the sky, ten boys could be seen facing a man that exuded an aura of a godly expert from his body.


    And with eyes that glowed and caused the air to roil around him, he said to the boys "Come forward and summon your animal spirit"


    The oldest who was named ''Xiao Feng'' went forward to stand on a platform that the engraving of a massive frightening beast could be seen on it surface.


    As soon as Xiao Feng climbed up the stage, he sat in the cross legged position on the platform and then closed his eyes.


    When he closed his eyes, he put out his palms and performed some gesture with his fingers.


    Not long, the platform began to tremble.


    A few seconds later, the illusory image of a nine-headed, nine-winged dragon appeared behind him.


    As soon as the image of the nine-headed, nine-winged dragon appeared behind Xiao Feng, it shot into his body.


    ROARRR!!!


    A roar which was exceedingly loud and caused the ears of people that were witnessing the beast summoning ritual to begin to ache suddenly rang out from within Xiao Feng''s body.


    The man who exuded the overwhelming aura of ancientness from his towering body gave a smile.


    "Next!" He called out.


    Then the second oldest went forward to sit on the platform when Xiao Feng came down.


    Named ''Xiao Chun'', he also sat on the platform in the cross-legged position and then closed his eyes. And with his two hands out, he began to perform mysterious gestures with them.


    A few seconds later, the illusory image of a beast that had the body of a bull, the head of a tiger, the tail of a serpent, the legs of an elephant and had long horns on it head which had scarlet-colored flames endlessly erupting from them suddenly appeared behind Xiao Chun.


    Immediately the strange beast appeared behind Xiao Chun, it shot into his body.


    GRARRRR!!!


    A violent, frightening roar rang out from within Xiao Chun''s body. And as soon as this roar rang out, scarlet-colored flames suddenly discharged from Xiao Chun''s body which then disappeared in the next instant.


    The man who emitted a powerful aura from his body broke a smile.


    He was also impressed by Xiao Chun.


    Then Xiao Chun came down from the platform for the next person to climb up the stage and summon his beast.


    This went on with the boys summoning strange beasts that invoked the feeling of mystification and immense power.


    Not long, it was Xiao Lin''s turn to summon. As the youngest, he was going to climb up the stage after his brothers had all summoned their Animal Spirits.


    When he climbed up the stage, he closed his eyes to summon. Then with his palms out, he began to perform mysterious gestures upon gestures with his fingers.


    After a long while when people were already tired of waiting to see the beast that he was going to summon, a bright red light suddenly flashed, successfully pulling everyone''s attention back to Xiao Lin who was intensely focusing on what he was doing.


    However, when the brilliant red light receded, what could be seen was the illusory image of a surprisingly small, wolf-like animal that was red-skinned and looked too gentle to be a Battle Beast Spirit.


    What is this?


    What trashy beast spirit did this boy summon?


    These sort of questions flashed in the minds of everyone that were looking at Xiao Lin.


    While the man who sat on a throne and was surrounded by his ten wives who also sat on thrones that were by his sides, furrowed his brows with an expression of anger and disgust visibly evident in his face.


    After sometime that the beast appeared, it shot into Xiao Lin''s body.


    But no roar rang out, neither did any strange phenomenon take place.


    It was like the Animal Spirit was too gentle or too weak to make a roar or cause Xiao Lin''s body to exhibit some strange and shocking power.


    "Lin, what''s that useless animal spirit that you just summoned?" The man asked angrily.


    "Father, that''s my animal spirit." Xiao Lin said.


    He was surprised by the question that his father just asked him.


    "Your animal spirit? Hahaha! That''s one trash animal spirit that you summoned, boy." His father said wrathfully and then laughed raucously.


    With the expression of anger still on his face which visibly grew intense in the next moment, he said with a really loud angry voice "Leave my presence this instant!!"


    Xiao Lin became tremendously surprised by his father''s attitude.


    He wanted to say something, but he could feel the excessive rage and irritation in his father''s voice. Then he quickly left his father''s overwhelming presence before his father could do anything to him out of wrath which could be felt emanating unbridledly from his body.


    As soon as Xiao Lin got to his room and closed the door behind him, he broke into tears.


    He guessed that he had just failed to impress his dad, and at the same time, had made him very angry.


    He just couldn''t comprehend why. And now, he felt that his father''s love and favour for him would extremely reduce, or worst, totally disappear.


    Tears began to stream down both sides of his cheeks as he cried.


    As he remained in his room for more than two hours crying and hoping that his father''s love for him would still be in his heart, the door was suddenly forced open by someone.


    Xiao Lin became shocked at who would have the audacity to break into his room.


    Then when he looked up to see who had broken the door of his room, he saw his mother with an expression of sadness and gloom in her face.


    He was surprised and perplexed by the sad expression in her face.


    Then before he could ask any question, his mother who had a morose expression in her face which was contorted to make her look ugly, despite being a beautiful young woman, suddenly said "Lin''er, quickly pack your things. We have to leave here at once. We can''t stay here any longer"


    Bang!


    It was like a thunderbolt directly struck Xiao Lin''s mind.


    He shook for sometime before recollecting control of himself.


    "W-We are l-leaving? W-why are we leaving?" Xiao Lin began to stutter.


    "Dear child, I will explain to you on the way. But for now, quickly pack your things. We have to leave here now!" His mother said hurriedly.


    Xiao Lin who couldn''t understand what was going on nodded his head since he could detect the sense of urgency in her tone.


    Then he rushed to quickly pack his things into his spatial ring which contained a great amount of space since it was of high quality.


    Then he left his room with his mom who began to look everywhere observantly and with fright in her eyes.


    His mom then released spiritual energy from one of her hands which she abruptly condensed into a large blade and then used to cut space apart.


    As soon as she created a spatial slit using the blade that she condensed from her spiritual energy, she rapidly ejected spiritual energy from one of her hands which she quickly condensed into a flat disc that she ordered Xiao Lin to climb upon.


    Then using the power of her mind over her energy, the disc that was formed from her spiritual energy zoomed into the slit along with her when she flew into it.


    And when they appeared in a new region and began to move at unimaginable speeds through the air, Xiao Lin''s mother who flew by her son''s side continuously released spiritual energy to sustain a thick screen that she formed from her spiritual energy to protect Xiao Lin from the strong, raging winds that could possibly reduce him to pieces due to the extreme speed that they were both moving at in the air.


    ***


    "My lord, Zhao Yun and her son have gotten away." A guard dressed in golden armored robe knelt before his Lord and said with fear and reverence in his tone.


    "They did? Haha! Well, that isn''t a problem. I knew she would want to escape with that useless trash she calls her son. Just send the Murderous Blades after them. And make sure they kill the both of them and burn off their corpses. I don''t want the world to know that I, the Great Emperor of the Black Lotus Palace, once had a useless trash for a son" The man said with boundless cruelty and evilness erupting from his gaze and tone.

 Chapter 2 - Arrival Of Murderous Blades

    An hour later after they had flown for a very long time, Xiao Lin''s mother, Zhao Yun, descended with Xiao Lin from the air to the ground.


    At the moment, she looked very pale.


    But this was because she had used nearly all of her spiritual energy to fly and to maintain the platform that she used to move Xiao Lin through the air, and then also the thick barrier that protected her son from the powerful violent winds that could slice him to pieces.


    Xiao Lin understood this.


    So he didn''t bother her with questions when she sat down in the cross-legged position to cultivate.


    He would ask her later when she had replenished her energy why they had to hurriedly leave the palace.


    Some minutes later after the paleness on her skin had reduced, she stood up so they could continue flying.


    She felt that they had to quickly leave this region as she felt that it was still unsafe for them.


    "Mom, you still look pale. You should cultivate some more." Xiao Lin said considerately.


    Xiao Lin''s mother smiled.


    Then she said "Only if you can understand some things, then you will comprehend why I am doing all these."


    Xiao Lin didn''t know what to say.


    And he didn''t want to argue with her as he didn''t want to stress her.


    "But mom, can you give me a small hint on what''s actually happening? I want to understand something. I want to comprehend why we are going through all these." Xiao Lin said hurriedly and in a curious tone.


    "I will tell you even if you didn''t asked." Xiao Lin''s mother said.


    Then she continued "Actually, your father wants you dead."


    Bang!


    It was like another explosion occurred in Xiao Lin''s mind.


    He then staggered backwards for some feet from what his mother said without mincing words.


    "W-What?!" He stuttered and screamed out in great shock and horror at the same time.


    "W-Why would he want me dead?" Xiao Lin asked as great sadness suddenly surfaced in his heart and totally engulfed it.


    "It''s because of the animal spirit that you summoned which he felt was totally trash. He doesn''t want to keep a son who will be useless to him and will ruin the reputation that he tried hard to build since many millennia ago. The thing is, he wants all his sons to do massive exploits for him. But since he felt that you can''t and that you will only disgrace him, he decided to cut you off from the living" Xiao Lin''s mother said in a very sad tone.


    Xiao Lin staggered backwards again by some feet after hearing this.


    "Is my f-father that ruthless? Even to his own child?" He asked in a stuttering manner.


    "Son, I was greatly shocked when he ordered his guards to slaughter you. I heard this when I eavesdropped on the discussion that some of his older wives were having with each other."


    "So son, from what I heard many moments ago at the palace, I can confidently say that your father will certainly be ruthless to his own children, just so that he can keep his own face from being publicly destroyed."


    "Also, if the other ones who are your blood brothers develop fault in their cultivation journey, he might possibly cut them off too." Xiao Lin''s mother said with unhappiness in her face.


    Xiao Lin didn''t ask or say anything this time. He only looked at her and waited for his mother to catch her breath so she could continue with what she wanted to reveal to him.


    "Lin''er, the thing is, my status in that palace cannot match that of his other wives. I am an ordinary concubine. I was forced into marrying him when my family were going through a lot and urgently needed help. So, I was made against my own will to marry him. I was forced to sacrifice myself for my family" Xiao Lin''s mother said sadly with tears beginning to form in her eyes.


    Then she looked at her son with her glistening eyes which had tears beginning to well up in them.


    "Lin''er, I am really sorry for this kind of rough life that I put you in. I am very sorry" She said with grief radiating off of her voice.


    Xiao Lin who was shocked by his mother''s second statement didn''t say anything.


    He only went forward to embrace her and then used his thumbs to wipe away the tears that had began to stream down her face.


    "Mom, I understand everything now. Because of his damned ego, he doesn''t want me since he believes that I am trashy due to the animal spirit that I summoned. But mom, I promise you today that I will prove to him that I am not trashy, and he will be forced to accept you back and make you his wife." Xiao Lin said with an unbreakable resolve.


    Xiao Lin''s mother who was crying broke into a smile. However, her smile still gave hints of sadness.


    "Dear son, you don''t need to prove anything to me or to anyone. You are simply the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are the best in the whole world and for eternity. Only if they could open their shut eyes to see the blinding radiance that you boundlessly emit." She said, praising her son.


    "Lin''er, we have spoken enough. We need have to leave here now, or your father''s men might catch up with us" Xiao Lin''s mother said further while Xiao Lin nodded agreeably.


    Then after condensing spiritual energy that erupted from her hands into a disc that Xiao Lin climbed upon and then hovered high into the air, they both jetted away at shocking speeds to a destination that she had mind.


    But after flying for thirty minutes, a small group of people that consisted of both male and female who had swords, blades or katanas hung on their backs and around their waists, could be seen flying towards Xiao Lin and his mother with palpable murderous auras endlessly emanating from their bodies.


    Xiao Lin''s mother felt the thick murderous auras that had suddenly permeated her immediate surrounding. She then looked back to see to her shock and dread that a group of powerful killers called ''Murderous Blades'' had quickly arrived behind them.


    Then she knew it was over for them.


    However, she was going to battle them to give her son that chance to escape and live his life.


    Still flying at a great speed without stop, she projected her thought directly into her son''s mind.


    ''Son, no matter what will happen to me, promise me that you will never come looking for me. Only come back when you are sure that you can beat your father. Farewell son.'' She said in an extremely sad tone.


    Then with the last wisp of spiritual energy in her dantian, she used it to shred apart a layer of space which she sent Xiao Lin into with the sole intention of causing him to appear in another region that was exceedingly far from here.


    And as soon as she did this, she turned to face the group of people called Murderous Blades with an unbreakable resoluteness in her eyes.


    Just when this group of people would split so that some could kill her while the rest would go after Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin''s mother who knew how powerful these people were and that she wouldn''t stand a chance against them due to their numbers, directly exploded the massive core of spiritual energy in her dantian.


    BOOM!!!


    An earth-shaking explosion took place that even the layer of space that Xiao Lin was sent in was shaken and then was knocked into another layer by many powerful tyrannical waves that had suddenly appeared immediately after the explosion occurred.

 Chapter 3 - Damaged Dantian

    Not long, Xiao Lin suddenly appeared out of nowhere and began to plummet to the ground from a great altitude in the air.


    And as his consciousness slowly faded away, what his mother said kept resounding in his head.


    Then his eyes closed.


    ***


    Few days later, Xiao Lin''s eyes suddenly snapped open.


    Then he saw that he was in a room.


    "How did I appear here?" He asked himself.


    Then he remembered that he was falling to the ground from the sky. But he couldn''t remember anything else after that.


    "Did someone fly to save me?" He asked.


    Xiao Lin still couldn''t understand how he was still alive.


    But he guessed that someone must have flown to save him.


    "I must be in one of the vacant rooms owned by a powerful master" He said.


    Then his eyes glowed brilliantly.


    "Perhaps he can accept me as his student and train me how to use spiritual energy." He said further.


    Then when he recalled what his mom told him, his eyes shone sharply.


    "Mother, your son will come for you soon. And I promise that I will embarrass father. No matter how strong he would be, I will kick him out of that palace and the rest of his wretched wives and the sons that they birthed for him. Then I will make the palace mine and you the ruler of the armies that he had spent many millennia to build. But if he dared to touch a single strand of your hair, he will replace it with a limb" Xiao Lin said resolutely.


    Creak!


    The door of the room suddenly creaked open and then someone stepped in.


    Xiao Lin saw this person and quickly bowed humbly.


    From the person''s aura, Xiao Lin could confidently say that this person was the one who had flown to save him when he was dropping from the sky to the ground.


    "Young one. You have finally woken" The man said.


    Xiao Lin then clasped his hands together and said "Senior, thanks for saving me"


    "Don''t mention young one. But what really happened? Why would someone as young as you fall from the sky? Did a great disaster occur back at the place that you are from?" The man asked.


    "Actually senior, my father chased I and my mother away from his house and even sent killers after us. His reason was because he felt that I was trash. So, he didn''t want me again since he had many other amazing sons who will be very useful to him." Xiao Lin said with a strongly melancholic tone in his voice.


    "Hmm. That your father is really callous." The man said.


    Then he gazed at Xiao Lin and asked "But why did he call you trash?"


    "It''s because of the Animal Spirit that I summoned. He felt that I had summoned a trashy one. Unlike my brothers who summoned ferocious and mighty Animal Spirits" Xiao Lin replied.


    "Hmm" The man uttered.


    He then proceeded to ask "Do you mind if I take a look at it?"


    "No. I don''t" Xiao Lin replied.


    Then he closed his eyes and focused within himself to eject the Animal Spirit that he summoned.


    After sometime, a bright red light appeared and a red-skinned, wolf-like creature appeared.


    It appeared so cute and meek that anyone that saw it will see it as a harmless and beautiful creature.


    But when the master saw it, his eyes surprisingly widened in shock.


    He looked at the beast and back at Xiao Lin who was beginning to wonder why the senior was looking at him in that manner.


    "Alright. You can take it away" The man said.


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    Then he closed his eyes and focused once again.


    After sometime, the wolf-like creature vanished from their presence.


    "Boy, your father was actually very wrong about your Animal Spirit. You didn''t summon a trashy Animal Spirit. Instead, you summoned a grandly phenomenal one." The man said with adoration in his eyes.


    Despite being a Sect master, he was amazed by Xiao Lin''s Animal Spirit


    Xiao Lin gave a smile.


    "Thanks to senior for trying to cheer me up." He said and clasped his fist.


    The man smiled.


    But he didn''t say anything else.


    With time, he believed that Xiao Lin will be greatly shocked by what he had summoned.


    He didn''t need to tell him anything more.


    Then with a wave of his hand, a robe appeared in his hand.


    He then threw it at Xiao Lin who immediately caught it.


    "There''s your robe. You can change into that. And don''t worry too much about where to stay and what to eat. You can stay here for as long as you want. And there are many delicacies to choose from. Just see it as your dad pushing you from a lower heaven to a higher heaven." The man said and smiled.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    "Thank you very much, senior. I don''t know how I am going to ever repay you for this kindness." He said.


    The man smiled.


    "You don''t need to repay me. I don''t need payment. Just focus on growing strong so you that will be able to fend for yourself out there when you go into the world" He said.


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    Then before the man could turn to leave, Xiao Lin quickly asked "Senior, can you please teach me how to cultivate spiritual energy?"


    Once Xiao Lin asked this question, the man looked at Xiao Lin with a gaze that Xiao Lin couldn''t quite understand or describe.


    "Well, since you have asked me to teach you how to cultivate, there''s something I must tell you. I wanted to postpone it for later, but I think I must tell you now." The man said.


    Still looking at Xiao Lin and wondering how best to deliver the news to him, the person said "Actually, you won''t be able to cultivate spiritual energy again. Your dantian has been badly damaged. I am sorry"


    When Xiao Lin heard this, it was like a bomb went off in his mind.


    He could almost collapse to the ground upon hearing this.


    "B-But how?" He asked in a very sad tone.


    How would he become strong to go free his mother from her incarceration and wickedly deal with his father for all that he had caused him?


    He then became intensely morose that a forlorn expression was visibly evident on his face.


    "I don''t know too. Perhaps something happened to you the moment before you appeared in this region." The man said.


    Xiao Lin who had begun to emanate the aura of sorrow and misery from his body remembered when he was struck hard by some waves that had suddenly appeared from nowhere when he was sent into that spatial hole that his mother created.


    ''It was those damned waves I guess. But where did they come from?'' Xiao Lin questioned within.


    Then he asked further within himself when a gloomy thought suddenly flashed in his mind ''I hope my mother is fine. Father, if anything should happen to my mother, I swear you won''t live to regret it''


    When the man saw Xiao Lin in a deep thoughtful state and one that also radiated misery, he said "Kid, don''t worry. You will be fine. I believe"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    "I would be fine, senior. Since I still have life, all hope is not lost yet. I will surely find a way to cultivate again. Then I will go back to that monster who calls himself my father and teach him the greatest lesson of his life for all that he made me and my mother pass through"

 Chapter 4 - Carefully Judge Peoples Abilities, Or Your Ignorance Might Cause Your Destruction

    The man nodded his head.


    He was starting to like this boy.


    He wasn''t even shaken by what he said.


    Anyone that was told what he said to Xiao Lin would surely fall sick and begin to slowly wither away in sadness.


    "I will see to it that you are able to cultivate again." The man said.


    Xiao Lin''s eyes glittered.


    "Thank you, senior" He said appreciably.


    The man nodded his head.


    Then he said "You can change now. When you are done, I would like to show you to the other disciples that I have and train how to fight and use spiritual energy to unleash long-distance attacks"


    "Oh. Alright" Xiao Lin said excitedly.


    Then the man left Xiao Lin''s room so he could change.


    When Xiao Lin was done, he came out of the room and followed behind the man to a large courtyard in the temple.


    In there, Xiao Lin saw about fifty people which consisted of both boys and girls.


    "These are my disciples. You can refer to them as brothers and sisters." The man pointed at the large group of people as he said to Xiao Lin.


    "Okay" Xiao Lin nodded


    The man coughed slightly and then everyone who were training themselves in combat stopped all that they were doing.


    Immediately, they gathered before the man and bowed humbly.


    "Master Wu." They all greeted reverently.


    The man who was called Master Wu nodded his head.


    Then he said to them "Today, I have gotten a new disciple. Make sure you treat him well as you treat yourselves. If he does anything wrong, correct him. If he does something dangerous or risky, caution him. Don''t teach or tell him things that would lead him astray."


    When Master Wu said this, everyone all nodded their heads.


    Master Wu then looked at Xiao Lin who was by his side and said" Go forward and introduce yourself to them"


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    Then he went forward to appear before these people who looked at him with curious gazes in their eyes.


    When he arrived at their front, he humbly bowed to them.


    Then he said "Good day, fellow brothers and sisters. My name''s Xiao Lin"


    "Alright brother Xiao, you are welcome. And as Master has demanded from us, we promise to take really good care of you" One of them who seemed to be the oldest said with a smile in his face.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head with a smile in his face.


    He was happy that he was in a family where he would be loved and treated well. Unlike at his place where he was looked at with disgust because of his beast summoning talent.


    "Alright disciples. You can carry on with your training." Master Wu said.


    Then he left them all behind to retire to his private room.


    The oldest looked at the others and told them to carry on with their combat training.


    Then he went to meet Xiao Lin and said "Hey, little brother. You are the youngest of all of us here. So, we would like to call you little brother Lin. How does that sound?"


    "It''s okay." Xiao Lin said.


    "Alright. And since I am the oldest, you can call me elder brother Feng" Zhang Feng said.


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    "There is something that I noticed about you." Zhang Feng said.


    "Oh. What''s that elder brother Feng?" Xiao Lin asked curiously.


    "I can''t sense any form of spiritual aura around you. I guess you haven''t started cultivating spiritual energy, right?" Zhang Feng asked.


    "Yes, elder brother. I haven''t. But I wouldn''t be able to cultivate spiritual energy in a very long time" Xiao Lin said.


    "Really? Why''s that?" Zhang Feng asked in a surprised tone.


    "That''s because of my dantian. It has been damaged. For now, I am only a mortal. But I believe that in the nearest future, I would be able to cultivate once again and dream to become the strongest expert in the world, just like you guys" Xiao Lin said and smiled radiantly.


    Despite the possibly irreversible damage to his dantian, his conviction to become the strongest cultivator in the world never wavered even for a second.


    Haha!


    Zhang Feng laughed raucously, and in a way that will give the feeling that he was mocking Xiao Lin.


    "It''s not that I am trying to kill your dreams, little brother Lin. But do you know that once a high degree of damage is done to the dantian, it can''t contain spiritual energy again. No matter what you do to contain spiritual energy in your dantian, it will always leak out endlessly. So, just live your life to the fullest as a mortal. Enjoy the short life span that you have, little brother Lin" Zhang Feng said and then grinned.


    When Zhang Feng said this, Xiao Lin''s resolution to become the strongest cultivator in the world which had never wavered for even a second actually fluctuated.


    Xiao Lin just couldn''t help but yield to Zhang Feng''s speech which tried to bring him out from the dreamland that he was in.


    However, when he recalled his mother and the heinous things that she might go through in the hands of his haughty and egoistic father, his eyes shone in the next moment with a brilliant resoluteness that won''t yield to any force again.


    Then with that glow of unbendable resolution still shining within his sharp eyes, he said to Zhang Feng "Big brother Feng, I am not going to resign myself to fate. I am going to do everything in my power to try and cultivate again. And I believe that I will definitely be able to gather spiritual energy in my dantian. Not now though, but sometime in the future."


    Haha!


    Zhang Feng raucously laughed again and in a mocking manner.


    He then said "Keep living in your fantasy little brother. I have nothing to say again to convince you that you won''t be able to cultivate any more in this life. Anyways, I want to resume my combat training. You can watch us if you want to"


    Zhang Feng then left Xiao Lin''s presence and began to train again with a rod that he grasped in his hand.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Zhang Feng swung the rod in his hand about to deliver extremely strong strikes to his imaginary opponent. And as he did so, and also due to his movement which was incredibly fast, he was able to generate gale-force winds.


    Xiao Lin looked at him for sometime and then at the rest as they trained and wished he could also train like the way they were doing at the moment.


    And since he liked what he was seeing, he just stood there and watched them train.


    Many hours later, they stopped.


    It was time to rest to recover their lost energies.


    Then they went back into the temple to sit down in the cross-legged position and meditate.


    Xiao Lin also followed them into the temple and sat in the cross-legged state. But he didn''t meditate like they were all doing at the moment. He only copied their sitting position and looked at them.


    After sometime, their master, Wu Yang, appeared in the temple and sat on an elevated platform in the cross-legged position before them.


    Instantly sensing his powerful presence, everyone opened their eyes and greeted respectfully "Master Wu."


    Master Wu simply nodded at them.


    Then he said "Now, the next training session will be on how to use your beast spirit in battle. With the different Animal Spirits dwelling within our bodies, even if one is a cultivation cripple, one would still be able to reach a level of power where cultivators would have to respect you, literally out of the fear and dread for the powerful Animal Spirit that one will evoke"


    Then he scanned the crowd for someone. And when his eyes settled on Xiao Lin, he said "Xiao Lin, please come forward to show me that beast that you showed me in the room"


    "Okay, Master" Xiao Lin nodded.


    Then he stood from his cross-legged position on the ground and went to stand before everyone.


    Everyone then looked at him to see the kind of Battle Beast Spirit that he would summon.


    Focusing within himself, Xiao Lin invoked his Animal Spirit.


    Whoosh!


    A second later, a bright red light suddenly flashed from behind Xiao Lin. Then when the brilliant red light receded, a small, red-skinned wolf-like beast could be seen.


    When everyone saw the beast, they all laughed.


    "Silence!" Master Wu ordered with a loud tone in his voice.


    "You laugh but his Animal Spirit is many times stronger than all of your Animal Spirits combined. Be very careful with how you rate people''s abilities, or your ignorance would result in your destruction one day."

 Chapter 5 - Shocking Things About Xiao Lins Animal Spirit

    The room became as quiet as a graveyard.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin''s eyes were wide open because of what Master Wu said.


    He understood that Master Wu didn''t want them to mock him, but saying that his Animal Spirit was many times stronger than all of theirs combined, made him feel that Master Wu had praised his Animal Spirit a little too much, and that it could result in them strongly disliking him. He just didn''t want to become enemies with this people in this place that felt like a new and safe home to him.


    After Master Wu said that, everyone turned their heads to look at Xiao Lin who stared at the floor.


    He didn''t want to meet their gazes with his eyes.


    Master Wu simply faced away from them to look at Xiao Lin.


    "When you first showed me your Animal Spirit, I didn''t really know what it was, because I have simply never seen it anywhere. And so that you may know, I am an expert in identifying Animal Spirits, as I came from a family whose occupation is to collect and store information on every type of Animal Spirit there is."


    "I am able to recognize ten to hundreds of thousands of different Animal Spirits. But when I saw yours, I couldn''t really identify it because I had basically zero knowledge about it. Then I referred back to a single ancient page that my father kept for me when I was younger."


    "The page has small records of nine extremely powerful Animal Spirits in which one had only appeared in the world once, while others have appeared many times."


    "My dad was extremely fortunate to have gotten that single page which probably dated back to the inception of Beast Summoning. So, it''s from it I found out what type of Animal Spirit that you have. And so that you will know, it''s the one that has appeared only once in our cultivation world, since billions of years ago."


    "However, the male that summoned it was a spectacular genius but was killed before he could turn into a great cultivator that would cause worlds to tremble with just his indifferent gaze alone. Perhaps the summoners in that era totally dreaded him for the extremely rare and exceedingly powerful Animal Spirit that he summoned and so schemed to kill him in cold blood before he could develop and step upon them like ants." He said.


    Then he said further looking at Xiao Lin "Xiao Lin, the name of your Animal Spirit according to that page is the ''Celestial Starry-Eyed Nine-Pupils Profound Ominous Blood-Sovereign Exalted Wolf-God''"


    Xiao Lin''s eyes at the moment were fully widened in shock from all that he heard Master Wu mention.


    Then just as he was about to open his mouth to speak, Zhang Feng who had an indescribable gaze in his eyes which had appeared because of what Master Wu said, suddenly spoke to actually refute his Master''s statement "But Master, this Animal Spirit that''s before everyone of seems totally harmless. Then how could it be called a Wolf God when it''s actually very cute as a pet? Look at it, it''s just so adorable and beautiful. Besides, it''s too little in size to be called a Battle Beast Spirit. To me, I only feel that''s an adorable and beautiful harmless wolf-like pet. There is nothing ominous or godly about this Animal Spirit of his"


    Master Wu looked at Zhang Feng and only smiled.


    He didn''t say bother to say anything, since he totally understood that it was great envy that was pushing Zhang Feng to speak in such a manner.


    Besides, he wasn''t bothered with whatever they would think about Xiao Lin''s Animal Spirit, he had already passed a useful piece of information to Xiao Lin who was the main recipient, and to the rest of them so they wouldn''t look down on Xiao Lin for the Animal Spirit that he evoked.


    He however knew that with time when they saw the shocking transformation of the spirit which he was also very eager to see, they would withdraw their statements and very much respect him.


    Master Wu turned his head to look back at Xiao Lin and said "Xiao Lin, to use the power of your Beast Spirit in battle, you would have to make it merge with your body. Now, focus on making it merge with the components and essence of your body so you could achieve a powerful physical transformation."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head. Then he closed his eyes and fully concentrated on making his Animal Spirit fuse with the tissues, blood, organs and bones of his body, basically all the cells that composed his body.


    After doing it for a very long time, he stopped and grunted in a way that unhappiness could be detected in his tone.


    He snapped open his eyes to look at Master Wu and said "Master, it''s really difficult to make my Animal Spirit merge with my body. Or am I doing something wrong?"


    "Hmm" Master Wu uttered.


    Then he looked at a boy called Liu Fang and said "Liu Fang, come show your brother how to enter a fusion state with his Animal Spirit"


    Liu Fang nodded his head.


    Then he stood to his feet and walked towards the front to appear before everyone.


    Without even closing his eyes to focus on summoning his Animal Spirit, and with just a single thought from him, a bright coppery light flashed behind him. And when the light receded, a beast that could be as tall as a two-storey building appeared directly behind Liu Fang who had an arrogant smile in his face.


    Xiao Lin looked at this beast and couldn''t help but be greatly astonished.


    "Wow. His beast looks powerful" He subconsciously muttered.


    Liu Fang''s beast was a beast that looked like a furry ape and was copper-skinned. Then on it body could be seen ancient diagrams of mountains that glowed brilliantly in blue and caused the sand, debris and small stones on the ground in the outer courtyard of the temple to float into the air and begin to levitate under the powerful unseen influence emanating from the Beast Spirit.


    Seeing the astonished look in Xiao Lin''s eyes, Liu Fang said to him with a proud smile on his lips "This Animal Spirit is the Invincible Mountain-Throwing Copper Ape King. Can yours which is a cute, adorable pet exhibit this level of power? Eh?"


    Xiao Lin only shook his head as he didn''t know what to say or how to respond.


    "Can you quit showing off and do what I asked you to do?" Master Wu asked annoyedly.


    Liu Fang smiled.


    Then he performed a few hand signs.


    As soon as he completed the hand signs which only took a few seconds, his body began to emit a strong and dazzling copper-colored light.


    Then the corporeal, massive ape-like Animal Spirit behind Liu Fang rapidly grew smaller to actually become Liu Fang''s size. And as soon as it shrunk in size to that level, Liu Fang resolutely said out loud "Fuse!"


    Immediately he said so, a sphere of copper-colored light expanded forth from within him, enclosing both him and the ape-like Beast Spirit that was directly behind him.


    When the copper-colored sphere of light vanished in the next moment, what Xiao Lin saw caused him to feel greatly amazed.


    At the moment, Liu Fang''s physical form had immensely changed.


    He had grown taller by dozens of feet and thick furs could be seen on his now copper-colored skin which also surprisingly had soft, blue-glowing tattoos of mountains on it surface.


    Liu Fang basically seemed like an humanoid ape at the moment.


    Then a frightening ferocious look could be seen in his face.


    "Grrrraa!"


    He growled loudly and then raised one of his massive muscular arms to punch the ground with his dark copper-skinned fist.


    Bang!


    The entire floor of the temple shook greatly before it stopped many moments later.


    Master Wu only shook his head.


    ''What an annoying show off this disciple of mine is'' He said inwardly in a displeased tone.


    "Thank you, Liu Fang. You can go back to have your seat." He said.


    Liu Fang nodded his head.


    Then he performed another series of hand signs which caused his huge and furry, coppery body to begin to glow brilliantly once again.


    "Revert!" He said in a loud and deep growl-like voice.


    As soon as he uttered that, his uncanny form abruptly reversed.


    He appeared in his human form again.


    Liu fang then winked at Xiao Lin in a somewhat mocking manner and then went to seat at his former position in the cross-legged sitting form on the ground.


    "Xiao Lin, I believe you saw how he did it? Now, try to do so too" Master Wu said.


    Xiao Lin exhaled deeply.


    He still didn''t know if he would be able to fuse with his Animal Spirit, as he couldn''t feel any platform for them to merge into one.


    But with a determined and resolute gaze appearing in his eyes, he shut them tight and totally focused on making his Blood Wolf Beast Spirit fuse with his body.

 Chapter 6 - Starting Xiao Lins Physical Training

    Many minutes later, Xiao Lin gave up and then opened his eyes.


    "Ugh!" He uttered in an unhappy tone.


    When Zhang Feng and the others saw that Xiao Lin had given up, they burst into unrestrained laughter.


    Zhang Feng said to the others with a mocking tone in his voice "See, he is trash. Same with his Animal Spirit that master praises so much. I am still very sure that Master is wrong about his animal spirit. I believe that its extreme rarity is because of its extreme uselessness. Which foolish cultivator would want to summon such a gentle and adorable beast spirit that will definitely cause one''s death in the middle of an heated or deadly battle?"


    Immediately he asked that, everyone burst into another round of raucous laughter with some even applauding him for what he said.


    "Silence!" Master Wu angrily said out loud.


    He then inhaled in the next moment to calm himself.


    He then turned his head to look at Xiao Lin "Xiao Lin, it''s okay. Just know that with time, you will be able to merge with it. You can go back to have your seat."


    Xiao Lin who still had shock in his eyes over what Zhang Feng said nodded his head and then went to have his seat.


    Master Wu then turned his head to look at Zhang Feng and then at the the others.


    He then said with a displeased tone in his voice "I am really disappointed in you all. Why would you laugh at him?"


    He then said further with that intensely displeased tone still in his voice as he looked at Zhang Feng "Remember that when I took you all in to teach you Spiritual Beast Fusion, you were just like him. You couldn''t get it at your first, second, third and up to your twentieth try, with many of you even taking much more longer than that to achieve fusion with your Animal Spirits. So, what really gives you the audacity to laugh at him when he just started his first try at it? Eh?"


    Immediately Master Wu asked this question, no one could speak, since it was true.


    They only looked at him with angry gazes in their eyes.


    Now, Master Wu had brought their reputation so low before Xiao Lin with all that he said.


    Master Wu saw their angry gazes and only ignored them.


    He then stood to his feet.


    "Xiao Lin, come with me" He said and then began to walk away.


    Xiao Lin quickly stood from where he sat and hurried towards Master Wu as he walked to leave the hall that they were in.


    After they had gone, Zhang Feng who still had an expression of anger written all over his face said to the people around him.


    "Now that Master has brought us so low before Xiao Lin, the initial respect that he had for us might have dissipated away. The only way to gain back that respect is to deal with him. Or better still, strike great fear and terror in his heart so that he will cower in fear anytime he is our presence."


    "Okay Brother Feng. But how are we going to do that with Master around. He will teach us a great and severe lesson or worst, excommunicate us." One who was beside Zhang Feng said with fear in his tone upon thinking what their Master might probably do to them if they did that to Xiao Lin who he had seemingly taken a strong liking to.


    "Yea brother Feng. Master might really stop us from being his disciples and then expel us to never to return to his temple. We won''t even be able to ask for his forgiveness. I don''t think that would be a really wise thing to do" Another said, echoing loudly what the first person said.


    "You guys are right. That''s why we would show him love and affection in our Master''s presence. We would make our Master believe that we have had a change of heart because of what he said and then show him that we would really take care of Xiao Lin as we would take care of our blood brothers." Zhang Feng said with a smile in his face.


    He then said further "Then when Master eventually leaves to personally go do some things for himself, we would have all the time in the world to bully that Xiao Lin to our satisfaction before he returns."


    Then still looking at the people around him, he said "We would only do that when Master has gone. But for now, let''s pretend that we have had a change of heart and that we would really take care of him"


    After Zhang Feng said that, everyone nodded their heads in approval.


    Then they left the hall to go to the courtyard to continue practicing their moves.


    ***


    - Master Wu''s room -


    "Xiao Lin, don''t mind those annoying disciples of mine. I don''t know what is really making them arrogant. And they weren''t like this in the past." Master Wu said to Xiao Lin who sat in the cross-legged position before him.


    He then said further with a thoughtful gaze in his eyes "Now that they have gained some degree of strength, their real characters are being shown."


    "It''s okay, Master Wu. Probably it''s because of the glorifying things that you said about my Animal Spirit." Xiao Lin said.


    He then spoke further by saying "Maybe from the way that you praised it, telling that mine had only appeared once in the world, had made them feel that their animal spirit is trash, and so, they couldn''t help but really envy mine, and then try to attack me with harsh and scathing words"


    "Well, so they won''t attack you, I will have to train you personally. I am suspicious of those disciples of mine" Master Wu said while Xiao Lin nodded.


    Xiao Lin then suddenly developed a curious gaze in his eyes.


    He then proceeded to ask a particular question that surfaced in his mind "Master, your sect, is it like a real sect? I am sorry that I asked. It''s just that I was curious since you don''t have much disciples"


    When Xiao Lin asked that, Master Wu laughed.


    "Yes. It''s a real sect. But I haven''t gained much followers since it''s new. It''s not really long that I established it. However, with time, I will gain more disciples." Master Wu said confidently.


    He then said further with a smile in his face "So for now, you and the others are my foundational disciples."


    "Okay master" Xiao Lin said with comprehension in his eyes.


    "Alright. Let''s start your physical training." Master Wu said.


    He then stood to his feet from his cross-legged position and said "Follow me."


    Master Wu then led Xiao Lin to a massive yard at the back of his temple. He went to it from one of the doors in his room.


    But that was the only way to get to the yard, since no other door or gate in the temple led to it, subtly meaning that it was a yard that only he could actually access for his own training. But now, he had taken Xiao Lin with him to the place, and that signified a lot.

 Chapter 7 - Xiao Lins Stubborn Determination

    Immediately they arrived in there, Master Wu said to Xiao Lin "Xiao Lin, here''s a yard where I train myself. So anytime you want to learn fighting moves, you can come to me. Then I will bring you here so that I will personally teach you"


    "Oh. Thank you very much, Master" Xiao Lin uttered while Master Wu nodded his head.


    "So, do you have any training whatsoever on any form of martial arts?" Master Wu asked.


    "No Master. I don''t" Xiao Lin said.


    "Alright. It''s up to me to me to teach you then." Master Wu said.


    He then said further "But before I begin to teach you that, you will firstly have to build your body''s strength. That''s very necessary. You have to condition your body and build your body''s muscles so that you will possess strength in your arms, legs and core to be able to launch really hard kicks and punches at your opponent to shove them off their foot and into the distance while dealing them a considerable amount of damage at that part of their bodies that you struck."


    "And not leaving out flexibility exercises, you will have to do them too to be able to fluidly move around a target. By practicing flexibility exercises, you will gain a wider degree of movement, since tight tendons and ligaments will limit or reduce your degree of movement. But once you can achieve a particular level in your flexibility exercises, you will gain a a great degree of freedom, enabling you to easily contort your body in the air and on the ground to liquidly dodge or evade physical attacks." Master Wu said.


    Xiao Lin who was listening attentively to what master Wu was saying, nodded his head comprehensibly.


    "Alright. Let''s start with simple push-ups. Go into the push-up position and give me a hundred push-ups." Master Wu said while Xiao Lin''s eyes widened in shock.


    Although he knew what push-up was since he had seen warriors at his dad''s massive floating palace do them before, however without their legs on the ground, since they were doing the advanced push-up which was really hard to do. But Master Wu saying that he should do a hundred push-ups at a go didn''t seat well with him.


    But he couldn''t refute what master Wu said, since he didn''t want to appear lazy and undetermined to him.


    He then went into the push-up position to do the push-ups that he was asked to do.


    One...


    Two...


    Three...


    He began to count as he lowered his body to the ground from the elbow and raised it back into the air by straightening his arms which were previously bent at the elbows.


    Not long, he arrived at forty.


    But he began to feel weakness in his arms and some degree of burning sensation in them.


    However, he tried to endure the pain and continued on to sixty push-ups.


    But it was here that he became completely covered in sweat and had slightly red eyes, while his arms had began to tremble with an intense burning sensation flooding his arms and overwhelming his senses.


    However, he didn''t want to give up.


    ''I must to get to hundred and even beyond that'' He uttered determinedly within himself.


    He then recalled his mom''s face and visualized the absolutely terrible things that she might be going through at the hands of his dad and his men.


    Immediately he did that, a type of wrath that gave the feeling that if it turned into flames, will surely incinerate the vast boundless sky and burn the entire earth to nothingness, surfaced in his heart.


    Then with a muffled raging bellow ringing out from Xiao Lin, he ignored the weakness in his fully exhausted arms and began to do the push-ups that he was requested to do.


    So, like that, Xiao Lin resumed his push-ups and made them up to the hundred push-ups that he was requested to do by master Wu many moments later.


    But surprisingly, he didn''t stop there.


    With that towering rage still in his heart because of the heinous and gruesome, unspeakable things that he visualized his dad continuously doing to his mom, he continued to do the push-ups, ignoring the pain and weakness that he was afflicted with.


    Seeing the great determination and excessive anger in Xiao Lin''s slightly red eyes like they were bleeding, Master Wu left Xiao Lin to continue the push-ups.


    He knew that Xiao Lin was surely going to give up later. He was a mortal and his body could only take that much before crashing with him collapsing to the ground.


    And master Wu was right, many moments later after doing the push-ups up to a hundred and sixty-seven, Xiao Lin collapsed to the ground.


    At the moment, he was completely fatigued to the point that he couldn''t feel his two arms again. Also, it was like his entire upper body was really on fire, as a large amount of extreme burning sensation flooded his entire arms and chest and totally overwhelmed his senses, making him to not actually hear anything or see anything. It was simply like he had gone deaf and blind at the same time.


    So, he was just there on the ground with his slightly red eyes fully open with that great degree of unbendable determination and unquenchable wrath still fully present in them.


    However, one would know that he was completely overwhelmed by exhaustion since his eyelids refused to close. They remained open. So, this would therefore give one the definite feeling that he was so tired to the point that he had no energy in his eyelids to be able to close them.


    When Master Wu saw that Xiao Lin still had that determined and wrathful gaze in his eyes, he shook his head with a great degree of perplexity appearing in his eyes.


    ''What really happened to this boy? He is so full of anger that I have never felt from any other person in my entire life. I will definitely ask him later. Something is wrong with this boy'' He said inwardly and then concluded that something really important had been taken from Xiao Lin which he totally yearned for.


    He then approached Xiao Lin and fed a vitality refreshment pill into his mouth which he pushed down his throat.


    Immediately he did so and the pill got to his stomach and then dissolved, it turned into vital energy that rushed to every area of Xiao Lin''s body, filling him up with energy.


    Master Wu then helped Xiao Lin up to his feet.


    "Would you like to take a long time of rest before continuing?" Master Wu unexpectedly asked.


    "No master. I will like to continue" Xiao Lin said with an adamant determination in his voice.


    Master Wu nodded his head with a smile in his face and then left Xiao Lin alone who then simply went back into his push-up position to continue his push-ups.

 Chapter 8 - Training (I)

    After forcing himself to do ten sets of a hundred and fifty push-ups, he stopped. Not that he actually stopped, he collapsed onto the ground as his body couldn''t bear it again. He had a mortal body and so could do only that much.


    "Xiao Lin, you are pushing yourself way too much. Your body might crash since it won''t be able to bear the overload that you are putting on it" Master Wu said when he appeared before Xiao Lin and fed him a vital refreshment pill.


    After sometime that the pill turned into energy within Xiao Lin and fully invigorated him, Xiao Lin stood to his feet and said "I know, Master. I am only trying to build my body."


    He then said further with a resolute tone in his voice "Since I can''t cultivate at the moment, I want to try to make my body extremely strong and powerful. I want to condition and train the muscles and bones of my body very hard to make them reach the apex that a mortal can possibly reach. Then if actually possible, far beyond that human limitation realm. I want to stand at the peak of power that a human can attain without being a cultivator. I want to possess peak human strength, speed, reflex and agility."


    Then with that unshakeable resolve still in his sharply gazing eyes, Xiao Lin said further with a seemingly boundless determination in his voice "So, with that zenith human characteristics that I will possess in the nearest future, I should still be able to go against really low-level cultivators. Then I will work my way from there to become a heaven-shaking cultivator."


    Master Wu smiled and nodded his head.


    "You, Xiao Lin, are my favorite disciple. From the way that you speak, I know that you will surely become a fearsomely powerful cultivator in future. The seas or oceans that will be in your presence will violently roil from just your breath alone. I said so because your resoluteness is so overwhelming that I have never seen anything like it my entire life. You are surely made to reach for the stars and even far beyond them." He said.


    He then spoke further by saying with a smile in his face "Carry on with your strength-training exercises. I don''t want to be an obstruction on your way to apex human strength."


    Once master Wu said that, he left Xiao Lin''s presence and went to sit in another area of his really large yard to meditate.


    Xiao Lin then changed the exercises that he was doing as he started to do squats.


    ***


    "It has been many hours that master took Xiao Lin to his room. But that brat isn''t out yet. What''s he doing in there?" Someone who was by Zhang Feng''s side asked with curiosity in his tone.


    "He is probably using the yard that master goes to train to train too. But just imagine. So, Master quickly developed like for that brat instead of us, his main disciples." Zhang Feng said with an annoyed gaze in his eyes.


    "Well, perhaps he possesses some unique attributes that master don''t see in us." Another answered.


    Zhang Feng turned his head to look at the person that spoke with a wrathful gaze in his eyes and said loudly in an angry tone "You are a very big moron. Mention any unintelligible thing there again and I will descend on you. Crackhead."


    He then asked that person that spoke with palpable annoyance in his tone "What will Xiao Lin, someone who has an irreversibly damaged dantian, possess that we won''t possess? I will advice you to think next time before you talk, or you will be doomed. Mark my words."


    The person quickly nodded his head with fear evident in his eyes.


    "I am sorry, brother Feng. I was only trying to state my own opinion on the matter that brother Jun brought up" The person hurriedly said.


    "Mtcheew! Next time, think before you talk." Zhang Feng harshly said.


    Then he looked into the distance where master Wu''s room was and said with an indescribable gaze in his eyes ''That Xiao Lin brat, continue. Now is your turn. We would have our turn over you very soon. Hmph!'' Zhang Feng uttered inwardly and then harrumphed.


    ***


    "Lord Sovereign Heavens, we were only able to bring back one of the people that comprised the Murderous Blades group. But he is in an extremely miserable state since he was gruesomely injured by the explosion that suddenly took place around there. He has lost two of his arms, an entire leg and half of his other leg." A guard who knelt on a knee before a towering man that sat on a golden throne and had reality and space seemingly distort and twist around him, said with fear and reverence in his tone.


    The towering man that was seated on the golden throne was the Great Emperor of the Black Lotus palace, Yang Fei, who was Xiao Lin''s father.


    "That''s absolutely none of my concern. What I am concerned about is that trash. Has he been killed off?" Lord Sovereign Heavens asked with one of his brows deeply furrowed.


    "No, my Lord. He was able to escape. That was what the person from the Murderous Blades group said." The guard said, still looking at the ground.


    He couldn''t allow his eyes meet with Lord Sovereign Heavens gaze, or he would be instantly slain for such disrespect.


    Lord Sovereign Heavens only shook his head. And from the look that had appeared in his face, one would know that he was terribly displeased by the news that he just heard.


    He then said "So useless. How can that weak, barren and unproductive brat escape from their hands? They are only a bunch of good-for-nothing idiots. Well, it''s pleasing and exciting to hear that nearly all of them died. Then as for that one that you brought back and gave you that stupid news to upset my mood, kill him off and feed his body to the hungry, ravenous beasts in those cages."


    Speaking further, he said "Then send the formidable assassins from the Azure Serpent Assassination House into all the regions to fish out that boy and kill him. Right now, he is my enemy, and he must be slain. I give no room for growth to my enemies. Useless or not, he must be destroyed"


    The guard nodded his head and then quickly left Lord Sovereign Heavens'' presence to go do what he was ordered to do.


    ***


    It was night already but Xiao Lin was still training.


    Right now, he was in the handstand position. But he had been in that position for hours, doing his best to remain in that position for at least two more hours from the three hours that he had been there, standing upside down using his hands.


    As he did this, staying in that position for hours, the muscles of his shoulders and triceps burned. But he endured the agonizing burning sensation that flooded his shoulders, arms and senses and focused on that strong dislike for his father which was gradually turning into hatred.

 Chapter 9 - Training (II)

    Next morning...


    Despite putting his body through a lot the previous day, Xiao Lin was already up in the morning and was punching very hard at a tree in the yard bare-fisted.


    Although he was really sluggish with what was he was doing because of the extreme tightness of his muscles and the immense pain that racked his entire body which was as a result of the intense training that he carried out yesterday, he simply continued to punch and kick at the tree in front of him, ignoring the agonizing pain that engulfed the entirety of his being.


    The skin of his knuckles tore apart, same with the skin of his feet, but that didn''t stop Xiao Lin from punching and kicking at the tree before him.


    Master Wu who was observing Xiao Lin from far shook his head in awe and astonishment.


    "This boy is simply a beast in human form. I am sure that if his dad saw him now as he trains to achieve peak human strength, he would surely regret chasing him away from his house because of his animal spirit which is also extremely rare and would grow along with the boy to become tremendously powerful." He said.


    He then spoke further by saying "I just wonder how someone will foolishly and ignorantly throw away such an extremely determined boy. This boy is an extremely rare gem."


    "Well, another man''s stone is another man''s gem. Now that he is with me, I will try my best to help him realize his dreams as a powerful cultivator. Although it won''t be easy at all, I am just very sure that this boy will turn his impossible situation around. Then the day that he does, that is the day that I will start to bask in the boundless radiance of glory that will endlessly exude from his body"


    ***


    After punching and kicking at the tree for hours despite the serious pain that he was inflicted with, and at the same time, staining the tree bark with his blood which splashed from the numerous parts of where his skin had ripped apart from, Xiao Lin stopped and then fell to the ground with both knees, fully exhausted.


    He couldn''t go on anymore as his entire arms and legs had become completely drained of energy. Also, his body was so hot that it seemed like he had developed fever.


    However, Xiao Lin still tried to raise his arms to punch at the tree. He surprisingly still wanted to continue punching at the tree, but he just didn''t have energy in his arms to do so anymore. He then collapsed with his back to the ground and fell unconscious.


    At the moment, many parts of the tree''s thick bark had been chipped away by the hard punches and kicks that Xiao Lin sent out very fast at it.


    Master Wu who had been silently observing Xiao Lin from where he stood, quickly came over to where Xiao Lin unconsciously lied in and picked him off the ground.


    He then carried him to where he initially stood and placed him on a large and thick mat under a tree with a very large canopy to prevent the heat-bearing rays of the glaring and scorching sun from continually impacting his body that seemed like it had developed fever.


    Master Wu then left to gather some items that he would use to clean off the blood on Xiao Lin''s hands and feet and to heal them of the numerous serious wounds that he had sustained from punching and kicking bare-fisted and bare-footed at that tree.


    ***


    About thirty minutes later, Xiao Lin eyes snapped open.


    He then raised himself to sit on the mat that his body lied on.


    And as soon as he brought himself to sit in the cross-legged position on the mat, he brought his hands towards his face to look at his fist and then at his feet. Then he saw to his amazement that the blood that stained his entire hands and feet had been completely wiped off. While the intense stinging pain that he felt earlier had greatly diminished in intensity.


    Then when he saw Master Wu in front of him, he quickly bowed whilst seated on that mat and clasped his fist at the same time.


    "Master, thank you very much for looking after me." Xiao Lin said, giving his thanks with undiluted sincerity in his tone.


    Master Wu only smiled.


    "Don''t mention. And you really don''t have to thank me next time for anything that I will do for you. You are my disciple, just like the others. So, it''s simply my duty to look after all you. I am fully obliged to look after your welfares. So, don''t give any form of appreciation to me next time, or I won''t be happy with you." He said with seriousness in his voice.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head with a smile in his face.


    He then clasped his fist again and gave a bow.


    Master Wu only nodded.


    Then a fully perplexed gaze appeared in his eyes in the next moment.


    "Now, from the intensity of the training that you carried out on yourself, I can definitely say that it''s only a beast that''s not from our cultivation world that will possess the unyielding, persistent determination to simply carry on."


    "The degree of the numerous strength-training exercises that you put your weak mortal body through to achieve acme human strength was just so high that I won''t be able to find anyone in this world to replicate what you have done so far. I really won''t be able to find anyone in all the regions in our world to reproduce those insane feats that you executed from yesterday till some moments ago."


    "They are just so extreme that only you will be able to do what you did. No other non-cultivator would be able to carry out those mad exercises that you did without having their mind collapsing and their bodies contracting serious illnesses or diseases"


    Master Wu then asked further with a questioning gaze in his eyes as he looked at Xiao Lin "What really happened to you before I met you? I am guessing that something totally unspeakable happened to you, erupting that greatly fierce determination and the unmatched beastial anger in you to get back at something that seems like it took something extremely precious from you."


    "Tell me what that thing is, Xiao Lin? You can tell me, for I am absolutely someone that you can confide in"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then looked at Master Wu and said with a gleaming glow of unbendable resoluteness in his eyes and palpable hatred in his voice "That thing that seized something that is extremely precious to me is my father. And since he is a dreadfully powerful and formidable person, he is my only reason why I am working very hard to become powerful and formidable too, even though at the moment I am still a mortal. But when I develop the strength and abilities that I greatly desire to possess, I will go back to him to utterly disgrace him like how he disgraced me. And then banish him from the world just like how he kicked me and my mother out of his mansion."

 Chapter 10 - Battle With A Cultivator

    When Master Wu heard what Xiao Lin said, he only nodded his head.


    Since if that was Xiao Lin''s conviction, he wouldn''t change his mind.


    He then stood to his feet from his cross-legged position on the ground and said "You can continue your training. I want to resume my meditation"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then stood from his cross-legged position on the mat.


    Then after walking away from the mat was to where the tree that he punched and kicked hard at was, he resumed his punching and kicking bare-fisted and bare-footed at the tree.


    Although he was racked with pain, he was able to surprisingly endure it this time. His body had gained a slight degree of resistance to pain.


    So, he punched and kicked at the tree with a smile in his face, ignoring the pain that had begun to cloud his senses.


    After doing that for many hours, he stopped to do another form of exercise.


    And the exercise that he wanted to start was the pull-up.


    So, he jumped up and caught a branch of a tree with his two hands which were shoulder-width apart.


    He then tried to pull his upper body up with his arms so that his face was on the same level with the branch of the tree that he gripped tight with his hands. He then lowered himself by straightening his arms. He then pulled his body up again so that it his face was on the same level of the branch of that tree.


    So just like that, Xiao Lin did repetitions of the pull-up exercises that he did close to a hundred of it, enduring the intense burning sensation that flooded his arms and senses.


    After doing more than a hundred pull-ups, his palms which were already sore from grabbing that branch of the tree for a long time, couldn''t help but let go of that tree branch with Xiao Lin standing upright when he landed to the ground.


    And not giving his arms or his body as a whole time to relax, he immediately entered into another strength-training position to start another type of strength-building exercise.


    ***


    Many hours later, Xiao Lin came out of Master Wu''s room and prepared to go to his own room when he was suddenly called upon by one of Master Wu''s disciple called Shou Wen.


    He and a few others were around when Xiao Lin came out of Master Wu''s room.


    Immediately Xiao Lin turned around to look at Shou Wen, the expressions of envy and anger that were initially present in Shou Wen''s eyes vanished without a trace. He tried to hide them from being noticed by Xiao Lin.


    He then went forward with an arrogant look in his eyes to go meet Xiao Lin who waited where he was with a pondering gaze in his eyes.


    "Little brother Lin, you have been in Master Wu''s room. What are you doing there?" Shou Wen asked with an impolite tone in his voice and with an arrogant smile in his face.


    "Well, it''s nothing of your concern." Xiao Lin harshly replied.


    Who was this person that exuded an arrogant aura before him? Because he was a mortal?


    Once Xiao Lin responded in that manner, the anger that Shou Wen kept concealed from Xiao Lin instantly revealed in his gaze.


    Xiao Lin saw the expression of anger that appeared in his Shou Wen''s eyes and only ignored it.


    "Why? Of course it should be my concern. Tell me, little brother. What were you doing in Master Wu''s room? Or were you training at the yard that Master also trains at?" Shou Wen asked.


    "When you already know the answer to something, why bother asking me? I have to go now if you don''t have anything better to do" Xiao Lin replied.


    He then said further with a smile in his face "See you around"


    Xiao Lin then resumed his walk towards the room that Master Wu gave to him to reside in.


    But just as he was about to take a step to leave Shou Wen''s presence, the shirt that he wore was suddenly grabbed by Shou Wen who then pulled Xiao Lin to the ground.


    Immediately Xiao Lin was pulled to the ground by the shirt that he wore, Shou Wen sent a really heavy kick at Xiao Lin''s shoulder, causing his shoulder bone to instantly dislocate.


    However, Xiao Lin who had trained himself to have a high threshold for pain, didn''t even scream from the sudden, painful dislocation of his bones.


    Instead, he only developed a type of anger in his heart that if it turned into flames and appeared in the real world, it might burn away the immense earth, the vast sky and the numerous large clouds in it.


    Enduring the intense pain that began to rack his body from the dislocation of his shoulder bones, Xiao Lin did a kip-up to stand back to his feet using only his back.


    And immediately he stood back to his feet from the ground using the kip-up, he abruptly lowered himself into a crouch.


    Then in the instant that his body entered into a crouch, his body spun around really fast in the 360-degree as he powerfully swung out one of his legs to sweep Shou Wen hard to the ground.


    Thud!


    Shou Wen landed to the ground with a heavy thud since he wasn''t expecting Xiao Lin to do that.


    Also, he was racked with pain since his elbows smashed hard into the floor and became badly bruised.


    Ahhhhh!


    He shouted furiously and then stood to his feet in the next moment with an expression of great annoyance written all over his face, which contorted it make him look ugly.


    Then he tried to actually attack Xiao Lin using a battle technique.


    However, before he could erupt spiritual energy from his hands to condense them into an attack that he would unleash at Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin who had quickly predicted what Shou Wen was going to do next, abruptly leapt towards him with one of his legs fully straightened out.


    Swoosh!


    So, as he shot through through the air like an arrow towards Shou Wen with one of his legs fully straightened out since he planned to unleash a Flying Kick at him, the feet of his leg that was straightened out connected with Shou Wen''s chest and delivered a strong force that actually launched Shou Wen off his feet and into the distance.


    Due to the kick which carried a lot of wrath with it, when it impacted Shou Wen''s chest and launched him into the distance where he crashed really hard into the ground a few feet away, Shou Wen couldn''t help but spit out blood.


    While a few others who were watching the battle that suddenly took place between Xiao Lin and Shou were extremely surprised that Xiao Lin could actually gain an advantage over a cultivator.


    Shou Wen who felt incredibly humiliated and embarrassed by Xiao Lin who was a simple mortal, screamed in rage to the sky.


    Then he stood to his feet to use his spiritual energy to launch a powerful attack at Xiao Lin by using a mortal-grade technique from a particular Battle Art that he studied.


    Xiao Lin who endured with gnashing of his teeth, the excessive pain that was racking his shoulders and many other areas of his body at the moment, suddenly rushed at a high speed to where Shou Wen stood which was just four feet away and then launched a really hard, tooth-ejecting slap in his face.


    Pah!


    Shou Wen who was dazed by the hard slap that Xiao Lin sent at him quickly received another that carried a lot of force and caused him to fall head first to the ground.


    Bang!


    A bang sound rang out when Shou Wen''s head smashed heavily into the ground, quickly resulting in a large reddish swell on that side of his head that struck the ground.


    He then actually fainted.


    As soon as he fainted, many other disciples came out from where they were and saw how badly beaten Shou Wen was.


    Same with Zhang Feng who then looked at Xiao Lin and saw a seemingly primordial bestial rage to destroy all in things in his eyes.


    Even he felt a chill move down his spine as he looked at Xiao Lin. He then turned his head to look back at Shou Wen whose eyes snapped open a moment later.


    Shou Wen who was helped to his feet by someone looked at Xiao Lin and said with immense wrath in his tone "I will surely get back at you!"


    Xiao Lin only ignored him and then resumed his walk to his room, ignoring further everyone''s shocked gazes that were on his body.

 Chapter 11 - Trying To Fuse With His Animal Spirit

    As Xiao Lin walked away to go to his room, Zhang Feng went to meet Shou Wen and asked with anger in his eyes "How would a puny mortal beat you in battle? You just made him disgrace you, you fool"


    "I am sorry, brother Feng. He was just too fast. He didn''t even give me the chance to unleash any attack at him." Shou Wen answered, staring at the floor.


    He didn''t dare to meet Zhang Feng''s gaze with his eyes.


    "Shut up, you moron. How would a mortal be faster than a cultivator? You only brought disgrace to us all, Shou Wen" Zhang Feng said angrily.


    Shou Wen exhaled.


    He knew that Zhang Feng was right.


    How would a mortal be faster than a cultivator?


    That was a practically impossible thing to do.


    But Xiao Lin did it. And he hit really hard like his hands and feet were made of metal. But Shou Wen wouldn''t know that a wrath that couldn''t be compared to any other was imbued into those parts of his body.


    Even though Shou Wen could think that, he would still feel that he should have easily taken out Xiao Lin during their battle, since he was a cultivator.


    He then looked at Zhang Feng and said "I am sorry, brother Feng"


    Zhang Feng only nodded his head with an indifferent gaze in his eyes.


    He then proceeded to ask a question that suddenly surfaced in his mind "But why did you approach that brat, Xiao Lin, in the first place? I thought we all agreed with each other that we weren''t going to do anything to him till our Master was no longer around. Then we would have the chance to teach him a great lesson, humiliate him to the content of our hearts, eh? Why did you go against what we orchestrated?"


    "I am sorry, brother Feng. I was only really pissed off by him because of the annoying things that he said to me. That boy really needs to be dealt with soon before he becomes so arrogant and prideful because of his victory against me and then start stupidly thinking that a mortal can actually face off against a cultivator in battle." Shou Wen said with anger and embarrassment radiating off of his voice.


    "Hmm. Well, we would have our chance to do what we like to him very soon. I am sure of that" Zhang Feng said with a sinister gaze in his eyes while Shou Wen nodded his head with a wicked smile surfacing in his lips.


    ***


    Xiao Lin at the moment had relieved himself of the intense pain that racked him due to the dislocation of the bones at the shoulder region.


    And that he did by painfully smashing that dislocated shoulder hard against a wall of the room that he was in.


    He however did that so many times with enlarged, red eyes and gnashed teeth to simply make the bone that had dislocated from the joint, key back into the socket that it came out from.


    So, now seated in the cross-legged position to calm his mind as he immersed himself into a meditative state, he tried to focus inwardly to summon his Animal Spirit.


    Then a few seconds later, a bright red light flashed with his wolf-like Animal Spirit appearing directly in front of him.


    Immediately his Animal Spirit surfaced a few feet in front of him, Xiao Lin began to perform mystifying signs with his hands to make his Animal Spirit fuse with him.


    He had been thought many varieties of Spirit Fusion Hand Gestures by Master Wu when he was training his strength in his room.


    But to his utter shock and dismay, he discovered that his Spirit Animal couldn''t merge with him. It was simply like there was an invisible boundary preventing the merge between him and his Animal Spirit from taking place.


    "Ugh!" Xiao Lin uttered in a really sad tone and then shook his head.


    The sadness that suddenly emanated from Xiao Lin''s voice was because he knew that if his Animal Spirit didn''t fuse with him to cause a shocking transformation to his body and grant him some level or degree of power, then he would become truly useless.


    Earlier, he still had a burning hope in his heart that he would be able to go against cultivators if his Animal Spirit, which would grow stronger and more powerful over time, would merge with him and grant him some types or forms of marveling, formidable abilities.


    But now that he felt such wasn''t going to probably happen, since he couldn''t fuse with his Animal Spirit, he then developed a thought in his mind that he should just forget about being a boundlessly powerful cultivator that will make his insanely powerful dad and the rest of the cultivation world tremble in extreme fear and veneration before him.


    Once that particular dismaying thought surfaced in his mind, Xiao Lin shook his head as he simply refused to embrace it.


    Then he quickly tightly shut his eyes in the next moment, and then focused harder on making his Animal Spirit fuse with his body.


    But many hours later, after repeatedly trying to make his Animal Spirit blend with his body, nothing mystical or out of the ordinary happened.


    Then an intensely soured expression instantly appeared in his face, contorting it to make him look ugly.


    "This is bad" Xiao Lin opened his eyes and said with a palpable feeling of moroseness emitting from his voice.


    He then suddenly developed another strong feeling in his mind that he and the wolf-like Animal Spirit that he evoked simply weren''t compatible with each other.


    "But what is happening? What will I do now to make my Animal Spirit merge with me? The platform for fusion is there, I can feel it like it''s on my hand. But the Animal Spirit is refusing to fuse with me, like we aren''t supposed be together. Ugh!" Xiao Lin said with a deeply perplexed look on his face.


    He then said further with that intensely bewildered expression still in his face "Or is it because of my terribly damaged dantian that my Animal Spirit doesn''t want to fuse with me? Probably it now sees me as someone that will never become a cultivator and so doesn''t want to have anything to do with me."


    "If that would be the case, that would be really bad and awful for me, for I would only be as good as useless." Xiao Lin said with immense sadness reeking off of his voice.


    However, when he remembered that his loving mother was still probably held captive by his dad who could constantly be doing terrible and heinous things to her, then the light of resolution and determination in his eyes which was fluctuating and was gradually dimming, became stable once again and even grew much more stronger.


    "No. I won''t resign myself to such an appalling fate. Cultivator or not, I will become very powerful that the entire world will shake from the mighty power that will be endlessly rippling from me." Xiao Lin said with a great, unbreakable resolve in his tone.


    He then looked at his Animal Spirit which was before him and said "I know that as an extremely powerful, primordial Battle Beast Spirit, you wouldn''t want to fuse with someone as useless as me because of my irreparably damaged dantian, since I won''t be able to make the world and every creature in it tremble in awe, dread and reverence from the shocking power that you possess."


    "However, I won''t give up on you by resigning myself to some horrendous fate. So, whether you are a legendary, deity-level Animal Spirit or not, since I summoned you, you are mine. And since you reside in my body, feeding off on the energy currents pulsing within my body, I possess every power and authority over you."


    "You might not want to fuse with me now, but sometime in the future, you will surely fuse with me, when you see how astonishingly powerful that I will become. At that time, I will coerce you into merging with me. Just wait on it and see. Hmph!" Xiao Lin said to his Animal Spirit with rage and resolve in his heart like he was talking to a fellow human.


    He then returned his Animal Spirit into his body with an indescribable gaze in his eyes.


    Then as he started thinking of what to do from here, and now that had badly beaten a cultivator which would definitely create a strong degree of enmity between the both of them and probably many others at the temple, a strange thought unexpectedly flashed in his head.


    "Master said that there were only nine extremely rare, primordial Animal Spirits with mine appearing in the world only once. While others have appeared a couple of times. But what if I could actually summon one or two of the other eight Animal Spirits and make them mine?" Xiao Lin asked inwardly with a unexplainable glow in his eyes.


    Then he said further within himself ''If I can accomplish that, I could probably be the first to break the law of our cultivation world. Although I might be granted unmatched power, I will definitely be haunted all my life by exceedingly destructive tribulations that will seek me out during any breakthrough to a higher cultivation realm to totally annihilate me.''


    ''Anyways, devastating heavenly tribulations or not, I will do everything in my power to obtain greater power to rise above every other cultivator in the world and become a hegemon that would be dreaded and revered.'' Xiao Lin said inwardly with a powerful brilliance of awe emitting from his eyes.


    He then stood to his feet to go to his Master''s room and ask if what he thought was actually possible to carry out, and if it has ever been carried out by anyone in their world in the far past.

 Chapter 12 - Master Wu Goes On A Journey

    Knock!


    When Xiao Lin got to Master Wu''s room, he knocked on the door.


    Master Wu at the moment was seated in the cross-legged position since he was meditating.


    Then he suddenly heard a knock on his door.


    "Who''s there?" He asked.


    But he had a feeling that it was Xiao Lin, since it was only him that usually came to him so that he can use his large yard to train.


    "Master, it''s Xiao Lin" Xiao Lin answered politely.


    "Alright. Come in." Master Wu said.


    Then Xiao Lin opened the door and went in.


    When he arrived before Master Wu, he sat down in the cross-legged position before him and said with a smile in his face "I am sorry for disturbing your meditation, Master Wu."


    "It''s okay. I can always resume that anytime you leave." Master Wu said.


    He then said further by asking "So, what exactly are you here in my room for, Xiao Lin? It can''t be to train, right?"


    "Not really Master. I came here to ask a question that suddenly surfaced in my mind" Xiao Lin replied with a smile.


    "Oh. I am all ears then" Master Wu said.


    Xiao Lin then questioned "Master Wu, is it possible for a cultivator to be able to summon more than one Animal Spirit?"


    Haha!


    Master Wu laughed.


    "Xiao Lin, if it was possible, don''t you think that you would have seen or heard of cultivators with two or three Animal Spirits?" He asked while Xiao Lin nodded his head with a light of understanding in his eyes.


    "Hmm. That''s true. I have never seen or heard of any cultivator capable of summoning more than one Animal Spirit. Thank you, Master Wu." Xiao Lin said with an enlightened gaze in his eyes.


    He could recall that his father, even as tremendously powerful as he was, didn''t have more than an Animal Spirit.


    He then asked with his brows furrowed "But Master, do you think that it would be possible to summon two or three Animal Spirits into one''s body?"


    Master Wu looked at Xiao Lin and said "Well, I don''t know if it''s possible. I have just never heard of any cultivator capable of summoning two or three Animal Spirits into their bodies. It''s simply an impossible thing to do."


    Then still staring at Xiao Lin with an indescribable gaze in his eyes, he said "Xiao Lin, don''t bother yourself with these kind of things. Thinking about these kinds of things wouldn''t yield fruits and would only be a terrible waste of your time, since you will be pursuing what doesn''t exist."


    "So instead, you should focus on making your Animal Spirit fuse with your being and bring a change to your form."


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    But he didn''t throw that thought away.


    He left it hovering in his head.


    Then when Master Wu took a small pause, he asked as he looked at Xiao Lin "Xiao Lin, have you been able to even achieve partial fusion with your Battle Beast Spirit?"


    Xiao Lin looked at the the ground with a sad gaze and said with an unhappy tone in his voice "No master, I haven''t."


    "But sometime in the nearest future, I will be able to do so. I believe."He said further with a resolute tone in his voice


    Master Wu nodded his head with a smile in his face.


    "That''s what I like about you. Your resolves are simply unbendable. Just carry on with that unfaltering resoluteness in your heart, and you will see that the even the sky won''t be your limit, but your step into the infinitely vast, starry beyond." He said while Xiao Lin nodded.


    "So Xiao Lin, if there''s nothing else, you can take your leave" Master Wu said.


    Then Xiao Lin stood to his feet to leave Master Wu''s room.


    He then headed for his own room when he came out of Master Wu''s room through the door.


    When he arrived in his own room, he sat in the cross-legged position on the ground to calm his mind that was frothing from numerous thoughts, with the prominent one in his heart being about his mother and the horrific things that she probably might be going through in the hands of his evil and callous father, who saw them as nothing but disposable items once they became even slightly useless to him.


    ***


    So, weeks to months passed with Xiao Lin minding his own business as he continued to intensely train his body to develop peak human strength, speed, endurance and agility.


    At the moment, due to the constant and heavy training of all of the muscles of his body, he could now lift more than a hundred and twenty kilograms, and could now attain a speed that was many times higher than the one that a human of his age and height could attain.


    Also, his fighting skills had greatly improved under the intense, close-quarters combat training by Master Wu, who taught him a whole lot of movement and evasion skills and some stunning fighting techniques, adding tremendously to the little skills that he had acquired when he was still at his father''s floating massive palace.


    However, he hadn''t been able to cultivate spiritual energy or partially fuse with his Animal Spirit, which were the only things that made most of his night haunted and sleepless ones.


    Although Xiao Lin was seriously frustrated by all that were happening to him, he however didn''t let the frustration get to him, as he had a strong belief in his heart that he would eventually succeed in cultivating spiritual energy and fuse with his Animal Spirit.


    But as Xiao Lin improved in strength and honed his fighting prowess, so did the others. Also, their cultivation had gone up from the 1st-Layer Spiritual Ascendant stage to the 2nd-Layer or 3rd-Layer Spiritual Ascendant stage. While Zhang Feng who was their senior had gone from the 3rd-Layer Spiritual Ascendant stage to the 5th-Layer Spiritual Ascendant stage.


    ***


    Seven months later...


    Master Wu who was seated on an elevated platform before his disciples said to them "I will be going on a journey that will take me eight to nine months to return."


    Zhang Feng''s eyes glowed. While a cold smile surfaced in his heart. Same with the others.


    "But Master, why that long?" Zhang Feng asked.


    "Well, as you already know, this isn''t the first time that I will be going on such long journeys. So, you should have developed an ability to be able to predict how long it would take me to return." Master Wu said while Zhang Feng nodded.


    "Yes Master." Zhang Feng said while Master Wu nodded.


    Master Wu then looked at Xiao Lin and said "Xiao Lin, I usually embark on long journeys from time to time. And this is because I don''t have other teachers to assist me at the moment in doing all these. So, I have no choice than to do it myself."


    "Then my purpose for going on such journeys is because I want to gather cultivation resources for you all who are my disciples to cultivate without worry. Then when you all have grown more powerful and independent, then you can go out there into the world to gather your own cultivation resources yourselves."


    Master Wu then turned his head to look at Zhang Feng and the others with a stern expression in his face "Xiao Lin is your little brother. I don''t want you people bullying him because you are cultivators and he is a mortal. If I return and I get news from him that you touched a single strand of hair on his head, you wouldn''t want to imagine what I will do to you."


    "So, just love your brother and embrace him for who he is with happiness in your heart. If he does something totally vexing, just tell him that what he did is bad and I believe that he would certainly correct himself."


    "Then again, don''t bully him. I guess that is all I have to say." Master Wu said.


    He then left that high stony platform that he sat down cross-leggedly on and walked towards the gate with his disciples following directly behind him.


    When he arrived at the large bronze gate of his temple which was wide open, he said to Xiao Lin "You should keep trying to fuse with your Animal Spirit, Xiao Lin. Who knows, something that will delight you could happen. Besides, when I get to where I am going to, I will ask about from experts there on how the damaged dantian of a cultivator can be partially healed. Perhaps I could get healing herbs and elixirs or rare regeneration fruits that might thinly seal the numerous thick cracks that are on your dantian."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then said with sincerity in his tone "Master, thank you. I will definitely repay you for all the kindness that you have shown to me"


    Master Wu only shook his head.


    ''This boy'' He said inwardly.


    He then took into the air in the next instant and flew away at a shocking speed.


    When Master Wu flew away, Zhang Feng clasped his fist and looked at Xiao Lin with a somewhat sinister smile in his face.


    "Little brother Lin, we all would take good care of you. That''s a promise." Zhang Feng with a cold gaze in his eyes that made current of chills move down Xiao Lin''s spine.

 Chapter 13 - Beaten And Humiliated

    "What is with the look?" Xiao Lin asked with a furrowed bow.


    "Don''t tell me you don''t know what this look is called?" Zhang Feng asked with a cold smile.


    Xiao Lin only ignored him and tried leaving their presence to walk back to his room when his hair was suddenly grabbed by Zhang Feng who pulled him back and then pushed him to the ground.


    Xiao Lin landed to the ground with a heavy thud and groaned in pain when his elbows smashed the marbled floor of the hall that they were in.


    He then stood back to his feet and looked at them with intensely cold eyes.


    "I think Master warned you guys not to touch even a single strand of my hair." Xiao Lin said with a towering rage in his heart.


    "Yea. That is why I grabbed a whole lot of your hair instead of just touching a single strand of it." Zhang Feng replied and chuckled sinisterly.


    He then told the others to flank Xiao Lin at all sides so that he wouldn''t be able to escape from their envelopment.


    Seeing what was up, Xiao Lin knew that it was time to go against these cultivators with only his human strength, speed and agility alone.


    He then entered into a fighting stance with his eyes emitting palpable waves of wrath and intense coldness that would drive currents of chills deep into one''s heart.


    When Zhang Feng saw the martial art stance that Xiao Lin took, he gave a loud raucous laughter of mockery. Same with the others who laughed at the defensive combat stance that Xiao Lin quickly entered.


    It really amused them.


    What can a tremendously skillful human possibly do against a cultivator that possessed unrefined or coarse fighting techniques? Nothing, except lot of injuries and death in the end, if the cultivator was a callous one.


    Then since Zhang Feng was the oldest, he ordered the rest to unleash their bottled-up anger and frustration on Xiao Lin who had fear instantly appear in his heart.


    Once Zhang Feng gave the command for them to beat Xiao Lin up, they quickly executed various Movement Techniques that they had learnt and then arrived before Xiao Lin in the next instant with their hard fists tyrannically launched at him.


    Gbash!


    Gbosh!


    These sounds rang out as the heavy punches that were sent to Xiao Lin''s face connected with it, and then caused blood and a tooth to be forcefully ejected out of his mouth.


    Xiao Lin just couldn''t dodge or evade their incoming punches. They moved too fast for him to see, causing their punches to hit him really hard in the face at different areas.


    Just when the punches connected to his face, heavy kicks were sent out in the next instant towards his chest, causing him to land on the ground with a loud thud.


    Thud!!


    The disciples that surrounded Xiao Lin began to laugh at Xiao Lin who face had been totally disfigured by their punches.


    "Idiot, how dare you think that you could go against cultivators?" Zhang Feng suddenly asked.


    He then walked slowly to where Xiao Lin was and unexpectedly kicked him on the head, launching him away like a ball to a distance of nine feet.


    Zhang Feng really packed power into that kick that he sent at Xiao Lin''s head.


    When Xiao Lin landed heavily at the distance that he was kicked to, one of the boys, Shou Wen to be precise, suddenly rushed towards where he landed to.


    He then grabbed Xiao Lin by the hair and launched hard slaps in his face, battering it further in the process.


    He then smashed his head incredibly hard to the marbled floor of the temple''s hall, like he had the intention to smash it to pieces.


    "Ahhhhhh!"


    Xiao Lin screeched out in pain.


    "Scream, moron. You haven''t experienced anything yet. This is just the beginning." Shou Wen said with coldness in his tone.


    He then heavily kicked Xiao Lin by the chest, causing Xiao Lin to grab his chest with his two arms like he wanted to prevent something from leaping out of his chest. That was extreme pain that was inflicted upon Xiao Lin, causing him to grab his chest.


    At the moment, the bones of Xiao Lin''s face had cracked, while his skin was seriously swollen.


    Xiao Lin however really wanted to retaliate, but he just couldn''t fight them. They were too many and had become powerful since they had achieved breakthroughs. Then Xiao Lin understood that he was living in a fantasy world when he thought that a peak human could contend with a low-level cultivator if he had some spectacular fighting skills and prowess.


    "Weren''t you amazing then? Beating up a cultivator like you were beating up a stray dog? But why can''t you replicate the stunning thing that you did then now, you fool" Zhang Feng who had come over to Xiao Lin''s place asked with a frigid smile in his face and then kicked him on the ribs, causing Xiao Lin to scream out in pain and agony once again.


    He then grabbed Xiao Lin by the legs with both arms and then tried to hurl him far away with a lot of force.


    Xiao Lin landed to the marbled floor many feet away and had the bones of his knees detach from their sockets due to the hard impact that they struck the ground with when he landed.


    Xiao Lin who now had greatly unbearable pains racking his entire body, started to crawl towards the door of the temple to leave the hall that he was in.


    When Zhang Feng saw Xiao Lin looking at where the door was in the distance, he realized in the next instant what Xiao Lin was trying to do. Same with the others. Then they all walked towards him with ferocious smiles written all over their faces.


    When Zhang Feng appeared before Xiao Lin, he said with a mocking tone in his voice "Trying to leave? Haha! Weren''t you Master''s favorite student, eh? So why do you want to leave? Do you want our Master to come back and be really sad that his favorite student just left like that, eh?"


    "Anyways, since you want to leave, we will help you." Zhang Feng said with a ruthless smile appearing in his face.

 Chapter 14 - Plunging To His Death

    He then packed power into one of his leg and swung that leg towards the back of Xiao Lin''s head, who at the moment, had an intense struggle in his eyes to leave the presence of these guys.


    Bang!


    Like an arrow furiously fired from a bow, Xiao Lin was launched straight into the air and into the distance where he landed twelve feet away.


    When he landed with his head first, smashing his jaw right into the ground, it became heavily bruised with some of this teeth splintering and blood oozing out from his wounded lips.


    Also, a really bad headache started to afflict him. And it was so intense that it seemed like someone was using a small-sized rock to continually smash him on the head with all the strength that the person could possibly muster.


    With sorrow, agony and rage in his heart, Xiao Lin prevented himself from fainting.


    All that was in his heart was to escape from these people. But he knew that it was going to be really hard, since his knee bones have dislocated. He wouldn''t be able to stand to his feet and run off with all the strength that he could muster.


    Although he knew that escaping from these people was totally impossible since they were cultivators and would have studied Movement Techniques, he however pushed on with a strongly burning hope in his heart that he was going to escape from them, and through any means possible. And he hoped that the heavens would make what he hoped in his heart a reality.


    As he crawled on his chest like a worm, albeit really slowly, Zhang Feng and the others arrived behind Xiao Lin at their own leisure pace and with fierce smiles hanging on their lips.


    But as Xiao Lin only ignored them and continued to crawl to get away from them, Zhang Feng and some of the others who had appeared behind him began to walk by his sides like they were escorting him. Then as they did so, they began to do all sort of unspeakable things to him to make Xiao Lin feel really humiliated.


    They climbed atop him, spat on him, urinated on him, kicked him hard on the head which caused the intensity of the headache that he was currently enduring to increase to another level.


    As they did all these horrendous things Xiao Lin, the solid resolve in his heart began to grow weak. It actually began to waver.


    And this was because he knew that he wouldn''t be able to escape from these boys, they were simply going to kill him with the way things were going.


    At the moment, his vision had become blurry. He couldn''t even see where he was slowly crawling on his chest to. Also, his ears couldn''t pick up any sound again. Those really hard strikes to his ears since Zhang Feng and the others kicked his head with immense heaviness, had badly affected his two eardrums, possibly ruining them.


    Then as for the bones of his chest. Many of them had broken while some had developed numerous cracks in their structure and could probably scatter apart in the next moment.


    Same went with the other bones of his body. Due to the numerous hard impacts of his body with the ground, many of them had broken with some having lots of cracks in their structure, giving the feeling that they would scatter apart in the next moment too.


    When Xiao Lin who had an unmatched struggling and enduring expression in his eyes, figured out some moments later that his body''s condition was really worst, and that it wouldn''t allow him to escape from these boys who were simply out to insanely torture and terribly humiliate him to his death, literally gave up with great forlornness in his eyes.


    ''I am sorry, mom. Your child became so useless that he wouldn''t be able to come free you from his dad''s hand.'' Xiao Lin said inwardly and then paused when an intense, really acute ache suddenly struck his head and ears, causing him to groan loud in misery.


    Then as the pain grew stronger in intensity, Xiao Lin tried to endure it sufferingly and then resumed what he was saying within himself.


    ''I have only been living in my fantasies all these while, thinking that I could become something which I should have known that it wouldn''t truly come to pass. But now, I have understood that all the resolves that I made then, were simply nothing but daydreams. I hope the heavens will not turn a blind eye to your situation and find a way to set you free from my dad''s callous hand.''


    Xiao Lin said all that inwardly and then actually stopped crawling, surrendering himself to the miserable fate that had fallen on him.


    Seeing that Xiao Lin had stopped, Zhang Feng and the others burst into a series of loud laughter.


    "Hmm. You have quite the determination, Xiao Lin. I will give you that. Haha!!" Zhang Feng said with a wrinkled brow and then he and others bursted again into an unbridled laughter that was full of mockery.


    "But hold that laughter, everyone. This fool can''t die here. Let''s take him to where he would jump to his death by himself. We surely don''t want to have trouble disposing off his useless corpse" Zhang Feng said and grinned while the others nodded their heads agreeably.


    Not long, since the building of their sect was located on the top of a mountain, they carelessly and happily dragged Xiao Lin''s body on the ground to the edge of that mountain and then dropped him there.


    Then Zhang Feng came over to where Xiao Lin''s body was dragged to and suddenly kicked him hard in the jaw, causing many of this teeth to abruptly fly out of his mouth like actual projectiles.


    Hahaha!


    Zhang Feng laughed.


    Then after grinning for sometime because of his action, he said with an intense coldness in his voice "It''s over for you now. You can crawl with your broken bones to your death."


    Xiao Lin who was trying his best to endure the great amounts of intense pain that racked his entire body and mind started to cry.


    He had been holding back his tears for long. But now, he let it all out, since he would plummet to his doom very soon.


    "M-Mom, forgive me for the action that I am about to take next. I-I don''t have anything anymore to continue e-existing for. Although I still have you, there is definitely n-nothing that will bring me away from these things t-that want my death to come save you. I have simply lost the w-will to continue living. I-I am s-sorry mom" Xiao Lin said in a stuttering manner as tears unrestrainedly streamed down his eyes that was filled to the brim with sadness and sorrow.


    "Alright. Go on now. Plunge to your death. And make sure that your ghost never returns. Or it will go through the same torture and humiliation that you passed through." Zhang Feng said while the others laughed without care.


    Xiao Lin who had a deeply sorry and miserable look in his face, tried to crawl off the cliff that he was on to plummet to his death.


    After a long moment of immense suffering and struggle with the exceedingly painful sensations that coursed through his entire body and clouded his senses, Xiao Lin raised himself with only his arms to push himself off the cliff.


    And as soon as he did so, he saw to his horror how far the bottom of the cliff was.


    However, despite the great horror and dread that suddenly surfaced in his heart, he surrendered himself to that bad fate that he spoke about and then pushed himself with his raised arms to make his body fall off the cliff and then plunge to the bottom where he would definitely explode into mist of blood upon crashing immensely hard into the solid earth that was hundreds of feet below.

 Chapter 15 - Fusing With His Animal Spirit

    As he plunged, shooting downwards to the far solid earth below at a great speed, Xiao Lin''s tears of sorrow and sadness didn''t stop for once.


    Then as he plummeted at an insane velocity, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind "Do you really think that you have lost everything?"


    Once this questioning thought appeared in his mind, Xiao Lin only ignored it, since he knew that he had lost everything. And now that he was plummeting to his death, there was really nothing that he could do to escape this fate except collide into the solid earth below and burst into mist of blood.


    ''You summoned a primordial Battle Beast Spirit. An extremely rare one that has appeared in the world only once, showing it extreme degree of rarity. So, would you just die like that and make the Animal Spirit return to the realm that you summoned it from? And don''t you want vengeance? Don''t you want to humiliate and kill those boys that forced you to plummet to your death? Don''t you want to go back to your dad''s mansion and free your mother from her intense sufferings, then kill your dad and seize his treasures, wealths and armies for yourself? Don''t you want to make an unmatchable mark in this world? Don''t you want everyone, mortals, cultivators, monsters and Gods to cower in fear and veneration before you?''


    These questions suddenly surfaced in Xiao Lin''s mind, forcing him to rethink why he wanted to die.


    And since ''Yes'' was the answer to all the questions that appeared in his mind, he then realized in the next moment that he truly had many things to leave for.


    Then the flame of rage to kill his dad and the resolve to be the strongest in the world appeared in his heart once again and began to burn ever so brightly.


    As he plummeted to his death, he shut his eyes and focused on evoking his Animal Spirit.


    As soon as he did so, his wolf-like Animal Spirit suddenly appeared behind him, plummeting with him to the earth below which wasn''t really far again. So, any minute from now and a miracle didn''t happen, he would surely collide into the earth and explode into a hail of shreds of flesh and cloud of blood.


    And Xiao Lin who had the bones of his arms cracked and broken from all those severe impacts with the ground and from really heavy kick strikes that were sent at him, tried to move them to perform the profound Beast Fusion finger signs and gestures that he was thought by Master Wu.


    Although he was in serious pain which clouded his mind and senses, causing him to groan sufferingly, he endured them and tried to move his fingers to perform the Beast Fusion gestures.


    Then with a great and powerful resolve that was extremely incomparable to the ones that he had in the past, he began to quickly move his fingers to make his Animal Spirit fuse with his body and grant him some form of power to be able to survive from his unstoppable, high-velocity free fall to the solid earth below.


    When he was just about twenty feet away from smashing into the ground and bursting into cloud of blood, Xiao Lin performed the final finger gesture and roared with extreme rage and unmatched determination in his heart "Fuse!"


    Like the roar came from a large horde of raging demonic beasts from the bottomless dark abyss, a large sphere of blood-red light abruptly expanded forth from within Xiao Lin''s body and rapidly expanded out to enclose both him and the wolf-like Animal Spirit behind him.


    Then as soon as the sphere which was the platform for him to fuse with his Animal Spirit appeared, his Animal Spirit which followed directly behind him as he plunged to the earth that was only some feet below, rapidly had the redness of it body grow darker in color.


    It then turned into a ray of dark red light that shot into Xiao Lin''s body in the next instant.


    Aooooooooo!!!


    Then the moment that the dark red ray of light shot into his body, a sky-shaking wolf-like howl suddenly sounded out from him which was then instantly accompanied by an exceedingly brilliant radiance that was blood-red in color. This had suddenly erupted from Xiao Lin''s entire body and then spread out in all directions like it were a vast and boundless veil of light, instantly encompassing the entire region that he was in with it terrifying blood-red brilliance.


    And as soon as this strange and dreadful phenomenon took place, people felt that the ominous blood-red light which had suddenly manifested and curtained the entire horizon of the region that they inhabited, was a form of primordial brilliance that had emitted from the eyes or hands of a Primal Divine Blood Sovereign that had descended into their region from a higher realm.


    Mortals became extremely horrified as the blood-red light that had suddenly appeared from nowhere, entirely dyed the sky, the earth below them and then everything in it with it blood-red color, giving them a feeling of absolute doom. While the hearts of both low-level and high-level cultivators in this particular region shook greatly in dread and awe.


    It was simply a terrifying phenomenon that will cause Gods or Deities to feel alarmed.


    However, the bright blood-red light that encompassed the region that Xiao Lin was in didn''t stop there. It simply continued to spread incredibly fast across the sky to other regions, completely enveloping them too and causing the people in it to feel great fear and terror.


    While Xiao Lin who at the moment was plunging really fast to the solid earth below had already transformed.


    Now, he had greatly enticing, slit-shaped blood-colored eyes that produced a powerful compelling gaze, long claws that lustrously shone in the blood-red light that veiled the sky and the earth, giving the definite feeling that they were forged from metal. Then a beautiful silver-like skin that glittered in the blood-red light that radiated outwards from his body.


    Not very long, he collided into the earth in his transformed state.


    Bang!


    A loud bang sound rang out as his body smashed heavily into the solid earth.


    And as soon as his body smashed extremely hard into the earth, large amount of dust erupted into the air in the form of a mushroom cloud, giving the feeling that a really powerful explosion took place. While a brown-colored wave that carried with it a shocking degree of tyrannical power, as it could reduce large rocks to splinters and level large buildings to the floor, immediately surfaced in the same moment that the loud bang sound rang out and then swept out in all directions into the distance to seemingly reduce everything in it path to fragments.


    Then where Xiao Lin''s body crashed into, a massive web-like crack could be seen there with the cracks extending into the far distance for about seventy feet.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin''s body was deep within a large and wide crater that was many meters deep. And he had fallen unconscious at the bottom of that immense and deep crater. While the blinding blood-red glow that was emitting from his body began to slowly recede, till it completely disappeared without a trace.

 Chapter 16 - Filth?

    Many days later, Xiao Lin''s eyes suddenly snapped open from within the crater.


    He then abruptly stood to his feet with intense shock in his eyes that he wasn''t dead yet.


    Then a few moments later, he realized that he was up on his feet and that no form of pain was afflicting him anymore.


    "Those traumatizing pains from my broken bones and ripped or swollen flesh are gone. I don''t feel them anymore" He said with gladness in his heart.


    He then recalled that his Animal Spirit fused with him some moments before he could hit the ground with a horrifying tyrannical impact.


    Xiao Lin sighed.


    "Thank you" He said into the air with intense happiness in his heart.


    Now, he had been given a second chance to live and to do all the things that were in his mind.


    He then thought of how he was going to heal his dantian to cultivate. Although it was something that was practically impossible to do, he would still try to do it either way.


    But as soon as he ended that train of thought, he suddenly perceived that he felt different.


    "What''s wrong with me? I feel kinda powerful than normal." He said with a furrowed brow.


    As he was examining his body, he then saw that he had dark black filth all over the clothes that he wore. They had dried and plastered on them, since he was out for many days.


    At first, he thought that it was dirt that had gotten onto his clothes from colliding extremely hard into the earth. But now that he looked at it really well with his deeply scrutinizing eyes, he understood that it wasn''t dirt, but filth.


    "Filth? How come there is filth all over my clothes?" He asked himself with his brows still furrowed.


    His eyes then widened further when a shocking thought struck him.


    "Can it truly be?" He asked.


    He then tried to look inwardly and saw to his intense amazement that he could.


    "What?" He shouted in shock from within the crater.


    The ability to look inwardly was the ability of cultivators. And since he could do so, that meant he was already something that he greatly hoped to become in future.


    "I-I am a c-cultivator" He said in a stuttering manner as he had realized what he had become.


    He then looked inwardly again to see what miracle had happened to his irreparably ruined dantian.


    Then he saw to his marvel and delight that there was this thick and durable, blood-red layer that enclosed his dantian, completely preventing any form of leakage of spiritual energy from it.


    His dantian which now seemed like a small red ball, was completely different in form from that of the others because of the blood-red layer that encompassed it spherically, blocking off leakages and dispersals of any energy that would be stored in it.


    When Xiao Lin saw this, he became crazily excited.


    The happiness that began to exude from him could be perceived flowing out of his body in boundless amounts.


    "So I can still become a cultivator?" Xiao Lin questioned himself with his mind spinning from immense happiness.


    "Now that I am a first-layer Spiritual Ascendant, I need cultivation manuals to be able to cultivate and increase the level of my cultivation" Xiao Lin said ecstatically.


    Since he was a now a cultivator, he could sense what level he had reached in his cultivation.


    Then when he recalled in the next instant how he arrived here, his eyes shone with a chilling and ominous blood-red light which totally dimmed in the next moment, returning his eyes to normal.


    If anyone stood before him and saw that frightening light that had abruptly surfaced in his eyes and then receded in the next instant, they would have a feeling that he was some rare and unique red-eyed Demon King that had crossed over to their world from the vast Demon Continent.


    "Zhang Feng, Shou Wen and the insignificant others, I will come for you very soon. Get ready to hand over your puny souls to me" Xiao Lin said with a glow of unmatched viciousness in his eyes.


    He then decided to climb out of the crater which was many meters deep.


    ***


    After painfully pushing his arms wrist-deep into the walls of the crater that he was in to give himself anchorage so that he could bring himself out of the crater, a few hours later, he climbed out of the crater.


    He looked at his hands and saw that they had been badly bruised.


    He only shook his head and was about to think of where to go from here when the pain that he felt a moment ago disappeared.


    "Huh?!" He questioningly exclaimed.


    Then when he looked at his hands, he saw that all the bruises that he had sustained from forcefully digging his hands into the sides of the crater had surprisingly disappeared without a trace.


    He then became amazed again.


    "Wow!" He couldn''t help but utter with his mind now reeling in great astonishment.


    "So I can regenerate too without healing pills? This is great" He said happily.


    He then calmed his mind and walked into a random direction to leave where he was.


    ***


    Deep within a mountain...


    When that blinding blood-red light appeared and spread out like a blanket to cover the skies of numerous regions in this world, an exceedingly powerful being who had a towering figure and had a thick and resplendent, roiling aura of formidable sharpness boundlessly exude from his body like he was the physical representation of sharpness itself, was slumbering in a cave that was extremely deep in one of the numerous tall mountains that were in the place Xiao Lin crashed into from his great plummet.


    Then the slumbering being who looked very human was compelled to wake by the powerful earth-trembling howl that first appeared before the ominous blood-red light surfaced and spread out to cover many regions, dying everything in them in it blood-red color.


    His eyes then sharply glinted because of what he felt from that blood-red light.


    "What an incredibly powerful and shocking fiendish phenomenon. But why did that suddenly appear? And it seems very close to this place. I must know this person. Only this person is completely worthy of receiving my Doom and Sorrow legacy. Haha!... Cough! Cough! Cough!..." The being gladly said and laughed raucously. But he began to cough out large mouthfuls of blood in the next instant.

 Chapter 17 - Ancient Expert Appears

    "Ugh! This terrible injury of mine. Well, since I won''t be able to accomplish what I set my heart to do in the past, this person who forced me to wake from my slumber will help me accomplish it, I believe." The expert said with a sharp and clear gaze in his eyes.


    He then vanished from where he was and appeared directly before Xiao Lin who was abruptly shocked to the extreme by the appearance of a really lean and towering human who felt exceedingly dreadful to him.


    Then as he prepared himself in that same instant to politely greet this fearsome person who rampantly radiated a formless power of sharpness that felt like it would absolutely cut all things in its path, including gods and devils themselves, the expert who had unexpectedly appeared before Xiao Lin said "I have been observing you for days after that powerful soul-rending howl and intense blood-red brilliance appeared. Boy, what did you do to cause that mighty heaven-shaking phenomenon?"


    "I.... I don''t know too, senior" Xiao Lin lied with fright setting into his heart.


    He couldn''t tell this fearsome-looking being that the phenomenon that he spoke about resulted from the fusion of him and his Animal Spirit.


    Haha!


    Cough! Cough!...


    The being tried to laugh but then coughed out several mouthfuls of blood in the next instant.


    Xiao Lin''s eyes then brightly shone with an understanding that the formidable person before him had sustained fatal injuries.


    ''He is injured'' He said inwardly.


    "Ahhh!! These damned wounds" The person shouted and then calmly said in an unhappy tone in the next moment.


    He then looked at Xiao Lin and said "I should have died since because of the extremely grievous wounds to my body and soul. But because I entered into a deep slumber to preserve my life-force energy and slow down the rapid disintegration of my soul, i have been able to remain existing for seven hundred million years now. And I did that because I am looking for someone to pass my legacies to and continue what I wasn''t able to do. You know, becoming the strongest evil cultivator in the world."


    Xiao Lin''s eyes then shone again from what the being before him mentioned.


    Seven hundred million years ago?


    To become the strongest evil cultivator in the world?


    Then Xiao Lin thought that perhaps this powerful expert, who radiated a dazzling resplendent aura that towered to the sky and invoked a feeling of an incomparably overbearing, formidable power of sharpness and destruction, since it caused the air around his body and to a distance of several thousand feet to actually tremble and slash apart in millions of places like it was an actual fabric, and then the earth beneath the both of them for many thousand feet to rapidly develop countless, large and fathomlessly deep gashes in them, like as if many giants furiously stabbed colossal swords deep into the earth and ragingly dragged them across it, was fatally wounded because he was an ''Evil'' cultivator, a cultivator that followed the ''Path of Wickedness''.


    He reasoned that he could have unbridledly wreaked devastation, havoc and mayhem in the many regions in the continents of the world, making hundreds of powerful cultivators to develop strong feelings of aversion for him and then gather for his sake so that they could destroy him.


    ''But what power!'' Xiao Lin said impressedly within.


    He could witness the constant phenomenal effects of the man''s matchlessly powerful aura on everything around them, which was the valley that they were in and now seemed damaged beyond repair. The valley had simply become a desolated place.


    Also, he was greatly astonished at how the aura avoided him, since he wasn''t reduced into hundreds of slices by it, even as he stood directly in front of the ancient expert who boundlessly exuded the tyrannous aura from his body.


    "But senior, if I may ask, why did you choose the evil path? Didn''t you know that it would get you grievously wounded in the end, which would then result in your death?" Xiao Lin braved up to ask the fierce expert before him this question.


    Haha!


    The experts laughed.


    "Well, there are only two paths to power in this world. Good or evil. One can''t remain neutral for long. Therefore, one will absolutely have to choose one of these two moral paths."


    "So, since being good will force me to care about lots of people, which would eventually drastically slow down my cultivation speed and overall progression, and would in turn terribly affect my ascendancy to hegemonic power, I rather chose to become evil, since it would make me care less about anyone in the world, and then cause me to rapidly rise to the apex of power in this ruthless world."


    "Besides, I received a sovereign-level, ancient devil blade legacy which I borrowed tons of inspiration from to create my own extremely refined, unique battle art. Now, only by being completely wicked, would one be able to successfully cultivate it, as it requires that one extract the blood essences of others and condense them in one''s dantian into True Demonic Marks, which would then transform into Great Devil Marks after many cycles of evolution. So, by following this detestable and totally horrendous method in my battle art, one''s cultivation speed will skyrocket, and one will be endowed with a type of unfathomable power that the person can never possibly imagine wielding."


    The expert then said further "Boy, I guess by now that you should have fully comprehended that the only way to do that, to take the blood essences of others and condense them into True Demonic Marks for yourself, is to slaughter them in cold-blood, whether they are your enemies or not. One must sacrifice everything, like friends, lovers, companions and adversaries in exchange for vast unmatched power''


    After the expert stopped talking, Xiao Lin''s eyes shone with an unexplainable gaze in his eyes.


    He then deeply exhaled.


    Not long after recollecting himself from what the expert said, he began to deeply ponder about many things in his mind.


    ''Since this ancient godly expert walked the path of evil to become tremendously powerful and incredibly fearsome so that he can strike terror in the hearts of people everywhere that he goes to, I think I would also like to walk that path too. Only in that way, can I become extremely dreadful and incomparably strong in time to go face my dad and wipe him off from the surface of this world.''


    ''And like the expert rightfully said, I mustn''t care about anybody, except my rise to the zenith of power. Well, no matter how evil I will become, I will never ever try to sacrifice my my loving mother for anything, and Master Wu who tried his possible best to look after me, and even journeyed far away for my sake to help me eliminate my abysmal cultivation condition. But every other thing in this world, enemy or colleague, I will viciously sacrifice them to obtain that immense power to humiliate and kill off my dad, and then slay every other god-like cultivator that would appear in my path to battle me over something that would imbue me with great unparalleled power and help me rise to cosmos-wide fame.''


    When Xiao Lin thought all these and finally chose the moral path that he would follow, he proceeded to ask a question that had surfaced in his mind.


    But before he could ask the question that had appeared in his mind, the expert before him said further with a solemn expression in his face after taking a slight pause "You, boy, have the potential to end what I started and couldn''t finish. And if you ask why I immediately selected you without any legacy inheritance trial to see if you are totally qualified for it, it is simply because of the rare uncanny phenomenon that you somehow caused to appear."


    "That insanely powerful howl that you unleashed forced me to wake from my slumber, as it struck my rapidly collapsing soul really hard, and caused my thick and dense blood to churn so violently that I felt that it wanted to burst out of my body. That, was one terrifying phenomenon that would definitely frighten gods and devils. So, I immediately selected you, without a need for some trial."


    "Wow!" Xiao Lin uttered with shock in his heart.


    So, the fusion of his body and his Animal Spirit had resulted in that phenomenon that forced the Ancient Expert before him to wake from his body and soul-preservation slumber.


    Then he fully bowed and said with a sincere tone in his voice "I thank senior for seeing me as a qualified candidate for the inheritance of your legacy."


    The primordial expert smiled and nodded his head.


    He then said with a questioning gaze in his eyes "I would still like to know what caused that phenomenon."


    Now that the powerful expert before him wanted to pass his legacy to him, Xiao Lin saw no harm in telling him how that phenomenon came to be.


    "The phenomenon appeared when I fused with my Animal Spirit." Xiao Lin answered.


    "Oh really?! Wow! That''s one powerful Animal Spirit you have got there, boy. Good. I am very impress... Cough! Cough! Cough!" The expert said and suddenly started to cough out mouthfuls of blood again.


    When he stopped coughing, he had a soured expression immediately appear in his face.


    "Ugh!" He uttered as he gazed at Xiao Lin who was looking at him.


    He then said further "Boy, I am dying. I will collapse anytime from now. It''s time for you to receive my legacy."


    The expert then pointed at Xiao Lin''s forehead and fired off a single, pencil-sized resplendent ray of energy from his index finger at Xiao Lin''s forehead.


    Immediately the ray of energy was fired, it penetrated into Xiao Lin''s head in the next instant and turned into a massive amount of information.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin felt that his head was rapidly swelling because of the immense amounts of information that had suddenly surfaced in his head. And what surprisingly comprised the huge body of information that had appeared in his head were millions of mysterious signs and symbols, anciently cryptic letters and alphabets, and then tens of thousands of amazingly large profound diagrams that when he tried to study just one of them, suddenly afflicted him with a really severe headache and caused him to cough out blood and have blood stream down his nostrils.


    Haha!


    The expert burst into a raucous laugher and shook his head at the same time when he saw that Xiao Lin''s skin had suddenly turned sickly pale and that blood that was streaming down his nostrils.


    "Boy, don''t even try to look at any of those indecipherable things in your head which are way highly advanced and deeply profound for you to comprehend. They will only cause you great harm if you try to do so. Therefore, you should start from the basics, the simplest ones, and gradually walk your way up to those extremely profound characters and images floating in your head." The expert said, informing Xiao Lin. While Xiao Lin nodded his head comprehensibly.


    At the moment, the intense agonizing headache that he was afflicted with had disappeared, while the bleeding from his nose had stopped.


    He then wiped off the blood that had stained his mouth with the back of his hand and then looked into his memory again to see if he got any cultivation and battle art from that memory transmission that the expert made to him.


    Once he did so, he saw numerous arts that made him crazily excited.


    ''Primordial Heretic Force - Empyrean Cultivation Method''


    ''Way of the Demonic Blade - Empyrean Battle Art''


    ''Fiendish Flame burning the Heavens - Empyrean Battle Art''


    ''Doom and Sorrow birthing Ten Thousand Heavenly Calamity Wheels - Blades Fusion Technique''


    ''The Great Apocalyptic Perverse Invincibility Body Scripture - Empyrean Body-Cultivation Method''


    ''Gods, Emperors, Kings and Saints Subjugation - Divine-grade Demonic Technique''


    ''Nine Rocs and Seven Garudas crossing the Infinite Void - Empyrean Movement Art''


    Xiao Lin then pulled his mind out of his memory and looked at the expert before him.


    "Thank you, Master" Xiao Lin said with a full bow.


    The expert before him nodded.


    He then pointed his finger at Xiao Lin once again.


    Immediately he did that, two rays of light appeared and shot towards Xiao Lin.


    Then the two rays of light turned into two blades in the next instant.

 Chapter 18 - The Twin Silver Blades

    Xiao Lin looked at the two blades that had appeared and floated in the air before him.


    He then tried to grab them.


    Immediately he tried to do so, he suddenly had a brief vision where he saw the expert before him floating high in the sky in a certain world and had a violently surging, dark-silvery aura of tremendous sharpness boundlessly emanating from his lean and towering figure.


    Then with a nonchalant horizontal swing of one of the blades that he held, a strongly dazzling, silver-colored beam of energy that totally outshone the sun and was as wide as the vast ocean, suddenly erupted from the blade that he swung and then shot out at the speed of light towards an immense group of people that floated within a glowing, sphere-shaped defensive artifact that was actually larger than a continent and hovered in the sky tens of thousands of feet away.


    Then when the astonishingly huge, silvery beam of energy that actually hid the entire sky struck the artifact which casted it immense shadow over hundreds of large regions that were far below it, Xiao Lin who was expecting an ear-aching bang sound to loudly ring out from the tyrannically heavy collision of the silvery beam of energy that completely concealed the vast sky with the continent-sized, orb-shaped defensive artifact, surprisingly didn''t hear anything. There was no sound or anything like that at all.


    Then when he looked to see what had happened, he saw that the colossal silvery beam only continued onward at the speed of light into the far distance, giving the feeling that it didn''t come across any form of obstacle in it path.


    So, this meant that the enormous, orb-shaped defensive artifact and everything in it had literally vaporized away.


    "Wow! Such insane annihilating power" Xiao Lin said with his mind reeling in intense awe.


    He was then brought out of the vision.


    Then when he turned his head to look at the expert before him, he saw that the expert had collapsed to the ground with his skin now looking extremely pale, and that his blood which was now jet-black in color, giving the feeling that it contained great amounts of dark black filth, could be seen continuously oozing out from numerous cracks that had surfaced all over his body''s thick and tough flesh.


    Xiao Lin then understood that the expert would die really soon, as his body was rapidly tearing apart while his soul was collapsing apart within.


    He then wanted to move closer to the expert''s side.


    But the expert only gave him signal that he shouldn''t come any close to him.


    "Don''t come close to me. My blood contains powerful toxins that will destroy you in an instant. In fact, stay farther than that away from me" The expert said while Xiao Lin nodded and then moved backwards by many feet.


    The expert exhaled.


    He then said "The dark silver and pure silver blades in your hand are the Awakening Doom Blade and Sorrowful Sea Blade respectively. That''s what I like to call them."


    He then said further "But at the moment, they are only ordinary blades as they can''t unleash any power at all. And this is because they have been completely sealed off. However, to enable them unleash the vastly devastating powers that they inherently possess, you can try to open the Sealing Gates which I created and compressed into each of them to stop them from releasing the tremendously destructive powers that they possess"


    "And to do that, you have to follow a particular technique written in the ''Way of the Demonic Blade'' battle art that I transmitted to your memory."


    "Now listen, if you are in an extremely dangerous situation and want an instant, near-boundless heaven-rending power to be produced from the fusion of the two blades, you can utilize the ''Doom and Sorrow birthing Ten Thousand Heavenly Calamity Wheels'' method that I also sent to you."


    "The method comprises of four easy to learn techniques which are the Entering the Earth Gate, Ascending into the Greater Starry Heavens, Becoming a Belligerent Chaos Sovereignty, Descending into the Lesser Mortal Realm."


    "The first and second techniques will semi-partially or partially open that Sealing Gate to allow a smaller or larger stream of the endlessly surging uncanny powers that they have to flow without end. While the third technique which will fully open the Sealing Gate, will allow the absolutely infinite, cataclysmic-level powers that the two blades innately possesses to constantly flow out in tremendously huge amounts that it size could rival that of the vast sea and oceans. Then to cease the frenzied flow of the calamitous powers that the blades will produce, the fourth technique which is the Gate-Closing Technique would be utilized for that."


    "However, you should understand that such phenomenal godly power comes at a great risk to you. You will either instantly die by exploding into a cloud of blood, or become really sick since your life span would be greatly cut off to the last. So, my really candid advice to you will be that, don''t ever use any of the techniques that I mentioned, as they are all forbidden techniques. And if you may ask why I created them, I only created them for my legacy disciple as a means of protecting himself or herself, since I won''t be around anymore to protect that disciple of mine which is you."


    "However, only when you are in extremely dire situations that you can''t come out of or settle with your own power, could you use the Gate-Opening techniques. Or when you are facing a more stronger opponent and you are absolutely sure that you have gotten really powerful and stronger and that you would be able to handle the destructive capabilities of the blades'' world-shaking pulsing powers, can you unrestrainedly unleash them."


    "Then apart from using the nascent fathomless powers possessed by the blades which have been completely sealed off, you can channel your own spiritual energy into it to unleash a focused devastating attack of energy at your opponent."


    As the expert spoke with great fatigue in his tone since he was dying and would really die anytime soon, Xiao Lin listened attentively to all that he had to say.


    When he was done, Xiao Lin bowed and said "Thank you for these amazing treasures and fearsome techniques, Master. I promise to carry on your legacy into the world and into the entire universe. The whole world will surely hear about your demonic blade art again. I assure you, Master. And I promise you that I won''t fail in my quest to do so for you.."


    The expert nodded his head.


    Xiao Lin then asked with a solemn expression in his face "Master, what is your name? And who are the people that caused great injuries and wounds to both your body and soul?"


    The expert shook his head with a melancholic expression written all over his face.


    "Well, it''s not like my name is that important since I am already a failure. But I will tell you since you asked for it. My name is Lin Shou Wen. And my moniker is the Demonic Blade King." He said.


    He then spoke further by saying with wrath in his tone "Then the people that caused me these great injuries are the people from the Heavenly Condor clan, the Great Crane clan, the Floating Lotus sect, the Mystic Rainbow pavilion, the Great Beast sect, the Flaming Luan sect, the Sun and Star God Hall, the Shadow Elite pavilion, League of Dragons and Phoenixes, and then the Nine Heavens Annihilation Sect"


    "Hmm." Xiao Lin uttered and nodded his head.


    He then said with a sharp and cold glint appearing in his eyes "Master, be rest assured that I will avenge you. In the future, the sects, halls and clans that you mentioned to me will be totally torn apart and completely desolated by me, using the incomparable power of sharpness possessed by your glorious twin silver blades. This, I also promise you."


    Xiao Lin then bowed once again.


    Then when he straightened himself back, he unexpectedly turned around and began to walk away into the distance.


    The expert smiled and nodded his head at the same time.


    "What an immense fortune to come across this determined young boy." He said with happiness and pride in his tone.


    As Xiao Lin walked away without looking back, the expert who was Lin Shou Wen by name, shouted "Boy, that isn''t all my fortune that you have received. The entire wealth that I possess which I accumulated in a lifetime of more than eight hundred million years are in a massive vault extremely deep within the earth at the Blue Lake Mountain, Death Merchant continent."


    He then shouted further "I believe you know what to do."


    Xiao Lin only nodded his head with a smile in his face to what Lin Shou Wen said as he walked away and without looking back.


    And as soon as Lin Shou Wen said that, raging dark black flames suddenly erupted from his entire body. The flame then totally engulfed his body and began to burn it to cinders.


    And while all these happened, Xiao Lin didn''t even turn to look back.


    All that was in his heart at the moment was to go cultivate to become stronger so that he could go free his mother and then cultivate to become the Absolute Strongest in the world.

 Chapter 19 - Breaking Into A House

    After walking in a random direction for many days with the intention of leaving the valley that he met with the Ancient Expert, he finally arrived before a large town where his master''s sect was located.


    He would have liked to go back to his master''s sect and exact vengeance upon the disciples that humiliated and compelled him to fall to his death, but he actually didn''t know what his master''s sect was called, since he never asked to know the name of the sect, nor did he know where it was situated.


    He however knew that it was based on the peak of a mountain since Zhang Feng and the others dragged him to a cliff where he was made to push himself off to the ground.


    Then he decided within himself that when he eventually knew what the sect was called or where it was located, and when he had increased his cultivation base, he would surely go back there to ''pay a visit'' to them.


    Although he would definitely love to seek them out now and firstly humiliate them like how they humiliated him, and then wickedly slay them since they tried to kill him, he however knew that he was too weak at the moment to go against Zhang Feng who was already a fifth-layer Spiritual Ascendant, and then the others who were at the third and forth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    Therefore, with that thought, he would first try to raise his cultivation base to some level before going back to Zhang Feng and the others to harvest their puny souls, as he called it.


    So, as he looked around from where he concealed himself from being seen by anyone when he arrived in a particular town from that far valley, he decided to stow away the twin silver blades into his spatial ring. But he discovered to his shock and dismay that he couldn''t.


    He would have done this when he was still in that valley, but holding the blades in both hands gave him a wonderful and fantastic feeling of being a Blademaster. He could somehow feel warm, tingling currents of power circulate round his entire body.


    "What''s wrong? Why wouldn''t it go into my spatial ring?" He asked himself with shock and perplexity in his tone.


    He just couldn''t go into the town like this with the twin blades, as the blades from far invoked an absolute feeling that they were superior, peerless-quality, empyrean-grade blades. One would get this feeling even if they looked at it from far, as the blades despite being sealed to prevent their immense disastrous power from coming out, caused air and light around them to roil and distort, producing vacuum zones and jet-dark zones around them in the process.


    After doing it a few more times and seeing that he couldn''t stow the twin silver blades into his spatial ring, he gave up trying to do so.


    He then began to think of what next next to do to hide the blades from being seen by people.


    As he began to produce numerous thoughts in his head on a way to conceal the twin blades in his hands so that they wouldn''t be noticed by anyone, he realized a few moments later that there was no way that he would be able to do that, especially with where he was as there were no materials around him to do just that.


    Then an idea suddenly struck him.


    ''Hmm. There should surely be a way in my master''s battle art on how to veil the blades from being seen or detected by anyone'' Xiao Lin said inwardly.


    He then looked into his memory to see if there was a particular concealment technique or method that was mentioned in the ''Way of the Demonic Blade'' battle art that the Demonic Blade King, Lin Shou Wen, transmitted to his memory, just so he could conceal the blades from being detected by even powerful cultivators if his body was scanned by their powerful senses.


    Then he came across a technique called ''Blade Binding - Concealment technique'' in the battle art that was indelibly branded to his memory.


    ''Aii!''


    He nodded his head with a sigh of relief.


    He then began to go through the technique to execute it so he could bind the blades to his being.


    When he was done going through the technique, he understood what he had to do next.


    He then backed from where he was to go find a more hidden place to do what he was about to do next.


    When he found a place that seemed more hidden and wouldn''t reveal him to any passersby, he entered there and sat on the ground in the cross-legged position with the blades laid on the ground before him and their hilts contacting the other.


    He then proceeded to do the ''Blood Binding Ritual'' described in the Blade Binding technique. And this he tried to initiate by painfully biting himself hard on his lower lip so he could have a cut on it.


    Once he developed a cut on his lower lip, he pressed it hard to cause blood to drop from it unto the blades that were placed before him and had the bases of their hilts touching the other.


    The instant that his blood got onto the surfaces of the twin-looking blades, he began to perform mysterious finger gestures.


    Once he ended the mystifying finger gestures which took him a few minutes to complete, words and symbols that he couldn''t decipher and seemed anciently, suddenly appeared on the surfaces of the twin blades that constantly emitted pure silvery and dark silvery lights.


    Then immediately after the glyph-like words and symbols appeared, the blood that Xiao Lin dropped on each of the blades unexplainably grew in size.


    Then as the drops of blood that Xiao Lin pressed onto them incomprehensibly grew in size, they suddenly, rapidly spread out like dozens of tentacles to entirely cover the two blades that were contacting each other from the bases of their handles.


    So a second later, the drops of blood which Xiao Lin squeezed onto them had spread throughout the surfaces of the twin blades and their handles, completely engulfing them and then causing them to begin to glow brilliantly in the color of blood which occurred for a few seconds before receding.


    When the soft blood-colored radiance that erupted from the blades ceased, with the cryptic words and symbols that earlier appeared on their surfaces vanishing without a trace, Xiao Lin could suddenly feel that the blades before him were a part of his body. He felt that he could move them like they were his actual limbs.


    "Finally, they have been bound to me by blood. Now, they are a part of me while I am a part of them" He said excitedly.


    ''Go in!'' He commanded inwardly.


    Then the blades instantly disappeared from where they were placed on the ground and actually rematerialized in his dantian.


    Once they appeared in his dantian, the twin-looking blades which were both four fingers wide and four feet long, actually began to boundlessly erupt thick bloody auras to completely veil themselves from everyone''s view, including from that of the powerful scanning senses of really powerful experts.


    Now, no one would be able to see the twin silver blades unless they could look into his dantian which of course, was enwrapped by the condensed spiritual power of his primordial Animal Spirit, blocking anything that would penetrate into his body from looking into what was contained in his dantian. So Xiao Lin reasoned.


    He then stood from his cross-legged position on the ground and left the hidden, isolated place that he concealed himself in. He then walked back to the place that he backed away from earlier.


    After observantly looking around for sometime and seeing that no one was walking in the direction that he stood in, Xiao Lin abruptly walked into the wide road of a particular street to join the crowds of people moving up and down to carry out certain businesses that they had in mind.


    Although he was looking dirty as his robe was covered with dirt and filth, catching people''s attention in the process and making them look at him with furrowed brows, they however didn''t pay him too much attention and only turned their heads away from him while also avoiding him at the same time to go do things that they had in their minds.


    But even if they paid much attention, Xiao Lin wouldn''t care.


    At the moment, he was looking around to see where he could break into to steal some clothes to change his dirty robes and then steal some food to feed on.


    He was seriously hungry as he hadn''t eaten for many days. And this was because he didn''t come across anything to eat in the valley where he crashed into from his fall off that cliff. And he didn''t want to consume any fruit or plant that he saw on his way since he couldn''t really identify an edible fruits or plants from poisonous ones.


    Living in that grand massive mansion that floated in the sky beneath the clouds, had made him not to have any form of knowledge about any plants or fruits that grew in the wildernesses.


    So, he tried to endure his biting hunger till he would get to where humans inhabited and get something really nice and tasty to eat.


    Since he was now in a town where humans inhabited, he began to scan the many tall and small houses and shops in the street with his rapidly moving eyes for where he could steal fruits, edible vegetables or even entire meals from so that he could satisfy the raging, roaring hunger that he felt within.


    But first, he wanted to change his soiled robes before going to steal something that he would eat.


    After scanning for sometime and seeing that now was the chance to do so without possibly being seen by anyone, he calmly broke into a house that he was directly in front of by gently forcing the door open with his increased physical strength.


    Once he gained entry into the house, and without trying to know if anyone was in, he began to rush into the different rooms in the house to get to where they kept their clothes. And fortunately for him, no one was in. So, no one appeared to stop him. Xiao Lin too had realized this, so be became unrestrained.


    Bang!


    He kicked down a door of one of the rooms that he speedily arrived in front of.


    But nothing like clothes could be found in there when he looked into the place.


    "Ugh!" He uttered with displease in his tone.


    He knew that he had to be really fast with what he was doing since he didn''t want to get caught, as the owners of the house might come in later. And there was no telling if they could be cultivators.


    He then hurried to another room.


    After kicking down a few more doors of other rooms, he finally arrived before one where he saw clothes in there.


    Aii!


    He then gave a sigh of relief.


    Very quickly, he tore off the soiled one on his body and took one from the wardrobe to wear.


    He then packed more clothes into a small sack that he saw somewhere and stowed that sack of clothes into a spatial ring worn that he wore on his finger.


    Immediately he did all these, he rushed out of the tall house into the wide street that it was located.


    After he scurried out of the house to appear in the street, he abruptly composed himself like he was one of the inhabitant of the house that he just hurried out of and began to walk into the distance with a broad smile in his face, amiably nodding at everyone that looked at him with gazes of uncertainty.

 Chapter 20 - Leaving Without Paying

    Although Xiao Lin had thousands of spirit coins in his spatial ring which he could use to buy nice clothes for himself, he however understood that he couldn''t spend such a form of currency that was extremely rare in here. Or he would have hundreds of people look at him with intensely curious and questioning gazes. And this was because they won''t have any idea about the currency that he gave to them to purchase items, since they were a type of currency spent by cultivators that dwelled in the Spirit Continent, the largest continent in the world where millions of terrific and fearsomely powerful cultivation experts abounded.


    So, Xiao Lin could therefore have such a shocking amounts of spirit coins because of his dad who was extremely powerful and could greatly flourish in that part of the world that took up more than sixty percent of the total land area of the entire world.


    But now, since he was no longer in that part of the world and couldn''t spend his spirit coins here, Xiao Lin was left with no choice than to break into people''s houses or shops to steal their monies to be able to feed himself or buy things that he wanted.


    So, he didn''t feel bad about the burglary actions that he carried out earlier. In fact, he saw it as thrilling fun and then fully made up his mind to break into places where all sorts of currencies were kept, so he could have lots of money to spend to buy things for himself. Then Treasure Halls and Auction Houses to steal or rob them of their stored treasures and rare or unique items that he would add to his collections of artifacts.


    Since he was out here on the street all by himself, Xiao Lin understood that he had to look out for only himself and not care about anyone else or their emotions and feelings. He will only care about himself and his own feelings which was to become stronger where he would be dreaded by everyone, and to rise to great fame where everyone in the world will know him.


    Now, the next thing on his mind was to eat.


    Then with a deep exhale and a solemn expression appearing in his face in the next instant, he walked into a really large inn across the street to go have himself fed.


    When he entered, he sat at a table and relaxed himself. Although he would appear relaxed to anyone that would look at him, he however wasn''t really relaxed. He was only keeping up a pretense so he could achieve what he had in mind to do in this place.


    A few seconds later, a waitress appeared before him and showed him their large, three-layered meal menu.


    When he perused through the meals on different sections of the food menu, Xiao Lin chose the last meal on the expensive meal section of the three-layered food menu that he was given.


    He actually did so because he wanted to enjoy a great, tasty meal, and didn''t want the waitress to look at him with suspecting eyes.


    He understood that from the cheap robe that he wore, the waitress might be able to tell if he really had the money to be able to purchase such a costly meal. So, he therefore opted for the least expensive meal in that expensive meal section, as he didn''t want the waitress to stare at him with a deeply suspicious gaze in her eyes.


    Then not long, the plates containing the food that he ordered for were brought to him in a large tray.


    Once they were placed on the table that he sat at, Xiao Lin removed the lids that were used to cover the plates containing the meals that he ordered for and then began to eat.


    Many minutes later, after he had consumed everything in the plates, and had drank the entire contents of the small jugs of fruity wine that he was served, he began to look around nonchalantly.


    He then stood from where he sat at like he had paid for his meal and began to walk towards the door at the distance. And this he did with a type of composure that wouldn''t make anyone look at him with suspicious gazes in their eyes.


    And as he did so, he hoped that the waitress that served him or any other waitress that worked at the inn wouldn''t come to meet him and demand for payment of the food that he was served.


    However, he couldn''t get far when someone suddenly shouted from a distance.


    "Hey! Where are you going to? Won''t you pay for what you ate?" A slightly furious female voice suddenly rang out.


    Xiao Lin heard that and understood that the person that shouted just now was the waitress that served him the meal that he ordered for.


    He however continued towards the door in the distance like he wasn''t the one being spoken to by that loud and furious voice.


    "Hey, aren''t you the one being shouted at?" Someone who was seated at a table where Xiao Lin had arrived at, asked with anger in his eyes.


    Xiao Lin only ignored the person that spoke to him, making the person feel that he was talking to the air. And this person was actually a cultivator at the 2nd-layer Spiritual Acsendant stage. But he wasn''t the only cultivator in the inn. There were many more with the highest being at the 6th-stage Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    Xiao Lin had long realized this when he first entered the inn. But because he really needed to eat to satisfy his thirst and hunger, he however quenched the flame of fear that had materialized in his heart, and then orchestrated a plan within himself which might allow him to get away with what he would do in the inn.


    At this point in time, the people in the inn which consisted mostly of cultivators, were busy staring at Xiao Lin with to see what he was going to do next. While Xiao Lin who had long realized in that valley that his Animal Spirit had granted him many astonishing abilities, with one of them being Super-Speed, prepared to rush out of the inn using that ability of enhanced speed that he was Bestowed with by his rare, primordial Animal Spirit.


    The instant that he thought of utilizing that ability, he ejected his Animal Spirit to create a diversion for him.


    Whoosh!


    Grrrrraaaa!!!!


    His dark red-furred, wolf-like Animal Spirit which had grown really tall and large in size, and now looked incredibly fearsome after their Spiritual Fusion, appeared far behind Xiao Lin in the inn and thunderously roared, successfully pulling everyone''s full attention towards it because of it soul-chilling and mind-tingling roar, and then the dazzlingly brilliant red light that it emanated from it entire figure upon it sudden appearance.


    Once everyone''s narrowed eyes and studious gazes were totally pulled away from Xiao Lin towards his Battle Beast Spirit that had abruptly appeared in the distance, successfully creating an opportunity of escape for Xiao Lin in the process, Xiao Lin''s pupils became slit-shaped, and his eyes, intensely blood-red, in the instant that he deployed the ability of Super-Speed which he was bestowed with by his phenomenal Animal Spirit. Also, a blood-red aura that surprisingly gave off a strongly overwhelming ferric smell, and began to seethe about his body, manifested around his figure.


    He then rushed out of the large inn and into the far distance at a speed that would go above that of a 6th-layer Spiritual Ascendant.


    Swoosh!


    He pierced through the air on feet like he was a tremendously fast arrow that was furiously fired from a bow.


    When the Animal Spirit in the inn disappeared a few seconds later because Xiao Lin had recalled it, the cultivators who were totally distracted in their observation of Xiao Lin to see what he would do, realized to their shock that Xiao Lin had disappeared.


    Then when they rushed out of the inn to see where he was and to catch up with him, they couldn''t see him again.


    "Damn. That brat got away. But that''s quite fast. Is he actually a first-layer Spiritual Ascendant?" One asked with shock in his tone.


    "I don''t know. But I have memorized his face. So anywhere I see him, I will bring back here to pay for the expensive meal that he enjoyably consumed" Another righteously said while the rest nodded their heads in agreement.


    Then they went back into the inn to continue eating their meal. While some left since they were done.


    Xiao Lin who was now extremely far away from the inn since he continued to run at a really high speed due to the astonishing Super Stamina ability that he was granted by his Animal Spirit, began to think of what next to do from here.


    Then a great thought struck him.


    ''Why not join a criminal association like a bandit group or something? Only from there will you go on many theft and robbing missions and in the process, acquire lots of money and tons of treasures and cultivation resources for yourself to be able to rapidly increase your cultivation level and ascend to great fame''


    Once this evil thought appeared in his mind, a somewhat fiendish smile crept up Xiao Lin''s face.


    "That''s just what I am going to do. Then slowly, I will rise to power and dethrone the leader of the bandit group and then make the criminal organization mine. While the members of my organization of outlaws, will work hard to constantly feed me with large supplies of treasures and cultivation resources. Haha! This is a good scheme for rise to world conquest" Xiao Lin said and laughed with a sharp and evil glint in his eyes.

 Chapter 21 - Cultivating

    Xiao Lin then looked into his spatial ring to produce the sack that he stuffed clothes into.


    When he brought the sack out of his spatial ring and placed it on the ground, he began to go through it.


    Now, he was looking for a grey-colored hooded cloak that he packed along with many other clothes into the sack when he broke into someone''s house many minutes ago.


    When he eventually saw it, he brought it out and then wore it on the cloth that he was wearing.


    "Now that I have worn this cloak on the cloth I am wearing, I shouldn''t be easily identified in the small pockets of crowd moving up and down in the street. Those stupid cultivators that I met at the restaurant shouldn''t be able to recognize me by my outfit, since I have hidden the one that they saw me wear" He said with a nod of his head.


    He then walked into the new street that he arrived at with his ears out to listen to what people in the crowd were talking about.


    Actually, he was trying to listen to discussions that could be about any bandit group or other groups that were terrorizing people in different areas of the town or in other towns.


    But as he leisurely walked up the long and wide street that he had found himself in, and at the same time, attentively listened to the topic that he was really concerned about, he didn''t hear anyone make mention of any marauding bandit group, kidnapping factions or havoc-wreaking cults causing problems or troubles anywhere.


    ''Really? Don''t tell me that they don''t have bad guys disturb them in this town? Or have the bad guys been taken care of already by the law enforcers in the town? If that''s so, that would be extremely bad.'' Xiao Lin said inwardly.


    He then said further within himself ''If they have been captured and incarcerated, then where exactly am I going to find a bandit group to join now? I really need to join one. I can''t wait to break into those places or vaults where currencies and treasures or artifacts are kept or auctioned out''


    As he was thinking all these, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.


    ''Perhaps they don''t come to the town to plunder the places where monies and artifacts are kept, since they could get captured by government officials who will surround them on all sides.''


    As soon as Xiao Lin thought this, his eyes glowed with comprehension.


    ''Then if they don''t do that in the town for fear of being attacked and captured by the law enforcers in the town, perhaps they do this along the paths or roads that large numbers of people or items are being moved in a massive transportation carriage from the town to another distant town.''


    ''Hmm. I guess my thought should be right. Then if that''s so, I guess I will have to join one of those carriages going to another town. Maybe I could hopefully come across a bandit group or any other group like that along the way.'' Xiao Lin said within and finally concluded.


    He then spoke further within himself as a fierce and cold light erupted from his eyes ''But before I do that, I have a score to settle with those squirmers.''


    He then turned around to find a dark and quiet place to stay for the rest of the day so that he could cultivate using the cultivation technique mentioned in the Primordial Heretic Force cultivation art, an empyrean-grade cultivation art that was transmitted to him by the Demonic Blade King he met in that valley.


    After looking around for many minutes for such a place to stay, he saw to his dismay and unhappiness that no place like that existed. It was all only tall and short buildings on both sides of the wide street.


    ''Ugh!'' He uttered in a displeased tone.


    Then as he prepared to go to another street to search for a dark and concealed place to uninterruptedly cultivate, whether by providence, design or coincidence, he unexpectedly saw in the distance, a 4th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator that looked familiar to him.


    Xiao Lin''s eyes then narrowed and brightly twinkled when he fully recalled where he met this cultivator.


    This cultivator was actually one of the numerous cultivators that fixed their harsh and studious gazes on Xiao Lin at that inn that he went to eat at and suddenly ran off without paying.


    When Xiao Lin saw the cultivator, he reasoned that he was probably going to his place to rest for the day.


    His twinkling but sharp eyes then shone with a light of viciousness, while an evil plan abruptly brewed up in his mind.


    He then patiently waited where he stood for the 4th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator who was totally unaware about his presence, to walk farther down into the distance before he would try to follow behind him.


    He did this to create a large gap between himself and this cultivator, as he didn''t want the cultivator to become suspicious if he was too close to him.


    Then as he started walking far behind this cultivator, he tried not to fixate his gaze on the cultivator''s back, as he felt that the cultivator might become more suspicious and then around to come face him, exposing himself in the process.


    So, he instead deployed his Super-Hearing ability, a formidable hearing ability that he was bestowed with by his primordial Animal Spirit.


    But at the moment, he could only clearly pick really low sounds, like a nail dropping to the ground from thirty to forty feet away with his enhanced hearing ability. However, this was more than enough to solely listen to the footsteps of the cultivator as he walked to his abode.


    Many minutes later, the cultivator stopped walking since he had arrived before the door of his house.


    Then when he opened the door, he went in and then closed the door behind him.


    Xiao Lin who was following behind the cultivator remained where he was in the distance with a bright smile in his face and an evil one in his heart.


    Now, he was waiting at that distance for some minutes more before breaking in. He was actually going through some plans that he had abruptly orchestrated in his mind.


    When he felt that he had waited long enough where he was, and had gone through his plans and saw that there were no flaws in them, he walked towards the cultivator''s house with a countenance and composure that he went there to ask for something like he was a regular neighbor.


    As soon as he appeared before the door, he gripped the door by the handle and then used his increased physical strength to force the locked door open.


    Bang!


    A low bang sound instantly rang within the house, causing the cultivator to become alarmed.


    Then when he rushed to the door from where he was to see who or what had broken into his house, he saw Xiao Lin at the door, smiling at him with a sinister look in his face.


    Immediately the cultivator saw the hideous smile that hung on Xiao Lin''s lips, and then the evil look on his face, strong currents of chills traveled down his spine and to the rest of his body. Xiao Lin simply seemed like a murderous demon to him at that moment.


    "You!" He said with slight dread in his heart.


    "Hello!" Xiao Lin greeted with the hideous smile on his face broadening.


    Without asking questions or anything like that, the cultivator tried to attack Xiao Lin by abruptly expelling large quantities of blue-colored spiritual energy from his hands which then rapidly condensed and shaped into three pretty large blue swords that shot towards Xiao Lin at tremendous speeds.


    But before the attacks could get to Xiao Lin and effortlessly pierce through him, cleanly slicing his body into halves in the process, Xiao Lin quickly summoned one of the twin silver blades residing in his dantian, the Awakening Doom blade to his right hand and then used it to quickly, horizontally slash out with all the strength that he could muster at the attacks that were shooting towards him like frenzied living spears.


    Slash! Slash! Slash!


    The attacks which were three swords condensed from blue spiritual energy instantly smoothly cut into two upon being struck by the blade that Xiao Lin sent out at them. They simply couldn''t withstand the god-cutting sharpness of the Awakening Doom blade.


    Not expecting that to happen, the cultivator''s eyes widened with immense shock while his mouth opened really wide that it formed a ''O''.


    Then his eyes which were filled with unfathomable shock, shone with an immense palpable greed in the next instant when he saw how powerful and physically stunning the blade was. The blade simply invoked in his heart that it was the infinitely-sharp, peerless divine blade of a superior Deity.


    He then prepared to unleash a much more stronger attack at Xiao Lin using a more powerful battle technique.


    He was however too slow in unleashing the stronger attack at Xiao Lin as Xiao Lin abruptly hurled the blade in his hand at his chest.


    Swoosh!


    Puchi!


    The blade cut through the air at an astonishing speed like an arrow and easily pierced through the cultivator''s chest like a hot knife through butter, and then out of it like it came across no obstacle or barrier to deeply impale a wall that was far behind the cultivator in the room.


    The cultivator then fell with his knee to the ground as he profusely bled from his chest. While Xiao Lin walked towards him with the glow of viciousness erupting from his eyes increasing in intensity.


    Then with the other blade, the Sorrowful Sea blade now in his hand, he used it to ruthlessly slash off the head of the cultivator.


    Slash!


    Thud!


    The head fell to the ground with a thud. Same with the stiffened headless body which fell to the ground a moment after the head which was slashed off from the neck fell to the ground.


    "Now, I finally have a room of my own to cultivate without interruption. And some money to buy meals for myself." Xiao Lin said and grinned.


    He then dragged the headless corpse that constantly spurted out blood from the slashed neck to a part of the house.


    Although this was Xiao Lin''s first time killing, or more precisely, beheading someone, he however felt nothing from it. It was like it was a really natural thing for him to do. He wasn''t even slightly unsettled or disturbed by it. In fact, he enjoyed it and actually, simply wanted to have more blood flow so that he could enjoy the ferric smell that would be yielded by it.


    Xiao Lin who understood that he was supposed to be greatly perturbed or distressed, as it was his first time killing a human, and was even actually feeling thirsty to see more blood spurt or gush out from slashed necks, hands and legs and yet wasn''t feeling irritated or tremendously unsettled within, comprehended that he was under the blood-spilling influence of his ravaging primordial Animal Spirit.


    He however liked it like that!


    He wanted to become a stone-hearted killer of myriads of creatures. And this was because he understood that only by being an absolutely vicious and savage, cold-hearted blood-loving killer, would he be able to really go far in his cultivation journey.


    So, he just left the blood where it was without cleaning it and then actually sat down in front of it to cultivate.


    Now sitting in the cross-legged position before the small pool of blood that was in front of him and inhaling the smell of iron that exuded from the blood, he began to go through the cultivation technique mentioned in the Primordial Heretic Force cultivation art that was transmitted to his memory.

 Chapter 22 - Reaching The Third-layer Spiritual Ascendance Stage

    Following the cultivation technique mentioned in the cultivation art that was branded to his memory, he understood the way of cultivation of the Demonic Blade King.


    Since he had comprehended it, he began to move Spiritual Energy from the world which had gathered around his figure into his body.


    Now, based on the cultivation techniques glowing so radiantly in his head like they were illuminated inscriptions, Spiritual Energy began to move through particular routes in his body to his dantian.


    But, if one could look into his body to see the routes that the Spiritual Energy moved about in his Spiritual Veins to his dantian, one would see that the route circulation seemed very strange.


    If the lines that the Spiritual Energy flowed along in his Spiritual Veins to his dantian were traced, one will discover to one''s shock and awe that the path that the Spiritual Energy traveled along in, seemed like a ''Crown'' in form.


    The Spiritual Energy circulating in his body was actually following weird vein routes to flow to his dantian.


    However, the Crown form that the circulation of Spiritual Energy in his vein routes took wasn''t evident at first, but as the circulation became stronger, since it began to flow faster along those strange vein routes, the Crown form that it took became really obvious.


    And as Xiao Lin did this, a tiredness suddenly came over him. It was so high in degree that he felt like quitting what he was doing. He felt that he couldn''t go on and that he needed to desperately rest, or he could possibly die from the excessive fatigue of both his mind and body. Then apart from the immense tiredness that he felt, a strong ache that was incomparable to any other ache that would afflict cultivators at his cultivation level, began to rack his head and body, and caused the blood that flowed within his veins to churn violently, compelling him to immediately stop what he was doing or he could explode into mist of blood.


    Xiao Lin who was experiencing all these effects understood that it was because he was using a cultivation technique that didn''t follow the norm that others followed, as it was a powerful cultivation art created by a sovereign, the Demonic Blade King who always went against the Heavens and its system of things. And that was why it had the word, ''Heretic'' in it name, since it didn''t follow the principles that other near-innumerable cultivation arts in the world followed. It was a cultivation art that simply entirely stood out from the rest.


    Then a certain thought came to Xiao Lin''s mind that if cultivation of Spiritual Energy could be so unimaginably difficult and extremely tiring using this technique, what would happen if he was able to successfully cultivate it?


    Xiao Lin reasoned all these within himself and guessed that he had to push on to find out about that for himself.


    So, Xiao Lin who was greatly determined to see how powerful he would become after successful cultivation of Spiritual Energy using that exceptional technique described in the Primordial Heretic Force cultivation art, tried his possible best to fight back the intense tiredness that had fully permeated his soul and body. Also, as he gritted his teeth hard due to the intense aching pain that he felt which was unbridled in his head, he tried to maintain and complete the crown-shaped circulation of Spiritual Energy along those bizarre Spiritual Veins to his dantian.


    And as Xiao Lin tried his possible best to maintain the circulation of Spiritual Energy using that technique, it became known to him many moments later that the quality of the Spiritual Energy which had gathered in his dantian in small amounts was extremely high.


    So, due to what he saw, he rapidly developed a strong feeling in his heart that the Spiritual Energy which had accumulated in his dantian was something that no other Spiritual Energy yielded by every other cultivation arts could possibly compare with.


    The Spiritual Energy in his dantian which was previously transparent in form and was greyish-white in color, became extremely black that the jet-blackness that it possessed could be likened to that of the pitch-black void. It was like he had absorbed the true essence of the endless, dark abyssal void.


    So, as he continued his cultivation despite the massive tiredness that he felt, the Spiritual Energy in his dantian had grown from it thin mist form into a thick black fog.


    After a great while of doing this, in which night had arrived, the ink-black fog that had formed in his dantian transformed into a small pool due to being thickly condensed, since a large quantity of extremely high-quality Spiritual Energy had gathered in his dantian. Then once this happened, Xiao Lin''s body violently shook, then a sudden, really powerful burst of dizziness and fatigue appeared within his mind and body, instantly forcing him out of his cultivation.


    Huuuuu!


    Immediately he was forced out of his cultivation, he inhaled deeply.


    Then a few moments later, all the dizziness and intense aches that he felt all over his body vanished.


    Still seated in that cross-legged position on the ground to regain some energy, he looked into his dantian which was enclosed within a solidified, dark-red spherical layer of Spiritual Power produced by his Animal Spirit.


    Then he saw to his amazement that the energy that which had amassed in there had become a small pool.


    And observing further, Xiao Lin noticed that the dark Spiritual Energy in his dantian seemed very quiet and reserved, since it didn''t seethe or roil about in his dantian as one would expect it to, he could however clearly feel underneath that inactivity and extreme quietness that his Spiritual Energy put up that there was a concealed, greatly overbearing and tremendously fierce power waiting to be unleashed to cause unmatched devastation and desolation.


    He smiled ecstatically within when he sensed the hidden, overwhelming tyrannous feeling possessed by his Spiritual Energy which floated calmly and peacefully in his dantian.


    "Now that I have broken through into the third-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage, let me start studying the beginner-level battle techniques mentioned in the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art." Xiao Lin said.


    He then stood to his feet to leave the house that he had made his by murdering the cultivator that owned it and go into a forest to do what he wanted to do, despite the fact that night had fell.


    But out of nowhere, an intensely sorrowful and lonely feeling suddenly struck his mind, causing him to become melancholic again.


    "I really have to become very strong in time to go free my mother. I wonder what she is going through in the hands of my evil despicable father." Xiao Lin said with a deep contemplative gaze in his eyes and a morose look on his face.


    But as soon as he ended that train of thought, a voice that sounded so anciently, like it was from a primitive being, suddenly rang in his head.


    ''I can help you to quickly raise your power if you will do my bidding.''


    Once this sounded in his head, Xiao Lin''s sharp eyes widened due to great shock.


    What voice was that?


    He then quickly asked inwardly since the voice rang in his head ''Who is this? Who are you?''


    ''I am the Celestial Blood Wolf God Animal Spirit that you summoned into your body. Seeing your struggles to become more powerful on time, I have decided to endow you with vampiric and werewolf abilities. Do you accept or reject?'' The voice that rang in his head which seemed to have come from a billion years ago, questioned with hidden fearsomeness in it tone.


    When Xiao Lin heard this, his eyes shone with great delight, while his heart began to beat really fast.


    Although he didn''t really understand what terms those were, he however was excited by the fact that he would possess more abilities that would make his excellence and formidability unmatched by his peers.


    Then as someone who would seize absolutely every chance, no matter how tiny or dangerous it may be to grow immensely strong so that he could go liberate his loving mother who suffered in his dad''s hands, quickly accepted the offer with a strong nod of his head.


    Seeing Xiao Lin''s resolute and excited response, the Animal Spirit then continued ''You will be granted powers that will shake the world. However, you will possess a certain, greatly limiting weakness which is, you must avoid any ray of the sun by all means possible. Or you will effortlessly and quickly burn to ashes.''


    ''Do you accept or not?''

 Chapter 23 - Vision

    Xiao Lin''s eyes widened in tremendous shock from what his Animal Spirit told him.


    He then produced a thought in his mind that, perhaps he would become an abomination to the world which mustn''t appear under the sun, or he would be destroyed by it in an instant.


    Huuuuu!


    He inhaled deeply.


    ''This is going to be hard. What kind of power that is detested by the sun itself that my Animal Spirit wants to give to me?'' He asked inwardly.


    Then with that expression of intense bewilderment still in his eyes, he asked "Blood Wolf God, What are those vampiric and werewolf powers that you want to grant me which would make me more stronger and powerful in time? Can I get a glimpse of what they are?"


    Immediately he asked that question, he suddenly received a vision where he saw a more ruthless and mature version of himself in a desolated valley, under a night sky in a particular region that felt like it had been abandoned by all living creatures.


    Then when he looked at himself in that vision, he saw to his surprise that he had two fangs growing out from his teeth. They simply looked like those of felines, and then gave the feeling that they were really sharp, since they lustred like an actual metal in the light from the moon. Also, he saw that his fair-complexioned skin had become pale-white like he was extremely sick, and that it strangely glittered in the radiance emanating from the moon glowing in the night sky.


    Xiao Lin only shook his head in astonishment from what he had seen.


    Then looking further, he saw that his eyes were blood-red in color and that his pupils were shaped like a slit, resembling that of a serpent. While his long dark black hair which reached his waist had become dark red in color and surprisingly fluttered in the absence of wind. Furthermore, he possessed long, razor-sharp claws that glittered in the moonlight, giving the feeling that they were formed from steel.


    He simply looked so fearsome in appearance that Xiao Lin himself shook from the dreadful feeling that the vision of himself in that vampiric form gave him.


    ''I guess that this must be the vampiric form that I would take when I am endowed with that power that my Animal Spirit spoke about.'' Xiao Lin said inwardly with a contemplative gaze in his eyes.


    Then still looking at his extremely fierce self in that vision that was playing out in his mind, millions of all kinds of creatures, such as, monstrous beasts, walking trees, golems, humanoid apes and spiders, winged beings, humans and so on suddenly appeared around him.


    Grrraaa!


    Then Xiao Lin in that vision made a loud deep growl like that of a primitive beast, causing the ground where he stood at to suddenly crack in a web-like pattern, with the cracks that had appeared extending into the far distance for thousands of meters and more.


    The cracks that surfaced and went as far as the eyes could see, simply invoked the feeling that they resulted from the huge tentacles of a massive primordial monster that dwelled in the earth and wanted to break out from deep within it.


    And as soon as he growled, causing the ground to develop massive cracks that seemed to endlessly spread into the far distances, Xiao Lin in that vision then dashed towards those creatures that surrounded him at a speed so great that he could move many times faster than the Roc, a massive, legendary beastly bird of unmatched speed.


    Slash! Slash! Slash!...


    Numerous slash sounds began to ring out extremely fast as Xiao Lin in that vampiric form used his glittering silver claws to slit the throat or entirely cut off the heads of the near-innumerable myriad creatures that surrounded him. While some which were astonishingly gigantic in size, were bit at the neck with his fangs, rapidly sucking the blood out of them and causing them to turn black and emaciated in the process.


    From what Xiao Lin saw as he was witnessing himself in that strange form sucking blood from those colossal monstrous beasts around him, he had a feeling that his thirst for blood was insatiable, as he sucked out blood from a beast that was taller than a sixty-story building using either his fangs or claws, and then went on to suck from others who were of that immense size too, turning them into dry brittle corpses some instances later, giving the feeling that he also devoured the very essences that constituted their being too. He was simply like an infinitely-thirsty, blood-drinking entity that had a bottomless hole for a stomach.


    "Blood Explosion!"


    Once this was uttered by Xiao Lin in that vision, the durable bodies of the different types of creatures that surrounded him, rapidly developed cracks on their bodies which then exploded in the next instant into huge clouds of blood that gravitated towards Xiao Lin''s body and condensed into a thick blood-red robe on his body, two blood-red scythes which he held in both hands, then finally into a large throne that he sat on, invoking the feeling that he was an ominous, supreme sovereign of blood.


    "Blood Rain!"


    Immediately Xiao Lin who was seated on that immense blood-red throne indifferently uttered this, a massive blood-red cloud which seemed to span the entire horizon, suddenly appeared high in the sky. Then as soon as this devilish-looking red cloud appeared, a torrential rain that was in the color of blood, began to fall heavily from it, drenching the large numbers of myriad creatures that flanked him on all sides, and abruptly turning them into large piles of extremely bleached ashes in the next moment. It was simply as though their tough skins and hides were unendingly, furiously burned by an incomparable, strongly ravaging, endlessly-burning flame that totally engulfed their figures.


    Xiao Lin who was watching what was happening in the vision then understood a moment later that the blood rain that he unleashed in that phenomenally powerful form, was an extremely corrosive one, since it had fully corroded away the seemingly indestructible glittering bodies of the creatures that surrounded him.


    Then the vision abruptly ceased, returning Xiao Lin''s mind to the real world.


    ''You have seen more than enough'' The voice of the spirit rang in Xiao Lin''s head, while Xiao Lin nodded. He knew that had definitely seen enough.


    And at this moment, a look that expressed greatness and unparalleled formidability could be seen in his clearly gazing eyes.


    He then proceeded to ask the Animal Spirit a question that surfaced in his mind.


    ''Will I immediately become as powerful as that when you bestow me with the vampiric power that you mentioned?''


    ''No! That level of power that you saw yourself in that vision wielding, is the ultimate power that you will gain when you complete a certain primordial blood ritual that involves many cycles of the full destruction and complete reformation of your body and soul. The ritual which is named Supreme Blood Devil Awakening Metamorphosis Ritual, is a rather unique, ancient worldly ritual that will use the blood of millions of your vanquished enemies to transmute you into the Heavenly Ancestral Vampire Monarch. While the terrific abilities that you saw yourself exhibiting in that vision, are the powers that you will gain when you successfully complete the ritual. But first, you need to become a vampire to initiate the ritual. So, what do you say?'' The voice of his Animal Spirit rang in his head as it said and then questioned.


    ''But wait, what about the werewolf one? Won''t I get that one too? I didn''t get a glimpse of what it looks like so that I would know which to go for if I can only choose one out of the two.'' Xiao Lin said.


    ''You don''t need to worry yourself about that as I will also bestow it onto you. I can give you both abilities. And to know how powerful it would make you, you will become as powerful as the vampire one when you complete the World Lycan King Transformation Ritual. So, what do you say? Do you accept it or not?'' His Animal Spirit said and asked again.


    Xiao Lin then exhaled and began to ponder deeply on what to do.


    Then he started by further asking his Animal Spirit some questions.


    ''When would I be able to gain resistance to the sun?'' He questioned.


    ''When you reach that ultimate level. However, you will gain partial resistance to the sun when you have reached halfway to the completion of the ritual. You will be able to stay in the sun for a limited amount of time before catching up in flames and burning to ashes. Only if you can quickly find a place to conceal yourself from the sun would the flames burning on your body die off''


    Xiao Lin nodded. But slight fear could be seen in his eyes.


    ''I guess that once I accept that power, I won''t be able to enter the sun again. I would only be able to move at night, like a resentful ghost that appear only in the middle of the night to cause chaos in the world and bring nightmares into people''s dreams. Hmm, I think I like the sound of that. I would be dreaded.'' He said inwardly and grinned.


    He then proceeded to ask another question.


    ''Is there any object, like a ring, scepter, hooded cloak, or necklace that is made in a way to mysteriously block off rays of the sun from continuously striking me if I adorn or hold them?'' He asked with a curious tone in his voice.


    ''It''s possible, as there are so many rare and unique items in your cultivation world. So, it''s left to you to find out about that.''


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    He then said inwardly ''There will surely be, since there are many greatly experienced and enlightened Grandmasters of Treasure and Artifact-Forging. But I believe that such items can''t be found in this Mortal Continent. I am however confident that it should be found in the Spirit Continent or Holy Continent''


    Now that Xiao Lin knew that he had a choice of becoming extremely strong in time, which was by feeding off on the blood of people since he would be reborn as a vampire, he didn''t want to be too hasty in taking a decision that might eventually result in his destruction. So, he wanted to think things through very well before proceeding to accept endowment of that power.


    ''When I am bestowed with that vampiric power, I will have to fully darken or veil the windows of this house to prevent light from the sun from coming in during the day, or I will simply die. And I would only be able to move about in the evening and in the night like a nocturnal creature of darkness since I can''t walk under the sun that doesn''t want my existence''


    ''Well, since it fully compliments what I have in mind of doing, which is breaking into places to steal things of theirs which has taken my fancy, I guess I can only go for it. Then a vampire I will become then.'' Xiao Lin decisively said with a nod of his head.


    He then spoke with a resolute and determined gaze in his eyes to that anciently voice of his Animal Spirit ringing in his head.


    ''I accept to become a vampire and a werewolf!''

 Chapter 24 - Becoming A Vampire

    "Actually, you have the abilities of a vampire already. Super-speed, super-strength, super-agility, super-stamina and so on. The only thing left to transform you into a vampire is to activate the thirst for blood in you." His Animal Spirit said.


    Xiao Lin''s sharp eyes then shone with a glow of comprehension.


    He then recalled when he escaped from that inn that he went to eat using super-speed, an ability that manifested as a blood-red aura around him and produced a strongly overwhelming smell of iron.


    ''So I already possessed the abilities?'' Xiao Lin asked with astonishment in his eyes.


    "Yes" His Animal Spirit answered.


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    He then proceeded to ask his Animal Spirit a question that flashed in his head.


    "Blood Wolf God, did you immediately bestow me with those vampiric abilities when I achieved fusion with you, at that time that I was falling from that high cliff to the ground?" He questioned.


    "Yes. Immediately we combined and caused that bloody ominous phenomenon to appear in the sky in this region, the powers of a vampire naturally passed into your body from me. I didn''t need to do anything. However, to make you a real vampire, I will have to activate the true ability for a vampire in you, and that is ''Vampiric Thirst''. Only then, can you be truly seen as a vampire, a fierce, cold-skinned marauder of blood." His Animal Spirit replied.


    "Hmm." Xiao Lin uttered.


    He then looked around in the house and said within himself to his Animal Spirit ''Let''s do this later, probably in the evening or at night. It would soon be morning, and sun would shine into this place whether I like it or not. And if I have been turned into a vampire already, I won''t be able to resist even the tiniest, heat-bearing ray of the sun that would penetrate into the room from the window and cause me to spontaneously combust in flames. I don''t want to abruptly die when I have only just started my first step to becoming a vampiric hegemon.''


    ''Hmm'' His Animal Spirit uttered.


    Xiao Lin then continued ''So, when I have gathered lots of thick dyes or paints which I will use to heavily coat the windows of this house from within, blocking off the sun rays from coming in and turning the house into a night-dark place, you can go right ahead to activate my Vampiric Thirst ability to turn me into a true vampire.''


    "Hmm." His Animal Spirit uttered again.


    "Okay then. Just prepare your body and mind for it. Because when I activate the ability, a lot of things will drastically change in your body."


    "So as a first, you will no longer be able to eat meals meant for humans. You should easily understand what that would mean for you, which is, you can only depend on the blood of myriad creatures for your continued existence. Without feeding on blood, your vampiric abilities will begin to weaken that they may become inexistent. And trust me, you will begin to emaciate and die."


    "However, you shouldn''t be excessively worried about death if you get trapped in a distant isolated place and wouldn''t be able to feed on blood in there to maintain your life and sustain your vampiric powers."


    "I said that with a hundred percent level of confidence because true actual death can only happen to you after so many centuries. That''s one of the many shocking abilities of being a vampire, which is astonishing longevity that can equal that of god-like cultivators in your cultivation world. Then nigh-immortality, for as long as you can feed on blood to nourish your corpse-like body anyways."


    "But if that isn''t done after so many years, you would start to grow extremely weak that your vampiric powers may seemingly vanish. So, you will have to constantly nourish yourself by feeding on the blood of any creatures that you will come across.''


    ''Secondly, you won''t be able to resist the sight of blood. If you don''t have a strong control over yourself, you will expose yourself to the world and give them the feeling that you a strange, human-like fiendish creature that feeds on the blood of others. And trust me, a lot of cultivators will try to hunt you down, or possibly take you away to perform innumerous torturous experiment on your blood and gene."


    "Thirdly, as soon as that ability is activated, you will die, like real death. And this would definitely make your skin to become extremely pale in color, producing the thought in the minds of everyone that would see you that you are a living, walking corpse.''


    ''Then lastly, you will have to get yourself a nice wooden coffin. If there''s no coffin, you won''t be able to sleep. You can remain fully awake for thousands of nights and not feel dizzy at all. This won''t be good to your corpse-like body, as it start will start to slowly emaciate and wither over the centuries. Also, it''s only in a coffin that you will enjoy a good quality sleep. Or in a tomb casted from earthen materials. I believe that you should have grasped the reason why it is like that.''


    ''Yea, I understand. Because I am already a dead person, a corpse.'' Xiao Lin responded.


    ''Hmm'' His Animal Spirit uttered and then kept quiet.


    "But wow!" Xiao Lin who listened to what the Blood Wolf God said, couldn''t help but shake his head in astonishment.


    "Just so many damned limitations. Well, I am cool with it." He said with a smile.


    Xiao Lin then closed his eyes to sleep his last as a human.


    ***


    Morning...


    Xiao Lin stood from where he laid in to sleep and went to the corner where he dragged the body of the cultivator that he killed to.


    Once he got to where the smelling corpse was, he began to check around the bloodied body of the cultivator for where he kept or concealed his pouch containing money.


    Xiao Lin understood that he was only a fourth-layer Spiritual Ascendance state cultivator, so he definitely won''t have a spatial ring on which would be worn on his fingers. And since he doesn''t have a spatial ring, he would keep his personal things or possessions into a pouch or sack.


    As he did so, the decaying smell exuding from the corpse irritated Xiao Lin that he decided to bury the body later in the night, when the mortals had gone to sleep and cultivators were deeply meditating and may not come out of it if they hear any type of sound.


    Not long, he found the pouch which was made out of animal skin. Then he began to count the number of bronze coins stored in it.


    "What a poor cultivator. He has only nine hundred bronze coins. Ugh! Would this be enough to buy me many paint vessels to thickly coat all the windows in this house? Well, I can only hope so." He said and stood to his feet from his crouching position before the rotting corpse.


    He then made his way for the door to leave the house.


    _


    Putting the large hood of the cloak over his head to make it hard for some ''people'' to instantly recognize him, he began to move from one street to the next in search of a shop or shops that sells paints or dyes.


    After walking for hours, he finally got to one, following the description that a person in a particular street gave to him.


    "Do you sell black paints?" He asked.


    "Yes, I do" The shop owner answered.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then said "I want thick ones, high-quality ones"


    "Alright. How many vessels do you want?" The shop owner asked.


    "How do you sell?" Xiao Lin questioned.


    "Well, small paint vessel is sold for a hundred bronze coins. Medium paint vessel is sold for four hundred bronze coins. While large paint vessel is sold for a thousand bronze coins." The shop owner answered


    "Hmm." Xiao Lin muttered.


    He then began to think of how many paint vessels he would be able to buy using the bronze coins in that pouch.


    After quickly performing the cost calculation in his head and bringing out bronze coins from that money storage pouch which he had previously stowed away into his spatial ring, he said to the shop owner as he handed the bronze coins in his hand over to the man "Give me two medium paint vessels. And don''t try to cheat me. I can really distinguish between low-quality and high-quality paints. So, don''t you dare try to cheat me, or I will come back here and cause chaos"


    "Nope. I don''t cheat people." The shop owner said while Xiao Lin nodded.


    The shop owner then went into his large shop to bring out two medium paint vessels that contained high-quality paints.


    As soon as the shop owner went in, Xiao Lin broke a smile across his face. Then after looking left and right to see that no one was looking at him, he began to quickly stow away the medium and large paint vessels that the man kept outside for display of what he sells into his spatial ring.


    After keeping up to five medium and large paint vessels into his spatial ring, he made a run for it before the shop owner would come out.


    Instantly deploying his Super-Speed ability which was a vampire-bound power, he dashed away at the full speed of an 8th-layer, Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator back to that house which was now his.


    Previously, when he was at the 1st-stage Spiritual Ascendance stage, he could achieve the foot speed of a 5th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator. But now that he had broken through to the 3rd-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage, his speed on foot using that vampire-based movement ability had increased again by multiple folds.


    Once he got to his house and closed the door behind him, he instantly got to work.


    With the five paint vessels now lying on the ground, he picked one up and moved to a part of the house where a window was. And he didn''t even try to be economical since he had more than enough to thickly coat the windows many times over.


    Whoosh!


    Splash!


    He poured out all the black liquid content of the medium paint vessel at that window, instantly heavily dying it in black.


    So at once, the illuminating rays coming the sun was abruptly cut off, making that place very dark.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head with a smile in his face.


    He then went to the other windows of the house with either the medium or large paint vessels in his hand and then splashed them with the black liquid content that they contained.


    When he was done, in which the whole place had now been subjected to total darkness, he clapped his hand and communicated to his Animal Spirit.


    "I am ready. You can activate the Vampiric Thirst ability." He said that with an unbreakable resolve in his eyes.


    "Alright." The Blood Wolf God replied.


    Then a moment later, Xiao Lin''s body put out a primitive aura of unexplainable power.


    Then when the aura retracted back into his body, Xiao Lin suddenly felt a thirst within.


    The thirst that had suddenly surfaced within him, firstly started from the stage of an ember, and then rapidly grew to become like a towering, raging inferno.


    He simply began to burn within with an immense, unquenchable thirst for blood.


    The thirst that had suddenly come upon him was simply like no other. It was so intense that he felt like killing everything, no matter how tiny or large that they may be and drink their blood to quench the ravaging, burning thirst in his body.


    However, after groaning in pain for sometime, with green veins bulging all over his forehead, neck and arms, he collapsed to the ground and began to twitch all over like he was epileptic. Then some moments later, he suddenly died, like true death... but only to awaken later and be reborn as a Vampire!

 Chapter 25 - Reborn

    Many hours later, in which day had become night, Xiao Lin''s eyelids began to tremble before it snapped open at once.


    Then without him using his arms to support himself in standing back to his feet, his body which was in the lying position on the ground, floated in the air to make him stand back to his feet, seeming as if gravity wasn''t acting on him at all.


    When this suddenly happened, Xiao Lin couldn''t help but be tremendously shocked.


    So, with just a thought, his body had elevated itself from the ground to make him stand back to his feet.


    ''Cool!'' He screamed inwardly.


    He then looked at himself to see what transformation had taken place.


    At the moment, his skin color had changed. Now, it was intensely pale-white in appearance, giving the feeling that he was in a deathly sick state. While his hair had turned blood-red and had grown even longer than normal, as it went beyond his waist. Then in his coldly glinting eyes could be seen intense redness, and pupils that were shaped like slit, seeming like that of a reptile''s own.


    Xiao Lin looked at himself, at the extreme paleness of his skin and nodded his head at the thought that he was now a vampire.


    ''Finally. Now, I get to become strong.'' Xiao Lin said inwardly.


    He then said further with a sinister gaze now appearing in his eyes "Jiang Lin, I am coming for you in the soonest future. All that you have done to me and my mother, I will pay it back to you a million folds"


    Once he said that, which was to his lordly father who caused his blood to boil with madness, hatred and vengeance, he walked to where the body of the cultivator was and carried it with him out of the house.


    Now that it was night, every mortal would be deep asleep, while cultivators would be busy cultivating. So Xiao Lin reasoned. Therefore, due to this reasons that he came up with in his mind, Xiao Lin wasn''t worried of being seen or caught by anyone carrying a dead body.


    But to however play it safe, he had dressed up the cold, lifeless body of the cultivator that he killed in a new robe, since the one that was previously on him was heavily stained in blood that gushed out from the large blade wound that was made into his chest and back. While he wore his hooded cloak to cover his long, blood-red hair with the large hood of the hooded cloak which he had pulled over it.


    After walking for many minutes to find a place to bury the dead cultivator, as he couldn''t leave the body behind since the cultivator might be known by some people who would then come to his house to thoroughly investigate what had killed him in his own house, decided to bury the body.


    Using his long, metal-like lustrous claws to rapidly dig into the ground, heaving the sand, stones and debris that he came across in the ground to a side of the earth around the hole that he was digging, he eventually created a hole of about eight feet deep in less than a minute.


    He then jumped out of it and threw the corpse into the hole.


    Immediately he did that, he covered up the hole with the large heap of sand that he heaved to a side when digging into the ground with his claws.


    He then looked around to leave where he was. But all of a sudden, a burning thirst for blood suddenly came upon him, causing him to arch his back and grab his stomach like he had suddenly developed a serious stomach cramp out of nowhere.


    Xiao Lin then exhaled.


    He knew that it was time to drink blood to quench that uncanny thirst for blood that had suddenly come up within him.


    He then initiated his search for an animal, like a goat or ram in the street to suck blood from to satisfy his Vampiric Thirst which had come up without any warning.


    Xiao Lin could have broken into people''s home and suck blood from anyone that he first laid his eyes on, he however didn''t want to expose himself yet, as he felt that he had yet to even grasp a small understanding of himself as a vampire.


    He then used his Enhanced Hearing to pick up many different sounds from far distances away. And surprisingly, the sounds that he heard, turned into images in his mind. So, he could easily know what object or material the sound was coming from, as all the sounds that he perceived, instantly became vivid images in his head. This was an another unique vampiric ability called Echolocation. It had awakened when Xiao Lin was reborn as a real Vampire.


    After listening for sometime for numerous, different sounds in many far directions, he finally chose to go to one which was a goat that was asleep under a shed.


    Immediately he appeared before the goat using his Super-Speed ability, and which he had traced to here using it heartbeat, Xiao Lin grabbed it by the neck and lifted it close to him. He then sank his glittering sharp fangs into it and began to suck blood from the goat which didn''t have the chance to cry out in excruciating pain before dying in the next moment.


    Once Xiao Lin this, with the blood that tasted so good to him flowing down his throat to his stomach, he suddenly felt that another chapter of power had opened up in his body. He could feel undulating currents of a strange energy that seemed incomparably tyrannical in power, beginning to course about in his body through some veins that he never knew existed.


    His Blood Wolf God Animal Spirit then suddenly said in his head "That''s Blood Energy. You can condense it into solid attacks which you can send out at your adversaries. However, it''s still very little and insignificant at the moment. So, you would have to use a certain cultivation method to make it grow in size and tyranny"


    Xiao Lin nodded with full understanding in his eyes.


    He then looked into his head to see a voluminous amount of information that made him greatly excited.


    At the moment, there were some arts and techniques floating in his mind. But they appeared as gigantic, anciently pyramids that had millions of inscriptions of words of all over their surfaces.


    They read thus:


    ''True Vampire Origin Blood Force - Empyrean Cultivation Art''


    ''Myriad Chaotic Blood Armament - Empyrean Weapon Self-Formation Art''


    ''Illusionary Vampire Unstoppable Godly Steps - Empyrean Movement Art''


    ''Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash - Empyrean Evasion Technique''


    ''Blood Devouring Thousand Worlds - Empyrean Battle Art (I)''


    ''Great Heaven-Shattering Growl - Empyrean Battle Art (II)''


    ''Divinity-Annihilating Primal Blood Flame - Empyrean Battle Art (III)''


    ''Subduing Dragons and Tigers - Blood Control Art''


    ''Ancestral Blood Devil Monarch Transmogrification Ceremony/Ritual - Empyrean Transformation Method''


    ***


    When Xiao saw these tyrannical arts and techniques, he knew what to do next to cultivate Blood Energy.


    He then prepared to leave where he was to go back to his house.


    However, he couldn''t really go far when someone suddenly appeared in front of him like a ghost with a angered and cold gaze in his eyes.


    This person who had abruptly appeared before him, wore a hat, a uniform that had an insignia on it, then a boot, meaning that he was either a government officer, or a Neighborhood Watch officer that was now performing his night duty.


    ''Damn! Why didn''t I think about this too?'' Xiao Lin said inwardly with anger at himself.


    He however understood that he couldn''t blame himself, since he didn''t really know much about the town that he had entered from that portal that his mom unexpectedly threw him into.


    Then when Xiao Lin tried to sense the cultivation base of this person, he discovered to his shock that the uniformed person was at the 1st-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, a stage that one would cross into when one breaks through the 11th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    ''Oh no!'' He said inwardly and then began to quickly think up things of what to tell the uniformed man that stood arrogantly before him with a gaze in eyes that expressed that he was either a fiend or a criminal.


    "You, what are you up to in the dead of the night? What are you looking for? Looking for a place to break into, right?" The uniformed officer asked loudly with a stern gaze in his eyes.


    "No sir!" Xiao Lin responded in defiance, but with a deep beastly tone in his voice that shocked both him and the officer.


    His eyes which were now fully widened in shock due to how he sounded, gave him the feeling that there was simply no difference between him and a fierce primitive beast if it tried to speak. He was sure that his would sound deeper.


    ''What the crazy heck happened to my voice? I hope this would change. And maybe it''s because I am in my true vampiric form that I sounded like that.'' Xiao Lin said and concluded within himself.


    The officer who heard how Xiao Lin spoke like he were a real beast, had his lofty eyes narrow instantly.


    "Boy, why did you sound like that?" He asked with curiosity in his eyes.


    However, Xiao Lin didn''t try to speak again.


    "Answer me!" The officer shouted.


    Then Xiao Lin suddenly looked behind the officer with a false dreadful look appearing in eyes and then loudly shouted with his growling beastly voice "Look officer, behind you!"


    The officer who saw the frightful gaze in Xiao Lin''s eyes and could perceive the great sense of urgency in his beast-like tone, quickly turned around to see what was coming for him at his back.


    But immediately he turned around, Xiao Lin leapt towards him and abruptly sank his fangs deep into his neck.


    Puchi!!


    "Arghh!!" The officer screamed in pain and agony from the sudden bite.


    While Xiao Lin who will stop at nothing to kill the officer, continued to drain the man''s blood through the two holes that he made into his neck with his fangs.


    However, he couldn''t take a 1st-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator down just like that. Besides, the officer was a specially trained one, since he was a government officer and not some rogue or unaffiliated cultivator that struggled to get cultivation resources and excellent combat training.


    The officer who was unrestrainedly screaming in a kind of pain that he had never ever felt before in his entire life, and even felt himself growing rapidly weaker with every passing second, grabbed Xiao Lin by the neck and forcefully hurled him off him into the far distance.


    Bang!


    Xiao Lin crashed into the earth fifteen feet away with a lot of force.


    However, he surprisingly sustained no wound from the heavy impact of his body with the hard earth. His skin and bones had become tougher after his Vampire Awakening that they would be able to resist damage to some astonishing degree.


    Xiao Lin who didn''t need his hands to stand back up, floated from the ground to stand back solidly on his feet. It wasn''t Xiao Lin doing this, it was his body, but with just a single thought from Xiao Lin himself.


    The officer saw this spectacle and couldn''t help but be amazed. Then when he saw Xiao Lin''s unique blood-red hair which would actually terrify anyone that saw it, his eyes shone in terror.


    "What is this anomaly and where did it come from?" He questioned himself.


    Then feeling that he still had some degree of strength within him, he suddenly dashed to where Xiao Lin was to capture him. And if he couldn''t, kill him and take his corpse to some people in the government to study and be given some sort of reward.

 Chapter 26 - Battle

    Seeing that the officer was dashing towards him, Xiao Lin quickly summoned the Awakening Doom blade to his hand.


    Once the blade vanished away from his dantian and rematerialized in his hand, Xiao Lin abruptly hurled with all the strength that he could possibly muster at the officer.


    The officer stopped running and then quickly put out his hands to expel a stream of Spiritual Energy from his dantian which then abruptly condensed into a thick shield in front of him.


    However, he was totally wrong about the penetration power of the blade.


    Shrrr!!


    The blade effortlessly pierced through the shield that he quickly produced from his Spiritual Energy and struck him hard in the chest.


    Puchi!


    This sound then rang out when the blade easily cut through the officer''s chest to the back and then out of it with it initial speed and momentum, giving the feeling that it never came across any obstacle in the first place.


    Ripptt!!....


    Blood then speedily gushed out like a fountain from both the connecting wounds at both his chest and back.


    The officer then collapsed to the ground with his knees first, while a look of horror could be seen in his face that showed that he was suffering from great pain.


    Xiao Lin finally sighed in relief.


    He then recalled the Awakening Doom blade which instantly vanished away from where it had stabbed into and teleported to his hand.


    Then with a furious swing, he beheaded the officer.


    Once he did so, he quickly removed the officer''s spatial ring, hat and boot and stowed them away into his spatial ring.


    He then tried to quickly dash away from that place to return to his house, as he couldn''t say if other officers were around too in the area that he was at the moment. They could have heard the officer screeching terrifyingly when he sank his fangs deep into his neck to drain him of his blood.


    A few moment after Xiao Lin had shot off from there, someone suddenly appeared at the place that Xiao Lin beheaded that officer. And without surprise, this person was also an officer.


    His eyes narrowed with intense coldness appearing in them when he saw the headless state of the lifeless body of a good colleague of his.


    "Who dared to do this to an officer working for the government?" He questioned.


    He then said further with anger in his tone to everything around him "I will fish you out and do you the same way you did this officer."


    Then with a thought from him, his Animal Spirit appeared behind him.


    Once it appeared, the officer began to perform mystifying gestures with his fingers.


    When he did the last finger gesture, a sphere of light abruptly expanded out from within his body, enclosing both him and his towering Animal Spirit which rapidly reduced in size to become the same height as him.


    As soon as the radiant sphere enclosed him and his mystically shrunk Animal Spirit, waves of power began to emanate from it, while the colored brilliance that it emitted grew stronger in intensity.


    However, it dimmed in the next instant. But the Animal Spirit that had appeared behind him could no longer been seen there.


    But at the moment, the officer''s form had changed, meaning that his Animal Spirit had merged with him.


    The officer then shut his eyes and tried to perceive the body smell of the killer of the officer lying in his own pool of blood before him.


    When he got it, his eyes snapped open with an inexplicable gaze in his eyes.


    "I told you I will get you" The officer said with a ruthless smile surfacing on his lips.


    He then sprang into action as he began to dash at a furious speed to where the body smell led him to.


    ***


    Xiao Lin had gotten to his house, his mind however was in shambles.


    He knew what it meant killing a government officer. The others will surely troop out to look for him. And possessing all sort of Animal Spirit whose abilities are peculiar and unique, he had a feeling that they could track him to where he was, which was this house.


    ''I definitely can''t stay here any longer. This town now feels greatly unsafe to me. Its best to leave here and go hide myself in any valley that I will come across. And maybe I could hopefully come across a group of bandits in there'' Xiao Lin said inwardly with hope in his heart.


    But just when he would go to the door to leave the house, a loud bang suddenly rang out.


    Bang!


    The door exploded into hundreds of smithereens with someone who had intense blue eyes and pupils shaped like a star, entering the house with an intimidating ferocious aura exuding from his towering, dark grey body.


    But when the person that explosively broke into the house, who was without surprise, that vengeful officer, saw Xiao Lin''s form, his heart shook in marvel and horror.


    ''What sort of dreadful demonical creature is this?'' He asked inwardly with shock and bewilderment in his tone.


    Since he had merged with his Animal Spirit, he too was given the ability to see clearly at night like it was day. So, he could clearly make out Xiao Lin''s horrifying form despite the jet-black darkness of the house.


    The officer then said with both wariness and cautiousness in eyes to Xiao Lin who was quickly thinking of what to do, now that an officer who was at the 2nd-layer Mortal Spiritual stage had angrily bursted into his house "Hey, I believe you can understand my language. Now, what are you and where did you come from? What are you here to to do in my town?"


    Xiao Lin who still frantically thought of what to do next, said with an hideous smile hung on his lips that was stained with blood "I am Bloodfang, a pureblood descendant of the Imperial Ruler of the Bloodsun Empire in the Demon Continent. I only came here to do some things, I would be going back before day breaks"


    The officer heard Xiao Lin''s beastly voice and had amazement set into his heart.


    Then after listening to Xiao Lin''s response to his questions, the officer said with an indifferent gaze in his eyes which he put out to conceal the great amount of wariness that had surfaced in his heart "Well, since you aren''t putting on a robe or cloak that carries the logo of the Bloodsun Empire or whatever you called it, and I can''t see any guard around you to protect you, it shows that you left your dad''s bloody empire without their permission to journey from the Demon World into the Human World. And since you are here in the Human World, and then boldly went as far as killing a colleague of mine, that means I can take you away with me to imprison you at the Demon Cell for the serious crime that you committed, or just kill you right here after delivering judgement upon you for your unbridled evil action."


    After the officer said this, Xiao Lin''s gaze turned frigid, while a palpable intent of slaughter began to emanate from his body.


    He then said with his deep beastly voice ringing out "You will dare to kill me? My mum who is a Supreme Blood Demoness, the Ruler of the Bloodsun Empire, is going to send an army of Devourers to this town to destroy you and everyone else. You want the blood of hundreds of people to be on your hands? I don''t think so."


    Haha!


    The officer grinned.


    He then said "Demon, to be honest with you, I really don''t care about anybody else, except myself. So, your mum who is an empress can go right ahead to slay everyone in this town because I killed you. It''s her problem, so she should deal with it. As for me, all that I am after is to bring you to justice for cold-heartedly beheading a colleague of mine. Nothing mo...."


    BOOM!


    The officer couldn''t even complete his speech when Xiao Lin unexpectedly punched out at him and unleashed a thunderous, tyrannical blast of Blood Energy from his fist which instantly exuded a strongly overwhelming smell of blood upon it appearance in the outside world.


    The officer who had been cautious of Xiao Lin''s action ever since, abruptly released a large stream of green-colored Spiritual Energy from his fist which then rapidly condensed into a massive palm that went ahead at a great speed to ram extremely hard and fiercely into the furious Energy Blast raging towards him.


    BOOM!!!


    The terrifying blast of Blood Energy instantly scattered apart, turning into actual blood that splattered all over the officer''s body, drenching him in blood which began to produce a burning sensation all over his body.


    The officer could however resist the burning sensation that had suddenly manifested on his skin because of the drops of caustic blood that got onto his body from that collision of his attack with the blast that Xiao Lin unleashed.


    And since he was a 2nd-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator, the attack that he sent out at Xiao Lin went towards him like it didn''t come across any obstacle to collide heavily into him.


    But it wasn''t able to successfully hit Xiao Lin with the intention of turning him into a cloud of blood, as Xiao Lin quickly used the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade which he had quickly recalled to his hands from his dantian to slash at the large green Palm condensed from Spiritual Energy.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Once it was struck by the deity-cutting blades , the Palm slashed apart into two and rapidly dispersed since it had lost it form.


    Immediately Xiao Lin destroyed the officer''s Spiritual Energy attack using the blade, he turned around and dashed towards a wall of the house.


    Slash! Slash!


    He abruptly dually-slashed the wall open in an X pattern and then burst out of it to appear in the street.


    Then immediately deploying his Super-Speed ability, he tried to run off in a particular direction to speedily run away from the officer.


    But he hadn''t even gone slightly far when the officer appeared behind him with an intense murderous look in his eyes. Then Xiao Lin knew that he was up for a great battle that will absolutely cost him a lot!

 Chapter 27 - Fury; Killing Xiao Lin

    Xiao Lin couldn''t go far in the direction that he was moving in when the officer chasing after him with murderous intent erupting from his eyes suddenly accelerated and instantly appeared before him.


    Bang!


    Xiao Lin who wasn''t expecting the officer to appear before him suddenly collided into him and then fell to the ground with a heavy thud.


    He however didn''t feel pain from the heavy collision.


    Once he thought of standing to his feet, his body elevated itself above the ground to make him stand back firmly on his feet.


    The officer saw this spectacle and became intensely surprised.


    He then coldly said to Xiao Lin "There is nowhere for you to run to, boy. Surrender now and let me take you with me to receive your punishment"


    "So that you can submit me to some people that would use me for series of experiments?" Xiao Lin unexpectedly asked with coldness in his beastly growling voice.


    Haha!!


    The officer laughed raucously.


    "Well, if you think that''s the truth. Then it''s the truth." He answered with narrowed frigid eyes.


    As they were talking, Xiao Lin was busy looking in his memory for a easily-comprehended battle technique from the plethoric battle techniques mentioned in the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art that he hadn''t tried to take his time to study, due to being carried away by what his Blood Wolf God said about the immense benefits that would be obtained upon becoming a true Vampire.


    Now, he was frantically searching for a battle technique which he could use to engage the officer in a duel to the death, but he understood that it might probably result in his death, since the officer had a higher cultivation base, and would have possibly mastered myriad lower, higher or transcendent-grade Mortal Spiritual-level battle techniques since he was a government officer. But still, thinking of his death dreaded him very much because he had so many things to do and accomplish.


    Not hearing Xiao Lin''s response, the officer asked again and in a fierce tone this time around.


    "Do you surrender now and will follow me willingly on your own?" He asked.


    Xiao Lin unhappily nodded his head.


    "Good!" The officer said with a cold light glowing in his eyes.


    But before the officer could approach Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin quickly recalled the Sorrowful Sea blade to his hand and dashed towards the cultivator using his Super Speed ability and then moved at the the highest speed possible.


    Once he arrived before the officer at the highest velocity that he could achieve, he quickly sent out a fast horizontal slash to the man''s waist to ruthlessly cut him into two.


    The officer who had a smirk expression in his face expertly dodged the horizontal blade slash that Xiao Lin sent out at him and then adeptly knocked off the Sorrowful Sea blade from his hand.


    He was a heavily-trained combatant that Xiao Lin would not be able to really match in terms of fighting prowess.


    Immediately he did this, he grabbed intensely shocked Xiao Lin by the neck and lifted him many feet above the ground using purely the physical strength granted to him by his Animal Spirit in their fused state.


    "You seriously wanted to kill me? So you thought that a sudden attack would work for me?" The officer asked and then applied pressure on Xiao Lin''s neck like he wanted to crush it. This then caused Xiao Lin to feel that he was suffocating.


    Xiao Lin at the moment was in a dilemma, as he didn''t know what to do to kill this cautious officer who also seemed to be able to predict his every move.


    As he was thinking hard of what to do as the officer spoke to him, he suddenly recalled the vision of where he saw a matured version of himself in that ultimate vampiric form.


    In that vision, apart from using his fangs to suck blood from the neck of his adversaries, he could also use his thick claws which he pierced deep into any part of their exceedingly tough bodies to rapidly drain out their blood and life essences and turn turn them into heavily dried-up corpses.


    Once he remembered the inherent, quick blood-drinking ability of his claws from that vision that he suddenly recalled, he prepared himself.


    Suddenly, a dazzling red light that illuminated the entire street appeared and dyed everything with it intense red color.


    Then immediately this happened, the officer who still actually tightly grasped Xiao Lin by the neck, abruptly turned around in fear to see what had suddenly appeared in the street and produced that blinding red light.


    When he quickly turned around to see what brought about the red-colored brilliance that illuminated the entire street and produced a strong feeling of ominousness in his heart, and also induced an overwhelming stygian atmosphere around him and in his mind, he saw Xiao Lin''s colossal Animal Spirit which then roared ragingly at him, producing numerous sound waves that were actually visible in appearance and then shot towards him at furious speeds to impact him with the intent to shred him apart.


    But the adept officer quickly expelled a large stream of Spiritual Energy from his palm which then rapidly condensed into a large dome that enclosed both he and Xiao Lin.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The sound waves heavily blasted into the dome, but it couldn''t rip it apart or penetrate through the dome, since Xiao Lin''s Animal Spirit wasn''t powerful enough yet to be able to contend with a Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator. It would grow alongside Xiao Lin in power, however in leaps and bounds since it was no common-grade Animal Spirit like the others. It was a rare, divinity-grade Beast Battle Spirit.


    Seeing that the officer was now distracted by the sound-bound attacks rampantly unleashed by his Animal Spirit as it roared unceasingly, Xiao Lin quickly got to work.


    Very quickly, he lifted both his arms and sent his thick metal-like claws deep into the arm that the officer used to grab his neck.


    Arghh!!


    The officer screamed out from the intense agonizing pain that suddenly afflicted him.


    Then he felt himself becoming weaker, and that his skin was rapidly visibly aging, giving him the feeling that he was quickly losing his vitality and the very essences that constituted his body.


    Gnashing his teeth really hard because of the continuous pain that Xiao Lin inflicted upon him, he then turned his head away from the corporeal Blood Wolf God that was sending out attacks at him to look at his arm which Xiao Lin had burrowed his razor-sharp claws deep into.


    He then saw how blood and grain-sized, solid lumps of white light quickly moved into Xiao Lin''s body from his arms, through the claws that Xiao Lin pierced deep into them.


    ''He is draining away my blood and my body and life essences?'' He asked in shock inwardly.


    ''This demonic bastard!!''


    Then in the next instant, a type of anger erupted in his heart like a massive explosion took place.


    Ignoring the Blood Wolf God that had now drawn closer to the dome that enclosed both him and Xiao Lin to attack it and possibly rip it to shreds, he clenched his other hand into a fist and sent it really hard at Xiao Lin''s chest.


    Bang!


    Xiao Lin was tyrannically hurled out of the dome and into the far distance of about twenty feet away because of the tremendous amount of force that the fist of the frenzied officer heavily struck him with.


    The officer then abruptly terminated the solid form of the Dome of Spiritual Energy which he quickly produced to protect himself from the physical attacks of Xiao Lin''s Animal Spirit, and then rushed to where Xiao Lin''s body weakly laid in with boundlessly towering anger in his eyes.


    Immediately he got to where Xiao Lin was at a furious speed, he grabbed him by the neck once again and lifted him into the air.


    "This is the price you will pay for doing that to me, you filthy Demon" The officer said and applied a lot of force to crush Xiao Lin''s neck.


    Snap!


    Xiao Lin''s neck made a loud snap sound due to the enormous crushing force that the officer applied on his neck.


    Seeing that he had killed Xiao Lin, he dropped Xiao Lin''s lifeless body to the ground.


    And at this moment, Xiao Lin''s Animal Spirit rapidly vanished away due to Xiao Lin''s death. So, nothing could attack him again.


    The officer then fell with his knees to the ground, with his eyes giving off strong hints of extreme exhaustion, and a feeling that if he didn''t regain some energy few instances later, he could die. But it was not that he was intensely exhausted from the fight, it was just because both his blood and vitality had been sucked away by Xiao Lin''s claws which burrowed deep into his arm and began to drain away the blood that circulated in his body, and the very essences that composed both his body and the fire of his life.


    Then when he looked at the skin of the arm where Xiao Lin''s claws deeply burrowed into, he saw to his shock and horror that the arm had greatly wrinkled, giving him the feeling that his arm had become the arm of a hundred-and-eighty year-old mortal, and that it was rapidly decaying, since pus formed on it and dripped to the ground, while giving off a strongly repulsing rotting smell at the same time.


    Immediately the officer saw this which caused him to feel dread, he quickly looked into his spatial ring to produce healing pills.


    He then swallowed all the pills at once with hope in his heart that the emaciation, wrinkling, and rapid decomposition of his arm would stop.


    ***


    A few moments later, Xiao Lin''s eyelids began to tremble before it snapped fully open.


    ''I can still come back to life?'' He asked with shock inwardly.


    He couldn''t help but be amazed that he could come back from the dead.


    He then recalled that he wasn''t a mortal anymore. He had become something that was similar to True Immortals who lived in the Spirit Continent, or False Immortals that lived in the Holy Continent.


    ''So, being a Vampire would allow me to resist death, like the type if my neck was fully crushed by stronger cultivators? Haha! Good.'' He said inwardly with his heart exploding with unbounded excitement.


    His eyes then furrowed in the next instant when a particular thought struck him ''Since I am now a vampire, the first of it kind, I don''t think it should be possible for me to get killed by any other means. Except probably by beheading or by ripping me apart from the head down into halves or from the waist into two.''


    He then agreed with himself on this and tried standing back to his feet.


    As soon as he thought of standing, his body elevated itself from his lying position on the ground to make him stand back to his feet.


    The officer who still remained where he was with burning hope in his heart that the strange decaying wound that Xiao Lin afflicted upon him would heal, didn''t know that Xiao Lin''s dead body which laid behind him had woken and risen back to it feet.


    Puchi!


    ARGHH!!


    The officer screamed in pain when Xiao Lin''s claws suddenly pierced from his back into his body. Also, the claws of one of his hands pierced through from behind directly into his heart.


    This instantly rendered the officer powerless and immobile, since Xiao Lin''s claws had penetrated into his heart. Then his blood and some of his life essences began to flow into Xiao Lin''s body from the claws that had pierced deep into his body.


    After a pretty long time, like fifteen minutes later, the officer became emaciated. He simply looked like a mortal that had been badly starved for more many months. He then fell to the ground extremely weak. He didn''t even have an ounce of energy to stand back to his feet.


    Xiao Lin then recalled one of the ancient blades residing in his dantian to his hand and used it to behead the officer.

 Chapter 28 - Coming Across The Heavensvault Bandits

    Once he did so, he hurriedly took the spatial ring of the officer, his hat and boots and then ran off in a direction while putting his ears out.


    Now, he had deployed his Enhanced Hearing to listen for any footstep that might be approaching him from far.


    And as he ran, all that was in his mind was to leave the town, since he strongly felt that it was no longer safe for him to stay in.


    So, with his Enhanced Hearing, he tried to perceive the sounds of grasses or leaves from branches of trees that would be swaying in the breeze or wind blowing past them. He wanted to use this as a compass to find his way into the forest, then maybe a valley which was what he was really looking for.


    Not long, with his Super Hearing ability, he was able to locate a place that seemed like hundreds to thousands of trees grew there. He was able to know this using his Echolocation ability which created clear images of what produced those sounds in his head. So, he was able to use them to determine were a large forest was located.


    He then headed for that place where he saw in his mind that large numbers of trees grew in.


    Not long, he arrived there and began to walk past the trees to go to it far depth.


    But before he tried to do so, he shot up towards the branch of a tree and sat down on it.


    He then communicated with his Animal Spirit "Blood Wolf God, how do I revert from my vampiric form to my usual human form?" He asked urgently.


    "Simple. Just think of changing. And you will revert back to your normal human form" His Animal Spirit answered.


    "Oh, okay" Xiao Lin said.


    He then thought of changing back to his human form. And to his surprise, his body immediately transformed.


    His unusually long hair which was blood-red in color, instantly turned dark in color and returned to it previous length before his vampiric transformation. Same with his thick, diamond-lustering claws which grew shorter in length to become ordinary fingernails again. Basically everything about him reverted. However, his skin color didn''t change. It remained as it were, pale in color, like that of a person that was many steps closer to his death.


    Seeing that he had reverted, more like partially reverted, Xiao Lin nodded his head and then leaped down from the large tree branch to continue moving towards the heart, the center of this densely-populated forest.


    ***


    Not long as Xiao Lin moved at a high speed towards the center of the massive forest, a huge, resplendent ray of Spiritual Energy suddenly shot towards him from afar.


    Xiao Lin''s eyes widened in shock from the immenseness of the Spiritual Energy attack that was suddenly launched at him. And as an attack that could kill him, since he could perceive the annihilating power possessed by the Spiritual Energy ray from where he was, Xiao Lin didn''t bother to defend himself from it as he quickly launched himself many feet above the ground and instantly executed an aerial cartwheel above it, cleanly evading the attack in the process.


    Then when he firmly landed back to his feet from his execution of the high-altitude Aerial Cartwheel to evade the unexpected attack, a large number of people dressed in black and wearing masks suddenly appeared before him with Bows, Crossbows, Spears, Blades and other sort of weapons in their hands pointed at him.


    Then someone who was towering in size slowly descended from the air to the ground and looked at Xiao Lin with a cold gaze in his eyes that also had a concealed expression of shock in them.


    This person was surprised at how Xiao Lin dodged his attack. That was a nice evasion skill that Xiao Lin exhibited. Besides, Xiao Lin''s jumping power was bewildering, since he easily achieved a height that only a 7th-layer or 8th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator should be able to achieve. But Xiao Lin easily did it while being a 3rd-layer Spiritual Ascendant. It was very puzzling to him. But he wouldn''t know that Xiao Lin had Increased Physical Strength due to being a Vampire.


    "Brat, who the heck are you and what in the name of bloody hell do you want in the Blackheart Forest?" The man asked with unbridled harshness in his tone.


    Xiao Lin looked at the man and guessed that he was the one that fired that immense Spiritual Energy ray at him, as only he should be able to put out such an enormous ray of Spiritual Energy as an attack due to the cultivation level that he was, which was the Spiritual Firmament Ruler stage, a cultivation stage that one would enter when one breaks through the 11th-layer Spirit Earthking stage; a stage which lies just above the Mortal Spiritual stage.


    And Xiao Lin who had long realized that this must be a bandit group, had a dangerous smile creep up in his heart.


    ''Finally!!''


    He screamed inwardly with an eye that shone with great lust within for all that he wanted and greatly desired, and these were: men, resources, power and fame.


    He then pictured himself killing this bandit group leader and the others who will stand in his way to becoming the leader of this group, and then be worshipped in awe, dread and reverence by the rest of the bandits.


    ''Well, that''s a really long way to go. But I will eventually get there someday. And I will kill absolutely everyone that will stand in my way to seizing the throne of authority to becoming the leader of this group of bandits.'' He said inwardly while concealing his ominous intent from leaking out from him.


    He then quickly gave a bold response to the questions that he was asked by the bandit group leader.


    "Actually, I ran into this forest from a particular town because I killed two Nightwatch government officers who were after me for stealing something from a house that belonged to mortals." Xiao Lin said as he twisted the truth, causing both the leader of the bandit group and the rest of the bandits to open their mouth wide in shock.


    "Kid, you did what?" The bandit leader asked again to confirm what he heard.


    "I killed two government officers that were on patrol this night. Then I decisively ran into this forest to hide myself away so that I wouldn''t be captured and incarcerated by other government officers who are already out and would be looking for me now with wrath and vengeance exuding unboundedly from their bodies." Xiao Lin answered.


    The bandits heard this and couldn''t help but be shocked again. Same with the bandit group leader who began to look at Xiao Lin with an indescribable gaze in his eyes.


    "How did you do that?" The bandit group leader asked.


    "Well, I have my own methods. But it was with unceasing and sudden, unexpected attacks that I could take them down." Xiao Lin responded.


    "Do you have proof of what you did? I don''t want to entirely believe all that you are saying" The bandit group leader said.


    Immediately the bandit group leader asked this, the rest of the bandits looked to see if Xiao Lin would be able to provide evidence of what he claimed that he did.


    Xiao Lin smiled.


    He then produced the two hats and boots that he took from the two officers that he killed.


    Once Xiao Lin dropped these items to the ground for everyone that had eyes to see, the bandits and their leader had their sharply gazing eyes to widen with intense shock.


    "These are government officer''s hats and boots." One said to the others who only nodded their heads in agreements. Then they deeply inhaled with total belief of what Xiao Lin mentioned appearing in heir hearts.


    "Kid, we are a bandit group. Would you like to join? With us, you would be safe!" The bandit group leader quickly said without thinking twice.


    "Yea, I have realized that since and would love to join. But, would I be able to get lot of benefits from this group if I join?" Xiao Lin replied and then asked his own question.


    Haha!


    The bandit group leader laughed raucously.


    He then said "Sure. There are lot of benefits to be obtained. You won''t regret joining this group of mine. Besides, we treat ourselves as brothers in this group, unlike in other groups where they treat their men as actual slaves. So, you would want to join this group and not any other group? Haha!"


    The bandit leader spoke and ended his statement with a laugh.


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    "Alright. I will join." He said.


    The bandit group leader nodded his head.


    He then asked "What would you like to be called?"


    "Bloodfang" Xiao Lin responded.


    "Hmm. That is a dreadful name. I like it." The bandit group leader said and grinned.


    He then said "Alright Bloodfang. Welcome to the Heavensvault Bandit group."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then said "Thank you for accepting me into your bandit group. And I promise to make the biggest and largest contribution to the development of this group."


    Hahahaha!


    The bandit group leader and the rest of the bandits broke into raucous laughter.


    "Well, it''s easier said than done, kid. You are still far from surpassing the achievements that each of us have made. So, buckle up, as you are in for a really long ride of extremely dangerous adventures that is filled to the brim with near-death experiences. Haha!" Someone came forward and said with laughter while Xiao Lin only nodded his head with an indecipherable smile hung on his lips.

 Chapter 29 - Taking A Blood Oath

    Then the bandit group leader said to everyone "Let''s go everyone. We would come back here another time. We can''t do anything here again."


    Everyone nodded their heads and then began to walk with him to where they left their beasts slightly far in the depth of the thick, massive forest.


    As Xiao Lin walked with the bandit leader to where the beasts were, he said to him with a curious gaze in his eyes "I guess you were all waiting to rob items that would be transported by certain carriages at this time of the night, right? But because of my sudden appearance, and because of government officers that may already be on my trail, you have decided to painfully postpone your mission till another time."


    The bandit leader looked at Xiao Lin and nodded his head.


    "You are right, Bloodfang. Besides, we aren''t sure if any carriage carrying a particular item will move in this forest. The information that I got from some of my men out there in the town about the movement of the carriage might be either wrong or false. However, not all of us will leave. Some of my men will remain behind to watch for that carriage. Who knows, it may eventually pass here. But perhaps later in the night." The bandit leader said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Not long, they got to where the beasts were in the depth of the large forest.


    "Deathwind, give your beast to Bloodfang to ride. Let''s treat our new member well" The bandit group leader suddenly said.


    The person named Deathwind became shocked by what their leader unexpectedly said.


    "But, why me?" Deathwind asked with concealed anger in his tone.


    "What?!" The bandit group leader asked with coldly glinting eyes.


    He then queried further with fury beginning to burn in his bright, fierce eyes "You dare to question my authority, Deathwind?"


    "No, I dare not!" Deathwind hurriedly replied in fear of what their leader might do to him.


    "Good! Now, go ride with anyone else." The bandit group leader said while Deathwind nodded his head while gazing angrily at Xiao Lin who only smiled amicably at him.


    Then when Deathwind got to another wild beast that someone was already sitting on, he asked for the permission of that person to climb his beast which the person smilingly nodded to. Deathwind then climbed atop the back of the wild beast to seat directly behind that person that was already seated on the beast. Now, they were going to manage the beast together to go to their lair which was way deeper in the enormous forest that was heavily populated with tall, large-canopied trees.


    "Thank you, leader" Xiao Lin said while the bandit group leader laughed raucously.


    "Don''t call me that, Bloodfang. Call me by my moniker, Nine Calamities"


    "Okay" Xiao Lin spoke with an understanding nod of his head.


    He then said "Thank you, senior Nine Calamities."


    The bandit group leader who was called Nine Calamities only nodded his head and said "Alright everyone. Let''s ride to our den to prepare for another day of robbery"


    The bandits spoken to nodded their heads in agreement, then they shot away on the backs of their beasts with their leader, Nine Calamities, to the far depth of the forest where their lair which was totally hidden from view was located.


    ***


    Moving at high speeds on their towering, grey-skinned, horse-like beasts, they eventually got to where their lair was.


    When Xiao Lin saw their lair, he shook his head with amazement in his eyes.


    ''This should be a treasure, I guess. But these guys are kinda rich. Nice!'' He said inwardly.


    The lair that they had gotten to was more like a castle that was entirely painted in black. But it gave the feeling that it wasn''t one that was erected here by mortals using plastering sand, concrete and cement, but that it was a treasure; a shelter-type artifact forged by master-level Artifact Casters, since it blackness, which was the color that it was totally painted with, softly gleamed like it were a polished metal in the tiny rays of moonlight that passed through the gaps between the dense clusters of trees that surrounded the castle.


    And, although it looked small in size from the outside and gave the definite feeling that it should only be able to contain about ten to fifteen people, Xiao Lin however knew that once he went in, he wouldn''t be surprised to find that the castle would easily hold hundreds of people at once, and would still have more space to accommodate a few hundred people more.


    Then when they got down from their beasts, the bandits moved into the castle to go to their rooms and do some things that they had in mind. While Nine Calamities who was following behind them, started speaking to Xiao Lin again to inform him of some things that he won''t be really aware about.


    "Bloodfang, everyone here have all signed blood oaths to me, to this group. And I believe that you should know what I mean by that?" Nine Calamities asked with one of his brows furrowed.


    "Yes, senior Nine Calamities. I think I understand what that is. It must either be a single or numerous contract pages that requires the Oath taker to sign with their blood. So, with the blood oath that one has signed, one will try not to do anything that will jeopardize the group, betray any member of the group, or engage in something that will lead it to destruction. Is that it, or I am wrong?" Xiao Lin answered and then questioned.


    "Yes, Bloodfang. You are completely right." Nine Calamities said with a smile in his face.


    He then produced a blank, white-colored page from his spatial ring and gave to Xiao Lin.


    "This is the Blood Oath paper. Now, cut a finger and allow a single drop of blood to drip from it onto the contract page." Nine Calamities said, instructing Xiao Lin on what to do. .


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and readily accepted the Blood Oath paper to sign on it using his blood.


    Although Xiao Lin was going to sign, despite the wicked intentions that he had for the group in his heart, especially for the bandit group leader, he however felt that the mysterious power contained in the Blood Oath paper shouldn''t really have any horrific consequential effect on him, since he was a dead person. He had long understood that he was a living, walking corpse who could only nourish himself with the blood of others. Therefore, with this line of reasoning, he strongly believed that the mystifying power imbued into the Blood Contract page shouldn''t have any effect upon his life if he tried to hurt any of them in the soonest future, as he was a non-living entity; a Vampire. So, he wasn''t worried about signing it.


    Once his train of thoughts stopped, and with an indecipherable smile now surfacing on his cold lips, he cut a finger of his open with a claw and then pressed blood to drop out from the cut.


    Immediately blood dropped from the cut in his finger onto the blank, white-colored page, the blood began to diffuse round the whole paper. That drop of Xiao Lin''s blood actually began to spread to all corners of the white paper to dye it in the color of blood.


    Once the permeation ended, a single, large cryptic symbol that was dark purple in color, instantly appeared on the surface of the now blood-colored paper. Then in the next second, the enigmatic dark-purple symbol that had surfaced on the blood-red paper, actually leaped off of it and shot straight into Xiao Lin''s body like a purple ray of light.


    Xiao Lin slightly shuddered as he felt something penetrate into his body. He however wasn''t bothered with that thing, since he believed that the contract will fail, or be nullified due to not meeting the requirements of signing with a real living being.


    When the symbol appeared and shot into Xiao Lin''s body, Nine Calamities grinned and nodded his head.


    He then said to Xiao Lin with a solemn expression in his face "Bloodfang, you are now one of us. And don''t ever think of betraying us, or do anything that will jeopardize any of our missions, because if you do, you will die a really terrible death. That anciently occultic symbol that entered your body will see to it that you die a gruesome death, if you do anything that will bring about the desolation or ruination of this group. Am I clear?"


    Xiao Lin nodded.


    "Good!" Nine Calamities said with a smile on his face.


    He then kept the Blood Oath paper into his spatial ring and walked away to his own room in the castle to start his cultivation and comprehension of some Battle Methods. He actually left Xiao Lin alone to figure out for himself what he had to do in this place.


    But as he headed to his room with a smile in his face, he didn''t know that the Blood Oath paper that Xiao Lin signed on had turned black in color, and that the binding symbol that shot into Xiao Lin''s body to stay in there had lost it form and had crumbled into pieces.

 Chapter 30 - Xiao Lin Proposes A Battle

    Once the symbol crumbled into fragments within him, Xiao Lin gave a bright smile.


    "I knew it!" He said and nodded his head.


    He then proceeded to find a room in the castle to stay.


    Just when he was about to walk in any direction to find a room to dwell in, someone suddenly appeared and called our for him.


    "Bloodfang, did our boss give you a place to stay?" The person asked concernedly.


    "No. He only told me about the blood contract which he gave to me to sign and then left. Perhaps he wanted me to find a place for myself without any direction from him" Xiao Lin responded.


    "Oh, alright. Anyways, there is this room that I can take you to. It''s vacant. You could have there for yourself." The person replied.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    "Thanks. I will be most grateful." He said appreciatively.


    The person nodded his head with a smile in his face.


    He then said "Come with me."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then walked by this person''s side to a place in the large castle.


    After ten minutes of walking along a large hallway in the castle, they finally arrived before a room with bronze doors.


    "So Bloodfang, this room is vacant. You can have it for yourself." The person said.


    "Okay. Thank you. I appreciate this!" Xiao Lin said while the person just nodded.


    Then when the person was about to turn around and leave, someone suddenly appeared from behind and said to the person that brought Xiao Lin here.


    "Hey Shadow Reaper, this room has been taken. If you still have the time, take this person to another place in the castle." The person said.


    This person was without surprise, Deathwind. He had come out of a room that was adjacent to the room that Shadow Reaper brought Xiao Lin to.


    "Oh really? Well, I will leave you guys to settle that between yourselves. I am leaving." Shadow Reaper said with a smile.


    But before Shadow Reaper could turn around to leave, Xiao Lin said to him with a cold smile surfacing on his pale-white lips.


    "I understand what you did here, Shadow Reaper. You brought me here so that this donkey can either insult or humiliate me, right?" He asked with intensifying coldness in his voice.


    Shadow Reaper gave a smile.


    He then nonchalantly said "If that''s what you think, then you are right. I have no time to give explanations to a damned newbie. In fact, an inferior. Then let me warn you, you should be careful of how you give bad names in here, or you will be dead faster than you know it. I have said my piece. It''s up to you to use your wisdom and intelligence to avoid troubles and problems in here."


    Once Shadow Reaper said that, he turned around to leave, turning a deaf ear to whatever Xiao Lin may say or talk about.


    After Shadow Reaper left, Deathwind looked at Xiao Lin and said with a frigid tone in his voice "Brat, leave here this moment. This room has been taken"


    Xiao Lin looked at Deathwind and said with a chilling tone in his voice "And you think I would leave because you told me to? Haha! I am going nowhere, Deathwind. This room is already mine. Whoever has it should come to me."


    Deathwind looked at Xiao Lin with a smirk and asked "Then what will you do to the inhabitant of the room?"


    "I will ask him to engage in a battle with me. So whoever wins, takes the room. Also, the loser will surrender his spatial ring to the winner" Xiao Lin said with a cryptic smile appearing in his sickly-looking face.


    He then raised his hand to begin to flash one of the officers'' ring worn on one of his fingers before Deathwind, who then looked at it with eyes that glittered with extreme greed.


    Xiao Lin had long removed his own supreme-grade spatial ring and stowed it into the officer''s average-quality spatial ring. He couldn''t risk showing that one off to anyone, as he was sure that the bandit leader himself will definitely command him to give him his spatial ring.


    ''That is that spatial ring that belonged to that government officer which this damned fool was able to fortunately kill. If I accept the battle that he proposes and I beat him, I will take the ring for myself. And I am sure as hell that there would be lots of cultivation items and treasures in that spatial ring. Haha! This is certainly my lucky night. This fool just enriched me.'' Deathwind said within himself as he contemplated a lot of things.


    He then looked at Xiao Lin and said with a concealed delighted tone in his voice "Actually, I am also the owner of this room. So, since you have proposed a battle to the owner of this room, you have proposed a battle to me."


    He then spoke further by asking with an indescribable light in his eyes "When should we fight?"


    Xiao Lin gave a broad smile that was indecipherable to Deathwind.


    "When should we fight? Of course now!" He said out loud with eagerness in his voice.


    Haha!


    Deathwind laughed.


    He then said "Then let''s go outside the castle and battle it out. Our colleagues have been wanting to see to a good fight ever since. So, let''s entertain them."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then left where he was to head to back to the land outside the castle. Same with Deathwind who followed directly behind Xiao Lin.


    Not long, they arrived at the rectangular-shaped area of land that was before the castle. Then both of them walked to stand at the opposite ends of the land.


    Now facing each other with cold gazes in their eyes, they silently prepared to fight each other.


    "Guys! Come out of your damned rooms this moment! There is a fight happening between a pro and that newbie that slayed a government officer! Come out now or you will miss a lot. And you will be definitely hurt!" Someone who saw both Xiao Lin and Deathwind walk to the land to face off against each other screamed out in excessive delight.


    Then in the next second, many other bandits trooped out of their rooms to come see the fight that this person had abruptly announced to them.


    Then one that appeared by the side of the person that quickly made the announcement of a fight, alongside hundreds of others who rushed out of their rooms in the castle so they could witness the entire battle, suddenly asked with an intensely curious gaze in his eyes "Iron Smasher, Is it a duel to the death?"


    The person called Iron Smasher shook his head and said "Killerblade, there are no murderous intents ensuing from either of the two of them. So, probably not. But whatever their battle is, let''s sit back and watch. It has been a really long time we witnessed this kind of wondrous occasion."


    Haha!


    Killerblade laughed raucously with an agreeable nod of his head.


    He then looked at Xiao Lin who was coldly gazing at Deathwind that only coldly gazed back at him with a perceivable aura of victory beginning to emanate from his body.


    Then seeing that nearly everyone had gathered to watch them fight, they suddenly rushed towards each other with battle intents beginning to discharge like furious tides from their bodies.

 Chapter 31 - Winning The Battle

    Once Deathwind got in front of Xiao Lin, he sent his fist out at Xiao Lin who only sidestepped to the left to evade the incoming punch. He then suddenly spun on the ball of his foot to send a heavy kick at Deathwind''s stomach. However, Deathwind dodged the kick by abruptly doing an aerial cartwheel over it, landing firmly at the other side.


    "Nice! Haha!"


    "Finish the newcomer. He knows nothing!"


    The bandits who had gathered to watch the battle began to scream out all kind of words in amazement and delight from where they were as they watched the battle.


    Deathwind looked at Xiao Lin with a smile in his face.


    "I am going to bring you down. Then I will take your money and make you my bitch in this place." He said.


    "Haha! In your dreams" Xiao Lin said with a cold and hideous smile appearing in his face.


    Then since Deathwind dared to arrogantly say that he was going to make him become his bitch, he made up his mind to make Deathwind experience intense pain and agony.


    Then all of a sudden, he dashed towards Deathwind who also dashed towards him to strike him down.


    When they got in front of each other, both of them sent out their fists ragingly at the other.


    Bang!


    Both of their fists connected with the other and resulted in a loud, explosion-like sound to ring out, which was simply due to the amount of forces carried by both fists. Then in the next instant, an actual ripple surfaced from the point at which their fists collided and then swept out into the surroundings, pushing the air in it path away.


    Xiao Lin remained where he was with an evil smile in his face since he knew what he had done, while Deathwind who continued to stagger backwards for many feet by the force transmitted to his body and acted unbridledly on him, was only able to regain his stability many moments later.


    Then all of a sudden, he screamed out in shock, misery and pain when he realized in the next moment that his fist had been reduced into a bloody mess.


    At this point in time, his entire hand had disappeared, leaving only the bone at his wrist to be seen, with blood continuously spurting out of tiny gaps in there like they were a small fountain.


    Seeing what had unexpectedly happened which gave them a great shock, then to quickly help him ease or reduce the tremendous pain that would begin to afflict him, many of Deathwind''s friends who could see how Deathwind had suddenly become horribly pale-skinned and miserable due to the intense pain now beginning to afflict him, quickly shot out from where they were towards him to help him.


    When they got to his side, some of them quickly put some of the healing pills that they produced from their spatial rings into his mouth. Then after typing up that hand which had been reduced into a bloody mess with a thick piece of cloth to stop the bleeding and spurting of blood, they quickly carried him away to a place in the castle where a contracted physician would help him heal.


    As they did this, some of them who remained behind looked at Xiao Lin with intense anger in their eyes, and palpable auras of vengeance exuding from their scarred bodies, showing that they had been involved in a lot of battle. Then they angrily harrumphed and went away.


    So, just like that, the battle had abruptly come to an end with Xiao Lin becoming the winner. Therefore, that meant he had won the bet, and would be expecting Deathwind''s spatial ring since that was what was he used to bet with for their room ownership battle. However a thought suddenly flashed in his head that made his face turn hideous.


    ''What if he decides not to give me his spatial ring, or chose to give me an empty one?'' Xiao Lin asked within himself.


    He then broke a sinister smile in his face.


    ''Then he must be ready to give me his puny life'' Xiao Lin said within.


    Once he thought this, he turned around to go back to that room which he won to reside in. And as he did so, to leave the battleground, the rest of his colleagues there began to look at him with strange and incomprehensible gazes in their eyes.


    ***


    "How was he able to do that?" One of the many bandits that still remained behind at where Xiao Lin and Deathwind fought, asked the others around him with a deeply puzzled expression in his face immediately after Xiao Lin left.


    "I don''t really know too. It''s something that I am still trying to figure out" One sharply responded once that question was asked.


    Then the person that rolled out that particular question to everyone said in a partially certain tone "Perhaps Bloodfang is also body cultivator. Or what do you guys think?"


    "Yea. That''s also the only thing that I can think off too, since he was able to produce a force that caused Deathwind''s fist to explode into bits upon collision with his fist." Another person said, then everyone nodded their heads in agreement to what he said.


    "I guess we would have to really watch out for him then. Ever since I saw him, I have been getting this feeling of doom and disaster. He is like the harbinger of destruction that might cause ruination and desolation to come upon us all. And you guys shouldn''t try to refute me or disbelieve my statement. With one of the abilities of my Animal Spirit which is Precognitive Intent Perception, I was able to have this sense of danger about him. That boy is not really who we think he may be. Therefore, we all have to be very careful about him. We have to be extremely cautious in our dealings with him. I have warned you guys. So, it''s up to you guys to do as I have advised, if you don''t want to bring a bad fate upon yourselves." A bandit called Rainheart said.

 Chapter 32 - Xiao Lins First Banditry Mission

    Xiao Lin who had a powerful hearing broke a smile in his face when he heard what the bandit, Rainbeart said.


    ''I have to be careful with this person till I have the chance to kill him, or he might expose me to the bandits who would then try to attack me since they would see me as an extreme threat to them.'' He said within himself.


    He then recalled when he destroyed Deathwind'' s fist and gave a smile.


    He understood that what he did there was very tyrannical of him. But he enjoyed it.


    Then he began to ponder that those bandits would think that he was also a body cultivator apart from being a Spiritual Energy cultivator, whereas he wasn''t. Ever since he died and resurrected as a vampire, his body had become more tougher and stronger than those of his peers at the same cultivation stage which was the Spiritual Ascendance stage. So, his body which had been toughened to an unusually high degree, would be able to reduce the fist of Deathwind to a bloody mess. However, the only people that he couldn''t go fist to fist with were Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators, the stage just above the Spiritual Ascendance stage, or they would simply shatter his body into pieces, as comparing the two stages together was like comparing a bison to an elephant.


    When he got to his room and laid on his bed to sit down and look through the battle techniques in the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art that was transmitted to his memory by Lin Shou Wen, the Demonic Blade King, a knock was suddenly heard on his door.


    Knock!


    Once the knock sounded out, Xiao Lin''s eyes snapped open after he had closed them to begin reading through the battle art in his mind.


    Then without standing from where he sat, he asked "Who is there?"


    "You don''t have to know who is there. Open this door now and come out to see me." The arrogant voice of someone at his door sounded out.


    Xiao Lin''s eyes narrowed.


    ''What an arrogant prick'' He said within.


    He then closed his eyes back to begin to read through the art in his head.


    Knock!


    A knock sounded out again. And this time, loudly, giving the feeling that the person at the door was exceedingly furious.


    Xiao Lin''s eyes then snapped open once again with anger surfacing in his sharp-looking eyes.


    "What''s wrong with you? What do you want?" Xiao Lin asked in a loud, vexed tone where he sat at.


    "I want you to open this door and come out to see me, now! I have something from Master Nine Calamities to tell you." The person answered.


    "Is that why you can''t sensibly ask nicely? Instead of arrogantly going about it like you are on top of the universe?" Xiao Lin asked.


    Once Xiao Lin asked that question, the person at the door to his room shook hard.


    ''Did this damned newbie just say that to me? Haha! Very good!'' The person asked within himself with great shock in his tone.


    "I am waiting!" The person angrily and impatiently said out loud.


    "Relax your impatient, arrogance-riddled mind, I am coming out to see you now" Xiao Lin said and then stood from where he sat to go open the door and see the person that was impatiently demanding for his presence.


    Creak!


    Pah!


    Once the door of his room creaked open and Xiao Lin stepped out to appear before this person, a heavy slap that took Xiao Lin by shock and caused him to stagger backwards by many feet as it carried a lot of force, was suddenly delivered in his face.


    His eyes then immediately shone with rage because he had just been slapped.


    But before he could go ahead to do anything, like immediately kick this person hard at the groin region to burst his balls or deliver a massively heavy punch in the person''s face to possibly shatter it apart, he saw that this person was at the 10th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage. He then immediately calmed.


    However, the rage in his eyes didn''t disappear, as he looked on with it at the person who only gave a smile and patiently waited for Xiao Lin to retaliate, just so he could really beat him up and teach him a strongly reverberating lesson not to behave prideful and haughty before his senior colleagues.


    "What message do you bring from Master Nine Calamities?" He asked.


    "Come with me. He wants to discuss something with you." The person said with a sneering smile in his face.


    Xiao Lin saw the mockery expression in his face and only swallowed the insult for now, and with a strong belief appearing in his heart that a time for him to retaliate would surely come.


    He then began to follow behind this person who had a thick air of arrogance circulate about him.


    Five minutes later, they got to where Master Nine Calamities resided.


    Then the person that Xiao Lin followed behind knocked on the door of Master Nine Calamities room and said "Master, I have brought him here."


    "Alright. The door is open. Tell him to come in." Master Nine Calamities''s voice rang from within the room.


    The person nodded his head and then turned around to look at Xiao Lin.


    "Kid, go in." He said.


    Xiao Lin looked at him with an indecipherable smile appearing in his face. He then nodded his head and headed towards the door of Master Nine Calamities''s room.


    When he appeared in front of it, he turned the handle which caused the door to open.


    Then when he stepped in, he closed the door behind him and quickly bowed to Master Nine Calamities who sat on a throne with many scantily-clad ladies dancing around him with smiles in their faces.


    "Bloodfang my boy. Hahaha! I heard of your amazing battle with Deathwind and that you taught him a powerful lesson not to underestimate anyone with a lower cultivation base." Nine Calamities said.


    "Well, I tried my best to teach him a good lesson that he wouldn''t forget for the rest of his one-handed life." Xiao Lin said.


    Hahahaha!


    Master Nine Calamities nodded his head as he grinned.


    Then when he stopped laughing a few moments later, he said with a serious expression appearing in his face.


    "Due to your staggering battle prowess and unwavering ruthlessness, I have totally made up mind to allow you join the thirty-five bandits team that is going to raid a particular street that has several treasure stores at noon."


    "That''s the only time of the day that we can quickly carry out that mission, or it would fail and result in many casualties for my loyal men."

 Chapter 33 - Threat

    Once Master Nine Calamities said that, Xiao Lin shook.


    However, he got a grip on himself in the next instant.


    He then unexpectedly asked "Master, hope you mind if I suggest that we carry out the operation in the evening? Like when the sun has gone down?"


    Master Nine Calamities look at Xiao Lin with a deeply puzzled expression in his face. Then he asked "Why should we go in the evening?"


    "Because I feel that the evening is best. You know, the blinding rays of the glaring sun would affect our eyesight during the day, lowering our performance." Xiao Lin said while Master Nine Calamities broke into a loud raucous laughter.


    Hahahaha!!


    "Boy, no matter the weather condition, we cultivators can operate in any. We aren''t mortals that will suffer from the blinding brilliance of the brightly gleaming sun in the day." Master Nine Calamities said.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then began to think of what next to say to convince the leader of the bandits.


    "Actually Master, why I suggested that we shouldn''t go in the day but in the evening was because of me. When I was brought into this world, I came with an extremely rare body condition that causes me to suffer whenever I enter the sun."


    "I will suddenly develop this unbearable hotness within me whenever I come under the sun, making me uncomfortable and lowering my battle prowess in the process. Also, it makes me feel extremely lightheaded, like only my head is actually floating. These feelings that I would feel will drastically lower by combat prowess" Xiao Lin said


    Master Nine Calamities looked at Xiao Lin with an intensely surprised expression in his face.


    "Hmm. What kind of appalling skin condition is that? And since you became a cultivator, why didn''t it disappear? The thing is, every sicknesses, diseases or illnesses that a mortal suffers would immediately vanish when they become a cultivator. So I am extremely surprised that yours didn''t leave or lessen in strength" He said with deep astonishment in his eyes.


    "Well, my mother who gave birth to me in the night in a particular forest since our place was attacked and razed down by some evil marauders, said that when she gave birth to me there, a mysterious, white-haired old man that had the air of a powerful expert flow around him, appeared to her and said that I had a terrible skin condition which would make me to suffer whenever I enter the sun, and then develop greatly agonizing pains if i stay longer under it."


    "He then said further that the only way to lower the effects of this terrible condition of mine was to become a cultivator, then that the only way to fully erase it off was to become a high-level one, before the disease would eventually disappear, since at that time, the Spiritual Energy that I had cultivated to a great level would tackle the condition that I was born with and destroy the root cause of it by purging my body totally free of all forms of accumulated environmental negative energies, filths, toxins and illness-causing foreign particles." Xiao Lin said with an unchanging solemn countenance in his face, and a calm rhythmic pattern of his heartbeat as he tried his possible best to smoothly convince Master Nine Calamities.


    "Hmm." Master Nine Calamities uttered and then shook his head with a piteous expression in his face. He was actually feeling pity for Xiao Lin because of what he said.


    "Just as soon as you were brought into this world, you came with a devastating body condition. Well, I believe that it would totally disappear someday if you can train yourself to reach a high stage in your cultivation, right?" Master Nine Calamities said and then asked.


    "Yes, Master" Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then gazing at Xiao Lin, he asked with a curious look in his eyes "Is it that condition that you spoke about that is responsible for the extreme sickly paleness of your skin?"


    "Yes, Master Nine Calamities" Xiao Lin replied with a nod.


    "Hmm. Alright." Master Nine Calamities said.


    He then spoke further by saying "Well, I can''t cancel or shift my raiding plan because of you. I only wanted to add you to the thirty-five bandits team that I assembled together to go break into some Treasure Houses in a particular street to steal a rumored, broken heaven-grade Spiritual Artifact for me"


    "But since you wouldn''t be able to go due to your rare body condition and will only become a liability to them if you are allowed to move with them, you can stay behind and cultivate. Then maybe when I have some mission another time that requires evening operation, I will let you go."


    "Okay Master" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    "If that would be all Master, can I return to my room?" Xiao Lin asked.


    Nine Calamities nodded his head.


    "Yea, you can go back to your room" He answered.


    Xiao Lin then turned around and headed towards the door to leave Nine Calamities''s room.


    As soon as he came out and closed the door behind him, Xiao Lin heavily exhaled.


    ''Wow. That was really close.'' He said within himself.


    He then broke a smile in his face as he headed for his room.


    But on his way, he came across someone that looked at him with an unrestrained murderous gaze in his eyes. Then he felt that for him to meet this person exuding a sinister aura from his body here, perhaps the person had been waiting for him to come out of Master Nine Calamities''s room. Then when he looked at the person''s cultivation stage, he saw that the person was in the Half-Step Mortal Spiritual stage.


    "No wonder you have the boldness to come and stand before me because you think you have a cultivation stage that''s higher than my own." Xiao Lin said with an indifferent smile hung on his lips.


    "And I can see that you don''t have any respect for even your cultivation seniors" The person replied with a heavy tone in his voice.


    Then before Xiao Lin could speak, the person who was looking at Xiao Lin''s pale-colored skin said with a wicked smile surfacing in his face "Anyways, why I waited around here for you freak to appear is to tell you that your days in this place are numbered, since you think that you can fearlessly and arrogantly act unbridled in this place. If you won''t submit to us, your seniors in this place, then be prepared to live a torturous life before dying a sudden, cold gruesome death."


    Xiao Lin who totally understood that he would quickly make many enemies here ever since he destroyed Deathwind''s fist, only smiled inwardly at what this person before him said.


    Then before the person could turn around to leave, Xiao Lin calmly said with a mischievous and sinister smile appearing in his face "My days here are numbered? It sounds to me more like you came here to tell me that your days in this place are numbered. Haha! Well, don''t worry yourself too much about that, I will see what I can do about it. Just know that soon, you should find yourself six feet under the ground."


    Xiao Lin then walked past the side of the greatly dumbfounded person to head back to his room and carry out what he had in mind.

 Chapter 34 - Demon Marks

    When Xiao Lin appeared in his room, he went to seat down in the cross-legged state to go through the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art branded to his memory.


    So with his eyes closed, he began to go through the art and it various tyrannical battle techniques.


    As he did so, he suddenly came across an information that told him how he was going to cultivate the battle art.


    ''Way of the Demonic Blade battle art requires that the user extract the blood essences of others and


    condense them in one''s dantian into True Demonic Marks. Then after many cycles of evolution, the True Demonic Marks would transform into Great Devil Marks. Now, by following the method in this art, one''s battle power will shoot up to a tremendous degree that adversaries will be absolutely horrified.


    Below is a list of all the demonic marks that the user of this art should condense in his or her dantian to achieve great leaps in battle power.


    _____


    {Demonic Mark Condensation Levels}:


    Demon Enthusiast - 900 demonic marks.


    Demon Descendant - 2,700 demonic marks.


    Demonic Warrior - 8,100 demonic marks.


    Alpha Demonic Warrior - 24,300 demonic marks.


    Omega Demonic Warrior - 72,900 demonic marks.


    Great Demonic Prime - 218,700 demonic marks.


    Grand Demonic Prime - 656,100 demonic marks.


    ....


    {Devil Mark Transformation}


    [At this level, the Demonic Marks changes into Devil Marks]


    -> Therefore, 1 Devil Mark = 1,000 Demon Marks.


    ******


    Demon Monarch - 19,683 devil marks.


    Minor Demon God - 59,049 devil marks.


    Great Demon God - 177,147 devil marks.


    Chaotic Demonic Ruler - 531,441 devil marks.


    ...


    {Great Devil Mark Transformation}


    -> At this level, the Devil Marks changes into Great Devil Marks.


    Therefore, 1 Great Devil Mark = 1,000 Devil Marks.


    ******


    Infinite Cosmic Demon Empyrean - 1,594,323 great devil marks.


    Profound Draconic Demon Overlord - 4,782,969 great devil marks.


    Supreme Transcendental Demon King - 14,348,907 great devil marks.


    Nirvanic Heavenly Demon Master - 43,046,721 great devil marks.


    Origin Devil Lord Emperor - 129,140,163 great devil marks.


    Nascent High Devil Primal Sovereign - 387,420,489 great devil marks.


    Absolute Devil Incarnate - 1,162,261,467 great devil marks.


    ___


    When Xiao Lin finished going through the list of demon marks condensation and their respective levels and transformation levels, his eyes couldn''t help but open really wide in shock at the massive numbers of people that he was going to kill to obtain extreme, world-shaking battle power.


    So, according to the information mentioned in the art, Xiao Lin would have to kill one person to extract their blood essences and condense it into a single demon mark in his dantian.


    And as an elaboration, for him to enter just the Demon Enthusiast level which was the first Mark Condensation level for the purely evil battle art lit up like a dazzling sun in his head, he would have to kill approximately nine-hundred (900) people to extract their blood essences and condense them into nine hundred (900) demon marks in his dantian.


    Then to enter the Demon Monarch level which was the stage at the Devil Mark Transformation Stage, he would have to kill 1,968,300 people to condense 19,683 Devil marks or 1,968,300 Demon marks in his dantian. And there were still the levels at the Great Devil Mark Transformation stage which required exceedingly high numbers of people to condense their blood essences into Great Devil Marks in his dantian.


    When Xiao Lin thought all these, he couldn''t help but aggressively shake his head and scream within himself ''Heavens! This is great, unparalleled evil!''


    He then exhaled heavily at the imagined difficulty of practicing the tyrannical, brutally devilish art.


    However, he wasn''t shaken by what he saw and instead made up his mind to kill those amounts of people to obtain massive leaps in his battle power which would make him become an unmatched and unquestionable Demonic Hegemon.


    Then a definite thought struck him that no wonder his master, Lin Shou Wen, the Demonic Blade King was gathered upon by most of the formidably powerful, top sects and societies in different continents in their cultivation universe to kill him due to his unspeakable, unimaginable evil.


    ''I doubt Master himself reached those stages that he created. If not, he should be undefeatable.'' Xiao Lin reasoned within himself.


    He then said "Well, since I am to continue Master''s legacy, I will try my best to reach those extreme stages."


    "I want to become the second strongest demonic blade king in the universe. I will strike great fear and tremendous terror in the hearts and souls of every falsely and perfectly righteous or heroic cultivators that I will meet on my way to the acme of unmatched power in this universe"


    Once Xiao Lin said these, a thick visible aura of indomitability and unsurpassed viciousness began to exude from his body unceasingly.


    The overbearing aura that he began to emit from his body which was dark in color, will produce a grim feeling in anyone and bring down upon them, an highly oppressive, stygian atmosphere that will seek to suppress them and overwhelm their minds and bodies, utterly crushing their resolves and compelling them to only sorrowfully wait for their destructions or deaths.


    When Xiao Lin opened his sharp-looking eyes with an evil and cold gleam erupting from them, the dark devilish aura boundlessly discharging from his body retracted back into it.


    He then stood to his feet with a thought in his head.


    ''I have to reach the Demon Enthusiast level by all means. I want to quickly gain power to go face my father and free my loving mom. It''s all I totally care about for now.''


    As he was deeply pondering on how to go about this, he suddenly recalled the disciples of Master Wu that forced him to fall to his death.


    Then an ominous smile appeared in his face upon recalling them.


    Haha!


    He began to grin evilly.


    "You arrogant and lordly pricks will be the first to donate your sweet blood essences to me." He said with a dreadful, sinister tone in his voice.


    Although he didn''t know where the sect was really located but that it was on the top of a mountain in that particular valley that he crashed into, he however made up his mind to find a way to get to that sect and wickedly reap their tiny, insignificant lives.

 Chapter 35 - Interrogated; Threatened

    He then left his room to go outside the castle.


    When he arrived there, he met a few bandits still standing outside and were discussing about many things . They were already used to being very active at night.


    When Xiao Lin appeared, they began to look at him with strange gazes in their eyes.


    Xiao Lin ignored their gazes and approached them with a smile in his face.


    "Hello guys" He greeted.


    The bandits nodded their heads at his greeting.


    Xiao Lin then proceeded to ask them a question.


    "Are you guys very familiar with all the valleys in this town?" He asked


    The bandits nodded their heads with one saying "Actually, there are only two valleys that can be found at the outskirts of this town. Assuming you asked how many valleys that we have in the city that this town is in, then we would have no idea about that since we don''t operate in the city but only in this town. However, since you mentioned only this town, there are only two of it."


    "Hmm" Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then proceeded to ask them another question "So, do you guys know any of any sect that can be found on the top of a mountain in any of the two valleys that you mentioned?"


    "Sect?" One asked while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then they began to look at him with intensely strange gazes in their eyes.


    At this point in time, they were thinking of so many things.


    However, they stopped their deep pondering when they recalled that their master, Nine Calamities, would have given Xiao Lin that Blood Contract page to sign. So, they felt at ease when they know how that he wouldn''t be able to do anything that would jeopardize their lives, or he will rapidly emaciate and wither off to his death.


    Then they proceeded to answer his question.


    "Yea. There is this sect located at the peak of a mountain that can be found at the Greensilk Valley." One of them responded.


    Once that person mentioned this, Xiao Lin''s eyes glowed.


    Then when the glow dimmed, he asked "On what mountain peak can that sect be found? And in what direction do I go the Greensilk Valley from here?"


    Xiao Lin didn''t refrain from asking them these questions, since he understands that they know he has signed the Blood Contract page and wouldn''t dare to really do anything that will jeopardize their lives or activities, or he will simply swiftly dry up and scatter apart into piles of ashes and bleached bones. Therefore, since he knew this, he asked them all the questions that he wanted to ask them. If not, he would be more careful in doing so.


    The few bandits before him looked at him this time with stronger incomprehensible gazes in their eyes. They were both intensely bewildered and dumbfounded at the same time.


    Then one unexpectedly asked "Bloodfang, if I may ask, why are you asking us about the sect that will be found at a mountain peak in the Greensilk Valley? What are you going there to do? Do have a family member that you want to see or what?"


    Xiao Lin smiled.


    He then said "Well, what I am going there to do doesn''t concern you. So, why don''t you mind your businesses and give me the answer that I want?"


    The bandits looked at him with angry gazes in their eyes.


    Then one asked "Oh really? Why don''t you go find out about that yourself?"


    He then unexpectedly said to the others around him "Don''t give this pale freak any more answers. He should go find his answers by himself."


    Once he said this, the others nodded their heads in agreement and ignored Xiao Lin''s presence as they resumed discussion on what they were previously talking about before Xiao Lin appeared before them.


    Seeing that the bandits only ignored him, Xiao Lin asked again with a smile in his face "Guys, on what mountain peak can that sect be found? And in what direction do I go the Greensilk Valley from here?"


    The one that rudely spoke to him earlier looked at Xiao Lin and said with a serious expression appearing in face "If you can''t tell us what you want to do there, then you can as well burn the idea of getting any information from us."


    Xiao Lin exhaled.


    He then asked "You really want to know?"


    "Sure!" That person loudly said and nodded his head. Same with the others who were now looking at Xiao Lin to listen to the response that he would give.


    Xiao Lin saw their seriousness and only shook his head.


    He then said "Alright then. Since you want to know, I will tell you."


    He then continued "Actually, why I want to go there is to go meet the master of that sect. He went on a far journey for many months to help me get a particular substance, like a concoction, that I can drink and would help me improve the color of my skin which is due to a certain condition that I was born with."


    Immediately Xiao Lin said that, the people before him looked at the skin of his arms and then at face, with one asking "Okay. But how do you know that the master of that sect is back, since he went on a long journey to help you gather some substances and turn them into concoction for you? Besides, from the way that you sounded, it seems you are close to him. Are you really that close to him? If so, why did you leave there in the first place to come join us us here?"


    Once those questions were asked, Xiao Lin nodded his head as he began to look at that person that asked those questions with an indecipherable gaze in his eyes.


    "Are you really trying to interrogate me right now? So because I came to you guys for information, you feel that you all can interrogate me? Haha! That''s good. Like really good" Xiao Lin said with a concealed murderous tone in his voice.


    He then continued "I don''t want your damned answers any more. I will surely find my way there myself. Fools!"


    Once Xiao Lin said that, he turned around to leave their presence.


    But just before he could do so, one of them said with an unconcealed tone of animosity in his voice "Do you know that our Master, Nine Calamities, allows us bandits who hold deep grudges with one another to fight it out in a battle to the death? I guess not. So, you better be careful around here, or us all that will hold deep-seated grudges with you will engage you in a life-or-death battle. And I believe that no matter how tough your body would be at this current, insignificant cultivation level of yours, it will surely break apart when you are faced by many of us."

 Chapter 36 - Visiting Deathwind

    Xiao Lin looked at them with a smile in his face.


    He then asked "Oh really?! Well, I will look forward to that"


    Once he said that, he turned around to leave their presence.


    So as he headed back into the castle, he chose to go to where Deathwind was taken to. He felt that perhaps he could ask for some information from him.


    Although he didn''t know where that place was, the physician''s room where Deathwind was taken to be treated for his grievous wound, he would however definitely ask around to get to the place.


    He came across some of his colleagues on the way whom he asked where the physician''s room was.


    So after following the directions that he was given to the place in the massive castle, he finally arrived before the door of the physician''s room.


    Knock!


    He softly knocked on the door.


    Then the door opened in the next second with a middle-aged man appearing before him.


    "What do you want?" The middle-aged man who was the contracted physician dwelling in this castle, asked with a furrowed brow.


    Xiao Lin then politely greeted and answered by saying "I want to see Deathwind."


    "For what?" The physician asked with his brow still furrowed.


    "I only want to discuss something with him. And I won''t take long. Once I am done, I will immediately leave" Xiao Lin replied.


    The physician looked at him and then nodded his head.


    "Alright. Come in" He said.


    Then Xiao Lin stepped in.


    When he entered, he could perceive so many strong scents and smells that seemed to be coming from the numerous mixtures of certain herbs, flowers, plants to possibly prepare healing concoctions.


    Then the physician led Xiao Lin to the front of a small room within his room where Deathwind was still receiving treatment for his badly mangled hand.


    "Alright. This is room. Go in and discuss whatever you want with him. I give you only three minutes. Any longer than that, I will come to throw you out" The physician said with a stern expression in his face.


    Xiao Lin then looked at the physician with a concealed murderous intent in his eyes.


    "It seems I am not really accepted in this bandit group. I came here to discuss something that might benefit Deathwind, but you threatened to shove me out if I spend more time than the duration that you gave. This is completely saddening." Xiao Lin said without fear in his tone as he spoke to the middle-aged physician who was also a cultivator at the 9th-layer Spirit Earthking stage, a stage just above the Mortal Spiritual stage.


    The physician heard what Xiao Lin fearlessly mentioned and said with an indifferent expression appearing in his face "Well, I don''t want you to disturb the person that I am treating. I want him to given enough time to rest. That''s why I gave that amount of time. Anyways, I won''t go back on my word. So like I said earlier, I will give you only three minutes. Once that time elapses, I will come to heave you out."


    Xiao Lin heard what the physician said and only shook his head.


    "Alright" He said.


    Then the physician left his presence to tend to the healing concoctions in the many medium-sized cauldrons that he was preparing on the furnaces scattered about in his really large room.


    Once the physician left, Xiao Lin turned the handle of the door to open it and going on.


    Creak!


    This sound rang out as the door creaked wide open.


    Then Xiao Lin stepped in and closed the door behind him.


    Once he did so, he looked at Deathwind with a smile in his face.


    "Hello!" He said to Deathwind whose eyes was opened wide with shock.


    Deathwind at the moment was like why the heck did the physician allow this guy in. Then he quickly became worried of why Xiao Lin was here.


    Xiao Lin saw the intensely worried look in Deathwind''s face and only ignored it, refusing to comment about it.


    He then slowly approached him with that smile still in his face and asked "Deathwind, how is the wound that I inflicted upon you? Hope it is worsening?"


    Deathwind heard what Xiao Lin asked him and suddenly had excessive fury erupt from his eyes.


    "I will surely avenge myself for what you did to me. My time will come soon. You will certainly greatly regret what you did to me." Deathwind said with intense anger in his tone while Xiao Lin only laughed.


    Hahaha!


    "Well, we shall see about that." Xiao Lin said with an indifferent gaze in his eyes.


    He spoke further by saying "Anyways, I am not here to taunt you. I just want some information from you. And it would be best for you if you can give me the information that I want."


    Deathwind looked at Xiao Lin and asked with fury in his eyes "Is that a threat?"


    "Well, think it however you like, just know that in this place right at this moment, I am a devilgod. So, it would be best for you to acquiesce to my demands which is by smoothly answering all the questions that I will throw at you. Or you will certainly totally regret it. I can assure you of that." Xiao Lin answered with a vicious smile appearing in his face.


    Then when Deathwind thought deeply of what Xiao Lin said, his eyes narrowed as he realized that what he said was actually true, that in this place at this point in time, he was a devilgod, since he, Xiao Lin, could do anything that he likes to him.


    Then from the cold, spine-chilling look in his face, he understood in the next moment that Xiao Lin was serious about what he said and would definitely harm him if he didn''t give satisfactory answers to all the questions that Xiao Lin would throw at him.


    He then heavily exhaled and said with a veiled rage in his heart since he had been reduced to someone comparable to the lowest class of slaves "Ask your questions. I am listening."

 Chapter 37 - His Decision For Incomparable Power

    Xiao Lin smiled.


    "Good!" He said.


    He then asked "Tell me, on what mountain peak can I find a particular sect at the Greensilk valley?"


    "Greensilk valley?" Deathwind asked


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then Deathwind thought for sometime before saying "Walk to the heart of the valley, I mean the center. There, you will find three tall mountains standing so close to each other that they would seem they were fused together. That''s the group of mountains that you are looking for. So, once you can scale any of them to the top, you will come before the small sect that is at the center of the mountain at the middle."


    "Hmm." Xiao Lin said with a smile in his face and a slight nod of his head.


    He then said "Thanks for the info."


    However, Deathwind only looked at him with coldness erupting off of his annoyed gaze.


    Xiao Lin saw the gaze and produced an indecipherable smile in his face.


    Then he suddenly raised his hand in the air and directed a slap at Deathwind''s face.


    Pah!


    Xiao Lin''s hand landed in Deathwind''s face and caused his head to look in another direction.


    Then due to the hard palm of Xiao Lin as it had been toughened to an unusually high degree, and due to the amount of force that it moved with, some of Deathwind''s teeth actually shot out from his mouth like they were real projectiles.


    Deathwind who wasn''t expecting Xiao Lin to do that, turned his head from where it was forced to look in to stare at Xiao Lin with a really venomous gaze in his eyes.


    Then before he could say anything, Xiao Lin said "In this place at this time, I have every power over you since I am a devilgod. So, mind the way that you would stare at me, or you will get something much worse than a loud, heavy slap that will reverberate throughout the entire castle"


    Hahaha!


    Xiao Lin began to grin once he said that.


    Even he was amused by what he said.


    Then when he stopped laughing and with a cold light unexpectedly glowing in his sharp-looking eyes, he said "Now, concerning the bet that we made, since I won, give me your spatial ring, now!"


    Xiao Lin commanded in a tone that couldn''t be disobeyed.


    Deathwind then looked at Xiao Lin with excessive rage in his eyes and asked with great fury in his voice, making him sound like a monstrous beast "And what will you do if I don''t hand it to you? Remember that you are a newbie in this place, while I am your seni.."


    PAH!


    Deathwind couldn''t finish what he wanted to say when a heavy slap landed in his face again, abruptly causing him to shut up as he was dazzled by the slap, which also made look in another direction in the room.


    And, still looking in that direction with muddled eyes and disoriented senses, another slap unexpectedly landed in his face again, causing his head to look away farther away from where he was currently looking at.


    When Xiao Lin was done with the number of slaps that he wanted to deliver in Deathwind''s face, he asked with a bemused expression in his eyes "Senior?! A senior currently eating my slaps and digesting it? What kind of damned senior is that? Well, true that I am a newbie, but at the moment, you are the newbie, while I am the senior. Haha!"


    Then once Xiao Lin stopped laughing, he ordered again with a cold, evil glint surfacing in his eyes "Give me your spatial ring!"


    But Deathwind who was actually quite obstinate, refused to agree to Xiao Lin''s overbearing demand.


    "Hmm. I see that you are quite the stubborn type. Very good!" Xiao Lin said with a heavy tone in his voice, since he knew that no matter how hard he might shake Deathwind in this place to give him his spatial ring, he had to be really careful with the way he would go about it, or he might really attract the ire of the physician who didn''t seem to like he very much and might angrily attack him for being unrestrained in his treatment room.


    Then Xiao Lin nodded his head as he prepared to leave. But before he would really leave, he said with palpable waves of viciousness emitting off of his voice "I will surely ask you again for your spatial ring. And at that time, nothing will be be able to save you from my jaws of death that will seek to swallow up your life and devour your blood. However, the only way to avoid your cold, gruesome death is to run very far away from here and never ever return."


    Immediately after Xiao Lin threatened him, he turned around to leave.


    Then just as he opened the door to come out of the room that he was in, he saw the physician already at the door, visibly ready to march in with an intensely annoyed expression in his face.


    Once Xiao Lin saw him, he produced a smirk expression in his face and then said "I am done. I am already leaving, before you will dishonorably throw me out of your place. Haha!"


    He then headed towards the door to leave there and return to his room.


    Now that morning would soon arrive, he had to remain within the castle, or he would get burned by the brilliant rays of the glaring sun that would intensely shine down upon everything. And he greatly hoped in his heart that nothing will go wrong from that time till evening.


    When he got to his room, with a decision that he would head out in the evening of the next day to the Greensilk Valley and climb up the band of seemingly fused mountains to their peaks to ''visit'' his former sect members, he sat down in the cross-legged state to begin to go through all the methods and techniques that were indelibly branded to his memory.


    Then while seated on the floor of his room to comprehend some of the techniques of two of the many powerful arts in his memory, he became confused on which to actually go for first.


    He became highly puzzled as to whether he should first go for the technique mentioned in the ''Way of the Demonic Blade'' battle art to condense certain numbers of True Demonic Marks that will grant him great power, or the ''True Vampire Origin Blood Force'' art, an Empyrean Cultivation Art which he hadn''t really gone through to completely understand what it actually entails, but which he fully believes that would also grant him great, unmatched battle power at any level that he was in.


    "This is really puzzling." Xiao Lin said with a deep contemplative gaze in his eyes.


    He then said further after heavily exhaling "I guess that instead of leaving one to practice the other, I will rather practice the two arts. Although my cultivation speed will definitely, greatly slow down, I however don''t care as long as I will hold a type of insane battle power that won''t be matched or equalled by any other cultivator that would also be in the same cultivation stage that I would be in. Yea, I think that''s what I will do."

 Chapter 38 - Undying Blood Emperor (1)

    Since there was nothing he could really do at the moment and could only wait till evening to set out of the castle to go to the Greensilk Valley, he began to go through the True Vampire Origin Blood Force art to understand how to practice the art.


    ''Introduction: This is an ancient devilish art created by the Undying Blood Emperor of the Blood Continent in the Hidden Shadow World.''


    When Xiao Lin read this part, his mind couldn''t help but tremble in shock when a sudden realization struck him in the heart.


    ''So there is another large world outside our endlessly vast cultivation world? Damn! Then if this art was created by him, that means I am not the first vampire then.''


    ''In this world, yes I should be. But including that world, I guess not. There may be thousands of vampires there since they would be followers of that Undying Blood Emperor. Now, I am beginning to wonder if some of them aren''t already here in my world. They could have found a way to cross from that world to this world and operate in the shadows or at night to avoid been seen. Hmm. I guess I would have to be more careful in the way that I would use this art, lest I come across a higher-rank vampire that might notice so many strange things about me and then try to kill me.''


    Then to clarify the things that he had thought, he spoke inwardly ''Blood Wolf God, are you there?''


    ''Yes, I am. What do you want?'' It asked.


    ''I want to ask you about the Empyrean Cultivation art that you sent to me. According to what is mentioned in the art, it says that the art was created by an emperor called the Undying Blood Emperor. Now, how did you really come across the art? Do tell me, I am curious.'' Xiao Lin said.


    His Animal Spirit then fell silent after its host asked him that question.


    But after a slight pause, it started ''I was originally a spirit werewolf pet to my non-human fiendish master, the Undying Blood Emperor. At that time when I became his favorite pet, he would go out with me to wage war all by himself on other continents to swallow up their lands and turn them into something like him, which was vampire so they could worship him as a Fiendgod''


    ''After many churches, societies and organizations saw that they were living in fear everyday because of him as he could arrive anytime to wage war on them and turn them into abominations like him, they all banded together to come destroy him and every followers that he may have.''


    ''Immediately the great, world-shaking war between him alone and hundreds of formidably powerful organizations started, they began to quickly suffer tremendous amounts of casualties as their massive numbers rapidly reduced. And this was because their bodies, no matter how tough and strong that it were, began to explode into clouds of blood that gravitated towards my master which he delightedly absorbed to exponentially increase his battle power in that place at that time.''


    ''However, in the end, he was killed. But this was because he was overly confident in his battle prowess which then caused him to forget that there was something that could still destroy him, even though he totally believed that he was virtually indestructible.''


    Once his Animal Spirit said all these, Xiao Lin couldn''t help but be greatly amazed. So his Animal Spirit was once the spirit pet of the Undying Blood Emperor? Although what he heard sounded totally unbelievable to him, he knew that he had to believe it the end. If it were other people that told him these, he wouldn''t believe them. But since it came from his Animal Spirit itself, he just had to.


    Huuuu!


    He deeply inhaled.


    Then without asking his Animal Spirit how its first master died, he began to think of ways on how the invincible, Undying Blood Emperor would have been killed.


    ''How could they have possibly killed him? Did a dreadfully powerful expert from that world abruptly caused something similar to the sun to appear directly above the Undying Blood Emperor and swiftly burn him to ashes, quickly resulting in his death?''


    ''Hmm. I don''t think that''s right, since the Undying Blood Emperor at that stage that he had gotten to in his self-created, tyrannical blood-bound art should be able to walk under the sun, or hover above the white-hot stars in space without suddenly catching up in flames and start burning. I completely believe that at that level that he had attained in his heaven-defying, blood cultivation art, he would have gained full resistance to any amount of sunlight that would shine upon him. Then how could he have been killed?''


    Seeing that he was out of guesses, he proceeded to ask his Animal Spirit how they were able to eventually subdue its master and slay him.


    ''There was one particular thing that my master overlooked when he battled them. And this was the ability of a certain race called the Soul Exorcists to manipulate souls. Since he felt that he wasn''t a living soul, but a dead soul, he believed that they would have no domineering power over him. But he was totally wrong about that. The entities from that race could control both living and dead souls.''


    ''So, when they arrived later at the massive battlefield, they were able to quickly weaken him by bombarding his dead soul with focused, tremendously powerful, soul-annihilating attacks before they were able to cause enough damages to it and totally destroy it.''


    When the Blood Wolf God said that, Xiao Lin shook his head in disbelief.


    ''So that was how they were able to quickly overwhelm the Undying Blood Emperor and kill him. Hmm. Then I guess I have to be more careful around soul cultivators. Since even as a dead soul, I might still be overpowered by them and then destroyed by their attacks that would aim only for my soul'' He said within himself.

 Chapter 39 - Undying Blood Emperor (2)

    ''So, how were you able to escape from their hands without being destroyed?'' Xiao Lin asked his Animal Spirit with a deep look of curiosity in his face.


    ''Well, first of all, I am a spirit creature. I can will my spirit beastly body to become corporeal one moment and insubstantial in the next. So any form of attack that they would aim at me wouldn''t be able to destroy me, as I will phase through them.''


    ''Then secondly, although due to the seemingly countless numbers of ways to go about things in that world, I could have been captured and taken away to be slowly ravaged to my death. But my master, the Undying Blood Emperor, quickly transmitted his entire arts to me, his True Vampire Transmutation triggering technique, and then swiftly opened a chaotic portal for me which he immediately sent me into to leave his world and appear in your world which was infinitely far from his.''


    ''He could have left with me if he had the chance, but because he was bind up in one place by thousands of both visible and unseen constraining forces that had fully wrapped around his body and greatly limited his movement to prevent his escape, he couldn''t go into the portal with me.''


    ''So, that was how only I appeared here in this world and then directly possessed the body of someone that was carrying out a Spirit Summoning ritual.''


    ''But this person couldn''t live for long as he was utterly destroyed by exceedingly envious and wicked, jealous cultivators because of the numerous astonishing powers that he showed which were bestowed upon him by me. And, since he had been destroyed and I had no vessel to reside in anymore, I had to leave that region and roam the innumerous continents in your vast world for many million years before I instantly chose to settle for you immediately I came across you when performing your Spirit Summoning exercise.''


    ''Once I saw you, I realized that it was you that I was looking for all these while. I could perceive many attributes from you which were totally missing in the others that I came across in my many million years of roaming about the world in my invisible spirit form.'' The Blood Wolf God replied.


    "Wow. I guess I was really fortunate." Xiao Lin said immediately after his Animal Spirit finished talking.


    "That was also how I came across my master, senior Lin Shou Wen at that valley. He could have been anywhere else but there. But luckily for me, I met him there after I survived my great fall."


    He then said further with a smile appearing in his face "All that have happened to me seems to be my fortune. I am really fortunate. But I seriously hope that I don''t run out of this fortune soon.''


    He then spoke to his Animal Spirit, ''Can you show me what your master, the Undying Blood Emperor looks like? I want to see how he looks.''


    ''You have seen it before.'' The Blood Wolf God said.


    ''Huh?!'' Xiao Lin exclaimed in a questioning tone.


    He then asked, ''When?!''


    ''That vision that I showed you were you saw yourself battling all kinds of entities and creatures and drinking their bloods or simply turning them into mists of blood, was actually my master when he was single-handedly fighting those innumerable experts from hundreds of fearsome organizations in that world that gathered for his sake to annihilate him.''


    ''I simply tweaked the vision by replacing his face with yours so that you can see for yourself how much powerful you would become when you practice my Master''s unparalleled formidable art to the highest stage.'' His Animal Spirit responded.


    "Oh, wow. I never knew that. So it wasn''t even a vision about me when I became a True Vampire Overlord, but about him. It''s cool anyways."


    "But damn, the Undying Blood Emperor is truly, exceedingly powerful." Xiao Lin said when he replayed that vision that played in his mind sometimes ago again in his head.


    Then his eyes abruptly narrowed when he thought of who was more powerful between the Undying Blood Emperor and the Demonic Blade King.


    ''Well, I don''t really need to know that. What I basically know now is that I will become the fusion of the two of them. I will become absolutely strong that even the heavens, nature and destiny itself wouldn''t dare to defy me." Xiao Lin said with a type of resolve that couldn''t be toppled over by winds that would shake gods themselves off their feet.


    Immediately he resolutely said this, he suddenly recalled that he was he yet to receive the werewolf-related legacy arts and techniques from his Animal Spirit.


    Huuuu!


    He deeply inhaled again.


    ''I guess that I would have to request for it from my Battle Beast Spirit some other time. Because if I request for it transmission now, and I try to practice it cultivation method along with the rest, my cultivation speed and growth would be badly affected.''


    ''At the moment, I have to condense a certain large number of True Demonic Marks to reach the Demon Enthusiast level, cultivate Spiritual Energy to break through into the Mortal Spiritual stage and subsequent stages, then practice the cultivation method mentioned in the True Vampire Origin Blood Force art which I don''t know yet what it exactly entails.''


    ''Now, all these coupled with practicing the werewolf-related art will only tremendously slow down or even retard my cultivation speed and growth. So, I can only postpone it for some other time.'' Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further with a wisdom light erupting forth from within his sharp-looking eyes ''Seeking for immense power doesn''t mean that I shouldn''t go about it with my brain, or I will only massively hinder myself in my desperate search for more power to be unmatched in whatever cultivation stage that I will find myself in.''


    Once he thought these, he brought his mind back to the True Vampire Origin Blood Force art to continue reading it to know what it actually entails and how to exactly carry it out. And as he prepared to do this, he understood that the art would surely have it own growth stages just like other cultivation arts in his memory which he had practiced.

 Chapter 40 - Leaving For The Greensilk Valley

    ... To practice this art, one will have to forge or weave the blood of slain entities or creatures into particular sets of solid blood symbols in one''s dantian.


    Now, for the sake of comprehension, a single symbol can only be weaved from the blood of one slain entity. While a thousand from a thousand slain entities.


    Then to weave or construct solid blood symbols from the bloods of one''s slain adversaries, follow the Blood Symbol Creation techniques mentioned below.


    ***


    After Xiao Lin perused through the Blood Symbol Creation techniques which differed greatly in difficulty, he continued to read on to see the growth stages and then compare it to that of the Demonic Blade King self-created battle art, the Way of the Demonic Blade, to know which would be way harder and tougher to carry out.


    ...


    {Blood Symbols Forging Levels}:


    Blood Acolyte - 200 Ordinary Blood Symbols


    Ascended Blood Disciple - 1,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols


    Blood Warrior Realm Ascendant - 5,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols


    Earthly Blood Warrior - 15,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    Heavenly Blood Warrior - 25,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    World Blood Warrior - 125,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    Resurgent Void Blood Warrior - 625,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    Golden Body Blood Warrior - 3,125,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    Great Blood Prime - 15,625,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    ...................


    {Profound Blood Symbols Forging Level}


    [At this level, the Ordinary Blood Symbols changes into Profound Blood Symbols]


    -> So, 1 Profound Blood Symbol = 10,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    ******


    Ordinary Blood Monarch - 200 Profound Blood Symbols.


    Transcended Blood Monarch - 25,000 Profound Blood Symbols.


    Totem Blood God - 125,000 Profound Blood Symbols.


    Grand Blood Exalt - 625,000 Profound Blood Symbols.


    Chaotic Blood Revenant - 3,125,000 Profound Blood Symbols.


    ..................


    {Divinity Blood Symbols Forging levels}


    -> At this level, the Profound Blood Symbols changes into Divinity Blood Symbols.


    Therefore, 1 Divinity Blood Symbols = 1,000,000 Profound Blood Symbols.


    ******


    Primordial Cosmic Blood Empyrean - 200 Divinity Blood Symbols.


    Exalted Blood Overlord - 1,000 Divinity Blood Symbols.


    Phenomenal Blood Hegemon - 5,000 Divinity Blood Symbols.


    Supreme Blood Juggernaut God - 25,000 Divinity Blood Symbols.


    Great Chaotic Blood Divinity - 125,000 Divinity Blood Symbols.


    Ancestral Immortal Blood Sovereign - 625,000 Divinity Blood Symbols.


    Eternal Blood Devourer Entity - 3,125,000 Divinity Blood Symbols


    ___


    When Xiao Lin was done, his eyes began to sparkle like polished crystalline gems.


    ''No wonder these guys kill people a lot. And it is all because of the extreme, overbearing demands of their devilish arts. But no one would understand that. Haha!'' Xiao Lin said and grinned.


    He then said further with a solemn expression appearing in his face "And now that they have passed down their tyrannical, evil arts to me, it''s up to me to continue the killings. It''s just that I have to kill twice the numbers of people that they had killed in the far past to be able to successfully practice both cultivation methods.''


    However, as soon as he thought this, his eyes abruptly glowed when he suddenly remembered something very crucial.


    ''I don''t really need to kill twice the amounts of people that they had killed in the past, since I can just extract their blood essences and condense them into True Demonic Marks in my dantian, and then take their bloods and weave or forge them into Blood Symbols with the Blood Symbol Creation techniques which I will also store in my dantian.''


    ''Hmm. That''s nice. It saves me more time and energy in going for more people to kill.''


    ''But how exactly would I be able to go about that to kill such massive numbers of people? Just the first three ordinary blood symbols forging levels alone might take me several years to complete. Ugh! This is gonna be really hard. Anyways, I would have to start from somewhere, then carefully work my way up to the high levels and extreme levels.''


    ''And I can guess that in the soonest future, I will face clans, leagues, sects, organizations, societies, churches, brotherhoods and then the different minor and major governments overseeing the affairs of various towns and cities in different continents respectively.''


    Once he thought this, he closed his eyes to start cultivation of his Spiritual Energy.


    ***


    At this point in time, Xiao Lin couldn''t wait to leave the castle and head to that valley where he would scale a fused band of mountains to their peaks and wreak havoc upon all the people that he would meet there.


    He was seriously itching to kill everyone of them for the unspeakable things that they did to him and then use their spilled or spurting bloods for the purposes that he had in mind, which was to condense their blood essences into marks, forge their bloods into mysterious symbols, and then see to what degree how powerful he would become.


    So, in his serious cultivation state, an hour passed, two hours passed, four hours passed... And like that, time began roll away towards the evening.


    Then luckily for him, no one came to disturb him for anything or arrogantly demand for his presence and break his serious state of cultivation in the process.


    Everyone that were around at this point in time as they didn''t go out for any raiding mission were simply minding their own businesses in their rooms. They were either cultivating or comprehending some form of battle arts that they either bought with their monies, stole or killed others for it.


    ***


    Not long, the sun which was brilliantly glaring and intensely scorching began to reduce in intensity and strength as the evening slowly approached.


    Immediately the sun sets, Xiao Lin''s eyes abruptly snapped open in his room.


    He could actually feel it within him that the sun had set.


    Then an ominous smile slowly appeared in his face.


    "It''s time for vengeance and some devouring!" He said inwardly with his overbearing and oppressive dark, sinister aura beginning to exude from his body again.


    Once the aura was retracted back into his body, he headed towards his door to leave his room.


    And since he couldn''t just go like that, he had to firstly inform his master, Nine Calamities of where he was actually going to before heading out.


    ***


    - Master Nine Calamities''s room -


    "So, what are you going there to do at that sect?" Nine Calamities asked with a wrinkled brow.


    "It''s a private thing, Master Nine Calamities. I am sorry that I won''t be able to tell you that." Xiao Lin intentionally said.


    Haha!


    Nine Calamities burst into a raucous laughter.


    He then said with a stern expression in his face in the next moment when he ended his unbridled laughter, "Kid, I am your boss. So, you will have to answer every damn question that I will throw at you. Am I clear?"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head with a smile.


    He then said "Actually, I am going there for their heads and limbs. I want to kill every single one of them for what they did to me. So, I ask that Master gives me the permission to head out and terminate all my targets"


    Once Xiao Lin said this, Nine Calamities gazed at Xiao Lin strangely.


    "Really?" He asked to confirm what he heard.


    "Yes!" Xiao Lin said as he nodded his head.


    "Hmm. That''s tyrannical of you. That''s how my men should be. Not cowards scared of a fight." Nine Calamities said.


    He then said further "I like what you just said. In fact, I love it. Now, please go ahead to fulfill what''s in your mind. I won''t hold you back"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then slightly bowed.


    Then when he straightened himself back, he turned around and headed towards the door to leave the room.


    As he left, Nine Calamities smiled and said inwardly "I think I have to include this boy for every evening raiding missions that my men will carry out. Only that way would he be able to quickly grow."


    "Then if he can maintain that battle prowess development speed, I will make him leave the crowd of ordinary bandits and join one of my special groups of highly trained bandits. But only if he wins the competition can he join anyways. I won''t show anyone favor. They must get membership of groups like that with their battle prowesses, strength and power alone!"

 Chapter 41 - Appearing Before The Flowing Cloud Sect

    Immediately Xiao Lin came out from the castle, he began to walk back to the town from the densely-populated forest that the castle which his bandit colleagues were dwelling in was.


    When he finally arrived at the town, with the hood of his grey hooded cloak pulled over his head so that he won''t be noticed by anyone, he began to walk in a random direction.


    After walking for sometime, he came before a row of shops and then asked the person in one of the shops that where was the Greensilk Valley and how could he get there.


    The shop owner described the direction that he should go in which was the South direction.


    When the shop owner described the direction of the Greensilk Valley to him, he gave his thanks with a nod of his head and began to walk towards there, following the description of that shop owner.


    After walking for a few hours as the Greensilk Valley was really far away from the street that he was in, he eventually got there.


    "Finally!" He said as he pulled his hood down.


    He then walked into the valley to look for the bands of three mountains that seemed to be fused together which Deathwind described to him.


    After walking for a long time, approximately thirty minutes later, he came across the massive crater that he made into the earth when he crashed into it immediately after he fused with Blood Wolf God Animal Spirit.


    He then nodded his head.


    "Yea. This is surely the place." He said.


    He then began to look around for where the fused group of three mountains were.


    After looking around for a few minutes, he saw the mountains many feet away from the crater that was in front of him.


    Once he saw it, he produced a vicious smile in his face.


    Then without wasting time, he quickly gathered strength in his powerful legs and leaped over the crater which was many feet wide.


    Once he landed at the other side of the crater, he dashed towards that group of seemingly merged mountains.


    Then with his thick, lustrous claws growing out from his nails, he pushed them into the surface of the mountain and began to climb his way up to the peak of the mountain. And so that he could arrive there in time, he activated his Super Speed ability.


    Immediately he did so, he began to climb up really fast to the peak of one of the mountains.


    Then many minutes later, precisely thirty minutes later, he got to the peak of one of the tall, towering mountains.


    Once he arrived at the peak of that mountain, he looked into the distance and saw a structure that seemed like a sect.


    When Xiao Lin saw this, he nodded his head.


    Then looking further, he could see a large wooden board in which the name of the sect ''Flowing Cloud Sect'' was written in it.


    He then began to walk towards the sect to enter and show himself to his ex-sect members.


    As he did so, he could hear them discussing things.


    "Big brother Zhang Feng, what exactly are we going to tell Master that happened to Xiao Lin? I think that what we did that day was too abrupt. We didn''t even think of what to tell Master before bullying Xiao Lin and forcing him to fall to his death." One asked while the others looked at Zhang Feng to hear what he would say.


    "It''s easy. We would just say that he became tired of everything in here and then decided to leave, since he totally lacked the endurance and patience which are two of the numerous virtues of a true cultivator to wait for our master that long to arrive from where he went to" Zhang Feng said with a smile


    Then as soon as he said that, claps began to unexpectedly ring out, which then immediately alerted everyone that began to look around for where the claps were ringing out from.


    Not long, Xiao Lin stepped in with a vicious smile in his face.


    Once the people within the sect saw Xiao Lin, their bodies and souls shook to their cores, including that of Zhang Feng who then had fear suddenly engulf his heart. However, he dispelled the fear that had taken over his heart in the next moment when he saw that Xiao Lin was only a 3rd-layer Spiritual Ascendant stage cultivator.


    "X-Xiao Lin, you are still a-alive?" One of them asked in a stuttering manner.


    "Alive? No, I am dead. My resentful ghost came back to haunt you all" Xiao Lin answered with an hideous smile hung on his lips.


    "But ghosts aren''t real. They are only products of illusions." Another said with narrowed eyes, trying to refute Xiao Lin''s statement.


    Xiao Lin only maintained the wicked smile in his face.


    He then said with his dreadful, beastly-sounding deep voice "You will know in a minute!"


    As soon as he said that, he suddenly dashed towards one of them and used the lustrous claws that grew out from the nails of one of his hands to pierce deep into the chest of that person, directly at the heart which he then viciously pulled out, showing the others before him what the heart really looked like.


    The person that had his chest effortlessly pierced through by Xiao Lin''s thick, razor-sharp claws, couldn''t even scream out in pain when he quickly fell dead to the the ground, with blood beginning to rapidly ooze out and at the same time, forcefully spurt like a fountain from the large, grievous wound suddenly made into his chest.


    Seeing the speed that he moved at, and how ruthless he were, the other disciples in the sect quickly produced their Animal Spirits which they rapidly fused with in the next moment.


    From what Xiao Lin just did, which was the speed that he moved at, he didn''t seem to be someone in the 3rd-layer, Spiritual Ascendance stage. That movement speed that he achieved was very close to the speed that could be attained by a 6th-layer or 7th-layer, Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator.


    Xiao Lin only ignored the different types of looks in their faces and focused on the heart in his hand.


    Then following the demonic mark condensation technique to condense True Demonic Marks in his dantian, threads of blood which were actually the blood essences, could be seen moving from the heart in his hand towards his arm. The threads of blood essence then pierced through the skin pores of that arm and flowed within his arm to his dantian where they rapidly merged and formed into a single Demonic Mark.


    Once this happened, a thin and faint blood-colored aura of oppressive demonic power suddenly bursted out from his body which then retracted back into his body in the next instant.


    Xiao Lin then exhaled and dropped the heart held in his hand to the ground which actually shattered into smithereens like it were glass.


    He then produced an enjoyable, evil smile in his face in the next instant and said "If you know what is good for you, pull out your hearts from your chests and submit them to me."

 Chapter 42 - Starting His Slaughter

    Zhang Feng and the others who stood before Xiao Lin looked at him with all types of expressions in their faces.


    Zhang Feng then said with an heavy tone in his voice "I can see that you have learnt an evil technique since you mysteriously survived your fall from that great height"


    Hahaha!


    Xiao Lin grinned.


    "That''s right. I have to thank you specially for that. So, don''t worry much. You will die in a special way." He said with his deep, beastly voice.


    He then continued by asking "Will you give me your hearts yourselves, or I should come for them myself?"


    Zhang Feng who was looking at Xiao Lin with unbridled fury and hatred in his eyes, turned his head away from him to look at the frightened, pale-skinned members of his sect who stood shakily around him.


    "He''s only one person. We can surely take on him, overwhelm him and kill him." Zhang Feng unexpectedly said, trying to raise their boldness and courage to fight Xiao Lin.


    But as soon as he said this, Xiao Lin suddenly appeared before him really fast and sent a heavy slap in his face that caused Zhang Feng, despite being fused with his Battle Beast Spirit to shoot backwards into the air and spin really fast at the same time.


    When he landed to the ground many feet away, Xiao Lin appeared before him in the next instant and sent a really heavy kick to his head, kicking him away like a ball into the far distance where he collided really hard into a wall.


    Xiao Lin who was using his Super Speed ability to move, appeared before Zhang Feng in the next instant.


    Then he suddenly raised one of his legs into the air and forcefully brought it down, stomping hard on of Zhang Feng''s knees.


    Arghhh!!


    Zhang Feng screamed out in pain.


    But he couldn''t scream out for long when Xiao Lin sent a heavy kick towards his mouth, simply shattering all his teeth into bits and breaking the two jaws of his mouth. Now, he couldn''t move them again to screech or shout or even talk.


    Xiao Lin then suddenly picked him up from the ground by carrying from his neck and lifting him into the air with it, suspending him there using his powerful and strong arms.


    PAH!


    PAH!


    PAH!


    He then began to direct really hard slaps in his face that caused the skin of his face to rip away and blood to spurt out from those ripped-away areas like tiny fountains.


    When he had slapped the hell out of Zhang Feng, in which he had delivered approximately thirty heavy slaps in his face, entirely shredding away the skin covering his face and cracking the bones of his head in numerous places, Xiao Lin flung his badly-damaged body away really hard were he heavily crashed into a thick wall and actually caused it to collapse into many hundreds of rubbles.


    Xiao Lin then exhaled in satisfaction from what he had done. He felt good to exact vengeance upon the person that he hated the most.


    Then looking at the remaining sect members who had turned completely pale-white in fear and shook unstoppably in terror, Xiao Lin slowly approached them with a vicious smile in his face since he was in total control and said "I will ask again. Give me your hearts."


    He then continued "Pull them out from within your chests and hand them over to me."


    He simply demanded in an overbearing tone.


    When Xiao Lin''s previous sect members saw that Xiao Lin simply wanted nothing more other their hearts, they quickly knelt on their knees and began to cry in pain and dread as they begged him at the same time.


    Xiao Lin only smirked because of their actions.


    Then all of a sudden, he arrived before one of them who was a female sect member and sent a really heavy kick in her face.


    Bang!


    Her head instantly exploded into mist of blood due to the immense force that the kick struck her with, while the now headless body dropped to the ground with a thud, a second after her head explosively shattered into a small cloud of blood, hundreds of fragments of skull bones and thousands of bits of brain when heavily impacted by one of Xiao Lin''s powerful legs.


    Then he pulled the headless female body towards him by one of her legs and pierced his sharp, shiny metal-like claws deep into her chest and pulled out her heart in the next moment.


    Once he did so, threads of blood could be seen moving from the heart towards his arm which then penetrated into it in the next instant through the pores of his toughened skin and then rapidly moved within that particular arm to his dantian where they abruptly fused together and formed into a second Demonic Mark.


    As soon as a second Demonic Mark appeared, a thin and faint, blood-colored aura of a fearsome and intimidating demonic power suddenly erupted from his body. However, it immediately retracted back into his body a moment after it discharged from within his body.


    The aura that appeared this time was a bit stronger in power than the previous one that previously exuded from within his body. However, it was still greatly insignificant in fearsomeness and tyranny to be able to anything with them. But Xiao Lin could feel that the blood demonic aura was growing.


    With an appreciative nod of his head at the new form of suppressive demonic power that had just been born within him and was growing, he quickly produced the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade which he did by summoning them to his hand by recalling them from within his dantian.


    Then as soon as the physically stunning, sharpness-emanating, seemingly god-forged blades appeared in his hands, Xiao Lin stared down at the people kneeling before him coldly and murderously.


    Then with an overwhelming aura of slaughter and viciousness beginning to exude from his entire body, he raised one of the blades into the air and brutally brought it down towards the neck of someone that was directly in front of him.


    Slash!!


    The head of that person shot into the air like it were an actual projectile, while a shower of blood abruptly discharged from the lacerated neck, splashing onto his body.


    Then with an intensely cold, evil smile appearing in his face, Xiao Lin started his onslaught by cutting off their limbs and beheading them one after the other.

 Chapter 43 - Condensing Demonic Marks And Creating Blood Symbols

    When he was done lacerating their limbs and beheading them, in which their heads and limbs could be seen scattered all over the floor, he went towards the headless bodies to pull out their hearts which he formed into a small heap before him.


    He then sat in the cross-legged position in front of it and employed the True Demonic Mark condensation technique.


    Once he did so, thousands of threads of blood could be seen leaving the hearts which then shot towards him like streaks of red light. Then once they got in front of him, they firstly circled round him before penetrating into his body through the pores of his skin.


    Immediately they penetrated into his body, they moved to his dantian where they gathered together and then fused to form numerous True Demonic Marks.


    "1,2,3,4 ...12 ...35,36,37...49"


    When he was done counting, he said "That''s forty-nine demonic marks. Cool. Then when I kill Zhang Feng and take his blood essence too, that would make it fifty demonic marks in my dantian. Good!"


    But when he remembered the amounts of blood essences that he had to condense into True Demonic Marks to reach the Demon Enthusiast level, he heavily exhaled.


    "I wonder when I would get there. I still have to form eight hundred and fifty demonic marks to enter the Demon Enthusiast level. Ugh!"


    Just as he was talking, his sharp-looking eyes suddenly narrowed while an indescribable light appeared in his eyes.


    "The best way to condense that many demonic marks is to kill large numbers of members of some sects that might gather at some places, like valleys or forests for a kind of competition between sects. Yea, that''s what I will do. It''s only in that way would I be able to quickly condense that many demonic marks in a very short time" Xiao Lin said with a deep contemplative gaze in his eyes.


    Then he moved on practice the Blood Symbols Creation technique.


    Still seated on the ground before the pile of hearts that had totally dried up, and with his eyes still closed, he began to focus on the small pools of blood around him.


    These blood pools were the blood that had gushed out from the slashed heads of the members of his former sect and formed into small pools.


    Now, following what was mentioned in the Blood Symbol Creation technique of the True Vampire Origin Blood Force art, the many blood pools around him began to levitate into the air which then actually began to gradually change into anciently occultic symbols. Then as they formed very slowly since Xiao Lin wasn''t really adept at it yet, they began to shoot into his body like pencil-sized rays of red light.


    Then once they penetrated into his body, they swiftly moved to his dantian to reside in there.


    Many minutes later, precisely thirty minutes after, forty-nine Ordinary Blood Symbols could be seen floating at a far depth in his dantian. They had gathered there in that number when they coalesced and transformed into mystical symbols that radiated an indescribable type of power and influence.


    When that amount Of Ordinary Blood Symbols gathered within his dantian, Xiao Lin could feel this strange type of power beginning to course through his entire body.


    Although the power now circulating in his body appeared to be very weak to Xiao Lin, he could however detect this feeling of fierceness and dominance hidden deep within it.


    Then with a smile surfacing on his lips, he said inwardly ''Well, it''s still weak, for now actually. Then when I kill approximately two hundred people and turn their bloods into blood symbols, I should be able to enter the Blood Acolyte stage.''


    ''I believe that when I get to that level, I will be able to vividly experience the true fearsome power that the level would actually grant me. Then I will be able to practice the numerous battle arts related to it since this one is only a cultivation method to cultivate blood symbols.''


    When he ended his train of thoughts, he stood to his feet and punched into the air after directing a fused, mysterious energy from each of those forty-nine Ordinary Blood Symbols dwelling deep within his dantian to his fist.


    BOOM!!


    An explosive sound rang out like a real explosion took place, shaking the solid structure of the sect that he was in to the core as it made it seem like a powerful tremor actually ran through it. And as soon as this loud, deafening sound rang out, a type of energy that was visibly colored in brilliant red, blasted off from his fist and raged into the distance with the power to seemingly crush or reduce all things in its path to bits.


    "Whew!" Xiao Lin exhaled from his mouth with great excitement in his heart.


    He just couldn''t wait to discover the amount of devastating power that the Ordinary Blood Symbols would grant him when he got to the Blood Acolyte stage. Although it was the first growth stage for the art, he was however extremely sure that it would grant him some levels of power that would leave him tremendously shocked. And this was because he reasoned that the arts that he was studying were not common arts that could be found anywhere, the makers of them were near-indestructible, power-hungry vicious gods in their own rights.


    When he was done reasoning about these things, he walked to where he brutally flung Zhang Feng to.


    When he arrived in front of him, he squatted before him and asked "I guess you didn''t believe that I could actually come back from the dead, right?"


    He then squeezed his throat to produce mucus which he spat directly on the face of Zhang Feng.


    He then continued "That day when you decided to make me fall of that high cliff by myself, you said that if my ghost comes back here to try to haunt you all, it would go through the same thing that you made the weak and mortal Xiao Lin then to go through. Why isn''t it so this time around? Or have you quickly become so weak and useless that you can''t make a move against his ghost?! Haha! So useless."


    He then stood to his feet from his squatting position. And as he did so, he grabbed Zhang Feng by one of his legs and flung him to where the other headless bodies laid in.


    Then when he arrived before Zhang Feng whose face couldn''t be really recognized again, since all the skin there had been ripped away by the really hard slaps that he unrestrainedly delivered in his face, he sat on the cold and stiffened piles of headless bodies which then portrayed him as a devilish emperor whose seat of authority was made of the corpses of his enemies.


    He then brutally said with a cold tone in his voice, and an enjoyable mischievous expression in his face "I know that I have damaged your jaw, so you wouldn''t be able to speak. But if you want to be spared, cut your tongue and gouge out your eyes yourself. Then bow before me five hundred times. After doing all these, cut out your heart and give it to me. Then I will leave you alone and go my way."

 Chapter 44 - Torturing And Killing Zhang Feng (Warning: Extreme Violence And Gore)

    Immediately Xiao Lin said that, Zhang Feng became utterly speechless. He didn''t know what he was going to do or say, since what Xiao Lin mentioned would still leave him dead.


    He then began to actually regret touching Xiao Lin that day. He wished he and the others didn''t do such a thing. But since he and his sect brothers and sisters had done so, compelling Xiao Lin to fall to his death but survived and obtained a devilish legacy. He had come for them. And it was very certain that he wouldn''t leave him alone, since he had killed everyone else in this place.


    He then collapsed to the ground, fully deciding within himself to submit his life to Xiao Lin who only smiled at his action.


    Once he did so, Xiao Lin stood to his feet from the pile of headless corpses that he sat on and walked closer to him.


    When he appeared an inch before him, he grabbed Zhang Feng by his hair and pulled it so much like he wanted to tear out the long strands of hair from his scalp "You think you will die that easily after what you did to me? Keep dreaming."


    Immediately he said that, he grabbed Zhang Feng by the head and smashed it really hard at the ground like he wanted to burst it open.


    BANG!


    Crack!


    Once the head was made to heavily impact the ground, a crack sound rang suddenly rang out, giving the feeling that his head had actually cracked open with his brain matter spilling out. But that wasn''t so. It was only a small crack that had appeared at his forehead region which had only resulted from the hard smashing of his head into the solid marbled ground of the hall.


    Then Immediately the crack surfaced on his forehead, blood started to crazily spurt out from it, while Zhang Feng whose skinless face was now totally covered in the blood that spurted from the crack at his forehead, began to scream out in pain and horror even as his jaw was completely useless to do anything.


    Xiao Lin only smiled at the agonized screeching of Zhang Feng.


    He then said coldly "You don''t know what pain really is."


    Once he said that, he grabbed Zhang Feng''s hair with both hands. Then applying his vampiric Super-Strength ability, he brutally tore out the hair from Zhang Feng''s head which also resulted in the tearing out of his entire scalp.


    The instant the scalp of his head tore off along with his hair, Xiao Lin threw it away to the ground.


    Then immediately he did this, Zhang Feng began to scream out again in pain. And this time, very loud that if a mortal was present before him, he or she would go totally deaf.


    The cold smile hung on Xiao Lin''s lips only grew broader in size.


    Then suddenly, he sent two of his fingers into Zhang Feng''s eyes. Once his fingers tore through the eyes that Xiao Lin could feel that his fingers were touching the bones at the back of Zhang Feng''s eye sockets, he brought out his fingers while pulling out the eyes at the same time, leaving Zhang Feng eyeless.


    He pulled out the eyes stuck in his fingers and threw them away to the ground.


    Then he looked at the sorry-looking Zhang Feng who had blood gushing out profusely from his eye sockets.


    Zhang Feng at the moment could only pray for his death soon, since the pain that he was going through was too much for him to bear. It was like he had ended up in the hands of an evil and devilish butcher who wanted to tear out his skin layer by layer, then inch by inch.


    At the moment, his body could be seen lying helplessly on the ground, with his own blood which oozed out profusely from his empty eye sockets and back of his head forming a small pool of blood around him.


    While Xiao Lin who was looking coldly at the horrified Zhang Feng, proceeded to do what he had in his mind.


    Then all of a sudden, with his knee raised to his chest, he brought it down with a lot of force upon one of Zhang Feng''s knees.


    BANG!


    A bang sound rang out like an actual, small explosion took place. But the sound that actually rang out was only due to the explosive shattering of the bones at that knee region into hundreds of fragments which then ejected out the flesh covering his knee bone in the next second and then immediately shooting off into the distance at blazing, furious speeds like they were projectiles.


    While this had happened because Xiao Lin stomped down upon it with a lot of force packed into his powerful legs. The tremendous amount of force that he gathered in that leg was more than enough to reduce several rocks into powder in an instant.


    So, at the moment, the foot that belonged to that exploded knee could be seen lying on the ground someplace in the hall. The shockwave that appeared from the powerful smash of Xiao Lin''s leg with the knee had actually hurled it off into a distance within the hall. While blood could be seen pouring out excessively from it, and from that crushed leg which had been reduced into a bloody mess, since it had shattered into bits up to the thigh region.


    Zhang Feng who was extremely anguished couldn''t help but roll about on the ground in pain and sorrow. He was totally overwhelmed by the intense sensation of excruciating pain which racked his entire body and flooded his senses, making him wish for death sooner.


    When Xiao Lin saw that he had basically dismembered one of Zhang Feng''s knees, he moved to the other knee to do the same thing too.


    BANG!


    The other knee also shattered into bloody pieces, with the foot that belonged to it flying off into the distance within the large hall due to the powerful shockwave that had abruptly surfaced from the insanely heavy collision of Xiao Lin''s leg with that knee which then tyrannously shoved it away.


    "I think I am satisfied now." Xiao Lin said with a broad smile in his face which radiated both hatred and evil.


    Then squatting by Zhang Feng''s side who was already dying because of the large amount of blood that he had lost, Xiao Lin who still wanted him to tremendously suffer before he dies, grabbed Zhang Feng''s head and shoulder with his hands.


    Then applying his shocking, vampiric physical strength to execute what he had in mind, he slowly ripped away Zhang Feng''s head from his neck which then resulted in the pulling out of the vertebral column and spine connected to it, with blood starting to spill out unstoppably from the ripped neck.


    Once he did this, detaching Zhang Feng''s head from his neck along with his spine using his powerful bare hands, he instantly pierced his claws deep into Zhang Feng''s left chest region and then pulled out his heart.


    Now looking at the heart in his hand, he quickly employed the Demonic Mark condensation technique to form True Demonic Marks in his dantian.


    Once he utilized that technique, the True Demonic Marks in his dantian became fifty in number.


    "Good!" He said with a smile.


    Then seating on the ground before Zhang Feng''s lifeless body in the cross-legged position, he immediately utilized that Blood Symbol Creation technique.


    Not long after he did so, an Ordinary Blood Symbol which formed from the pool of blood that had levitated into the air to surround him, instantly shot into his body like a ray of red light and towards his dantian where it went to gather with the other Ordinary Blood Symbols deep within his dantian.


    Immediately this happened, a vicious and overwhelming aura that was blood-red in color and emanated an exceedingly fierce, overbearing power of unparalleled devilishness, suddenly discharged from his body and began to seethe like it was furious at the heavens. It however retracted into his body a few moments later.


    When the aura retracted back into his body, Xiao Lin''s eyes sprung open.


    "Time to leave!" He said.


    Then looking around and seeing arms, legs, heads and bodies lying about on the ground everywhere in the hall, he realized that he had destroyed Master Wu''s efforts over the years.


    He then exhaled and simply shook his head with an awry smile appearing in his face.


    Then he said after exhaling a second time "Master, I guess I have destroyed everything that you tried to build over the years in an hour. However, I am not sorry for what I have done. Your callous disciples picked on me and even attempted to kill me. But since I didn''t die, I came back today to wrought my vengeance upon them."


    "Now, if you will totally hate me for my unrestrained ruthless actions, you can go right ahead. It''s your choice. And I won''t blame you for it. Then if you would like to come for my head and heart because of what I did here, then I would be waiting for you. Till then, Master. Farewell for now!"


    Then after using a few of their blood that was still left on the marbled floor of the hall to write his name so that Master Wu can know who did this, he left the sect to return to the valley and head back to the castle before night would fall.

 Chapter 45 - Practicing Techniques (1)

    When Xiao Lin climbed down from one of the mountains to the ground, he prepared to leave the valley and head back into the town to return to the castle.


    But before he would really do so, he wanted to at least practice some of the battle techniques mentioned in the battle arts that belonged to the Demonic Blade King and Undying Blood Emperor.


    He wanted to be adept at some of them.


    Till now, he still doesn''t know how to execute any battle technique. So, he wanted to at least practice some of the plethoric battle methods and master them to a certain degree. He felt that they would be tremendously useful to him in battles that might come up some day. So, he didn''t want to be left unprepared for any that might occur either in the nearest or farthest future.


    Now, the techniques that he chose to master were from the Myriad Chaotic Blood Armament, an Empyrean Weapon Self-Formation Art, Blood Devouring Thousand Worlds, an Empyrean Battle Art, and Great Heaven-Shattering Growl, which was also an Empyrean Battle Art.


    Then to have powerful escape techniques, like to run away from enemies who are much more powerful than him, he prepared to master a few escape techniques from the Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash, an Empyrean Evasion Technique.


    ***


    Picking the first four techniques from the Myriad Chaotic Blood Armament battle art which were the ''Lesser Hundred Ominous Blades'', ''Greater Hundred Ominous Blades'', ''Greater Thousand Monarch-Slaying Blades'', and ''Nine by Nine Sky-Soaring Profound Dragon-Killing Blades'', he prepared to practice them.


    After going through what was described in the Lesser Hundred Ominous Blades battle technique, he closed his eyes and focused within himself, or more precisely, at the region in his dantian where the Ordinary Blood Symbols floated at.


    Once he did so, and then drew Blood Energy from each of them in the next instant to the network of Peculiar Blood Veins within his body, which was the complex network of interconnected meridians that the Blood Energy that he drew out from each of the fifty Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian would move to flow to other areas of his body, he began to perform mystifying gestures with his hands.


    Then once he performed the final stroke or gesture with his fingers a second later, Blood Energy that had accumulated within that intricate network of Peculiar Blood Veins in decent amounts, abruptly gushed out from his body like a furious flood in the next instant and then sharply transformed into thirty solid, blood-colored blades that both hummed and vibrated at the same time with the power of extreme sharpness to seemingly cut through all things.


    Once the blades formed, they immediately shot out at furious speeds towards a large rock that Xiao Lin pointed at which was many feet in front of him.


    Slash! Slash! Slash!...


    Thirty slash sounds quickly rang out as the thirty razor-sharp blades struck the large rock and pierced through it in the next instant.


    Then a second later, the large rock which was smoothly cut through in many places, scattered apart into numerous fragments upon the earth beneath it.


    Witnessing this, Xiao Lin broke a smile in his face.


    He then said "I have to reach the Blood Acolyte level."


    Xiao Lin had suddenly mentioned this due to the blades that he produced from his Blood Energy. He could perceive some degrees of weaknesses in their structures. So, he felt that if he launched that as an attack at a stronger cultivator, the cultivator would use only a single attack to shatter them into pieces.


    Besides, they were just too few in number to him.


    The technique which was called Lesser Hundred Ominous Blades, meant that he could produce from a single blade to ninety-nine blades. But now, after giving it best, he was only able to produce thirty blades which made him totally unsatisfied.


    However, he understood that this was just his first try, so it was impossible to create ninety-nine blades in an instant. But he knew that with subsequent tries, he would be able to create up to eighty or ninety blades. And that when he got to the Blood Acolyte level after creation of 200 Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian, he would be able to effortlessly produce ninety-nine larger blades that might easily resist the shattering power of the powerful Spiritual Energy attack of a stronger enemy cultivator.


    Then he decided to go at it once again and put in more effort.


    After trying it again, he was only able to produce thirty-two blades.


    "Ugh!" He uttered unsatisfactorily.


    He then tried to go at it again.


    ***


    Then after doing it like thirty times more and could only produce thirty-nine blades, he stopped with an unsightly expression appearing in his face.


    He then felt that if he could only create thirty-nine blades using the Lesser Hundred Ominous Blade battle technique, how then would he be able to create one or two blades using the more difficult, Greater Hundred Ominous Blade battle technique that requires the formation of blades from a hundred blades to nine hundred and ninety-nine blades. It felt totally impossible to him.


    Besides, the two other more powerful techniques which were the Greater Thousand Monarch-Slaying Blades and Nine by Nine Sky-Soaring Profound Dragon-Killing Blades that he chose to also practice, would be tremendously harder to unleash. Therefore, he chose to stop here or he would only waste his time and energy.


    He then began to ponder deeply about something.


    ''From the way that Master Nine Calamities looks at me, I can tell that he is very impressed with me. So, I would go to him under that likeness to suggest to him that I go raid and attack disciples of a particular sect that ventured into some place for adventure.''


    ''I will tell him that I will take their spatial rings and submit it to him to contribute to the growth of the bandit group. Once he allows me, I would be able to do what I really want.'' He said within himself with a contemplative gaze in his eyes.


    Hahaha!


    He suddenly burst into laughter while nodding his head at the same time.


    "Sounds like an amazing plan to me. I like it. Only in that way after killing many of the disciples of that sect and weaving their blood into blood symbols which I will store in my dantian would I be able to rapidly attain the Blood Acolyte level. Good!" He said with an indecipherable smile in his face.


    He then prepared to practice a few techniques mentioned in the other battle arts and evasion arts that he recalled from his powerful memory to practice.

 Chapter 46 - Practicing Techniques (2)

    Then moving to the Blood Devouring Thousand Worlds battle arts, he prepared to practice at least two of the numerous battle moves of the arts. And these two were the ''Blood Wave Crushing Companies of Mortals and Armies of Knights'' and ''Blood Wave Shattering Immovable Mountains''.


    Once he read through the techniques and understood how to unleash them, he prepared to practice them.


    Now, moving Blood Energy from those Ordinary Blood Symbols that floated in his dantian to the highly intricate network of Peculiar Blood Veins in his body, then through some special routes to one of his fists which was the final receiver of the energy, he quickly punched out to expel the Blood Energy that had accumulated in his fist and was now carrying with it, strong and fearsome pulses of a strange type of tyrannical power due to the mysterious routes that it took within that complex network, which had actually endowed with that power because of the enigmatic circulation pattern that it followed.


    BOOOM!!


    A loud, ear-aching sound that was similar to a powerful explosion rang out from his fist which was then immediately followed by a wide, dreadfully powerful, rippling wave of Blood Energy that actually caused the ground which was far beneath it to quickly develop hundreds of cracks on it surface that then quickly spread to hundreds of feet away.


    Then the wave which continued into the far distance for about seventy feet without loosing it momentum and the devastating power that it possessed, caused the air around it to be pushed away to create a large vacuum zone around it.


    Witnessing the alarming destructive power of the Wave attack that he just unleashed, Xiao Lin satisfactorily nodded his head with a bright delighted smile appearing in his face.


    "This move is very powerful." He said.


    He then continued "It''s far better than just releasing an ordinary blast of Blood Energy from my fist, just like the extremely basic way that I attacked that government officer who was at the second-stage, Mortal Spiritual cultivation stage."


    ''But if I were to battle him now and unleash this particular attack at him, he would definitely have a hard time trying to block or deflect it, as it carries many times more ruination power than the previous ordinary blast of Blood Energy that I sent out at him that time. And who knows, he could become severely injured. He could cough out many mouthfuls of blood due to terribly shaken internal organs, or have his limbs shatter into bloody fragments on trying to resist the killing attack. Hmm. Anyways, he is dead now.'' He said within himself.


    Once he thought this and nodded his head, he prepared to practice the second technique which was the Blood Wave Shattering Immovable Mountains technique.


    Immediately after he read through it in his mind and quickly understood how to deploy it, he abruptly entered into a strange stance.


    Then allowing Blood Energy to move from the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian to the complex network of Peculiar Blood Veins within his body, which then flowed through different special routes to one of his fists, that then began to glow luminously in the color of blood like it was the glowing fist of an evil blood fiend, he immediately punched out into the air with a loud scream, since he couldn''t withstand the excessive, tyrannical currents of power violently surging within that fist.


    BOOOOOM!!


    Like an actual powerful explosion occurred, an immense blood-colored wave that moved with the shocking power to seemingly reduce mountains to tens of thousands of smithereens, suddenly discharged from the fist that he punched into the air and moved into the far distance with a rampant, deafening howl that would give the feeling that a gigantic, primitive beast of wind had been exceedingly angered and was out to destroy everything in the world.


    Although the massive wave of Blood Energy that he released contained astounding destructive capabilities, like it could actually reduce mountains into bits, it wasn''t at that level of power yet, as the power that it possesses was only derived from fifty Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    And, even if it was derived from 200 Ordinary Blood Symbols, meaning that he was at the Blood Acolyte stage, he still wouldn''t be able to produce a wave of Blood Energy that should shatter dozens of mountains and overly crush them to become massive heaps of powders.


    This brutal move could only reveal it true fearsome power from the Earthly Blood Warrior stage which required 15,000 Ordinary Blood Symbols.


    Xiao Lin could also understand this, he was however glad that now that he had learnt the technique, he would be able to unleash this attack at his enemies and was sure that it would injure them to an extent.


    When he felt that he had mastered two of the many moves of the battle art, he prepared to practice the Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash, an Empyrean Evasion Technique.


    Then using the first-level Evasion Technique of the art, he was able to abruptly generate a powerful, explosive burst of blood from his back which then tremendously accelerated the speed that he was moving at to a great level in a very short time.


    When he stopped running, he said with a smile in his face "Cool! Now I have an evasive method to quickly escape from harm. But damn! These moves are wholesome"


    Then now that he had stopped practicing, he made up his mind to return to the castle.


    After bringing out his hooded cloak from his spatial ring and wore it on the cloth that he wore to cover the stains of blood on them, he pulled the hood of the hooded cloak that he wore over his head to simply hide his identity when passing through any of the streets in the town to return to that Blackheart forest where the castle was located. Once he did this, he made a move to leave the valley that he was in and return to the castle.


    ***


    A few hours later, he arrived at the castle and went straight to meet Nine Calamities to discuss what he thought about in that valley. And as he walked through a particular wide hallway to arrive before Nine Calamities''s room, he could feel his colleagues looking at him with all sorts of expressions in their eyes.

 Chapter 47 - Facing Fifteen Bandits In A Fight

    Not long, Xiao Lin arrived at Nine Calamities''s room.


    Knock!


    He knocked on the door.


    Then Nine Calamities''s voice rang out.


    "Come in!" He said.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then opened the door to go in.


    Once he stepped in and closed the door behind him, he bowed before Master Nine Calamities and said "Good evening, Master Nine Calamities."


    After he greeted, he continued "I am done with the mission that I gave myself."


    Hahaha!


    Nine Calamities laughed.


    "Good!" He said.


    Then before Nine Calamities could say anything else, Xiao Lin said "Could master please allow me to go on a mission to attack outer court disciples of a sect that may be at a valley or forest, or some other place to do something? I will attack them and snatch their spatial rings from their hands which I will come submit to you. I want to do so to contribute to the growth of our bandit group. At least, the spatial rings of twenty to fifty people combined together would amount to a small heap of resources that would be beneficial to some of my colleagues who are at the same cultivation level as me, which is the Spiritual Ascendance stage."


    Nine Calamities looked at Xiao Lin and said "Although I have fully decided within myself to allow you go on many evening missions with some of my men to raid some particular places in this town, in neighboring towns and in numerous faraway towns situated in other cities. But since you would like to go on some missions of your own which is to contribute to the growth of my bandit organization, you are free."


    "However, when you are done, you will go with many of my men for the raiding missions to be carried out in those places that I mentioned about to you. Am I clear?" Nine Calamities asked.


    "Yes. Very clear, Master Nine Calamities." Xiao Lin answered with a nod of his head.


    "Good!" Nine Calamities said.


    He then asked with a strongly curious expression appearing in his face "Now, do you have the battle prowess to be able to attack twenty to fifty outer court disciples all by yourself?"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head with a smile in his face.


    He then said with confidence emanating off of his voice "Yes. I am really strong. I believe I can do so."


    "Hmm. That''s good. I like your utmost confidence in your abilities" Master Nine Calamities said with an impressed tone in his voice.


    He then continued "However, to do what you just said isn''t by mouth alone. It must be carried out with pure action. Now, for me to fully believe that you can handle them on your own, I will make you face twelve of your colleagues who are at the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage. If you can beat them flawlessly all by yourself, you are good to go. If not, then I will have no choice than to reject your suggestion and make you follow my men on the evening raiding missions that I specifically designed for you alone so that you can quickly grow in strength and power and be promoted."


    Xiao Lin broke a smile in his face and then said "Bring it on, master."


    Hahaha!


    Nine Calamities laughed.


    "Good!" He said when he ended his laughter.


    He then stood to his feet and left his room with Xiao Lin who followed directly behind him with an indecipherable smile in his face.


    When they appeared at the training field before their residential castle, with everyone now fully gathered around them, Nine Calamities said with a loud, excited voice "Now, I want to announce that a battle shall take place between Bloodfang and twelve of his colleagues who are at the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage."


    Once he said that, all sorts of questions began to ring out.


    "What?!"


    "Why?!"


    "What has the proud fool done now?!"


    ...


    As soon as Nine Calamities said that, everyone began to ask these questions and other sorts of questions with strongly puzzled and intensely bewildered expressions in their faces.


    They couldn''t believe what their boss, Master Nine Calamities just announced.


    Seeing their facial expressions and reactions, Master Nine Calamities chuckled.


    He then continued to elaborate on why he made such an unbelievable announcement, "Bloodfang has said that he wants to contribute to the growth of our bandit organization by attacking twenty to fifty outer court disciples of a sect or some sects that could be found at a particular place or gathered together for an event and then snatch their spatial rings from them which he would come to submit to me as his one of his contributions to the growth of our organization."


    He then said further "So, since he confidently claimed to have the battle prowess to face at least fifty outer court disciples of a sect and overpower them to the point of hijacking their spatial rings from them, he must first prove to us that he is capable of doing so, which is by facing twelve colleagues of his who are at the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage. Haha!"


    "Wow! What an idiot!"


    "This Bloodfang or whatever he calls himself should be called Bloodfool instead. So stupid! Argh! I can''t believe he thinks that he can actually face even only ten outer court disciples of a sect all by himself. And maybe because he was fortunate enough to kill two government officers who were at the first-layer and second-layer Mortal Spiritual stage that he thinks can beat everyone now. Hahaha! Moron."


    "I will like to see how our colleagues will bash your face and turn you into a bloody pulp! Hahaha!"


    Nine Calamities who could hear what everyone was saying only ignored them.


    He then continued "Now, if you will like to fight your junior, Bloodfang to prove to him that he is only living in an unreal, fantasy world, come out now to do so. Or never come out again!"


    As soon as Nine Calamities said that, close to fifteen bandits at the 9th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage presented themselves to Xiao Lin, with smiles that concealed all types of meanings and hid all forms of agendas appearing in their faces.


    "Here we are, Master" One of them respectfully said with a bow.


    "Good!" Nine Calamities said.


    He then turned his head to look at Xiao Lin and said "Bloodfang, fifteen of them have appeared with none of them ready to forfeit this match for the other. Would be able to handle all of them? Or you will rather decide to forfeit the whole match?"


    Xiao Lin smiled.


    "I am okay with their numbers, Master." He said with a fearless smile in his face.


    He then continued with the smile in his face disappearing as it was instantly replaced with a dead serious expression "And I will like to give some nice, acceptable conditions for the match to go on. If I can beat all fifteen of them, they will handover their spatial rings to me. But if I don''t, I will handover mine, and the two spatial rings that belonged to those government officers that were slain by me. Also, I will act as their servant for three months. What do you say?!"


    When the fifteen bandits heard what Xiao Lin mentioned, their eyes shone hard with incredulity. They wouldn''t ever conceive that Xiao Lin would mention such a thing to them, despite their glaring disparities in strength. Then without wasting time, they began to say ''I accept'' one after the other.


    Once they all accepted, Nine Calamities who also couldn''t believe Xiao Lin, said with a somewhat devilish smile appearing in his face "Be as brutal as you want to be in this match. You are allowed to crack every bones you see, and heavily smash apart every internal organ that will come your way. Now, fight!!"

 Chapter 48 - Overwhelming His Challengers And Shocking Everyone

    Xiao Lin smiled when he heard what Nine Calamities said.


    Then he entered into a fighting stance. And as he did so, he suddenly recalled when something similar to this happened back at Master Wu''s Flowing Cloud sect. Then, he was a mortal who was facing cultivators with Movement Techniques and Battle Techniques. But now, things were different. He had two of the most fearsome deity-level battle arts in the cultivation world,which he had mastered a few brutally powerful moves from.


    Seeing the stance that he entered, the fifteen bandits burst into loud, raucous laughter. They were bemused by what Xiao Lin just did.


    How will someone at the 5th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage fight them who were at the 9th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage? They found it funny and totally amusing.


    Xiao Lin had entered the 5th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage from the 3rd-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage as he was serious with his cultivation of Spiritual Energy.


    ***


    Not long, one of them suddenly rushed towards Xiao Lin using a Movement Technique to physically attack him, as he strongly felt that Xiao Lin wasn''t worth him producing Spiritual Energy attacks to unleash at him.


    Once he arrived before Xiao Lin and threw out his fist at him, Xiao Lin simply sidestepped to the left to evade the incoming fist attack.


    Then as soon as he did so, he grabbed the fist of that bandit before the bandit could withdraw it. Then before the bandit could do anything else, Xiao Lin applied force with his powerful hand on that fist that he had grasped to wickedly crush it.


    Craack!


    A crack sound which signified the breaking of bones rang out, while the bandit screamed out in pain.


    Arghh!!


    Then still holding on to that fist with one of his powerful hands, Xiao Lin clenched his other hand into a rock-hard fist and then sent it straight at the ribs of the bandit.


    Craack!


    Argh!!!


    Both the sound of cracking of bones and the heart-tingling screech of pain rang out at the same time.


    And, still grabbing that crushed fist, Xiao Lin abruptly turned around 360-degree and viciously flung the bandit grasped by far away.


    Bang!


    The bandit crashed really hard into the earth of the training field many feet away, with blood streaming down continuously from his ears, mouth and nose.


    Xiao Lin then dusted his hand and asked with a ferocious smile in his face "Who''s next?!"


    It was at this moment that everyone kept quiet with great shock and puzzlement in their faces. Even their breathing became irregular and intense.


    The spectacle that they just witnessed was totally unbelievable, even after seeing it with their naked eyes.


    Hahaha!


    Clap! Clap! Clap!...


    Nine Calamities who really enjoyed what he just watched, first laughed and then began to clap with intense amazement in his eyes. He was starting to like Xiao Lin day by day.


    The other bandits who were to face Xiao Lin began to look at him with intensely cold and murderous gazes in their eyes, after a moment of being initially surprised that Xiao Lin could quickly, overpoweringly finish off one of them.


    Then they rapidly switched their attack mode.


    Now, they were going to launch Spiritual Energy attacks at him.


    Xiao Lin knew this too, so he was ready to defend himself from their furious barrages of attacks.


    Not exactly defend, he was going to attack them too.


    He wouldn''t wait for them to produce their attacks and unleash it at him. That was only what a moron or a crackhead would do, and he was no moron or crackhead. So, he would quickly unleash his own attacks to overwhelm them and win the battle.


    Quickly employing the battle technique called Lesser Hundred Ominous Blades and following it description in the Myriad Chaotic Blood Armament art battle art, Blood Energy gushed out his from entire body in large amounts which then instantly transformed into thirty nine blades that were each four feet long and five inches wide.


    Once these blood-colored blades that each emitted the power of sharpness to seemingly cut through virtually everything in the world abruptly formed in the air around him, Xiao Lin said "Go!"


    Immediately after Xiao Lin gave that command, the blades shot out towards remaining fourteen bandits that surrounded him.


    Noticing the perceptible, alarming power of sharpness possessed by each of the blades blazing furiously towards them, the fourteen bandits quickly discharged Spiritual Energy from their hands which then quickly condensed into blades of different colors that shot out at the same instant towards the incoming, sharpness-emanating, blood-colored blades to intercept them and possibly break or shatter them apart into fragments.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!...


    Bang! Bang! Bang!...


    Once the multiple attacks clashed in the air, numerous bang sounds began to ring out, while small waves of tyrannical energies surfaced immediately after their heavy collisions.


    When the bang sounds stopped a few moments later, nothing could be seen in the air again.


    Both Xiao Lin''s attacks and the fourteen bandits'' attacks had been completely destroyed in their tyrannical clashes with one another.


    "Wow!"


    The bandits around who weren''t partaking in the fight couldn''t help but exclaim in shock.


    They couldn''t believe that Xiao Lin''s attacks, the attacks of a 5th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator could actually resist the damaging power of the attacks of fourteen 9th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivators and instead shatter them apart into fragments before exploding into bits a moment later.


    What they thought was what actually happened.


    Xiao Lin''s attacks instantly reduced the formidable attacks of his challengers into thousands of bits upon their initial brutal collisions, before his attacks themselves suddenly developed countless cracks in their amazingly dense structures before shattering into smithereens and then dispersing away some seconds later, bringing calmness to the atmosphere around them again.


    The bandits surrounding them couldn''t understand how Xiao Lin''s attacks possessed such ferocity and astonishing degree of solidness. Then they finally concluded that it has to do with the characteristics of his Spiritual Energy.


    But they were totally wrong!


    Xiao Lin didn''t use Spiritual Energy in his attacks, as he hadn''t yet studied and mastered battle techniques for the overbearing, dark-colored Spiritual Energy that he cultivated. What he used was Blood Energy, a fearsome unique energy that had been born in his dantian because of the dreadfully powerful, tyrannical evil art that he was practicing. Although the blood-red color that it possessed made all of them suspicious, they however didn''t remain suspicious for long, as they felt that the color that it possessed was the inherent color of his Spiritual Energy.


    Xiao Lin had thought all these through. So that was why he chose to use his cultivated Blood Energy.


    However, only one bandit called Rainheart retained his suspicion for Xiao Lin, as he had always been wary about him. He didn''t discard off his suspicion like the rest.


    ***


    When their attacks totally neutralized each other in the air, Xiao Lin who always grabbed the initiative to attack first, quickly employed the Blood Wave Shattering Immovable Mountains battle technique.


    Then following it description in the Blood Devouring Thousand Worlds battle art, he began to punch out at each of the fourteen bandits, firing off immense, tyrannical waves of Blood Energy from his fist at them to possibly shatter the bones of their bodies and win the match.

 Chapter 49 - Thats How You Fight!

    Boom! Boom! Boom!...


    Rampant boom sounds began to ring out as Xiao Lin punched out at each of the Bandits. And as he did so, a terrifying controlled blast of Blood Energy which actually moved as converging, unidirectional waves of Blood Energy shot out from his fist towards the fourteen bandits.


    But being experienced bandits, as they had fought in many battles before during raiding missions, they quickly discharged Spiritual Energy from their hands which quickly condensed into thick shields to block the focused, tyrannical waves of Blood Energy shooting towards them.


    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!...


    Multiple bang sounds began to ring out as the fired Blood Energy waves collided heavily into the thick shields and screens of Spiritual Energy that they abruptly produced.


    Then a moment later after the fierce and ferocious waves of Blood Energy had impacted their rapidly condensed defensive screens of Spiritual Energies, they simply vanished by rapidly fading away into thin air.


    However, numerous cracks could be seen in the structures of the protective shields that the fourteen bandits quickly generated. If the waves were more powerful than they were, they would have reduced the shields into splinters and go on to strike them incredibly hard.


    Seeing that his attacks didn''t break the shields of his challengers and only caused cracks to appear in them, Xiao Lin quickly tried re-attacking them.


    But before he could so, Nine Calamities''s slightly angered voice unexpectedly rang out, "The hell are you boys doing?! Don''t tell me that all fourteen of you want to jointly attack Bloodfang who is basically four stages lower than you. If that''s what you all were planning to do, then total shame on you guys as cultivators. If I were to be Bloodfang, I wouldn''t ever regard you guys as high and proud cultivators, but as shits!"


    "Now, I want to see an interesting one-on-one battle, not some rough battle that will certainly fail to entertain me." Nine Calamities continued.


    Once he said that, one of the bandits stepped out to face Xiao Lin, while the others moved back by many feet to give them space to fight.


    Then with a smile appearing in his new opponent''s face, he asked "Ready to be ravaged into paste by me?!"


    Xiao Lin smiled and then nodded his head.


    "Good!" His new opponent said with an indifferent tone in his voice.


    Then he quickly entered into a battle stance to fight Xiao Lin.


    Once his opponent entered into his fighting stance, Xiao Lin quickly entered his own. Then following the description of the Blood Wave Shattering Immovable Mountains battle technique in the Blood Devouring Thousand Worlds battle art, he quickly deployed it.


    But as he prepared to do so, he suddenly got an inspiration on how to increase the fearsome power of this particular move.


    Then without wasting time in contemplating if it would actually work, he quickly moved on to to do so as his new challenger was also gearing up to unleash devastating Spiritual Energy attacks at him.


    So, very quickly, he drew bundles of wisps of Blood Energy from each of the thirty-nine Ordinary Blood Symbols floating deep within his dantian to the intricate network of Peculiar Blood Veins in his body where they followed special circulation routes to one of his fists and then began to crazily surge and violently seethe in there, seeming as if a primordial hunger and thirst to destroy and ravage all things around him had just been born in it.


    And, as soon as he accumulated Blood Energy in that fist which then began to strongly pulse with a shocking fierce power like a frenzied mighty beast had been awakened in it, he quickly began to guide a second and third stream of Blood Energy which he rapidly drew out from the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian through those special routes to his fist.


    Then before the second and third, violently surging streams of Blood Energies would get to his fist, he abruptly punched out to discharge the first stream that had gathered in there and pulsated greatly with unparalleled ferocity and incredible fierceness like it were a horde of raging, carnage-hungry dragons.


    BOOM!


    A loud boom sound suddenly rang out as a powerful blastwave of Blood Energy suddenly discharged from the fist that he punched out at his new opponent, which then traveled at a great speed towards that person with the power to seemingly reduce a massive rock into dusts.


    But just as he punched out towards that opponent of his to release that Blood Energy wave-attack, his battle-ready challenger also quickly fired his formidably powerful, Spiritual Energy attack at him.


    BANG!


    A loud bang sound rang out as Xiao Lin''s overwhelming attack and his targeted opponent''s attack violently clashed in the air.


    Then the instant that the first stream of Blood Energy was expelled out of that fist to produce an attack, the second and third stream of strongly fluctuating Blood Energies got to that fist which he then abruptly discharged at his opponent one after the other in the form of attacks too by rapidly punching out twice at him.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    A deafening boom sound that was immediately followed by another deafening boom sound rang out, meaning that Xiao Lin had just unleashed two fearsome blastwaves of Blood Energy with a time gap of one second at his opponent.


    His opponent who didn''t know what Xiao Lin had in stock for him, was caught unprepared for the attacks that he threw next at them.


    But as a seasoned combatant, he was able to quickly come up with a way of defending himself from Xiao Lin''s sudden attacks, which was by rapidly expelling a huge amount of Spiritual Energy from his hands which then abruptly condensed into a large, thick shield to either block or deflect the two incoming attacks.


    Bang!


    A bang sound rang out as the first blastwave struck it, instantly causing cracks to appear in it dense structure. Then when the incoming second blastwave struck it, it abruptly shattered into smithereens with the wave moving on to impact the bandit and sent him flying for many dozens of feet through the air like an arrow and leaving him with numerous broken or pulverized bones and dozens of mushed organs.


    Hahaha!


    Once this happened, Nine Calamities burst into a loud and raucous, delighted laughter.


    He then said in the next instant with a serious expression in his face "That is how you fight! You damned and puny, hellforsaken people that I call my bandits."

 Chapter 50 - Passing The Test And Leaving For The Town

    Seeing how Xiao Lin devastated their colleagues, the remaining thirteen bandits looked at him with expressions of shock in their faces.


    They couldn''t believe how Xiao Lin, a 5th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator could overwhelm a 9th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage cultivator and knock him away.


    After waiting for sometime with no one coming out to face Xiao Lin, Nine Calamities said "So, you guys are frightened by a fifth-layer Spiritual Ascendant now? Shame on you guys!"


    "You have basically just proved now that you don''t deserve to be called cultivators, like I said earlier. Anyways, that''s your problem, not mine. And if you guys are wise, you will go to train more so that you will become stronger and not dread a lower-stage cultivator like you morons are doing now."


    After Nine Calamities said that, the eyes of the remaining thirteen bandits glowed with anger. However, they concealed it from appearing on their faces, or they might be devastated by their master, Nine Calamities who was incredibly brutal.


    When Nine Calamities finished talking, he looked at Xiao Lin and said "Bloodfang, you can go do what you have in mind. You have passed the test."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head with a smile in his face.


    Then without waiting to be told anything by anyone, he suddenly turned around and set off to leave the castle.


    As Xiao Lin left, the thirteen bandits looked at each other and began to pass messages to each other using their gazes alone.


    ***


    When Xiao Lin arrived back in town from the Blackheart forest, he went to find a place, like an inn to stay to stay for the night, then for the next morning and afternoon before setting out in the evening to ask around for the places where disciples from numerous sects might be possibly gathered at to participate in some ongoing events or occasion.


    Then when he got to an inn and paid for the money to rent a room in that inn, he was just about to go to his room to stay there and go through the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art so he could comprehend it basics and then move on to practice it when he suddenly heard people drinking wine at a part of the inn discussing about the gathering of disciples at the town''s center for an event that will occur very soon.


    And, as an information that Xiao Lin sought for the most, he waited where he was to listen to them.


    "The disciples of the Golden Bull sect, the Three Fiery Fairies sect, the Ice Phoenix sect, the Earthbreaker sect, the Heavenly Crimson Thunder sect, the Mysterious Blue Mist sect, the Shadowflame sect, the Invincible Radiantsword sect, the Sky-Collapsing sect, the Floating Light temple, the Black Temple of Blood and Bones, and finally the Great Solarsword and Moonblade Hall, have gathered here in this town to compete for a special prize, which is the Elixir of Nine Kings Essence."


    "It''s a special crystalline liquid said to increase the cultivation growth of a cultivator from the first-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage to the Mortal Spiritual stage in a matter of days, and without causing problems that should be settled or resolved in the future when one plans to further advance one''s cultivation to another stage."


    When Xiao Lin heard these, his interest was greatly piqued. So, he listened further with unequalled attentiveness.


    "Wow! We certainly don''t have that number of sects in our small town. So, where did these sects come from? And where exactly would they gather to have the competition that you just spoked about?" One of the many people in the inn listening to the person talking, asked with an intense curious expression in his face.


    "Well, we only have three sects in our small town, and these are the Golden Bull sect, the Three Fiery Fairies sect, and the Flowing Cloud sect. Then talking about the Flowing Cloud sect, I wonder why none of the disciples studying there have arrived. Perhaps they are busy preparing hard for the event and will eventually show up later."


    "Then as for the rest, they came from either neighboring and faraway towns in the city." The person who was a 6th-layer Spiritual Ascendance rogue cultivator answered.


    He then continued "And as for the place that they would gather for the event, that''s the town''s center. However, I don''t know when they would start the competition and how they would go about it. We can only stay tuned to know more about that."


    "Yea. It would be a damn, really exciting match to see. That item that would be given out as prize must be a really valuable item for it to cause so many sects to appear in our small town for it." One suddenly said.


    He then asked in the next moment "Who is giving out that exceedingly valuable item out?"


    "The City Lord. He is around in this town. He is staying at the Townmaster''s grand residence." Another person replied.


    "Wow! That''s cool. I wish I also studied at some sect and would be given the opportunity to participate in this kind of amazing event." One said with dreamy eyes, while others began to laugh hard at him as they also began to call him names like talentless fool and poorly-gifted crackhead.


    When Xiao Lin heard all that he needed to hear, he left where he was and proceeded to his room to start his comprehension of the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art. Then with an intensely glad smile appearing in his face, he began to imagine himself extracting their blood essences to condense demonic marks, and their bloods to weave them into blood symbols within his dantian.


    However, as he imagined himself doing that after killing them, he understood that what he wanted to do would be really difficult to carry out, since he would be faced by many strong geniuses from those numerous sects when they became aware of his exceedingly hostile presence.


    So, that was why before the event would finally kick off, Xiao Lin understood that he must have mastered many battle techniques in the numerous battle arts branded to his memory so that he would be able to overpower them, kill them and do what he wanted with them. And he greatly hoped that the event that they wanted to have would start either in the evening or at night, or he would lose a very big piece of meal if the event was to take place during the day when the sun was glaring and scorchingly hot.

 Chapter 51 - Gathering Information (1)

    Seated in the cross-legged position on the floor of the room that he rented, he began to go through the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art in his head.


    Once he started reading through it, he came across two foundation-level techniques of the many immensely powerful techniques that were titled and detailedly described in the art. And these two techniques were the Mortal Saint Beheading technique and King Annihilating Blade Wave technique.


    Then when he went through the description of the Mortal Saint Beheading technique, he quickly understood how to use it.


    Then trying to practice it, he brought one of his palms in front of him.


    He then focused within himself and summoned a unique and dreadfully fierce, dark scarlet energy called Hermetic Demonic Energy, a completely rare and exceptional energy mentioned in the art in his head from those 50 True Demonic Marks floating within his dantian to his palm.


    Once that particular energy erupted out of his palm, it began to violently fluctuate, giving Xiao Lin himself chills that quickly traveled down his spine.


    He was both amazed and frightened at how the large wisp of dark scarlet energy floating an inch above above his palm began to tremendously surge, affecting even the air around him, since the air began to seemingly slash apart due to the power of extreme perceptible sharpness that radiated outwards from the seething energy and then permeated the atmosphere with it, filling it with incredible sharpness.


    Also, it imbued the air with the overwhelming ferric smell of blood and saturated the atmosphere in the room with a strong demonic presence, invoking the definite feeling that a demonic entity had just arrived in the room through some means.


    Then without thinking far about the energy since he wasn''t there to observe but train, he used his powerful will to condense the shapeless dark scarlet energy into a small blade that began to float above his palm and produce humming sounds.


    When he succeeded in doing this many moments later, Xiao Lin broke a smile in his face.


    First technique down!


    He then reasoned that he was getting more adept at quickly mastering techniques of any art that he may ever come across.


    Then after breaking the solid form of the small-sized, Hermetic Demonic Energy blade hovering an inch above his palm which then rapidly dispersed away since it was no longer connected to Xiao Lin''s mind, Xiao Lin quickly moved on to practice the second technique which was the King Annihilating Blade Wave technique.


    A second later when he was done going through the description of the technique in his head, he understood what to do.


    However, he couldn''t practice that kind of battle move here since it might destroy his room and move on to affect other rooms, killing people in the process and alerting other cultivators that could be possibly residing in some other rooms in the inn.


    And, since he had also gotten that technique down and would practice it later, he nodded his head and went on to study the Divinity-Annihilating Primal Blood Flame battle art, an empyrean-level battle art that he had to use his Spiritual Energy to produce powerful, fire-bound attacks.


    ***


    Xiao Lin diligently studied that fire-based empyrean art from that evening that he arrived at the inn till the next day in the afternoon.


    Then after understanding the profundity of the supreme-tier, god-level flame control art to a very small extent, and was eventually able to allow his Spiritual Energy take on the true characteristics of fire, which after possessing the actual physical properties of fire, began to erupt outwards from his hands as alarmingly strong and frenzied, rampaging flames due to the amazing fierceness and shocking formidableness of his dark-colored, overbearing Spiritual Energy, which he was able to specially cultivate using the Primordial Heretic Force cultivation art, a Spiritual Energy cultivation art that was transmitted to him by Lin Shou Wen, the Demonic Blade King, he stopped and then stood to his feet to leave his room.


    When he left and closed the door behind him, he remained where he was which was in front of his room and quickly deployed his Vampiric Enhanced Hearing ability to listen to what people in the inn were discuss about.


    And, the topic that he wanted to hear them talk about was about the one where many sects would gather for a particular event.


    ***


    "So, the event that would occur between the numerous sects that have gathered for a prize would take place four days from now in the afternoon. They will duel on a large platform where only the last person standing is the person worthy of receiving that powerful and consummate, cultivation-boosting liquid item from our generous City Lord" one said.


    "Really? That''s nice! We would be able to watch these fearsome geniuses battle and then delight ourselves in their match. This is very cool!" Another said.


    "Yea. I just can''t wait to know which sect amongst all that have gathered here would come out as the strongest." Another said.


    Then the same person that spoke just now shamelessly coughed and said "So, uhm, who would like to place a bet on what sect would win? If you are interested, come place your bet. Then as for me, my coins are going to the Heavenly Crimson Thunder sect. Haha!"


    "What? Why that sect? Sounds like a trashy sect to me. Haha! Anyways, I am interested in your damn bet. So, my coins will go to the the Black Temple of Blood and Bones" Another refuted and then said.


    Not long, everyone in that place began to place their bets, while Xiao Lin who remained where he was developed a sunken face.


    "But why? Why in the afternoon when the sun is going to furiously burn me to death? This is really bad news for me. It gives me no joy at all. Ugh!"


    "It seems my fortune well is starting to run dry. Hmm."


    "Well, anyways, I don''t need the fortune or providence from the heavens anymore. Since I am in charge of my own fate and destiny, I will make a way for myself. I must do something about this. I need their bloods and blood essences to get stronger. And now that thy have arrived in large numbers in this place, delivering themselves to me, how would I let them go just like that? I will definitely do something about this."

 Chapter 52 - Gathering Information (2)

    Once he thought this, he returned back into his room with an indecipherable smile in his face to continue studying the Divinity-Annihilating Primal Blood Flame battle art.


    ***


    Many hours later...


    Once the sun set, meaning that evening had arrived, Xiao Lin''s eyes suddenly sprung open from where he sat on the floor.


    He then stood from his cross-legged position on the ground and walked out of his room.


    When he did so and closed the door behind him, he hit the street to gather many kinds of information before finally executing the plan that he had quickly developed in his mind.


    He understood that he had to make his scheme perfect before setting out to do it, or it could result in his gruesome death.


    Now, appearing in the street and leaving his Vampiric Enhanced Hearing ability on, he began to listen to what people in the street were talking about.


    Then without surprise, all the things that people in the street were talking about were mostly about the intense event coming up in four days time.


    After listening for sometime and seeing that not what they said was his cup of tea, he approached a trader at a particular store.


    "Hi" He greeted with an amiable smile in his face.


    "Hello" The trader greeted back in a friendly manner.


    Xiao Lin then asked with a curious expression in his face "Do you have an idea where the many disciples of those numerous sects are staying? If you do, please tell me. Haha!"


    He politely said and ended it with a light chuckle.


    "Yea. I think I do." The trader said with a thinking gaze appearing in his eyes.


    He then said in the next moment "They are all staying at inns around the town''s center, since that''s where the event would be taking place."


    "Oh, alright. Thank you for this info" Xiao Lin said in an appreciative tone.


    "You are welcome" The trader answered.


    Xiao Lin nodded and then left the trader''s presence.


    Then as he walked away, he began to think of some things.


    "They are staying in rooms at inns that can be found at the town''s center. Hmm. What do I do about that?" He questioned himself within.


    "I will surely think of a way to bring them out" He said with a devilish smile appearing in his face.


    Once he thought this, he immediately left where he was to go find a place to train hard on the techniques that he had comprehended.


    He understood that he needed to hone and sharpen his several powerful battle skills before the fourth day when the event would be taking place will eventually arrive.


    After a few hours of walking deep into a particular, pretty large forest that could be also found in the town, he quickly began to train.


    Then sharply recalling the description for the Mortal Saint Beheading technique in the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art, currents of Hermetic Demonic Energy which was dark scarlet in color, rushed out from those True Demonic Marks in his dantian and travelled to his palm like an actual, small chaotic stream through special meridian pathways in his body. These currents of energy couldn''t follow the same routes as his Spiritual Energy and Blood Energy.


    Then when these currents arrived at that palm, they gushed out in the next instant and condensed into a small, dark scarlet blade that began to emit palpable sharpness after some moments of intense concentration.


    Xiao Lin knew that the blade would be much bigger than this if he had more True Demonic Marks in his dantian. However, he wasn''t perturbed by this as he quietly focused his still and calm heart on what he was doing.


    As soon as the small-sized, dark scarlet blade that rippled off a fearsome perceivable sharpness materialized in his hand, he aimed that palm out and uttered "Go!"


    Once he gave that order, the blade travelled at an extreme speed towards the large tree that Xiao Lin targeted.


    Puchi!


    It struck that tree and effortlessly penetrated through it to the other tree at the back.


    Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!...


    These piercing sounds began to ring out as the blade cleanly cut through those trees like it were it the small, unstoppable blade of a divine god.


    After easily cutting through more than twenty-five large trees, it lost it powerful momentum and eventually it seemingly unbreakable shape and form, then it rapidly dissipated away into thin air.


    "Cool!" Xiao Lin uttered.


    He then began to practice more to master this battle technique so that he could instantly unleash it even when he wakes from his slumber, that''s as a vampire.


    So, a few hours later of intense fatiguing practices, he was able to reach his goal.


    He then quickly switched to the next battle skill which was the King Annihilating Blade Wave technique.


    Then following the description of the technique in the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art, a small but wide, rippling stream of Hermetic Demonic Energy suddenly rushed out from those 50 True Demonic Marks within his dantian and then followed special meridian passageways in his body to one of his hands.


    Once this stream of energy arrived within that palm and began to surge, Xiao Lin quickly aimed out that palm at a large tree that was far behind him.


    Swooosh!


    Then a formidably powerful and seemingly multi-layered, thin tidal waves of Hermetic Demonic Energy, as the waves were stacked upon each other and carried extreme sharpness that seemed to increase in leaps every second, abruptly discharged from that palm and travelled at a furious speed towards his aimed target which was a tree.


    Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!...


    These terrifying slash sounds began to rampantly ring out as many trees in the path of the wide, tremendously fierce waves began to reduce to bits as they passed through them and shot seemingly unstoppable into the far distance in a single direction.


    Then a few seconds later, the far distance could be seen as the numerous immense trees that could be found in the forest and fully blocked one''s vision had been reduced into the tiniest fragments.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then continued to practice.


    When he was done which was many hours later, he moved on to practice the few easier techniques in the Divinity-Annihilating Primal Blood Flame battle art.

 Chapter 53 - Going To The Towns Center

    When it was very late in the night, like around 3 A.M, Xiao Lin chose to rest for sometime in the cleanly cleared forest.


    Then many minutes later, he stood from where he was resting and quickly dashed back to the inn before morning will arrive, or if he was caught under the sun, then that would be his doom.


    And, with his Vampiric Enhanced Hearing ability on, he used it to hide himself away from the town Nightwatch guards who would be out patrolling since 11 A.M.


    So, once he heard any strange footsteps approaching from far, he would quickly conceal himself somewhere so as not to to be discovered. Then when the footsteps who he couldn''t possibly guess who the owner is, turns in another directions and walks away, he would resume dashing towards the inn.


    Not long, after carefully moving about to avoid the government officers since his ugly experience that first time in the night in this town, he arrived at the inn.


    Then since he couldn''t enter the inn since the doors would be locked by this time, he chose to climb up to his room from the window side.


    So, leaping quietly from one windowsill to the next, he eventually arrived at his room''s window which was wide open. He then went in and immediately shut the window and pulled the curtain close.


    He then sat down in the cross-legged position on the ground and began to deeply ponder of what to do concerning how to pull out those sects'' disciples out of where they were residing to a particular place so he could have his way with them.


    He then made up his mind to go through many parts of the town the next day''s evening, just so he could make some of them, if not all of them to come to that place and would be able to perpetrate his evil act without disturbance or interference from any one.


    After deciding this, he closed his eyes to cultivate Spiritual Energy. And this he did till the evening of the next day. He didn''t even stand to listen to any information again as he felt that he had gotten all the information that he would need.


    When the sun set meaning that evening had come, he shot up to his feet and directly left his room and then the inn to move to parts of the town where he would get places that he could lead the disciples of those sect to.


    After going round the town from 6 P.M till 10 P.M to discover many places, he stopped at one of them and began to train again to increase his degree of mastery of the many, powerful battle techniques that he had studied.


    After practicing all of them in one hour, he quickly left where he was and returned to the inn before the Night Patrol officers would come out.


    When he arrived in his rented room at that inn and began to go through the numerous places that he had visited in his head, which he had also learnt what areas that they could be found at, he made up his mind to finalize his first, grand ominous scheme. And as he did this in his now stony heart, he seriously hoped that his carefully orchestrated plan would work out well for him, or he could be doomed.


    He understood that what he was was doing was extremely risky, but he had to take the chance to do so as he musts get stronger at all costs, as in, by all wicked and evil means necessary. And if the heavens wouldn''t provide for him, he must provide for himself. Also, if luck won''t smile at him, he would smile at luck and make it to become an interdependent part of him, he would make it become an integral component of his being and life.


    After going through his plans over and over again, he resumed his cultivation.


    At this point in time, he had broken through into the 6th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage. But this was because he was consuming good-tier, Spiritual Cultivation Resources that filled the spatial rings of the two government Night Patrol officers that he killed many days ago.


    So, using a divine-grade technique called Spiritual Refinement Conversion technique in the Primordial Heretic Force spiritual cultivation art, he was able refine the Spiritual Energies that he had accumulated within himself, which he got from the massive consumption of many of those Spiritual Cultivation resources in the spatial rings, and then fully transform the gathered energy into his usual dark-colored, overbearing and uniquely strong Spiritual Energy.


    Therefore, with just that, he was able to quickly break through into the 6th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage from the 5th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    ***


    Not long, evening approached, causing the sun to set.


    When it finally did, Xiao Lin hurriedly left his room and went into the street to purchase numerous colored ink bottles and many paper-like materials that he could write or draw on.


    Then after purchasing a lot of them from many different sellers in different streets and swiftly ran off without paying money for them after the deep, careful observation of his immediate surroundings, he headed back to his room in that inn.


    Also, he had purchased different colors of fitting, buttoned hooded cloaks which he didn''t pay for and only shot away when both the seller and no else were looking at him, since he knew how to blend into the background and not appear even slightly noticeable or conspicuous.


    When he arrived in his room and placed the paper-like materials on the ground, he began to write things, as in words into them.


    Many minutes later when he was done and allowed the ink on them to totally dry so that they won''t rub off, he rolled the paper-like materials that he wrote things into and stowed them all away into his spatial ring.


    When he was done, he left the inn and headed into the street where he entered a beast-drawn carriage to lift him to the center of the town.

 Chapter 54 - Making A Quick Kill

    A few hours later, the carriage that Xiao Lin was in arrived at the town''s center.


    However, before the carriage driver would stop and ask for the fee for the services that he rendered to Xiao Lin, he saw to his shock that Xiao Lin was no longer in the carriage.


    Xiao Lin had long gotten down from the carriage when it arrived at this part of the town that was incredibly bustling as really large amounts of people could be seen moving up and down in different attires to tend to the businesses that they were here for.


    While Xiao Lin who had swiftly come down from the carriage unnoticed by both the driver and anyone around using his Vampiric Ghostly Movement and Vampiric Agility ability, he approached a seller in a particular shop.


    "Hello" He greeted with a smile in his face.


    "Hi. What do you want to buy?" The trader in the shop greeted back and then questioned.


    "Actually, I am not here to buy anything. I want to ask for some information from you." Xiao Lin said in a polite tone.


    "Oh! Okay. But so you may know, for every bit of information that I will give you, you will give me fifty bronze coins in return" The trader said shamelessly, causing Xiao Lin to be shocked.


    Then seeing the shocked expression in Xiao Lin''s face, the trader asked with a smirk surfacing on his lips "Pale boy, what''s with the shock in your face? Don''t you know that you have to pay for every bit of information that you would receive around here? So, ask away and pay me."


    As soon as the trader said that, Xiao Lin produced an indecipherable smile in his face.


    He then nodded his head and said "Okay!"


    Then he asked "So, those disciples from those numerous sects that gathered for a special prize that will rapidly increase their cultivation growth, what particular inns are they residing in? Can you mention them to me?"


    "Oh. You want to know that? That''s good!" The trader said with a smile.


    Xiao Lin who was looking disgustingly at the seller asked impatiently "Would you give me the information that I want now?"


    The trader nodded his head with a smile.


    He then said "Of course I will be happy to help. However, you must pay me."


    He then began to calculate something in his head.


    When he was done, he said to Xiao Lin "The amount of coins that you will give me is three hundred spirit coins."


    Xiao Lin''s eyes then narrowed as intense surprise manifested in his face.


    He then asked "That much?"


    "Yea" The trader said with a slight, single nod of his head.


    He then started "Actually, the disciples of those numerous sects are staying in some magnificent inns in the town. And these are the Glorious Inn, Silver Crescent Inn and Graceful Kings Inn."


    "Oh! Alright. Thanks!" Xiao Lin said and then sharply turned around to walk away.


    But the shop owner who became angry at seeing Xiao Lin suddenly turning around to walk away, said loudly with rage in his voice "Hey! Where do you think that you are going to? Won''t you pay me?!"


    Xiao Lin then stopped walking.


    Then after looking around and seeing that no one was looking at him as everyone minded their own businesses, he turned around to look at the trader with a vicious, blood-red light glowing in his sharp-looking eyes.


    Once the seller saw the ominous light that was radiating from Xiao Lin''s eyes, his heart shook tremendously in fear.


    Then very quickly, the seller began to apologize and said that he can go.


    Xiao Lin only shook his head with a ferocious expression appearing in his face.


    Then before the trader could shout for help, Xiao Lin who was approaching the seller appeared before him in the next instant using his Super Speed ability.


    Then as soon as he arrived in front of the trader, he grabbed the trader by the neck using one of his powerful arms and carried him off into his shop while employing his Super Speed ability.


    And once he arrived in the shop with the shop owner in his hand, Xiao Lin used his other hand to rip away the head of the seller, causing blood to spill out from the ripped neck.


    Then dropping the headless body of the seller to the ground, Xiao Lin quickly removed his common-grade spatial ring and stowed it away into his own spatial ring. And as soon as he did so, he went to the box where the seller kept all his coins and loaded everything into his spatial ring.


    Now coming back to the dead body, he squatted beside it and quickly employed the True Demonic Mark condensation technique and Blood Symbol Creation technique.


    Then once he completed the two techniques, the amount of True Demonic Marks in his dantian increased from 50 to 51. Same with the Ordinary Blood Symbols which also increased from 50 to 51.


    When he did this, he quickly left the store and walked away like nothing happened. And from the cool expression in his face and from the confident way that he walked, no one would be able to detect that Xiao Lin had just brutally killed someone.


    After walking for sometime, for fifteen minutes precisely, he arrived before an inn that he felt should be less expensive.


    Then he went into the place to rent a room. When he arrived at the room that he rented, he prepared to do what he had in mind before night would fall.

 Chapter 55 - Delivering Notes At The Sects Disciples Rooms

    Some moments later after settling down at his new room in the inn, he left to do what he had in mind.


    Then he visited the first inn which was the Glorious Inn that the trader who he slayed told him about.


    When he arrived before the inn, he looked around to see if no one was looking at him, then he approached the inn to enter.


    However, as he approached the inn which appeared to be stately in appearance, some hefty men who were dressed in uniforms meaning that they were the Inn Guards, could be seen standing outside the inn.


    Then when Xiao Lin appeared before them, one of them asked "What do you want?"


    "I want to rent a room in this place" Xiao Lin responded.


    "Oh really? Well, any room in this place can''t be afforded by people like you. So, shoo. Go away!" The guard that spoke earlier said with a smile in his face.


    "Is this how to treat a customer?" Xiao Lin asked.


    Then he asked before that guard could respond "And how dare you judge me by my appearance, you poor guard?"


    Once Xiao Lin asked those questions, the guard that Xiao Lin directed those questions at looked at him with cold eyes.


    "If you know what''s good for you, you will leave here this moment." The guard said with concealed anger in his tone.


    However, Xiao Lin could perceive the anger hidden in his tone. He then nodded his head and turned around to walk away.


    But just as he turned around to walk away, a brilliant blood-red light suddenly appeared within the inn, causing numerous, loud screams of shocks and terror to unexpectedly ring out.


    As soon as the guards heard the screams of shock and screeches of horror, they quickly rushed in to see what was wrong. While Xiao Lin who had a smile in his face went in with them.


    Then once he got in, he dashed away to a part of the inn using his Vampiric Super Speed ability.


    And without surprise, the bright blood-red light that appeared in the room was from his Animal Spirit, the Blood Wolf God which had suddenly appeared in the room, bringing intense shock and fright to the people around it.


    Then immediately the guards surrounded it, the Blood Wolf God only roared and generated powerful sound waves that were actually visible to the eyes, which then moved on after spreading in every direction to impact everything around it, breaking whatever it can break and smashing apart things that it was powerful enough to smash apart into smithereens.


    So, just like that, many things in the inn got damaged, while some wealthy mortal people and affluent weaker cultivators who could afford anything in the inn had their hearts explode into pieces, and their bloods which violently churned within their bodies to burst out of their bodies, quickly resulting in their grievous deaths.


    Immediately after causing this damage, the Blood Wolf God vanished since Xiao Lin had recalled it back into his body.


    Then Xiao Lin who had gotten to a place in the inn where he concealed himself from view, began to walk around to know which particular room the disciples of some of those sects that came to this town would dwell in.


    Not long after walking around in another hooded cloak since he couldn''t be seen in that previous one that he wore, he came before a row of rooms where he could see flags before each door that gently fluttered in the soft wind that moved in the hallway that he was in.


    "Flags?" Xiao Lin asked with a contemplative gaze in his eyes.


    He then nodded his head that the disciples of some of those sects would be residing in the rooms in this hallway.


    However, he hoped that what he thought was right.


    Then when he counted the numbers of different flags in front of each rooms, he could count eight flags.


    ''That''s eight sects that are here. Cool!'' He said inwardly with an indifferent nod of his head.


    Then after looking around and seeing that no one was passing by at the moment, he began to quickly slip in the notes that he prepared when coming down here into their rooms from their door''s bottoms.


    Immediately after he was done, he dashed to a place where windows were. Then after opening it wide, he quickly jumped out of it to the ground.


    Although where he jumped out from was very high above the ground, but since he was a vampire, he was able to control himself in the air that he was able to actually, lightly land to the ground, just like a leaf that fell off from a tree.


    So, since he softly landed without making a noise that would attract gazes over. No one paid him any attention. Besides, once he landed, he immediately composed himself and blended into the background of the late evening.


    Once he did these, he set out for the other two inns which were the Silver Crescent Inn and Graceful Kings Inn.


    ***


    - Diamond Hallway -


    In eight large rooms in this particular hallway where different beautiful flags could be seen before their doors, a number of students, both males and females, could be seen looking at a piece of paper that stated something that brought serious astonishment to their hearts.


    Then what was written in the paper that they were looking at with intensely astounded gazes in their eyes was:


    _


    ''Rare Water Spirit Beast Eggs!


    If you are interested in purchasing some at a very good cost, come to the Southwind Valley by 8pm tomorrow.


    Then note: You are not to come with any teacher from your sect, or I will simply not appear. It is you wonderful disciples that I want to happily trade with, not your arrogant teachers who will definitely spoil my Spirit Beast egg trading business.


    Then as another warning, do not tell anyone about this offer that I presented to you guys. Or I won''t appear if I see that you came along with others.


    And, I fully believe that you wouldn''t want to miss such good discounts on extremely rare, Water Spirit Beast eggs taken from badly injured, fearsomely powerful Spirit Beasts like the Rainhorns Spirit Beast and Frostshadow Spirit Beast that found their ways here from inaccessible regions in higher, major continents in our vast cultivation world''


    Then as a reminder, be punctual to the Southwind forest by 8pm. I work with time. A second late, I disappear.


    Thanks!


    Yours sincerely,


    Spirit Beast Taming Master and Pet Trader, Chun Fangxi.''


    _


    That was what was mentioned in the letter that Xiao Lin slipped through the door''s bottom into the first room.


    "Wow! So this bastard has eggs of terribly injured powerful Spirit Beasts that found their way here from those numerous continents filled with powerful experts? Damn! Just damn! I must get my hand on this." One of them said with a serious expression in his face.


    "Same with me. I must get my hands on one of those eggs." Another said.


    Then one who had an arrogant expression in his face, seeming as if he was the strongest in the room, suddenly said with disdain in his eyes "Don''t tell me that you morons plan to buy those Spirit Beast eggs from that fellow?"


    Then seeing that no one gave a response to his question, he burst into a loud, raucous laughter


    "Hahaha! I guess so. I move around with fools." He said, causing unsightly looks to appear in the faces of people around him.


    He then continued, totally ignoring the sad and angry expressions in their faces "Why would you want to buy the eggs from him when we can just snatch the eggs from him, eh? Since he doesn''t want us to come with any of the teachers from our sect, that means he has a really poor cultivation base. Or he wouldn''t have mentioned so in his letter if he had a domineering, powerful cultivation base."


    "So, since he is weak, we can just snatch the eggs from him. Then if you are scared of reprisal attacks in the future, we can just kill him and leave his body there for scavenging wild beasts to delightedly feed on it."


    When this person who was handsome, tall and had a long, raven-dark hair that poured down his back to his waist said this, everyone began to reason with him. Then they nodded their heads in agreement to what he said.

 Chapter 56 - Preparations

    Then in the second room after the first room, what was written in the letter Xiao Lin slipped into their room from the bottom of their door was:


    _


    Rare Fire Spirit Beast Eggs!


    If you are interested in purchasing some at a very good cost, come to the Southwind Valley by 8pm tomorrow.


    Then note: You are not to come with any teacher from your sect, or I will simply not appear. It is you wonderful disciples that I want to happily trade with, not your arrogant teachers who will definitely spoil my Spirit Beast egg trading business.


    Then as another warning, do not tell anyone about this offer that I presented to you guys. Or I won''t appear if I see that you came along with others.


    And, I fully believe that you wouldn''t want to miss such good discounts on extremely rare, Fire Spirit Beast eggs taken from badly injured, fearsomely powerful Spirit Beasts like the Goldblaze Spirit Beasts and Purple Lava Spirit Beasts that unexpectedly found their ways here from inaccessible regions in higher, major continents in our vast cultivation world''


    Then as a reminder, be punctual to the Southwind forest by 8pm. I work with time. A second late, I disappear.


    Thanks!


    Yours sincerely,


    Spirit Beast Taming Master and Pet Trader, Chun Fangxi


    _


    And, what was mentioned in this letter was the same thing that was mentioned in the other letters that Xiao Lin slipped into the other rooms through the bottoms of their large doors. However, he changed some things in them just so that they would all be enticed by his irresistible offer.


    Xiao Lin did all these with made-up names, and was absolutely sure that they would do as he instructed in the letter, since the disciples who would have feelings of greed come upon them, wouldn''t want their sects'' teachers to snatch the ''Spirit Beast eggs'' from the ''Spirit Beast Taming master'' and take them for themselves. So, acting under that overwhelming influence of greed that would manifest in their hearts upon reading what were in those papers, he was very certain that they would do as he commanded.


    ***


    At the moment, all the disciples from eight different sects residing within the eight rooms at the Diamond Hallway in the Glorious Inn, knew that they had to go meet a particular master that traded in Spirit Beast eggs at the Southwind forest by 8pm. And that they must try their best not to go go late, as the master could disappear, thereby making them miss out on being proud owners or possessors of fearsome Spirit Beasts.


    So, they began to prepare down for tomorrow''s trading meeting with that beast taming master.


    Xiao Lin who had arrived at the Silver Crescent Inn and Graceful Kings with a smile in his pale face after following descriptions to the two grand-looking inns, also used his powerful and ominous Animal Spirit to cause overwhelming distraction and unbridled destruction in the inns, which also caused the deaths of a lot of affluent mortals and cultivators with cultivation bases that were either lower or equal to that of Xiao Lin.


    These sets of people actually died as a result of the primitive howl that rang out from his wolf-like Animal Spirit, which then caused their hearts to crush into many fragments, and their bloods which violently churned within their bodies to burst out of it the next moment with a tremendous force and then splash upon everyone and everything in the two inns.


    Therefore, after he had done these terrible things that he was indifferent about, he was able to gain unnoticed entrance into the two inns and then slip his notes into the various rooms where those disciples were staying through the bottoms of their doors.


    And as soon as he did this, he immediately left there and returned back to his inn with a purely evil smile in his face.


    Now that he had called all of them to come over by 8pm to the largest forest in the town which was the Southwind forest and was really far away from human settlements in the town, just so that no one would be able to really hear the sounds that would erupt from the clashes of their attacks, he knew that he was going to have to fight a lot and be seriously injured, especially as these people were geniuses in their own rights, since they have been selected for the mind-shaking event that was going to take place in two days time. Besides, they would have mastered numerous battle techniques in the powerful battle arts that their sects would give to them to practice.


    However, Xiao Lin wasn''t scared of receiving life-threatening injuries, as he was confident in his Vampiric Quick Regeneration ability. Also, he wasn''t scared of dying as he was already a demon-like dead being that was both sentient and conscious of everything around him.


    So, after thinking of the dangerous thing that he was about to venture into, he knew that there was nothing for him to lose.


    Besides, Xiao Lin knew that he would be difficult to overwhelm, as he had many vampiric abilities that were bestowed upon him when he achieved total fusion with his dual-characterized Animal Spirit.


    And before really contemplating to carry out this absolutely daunting task, he had comprehended that his astounding abilities of Super Speed, Super Strength, Augmented Jump, Super Agility, Super Dexterity, Enhanced Hearing, Echolocation, Toughened Body, Blood and Essence devouring with his thick, razor-sharp claws and much more, then his natural, infinitely-sharp twin blades of Doom and Sorrow, had made him fully believe that he was up to the difficult and deadly task that he would set out to do in evening of the next day.


    But, the only thing he decided within himself to seriously watch out for were high-rank, Spiritual Battle Skills that were stored in inherited treasures or heirloom artifacts that any of the disciples from the sects may wield, as they could instantly reduce him into paste or mist of blood once they released or unleashed those powerful Spiritual Battle Skill attacks stored or compressed into them at him.


    Therefore, he was going to be really wary of those forms of strongly intimidating attacks, since if such an attack successfully struck him, then he was good as totally dead. So he reasoned.


    Then when he arrived in his room at the inn, he began to go through the battle techniques that he had mastered in his head once again to iron out any faults in his comprehension of them. And as he did so, he visualized himself deploying those moves. Also, he imagined himself combining two or three attacks together to increase their fierceness and destructive capabilities.


    When he was done after a few hours of going over them again and again, he stood to his feet and began to practice the Illusionary Vampire Unstoppable Godly Steps, an Empyrean Movement Art to compliment his shocking, inborn Vampiric Super Speed ability.

 Chapter 57 - Killing The Disciples Of Different Sects (1)

    And that, he practiced till 7pm in the evening the next day.


    Once he stopped, he immediately jumped out of the window in his room to the ground.


    Landing like a leaf to the ground, he quickly left for the Southwind Forest.


    After many minutes, thirty minutes to be precise, he arrived there. Then he went to settle down on the branch of one of the tallest trees in this forest.


    Seating in the cross-legged position on that branch, he began to look at the distance where the disciples of those sects might come from.


    Then with a deep inhale and a heavy exhale, he got himself ready.


    Once it was 8pm, disciples started arriving in large numbers in the forest.


    Then as they saw each other, they couldn''t help but look at each other with shock in their eyes and ask "Hey, how did you know about this forest?!"


    They all became confused when the various disciples from each of the sects said that they got notes that they should come down here by 8pm and bring no teacher along.


    "I think something is wrong here. We need to quickly return" One suddenly said while the others agreed with him.


    The disciples at the moment were in very casual clothes so that no one would be able to recognize them as members of the numerous prestigious sects that were here in his town for a particular competition.


    However, when that disciple spoke, another disciple from another sect spoke "What? You want us to return after coming down here? Nah, that isn''t what I will do. Instead, I will comb through this massive forest to see what secret lies in it."


    He then continued "Since we were all invited here, then that means there''s something highly mysterious about this place."


    However, just as he finished talking, a deep, beast-like voice suddenly rang out from far in front of them.


    "There is nothing mysterious about this place, only death!"


    The disciples'' eyes shone in shock when they heard that.


    Then they quickly looked into the distance to see who had said that. Then they saw Xiao Lin in his true vampire form who was approaching them from far in the distance.


    Seeing how he looked like, their brows furrowed in both fear and astonishment.


    But when they saw his cultivation base, which was the 7th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage, the horror that was starting to surface in their minds became quickly extinguished, since majority of them here were at the 8th-layer, 9th-layer and 10th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    So, they couldn''t be horrified by him or by his form simply because of the cultivation stage that he was in which was lower to theirs.


    "Let''s take this thing down and ask where it is from!" One said with resoluteness in his tone while the others nodded.


    That person that spoke then came out to challenge Xiao Lin all by himself.


    Then quickly aiming a palm at Xiao Lin in the distance, large amount of blue Spiritual Energy suddenly gushed out from that hand which then abruptly condensed into a large, blue crystalline claw that shot at an incredible speed towards Xiao Lin. This fearsome attack was from a battle technique in the Earth-Shattering Claw battle art, a rare-tier, Mortal Ruler-grade battle art that he had studied back at his sect.


    Seeing the attack that was shooting towards him at an insane speed, Xiao Lin quickly employed the Lesser Hundred Ominous Blades battle technique in the Myriad Chaotic Blood Armament battle art that he had mastered.


    Then all of a sudden, Blood Energy gushed out from his entire body like a furious tide which then sharply transformed into thirty-nine blades that glowed in the color of blood and hummed as extreme sharpness began to erupt from it, which then filled part of the atmosphere around him, instantly turning it into an invisible domain of frightening sharpness.


    Once the numerous, blood-red blades appeared, they instantly shot out at a shocking speed towards the massive claw that was piercing through the air at a great speed towards Xiao Lin.


    Bang!


    A loud bang sound which was immediately accompanied by a powerful rippling wave rang out as some of the terrifying, humming blades clashed with the large claw which actually quickly exploded into many fragments in the next instant upon collision.


    But, none of the small-sized blades that instantly materialized from the deployment of the Lesser Hundred Ominous Blades battle technique were destroyed after colliding into the attack unleashed by that disciple.


    Well, how will any battle technique from a rare-tier, Mortal Ruler-grade battle art rival that of even the simplest or lowest battle techniques in a peerless-tier, Empyrean-grade battle art? It was just impossible.


    So, the blades continued shooting towards that disciple at their initial speeds and momentums, seeming as if they never came across any form of obstacle in the first place.


    But before they could impact the disciple and cut him apart into several places, other disciples from his sect, about twenty of them, quickly rushed to his sides and rapidly expelled large amounts of Spiritual Energy from their palms which then condensed in the next instant into thick shields that then actually, abruptly merged to form a paper-thin, astonishingly resilient screen of Spiritual Energy to protect all of them from the humming, incoming dreadful attacks.


    Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!...


    Many bang sounds began to ring out as the blades heavily struck the screen, but nothing happened to the thin screen of energy that the disciples quickly jointly created from their different Spiritual Energies.


    Xiao Lin furrowed his brows.


    He understood how powerful this sect disciples could be if they came together.


    So, he quickly changed to a more powerful attack.


    Now, quickly applying the technique called ''Blood Wave Crushing Companies of Mortals and Armies of Knights'' in the Blood Devouring Thousand Worlds battle art; an empyrean-grade, superior battle art, Blood Energy rushed to his fist like a seemingly furious and strongly undulating flood after following a unique, special circulation route in his body.


    Then once the energy gathered in his fist and began to pulse with shocking power like it wanted to seemingly destroy all things in it path to wreak total devastation upon the Heavens, Xiao Lin quickly punched out at the screen of energy and said out loud at the same time "Crush!"


    BOOM!


    Then as soon as he punched out and gave that command, a focused, fearsomely powerful wave of Blood Energy that actually traveled in a single line and carried with it an overwhelming, domineering power, abruptly shot out from his fist and moved through the air at an inconceivable speed towards that shielding screen.


    BANG!


    Then like a large glass that a huge stone was catapulted at, the screen shattered apart into tens of thousands of smithereens with the wave which had lost some of it shocking fierce power and ferociousness, moving on at an incredible speed to viciously impact the people in it path to leave unbridled destruction.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!...


    Many of the disciples were violently, heavily shoved away with some of them instantly shattering apart into pieces while some lost either arms, legs or heads.

 Chapter 58 - Killing The Disciples Of Different Sects (2)

    Seeing what he had done, Xiao Lin gave a delighted smile.


    Then he began to wonder which was more powerful in his Blood Energy, Hermetic Demonic Energy and Spiritual Energy.


    And as he thought this, he wondered what kind of energy he would be able to cultivate when he asked for the transmission of the werewolf-related arts from his Animal Spirit.


    However, he thought all these in an instant.


    Then he brought his mind back to what he was doing.


    The disciples at the moment had great shocks in their faces.


    They couldn''t believe how someone at the 7th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage could achieve such overwhelming power. Then they summed it up that he was using a really powerful and exceedingly rare battle art.


    Once they thought this, their eyes began to shine with excessive greed and lust for extreme power.


    Now, they would do everything in their power to get such an art and were even totally ready to destroy their solid cultivation bases and start all over again to cultivate that blood-red Spiritual Energy that they could see Xiao Lin unrestrainedly unleash from his body.


    But they wouldn''t know that the blood-colored energy that they were seeing wasn''t his Spiritual Energy but Blood Energy, a unique and dominating, tyrannical energy cultivated with a special cultivation art completely alien to this world.


    Then they individually wanted to attack him so that they could bring him down and fight amongst themselves for who would be the owner of the art that he possessed.


    Not long, many colored and brightly gleaming attacks began to shoot out towards Xiao Lin who quickly employed his power of Echolocation to see those raging attacks in his mind.


    Also, he utilized his Vampiric Super Speed ability to evade the many incoming, deadly Spiritual Energy attacks which was actually coupled together with a powerful speed technique for his present level.


    The technique that he employed was called ''Blood Entity Normal Steps'', one of the less profound movement techniques in the Illusionary Vampire Unstoppable Godly Steps, an Empyrean Movement Art.


    Actually, Xiao Lin mastered this particular technique to further increase his Super Speed to a shocking degree.


    Once he deployed all these, he began to move around really fast, evading the furiously howling, Spiritual Energy strikes that went on to impact the trees in the forest and viciously smashing them apart into bits.


    Not long as he tried his possible best to evade their attacks, he arrived before one.


    Then with lustrous, razor-sharp claws ejecting from his fingers, he powerfully swung one of his arms at someone''s neck.


    Slash!


    The head fell off from the neck to the ground.


    While Xiao Lin who had long left the side of this person to another person, also slashed the neck of that person, cutting the person''s head from the neck which then fell to the ground.


    So, just like that, Xiao Lin began to cut off the heads of the disciples around him.


    About seven minutes later, Xiao Lin had cut off the heads of thirty disciples, which when summed up will give fifty slain disciples, since he had earlier killed twenty-one of them earlier with that powerful wave of Blood Energy that he unleashed at them.


    Seeing that they were dying like ants, the disciples looked at Xiao Lin with rage in their eyes.


    "You will die for this, I swear" One of them from the Heavenly Crimson Thunder sect said with great fury in his tone.


    He then said to the other disciples from the other sects who stood around him "We weren''t able to take down this demonic fool because we weren''t able to organize ourselves and attack him as one. We were individually fighting him. But now, let''s all join our attacks together to destroy him!"


    Once he said this, the disciples from other sects nodded their heads in agreements.


    Then they looked at Xiao Lin in the distance who was smiling at them. But it wasn''t really a smile as he appeared to look more devilish and brutal in it.


    Not long, they began to jointly unleash their focused attacks at Xiao Lin who quickly employed the ''Blood Wave Shattering Immovable Mountains technique from the Blood Devouring Thousand Worlds battle art.


    Therefore, before the joint Spiritual Energy attacks could get to him, Blood Energy rushed like tides to Xiao Lin''s two fists after moving through a special circulation route in his body''s network of Peculiar Blood Veins.


    Once they got there and began to seethe and churn as the same time like hundreds of souls of hordes of primitive frenzied beasts and began to rampage about within his fists had been awakened, he quickly punched out at them as he shouted "Shatter!"


    BOOM!


    A dreadfully powerful wave that converged at a single point and moved in a straight line at an extreme speed, blasted into some of the joint Spiritual Energy attacks and shattered it apart into smithereens.


    Then Xiao Lin quickly punched out with his second fist at the other incoming Spiritual Energy attacks.


    Bang!


    Once the focused, blood-red wave which possessed a tremendous fierce power to possibly cause total ruination collided into the numerous, collaborated killing attacks, it shattered them into pieces and then the other attacks behind them in the next moment, abruptly reducing them into thousands of smithereens in an instant before it lost it overbearing destructive power and then dissipated.


    However, immediately after Xiao Lin punched out that fist that discharged the frightening, destructive wave towards those concerted attacks that were raging at great speeds towards him, he quickly punched out with his other fist again towards the incoming attacks as soon as it was infused with Blood Energy which began to churn violently like it wanted to burst out of his fist and cause immense havoc upon his immediate surrounding.


    BOOM!


    Then a powerful wave that emitted a brilliant redness that could be likened to that of blood, and possessed the terrifying power to seemingly reduce massive rocks into splinters, instantly shot out from his fist and traveled at a great speed towards the attacks that he aimed at.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!...


    Then all of sudden, bang sounds began to ring out as numerous Spiritual Energy attacks began to shatter into pieces upon coming into contact with the fearsome, tyrannical wave which then moved on like it didn''t come across any form of obstacle or impediment in it path to strike some of the disciples, instantly causing them to explode into pieces, or have parts of their bodies viciously ripped or shredded away and then brutally hurled into the far distance within the forest where they crashed into the trees around and smashed them apart into bits, or landed on the earth as either decapitated, mutilated or broken corpses.


    Just like that after neutralizing many frightening attacks that were concertedly sent out at him, he was able to kill twenty of them more which would then amount to seventy-one slain disciples if counted.


    Xiao Lin was doing the rough calculations in his head as he killed them, and as he did so, he was glad that he should be able to complete the 200 Ordinary Blood Symbols that was mentioned in the True Vampire Origin Blood Force art to reach the Blood Acolyte stage.


    Then to quickly slaughter the remaining disciples before any of them would be able to escape and report what happened here to their sect founders, masters or teachers, Xiao Lin quickly deployed the Mortal Saint Beheading technique and King Annihilating Blade Wave technique from the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art both at the same time, since he had become highly adept at unleashing both attacks simultaneously.

 Chapter 59 - Killing The Disciples Of Different Sects (3)

    So, once he deployed the Mortal Saint Beheading technique, currents of Hermetic Demonic Energy which were dark scarlet in color, rushed out from those True Demonic Marks in his dantian and travelled to his two palms as turbulent and violent streams, after moving through some special meridian pathways in his body.


    Then when these raging streams arrived at his two palms, they erupted out of it in the next instant like a small explosion and rapidly condensed into two dark scarlet blades that began to emit waves of perceptible, alarming sharpness.


    Then as soon as the dark scarlet blades which gave off frightening, perceivable sharpness materialized above his hands, he quickly aimed those palms out at the disciples who had also unleashed their Spiritual Energy attacks at him. And once he did that, he uttered "Kill!"


    Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Once he aimed out with both palms at them and gave that order, the blades quickly shot out at extreme speeds towards the numerous attacks raging at furious speeds towards Xiao Lin.


    But, the time that Xiao Lin deployed the Mortal Saint Beheading battle technique, was also the same time that he deployed the King Annihilating Blade Wave technique. Although it was greatly taxing, Xiao Lin did it anyways, showing his level of mastery over the two techniques, since he could utilize both at once.


    Therefore, when seemingly tidal, powerful currents of Hermetic Demonic Energy discharged from those True Demonic Marks in his dantian and traveled to his two palms to form those terrifyingly sharp, dark scarlet blades, tremendously wild, rampaging streams of Hermetic Demonic Energy also arrived at his two palms in that same instant, after following some special meridian passageways in his body when they rushed out in significant amounts from the True Demonic Marks residing deep in his dantian.


    Then once these chaotic streams of energy arrived within those palms and began to surge, Xiao Lin quickly aimed out those palms at the attacks of his opponents and fired off both the blades that had formed above his palms, and then the waves that would be produced after the deployment of the King Annihilating Blade Wave battle skill.


    Swoosh! Swoosh!


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The two blades shot out at great speeds towards their targets, while two fearsomely powerful waves of Hermetic Demonic Energy that accompanied the blades in the next instant, and actually possessed nine layers that were stacked on top of each other and radiated a formidable power of sharpness, rapidly erupted from Xiao Lin''s two palms and travelled at furious speeds towards his aimed targets.


    Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!...


    These piercing sounds began to rampantly ring out as the two razor-sharp blades that Xiao Lin sent out began to strike the incoming Spiritual Energy attacks one after the other, effortlessly penetrating through each of them and continuing their seemingly unstoppable journeys like they were the divine scarlet blades of Devilgods towards the horrified disciples in the distance.


    Then like they never came across any type of obstacle in their paths to cause decimation, they began to impale the disciples, cutting them into halves one after the other. However, this only happened to those who couldn''t evade the blades on time as the blades moved at lightning-fast speeds.


    But, the ones that were able to dodge just in time couldn''t escape from the tyrannical waves that Xiao Lin also unleashed at them to viciously slash them apart into pastes or goo of blood.


    Slash! Slash! Slash!...


    So, these slash sounds began to ring out as the dreadful waves cleanly lacerated many of them into numerous places in an instant, giving the feeling that the waves were meatgrinders. But this happened immediately after the waves easily cut apart all their Spiritual Energy attacks like they were paper.


    Not long, the ferocious waves that moved with incredible sharpness killed more than seventy-five of the disciples in the forest. While the two blades that Xiao Lin sent out along with the waves were able to fully gash apart thirty of the disciples into halves.


    So, Xiao Lin was able to kill a hundred and five disciples this time. Then if the figures were combined with the seventy-one disciples that he killed earlier, he had killed a hundred and seventy-six disciples.


    Then since the blades and waves had killed up to these large figures, they lost their forms and powerful momentums and then eventually dissipated away into thin air.


    At the moment, it was remaining only forty disciples who began to look at Xiao Lin with extreme horror and shock in their eyes.


    It was now that they understood that this person who was before them was a fiercely powerful person from probably the demon continent, and was one that won''t spare any of them alive or allow them to escape.


    One of them then asked with wrath in his voice "What do you want from us, demon? What did any of us ever do to you that caused you to want all of us dead?"


    Xiao Lin gave no response to the questions that this person asked him. He however broke an evil smile across his face.


    The person then surprisingly said with confidence in his tone "Sooner or later, you will die a really terrible death for this evil thing that you have done! Experts that you can''t raise your head to look at in fear and reverence from faraway, will come from everywhere solely for your total destruction. That, I promise you."


    Xiao Lin only maintained the hideous smile present in his face.


    Then just as he ejected claws from his fingers to either slit the necks or entirely cut off the heads of the remaining disciples that were looking at him with intense fear and sorrow in their eyes, that male disciple of a particular sect that spoke abruptly produced an item from his spatial ring which he crushed in that same instant before Xiao Lin could really get to him and slash off his head.


    Crack!


    Once that item which resembled jade was crushed, a profound violet symbol shot out of it and into the air. Then the symbol produced the actual image of Xiao Lin in his true vampiric form by actually turning into it. Then once it did so, it shot away as a ray of light towards the sect that the disciple was from.


    Xiao Lin saw this and his mind shook in horror. He was able to guess what would happen many moments from now.


    Then without wasting time, he punched out really fast at the remaining disciples once again and unleashed that wave which possessed tremendous sharpness to quickly annihilate the rest of them.


    Once the rest were reduced into pieces, making a total of two hundred and sixteen slain disciples, Xiao Lin who knew that he was very pressed for time as he might not be able to escape later from the experts from that disciple''s sect when they arrived, still sat in the cross-legged position on the ground and abruptly employed the Blood Symbols Creation technique.


    He definitely wouldn''t leave behind what he took his time to carefully scheme to obtain. Besides, he wasn''t one to have his mind crack under immense pressure and tension. So, he would make sure to do what he was here for before leaving, however, with a hope that he would finish on time before teachers from that disciple''s sect would appear one after the other. Or he would be destroyed in an instant.

 Chapter 60 - Exposed?

    So, many minutes later, he was able to increase the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian from 50 to 266.


    Then immediately he got to that amount, entering the Blood Acolyte stage, a powerful blood-red aura that caused the air around him and for dozens of feet to instantly become turbulent, exploded out from within his body with a loud boom. Also, because of the shocking fierce power possessed by the aura that suddenly bursted out of his body upon entering that stage, the earth that he sat on in the forest suddenly had numerous cracks appear on it surface, which then rapidly spread out into the distance by many feet.


    And, as soon as this aura bursted out of his body, Xiao Lin felt his physical strength increasing; he could feel that his muscles grew heavier and tighter, like they were being tightly packed by a thick band.


    Then when he looked into his dantian, he could see that the 266 Ordinary Blood Symbols there had grown larger in size, and that they developed a darker hue to the blood-red color that they initially possessed.


    With a glad nod of his head, he quickly stood from the place that he sat on which was now cracked and then hurried off to where each of the bodies of the disciples laid on to take their hearts that were on the ground, or pull it out from within their chests and stow them away into his. And as he did this, he also looked out for their spatial rings which he kept into his.


    Once he was done, he quickly employed the first-level technique called the ''Blood Dragon Flash'' from the Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash technique, a compilation of powerful, low-level to high-level, profound, superior evasion techniques.


    So, once he deployed that evasion skill, the really faint shadow of a dragon that was slightly blood-red in color, immediately appeared around him.


    Swoosh!


    Then once this hazy and hardly noticeable, blood-colored shadow of a dragon manifested around him, he shot away really fast at several times the speed that he could actually achieve with his Super Speed ability, when combined with the Blood Entity Normal Steps movement technique that he had mastered from the Illusionary Vampire Unstoppable Godly Steps movement art.


    A second after he fully left that massive forest to find a place where he could stay to practice the Demonic Mark condensation technique before returning back to his room in that inn, teachers from the sect of that disciple who stealthily crushed that jade-like item began to arrive one after the other.


    Then when they saw the gruesome massacre that had occurred here, their brows with furrowed with great shock before extreme anger appeared in their faces, contorting them to make them seem ugly and totally hideous.


    Arghhhhh!!!


    ***


    Not long, news that all the disciples who came from different sects for the competition had been wickedly slaughtered, spread to all the areas of the town''s center.


    This news caused everyone to be extremely shocked and then devastated. They couldn''t believe what they heard. Then they felt that it was perhaps someone that had serious grudges with all the sects that did that. However, they still wondered how someone will hold grudges against that many sects, in which many of them even came from really distant towns just for this competition. Then they really hoped that the teachers from those sects will find the killer so that they too would understand what really happened, what led to the massacre.


    The teachers at the moment had started combing the forest to search for the killer or killers of their disciples and capture him or her for interrogation before finally destroying them.


    Xiao Lin who didn''t stop using that low-level, profound evasion technique, just so he could leave a lot of gap between himself and the teachers who he felt would be scanning everywhere by now for the killers of their students, later arrived at a place where he felt should be safe for him at the moment to do what he had in mind.


    The place that he stopped at was a really dilapidated house as it entire structure appeared to be totally worn-out, invoking the feeling that it could collapse anytime soon. However, Xiao Lin took the risk of hiding in there to practice the Demonic Mark condensation technique.


    Very quickly, he brought out the hearts stored into his spatial ring which then formed a slightly large heap in front of him.


    Then he began to take the hearts one after the other to form True Demonic Marks in his body.


    Not very long, he had used up half of the pile of hearts before him. And at the moment, he had condensed a hundred and twenty-two True Demonic Marks in his dantian, which when added to the fifty True Demonic Marks previously present in his dantian, would give a hundred and seventy-two True Demonic Marks.


    Xiao Lin gave a smile that his rise to terrifying power was near. Although he understood that it was still very far, he could however feel that he was getting closer to it, even if it was inch by inch. Then as soon as he ended this thought, he continued with what he was doing.


    Many minutes later, eight minutes to be precise, the numbers of True Demonic Marks in his dantian had increased from 172 to 266. But at this point in time, he had entirely used up all the hearts that he gathered from those 216 disciples that he indifferently slayed back at the enormous Southwind Forest.


    Then as soon as he stopped here, a really strong and overwhelming, violently roiling ferocious aura that seemed like it wanted to pierce out of the building that he was in and shoot into the sky to evoke a strange phenomenon, and actually shone with intense redness that dyed everything around him in the house with it dazzling, ominous brilliance, suddenly discharged from his entire body. However, it retracted back into his body in the next instant.


    Then with a delighted smile appearing in his face at the slight increase of the overbearing and oppressive, exceptionally fierce power possessed by both his Blood Energy and Hermetic Demonic Energy, he stored the shrunk, dried-up hearts which he extracted blood essences from back into his spatial ring and would eventually dispose off somewhere, as he couldn''t store garbage in his dimensional storage ring.


    He then stood to his feet to quickly leave the desolated building before it would really collapse upon him, since the Demonic Aura that erupted from his body would further weaken the timeworn and deteriorated house more.


    However, after he reverted back to his pale-skinned, human form and then came out of the building, a few teachers from the Golden Bull sect, the Three Fiery Fairies sect, the Ice Phoenix sect, the Earthbreaker sect, and the Heavenly Crimson Thunder sect, appeared before him with eyes that glowed with intense anger.

 Chapter 61 - Narrow Escape From Total Annihilation

    "Brat, what are you doing in this kind of desolated place?" One of the teachers in front of him immediately asked with a puzzled expression appearing in his wrath-twisted face.


    Xiao Lin quickly bowed without fear appearing in his face, even though it had completely engulfed his heart.


    He then said "Seniors, I chose here to solitarily cultivate."


    Then a teacher from the Golden Bull sect asked "Did you by chance notice any red-haired, silver-skinned person pass by here?"


    "No, senior. I have been in this building cultivating. I am really sorry that I can''t give senior the information that he wants" Xiao Lin said with an apologetic expression appearing in his face.


    "It''s okay." The teacher from the Golden Bull sect said.


    He then looked at Xiao Lin very well with narrowed eyes as Xiao Lin had the same cultivation base as that red-haired, mischievous, demonical-looking being that they were informed about had appeared in this town and was possibly moving about, devouring hearts of disciples from sects that he might come across, or after tricking them to go to a particular place.


    That was what the teachers later arrived at, when they saw some notes that Xiao Lin for them in the pockets of some of their disciples.


    ''Can it be him and is only pretending?'' The teacher from the Golden Bull sect asked within himself with furrowed brows.


    ''Nope! It definitely can''t be him. This one seems too weak to be able to fight lots of disciples from the different sects that gathered in this town for that stupid competition that has caused us all great losses.'' The teacher from the Golden Bull sect said inwardly.


    He then continued "Just from the color of his pale skin, I can tell that this young cultivator is probably closer to his death, but doesn''t know it yet. What a pity, he is only wasting his time cultivating."


    It was nearly the same thing that he thought that the other teachers from other sect thought too.


    "Let''s go. We must catch that demonic killer of our disciples and destroy him or her before he or she would be able to escape." A female teacher from the Ice Phoenix sect said.


    Once she said this, the others nodded their heads and then shot into the distance to continue searching for the person that killed their disciples.


    Immediately they left, Xiao Lin didn''t heavily exhale, as he didn''t know who was still around and could be watching for him from far with deeply scrutinizing eyes. He didn''t want to give himself away because of his breathing pattern and facial countenance. So, he only slowly exhaled where he stood and began to calmly breath, while bringing up a calm and cool expression in his face which he was naturally adept at doing.


    But unbeknownst to him as he did this while walking away to return to the inn where he rented a room to stay, a teacher from another sect who didn''t move along with the teachers that approached Xiao Lin, was looking at him from far, right below the clouds in the distance with narrowed eyes. This teacher was in the Spiritual Firmament Ruler stage as the other teachers from other sects, so he could fly into the sky and remain there to observe things around him with his powerful eyes because of his cultivation stage.


    However, seeing that Xiao Lin didn''t give off any facial or body expression that would give him away as the murderer that they all wanted, he couldn''t really liken Xiao Lin to the killer of the disciples from his sect, even though their faces seemed to match to an extent. Besides, Xiao Lin appeared to be a sick human cultivator since he was entirely pale-skinned, giving the feeling that he could drop dead anytime soon. Also, he wasn''t silver-skinned like the one that they were shown to be the killer of all the disciples from the different sects that came to this town.


    Then after looking at Xiao Lin for sometime more and seeing that there was nothing out of the ordinary about him, he then flew away really fast to continue his search for the killer of the disciples from his sect.


    As Xiao Lin walked away to return to the inn, he could hear many swooshing sounds ring out from far in the sky. He then understood in the next moment that lot of teachers from the different sects that came to the town had now arrived here and were shooting into the far distance in all directions at furious speeds to search for the killer of their disciples.


    Although he had fear appear in his heart that one of them could suddenly come down to interrogate him again, and probably force him to talk using his or her powerful, suppressive auras, he however kept his cool like he didn''t know what was happening and wasn''t concerned about it. Then fortunately for him, no one descended from the sky to ask him questions. The swooshing sounds that he heard only appeared far above him before sounding again in the far distance.


    So, he tried to keep a cool expression in his face till he appeared in a particular street before asking for directions that would lead him to the street where the inn that he rented a room was located.


    Many minutes later, he arrived in that street and then headed for the inn.


    When he got to his room, he sat in the cross-legged position and closed his eyes. However, at the moment, his heart was swelling with tremendous happiness. He couldn''t believe his massive gains this time and his narrow escape from utter annihilation.


    "I guess luck is still by my side. But damn, what if I was caught? I would have been quickly destroyed before I would even have the chance to explain any thing." Xiao Lin said, imagining things in his head which then caused him to visibly tremble in horror.


    He then continued with a smile appearing in his face "I think I will have to use that vampiric form of mine anytime I want to perpetrate evil. Then to escape if experts come for me, I will revert to my pale human form to disguise myself as a sick cultivator so that I won''t be caught and taken away. Yea, that''s what I will do."


    "Also, I can use the Twin Silver Blades of Doom and Sorrow and a mask too if I don''t change into my Vampiric Form, since I wouldn''t want to use it everytime. So, they would see me as a masked, dual-blades user. Then if I am not able to quickly leave the region that they are in and then they eventually come for me, they won''t be able to liken me to that masked twin blades user since they won''t find the blades on me as I would have concealed them away within my dantian." Xiao Lin said.


    He then continued "But imagine that I didn''t have the ability to change my form from that of a sick-looking human into a vampire, I would have been quickly fished out and then destroyed. I guess that was why Lin Shou Wen couldn''t reach the ultimate stage of his cultivation and demonic battle art because he didn''t have many disguises to help him escape from the massive gathering of experts to annihilate him."


    "Well, now that I know that items like that which that disciple crushed exists, I will have to be more careful in future. But truly, only immense battles like the one that I fought is capable of broadening one''s knowledge of the numerous, unique and spectacular things in the world. I guess I will have to fight more enormous battles like that in future to become more aware of the existences of a lot of things that are not known to me." Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    Then a thought suddenly came to his head, which he proceeded to ask his Animal Spirit.


    "Blood Wolf God, can I get the transmission of the werewolf art? I have changed my mind. Now that I need many disguises, I have made up mind to practice the art." He said with an unyielding resolve in his tone.

 Chapter 62 - Becoming A Half-Step Werewolf

    As soon as Xiao Lin said that, his Blood Wolf God agreed to his request.


    Then projecting a ray towards Xiao Lin''s mind from within him, it turned into a number of werewolf-related arts in Xiao Lin''s head.


    Once these arts appeared in his head, Xiao Lin began to go through them.


    ''Paragon Werewolf - Empyrean Cultivation Art''


    ''Great Sovereign Wolf Traversing Realms - Empyrean Movement Art''


    ''Unparalleled Shadowless Wolf Blur - Empyrean Evasion Technique''


    ''Divine Wolf Suppressing Dragons and Phoenixes - Empyrean Battle Art (1)''


    ''Sky-Shattering Heavenly Tempest Howl - Empyrean Battle Art (2)''


    ''Desolating Claws of Dominion and Rebellion - Empyrean Battle Art (3)


    ''Golden Paragon Wolf Supreme Body-Forging Scripture - Empyrean Body-Cultivation Method''


    When Xiao Lin saw the different arts, he produced a delighted smile in his face.


    He had instantly understood that these arts were also powerful cultivation, battle and movement arts, and was sure that they would be as strong as the vampire-related one, the Spiritual Energy one and the demonic one that he was practicing.


    Then very quickly, he began to go through the Paragon Werewolf cultivation art so that he could know what it really entails and then practice it.


    With his eyes shut tight, he started to read through the massive amounts of information that had suddenly appeared in his head upon focusing on that particular art.


    _


    Paragon Werewolf art


    This art is a cultivation art that allows the user to cultivate ''Paragon Werewolf Origin Energy'', an energy that is first absorbed from the moon and then changed into Paragon Werewolf Origin Energy, using the Myriad Werewolf Images Manifestation Technique, and then the Image Infusion Technique.


    (1) Myriad Werewolf Images Manifestation Technique - these are different sets of profound, finger-based gestures that allows one to create and project different types of werewolf images which possess different sizes into one''s dantian.


    However, the images of the different forms of werewolves that will surface in one''s dantian will appear to be completely fuzzy and opaque. But they will gradually become clear and solid as they are being filled with energy absorbed from the moon in the evening or at night.


    (2) Image Infusion Technique - Then following the description of this technique, energy that is absorbed from the moon is channeled into the images of the different forms of werewolves in the dantian.


    And as mentioned above, each images of the different, peculiar werewolves that will appear to be hazy or cloudy in one''s dantian will only become clear and solid when they have been completely permeated with the energy that is absorbed from the moon.


    Therefore, as the energy from the moon is been infused into the foggy werewolf images that will reside in the dantian, the energy of the moon will change into Paragon Werewolf Origin Energy.


    _


    The following below are the growth stages for cultivation of Paragon Werewolf Origin Energy:


    .......


    Werewolf Image Materialization Stage:


    Rare Werewolf - 3 Werewolf Images (Size of a Mountain)


    Earth Werewolf - 6 Werewolf Images (Size of a mountain)


    Sky Werewolf - 9 Werewolf Images (Size of a Mountain)


    Heavenly Werewolf - 18 Werewolf Images (Size of a Mountain)


    World Werewolf - 27 Werewolf Images (Size of a Mountain)


    ......


    Great Werewolf Image Materialization Stage:


    At this stage, the Werewolf Images evolve and transform into Great Werewolf Images.


    Sage Werewolf - 3 Great Werewolf Images (Size of a Continent)


    Revered Sage Werewolf - 6 Great Werewolf Images (Size of a Continent)


    Celestial Werewolf - 9 Great Werewolf Images (Size of a Continent)


    Hallowed Celestial Werewolf - 18 Great Werewolf Images (Size of a Continent)


    Void Werewolf - 27 Great Werewolf Images (Size of a Continent)


    .......


    Grand Werewolf Image Materialization Stage:


    At this stage, the Great Werewolf Images evolve and transform into Grand Werewolf Images.


    Immortal Werewolf - 3 Grand Werewolf Images (Size of a World)


    Immortal Silver Werewolf - 6 Grand Werewolf Images (Size of a World)


    Immortal Jade Werewolf - 9 Grand Werewolf Images (Size of a World)


    Golden Immortal Werewolf - 18 Grand Werewolf Images (Size of a World)


    God Werewolf - 27 Grand Werewolf Images (Size of a World)


    .......


    Paragon Werewolf Image Materialization Stage:


    At this stage, the Grand Werewolf Images evolve and transform into Paragon Werewolf Images.


    High God Werewolf - 6 Paragon Werewolf Images (Size of a Star System)


    Sacred Totem God Werewolf - 18 Paragon Werewolf Images (Size of a Star System)


    Exalted Cosmic Ancestral Werewolf - 27 Paragon Werewolf Images (Size of a Star System)


    Venerated Infinite Grand Werewolf - 54 Paragon Werewolf Images (Size of a Star System)


    Imperishable Paragon Werewolf - 103 Paragon Werewolf Images (Size of a Star System)


    _


    When Xiao Lin finished going through them, he shook his head in awe.


    "This is overpowering and tyrannical, just like the rest of the arts that I am practicing!" He said with shock and an unparalleled sense of greatness in his tone.


    He then continued "Since this art doesn''t require that I kill people to get stronger, but absorb from the moon to grow powerful, I guess I would have to fly to the void outside this world where I can get close to the moon and absorb energy directly from there."


    "At least, by doing that, I will be able to quickly fill up those massive hazy images floating in my dantian and make them clear and solid so that I can speedily advance my progress in this art." He said with a thoughtful gaze in his eyes.


    Then he began to study the numerous, complex finger gestures for the Werewolf Image Materialization stage that were pictorially illustrated in the art.


    ***


    After many hours of trying to memorize them so that he could flawlessly do them, he stood to his feet and then began to execute the finger gestures.


    But, he didn''t get it on his first try.


    So, he continued to do the finger gestures without being bothered about when he would be able to really cause the images to appear around him and then project into his dantian.


    Therefore, he continued like this after his first try to his second try, third try then to his thirtieth try.


    At this point in time, it was already night. And Xiao Lin who was a stubborn and persistent person and wouldn''t really give up until he had achieved a particular result, no matter how tiny it may be, continued to do the finger gestures up to his sixtieth try.


    However, after his one hundred and fortieth try about two hours later, a primordial, wolf-like howl that no one could hear but only him, rang out from within Xiao Lin.


    Then as soon as the howl ended, images that Xiao Lin couldn''t make out what they were, as they were foggy and murky in appearance, began to appear in the air one after the other.


    When three images appeared, Xiao Lin performed another gesture and then said "Go in!"


    Once he gave that command immediately after executing that particular gesture, the three hazy images floating in the air and orbiting around him like the way planets orbited around the sun, instantly shot into his body like a ray of light and eventually to his dantian to reside in there.


    As soon as the images appeared in there, Xiao Lin''s pale-white skin instantly turned slightly dark brown with some areas of his skin having deeper hues of dark brown. And in that same instant that the color of his skin changed, he grew taller by a few feet with his face growing longer like it was being stretched outward.


    Then the muscles of his chest, back, arms and legs began to grow large in size that numerous, white stretch marks began to appear on the actual thick skin covering them. However, the many stretch marks that had appeared, disappeared in the next instant because of his rapid regeneration ability.


    Then furs that were also slightly dark brown in color, began to grow out from his tough beastly hide, as he was now a Werewolf, a Lycan.


    Xiao Lin whose eyes were closed tight as he was intensely focused, could feel seemingly raging currents of a strange, tyrannical beastly power coursing through his entire body.


    Then with a smile appearing in his face after his transformation completed, he opened his eyes to reveal large, amber-colored eyes that had dark purple, slit-shaped pupils in them.

 Chapter 63 - Do You Think That You Are Up For Any Mission?

    Seeing his transformation, Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then looked into his dantian to look at those images that he sent into there. When he did so, he only shook his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    At the moment, the three images that he sent into there had shown their true sizes.


    Each of them were as large as a mountain, if not larger.


    "I would have to start absorbing energy from the moon to fill up these images so that I can enter the Rare Werewolf stage in time." Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then focused on reversing his transformation.


    As soon as he did so, the size of his body of began to rapidly reduce. While his skin color changed from dark brown to pale-white once again.


    Not long, his form completely changed to that of his sick-looking human form.


    Immediately he changed back to his sickly human form, he sat down in the cross-legged position on the ground to employ the Image Infusion Technique.


    So, with his eyes closed and with intense concentration, the light that shone into his room from the moon, began to mysteriously converge to shine on his body alone, subjecting the non-illuminated areas in his room to darkness.


    And as soon as the light converge on his body, a form of energy that was silver-white in color, began to manifest within his body. Then following the method described in the technique, he began to move numerous, small wisps of that energy through a new type of vein network that had appeared in his body immediately he achieved successful transformation into a Werewolf.


    So, moving that energy along the newly formed meridian pathways called the Paradigm Werewolf Meridian into his dantian, one of the three mountain-sized images that floated in his dantian became infused with the small wisps of silver-white energy that manifested within his body.


    Once the wisps of that energy flowed into one of the immense and exceedingly towering, hazy images of werewolf in his dantian, the dark and murky area of the image where the energy impacted and penetrated into became slightly illuminated. However, the illumination that it achieved was totally insignificant, as it was like going into a massive world engulfed by a heavy and thick, jet-black darkness with a wood burning with fire to see around.


    Seeing that the particular, dark foggy image of a werewolf that he focused on would require tremendously large amount of that silver-white energy to cause just a small part of it to become clear and solid, Xiao Lin began to apply more effort into gathering more energy for infusion.


    So, he continued to channel wisps of silver-white energy as it appeared in his body into that image. And this he did till morning.


    Once morning arrived, Xiao Lin quickly stood to his feet to go the window and shut them. He then pulled the curtains to close them too.


    Immediately he did that, he returned to where he stood up from and sat back in the cross-legged position once again.


    He then brought out all the spatial rings that he took from those students and began to form them into different, large heaps of resources.


    When he was gathering them into a few large heaps of cultivation resources and treasures, he nodded his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    "Time to take my cultivation base to the next one or two stages" He said with a solid, unbreakable determination in his heart.


    He then began to randomly pick consumable spiritual herbs, fruits, flowers, lotuses and leaves from the large heaps of Spiritual Cultivation Resources gathered in front of him which he took straight into his mouth to either bite or chew before swallowing them down to his stomach.


    And once the chewed, edible spiritual items got to his stomach, they instantly melted and turned into Spiritual Energy which Xiao Lin began to refine using the divine-grade technique called Spiritual Refinement Conversion technique from the Primordial Heretic Force spiritual cultivation art.


    So, with the powerful, divine-tier technique, he was able to rapidly refine all the Spiritual Energies that he was able to accumulate within himself from the tremendous consumption of those Spiritual Cultivation resources and fully transform them into his usual dark-colored, greatly intimidating and immensely subduing, fiercely strong Spiritual Energy.


    After cultivating diligently and zealously from morning till 8pm in the night, he was able to break through into the 9th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage from the 7th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage. Although he was already halfway through to breaking into the 8th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage. But now that he boosted his cultivation practice from the heavy consumption of those consumable spiritual items, he was able to break through into the 8th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage and finally into the 9th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    So, when he stopped cultivating some moments later as night had arrived, he stowed away all the remaining items that he hadn''t used back into his spatial ring.


    However, there were a few rings that he didn''t touch, as he wanted to give them to Nine Calamities, which would be his own contribution to the growth and development of the bandit group.


    After sorting out things and organizing himself well, he set out of his room to leave the inn.


    Immediately he appeared in the street in a new hooded robe that he stole many days ago before coming here, he entered into a carriage to take him back to the area where the Blackheart forest was located which was really far away from here.


    When the carriage finally appeared in that area two hours later after moving at very high speed, Xiao Lin silently came out from within the carriage like a ghost so that he won''t pay a single dime and then instantly shot off using his Super Speed ability coupled with the Blood Entity Normal Steps from the Illusionary Vampire Unstoppable Godly Steps movement art to quickly leave the area and appear in the forest.


    Now, he was too fast that he might possibly, greatly outrun a 1st-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator.


    When he arrived in the forest, he stopped running and began to move to the heart of the forest where the castle was located.


    When he arrived there, he met some bandits outside.


    They were busy training with their weapons as they could be seen slashing and hacking at an imaginary opponent.


    Xiao Lin only nodded his head at them and then went in to go see Nine Calamities in his room.


    But as he left, the bandits who he met outside were looking at Xiao Lin as he walked away with shock in their faces.


    "The hell did Bloodfang cultivate up to the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage? Wasn''t he previously at the fifth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage?" One couldn''t help but ask the others around him.


    "I don''t know too. But I believe that he probably came across a marveling cultivation item when he left the castle on his own self-given mission to contribute to the growth of our group." Another said.


    "This guy is really fortunate. But he is growing too fast for my liking. I have a feeling that things might change around here very soon, if he continues with this pace that he is growing at." One said while the others nodded.


    Then they began to talk about other random things.


    When Xiao Lin arrived at Nine Calamities''s room, he knocked once with Nine Calamities''s voice ringing out," Coming on, Bloodfang"


    Xiao Lin then opened the door and then went in.


    Once he got in, he entered into a bow and then straightened himself back in the next moment.


    He then said "Master Nine Calamities, I have returned from my self-given task. And I bring you wonderful items that I obtained from my task which would be my own contribution to the growth of our bandit group."


    Immediately he said that, he produced nine spatial rings from his spatial ring which he dropped on the table before Nine Calamities.


    Nine Calamities then took the rings one after the other to see what was contained within them. When he finished going through their contents, he said with a smile in his face "You have done well, Bloodfang."


    Then he said further with that smile still in his face "Congrats on breaking into the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage. I can see that you have a good cultivation future ahead of you. Just continue with this pace that you are growing at, and the sky shall become your stepping stone into the universal seat of power"


    Xiao Lin bowed and then said "Thank you, Master Nine Calamities"


    Nine Calamities nodded his head.


    He then asked with his brows furrowed "Now, Bloodfang, do you think that you are up for any individual or group, evening and night tasks that I will assign for you to carry out?"

 Chapter 64 - Cultivating The Werewolf Images And Comprehending New Battle Skills

    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then said "Certainly Master. I am up for any task that you would like to assign to me"


    "Good!" Nine Calamities said with the impression of Xiao Lin in his heart increasing the more.


    He then continued by saying "Now, there is this broken treasure that will arrive in this town many days from now. It would be delivered at a treasure house in a spatial ring by some people."


    "I don''t know how the treasure really looks, but all I know is that it''s a treasure, one that looks broken, as it''s incomplete in form."


    "So, now that you have broken through into the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage, and have a formidable battle prowess, I want you and a few others who are at the Mortal Spiritual stage who I would assemble into a team to go retrieve the treasure for me."


    "Although you might feel that what are you doing in the midst of Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators, you are only there to support them that''s all. You don''t really need to engage in any battle that might occur between our people and the people in possession of the spatial ring that contains that particular treasure."


    "However, if it''s necessary to enter into the battle, then you can do so. You know, without fighting in a life or death battle, there''s no way one would be able to develop. Fighting in such battle will certainly bring out the best in us, and refine us, making us more stronger, tougher, faster and more powerful."


    "Alright, Master" Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    "Good!" Nine Calamities said.


    He then said "You can return to your room to prepare for this mission. When it''s time, I will summon you and the others"


    "Okay" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then left where he stood to return to his room.


    When he arrived in his room, he sat down in the cross-legged position to read through the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art and the Myriad Chaotic Blood Armament battle art to understand the other battle techniques that he wasn''t able to execute before due to the really small numbers of Ordinary Blood Symbols and True Demonic Marks in his dantian.


    Therefore, now that he broken through into the Blood Acolyte stage for the True Vampire Origin Blood Force cultivation art, and had condensed a good number of True Demonic Marks in his dantian, he wanted to go through the arts again to understand them.


    With his eyes closed, he began to comprehend a few other techniques of the arts. And these he did till 11pm in the night.


    When he felt that he had comprehended them to an extent and would find a place later in the evening, the next day, so that he could master them and would be able to adeptly unleash them in a fight or battle, his eyes snapped open.


    Then looking out through the window, he saw that the moon was already up.


    He nodded his head and then closed his eyes back.


    Then he began to use that Image Infusion technique to cause moonlight shining into his room from the moon to entirely converge upon his figure alone, which then turned into numerous wisps of silver-white energy within his body in the next instant.


    Once the numerous, luminous motes of energy appeared in his body, Xiao Lin began to move them through his Paradigm Werewolf Meridians to his dantian, where they penetrated into one of the three tremendously massive, dark and murky images of werewolf in his dantian which had already gained a tiny bit of illumination, which was as a result of his earlier infusion of silver-white energy from the moon into it.


    So, he continued to channel energy from that time till morning.


    Once morning arrived, he stood to his feet to close the windows and the curtains in his room.


    Immediately he sat down back in the cross-legged position to continue with other things, he first looked into his dantian.


    He then saw that only a really small portion of the mountain-sized image that he was targeting in his dantian had gained illumination and solidness. The remaining part were completely dark and hazy, totally disabling him from making out the actual form of that particular werewolf image.


    Then after a small sigh and a slight shake of his head, he sank his mind into other things.


    So, he resumed his comprehension of the techniques that are slightly advanced than the ones which he already knew from some of the numerous tyrannical battle arts indelibly branded to his memory that he had taken time to study.


    And, this he did till evening without taking a break. His aim was that even if he hadn''t practiced them to really master them yet, he wanted to understand them to an extent that he would be able to unleash the attacks of the different battle techniques with a high degree of proficiency and speed at opponents that might unexpectedly appear around him.


    However, when it was 5pm, a knock suddenly rang out from his door.


    Knock!


    Xiao Lin''s eyes then snapped open with his brows furrowed.


    "Who''s there?" He asked.


    "Duskeater" The person at his door answered.


    "Hmm. Okay" Xiao Lin then stood to his feet from his cross-legged position to go see this person that had come to knock on his door.


    Once he came out and closed the door behind him, he asked with a smile in his face "So, you can eat the dusk?"


    "Certainly. That''s why I named myself like that." The person called Duskeater answered with an indifferent expression in his face.


    "Alright. So, what do you want?" Xiao Lin asked.


    "I want you to follow me. Master Nine Calamities said that you should come with me." Duskeater said.


    "Oh, okay" Xiao Lin said with a slight nod of his head.


    He then said "Lead the way."


    Duskeater nodded and then set into the direction where Nine Calamities and a few others were now staying. While Xiao Lin followed behind this person called Duskeater with a thoughtful expression in his face.


    ''Probably that broken treasure arrived earlier than expected, as there is no reason why Master Nine Calamities would suddenly request for my presence.''


    Not long, they arrived at Nine Calamities''s room with Xiao Lin opening the door and entering, while the person caked Duskeater turned around and walked away.


    When Xiao Lin entered through the door and closed it behind him, he said "Master, you requested for my presence. Here I am"


    Nine Calamities nodded his head.


    He then said "Bloodfang, I want to show you to your teammates for the particular theft mission that I told you about."


    "The treasure which I spoke to you about actually arrived earlier than expected. The people bringing the treasure should arrive in this town very soon. So, you and the rest are to gear up for this mission and bring me whatever item that treasure is. Okay?!"

 Chapter 65 - Setting Off On A Mission

    "Yes, Master" Xiao Lin and the others in the room nodded their heads.


    However, before master Nine Calamities could dismiss them, one of them suddenly said "But Master, why is Bloodfang being added to our team? His cultivation base is too low for this mission. He would only slow us down and decrease our battle efficiency as we would have to look out for him too"


    Haha!


    Nine Calamities laughed.


    But before he could speak, Xiao Lin suddenly said with a smile in his face "You don''t need to look out for me. I can handle myself. Recall that I once killed two government officers who were Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators myself. So, I can definitely look out for myself, and if I am generous enough, I can look out for you guys too."


    The bandits in the room then looked at Xiao Lin with anger in their eyes as they could detect the mocking tone fully evident in his speech.


    Haha!


    Master Nine Calamities laughed heartily.


    He then said "Leave Bloodfang alone and focus on me. He would do just as he said. I trust him."


    "But Master, we won''t be going up against first-layer or 2nd-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators, but probably eight or ninth-layer Spiritual Stage cultivators. What can he really do against those kind of powerful cultivators? He would simply be obliterated with a tiny, single ray or small, focused blast of Spiritual Energy." Another said with puzzlement in his face.


    "Well, I know why I assigned Xiao Lin for this mission. Although you are right that you guys might go up against eight-layer or ninth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators, however there can be only one, who would be the one to act as the grand protector for the item being transported down to this city. So, the others should be around the fourth-layer, fifth-layer or sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual cultivation stage." Nine Calamities said.


    He then continued "Now, if Xiao Lin could kill a first-layer and second-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator when he was at the fifth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage, not minding the method or technique that he used, don''t you think that he might be able to defend himself if faced by cultivators at the forth or fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, as he is now at the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage?"


    "Well, I don''t think the technique or method that he used then should work on the kind of high-level cultivators that Jade Destiny is talking about. They would certainly easily resist whatever thing he would do and then effortlessly kill him off by squashing him like an ant or bug to his death." A bandit called Swordcloud said.


    Hahaha!


    Nine Calamities laughed.


    Then when he stopped laughing a moment later, he said with a serious expression appearing in his face "Bloodfang will go with you guys for this mission, whether you like it or not. Now, dismiss!"


    Then everyone in the room stood to their feet to leave the room, same with Xiao Lin who had a contemplative gaze in his eyes.


    At the moment, he was beginning to think of a lot of things.


    Xiao Lin knew that they were right with what they said, that he won''t be able to go up against cultivators at the fourth-layer or fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage. However, he understood that Nine Calamities who may also know that, won''t definitely listen to them as he wanted him to become strong, tough and powerful in time, as only in life or death battle would one be able to really awaken their hidden potentials or some inborn dormant abilities that one never knew existed.


    But, Xiao Lin felt that now that he had achieved breakthrough into the Blood Acolyte stage which would make his Blood Energy attacks much more overbearing and massively subduing to any cultivator in the Spiritual Ascendance stage, had taken the numbers of True Demonic Marks in his dantian to 266 which would make his overwhelming, Hermetic Demonic Energy attacks much more brutal and stronger, and had achieved breakthrough into the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage, with his seething, dark-colored Spiritual Energy invoking an incredible feeling of tyranny and the will to devastate, making it present characteristics to be fully likened to that of a half-step Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator, Xiao Lin felt that he should be able to face second-layer and third-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators to an extent with all his powerful attributes combined.


    Then contemplating further, he felt that fusing with his Animal Spirit which grew along with him, should be able to increase his Vampiric Super Strength and Speed, battle prowess and physical resilience and invulnerability to Spiritual Energy attacks to a high degree. And if he used the Twin Silver blades of Doom and Sorrow which were laying silently within his dantian, he should be able to do ''just fine'' against forth-layer or fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators.


    When Xiao Lin thought all these, he nodded his head with a confident smile appearing in his face.


    Then one of them called Swordcloud suddenly turned around to face Xiao Lin with a haughty and arrogant expression in his face "Brat, I don''t know what you did to our Master, Nine Calamities that has made him to take so much fancy in you. Anyways, don''t think that we would look out to protect you when we get there. If you allow any attack, no matter how tiny from any of those high-level cultivators to hit you, then that is unfortunately your doom!"


    He then continued "With what I have said, I believe that you should be wise enough to do the right thing. Also, don''t try to ''accidentally'' get in our way, or I would spare no thought in utterly destroying you with my torrential rain of furious attacks."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head indifferently.


    He then said "Yea, I won''t get in your way. And I am wise enough to do the right thing with all that you have said."


    "Good!" Swordcloud said with a nod of his head.


    He then said "I have the directions to the place. Go prepare yourself, we move out in twenty minutes."

 Chapter 66 - Attacking The Carriage

    Once Swordcloud said that, Xiao Lin nodded his head and then went to his room. And as he did so, he put his ears out with his Vampiric Enhanced Hearing ability on to listen to what they would be saying.


    "That brat is growing too fast. Wasn''t he at the fifth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage when he fought Deathwind many days ago. Now, he is already at the ninth-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage. I wonder how is able to do that." Jade Destiny said with a puzzled expression in his eyes.


    "I guess he is consuming a lot of Spiritual Cultivation Resources that he was fortunate to get somewhere in large amounts. Anyways, I don''t think he has an idea that what he is doing is harming his cultivation progress. The moron doesn''t know that his actions will stagnate his cultivation growth, as his cultivation base will become extremely unstable. It would be really hard for him to stabilize it. Just watch, for the next two to four years, he won''t be able to break through into the Mortal Spiritual stage." Swordcloud said with a confident smile in his face.


    Xiao Lin who was hearing what they were saying only shook his head.


    ''Ignorant fools'' He said inwardly.


    When he arrived in his room, he sat down in the cross-legged position to do a brief cultivation by trying to absorb Spiritual Energy that was really thin in size around him.


    After sometime, he opened his eyes and then stood to his feet to leave the room.


    He then went outside the castle to wait for the others who just arrived there.


    "Are you ready?" Swordcloud asked Xiao Lin.


    "Yes" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    "Alright then. Let''s move" Swordcloud said.


    Then they began to walk into the distance to appear in the town.


    Many minutes later, they appeared in the town.


    When they arrived there, they all took deep breath.


    Then Swordcloud said looking at them "Let''s head out"


    The others nodded their heads and began to follow behind Swordcloud.


    While Swordcloud who was following the directions given to him by Nine Calamities began to walk towards the place where their robbery mission was to be carried out.


    After many minutes, they eventually arrived there.


    Then they separated from each other to go stay at specific places while looking observantly into the distance for the carriage or beast that would pass through this street and would carry a wooden box or metallic box that might contain the treasure that Nine Calamities told them about.


    Before Xiao Lin could leave to go find a place to stay and watch, Swordcloud said to him with a serious expression in his face "Brat, don''t try to be a hero or a courageous idiot and get in our way, or you will die, which I will make sure of."


    Xiao Lin exhaled and then nodded his head.


    Then he left to go find a place that he would stay.


    When he got there, he sat down in the cross-legged state and closed his eyes to cultivate. However, even as he was cultivating, he put his ears out with his Vampiric Enhanced Hearing ability on to detect the sounds of either beasts or carriages that would pass through this particular street soon.


    After a long while, thirty minutes to be precise, the sounds of beasts could be heard from afar.


    Swordcloud who was patiently waiting where he stood nodded his head with a solemn expression appearing in his face "They are already here."


    Not long, a heavy carriage that was being pulled by dozens of wild beasts appeared in the street.


    Just as they appeared, Swordcloud who had pulled up his mask to cover his face, came out from where he was to stand at the middle of the road, then with an aura of battle starting to exude from his body, he aimed his two palms at the dozens of beasts that were pulling the carriage and uttered "Hundred Rain Swords"


    And, as soon as he said that, Spiritual Energy gushed out from his two palms in large amount and rapidly transformed into a hundred swords that seemed to be formed from water.


    Once these swords appeared, they shot at blazing speeds towards each of the beast.


    Slash! Slash! Slash!...


    Numerous sounds like these began to ring out as the blades penetrated through the bodies of the beasts, instantly causing their gruesome deaths.


    Sensing that they were being attacked despite their disguise, the treasure protectors within the carriage immediately shot out of the carriage to see who was it that dared to attack them.


    Then when they saw Swordcloud, they didn''t exchange any word with him as they went straight into attacking him.


    But just before they could unleash any attack at him, Jade Destiny and the others who were also around quickly came out from were they were to support Swordcloud.


    Immediately they arrived, they began to exchange attacks with one another using powerful battle skills.


    So, gleaming Spiritual Energy attacks of high destructive powers and which actually caused the long street to brightly lit up in different colors, were being sent out at each other without any form of restrain. The way that the battle was fought was like their most dangerous foes had caught up with them.


    While Xiao Lin who had stopped cultivating a few moments ago and looked on to see how they fought, later turned his head away from the ongoing battle to look at the heavy carriage that were pulled being by the now slain beasts.


    "I wonder what''s in that carriage that it can''t be stored into a spatial ring" He said.


    Then his brows furrowed in the next instant when he thought of something "Or is that the treasure can''t be stored into a low-quality spatial ring which is what they would have here, and can only be kept in high-quality spatial rings? Hmm. I guess that must be right. Since they don''t have high-quality spatial rings here, they can only keep it in a box and then transport it down here to this part of the town using a carriage pulled by beasts."


    He then said further "I wonder what treasure is in that carriage. Must be some powerful treasure"


    When he said that, he began to think of ways to get the treasure for himself.

 Chapter 67 - Coming Out To Fight

    "Storm Swords Severing Lives" Swordcloud said at the same time that he discharged large amounts of Spiritual Energy from his hands which then abruptly turned into glowing swords that shot towards the furious treasure protectors.


    Seeing the incoming attacks, the protector quickly aimed his hands out and discharged tremendous amounts of Spiritual Energy from them which abruptly turned into dense, overlapping shields to protect him and some of his colleagues from the killing attacks shooting towards them.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!...


    These sounds began to ring out as the swords smashed hard into the thick shields. And since the attacks were from a 7th-layer Mortal Spiritual Stage cultivator, the treasure protector who was at the 6th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage couldn''t resist the attacks as his shield broke into pieces with the swords moving on to ram into him.


    However, the swords had partially lost their lustres, meaning that they had incredibly weakened after hitting the shields.


    But the treasure protector who was wearing an average-grade, treasure body armor couldn''t be slain by the swords that struck him.


    "Hmm" Someone who had several long scars in his face, making him look very brutal, uttered with a furrowed brow. He could see how his men were being blasted away by the powerful attacks of their enemies.


    "I guess I have to go and help them." He said.


    He then looked at three other people within the carriage that were at the 2nd-layer, 3rd-layer and 4th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage respectively and said to them "If any soul dares to near this carriage, instantly snuff out it life."


    "Yes, boss Li Wen" The three people spoken to said with a nod of their heads.


    "Good!" The man called Li Wen said.


    He then jumped out of the carriage to go assist the rest of his men facing the bandits that had suddenly come out from nowhere to unleash deadly Spiritual Energy attacks at them.


    Immediately he came out, Xiao Lin who had been watching the carriage without blinking an eye to not miss anything that might come out or jump out from it, nodded his head with a smile appearing in his face where he stood.


    "Time to spring into action" He said after predicting in an exaggerated manner that the remaining protectors within the carriage who would be four or five in numbers, would either be at the 3rd-layer or 4th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage. He did this so that his mind and body could be totally prepared for what he thought up in his head.


    Then without wasting time, he conjured up his Animal Spirit who appeared behind him. Then quickly executing the profound Beast Fusion finger signs and gestures taught to him by master Wu, a large sphere of blood-red light abruptly expanded forth from within his body which then rapidly expanded out to enclose both him and the wolf-like Animal Spirit behind him.


    Then as soon as the sphere which was the platform for him to fuse with his Animal Spirit appeared, his Animal Spirit which had surfaced behind him began to grow small in size. Then in the next instant, it shot into Xiao Lin''s body as a ray of dark red light.


    As soon as the ray of light entered his body, Xiao Lin''s eyes turned red, with bright crimson-colored, slit-shaped pupils appearing in them which then began to radiate heart-tingling coldness, ferocity and unmatched fierceness.


    Then his body grew many feet taller with his skin which was now red in color producing dark red furs that partially covered his two arms, chest, back and legs. And in this same moment, a large red tail grew out from his back and stopped it growth when it was a few feet long. His ears too had grown a bit longer and could be seen covered in small red hairs. While his long, dark-black hair had become dark-red hair.


    His total appearance at the moment simply gave that of a wolf, an exotic species of red-furred wolves that could stand firmly on their feet. However, anyone that saw him now wouldn''t see him as a beast, but as a human with invoked or inborn beastly characteristics. Also, anyone that knows him wouldn''t be able to really recognize him, since his facial attributes had totally changed; his face had changed in color from it sick-like pale color to a red color, and dark red hairs could be seen all over his face, simply hiding his identity like it were a mask.


    Once he had transformed, he loudly howled "Aooooo!"


    Then due to the howl that he made, he was able to cause a sudden, sharp distraction, causing the attacks produced by both his colleagues and the treasure protectors to impact them really hard as they weren''t able to create shields in time to block the opposing, Spiritual Energy attacks from smashing heavily into them.


    So, as soon as he did that, he came out of where he was which was pretty far away and then rushed towards the carriage immediately after he deployed the Blood Entity Normal Steps movement technique from the Illusionary Vampire Unstoppable Godly Steps movement art which was also coupled with his Super Speed ability and that granted by his Animal Spirit after merging with it.


    However, the protectors of the treasure within the carriage who were surprised by that howl, quickly came out of the carriage to see what beast had produced that howl which had a strong stunning effect on the mind and quickly destroy it.


    But, they were shocked to see a towering, red-furred, wolf-like being dashing towards them at a great speed with it body surrounded by a bright red aura, giving the feeling that it body was engulfed by destructive red flames.


    Without wasting time in asking questions where it came from, they quickly moved to attack it before it could unleash torrential attacks at them. Although they moved to quickly attack it, they weren''t scared of it as the wolf-like being was at the 9th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage, while they were at the 2nd-layer and 3rd-layer Mortal Spiritual stage.


    There was a vast difference in cultivation stages, as one cultivation stage when comparing it to the next is like comparing the distance from earth to heaven. Therefore, this didn''t make them frightened of this human-shaped, beastly creature dashing towards them with killing intent continuously bursting out of it intimidating eyes.


    Xiao Lin at the moment who could feel a majestic and domineering, hegemonic Spiritual Power from his Battle Beast Spirit, the Blood Wolf God beginning to circulate about within his body in frenzied currents after achieving Body-Spirit Fusion, quickly moved those tyrannical currents of exceptional power with his will to the different, peculiar energy routes within his body.


    Then in the next instant, he abruptly infused them into both the dark-colored, overbearing Spiritual Energy and Hermetic Demonic Energy that he produced from his Cultivation Base and True Demonic Marks within his dantian which then flowed like raging tides to his two fists after also passing through those special circulation routes in his body which then caused them to begin to pulse with startling powers.


    Once these energies became imbued with those currents of power from his ominous Animal Spirit, he quickly aimed out at the two powerful attacks sent out at him by two of the three treasure protectors.

 Chapter 68 - Fighting The 4th-layer Mortal Spiritual Stage Protector

    BOOM!! BOOM!!


    These loud explosion sounds rang out as the attacks struck each other, with tyrannical, colored waves of Spiritual Energy immediately manifesting and rushing out in all directions into the far distance like furious oceanic tides.


    Then the tyrannous energy waves that surfaced after violently impacting both Xiao Lin and two of the Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators, hurling them to a pretty far distance, rapidly thinned and then vanished.


    But very quickly, since Xiao Lin skin was innately tough and strong after being reborn as a Vampire, then coupled with the durability and resilience that he got from achieving Body-Spirit Fusion with his Animal Spirit, basically allowed him to actually resist the powerful destructive waves that were produced from the violent collisions of their attacks. So, one could tell how formidably tough his body is now.


    However, the cultivators that were blown away also stood back to their feet, since they were also putting on armors.


    Then they couldn''t help but look at Xiao Lin in shock, as they were amazed by how tough his body is, since it could withstand those devastating waves that surfaced and rapidly caused marks of shattering to appear on the surfaces of their average-grade, treasure body armor.


    ''What is this beast? And why exactly is it attacking us?'' One of them couldn''t help but ask inwardly with shock in his eyes.


    The remaining treasure protector who was at the 4th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage was also surprised.


    He couldn''t understand how this tall beastly entity could easily neutralize the attacks of Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators when it is at the Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    The abrupt exchanges of attacks that took place some minutes ago were simply greatly baffling to him, as ordinary attacks that the fierce-looking beastly entity before them sent out, effortlessly canceled the attacks of his colleagues using battle methods that they had mastered. Then what if it unleashed attacks using some battle methods or techniques, what would really happen? He then guessed that it would definitely injure his two colleagues, as the Battle Skill attacks might carry enough power that it would heavily damage the treasure armors that they wore and impact them tremendously hard, possibly turning their entire organs into mush, rip their ribs apart or sever some of their limbs off.


    Then he decided to go into battle with this beastly entity so that it could overwhelm it with his more powerful Battle Skill attacks and then kill it, before it could kill any of his colleagues.


    So, immediately he arrived at this thought, he quickly performed mysterious finger gestures and then aimed his hands out at Xiao Lin.


    "Raging Thunderbolt Strike; Killing A Hundred Fiends" He said that as soon as he performed the last finger gesture. He then quickly aimed his palms out at Xiao Lin with indifference and arrogance in his face, and an unbridled killing intent emanating from his haughty-gazing eyes.


    Immediately he said that in the same time that he performed the last finger gesture, and then abruptly aimed his palms out at Xiao Lin who was also quickly charging up his own powerful Battle Skill attacks, large amount of Spiritual Energy that began to make rampant, loud booming sounds like that of thunder and gave out endless, frightening crackles of electricity, rushed out from his palms and transformed into a large, brilliant bolt of lightning that then shot towards Xiao Lin at an unimaginable speed.


    However, Xiao Lin who was already ready after quickly moving large amounts of his suppressive and exceptionally powerful, dark Spiritual Energy from his Cultivation Base, and his startlingly overwhelming Hermetic Demonic Energy from the True Demonic Marks in his dantian, and then through peculiar energy routes to his palms, quickly unleashed them immediately he deployed the Battle Skills that he had mastered, which were the Great Chaotic Fireball battle technique from the ''Fiendish Flame Burning The Heavens battle art'', and the Heavenly Demonic Annihilator Guillotine battle technique from the ''Way of the Demonic Blade battle art.''


    These battle skills were the one that he tried to master using his powerful visualization skills when he couldn''t go out again upon arriving at Nine Calamities''s castle from the city of the town.


    So, immediately he employed these more advanced, formidably powerful techniques from two of the numerous, empyrean-grade battle arts that he had with him, his dark-colored Spiritual Energy which gushed out from one of his palms in large amounts, abruptly became dark-black, towering raging flames before gathering together in the next instant and transformed into a massive, jet-black fireball that produced completely unbearable heat that gave the definite feeling that it could actually turn the solid earth below it into molten magma.


    While the Hermetic Demonic Energy that gushed out of his other hand in large amount abruptly turned into a massive blade that spanned many feet wide and many feet long. Also, it endlessly radiated a towering aura of incomparable, tyrannical sharpness, giving the feeling that it was the supreme, void-lacerating blade of a divine, primordial god of sharpness.


    Once these alarming attacks formed which only took a few seconds, they shot out at the same time that the 4th-layer, Mortal Spiritual stage Treasure Protector sent out his.


    Swoosh! Swoosh!


    They both shot out at lightning speeds and collided into the massive, dazzling lightning bolt of Spiritual Energy that was shooting at a furious speed towards Xiao Lin.


    BOOOOM!!!


    Once the fearsome attacks impacted one another, a terrifying wave of energy carrying astounding amount of electricity, instantly surfaced and rapidly swept out into the far distance in all directions in the next moment with a shocking destructive power.


    Xiao Lin who was in a close range to the explosion of the attacks, was viciously sent flying away by the overbearing wave that had suddenly appeared, which then caused numerous short and long cracks that forcefully spurted out blood to appear all over his body.


    And, since the wave that brutally struck him bore excessive amounts of electricity, it caused many thin and thick arcs of unusual purple electricity to begin to violently rampage all over the surface of his cracked tough flesh, causing Xiao Lin intensely excruciating stinging pains, since the frenzied electricity arcs found their ways into his body through the many cracks found in his hard and durable flesh, which blood also continuously spurted out from like small fountains.

 Chapter 69 - Killing The Protectors And Escaping With The Treasure

    While the treasure protector was able to defend himself from the powerful electrocuting waves that suddenly manifested by quickly forming a dense and thick shield from his Spiritual Energy.


    However, there was intense surprise in his face.


    How could this strange entity cancel out it attack?


    It was just too unbelievable to him, no matter how he could think about it.


    But, he wouldn''t know that Xiao Lin had infused tidal currents of incomparably fierce Spiritual Power derived from his superiorly powerful Battle Beast Spirit which flowed unbridledly in his body into the uniquely strong energies which he was using to produce the attacks that he was unleashing, and that he was forcing himself to utilize Battle Techniques much more powerful than the ones that he had mastered weeks ago and could now adeptly unleash. However, Xiao Lin had a very strong reason for doing this, which was all linked to what he was doing right now.


    The treasure protector didn''t bother exchanging attacks with Xiao Lin again, as he unexpectedly dashed towards where his brutally injured body laid in, but with the intention of grabbing his neck and simply crushing it. Then if necessary, he would forcefully rip away the head from the neck so that he would achieve a total annihilation.


    But before he could get there, Xiao Lin who was bestowed the ability of fast recovery rate by his Animal Spirit, then coupled with the rapid regeneration ability granted to him by the Vampiric power coursing within his bodily flesh, quickly levitated to his feet from his lying position on the ground immediately after he had quickly healed to a shocking degree.


    Then without wasting time as he tried to quickly end all these before his plan would catastrophically fail, he quickly recalled the Awakening Doom blade to his hand and hurled it out of his palm at the incoming treasure protector with definitely all the strength and might that he could ever muster.


    Swooosh!!


    Cutting through the air like an arrow fired from the powerful, enormous bow of a giant, and traveling towards the treasure protector like a ray of light, the protector whose intensely arrogant facial expression had changed to that of complete dread and terror, quickly discharged exceedingly large amounts of Spiritual Energy from his palms which then shot towards the incoming blade as a massive and terrifying, fierce blast of energy.


    However, he was wrong about his action as the blade effortlessly penetrated through the focused, fearsome blast of Spiritual Energy that he unleashed like it never came across any form of obstacle in the first place. It then viciously stabbed into his body, despite the armor that he wore.


    And, since it stabbed deeply into the protector with a lot of force and momentum, it actually carried him off his feet and into the distance, towards the carriage to be precise, then it pinned him to it, to the actual wall of the goods transporting carriage, with the blade impaling itself deeply into the carriage wall.


    Once he saw that he had slain that treasure protector, he quickly recalled the Sorrowful Sea blade in his dantian to one of his hands and then abruptly dashed towards the other two protectors using his Super Speed ability, then with the enhanced speed granted to him by his Animal Spirit because of their fusion, which was also combined with the Blood Entity Normal Steps movement skill from the Illusionary Vampire Unstoppable Godly Steps, and then the Blood Dragon Flash, a profound, first-level evasion skill from the Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash evasion technique, a compilation of incomparable, superior-rank, empyrean-grade escaping techniques, which would definitely grant him a much more higher speed even if all the above abilities and skills mentioned were used together. Therefore, one can imagine the astonishing amount of speed that he would burst out with with all these.


    So, once he deployed those movement and evasion skills, a bright red aura that totally enwrapped his body, giving the feeling that his body was engulfed by strongly consuming, unusually red flames, since they roiled violently like it were an actual, towering ravaging flame that was colored in bright red, then the faint and hazy shadow of a large dragon that was slightly blood-red in color immediately appearing around him, he set off towards the two protectors with unparalleled killing intent erupting from his intimidating beastly eyes.


    Swoosh!


    He shot out really fast at many times the peak speed that a cultivator at the 2nd-layer Mortal Spiritual stage could possibly achieve.


    Slash! Slash!


    The protectors who couldn''t react in time because of his tremendous speed had their heads cleanly slashed off from their necks.


    Then without stopping at that extreme speed that he was moving at, he arrived inside the carriage, quickly stored everything in there into his high-quality spatial ring without leaving anything behind, no matter how the item may seem to appear useless.


    Once he was done cleaning the carriage, totally emptying everything within it into his spatial ring, he came out and took the ring of the protector pinned to the wall of the carriage with the Awakening Doom blade.


    He then removed the blade and stowed it together with the Sorrowful Sea blade into his dantian. Then dashing away at that extremely high speed that was totally impossible for him to achieve at his cultivation level, he took the rings of the other protectors that he slashed their heads off and quickly hurried off into another direction before his colleagues or the protectors would completely heal and then stand to furiously chase after him, or before any of the overly curious and unbending government officers would arrive.


    However, he had only gone a bit far when the officers started appearing one after the other who then began to look around with anger and deep puzzlement in their eyes.


    They couldn''t find anyone to apprehend as Xiao Lin''s injured colleagues had left the place that they laid in to go hide themselves in some place and heal from their terrible injuries. Same with the protectors who had fled the scene to go find somewhere to recover, as they were actually illegally moving or transporting items into the city without the awareness of the Townsmaster or the top officials in his administration. They however did this to not pay taxes, so it was a criminal offence and was liable for heavy punishment under the law.


    So, the officers were left with no one to capture at the scene than to go back to their bases after waiting for many minutes more to observantly look around. But they would surely return and carry out their investigations and were certain to catch the vile people who were fighting here and fled in a flash before they arrived.

 Chapter 70 - Swordclouds Forceful Request

    Immediately Xiao Lin arrived at a new place which was behind a row of tall buildings that lined the wide street that he tried his best to run up very fast, just so he could evade the government officers that would have arrived at that spot that their operation took place, he quickly changed back to himself after reversing his fused state with his Animal Spirit with his Animal Spirit re-entering into his body to reside.


    Then after looking at his appearance many times to see that nothing about his appearance would give him away, he prepared to find a way to quickly return to where he formerly was before he showed himself to attack the three treasure protectors. And as he did this, he had tons of all kinds of excuses building up in his mind.


    After many minutes of walking, precisely forty minutes later, he arrived many feet away from his previous position.


    Then after waiting for sometime and seeing that not one of the people that he came here with were present, he prepared to leave where he was and immediately return back to the castle at the Blackheart forest.


    But on his way to the center of the massive, Blackheart forest where Nine Calamities''s castle was located, he met the others who he left with for the robbery mission with ashen and deep gloomy expressions in their faces.


    "Brat, where did you go to? We thought that you had been captured by those government officers and then taken away" Swordcloud said with slight anger in his tone.


    "Oh, I am sorry that I kept you guys worried because of my brief disappearance. Actually, I silently, immediately took to my heels when those government officers appeared." Xiao Lin said with a serious expression in his face.


    "Hmm." Swordcloud uttered.


    He then looked at Xiao Lin with one of his brows furrowed and said "You have the exact cultivation base as that human-resembling beastly thing that suddenly appeared to attack the assigned, weaker protectors of that treasure."


    Once Swordcloud said that, Xiao Lin made a face like he was trying to think of something. Then with a strange look now appearing in his face, he said to Swordcloud, "What? Senior, please don''t tell me that you are trying to say I was that thing that appeared and slayed those guards of that treasure?"


    "I also the beast too, and was actually gearing up to attack it. But when I saw the fiercely strong power that it erupted with as it fought those guards, I immediately canceled the idea of going to challenge it in my mind, or I might loose my precious life." Xiao Lin said without making any gaze or expression in his face that might make his statement feel like a falsehood.


    "Hmm. Show me your Spiritual Energy, I want to see something" Swordcloud said which Xiao Lin hastily nodded to.


    Then bringing one of his palms in front of him which faced upwards, Blood Energy began to discharge from that hand. And since he did not make it pass through those special circulation routes that usually, mysteriously imbued them with fierceness and a domineering, exceptional power like they were the ancient meridians of ancestral, godly power, the Blood Energy that erupted from that palm totally lacked that superiority and shocking ferociousness that it previously possessed when he fought those disciples from those sects that gathered at the Town''s Center for a friendly competition.


    The energy definitely seemed like a gentle and normal energy that should be possessed by someone at Xiao Lin''s cultivation stage. However, within that calmness and docility that it portrayed, was a strongly overbearing power waiting to be unleashed, as it was an energy that was cultivated using an extremely rare, superior-rank, empyrean-grade cultivation art. So, it definitely won''t be a normal energy.


    "Hmm. Alright. You can stop." Swordcloud said after being thoroughly convinced by the form of Xiao Lin''s energy.


    He then looked at Xiao Lin and said "Now that we won''t be able to get Master what he wants, he is going to be exceedingly furious at all of us."


    Then still looking at Xiao Lin with his cloudy eyes now narrowing, he said "But since master loves you very much due to reasons best known to both of you, you will be the one to help us out of this calamitous mess."


    "So, when we arrive before our master, and he asks us to produce the treasure that we went for, you will say that you were the one who allowed the treasure that he dearly wanted to go missing. Then if he asks you how, you will say that you foolishly got in our paths and allowed us to get injured by the guards, who then quickly left with the broken treasure before the government officers would arrive at that spot due to the loud explosions resulting from the collisions of our Spiritual Energy attacks."


    Then wrinkling his two brows as he gazed at Xiao Lin with unconcealed murderous intent appearing in his narrowed, cloudy eyes, he asked "Am I clear?"


    Xiao Lin shook his head, in defiance!


    "No. I can''t do what you just told me. And I am not sorry about it." Xiao Lin said with unbending resoluteness in his voice.


    "Then you would want to die." Swordcloud threatened with his voice sounding like that of an aggrieved beast.


    "Then how would you explain to Master what really happened to me, who Master seemingly cherishes the most among my colleagues, and then the disappearance of the item that he wants?" Xiao Lin boldly asked, despite the fact that he was beginning to perceive the aura of slaughter beginning to exude from his senior colleagues who adopted arrogant expertly poses before him.


    Hahaha!


    Swordcloud laughed in a raucous manner.


    "That''s why you will be the one to do this for us, brat. And this is something that you can''t refuse to do, or you will die a kind of death that you won''t really know how you died." Swordcloud said with anger and killing intent in his tone.


    He then asked again with a threatening and commanding tone in his voice this time "Now, I will ask again, will you do this for us? And don''t you dare say no!"

 Chapter 71 - Exposed?

    Xiao Lin only looked at him and said with a heavy exhale "Break me or cut me, I will never do what you asked me to do."


    Pah!


    Immediately he said that, a slap so heavy that could instantly kill a mortal landed in his face, causing Xiao Lin to be shoved away from where he stood and to a pretty far distance.


    By the time he could really stand back to his feet as he had a tough skin which only sustained a slight injury from that heavy slap, which actually immediately healed, Swordcloud appeared before him in the next instant and threw a heavy punch in his face, causing Xiao Lin''s nose to be immediately battered which then began to bleed profusely before the cuts that it sustained from that strike immediately healing, causing the bleeding to stop.


    Then grabbing Xiao Lin by the neck, he asked "Will you now do what I asked you to do?"


    "Never!" Xiao Lin managed to say despite the heavy clutch of his neck which made him feel like he was heavily suffocating.


    Huuuuuu!


    Swordcloud who felt totally frustrated, exhaled heavily and then actually, violently flung Xiao Lin headfirst towards one of the numerous large trees in the forest.


    BANG!


    Crack!


    The tree instantly cracked in numerous places because of Xiao Lin''s head which impacted it hard with a lot of force. Then because of the many cracks that had appeared in it structure, the tree started to bend forward till it gave out several loud cracking sounds and then fell to the ground with immense force just beside Xiao Lin''s body.


    "Why the hell would you hurl him at that tree? I hope you haven''t killed him now you short-tempered moron." one of them there who was named Jade Destiny said with utter displease in his tone.


    He then rushed to where Xiao Lin''s body was to see if he was still alive.


    Then when he got there, he saw that Xiao Lin''s head was already healing from the injuries that he sustained from that heavy smash of his head first into that large tree.


    Immediately he saw this, he couldn''t help but be surprised.


    "What?!"


    "Regenerating without Spiritual Healing pills? How''s that even possible?" Jade Destiny asked.


    Xiao Lin who saw that Jade Destiny had arrived before him and was seeing his body''s unusually fast recovery speed, quickly tried standing to his feet before Jade Destiny could really see more than that and finally confirm that his mortal body could actually heal incredibly fast on it own, which was something impossible to exhibit until someone''s mortal body turned immortal or possessed some form of inborn, divinely majestic physique.


    However, once he thought of standing, his body levitated itself from the ground to make him stand firmly back on his feet.


    "What the hell?" Jade Destiny''s eyes brightly shone more with intense shock and puzzlement totally evident in them.


    He then quickly stood to his feet too to continue to look at Xiao Lin with great weirdness in his eyes, as he couldn''t really understand how Xiao Lin could stand back to his feet in such a mystifying manner.


    The way that Xiao Lin stood back to his feet simply baffled him that he couldn''t help but replay the whole thing in his head many times over very quickly.


    The others including Swordcloud who were looking at Xiao Lin''s body at some feet away saw how his body raised itself back to stand on the ground directly from his lying position on the ground without using his arms.


    "What sort of sorcery is this?" Swordcloud asked with great astonishment in his tone.


    Same with the others who asked the same totally puzzled questions in their minds.


    Xiao Lin who saw that his unique way of standing back to his feet had been exposed, quickly said to them with totally concealed horror in his tone, since if he appeared to be too frightened about it, they might greatly suspect that something else was different about him, that he wasn''t really what he was. They might start to look at him as some demon or particular creature that could actually take human form totally. Then once they start looking at him differently, as in that manner, then they might begin to ask him all sorts of questions that would definitely cause him to implicate himself more.


    "Why are my seniors looking at me this weirdly, it''s just a standing technique from a particular movement art that I studied. It''s nothing too great to be actually stunned about." Xiao Lin said with hidden fear and anxiousness in his tone.


    Then so that they won''t ask him to produce the manual or scroll that he learnt such a stunning, spectacular move from, he quickly, unexpectedly said with an unhappy expression appearing in his sickly-pale face, "I will tell Master that I was the one that caused us to lose that item that he wanted."


    "I will say that I got in your paths because I was trying to also engage in the intense battle, as I had the intention of further developing myself, which then caused you guys harm because you wanted to protect me from the danger that I had suddenly thrown myself into. So, because of that, you all suffered powerful attacks that struck you at different areas of your body while trying to deflect them, which then caused you guys to be injured, and the several guards of the treasure immediately running off with the treasure that they were trying to protect." Xiao Lin said and looked at them, seriously hoping that he was able to divert their minds away from what they all witnessed earlier.


    And fortunately for him, it worked!


    Swordcloud gave a heavy sigh of relief with a brilliant smile appearing in his face. He felt so unburdened like he was actually, previously carrying the entire world on his small heart. And since it was because of it that he started hitting Xiao Lin so as to force him to change his mind and agree to his request, he only ignored what happened earlier for now, but would definitely revisit it later.


    With that smile of relief disappearing from his face, he said to Xiao Lin with a serious gaze surfacing in his eyes "Good! Now, let''s return so that we can quickly report to our master before any of our colleague will come out and find out about the mess that you stubborn brat caused here"


    Xiao Lin only turned around and began to walk towards the center of the Blackheart forest where the castle was located.


    But as he did so, his mind was seething with rage!


    Now, he had to try his best to push his cultivation base up to the Mortal Spiritual stage so that he won''t be too helpless and powerless before any Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator. And one thing that now struck rampantly like thunder within the far depth of his mind was to grow strong very fast and find clean, untraceable ways to kill Jade Destiny, Swordcloud and the others before the perplexing strangeness about him would get out and reach everyone in the castle, which included Nine Calamities who would cause great problems for him and his ambition in future.

 Chapter 72 - Learning About The Treasure

    When they arrived before the large castle, they met bandits outside who were training hard with weapons as they hacked and slashed out with them at imaginary opponents.


    Xiao Lin only nodded at them as they practiced and went through the castle''s passageway so that he could go to Nine Calamities''s room. Then following behind him were Jade Destiny, Swordcloud and the remaining few who went for the mission who were looking at him strangely.


    Xiao Lin could feel strange gazes at his back, however he maintained his composure like he wasn''t sensing anything.


    When they eventually arrived at Nine Calamities''s room, Nine Calamities who could already sense them at his door due to his powerful hearing because of his cultivation stage said that they should come in.


    When they went in, Nine Calamities asked "So, how did the mission go? Were you guys able to obtain the treasure that I sent you to snatch from the people transporting the treasure in that street?"


    Swordcloud, Jade Destiny and the rest directed their gazes at Xiao Lin once that question was asked, while Xiao Lin who felt their strong compelling gazes in his body said, "Actually Master, we lost the treasure. We weren''t able to maintain it"


    Nine Calamities looked at Xiao Lin and then said "Why should you be the one to talk? I wasn''t talking to you, I was talking to your seniors. It''s them that I sent for the mission and you only as an assistance. So, why should you be the one to report about the mission''s success or failure to me?"


    Then directing his gaze away from Xiao Lin and towards both Swordcloud and Jade Destiny, he asked with his brows furrowed and his face turning red from excessive anger "So, what really happened? How were you guys unable to fulfill such a small mission?"


    Swordcloud and Jade Destiny who were facing down with unsightly expressions in their faces, raised their heads to look at Xiao Lin, giving him the gazes that he should do what they demanded of him.


    Xiao Lin then looked at Nine Calamities and said "Actually master, I am the one responsible for the treasure that my seniors couldn''t snatch from those treasure guards that were assigned to protect the carriage transporting it down here."


    He then said further with a false sad and fake remorseful expression in his face "I am really sorry, Master. If you ever assign me on this kind of mission again, such wouldn''t happen. I promise."


    When Xiao Lin said all that, Nine Calamities looked at him with an angry expression in his face and asked "But Bloodfang, why would you do that? I didn''t ever think that you would be that stupid. But now, you have made me highly disappointed in you. I am really disgraced and embarrassed by the lamebrain actions that you took."


    Xiao Lin looked down and said "I am sorry, Master. Such wouldn''t ever happen again"


    Nine Calamities then exhaled. Then he looked from Xiao Lin at Jade Destiny and the rest.


    "You all can leave, I want to speak to Bloodfang alone." He said.


    Once he said that, Jade Destiny and the rest nodded their heads. Then they left Nine Calamities''s room. But as they did that, they looked at Xiao Lin with an indescribable gaze in their eyes.


    When they all left and finally closed the door behind them and then moved to their various rooms, Nine Calamities looked at Xiao Lin and asked "But Bloodfang, I never expected you to carry out such an airbrain action. Now, because of your shaming actions, I have lost that wonderful treasure."


    Xiao Lin who had no idea about what the treasure that he stole was, and felt that he could cunningly extract some information about it from his Nine Calamities, looked at Nine Calamities in the face with a false regretful gaze in his eyes, and then asked with a voice that no sense of curiosity would be detected in it "But Master, what treasure is that exactly, since it could cause you to feel so down because of our inability at hijacking it?"


    "Hmm. Well, since you want to know that, I will tell you, as there should be no harm in doing that."


    "Now, it''s a treasure that was believed to have come from anyone of those higher continents that lie tens of millions of miles away from here. Then if you ask me what particular treasure it is, it''s a treasure that should form a larger part of a powerful shield used by a cultivator called The Heavenly Basher."


    "He was the ancient treasure-forger of a towering, rectangular-shaped, ruby and violet-colored ancestral shield that was believed to discharge visible, tremendously powerful waves of a brilliant and resplendent Spiritual Power that could actually turn the air, and even the water of the rivers, seas and oceans into highly destructive elemental forces that could seemingly shatter the infinitely vast Heavens, and the immense, boundless Earth itself." Nine Calamities said, causing Xiao Lin''s mouth to open wide.


    ''Wow. What power!'' Xiao Lin said within himself.


    "But how come those measly-staged cultivators are able to transport it down here without any of those fearsome experts that reside in those major continents demand for it?" He asked.


    "Well, the shield shattered apart when he was fighting a cultivator who was as powerful as him. So, ever since the shield shattered apart, it lost it power to infuse the air and the water and turn them into unmatchedly destructive elemental forces."


    "Therefore, since the pieces of shield had lost that imbuement power, they became garbage materials that any of the formidably powerful experts living in those higher continents wouldn''t want."


    "It''s simply like keeping trash with them, as not even small or insignificant pulses of Spiritual Power could be perceived emanating from anyone of them. And since these experts are always on the move to develop themselves so that they could become incomparable to any of their peers who are at their cultivation level, and then try to forge their own powerful and unparalleled treasures after learning and mastering unique treasure forging skills from lost ancient forging scrolls, they couldn''t be bothered at the slightest about ''dead'' fragments of a treasure that was used tens of millions of years before them."


    "And so, that was how one piece of that shield could be transported down here. If not, it would only be a dream to any of us."

 Chapter 73 - Taking A Punishment

    ''Wow!'' Xiao Lin uttered within.


    Still looking at Nine Calamities, he asked "So Master, why do you really want it, since it could be totally useless to you?"


    "Well, I wanted that one piece which I was informed about to create a treasure in the form of a sword."


    "I had the intention of creating a heavy, broad sword using that piece as a base. You know, make the sword possess some near-indestructible properties which I believe would be gained from the shield''s piece that would be used as a base for the forging of the sword."


    "So, you should fully understand by now that I am not after it rumored, legendary power to infuse the air and water with an archaic type of Spiritual Power that will cause them to become extraordinarily chaotic and terribly devastating elemental forces, but it special hardness and incredible toughness that would make my sword become an extremely invincible sword that will effortlessly cut or cleave apart all other swords and any long, sharp-edged instrument of death that it will come into contact with" Nine Calamities said.


    He then continued "However, I don''t have the type of flame to melt the piece which comprises part of that powerful shield which has been around for so long and couldn''t be affected in the slightest by the powerful weathering forces of nature since unfathomable eons of years ago. Also, I don''t yet possess the means to forge the molten piece of that shield into a base for my heavy, broadsword."


    "However, I just want to have it so that as I grow in my cultivation of Spiritual Energy with the intention of reaching the peak of sovereignty power, I may come across a special type of flame anytime in my journey which might help me turn the piece of that shield from it seemingly indestructible solid form into a molten liquid form. And when I am eventually able to obtain a special, secret forging technique or method in my journey to become fiercely powerful, I will be able to forge the molten piece along with many fragments of other powerful materials into whatever weapon or artifact that I like. But, your chucklehead actions have caused me a great, unspeakable lost."


    "Oh. I understand now, Master." Xiao Lin quickly said.


    Then entering into a full bow, he said "I am sorry for the great loss that I caused you, Master. If I knew that the item was this important to you, I wouldn''t have acted so recklessly"


    Xiao Lin said that, but with an intention building up in his mind.


    He then asked after straightening himself back "Can I take my leave now?"


    "Yes, you can. But before you go, I have to punish you." Nine Calamities said with a cold glint appearing in his eyes.


    Then before Xiao Lin who was in front of him could say or do anything, Nine Calamities suddenly directed a palm at Xiao Lin''s chest which struck him with a lot of force that actually shoved him across the room, and then really hard against the wall of the room that was many feet away from where he stood.


    BANG!!!


    A loud bang sound rang out as Xiao Lin collided into that wall with a large amount of force, which then caused many of his ribs to displace from their initial locations, and with blood spurting out of his mouth continuously


    And, immediately he impacted the wall, numerous cracks began to appear in it structure which then extended towards the other walls of the room.


    However, Xiao Lin didn''t become instantly annihilated as Nine Calamities struck him with a slight amount of shoving force. If he had applied more power than that, there was no telling if Xiao Lin could burst into a mist of blood upon being struck by his powerful palm.


    "Now, get out of my room!" Nine Calamities barked.


    Xiao Lin whose vision was now completely blurry, and couldn''t help but continuously cough out blood as his blood churned violently within his body, struggled really hard to get back to his feet.


    And, as he tried to do so despite the intense aching pain that he was feeling in his head, he abruptly nodded to what Nine Calamities said and tried to find his way to the door of the room so that he might quickly leave before Nine Calamities would leave where he was and walk towards him to unleash more hard hits on him.


    After coming out, with his vision now starting to restore itself, and his blood starting to calm within his body, he could make out some of the expressions in the faces of his colleagues that he met on his way. And from the expressions hung in their faces which he saw in his restoring blurred vision, he could notice that they were looking at him with utter disdain and disgust.


    He knew that they would have heard what really happened from the others, which then caused them to begin to look at him in that manner. However, he only ignored their contemptible expressions and sought the way to his room.


    Immediately when he arrived at his room and entered, and then closed the door behind him, his vision started to fully recover, same with his seething blood as the strong churning that it experienced began to subside.


    Then he quickly sat in the cross-legged position on the ground so that he could quickly recover.


    With his eyes tightly closed and his mind completely shut away from all forms of worries or distractions, he began to practice deep breathing exercises.


    Not long, his vision fully recovered while the roiling effect experienced by his blood from that heavy strike stopped.


    He then opened his eyes some minutes later with intense anger appearing in them.


    "Moron, you don''t know anything. I will come for your head soon." He said with blazing fury in his heart.


    He then produced the shield''s piece that he took from that carriage to look observantly at it.


    At the moment, he was wondering if he could activate the extreme offensive power that it possesses, and even use it to block numerous powerful attacks from the large numbers of enemies that he would make soon.


    But as he looked at it and felt it with his cold hands, he arrived at a thought that truly, it was the small, solid piece of that immense, violet and ruby-colored shield that shattered apart into many places from that colossally powerful hit that it suffered from the strong enemy of The Heavenly Basher.


    But not long as he allowed his fingers to rub against the smooth surface of the dual-colored shield piece, he suddenly heard the voice of his Animal Spirit ring in his head, saying "The power to block everything in the Heavens and then turn the air into boundlessly raging, shredding and gashing cyclones, and the water of both the seas and oceans into an incomparably destructive tsunami, still resides within this item in your hands."


    "However this particular power is deeply slumbering, awaiting it ancestral master to make it whole again. But don''t worry too much, I think we can both do something to awaken this terrific, apocalyptic power."

 Chapter 74 - Asking For Permission

    Immediately his Animal Spirit said that, Xiao Lin''s eyes shone with shock.


    "Really?" He asked with a deep surprise in his tone.


    "Yes." His Animal Spirit replied.


    "Nice! So, what do I do?" Xiao Lin immediately questioned.


    "Well, we can''t try to do that here, as I am not sure if it would release pulses of power that will alarm everyone. So, when you are alone in some deserted or desolate place, we can try to awaken the little power that it possesses." His Animal Spirit replied.


    "Oh, okay" Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further "I guess I would have to find a place soon so that we can try to awaken the power that it possesses."


    He then kept the piece back into his spatial ring.


    Once he did so, he closed his eyes to start cultivation of his Spiritual Energy.


    Now, he felt greatly intimidated by the presences of Jade Destiny, Swordcloud and the rest of the people that went for the mission. Now that they had identified that something strange and incomprehensible was going on within and around him, it was only a matter of time before they come to meet him to ask for explanations.


    "Even if I can''t take my Blood Energy, Hermetic Demonic Energy and Paragon Werewolf Origin Energy to the next stage of their respective cultivation, I can at least try to make my Cultivation Base step into the Mortal Spiritual stage. Then my other energies which I can imbue into my Spiritual Energy, should slightly increase the destructive power of my Spiritual Energy to an extent." Xiao Lin said.


    Then with his perturbing fear of Swordcloud and Jade Destiny stiffening his resolve to become stronger in time so that he could have the strength to kill them when he creates an opportunity for himself to do so in the nearest future, he abruptly produced large amounts of Spiritual Cultivation Resources from the spatial rings of the disciples that he slaughtered at the Town''s Center, then from the rings of those three Treasure Guards whom he slayed.


    Once the resources which were in form of flowers, herbs, slender stems, leaves, etc appeared as large heaps in front of him, he began to take them randomly and throw into his mouth. And as he did so and swallowed them down immediately after he chewed them to the smallest bits, they turned into Spiritual Energy when they reached his stomach, which then evolved out of his stomach and moved into his dantian upon total guidance by Xiao Lin.


    Then using the Spiritual Refinement Conversion technique from the Primordial Heretic Force spiritual cultivation art, he was able to transform the energy released from those herbs and leaves and so on into his usual, dark-colored Spiritual Energy.


    And this he did till night then till the next morning. But despite the large amounts of Spiritual Cultivation Resources that he consumed, he couldn''t break through into the 10th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    "Ugh!" Xiao Lin uttered.


    But he wasn''t deterred by this. So, he continued to cultivate with hope that no one would come to disturb him or request for him.


    And luckily for him, no one came to call him. However, even as he cultivated, he could feel that the atmosphere wasn''t right. It was becoming somewhat intense for him. But he didn''t let that stop his cultivation as he pushed on with a steely resolve in his heart.


    After cultivating till evening, he could suddenly feel that he was closer to the 10th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage. Then with a victorious smile appearing in his face, he continued to cultivate.


    At this time, he had nearly exhausted all the Spiritual Cultivation Resources that he took from those disciples that he murdered.


    Xiao Lin who was totally aware about this, couldn''t help but shake his head in dismay.


    He had understood sometime during his cultivation that the resources which he took from those disciples that he killed wouldn''t be able to really support the cultivation of his dark-colored Spiritual Energy anymore. They were too low in quality to bring about a significant growth in his Spiritual Energy that he was cultivating using a perfected, supreme hegemonic art that belonged to one of the strongest cultivators in the cultivation universe.


    "I guess that I would have to steal from higher-ranking cultivators if I want to advance the progress of my Spiritual Energy cultivation. But I am still too weak to be able to do such a thing. I could be instantly eliminated on the spot with a single, slight strike from them if I got caught. The only way to advance the cultivation of my Spiritual Energy is to fight for resources with others at legacy grounds."


    "At least, many experts at stages above the Spiritual Firmament stage would have died in the past, with that place that they died in becoming their legacy grounds. So, if I can get or discover places like that, then I should be able to get resources from there which would definitely advance my cultivation progress."


    "Yes, that''s what I am going to do. Also, it would give me time to stay away from this place and cultivate in peace without this disturbing, intense atmosphere hanging above me. Then when I eventually break through using Spiritual Cultivation Resources that I find there, and then advance my growth to a significant stage, I will come for these fools who think they are strong. And who knows, I might come across some things there which would support me in my cultivation of Blood Energy or Hermetic Demonic Energy."


    When Xiao Lin thought all these, he stood from his feet to leave his room.


    Once he came out, he headed straight for Nine Calamities''s room.


    Immediately he arrived there, Nine Calamities who had a powerful sense because of his cultivation stage, asked him to come in.


    "What do you want now, Bloodfang?" He asked with his brows furrowed.


    "Master, I want your permission to journey into different towns in the city to search for legacy grounds that would have resources that will help my growth."


    "I have reflected over what I did, and I have come to a realization that what I need is more power. I want to become very strong so that I can help you achieve every missions or tasks that you will send me out for in the nearest future. Also, I can bring back rare resources and powerful treasures for you"


    "So, I hope that Master won''t deny my request, but instead grant me." Xiao Lin said with sincerity in his tone and then took a full bow.

 Chapter 75 - Fighting Wild Beasts I

    "Hmm" Nine Calamities uttered.


    He then asked with one of his brows furrowed "So, how do you want to go about this particular task that you have set for yourself to grow stronger?"


    "Well, I will try to listen for the appearance of legacy grounds in the different towns in the city which I will journey to. And Master need not be concerned about my welfare. I am a bandit, so I can use my banditry skills to steal or robs items from others which I will use to cater for myself." Xiao Lin said while Nine Calamities laughed lightly.


    "Alright. If that''s what you have set your heart to do, I will not stop you. However, I will warn you that you should be careful out there. Do not foolishly get into fight that you can''t win. And if you notice that the atmosphere in a particular place that you have arrived at feels odd or strange, immediately leave those places. Then finally, do not engage in things or activities that will expose or reveal you as a bandit to anyone out there." Nine Calamities said.


    Once Nine Calamities said that, he said "You can go."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then took a bow.


    Immediately he did that, he straightened himself and turned around to walk away.


    When he came out of the door, he didn''t bother going to his room since he had nothing to pack in there. And since it was already night, he went straight to the castle''s gate to leave the castle and go back to the town.


    After walking for a very long time, he eventually came out of the enormous Blackheart forest where the castle was located and appeared in a particular street in the town.


    Immediately he arrived there, he quickly headed for a place where he would rent an inn to stay for the night. It was going late and the Nightwatch government officers could appear soon. So, he had to quickly leave the street before they would arrive.


    When he rented a small inn to stay for the night, he closed his eyes to begin to go through numerous, advanced Battle Methods in the various Spiritual Battle Arts branded to his memory so that he could comprehend them more before practicing them out there whenever he had the chance. Besides, he was doing this so that he could thoroughly mentally master them before physically practicing them so that he would be able to utilize them smoothly and proficiently whenever he was engaged in a tough battle.


    After many hours of comprehension from night till morning, which he continued till evening, precisely 6pm, his eyes suddenly snapped open. Then he stood to his feet from his cross-legged position to leave the room that he rented for just two nights.


    Once he came out of the inn, he headed straight for the place where he would get a carriage that would take him out of the town and towards other towns.


    ...


    "There is no carriage going to any other town at the moment. Maybe you will have to wait till tomorrow for the carriages to return." A man that Xiao Lin met there said to him.


    "Okay" Xiao Lin said in a rather unhappy tone.


    So, he was still stuck here in this town. And he could guess the cause of this, which was because he was just coming out in the evening to ask about carriages going to another town when the massive, long-distance carriages would have left since morning to cover the large distances between this town and other towns and then return at night to move again in the morning.


    ''What do I do? Would I have to stay here again in this town till tomorrow morning? Even if I do, I won''t be able to come out in the morning as the sun would be up already. Ugh!''


    ''I need to get a sunlight-chasing or sun-shielding ring if they truly exist. And if they don''t, I can master the art of Treasure Forging where I will forge my own sun-blocking rings and other special treasures for myself. But I am still really far from that level, as only ancient and venerable, forging cultivators would be able to accomplish that. Damn it!''


    ''Anyways, I guess I can only keep hiding from the sun by all means till I get to that stage.''


    When he was done thinking which happened in almost in an instant due to his fast thinking speed, he looked at the man in front of him and said "Thanks!"


    "Don''t mention." The man replied with a smile.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then turned around to walk away from this place.


    And as he did so, he started to think of other means by which he could leave this town this evening. He just needed to leave here. He didn''t want to stay another day in this town, as it has become somewhat dull and boring to him.


    But, not long after thinking really hard, he was able to arrive at one.


    Then with a nod of his head, he set out to do it.


    "Blood Wolf God, do I have any supernatural abilities at the moment that you want me to discover myself?" He asked with a burning hope in his heart.


    "Well, yes. You have your vampire abilities with you. You acquired them when you became reborn as a vampire." His Animal Spirit said.


    "Hmm. Then why is that you never told me till now. If I didn''t ask you, I would be kept in the thick dark about it." Xiao Lin stated, blaming his Animal Spirit.


    "Well, I could have told you about them, but I decided not to in the end as I didn''t want you to rely too much on some of them that are available to you at the moment."


    "Actually, what I wanted is that your battle skills, prowess and your proficiency in my master''s art and the Demonic Blade King art which are more paramount, increases to levels where you will be able to dominate opponents that appear to be exceedingly stronger and powerful than you. But anyways, I am sorry for hiding that from you. I won''t try to hide anything very important to you next time." His Blood Wolf God said.


    Huuuu!


    Xiao Lin inhaled deeply.


    "Alright. I am not angry at you." He said.


    He then continued "So, what are the abilities available to me at the moment?"

 Chapter 76 - Fighting Wild Beasts II

    "Well, just three of them. And these are Puppet Control, Mind Compulsion gaze and the Pain Infliction stare." His Animal Spirit said.


    "Oh, I like the sound of that. So, what are their functions, and how do I bring them up?" Xiao Lin quickly asked delightedly.


    "Well, for the puppet control, you have to establish Bloodlink with them. This means that you have to find a way to make your blood get into their system. Therefore, once your blood goes into their systems, you will have established what is called a Bloodlink with them. So, with it, you can control them like actual puppets. They won''t have their own reasoning, except to take every form of orders from you, regardless of the difficulty."


    "Then for the Mind Compulsion gaze and Pain Infliction stare. These are eye contact-based powers. So, for the Mind Compulsion gaze, Only until you establish an eye connection with another person would you be able to force their minds to do things for you. But they would have their own reasoning and thinking faculty, which is totally unlike Puppet Control where they basically lose their minds and behave like actual puppets."


    "And as for Pain Infliction gaze, which also needs an eye connection, you can cause severe and unbearable pains to people that you have established eye contact with."


    "But, keep in mind that these abilities can grow to become proximity or ranged abilities. They aren''t fixed on eye connection alone. So, anyone or anything standing around you for some feet or meters will experience any of these powers when you decide to unleash them." His Animal Spirit said.


    "Wow! That''s great." Xiao Lin said happily.


    "However, any of these won''t work on humans, even imbeciles at the moment." His Animal Spirit suddenly said, ruining his delight.


    "And why is that?" Xiao Lin asked.


    "Because you are still too weak to use them on humans." His Battle Beast Spirit responded.


    "Wow! So what can I really use them on, nothing at all? Ugh! Then what''s the point of telling me all these, since they are basically useless to me at the moment? You could have told me all these later, like when they have grown and gotten stronger" Xiao Lin said in a slightly angry tone.


    "Well, you asked me to tell you about it. However, they aren''t totally useless. You can use them to control wild land beasts. Like now that you need to leave this town to other towns, you can exert an absolute mind influence over any land beast that you meet in the wilderness and make them take you to a town that you want." His Animal Spirit said.


    Once the Blood Wolf God said that, Xiao Lin''s eyes shone with with a light of understanding. Then with a delighted nod of his head, he set out towards the outskirts of the town which was basically the wilderness where he would come across a wild beast that he would mind compel so that it can take him to other neighboring towns.


    But after walking for about 4 hours, in which time became 10pm, he was only able to cover a small part of the town. Then with a dejected look appearing in his face after he realized this, he decided to sit under the shade of a particular locked store.


    But it was not that he was tired and wanted to rest, as he had a type of insane stamina that was far above that of even the strongest enduring mortals, he only wanted to think for sometime before continuing his very long walking journey this night.


    Then after thinking for sometime more, he stood to his feet in the next instant and decided to use his numerous powerful Movement Skills all at once which he expertly combined with his bestowed Super Speed ability to quickly arrive at the town''s distant outskirts. Then coupled with his unmatched and incomparably fast Evasion Skills which he abruptly employed at different points in time, and which acted as a tremendous boost to the immensely shocking speed that he was moving at for his cultivation stage, he was able to arrive at the town''s outskirts which was really far away before 2am.


    But at the moment, Xiao Lin looked much more pale than usual. And this was because he had used almost all of his unique, dark-colored Spiritual Energy, his Hermetic Demonic Energy and Blood Energy in powering those first-level, empyrean-grade Movement Skills that he employed.


    And as he continued to move at an astounding speed in this wilderness, Xiao Lin didn''t put on his powerful hearing ability to listen to sounds that may be suddenly approaching him from far.


    However, he did this because he didn''t care if anyone would be following behind him as he was completely focused on achieving one goal - which was to go to the deeper parts of the wilderness where he would find a bigger and stronger wild land beast that he could mind compel to take him to another town this night, as all the ones that he saw absolutely failed to strike very little of his interest.


    But unknowing to him, someone was following far behind him. But when the person who was actually a Government officer and was of course a Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator, realized in the next moment where Xiao Lin was heading to, his eyes couldn''t help but shine with great shock, strangeness and perplexity in them.


    ''Is this person on a suicidal mission? Hmm. Anyways, I am out of here'' The person said and quickly turned around to leave this place.


    ...


    As Xiao Lin continued to move at a really high speed towards the deeper part of the town''s outskirts that was really vast in size, and had some areas that had towering, massive rocks that protruded from the ground, some places which were totally bare and dry like it was a sandy desert, and some other areas having from short, dying grasses to astonishingly tall, luxuriant and vibrant trees, he eventually arrived there.


    Huuuuu!


    Xiao Lin stopped running and inhaled deeply when he arrived at this part of the town.


    However, before he could take his time to relax and regain bits of his almost fully expended energies, he suddenly heard the raging roars of furious wild beasts that resided at this part of the wilderness.


    Xiao Lin then shook his head in deep shock and puzzlement immediately after the heart-wrenching, thundering wrathful roars rang out.


    Now, he had very little profound energies to fight the massive wild beasts that would be emerging soon from their dwelling places which could either be from tremendously huge and deep holes in the ground in this area, or from burrowed cavities in the numerous, immense rocks that seemed to want to connect to the sky, and weren''t actually mountains.


    Although he knew that he had an incredibly tough body that could only be damaged or shattered apart by powerful, Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators, he still had to be careful as he felt that many of the beasts that resided here could actually have the power to tear him apart. He had quickly thought that dozens of the beasts found here could actually possess the capabilities to go one on one with low-level, Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators. So, after he swiftly contemplated all these, he became extremely cautious


    He then quickly recalled the Awakening Doom blade to his hand before the beasts would emerge and raged towards him to destroy him for boldly coming down here.


    As soon as he did so, immense eyes that brilliantly glowed in the darkness and had figures that the thick darkness at this particular time of the night couldn''t really hide, began to emerge from where they resided at.


    And with low deep growls that continuously gave Xiao Lin great chills which traveled down his spine and to the rest of his body, they suddenly shot out with rage and frenzy in their large glowing eyes towards him.


    ......................


    AUTHORS NOTE:


    _


    Hello, dear readers.


    I am back.


    Sorry for the long delay in posting of chapters. I am really sorry. I got caught up with a lot of things, but I will start posting daily from now.


    Also, I have something to announce to you guys. I know that some of you will not like it, but I have to.


    The Announcement goes thus;


    ''Editors will be locking this book from Chp 66 on Thursday, 29th of this month at around 12:00 (GMT +8)''.


    I am really sorry for this action, but I just have to ¡ª I have to go premium because of the Spirity competition taking place, or I will lose out of it, since they will only consider locked books, according to what my editor told me.


    So, for those affected, I am really sorry. I really do. If you can''t continue reading, you can vote with your Powerstones to get fast passes to unlock chapters.


    Then for those of you that will like to support me by becoming paid subscribers to my content, I say Thank You very much! And I promise to do my absolute best to give you a story that will want you asking for more.


    I do hope that you guys would support me. :) Thank you and have a great time out there. Stay safe!

 Chapter 77 - Fighting Wild Beasts III

    ROARRR!!


    One of them roared and suddenly jumped into the air towards Xiao Lin, who then abruptly slid with his two knees under that beast that had unexpectedly leapt towards him with the intention of evading it.


    Once his knee-sliding motion stopped after a few feet, he quickly stood back to his feet and immediately turned around to face the beast that had leapt towards him. Then quickly packing power into his legs, he leaped straight towards that beast that stood many feet away.


    Then grabbing the Awakening Doom blade by the handle with both hands in mid-air, he hurled it straight at the beast with a furious shout. However, the beast simply opened it jaw where it was and caught the blade that was thrown at it with it massive jaws.


    Clank!


    This particular sound immediately rang out when the blade got caught between the upper and lower jaws of the wild beast that suddenly snapped them close upon the blade reaching it position.


    Xiao Lin saw that the beast had seized his blade. However, he didn''t fret about it. So, with just a small focus, the blade vanished from the jaws of the beast and reappeared in his hand.


    The beast saw what had happened and raged to the sky. Then suddenly, it shot towards Xiao Lin again. And as it did so, the other beasts who were watching what happened, also shot out towards Xiao Lin to be the first to seize him and tear him apart with their jaws.


    Seeing that he needed to break out of this envelopment or things might get awry for him in the next moment, Xiao Lin decided to use the rest of the Blood Energy in his dantian which was really tiny in amount to come out of the huge circle of beasts that was quickly closing in on him.


    So, using the Blood Dragon Flash escape skill from the Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash Evasion Techniques, a faint and blurry, blood-red Dragon suddenly appeared around him, enclosing his figure.


    SWOOSH!!


    Like a ghost, he rapidly vanished away from their incoming presences and appeared far away.


    Immediately he appeared at another spot at the deeper part of the wilderness, Xiao Lin took a deep breath and recalled the Sorrowful Sea blade in his dantian to his hands.


    The immense wild beasts who saw that Xiao Lin had vanished from their midsts and reappeared at a place that was faraway from where they stood, opened their jaws and roared to the sky with fury radiating off of their bloodcurdling roars.


    Then very quickly, they began to dash towards where he was with frenzy in their huge, glowing eyes. And as they ran in large numbers towards him from all directions, the solid earth below them couldn''t help but tremble intensely from their limbs that heavily stomped it.


    "Crazy beasts! You wouldn''t be this unbridled before me if I had all my profound battle energies intact. You are very fortunate for that. However, I will still end up slaying many of you and taking one that I will mind compel and force to give me a ride to the nearest town!" Xiao Lin said with anger in his voice when he saw that the wild beasts were beginning to dash towards him again, not giving him time to rest and think of what next to do.


    "I guess I can only slash my way to my goals then! But first, I need to fuse with my Animal Spirit for more strength" He said further.


    Then with a simple thought, his Blood Wolf God Animal Spirit immediately appeared behind him.


    Then releasing the two blades in his hands that beautifully shimmered in the moonlight that illuminated the entire area, which was the large stretch of wilderness, he quickly began to perform the Human-Spirit Beast Fusion finger gestures that Master Wu taught him back at the Floating Cloud sect.


    Once he was done, a sphere of blood-red light immediately expanded out from within his body, which then encompassed both him and his Animal Spirit that then began to shrink in the next instant.


    Then when it got to a stage where it was the same size as Xiao Lin, it turned into a ray of blood-red light that then shot towards Xiao Lin''s body, with the sphere which was there to facilitate the Fusion, abruptly fading away.


    Once the ray penetrated into his body, it caused it to rapidly transform, giving him an appearance that was similar to that of a werewolf. Also, he now looked towering and more bulky in this form, with light red and dark red furs covering some areas of his surprisingly tall body.


    Once he saw that he had changed, Xiao Lin quickly reached out for his blades which had stabbed deep into the earth when he released them from his grasp. So, when he reached out to reacquire them, he grasped them tightly by their handles as he prepared himself to lacerate even the gods themselves if they appeared before him.


    Then with a loud roar that was similar to that of the beasts, which caused surprises to appear in the massive eyes of the wild beasts that were a bit intelligent, Xiao Lin abruptly shot out towards them with an unbreakable resoluteness and a blazing determination in his eyes which shone like they were blood-red suns.


    And, since he had merged with his beasts which increased his physical attributes to a great degree, he was able to move at great speeds.


    Very quickly, he appeared before one of the beasts who simply opened it jaw to bite Xiao Lin from the waist.


    However, Xiao Lin dodged it powerful bite attack and leaped straight toward it head.


    Then when he got to where it head was, Xiao Lin viciously stabbed the blade deep into it head and then began to pull the blade along with him as he ran down to where the tail of the beast was.


    So, as he cut open the beast from the head, this resulted in blood and large amount of white tissues starting to spill out from the wide gash caused by one of the god-cutting blades that he wielded. And as he did so, the beast cried out very loud and began to wail in pain. It then began to twitch and move violently before it eventually collapsed to the ground dead.


    But before it could collapse to the ground dead, Xiao Lin who saw that he had caused enough damage, quickly did an aerial cartwheel from the back of the towering beast to the ground. Then immediately he landed, he shot straight towards another beast that was closer to him to also take it down.

 Chapter 78 - Fighting Wild Beasts IV

    Once he appeared before the beast that then quickly turned around to strike him with it huge, powerful muscular tail, Xiao Lin abruptly slashed out towards it with one of the blades in his hands, cleanly cutting of it tail.


    RAARGH!!!


    The beast abruptly screamed out in pain as it senses became flooded with sensations of pain.


    Once Xiao Lin cut off the tail of the beast, he dashed at a high speed towards one of it legs.


    Then with a furious swing of his blade at that particular leg, the leg was smoothly cut off with large amount of blood pouring out of it towards the ground.


    So, since it was now imbalanced, the wailing beast fell to it back with a loud bang, while a few other beasts that couldn''t leave it on side on time, also collapsed to the ground, under the tremendously heavy weight of the beast that smashed into them and knocked them really hard to the ground.


    Seeing that he had taken down a few beasts with a single slash, Xiao Lin produced a cold smile in his face. He then left the ones that were still alive alone for the meantime so that he could attend to the other beasts that were coming at him.


    He did this because their entire legs were buried under the massive bodies of other beasts that were also violently knocked to the ground. So, since they would have a hard time pulling out their legs and standing back to their feet, he left them to face other beasts. Then when he was done slaying other beasts, he would come back to slit their throat to totally kill them off.


    The other wild beasts roared and dashed towards Xiao Lin to bite him, however, he simply dodged their powerful, metal-crushing bites with the insanely high speed that he was tirelessly moving at.


    "I wish I can take down all of you with a damned single strike!" Xiao Lin said with fury in his heart.


    The beasts were only wasting his time with their pointless fights with him, and if he didn''t leave here on time, as the dozens of tremendous beasts that were found here continued to relentlessly attack him, he would have to stay in this place till the evening ¡ª when the bright scorching sun would have totally set.


    So, thinking of only this made him mad. He needed to do something now to quickly kill off the beast and hurry off before it would be too late, or he would have to spend sometime at a spot in this place that would be totally concealed from the sun, or he would simply burn to ashes.


    Then very quickly, he consulted his Animal Spirit as he continuously dodged the tremendously loud, biting attacks of the massive beasts that encircled him like he was their sole archenemy in all the layers of heaven and earth.


    "Blood Wolf God, what can I do to overwhelm and quickly destroy these puny beastly creatures?" He asked very quickly as he ran about in confusing patterns.


    "Use any of the blades in your hands. Like the Demonic Blade King once said, apart from opening those Gates or Seals compressed into the two blades to utilize the tremendous, catastrophic power of Sharpness and Desolation that they each possess, you can channel your own Spiritual Power into them." His Animal Spirit replied.


    "I know that too. But I don''t have any power of that sort to channel into the blades. I haven''t gotten to a stage where I can possess Spiritual Power" Xiao Lin hurriedly said.


    "No, you have. Just try to feel and listen. Listen to the undulating waves of my Spiritual Power flowing within your body."


    "Since we have fused, it''s right for you to detect the Spiritual Power that I possess coursing through your entire body. So, once you can do that, just try to guide the currents of my power towards your palms and channel them into the either or both of the blades that you wield" His Animal Spirit said.


    "Hmm. Alright. Then let me do that" Xiao Lin said.


    Then he unexpectedly shot far away from the encirclement of the rampaging, massive wild beasts.


    Once he appeared far away after moving at a high speed in a particular direction for a pretty long time, he stopped and closed his eyes to focus on the currents of Spiritual Power flowing within his body.


    And, ignoring the roars of the beasts as they shot towards him, he closed his eyes to totally focus on the waves of power that coursed about in his body.


    Immediately he could do so a few moments later, and in which the beasts were already close to where he stood so that he could totally concentrate on the strangeness within his body, his eyes suddenly snapped open, with delight appearing in them before it was replaced in the next instant by viciousness.


    A second later, the two blades that he wielded began to glow brightly as currents of the Spiritual Power that belonged to his Animal Spirit, began to flow into them without stop.


    Xiao Lin was actually infusing them with a lot of the Spiritual Power from his Battle Beast Spirit.


    Then as they glowed in dazzling silvery light which actually illuminated the place that he stood like they were massive lanterns, the blades began to produce humming sounds, seeming as if they had come alive. Then as they glowed and hummed at the same time, visible ripples of frightening sharpness began to endlessly emanate from the two blades held in his tight grasp.


    Feeling the power of sharpness that emitted unendingly from the blades in his hands, Xiao Lin gave another victorious but cold smile in his face.


    Although it wasn''t that powerful, as he had expected it to be, it was however powerful enough to cause great injuries to all the beast even if it couldn''t really kill them.


    Then very quickly, he began to slash out from where he stood with the blades in his hand at the incoming furious beasts in a somewhat dancing pattern.


    Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!...


    Numerous slash sounds began to ring out as Xiao Lin slashed out in the air with the glowing and humming blades held in his hands at the beasts approaching him where he stood. And anytime he did so, wide rays of brilliant, pure and dark silver-colored light that carried extreme sharpness, shot out from the blades towards the beasts, causing them to wail in pain as hundreds of deep gashes began to appear in their bodies.

 Chapter 79 - Mind-controlling A Beast

    Not long, the massive wild beasts that were dashing towards him stopped running and began to fall with their backs and bellies to the ground.


    At the moment, too many cuts and gashes could be seen on their bodies, which then resulted in their profuse bleeding.


    However, only one of the beasts was spared which still continued to run towards Xiao Lin to bite him into halves and gurgle him up.


    But before it could get to where Xiao Lin stood, Xiao Lin quickly looked at it in the eyes and tried to bring up the Mind Compulsion gaze ability that his Animal Spirit said that he possessed.


    So, as soon as he thought of using that ability, a strange purple pattern enclosed in a triangle swiftly appeared in his eyes. Then as soon as this pattern surfaced in his eyes, it also surprisingly appeared in the eyes of the beast.


    Once this happened, the beast began to roar angrily when it could perceive Xiao Lin''s invasion of it mind. However, it was too weak to be able to put up a struggle with the ability that Xiao Lin projected at it.


    But many minutes later after intense efforts to resist what Xiao Lin was trying to do to it, it eventually gave up and then lowered itself to the ground for Xiao Lin to climb to it back.


    At this point in time, Xiao Lin had fully conquered it mind, turning it into his absolute slave, before compelling it to lower itself to the ground so that he could climb up to it back.


    When the beast did so, Xiao Lin gave a delighted nod of his head.


    "This ability would definitely come in handy." He said with a smile appearing in his face.


    He then performed a gesture that canceled the fusion between him and his beast.


    So, immediately he did so, his Animal Spirit appeared beside him.


    But when Xiao Lin saw it appearance, he shook in fright.


    "Blood Wolf God, what''s wrong?" He asked very quickly in a concerned tone.


    "Well, you have almost used up my Spiritual Power. I will have to go into a slumber to recover some of it." His Animal Spirit replied.


    "Really? Wow! I am sorry about that. I thought it would be boundless, since you are a Spiritual Entity." Xiao Lin said.


    "Well, sadly, it''s not boundless. We Battle Beast Spirits can also run out out of it and become very weak like mortals or cultivators when they run out of the energies that they possess. So, for now, I need to enter into a slumber to regenerate my expended Spiritual Power." His Animal Spirit replied.


    "Hmm. Alright." Xiao Lin said to his Animal Spirit whose form was blurry and actually fluctuated between visible and invisible, seeming as if reality was being warped in this place, giving the feeling that one was in an illusion.


    Once he said that, his Animal Spirit vanished and reappeared in his body.


    Xiao Lin looked at the twin silver blades in his hand and said return.


    Immediately he did that, the blades vanished off his hands and materialized in his dantian.


    "I guess I am good to go now. It''s time to leave this wilderness" He said.


    He then turned his head to look at the beasts that laid on the ground a few feet before him and then shook his head.


    He had realized that although the damages, which were the deep cuts that they were inflicted with, wasn''t really enough to kill them. But because the cuts were large in numbers, which would actually caused their profuse bleeding, the beasts could bleed to their death if they didn''t recover on time.


    "Well, now that I have also learnt how to discharge rays of Spiritual Power using the blades as a conduits, I now have one more powerful battle card up my sleeve."


    "Although the skill is still weak to really cause death to my challengers, it should however be able to riddle them with many life-threatening injuries. Then if they don''t evade my rapid barrages of Spiritual Power attacks in time, they could actually die, just like the way the beasts here died." He said and then nodded his head.


    He then continued with a long face when he recalled something in the next instant "However, the skill is only to the detriment of my Animal Spirit. Once I am done borrowing it power to discharge attacks, my Animal Spirit would become weak that it would need to go into slumber to regenerate it spent power. Ugh! I wonder what we can do about that."


    However, once he said this, a thought flashed in his mind "But, would it possible for my Animal Spirit to feed on the Animal Spirits of others so that it can grow quickly in strength and power?"


    "I don''t know if this is possible, but I feel that it should. I will ask my Animal Spirit this when it wakes up. Right now, it needs to grow independently of me, not mutually."


    "Besides, it would be to my great advantage if my Animal Spirit can self-contend with cultivators high up in the Mortal Spiritual stage or above it, once it''s able to grow stronger at a rapid rate by consuming the Spiritual Essence or Power of the Spirit Animals of others." He said and nodded his head.


    He then exhaled and leaped towards the back of the beast under his absolute mind influence.


    Once he did so, the beast raised itself back to it feet and shot off towards a particular direction to leave the far depth of the wilderness that they were at.


    And as it ran, it caused to the ground to shake from the stomping of it limbs.


    Xiao Lin had spared this one because it looked bigger than than the others and should probably possess a higher endurance than them. Besides, from the massive size of it muscular limbs which also looked powerful, he felt that it should be able to cross massive distances very quickly.


    And his speculation was right, as the beast moved so fast under his total mind control that it could cover a hundred and twenty miles in half an hour. But, the only thing was that it caused a massive cloud of dust to begin to rise and float above them, and then the ground to shake intensely as it dashed out of the wilderness and into the wide road where large passenger carriages usually plied to head to the nearest town.

 Chapter 80 - Appearing In A New Town I

    About 5am in the morning, in which the massive beast moved at a great speed and without slowing down for once, they finally neared the town closest to the town that they left.


    Then so that he wouldn''t attract attention to himself because of the beast that he was riding on, which caused an immense cloud of dust to move up above them, and the ground to shake intensely, Xiao Lin jumped off the beast to the ground and mind-controlled it to return back to the wilderness that it came from.


    Once he did so, the beast who looked visibly fatigued, swiftly turned around and dashed back towards the wilderness under the mind influence of Xiao Lin.


    Although Xiao Lin was trying not to draw attention to himself by doing this, what he did was however seen by some people that stood at towers close to the massive entrance gate into the town.


    Then with their brows furrowed as deep puzzlement appeared in their faces, they jumped down from the high towers that they were on and walked towards the gate to come out of it and go meet Xiao Lin who was walking towards their Town''s entrance gate to probably go in.


    Just as they came out of the gate and began to walk towards him, Xiao Lin whose powerful hearing was now on, could hear the footsteps of about four people.


    He then exhaled heavily, when he thought that what he prevented anyone from seeing had been seen.


    When they appeared before him, Xiao Lin looked at them and then bowed with a reverent expression appearing in his face, as they were government officers at the 7th-layer and 8th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage.


    Then when he straightened himself, he said respectfully with his hands clasped, "I ask that officers allow me entry into this town."


    The government officers looked at him and said "Boy, we saw what you came with. You can mind-control beasts?"


    Xiao Lin who knew that what he did had long been seen by these officers, clasped his hand once again and said with reverence in his tone "Yes, officers. It''s true that I can mind-control beasts. But at the moment, I can only compel wild beasts to do my bidding."


    "Hmm. That''s great." One of them said.


    The officer then asked "So, what are you here to do in our town?"


    "I am here to explore the town. Also, I want to cultivate here for sometime before leaving to other towns to resume my cultivation. Officers can see me as a touring cultivator" Xiao Lin replied.


    "Hmm. That''s good. I guess you are not affiliated with any organization or establishment since you are here alone, as a traveling cultivator, right?" One of the officer asked with one of his brows furrowed.


    "Actually, I am part of an organization from the town that I came from. But I left with a permission from my Master to explore other towns and cultivate in the process. When I am done, I will return to them." Xiao Lin replied.


    He then continued "So, since officers now know my intention in this place, I request that you allow me entry into your serene town to explore it and speak about the beautiful places that I will discover in some parts of this town to my colleagues."


    The officers that stood before him nodded their heads.


    "Alright, come with us. But first, you need to pay some amounts of money to us which we call Gate Entrance Fee. It''s only a hundred coins. Then we would register your name in our Book of Visitors. We pen down names of every person that comes into this town to do one thing or the other." One of the officers said.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and said "Yes, I understand."


    Then he walked through the gate with the officers and followed behind them to a particular building that was adjacent to one of the high, watchtowers in this place.


    ...


    "What''s your name?" One of the officers asked.


    "Hua Chengxi" Xiao Lin replied.


    "What sect or establishment are you from?" The officer questioning him asked another question.


    "Flowing cloud sect" Xiao Lin responded.


    "What''s your role or function at the sect?" The officer asked.


    "A disciple." Xiao Lin replied.


    "Alright. Basic details about you has been written down. Now, pay your Gate Entrance Fee of a hundred coins." The officer said and then ordered.


    "Alright officer" Xiao Lin replied.


    He then produced his spatial ring and handed a hundred coins to the officer that asked for it.


    "Good. Alright, you can go on into our town." The officer said.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and prepared to leave where they stood.


    However, before he could do so, one of them suddenly asked "Boy, before you leave, I want you to explain something to me which I don''t quite understand no matter how hard I think about it."


    "Okay. So, what does senior want to know?" Xiao Lin asked reverently.


    However, he could already guess the question that the officer wanted to ask him.


    "Why did you choose to come into our town at night?" The officer asked, while the others looked at him to hear what he would say.


    "Well, it isn''t exactly night that I chose to come to this town. We are already in the morning, officer." Xiao Lin replied with a smile.


    "No. I don''t want that kind of answer. Since you can arrive at this town from another town which should take anyone so many hours to arrive here, that means you have left that town since the dead of the night, which then made you to arrive here so early in the morning. Now, tell me, why did you leave your town at night?" The officer stated and then asked.


    "Well, because I suffer miserably from a particular condition that would cause me tremendous pain when I am exposed to sunlight." Xiao Lin replied.


    "Really?" The officer asked and looked at the other officers who were also looking at each other in the eyes with shock in them because of what Xiao Lin just said.


    The officer then looked at Xiao Lin''s extremely pale skin once again and came to a particular conclusion.


    ''I guess that why he suffers from being exposed to rays of light from the sun. Just look at his skin, he looks so much like a corpse, and maybe he is one foot closer to the grave. But that much talent, as a beast controller, would soon go to waste. Well, that just unfortunate. And maybe that''s why he goes about cultivating, searching for items in different towns that might heal him in the process. Well, good luck to that.'' The officer said inwardly.


    He then said "You can go."


    "Thank you, officers" Xiao Lin said and bowed once again, while the officers looked at him with pitiful eyes - They all saw him as someone that death would soon embrace.


    Xiao Lin could feel their pitiful stares on his body, he however laughed it off inwardly.


    Then when he straightened himself back, he turned around to walk into the town. And this he did hurriedly before the sun would appear in it dazzling magnificence.

 Chapter 81 - Appearing In A New Town II

    Thirty minutes later, he arrived at a certain place in the town where he would rent a room to stay in.


    Then when he got to the room that he rented at a particular inn, he sat in the cross-legged position to cultivate, as there was nothing he could really do at the moment.


    Besides, two of his energies which were Spiritual Energy and Blood Energy, were nearly depleted. So, he had to find a way to restore them.


    Although he could regenerate his Spiritual Energy through cultivation, it would however take a lot of time. Therefore, he could only voraciously consume the Spiritual Cultivation Resources that he had accumulated in his spatial ring to recover his near-totally expended Spiritual Energy.


    "I seriously need to find something like a Spiritual Pill and Blood Pill, if anything like that exist to recover my Spiritual Energy and Blood Energy. But I don''t know if they exists."


    "Especially my Blood Energy, now that the Ordinary Blood Symbols in my dantian are fully drained of Blood Energy and look dim and extremely dull, I will have to draw in more blood from humans or other entities to allow the Blood Symbols recover the Blood Energy that they have lost. Ugh!"


    "So, only a Blood Pill which has massive amounts of Blood Energy condensed into them will supply the Blood Symbols in my dantian with the quantities of Blood Energy that they need. But, would such kind of pill really exists?" Xiao Lin questioned.


    He then exhaled heavily when he thought that such a pill would definitely not exist.


    He however thought in the next moment that if he was in the world where the Vampire Overlord came from, he might find such a pill there.


    "Well, let me leave these thoughts for now and focus on recovering my Spiritual Energy."


    Then with a simple gesture of his hand, large heaps of different Spiritual Cultivation Resources like herbs, flowers, leaves, tree barks, petals etc appeared before him. He then closed his eyes and began to randomly pick one of them which he then threw into his mouth to chew and swallow.


    So, as he did so, the materials in his mouth which he chewed and swallowed down to his stomach, abruptly turned into Spiritual Energy when they rapidly dissolved.


    Then quickly employing the Spiritual Conversion Refinement Technique from the Primordial Heretic Force spiritual cultivation art, the Spiritual Energy that began to evolve out of his stomach in large amounts turned into his usually, dark-colored Spiritual Energy which he then adeptly guided to his dantian to fill up the empty space for his Spiritual Energy.


    Not long, he started to recover his Spiritual Energy.


    Then after a long while of consuming large amounts of Spiritual Cultivation Resources, he could feel that his Spiritual Energy had become full again.


    Huuuuu!


    Xiao Lin exhaled.


    He then stopped cultivating and opened his eyes to see the amounts of Spiritual Cultivation Resources which he pulled out from his spatial ring were remaining.


    Then seeing that he had used nearly all the Spiritual Cultivation Materials that he brought out from his spatial ring, he grunted and kept them back into his spatial ring.


    "The cultivation art I use is damn too powerful. I wonder how many tons of Spiritual Cultivation Materials I would have to consume in a day to break through into the next stages when I get to stages beyond the Mortal Spiritual Stage. Anyways, I would have been acquiring materials before that time. Besides, I should have gotten stronger to break into places with low security where Spiritual Cultivation Items are kept." Xiao Lin said.


    He then stood to his feet and walked towards the closed window to see if evening had arrived.


    Although he had a strong instinctual feeling that evening had come, he still stood to his feet to check if the sun had set before coming out of the inn to do what he had in mind.


    When he opened the windows a bit to see if sun rays would come in from the gap in the windows that he created, and then concealed himself beside one of the opened windows, he saw that no sun ray entered.


    Then when he opened it wide, he saw that the sun had set.


    "My instinct was right. Well, it''s time to go out and do my thing." He said and then marched out of his room to leave the inn and carry out the things in his mind.


    When he arrived in the street, he saw that the whole place was bustling, as large numbers of people could be seen moving up and down the streets that he found himself.


    "Wow. Such a large crowd." He said with an high impression of this place in his mind.


    Not long as he walked up the street, he could hear the loud chants of people trying to advertise the products that they sell to people who would be totally willing to buy.


    "Now that I have arrived here in this new town, I am sure that there will be so many things going on that I will have to look or listen out for. And the only place to do that is to go to a wine-drinking inn were all sorts of conversations about the things going on in the town would be discussed about." He said.


    He then said further "I have to go to a larger inn where a lot of people would be at and be discussing about so many things. And who knows, I could meet disciples from various sects in there who would be discussing about different, exciting stuffs that are yet to occur." Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then started to politely ask around for where the largest inn at this part of the town would be at.


    Not long, he met someone who pointed him in the direction to the biggest inn that could be found at this part of the town.


    ...


    "Thank you" Xiao Lin said and headed off in that direction.


    Then many minutes later, approximately twenty-five minutes later, he arrived there.


    When he saw the magnificence of the inn, he nodded his head with an incomprehensible smile appearing in his face and then went in.

 Chapter 82 - Getting Information

    When Xiao Lin entered, he sat down at a chair and began to behave like he was here to drink.


    And since the people serving jars of wines in the inn noticed that Xiao Lin had entered, one of them went to meet him and ask "What wine would you like to take?"


    "Can I see your list so I may know which one to pick?" Xiao Lin asked.


    "Certainly" The person in front of him replied.


    He then produced a long paper and handed it to Xiao Lin who began to go through it like he was totally serious about drinking wine at this inn.


    After looking at it for sometime, where he began to go through the various types of wines that they could offer at this inn, his eyes stopped at one and then he pointed it.


    "Here, give me this one" He said.


    "Okay" The person before him nodded his head.


    And when he retrieved the paper which was a list that he gave to Xiao Lin, he headed off to the room where the vessels containing all the wines mentioned in the list were kept.


    As soon as the person before him left, Xiao Lin began to look around. And as he did so, he put his ears out to listen to everything that would be said in the room.


    ...


    "The legacy ground of one of the legend of this town, the Azure Firestorm Archer, situated at the Lavastone Valley will be opening soon, in like a week or two weeks time. And it''s open to both rogue cultivators like us and the disciples from each of the sects in this town and other neighboring towns." Someone who wore a mask made from animal hides and a hat, and seated at a table that surrounded by five other people also wearing masks and hats said.


    Once he said this, the others nodded their heads with one saying "Yes, Ironfingers. That was why we came to this town, for this particular legacy that mentions that part of the wealth of this legend consisted of mostly, self-forged bows and arrows of all sorts which possesses great penetration power."


    "If we can get our hands on those and sell them since we wouldn''t be really needing them, we would make lots of money that we can use to buy Spiritual Cultivation Resources that will act as a massive boon to our cultivation growth. Then apart from that, there would be so many other things in his wealth that we can sell off and then use the money gained from their trades to buy other stuffs like Spiritual Treasures and Artifacts for ourselves"


    "Yes, Gu Luo." One said, trying to contribute.


    He then said further "But the opening of the legacy ground is earlier this time. What has really happened? Is there a change in something that caused the legacy ground to announce itself very early to the people of this town? I have always thought that it would be a month or two months time before the legacy ground will be opened to anyone again. But alas, I was proved wrong."


    "Well, whether there is a change to anything or not, that doesn''t really concern us. What we are after is the wealth of the legendary Azure Firestorm Archer. If we can get our hands on those, we have simply made it."


    "Although the battle in there for his wealth will be on another scale, but I believe that we can do it. With all that we have gathered in preparation for seizing this particular legacy, I think no one, rogue cultivators or the disciples from the different sects in this town and from other towns should be able to stand up to us." Ironfingers said while others nodded their heads agreeably.


    As they said all these, Xiao Lin was at a place in the inn, carefully listening to their discussions as he didn''t want to miss out on any bit of information that may be propagated.


    After the rogue cultivators finished the jars of wines placed on their tables, they stood to their feet to leave the inn.


    Xiao Lin who had been given the jar of wine that he requested for from that list, didn''t bother tasting it, as it was a great abomination to his internal system which had been completely altered to accept only blood from any creature, humans especially.


    Then when the masked and hat-wearing rogue cultivators left, Xiao Lin began to contemplate on everything that they mentioned about.


    "Now that I have discovered that a legacy ground will be opening soon, probably in a week or in two weeks time, it''s time for me to start making heavy preparations towards it. And like that rogue cultivator called Ironfingers rightly said, the battle in there would be on another level, as it''s the wealth and accumulations of a legend of this town that we are talking about. So, no one would want such opportunity to elude him or her"


    "Besides, I am sure that a shocking number of people like rogue cultivators, disciples of many different sects, and acolytes of a particular famous or infamous cultivator would gather at the legacy ground on that day. Therefore meaning that the battle which would occur for the Archer''s inheritance, would be intense and extremely fierce." Xiao Lin said with a pondering gaze in his eyes.


    Then he looked inwardly at his dantian and saw that it was only his Cultivation Base that was radiating power as it was filled to the brim with his unique, dark-colored Spiritual Energy. Also, the numbers of Demon Marks condensed in his dantian also gave out perceivable fluctuations of power as it was totally filled with Hermetic Demonic Energy. It was however only his Ordinary Blood Symbols that looked very dull and near-lifeless, as they had been completely exhausted of Blood Energy.


    Seeing the state of his Ordinary Blood Symbols, Xiao Lin shook his head.


    He then said "Now, I have to kill lots of people again to be able to get Blood Energy which I would channel into my Ordinary Blood Symbols to fill them with vibrancy and power again. Ugh!"


    "I just wish that Blood Pills existed, it would tremendously help me, as there would be no need for me to kill more people for energy when my Ordinary Blood Symbols run out of Blood Energy"


    "Well, I guess I would have to kill many people again to regenerate my fully expended Blood Energy."


    "But where would lots of people or cultivators be gathered so that I can slay them all at once and turn their bloods into Blood Energy for my Ordinary Blood Symbols?"

 Chapter 83 - Going After Assassins

    Then after thinking hard for sometime, and seeing that he couldn''t really come up with anything, he prepared to leave the inn. But before he did so, he produced some coins for the jar of wine that he ordered for and placed it on the table.


    But just when he would to leave his table, someone from another table said to him "Hey, don''t tell me that you are going to waste the wine in that jar."


    Xiao Lin looked at him and said "Well, I wasn''t planning to. But I suddenly discovered that I wasn''t in the mood to drink wine again, which is possibly due to some really heavy issues that sprung up in the far depths of my mind."


    "Haha. Well, that''s what wine is for, to conquer depression, mate. Anyways, since you wouldn''t be taking it, can I have it?" The male speaking to him from another table asked.


    "Sure. That''s why I left it there, for anyone that has interest in to take it and gurgle it all down" Xiao Lin responded.


    Haha!


    The male laughed.


    He then said "Thank you" which Xiao Lin nodded to.


    But just before Xiao Lin could take a step towards the door to leave the inn, the man speaking to him asked "Well, can you discuss your problems with me? I can try to solve of them. You know, a problem shared is a problem solved, or half-solved anyways. So, would you like to share some of your problems with me? Or you would prefer to keep it to yourself and search for solutions to it yourself?"


    Xiao Lin looked at the male for some seconds before walking towards the table that he sat at. Then when he arrived before that table, he pulled out a seat and then sat on it.


    Then looking at the man in the face, Xiao Lin said "Well, to be sincere, you can''t really solve my problems. And I don''t want to sound rude, but my problems are way huger than all the problems that you will ever have in this life, and in the next life combined. But anyways, I can ask you for some information. I believe you would be willing to tell me that, right?"


    Hahaha!


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the man broke into a raucous laughter, he then said "Boy, so, you are trying to tell me that as young as you are, you have problems that are much greater than mine in this life and that of the next life combined? Haha! That''s good. Don''t just let it weigh you down till you can''t breathe again. Haha!"


    He then continued after he ended his chuckle "As for the bits of information that you wanna ask me, you can ask away. If I am able to provide them, good for you. And if I can''t, bad for you."


    Xiao Lin shook his head and said inwardly ''This man''s a clown''


    He then asked "Do you know where large numbers of people might be gathered at for an event?"


    "A place where large numbers of people are gathered at? That''s the information you want to know?" The man asked.


    He then said to Xiao Lin "Let me ponder about it. When I have an answer to that, I will tell you."


    He then closed his eyes to think deeply of what Xiao Lin asked him.


    After thinking for about 3 minutes, his eyes snapped open. He then produced a smile in his face as he looked at Xiao Lin.


    Xiao Lin who was amused by the way the man was behaving, asked after grinning inwardly for sometime "But, do you really have to behave like a clown? Why do you have to close your eyes to think of what I asked you?"


    "Well, I had to close my eyes to block off every form of distraction in this place that would prevent me from accessing the deepest part of my mind, where the best memories are stored." The man replied with a smile while Xiao Lin shook his head in utter amusement.


    "So, were you able to get it?" Xiao Lin asked.


    "Yes, I did. That was why I smiled at you." The man responded while Xiao Lin shook his head again in amusement.


    He then said "Alright then. So, could you tell me?"


    "Sure thing." The male said.


    He then continued "There is a big event coming up very soon where many people, both mortals and cultivators will come out to celebrate"


    "Okay. What kind of event is that? And why are they celebrating it?" Xiao Lin asked.


    "Well, it''s called the Blessed Dusk festival, where everyone will come out to say their prayers to the night sky" The male said.


    "To the night sky? Why''s that?" Xiao Lin asked with surprise in his tone.


    "Well, the day when the festival will occur has been marked on a specific day on the calendar. It was said that in the night of that particular day, the prayers of some people were answered. These people surprisingly woke up to the things that they prayed for in their hearts, which were fortune, healing, and so on."


    "So, this marvelous thing that happened was reported to the Townsmaster who was forced to do the wish of the people, by making it a day for all the people in the town were they would come together to pray to some unseen powerful gods that will appear at the night sky of that festival day to bless people." The male said.


    "Really? Haha!" Xiao Lin asked and grinned.


    "Yes" The male replied.


    Xiao Lin then looked at the man and asked "But do you really that some gods like that exist?"


    "Haha. Of course no. I believe that it was some goody-good cultivator who was passing by this town that then decided to show love to some of people of this town. I even have a feeling that it could be a way of achieving a certain profound comprehension into some higher principle or law of the world or something similar to that." The male replied while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    "Yea. And you could probably be right about that." Xiao Lin said while the male nodded his head.


    "Anyways, I guess I have to go now. Thanks so far for the information that you relayed to me. I appreciate it." Xiao Lin said.


    "Nah. Don''t mention. And if you ever need any help in future, you know, regarding information, come to the Flying News Pavilion. I work there as an agent." The male said.


    "Oh. That''s nice. So, what name do I ask for when I come there to visit?" Xiao Lin asked.


    "Ask for Lu Ming." The male said.


    He then asked "So, should I be expecting you soon?"


    "Sure. When I need new bits of information again" Xiao Lin said with a smile and then stood to his feet to leave the inn.


    Once he came out of the inn, many thoughts began to run through his mind.


    "Now that these people are trying to celebrate some festival, would going after them to kill them be possible? There would certainly be many guards there to watch over the people partaking in the festival. I guess I would have to keep the thoughts of cultivating Blood Energy at the back of my mind for now, and since I can still use my Spiritual Energy and Hermetic Demonic Energy, I guess I can use those at the legacy ground when it eventually opens." Xiao Lin said as he walked back to the inn with a dejected expression in his face, which then became replaced by a lit expression because of what he thought.


    Then when he got to his room in the inn that he rented, he closed his eyes to begin his comprehension of the new battle methods that he hadn''t gone through before.


    He did this till 2am in the night where he was suddenly jolted awake from his comprehension state by several bloodcurdling sounds that suddenly rang out from some rooms that were below the floor of his room.


    "What the hell was that sound? Let me go check it out" Xiao Lin said and then stood to his feet to rush towards the window to see what had happened.


    And immediately he did, where he opened the window and leaped out of it to the roof of his room, he saw about four masked men who were at the 4th-layer and 5th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage jumping out of the windows of some rooms to the back of their beasts which waited below for them.


    Once they landed on their beast''s backs, one of them said "Go!"


    Then the beasts growled and immediately shot off into the distance in a particular direction.


    Xiao Lin who saw all these take place, asked within himself, "Should I follow them?"


    Then seeing the logo at the back of the long-arm black shirts that they wore, Xiao Lin arrived at a thought that these people must belong to some cult group or something, perhaps an assassin guild.


    "If I could just kill these murdering folks and take their blood, how wonderful it would be." He said with a sigh.


    Then his eyes shone with a cold light in the next instant.


    "I think I have to. I have the capability to take them down" He said with an unbreakable resolve in his tone. Then once he said that, he immediately jumped down from the roof of his room to stealthily follow after them.

 Chapter 84 - A Task And An Offer Impossible To Resist

    So, he began to follow behind them using only his Super Speed ability, which of course couldn''t match up to the speeds that the beasts being rode on were moving at. However, he didn''t lose sight out of them as he was still able to see them, hear them and smell them from far away using his powerful, enhanced senses.


    About a few hours later of chasing after them at the highest speed that he could muster, using his Super Speed ability and his augmented vampiric senses to trace them to their location, he eventually arrived at an old and abandoned building that had no windows as long pieces of wood have been used to seal them up.


    At the moment, the beasts that the masked assassins rode on, could be seen seated idly outside the deserted building. While Xiao Lin who didn''t want to show himself to the beasts and possibly cause them to cry out and instantly alarm the assassins that he was after, decided to remain far away from where he would be noticed by any of the beasts.


    Then from where he hid himself which was partially concealed from view, he tried to listen to the conversations going on within the building using his Enhanced Hearing ability. He simply had the intentions of knowing what they were talking about, and why they killed that person at the inn that he rented a room at.


    However, he wasn''t here to really listen to their conversations regarding the schemes and the other plans that they might have to execute later. He was only here for blood, and to do that successfully, he had to know the numbers of people in the building, just so he could devise his own plans of attacking them and slaying them one after the other.


    ...


    "Lightwind, the job has been done?" Someone asked.


    "Yes. It has been done." One of the four masked assassins that arrived here and was called Lightwind replied.


    "Hmm. And hope no one followed you guys down here?" That person asked again.


    "No one followed us. We are certain of that." One of the four assassins that Lightwind walked into the building with replied.


    "Good! Now, that you have done the job, here''s a thousand silver coins to be shared among each of you." That person said, stretching a spatial ring towards Lightwind.


    Lightwind nodded his head and accepted the spatial ring that was stretched at him.


    Then the person continued, "With that fool who knows too much of my schemes out of the way, I will be able to proceed without caution on the next phase of my plans." The person said.


    He then looked at Lightwind and said further "And I want you guys to be by my side in helping me to gather the things that I need for the Awakening Ritual of the Blood Arbiter''s Ironcleaver Sword"


    Immediately he said that, Lightwind looked at him and said "As long as you will pay us, we would do anything for you."


    Hahaha!


    The person laughed.


    "Certainly. I will pay you guys well" He said.


    He then continued by asking "So, to kill close to a thousand people, how much would it cost me?"


    Immediately he said that, Lightwind and the rest of the people in the building looked at the man with great shock in their eyes. They couldn''t believe what they just heard. It was too much for them to take in.


    Lightwind exhaled and then asked with deep puzzlement and perplexity in his tone "I hope you aren''t trying to tease us? What do you want to do with a thousand people? Isn''t that amount of people too outrageous for only an awakening ritual of whatever sword you may have with you?"


    The person spoken to laughed for sometime before seriousness surfaced in his face. He then said, "Actually, it''s kind of little, to be honest, but I am going to make do with that and hope that the Awakening Ritual becomes a success. But, if it fails after using the blood of a thousand people, then I would have no choice than to find another means to slay tens of thousands of people to simply awaken the great sword."


    Once he said this, everyone in the candle-lit room that they were in, had their eyes glow with both awe and dread.


    They couldn''t believe that a sword like that could actually exist in their own world.


    A sword that should possibly belong to a legend was in their own world? And was in the hands of a particular male from a sect that that they have never heard about? So many things that the male said became too much for them to take in.


    Lightwind who suddenly developed difficulty in breathing upon hearing the greatly stifling amount of people to be killed if the thousands of people killed for the ritual failed, said with a hoarse voice, "Okay, I understand you now. But, where are we going to get such a large number of people to kill for you and take their bloods, if I may ask you? You know, we can''t just go into people''s houses or some organization to kill the people in there and bring their bloods for you. So, how do you want us to really go about that?"


    The male spoken to, said with a smile appearing in his face as he looked at Lightwind "Well, it shouldn''t be that difficult, right? Just search for a massive gathering of people and slay your way to the thousand number of people that I firstly asked for. Then if it fails, you all will help me to kill again up to ten thousand figures that I am sure should really awaken the sword soul."


    Huuu!


    Lightwind exhaled.


    But before he could speak, that male spoke again "Like the legacy ground for the Azure Firestorm Archer which would be opening soon, you guys shouldn''t find it difficult in killing up to a thousand people in there, right?"


    "I don''t know. So many skilled and monstrously-talented disciples and rogue cultivators from many sects and organizations would be coming in from different parts of the town and other towns. And we of slightly-above average talents wouldn''t be able to really contend with those sort of people, talk more of killing them. It would be tremendously difficult for us to do" Lightwind said.


    He then continued "And maybe you should do it yourself, since you are able to wield a sword that wants the blood of thousands to tens of thousands of people for it awakening."


    "So, since you can proudly own such a dreadful majestic sword, you should possess formidable Battle Skills and a fearsome battle prowess to be able to easily accomplish what you want, like the slaying of the large numbers of good to terrific cultivators and disciples that would enter the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer to inherit his lifetime accumulated wealth."


    Immediately after Lightwind made his last statement, the male spoken to shook his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    He then said with a solemn tone in his voice "Well, you are absolutely right about what you just said."


    Then he continued with arrogance in his voice "I, the youngest Obsidian Abdicator, and second Inheritance Disciple of the great Blood Arbiter from the unmatched God and Devil-fighting sect in the Spirit Continent, will definitely know a large number of horrifying Battle Skills, and possess an incredible battle prowess that no one in my cultivation level, would be able to match up with."


    "Besides, I possess tons of small but insanely powerful treasures to accomplish what I want in that Legacy Ground. So, killing everyone in there, including any 11th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators that would enter there, would be as simple as killing tiny bugs to me, despite my 6th-layer Mortal Spiritual cultivation stage that should appear useless or insignificant to theirs. Haha!"


    "However, I have to be very careful with what I want to do, and extremely cautious in absolutely everywhere I would go, as I do not want to foolishly expose myself to some deity-like people who would come for me and would spare no effort in obtaining me."


    "Then if you ask me what I did to them to make them hate me so much, it''s because I have killed their favorite legacy disciples in the past who were at my cultivation level and even turned some of them into my soul-contracted battle puppets. Very despicable right? Haha!"


    "So, once they discover me using any of my overshadowing Battle Techniques outside my sect that boasts of many dangerously-skilled and immensely powerful cultivation teachers, they would instantly teleport down there to wherever I am to simply acquire or abduct me"


    "Therefore, that''s why I want you guys to do it for me, so I won''t get caught and be taken away by those vengeful and eccentric nigh-immortal cultivators."


    "I will pay you guys tremendously if you can do this job for me. Then to make the task that I am assigning to you guys very easy to fulfill, I will give you guys some special secret pills that will temporarily give you the true aura and power of a 1st-layer Spirit Earthking stage cultivator"

 Chapter 85 - Battle With The Mortal Spiritual Stage Cultivators

    Immediately he said this, the cultivators before him looked at him with shock in their eyes.


    They couldn''t believe what they just heard.


    "Really? You have that kind of pill with you?" Lightwind asked.


    "Yea. I have many pills of that sort with me" The male replied.


    "Wow. The methods and means of cultivators from a higher continent like the Spirit continent is unfathomable." Lightwind said while the male nodded his head with a smile surfacing in his face.


    He then asked with a solemn gaze in his eyes "So, are you guys in or out?"


    "We are definitely in" Lightwind said.


    "Good!" The male said.


    He then reached for his spatial ring to produce a heavy pill box made from both sapphire and jade.


    Immediately he did so, he stretched it towards Lightwind who immediately accepted it and stowed it into his spatial ring.


    "What about the money you are going to pay us for the dangerous task that you assigned to us?" Lightwind asked.


    "Can you relax? I will also give you that. I was just about to reach for my spatial ring for it when you asked." The male answered.


    "Oh. I am sorry about that. Do forgive me" Lightwind said.


    "Nah. It''s nothing." The male said with an amiable smile appearing in his face. And from the way that he smiled, one wouldn''t know that he had killed lots of people before in the past.


    Then with a simple gesture of one of his hands, a large heap of silver coins appeared on the floor before Lightwind and his colleagues.


    Once the tall pile of coins appeared in a flash before them, Lightwind quickly stored everything into his spatial ring before the male before them could change his mind and return the coins back into his spatial ring.


    When he felt that he had said all that he needed to say, the male stood to his feet and said "Goodluck with the mission. Bye for now"


    Then like a ghost, he vanished from their presence.


    After looking around for sometime to see if they could see the male, they saw that they couldn''t.


    One of them then spoke to Lightwind by asking "He has gone? Just like that?"


    Lightwind who had stopped looking around to search for the male, answered with his brows furrowed "Yea, I think he has gone. But damn, he''s so fast. What sort of tyrannical movement method is that?"


    Then that person that asked Lightwind a question, said with an awed gaze in his eyes "Truly, he has skills that wouldn''t be matched by any of his peers. Wow!"


    Xiao Lin who hid himself somewhere far and tried to listen to their conversations using his powerful hearing, said with surprise and astonishment in his eyes "That male possesses a weapon he calls Ironcleaver sword, which could possibly belong to some master or being he calls the Blood Arbiter."


    "Hmm. This Blood Arbiter must be the master of the God and Devil Fighting sect that he mentioned about to those assassins inside. While his sword, the Ironcleaver sword, seems similar in ability to the Twin Silver Blades of the Demonic Blade King."


    "How I wish I could get that sword from him to analyze it. It would have been fun. Besides, I might be able to understand why it is similar in characteristics to my master''s twin blade."


    "Also, how I wish I could just kill that male and take the sword to use for myself, till I will become strong enough to be able to unlock those three Gates that master compressed into a dimension in the blades. But I wouldn''t be able to do that, as that guy has a lot of resources and powerful offensive treasures in his possession."


    "Besides, he would be tremendously skilled and immensely strong, just like he arrogantly claimed to be, since he came from a higher continent where he would have been disciplined and intensely trained by adept, godhood-level cultivators that I lack. Furthermore, since he could be selected as a legacy disciple of the Blood Arbiter, that means he would be seriously talented."


    "But, what does the death of that person at the inn that I am staying at have to do with his secrets being exposed? Well, that''s a job for the detectives to do, not me. Then as for me, it''s time to go into that building and find a way to kill those assassins and take the Jade Pill box that he gave to them. Those Spiritual Aura-bestowing Pills in the pill box could possibly help me in cultivating up to any layer of the Mortal Spiritual stage" Xiao Lin said after quickly contemplating on all the things that the male said.


    Then after a heavy exhale from his nostrils as he prepared to go into the building to face off against four cultivators that were at the fourth-layer and fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, he recalled the Twin Silver blades of Doom and Sorrow to his hands.


    "Although I only have my Spiritual Energy and my Hermetic Demonic Energy, I should still be able to fight these guys, and possibly overwhelm them using these blades that will effortlessly cut the gods themselves into halves."


    "Then coupled with my Vampiric Abilities, I should be able to come out of there as the last man standing. Hmm. Well, I hope so... Of course, yea. Certainly. I am a vampire, so I can''t die. I will surely come out of there as the last man standing, when they have cracked my neck and left my lifeless body behind" Xiao Lin said and smiled, trying to amuse himself.


    However, immediately after he said these, his gaze turned vicious. While a pervasive aura of slaughter began to exude from his body.


    Swoosh!


    He suddenly dashed towards the door of the building and kicked it open.


    Bang!


    The door then instantly shattered apart into fragments, while Xiao Lin stepped in with a cold and murderous gaze in his clear and sharp-looking eyes.


    The cultivators who weren''t expecting that to happen, were shaken to the core of their beings by the sudden, explosive entry of Xiao Lin who appeared like a blade-wielding, living dead of the night to them.


    "Who are you and why the hell are you here?" Lightwind furiously asked as a glowing broadsword appeared in a flash in his more dominant hand.


    The others too who were startled by Xiao Lin''s noisy entry, did the same as Lightwind as they summoned the swords in their spatial rings to their dominant hands.


    "Who am I? I am a demon from the Supreme Demon Alter sect in the Demon Continent. And I am here to reap your lives." Xiao Lin answered.


    Hahaha!


    Lightwind who was furious, laughed in a raucous manner.


    He then asked "You are here to reap away our souls? I would love to see you do that!"


    Immediately he said that, he dashed towards Xiao Lin at a great speed and then angrily slashed out with his sword towards his neck.


    BANG!!


    However, before the blade of his sword could get to Xiao Lin''s neck to cut it off, Xiao Lin quickly brought up the Awakening Doom blade to block the free swinging motion of Lightwind''s sword towards his neck.


    So, as soon as their weapons collided into each other, large amounts of bright sparks jumped out from the point of their collision, while Xiao Lin staggered backwards for many feet by the force that moved through his entire body, causing him to cough out a small mouthful of blood.


    Although Lightwind attacked Xiao Lin with a lot of force, it was his own sword that ended up cutting into halves, surprising him and his colleagues.


    "Aarghh!" Lightwind screamed out in anger.


    He then dropped the broken sword in his hand to the ground and instantly aimed at Xiao Lin.


    Once he did so, a large stream of Spiritual Energy immediately erupted from his palm and then turned into a massive fireball in the next instant which then shot out towards Xiao Lin.


    Swoosh!


    Seeing the massive, furiously blazing ball shooting towards him, Xiao Lin unexpectedly dashed towards it and used the twin blades grasped tightly in his hands to slash out at the ball.


    Slash! Slash!


    Bang!


    Once Xiao Lin slashed out twice and very fast at it, the ball suddenly exploded and became a powerful blast of fire that struck Xiao Lin with a tremendous force and then sent him flying towards a wall of the room that they were in.


    Bang!


    He smashed into the wall and caused a large hole that was surrounded by a huge, web-like crack to appear in it structure.


    However, despite the amount of force that he rammed into the wall with, Xiao Lin surprisingly came of out of that hole which he made into the wall.


    Then with his broken bones rapidly healing and producing rampant snap sounds, and his torn and burnt tough flesh quickly regenerating and restoring back to their previous states, Xiao Lin suddenly growled like a primitive beast from hell and then abruptly shot out towards them. And at this point in time, he had grown taller with his hair becoming blood-red and longer than usual ¡ª Now, he had directly entered his true vampiric form to fight.

 Chapter 86 - Wonders Of His True Vampiric Form

    However, despite the amount of force that he rammed into the wall with, Xiao Lin surprisingly came of out of that hole which he made into the wall.


    Then with his broken bones rapidly healing and producing rampant snap sounds, and his torn and burnt tough flesh quickly regenerating and restoring back to their previous states, Xiao Lin suddenly growled like a primitive beast from hell and then abruptly shot out towards them. And at this point in time, he had grown taller with his hair becoming blood-red and longer than usual ¡ª Now, he had directly entered his true vampiric form to fight.


    ...


    Seeing the form that Xiao Lin had entered, the cultivators in the room became heavily amazed.


    "This thing is a demon, kill it" Lightwind said and aimed his palm out at Xiao Lin.


    Immediately he did so, a large stream of Spiritual Energy erupted from it once again before turning into a larger fireball that shot towards Xiao Lin at a great speed.


    Seeing the fireball that was shooting towards him again, Xiao Lin growled and then slashed out at it with the twin blades grasped in his hand.


    BANG!


    The fireball upon being struck by the blades, immediately turned into a blast of fire that raged towards Xiao Lin and knocked him really hard, sending him flying once again.


    However, because Xiao Lin had changed his form, the blast couldn''t affect him much. So, his skin which had become a hide and was several times thicker than when he hadn''t change, was able to resist the great heat and kinetic force produced by the sudden, violent burst of flame that occurred before him.


    When Xiao Lin regained his balance from that terrifying blast that exploded before him, he looked at Lightwind and then suddenly hurled one of the blades in his hand at him.


    And as soon as he did that, he aimed his free hand at Lightwind and prepared to utilize the Mortal Saint Beheading technique from the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art.


    So, once he deployed the Mortal Saint Beheading technique, currents of Hermetic Demonic Energy which were dark scarlet in color, rushed out from some of the True Demonic Marks in his dantian and then travelled to that free palm as a turbulent and violent stream of wild energy, only after moving through some special meridian pathways in his body.


    Then when this raging stream of energy arrived at that palm, it erupted out of it in the next instant like a small explosion and rapidly condensed into a large, dark scarlet blade that began to emit waves of perceptible, alarming sharpness.


    Once the dark scarlet blade which gave off a frightening, perceivable sharpness materialized above his free hand, he quickly aimed out that palm at Lightwind who immediately unleashed a stream of Spiritual Energy that then instantly condensed into an attack and abruptly shot out towards the Awakening Doom blade shooting towards him to block it.


    Puchi!


    However, immediately the Awakening Doom blade and his solid Spiritual Energy attack collided into one another, it was effortlessly pierced through by the blade which then shot towards him and impaled him in the chest, carrying him off to a distance of five feet due to the tremendous force that it moved with.


    Seeing that he had injured the leader, Xiao Lin quickly rushed to attack the others before they could attack him.


    So, he abruptly dropped the Sorrowful Sea blade held in his other hand and unleashed the Mortal Saint Beheading battle technique at them using both hands this time.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!...


    Swooshing sounds began to ring out as dozens of dark scarlet blades shot out towards the Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators.


    And once he did this, he immediately accompanied the attacks that he sent out with the King Annihilating Blade Wave technique.


    So, tremendously wild, rampaging streams of Hermetic Demonic Energy rushed to his two palms after following some special meridian passageways in his body, after having rushed out in significant amounts from the True Demonic Marks residing deep in his dantian.


    Then once these chaotic streams of energy arrived within those palms and began to surge, Xiao Lin quickly aimed out those palms at the attacks that the Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators had fired at the dark scarlet blades shooting towards them.


    Although using these powerful techniques were greatly taxing to him, Xiao Lin did it anyways as he was exceedingly frantic at killing these assassins.


    BOOM! BOOM!...


    Dual boom sounds rang out as two fearsomely powerful waves of Hermetic Demonic Energy that accompanied the dark scarlet blades in the next instant, shot out of Xiao Lin''s palms towards the assassins who had also fired their attacks at him.


    But the dozens of dark scarlet blades that he abruptly unleashed, and the two wave-shaped attacks which possessed nine layers that were stacked on top of each other and radiated a formidable power of sharpness, couldn''t really resist the damaging power of the attacks of the assassins.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    So, after many collisions with the dark scarlet blades, many of them exploded into fragments of energy that then dispersed in the next instant.


    Same also happened with the double, nine-layered waves possessing terrifying sharpness. They were quickly torn apart into shreds by the more powerful attacks of the assassins before rapidly dissipating away.


    Seeing that his attacks had been countered by them, Xiao Lin quickly picked up the Sorrowful Sea blade from the ground and unexpectedly dashed towards one of them. And like a ghost, he appeared before one and slashed out at his neck.


    Slash!


    The head cut off from the neck and fell to the ground. While blood immediately spurted out of the neck like a fountain, dying some parts of the floor red.


    The assassin that Xiao Lin just beheaded wasn''t expecting Xiao Lin to suddenly appear before him and cut off his head. And this was because he wasn''t able to trace Xiao Lin to wherever he was due to the high speed that Xiao Lin suddenly began moving at.


    Actually, in his True Vampiric Form that he entered many moments ago, the Super Speed ability that was granted to him by the vampiric power coursing through his peculiar veins, was able to multiply by many dozen folds, giving him the ability to move at a speed that could match up to that of a 4th-layer or near-5th layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator. So, that was he could achieve such an insane movement speed.


    Immediately Xiao Lin beheaded that assassin, he quickly dashed out again towards another cultivator who was alarmed by what he and the others just witnessed and became absolutely horrified by it.


    Xiao Lin himself was greatly astonished that he could actually move at such a speed. And he could only discover this now because he had brought up his True Vampiric Form to fight them. If not, he would have been entering this form to multiply his Super Speed ability which would allow him to move at really quick speeds.


    The assassins who didn''t know who Xiao Lin had in mind to behead or slash apart into halves next, abruptly used a basic move to quickly unleash a radial blast of Spiritual Energy from their entire bodies and in all directions to stop Xiao Lin from coming near anyone of them.


    Seeing that he wouldn''t be able to get near them with the wildly destructive blasts of Spiritual Energy that they each unleashed from their bodies, Xiao Lin stopped where he was and quickly aimed out one of his palms at them.


    Then just before he could fire any attack at them, a thought suddenly came to him that since he could now strongly perceive his vampiric power which he couldn''t formerly detect, flowing within his body as he had entered his True Vampiric Form that multiplied all his attributes by many fold, he should imbue the attacks of his Hermetic Demonic Energy with it. Also, he quickly arrived at another thought that he could permeate the advanced attacks of his demonic blade battle art with his dark-colored Spiritual Energy.


    So, once he thought all these which he was able to do in the next instant, he quickly off fired dark scarlet blades from that palm at them, deploying the Mortal Saint Beheading technique once again.


    Then as the blades shot out at furious speeds towards the rest of them that remained, an unbridled power that will certainly invoke both horror and terror in any 3rd-layer or 4th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator that would come across them, began to emit from the glowing lethal blades.


    Noticing the penetration power and startling might carried by the blades shooting insanely fast towards them, the assassins quickly put up small, protective domes of condensed Spiritual Energy around them.


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    Puchi!...


    However, piercing sounds began to rampantly ring out as the razor-sharp, dark scarlet blades that Xiao Lin sent out at them, began to strike the defensive domes of Spiritual Energy that they quickly put up around themselves to defend themselves from the oncoming onslaught of the blades.


    Then one after the other after the blades effortlessly penetrated through the protective energy domes that they quickly put up around themselves, they began to have deep and long cuts in their bodies as the blades pierced through them and continued their seemingly unstoppable journeys like they were the divine scarlet blades of Devils.

 Chapter 87 - Narrow Escape From Total Destruction

    Not long, they became riddled with dozens of cuts that revealed what was behind them.


    Then they fell to the ground one after the other with blood gushing out of the cuts that the blades which Xiao Lin sent out at them made into their bodies.


    Seeing what he had done, his form reverted and he returned to his pale-skinned form. Then with a small raise of his left hand, the Sorrowful Sea blade appeared in his hand and he quickly dashed towards where Lightwind was.


    Lightwind at the moment was having a really hard time removing the Awakening Doom blade that pinned him to the floor of the room that they were in.


    Since it was a supreme-quality, deity-rank blade that constantly emitted a strongly repulsing, frightening power of sharpness, it was something that Lightwind couldn''t even touch or properly grasp so that he could pull it out from his chest where it pinned him to the floor of the room.


    Xiao Lin appeared before him in the next instant. Then with a swing of the Sorrowful Sea blade held in his left hand, Lightwind''s head was slashed off from his neck with blood spilling out like it have been wanting to escape.


    Immediately he carried out that action, Xiao Lin reached for his finger where he pulled off the spatial ring that he wore and stowed it into his.


    With a satisfied smile appearing in his extremely pale face, he dashed towards where the others were to also slash off their heads from their necks.


    And as he did so, he took their spatial rings and stowed it into his. Then he walked out of the building to stand before it.


    "I have to level this building to bury these assassins within. I would have simply burned them to ashes, but I don''t have my Blood Energy to do that using the less profound methods mentioned in the Divinity-Annihilating Primal Blood Flame Battle Art." Xiao Lin said with a shake of his head.


    He then continued with a pondering gaze appearing in his eyes "While I am yet to master any of the techniques mentioned in the Fiendish Flame burning the Heavens battle art."


    "Ugh! Just so many perverse battle arts to study and practice but I am cursed with limited very time and resources."


    "Anyways, when I get to my room at that inn, I will try to use that Spiritual Aura bestowing pill to raise my cultivation level to the Mortal Spiritual stage. Then if I am fortunate enough to get to the second-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, I should be able to do as I like at that legacy ground, since I would become very strong, like many times stronger than I am now."


    Then with the pondering gaze in his eyes growing deeper, he said "I just have to kill everyone there and leave no soul alive so that I can fully recover my totally expended Blood Energy and even try to enter the level after the Blood Acolyte level."


    He nodded his head in agreement at the thought that had suddenly surfaced in his mind.


    He then aimed his two palms at the base of the building and unleashed two wide, nine-layered waves of Hermetic Demonic Energy that carried extreme sharpness with them.


    BANG!!


    BANG!!


    The powerful shredding waves struck the base of the building at the same time while the building which had nothing shielding them from the fierce, sharpness-radiating attacks that Xiao Lin unleashed at them, simply shattered into bits with the entire structure collapsing onto the ground, burying the assassins within.


    When he saw that he had reduced the previously dilapidated building to rubbles, he quickly left where he was to return back to his room at the inn.


    So, he began to flit from one building to the next to hide himself from government officers that might possibly be around and could be scouting the area for criminals or outlaws that would probably use the thick of the night to perpetrate crime in their town.


    However, after moving from one building to the next at a tremendous speed with the intention of concealing himself from government officers that might be patrolling the area, he saw to his amazement that he couldn''t even hear, see or instinctually feel that any officer was around, since he couldn''t hear the thumping hearts of anyone from many meters away, perceive breaths or hear anyone''s footsteps.


    "And maybe they don''t have any Nightwatch officer or vigilante group in this town, since I haven''t seen or heard anyone like that from afar, walking from one place to another place to silently observe what''s going on at a particular area." Xiao Lin said with a contemplative look in his face.


    "Anyways, I still have to be careful. For if one or two suddenly shows up before me, and their cultivation stages are way above mine, I would be doomed. So, I would just continue moving from one building to the next till I would arrive at that inn where I rented a room at" He said further.


    ...


    About two and the half hours later, where time was now 6:52am, Xiao Lin finally arrived back in the area where his inn was located.


    But at this time, the sun was already coming out and was beginning to shine, however at a low intensity.


    But, even if it shone at this extremely weak intensity, it was still critically dangerous to someone like Xiao Lin who mustn''t be caught under the softest or weakest rays of the sun, or he would simply instantaneously combust and burn rapidly to ashes.


    Xiao Lin who now had his heart in his mouth as he could imagine his doom if any of the sun''s rays touched or struck him, began to move at a really high speed where his form couldn''t even be made out at all again.


    So, like a cheetah that was in a ghost form, he dashed really fast and frantically across the street to where the inn was located. But as he did so, the sun''s rays began to follow him like they wanted to illuminate him in their brilliance and purify him of the darkness that had completely engulfed his soul and being. However, it wasn''t that they were mysteriously following after him to catch him and burn him off, they were only emitting from the massive, majestic sun to lit up the area in order to chase away the darkness.


    Not long, he arrived in front of the inn and went to the side of the hotel where his room was. He then quickly leaped from from one windowsill to the next at a really high speed.


    Immediately he arrived at the window to his room, he abruptly shot into it and closed the windows before any of the sun''s rays could go in and impact him.


    Although he successfully escaped from the sun''s rays, a tiny stream of light from the sun still struck one of his hands as he was closing the window.


    Whoosh!


    Then an unusually colored fire immediately engulfed that hand and began to rapidly burn from that hand to the other areas of his body.


    Xiao Lin who saw to his shock how that hand quickly burned to ashes, with the fire quickly spreading to the rest of his body from that arm, abruptly produced the Awakening Doom blade in other hand and decisively cut off the arm fully engulfed by flame at the shoulder region before it would be able to spread to his other body.


    Once he did this, he collapsed to the ground with a great weakness suddenly coming over him. And because he had cut off an entire arm, he began to gnash his teeth in sorrow as sensations of intensely excruciating pain, the one many times worse than the one that one would experience when thousands of 13-inches long, red-hot nails hammered into one''s skull and skeleton, began to overwhelmingly flood his entire senses and mind.


    Then with many green veins bulging out from his face, neck and the other arm that held the Awakening Doom blade, he began to groan and roll about on the ground of his room from one side to the other.


    However, the severe pain didn''t afflict him for long as the arm that was cut off from the shoulder area, began to gradually grow back. But as it did so, Xiao Lin''s face became paler, so did his entire body.


    Xiao Lin''s body regeneration rate was truly powerful, like that of an immortal''s own, except that his, at this stage that he was, drained many years of his life to restore any part of his body that was completely lacerated off or simply destroyed.


    Not long after his arm had fully regrown back, Xiao Lin stood up from where he was on the ground.


    He then looked at the arm that had regrown and shook his head in awe.


    "Wow. I never knew I had such an insane healing speed. So, if parts of my body were to be cut off, they will quickly heal in only a few seconds? Damn. I never knew this dimension about me exists. This is absolutely ungodly. Haha!" Xiao Lin said and grinned happily.


    He then looked at the ashes on the ground and shook his head with horror appearing in his eyes, when he imagined what could have happened if he didn''t immediately cut off his arm.

 Chapter 88 - Breaking Through Into The Mortal Spiritual Stage

    Huuuuu!


    Xiao Lin inhaled deeply.


    He then sat back on the ground to do what he wanted to do after clearing the imagination of himself burning to ashes off his his mind.


    Now sitting in the cross-legged position on the ground, he began to go through the content in the rings of one of the assassins called Lightwind whom he killed back at that old and abandoned building.


    Immediately he opened it up, a large pile of many things appeared before him. Then on this pile could be seen something that really stood out from the rest of the materials that made up the massive pile before him.


    Xiao Lin''s eyes were quickly attracted over to that object which was actually the Jade Pill Box that the male from the God and Devil Fighting sect gave to Lightwind to help him accomplish some mission that he assigned to them.


    Once his eyes were pulled to the Jade Pill Box, Xiao Lin reached out for it and grasped it, pulling it from the large pile of stuff before him.


    Very quickly, he opened it and saw four pills in the Jade Pill Box. Then his lips curled into a bright smile as the mists that were produced by each of the pills kept in the Jade Box, began to waft out of it, instantly hitting him in the face and nostrils.


    Immediately he inhaled the brightly colored mists produced by the pills in the Jade Pill Box, Xiao Lin suddenly felt his cultivation growing very fast. So, from the 9th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage that he was in, he quickly broke through into the 10th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage and finally into the 11th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage in almost an instant.


    Xiao Lin who was greatly shocked by the sudden, near-instant effects of the mists that wafted out from within the Jade Box, however understood in the next moment that the accelerated growth of his Spiritual Energy cultivation that he experienced wasn''t really true. It was only an illusory effects of the mists produced by the pill. But this actually signified the potency and strength of the pill if he eventually imbibed it.


    Then with a smile appearing in his face, he exhaled and immediately put one of the pills into his mouth.


    Once he did so and the pill slipped down his throat to his stomach, the pill abruptly turned into a tremendous amount of Spiritual Energy that caused Xiao Lin to greatly swell up that he became like a balloon and could start to float.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin felt like he wanted to burst, as he was overfilled with Spiritual Energy that began to come out of his nose and ears.


    The Spiritual Energy in his body, due to it tremendous quantity that then made him feel excessively bloated, was beginning to leave his body through some impossible routes.


    But to stop this from happening, Xiao Lin quickly stopped breathing and then closed his ears to prevent the Spiritual Energy building in his body from the rapidly dissolving, Spiritual Aura-bestowing pill that he swallowed from escaping.


    Once he had done all these, he began to practice the technique mentioned in the Spiritual Refinement Conversion Method.


    So, little by little, he began to convert the frost-white Spiritual Energy that filled every gap in his body to the extreme into the dark-colored Spiritual Energy that he possessed in his dantian.


    Immediately he converted some wisps of the frost-white Spiritual Energy into some of the dark Spiritual Energy in his dantian, he started to refine them so that every flaw or fault hidden in his newly converted Spiritual Energy would be removed or eliminated, so as not to present a great problem to himself in the future during his cultivation.


    Not long, with some of the frost-white Spiritual Energy still escaping from a tiny gap in his ears, and from his nose anytime he tried to inhale, Xiao Lin tried to triple his effort at quickly converting and refining the Spiritual Energy causing his body to continually swell, or he might simply explode into pieces, once his amazingly tough body reached the threshold that it could be really stretched to.


    Many minutes later, precisely 40 minutes later, the swelling of his body reduced, while the ones escaping from some gaps in his closed ears stopped, simply signifying that Xiao Lin had converted a significant portion of the frost-white Spiritual Energy that caused his body to swell into the dark-black Spiritual Energy that resided in his dantian and formed his cultivation base.


    So, it was only now that the pain that he felt from the extreme stretching of his tough and resilient skin reduced.


    And without opening his eyes, he continued to cultivate to transform all the frost-white Spiritual Energy that still filled his body to some extent into the dark Spiritual Energy dwelling in his dantian.


    At this moment, he had broken through into the 11th-layer Spiritual Ascendance stage.


    Xiao Lin could feel his power shoot up greatly, but still, he wasn''t satisfied, he wanted to badly break through into the Mortal Spiritual stage where he would have more power to accomplish more, especially now that he would be going up against talented rogue cultivators and gifted disciples from the different sects in this particular town and from other towns at the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer.


    Although Xiao Lin was desperate to have a breakthrough so that he would be more stronger than he is now, he however understood that one Spiritual Aura bestowing pill wasn''t enough to help him enter the Mortal Spiritual stage. He had long comprehended when he was cultivating that if he wanted to really enter the Mortal Spiritual stage, he would have to take more of those pills.


    Xiao Lin opened his eyes and then exhaled.


    Then he reached out for the Jade Pill Box and took out another pill which he immediately swallowed.


    The instant the pill slipped down his throat to his stomach, it quickly dissolved and turned into a large amount of frost-white Spiritual Energy that once again caused him to feel tremendously stretched.


    However, the pain that he experienced from the extreme stretching this time wasn''t as serious as when he first swallowed the Spiritual Aura bestowing pill that was meant for only Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators. It was simply a great miracle that he hadn''t exploded into pieces from the roiling, swelling energy occupying every inch of his body, killing him off in the process.


    Then very quickly after the energy had abruptly filled up every inch of space of him, he began to operate the technique mentioned in the Spiritual Conversion Refinement method.


    ...


    A few hours later of using that technique, he was able to enter the half-step Mortal Spiritual stage.


    Xiao Lin whose eyes had opened had great shock in them. He couldn''t believe that the second Spiritual Aura bestowing pill that he took couldn''t even help him get into the Mortal Spiritual stage.


    "If that damned pill couldn''t even get me into the Mortal Spiritual stage, how many more would I have to take to get into the Mortal Spiritual stage?" Xiao Lin asked.


    He then shook his head and said "Hopefully, it will be just one more pill, or I will become angry and frustrated." He said further.


    But as he was complaining, he suddenly recalled that the Mortal Spiritual stage for him would be totally different from the others, simply due to the cultivation method that he was using to cultivate which was the superior, empyrean-grade Primordial Heretic Force spiritual cultivation art; an art that only god-level cultivators like the Demonic Blade King, Lin Shou Wen, and a few others at his cultivation level should use to cultivate to higher or advanced cultivation levels.


    From the astonishingly high quality of his dark Spiritual Energy, it would certainly take a lot of converted and refined Spiritual Energy gotten or derived from high-grade or peak-grade energy cultivation pills and other Spiritual Cultivation Resources to really advance in growth. But it was because of this insane quality and density of his dark Spiritual Energy that he was able to go one on one with cultivators higher up in the cultivation rank that he was in.


    Then he recalled one other thing that his previously damaged dantian had been transformed by the sealing power of his powerful, primordial Animal Spirit, which might probably cause his cultivation to be different from that of the rest.


    So, after thinking deeply of these two factors, he was able to arrive at a conclusion that his cultivation would absolutely be different from that of the rest.


    He then took another of those Spiritual Aura bestowing pills from the Jade Pill Box to continue cultivating. And this he continued to do till the sun set in this place, signifying that evening had come down upon them.


    2 hours later, a bang sound that only he could actually hear, rang out from within him. Then Xiao Lin opened his eyes to reveal a delighted gaze in them ¡ª Now, he had broken through into the 1st-layer Mortal Spiritual stage.

 Chapter 89 - Meeting The Obsidian Abdicator

    Many hours ago, around 9:30am in the morning...


    "What happened to this building? It just suddenly collapsed overnight." Someone who stood with close to about twenty people who were looking at the building that Xiao Lin caused to collapse, asked.


    "I don''t know. Perhaps it structure which had become very weak, eventually gave way to entirely crack and collapse" Another replied.


    "Well, perhaps the Townsmaster would send someone over to check what had really happened" Someone else said.


    "Yea, you are right about that. Well, I am leaving, this doesn''t concern me in any way. Bye, everyone. I want to go till the ground to get something for me and my family to eat" Another person said and then turned around to leave.


    Not long, everyone began to leave one after the other until it remained only one person who was looking at the heaps of rubbles which was formerly the old, deserted building with furrowed brows and an indescribable gaze in his eyes.


    "What really happened here?" He asked with deep puzzlement in his tone.


    "Those guys were still within when I left. So, what could have suddenly happened which then brought about the collapse of the building?" He asked again as he was trying to understand something.


    "Or were they attacked, with their attackers successfully killing them and then leveling the dilapidated building so that the dead bodies would be hidden away for the meantime?"


    Once he thought up to here, his eyes abruptly narrowed with an overwhelming killing intent beginning to erupt from within them.


    He then suddenly remembered something that caused the aura of wrath exuding from his body to become chaotic.


    "Oh no! My Jade Pill Box and the pouch of silver coins that I gave those useless fools." He cried out in anger.


    However, he remembered something that immediately caused him to become calm.


    "Before I gave those fools the Jade Pill Box, I engraved a powerful, Spiritual Tracking pattern into it using the Great Void and Unlimited Heaven Spiritual Tracking technique that my master, the Blood Arbiter transmitted to me when I inherited his legacy."


    "Besides, I did that because I couldn''t trust those guys completely. If they had ran off without completing the mission that I assigned to them, where would I trace them to? So, I placed the Spiritual Tracing pattern into it to be able to trace them down to wherever they would be if they didn''t fulfill the mission that I assigned to them."


    "Good! Now, I can trace the Jade Pill Box to wherever it would be. And since the Jade pill box would be with same attacker that killed those morons, I would also be able to retrieve the pouch of silver coins that I gave to those idiots from that person who attacked them."


    "However, the only issue now is that I would have to search for a new group of assassins who I can contract to do this job for me. But where would I find one so quickly? Ugh! When I get that attacker, I will make sure to torture the bastard and teach him or her to never steal things from other people in his or her next life" This person, who called himself the Obsidian Abdicator and was the second legacy disciple of the Blood Arbiter from the God and Devil Fighting sect, said with full arrogance in his eyes and swelling anger in his tone.


    Then he left where he was to return to where he came from to this place. And when he eventually arrived there, which was a tent that he raised in the small uncleared areas in the town some minutes later, he sat down in the cross-legged position and began to operate the Spiritual Tracing technique from the Great Void and Unlimited Heaven Tracking method.


    So, as he did so, a particular abstruse pattern appeared at the center of his forehead.


    Then immediately this complex pattern appeared, his eyes which were wide open as he utilized the Spiritual Tracing technique, began to glow in a milky white light. Then once his eyes began to glow in that light which made them seem like small white suns, a type of unexplainable power began to erupt from his entire body.


    Then once this power erupted from his body, the Obsidian Abdicator suddenly felt a strong, near-indestructible connection to the Jade Pill Box that was with Xiao Lin.


    Immediately he established a powerful connection to that pill box, a smile appeared in his face.


    He then nodded his head and stood to his feet to leave the self-raised tent that he was in.


    ...


    Evening, 7:30pm.


    Xiao Lin who didn''t know that the Obsidian Abdicator was coming for him because of the people that he killed, but mostly for the Jade Pill Box that he snatched, opened his eyes with a delighted gaze in them because of his success at entering into the Mortal Spiritual stage.


    He then stood to his feet from his cross-legged position on the ground and headed for the door to leave the room that he was in.


    Now, he had the intention to gather information from the mouth of people in the street that could be discussing about the latest happenings in this particular town.


    However, after walking for about eleven minutes, he could suddenly feel the spiteful and disgusted gaze of someone on his body.


    Xiao Lin who became amazed and bewildered by the type of gaze that he could perceive on his body, began to look around for where the gaze that he could detect on his body came from.


    Not long as he was looking around, the gaze suddenly vanished.


    "No. Don''t go yet!" Xiao Lin said as he was frantic at knowing who that was that gazed upon him in such a manner.


    Realizing that the gaze was gone, Xiao Lin exhaled unhappily. He was actually ready to trace the gaze to wherever it came from and then demand from that person why he was being stared at like that.


    However, he quickly raised his guard as he was slightly certain that the person that stared at him in that manner, would appear before him soon.


    Just as he raised his guards, someone appeared before him like a ghost and said with a cold smile hung in his lips.


    "So, it was you that dared to kill those morons that I assigned a mission to and even took the Jade Pill Box that I gave to them" The person that had suddenly appeared before him said with a cold and murderous gaze in his eyes.


    Xiao Lin then looked at the person that spoke and shook his head in awe and surprise.


    He was able to realize in the next instant that this person was the one that called himself the Obsidian Abdicator, and proudly claimed to be the second inheritance disciple of the Blood Arbiter from the God and Devil Fighting sect.


    ''How the hell was he able to trace me down here? But I demolished that damned building. Ugh! This is bad! This powerful guy would be insanely difficult to beat. Especially now that we are in the street, once we start fighting, Government officers will quickly appear to cease us before we can cause death or any sort of damage to the properties of people around us.''


    ''I guess I would have to run away from him with all my might. And I could possibly lead him to a place where government officer wouldn''t bother coming to check. I think that''s what I should do'' Xiao Lin said.


    Then to pretend like he didn''t understand what the Obsidian Abdicator was talking about, Xiao Lin quickly produced a strange expression in his face and said with total strangeness in his tone.


    "I am sorry, who are you? And what the hell do you mean by what you just said?" He asked.


    Then Xiao Lin continued "If you move away from my path, be prepared to moved by me."


    Hahaha!


    The Obsidian Abdicator suddenly burst into a raucous laughter that drew the attention of people walking up and down the street towards him.


    He then asked "You will what? You will move me?"


    Then he continued with an unseen aura of arrogance and vengeful fury which Xiao Lin could vaguely sense, beginning to emanate unceasingly from his body "I believe that you are not too blind to see that I am way above your cultivation level. You are just in the first-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, while I am in the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage. So, if we are asked who should move, that should be you... and after me like the dog-slave that you are, since you are practically powerless and useless before me, Li Chuang of the God and Devil Fighting sect"


    Xiao Lin looked at him and said indifferently and with a nonchalant tone in his voice "Are you done bragging? If you are, good! Now, bastard, get the heck out of my front. I have better things to do than exchange insulting words with some crackhead that was incredibly fortunate and privileged to reach the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage."

 Chapter 90 - Li Chuangs Terrifying Abilities And Prowess

    Immediately Xiao Lin said that, Li Chuang who also referred to himself as the Obsidian Abdicator, couldn''t help but have his eyes shine with awe and bewilderment, before it was abruptly replaced by anger.


    However, he surprisingly, calmly said in the next moment "Well, I don''t blame you. It''s because you don''t know who I am that makes you talk in such a bold and fearless manner. But assuming you knew who I am and where I am from, you will absolutely cower in fear, reverence and horror before me."


    Xiao Lin only smiled and said "I don''t have time for this. I have to go!"


    Then immediately he said that, he suddenly brought up his Super Speed ability and tried to quickly leave this place, or if they started fighting, he was absolutely certain that Li Chuang was quickly going to overpower and then subdue him. And once their battle caught the attention of patrolling law enforcers who would come dashing here to seize them both, it might really spell doom for him.


    Swoosh!


    Therefore, moving at a tremendously high speed using his Super Speed ability, swooshing sounds began to sound out as Xiao Lin tried his possible best to give a lot of gap between himself and Li Chuang, who also possessed the witnessed ability to move at a shocking ghostly speed.


    However, he couldn''t really go far, like he hadn''t even covered a distance of sixty feet when Li Chuang suddenly appeared before him and seized him by the neck with a killing gaze appearing in his eyes, and a murderous smile surfacing on his lips.


    "Bastard, don''t I have you in my grasp now? If I want to crush you to death, I can easily do so. Now, give me the Jade Pill Box that you took from those morons... In fact, I want your spatial ring. And as a punishment, you will cut off one of your legs and then one of your arms using your blade or sword. But if you don''t have those, you will bite them off using your teeth. Haha!" Li Chuang said enjoyably and laughed, while Xiao Lin who was amazed by Li Chuang''s movement speed, had his sharp-looking eyes emit a fierce and ferocious light.


    Then without wasting further time, Xiao Lin abruptly sent his claws that had quickly grown out of his fingers towards the left region of Li Chuang''s chest to pull out his heart.


    Bang!


    A loud metallic sound rang out when Xiao Lin''s claw struck the left area of Li Chuang''s chest.


    Li Chuang looked at his left chest and gave a smile.


    "You thought that could injure me?" He asked with a smile appearing in his face as he maintained his tight grasp of Xiao Lin''s neck.


    "Oh, wait! You were trying to pierce into my chest to pull out my heart? Haha! In your dreams, moron." He said.


    Then he continued "But assuming that worked, then all my years diligently studying and practicing the Invincible Primal Immortal Body cultivation technique was for nothing."


    Xiao Lin who was both shocked and amazed that his powerful, razor-sharp claws couldn''t pierce into Li Chuang''s body to pull out his heart, quickly began to think of what to do next, or Li Chuang was going to make him suffer for as long as he had him in his tight grasp.


    However, before any of them could do anything to the other, a law enforcer at the seventh-layer Mortal Spiritual stage who was walking towards them from far as he was busy, enthusiastically carrying out his patrol duties, suddenly noticed both Xiao Lin and Li Chuang from that distance that he stood to observe around.


    Then when he saw how Li Chuang grasped Xiao Lin who appeared really sick by the neck using his powerful vision, he immediately frowned at this and abruptly dashed towards them to quickly attack Li Chuang for assaulting a pale-skinned sick cultivator.


    Once he arrived before Li Chuang in less than an instant, he ordered with a loud tone "Release the brat from your grasp!"


    Li Chuang only looked at him indifferently and said with his lips curling into a cold and fierce smile "Hey, I am only trying to settle something. This useless street dog stole something from me which is very important to me. Now, I want to settle it myself."


    The law enforcer who wasn''t moved in anyway by what Li Chuang said, stated with fury in his tone "So, that means that you should take the law into your own hands, right?"


    Then he said further after calming himself "Well, if truly he stole something which is very important to you, then you can take him to the town''s law court where he would be duly punished for his crime. But taking the law into your own hands is something greatly frowned at by the Townsmaster."


    Then having said all that, he said with an authoritative tone in his voice "Release him to him. I will do a thorough investigation on the crime that you labeled him with!"


    Haha!


    Li Chuang unexpectedly broke into a raucous laughter.


    He then said with indifference and arrogance in his voice.


    "If you know what is good for you, you will immediately turn around and leave here this very moment at that insane speed that you used to move towards us"


    Once he said that, the officer had his eyes erupt with anger.


    Such disrespect to a government officer!


    Then without thinking twice, the law enforcer aimed his right hand at Li Chuang with a massive amounts of grey-colored Spiritual Energy erupting from it before abruptly turning into a grey-colored sword that shot towards Li Chuang''s arm to cut it off.


    However, when the sword condensed from Spiritual Energy struck his arm, only a metallic sound rang out.


    "What?" The eyes of the law enforcer widened in shock and astonishment.


    Such durability!


    The law enforcer couldn''t believe the toughness and resilience of Li Chuang''s skin, someone who was a layer below him in the cultivation rank that he was in.


    Then abruptly using a specialized battle technique from one of the various Spiritual Battle Arts given to them to study and practice by the government, the law enforcer pointed at Li Chuang once again.


    And as soon as he did so, a large stream of grey Spiritual Energy quickly discharged from it and then transformed into a ten-feet sword that began to emit a fearsome power of extreme perceptible sharpness.


    Once this sword appeared, it shot out towards Li Chuang who immediately caught it tip between his index and middle finger, abruptly stopping it in motion with near-effortlessness.


    Then closing his fingers tight against the sword and applying a little amount of force using his two fingers which caught the sword by the tip, the sword condensed from Spiritual Energy instantly exploded into thousands of bits.


    And without releasing Xiao Lin from his grasp, he pulled Xiao Lin along with him as he dashed towards the law enforcer.


    Then appearing in front of the law enforcer in less than an instant, he sent out a fist towards the law enforcer''s chest. And as his fist moved towards the law enforcer''s chest with a roar like it were a raging, hungry dragon, a lot of force which accompanied the fist caused the air around it to be pushed away.


    However, the law enforcer also quickly sent out his own fist towards the fist that Li Chuang brazenly sent out at him.


    BANG!


    Crack!


    As soon as their fists collided, the law enforcer''s arm instantly shattered apart, bursting into a mist of blood that caused the law enforcer''s pain.


    And because of the force that Li Chuang''s fist struck the law enforcer''s fist with, the law enforcer was carried off his feet and was heavily flung into the far distance where he crashed into the ground at many dozens of feet away. And once he landed, he began to cough out large mouthfuls of blood with a really strong ache afflicting his head.


    Actually, the residual impact force that transferred to his body from his fist which collided with Li Chuang''s own, transmitted throughout his entire body and caused his blood to begin to violently roil, while at the same time turning the rest of his organs into mush.


    Seeing what he had done, and realizing that other law enforcers might come for him very soon, he quickly dashed away from where he was with Xiao Lin in his grasp.


    Swoosh!


    He shot away at a great speed that even a 10th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage would have to work really hard to catch up with. And as he moved, he didn''t even leave behind after-images or a traceable blur of himself. He was simply like a ghost, appearing here and there at will like he was teleporting.


    Then after getting to a particular valley where he moved to for several hours seemingly tirelessly, he stopped abruptly and then flung Xiao Lin who was in grasp, far into the distance in this wilderness.


    He then said with an angered booming voice, "Fool, no one will come here to save you. Now, I will repeat again, surrender one of your arms and legs to me this moment, or risk severe humiliation and then a brutal death!"

 Chapter 91 - Suppressing His Cultivation Level To Xiao Lins Level

    Xiao Lin exhaled deeply.


    He then said inwardly ''This guy is very strong. I couldn''t even do anything when he grasped me. Furthermore, his skin is tough. Way tougher than my own. I doubt if the toughness of my skin when I enter my true vampire form would be able to match up to his.''


    Xiao Lin then said "Li Chuang, or whatever you call yourself, I have no blade nor a sword with me. You can give me yours so that I can do what you requested of me"


    Haha!


    Li Chuang burst into a raucous laughter.


    "Trying to outsmart your way out of this?!" He asked.


    He then said in an indifferent tone in the next moment "Like I said before that enforcer came to disturb our chat, use your teeth to bite off one of your hands and legs."


    "Well, I am sorry. I can''t do that!" Xiao Lin said.


    Once Xiao Lin said that, Li Chuang''s eyes narrowed while anger began to erupt from it.


    He then said "You must want to die!"


    Xiao Lin however gave no response to what he said.


    Li Chuang who felt that he was ignored suddenly dashed towards Xiao Lin who had great difficulty seeing him.


    Then once he appeared before Xiao Lin, he punched out his powerful fist towards Xiao Lin''s chest.


    Boom!


    A deafening boom sound rang out as soon as his fist struck Xiao Lin''s chest. Then because of the force that the fist struck Xiao Lin''s chest with, Xiao Lin was instantly hurled away from where he stood and to a shocking distance of more than twenty feet. And this was just from a single punch that really didn''t carry a lot of power.


    As soon as Xiao Lin landed to the ground, he began to cough out mouthfuls of blood. The powerful force that transferred from his chest to the rest of his body when Li Chuang''s fist connected with it, caused his blood within to begin to roil so violently that they wanted to burst out of his body like powerful geysers.


    Li Chuang''s punch could have either pierced through or blasted a large hole in Xiao Lin''s chest if it was more focused. But since it wasn''t, it became a punch that could only project a certain amount of force that caused Xiao Lin to be shot off his feet and then through the air like he were a speeding arrow that was furiously fired from a powerful bow.


    Not long, the blood that seethed within Xiao Lin''s body stopped. He then tried standing back to his feet.


    However, as soon as he thought of doing so, his body raised itself to stand firmly on the ground from his lying position.


    Li Chuang who saw this became amazed and then brushed it off. He had seen many more amazing things since he came from a higher continent.


    Then without giving Xiao Lin time to rest or say anything, he appeared before him again in the blink of an eye and then sent out a powerful slap towards his face.


    Pah!


    As soon as the slap hit Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin was knocked off his feet and further into the distance for about three feet where he crashed into the solid earth beneath them with his back.


    Thud!


    Then landing with a heavy thud, the air in his lungs were forcefully expelled out of them as he slammed hard right into the ground from that slap.


    But before he could think of standing, Li Chuang had appeared before him once again. And as soon as he appeared before Xiao Lin, Li Chuang sent out his feet towards Xiao Lin''s head and then kicked him away like he were a ball.


    Bang!


    Swoosh!


    Immediately one of his feet struck Xiao Lin''s head, a bang sound rang out which was immediately accompanied by a loud swoosh sound as Xiao Lin''s body shot through the air like an actual projectile to a distance of ten feet.


    Li Chuang then abruptly jumped into the air towards Xiao Lin. Then as soon as he appeared above Xiao Lin in the air at a height of thirteen feet, he unexpectedly bent his two knees and then tried landing with them on Xiao Lin''s chest so as to deliver more damage which would result in pain.


    However, before he could land with them on Xiao Lin''s chest, Xiao Lin who had quickly recovered from the pain of having his head kicked tremendously hard, quickly rolled away from the spot at which Li Chuang''s knees would plunge and heavily strike him.


    Bang!


    Li Chuang''s knees struck the ground and unbelievably caused a wide and shallow crater to appear on the surface of the earth. Then around this crater that he caused with his knees, could be seen cracks that extended into the distance, seeming as if were a massive web-like crack when viewed from up.


    Xiao Lin who had skilfully evaded the deadly, double knee-strike to his chest and then resisted the pressurized, strong currents of air that resulted from Li Chuang''s knees heavily impacting the ground with a lot of force and then breaking it apart, quickly pushed his entire body off the ground and into the air using his back.


    And once he did this, where he was now many inches above the earth surface, he quickly sent out a powerful kick towards Li Chuang''s face who quickly tried to block the kick by putting his arms vertically and tightly in front of his face.


    Bang!


    Immediately Xiao Lin''s kicking leg made contact with Li Chuang''s vertically-placed blocking arms, a bang sound rang out which was instantly accompanied by a small discharge of air that rushed out in all directions, giving the feeling that a small, localized blast had occurred.


    However, due to the impossible and amazing strength in Li Chuang''s arms, and the shocking toughness and resilience of his body, Li Chuang didn''t even move away from his spot. It was like he was kicked by nothing. While Xiao Lin who sent out that kick that would surely shatter a small piece of rock, was displaced from his position as the reaction force that surfaced upon impacting Li Chuang''s arms, acted on him alone by pushing him off into the distance.


    At the moment, his outfit had been entirely dyed brown by the sands of the earth which his body was dragged upon and into the distance by the force that acted on him, anytime he was hit or kicked by Li Chuang who was only having fun with him and trying his best to humiliate him.


    ...


    "Had enough yet? Or you want more?" Li Chuang who had appeared before Xiao Lin asked.


    "I don''t want more. And I haven''t had enough" Xiao Lin answered.


    "I see." Li Chuang said with his eyes narrowing.


    He then continued after noticing some few things about Xiao Lin "You must have a tough body too, seeing how you haven''t died or directly slipped into the unconscious or vegetative state from those lethal punches and kicks that I sent out at you."


    "Ah, I am glad that you finally noticed." Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further with a serious gaze in his eyes "If not that you are at the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage and I at the first-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, do you think that you can be match? Absolutely not, Obsidian Abdicator, or whatever you call yourself."


    "You have simply brought shame and dishonor to the grand title that your master or teacher gave to you by taking great pride and excessive delight in beating someone that''s far lower to you in cultivation ranking."


    "Or didn''t your master teach you about virtue and dignity? Ah, I guess not!" Xiao Lin said out loud and then spat out spitefully and in a disrespectful manner to anger Li Chuang who was already intensely furious at the statements that he deliberately made.


    Xiao Lin could have called upon his primordial Animal Spirit to supply him with more strength and make him more fierce in this present battle, as he could borrow small to large streams of it primal Spiritual Power. But sadly, he couldn''t so. And, although his Battle Beast Spirit''s Spiritual Power was still weak and might be useless against somebody like Li Chuang, it was still however something that would greatly enhance his strength, speed and other attributes of his. But alas, his Animal Spirit was weak and was slumbering to recover it strength and might.


    And, Xiao Lin also didn''t want to turn into his true vampiric form, as he didn''t want Li Chuang who he understood that he would definitely unable to kill due to his insane physical strength and astonishingly durable body, to pose a huge problem to him in future, as he was sure that this proud and arrogant person would definitely gather large numbers of search parties and then assassins or bounty hunters to hunt for him here and there, not giving him to rest and properly cultivate which could result in the weaning and tanking of his strength and abilities.


    ...


    Li Chuang who had an angry expression in his face, unexpectedly said with an incomprehensible, creepy smile hanging down from his dark lips "I will suppress my cultivation rank to your trashy level. Let''s see if truly you can beat me and that I was only bullying you then. Haha."

 Chapter 92 - Truce

    Xiao Lin looked at him and said "Yea, let''s see if you can really beat me after suppressing your cultivation level to mine"


    Once Xiao Lin said that, Li Chuang nodded his head. He then closed his eyes to focus on what he wanted to do.


    With his eyes closed, he began to perform gestures as he operated a technique called the Cultivation Suppression technique.


    Immediately Li Chuang performed the last gesture which only took a few seconds in total for him to fully execute the gestures of that particular technique, Xiao Lin who was watching him from where he stood, became slightly astonished as the cultivation level that he perceived from Li Chuang, began to drop rapidly.


    Then when Li Chuang''s cultivation rank dropped to the first-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, it stopped.


    "I have done so. Now, let''s fight!" Li Chuang said with an aura of battle beginning to emanate furiously from his body.


    Then all of a sudden, he leaped towards Xiao Lin from where he was. And immediately he arrived before Xiao Lin, he abruptly sent out a punch towards his face.


    However, Xiao Lin who had understood that Li Chuang had a great, close-quarter fighting prowess, and was quick and agile, quickly twisted his body to the right to evade the incoming punch that Li Chuang sent out at him.


    Once he dodged the punch, he quickly brought up one of his knee to his chest level and then instantly kicked it out with a lot of force towards Li Chuang''s chest to knock him flying.


    Bang!


    However, Li Chuang who had an amazingly tough body, couldn''t even be knocked or pushed backward by the immense force that Xiao Lin''s leg struck him with. Rather, it was Xiao Lin who was knocked off-balance, as he began to stagger backwards from the reaction force that acted on him alone.


    Li Chuang was simply like a solid and thick wall of steel.


    ''What sort of damned resilient body is this?! It felt so much like I kicked out against a nigh-indestructible living statue. I really have to cultivate my body too when I am able to successfully escape from this guy!'' Xiao Lin said inwardly with a sense of great urgency in his tone.


    Then once he regained his balance after staggering backwards for many feet, he quickly aimed his two hands out at Li Chuang and abruptly expelled violently seething streams of Hermetic Demonic Energy from the both of them.


    The moment that the streams of Hermetic Demonic Energy gushed out from his two palms, they instantly transformed into two dark scarlet blades that were each four feet wide and ten feet long.


    Then as soon as the blades which gave off thin auras of frightening sharpness from their entire edges formed, they instantly shot out towards Li Chuang to impale him.


    But the moment that Xiao Lin expelled Hermetic Demonic Energy from his hands, Li Chuang also did the same by releasing Spiritual Energy from his hands which instantly transformed into a solid and heavy hammer that he wielded like he was a belligerent, warring god of hammer.


    Then with a fearless and confident smile appearing in his face as Xiao Lin''s lethal energy attacks shot out towards him, he unexpectedly dashed towards the incoming dark scarlet blades and then smashed out heavily at them with the huge hammer grasped in his powerful hands.


    BANG!


    BANG!


    Two loud bang sounds rang out as the attacks that Xiao Lin sent out, instantly shattered into tens of thousands of fragments like they were mirrors that were struck hard by stones when the hammer that Li Chuang wielded, clashed with them.


    Then once Li Chuang had reduced Xiao Lin''s blade-shaped attacks to many pieces, he unexpectedly lifted the Spiritual Energy hammer that he wielded above his head and suddenly hurled it out of his hands towards Xiao Lin to inflict him with a great injury.


    The hammer which didn''t sustain a single mark or crack from smashing into the dreadful blades that Xiao Lin sent out, shot through the air like an actual arrow fired from a powerful bow towards Xiao Lin.


    But quickly comprehending the kind of power that the hammer was shooting towards him with, Xiao Lin quickly packed power into both of his legs and then rapidly launched himself into the air like a spear launched towards the sky by a powerful giant.


    Then once he got to a height where he was more than fifteen feet above the ground, he twisted his body and quickly went into an aerial cartwheel before landing back to the ground some feet away from Li Chuang.


    The instant he landed, he quickly punched out and instantly expelled a stream of Spiritual Energy from his fist which abruptly copied his form and then instantly transformed into a massive, dark black fist that radiated great pressure and an intimidating subduing force.


    Swoosh!


    Shooting towards Li Chuang like an actual cannonball fired from a powerful cannon, the immense dark scarlet fist arrived before Li Chuang in the next instant.


    But before it could impact him, Li Chuang who was quick and was a fast-thinker, abruptly punched out with his fist towards the dark scarlet fist that had arrived before him with an intent to seemingly collapse and ravage all things in it path.


    BOOM!


    Like a small, localized explosion occurred, Li Chuang was sent flying by the dark scarlet fist that impacted his fist with a tremendous amount of force upon their collision.


    However, the fist that Xiao Lin sent out in mid-air towards Li Chuang, couldn''t really do much damage to Li Chuang''s body as it was astonishingly tough and durable.


    And at the moment, the solid, dark scarlet fist formed from Hermetic Demonic Energy that Xiao Lin sent out, had instantly splintered about in thousands of places like it were a large mirror that was struck hard by something heavy.


    Li Chuang who had crashed into the earth many feet away from the backward pushing force that suddenly acted on him upon the collision of his fist with the energy fist that Xiao Lin sent out in mid-air towards him, abruptly did a kip-up with his back alone to get back on his feet.


    Once he did that, where he now stood firmly on his feet, he gazed at Xiao Lin intensely and said "Amazing, so your Spiritual Energy is this powerful? I am impressed. But not too impressed. My younger brother can do far better than that! Haha!"


    Immediately he said that and produced a carefree laugher in the next instant, he unexpectedly said "Get ready to experience one of my supreme attacking skill!"


    Then he abruptly aimed out one of his hands at Xiao Lin and unleashed a cyan-colored stream of Spiritual Energy.


    Once the energy erupted very quickly from that hand in a massive amount, it instantly transformed into a large cyan scissor that began to radiate an overwhelming and suppressive pressure, then a peculiar and dreadful power that caused Xiao Lin to develop chills in his body at where he stood.


    The instant that it formed, it abruptly shot out towards Xiao Lin to impact him.


    However, just before the attack could strike him, Xiao Lin who had quickly understood that there was nothing he could really do against such an overpowering attack, quickly recalled both the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade from within his dantian to his hands.


    Then as soon as the blades appeared in his hand with the scissor-shaped attack also appearing before him in that same instant, Xiao Lin quickly slashed out with the blades at the attack.


    BOOM!


    Li Chuang''s fearsome attack which couldn''t withstand the deity-cutting laceration power of the two blades that struck out at it simultaneously and with a lot of power, quickly lost it form and instantly exploded into thousands of pieces. And as soon as it exploded, it produced a powerful blast wave which stuck Xiao Lin and sent him flying into the distance.


    However, Xiao Lin who had quickly returned the blades back to his dantian, quickly folded his legs as his body shot backwards through the air at a great speed like he were a furiously thrown spear.


    Then once he did this, his body turned around in the air like a wheel and then he forced himself to land back to the ground with his feet firmly placed on the floor.


    Li Chuang who remained where he was looked at Xiao Lin with a smile in his face.


    He then shouted from where he was at Xiao Lin "Hey, great fighting prowess you have there. Besides, nice blades. Where did you get them from? They are beautiful and at the same time, powerful. I saw how they easily reduced my attack to nothing."


    Xiao Lin looked at him coldly and said with a heavy tone in his voice "Where I got my blades from isn''t none of your concern. And why don''t you mind what you are here for?"


    Haha!


    Li Chuang only laughed.


    He then said with his dark lips curling into a smile "Alright. I won''t fight you again. You have proved yourself worthy and powerful to me. Besides, the blades in your hands, upon their swift appearances, caused my sword to become oppressed. I sensed that, and I don''t know why. But I have a feeling that you possess a powerful legacy. So, why don''t you and I become friends, brothers of swords and blades that will battle the whole world to accomplish their goals?"

 Chapter 93 - Li Chuangs Mission

    Once Li Chuang said that, Xiao Lin looked at him with a shocked gaze in his eyes.


    Then he asked to confirm what he heard "You want us to become friends?"


    "Yes. Or you don''t like the idea of that?" Li Chuang asked with a smile in his face.


    Xiao Lin then exhaled.


    Then after quickly thinking of so many things, he looked at Li Chuang and said "Alright. I agree."


    Then he continued with a cold, intense gaze in his eyes as he stared at Li Chuang "But don''t think that I becoming your friend means that I will tell you any of my secrets. You keep yours, I keep mine. No sharing of secrets between us because we have become friends. I don''t want to know what makes you strong and powerful and neither do you."


    Haha!


    Li Chuang laughed.


    He then said "Sure. I won''t do that. Besides, I am not the type to ask after how a friend is able to exhibit a shocking level of power. Although I asked you earlier where you got your blades from, I was only curious. However, that won''t repeat itself again."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Li Chuang then asked "What''s your name? I would like to know the name of my other brother of swords and blades."


    Xiao Lin gave a slight nod of his head. He then said "My name''s Chang Wu. And it''s nice knowing you, Li Chuang"


    Li Chuang nodded his head.


    He then said "Nice becoming your friend, brother Wu. And I hope that our brotherhood and friendship will last till our death"


    "Hmm" Xiao Lin uttered and nodded his head.


    Li Chuang then said "So, brother Wu, apart from your name, what other name would you like me to call you? I mean, do you have a nickname or like a a moniker that you would want me to call you?"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then said "Yea, I have one. You can call me Bladestroke."


    "Hmm. That''s a cool name, brother Wu" Li Chuang said while Xiao Lin produced a slight nod of his head.


    "So, what sect are you from? Or what establishment are you a member of?" Li Chuang asked.


    "Well, I am a rogue cultivator. I don''t belong to anyone at the moment." Xiao Lin replied.


    "Really? That''s simply great, brother Wu. With your stunning fighting talent and Battle Skills, you will surely prosper at my God and Devil Fighting sect."


    "You know, as an unaffiliated cultivator, you could actually go one on one with me, the second legacy disciple of the Blood Arbiter and even beat me to some extent. So, if you can do all that without studying under a master or a teacher, then you will quickly rise to fame and power at my sect when you have been trained by the venerate, godly teachers at my sect and would have gone through many challenges and then the purpose-defining Trials of Fire and Storm" Li Chuang said, trying his best to convince Xiao Lin.


    He then continued with an amiable smile appearing in his face "So, would you like to go with me to my sect when I am done here with the task that I came to this part of the world for?"


    But immediately after he asked that, Xiao Lin gave a strong rejection response.


    "But why, brother Wu? You would only waste away your talent and skills as a rogue cultivator in case you don''t know. So, I will advise that you come with me to my sect where your battle prowess will be tremendously honed and sharpened to the extreme." Li Chuang surprisingly said in an imploring tone.


    However, as soon as he said that, Xiao Lin shook his head again.


    He then quickly said before Li Chuang could say anything further "Actually, brother Chuang, I still want to explore the world for sometime myself before I would think of joining any sect or organization. Please don''t be offended by my obstinacy."


    "I see" Li Chuang said with a light of understanding shining within his eyes.


    He then nodded his head and said "Actually, I took no offense, brother Wu. I was only intensely amazed at why you will refuse such an offer without hesitation. Haha! But it''s cool anyways. Besides, I like the fact that you want to explore many areas by yourself before becoming affiliated to an organization or sect"


    "Okay. Thanks for understanding, brother Wu" Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further "I guess it''s time to return your Jade Pill Box to you then."


    Haha!


    Li Chuang unexpectedly laughed.


    He then said "Please, don''t do that. It was something that you took for yourself after killing those lots, brother Wu. So, please dispel the idea of trying to return the Jade Pill Box to me. Besides, there''s many of where that came from. And furthermore, I will never try to collect something from a friend turned brother or a stranger turned brother"


    "Hmm. Thank you, brother Chuang" Xiao Lin said sincerely while Li Chuang only nodded his head.


    Xiao Lin then asked "Although you have already introduced yourself to me during our earlier battle as the Obsidian Abdicator, however what other nickname or moniker would you like for me to call you?"


    "Hmm. Well, you are right about that, brother Wu. I don''t want that name to be known to too many people in a particular area, or some powerful ancient beings whom I have arrogantly offended to the bones will certainly arrive in that area for my blood, vitality and life. I mean, they will come down there to seek for my death. Haha!" Li Chuang said and grinned softly. But when he visualized what those beings could do to him if they eventually caught him, he stopped laughing with a dim glow of dread manifesting in his eyes.


    Xiao Lin who saw the fear and terror that abruptly surfaced in Li Chuang''s eyes and then disappeared in a flash, asked "Oh, so Spirit Sovereign-stage cultivators are seeking for you? Haha! That''s great of you, brother Chuang. That''s some feat I might never be able to pull"


    Li Chuang who heard what Xiao Lin said only broke a slight smile in his face.


    He then said "Actually, it''s not really a feat. It was just that I killed some of their favorite legacy disciples and used their blood to feed my master''s Ironcleaver sword. Then I took their spatial rings which contained some of the exceedingly rare and costly, self-forged treasures that their Legacy Masters and Inheritance Teachers passed down to them as gifts."


    "Oh. That was absolutely daring of you, brother Wu. I hope to become like you someday. Haha" Xiao Lin said and laughed.


    However, he had already known all these when Li Chuang was speaking to Lightwind and the rest of his colleagues in that old and abandoned building on why he wouldn''t be able to come out and do the elephantine task that requested them to help him accomplish and be handsomely paid off.


    Li Chuang only gave a slight smile after hearing what Xiao Lin said.


    He then spoke "So, concerning the moniker that you want to call me, just call me White Tiger Sword"


    "Hmm. That''s also a cool name, brother Chuang. So, White Tiger Sword it is then." Xiao Lin said while Li Chuang broke a smile in his face as he nodded his head.


    He then said "Actually, it was my master, the Blood Arbiter that gave me that name. I didn''t give myself that name."


    "Oh really? That''s nice!" Xiao Lin said.


    But he was stunned to the depth of his distrusting heart that Li Chuang could actually tell him to call him the name that only his master knew and called him.


    "Yea. He gave me that nickname because he could perceive a stifling, vague aura of Slaughter that near-completely resembled that of the White Tiger spirit emanating from my body, anytime I fought using the sealed Ironcleaver sword that he passed to me." Li Chuang responded.


    "Wow. Okay" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    Now, he was beginning to understand a lot of things about Li Chuang.


    Li Chuang who wasn''t fazed about telling Xiao Lin a little bit more about himself, continued with a slightly displeased expression appearing in his face "But I hate being the second legacy disciple to my master. I want to be the first and be presented that mighty and beautiful sword called the Heavenly Desolation God and Devil Fighting Sword that my master wants to give to his first legacy disciple in twelve years time after he has completed his limit and perseverance training in the vast and hidden, Red Spirit Wilderness that my master created himself"


    "Oh!" Xiao Lin exclaimed in surprise.


    Then before he could speak, Li Chuang said further "So, that''s why I am here to entirely unseal the Ironcleaver sword using the blood of many people that will gather at a legacy ground of some expert from this town. Once I can get the sword to awaken and pulse with the tremendous power that it possesses, I will be able to use it majestic and domineering power to fight the first legacy disciple of my master and snatch that position for myself."


    "Hmm." Xiao Lin uttered and nodded his head.


    He then looked at Li Chuang with a determined gaze in his eyes and unexpectedly said "Give me more of those Spiritual Aura bestowing pills, and I will help you acquire the bloods of the thousands of people that you want to use in unsealing your Ironcleaver sword."

 Chapter 94 - Cultivating His Body (1)

    Once Xiao Lin said that, Li Chuang shook.


    "Really?" He asked.


    "Yea." Xiao Lin replied.


    "Wow. You do really want to help me. But I am certain that you will have a motive behind this." Li Chuang said and looked at Xiao Lin who only smiled.


    "Yea. Something like that" Xiao Lin said.


    "Wow. Thanks for being concerned about me." Li Chuang said.


    He then continued "I will pay you, brother Wu, handsomely for this."


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin laughed lightly.


    He then grasped his hand in front of him and said "Thank you, brother Chuang"


    Li Chuang only nodded his head and produced a bigger Jade Pill Box from his spatial ring which he immediately threw at Xiao Lin.


    Xiao Lin caught it with a smile appearing in his face and then opened the box''s lid to see it content.


    Then when he saw about twenty four Spiritual Aura bestowing pills in it which emitted a stronger presence than the one that was given to Lightwind whom he killed back at that old building, Xiao Lin eyes became filled with astonishment and delight.


    He then raised his head to look at Li Chuang and said "Thank you, brother Chuang"


    Li Chuang only nodded his head with a slight smile appearing in his face.


    He then said "Brother Wu, let me leave you to go prepare for the great task ahead of you."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and said "Alright, brother Chuang."


    "But how would I be able to contact you when I am done with the task?" Xiao Lin quickly asked before Li Chuang will disappear in a flash.


    "Oh. Here take this" Li Chuang said as he produced a glowing, prism-shaped crystal from his spatial ring and stretched it towards Xiao Lin who immediately accepted it.


    Li Chuang then turned around and dashed away at a lightning speed, leaving Xiao Lin behind.


    "What a crazy movement speed" Xiao Lin said with awe in his eyes.


    "I guess it''s time for me to get out of here too" He said further and then prepared to leave the wilderness that he was.


    Swoosh!


    He abruptly dashed away at a high speed back to the inn that he was staying.


    ...


    After many hours of tirelessly moving at a high speed, he eventually arrived at the inn before it would clock 11pm.


    Then when he arrived in his room and sat down on the floor in the cross-legged position, he produced the bigger Jade Pill Box that Li Chuang gave to him and began to look at it.


    "Their presences are much more stronger than the ones that I killed and took from Lightwind" Xiao Lin said.


    He then continued "These should be able to work better than those ones and might help me to break into higher layers of the Mortal Spiritual stage."


    Nodding his head in glee at what he just thought about within him, he closed the box''s lid and stowed it back into his spatial ring.


    He then closed his eyes and began to go through the Battle Skills that he had once read through in the past.


    But not long, he stopped with a contemplative gaze appearing in his eyes.


    "I need to cultivate my body too. I have to make it as solid and resilient as a nigh-indestructible statue." He said.


    He then continued "Just like Li Chuang whose body could surprisingly withstand the piercing power of my razor-sharp claws, I have to make my body as hard and tough as possible so that it would be able to withstand the numerous, fearsome attacks of high offensive power which would be launched at me by fierce, higher-ranked cultivators that I might come across in my journey to become the strongest."


    Then after thinking all these, Xiao Lin abruptly shut his eyes to begin to go through his memory. And not long, he was able to recall a particular body cultivation art that was sent to him by the Demonic Blade King.


    ''Great Apocalyptic Perverse Invincibility Body Scripture''


    When Xiao Lin saw this particular art in his memory, he gave a wide smile. But not because he saw the special body-cultivating art, but because it was an empyrean-level Body-Cultivation Method. He absolutely felt that it was one that should rank higher in power and profoundness than the one that Li Chuang studied. And from this statement, one should be able to infer that Xiao Lin had subconsciously made Li Chuang his true opponent, as he was really too strong and powerful for him to overwhelm and subdue.


    As soon as the art appeared in his head, Xiao Lin quickly sent his mind into it to begin to go through it.


    Then many minutes later after reading through the Introduction aspect of the art, he was able to understand that the art was one that he would have to use the Spiritual Energy that he cultivated using the Primordial Heretic Force spiritual cultivation art to really execute.


    With a glad nod of his head, he dived further into it so that he could understand what the art really entailed and if there were stages attributed to the cultivation of the body using the special art.


    So, after he delved further, he came across a part that began to explain the first few stages for the art.


    ''Mortal-Surpassing Bronze Body - 1,000 Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    ''Mortal-Surpassing Silver Body - 5000 Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    ''Mortal-Surpassing Golden Body - 10,000 Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    ''Peak Mortal-Surpassing Golden Body - 100,000 Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    ___


    Earth-Subduing Body cultivation stage requires the Minor Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    And 100,000 Spiritual Energy Revolutions = 1 Minor Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    Therefore:


    ''Earth-Subduing Bronze Body - 1,000 Minor Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    ''Earth-Subduing Silver Body - 5,000 Minor Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    ''Earth-Subduing Golden Body - 10,000 Minor Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    ''Supreme Earth-Subduing Golden Body - 100,000 Minor Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    ___


    Sky-Suppressing Body cultivation stage requires the Major Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    And 100,000 Minor Spiritual Energy Revolutions = 1 Major Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    Therefore:


    ''Sky-Suppressing Bronze Body - 1,000 Major Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    ''Sky-Suppressing Silver Body - 5,000 Major Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    ''Sky-Suppressing Golden Body - 10,000 Major Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    ''Supreme Sky-Suppressing Golden Body - 100,000 Major Spiritual Energy Revolutions


    ___


    ''Heaven-Annihilating Body cultivation stage requires the Chaotic Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    And 100,000 Major Spiritual Energy Revolutions = 1 Chaotic Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    Therefore:


    ''Heaven-Annihilating Bronze Body - 1,000 Chaotic Spiritual Energy Revolutions


    ''Heaven-Annihilating Silver Body - 5,000 Chaotic Spiritual Energy Revolutions


    ''Heaven-Annihilating Golden Body - 10,000 Chaotic Spiritual Energy Revolutions


    ''Supreme Heaven-Annihilating Golden Body - 100,000 Chaotic Spiritual Energy Revolutions''


    ...


    Xiao Lin stopped here and then heavily exhaled.


    "I have got lot of work to do now" He said and nodded his head.


    Right now as he tried to cultivate his body, he will first have to run the Spiritual Conversion Refinement technique mentioned in the Primordial Heretic Force to turn the frost-white Spiritual Energy gotten from the Spiritual Aura bestowing pills into his dark-colored Spiritual Energy.


    Then after accomplishing that, he would now have to infuse the dark Spiritual Energy into the tissues of his skin first, before trying to permeate the smaller delicate organs in his body and then the numerous arteries and veins that branched about within his body using the Spiritual Energy Cyclic Infusion technique described in the Great Apocalyptic Perverse Invincibility Body Scripture.


    "Thankfully, I have a good amount of Spiritual Aura bestowing pills with me. With them, I should be able to take the toughness of my body from it normal inherent level to the Mortal-Surpassing Bronze Body stage which only requires about 1,000 Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions.''


    Once he thought this, he slightly nodded his head and then closed his eyes to begin cultivation of his body.


    Then with the Jade Pill Box now placed in front of him, he took one out of it and then threw it into his mouth. And as soon as he swallowed the pill down to his stomach, the pill instantly dissolved and rapidly produced a large amount of Spiritual Energy that caused him to feel greatly swollen.


    "Arghh!" He groaned loudly in pain.


    This time, even after he had adapted to the stretching effect of his body by the frost-white Spiritual Energy that would be yielded by the Spiritual Aura bestowing pills upon dissolving in his stomach, still caused his body to feel greatly stretched, making him feel like he was going to explode soon.


    Then quickly operating the Spiritual Conversion Refinement technique, he began to turn the frost-white Spiritual Energy in his body into the dark-colored Spiritual Energy that could be found in massive amounts in his dantian.


    Once he had produced that dark-colored Spiritual Energy, causing his excessively swollen body to lessen in size, he swiftly began to move wisps after wisps of the energy to the tissues of his skin were they began to revolve very fast under the power of his mental influence.


    Right now, he had begun operating the Spiritual Energy Cyclic Infusion technique mentioned in the empyrean-grade, body-cultivation art.

 Chapter 95 - Cultivating His Body (2)

    After many hours of doing that, he was able to create a hundred Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions using the Spiritual Energy Cyclic Infusion technique that he was operating.


    However, as he was operating the technique, the tissues of his skin constantly exploded and shredded off as they couldn''t really withstand the revolutions of the powerful energy being infused to them.


    However, as they shredded and exploded off, new ones quickly grew back. And this was because of Xiao Lin''s powerful regeneration ability.


    Then the new ones which had adapted to the revolutions of the energy being infused into them, became stronger and tougher.


    They were beginning to adapt to the revolutions of the energy revolving within them.


    Although some still ripped away to show his bones with blood instantly spilling out, the ripped portions of his skin however instantly regrew.


    Then the regrown portion became more powerful that it was able to resist the tearing effect of the revolutions of the Spiritual Energy.


    And as this happened, his skin became tougher that it would be able to withstand some powerful attacks that would thrown at him.


    Not long, the frost-white Spiritual Energy in his body was used up. And he was only able to create more than a hundred and thirty Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    Seeing that he had used up the Spiritual Energy that filled his body and stretched it to the maximum, he picked up another Spiritual Aura bestowing pill and swallowed it.


    Once the pill got to his stomach after swallowing it down, it turned into a huge amounts of frost-white Spiritual Energy that filled his entire body and stretched it once again.


    Immediately the energy filled his body, he began to operate the Spiritual Conversion Refinement technique that turned the frost-white Spiritual Energy in his body into the dark-colored Spiritual Energy in his dantian.


    And when wisps of the dark-colored Spiritual Energy began to appear, he began to infuse them into the flesh of his body where they began to revolve.


    Then as soon as they began to revolve, the flesh of his skin began to tear away once again. But as they tore away, they became tougher and denser.


    ...


    He did this from that night till morning then till the next night again.


    Xiao Lin never stopped for once when trying to cultivate his body.


    So, after cultivating for ten days and using up the entire Spiritual Aura bestowing pills in the Jade Pill box, he was able to break into the Mortal-Surpassing Bronze Body in his body cultivation.


    Once he entered this stage, his body lit up with an intense bronze glow before dimming. And once the glow emitted from his body, he felt his flesh becoming stronger and powerful than normal. He felt it getting tighter and denser.


    At the moment, he felt like he could shatter an entire mountain with his fist. However, this wasn''t true anyways, it was only a feeling. But still, Xiao Lin was intensely glad. And he fell in love with this majestic feeling.


    He then understood that with time, his body would become tougher that it would be able to withstand numerous powerful attacks from higher-ranked cultivators. And at that instant, he began to imagine himself using his bare, unprotected palm to block the attacks of cultivators that can turn ranges of mountains into splinters.


    "Good!" He said delightedly.


    Then when he recalled the amazing toughness of Li Chuang''s body, his brows furrowed.


    "I don''t think I can still take physical strikes from him with my body alone. Well, with time, I will get there." He said with a resolute tone in his voice.


    "But at the moment, I think I would have to find a way of getting more Spiritual Aura bestowing pills from him. If not, there will no hope for me to break through into the Mortal-Surpassing Silver Body stage in my body cultivation." He said further with a mischievous smile in his face.


    After he ended his train of thoughts here, he began to go through the other Battle Arts branded to his memory.


    ...


    This he did until a particular day in the evening when a massive arc of brilliant, azure-colored fire that stretched for as far as the eyes could see, suddenly appeared in the sky.


    Once this happened, people who knew what this phenomenon symbolized, had their eyes glow, especially that of the cultivators who had been patiently waiting for the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm archer to be opened.


    "Haha! It''s finally open" One from a particular sect and was within an inn with many other cultivators like him, said and laughed. While the others who were in with him had their eyes glitter with gladness.


    "Yes, Ji Han, we can finally go in and take what should be ours. Haha" Another said while the male called Ji Han, who was a hefty-looking male with a short hair that was dyed crimson, and had numerous animal and strange shape tattoos all over his body, nodded his head gleefully.


    However, not only these people were glad by the opening of the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer. Many others who were around in various rooms in different inns across the town, nodded their heads with happiness in their hearts.


    "After waiting this long, it has finally opened. I wonder what forces control the opening and closing of the legacy ground? Haha!" A beautiful female dressed in a scarlet gown that was embroidered with many beautiful patterns, which therefore further complimented her attractiveness as it made her appear as a rare beauty, said to the girls in the massive room that she was in and laughed.


    "Yes, sister Chu Lian, I wonder what forces determine the opening and closing of the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer" Another female said.


    And since the azure flaming arc had appeared in the sky to alert everyone who had interest in the legacy ground about it opening, people started preparing towards it.


    Xiao Lin who was busy trying his best to comprehend the other battle methods that he had studied in the past, suddenly felt the phenomenon that had appeared in the evening sky.


    Although he didn''t know what it was, he however felt that something great was about to happen in the town.


    Then when his eyes snapped open, he stood to his feet from his cross-legged position and walked towards the window to see what had appeared and caused a strange feeling in him.


    As soon as he opened the window of his room, he saw a massive arc of azure fire that stretched across the horizon from one area to another.


    "Wow. What the hell is this?" Xiao Lin who didn''t know what this was, asked with shock in his tone.


    He then jumped out from the window of his room at the the third floor of the inn to the ground.


    Once he landed, he put his ears out to begin to listen to the discussion that people around were having.


    "Now that the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer has opened, things will soon get very interesting in our town." One said.


    "Certainly. How I wish I could also go into the legacy ground to get some materials and some of the wealth of the Azure Firestorm Archer for myself." The person said.


    "In your dreams. Haha. You aren''t even a cultivator. You aren''t even close to being a puny one. So, just quit dreaming and leave the materials for the actual cultivators" Another said, mocking the person that spoke earlier.


    As they said all these, Xiao Lin who was listening to their discussions using his powerful hearing ability, had his eyes narrow.


    ''The legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm archer is now open? Cool!'' Xiao Lin said inwardly with delight appearing in his eyes.


    Then he stopped thinking to continue listening to what else that they would be saying.


    "If I were you, I will wish that I was a cultivator so that I could go in there to see the disciples of different sects and rogue cultivators fight for treasures and cultivation resources in there. The fight that will occur in there will be really entertaining. Or what do you think?" One unexpectedly asked the others.


    "Yea. The fight will certainly be entertaining. I wish I could go see it too." Another said.


    "So, when do you think the cultivators would be able to go in there to battle for bits of the massive lifetime accumulations of the Azure Firestorm Archer?" Another asked.


    "Well, since the blazing azure arc has surfaced, the legacy ground should be opened. And I don''t think it would close for the next few weeks so that everyone interested in it would be able to enter." Another said then the rest nodded their heads.


    As soon as they said that, Xiao Lin''s brows furrowed deeply.


    He then said inwardly with a contemplative gaze appearing in his eyes ''Since it''s already open, let me wait for everyone to go in before I enter. That way, I will be able to sweep from the gate to the temple or mansion where his lifetime accumulations would be kept"

 Chapter 96 - Arriving At The Legacy Ground

    Once he thought this, he headed back to his room in the inn.


    Then when he arrived in his room, he sat down in the cross-legged position to resume his comprehension of the Battle Skills that he was previously studying before the phenomenon in the sky occurred.


    ...


    A week later...


    Xiao Lin who didn''t need to survive on food or water, or on anything similar to that as he was simply a dead person that still had consciousness, comprehended straight for a week before his eyes snapped open where he was.


    When his eyelids sprung open, a thoughtful gaze appeared in his eyes.


    "I don''t know how long I have comprehended for, but I feel like I have comprehended for many days." He said.


    He then continued "Well, the only way to find out about that is to go out there into the street to ask. I just hope people around wouldn''t find it weird that I am asking such a question"


    Once he said this, he walked towards the window of his room and opened it wide.


    Swoosh!


    He then jumped out of it to the ground where he landed gently like he were a feather.


    Once he landed, he headed straight for the street, simply ignoring the astounded gazes of some people that saw him jump out through the window of his room to the ground and then slowly land like a piece of paper. It was a really cool feat that they just witnessed, as no other cultivator at his stage should be able to pull that off. However, what they didn''t know was that Xiao Lin was a vampire and had this excellent passive ability of controlled landing. He could slow down his fall to the ground from a great height and land softly like a small piece of wool. While Xiao Lin who didn''t know that he just exhibited something totally impressive, was totally unaware that he was gradually developing a habit of quickly leaving his room by jumping out through the window to the ground.


    Not long when he entered the street and then looked up, he saw that the immense, flaming azure arc was still up there. However, the brilliance and magnificence that it had appeared with many days ago, was slowly fading away. Now, it had grown dim and dull, like it would vanish away very soon.


    When Xiao Lin saw the seemingly dying appearance of the floating flaming arc, he quickly understood that the gate to enter into the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer was going to close soon.


    "I guess it''s time for me to head down there and go into the inheritance ground before its gate would shut close. Or it would simply be my huge loss in all ways if I am shut outside." He said and nodded his head.


    Then after walking for a bit, he came across a small group of mortals that consisted of four young males who began to stare at him with marvel and adoration in their eyes, simply because he was a cultivator and was young too, however much more older than them.


    When he appeared before the group of boys, he asked with a smile in his face "Hello, what day is it today since that majestic burning arc in the sky appeared?"


    "I think this should be the seventh day, senior" One boy said respectfully.


    "Really?" Xiao Lin asked in an amazed tone.


    "Yes, senior" Another replied with reverence in his tone.


    "Hmm. Thank you" Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further as he looked at the boys who were staring at him with admiration in their eyes "I have to go. Now, you boys should take care of yourselves and try to become cultivators."


    "You should push yourselves really hard to acquire that title that belongs to the strongest. Although the journey to achieve that title won''t be smooth, as it will be full of difficulties and obstacles, but if you are determined, like your determination can pierce through all odds including the Heavens itself, you will be able break through all forms of constraints, limitations or barriers that may lie in your paths."


    Once he said this, he turned around to leave.


    But before he would take a step to leave their presence, he said with his back facing them, "Then maybe sometimes in the future when you have acquired that title, you could come work for me where we would all enjoy riches, fame, and most importantly, power. I don''t mean power of a government or anything like that. What I mean is great, unmatched and unquestionable power that even the highest level of government must obediently and fearfully submit to. And to achieve even a fraction of this grand and intimidating power, you must turn to the dark path."


    "Only that path, will grant you immense and unrestrained power to subject all things under the Heavens and in the Heavens under your absolute control. Those are my words, you can take it with a pinch of salt if you want. It''s however all up to you."


    Then once he said this, planting a seed of the dark path in the saintly hearts of the young boys, he immediately took a step and vanished from their presence.


    ...


    When he used his powerful Super Speed ability to vanish before the boys, he arrived in front of a massive garage that had lot of public, beast-pulled carriage drivers who he could simply pay anyone of them to carry him down to the legacy ground, a place that he felt should be well known by now to almost everyone. He even thought that small kids should know the direction to the place, as it would be the most talked about thing in the town for now and till maybe a few weeks later.


    When he entered the garage and asked for one of the carriage drivers to carry him down there, he was met with perplexed gazes from the drivers, as they all began to look at him with bewildered gaze in their eyes.


    One of them then said "Sorry to show concern over your affairs, senior, but I feel that you seem too sick to be able to do anything in there. You know, you could be overwhelmed in there by the thousands, if not tens of thousands of cultivators that would have gathered in there to fiercely and bloodily fight for the massive wealth and artifact accumulations of the Azure Firestorm Archer."


    "Furthermore, hundreds to thousands of geniuses from those from popular sects in this town and from other towns, then those powerful rogue cultivators would be extremely abundant in there. So, with your ill condition, you could be instantly taken down."


    However, immediately that driver said that, he quickly clasped his fist with his other palm and said with a sincere apologetic tone in his voice "Sorry for the embarrassment that you may think that I have caused you here. I was only concerned. So, I hope that senior can spare my limbs or my life."


    Xiao Lin only laughed.


    In fact, he was glad at the information that he just received.


    Ten to thousands of cultivators?


    It sounded really cool to him.


    Now, he would be able to acquire the thousands of blood to give to Li Chuang, while he would be able to kill the rest and take their blood for himself to replenish his long depleted Blood Energy, and probably advance to the next stage if it was possible.


    After thinking all these at lightning speed, he looked at the driver and said "Nah. It''s okay. You are good. And thanks for the wonderful information that you just passed across to me."


    He then continued with a slight smile in his face "Now, I will like to go down there. And I want you to drive me down there. Can you do that for me? And mind you, it''s not free. I will pay you."


    Once Xiao Lin said this, the carriage driver nodded his head and said "Sure, it would be great to have senior grace my carriage with his magnificence."


    Xiao Lin heard this and only shook his head.


    He then followed behind the carriage driver who enthusiastically led him to his carriage.


    Then once both of them got in and settled down, the carriage which was attached to bolted structures worn on a dozen of wild beasts, instantly shot out of the garage through the gates.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Thud!...


    These particular sound began to ring out as the wild, carriage-pulling beasts stomped the ground with their powerful limbs and shot into the far distance at an extreme speed.


    Then after running for many hours seemingly tirelessly as they had a powerful stamina and endurance, they finally arrived before the place that could be called the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer.


    When Xiao Lin saw the legacy ground, he opened his mouth wide in awe. While the carriage driver who had been here many times as he had transported other cultivators down here, simply produced a smile in his face.


    Then when he came down from the carriage and paid the driver as promised, he came before two massive gates that were painted in azure color and surprisingly spanned hundreds of feet wide and long. Then behind these huge gates that seemed to want to connect to the Heavens, was a really massive, black-colored swirl of Spiritual Energy that had a bright azure light illuminating it pitch-black center.


    Looking at the gates, he saw thousands of mysterious diagrams and patterns engraved into the gates. While the images engraved into the immense solid gates were of bows and arrows.


    Then after an heavy exhale, he walked through the gates...

 Chapter 97 - Searching For His First Victims

    After walking through the gate, he came before the furiously swirling black mass of Spiritual Energy.


    Then with an exhale of preparedness, he jumped into it.


    As soon as he did so, be began to move through a particular raging river that invoked the feeling of space in him.


    At the moment as he was moving within that dark river which could be called a Chaotic Spatial River, he suddenly felt that he could arrive anywhere in the world in only a matter of seconds, regardless of the distance, whether billions or trillions of miles away. And what caused him to move at a tremendous speed within that river was a particular, mysteriously powerful force that propelled him through the river.


    Then a second later, he arrived before another swirling black mass of Spiritual Energy with the force that moved him through the Chaotic Spatial River pushing him out of it.


    Thud!


    He landed to the ground many feet below when the force hurled him out of the whirling dark mass of Spiritual Energy.


    But as soon as he crashed to the ground, Xiao Lin''s body raised back into the air like some unseen force that were attached to various parts of his body pulled him back up.


    Once he was raised back to his feet from his lying position, he began to look around him.


    Then he saw to his surprise that there was no sun in this world, neither was there a moon. But the whole region was brightly illuminated, and this was because of intense rays of white light emitting from a particular, strange light source that suspended in the air thousands of feet above them.


    Xiao Lin who was looking up at the source where the intense white light was coming from, asked within himself ''What is that object? Must be a powerful luminous artifact since it can produce this degree of brilliant light that can illuminate the entire region''


    Once he said that within himself, he began to look around to understand the new place that he was in.


    And as he did so, whilst also trying to use his powerful vampiric vision to see into the far distance, he suddenly received the definite feeling that the region must be really massive in size.


    "I have a feeling that this area is totally isolated from the rest of the world." Xiao Lin said as he looked around.


    Then after looking around for sometime observantly, he began to walk forward to head towards the center or the the other end of the region where the mansion or the temple of the Azure Firestorm Archer could be found.


    But as he walked into the distance towards the center or other end of the cropped-out region, he saw that he couldn''t find anybody around.


    "Hmm. I guess they have all moved towards the depth of the region" Xiao Lin said.


    He then continued "But if they are all concentrated at a region, it would be bad for me. As they would all aim their attacks at me."


    "My initial plan was to sweep from the legacy ground''s opening gate to the heart of the region or it other end. But I guess now that my plan was wrong. I didn''t think things things well."


    "And now that they have all moved further into the distance, they would have gathered in massive numbers at other places in this region"


    But as he was thinking, a thought suddenly flashed in his head.


    "Can they really have moved that far? If I combine all my Movement Skills together, then coupled with my Super Speed ability, I should be able to meet up with some groups."


    "Not everyone can have powerful or exceptional Movement Methods. Therefore, I should still be able to meet up with some of them, if not many of them. Then from there, I can start my butchering."


    As soon as he said that, a cold glint shone in his eyes.


    Then quickly deploying all the Battle Skills that he knew all at once, and combining them with his powerful super speed ability, he began to dash at a really high speed into the distance so that he could meet up with some of them.


    ...


    "Brother Zhu Ping, when do you think that we are going to reach the mansion of the Azure Firestorm Archer? We have been walking for a week now and the mansion isn''t yet in sight." Someone unexpectedly said to a tall and fierce-looking, handsome male that walked beside him.


    However, hearing no response from this male that he called Zhu Ping, the person then continued "Brother Zhu Ping, I guess that if we want to arrive there in time and seize the bows, arrows and other treasures for ourselves, we would have to make a powered dash using our Movement Skills towards there."


    The male called Zhu Ping then looked at the person that spoke and said "Chou Lin, it isn''t your job to advise or tell me what to do. When did you become my personal adviser. If you don''t shut up and shove your damned suggestions down your throat, I am going to do that for you. Now, face your front."


    As soon as Zhu Ping said that, the person that Zhu Ping called Chou Lin quickly faced his front.


    Zhu Ping then said further to the members of his sects around him "I know what I am doing, so you guys should relax. Besides, anyone that''s able to receive the legacy and wealth of the Azure Firestorm Archer, will dreadfully surrender it to me. Or they would be covered in many, great life-threatening injuries."


    Haha!


    "Arrogant this much?" The soft and angelic voice of a female suddenly rang out from far beside him.


    Zhu Ping then turned his head to look at the female that spoke.


    Once he did and he saw the female, his eyes glowed with an incomprehensible smile appearing in his face.


    The female that he saw, who was also flanked on all sides by the members of her sect, was the Heavenly Daughter of the Celestial Dragon Empress sect.


    Zhu Ping who was staring at her with narrowed, glittering eyes, couldn''t really take his admiring gaze off her as the female whose body seemed to be carved out of jade, and possessed a really attractive face that will cause the stars and rainbows to pale in comparison, was a girl with matchless beauty and a great demeanor.


    "Ahh. Zhou Bilan, welcome." Zhu Ping said with an amiable tone in his voice.


    He then continued "Well, if you would like to call me arrogant, I leave that thought up to you. I won''t argue with you."


    The female whom he called Zhou Bilan, only smiled as she looked at him.


    She then asked "You think you aren''t arrogant? Was it not you that just said that anybody that receives the legacy and accumulations of the Azure Firestorm Archer will surrender it to you? Isn''t that total arrogance"


    Haha!


    Zhu Ping only laughed.


    Then with a lewd smile appearing in his face, he said "I will surely make you mine. And whether you like it or not, you will be the one to service me both morning and evening"


    Zhou Bilan heard that and had her eyes glow with rage. However, she only ignored him and decided to walk in another direction.


    As she walked away, Zhu Ping began to laugh raucously so that she could hear his unbridled laughter and get more annoyed. But his scheme didn''t work out as Zhu Ping only ignored him.


    As he was doing this, someone who was far behind him and was from the Great Dreamland sect, began to look at him with disgust in his eyes.


    "That arrogant, lewd and irritating fool from the Violet Canon God sect. Always flirting with all the Heavenly Daughters from any sects that he comes across. Doesn''t even have a taste nor a standard. Bastard!" A male called Fang Shu said with intense hate in his tone.


    Haha!


    Another person who was beside him laughed and said "Brother Shu, I can understand where your hate is coming from. It''s because of that guy Zhu Ping knocked you off from that platform when you were about to receive the legacy of the Furious Light Slasher that appeared a year ago at our Moondust town."


    The person then continued "But don''t worry too much about him brother Shu. I believe that this time, since you have mastered the First Constellation God attacking style from the Nine Constellation Gods battle art that master gave you to study, you should be able to quickly overwhelm and subdue him. Then all the disgrace, reproach and humiliation that he brought to you that time will be returned to him by many folds."


    Fang Shu then nodded his head and said "Yes, Kun Lei, I am going to make him regret what he did a year ago to me. I am going to shatter his reputation by walking on his body like he were a bridge and then make him eat the sands of my boot."


    Haha!


    The person called Kun Lei laughed, he then said "That''s the spirit brother Shu. Now, you are talking."


    ...


    Xiao Lin who was moving at an incredible speed then stopped to look around. But seeing that he couldn''t perceive the body smell of anyone using his powerful sense of smell, and after covering a distance of fifteen miles, he grunted unhappily and then resumed dashing again into the distance.

 Chapter 98 - Killing Cultivators (1)

    However, after running for close to 30 minutes, he finally came across a few group of people who seemed to be rogue cultivators.


    When he arrived behind them, the small groups of cultivators looked at him with shock in their eyes.


    "Hey, did you just arrive? Or you were somewhere doing something and only came to join us now?" One of them who was looking at Xiao Lin asked with shock in his eyes.


    "Nah. I just arrived" Xiao Lin responded.


    "Alright." That person said while another person unexpectedly spoke "That''s good. We have been looking for someone to join us. So, would you like to join us?"


    "Join? No! I am here to take your blood to feed my energy. It has grown weak" Xiao Lin said directly, causing great surprise to appear in the faces of the people looking at him.


    "What?"


    They all asked out at once while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then said "You heard me right."


    As soon as he said this, the atmosphere above them became filled with tension.


    But then, one of them who was at the 2nd-layer Mortal Spiritual stage said "Don''t let us take this clown seriously. He is only at the first-layer Mortal Spiritual stage while there are lot of cultivators here at the fifth-layer and sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage. What can he do about them except be instantly suppressed and wickedly destroyed."


    Xiao Lin heard this and only produced a slight smile in his face.


    He then said "Well, we would see soon if I can''t do anything about them."


    And as soon as he said that, he dashed towards one of them at a great speed. Then once he appeared before that person that he targeted, he struck out with his razor-sharp claws towards that person''s chest to simply bore a fist-sized hole through his chest and then pull out his heart in the process.


    Puchi!


    Like a hot knife through butter, his really sharp claws that could pierce through steel, easily penetrated through the person''s chest despite wearing a thick chest armor.


    Then when he pulled out his fist, the beating heart of the person could be seen in his hand. As soon as he extracted the person''s heart from his chest, he quickly stowed it away into one of the numerous spatial rings in his high-grade spatial ring.


    The person before him who had a fist-sized hole in his chest, began to sway from left to right before collapsing dead to the ground with blood starting to gush out rapidly from the hole that Xiao Lin made into his heart.


    "See. I am not joking. I am here to kill you all. That was why I entered this legacy ground in the first place" Xiao Lin said as he looked at them.


    Once Xiao Lin made this statement, the rest of them had their body shaken before a cold light began to appear in each of their narrowed eyes that also began to erupt unbridled killing intent.


    Then one of them, a cultivator at the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, abruptly aimed out one of his palms at Xiao Lin. And once he decisively did so, purple-colored Spiritual Energy erupted out of it in large amount before instantly transforming into a massive purple wheel with enigmatic inscriptions on it spherical surface that then began to roll through the air at great speed towards Xiao Lin.


    Xiao Lin who could sense the great pressure emitted by the immense, wheel-shaped attack shooting towards him like a cannonball fired from a powerful cannon, prepared to destroy the attack using only his fist.


    He actually wanted to see how tough and invulnerable his body had become, and how high his physical strength has grown to. However, if he didn''t have his tremendously fast healing ability, he wouldn''t dare to try this. Also, since his body was naturally strong on it own, as it had a high degree of resilience bestowed upon it by becoming reborn as a true vampire, he felt that it should be able to resist the impact of the attack to some extent. And if it shattered in the end, his Immortal-level regeneration factor should help him quickly recover badly damaged or fully destroyed body parts. Then one last thing that made him try this was because of the pressure emanating from the wheel-shaped attack. It simply felt weak to him, like something was lacking in the attack, therefore invoking the feeling in his heart that only his fist alone should be enough to shatter it apart to thousands of fragments.


    Then clenching his two hands into fists in which both made cracking sounds that was similar to that of a thunder strike, he sent out one of them towards the wheel-shaped attack.


    BANG!


    A loud, explosion-like sound rang out while a powerful wave of tyrannical energy instantly surfaced and then swept out into the far distance with a high destructive power.


    Then when the small storm of violent energies disappeared, Xiao Lin was nowhere to be found.


    The cultivators who were looking at where Xiao Lin formerly stood, saw that Xiao Lin was no longer there. It was like he had been reduced to nothing by the powerful attack that struck him.


    "Haha!"


    One of them suddenly laughed out.


    "That brat is the greatest airbrained fool that I have ever come across." He said further.


    "Yea. He was very foolish and stupid to think that he could go one on one with a sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator" Another said.


    "Apart from that, he lacks total respect for a sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator. How dare he try to use his fist to deflect or stop the dreadful attack of a cultivator who is ranked many stages above him. He is simply a fool that hasn''t seen the world nor understands it." One who joined into the conversation, tried to contribute.


    "Yea. Well, let''s continue to move forward. The brat has been done for. He only appeared to waste our good walking time. Now, we have lots of ground to cover, or we would surely miss out of the distribution of the wealth of the Azure Firestorm Archer" Another, who was a cultivator at the fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, said with a sense of hurriedness in his tone.


    Once he said that, the rest nodded their heads and began to walk forward.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin who was kneeling on the ground many feet away from where he previously stood to intercept that powerful attack from the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator, could be seen looking at that hand that he punched out towards the attack to splinter it apart.


    Actually, when the small storm of devastating energies appeared because of his fist hitting the solid attack that was purely composed of Spiritual Energy and causing it to instantly explode like it were a bomb, he was heavily struck by the lethal blast waves that abruptly resulted which then sent him flying away from where he previously stood like an arrow that was furiously fired from a powerful bow.


    "Nice!" Xiao Lin said as he looked at his fist with gladness and bliss in his eyes.


    He was amazed by it toughness since it was able to shatter the powerful attack of an ordinary sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator and not explode into pieces to be rapidly regenerated later.


    Then with a delighted nod of his head at what he observed about his fist, he looked at his body and saw that there was nothing chipped off or cracked to be healed.


    "Even my body fully resisted the destructive blast waves that resulted from the sudden explosion of that powerful attack at point-blank range." Xiao Lin said.


    Haha!


    He then laughed gladly when he realized how strong he was becoming.


    Then he continued with a bright smile in his face


    "I am close to making my body the most indestructible object in the world. And now that I have the seen the effect of cultivating my body, I will also put more effort into it. The only problem that I have now is getting resources to cultivate with. I need mountains, if not islands of resources to cultivate with."


    "Just cultivating using the Primordial Heretic Force spiritual cultivation art is going to need huge amounts of Spiritual Cultivation Resources. Then adding body cultivation to it, I am in for a really long ride to pillaging massive cultivation resources from wherever I can find them" Xiao Lin said.


    He then stood to his feet from his kneeling position.


    Then looking into the distance using his powerful vision, he could see the cultivators that he tried to attacking walking away with laughter sounding out from them as they discussed about him.


    Hearing the ugly things that they were saying about him, Xiao Lin only shook his head.


    He then dashed towards them once again to end what he wanted to start with them.


    Swoosh!


    Immediately appearing behind one like he were a ghost after using his Super Speed ability, he sent out a really heavy, bone-splintering frontal kick towards the back of one.


    Bang!


    Arghh!


    Immediately the kick landed on his back, the person kicked instantly screeched out in pain. And once the kick impacted his back with an immense amount of force that could possibly crush a large piece of rock, his backbone instantly shattered into pieces before he was hurled away to a distance of fifteen feet.


    Once Xiao Lin did that, he said to the others who were now looking at him with great shock and bewilderment in their eyes.


    "Guess who is back, morons."

 Chapter 99 - Killing Cultivators (2)

    Once Xiao Lin appeared in front of them, the rogue cultivators who weren''t expecting him to surfaceehind them began to look at him with shock in their eyes.


    And as they looked at him, terror began to slowly replace the intense surprise that had manifested in their heart.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be dead?" One unexpectedly asked.


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin only laughed.


    Then to amuse himself, he said "I am an immortal"


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the eyes of the cultivators before him widened. They couldn''t believe what they just heard. However, they still didn''t believe the statement that he made.


    One of them then said to the others "Let''s take down this bastard"


    As soon as he said that, the others nodded their heads and immediately out at their palms at Xiao Lin.


    And as they did so, large amount of Spiritual Energy erupted from each of their palms and condensed into massive and solid attacks that shot towards Xiao Lin at a great speed.


    Xiao Lin who still wanted to see how durable his body was, remained there with a smile in his gave as the attacks shot towards him.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    The attacks which were shot out all at once, arrived before Xiao Lin at the same time and struck him with a tremendous amount of force.


    Once the massive attacks impacted him at the same time, and also exploding in his face, Xiao Lin was launched away from where he stood and to a further distance of twenty feet.


    The cultivators who sent out the attacks looked at where Xiao Lin previously stood. But they couldn''t find him there.


    However, they didn''t leave just yet. Instead, they remained there or he would appear before one of them again and strike down that person dead using either his fist or feet.


    Besides, now that they had understood that probably he was launched away to a farther distance by their attacks, decided to wait where they were for him to come back to them.


    Xiao Lin who was knocked for more than twenty feet away, stood up to his feet as his body raised itself above the ground to stand firmly once again on the ground. Once his body did so, Xiao Lin began to look at himself.


    Then seeing that there were no cracks in his body, he laughed.


    "Yes! Now, I can take attacks from a group of ordinary rogue cultivators who are the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage." He said.


    He called them ordinary because they were unaffiliated cultivators. And as unaffiliated cultivators, they wouldn''t possess the powerful Battle Arts that sects, organizations, and other sort of establishments would give to their members.


    But if they were affiliated cultivators, he would be wary of them and wouldn''t dare try to take attacks from them since they could be using powerful techniques from the tyrannical Battle Arts that their organizations would give to them.


    But as these were ordinary cultivators who have only banded together to get the scraps or leftovers of the Azure Firestorm Archer''s wealth and accumulations, he wasn''t worried about their attacks possessing high destructive power if they had deployed battle techniques, since they would only be studying common-tier, low-grade or average-grade battle arts.


    When he was done looking at his body, and ceased the amazement whirling about within his heart, he looked into the distance to look at the cultivators who were waiting for him with his powerful vision.


    Then with a wide smile appearing in his face, he suddenly dashed towards them.


    Swoosh!


    Like a ghost, he appeared before one of them.


    Then before that person could react, Xiao Lin sent out his razor-sharp claws towards his neck to slash it open.


    Slash!


    Once this sound rang out, the head attached to that neck fell off with blood erupting out of the slashed neck like a fountain.


    Immediately he killed this person, he dashed towards another.


    Then appearing before that person, he sent out his claws once again towards his neck.


    Slash!


    The head was instantly slashed off from the neck and then fell to the ground. And as soon as it was slashed off, blood gushed out of that neck like a fountain before falling back to the ground and dying it red.


    Seeing that Xiao Lin who surprisingly couldn''t be destroyed by their attacks was beginning to take them down one after the other by slashing their necks open with something really sharp, they quickly banded together so that they would be able to resist him together.


    Xiao Lin who now stood farther away from them, like ten feet away laughed when he saw what they were doing.


    Then he shook his head and prepared to go at them again to continue bringing down their heads. Before immense ghostly speed, every sort of resistance would be futile, except maybe a forcefield or a powerful repelling energy dome.


    But before Xiao Lin could go at any of them, one suddenly said "Let''s combine with out Animal Spirits. We should be able to derive more battle power from them if we do so."


    Immediately that person said that, the rest nodded their heads in total agreement.


    Then quickly executing the profound Animal Summoning gestures that they knew and had fully mastered, numerous colors of light began to flash about.


    Then when the brilliant flashes of colored light stopped a moment later, numerous fearsome-looking Battle Beast Spirits could be seen looking at Xiao Lin with cold and hateful gazes in their eyes. Some of these beasts could be noticed standing on the ground on all fours, some on their hind limbs, while the others that were winged, either double-winged or six-winged could be seen gliding in the air.


    Xiao Lin who was witnessing all that were happening before his very eyes, only produced a smile in his face.


    He then said "You guys have beautiful Animal Spirits. I wish I could consume them to replenish the Spiritual Power of my Animal Spirit"


    The cultivators who were focused on what they were doing, simply ignored him.


    Then executing the mystical, Beast-Human Fusion finger gestures that they knew, spheres of light began to expand outwards from within their bodies. And as soon as these spheres surfaced, they began to grow in size till they reach a stage where they fully enclosed both them and their towering Animal Spirits.


    Then once the spheres had covered them and their Animal Spirits, their Animal Spirits began to rapidly shrink in size till they reduced to become the same height as their hosts. And as soon as they decreased in size to that level, they suddenly shot into the bodies of their hosts like a ray of light.


    Graaa!


    Rawrr!


    Raghh!...


    Once the beasts shot into the bodies of their hosts, hair-raising beastly growls began to ring out from within their bodies. Then all sort of astonishing transformations of their bodies began to take place in the next moment.


    When the transformations stopped, Xiao Lin could see that the people whom he wanted to kill had grown many times taller than they previously were. Also, the auras of power emanating from their bodies had grown more stronger and much more powerful like something primitive had awoken within them.


    Xiao Lin simply nodded his head at their transformations like he was impressed. However, he wasn''t, only slightly. But he couldn''t blame them, as they didn''t have the type of Animal Spirit that he summoned which was one of the nine extremely rare Battle Beast Spirit in the world.


    As soon as the cultivators completed their transformations, some of them instantly dashed out towards Xiao Lin to overwhelm him and them destroy him. And at this point in time, they were able to come to a conclusion that Xiao Lin''s body was either amazingly tough that their attacks couldn''t really penetrate through his flesh to shred him apart to thousand bits of flesh, or that he had a powerful healing ability and would instantly heal no matter the kind of lethal attack that was sent out at him to obliterate him. However, their deductions were partially wrong, as he had both factors, with the healing factor approaching nigh-immortality level.


    Seeing that they were beginning to dash towards him, Xiao Lin who still retained that smile in his face, suddenly dashed out towards one of them.


    And this time, he slowed down so that they could see him.


    Then appearing before one who quickly sent out his fist towards his chest, Xiao Lin also reciprocated the same action by throwing out his fist towards the person''s chest too.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Both their fists heavily struck the other at the chest, however Xiao Lin remained where he was. He wasn''t catapulted away by the force that followed the punch that impacted his chest. But as for the cultivator that was punched by Xiao Lin in the chest, he was sent flying into the distance for many feet.


    Witnessing what had happened, Xiao Lin only smiled. He then nodded his head as he said inwardly ''My physical strength has also increased.''


    He then continued ''Now that my strength has grown, I will be able to exchange punches with a cultivator that has fused his his or her Animal Spirits. Hmm. This is nice. Practicing that Body Cultivation art has brought me immense benefits''


    Once he was done thinking, he looked at the rest with a cold glint in his eyes and said with his voice growing deeper and sounding like that of an actual beast "Play time is over, my fellow colleagues. It is death time now."

 Chapter 100 - Cultivating Blood Energy (1)

    Xiao Lin who was speaking had now entered his true vampiric form. And once he did so, he dashed out towards them to attack them.


    Once he appeared in front of one who abruptly sent out his fist towards his head, he skilfully dodged it and sent out a powerful whipping kick towards his head.


    Bang!


    Immediately his feet struck the cultivator''s head, the cultivator was sent flying into the distance at a great speed. And once he landed with his head first to the ground at a distance of seventeen feet away, many frightening cracks instantly appeared in it with blood suddenly bursting out of them as well as numerous bits of brain matter exploding out of them.


    Once he had done that, he dashed out towards another cultivator that was several feet away from him.


    The cultivator who didn''t have time to think of what to do as Xiao Lin had unexpectedly appeared before him, had his two arms grabbed and then viciously off from his shoulders.


    Arghhh!!


    He screeched out in pain and agony.


    But he couldn''t cry out for long when Xiao Lin suddenly directed his claws towards his chin and slashed from there with his claws up to his scalp, simply dividing his head up in many places.


    Immediately he did that, the cultivator fell down to the ground dead.


    The cultivators who could witness how Xiao Lin took them down one by one like he was the resenting god of death, began to think of what next to do to escape from his onslaught.


    Not long, the ones who were at the second and third-layer Mortal Spiritual stage began to flee, leaving behind the cultivators who were at the fourth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage and above.


    Seeing that some cultivators were already fleeing, Xiao Lin grunted.


    ''Morons!'' He called them in his head.


    ''Now that they are beginning to escape, how would I be able to kill them all? I don''t want anyone to escape from me, or I would not be able to successfully carry out what I plan to do.'' He said inwardly.


    Then without thinking further, he produced the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade in his hands and abruptly dashed out towards the 6th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator.


    When he got in front of one at the immense speed that he was moving at, he slashed out with the Awakening Doom blade in his right hand at his neck.


    Slash!


    The head was cut off and blood erupted from the slashed neck into the air.


    Once he had beheaded the 6th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator, he dashed out again towards another.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!


    ...


    Numerous slash sounds began to ring out as Xiao Lin cut off the head of every cultivator that he targeted. And like a ghost which was because of the insanely fast speed that he moved, he couldn''t be seen for them to successfully hit him with their Spiritual Battle Skills. But even if they could hit him, it was still useless, since his body is extremely capable of resisting the peak-level powerful attack of an ordinary, 6th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator. Talk more of his true vampiric form that would add to the degree of invulnerability of his body.


    Precisely eleven hours later, and like a tireless human-killing machine, he was able to ferociously kill off all the fourth-layer, fifth-layer and sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators that were around him in large numbers.


    Once he had finished off with the higher-ranked cultivators, he dashed out from where he stood into a random distance to search for one of the lower-ranked cultivators that fled from him when he began his mad onslaught.


    Then moving at a really high speed using his powerful Movement Skills that were multiplied to the extreme because of his true vampiric form that he had entered many hours ago, he was able to come across one of them, a 2nd-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator who had begun to pant heavily from trying all his best to escape from Xiao Lin''s wicked onslaught.


    The cultivator who could suddenly sense that something moving really fast was coming for him from the distance, became highly terrified and then prepared to run off again.


    But before he could really do so, Xiao Lin instantly appeared before him and directed the Awakening Doom blade in his hand at his neck.


    Slash!


    The head of the cultivator was cleanly slashed off from the neck and was accompanied by an eruption of blood to a height of three feet above the ground in the form of a fountain before falling back to the earth surface and dying the ground red.


    As soon as Xiao Lin did this, he took out a spatial ring and stored both the head and the headless corpse of the cultivator on the ground into the ring.


    Immediately he did so, he dashed out once again in another random direction to search for another cultivator.


    Then after moving at a tremendously fast speed for a few minutes, he came across one.


    The instant Xiao Lin appeared before him, the cultivator who had sat in the cross-legged position on the bare earth''s surface to cultivate with the intention of regaining many of his lost Spiritual Energy as a result of quickly burning them to push the Movement Skill that he knew to the extreme, screamed out in fear and terror when he saw that Xiao Lin had appeared before him and staring at him with an evil smile in his face.


    "Plea-"


    The cultivator couldn''t complete his speech when his head was abruptly cut off from his neck with blood instantly accompanying it.


    Once Xiao Lin did so, he carried the head and stowed both it and the headless body on the ground before him into the spatial ring that he had designated as a storage ring for corpses of the cultivators that he killed.


    He then dashed off again to continue searching for the others and kill them.


    ...


    In this vast place that was separated from the world where humans and cultivators abound, there was no night nor day, as it was permanently illuminated by a massive, mysterious light source that floated thousands of feet above them.


    So, since there was no night and only intense shining of light which brilliantly illuminated everywhere, no one felt the need to really settle down and then move on later.


    Besides, as they were eager and anxious for the wealth and accumulations of the Azure Firestorm Archer, they didn''t try to settle down. Or their counterparts would get to the mansion of the Azure Firestorm Archer before them and totally inherit his wealth and legacy.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin who had tried his best to kill as many as possible that fled from him when he started his mad onslaught a month ago, could be seen seated in the cross-legged position on the earth before many large piles of headless bodies.


    The huge piles of headless bodies that surrounded him numbered in a few hundreds, with each pile having at least sixty bodies. So, one should be able to imagine or calculate the number of ordinary rogue cultivators that he had killed during the past one month.


    Although it''s true that there was no night here making it impossible for days to be counted, however, if day and night were to be counted despite the lack of nightfall here, Xiao Lin had been on the hunt for nearly a month to kill the lower-ranked cultivators that fled far away from him.


    However, he wasn''t focused on cultivating his Blood Energy now. Rather, he was trying to regain his fully depleted Spiritual Energy by consuming all the Spiritual Cultivation Resources that could be found in all the spatial rings of the cultivators arranged into immense piles before him.


    Then after selectively consuming third-fifth of all the cultivation resources found in the spatial rings of the 4th-layer, 5th-layer and 6th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator, and then converting them into his dark-colored Spiritual Energy which he refined to be hundred-percent pure, he was able to regain more than half of his totally expended Spiritual Energy.


    With a glad smile appearing in his face, he said "That should do"


    Then he brought his sharp gaze upon one of the many huge piles of headless bodies that massively towered around him.


    "Time to regain my Blood Energy" Xiao Lin said delightfully.


    He then closed his eyes and began to operate the technique mentioned in the True Vampire Origin Blood Force art, which was the otherworld, empyrean-grade cultivation art he would have to use to replenish his Blood Energy.


    Once his eyes were shut tight and he began to operate the technique, blood began to flow from the hearts and necks of the large piles of the cultivators'' bodies before him towards his own body. And immediately they approached him, they wrapped around his body to form a singular massive cocoon of bright red blood.


    Then the instant that the blood coming from the hearts and necks of the cultivators wrapped around him, they began to flow into his body through the pores of his skin where they flowed down the special network of veins to his dantian where they infused into the dim Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian.

 Chapter 101 - Cultivating Blood Energy (2)

    As soon as the wisps of blood began to enter into the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian, they began to gradually grow from their dim and dull states into brightly illuminated states.


    Not long, ten of the Blood Symbols in his dantian became filled with the blood that flowed into his body through his pores. And as the solid, blood-red symbols floating in his dantian became filled with blood, a powerful energy that was surprisingly calm but concealed a type of great power within them, began to brew.


    Xiao Lin who could feel the power starting to swell within those 10 Blood Symbols in his dantian gave a delighted smile.


    He then placed more effort on moving blood from his body into the Blood Symbols.


    ...


    About 6 days later, he was able to make about 19 Blood Symbols in his dantian to grow from their poor dim state into brilliantly lit state. And once these occurred, Xiao Lin felt strong currents of power beginning to pulsate about within the Blood Symbols.


    But at this moment, he had actually used up all the blood from the headless corpses of the cultivators that he killed many hours ago.


    He then stood to his feet to move further into the distance. However, before he would do so, he used a particular technique from the Divinity-Annihilating Primal Blood Flame battle art to set the heads of the cultivators and their headless corpses on fire.


    Once he did so, he furrowed his brows as he started to think of something.


    He then said inwardly ''Now that I am largely many days away from reaching the other cultivators that came into this place, and I have been able to replenish my Blood Energy to a certain extent, I should try using that powerful evasion technique from the Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash technique to move at a really high speed so that I can catch up with them.''


    Immediately he produced this thought within his mind, he instantly shot forward to catch up with the rest of them.


    ...


    Three days later...


    After running for about three days using the Movement Skills that he had, he finally came across many group of people who also seemed to be rogue cultivators.


    "These rogue cultivators are meh. What are they always doing at the back?" Xiao Lin couldn''t help but ask when he saw them.


    He then continued "The disciples from those sects will take all the wealth and lifetime accumulations of the Azure Firestorm Archer for himself."


    But once he said this, he furrowed his brows as a new thought came to his mind ''And maybe they don''t want to battle the various sects'' disciples here for the Azure Firestorm Archer''s wealth. Perhaps out of fear that the disciples know more powerful attacking skills and could slay them. So, they would instead settle for the scraps and leftovers from the Azure Firestorm Archer''s accumulations.''


    Then when he arrived behind one of the numerous groups of rogue cultivators here, the group who he appeared behind at turned their heads to look at what had suddenly appeared behind them. Then when they saw Xiao Lin, their eyes widened with shock."


    "Brat, where did you fall from?" One of them who was looking at Xiao Lin with surprise in his eyes asked.


    "Nah. I have been around at the back." Xiao Lin responded.


    "Really? And why''s that?" The person asked.


    "Just taking my time to cultivate." Xiao Lin answered.


    "Hmm... I see... But your activity could have caused you to miss out on the wealth of the Azure Firestorm Archer" The person stated.


    "Yea, I know that. But I am here now" Xiao Lin replied.


    "Hmm. Alright" The person said.


    Still looking at Xiao Lin, the person said "I can see that even as you are rogue cultivator, you hold this frightening power within you. You must be a rare rogue cultivator. So, would you like to join our group?


    "Join? Nah! I am not here for that. I am here for something more important" Xiao Lin answered indifferently.


    "Hmm. Okay then." The person said in a noticeable unhappy tone, as the invitation that he offered Xiao Lin into his small group of rogue cultivators had just been ruthlessly declined by him, thereby destroying his face before his colleagues


    He then asked with anger beginning to swell within his heart "So, what important thing are you here for then?"


    Then he said further with a great sense of absolute wrath in his tone "Brat, it must make sense to me, or you will deeply regret you ever came across me."


    Hahaha!


    Once he said that, Xiao Lin only suddenly laughed in an uncontrolled wild manner like he was abruptly possessed by a laughing demon. And this caused the person before him, the cultivators in the group that he was in, and then the other groups in this part of the region to begin to look at Xiao Lin with intensely bewildered expressions in their faces.


    Then with a serious gaze appearing in Xiao Lin''s eyes in the next moment, he said with a frightening chilly voice "I am here to take your delectable bloods to feed my Blood Symbols. They have all grown weak and dim like there is no vibrancy within them again. So, I need to feed them your bloods so that they can become luxuriant and vibrant again."


    Xiao Lin stated directly and caused great surprise to appear in the faces of the people in the numerous groups looking at him with bewildered gazes in their eyes.


    "What?"


    The person that was before him asked with his head beginning to ring at what Xiao Lin just unbelievably spat out.


    Xiao Lin only nodded his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    He then said "Yea, you heard me right."


    Then as soon as he said this, the atmosphere around them became heavy and filled with tension.


    However, as the atmosphere became filled with heaviness that weighed down upon their hearts and souls, one of them who was at the 3rd-layer Mortal Spiritual stage said "Don''t tell me that you guys are actually frightened by what a boy at the first-layer Mortal Spiritual stage said?"


    Immediately he said that, Xiao Lin who was trying to achieve something with what he said, simply produced a slight smile in his face.


    He then spoke to the person that talked last with a cold glint surfacing in his eyes "Well, we would see soon if I can''t do anything about them."


    Then as soon as he said that, he suddenly dashed out at a great speed towards the person that he talked to.


    Then the instant that he appeared before the person whom he targeted, he quickly struck out with his razor-sharp claws towards the person''s chest.


    Bang!


    Puchi!


    Like a hot knife through butter, his really sharp claws that could pierce through steel like it were wet paper, easily penetrated through the person''s chest despite the common-grade, chest armor that he was wearing.


    Then when he pulled out his fist, the beating heart of the person could be seen in his hand. And as soon as he extracted the person''s heart, he quickly stowed it away into one of the numerous spatial rings in his high-grade spatial ring.


    The person before him who had a fist-sized hole in his chest and which revealed what was behind him, instantly collapsed dead to the ground with blood starting to gush out rapidly from the hole that Xiao Lin made into the left area of his chest.


    "See! I am not joking. I am simply here to kill you all and take your blood so that I can feed myself." Xiao Lin said with a serious expression in his face as he looked at them.


    He then continued "That was why I entered this legacy ground in the first place. And to my delight, I have been able to successfully acquire what I want."


    "Then for your information, I have killed many cultivators at the back. Maybe five hundred of six hundred of them. However, I think it took me an entire month to take them down, I guess. But anyways, their blood have now transformed into overwhelming currents of a peculiar type of energy in my dantian"


    Xiao Lin who was noticeably enjoying himself as he said this, didn''t fail to take note of the subtle changes that happened to their expressions.


    Immediately Xiao Lin made that last statement, the rest of the people in the different group had their body shaken by fear before cold and vicious light began to appear in each of their narrowed eyes in the next moment. And as soon as this type of light shone from within their eyes, stifling auras of unbridled killing intent began to erupt from within their bodies.


    Then one of them, a cultivator at the forth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, suddenly came out of his group and abruptly aimed out one of his palms at Xiao Lin.


    Then once he did so, a stream of orange-colored Spiritual Energy abruptly erupted out of it in large amount before instantly transforming into a massive orange axe that had dozens of profound inscriptions in it surface and began to brim with power to sunder all things in it path.

 Chapter 102 - Killing Cultivators (1)

    Immediately the orange ax appeared, it shot out at a great speed towards Xiao Lin who only produced a smile in his face.


    Xiao Lin who could sense great pressure beginning to emanate from the powerful ax-shaped attack that was shooting towards him like it were a spear furiously thrown by a giant, prepared to destroy the attack using only his fist. He had now believed in the incredible toughness of his body.


    Then once the attack got in front of him, Xiao Lin abruptly punched out with his clenched fists towards it.


    BOOM!


    The instant his fist struck the attack in the form of an ax, a powerful wave of frightening power immediately surfaced and swept out with a tremendous amount of force to shatter all things in it path.


    Then when the wave of energy carrying destructive power would dissipate away a few moments later, Xiao Lin could still be seen standing at his spot with a smile in his face.


    He wasn''t even moved away from his position. It was like the attack that he struck out against with his fist was launched at him by a low level cultivator.


    While the fourth-layer cultivator who sent out that attack at him was deeply amazed.


    ''Wow. What strong body. Hmm. This brat must be an excellent body cultivator'' The fourth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator said as he looked at Xiao Lin with an astonished gaze in his eyes.


    He then aimed his palms out again at Xiao Lin and discharged a larger amount of Spiritual Energy from his two palms this time.


    Then once the energy erupted out of his hands in tremendous amount, it abruptly transformed into a massive halberd that speedily shot out towards Xiao Lin with a tremendous amount of unbearable pressure emitting off of it into the surrounding. And as this great pressure emanated from it, it caused the ground immediately below it to crack like it were glass.


    When the halberd-shaped attack got to him in the next instant, Xiao Lin who was totally ready to face this powerful attack head-on, simply sent out his other fist towards it.


    BOOM!!


    Then like a powerful explosion that simply shook the earth that Xiao Lin stood upon and released waves of terrifying power that traveled at extreme speeds with a vast ruination power into the far distance to devastate all things in it path, the large halberd composed from Spiritual Energy shattered apart upon being struck by Xiao Lin''s fist and then reverted in that moment into wisps of Spiritual Energy that returned to the world.


    When the huge clouds of dust that erupted into the air because of the terrifying, gigantic blast that resulted from the explosion of the solid, halberd-shaped Spiritual Energy attack upon clashing with Xiao Lin''s fist dispersed some moments later, Xiao Lin could still be standing at his spot.


    It was like the attacks launched at him didn''t have the power to move him away from his spot.


    When the dusts cleared away some moments later, Xiao Lin looked at the forth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator and said "My turn!"


    He then pointed his finger at him and released Blood Energy from that finger which instantly turned into a massive blood-red blade that instantly shot out at the speed of lightning towards the fourth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator.


    Immediately the blade appeared and shot out towards that cultivator, others quickly began to prepare to attack Xiao Lin after seeing that Xiao Lin''s body was amazingly strong and that attacks from only a single cultivator won''t be able to take him down.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Many swoosh sounds began to ring out from everywhere as powerful and fearsome attacks surfaced and shot out towards Xiao Lin at the speed of lightning.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!...


    Numerous bang sounds instantly rang out as the massive attacks composed from Spiritual Energy struck Xiao Lin all at once.


    And since the attacks that carried with them tremendous amount of heat, sharpness, intense stinging sensations and many more, and packed a great amount of force struck him, he was instantly hurled off his feet and into the distance where he crashed into the earth many feet away.


    However, the attack that he sent out in the form of a blood-colored blade towards that fourth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator impaled him and instantly cleaved him apart like he was statue molded from solidified butter.


    As soon as Xiao Lin was knocked away, the other cultivators who didn''t want to give Xiao Lin any sort of breathing space, instantly dashed out to where he landed at to continue attacking him.


    Then once they got to where he was, they couldn''t find him there. It was like he had mysteriously disappeared from that spot that he crashed into when their multiple fierce attacks struck him all at once.


    And immediately they started to look around to search for him, a cold frigid voice that was filled with unbridled killing intent suddenly rang out from behind one of them.


    "Looking for me?" The voice which of course belonged to Xiao Lin, unexpectedly rang out from the back of a sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator who then tried to quickly turn around to protect himself from whatever attack Xiao Lin would unleash at him and also send out his.


    However, he was a tad too slow as Xiao Lin who was already at his back, simply sent out his claws toward his chest area and bored a fist-sized hole in it.


    Arghh!


    The cultivator instantly screamed out in agony when Xiao Lin''s claws pierced from his back towards his chest and then grabbed his heart.


    Then when he pulled out his fist, the still beating heart of the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator could be seen. While the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator simply dropped dead to the ground before him.


    Immediately Xiao Lin brought out the heart of the cultivator from his chest, he quickly stowed it away into his spatial ring and immediately disappeared from their visions before they could try to send out any attack at him.


    At this moment, since he had regained bit of his Blood Energy, he was using it to operate one of the powerful, low-level evasion techniques called the Blood Dragon Flash. Then combined with his powerful, inborn Super Speed ability and other low-level Movement Skills that he possessed, he was able to move really fast and appear quietly behind them like a ghost.


    Then when they sighted Xiao Lin at the distance when he unexpectedly stopped moving, they quickly aimed out their palms at him and rapidly unleashed large amounts of Spiritual Energies from their palms which instantly condensed into various solid shapes that then shot out at extreme speeds towards him.


    Seeing the dense clusters of huge and fierce attacks that were shooting towards him at where he stood, Xiao Lin said inwardly with an irritated shake of his head ''I believe that these guys know that their attacks can''t penetrate through my body or even cause any sort of harm to me. So, why do they keep attacking instead of surrendering their necks to me and let me behead them once and for all and spare them all these misery and agony that they are going through?"


    After thinking all these in less than a second, he abruptly aimed out one of his palms at the attacks shooting at immensely high velocities towards him and released a large quantity of Blood Energy from his palm.


    Once the huge amount of Blood Energy erupted from that palm, it instantly transformed into hundreds of glowing, blood-red blades that immediately shot out at great speeds towards the numerous lethal attacks shooting towards Xiao Lin at extreme speeds.


    Bang! Boom! Bang! Boom!...


    Numerous bang sounds began to ring out as Xiao Lin''s attacks clashed heavily into the attacks that were shooting at immense speeds towards him.


    And as they clashed, with the powerful attacks that Xiao Lin sent out reducing many of the cultivators'' attacks to pieces, colored waves of high destructive power and which lit up everywhere with their brilliant colors, began to immediately surface one after the other. And as they appeared, causing the air around them and for hundreds of feet to roil violently, and then the solid brown earth beneath them to tremble, they caused many of the opposing attacks to begin to shatter into pieces. The destructive power that they wielded was too much for both opposing attacks to withstand.


    However, some of Xiao Lin''s attacks that effortlessly shattered many of the attacks sent out at him into bits, continued forward towards the cultivators who stood at the distance and weren''t expecting Xiao Lin''s attacks to continue toward them after being caught up in that severe storm of violent energies that had abruptly surfaced when their attacks collided.


    Puchi! Puchi Puchi!...


    Numerous cleaving sounds began to ring out as many of the blood-red blades that Xiao Lin sent out and continued towards them even after being heavily hit by the waves of high destructive power that had suddenly surfaced, began to impale them one after the other and cut them into halves in the process.

 Chapter 103 - Killing Cultivators (2)

    The fourth-layer, fifth-layer and sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator became horrified by Xiao Lin''s power.


    While Xiao Lin who stood at the distance, looked at them with a smile in his face.


    "Terrified of me yet?" He asked from afar.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin had slain all the lower-rank cultivators to remain only the higher-ranked cultivators.


    One of them then asked as he looked at Xiao Lin "Where are you from?"


    However, Xiao Lin gave no response to his question.


    Seeing that Xiao Lin didn''t give a reply to the question that he asked, he said "Do you know that if you try to kill everyone of us here, the masters of our respective sects and organization will come to find you? You will be hunted down and utterly destroyed. So, I will advise you to not carry on with the evil scheme that you have in mind against us"


    Once he finished speaking, Xiao Lin looked at him with a smile in his face and said "But you guys are unaffiliated cultivators. You don''t belong to a particular sect or organization. So, I won''t worry too much about killing you guys and using your blood for myself since no one from your sect nor organization will come down here to track me down."


    He then continued "However, about those disciples. I will try to deal with them in a way that I won''t be exposed."


    Once Xiao Lin said that, someone tried to counter him by saying that what he said was wrong.


    "Hey, you said it wrong. When there are so many killings, the sect masters wouldn''t let you and the others that you spared leave until any one of you confesses who killed their disciples. And I believe that after they torture you really well, you will confess to them that it was you that killed the people that came in here."


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin laughed.


    He then said "If that''s what you think, then that''s your problem. Anyways, you all should get ready to die."


    Once Xiao Lin said that, he produced the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade to his hand.


    As soon as the blades vanished from within the far depth of his dantian and reappeared in his hands, Xiao Lin instantly dashed out towards them to slay them


    Seeing that Xiao Lin had begun to dash towards them with two blades in his hands which invoked terror in their hearts, they quickly aimed out their palms at Xiao Lin.


    And as soon as they did so, large amount of Spiritual Energy instantly erupted from each of their palms and condensed into massive and solid attacks that shot towards Xiao Lin at great speeds


    Xiao Lin who could see the attacks shooting towards him as he dashed towards them, simply grasped the blades in his hand and began to slash out with them at the numerous attacks shooting towards him.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    As his blade struck the attacks which were shot out all at once towards him, and carried with them tremendous amount of destructive power that could shatter rocks the size of a house, numerous bang sounds began to ring out as the attacks simply exploded into smithereens upon being hit by the blades.


    And since they exploded, waves of terrifying power instantly surfaced and swept out into the far distance with high destructive power that caused Xiao Lin to be terribly shaken as they impacted him.


    Although they caused his blood to roil violently, they however couldn''t make a break in his tough flesh, talk more of causing numerous grievous injuries to him.


    But as the waves which possessed great horrifying power impacted him, Xiao Lin was abruptly launched into the distance where he crashed into the earth at a distance of twenty feet away.


    The fourth-layer, fifth-layer and sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators who sent out those attacks at Xiao Lin, looked at where Xiao Lin previously stood. But to their shock, they couldn''t find him there. Then they became heavily amazed.


    Has he been destroyed?


    They asked inwardly with intense surprise in their eyes. However, they themselves couldn''t believe what they just thought.


    Although they all thought these, they didn''t leave just yet. So, they remained there to see if he would suddenly appear before them or from afar in another direction.


    They didn''t want him to sneak up behind them and take them down one after the other.


    Besides, they had a strong feeling that he was probably launched away to a farther distance by the powerful waves that erupted from their attacks when he slashed out with his blades at them.


    Xiao Lin who was knocked heavily into the distance for more than twenty feet away, stood to his feet.


    So, once he thought of standing, his body raised itself above the ground to stand firmly once again on the ground. And once his body did so, Xiao Lin began to look at the cultivators who stood at the distance looking around.


    "They haven''t left yet?" Xiao Lin asked.


    Haha!


    He then chuckled within himself.


    "I guess they believe that the damaging waves of their attacks wouldn''t be able to really cause me that much harm."


    Then with a wide smile appearing in his face, he suddenly dashed towards them.


    Swoosh!


    Like a ghost, he appeared before one of them.


    Then before that person could react, Xiao Lin sent out his razor-sharp claws towards his neck to slash it open.


    Slash!


    Once this sound rang out, the head attached to that neck fell off with blood instantly erupting out of that neck like it were a fountain.


    And immediately he killed this cultivator, he dashed towards another to slay that one too.


    Then appearing before his next target, he abruptly sent out his claws once again towards the cultivator''s neck.


    Slash!


    The head was instantly slashed off from the neck and then fell to the ground. And as soon as it was slashed off, blood instantly gushed out of the neck like it were a fountain before falling back to the ground and dying it red.


    Seeing that Xiao Lin was beginning to take them down one after the other, something that they tried to prevent from happening by slashing their necks open with something really sharp since they couldn''t see him properly due to the ghostly speed that he moved at, they quickly banded together so that they would be able to resist him together.


    While Xiao Lin who had just taken down one of his target, and stood farther away from them, like fifteen feet away, laughed raucously when he saw what they were doing.


    He then asked "There is power in unison, eh?"


    Once he asked that question, he shook his head and prepared to go at them again to continue bringing down their heads.


    But before Xiao Lin could go at any of them, one of them suddenly said "Let''s combine with our Animal Spirits. We should be able to draw more power from our Battle Beast Spirits"


    Immediately that person said that, the rest had their eyes glow before they quickly nodded their heads in total agreement.


    Then quickly executing profound Animal Summoning gestures that they had mastered, different colors of light began to flash about them and behind them.


    Then when the flashes of colored light stopped a few moments later, various kind of Battle Beast Spirits that radiated fierceness from their bodies, could be seen looking at Xiao Lin with frigid and venomous gazes in their eyes.


    Some of these beasts that were mountainous in size, could be noticed standing on the ground on all fours. While others that were large in size and possessed wings that spanned many dozens of feet, could be noticed flapping their massive wings to remain high in the air.


    Xiao Lin who was witnessing all that were happening before his very eyes, only produced a slight smile in his face.


    He then said "Fearsome-looking Animal Spirits you have got there, people."


    The cultivators who were focused on what they were doing, simply ignored him.


    Then further executing Spirit-Human Fusion finger gestures, spheres of light began to expand outwards from within their bodies. And as soon as these spheres surfaced, they began to grow in size till they reach a stage where they fully enclosed both them and their standing and gliding, immense Animal Spirits.


    Then once the spheres had covered them and their Animal Spirits, their Animal Spirits began to rapidly shrink in size till they reduced to become the same height as their masters. And as soon as they decreased in size to that level, they suddenly shot into the bodies of their masters like wide rays of light.


    Graaa!


    Rawrr!


    Raghh!...


    The instant the beasts shot into the bodies of their masters, deep and bloodcurdling beastly growls began to ring out from within their bodies. Then all kinds of transformations began to take place on their bodies.


    When the transformations stopped a moment later, Xiao Lin could see that the cultivators whom he wanted to kill, had grown many times taller than they previously were. Also, the haloes of power pulsing off from their bodies had grown far stronger and much more alarming than they previously were.

 Chapter 104 - Killing Cultivators (3)

    Seeing them in their transformed states, Xiao Lin simply nodded his head.


    As soon as the cultivators completed their transformations, some of them instantly dashed out towards Xiao Lin to overwhelm him and then destroy him.


    And at this point in time, they were able to come to a conclusion that Xiao Lin''s body was either amazingly tough that their attacks couldn''t really penetrate through his flesh to shred him apart to thousand bits of flesh, or that he had a powerful healing ability and would instantly heal no matter the kind of lethal attack that was sent out at him to obliterate him.


    However, their deductions were wrong, as he had both characteristics, with the healing factor that he possessed approaching nigh-immortality level.


    Seeing that they were beginning to dash towards him, Xiao Lin who still retained that smile in his face, suddenly dashed out towards one of them.


    And this time, he slowed down so that they could see him.


    Although it was like he was exposing himself to their attacks, he however wasn''t frightened about it, since their attacks, although may be able to injure him, wouldn''t be able to destroy or annihilate him due to his extreme cellular regeneration rate.


    Then appearing before one who quickly sent out his fist towards his chest as he could see Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin also reciprocated the same action by throwing out his fist towards the person''s chest too.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Both their fists heavily struck into the other at the chest region, but Xiao Lin remained where he was while the other was sent flying into the distance by many feet.


    The force accompanying his punch, despite being in a fused state with his Animal Spirit, wasn''t able to catapult Xiao Lin away. It was like the force packed by his fist which impacted Xiao Lin''s chest, was only a small rush of wind and nothing more. However, one couldn''t underestimate the force, as it was a force that could cause rocks that is many times the size of an elephant to instantly shatter into pieces.


    Then as for the cultivator that was punched by Xiao Lin in the chest, he was sent flying into the distance for many feet. And even when he crashed into the earth, he still dragged across it surface for some feet more before his dragged body came to a total halt. And this was a cultivator whose body had transformed because of fusion with his Animal Spirit and should possess more physical strength than Xiao Lin who was in his usual, pale-skinned human form.


    Seeing what happened, Xiao Lin only broke a smile in his face, while the other cultivators looking at him from the distance, shook their heads in horror and disbelief. They couldn''t believe Xiao Lin''s body toughness and physical strength. With only a punch, he had knocked their colleague far away who they felt should be more stronger than Xiao Lin since he had merged with his Beast Battle Spirit. But the result came out negative. So, that meant that even in their fused states with their Animal Spirits, they were still useless before him.


    As they were still thinking, with many of them lost in deep thought of what to do about Xiao Lin who seemed like he wouldn''t stop until he had drawn out their entire bloods or had beheaded them, one of them suddenly said out loud while gazing at Xiao Lin in the distance with a really hateful gaze in his eyes.


    So, looking at Xiao Lin with a cold glint in his eyes, he said with his voice growing darker and full of beastial anger, which actually made him sound like an actual beast "My fellow cultivators, let''s combine strength together to take down this evil and vicious oddity in our path. We can do this, only if we are fearless before the face of our death and merge our strength into one."


    Xiao Lin who could hear what they were saying using his powerful vampiric hearing ability from the distance that he stood, directly entered his true vampiric form. And once he did so, he dashed out towards them to attack them.


    He actually didn''t want to give them the chance to group together. But it was not that he was scared or something like that if they tried to merge their attacks together at him, it was simply because he didn''t want to waste time with them again.


    Therefore, once he appeared in front of one who fearfully and abruptly sent out his fist towards his head, he skilfully dodged it and sent out a powerful whipping kick towards his head.


    Bang!


    Immediately his feet struck the cultivator''s head, the cultivator was sent flying into the distance at a great speed. And once he landed with his head first into the ground at a distance of twenty feet away, numerous cracks instantly appeared in it with thin streams of blood suddenly bursting out of the cracks with a lot of force. However, it wasn''t only blood that erupted from the cracks that had appeared in the surface of the head, many bits of brain matter also exploded out of the cracks.


    Once he had done that, with a great confidence in his heart that he had viciously killed that cultivator, he dashed out towards another cultivator that stood several feet away from him.


    The cultivator who didn''t have time to think of what to do as Xiao Lin had unexpectedly appeared before him, had his two arms grabbed and then viciously torn off from his shoulders.


    Arghhh!!


    He screeched out in pain and agony.


    But he couldn''t cry out for long when Xiao Lin suddenly directed his claws towards his chin and slashed from there with his claws up to his scalp, simply dividing his head up in many places.


    Immediately he did that, the cultivator fell down to the ground dead, with blood beginning to gush out of the slashes that Xiao Lin made into his head from his chin up to the scalp of his head.


    The cultivators who could witness how Xiao Lin took them down one by one like he was the murderous and joyful reaper of souls, began to frantically think of what next to do to escape from his onslaught.


    However, their thoughts of escaping from Xiao Lin didn''t go on for long when a particular thought suddenly flashed in their minds that they should run away from him, and that even though he would chase after any of them, they could be really lucky to escape from him and could report what happened to the members of other sects that they would come across in the massively far distance, who might then make it their utmost mission or task to catch Xiao Lin and incarcerate him, or better, tear him apart


    So, from the fourth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators to the sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators began to flee into the distance, leaving behind Xiao Lin who was looking at them with an inexplicable gaze in his eyes.


    "Ugh!" Xiao Lin grunted unhappily as he saw the cultivators running into the far distance to escape from him.


    He then said "Why do they always run? Can''t they even try a bit to take me down? I guess I intimidated them too much that they had to drop their idea of combining their attack power against me and run into the far distance to escape from my fierce and ruthless onslaught."


    "But how far can they actually run from me? Their heads will still roll off their necks when my blade or claws come into contact with their necks."


    "Anyways, now that they are beginning to run in every directions to escape from me, it would take me more effort in killing them. And some could go conceal themselves in some crazy hidden places that they were extremely fortunate to find, making it all the more difficult for me to find them and slaughter. I don''t want anyone escaping from me, or my plans of getting blood for myself to replenish my Blood Energy, and then for the Obsidian Abdicator would become much more difficult for me to do.'' He said further.


    Then once he ended his train of thought there, he produced the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade in his hands and abruptly dashed out towards one of the Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators that had taken a particular direction.


    Swoosh!


    Moving at a tremendous speed using the Blood Dragon Flash evasion technique from the Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash Skill, and was coupled with his Super Speed ability and his other Movement Skills, he arrived behind that cultivator like a ghost at the immense speed that he was moving at and then slashed out with the Awakening Doom blade in his right hand at his neck.


    Slash!


    The head was cleanly cut off while blood instantly erupted from the slashed neck into the air like a fountain before falling back to the ground and dying it in red.


    Once he had beheaded that cultivator, he quickly dashed out again towards another.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!


    ...


    Numerous slash sounds began to ring out as Xiao Lin began to cut off the heads of the cultivator that he targeted. And like a ghost which was because of the insanely fast speed that he moved at, he couldn''t be seen for them to successfully hit him with their Spiritual Battle Skills.


    But even if they could hit him, it was still useless, since his body was extremely capable of resisting the powerful, peak-level attack of an ordinary, 6th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator. Talk more of his true vampiric form that would add to the degree of invulnerability or resilience of his body.

 Chapter 105 - Replenishing His Entire Blood Energy

    Many days later, and like a tireless human-killing machine, he was able to kill off all the fourth-layer, fifth-layer and sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators that had taken off into the far distance in all directions to escape from him.


    And as he was doing so, he was storing their lifeless bodies into his spatial ring, since there would be no point in coming back to look for their bodies to use, in which he could even miss out on some of their bodies.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin who tried his best to kill everyone of them that fled from him when he started his mad onslaught a month ago, could be seen seated in the cross-legged position on the earth before many large piles of headless bodies. He had gone back to the place where he met up with a large group of rogue cultivators that were moving towards the part of this massive, isolated region where the Azure Firestorm Archer''s mansion was located.


    The huge piles of headless bodies that surrounded him numbered in a few hundreds, with each pile having close to seventy bodies. So, one should be able to imagine or calculate the number of ordinary rogue cultivators that he had killed when he began his ruthless slaughter for their blood to cultivate his Blood Energy.


    However, he wasn''t focused on cultivating his Blood Energy now. Instead, he would try to regain his nearly depleted Spiritual Energy by consuming all the Spiritual Cultivation Resources that could be found in all the spatial rings of the cultivators arranged into immense piles before him.


    Then once he initiated consumption of all the cultivation resources found in the spatial rings of the 4th-layer, 5th-layer and 6th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators, and then converted them into his dark-colored Spiritual Energy which he refined to become hundred-percent pure, he was able to regain his entire Spiritual Energy.


    As soon as he ended his Spiritual Energy cultivation, he brought his sharp gaze upon one of the many huge piles of headless bodies that massively towered around him.


    "Time to regain my Blood Energy" Xiao Lin said delightfully.


    He then closed his eyes and began to operate the technique mentioned in the True Vampire Origin Blood Force art, which was the otherworld, empyrean-grade cultivation art he would have to use to replenish his Blood Energy.


    Once his eyes were shut tight and he began to operate the technique, blood began to flow from the hearts and necks of the large piles of the cultivators'' bodies before him towards his own body. And immediately they approached him, they wrapped around his body to form a singular massive cocoon of bright red blood.


    Anyone that would see this dreadful phenomenon that was occurring around Xiao Lin, would be amazed and at the same time terrified, since the blood that surrounded him and formed into a glowing, blood-colored cocoon that have off frightening ripples of some type of unseen intimidating power, would give the feeling that something strange, fiercely powerful and evilly ominous was about to be born from it.


    Then the instant that the blood coming from the hearts and necks of the cultivators wrapped around him into that cocoon, they began to flow into his body through the pores of his skin where they flowed down the special network of veins to his dantian where they infused into the dim Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian.


    As soon as the wisps of blood began to enter into the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian, the ones that were previously dim; which haven''t had their Blood Energy returned to some amount or level, began to gradually grow from their dim and dull states into brightly illuminated states.


    Not long, many of those dim Blood Symbols in his dantian became filled with the blood that flowed into his body through his pores. And as the solid, blood-red symbols floating in his dantian became filled with blood, a powerful energy that was surprisingly calm but concealed a type of great power within them, began to brew.


    Xiao Lin who could feel the startling and fearsome power starting to swell within those Blood Symbols in his dantian, gave a delighted smile.


    He then placed more effort on moving blood from his body into the Blood Symbols.


    Although doing this racked him with immense severe pain as the blood tried to pierce through the pores of his skin in large amounts, thereby tearing many of them open, he however gnashed his teeth and tried to endure the intense pain that he suffered from committing this kind of act.


    ...


    About a week later, he was able to make all the Blood Symbols in his dantian to grow from their poor dim state into brilliantly lit state. And once these occurred, Xiao Lin began to feel strong currents of power beginning to pulsate about within the Blood Symbols.


    But at this moment, he had basically used up all the blood from the headless corpses of the cultivators that he killed many hours ago.


    He then stood to his feet to move further into the distance. But before he would do so, he used a particular technique from the Divinity-Annihilating Primal Blood Flame battle art to set the heads of the cultivators and their headless bodies on fire.


    Once he did so, he said inwardly ''Now that I am certainly too far from the other cultivators that came into this place, and I have been able to replenish my Blood Energy to the brim, I should use that powerful evasion technique from the Heavenly Blood Marauder Unparalleled Blur Flash technique to move at a really high speed so that I can simply catch up with them.''


    Immediately he produced this thought within his mind, he instantly shot forward to catch up with the rest of them that came into this isolated region.


    ...


    A few days later...


    After running for some days at a high speed using the Movement Skills that he possessed, he finally came across many group of people who also seemed to be cultivators. But this time, groups of disciples of other sects could be seen with them. Not with them per say, but they were moving together into the distance to where the Azure Firestorm Archer''s mansion should be located.


    As soon as Xiao Lin saw them, he said inwardly, ''I am getting close to coming across large numbers of disciples from the different sects that came into this place. And now, the battle that would occur between me and them would become be a bit difficult. But anyways, I will still come out on top, since I possess numerous, insanely powerful abilities that are far better than any ability that they would possess or have harnessed, I am sure of that.''


    Immediately he finished saying this within himself, he went forward to meet one of the numerous groups of disciples that were moving into the distance for the Azure Firestorm Archer''s wealth.


    Then when he arrived beside one of these groups of disciples, the people in the group turned their heads to see who had appeared beside them and then furrowed their brows when they saw Xiao Lin.


    "Hey, what do you want?" One of them asked with a cold gaze in his eyes.


    "Can I join your group that consist of geniuses. I am a rogue cultivator and would like to join you guys. Any scrap or leftover of resources that you guys leave behind would be delightedly accepted by me." Xiao Lin responded.


    Haha!


    The disciples in the group laughed. While the others who were around and saw what Xiao Lin did, couldn''t help but shake their heads and look at him with total disgust in their eyes.


    "Really? And why''s that?" One of the disciples in the group asked.


    "Because your group is composed of geniuses and you guys would be able to protect me. And when you guys are able to acquire many materials and resources from the accumulations of the Azure Firestorm Archer, you would be able to leave out some for me. Even though they may seem useless to you, I will accept them like that" Xiao Lin answered.


    "Hmm... I see... But we can''t accept you. We aren''t here to look after the welfare of anyone, but after ourselves. We are here to gather resources for ourselves with our strength and skills alone. So, you would have to either be on your own to fight for leftover of resources from us, or quickly scurry off now to go meet any of the groups of puny rogue cultivators like yourself here and request that you want to join their group. Hahaha!" A disciple in the group stated and laughed wildly and uncontrollably.


    Hahaha!


    Xiao Lin also began to laugh wildly and uncontrollably, causing intense surprise to appear in the eyes of the disciples beside him, and in the eyes of everyone else around him in this part of the region.


    "Hey! Have you become suddenly possessed?" One of the disciples asked with anger in his eyes at the way Xiao Lin was laughing.


    Hahaha!


    Once he asked that, Xiao Lin only continued to laugh in that uncontrolled wild manner like he was now fully possessed by a demon. And this caused the person before him, the cultivators in the group that he was in, and then the other groups in this part of the region to begin to look at him with intensely bewildered expressions in their faces.


    Then with a serious gaze appearing in Xiao Lin''s eyes in the next moment, he said with a frightening chilly tone in his voice "Actually, I am here to take your sweet bloods to feed my Blood Symbols. They have all grown weak and dim like there is no life or vibrancy within them again. So, I need to feed them your bloods so that they can become fierce and powerful again. Thank you!"

 Chapter 106 - Killing Disciples Of Sects (1)

    Once Xiao Lin mentioned that, the disciples had their eyes glow with shock before killing intent began to erupt from their eyes.


    "Let''s take down this bastard" One of them immediately said.


    Then they all produced various forms of weapons in their hands and began to pump Spiritual Energy into them.


    As soon as the weapons such as blades and swords were filled with their Spiritual Energies, they immediately slashed out at Xiao Lin who only punched out towards their attack and released a powerful blast of Blood Energy from his fist.


    Boom!


    Bang! Bang! Bang!...


    Immediately the blast of Blood Energy discharged from his hands and struck their various Spiritual Energy attacks, they shattered into pieces with his blast moving forward and striking into them.


    Arghh! Arghh!...


    Once his blast struck some of them that couldn''t dodge or evade in time, they screamed out in pain as they were heavily knocked away in a random direction by the force that was accompanying the blast.


    While Xiao Lin who didn''t want to waste time, dashed out towards the rest of them and slashed out with his his claws at them.


    As soon as he arrived in front of one, he immediately slashed out at his neck before the disciple could react.


    Slash!


    Once his claws slashed open the neck of that disciple, blood erupted into the air to a height of five feet before falling back to the earth surface and dying it red.


    And once he slashed open that disciple''s head with his claws, he dashed out towards the rest of them to attack them.


    Seeing Xiao Lin come towards them, they quickly aimed their palms at him and abruptly discharged attacks of Spiritual Energies at him.


    But before their attacks could impact him, Xiao Lin leapt into the air where he reached a height of fifteen feet. And once he reached that height in the air, he aimed out his hands at them and quickly discharged large amount of Blood Energy from it which abruptly transformed into hundreds of blades.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!...


    As soon as the blades appeared, they shot out at great speeds toward the disciples on the ground.


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    Puchi!....


    Several piercing sounds began to ring out as the dozens of blood-red blades that surfaced, effortlessly penetrated through their bodies and out through their backs where it then deeply stabbed into the earth.


    Not long, Xiao Lin had taken care of all the disciples from that particular sect.


    He simply overwhelmed them from the beginning till the end and killed them like it was nothing.


    When he landed to the ground and looked at the others, fear instantly filled their eyes. Then they backed by some feet from him, with a hint of battle preparedness appearing in their eyes.


    Xiao Lin only smiled and suddenly dashed out towards one of them. And when he arrived before one who couldn''t react in time due to the tremendous speed that he was moving at, he slashed out with his claws towards his neck.


    Slash!


    Immediately he sent out his claws towards that person''s neck, the neck simply slashed open with blood erupting out of the lacerated neck to a height of seven feet above the ground before falling back to the earth surface and dying it red.


    And as soon as he did that, he dashed towards another person who also couldn''t react in time due to the immense speed that he was moving at.


    Slash!


    Then with a slash of his claws at that person''s neck, the head instantly rolled off with blood instantly erupting out of the neck and splattering about, simply dying the earth surface red.


    But before he could go out against another person, someone, who was actually a disciple from a particular sect, suddenly pointed one of his fingers in Xiao Lin''s direction after employing a powerful vision technique, which allowed him to see Xiao Lin to a certain extent despite the insanely fast speed that Xiao Lin was moving at.


    "Demon-killing lightning finger strike!"


    Immediately he said that, Spiritual Energy suddenly erupted out of his finger in massive amounts before instantly transforming into a large finger that seemed like it was purely composed from electricity.


    And as soon as the finger surfaced, it abruptly shot out at a great speed towards Xiao Lin who tried to evade it.


    However, the finger was much more faster than he could move at and therefore struck him with a great impact.


    Bang!


    As soon as the massive finger that had blue-colored electricity roaming about it entire surface struck Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin was instantly launched into the far distance with a lot of force where he crashed into the earth at a distance of seventeen feet away.


    And since the finger-shaped attack possessed electricity which roamed about it whole surface, the electricity moving about on it surface got off the attack and onto Xiao Lin''s body where it began to electrocute him.


    However, due to Xiao Lin''s body which was very quick at healing and possessed a certain degree of toughness, the electricity that roamed about on his body with an unbridled ravaging intent, couldn''t really hurt him, talk more of causing great injuries to his body.


    Xiao Lin then stood to his feet a moment later when his body raised itself off the ground to allow him stand firmly back on his feet.


    Then with a knowing smile in his face, Xiao Lin abruptly shot out towards that disciple that sent out that powerful attack at him.


    Once he arrived there in less than the blink of an eyes, he quickly slashed out with his claws at the disciple''s neck.


    Slash!


    Once his claws were sent out towards the neck of that disciple, Xiao Lin was shocked to find out that his claws simply passed through the neck of the disciple like he was immaterial. It was like he was a ghost.


    "What the hell?" Xiao Lin asked in shock.


    However, it didn''t take him more than a minute to realize that the disciple was already gone from here and only left an illusion behind to fool him.


    So, once the illusion dispersed after being struck by Xiao Lin''s claws, Xiao Lin quickly began to look around for that disciple.


    Then when he abruptly turned around, the disciple appeared before him with a large sword in his hand that was glowing in deep crimson. And as soon as he appeared on front of Xiao Lin, he sent out the massive sword in his hand towards Xiao Lin''s head to simply lacerate it open.


    However, Xiao Lin who possessed a starling reaction time, quickly bent his body from the waist to dodge the slashing sword attack that was swinging towards his head at a furious speed.


    And since he had dodged the sword, he raised himself back and quickly brought his knee to his chest which he abruptly kicked out with a tremendous amount of force towards the chest of that disciple.


    Bang!


    ARGH!


    The instant Xiao Lin''s powerful leg heavily struck his chest, the disciple screamed out in pain as he was shoved into the distance like he were an arrow that was furiously fired from a bow.


    While Xiao Lin who was mad at this disciple, simply rushed out from where he stood to where the disciple crashed into from his powerful and heavy kick.


    And once he appeared before the disciple who hadn''t stood to his feet on time due to the massively heavy kick that was sent out to his chest, broke many of his chest bones and caused the blood within his body to roil violently, Xiao Lin abruptly kicked out with one of his legs towards his head in a rather furious manner.


    Bang!


    Arghh!


    The disciple screamed out in pain as he was catapulted into the far distance because of the heavy kick that Xiao Lin sent out towards his head.


    But even as the disciple was being launched into the far distance because of Xiao Lin''s powerfully swung feet to his head, Xiao Lin still accompanied his body that was being catapulted through the air into the far distance.


    Then when Xiao Lin appeared before his body in the next instant, he raised his feet into the air and forcefully brought it down upon the head of that disciple.


    Bang!


    As soon as Xiao Lin stomped upon his head with his feet with a tremendous amount of force that even caused the earth beneath the disciple''s body to instantly crack, the disciple''s head instantly shattered into a small mist of blood with bits of his brain matter splattering about.


    Once he had destroyed the disciple, he abruptly picked up from headless body of the disciple from the ground and stowed it into his spatial ring.


    As soon as he did this, he dashed back to where the large group of cultivators were.


    Seeing that Xiao Lin who was ruthless in the manner that he killed was dashing back towards them from afar at a furious speed, they quickly filled their weapons with their Spiritual Energies and got ready to attack him.

 Chapter 107 - Killing Disciples Of Sect (2)

    Then very quickly, they began to send out attacks at him.


    However, Xiao Lin only dodged them using the enormous speed that he was moving at. And when he arrived before one, he sent out his claws at that person''s neck.


    Slash!


    The neck was instantly slashed open with blood immediately gushing out of it to a height of six feet above the ground before falling back to the earth.


    And once he killed that person, he dashed towards another person to slay that one too.


    Slash!


    The head was cut off from the neck with blood splashing out of it into the air before falling back to the ground.


    And once he did this, he dashed towards another cultivator.


    "Hey! Come over here" A male voice suddenly rang out.


    And once this voice rang out, Xiao Lin stopped moving. He then turned his head to look at the person that spoke and saw that he was a disciple of a particular sect.


    "No" Xiao Lin said.


    He then said "You should come to me."


    Immediately Xiao Lin that, the disciple laughed.


    He then suddenly pointed at Xiao Lin and fired off a massive stream of Spiritual Energy from his finger which instantly turned into a large halberd that shot out towards Max at am extreme speed.


    However, before the attack could really impact Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin quickly sent out his fist towards it.


    Boom!


    Immediately his fist smashed into the attack, a wave of energy suddenly surfaced before sweeping out into the distance in all directions with a great destructive power.


    And the wave was so powerful that Xiao Lin was knocked flying into the distance for many feet before crashing into the earth a second later.


    Then when he stood up, the male that launched that halberd-shaped attack at him had leaped very high in the air towards him.


    Then very quickly, Xiao Lin stomped a foot of his on the ground and shot himself into the air like an arrow. Then when he reached a height of fifteen feet above the ground, he abruptly aimed out his palm at the male that had projected himself towards him with a powerful jump.


    Boom!


    A furious wave of Blood Energy erupted him palm with an explosive blast and raged towards the disciple to impact him.


    However, being honed in battle, the disciple quickly pointed out at the blast of Blood Energy that was rushing towards him and abruptly discharged a large amount of Spiritual Energy from his palm which abruptly condensed into a large shield that was many feet thick.


    Immediately the shield appeared, it shot towards the wave of Blood Energy attack to impact it and stop it from moving forward.


    Boom!


    Bang!


    Immediately both attacks collided in the air, a loud boom sound rang out and was immediately accompanied by a ear-aching bang sound when the shield instantly shattered into smithereens.


    However, due to the power of the shield because of it denseness and thickness, it was able to reduce the fierceness and lethality of the wave of Blood Energy attack.


    Besides, the disciple had already forcefully dropped himself to the ground before the wave of Blood Energy attack could really hit him.


    But at this moment, Xiao Lin had also dropped to the ground too from his launch into the air.


    Then staring at each other intensely in the eyes, the disciple suddenly dashed out towards Xiao Lin to resume attacking him. While Xiao Lin who remained where he was, only produced a smirk expression in his face.


    He then aimed his two palms out at the disciple and unleashed large amounts of Blood Energy from them which instantly transformed into many dozens of blades that shot out at a great speed towards the disciple rushing towards him.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!...


    Numerous whooshing sounds began to ring out as the blades shot through the air at great speeds towards that disciple.


    However, before the blood-red blades could pelt him on the chest, the disciple quickly pointed at the numerous, blade-shaped attacks shooting towards him and caused a stream of Spiritual Energy to erupt from them before actually transforming into a massive attack of brightly burning flame as he had employed a Special Fire skill.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    As the blood-red blade attacks smashed into the enormous tower of blazing fire that the disciple created, multiple bang sounds began to ring out.


    Although the flaming tower possessed a powerful defense, it couldn''t really stop the blood-red blades attacks shooting towards it.


    So, they penetrated through it and came out of it and continued to shoot towards that disciple. However, they had lost much of their momentum.


    But before the blood-red blades could really impact the disciple, the disciple quickly produced another tower of blazing fire which immediately shot out towards the numerous, blood-colored blades shooting towards him.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!..


    Numerous bang sounds began to ring out as the blades smashed heavily into the solid, burning tower of fire. And because of most of their momentum had been lost during their earlier collision with the tower of fire that the disciple sent out, they were stopped and began to disperse one after the other.


    The disciple who saw to his shock that he was having a had time stopping Xiao Lin, said with a cold glint surfacing in his eyes.


    "I see you are very strong." The disciple said. While Xiao Lin who heard this, only nodded his head from the distance that he stood at.


    "Although you are quite powerful to be able stalemate me, Lin Wu, the White Falcon of the Unparalleled Heavenly Falcon sect, I can still however destroy you." The disciple that called himself, Lin Wu said.


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin burst into a loud raucous laughter.


    "Let''s see to that" He said.


    Then suddenly, Lin Wu quickly produced a scarlet pill that he swallowed.


    And once he swallowed the pill, a type of energy began to swell rapidly within his body.


    Immediately Lin Wu felt the energy growing within his body, he abruptly pointed one of his fingers in Xiao Lin''s direction after employing a powerful Fire Skill technique.


    "Fiery Devil-Suppressing finger strike!"


    Immediately he said that, Spiritual Energy that was scarlet in color suddenly erupted out of his finger in massive amounts before instantly transforming into a large finger that seemed like it was purely composed from scarlet flame.


    And as soon as the finger surfaced, it abruptly shot out at a great speed towards Xiao Lin who tried to evade it.


    However, the finger was much more faster than he could move at and therefore struck him with a great impact.


    Bang!


    As soon as the massive finger that had scarlet-colored fire burning about it entire surface struck Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin was instantly launched into the far distance with a lot of force where he crashed into the earth at a distance of twenty feet away.


    And since the finger-shaped attack possessed strongly blazing flames which burned fiercely about it whole surface, the scarlet-hued fire moving about on it surface, got off the attack and onto Xiao Lin''s body where it began to ferociously burn him.


    However, due to Xiao Lin''s body which was very quick at healing and possessed a certain degree of toughness, the fire that tried to burn him down to ashes couldn''t really hurt him.


    Then when the fire quenched a moment later, Xiao Lin quickly stood to his feet as his body raised itself off the ground to allow him stand firmly back on his feet.


    Then with his lips curling into a vicious smile, Xiao Lin abruptly shot out towards that disciple that sent out that powerful fiery attack at him.


    Once he arrived there in less than the blink of an eyes, he quickly slashed out with his claws at the disciple''s neck.


    Bang!


    Immediately his claws were sent out towards the neck of that disciple, Xiao Lin was shocked to find out that his claws simply, quickly burned off to ashes.


    "What?" Xiao Lin asked in tremendous shock.


    However, it didn''t take him more than a minute to realize that it was probably a thin-sized, unseen aura of fire that acted as a fiery protective armor for the disciple that caused his claws to turn into ashes. And that it probably surfaced from that scarlet pill that he imbibed.


    But before he could do anything else, the disciple in front of him had produced a large sword in his hand that had a edge that was glowing in deep scarlet. And as soon as he produced that blade, he abruptly sent it out towards Xiao Lin''s head to simply cut it open.


    However, Xiao Lin who possessed a far higher reaction time due to his vampiric superhuman reflex power, quickly bent his body from the waist to dodge the burning, slashing sword attack that was swinging towards his neck at a furious speed to simply cut it off.


    And once he dodged the sword, he straightened himself back and quickly recalled the Awakening Doom blade to his hand which he quickly sent out towards Lin Wu''s chest to stab him deeply.

 Chapter 108 - Draining Them Of Their Blood

    Arghh!


    The instant the Awakening Doom blade impaled him, Lin Wu screamed out in pain.


    While Lin Wu who was not expecting Xiao Lin''s blade to effortlessly cut through his chest, looked at Xiao Lin with great surprise in his eyes even as immense pain began to flood his senses and caused him to have blurred vision.


    Of course he was not expecting Xiao Lin''s blade to cut him, but now that it had cut him, he was shocked to the bone.


    However, he wouldn''t know that Xiao Lin''s blade, which was one of the two blades that was crafted by the Demonic Blade King, was made of a superior metallic material that would allow it to easily resist the temperature at the heart of a massive lava pool.


    Then as Xiao Lin began to pull out the blade stabbed deeply into his chest, the intense heat that wrapped protectively around Lin Wu''s body, began to rapidly disperse till it had completely vanished around his body.


    While Xiao Lin who had completely pulled out the blade that he stabbed deeply into the Lin Wu''s chest, abruptly raised his knee to his chest and abruptly sent it out towards Lin Wu''s chest.


    Bang!


    Arghhh!


    As soon as Xiao Lin''s powerful leg heavily struck Lin Wu''s chest, Lin Wu screamed out in pain.


    And since Xiao Lin''s leg impacted his chest with a tremendous amount of force, Lin Wu was instantly shoved into the distance like an arrow that was furiously fired from a powerful bow.


    Once Xiao Lin had done that, he abruptly dashed out from where he stood towards the other disciples to attack.


    Seeing that Max was quickly approaching them from the distance, they began to launch Spiritual Energy attacks at him which he only dogged using that great movement speed that he moved at.


    Then when he arrived in front of one, he only sent out the sharp edge of the the Awakening Doom blade in his hand towards his neck.


    Slash!


    As soon as the blade cut open the neck of the disciple, the head instantly fell of to the ground with blood instantly erupting out of it into the air before falling back to the ground and dying it in red.


    Once he had done that, he quickly dashed out towards another disciple to attack him.


    So, just like that, Xiao Lin began his killing. And this he did very fast as he didn''t want any of the disciples and rogue cultivators in this part of the region that he was in, to run into the distance to hide themselves from him.


    ...


    Many hours later, he was able to kill them successfully without any of them running into the distance to hide from him.


    And when he was done, he began to carry the bodies to pile them on top of each other.


    After many hours of doing so like he was a tireless killing machine, and had produced massive numbers of heaps of bodies, he sat in the cross-legged position to draw blood from them.


    So, employing the Blood Pull technique in the True Vampire Blood Origin Force cultivation art, blood began to flow out from within the bodies of the disciples and into a particular vessel that the Obsidian Abdicator had given him to store blood from him.


    Five hours later, Xiao Lin was done moving all the blood within the bodies of the cultivators into the vessel that he had with him to store their blood.


    When he was done, he closed the vessel with it lid and stowed it back into his spatial ring. Then as soon as he did so, he shot towards the bodies of the disciples and began to pull out their personal spatial rings from their fingers which he immediately stored into his spatial ring.


    He then stood his feet and released blood-colored flame from his hand which raged towards the body and wrapped around them, quickly burning their corpses down to ashes.


    Then he looked to his left and right like he was trying to see if nothing was hiding from him in the distance. And immediately after he did so, he shot forward into the distance to go meet probably the last group of disciples that entered this place to acquire some of the wealth and accumulations of the Azure Firestorm Archer.


    ...


    "Brother Zhu Ping, when do you think that we are going to really reach the mansion of the Azure Firestorm Archer?"


    "We have been walking for more than two months now and the mansion is not yet in sight." Someone accompanying a tall and fierce-looking, handsome male called Zhu Ping, asked.


    "You guys should relax. We would eventually reach there. The legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer isn''t a lie. We would certainly get there when we have walked the distance." Zhu Ping said with a confident smile appearing om his face.


    He then continued "Assuming we tried moving into the distance using our Movement Skills and then our Spiritual Energies to power them, we would have to cultivate for a long time to recover them which is not really worth it. Therefore, with time, we would get there."


    "I will advise that you take your people and run into the distance so that you can acquire the wealth and accumulations of the Azure Firestorm Archer for yourself. You know, giving you an headstart would allow you to receive more of his wealth and accumulation than all of us here" The fairy-like voice of a female suddenly rang out from far beside him.


    Zhu Ping then turned his head to look at the female that spoke with that seemingly seraphic, dream-like voice.


    Once he did and he saw the female, his eyes glowed with an inexplicable smile appearing in his face.


    The female that he saw, who was also flanked on all sides by the members of her sect, was the Heavenly Daughter of the Celestial Dragon Empress sect.


    Zhu Ping who was staring at her with narrowed glittering eyes, couldn''t really take his admiring and adoring gaze off her, as the female whose body seemed to be carved out of jade, and possessed a great charm that was lacking in all other females that he had ever come across, was a girl with great matchless beauty and a great demeanor.


    "Daughter of the Celestial Dragon Empress sect." Zhu Ping said with an amiable tone in his voice.


    He then continued "Well, I could accept to do what you said if you can give me a long and deep kiss. If not, then I am sorry."


    Then he said further "However, even if I don''t get to kiss you, just with you walking beside me even if you are far, I feel fulfilled. Haha"


    The female whom he called Zhou Bilan, only shook her head as she looked at him.


    She then asked "Why don''t you just forget about getting me?"


    And once she asked that without waiting for a reply from Zhu Ping, she continued, "I will not become any man''s wife in this life. I also have the dream to become the absolute strongest in the world. If males can do it, females should be able to do it too."


    She then said further "But don''t worry Zhu Ping, when I become far stronger than you and can protect you, you will become my dog. How about that?"


    Hahaha!


    Zhu Ping suddenly burst into a loud and raucous laughter.


    Then with a lewd smile appearing in his face, he said "In the end, I will surely make you mine. And whether you like it or not, you will be the one to satisfy me every morning, evening and night."


    "It would be so great having someone of your great and incomparable beauty ride me every day of the week."


    And once he said that, he said further with a cold glint surfacing in his eyes "Then because you dared to call me a dog, I will make sure to demolish your sect when I get stronger and take all the beautiful females from your sect and turn them into my sex slaves"


    Zhou Bilan heard what Zhu Ping said and had her eyes flash with an inexplicable light.


    However, she didn''t give any response and only turned away to walk in another direction into the distance.


    As she walked away, Zhu Ping began to laugh raucously so that she could hear his unbridled laughter and become more angered. But his scheme didn''t work out as Zhu Ping only ignored him.


    As Zhu Ping said this, someone who was far behind him and was from the Great Dreamland sect, began to look at him with disgust in his eyes.


    "That arrogant, lewd and disgusting, genius bastard from the Violet Canon God sect. Always talking dirty with all the Heavenly Daughters from any sects that he would ever comes across. Doesn''t even have a taste nor a standard. Moron" A male called Fang Shu, said with intense hate in his tone.


    Hahaha!


    Another male who walked beside him and carried a large, ornamented green sword on his shoulder, laughed wildly and said "Brother Shu, very soon, you will be able to have your revenge."


    "And I, Shu Lei, will join you in taking down that bastard. He shouldn''t have come into this place. But since he dared to, he should be ready to lose his puny life"

 Chapter 109 - Meeting Powerful Disciples (1)

    Then very quickly, they began to send out attacks at him.


    However, Xiao Lin only dodged them using the enormous speed that he was moving at. And when he arrived before one, he sent out his claws at that person''s neck.


    Slash!


    The neck was instantly slashed open with blood immediately gushing out of it to a height of six feet above the ground before falling back to the earth.


    And once he killed that person, he dashed towards another person to slay that one too.


    Slash!


    The head was cut off from the neck with blood splashing out of it into the air before falling back to the ground.


    And once he did this, he dashed towards another cultivator.


    "Hey! Come over here" A male voice suddenly rang out.


    And once this voice rang out, Xiao Lin stopped moving. He then turned his head to look at the person that spoke and saw that he was a disciple of a particular sect.


    "No" Xiao Lin said.


    He then said "You should come to me."


    Immediately Xiao Lin that, the disciple laughed.


    He then suddenly pointed at Xiao Lin and fired off a massive stream of Spiritual Energy from his finger which instantly turned into a large halberd that shot out towards Max at am extreme speed.


    However, before the attack could really impact Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin quickly sent out his fist towards it.


    Boom!


    Immediately his fist smashed into the attack, a wave of energy suddenly surfaced before sweeping out into the distance in all directions with a great destructive power.


    And the wave was so powerful that Xiao Lin was knocked flying into the distance for many feet before crashing into the earth a second later.


    Then when he stood up, the male that launched that halberd-shaped attack at him had leaped very high in the air towards him.


    Then very quickly, Xiao Lin stomped a foot of his on the ground and shot himself into the air like an arrow. Then when he reached a height of fifteen feet above the ground, he abruptly aimed out his palm at the male that had projected himself towards him with a powerful jump.


    Boom!


    A furious wave of Blood Energy erupted him palm with an explosive blast and raged towards the disciple to impact him.


    However, being honed in battle, the disciple quickly pointed out at the blast of Blood Energy that was rushing towards him and abruptly discharged a large amount of Spiritual Energy from his palm which abruptly condensed into a large shield that was many feet thick.


    Immediately the shield appeared, it shot towards the wave of Blood Energy attack to impact it and stop it from moving forward.


    Boom!


    Bang!


    Immediately both attacks collided in the air, a loud boom sound rang out and was immediately accompanied by a ear-aching bang sound when the shield instantly shattered into smithereens.


    However, due to the power of the shield because of it denseness and thickness, it was able to reduce the fierceness and lethality of the wave of Blood Energy attack.


    Besides, the disciple had already forcefully dropped himself to the ground before the wave of Blood Energy attack could really hit him.


    But at this moment, Xiao Lin had also dropped to the ground too from his launch into the air.


    Then staring at each other intensely in the eyes, the disciple suddenly dashed out towards Xiao Lin to resume attacking him. While Xiao Lin who remained where he was, only produced a smirk expression in his face.


    He then aimed his two palms out at the disciple and unleashed large amounts of Blood Energy from them which instantly transformed into many dozens of blades that shot out at a great speed towards the disciple rushing towards him.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!...


    Numerous whooshing sounds began to ring out as the blades shot through the air at great speeds towards that disciple.


    However, before the blood-red blades could pelt him on the chest, the disciple quickly pointed at the numerous, blade-shaped attacks shooting towards him and caused a stream of Spiritual Energy to erupt from them before actually transforming into a massive attack of brightly burning flame as he had employed a Special Fire skill.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    As the blood-red blade attacks smashed into the enormous tower of blazing fire that the disciple created, multiple bang sounds began to ring out.


    Although the flaming tower possessed a powerful defense, it couldn''t really stop the blood-red blades attacks shooting towards it.


    So, they penetrated through it and came out of it and continued to shoot towards that disciple. However, they had lost much of their momentum.


    But before the blood-red blades could really impact the disciple, the disciple quickly produced another tower of blazing fire which immediately shot out towards the numerous, blood-colored blades shooting towards him.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!..


    Numerous bang sounds began to ring out as the blades smashed heavily into the solid, burning tower of fire. And because of most of their momentum had been lost during their earlier collision with the tower of fire that the disciple sent out, they were stopped and began to disperse one after the other.


    The disciple who saw to his shock that he was having a had time stopping Xiao Lin, said with a cold glint surfacing in his eyes.


    "I see you are very strong." The disciple said. While Xiao Lin who heard this, only nodded his head from the distance that he stood at.


    "Although you are quite powerful to be able stalemate me, Lin Wu, the White Falcon of the Unparalleled Heavenly Falcon sect, I can still however destroy you." The disciple that called himself, Lin Wu said.


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin burst into a loud raucous laughter.


    "Let''s see to that" He said.


    Then suddenly, Lin Wu quickly produced a scarlet pill that he swallowed.


    And once he swallowed the pill, a type of energy began to swell rapidly within his body.


    Immediately Lin Wu felt the energy growing within his body, he abruptly pointed one of his fingers in Xiao Lin''s direction after employing a powerful Fire Skill technique.


    "Fiery Devil-Suppressing finger strike!"


    Immediately he said that, Spiritual Energy that was scarlet in color suddenly erupted out of his finger in massive amounts before instantly transforming into a large finger that seemed like it was purely composed from scarlet flame.


    And as soon as the finger surfaced, it abruptly shot out at a great speed towards Xiao Lin who tried to evade it.


    However, the finger was much more faster than he could move at and therefore struck him with a great impact.


    Bang!


    As soon as the massive finger that had scarlet-colored fire burning about it entire surface struck Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin was instantly launched into the far distance with a lot of force where he crashed into the earth at a distance of twenty feet away.


    And since the finger-shaped attack possessed strongly blazing flames which burned fiercely about it whole surface, the scarlet-hued fire moving about on it surface, got off the attack and onto Xiao Lin''s body where it began to ferociously burn him.


    However, due to Xiao Lin''s body which was very quick at healing and possessed a certain degree of toughness, the fire that tried to burn him down to ashes couldn''t really hurt him.


    Then when the fire quenched a moment later, Xiao Lin quickly stood to his feet as his body raised itself off the ground to allow him stand firmly back on his feet.


    Then with his lips curling into a vicious smile, Xiao Lin abruptly shot out towards that disciple that sent out that powerful fiery attack at him.


    Once he arrived there in less than the blink of an eyes, he quickly slashed out with his claws at the disciple''s neck.


    Bang!


    Immediately his claws were sent out towards the neck of that disciple, Xiao Lin was shocked to find out that his claws simply, quickly burned off to ashes.


    "What?" Xiao Lin asked in tremendous shock.


    However, it didn''t take him more than a minute to realize that it was probably a thin-sized, unseen aura of fire that acted as a fiery protective armor for the disciple that caused his claws to turn into ashes. And that it probably surfaced from that scarlet pill that he imbibed.


    But before he could do anything else, the disciple in front of him had produced a large sword in his hand that had a edge that was glowing in deep scarlet. And as soon as he produced that blade, he abruptly sent it out towards Xiao Lin''s head to simply cut it open.


    However, Xiao Lin who possessed a far higher reaction time due to his vampiric superhuman reflex power, quickly bent his body from the waist to dodge the burning, slashing sword attack that was swinging towards his neck at a furious speed to simply cut it off.


    And once he dodged the sword, he straightened himself back and quickly recalled the Awakening Doom blade to his hand which he quickly sent out towards Lin Wu''s chest to stab him deeply.

 Chapter 110 - Meeting Powerful Disciples (2)

    After walking for about twenty days more, everyone finally arrived before a massive mansion that had a roof that seemed like it connected with the sky.


    "We are there already" Someone who stood beside Zhu Ping said to him, while Zhu Ping only nodded his head.


    "Yea, we are there already" He said with a smile.


    He then looked at Zhou Bilan that stood at his far left and said "Zhou Bilan, we are there already. If you want to acquire many things, come and join me."


    Zhou Bilan who could hear him loud and clearly, only ignored him.


    She then prepared to go into the mansion through it massive door.


    But just when she could so, a thunderous voice suddenly rang out from within the mansion.


    "Welcome, disciples. Now that you have arrived before the mansion of the Azure Firestorm Archer, prepare to go in."


    "Yea! Finally. Haha" Zhu Ping said loudly with a smile upon hearing what the voice coming from the mansion said.


    The voice then continued "Since you are the first groups to arrive here, you have done well. You have my congratulations."


    "However, don''t accept my greeting of congratulations yet, since you would still have to go in and take whatever item strikes your fancy."


    "Now, so that I wouldn''t waste your time, go in and take whatever you can." The voice said.


    Once the voice ended, the large numbers of disciples from various sects and the massive numbers of rogue cultivators that were around, instantly rushed into the building a moment after the large steel door of the mansion opened wide for everyone to enter.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!...


    Numerous swoosh sounds began to ring out as the disciples or cultivators deployed their best movement speed to rush into the mansion and take what they can.


    ...


    Eight days later, Xiao Lin finally arrived before the mansion.


    Then when he saw the towering structure of the mansion, his eyes widened.


    Just as he prepared to go in, the voice that rang out many days ago from within the building asked, "Lad, do you think you can still take anything for yourself in there? You are many days late, while the disciples and cultivators who wouldn''t wait for you to arrive, would have taken everything, the treasures and coins in there for themselves."


    Immediately the voice which belonged to someone or an entity that he couldn''t see, asked him that question, Xiao Lin only broke a smile on his face.


    He then said "Well, I believe that you won''t stop me from fighting another. So, when I subdue the others that I will meet on the way, I will take their accumulations for myself. It is even far better for me to arrive by this time. They would have gathered everything they could take in their spatial rings while I just suppress them and take their accumulations for myself. The best way to go about this, right?"


    Haha!


    The voice laughed.


    "Good" It said.


    It then said further "Very nice plan you drafted up there for yourself, lad"


    Then it continued, "But, do you think that you would be able to suppress the disciples and cultivators in there and take their accumulations?"


    "I think so" Xiao Lin replied.


    Haha!


    The voice suddenly laughed.


    It then said after it stopped laughing "I don''t think so, lad."


    "Hmm" Xiao Lin said.


    He then asked with his brows furrowed, "Why does senior say so?"


    "Because of your cultivation level. It''s too low, compared to the ones in there, especially the genius-level disciples from various sects."


    "And maybe you wouldn''t attack them to take their treasure and coin accumulations, right?"


    "Wrong, senior. I plan to attack everyone and take their accumulations for myself. The only time I won''t be able to attack any of the people that came in here, is if I did not come across that person" Xiao Lin replied with an unbreakable resolve appearing in his eyes.


    Then before the voice that was speaking could say anything else, Xiao Lin abruptly asked in a polite manner "Could senior please tell me the cultivation level of those genius-level disciples so that I can prepare my body and mind for them?"


    "Hmm. I will tell you." The voice said.


    It then continued "The average cultivation level of those genius-level disciples is the fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage."


    "But their battle power and Spiritual Attack skill proficiencies are far higher than the cultivation stage that they are in. So, you might want to be careful around them with your first-layer Mortal Spiritual cultivation stage."


    "Okay." Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then said further "I thank senior for the information that you just revealed to me. However, I am not scared of them. Instead, they would be the one to dread me after experiencing my horrifying, immense battle power"


    "Senior would see how they will all obediently hand over their accumulations to me after they many days of scavenging many rooms of the mansion for resources"


    Haha!


    The voice laughed out loud.


    It then said "Lad, I really like you for your resolve and your confidence"


    Then it asked "What''s your name?"


    "Xiao Lin" Xiao Lin responded instantly and in a polite manner.


    "Hmm. I will remember that name."


    "So, go in now. Let''s see what you can do. And I hope that you won''t disappoint me."


    Immediately the voice said that, Xiao Lin nodded his head and quickly rushed into the mansion through the widely opened door to seek out for the disciples of sects or cultivators that have gathered many things from the mansion.


    Now, he wasn''t going to kill anymore, since these were the last group of cultivators that came into the legacy ground through the transference portal that had abruptly surfaced when the legacy ground was mysteriously announced that it had been opened. Or doing so would only throw him into trouble, since he could have killed everyone else and would only be the last person around.


    Besides, he had achieved all that he wanted to achieve. He had replenished his Blood Energy and had condensed more Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian which he was sure that it should give him more power. And also, he had collected a large amount of blood for the Obsidian Abdicator using a particular vessel that he had with him. Therefore, he had settled all that he needed to settle before arriving in this place.


    Then furthermore, he couldn''t carry out his wicked, evil act in this place, or the voice that spoke to him moments ago, might instantly ruthlessly strike him down if it discovers that he was using an ominous Battle Art to slay the disciples and use their blood for himself.


    ...


    "Zhu Ping, we are three against you. Hand over your spatial ring, or get ready to lose your puny life." Fang Shu who stood with two other males from his sects and carried large broadswords with them, said.


    Haha!


    Once Fang Shu said that, Zhu Ping burst into a wild and uncontrolled laughter.


    He then asked with a cold light flashing constantly in his eyes "Repeat what you said again"


    "Do you think I fear you?" Fang Shu unexpectedly asked with a smirk appearing in his face which expressed intense hatred.


    He then said with a commanding tone in his loud voice "Zhu Ping, give me your spatial ring!"


    Immediately Fang Shu said that, Zhu Ping said "I see that you want to turn this place into your grave. And since you so badly want to die here, I will make it happen for you."


    As soon as he said that, an astonishing amount of fire and lightning exploded out from within his body, generating a multi-colored brilliance that illuminated where they were.


    Then the instant fire and lightning surfaced on his entire body, seeming as if Zhu Ping was engulfed by both fire and wild currents of electricity, Zhu Ping quickly pointed out at them and said "Killing Thundering Fireball!"


    Whoosh!


    Very quickly, a large ball composed from both fire and electricity that produced constant, loud booming sounds, suddenly surfaced in the air and abruptly shot out towards them.


    Seeing the ball of fire and lightning that was shooting towards them, Fang Shu quickly raised the large, blue-edged silver sword in his hand and slashed it out very quickly at the gigantic, lightning fireball shooting towards them.


    BOOOM!!


    As soon as the blade struck the lightning flaming ball, the ball instantly exploded with a terrifying boom sound, releasing a massive, powerful blast of fire and electricity in the next instant that impacted Fang Shu and sent him flying into the distance within the room that they were in.


    Bang!


    Fang Shu smashed really hard into a wall of the room which quickly caused many cracks to instantly appear in a web-like pattern in the surface of the wall.


    Immediately Zhu Ping saw that he had blasted Fang Shu away, he quickly dashed out towards the other two to attack them.


    Seeing that Zhu Ping was rushing down towards them, the other two males who were also affected to a great extent by the blast of fire and electricity that had suddenly surfaced, quickly slashed out with their broadswords at him and released large amounts of Spiritual Energy from them which abruptly transformed into massive swords that shot out at great speeds toward Zhu Ping.

 Chapter 111 - The Crimson Devil Menace

    Boom!


    Boom!...


    As soon as the attacks struck each other, boom sounds began to ring out with fierce waves carrying great destructive power sweeping out in all directions with a lot of force.


    Then when the fierce energy storm that surfaced receded, Zhou Bilan quickly shot towards Huo Tsun and Xiao Yun to attack them.


    Then the instant that she appeared in front of them, she quickly produced a longsword in her hand and used it to slash out towards both Huo Tsun and Xiao Yun.


    But before she could strike them with the longsword in her hand, Huo Tsun and Xiao Yun quickly produced shields in their hands which they used to block the sword strike attack from hitting them.


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    As soon as the sword which Zhou Bilan swung out towards them with a tremendous amount of force struck their shields, loud bang sounds immediately rang out with visible waves of power that caused the air around them to surprisingly ripple, instantly manifesting from the point of collisions of their attacks and then swept out with a large amount of devastating power into the surroundings in all directions.


    While Huo Tsun and Xiao Yun who quickly blocked Zhou Bilan''s sword strike from hitting them, were forced to stagger backward by many feet.


    Them when they regained their balance at dozens of feet away, Huo Tsun and Xiao Yun looked at Zhou Bilan with shock in their eyes.


    They couldn''t believe that with a single sword strike, Zhou Bilan was able to knock them staggering backward by many feet.


    Still looking at her with intense awe in their eyes, Xiao Yun asked "Zhou Bilan, that''s one great physical strength that you possess. I am amazed by your power."


    Then once she finished saying that, she asked with a cold glint flashing constantly in her eyes "But what is the usefulness of shocking physical strength in the face of overwhelming Spiritual Energy attacks?"


    However, immediately she asked that, Zhou Bilan laughed and said "Well, I don''t need my physical strength to face off against you girls. I can as well use my fiery Spiritual Energy offensive skills to attack you girls and overpower you with it."


    And immediately she said that, she abruptly channeled her fiery Spiritual Energy into her sword and used it to slash out at them.


    "Goddess Luo Blazing Sword!"


    Then the instant that she slashed out, large amount of a fiery Spiritual Energy immediately erupted from her sword before instantly transforming into a massive sword that gave off a great and unbearable heat that caused the marbled ground beneath it to rapidly melt.


    And when the attack arrived in front of Huo Tsun, Huo Tsun who was still trying to recover from the shock that the sword which Zhou Bilan used to strike out at her, quickly raised her shield again to block the sword composed from Spiritual Energy from hitting her.


    Bang!


    Although the shield stopped the sword from moving forward to pierce Huo Tsun, she was however launched into the distance like an arrow due to the immense amount of power which the sword impacted her shield with.


    Thud!


    She crashed into the marbled ground dozens of feet away and cracked it. But even after landing, the backward projecting kinetic force that still acted on her body from being struck heavily by Zhou Bilan''s sword-shaped attack, caused her body to be pulled along the surface of the room''s marbled ground into the distance where she dashed her head hard against a wall of the room and immediately passed out.


    Seeing that Huo Tsun had passed out from Zhou Bilan''s suppressive attack, Xiao Yun looked at Zhou Bilan who was smiling at her and began to back away a bit.


    Then after backing for a few moment, she abruptly produced a kitana in her hand and used it to slash out at Zhou Bilan the instant she finished channeling tremendous amount of her Spiritual Energy into it.


    "Violet Empress Kitana Slash!"


    As soon as she slashed out at Zhou Bilan in the distance, large amounts of Spiritual Energy immediately erupted from her Kitana and abruptly transformed into a kitana which instantly shot at a great speed towards Zhou Bilan on the distance.


    Sensing the power possessed by the profound Spiritual Energy attack furiously shooting towards her, Zhou Bilan quickly produced a massive shield from her fiery Spiritual Energy which she tried to use to block the attack shooting towards her.


    Bang!


    Immediately Xiao Yun''s attack struck the shield, a loud bang sound immediately rang out with a wave possessing a certain devastating power, immediately manifested and moved into the distance in all directions to seemingly shatter everything in it path.


    However, Zhou Bilan''s blazing shield fully resisted the incoming fierce attack, since no type of mark or crack appeared in it structure.


    "Violet Empress Great shield strike!"


    Zhou Bilan quickly said, pushing her palms outwards in Xiao Yun''s direction.


    As soon as she did so, the burning shield formed from her fiery Spiritual Energy, instantly shot out like a cannonball towards Xiao Yun in the distance.


    However, before the shield could impact Xiao Yun with the shocking momentum that it was moving with, Xiao Yun immediately used the kitana in her hand which she had pumped full with energy to slash out against the shield.


    BANG!


    The instant her kitana struck the shield that was shooting towards her at a great, seemingly furious speed, a deafening bang sound instantly rang out with a fierce wave of high damaging power, instantly surfacing and sweeping out in all directions into the distance within the large room and quickly cracking it walls.


    As soon as her kitana clashed with the shield and the terrifying bang sound rang out, Xiao Yun was immediately launched away with a lot of force from where she stood towards a wall of the room with a powerful force.


    Then when she landed from her heavy shove into the air by Zhou Bilan''s ferocious shield attack, she instantly passed out.


    Zhou Bilan came before her using her powerful Movement Skill and produced a smile in her face when she arrived before Xiao Yun''s unconscious body.


    She then said "I am stronger than you, Great Daughter of the Nine Fiery Fairies sect."


    Then once she said that, she instantly dashed out towards where the beautiful golden bow was placed on the shelf and took it for herself.


    She then immediately left the room to go find other things that she could take for herself in this mansion that seemed to possess seemingly uncountable rooms, as this was the 57th room that she would be entering.


    ...


    When Xiao Lin arrived in a particular wide room, he began to look around for what treasure or cultivation resources that he could take for himself.


    But after going through the shelves in the room, he discovered that the boxes of the shelves had been totally emptied.


    He then smiled and said "These guys, they took everything without leaving behind any useless item"


    Then he said further "Well, they should all prepare to hand over their spatial rings to me!"


    And once he said that, he quickly changed his look to appear in his true vampire form.


    Therefore, he looked many inches taller than his usual height, while his face became far paler than normal and his hair turned from it raven-dark color to a deep crimson color.


    He then produced one of the numerous half-face masks which he had with him before entering this place from his spatial ring and then wore it on his face.


    Then after doing that, he produced another hooded cloak from his spatial ring which he wore over the one that he was wearing already.


    Then after looking at himself and he saw that nothing about him was out of place, or a bit out of place, he produced the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade from his spatial ring which appeared instantly in his left and right hand.


    Now, he was ready to have the title of the masked, crimson-haired, twin blades user that he called the ''Crimson Blade Menace''.


    Actually, his plan was to hide his identity from everyone with his new appearance, just so that when he was done here and the exit portal appeared for them to leave, it would be really hard for anyone to recognize him. Therefore, he wouldn''t get into serious trouble with any the Sect Masters of those disciples that he killed, and with the ones that he horrified and brutalized so that they could surrender their spatial rings to him.


    So, he was going to achieve this by making himself look too pale to be a living human, which was why he entered his true vampiric form. Therefore, with his extreme paleness, he could be related to a devil that had actually sneaked into the legacy ground to terrorize everyone. Then with his deep scarlet-colored hair, his tall height, and the two mighty and fierce-looking blades that he wielded, he would be totally unrecognizable by anyone.


    After he was done, he exhaled heavily, breathing out two thin streams of a white-colored misty air from his nostrils and then immediately set out through the door to start his terror.

 Chapter 112 - Attacking The Disciples (1)

    Seeing the incoming, sword-shaped attacks, Zhu Ping quickly used a Lightning Evasion skill to quickly dodge the attacks.


    And once he did, he abruptly aimed one of his palms at them and shot out a massive blast of pure, purple-colored lightning from his palm at them.


    Bang! Bang!


    The instant Zhu Ping unleashed the attack, the two males that struck out at him with their swords were quickly impacted by the blast of pure lightning and were sent flying into separate walls of the room with a tremendous amount of force.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Their bodies smashed into the walls with many cracks suddenly appearing in the surface of the walls that they each rammed into.


    Haha!


    Zhu Ping laughed.


    He then said "And you measly lot thought that you could take me down, right?"


    Then with a cold light flashing constantly in his eyes, Zhu Ping quickly produced a sword from his spatial ring which he abruptly channeled large amount of lightning into.


    He then slashed out at them with his sword that lightning boomed out rampantly from within it.


    BOOM!


    BOOM!...


    The instant he unleashed the attacks, someone suddenly appeared in front of the attacks with a large, ornamented green sword in his hand.


    Slash!


    And as soon as the person appeared, he abruptly slashed out at the massive, lightning-based Spiritual Energy attacks shooting towards the two members of the sect that he also studied at.


    "Burning Tower Collapsing the Skies!"


    The person that had abruptly surfaced, shouted and slashed out at the same time at the lethal attacks unleashed by Zhu Ping.


    The instant he did so, a massive amount of flame that was colored green, instantly rushed out from his sword towards the massive lightning attacks. And as it raged towards the attack, the flame quickly condensed into a solid tower that dozens of feet wide and many feet tall.


    BANG!


    BOOOM!!


    The instant the attacks smashed into each other, visible waves of energy carrying high destructive power, abruptly surfaced and rushed out into the surroundings in all directions.


    And as soon as the waves surfaced immediately after collision, violent raging streams of both electricity and green-colored flame, abruptly burst into the surroundings and flowed in all directions with the power to seemingly turn all things on their paths to bits.


    Seeing that his powerful attack was nullified, Zhu Ping laughed.


    He then said "Who are you? You are quite powerful."


    The person heard this and only broke a cold smile in his face.


    He then said "Who I am is not important. Just get ready to be taken down by me"


    Then very quickly, he began to pump green-colored, fiery Spiritual Energy into his sword which he then quickly slashed out with it at Zhu Ping who also abruptly channeled large amounts of lightning Spiritual Energy into his sword and quickly slashed out with it at the male.


    "Burning Sword Severing the Heavens!"


    "Lightning Palm Desolating The World!"


    As soon as the green-colored, fiery Spiritual Energy erupted from the male''s sword, it abruptly turned into a massive, green-colored sword that shot out at a great speed towards Zhu Ping to cut him apart.


    While lightning Spiritual Energy that instantly discharged from Zhu Ping''s sword, instantly transformed into a palm that spanned dozens of feet wide in size.


    Then as soon as it appeared, it shot out towards the male at a furious speed.


    BOOM!


    The instant both attacks collided in mid-air, waves of great destructive power abruptly surfaced and rushed out into the distance in all directions. While raging streams of both electricity and fire that appeared immediately after the devastating waves surfaced, also rushed out into the surrounding in all directions with a fierce burning and electrocuting power.


    Seeing the rampaging streams of fire and lightning that had manifested from the powerful collision of their attacks, Zhu Ping and the male quickly backed many feet away before they would be impacted by the furious streams.


    "Since you are so powerful, get ready to be destroyed by my ultimate attacking skill" Zhu Ping unexpectedly said with intense coldness in his tone from the distance.


    But before he could do anything, Fang Shu and the other two males who had stood back to their feet from where they were viciously heaved to by Zhu Ping''s overwhelming dangerous attacks, abruptly unleashed massively powerful Spiritual Energy offenses at him from where they stood at.


    Seeing the attacks that had been sent out at him from all sides, Zhu Ping quickly employed a powerful lightning Evasion Skill to evade the attacks that were suddenly launched at him and then deployed his powerful Movement Skill to quickly leave this place, or they would subdue him with their attacks and possibly slaughter him.


    Boom!


    Bang!


    Boom!...


    Fang Shu''s attacks and the others struck the walls of the room fiercely and caused hundreds of cracks to instantly appear in their surfaces before they exploded apart into fragments, instantly revealing what were on the other sides of the room.


    When Fang Shu and the rest saw that Zhu Ping had quickly left where they were to possibly avoid been heavily suppressed by them, and then captured to be wickedly tortured, their eyes shone with a glaring cold light.


    Fang Shu then said, "Moron, why did you leave? You should have waited."


    Then he continued "Anyways, whether you left to evade your dark fate of destruction or not, you still can''t escape from your inevitable sorrowful fate."


    "And since you could dare to enter this place and dare to boldly fight alone without any of your sect members accompanying you or being involved in any of the battles that you would be engaged in, get ready to be annihilated by me."


    Once he said that, the male wielding the large, ornamented green sword said "Fang Shu, let''s leave. Let''s go search for other items to add to our spatial rings. And if we are fortunate to come across that bastard again, then we would have him killed. He shouldn''t think about escaping from us again if we come across him."


    "Alright. Let''s leave this room" Fang Shu said and walked into the distance with the male holding the ornamented green sword and two other disciples from his sects following by his sides.


    ...


    In a particular room that was really wide in size, could be seen a beautiful golden bow that was placed on top of a large shelf.


    Shining beautifully and dazzlingly in the light that illuminated the room, it gave the feeling that it wielded the power to strike down even the divinities themselves.


    But in this room were Zhou Bilan from the Celestial Dragon Empress sect, Huo Tsun from the Heaven-Chasing sect, and Xiao Yun from the Nine Fiery Fairies sect.


    "Well, girls, I hope that you both can give me the chance to take that bow for myself without any need for a battle. I promise that I will pay you back in massive folds for this great act of kindness in the soonest future." Zhou Bilan said with an amiable smile in her face.


    Hahaha!


    Huo Tsun and Xiao Chun suddenly burst into wild and uncontrolled laughter.


    "I don''t know about this girl here, but I certainly don''t want your favor, Zhou Bilan. How can you pay me back with your puny cultivation base in the nearest future if I may ask?" Huo Tsun asked.


    Then without waiting for a reply from Zhou Bilan, Huo Tsun spoke further "No amount of favor that you will return to us in the soonest future would be as great in value as the beautiful and fierce golden bow that we see on that shelf in the distance."


    Immediately Huo Tsun said that, a cold glint flashed in Zhou Bilan''s eyes.


    She then asked "Do you know that if I want to take the golden bow for myself, I will be able to do so and none of you girls would be able to stop me?"


    Once Zhou Bilan asked that, Xiao Yun produced a cold smile in her face.


    She then said "Yea, you are right. We won''t be able to do anything to you if you want the bow. So, go take it and let''s see if I won''t be able to do anything to you. Haha! Then for more information, you are the prettiest ones amongst us. When I am done with you, you won''t be able to show your peerlessly beautiful face in public again."


    As soon as Xiao Yun finished saying that, Zhou Bilan eyes glowed with a cold and vicious light.


    "Really?" She asked.


    Then without waiting for a response from Xiao Yun, dark scarlet-colored flame that gave off intense heat which would be able to instantly turn a rock as large as a small house into lava, abruptly discharged from her body.


    It then gathered before her two palms into massive, dark scarlet fireballs that abruptly shot out towards Huo Tsun and Xiao Yun.


    Seeing the attacks shooting towards them, Huo Tsun and Xiao Yun quickly erupted Spiritual Energies from their hands which abruptly turned into massive, fierce attacks that shot towards Zhou Bilan at a great speed to strike her down.

 Chapter 113 - Attacking The Disciples (2)

    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!...


    Very quickly, they began to slash out at Xiao Lin who only dodged the attacks using his Movement Skill.


    Then he appeared in front of one after evading their massive torrents of attacks. Then the instant that he appeared before this person, he immediately went into a crouch position and turned around, powerfully sweeping out one of his legs to bring the person down to his back.


    Bang!


    Immediately the person landed on his back, Xiao Lin quickly reached out for his leg which he grabbed. Then he turned around and flung him far away towards a wall.


    Then the instant that he did so, he quickly dashed away from where he was towards another disciple.


    As soon as he left where he was, numerous attacks immediately appeared and struck the marbled ground, instantly shattering it into pieces.


    Then when Xiao Lin appeared before the person that he targeted, he sent out a kick towards his abdomen.


    Bang!


    Arghh!


    As soon as his feet impacted the person''s chest, the person screamed out in pain and was sent flying into the far distance.


    Xiao Lin then moved on to the next disciple that he had targeted.


    Then with a powerful whipping kick that he sent out towards the person''s chest as soon as he appeared in front of the person, the person screeched out in agony and was sent flying into a wall in the room.


    The instant Xiao Lin did that, he moved on to the next person to attack him.


    ...


    Just like that, Xiao Lin began to attack them one after the other using either his fists or legs which he sent out with a tremendous amount of force towards their chests, heads or backs.


    Not long, he had scattered them far apart with their unconscious bodies stuck in various cracks in the walls of the room which they were viciously shoved into as a result of the fierce punches and kicks that he sent out towards various parts of their bodies.


    He then began to walk to where their unconscious bodies where to pull off their spatial rings from their fingers.


    And as soon as he did so, he stowed their spatial rings into his own spatial ring and left the room that they were all in to look for more people to beat up and take their spatial rings for himself.


    About twenty minutes later when Xiao Lin had left, the disciples that were stuck in cracks in the walls of the large room that they were in, began to crawl out of it with many injuries all over their bodies. Even some had bones sticking out of some areas of their bodies.


    Then when they connected with their spatial rings to make it eject healing pills that they would consume, they realized to their shock that their spatial rings were gone.


    Then with both rage and fury appearing in their hearts, they began to howl loudly like furious dragons towards the ceiling of the room that they were in. Then in the next instant, they left it to go find him and warn others that they met on their way about some masked, crimson-haired, strange-looking being that had snuck into the legacy ground to possibly terrorize people and calls itself the Crimson Blade Menace.


    When one of them came across a group of disciples from a sect, he approached them and said "Fellow disciples, have you guys come across anyone that looks paler than a corpse and has deep crimson hair?"


    But as soon as he asked that question, he could suddenly give the answer to the question that he asked, which was No. He could arrive at this answer because he saw that these people before him looked clean, neat and without bruises. If they had come across the Crimson Blade Menace, their outfits wouldn''t look so immaculate, while their expressions would be that of agony and raging anger. Also, they could have pieces of bones sticking out of some areas of their bodies. Generally, they would look terrible if they had across the Crimson Blade Menace.


    Immediately he asked that question, the people in the group of disciples that he came across, looked at him with furrowed brows. They didn''t really understand what he said.


    One of them then asked whilst looking at the person before them who looked like he was ganged on upon and beaten blue black by many hefty, vicious people.


    "What are you talking about? Care to elaborate?" The person asked.


    "Yea, I will. There is this being or entity that had come into the legacy ground to snatch our spatial rings from us."


    "In the room that I was in, he single-handedly handled all the disciples that were in there. His attacks were nothing but fierce and powerful. I mean his Spiritual Energy attacks and physical strikes using either his fists or legs. He was damn too powerful for all of us to handle individually or in groups. So, he beat up all of us and took off our spatial rings from our fingers which I believe he must have stowed into his."


    As soon as this person ended his statement, the rest looked at him with awe in their eyes. Then they looked at his body and saw how blood stained his robe.


    "So, you mean a single being was able to do this to all of you without getting hurt?" Another in the group of disciples asked


    "Yea" The person that the question was directed to, replied.


    "But how was he able to do that? That''s one feat that even genius-level disciples at our cultivation stage wouldn''t be able to really achieve. Hope you don''t mind to go into more details so that we can understand what actually happened, and how he was able to disperse everyone of you off like you were all nothing before him" Another person in the group of student asked.


    "Okay." The person that the question was asked, said.


    He then continued "Now, it''s like this. We were all in one room checking the boxes there for any hidden treasure or rare cultivation resource when the bastard suddenly came in and spoke in this beast-like voice to us that we should surrender our spatial rings to him."


    "But out of annoyance and no regard for us as disciples of sects, we decided to attack him. But he wielded some blades that their sharpness would be probably unmatched by any blade that you will be able to find mentioned in the Ancient Records of powerful weapons and artifacts."


    "So, with those blades, he used it to cut apart our attacks into halves. But even after he dropped the blades and we were able to successfully blast him away into the far distance with our joint fierce attacks, he still came out unscathed from it. It was like he had an invincible indestructible body."


    "However, it was later that we realized he had used a powerful reality-warping technique on us. Then he used his ability to move at this immensely fast speed to attack us one after the other till he was able to shove all of us deep into the walls of the room, and into the marbled ground of the room and then hurried off with our spatial rings."


    Once the person finished saying all of this, all of them had their eyes glow with awe.


    "How powerful would this being be to be able to use an illusion technique on you and none of you could realize in time that he was only using an illusion technique to affect your vision of what was going on around you guys?" Someone suddenly said.


    And as soon as he said that, a realization suddenly came upon them, then they all began to look around with suspicious gazes in their eyes at themselves.


    Now, they weren''t sure if this being called Crimson Blade Menace was in their midst and was only preparing to attack them when the time was right.


    After looking around for sometime and couldn''t be sure if this being was in their midst, they began to ask themselves personal questions that only that person that was asked should know.


    Therefore, after asking each other questions, they were able to arrive at a fact that the Crimson Blade Menace was not yet in their midst.


    "We shall attack this being when we come across him. And we would be able to recover your spatial rings from him after we have suppressed him and have cut of one of his arms and legs." One of them suddenly said.


    "No. You can''t do that with your small group. This being who could be likened to either a beast or a devil, is really powerful for you guys to contend with, with your small numbers alone."


    "Therefore, I will strongly advise that you search for others, I mean other groups of disciples and probably rogue cultivators that you guys can team up with against this menace that has suddenly come upon us to rid us off of our intense efforts at collecting treasures and cultivation resources for ourselves in this mansion."

 Chapter 114 - Attacking The Disciples (3)

    "Hmm. Alright. Thank you for the tip. We would do as you suggested" One of them said and then spoke to the people in his group "Let''s head out"


    As soon as he said that, the rest nodded their heads and then followed him into a particular direction, leaving that disciple that warned them about Xiao Lin behind.


    ...


    After sometime, tales and deeds of a particular, devil-like entity that had probably snuck into the legacy ground, began to spread like wildfire amongst the disciples within the massive mansion with seemingly uncountable rooms.


    They could know about this when they came across other disciples that Xiao Lin beat blue black in a particular large room that he entered and came across them.


    So, as someone with a powerful ability to project near-realistic illusions, they were extremely careful of him. Therefore, due to this aspect of Xiao Lin which was false, they had to interrogate themselves every one hour to see if Xiao Lin hadn''t replaced anyone of them to attack them later when the time was ripe.


    Many days later, everyone in the mansion were able to know about Xiao Lin, who they referred to as the Crimson Blade Menace. Therefore, the genius-level disciples from sects were also able 5k know about Xiao Lin. And having heard of the beautiful, yet fearsome-looking blades that he wielded, they greatly hoped to meet him so that they could suppress him and take his blades for themselves. So, they began their own personal hunt for Xiao Lin to take the blades and every other wonderful and marveling item that he would have in his possession.


    "Brother Zhu Ping, what are you going to do about that crimson-haired devilish thing that calls itself the Crimson Blade Menace?" One of a small number of people that were with Zhu Ping, asked.


    "That? Well, I am going to overwhelm it with my lightning attacks and compel it to surrender it spatial ring to me. Then if it refuses, I am simply going to kill it and take both it spatial ring and it body which I am going to give to the elders at my sect to make tons of researches on it so that they could understand the bodies of devils better." Zhu Ping said.


    "Nice! That''s a really great idea brother Zhu Ping." One of them said while Zhu Ping only laughed and said "I always come up with good ideas. You guys should have understood by now that that''s just who I am"


    He then said further "Well, my fellow sect members, I think I will have to leave this small group of ours to go find that airheaded devil and subdue it. Then when I have it body with me after killing it, I will come to you guys to finally complete our journey round this mansion and then prepare to leave when the exit portal surfaces."


    "Alright, brother Zhu Ping. You can carry on with what you have in mind. We would wait do you to appear when it''s time to leave this legacy ground" Someone in the group said which Zhu Ping nodded his head to.


    "Okay. I am leaving now." Zhu Ping said and then dashed away at an enormously high speed to leave the presence of his fellow group members after deploying his powerful Movement Skill.


    ...


    In a particular room could be seen about twenty disciples from different sects staring in awe at a sword that stood out beautifully, dazzlingly and gloriously from a group of other swords that were kept in the room.


    Then when they approached it with cautiousness in their eyes, waves of a particular power which was inexplicable and greatly horrified them, constantly rippled out from within the sword in all directions.


    "This sword must be the sword that the Azure Firestorm Archer used in his own time" Someone in this room said with a definite tone in his voice.


    "Wrong!" Another person that was in the room, abruptly said out loud.


    He then continued "How can someone that uses only bows, also know how to use a sword? I think that this sword must be his personal treasure collections."


    "He could have collected from a challenger that he defeated in battle, or from an enemy that he killed and took his or her possessions for himself. That''s what I feel."


    However, as soon as this person spoke, another person said "Fellow disciple, you can also be wrong about what you just said. Someone who is a master of bows, may also be a master of swords. You know, this kind of thing would be extremely useful to you in battle, where your opponent or adversary thinks that you only know how to use bows, whereas, your stronger ability is in using swords or blades or some other sort of weapons. Therefore, you will be able to restrain and defeat him or her using that advantage of them not knowing your actual true abilities or skills."


    "Hmm. You might also be right. Okay then." The disciple that spoke before this person talked, said with a light of comprehension in his eyes.


    He then said further "So, I guess we would have to battle amongst ourselves on who would get the sword radiating it unseen, fierce Spiritual Power before us"


    "Yea. A battle amongst ourselves is necessary. So, the person that comes out on top as the strongest, can go right ahead to take the sword for him or herself." Another disciple in the room contributed.


    Then as soon as he said this, the eyes of everyone in the room, both male and female, began to sparkle brightly. While all sort of intents began to build up within their bodies, which then bursted out of it in the next moment.


    But before any of them could really go out against the other, Xiao Lin suddenly appeared in the room with an intimidating, ice-cold smile in his face.


    Xiao Lin had actually been around. He only waited for the atmosphere in the room that the disciples were in to become really tense before he would suddenly enter with a ferocious smile in his face.


    So, as soon as he entered, the heartbeats of all the disciples in the room became erratic upon seeing the entity that everyone spoke about with a bit of dread in their tone.


    "Devil, if you know what is good for you, you will quickly turn around and leave this place." One of them suddenly said with anger in his tone.


    "Oh really? Well, since you are all here, why would I want to leave? If I count everyone of you here, your numbers should be up to twenty. And that''s about twenty spatial rings. So, why would I want to leave behind twenty spatial rings which I can have for myself after suppressing you all and beating you into pulps for them, huh?" Xiao Lin asked with his deep, beast-like voice.


    "Hmm. And what makes you bastard think that you can beat up all of us in here?" Another person in the group asked.


    "I don''t know too. But I just have this feeling that I can beat up all of you. Haha!" Xiao Lin said and ended his statement with a wild laughter.


    One of them then said as he looked at Xiao Lin with an expression of intense hatred in his face, "Don''t you know that with all that you have done, which is greatly offending the disciples of the various sects that came into this place, our sect masters will capture you and make your life a total living hell? You will be tortured so much to the point that you will beg immensely for death but you won''t find it. Therefore, if I were you, I will simply turn around and walk far away from this place so as not to bring upon myself the sky-collapsing wrath of our powerful Sect Masters."


    Hahaha!...


    However, as soon as the person said this, Xiao Lin burst into a loud and raucous laughter.


    He then said "Well, I have grievously injured many disciples that I came across and took their spatial rings for myself. And that, has already brought upon me the earth-quaking wrath of their sect masters."


    "So, viciously injuring a few more that have appeared in my path, and taking their acquired possessions for myself, wouldn''t really change anything again. There is no more redemption for me at this stage because of the heinous deed that I intentionally carried out. Therefore, it''s better I offend all the disciples in here and make the entire sect masters in the world chase after me, than to leave you guys and others behind, and then walk away without collecting your spatial rings which I will add to the small heap of spatial rings that I have gathered for myself during my small time in here."


    Hahaha!


    Then as soon as he said that, he burst into a wild and uncontrolled laughter.


    Then when he stopped laughing a moment later, he looked at the person that spoke with a cold light flashing in his eyes and said with mockery in his deep, beast-like voice "And you, who is scared of fighting me by bringing up the name of Sect Masters to possibly frighten me, you are only a coward and a grand fool. I am sure that a child in this situation, would be far braver and more prudent than you. Hahaha!"

 Chapter 115 - Attacking The Disciples (4)

    And as soon as Xiao Lin stopped laughing, he suddenly dashed out towards that person.


    While the person who couldn''t really see Xiao Lin due to the high speed that he was moving at, was abruptly punched hard in the face by Xiao Lin and was sent dozens of feet flying into a wall of the room, heavily crashing into it and instantly falling unconscious.


    Then the instant that Xiao Lin began to attack, the others quickly got ready to attack him. So, various attacks that dyed the walls and floor of the room with they color of light that they emitted began to surface and shoot out at great speeds towards Xiao Lin who only dodged it like he could see them in slow motion.


    Then when he appeared in front of one, he abruptly sent one of his fists towards his jaw in an uppercut fashion.


    Bang!


    Argh!


    The person that he punched screamed out in pain and was shoved into the air to a height of twelve feet where his body smashed into the ceiling really hard and became stuck there for sometime, before falling down back to the ground and landing with a heavy bang sound.


    The disciples who couldn''t see Xiao Lin, began to look around with their hands ready to unleash the Spiritual Energies swelling and pulsing fiercely within them.


    The instant Xiao Lin intentionally slowed down for them to see him, numerous attacks that howled like angered primitive dragons instantly shot out of their palms and fists towards Xiao Lin who only used the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade in his hands to slash out at them.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Numerous slash sounds began to ring out as the blades cut through the massive and fierce Spiritual Energy attacks that were unleashed at him.


    However, as he did so, loud boom sounds began to ring out rampantly from the Spiritual Energy attacks that were being slashed apart into bits.


    Then immediately accompanying the rampant, deafening boom sounds, were waves of high devastating power that rammed ruthlessly into Xiao Lin and sent him flying furiously through several walls that he came across.


    Not long after being blasted far away by the fiercely powerful waves and the rampaging energy storm that had surfaced settling some moments later, the disciples began to look into the distance to see if Xiao Lin could actually survive the vicious waves of power that struck hard into him.


    As they waited with towering hopes in their hearts that he had died from the blasts that tremendously impacted him with a shocking amount of force, and from the several, extremely heavy crashes through the walls, their hopes were immediately dashed to thousands of fragments when Xiao Lin abruptly stood to his feet from where he was like he was pulled by some unseen force to stand firmly on his feet.


    "This bastard? Is he indestructible?" One of them asked with shock and sadness in his tone.


    However, as soon as he asked that question, everyone that were in the room with him, suddenly furrowed their brows in deep thoughts when they instantly recalled the fact that Xiao Lin, at their cultivation level which was the Mortal Spiritual stage, could be seen or be considered as a grand master of illusion, according to the rumors that they heard quite a while back.


    Once they all thought this, they began to look around for the real Xiao Lin.


    Xiao Lin who had stood to his feet and could see them searching about for the true him, began to laugh raucously inwardly.


    ''Fools!'' He called them within his mind.


    He then waited where he was to allow them complete their course of stupidity before going to attack them once again. However, this was because he was totally amused by what they were doing, which simply caused him to laugh a bit within himself.


    After looking around for sometime and couldn''t find the real Xiao Lin, they all turned their heads to look at the one that stood in the distance and stared mockingly at them with folded arms.


    "Done with your stupidity? Well, that was quick" Xiao Lin said with his deep, beast-like voice.


    But the instant that Xiao Lin said that, one of the disciples far before him unexpectedly said "Hack this, I am out of here. I am done fighting with this living menace that want nothing but all my life''s hardwork. The rest of you can continue to attack him. But as for me, I am leaving."


    And as soon as he said that, he immediately prepared to leave.


    Xiao Lin who could quickly think that the action of this male could cause the minds of others to change and then prepare to flee, suddenly had his sharp-looking eyes flash brightly with a cold glint.


    Then with a tone that gave one shivers and sent chills deep into one''s soul, Xiao Lin said "Don''t you dare leave, or you will die!"


    "You won''t dare to kill me. I am certain of that" The disciple spat out fearlessly and then prepared to make a move.


    Hahaha!


    However, as soon as he said that, Xiao Lin burst into a raucous laughter and said "I won''t dare to kill you, but I can dare to make you lose something really precious to you"


    The instant Xiao Lin said that, and not giving the disciple the chance to give a response to what he said, Xiao Lin abruptly dashed out from where he stood towards the disciple to execute the terrible thing that he had in mind.


    But before Xiao Lin could get to him, the disciple who had long produced a special, Movement Acceleration item in his hand which was in the form of a small, spherical earthen object, quickly crushed it in the blink of an eye.


    Crack!


    The instant the object cracked, a powerful red-violet aura suddenly erupted from within the cracked item and abruptly enwrapped the disciple, totally engulfing him like he was set on fire.


    Then the instant that the aura appeared, everything before the disciple''s eyes slowed down to a great extent.


    Then to give the level at which time slowed down to in his vision, it would take something moving at the speed of an arrow that was fired from a powerful bow, to move from a small length of one inch to the next in a couple of hours.


    That was how powerful the item in his hand was, since it was personally given to him by his Sect Master due to being one of his favorite disciples.


    Then with just a slight step that was full of confidence, the disciple instantly vanished from where they all were like he had seemingly teleported away from their midst.


    Xiao Lin who had only taken a few strides as he was dashing towards the disciple, saw to his immense shock that the disciple had instantly disappeared from his vision, seeming as if he dematerialized into thin air.


    Huuu!


    He exhaled deeply and then said inwardly, ''Damn!''


    Then he said further within himself with a sense of pain detectable in his tone, ''If I had that cowardly fool in my grasp and I took his spatial ring for myself, I might have come across so many things in it that would simply give me great delight. Anyways, now that he has escaped, I won''t be able to get his spatial ring anymore. But I can still get from the others before me.''


    And as soon as he thought this, he looked at the others with a frightening, eerie expression in his face which actually sent shivers down their spines and caused them to tremble in fear and alarm for the unknown.


    Swoosh!!


    He suddenly dashed out at his greatest speed towards them to suppress them and take their spatial rings for himself.


    Seeing that Xiao Lin had abruptly shot away from where he stood, simply signifying that he was probably heading straight towards them to start launching flurries of vicious physical attacks at them, the rest of them who didn''t want to be subdued by this terrifying and ruthless, crimson-haired devilish being and have their spatial rings snatched away from them, also began to flee with whatever method and item that they had in their disposals.


    It was simple, if you can''t beat him, run far away from him with all your might, or become a victim that everyone else was going to mock. Therefore, this was what they all planned to do.


    They could have been trying to fight him to see if they could overwhelm him and knock him out, and then take his blades for themselves; just whatever individual or group could simply strike him down with an enormously powerful, clan or sect''s secret technique or skill.


    But since one of them had quickly shot away using a really powerful, one-time evasion item to escape from Xiao Lin, the rest of them had their unbreakable resolves severely punctured and then rapidly shattered, totally disabling them in the next instant from continuing to put up a really difficult and tough fight with Xiao Lin who seemed to have a great mastery over illusion for the cultivation stage that they were in, and possessed great physical strength and a tough and resilient body.

 Chapter 116 - Injured

    Then very quickly, they began to produce various sorts of items which they could use to escape from Xiao Lin.


    Sensing their intents, Xiao Lin gripped the blades in his hands tightly and then suddenly slashed out at them.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!...


    Numerous slash sounds began to ring out as Xiao Lin slashed out with the blades in his hands at the disciples from the various sects that were gathered around him.


    And as he did so, his dark-colored Spiritual Energy which he constantly channeled into the blades, bursted out from within the blades in massive quantities before instantly transforming into terrifying attacks that shot towards the disciples at great speeds.


    Detecting the power possessed by the furious attacks that was shooting towards them as if it had the intention to instantly annihilate all of them, they all quickly produced all forms of defensive artifacts from their spatial rings which they abruptly brought in front of their bodies to defend themselves from the rain of attacks that was furiously shooting towards them.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    Loud bang sounds began to ring out as the Spiritual Energy attacks that Xiao Lin sent out, began to heavily impact their shields one after the other.


    Then as soon as the fierce Spiritual Energy attacks that Xiao Lin sent out struck some of the shields that the disciples put in front of themselves for protection, their shields instantly developed hundreds of cracks in their structures before instantly shattering apart into uncountable fragments.


    Then the attacks moved forward since there were no more obstacles in their paths to strike the disciples in their bodies and viciously sent them flying like arrows that were shot from a bow into the walls of the room that they were in.


    The disciples that were hurled away from where they stood and into the walls of the room by the tremendous amount of force carried by the powerful Spiritual Energy attacks that Xiao Lin launched, were actually using low-grade defensive artifacts. That was why their shields shattered with the attacks moving forward to hit them really hard hard on their bodies and tyrannically hurling them into the walls of the room.


    While the rest who used mid-grade defensive artifacts, were knocked staggering backwards by many feet before regaining their balances. However, slight cracks could be seen in their structures. But from the numbers of cracks that had appeared in the structures of their shields, it simply invoked the feeling that if they got hit a few times again by Xiao Lin''s powerful attacks, they would shatter into countless pieces.


    After unleashing those attacks that had their offensive attributes massively increased by the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade in his hands, since the dark-colored, overbearing and incomparably fierce Spiritual Energy that he pumped into them quickly passed through some special, sub-surface vein-like routes in the large and broad blades, Xiao Lin broke a bright but cold smile in his face and said "No one is leaving."


    He then said further with an icy-cold expression appearing in his face "I strongly advise that you all should succumb to my demands, or get ready to be stuck in the walls of a room that is dozens of rooms away from here."


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the disciples in the room began to look at him with towering rage and enormous killing intents in their eyes.


    They couldn''t even bear to think of surrendering their spatial rings to Xiao Lin, as it was all their arduous and diligent hardwork over the years that were in those rings that he was condescendingly demanding for.


    "Well, if I give you my spatial ring, would you let me go?" One of them unexpectedly asked, seeming as if he had given up with his fight against Xiao Lin.


    Xiao Lin looked at the person that spoke and produced a smile in his face. He then said definitely "Yes, I will let you go."


    Once he said that, the disciple that asked that question nodded his head and pulled off his spatial ring from his index finger which he prepared to throw at Xiao Lin.


    And as he did so, the other disciples that were in the room with him, began to look at him with shock and then disgust in their eyes.


    ''This guy is a fool. Can''t he even try to fight this bastard? Ugh!''


    ''Heavens! This disciple is a total disgrace to his sect. See how he surrendered so fast without even putting up a fight. Bitch!''


    ''I need to know what sect this unbelievable coward and airheaded moron is from.''


    "..."


    So many thoughts began to flash in the heads of the other disciples that were also in the room with Xiao Lin, and the disciple that had quickly chosen to surrender his spatial ring to Xiao Lin without even a brief degree of battle.


    When the disciple pulled off the spatial ring from his finger, he threw it at Xiao Lin who immediately caught it in his palm with a slight victorious smile appearing in his face.


    He then said indifferently "You can go"


    Immediately Xiao Lin said that, the disciple reverently bowed to Xiao Lin, ignoring the intense disgusted gazes that the other disciples in the room looked at him with.


    Then when he straightened himself back in the next moment, he said "I thank senior for letting me go."


    However, before he could take a step out of the room when he got to the large exit door, he turned his head around to look at Xiao Lin with a shady, mysterious smile appearing in his face.


    Once Xiao Lin saw his smile, he was able to quickly comprehend that the disciple was up to something extremely dire and wickedly dangerous to him. But he couldn''t think of what way that the disciple planned to do him evil.


    However, his powerful vampiric intuition quickly gave him the idea that perhaps the ring that the disciple easily surrendered to him, was what contained the evil mechanisms or arrays that the disciple had planted for him to do him evil.


    Then very quickly on reaching this conclusion, he raised his arm to throw the spatial ring far away from him with all the strength that he could possibly muster.


    But before he could so, the disciple calmly and fearlessly uttered in a whisper "Explode"


    BOOM!!


    Immediately he muttered that, the ring in Xiao Lin''s palm suddenly flashed a bright green light and exploded in that same instant with a deafening boom sound instantly ringing out.


    Then as soon as this horrifying blast sound pealed out like a terrible blast of lightning from the sky, a terrifying, green-colored wave that was more than thirty feet tall and possessed an incomparably great destructive power, instantly appeared and rushed into the distance in all directions within the room, collapsing both it walls and it ceiling, before spreading out in that same moment due to the speed that it moved at to turn the walls and the ceilings of other rooms that were in path into rubbles and smithereens.


    Many of the disciples who were in the room where the sudden explosion took place, were not spared by the absolute ravaging and slicing power of the wave, as they were instantly crushed and shredded at the same time by it into mists of blood that were instantly swept away by the fierce gales that had abruptly surfaced and accompanied the extremely destructive wave that seemed to have the intention to annihilate and turn all things in path into countless pieces.


    While the student that unleashed the attack, produced a ruthless, cold smile in his face.


    He then walked to where Xiao Lin previously stood to take the blades that he saw Xiao Lin wield, and maybe his spatial ring since he felt that it should be an high-grade one and should be able to resist the pulverizing power of the wave that had surfaced from the powerful explosion that occurred.


    However, on reaching there, he saw to his shock that he couldn''t find the blades nor the spatial ring anywhere on the ground.


    "Where the hell were the blades and the spatial ring swept to?" He asked inwardly with bewilderment in his eyes.


    As he looked around to discover where the blades and the spatial ring were swept to or blown away to by either the alarming devastating wave that had surfaced, or by the ferocious, furious gales that had appeared, Xiao Lin was somewhere recuperating from the numbers of grievous injuries that were inflicted upon him by the wave.


    At the moment, hundreds of nauseating and frightening wounds could be seen all over Xiao Lin''s head, abdomen and legs. While the entire arm of the hand that Xiao Lin used to hold that spatial ring, had been totally ripped away from his shoulder, causing blood to unstoppably erupt from it.


    Groaning unendingly in immense pain that racked his entire body and constantly flooded his senses, Xiao Lin waited for his powerful Vampiric Healing ability which had started up already, to heal him of the numerous, spine-chilling severe wounds that he had sustained from that blast, and help him regenerate his entire arm that had been torn off by the shredding wave that surfaced.


    Then as the wounds covering his entire body rapidly healed, his eyes shone a cold and venomous light that would even frighten the gods themselves if they accidentally looked at his eyes.

 Chapter 117 - Fighting The Disciple Of The Heavenly Ghost Monarch (1)

    Once his arm fully regenerated and the grievous wounds covering his entire body completely healed, Xiao Lin immediately left where he was and dashed back to where the blast occurred and swept him away.


    Immediately he arrived there, he could see many bits of the bodies of the other disciples littering everywhere on the ground.


    He then shook his head and said "That bastard, what sect is he from? I have to kill him, he has ruined my plans."


    "Now that so many deaths have happened here, the masters from their sects will want to find the person responsible for all these and make him pay. And definitely, all accusing fingers will point at me, since I am the only one going around and breaking the bones of disciples to collect their spatial rings from them. Ugh!"


    The instant he thought these, he began to look around for the spatial ring of the disciples that were affected by the powerful explosion that abruptly occurred without warning.


    However, after looking around, he saw to his amazement that he couldn''t find the rings. Then his eyes shone with a harsher, glaring cold light.


    ''That bastard even took all the spatial rings for himself.'' Xiao Lin said internally with anger roiling within his heart and erupting out of it as an incomparably great killing intent.


    Swoosh!


    Very quickly, he dashed out of the room at the highest speed that he could muster to find the disciple that gave him that ring that contained a powerful explosive array.


    But after moving about in search of that disciple for more than twenty minutes, he suddenly came before someone who stood in his path.


    This person wore a large, metallic hat that was colored green and had engravings of a three-headed Phoenix and a six-tailed Dragon on it. Then the robe that the person wore had the logo of an organization that he couldn''t quite understand.


    However, from the way that the person stood in his path, it was like the person had been waiting there for him to appear.


    Therefore, the instant Xiao Lin appeared in front of this person, the person produced a slight cold smile in his face and said, "Hey, you finally arrive in front after so long. So, welcome!"


    Immediately the person said that, Xiao Lin furrowed his brows and looked at him cautiously, "Who are you? And how did you know that I will take this path?"


    "I have many mystical means which I can use to know what are in the minds of people. You can call it mind reading or whatever. However, just know that once you produce any thought in your mind, and then I deploy my Great Ears of Heaven listening technique, I will be able to know what''s in your mind." The person said.


    "Hmm." Xiao Lin uttered.


    He then asked "Are you a rogue cultivator, or a disciple from some sect?"


    Once Xiao Lin asked that question, the person shook his head and said "Nah, I am not a rogue cultivator. But yea, I am the sole disciple of a master called the Heavenly Ghost Monarch. He was the one that created the art called the Abyssal Ghost Monarch Battle Art."


    Then immediately after he said that, he produced a large bow and a broadsword in his hand and said "You see this broadsword, it''s called the ''Dirge of Eternals Souleater sword''. While the bow, is called the ''Ghostking Skeleton Bow of Wraiths and Apparitions''"


    Then the instant that the green, metal hat-wearing male said those, Xiao Lin looked at him with intense bewilderment in his eyes.


    He then asked "But why are you telling me those? Do I need to know?"


    "Yea, you need to." The male said.


    He then continued with a smile in his face "Something like this bow and sword, which are the ultimate treasures of my master that he gave to me, will definitely render you completely useless before me."


    Once the male gave that response, Xiao Lin broke a smile in his face and asked "And how do you know that the bow and sword will render me useless?"


    "Well, because you are a devil. Therefore, the bow and sword which are more effective against devils than on humans, will make you weak and be subjugated by me." The male said while Xiao Lin suddenly burst into a wild and uncontrolled laughter.


    Then when he finished laughing, he asked "So, let''s say you were able to successfully subjugate me, what are you going to do with me? Kill me, or tie me up, take my treasures and expose my unmasked face to the rest of the disciples so that they would see my true face, huh?"


    Immediately Xiao Lin asked that question, the male said "Nah, I am not after your treasures. I want to take you to my master so that he can absorb your life force for himself. He is sick and dying, and so needs the vital energy of a devil. Therefore, once I can take you to him and he can devour your soul using his special, Nine Aperture Devil Vitality Devouring mystical art, he should become well to some extent."


    And once the male said that, he said further "So, with all that I have mentioned, you should develop a great level of dread towards me because of the plethoric, Devil Suppressing techniques that I know, and the Devil-Subduing weapons that I possess. Therefore, I will advise that you stop your madness and just go into the storage artifact that I will produce when I finish talking."


    Hahaha!


    Xiao Lin suddenly laughed in an uncontrolled manner.


    He then asked "Your spatial ring, it should contain a lot of treasures and cultivation resources, right?"


    The instant Xiao Lin asked that, the male looked at Xiao Lin and said "But wow! I am damned perplexed, devil. After telling you what I plan to do to you, you still have the boldness and courage to ask me what items and materials are contained within my spatial ring and their numbers? Hmm. I see you are foolish. Anyways, get ready to submit yourself to me. Or would you rather battle me and see for yourself if I truly have what it takes to stop you, you seemingly unstoppable devil?"


    "Yes! I would love to see what it takes." Xiao Lin immediately said and suddenly dashed out from where he was towards the metal hat-wearing male who only broke a smirking expression in his face.


    Then once Xiao Lin appeared in front of him, he abruptly slashed out with his Awakening Doom blade towards his neck.


    Xiao Lin actually wanted to kill him with a single, insanely fast and incomparably furious strike. And him doing this, would make it seem like he was scared of this male, as he was the only one that he really set out to kill by beheading since he entered the mansion.


    However, it was not that he was frightened that the male who wielded some forms of weapon that could suppress devils, would use it to suppress him. Since he wasn''t a devil, but a human that got turned into a true vampire by the Vampire Reborn and Transformation triggering power that his Animal Spirit possessed, he wasn''t alarmed or mortified in any way that the weapons which the disciple showed him, would be able to really suppress him.


    But the sole reason why he wanted to instantly kill off the hat-wearing male, was because from all that the hat-wearing male mentioned, it produced and sent frigid chilling currents deep into his soul.


    If someone had the mysterious ability to know whatever thoughts will surface in one''s mind, how dangerous and lethal would that person be to him? So, he wanted to instantly annihilate him and rid himself off of this nemesis that might always come back to hunt him if he wasn''t taken care of.


    Slash!


    The instant Xiao Lin raised his arm and tried to swing the razor-sharp edge of the Awakening Doom blade in his right hand towards the neck of the hat-wearing male, the hat-wearing male who had raised his right leg a few feet above the ground, even before Xiao Lin could arrive by his side at the tremendous speed that he was moving at towards him, suddenly stomped down with it towards the marbled ground of the room.


    BANG!!


    The instant his right leg stomped the floor, a wave of high devastating power suddenly manifested and raged into the distance in all directions, knocking really hard into Xiao Lin in the process and abruptly sweeping him off his feet and into the distance with a power to seemingly fragment or destroy all things in its path.


    While Xiao Lin who was being flung through the air in the backward direction like a furious arrow that was shot out from a mighty bow, quickly brought his knees to his chest and folded his arms around it.


    And once he did so, he forced his body which had imitated the shape of a ball, to begin to turn in the anticlockwise motion so that he could reduce the strength of the powerful, backward-shoving force that was constantly acting on his body from that devastating wave that impacted his body with a tremendous amount of power.


    Then immediately he felt that the force acting on his body had reduced, he quickly forced his body to stop rolling like a wheel. And once he did so, Xiao Lin quickly unwrapped his arms around his legs and straightened his folded legs back.


    Then a moment later, he landed back with his feet firmly against the ground. But where he landed was roughly dozens of feet away from his previous position.


    Once Xiao Lin landed, he looked at the hat-wearing male in the distance with a sharp and cold gaze in his eyes. But the frigid and vicious gaze coming from his bright, amber-colored eyes, was actually concealing the immensely great shock that had manifested in the bottomless depth of his heart.

 Chapter 118 - Fighting The Disciple Of The Heavenly Ghost Monarch (2)

    ''This guy is powerful. The hell is he from? I am certain that he isn''t someone from that town or the neighboring towns that surround it.'' Xiao Lin said within.


    "Surprised?" The hat-wearing male unexpectedly asked.


    He then said further by asking "How can a devil that doesn''t know how vast the world is, hope to match me, the Ghostly Sword Deserter in battle?"


    Immediately he asked that question, Xiao Lin looked at him with a smirk expression in his face and said "You were using that your damned Ear of Heaven listening technique. If you don''t do without it, where you won''t know my thoughts, there is no way you would be able to match me in battle, Deserter, or whatever trash you called yourself."


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the male that called himself the Ghostly Sword Deserter, laughed out loud in amusement.


    He then asked, looking at Xiao Lin with a chilling, cold gaze in his eyes, "What do you call yourself, since you called mine trash?"


    "Well, since we are here in this region, I call myself the Ring Collector. My purpose here is to collect everyone''s spatial rings. Hence the name." Xiao Lin calmly replied.


    "Haha. I like that." The Ghostly Sword Deserter said after he finished giggling due to what Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further "Since we are here, then I will choose to call myself the Devil Soul Collector."


    Haha!


    As soon as the hat-wearing male said that, Xiao Lin laughed.


    He then said "Nice name. But let''s see if you can actually collect my soul without using that damned, mind-reading technique of yours."


    "Nah." The Ghostly Blade Deserter quickly uttered in a somewhat unhappy tone.


    He then questioned "Why won''t I use the listening technique that I spent years under my vast and enlightened, ancient teacher to master to a certain level? Come on!"


    Then as soon as he finished saying that, he continued "So, use whatever technique you have, while I will use whatever technique I have. Then let''s see who will end up collecting the items that belong to the other."


    "Hmm. Alright" Xiao Lin said and then deeply inhaled.


    Then very quickly, he prepared himself for a battle that he knew would be tremendously difficult for him to win, since his challenger at the moment, was someone that possessed powerful mysterious techniques, as he was trained by an immensely knowledgeable teacher from the primitive era which the Ghostly Sword Deserter mentioned moments ago with great pride in his tone.


    Still looking at the Ghostly Sword Deserter that stood in the distance, Xiao Lin could understand that he was powerful alright, but so was he.


    And now that he had filled up his Blood Energy, Hermetic Demonic Energy, Divine Plane Energy, Overworld Celestial Energy, Primal God-Devil Energy, Golden Immortal Divinity Matrix energy, he was certain to some extent that the Ghostly Sword Deserter won''t be able to subdue him in any way, talk more of overpower him and tie him up to take to his master. He was even sure that he should be able kill him with a single, massively destructive hit of the fusion of the different energies that he mentioned in his mind.


    However, as Xiao Lin thought this, the Ghostly Sword Deserter who could listen to whatever thoughts that would surface in the mind of anyone that he focused upon, could actually vividly know what Xiao Lin was thinking aloud in his mind.


    ''Blood Energy? Hermetic Demonic Energy? Divine Plane Energy? Overworld Celestial Energy? Primal God-Devil Energy? Golden Immortal Divinity Matrix energy? What in the world are these?'' The Ghostly Sword Deserter questioned in a perplexed manner within himself.


    Then still gazing at Xiao Lin, he asked with a bewildered tone in his voice "What the hell are those energies that you just mentioned? What are their usefulness?"


    "I know that this world is endlessly vast and that so many strange and unknown things could actually be taking place which even my primordial teacher may not know about and may only come across in primitive universal records."


    However, not getting a reply from Xiao Lin but only grave silence after a few moments of asking that question, he said with a broad smile in his face, "Since you couldn''t even dare to answer me, then I guess that you were only mentioning stuffs that don''t even exist. Haha!"


    He then mentioned further by saying "So, were you trying to make me dread you simply because of those inexistent energies that you mentioned, huh?"


    "Do you think I will fear you because of those? Even if you truly cultivated those energies, you would still be useless before me, as I possess tons of powerful techniques that you won''t be able to match up against with your stupid excuse for a strength."


    However, as the Ghostly Blade Deserter said all these, Xiao Lin who didn''t want him to know about Blood Energy and Hermetic Demonic Energy, as they were the other energies that he depended on for this battle, and then simply added tyrannical names of other energies that weren''t real to them as he listed them in his mind, only broke a cold and vicious smile in his face.


    Then seeing how he had caused a confused expression to appear in the face of the Ghostly Blade Deserter, Xiao Lin produced a smile in his face.


    He then unexpectedly shouted "Come at me, you useless and puny Devil Soul Collector. What are you doing wasting my time for? I have rings to collect if you won''t attack!!"


    Immediately Xiao Lin screamed that, the Ghostly Blade Deserter looked at him with an icy-cold expression in his face.


    Then in the next instant, he punched out at Xiao Lin and immediately discharged large amounts of a dark grey-colored, Devil Suppression Energy from his fist which instantly turned into a dark grey pillar that shot out at a furious speed towards Xiao Lin in the distance.


    Seeing the massive and towering pillar that was shooting towards him at an extreme speed and was constantly emitting the power of Devil Suppression which actually affected him a bit, Xiao Lin quickly used the Awakening Doom blade in his hand to slash out at it.


    Slash!


    The moment his blade struck the dense, enormous pillar, the pillar suddenly cleaved apart into halves.


    But as soon as it split apart into two, it exploded to release a terrifying, sweeping wave of an alarming shredding power which impacted really hard into Xiao Lin and sent him flying into the far distance, where he crashed through many walls of rooms before landing at a place that was many dozens of feet away from where he previously stood.


    Standing back to his feet like he was pulled by a particular unseen force, Xiao Lin quickly looked into the distance to look at the Ghostly Blade Deserter who would be preparing to unleash another powerful attack at him.


    But he saw to his shock that he couldn''t find him standing there anymore. Then as he began to look around and readied himself for the next fierce attack that the Ghostly Sword Deserter might send out at him, he suddenly heard the voice of the Ghostly Sword Deserter directly behind him.


    "Hey!" He shouted from behind Xiao Lin.


    Then before Xiao Lin could turn around to look at him, he was suddenly grabbed by the neck and raised powerfully into the air. And before he could free himself from that powerful grasp while being suspended in the air by that powerful arm which the Ghostly Sword Deserter used to fiercely lift him above the ground from behind, he was suddenly shoved into the floor with a tremendously heavy force.


    BANG!!


    The instant his body was savagely slammed into the marbled floor of the room that they were in, a loud bang sound rang out and was immediately accompanied by a wave of a frightening destructive power which then swept out at a great speed into the far distance, shattering the floor of the room in a ripple-like pattern as it propagated through it to many dozens of feet away.


    However, even after doing this and effortlessly resisting the fragmenting power of the wave that had abruptly surfaced, he grabbed Xiao Lin by his hair. Then with a small scream after mustering great physical strength in the arm that used to grab Xiao Lin by the hair, he viciously flung him far into the distance where he crashed into the floor of another room that was far from here.


    He then began to leisurely walk towards Xiao Lin from where he was to continue attacking him until Xiao Lin would succumb to his demand and enter into the storage treasure that he earlier instructed him to go into.


    While Xiao Lin who had quickly understood a few things about the Ghostly Sword Deserter, which were that he possessed an amazing body toughness and resilience, and also a terrifying physical strength that was possibly equal or higher than his own even in his true vampire form, quickly stood back to his feet.


    Therefore, like an invisible pulling force was acting upon him, he was made to stand back to his feet like gravity wasn''t acting on him.


    Then with a thought, the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade returned to his hand from where they fell off to when that wave of shocking destructive power suddenly surfaced and heavily impacted into him.


    And as soon as the blades appeared in his hand, Xiao Lin closed his eyes to focus on only the sounds around him using his incomparably powerful, Vampiric Hearing ability.


    This time, he didn''t want to use his vision anymore, as he felt that it slowed him down, or more precisely, his reaction and response time, to a level where it was really disadvantageous to him.


    Then immediately he did so, Blood Energy and Hermetic Demonic Energy that contained numerous, large wisps of his Paragon Werewolf Energy and his dark-colored, overbearing Spiritual Energy, began to move into the blades through special veins in the blades.


    Once he did this, the blades immediately lit up with a deep scarlet red light, an intense silver-white light, a dazzling dark-black brilliance, and a blinding but ominous, blood-red light that dyed everywhere and everything around him in their different colors.

 Chapter 119 - Fighting The Disciple Of The Heavenly Ghost Monarch (3)

    As soon as the blades produced those colors of light, Xiao Lin immediately slashed out with them at the Ghostly Sword Deserter.


    Slash!


    Slash!...


    The instant that he slashed out with them at the Ghostly Sword Deserter, two massive, multi-colored streams of violent energy which radiated the shocking power to destroy all things in every directions erupted from the blades, they instantly condensed into mighty blades that shot out at great speeds toward the Ghostly Sword Deserter.


    Then because of the tremendous speeds that the blades condensed from different internal energies moved at, they arrived before the Ghostly Sword Deserter in many times lesser than the blink of an eye and tried to cleave him apart into two.


    However, before they could hit him, the Ghostly Sword Deserter who had been alarmed by the power beginning to ripple off from the blades in all directions as Xiao Lin pumped energy into them, had quickly produced a treasure which he tried to use to protect himself from the immense, blade-shaped attacks.


    BANG!


    BANG!


    The instant the blades struck the defensive artifact that the Ghostly Blade Deserter quickly produced from his spatial ring and placed in front of him, loud bang sounds immediately rang out with waves of power which could turn massive rocks into powders, furiously rushing out from their points of collision with the shield and into the distance in all directions.


    While the Ghostly Sword Deserter who was at the receiving end of the attack, was abruptly knocked flying into the distance where he crashed through many walls before landing at some place that was far away from his previous position.


    Immediately he landed there, Xiao Lin quickly rushed out from where he stood to the place where the sword and bow that the Ghostly Sword Deserter wielded fell off to and delightedly picked it up.


    Then he dashed away from there to another place, surprisingly leaving the Ghostly Sword Deserter behind like he had no intention of fighting him.


    And when he got to another place that was far away from that place that he abruptly left, he stowed the weapons of the Ghostly Sword Deserter into his spatial ring and pulled off his mask. Then once he did so, he quickly reverted his appearance from his true vampiric form to his pale-skinned human form.


    As soon as he did all these, where he now looked more human and had become shorter compared to his towering, true vampiric form, Xiao Lin quickly changed the clothes that he wore and produced an ordinary looking halberd. The halberd that had appeared in his hand was one of the dozens of halberds that he acquired from those rogue cultivators that he viciously when he first appeared in the Azure Firestorm Archer''s legacy ground.


    Then very quickly, he dashed to the lowest floor of the mansion. And as he did this, he used his powerful Vampiric hearing ability to conceal himself from any sound that might be approaching him from far.


    And when he got to the lowest floor of the mansion many moments later after hiding and concealing himself from people that he met on the way, a bright smile appeared in his face.


    He was happy that he had taken the sword and bow of the Ghostly Sword Deserter. And as someone who set out to collect the spatial rings of the disciples that entered here to simply acquire their possessions, he was immensely glad to collect two that were many times greater in value than those that would be found in any of the spatial rings of the disciples that he had collected from so far. Then when he probably sold or auctioned them off, he should be able to gain a tremendous amount of money to be able to buy himself tremendous amount of resources for his Spiritual Energy cultivation.


    He felt that he had to climb the ranks on time so that he would possess more strength to be able to crush all things in his path, which was far better than hiding like a tortoise everytime.


    He then said inwardly ''Ghostly Sword Deserter or whatever you called yourself, we would fight again another day when we eventually meet. But I do really hope we meet in the farthest future, because at that time, I would have gotten stronger and will kill you to take the precious things that you have stored in your spatial ring"


    Then immediately he said this internally, he changed his thinking.


    ''How do I get resources and treasures from here? These disciples are immensely powerful. I think I am only wasting my time here. Ugh! But I won''t give up. Who knows, I may come across something that might bestow me with power.'' Xiao Lin began to say inwardly.


    And as he said this within himself, the Ghostly Sword Deserter who had stood back to his feet after being unconscious for sometime since he was struck really hard by Xiao Lin''s double, fiercely powerful attacks, quickly began to employ his empyrean-grade, Ear of Heaven listening technique.


    Immediately he started to do so, he began to come across many thoughts that surfaced in the minds of everyone that were in the mansion. He couldn''t go beyond that as he hadn''t really mastered the technique to a great level.


    With his brows deeply furrowed, he tried to understand the thoughts of everyone so that he could find one that would lead him to Xiao Lin.


    However, after many minutes of doing it, he couldn''t find any thoughts that would make him recognize Xiao Lin.


    Then when he felt that Xiao Lin had probably left the mansion and had hurried off to leave the legacy ground, he suddenly screamed out in seething anger and immensely blazing fury.


    "Arghhhhhh!"


    His scream was so powerful that it caused the ceiling and floor of the room that he was in to abruptly shatter into pieces.


    Then with his eyes changing immediately to red due to the anger that had clouded his mind and senses, he abruptly dashed out from where he was towards the door of the mansion to leave it in search of Xiao Lin who had taken his master''s swords.


    While Xiao Lin who walked about in the lowest floor of the mansion, never stopped for once in producing many false thoughts of unhappiness, anger, hatred in his heart at being totally incapable of taking any cultivation resources and treasures for himself.


    But as he did this, the imperceivable gaze of the unseen being in the mansion, which had been on him the entire time since he entered the mansion, began to glitter.


    "Interesting!" It unexpectedly said.


    It then said further "This lad should be the one to inherits my master''s wealth. It has fulfilled all that my master wants. Although he is a little too evil for my liking, having wickedly killed so many innocent rogue cultivators and disciples that entered this place and using their blood to cultivate, he is however the only that can make my master''s art to shine again in the world. Hmm. That''s right, I will go for him. And I am certain that he wouldn''t disappoint me."


    It then decided to appear before Xiao Lin.


    ...


    Xiao Lin who was breathlessly pacing about in the room with anguish and rage emitting from his body, suddenly had his body shake intensely in fear when something that he wasn''t expecting and was quite odd in appearance, suddenly appeared in front of him.


    "Don''t be shaken, lad" The entity that had appeared in front of him in the form of a massive, winged arrow that was colored azure, said.


    It then continued "I am the spirit in control of the mansion that you are in. Then furthermore, I am the one that chose to open up the legacy ground so that disciples from various sects in the town and neighboring towns can come in to take some of my master''s treasures."


    "Then from their intense battles amongst themselves for my master''s wealth and immense treasure accumulations, I will be able to pick out the best of the best, after all, I have seen their true capabilities when they were fighting amongst themselves for bits of my master''s possessions."


    "But after opening the legacy ground each year for a number of ten times, I have not seen one like you. I have not seen anyone that is capable of doing what you are able to do. You have beaten and killed your way right from the gate into this mansion. Although you are really evil, wrj your methods completely vicious. It is however in line with what my master wants. He wants someone really smart, decisive and completely ruthless. Therefore, because of his order, I have made up mind to select you as my master''s disciple."


    Then once it said this and without giving the extremely shocked Xiao Lin the chance to say anything, it asked "So, would you like to become my master''s disciple?"


    Xiao Lin who was completely overwhelmed by what the mansion-residing spirit just asked, quickly nodded his head, signifying that he had agreed to become it master''s disciple.


    "Good!" The spirit said.


    It then said further "Now, I want you to come with me to go receive the full transmission of my master''s cultivation and battle art."

 Chapter 120 - Receiving Transmission Of The Azure Firestorm Archers Legacy Arts (1)

    Once the spirit said that, Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then with a brilliant flash of light, both of them suddenly vanished from the spot that they stood at and appeared in a particular room.


    As soon as they appeared in that room which was massive in size, and was totally separated from all the other rooms in the mansion, Xiao Lin suddenly caught sight of a massive golden statue that wore a large cape, and held a massive, azure-colored bow that had raging flame fiercely burning around it in it hand. Then within it big eyes could be seen the bright glow of azure color emitting from it.


    Immediately Xiao Lin saw the statue, he didn''t need anyone to tell him that the statue before him was the statue of the Azure Firestorm Archer.


    He then made a bow towards it. And after being in that position for a few seconds, he straightened himself back.


    The spirit who was looking at Xiao Lin nodded its head. It was happy that Xiao Lin wasn''t that bad in manners. Even though he was a ruthless person and was someone that practiced evil cultivation methods, he was still someone that gave utmost respect to his master.


    When Xiao Lin straightened himself back, the spirit said, "Come with me. We have to get to that blue mat before the statue."


    Immediately the spirit said that, Xiao Lin looked into the distance at the ground before the statue. Then when he saw the blue mat placed on the ground before the statue, he was able to quickly come up with a thought that the blue mat was a transmission mat. As in, it was what he would seat upon to receive transmission of the cultivation and battle art of the Azure Firestorm Archer.


    Then when he and the spirit appeared before the mat, the spirit looked at Xiao Lin and said "Seat on the mat and prepare yourself to receive the arts of my master."


    As soon as it said that, Xiao Lin nodded his head and went to seat on the mat in the cross-legged position.


    Then the instant that he sat on the mat, the massive statue before him trembled. While the flame burning ferociously around the bow that it wielded, suddenly went off.


    And as soon as the flame abruptly extinguished itself in a rather mysterious manner, the bright glow of azure light in it eyes grew stronger and powerful before abruptly shooting out of it as two continuous rays of light from it eye sockets towards Xiao Lin''s head.


    Then the moment that the rays struck Xiao Lin''s forehead, they effortlessly penetrated through it and began to produce all sorts of texts, images and diagrams in his mind.


    While all this was going on, the Ghostly Sword Deserter who had begun to wail like an hateful and resentful, evil spirit, had developed an hideous and ferocious expression in his face.


    From the furious expression in his face, one would be able to tell that he would slash apart anything and everything that will appear in his path to challenge him.


    But other than him who was busy screaming and shouting about in fury because of the sword and bow that he had lost to Xiao Lin, the others were busy fighting it out amongst themselves for certain treasures that they came across in rooms.


    ...


    Few days later...


    "That Crimson Blade Menace, it has being a while since I heard about him." A disciple of a sect said.


    He then continued with his brows furrowed, "Do you think that he has been killed."


    "I also have that feeling too. He could have been destroyed. You know, a single devil amongst hundreds of disciples from many different sects would have encircled him and unleash angry, full-powered attacks at him to reduce him to paste" Another said.


    "Hmm. That''s very possible. Well, I hope that''s true, because I don''t want to surrender any of my treasures to him. So, I hope that he has been turned into paste, just like you said." The disciple that spoke earlier, said with immense hope brimming within his heart.


    Zhu Ping who had been running about in the mansion from one room to the next, suddenly stopped moving when he appeared in a particular room and couldn''t find Xiao Lin whom many fearfully referred to as the Crimson Blade Menace.


    "Has he left the mansion?" He asked himself with an indescribable gaze in his eyes.


    Then he continued, "If he has, that would be tremendously sad, since I won''t be able to acquire those rumored, beautiful and fierce blades that he wields."


    "Then also his spatial ring which would definitely contain hundreds of rings of all the disciples that he had beaten and forcefully collected from them which he would have stowed into his."


    Once he thought these within himself, Zhu Ping uttered "Ugh!", he then shook his head with a sad gaze appearing in his eyes.


    He then continued by saying "If he has truly left, then that''s immensely sad. But I can''t give up now. I have to find him. I must acquire those blades that he wields. I should become the new wielder of those peerless blades that he possesses which might actually be worthless in his hands."


    Immediately Zhu Ping finished saying that and then prepared to leave the room to continue searching for Xiao Lin, someone abruptly entered the room, seemingly searching for a treasure item that might also be in the room.


    Then when Zhu Ping saw who had suddenly entered with the intention to search the room for hidden or concealed treasures or artifacts, he unexpectedly produced a wild and uncontrolled laughter from his mouth, with intense glows of both ferocity and unbridled lust immediately emitting from his eyes.


    While the person that had entered and was a female, looked at Zhu Ping with a fierce and disgusted gaze in her eyes.


    "Zhu Ping, it''s quite unfortunate of me to meet you here. Well, I am leaving. I have no words to discuss with you irritable, sex-addicted beast in the form of a human." Zhou Bilan, the Great Daughter of the Celestial Dragon Empress sect said.


    And once she said that, she immediately turned around to leave.


    However, the instant that she did so, a dazzling colored light suddenly flashed in the room. While something that began to push all the air in front of it away upon it appearance, suddenly shot towards her at a full, shocking speed.


    "Predictable bastard" Zhou Bilan said and quickly deployed an Evasion skill to dodge the attack that Zhu Ping had suddenly shot out at her without warning.


    Then once she had evaded the attack, she looked at him and said "Zhu Ping, you are miserably too predictable. Learn how to launch your attacks at the right time when your opponent or challenger wouldn''t be expecting you to. If you adhere by this simple battle tip, you moron will go a little bit far in your miserable cultivation journey"


    Hahaha!


    As soon as she said that, Zhu Ping suddenly burst into a wild and raucous laughter.


    Then when he stopped laughing in the next instant, he said "Zhou Bilan, actually, I launched that attack to stop you from leaving and so that you can interact with me. And now that there are only two of us in this room, I want to discuss something of great importance with you."


    Once he said that, Zhou Bilan abruptly said with her brows furrowing deeply in anger "I don''t have anything to say with you, Zhu Ping. Keep your damned, useless interaction to yourself. I am leaving here, now. And don''t you dare try to stop me!"


    Immediately she spat out that, she turned around again to leave. While Zhu Ping whose eyes were beginning to glow with a light of incomparable ferociousness and viciousness, suddenly aimed his hand at her and ruthlessly unleashed a fiercely powerful attack at her.


    So, the instant that he aimed out one of his palms at her, massive amount of his lightning Spiritual Energy suddenly erupted from it and instantly transformed into a crystal-like blade that seemed to be condensed purely from lightning, and spanned many feet wide in size.


    As soon as this blade which produced rampant, deafening booms from within it surfaced, it abruptly shot out at a great speed towards Zhou Bilan in the distance.


    While Zhou Bilan who had become immensely provoked by the attack that Zhu Ping launched again at her after her warning, actually stopped walking and quickly turned around to face the lightning Spiritual Energy attack now shooting towards her with an overbearing killing intent bursting out continuously from within it.


    Therefore, very quickly, she produced a super-strong shield from her fiery Spiritual Energy to block the advancement of the terrifying attack towards her.


    Then as soon as she constructed the extremely dense barrier of fiery Spiritual Energy which actually emanated a type of heat that caused the marbled ground of the room to begin to rapidly melt, and the thick ceiling to immediately turn to ashes without being set on fire, the attack that Zhu Ping sent out towards her appeared in front of it in the next moment because of the great speed that it was moving at and then struck it with an immensely heavy force that will cause a really large rock to instantly explode into numerous, small fragments.

 Chapter 121 - A Strange Occurrence

    BOOM!


    As soon as the attack smashed into the barrier and caused an extremely destructive wave to appear, numerous cracks suddenly appeared in the surface of the barrier before exploding into bits.


    Then as soon as the shield immediately shattered into pieces, the devastating wave that surfaced smashed into her and sent her flying towards a wall of the room. While the lightning, blade-shaped Spiritual Energy attack that Zhu Ping sent out, instantly shattered apart upon collision with Zhou Bilan''s fiery shield before quickly dispersing away.


    "Do you think you can hold your ground against me?" Zhu Ping asked with a smile in his face.


    He then said further "I said in a polite way that I want to discuss something with you. But you arrogantly turned my request down and tried to walk away on me like I am some useless entity to you. Am I truly that? Haha."


    Then he continued "Well, now that I have forced you to stay, you will definitely listen to what I have to say."


    At this point in time as Zhu Ping was talking, Zhou Bilan had stood back to her feet.


    She then looked at him with an icy-cold expression in his face and said "I can''t stay here to speak with you on something that I know will only be a total waste of my time. If you have nothing to do again in this mansion, then leave. Don''t use your idleness to ruin the attempts of others at getting something that would tremendously benefit them in the long run."


    Once Zhou Bilan said that, Zhu Ping gazed intensely at her and said "Since you don''t want to listen to me, you can go."


    And as soon as he said that, Zhou Bilan quickly deployed her powerful movement skill and dashed away from there, leaving Zhu Ping behind.


    When she left, Zhu Ping narrowed his eyes with anger filling them. He then prepared to leave there too. But as he readied himself to leave, he said inwardly "You can leave now, but I will get you someday. And when I get you, you will beg me."


    ...


    Whilst seated on the mat with rays of light penetrating into his head, Xiao Lin began to go through the texts, images and diagrams in his head.


    But he started with the ones that he felt should be easy for him to comprehend. Not long, he was able to understand what the art was about, since he had read and understood it rudimentary.


    However, as he was busy comprehending, many fights were going on in the mansion, with some terribly injuring themselves and some dying.


    "I have been able to acquire a lot from this mansion, and I am really grateful for that" One male disciple from a sect said as he held a particular egg-like object in his hand which glowed in the colors of the rainbow.


    "Yea, me too." Another male disciple from a sect said with a smile in his face.


    He then asked "When do think the exit portals will come up? I don''t think there is anything for us here again."


    "Nah. I don''t think we can leave just yet. Although we have been in this mansion for a long time, it however isn''t time for us to leave." The male before him said.


    "Hmm. And why do you think so?" The disciple asked.


    "Because it just isn''t time yet. We still have many rooms to check for treasures. And besides, the voice coming from somewhere in the mansion hasn''t announced that someone has inherited the legacy of its master." A disciple said.


    "Hmm. That''s right. But has anyone being able to acquire the legacy since many years ago? So, I don''t think it would announce this time either. Then that means that we would have to leave this mansion without that voice announcing that there is an inheritor for it master''s legacy" One unexpectedly said.


    "Haha. You are right about that. I think that absolutely no one would be able to acquire it master''s legacy, since the voice might possibly find everyone of us basically unworthy of inheritance of its master''s legacy." Another said.


    But immediately this person finished speaking, the powerful booming voice of an entity that they couldn''t see or perceive what it was, suddenly said "Every cultivator in the mansion should prepare to leave. I have found a cultivator worthy of my master''s legacy. So, the rest of you should prepare to head out of here. Then when the exit portals appear, you go should go into it so that you can leave this region to your world."


    The voice then continued, "I give everyone of you three days to round up what you are doing here and leave! Or you won''t like the way that I would forcefully evict everyone of you from here when the time that I gave you is up."


    Once it said that, the disciples who were thinking of remaining in the legacy ground to continue acquiring treasures, had their eyes glow when they heard what the voice said.


    Firstly, they were thinking of staying in the mansion and continue to acquire treasures for themselves until the chosen inheritor had appeared to leave. Then when he surfaced and was ready to leave, they will accompany him to come out of the legacy ground through the exit portals that would have appeared upon the emergence of the selected inheritor. But when they heard what the entity said, they abruptly dispelled the opinions that they had and quickly prepared to leave the legacy ground before three days that the entity gave them would be up.


    "I can''t believe that the invisible, haughty being residing in this mansion would actually choose one of us to inherit it master''s legacy. Damn! We finally have a legacy inheritor." Someone in a room suddenly said to the others who were also in the room with him.


    "Yea, it''s quite unbelievable to me too. I can''t believe that the entity would actually choose someone after so many years to inherit its master''s vestige." Another said.


    "But I would like to see the disciple that the entity found worthy of inheriting it master''s legacy. I want to know what sect he or she is from."


    "Yea, me too. But I believe that it would be one of those monstrous-level geniuses from those sects."


    "Same with me too, I am also of that opinion." Another said with a pondering expression in his face.


    ...


    At a particular hour of the third day, many massive portals suddenly appeared above the ground.


    When the disciples who were within the mansion and were doing their best to acquire more treasures for themselves felt that something had changed within the legacy ground, they immediately came out of the mansion to see what was that. Then when they saw many massive portals standing a few feet above the ground, they knew that it was time to come out of the legacy ground.


    "Well, I guess it''s time for us to leave." A disciple said to the people around him who only nodded their heads in agreement to what he said.


    Then in the next moment, they all began to walk towards the portals in the distance.


    However, as they were leaving, the disciple of the Heavenly Ghost Monarch who called himself the Ghostly Sword Deserter, wasn''t ready to leave yet. He didn''t want to leave here without the bow and sword that his master gave him.


    So, with red eyes that signified intense rage and incomparable murderous intent, he still shot about within the legacy ground in search of Xiao Lin.


    When the portals appeared, the teachers of the disciples that entered the legacy ground, quickly began to gather at the area where the portals appeared in.


    "Finally, they can leave". A teacher said with the other teachers that stood at his sides, producing smiles in their faces as they nodded their heads.


    "I wonder if any of our disciples would able to receive the legacy this time" A teacher said with a thoughtful gaze in his eyes.


    "Well, it''s very possible that one of them would receive the legacy this time." Another teacher said.


    As the teachers continued to speak with themselves, disciples began to emerge from within the portals one after the other. And once the teachers sighted any of the group of the students that they accompanied down here to the legacy ground, they would quickly dash out from where they were towards them.


    However, not quite long, things started to seem odd, as some teachers who were expecting their students to return, couldn''t see them emerging from within the portals. Then they became really worried as they began to deeply ponder what was wrong, or what had gone wrong, since many of their students who they accompanied down here, hadn''t come out from the legacy ground.


    Then after waiting for sometime more to see if their students would emerge from within the portals, but couldn''t find anyone coming out of the portals again, they quickly readied themselves to go into the legacy ground through any of the portals and go find out what had trapped or held back their students from coming out.

 Chapter 122 - Looking For The Culprit

    However, when they got in front of the portals and tried to go into them, a particular force suddenly invaded their bodies and sent flying backwards like they were launched from bows.


    And just as they were launched away without pity, someone who looked in a really sorry state, but had eyes that glowed with unbridled vengeance, was suddenly thrown out of one of the portals into the distance where he crashed into the earth and dragged upon it surface into the distance.


    Seeing what had happened, the perplexed and extremely worried teachers quickly asked with loud booming voices as they gazed at the portals that were far in front of them.


    "Esteemed caretaker spirit of the Azure Firestorm Archer''s mansion, can we please ask after our disciples? They haven''t come out till now and we are really worried about them. If they have fallen into traps or something has held them up in there, could you please take them out for us? We would tremendously appreciate it." A teacher respectfully said.


    However, he got no reply from the spirit residing in the Azure Firestorm Archer''s Mansion.


    Hearing no reply from the spirit, the teachers looked at each other with confusion in their eyes.


    Then one of them quickly said with anger blazing in his eyes, "Inheritance-Bestowing Spirit of the Azure Firestorm Archer, you have many of our disciples stuck in your damned legacy ground. If you don''t release them to us now, you will surely regret your actions. The masters of our sects who are already on their way here, won''t take it lightly with you when they eventually arrive in this place. They will break into the legacy ground of the Azure Firestorm Archer and wreak havoc in there. So, I will advise that you release our disciple to us, or face the sky-collapsing wrath of our masters."


    Just as that teacher finished speaking, a thin ray of resplendent light suddenly shot out from one of the portals towards him and then struck him with a tremendous amount of force that he was sent flying into the far distance like he were a furious arrow.


    And once he was struck by that ray that sent him flying away, the angered voice of the Azure Firestorm Archer''s legacy bestowing spirit suddenly boomed out from all of the portals far in front of the worried and shocked teachers.


    "The masters of your sects will break into my master''s inheritance ground when they arrive? Haha! I would love to see them try" It coldly said, causing the intensity of shock in the eyes of the bewildered teachers to increase by leaps.


    However, it continued "Anyways, don''t be too worried about your disciples, since they couldn''t come out after so long, then it only means that they have met with their doom."


    "You should know by now that anybody that enters my master''s legacy ground, whether they are monstrous geniuses or unparalleled combatants from your sects, will become the targets of many envious or vicious cultivators from some unknown or hidden sects and organizations who want what they have. And once they can''t withstand the powerful joint attacks of their many challengers and then get struck by their attacks, they would simply die. So, it''s possible that your disciples have fallen to the hands of the thousands of rogue or wicked cultivators from some sects who came into my master''s legacy ground to also acquire cultivation materials and treasures for themselves."


    Once the Azure Firestorm Archer''s legacy-bestowing spirit said that, the furious voice of a sect master who had suddenly appeared in the air above them, unexpectedly rang out.


    "Bullshit!"


    "If you don''t release my disciple to me, you will experience my wrath."


    But once the angered, booming voice of the sect master rang out, the haughty voice of the Azure Firestorm Archer legacy-bestowing spirit suddenly said from within the legacy ground through the portals, "I will love to experience your wrath, sect master. Let me see how you will gain entrance into the legacy ground through the portals that I have total control over. Haha!"


    The sect master spoken to surprisingly remained calm, despite the madness in his eyes causing his eyes to look red in color.


    Just as he was about to say something, his attention was suddenly attracted over by the male that was furiously flung out of the legacy ground by the legacy-bestowing spirit through one of the portals.


    "High and esteemed, great sect master, I want to bring to your notice that there was this tall, crimson-haired devil who wielded two blades that gained entrance into the legacy ground."


    "Perhaps it was this blade-wielding devil that calls itself the Crimson Blade Menace, that killed the disciples of your sect and those from other sects too."


    "I said this because it attacked me too, and a lot of others in the mansion, as it had the intention of collecting our spatial rings from us. Then to successfully do that, it used exceedingly brutal and wicked methods, including killing us to acquire our spatial rings from us if we refused to obediently obliged to it excessive demand" The male that called himself the Ghostly Sword Deserter said.


    And once he said that, the heart of the sect master sparked greatly in anger.


    Then directing his furious gaze at the portals in the distance, it asked "Where is that devil? I want you to release it to me. It has questions that it needs to give answers to!"


    "Devil? There is no devil here anymore. It could have probably left my master''s legacy ground before any of the teachers from the various sects could gather at the exit portals and await the emergence of the disciples from their respective sects."


    "Besides, I have kicked everyone within the legacy ground out. So, you should look for the ruthless devil that killed your disciples within the large crowds of people gathered below you, sect master." The legacy-bestowing spirit said.


    It then continued with a hint of anger in its tone, "And that is the last question that I will entertain from any of you. Then if there is nothing else, I would like to cease the portals to permanently seal off entrance into the legacy ground. Farewell, and good luck to your disciples in their bids to climb to the apex of power!"


    Immediately it said that, the portals began to fluctuate before it disappeared, closing off entrance to the legacy ground.


    The other sect masters who had arrived and heard what the spirit said, began to look around in fury at the people gathered below them.


    Now, they were beginning to look for the devil that the Ghostly Sword Deserter spoke about that attacked them at the legacy ground to collect their spatial rings.


    However, after scanning the large crowds of people below them with deeply scrutinizing gazes, they saw to their shock that they couldn''t find anybody that looked like the devil that the Ghostly Sword Deserter described to them.


    "Lad, are you sure that the thing that attacked you was a devil and not a human feigning to be a devil? Perhaps it has used some powerful shape-shifting method or impeccable disguising skill to hide it true appearance and present he or herself as a devil to you guys?" A sect master unexpectedly asked.


    "Yes, esteemed sect master. It was a devil, a true devil of some origin that resides in the devil continents and crossed over to our world to possibly wreak havoc in our cities and towns, since it is their ways."


    "Besides, from it look and the baleful energies that it unleashed, I can easily tell that no skill or method would enable any human to transform it appearance from that of a human to that of a devil." The Ghostly Sword Deserter respectfully said.


    "Hmm." The sect master that the Ghostly Sword Deserter spoke to uttered with a deep thoughtful expression in his face.


    He then looked at the crowd below him for sometime and asked, looking at the disciples from other sects that stood beneath him "Is it true what he says? That the male that attacked you all in there was an actual devil?"


    "Yes, esteemed sect master" Many of them politely replied.


    "Hmm." The sect master uttered again with deeply furrowed brows.


    He then returned his gaze back at the Ghostly Sword Deserter and asked "If I temporarily enhance you with my power, would you be able to figure out the devil in the large crowd of people gathered around you?"


    "I don''t know if I would be able to do that, esteemed sect master. Like the legacy-bestowing spirit previously said, it might have probably left the legacy ground before the teachers of the various sects could gather at the exit portals when it opened." The Ghostly Sword Deserter said.


    He then continued, "And I feel that what it said is right. I have been chasing this devil for many days when it knocked me unconscious with it fiendish energies and took my treasures. So, since it would have headed towards the gate to escape from me, it could have probably left the legacy ground through the portals when they appeared."

 Chapter 123 - Leaving The Legacy Ground (1)

    "Hmm. Alright then" The sect master said.


    Then looking at the other sect masters whose faces had turned ashen and had livid expressions in them due to the death of many of their disciples, he said, "Esteemed sect masters, we have to look for this devil. We must find it and make it pay for what it did. We can''t let it escape from us"


    And once the sect master said that, the other sect masters quickly flew away in a particular direction to go find Xiao Lin before he could escape.


    ...


    - Azure Firestorm Archer''s mansion -


    Many days later, eleven days to be precise, Xiao Lin finally received the full transmission of the legacy arts and methods of the Azure Firestorm Archer.


    And once he finally did, he stood to his feet and called out to the legacy-bestowing spirit.


    "Yes, what is it?" It asked.


    "I am done. And I want to leave this place." Xiao Lin said.


    "Alright." The legacy-bestowing spirit said.


    It then spoke further by asking "But would you like to receive my master''s inheritance, I mean his bow?"


    "Oh. I would like to" Xiao Lin hurriedly replied.


    "Okay" The legacy-bestowing spirit said.


    Then a ray of light suddenly shot towards Xiao Lin and transformed into a spatial ring which began to float in front of him.


    Xiao Lin then grabbed the ring and began to look into it.


    Then when he saw the bow, his eyes glowed with delight.


    "What an amazing weapon" Xiao Lin said as he looked at the bow that induced the great feeling of power within him.


    The bow which was entirely azure in color, and even had it bowstring colored in azure, had a really profound inscription of texts in it surface which made it seem like it was a really ancient weapon.


    He then called the bow to his hands which he grasped. But upon appearing in his hand, he was dragged to the floor with it as the bow was tremendously heavy for him to carry.


    "Damn! What weight" Xiao Lin said.


    He then looked at the legacy-bestowing spirit floating before him in the air and asked, "legacy-bestowing spirit, why didn''t you warn me on time about the heaviness of the bow. It could have crushed my hands to paste you know."


    "I know it won''t. Your hands are too tough to be easily crushed into bits by the bow." The legacy-bestowing spirit said.


    It then continued "And you can call me Azure Bow spirit. I find the legacy-bestowing spirit a little too weird for me."


    "Alright" Xiao Lin said.


    He then released the handle of the bow from his tight grasp and stood to his feet.


    And once he did so, he looked at the bow on the ground for sometime before looking at the Azure Bow Spirit floating in the air.


    "The bow, what is it called? And what is it capable of doing? And by the way, you haven''t given me it arrows? Or can it produce arrows by itself once it bowstring is pulled?" Xiao Lin asked one after the other excitedly.


    "The bow is called the Heavenly Carnage Azure Bow. And it is capable of turning arrows shot from it into arrows that can destroy entire villages." The Azure Bow Spirit replied.


    It then continued "Yes, it has arrows that are unique to it. They are called the Heavenly Carnage Azure Arrows which are capable of piercing through the most hardest material that you will ever come across."


    "Wow!" Xiao Lin uttered with delight in his tone.


    "This is really great" Xiao Lin said.


    He then looked at the Azure Bow Spirit floating in the air and asked "So, where are the arrows? Can I get them too?"


    "No. Not yet. Until you are strong enough to be able to lift my master''s bow would you be able to receive the arrows."


    "They are also as heavy as the bow. But by virtue of the profound power condensed into them by my master, they would become as light as a feather, and can travel at speeds many times faster than that of lightning. And possessing great penetration power as a result of the enigmatic core of power condensed into them, they can pierce through almost everything, therefore making them nigh-unstoppable once they are shot out from the bow" The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    "That''s nice. Wish I was strong already. I would use it to shoot down my enemies, especially my dad. When I shoot the arrows of the bows at him without him expecting it, let''s see how he is going to survive it. Arrogant and egoistic evil scum that shouldn''t have been brought into this world in the first place" Xiao Lin said with a brilliant glow of hatred in his eyes.


    "Alright" Xiao Lin said looking at the Azure Bow Spirit.


    He then continued "And stronger, I will become on time. I need to start making use of this powerful bow"


    And once he said that, he looked at the Azure Bow Spirit and asked, "The Heavenly Carnage Azure arrows, how many are they? Are they up to ten thousand in numbers?"


    "More than, inheritor. My master spent most of his time making his powerful arrows more than cultivating. He loved creating things more than cultivating, since it was way more fun than cultivation which was really boring to him." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    "Oh. That''s really nice." Xiao Lin said.


    Then after some thoughts popped up in his mind, he looked at the Azure Bow Spirit and asked with a curious gaze in his eyes, "How do I get to make use of the bow? Do I have to bind myself to it by blood, or I don''t need to do such? And, the arrows that you mentioned about earlier, are they arrows other than the Heavenly Carnage Azure Arrows, or they are also part of it but less powerful?"


    "No. There is no need for you to bind yourself to it by blood. It doesn''t need to be bound by blood to the wielder or possessor. Therefore, that means that if you are killed or knocked unconscious, someone else can take it and become the owner."


    "And a good example of that is like how you took the sword and bow that belonged to that disciple that studies under the Heavenly Ghost Monarch."


    "But I trust that you wouldn''t really let that happen, right?" The Azure Bow Spirit asked.


    Then without waiting for Xiao Lin to give a response to the questions that it asked him, it continued "Then for your other question, yes, they are arrows other than the Heavenly Carnage Azure Arrows. Due to the mysterious power of my master''s sun-chasing skill which he channeled into the bow and then transformed into a core of power within the bow, any type of arrow that makes contact with the body and bowstring of the bow, becomes imbued with a sliver of that power of my master''s sun-chasing skill. So, such arrows possesses great destructive power and shocking penetration power."


    "Hmm. Alright" Xiao Lin said.


    He then tried returning the bow into the spatial ring that the Azure Bow Spirit gave him.


    However, he discovered to his shock that he couldn''t do so, as the bow was really heavy for him to move back into the spatial ring using his mind.


    But since he was a stubborn and really persistent person, he continued to do so.


    However, many moments later, he gave up.


    He then looked up at the Azure Bow Spirit before and asked asked, "How do I store the bow into the spatial ring that you gave me?"


    "I thought you weren''t going to bring my attention to it" The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued, "Like I said, you are still too weak to move the bow here and here. Even to store the bow into any spatial ring using your mind, would he tremendously difficult for you."


    Then after it said that, it spoke further "Alright. I will help you do that."


    Immediately it said that, the bow vanished off from the floor of the mansion and rematerialized in the spatial ring that it gave to Xiao Lin.


    The instant the bow appeared in the spatial ring, Xiao Lin quickly stowed the ring into his own spatial ring. And from the way that he moved, one would have a definite feeling that he quickly stored the spatial ring containing the bow into his spatial ring like as if the Azure Bow Spirit was going to collect it back from him and keep it somewhere out of his reach.


    Seeing what Xiao Lin abruptly did, the Azure Bow Spirit that floated in the air, said with an unexplainable emotion in its tone, "Inheritor, that wasn''t necessary. I wasn''t going to collect it from you. It''s yours. So, you should keep it."


    "I know. I did that just in case you changed your mind and decided to retrieve the spatial ring from me." Xiao Lin said with a smile appearing in his face.


    He then continued, "And my name isn''t Inheritor. It''s Xiao Lin. You can call me Xiao Lin. And if you like, you can call me Bloodfang."

 Chapter 124 - Leaving The Legacy Ground (2)

    "Alright." The Azure Bow spirit said.


    It then continued "That thing that you turn into? What''s it called?"


    "Oh That. That''s my true vampiric form" Xiao Lin answered.


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the Azure Bow Spirit looked at him with shock in it eyes.


    "You are a living dead?" It asked with great shock in it eyes while Xiao Lin only nodded his head.


    "Hmm. Well, giving my master''s legacy to you isn''t that bad. It''s actually cool, since you aren''t like the others that will die once they are killed in battle, or reach the end of their lifespan."


    "So, as for you is who is a living dead, since you are already but can still move about like a sentient, animated corpse, the factor of aging that affects both mortals and cultivators alike, wouldn''t really affect you, right?" The Azure Bow Spirit asked.


    "Yes. It wouldn''t. So, I am basically an immortal. And my current teenager form would remain for eternity." Xiao Lin replied.


    He then continued, "I am the first of my kind in this world. There is no other like me."


    "Hmm. That''s good." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued "So, even if you don''t find a way to break through into the next cultivation stage, your life span wouldn''t run out like how it happens for other cultivators who don''t break through on time?"


    "Yes. Since I am not affected by the number of years that a particular cultivation stage would grant a cultivator, when I get to the end of it, I wouldn''t die, since I am not depending on the lifespan bestowed upon me by that particular cultivation stage." Xiao Lin replied with a smile appearing in his face.


    "So, you are basically immortal?" The Azure Bow Spirit asked. And assuming the Azure Bow Spirit was a human, Xiao Lin would be able to see the overly excited expression that had appear in it face.


    But actually sensing the feelings of delight radiating off of its tone, Xiao Lin only smiled and then nodded his head.


    "Yes I am." He responded.


    "Awesome! This is really great." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued "Now that I have chosen you to become my master''s legacy inheritor, then that means my masters legacy arts and weapon will continue to reign for eternity. And since you are really strong yourself and obstinate to a fault, I am completely sure you will grow to become tremendously powerful."


    "My master''s art will be able to reign supreme in the world again. Haha!" The Azure Bow Spirit said while Xiao Lin only nodded his head.


    Then when the excitement roiling within it heart calmed, it looked at Xiao Lin and asked "But your path is going to be full of obstacles, especially the sun. It would be everywhere you go to."


    "Yes, I know that. That''s why I am trying my best to become powerful on time so that when I cultivate my vampiric art to a certain, really high stage, I will become fully resistant to the sun." Xiao Lin said with eyes that glowed.


    He then continued with a slightly sad expression creeping up his face. "But, I don''t see that happening anytime from now. I am still tremendously far from reaching that high stage where I would become like an actual god and cause seas and oceans of blood to appear and sweep away everything that would appear in my path."


    "Hmm. Well, just like I suspected. You won''t be able to enter the sun, therefore making you a being that can only move about in the evening or at night" The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued, "However, I think I can help you on that. But we can only hope that it works."


    Once the Azure Bow Spirit said that, Xiao Lin''s eyes widened in shock.


    "R-Really? Y-You can do something about my inability of not being able to walk under the sun?" Xiao Lin couldn''t help but ask in a stuttering manner.


    "Yes, I can. But I am not really sure if it would work. But we can try it out at least, then we would know if truly the item will help you regain your ability to walk under the sun once again or not." The Azure Bow spirit said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then waited for what the Azure Bow Spirit was going to do next.


    A few moment after waiting, a bright blue light suddenly flashed in his eyes, forcing him to abruptly close his eyes. Then when he opened them back, he could see a large, metallic bracelet floating in the air before him.


    Then on carefully observing the bracelet as it slowly revolved in front of him, he could see certain inscriptions of ancient texts and engravings of the sun on the surface of the bracelet.


    "Hmm. What is this treasure called?" Xiao Lin asked with a burning curiosity in his eyes.


    "That bracelet, is called Six Solar Aperture Shadowking Bracelet. It is from this particular item that my master derived the sun-chasing skill from which he condensed into a core of power within his Heavenly Carnage Azure Bow." The Azure Bow Spirit said while Xiao Lin''s eyes widened with shock appearing in them.


    "Really?" He asked.


    "Yes." The Azure Bow Spirit uttered.


    It then continued, "Our master was able to grab hold of this treasure from a particular segregated region like his in the Spirit Continent."


    "The bracelet, which belonged to a deceased but immensely powerful, primitive cultivator called the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor in the Spirit Continent, was someone who was also colossally gifted at crafting treasures of heaven-rebelling power."


    "Then using the great and deep comprehension gained from completely mastering his lost Sun-Collapsing art which he infused into a particular material that he used to form the bracelet, he was able to come up with the Six Solar Aperture Shadowking bracelet, after adding a few other extremely rare things to it which were the Shadowking Darkness-Weaving Essence, and the Solar-Blanketing Divine Apertures." The Azure Bow Spirit mentioned.


    "Wow! This sounds great." Xiao Lin said with marvel in his eyes.


    "Yes" The Azure Bow spirit said.


    Then it continued "The Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor created that treasure to grant him the ability to be able to reach the sun and take it essence to craft a more powerful treasure that he had in mind."


    "Wow. That''s awesome." Xiao Lin said.


    He then asked "But was he able to accomplish the dangerous task that he set for himself?"


    "No, he couldn''t." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued, "Actually, it was wrong about the solar-dispelling capability of the treasure that he created. It couldn''t protect him really well when he arrived at the core of the sun to take fragments of its massively powerful luminous quintessence."


    "So, carrying about his activity at the core of the sun, the bracelet which couldn''t resist the tremendous solar energy that it was trying to dissipate so that it wearer won''t be harmed, became absolutely overwhelmed and then gave way for the the burning, overbearing fierce energy coming from the sun to constantly impact the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor, before he was furiously launched away from it back to the earth where he smashed into the earth millions of feet below him and caused a really deep, city-sized crater to appear in the region that he crashed into, therefore bringing about injuries that later resulted in his death."


    "Wow!" Xiao Lin uttered with shock in his eyes.


    He then said further "Horrifying things cultivators do to acquire this absolute world sovereign power."


    "Yea." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    Then Xiao Lin who was gazing at the bracelet that revolved in the air in front of him with a light of great astonishment flashing continuously in his eyes, said "I think it should work. It should be able to help me dissipate the burning luminous energy coming from the sun which is an ultimate taboo to me. Or what do you think, Azure Bow Spirit?"


    "That''s why I said that I am not really sure. The bracelet has sustained a great lot of damage to it structure when it became overwhelmed my the constant bombardment of solar energy at the core of the sun, and when the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor crashed into the earth from where the sun was. And even if it could, it wouldn''t take much time before it collapses apart and allow flood of solar rays to submerse you and turn you into ashes, or possibly nothing." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    "Urgh! That''s pretty bad. Then why did our master pick up such a useless treasure?" XjajLim asked with disappointment radiating off of his tone.


    "Well, my master who was bright, young, exceedingly curious, and wanted to create his own spiritual Battle Art, fought to become the sole inheritor of the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor. And when he got it after defeating everyone that walked into the legacy ground, and then took his time to really study the Six Solar Aperture Shadowking Bracelet, he was able to come up with the bow and arrow skill that he calls Sun-Chasing battle skill which he developed for himself to tremendously increase his power in battle."


    "Hmm. Alright." Xiao Lin said with a slight, single nod of his head after the Azure Bow Spirit explained to him why his master took the bracelet since it could be heavily damaged.


    "So, would you like to try it to know if it would work?" The Azure Bow Spirit asked.

 Chapter 125 - Leaving The Legacy Ground (2)

    "Alright." The Azure Bow spirit said.


    It then continued "That thing that you turn into? What''s it called?"


    "Oh That. That''s my true vampiric form" Xiao Lin answered.


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the Azure Bow Spirit looked at him with shock in it eyes.


    "You are a living dead?" It asked with great shock in it eyes while Xiao Lin only nodded his head.


    "Hmm. Well, giving my master''s legacy to you isn''t that bad. It''s actually cool, since you aren''t like the others that will die once they are killed in battle, or reach the end of their lifespan."


    "So, as for you is who is a living dead, since you are already but can still move about like a sentient, animated corpse, the factor of aging that affects both mortals and cultivators alike, wouldn''t really affect you, right?" The Azure Bow Spirit asked.


    "Yes. It wouldn''t. So, I am basically an immortal. And my current teenager form would remain for eternity." Xiao Lin replied.


    He then continued, "I am the first of my kind in this world. There is no other like me."


    "Hmm. That''s good." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued "So, even if you don''t find a way to break through into the next cultivation stage, your life span wouldn''t run out like how it happens for other cultivators who don''t break through on time?"


    "Yes. Since I am not affected by the number of years that a particular cultivation stage would grant a cultivator, when I get to the end of it, I wouldn''t die, since I am not depending on the lifespan bestowed upon me by that particular cultivation stage." Xiao Lin replied with a smile appearing in his face.


    "So, you are basically immortal?" The Azure Bow Spirit asked. And assuming the Azure Bow Spirit was a human, Xiao Lin would be able to see the overly excited expression that had appear in it face.


    But actually sensing the feelings of delight radiating off of its tone, Xiao Lin only smiled and then nodded his head.


    "Yes I am." He responded.


    "Awesome! This is really great." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued "Now that I have chosen you to become my master''s legacy inheritor, then that means my masters legacy arts and weapon will continue to reign for eternity. And since you are really strong yourself and obstinate to a fault, I am completely sure you will grow to become tremendously powerful."


    "My master''s art will be able to reign supreme in the world again. Haha!" The Azure Bow Spirit said while Xiao Lin only nodded his head.


    Then when the excitement roiling within it heart calmed, it looked at Xiao Lin and asked "But your path is going to be full of obstacles, especially the sun. It would be everywhere you go to."


    "Yes, I know that. That''s why I am trying my best to become powerful on time so that when I cultivate my vampiric art to a certain, really high stage, I will become fully resistant to the sun." Xiao Lin said with eyes that glowed.


    He then continued with a slightly sad expression creeping up his face. "But, I don''t see that happening anytime from now. I am still tremendously far from reaching that high stage where I would become like an actual god and cause seas and oceans of blood to appear and sweep away everything that would appear in my path."


    "Hmm. Well, just like I suspected. You won''t be able to enter the sun, therefore making you a being that can only move about in the evening or at night" The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued, "However, I think I can help you on that. But we can only hope that it works."


    Once the Azure Bow Spirit said that, Xiao Lin''s eyes widened in shock.


    "R-Really? Y-You can do something about my inability of not being able to walk under the sun?" Xiao Lin couldn''t help but ask in a stuttering manner.


    "Yes, I can. But I am not really sure if it would work. But we can try it out at least, then we would know if truly the item will help you regain your ability to walk under the sun once again or not." The Azure Bow spirit said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    He then waited for what the Azure Bow Spirit was going to do next.


    A few moment after waiting, a bright blue light suddenly flashed in his eyes, forcing him to abruptly close his eyes. Then when he opened them back, he could see a large, metallic bracelet floating in the air before him.


    Then on carefully observing the bracelet as it slowly revolved in front of him, he could see certain inscriptions of ancient texts and engravings of the sun on the surface of the bracelet.


    "Hmm. What is this treasure called?" Xiao Lin asked with a burning curiosity in his eyes.


    "That bracelet, is called Six Solar Aperture Shadowking Bracelet. It is from this particular item that my master derived the sun-chasing skill from which he condensed into a core of power within his Heavenly Carnage Azure Bow." The Azure Bow Spirit said while Xiao Lin''s eyes widened with shock appearing in them.


    "Really?" He asked.


    "Yes." The Azure Bow Spirit uttered.


    It then continued, "Our master was able to grab hold of this treasure from a particular segregated region like his in the Spirit Continent."


    "The bracelet, which belonged to a deceased but immensely powerful, primitive cultivator called the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor in the Spirit Continent, was someone who was also colossally gifted at crafting treasures of heaven-rebelling power."


    "Then using the great and deep comprehension gained from completely mastering his lost Sun-Collapsing art which he infused into a particular material that he used to form the bracelet, he was able to come up with the Six Solar Aperture Shadowking bracelet, after adding a few other extremely rare things to it which were the Shadowking Darkness-Weaving Essence, and the Solar-Blanketing Divine Apertures." The Azure Bow Spirit mentioned.


    "Wow! This sounds great." Xiao Lin said with marvel in his eyes.


    "Yes" The Azure Bow spirit said.


    Then it continued "The Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor created that treasure to grant him the ability to be able to reach the sun and take it essence to craft a more powerful treasure that he had in mind."


    "Wow. That''s awesome." Xiao Lin said.


    He then asked "But was he able to accomplish the dangerous task that he set for himself?"


    "No, he couldn''t." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    It then continued, "Actually, it was wrong about the solar-dispelling capability of the treasure that he created. It couldn''t protect him really well when he arrived at the core of the sun to take fragments of its massively powerful luminous quintessence."


    "So, carrying about his activity at the core of the sun, the bracelet which couldn''t resist the tremendous solar energy that it was trying to dissipate so that it wearer won''t be harmed, became absolutely overwhelmed and then gave way for the the burning, overbearing fierce energy coming from the sun to constantly impact the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor, before he was furiously launched away from it back to the earth where he smashed into the earth millions of feet below him and caused a really deep, city-sized crater to appear in the region that he crashed into, therefore bringing about injuries that later resulted in his death."


    "Wow!" Xiao Lin uttered with shock in his eyes.


    He then said further "Horrifying things cultivators do to acquire this absolute world sovereign power."


    "Yea." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    Then Xiao Lin who was gazing at the bracelet that revolved in the air in front of him with a light of great astonishment flashing continuously in his eyes, said "I think it should work. It should be able to help me dissipate the burning luminous energy coming from the sun which is an ultimate taboo to me. Or what do you think, Azure Bow Spirit?"


    "That''s why I said that I am not really sure. The bracelet has sustained a great lot of damage to it structure when it became overwhelmed my the constant bombardment of solar energy at the core of the sun, and when the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor crashed into the earth from where the sun was. And even if it could, it wouldn''t take much time before it collapses apart and allow flood of solar rays to submerse you and turn you into ashes, or possibly nothing." The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    "Urgh! That''s pretty bad. Then why did our master pick up such a useless treasure?" XjajLim asked with disappointment radiating off of his tone.


    "Well, my master who was bright, young, exceedingly curious, and wanted to create his own spiritual Battle Art, fought to become the sole inheritor of the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor. And when he got it after defeating everyone that walked into the legacy ground, and then took his time to really study the Six Solar Aperture Shadowking Bracelet, he was able to come up with the bow and arrow skill that he calls Sun-Chasing battle skill which he developed for himself to tremendously increase his power in battle."


    "Hmm. Alright." Xiao Lin said with a slight, single nod of his head after the Azure Bow Spirit explained to him why his master took the bracelet since it could be heavily damaged.


    "So, would you like to try it to know if it would work?" The Azure Bow Spirit asked.

 Chapter 126 - Leaving The Legacy Ground (3)

    "Hmm. Sure" Xiao Lin said.


    He then grabbed the bracelet floating in the air before him and wore it.


    Then instant he wore it, he felt a really cold sensation surface within his arm which then washed down to the rest of his body.


    "How do you feel?" The Azure Bow Spirit asked when it saw how Xiao Lin first shivered because of the manifestation of a certain intense coldness in his hand, which then flowed like currents to the rest of his body.


    "I feel great." Xiao Lin said after he began to perceive a certain feeling within him, which made him feel like he could cloak the sun with the aura emitting from his body alone.


    "Alright. Then here comes the hardest task" The Azure Bow Spirit said.


    And once it said that, a small portal suddenly appeared in front of Xiao Lin, at his stomach area. Then immediately the portal appeared, a beam of sunlight suddenly shot from within it at his stomach.


    Xiao Lin who wasn''t ready for what the Azure Bow Spirit was about to do, became struck by the beam of light that suddenly shot out from within the portal at him.


    Argh!!


    He then screamed out in fear and horror and tried to quickly move away from the path of sun beam which continuously impacted his stomach area.


    But before he could really do so, he felt that the area of his stomach where the ray of light Dr the sun impacted didn''t burn, neither did he feel any form of heat at that area. It was just the same temperature when he entered the Mansion.


    Noticing this obvious effect, he recalled that the main purpose of the bracelet worn on his arm was to block off sun rays.


    "Hmm" He uttered.


    Then with a curious expression appearing in his face, he began to slowly walk towards the portal to allow the ray of light from the sun to spread to more areas of his body.


    And when he became close to the portal at point-blank range, Xiao Lin suddenly burst into a raucous laughter.


    "Finally!" He said with great delight in his tone.


    Then when he stopped laughing a moment later, he looked at the Azure Bow Spirit that floated in the air at a corner and asked with a slightly angered and puzzled expression in his face, "But you should have told me or alerted me of what you wanted to do next. What if the ray set me on fire with the fire rapidly burning me to ashes? Would you be glad"


    Haha!


    Once Max asked that question, the Azure Bow Spirit laughed.


    It then said "I know that it can''t destroy you as the bracelet is still functional. It was crafted from really powerful and durable, transcendental materials that can withstand seriously heavy attacks from someone that''s nearly as powerful as the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor himself."


    "Besides, the Violet Sun-Collapsing Emperor had repaired it for the little faults that it sustained in it structure when he crashed with it into the earth below from millions of feet above." The Azure Bow Spirit mentioned while Xiao Lin nodded his head with a light of comprehension appearing in his eyes.


    "Alright" Xiao Lin said.


    "So, ready to be returned to the world?" The Azure Bow Spirit suddenly asked.


    "Yes, I am. Please return me to the world" Xiao Lin said.


    Then as soon as he said that, many colors of light suddenly flashed in front of him. And when the unexpected colored rays of light vanished as soon as they appeared, a resplendent portal abruptly formed in front of him and then began to furiously revolve.


    Then in the next second, it generated a powerful suction force that instantly pulled Xiao Lin into it and then transported him through space to a certain place where no one would be able to see or identify him.


    Swoosh!


    He was knocked out of the portal and then fell to the ground. And as soon as he crashed into the earth many feet below, something which had followed him from the legacy ground and through the portal, dropped to the ground by his side.


    Then with a thought from him, and like an unseen pulling force had suddenly manifested and then quickly acted on him, he was pulled back up to his feet like invisible strings were attached to his arms and shoulders.


    Once he had stood back to his feet, he looked at what fell to the ground beside him. Then when he saw the Azure Firestorm Archer''s mansion in a much more smaller form on the ground, he simply smiled and entered into a crouch position to pick it up. And once he did so, he stowed it away into his high-grade spiritual ring.


    "Now that I have returned, let me go find the Obsidian Abdicator. And with many more offers of vessels of blood for whatever he wants to do, perhaps he might be able to give me many more Spiritual Aura-bestowing pills that he has with him, which I can use continue to continue my body cultivation. Hmm. That''s the right thing to do" Xiao Lin said after thinking deeply of what to do next.


    He then said further with an ecstatic expression appearing in his face, "I have really gained this time. And luckily for me, I was able to come out of it unscathed. Well, I was just fortunate. But I don''t think I will be that fortunate next time, since the legacy-bestowing spirit of any fallen, powerful cultivation expert, whose inheritance land I might go into to acquire more cultivation resources and treasures for myself, might not really like me for what I am, and may become terribly angered and murderous if I start killing off its master''s potential legacy disciples, with me employing my devilish strengthening methods over their mutilated and slashed and hacked corpses to make myself stronger"


    "Well, that won''t stop me from killing my challengers and using their blood to increase my strength." Xiao Lin said and then gave a slight nod of his head.


    He then began to look around for where to go next. And as he did this, he put out his powerful, vampiric hearing ability to hear sounds from far distances away. And when he began to hear human voices, especially those of children playing at a particular stream that was pretty far away, he turned his body to face that direction and then began to walk towards there.


    Then as he walked in that direction towards the place that the children were, he looked up at the sky, at the bright sun precisely. He then produced a broad smile in his face when he felt that he couldn''t even perceive the usual, sweltering hotness of the rays of the sun which could totally dry the ground of water.


    Not long when he got to where the children were, and after looking around and seeing so many paths that confused him, he decided to ask one of the children''s here for which path led to the street, and not to some other place that would only be a waste of his time.


    "Hey, little girl, what''s your name?" Xiao Lin asked with a smile in his face.


    "I can''t tell you that. My mom and brother told me not to tell my name to strangers, or even talk to them" The little girl answered while Xiao Lin only. smiled.


    "It''s alright. It''s alright for you not to talk to strangers. However, could you please help me with something?" Xiao Lin asked with a morose and begging look twisting his pale-skinned face.


    Then seeing the sad expression that had appeared in his face, the little girl who was compassionate, as her fellow other kids here, became moved, she then asked "What do you want me to help you with?"


    "Cool. That''s really nice of you, little girl." Xiao Lin said and praised her.


    He then continued, "Actually I was coming from somewhere and got lost in here after I came across so many paths. So, could you please point me in the one that I should walk in to go the town''s center?"


    "Oh. Alright" the little girl said with a nod of her head.


    She then pointed her finger at a particular route and said, "There, you should take that one."


    "Oh. Alright. Thank you" Xiao Lin said with a smile and then entered into the path that the little girl pointed out for him.


    Then after walking for many minutes in that path to arrive in the town, he finally got to a particular street where he could see large numbers of people moving up and down to go their thing.


    "Finally!" He said.


    He then said further, "Let me go find Li Chuang."


    And as began to walk away in a random direction to a place where he would go find Li Chuang that would be patiently waiting for him to arrive, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.


    "I guess that since I didn''t come out with the rest of the disciples that were expelled from the legacy ground, he would feel that the Inheritance Bestowal spirit have chosen me to become the legacy inheritor of its Master''s arts and treasure accumulations. Hmm. Well, he won''t tell anyone about me. He seems like a trustworthy person." Xiao Lin said within him with a deep pondering look in his face.

 Chapter 127 - Returning To The Castle

    After walking for a few hours to return to the part of the town where he came across Li Chuang, and then appeared in a particular street, he suddenly heard the voice of someone behind him.


    Then with his brows furrowing as the voice sounded really familiar to him, he quickly turned around to see who that was.


    Then when he did so, he saw Li Chuang standing in front of him with a smile in his face.


    "You are back" Li Chuang said with a smile.


    "Yes I am" Xiao Lin responded while Li Chuang nodded his head. .


    Although Li Chuang had mysteriously appeared in front of Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin however didn''t need anyone or Li Chuang himself to tell him how he was able to trace him to the particular area that he was in. And he was able to know this because of Li Chuang''s jade pill box which he still had with him in his spatial ring. So, as long as he had that jade pill box, he would be like a dazzling beacon in the night sky no matter the place that he would go to.


    Li Chuang who was gazing at Xiao Lin with a smile in his face, said "And I guess that brother Xiao was able to become the inheritor of the Azure Firestorm Archer''s legacy, right?"


    "Haha. Yes." Xiao Lin responded after producing a small chuckle and then nodded his head.


    "Alright." Li Chuang said with a great impression in his heart and then continued by asking, "So, were you able to fill those vessels which I gave you with blood?"


    "Yes, I was able to" Xiao Lin said and then spoke further, "Li Chuang, I was able to get more than the amount of blood vessels that you requested for"


    Once Xiao Lin said that, Li Chuang''s eyes shone.


    "You were really able to?" He asked to confirm what Xiao Lin said.


    "Yes." Xiao Lin said.


    "Awesome!" Li Chuang said delightedly.


    He then spoke further, "I bless the day that I met you and made you my brother, Xiao Lin. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it."


    Xiao Lin who was only indifferently gazing at him, produced a smirk expression in his face.


    He then said "Don''t thank me yet, Li Chuang. It''s not free. I won''t give it to you for free because it wasn''t easy for me to gather that amount of blood in there for you. So, to collect them from me, you will have to give me something in return"


    Haha!


    Li Chuang laughed.


    He then said, "Alright brother Xiao. What do want from me?"


    "Just more boxes of Spiritual Aura bestowing pills. I know that you have that in large numbers with you. So, do give me more of it."


    Haha!


    Li Chuang laughed again.


    He then said "Alright, bro Xiao."


    Then with a wave of his hand, many Jade Pill Box appeared on the ground before Xiao Lin. While Xiao Lin who was ready for the appearance of the pill storage boxes, quickly stowed them into his spatial ring with a wave of his hand.


    Feeling satisfied, he looked at Li Chuang with a smile in his face and then bumped fist with him.


    "I guess that since you have accomplished what you are here for, you would return to your God and Devil fighting sect, right?" Xiao Lin asked.


    "Yes." Li Chuang answered.


    He then said further "It was nice coming across you, bro. Xiao. Anytime you come to my continent in the future, make sure you come visit me at my sect."


    "Definitely" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    And once Xiao Lin said that, Li Chuang suddenly disappeared in a flash, seeming as if he basically teleported away.


    Seeing that he couldn''t find him anywhere as Li Chuang had instantly vanished from his front, Xiao Lin sighed and shook his head. He then said, "I wonder what perverse movement or evasion technique that he has mastered. But I am sure that it can''t rival with the Demonic Blade King''s own, as he had reached a great level of cultivation and comprehension."


    Still standing where he was in a particular street in the town, he began to produce so many thoughts in his head.


    ''Now that I have this bracelet which would prevent the sun from burning me to ashes, I guess I can now go out in the day to do what I have always wanted to do.'' He said inwardly.


    He then continued, ''And I guess it''s time for me to return to the castle. It has been many months since I left that place. Master Nine Calamities would be waiting for me to return.''


    Once he thought this, Xiao Lin began to walk into the distance in the direction that he was facing.


    Then asking descriptions from people that he met on his way, he was able to arrive at a garage where he would take a carriage to the town where Nine Calamities castle was located.


    ...


    After entering the carriage with the carriage shooting at a high speed to the town where the castle was located, he was able to arrive at the town in the evening.


    Then when he paid the carriage driver off and came down from the carriage, he began to walk from that part of the street that he dropped from the carriage to the massive forest where Nine Calamities castle was hidden at.


    Not long as he approached the heart of the forest since he had employed his powerful Vampiric Speed ability, he was suddenly attacked by an arrow that shot with a great speed towards him.


    But immediately perceiving the whistling sound of the arrow as it shot through the air at a shocking high speed towards him, he quickly evaded it using both his Vampiric Speed and Vampiric Agility ability.


    However, immediately after he dodged that, many more arrows that their arrowheads glowed in a brilliant and fiery blue color, suddenly surfaced and shot toward him at speeds that will amaze Xiao Lin himself.


    Realizing what would happen if any of those arrows struck him, Xiao Lin quickly aimed his two hands out at them and unleashed a tremendous amount of his dark-colored Spiritual Energy which immediately transformed into several dark-black solid fists of energy that shot out at great momentums towards the arrows.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Boom!...


    Rampant booming sounds began to ring out as Xiao Lin''s solid fists of energy impacted the arrows and sent them flying off in other directions since his solid energy fists couldn''t really destroy or ruin the arrows that were actually true weapons.


    "The hell is shooting arrows at me?!" Xiao Lin''s raging voice rang out.


    Haha!


    The laughter of someone suddenly rang out from seemingly everywhere.


    Then once the laughter ended, the person shooting arrows at Xiao Lin showed himself.


    "Bloodfang, welcome back to our lair of bandits. It has been so long that you left. Welcome." The person said while Xiao Lin only gazed at him with imperceptible wrath in his eyes.


    "Why were you shooting arrows at me? You wanted to kill me, right? That was your plan, isn''t it?" Xiao Lin asked as he gazed at the person with a cold light flashing in his eyes.


    "No. Why would I want to do that? You are one of us, Bloodfang. Besides, if I tried to kill you, Master Nine Calamities who has developed a great liking for you, would surely know, and will destroy me before I even have the time to explain anything to him." The person said.


    "Then what was your damned reason for shooting arrows at me, I will like to know, or I will instantly destroy you myself" Xiao Lin said with a threatening tone in his voice.


    "Well, no need to be offended, Bloodfang. That was just how I chose to welcome you back to the team. Haha." The person said and then laughed, while Xiao Lin only stared at him like he was an emotionless being.


    "So, you would call that a welcome?" Xiao Lin asked with an icy-cold expression in his face. .


    Haha!


    The bandit before him only laughed.


    He then asked "Well, you weren''t hurt, right?"


    Then he said further before Xiao Lin could reply, "So, no need to throw all these tension into the atmosphere hanging above us, Bloodfang. Let it go."


    Xiao Lin looked him with a cold smile in his face and said, "The deadly arrows that you shot at me weren''t really able to deal me any form of damage because I had the strength to knock them off."


    Then he said further, "But assuming I didn''t possess the strength to be able to carry out such, then you would have killed me, you bastard."


    "Oh. I am sorry about that if you feel that way." The bandit said.


    He then continued, "Actually, why I did that was because when I saw you dashing towards the castle and immediately recognized that it was you, a thought immediately came to my mind that I should test you on how strong and powerful that you have become. And so, i carried out my thought. And impressively, you didn''t disappoint me."


    Xiao Lin who was calmly listening to what the bandit was saying, suddenly produced a fierce expression in his face. And as soon as this hardened expression appeared in his face, he looked at the bandit and coldly said, "Let me see how strong you have become."

 Chapter 128 - Cultivating The Body (1)

    And once Xiao Lin said that, he clenched his hand into a fist and sent it out towards the bandit''s chest.


    Bang!


    Immediately the fist struck him in the chest, he was sent flying into the distance where he smashed his body into one of the many trees in the Blackheart forest and caused numerous cracks to appear in the structure of that particular tree.


    The instant Xiao Lin did that, he looked into the distance at the place where the bandit crashed into and said, "So full of disappointment. I thought you would have also gotten stronger."


    Then once he said that, he said further "Then what qualification gives you the audacity to test me when you can''t even withstand a punch from me? You had better give up the ghost there and die."


    After looking for sometime and seeing that the bandit did not stand back to his feet, Xiao Lin shook his head and then turned around to begin to walk back to the castle. And on his way back to the castle, he met a few other bandits who were looking at him with expressions that he couldn''t really understand. However, he wasn''t frightened of them, or more precisely, of their abilities, since he knew how strong he was even for his 1st-layer Mortal Spiritual stage.


    Not long, he arrived in front of the castle''s gate and went in, after politely nodding his head in greeting to his other colleagues who he met at the training ground that was just in front of the castle.


    And as soon as he went in, he headed straight for Nine Calamities'' room.


    Knock!


    The instant he got there, he knocked on the door with Nine Calamities''s voice instantly ringing out, "Bloodfang, come in lad."


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then opened the door to go in.


    Then once he entered, he closed the door behind them and then bowed with a polite expression appearing in his face. Then after bowing for a few seconds, Xiao Lin straightened himself back and then clasped his hands on front of Nine Calamities.


    "Master Nine Calamities, I am back from my training." Xiao Lin said.


    "Good." Nine Calamities said calmly.


    He then continued, "And I can see that your training has yielded a lot of fruit. You are now in the first-layer Mortal Spiritual stage. Well done, Bloodfang"


    "Thank you Master" Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further by asking, "So, do I need any catching up on anything that has happened so far in this town since I left, Master?"


    "Nothing has happened, Bloodfang. Everything has been the same since since you left." Nine Calamities said with a smile.


    He then said further with one of his brows furrowing, "But I can''t tell about you. Has anything happened to you since you left?"


    "Yes Master, when I broke through into the first-layer Mortal Spiritual stage, my body got a bit stronger to be able to resist the sickening and damaging effect of the sun rays on my body." Xiao Lin mentioned.


    He then continued, "So, what that basically means for me is that I have gotten slightly immune to the sun and won''t experience that sickness which I told about that will always occur to me whenever I enter the sun."


    "Really?!" Master Nine Calamities asked in shock.


    "Yes, master" Xiao Lin replied with a slight, single nod of his head.


    "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant." Nine Calamities said delightedly.


    He then said further with that roiling joy brimming within his heart, "This calls for a celebration, lad. Congrats"


    Xiao Lin only smiled.


    "So, now that this has happened when I needed someone to go execute a mission for me, then I guess I would have to select you for that mission, Bloodfang." Nine Calamities said as he gazed at Xiao Lin.


    "Alright Master" Xiao Lin said.


    He however hurriedly spoke further before Nine Calamities could say anything else, "But master, I just arrived. Could Master please give me a few days to rest before going for the mission that you have selected me for?"


    "Hmm. Alright then." Nine Calamities said.


    He then said further with a pondering look in his face, "I will give you only three days to rest, lad. After three days, you must report back to me."


    "Yes Master" Xiao Lin said reverently and with a nod of his head.


    He then questioned when something appeared in his mind, "Uhm.. Master Nine Calamities, if you don''t mind me asking, what mission is that which you have chosen me for? Could you tell me few details about it so that I can prepare myself in time?"


    "Hmm. Alright. I will tell you" Nine Calamities said.


    He then answered by saying, "I will send you to an unguarded hidden place that some of my men told me about after making a lot of findings about it."


    "That place acts a treasure storage house for a particular decorated vase that contains a powerful half-sized pill that is believed by men to have come from any of those higher continents."


    "So, that''s where I will send you to go help me retrieve the pill" Nine Calamities said while Xiao Lin nodded his head in full understanding.


    "So, when you report back to me for the mission in three days time, I will give you more details about it. Therefore, for now, go relax. See you in three days time"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and then turned around to go back to his room.


    Then on reaching his room, he came across some of his colleagues who simply nodded at him, with him simply reciprocating their actions.


    And once he arrived before the door of his room, he opened it and went in to go relax.


    Now seating relaxedly and in the cross-legged position on the ground, he produced all the Jade Pill boxes that Li Chuang gave him which contained the Spiritual Aura bestowing pills and then began to open them one after the other to greedily inhale the thick, highly fragrant mists that immediately began to waft out of the jade-colored boxes in front of him.


    With a smile appearing in his face as he felt the revitalizing and energizing effect of the mists that he inhaled within his body, he began to think of what to do next with the pills.


    "Should I cultivate my body? Or my Spiritual Energy?" He asked with a deeply perplexed expression in his face as he looked at the glowing pills within the Jade Pill boxes.


    He then said further within himself, ''If I try to cultivate my body to take it to another body-cultivation stage, my Spiritual Energy will suffer. But same also goes for my Spiritual Energy. If I try to cultivate it and leave my body''s cultivation behind, it will tremendously suffer.''


    ''Ugh! What do I do now?'' Xiao Lin asked as he stared at the pills before him.


    Then after pondering for a long time about it, Xiao Lin decided to count the number of pills in the boxes and divide them into halves equally, in which one half would be meant for the cultivation of his Spiritual Energy, and the other half for his body cultivation.


    After feeling that he had made the right decision, he set out to do what he had in mind.


    So, he took out all the pills from their containment boxes and placed them on a large piece of cloth on the ground before him.


    Then immediately after he did so, he began to count them.


    Not long after counting them, where he arrived at a figure of seventy Spiritual Aura bestowing pills, he quickly divided them into halves, where he now got forty pills for the cultivation of his Spiritual Energy, and forty other pills for the cultivation of his body to make it ascend to the Mortal-Surpassing Silver body.


    Seeing what he had done, he nodded his head with a satisfied smile appearing in his face.


    "Now that I have divided the pills equally for the cultivation of both my body and Spiritual Energy, none of them would suffer or be left behind." Xiao Lin uttered.


    He then continued, "And judging from the amounts of Spiritual Aura bestowing pills before me, I should be able to use them to break though into the second-layer or hopefully, third-layer Mortal Spiritual stage for my Spiritual Energy, and then the Mortal-Surpassing Silver body for my body cultivation after I am able to possibly activate five thousand ordinary spiritual energy revolutions across my entire body."


    Then after mentioning these, Xiao Lin prepared to start his body cultivation first since he needed to increase his body''s durability and hardness to the level where Spiritual Energy attacks launched at him by fifth-layer or sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators, won''t be able to really deal any part of his bodily flesh any form or degree of damage.


    So, still seated relaxedly in that cross-legged position, he took one of the pills from the halves that he reserved for the cultivation of his body and immediately imbibed it, after preparing his body for the large amount of Spiritual Energy that would instantly appear in his body and begin to seethe about.

 Chapter 129 - Cultivating The Body (2)

    So, still seated relaxedly in that cross-legged position, he took one of the pills from the halves that he reserved for the cultivation of his body and immediately imbibed it, after preparing his body for the large amount of Spiritual Energy that would instantly appear in his body and begin to seethe about.


    Then as soon as he swallowed the pill down to his stomach, the pill instantly dissolved and rapidly produced a large amount of Spiritual Energy that caused him to feel greatly swollen.


    "Arghh!" Xiao Lin groaned loudly in pain.


    This time, even after he had adapted to the stretching effect of his body by the frost-white Spiritual Energy that would be yielded by the Spiritual Aura bestowing pills upon dissolving in his stomach, still caused his body to feel greatly stretched, making him feel like he was going to explode soon.


    Then quickly operating the Spiritual Conversion Refinement technique, he began to turn the frost-white Spiritual Energy in his body into the dark-colored Spiritual Energy that could be found in massive amounts in his dantian.


    Once he had produced that dark-colored Spiritual Energy, causing his excessively swollen body to lessen in size, he swiftly began to move wisps after wisps of the energy to the tissues of his skin were they began to revolve very fast under the power of his mental influence.


    Right now, he had begun operating the Spiritual Energy Cyclic Infusion technique mentioned in the empyrean-grade, body-cultivation art.


    After many hours of doing that, he was able to create a hundred Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions using the Spiritual Energy Cyclic Infusion technique that he was operating.


    However, as he was operating the technique, the tissues of his skin constantly exploded and shredded off as they couldn''t really withstand the revolutions of the powerful energy being infused to them.


    However, as they shredded and exploded off, new ones quickly grew back. And this was because of Xiao Lin''s powerful regeneration ability.


    Then the new ones which had adapted to the revolutions of the energy being infused into them, became stronger and tougher.


    They were beginning to adapt to the revolutions of the energy revolving within them.


    Although some still ripped away to show his bones with blood instantly spilling out, the ripped portions of his skin however instantly regrew.


    Then the regrown portion became more powerful that it was able to resist the tearing effect of the revolutions of the Spiritual Energy.


    And as this happened, his skin became tougher that it would be able to withstand some powerful attacks that would thrown at him.


    Not long, the frost-white Spiritual Energy in his body was used up. And he was only able to create more than a hundred and thirty Ordinary Spiritual Energy Revolutions.


    Seeing that he had used up the Spiritual Energy that filled his body and stretched it to the maximum, he picked up another Spiritual Aura bestowing pill and swallowed it.


    Once the pill got to his stomach after swallowing it down, it turned into a huge amounts of frost-white Spiritual Energy that filled his entire body and stretched it once again.


    Immediately the energy filled his body, he began to operate the Spiritual Conversion Refinement technique that turned the frost-white Spiritual Energy in his body into the dark-colored Spiritual Energy in his dantian.


    And when wisps of the dark-colored Spiritual Energy began to appear, he began to infuse them into the flesh of his body where they began to revolve.


    Then as soon as they began to revolve, the flesh of his skin began to tear away once again. But as they tore away, they became tougher and denser.


    ...


    He did this from that time that he swallowed the pill till night then till the next morning without ever stopping.


    Xiao Lin never stopped for once when trying to cultivate his body.


    So, after cultivating for a day and the half, he stopped and returned the remaining Spiritual Aura pills into the Jade Pill box.


    However, he wasn''t even close to reaching the five thousand ordinary spiritual energy revolutions that was needed to break into the Mortal-Surpassing Silver Body in his body cultivation.


    But since he had gone beyond the Mortal-Surpassing Bronze Body body-cultivation stage, his body slightly lit up with a dim silvery glow before receding a few moments later. And the instant the glow emitted from his body, he felt his flesh becoming stronger and powerful than when he was in the Mortal-Surpassing Bronze body stage. He could feel it getting tighter and more denser.


    And as his flesh got denser, he suddenly had a feeling that he could shatter an entire mountain with his only a single punch.


    However, this wasn''t really true, as it was only a feeling generated by the power swelling and coursing about within his flesh. But still, Xiao Lin was intensely glad. And he fell in love with this majestic feeling.


    He then understood that with time if he dedicated himself to his body cultivation practices, his body would become much more tougher that it would be able to withstand numerous powerful attacks from higher-ranked cultivators. And at that instant, he began to imagine himself using his bare, unprotected fingers to shatter the attacks of cultivators which can possibly turn ranges of mountains into splinters.


    "Good!" He said delightedly in the next moment. .


    Then when he recalled the amazing toughness of Li Chuang''s body, his brows wrinkled as he entered into a deep pondering state.


    ''I don''t think I would still be able to take physical strikes from Li Chuang even if I have entered the Mortal-Surpassing Silver body state.'' He said as he contemplated within himself.


    He then said further with a resolute tone in his voice, "Well, with time, I will get there."


    "But at the moment, I think I would have to find a way of getting more Spiritual Aura bestowing pills from anywhere that I can find. I really need them. If not, there will no hope for me to break through into the Mortal-Surpassing Silver Body stage in my body cultivation." He said further with a solemn expression in his face.


    Then after he ended his train of thoughts here, he prepared himself to start his Spiritual Energy cultivation.


    So, he reached out to take a pill from the other half that consisted of forty pills and then put it into his mouth which he abruptly slipped down his throat to his stomach.


    Then as soon as the pill arrived in his stomach, it abruptly turned into a tremendous amount of Spiritual Energy that caused Xiao Lin to greatly swell up that he became like a balloon and could start to float.


    At the moment, Xiao Lin felt like he wanted to burst, as he was overfilled with Spiritual Energy that began to come out of his nose and ears.


    The Spiritual Energy in his body, due to it tremendous quantity which then made him feel excessively bloated, was beginning to leave his body through some impossible routes.


    But to stop this from happening, Xiao Lin quickly stopped breathing and then shut his eyes close to focus on stopping the Spiritual Energy gathering and building within his body from leaving as they were produced by the rapidly dissolving, Spiritual Aura-bestowing pill in his stomach.


    Once he did these, he began to practice the technique mentioned in the Spiritual Refinement Conversion Method.


    So, little by little, he began to convert the frost-white Spiritual Energy that filled every gap in his body to the extreme into the dark-colored Spiritual Energy that he possessed in his dantian.


    Immediately he converted some wisps of the frost-white Spiritual Energy into some of the dark Spiritual Energy in his dantian, he started to refine them so that every flaw or fault hidden in his newly converted Spiritual Energy would be removed or eliminated.


    He was actually doing this so that they won''t pose great problems to him in the future during his cultivation to higher levels.


    Not long, with some of the frost-white Spiritual Energy still escaping from tiny gaps in his ears, and from his nose anytime he tried to inhale, Xiao Lin tried to quadruple his effort at quickly converting and refining the Spiritual Energy causing his body to continually swell, or he might simply explode into hundreds of flesh, once his amazingly tough body reached the threshold that it could be really stretched to.


    Many minutes later, precisely 30 minutes later, the swelling of his body reduced, while the ones escaping from some gaps in his closed ears stopped, simply signifying that Xiao Lin had converted a significant portion of the frost-white Spiritual Energy that caused his body to swell into the dark-black Spiritual Energy that resided in his dantian and formed his cultivation base.


    So, it was only now that the pain that he felt from the extreme stretching of his tough and resilient skin reduced in intensity.


    Then without opening his eyes, he continued to cultivate to transform all the frost-white Spiritual Energy that still filled his body to some extent into the dark Spiritual Energy dwelling in his dantian. .

 Chapter 130 - Arriving At The Treasure Storage House

    So, many hours later, precisely in the morning of the third day that he was given by Nine Calamities, he stopped what he was doing and quickly stood to his feet to go report to him for the mission that was assigned to him.


    Then after standing to his feet, he left his room and headed to Nine Calamities room.


    ...


    Knock!


    On getting there, he knocked on the door with Nine Calamities'' voice instantly ringing out, "Come in"


    Xiao Lin then opened the door and stepped in. And once he did so, he closed the door behind him and took a bow.


    Then when he straightened himself back, he said "Master, here I am."


    "Good! Good that you are here, Bloodfang" Nine Calamities said.


    He then said further, "So, for the mission that I told you about, you will be given the map to that region where the treasure storage house is located. Then when you get there, I want you to ransack the whole place. Take everything there, leave absolutely nothing behind and then bring all to me. Am I clear?"


    "Yes, Master" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    "Good!" Nine Calamities said.


    He then spoke further, "However, I want you to be really careful when you get there. There might be many lethal elements put in hidden places with the aim to stop you from trying to pillage the whole treasure house. So, you should be very cautious when going about to take everything stored in there"


    Then the instant that he said that, he waved his hand with a scroll appearing in the air in that same instant.


    Once the scroll materialized in the air, Nine Calamities grabbed it and then gave it to Xiao Lin who accepted it politely.


    "Where you are to head to is in the map. So, just follow the directions and you will get there without any hassle" He said while Xiao Lin nodded his head and then stowed the scroll into his spatial ring.


    He then turned around and headed towards the door. And when he arrived in front of it, he opened it and stepped outside. Then when he closed it back, he headed straight for the large, suspended entrance gate to leave the castle.


    Then a few moments later after he had come out of the castle, he began to walk towards the street that the Blackheart forest was located at.


    Not long when he appeared there, he produced the scroll again and began to go through it.


    Identifying where he was to go in the next instant, he immediately dashed out at a normal speed to the place where long-distances carriages were parked. Then when he arrived in front of one, he immediately entered it and ordered the driver to move, when it hadn''t even carried any passengers.


    "What? I can''t move now, lad. I still have wait for many hours more" The driver retorted.


    "Oh. And why is that?" Xiao Lin asked.


    "Well, this is a carriage meant for transporting people to really far locations. So, until the carriage is full before I can even think of going anywhere, or it would be my own tremendous loss." The driver said and then continued, "Sorry about that if you never knew this before."


    "Nah. It''s alright." Xiao Lin said with an amiable smile in his face.


    He then spoke further with one of his brows arched, "How much can I actually pay you to make you move?"


    Immediately he said that, the driver looked at him with great awe in his eyes.


    "You want to pay me to move, even after the carriage still has only you in it?" The driver asked with shock in his heart.


    "Yea." Xiao Lin responded.


    He then asked again, "So, how much?"


    "Hmm. Well, since you want me to lift you to any far destination of your choice, then you will have to pay ten thousand bronze coins to me" The driver replied without mincing words.


    But once he said that, Xiao Lin quickly began to calculate things in his mind. And these were the amount of coins that he had with him to pay for the price of transport that he was billed by the long-distance carriage driver. Then after seeing that he would still have definitely more than enough coins with him after paying the driver, he told the driver to carry on.


    "Oh. Alright." the driver said with marvel in his eyes.


    ''This lad is wickedly rich. I wonder where he got his insane wealth from." He said further within himself.


    Then immediately after he said that, he left where he was and headed for the driver''s seat in the carriage.


    Not long, the carriage began to move into the distance towards the place that Xiao Lin mentioned to him.


    ...


    Many days later, after stopping on the way many times to relax and eat, the carriage finally arrived at a particular town that the treasure storage house was located.


    Then after paying the money that he was billed, he came down from the carriage and began to head towards the place that the treasure storage house was located.


    So, following the directions given in the map scroll, he finally arrived before the treasure storage house which was large in size, but look dilapidated as many cracks could be seen in it structure, giving the feeling that it could collapse anytime from now.


    "Finally" Xiao Lin said with a sigh of relief.


    Now that he had appeared before the building that was said to house the vase that contained that pill which his master, Nine Calamities badly wanted, he prepared to go in, but with a thought that he would also find a pill that would be useful to him too.


    But just when he could think of going in, someone suddenly appeared beside him.


    "Young one, is it you that they sent to come retrieve the pill that was intentionally kept in this old building?" The person asked and then looked at Xiao Lin with a cold glint in bus eyes.


    Xiao Lin who was shocked by the sudden appearance of this person, remained composed like nothing odd had occurred around him.


    He then looked at the person coldly gazing at him in the eye and said, "I don''t understand what senior means by that. Could senior please expound on that for my comprehension?"


    Haha!


    The person who was middle-aged and was quite short in size, suddenly burst into laughter.


    He then looked at Xiao Lin and said, "I want you to leave here this moment if you know what is good for you. If not, you will be destroyed with your head returned to wherever you are from"


    Xiao Lin then looked at the person who was a 5th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator and said with a fierce light beginning to emit from his eyes, "Senior, I don''t understand what you mean by this. I haven''t offended you in any way, and I am only here because I accidentally walked into this area from far away."


    Haha!


    The person laughed again.


    He then said, "I know what you are, boy. You are a bandit sent here to retrieve a particular item from within the building. Am I right?"


    And immediately he said that, a large stream of Spiritual Energy suddenly erupted from his hands before turning into a large fireball that shot towards Xiao Lin at a great speed.


    Seeing the fireball that was shooting towards him, Xiao Lin howled in fury and quickly slashed out at it with the twin blades that had instantly appeared in his hand.


    BANG!


    The fireball upon being struck by the blades, immediately turned into a blast of fire that raged towards Xiao Lin and knocked him really hard, sending him flying into the distance.


    However, because of Xiao Lin''s tough and resilient skin, the blast couldn''t affect him much.


    So, his skin which was like a hide, was able to effortlessly resist the great heat and kinetic force produced by the sudden, violent burst of flame that occurred before him.


    When Xiao Lin regained his balance from that terrifying blast that occurred before him, he looked at the middle-aged man that launched that attack at him and suddenly hurled one of the blades in his hands out at him.


    And as soon as he did that, he aimed his free hand at the man and prepared to utilize the Mortal Saint Beheading technique from the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art.


    So, once he deployed the Mortal Saint Beheading technique, currents of Hermetic Demonic Energy which were dark scarlet in color, quickly rushed out from some of the True Demonic Marks in his dantian and then travelled to that free palm as a turbulent and violent stream of wild energy, after moving through some special meridian pathways in his body.


    Then when this raging stream of energy arrived at that palm, it erupted out of it in the next instant like a small explosion and rapidly condensed into a large, dark scarlet blade that began to emit waves of perceptible, alarming sharpness.


    Once the dark scarlet blade which gave off a frightening, perceivable sharpness materialized above his free hand, he quickly aimed out that palm at the middle-aged man who immediately unleashed a stream of Spiritual Energy from one of his hands which then instantly condensed into a powerful fiery attack and then abruptly shot out towards the Awakening Doom blade shooting towards him like an arrow to block it.

 Chapter 131 - Battle With Unknown People

    Puchi!


    However, immediately the Awakening Doom blade and Xiao Lin''s opponent''s attack collided into one another, a piercing sound immediately rang out as the attack was effortlessly pierced through by the blade, which then shot forward like it came across no obstacle towards Xiao Lin''s challenger and then viciously impaled him in the chest.


    Then as soon as the blade struck him in the chest, it instantly carried him off his feet and into the far distance of fifteen feet away due to the tremendous force that the blade stabbed into him with.


    Seeing that he had injured the middle-aged cultivator who had suddenly unleashed an attack at him, Xiao Lin quickly rushed to cut off his head, as he had the intention to quickly kill him and rush into the seemingly abandoned, treasure storage house before any other thing that he wasn''t expecting would occur.


    But before he could so, a few other males who who were observing everything going on in this place from far, and looked much more fierce than the middle-aged cultivator that attacked Xiao Lin, suddenly shot out from where they were towards Xiao Lin to bind him up and interrogate him on who sent him to this place before beheading him.


    Once Xiao Lin noticed them, he abruptly clenched his palms into fists and rapidly deployed the Mortal Saint Beheading battle technique. And immediately he did so, he began to punch out at them his fists.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!...


    Swooshing sounds began to ring out as dozens of dark scarlet blades began to shoot out from his fists towards the Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators who were dashing towards him with thick ominous intents emanating from their bodies like clouds of smoke.


    And once Xiao Lin sent out those attacks, he immediately accompanied them with attacks from the King Annihilating Blade Wave battle technique.


    So, tremendously wild, rampaging streams of Hermetic Demonic Energy rushed to his two palms after following some special meridian passageways in his body, after having rushed out in significant amounts from the True Demonic Marks residing deep in his dantian.


    Then once these chaotic streams of energy arrived within his palms and began to surge, Xiao Lin quickly aimed them out at the attacks that the Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators who were dashing towards him with auras of fierceness bellowing unendingly from their bodies, had fired towards the dark scarlet blades that he unleashed at them. .


    Although using these powerful techniques were simply taxing to him, Xiao Lin used them anyways as he was exceedingly frantic at killing these people who he could see as assassins. .


    BOOM! BOOM!...


    So, dual deafening boom sounds immediately rang out into the surroundings and shook it violently after two fearsomely powerful waves of Hermetic Demonic Energy that were fired immediately after the dark scarlet blades, shot out of Xiao Lin''s palms towards the assassins who had also fired their attacks at him.


    But the dozens of dark scarlet blades that he abruptly unleashed, and the two wave-shaped attacks which possessed nine layers that were stacked on top of each other and radiated a formidable power of sharpness, couldn''t really resist the damaging power of the joint attacks of the cultivators who had appeared far before him with thick baleful auras exuding from their bodies. .


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    However, after many collisions of their attacks with the dark scarlet blades, many of them exploded into fragments of energy which then dispersed in the next instant. But same also occurred with the dark scarlet blades which blew up into pieces in the next moment after multiple collisions with the attacks of Xiao Lin''s seemingly wicked challengers. .


    While the double, nine-layered waves that possessed and radiated the power of colossal sharpness that simply invoked the feeling that they could lacerate all things in their paths to countless shreds, also began to lose their wave-like forms due to the multiple impacts with the powerful raging attacks of Xiao Lin''s challengers. Then after losing their forms, they turned into nothing as they rapidly dissipated away.


    Seeing that his attacks had been quickly neutralized by them, Xiao Lin quickly produced the Sorrowful Sea blade from his spatial ring and instantly dashed out towards one of them.


    And like a ghost as he had employed his inborn Super Speed ability, and all the Movement Techniques that he had mastered to a particular level, he appeared before that person that he targeted and immediately slashed out with his blade at his neck.


    Slash!


    The head cut off from the neck and fell to the ground. While blood immediately spurted out of the neck like a fountain, dying some parts of the ground red.


    The cultivator that Xiao Lin had just beheaded wasn''t expecting Xiao Lin to suddenly appear before him and cut off his head. And the reason was because he wasn''t really able to trace Xiao Lin to wherever he was due to the tremendously high speed that Xiao Lin suddenly began to move at. .


    Immediately Xiao Lin beheaded that assassin, he quickly dashed out again towards another cultivator who was alarmed by what he and the others just witnessed and then became absolutely horrified by it.


    The assassins who didn''t know who Xiao Lin had in mind to behead or slash apart into halves next, abruptly used a basic attacking skill which simply enabled them to unleash powerful radial blasts of Spiritual Energy from their entire bodies and in all directions to stop Xiao Lin from coming near anyone of them at the different places that they stood at.


    Seeing that he wouldn''t be able to get near them with the wildly destructive blasts of Spiritual Energy that they had suddenly unleashed from their bodies with the intention of stopping him from coming closer to them, Xiao Lin immediately stopped where he was and quickly aimed out one of his palms at them.


    Then just before he could fire any attack at them, a thought suddenly came to him that since he was able to perceive his vampiric power flowing within his body anytime he entered his True Vampiric Form which basically multiplied all his physical attributes by many folds, he would be able to imbue the attacks of his Hermetic Demonic Energy with it, increasing their damaging power to another level. Also, he quickly arrived at another thought that he could permeate the more-powerful attacks of his demonic blade battle art with his dark-colored Spiritual Energy, which he was certain would increase their destructiveness.


    Then the instant that he thought all these which he was able to do in the next instant, he quickly fired off dark scarlet blades infused with the Origin Power of his True Vampiric Form which he had immediately entered, from his right fist at them, simply deploying the Mortal Saint Beheading technique once again.


    Then as the blades shot out at furious speeds towards his experienced attackers in the distance, an unbridled power that will certainly invoke both horror and terror in any 4th-layer or 5th-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator that would come across it, began to emit from the glowing lethal blades.


    Feeling the penetration power and the immense startling mights carried by the blades shooting insanely fast towards them, the cultivators quickly put up large and thick protective domes of condensed Spiritual Energy around them.


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    Puchi!...


    However, piercing sounds began to rampantly ring out as the razor-sharp, dark scarlet blades that Xiao Lin sent out at them, began to strike the defensive domes of Spiritual Energy that they quickly put up around themselves to defend themselves from the incoming onslaught of the blades.


    Then one after the other after the blades effortlessly penetrated through the protective energy domes that they quickly put up around themselves, they began to have deep and long cuts in their bodies as the blades pierced through them and continued their seemingly unstoppable journeys into the distance like they were ancient divine blades of primeval devils.


    So, once they were struck by the blades, they began to collapse to the ground one after the other, with the stabbing wounds made into their bodies by the blades, bursting open in the next instant like some powerful unseen force wanted to burst out from within them. So, as their wounds tore open and wide rapidly, their bodies immediately shredded apart with the blood of the cultivators exploding out from within their bodies like small bombs were kept in their bodies.


    Seeing that he had destroyed them, Xiao Lin heaved a heavy sigh of relief and quickly shot towards their corpses to take their spatial rings. Of course they were his trophies of victory, so it was right for him to take them.


    Then when he got to their sides, he began to pack their spatial rings which he immediately stowed into his spatial ring. And when he was through with that, he quickly shot towards the middle-aged cultivator that attacked him earlier to interrogate him.


    Swoosh!


    Immediately appearing before that cultivator and entering into a crouch position, he asked with a fierce tone in his voice, and a steely cold light in his eyes, "How did you know about my whereabouts? And who in the vast Heavens sent you?! Speak!"

 Chapter 132 - A Death House?

    Once Xiao Lin asked that question, the middle-aged man who was seriously wounded as the Awakening Doom blade had pierced his body, spat out blood from his mouth and said "Brat, you will die for this."


    And once he said that, he produced a blade from his spatial ring and immediately used it to slit his throat.


    Slash!


    The instant he slashed his throat open with the blade that appeared in his hand, blood began to spill out from it like a fountain to the ground.


    Xiao Lin who could see what the man wanted to do and simply allowed him to do so, only developed an unsightly expression in his face after he had slashed open his throat himself with his blade.


    He then picked up the man''s spatial ring and stowed it into his own. And once he did so, he stood back to his feet with a shake of his head.


    Then after looking around to see that no one was looking at him, he immediately shot into the treasure storage house to go pick up the item that he was sent down here to pick.


    And immediately he appeared before the door which was large in size and was really thick, Xiao Lin quickly produced the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade in his hand.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    He began to slash out with them at the door to cut it open.


    However, the door which had developed many gashes in it surface, still remained standing like it didn''t want to give Xiao Lin the path to go in.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    While Xiao Lin who was simply relentless and only continued to slash out at the door, suddenly hit the door with one final, really powerful strike.


    Bang!


    The door instantly cleaved into two before collapsing into pieces to the ground.


    Once the door scattered apart into smithereens, Xiao Lin quickly walked in to go search for the decorated vase that contains the pill that he was sent here for by his master, Nine Calamities.


    However, he did this with great caution in his heart as he understood that this was a treasure storage house and will definitely contain many vicious and deadly killing traps.


    But the instant that he walked in, something suddenly snapped from far in front of him. And once the snap sound rang out which Xiao Lin heard using his powerful Vampiric Hearing, a silver spear with a hot glowing tip that emanated intense heat in all directions, suddenly shot out towards him at where he stood.


    Swoosh!


    Perceiving the sound of the spear as it shot towards him from far using his powerful auditory sense, Xiao Lin quickly grasped the Awakening Doom blade in his left hand tightly and used it to slash out at the whatever he felt was shooting furiously towards him.


    BANG!


    The instant his blade impacted the tip of the spear, a bang sound immediately rang out with a shock that made Xiao Lin''s entire arm completely numb, transmitting from the point at which the Awakening Doom blade struck the spear to his hand.


    The spear which was only colored in silver, but was made from a particular metallic material that will enable it to pierce through the defensive artifact of an eight-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator, instantly cut apart into halves upon being struck by the Awakening Doom blade which at the moment was still an ordinary blade.


    While Xiao Lin whose powerful left arm was already numb and had dropped the Awakening Doom blade to the ground, quickly bent to pick it up and then returned it to his dantian. Then with the Sorrowful Sea blade in his right hand, he readied himself to furiously slash out at anything that will suddenly shoot out towards him to impale him.


    However, just a moment after he readied himself, many snap sounds unexpectedly rang out with numerous silver-colored spears suddenly shooting out from where they concealed towards Xiao Lin at furious speeds.


    Xiao Lin''s eyes widened in shock and horror when he heard the multiple snap sounds.


    Then very quickly, he prepared to dash out of the treasure storage house through the door.


    But like the house could actually sense his intention, a door suddenly materialized and closed when Xiao Lin appeared in front of it to come out of the treasure storage house through it.


    Then seeing that a door had suddenly appeared from nowhere and had shut tight to prevent him from leaving, Xiao Lin quickly leaped towards the ceiling of the roof. And once he got there, he quickly used the Sorrowful Sea blade in his right hand to stab out at the ceiling with all the power that he could really muster. He did this with the sole intention that his blade would become stuck there and would prevent him dropping back to the ground anytime soon.


    So, the instant that he leaped towards the ceiling, many spears, about twenty in number suddenly arrived and continued their trajectories towards the door since they didn''t come across anything in their paths.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    Many bang sounds began to ring out as the spears furiously struck into the door which they came across in their paths like they wanted to collapse it into pieces. However, the door remained standing after all the fierce impacts with the spears that moved with an alarming momentum.


    "Whew!" Xiao Lin uttered as a relief and tried to pull out his blade from the ceiling that it had stabbed into.


    However, he discovered to his shock in the next instant that he couldn''t really do so.


    He then simply left it there and dropped to the ground since he was only hanging there previously by his blade that was stabbed into the ceiling.


    Then with a thought from him, the blade simply vanished from there and re-appeared in his dantian.


    Once he had done that, he began to look around with great caution in his eyes. He didn''t know what other trap was put in this place apart from the spear-launching mechanism that was shooting out spears at him previously.


    However, just when he placed his foot somewhere, clanking sounds began to ring out like some type of machine was being operated. While Xiao Lin who became immediately wary of what might suddenly appear and attack him, quickly forced his hearing to operate at the maximum level. Also, he quickly recalled the Sorrowful Sea blade in his dantian to his right hand, and the Awakening Doom blade to his left hand which had quickly recovered from the numbness that spread through out it earlier.


    "This treasure storage house is simply nothing but a death house. How am I supposed to survive in this kind of place that Master sent me to?" Xiao Lin asked with fury and uncertainty in his eyes.


    However, he recalled what he was in the next instant and the tremendous worries that had surfaced in his heart, slightly allayed.


    "It''s good that I am a vampire and might be able to resist or survive the onslaught of the deadly traps strategically hidden at some places in this death house." He said.


    He then spoke further with a dead-serious expression in his face, "But assuming I was a human as master and my comrades have thought, there could be zero percent chance of me coming out of here alive. Ugh."


    "But even if I am a vampire, I still have to be really careful... Because from what I can see here and what I have experienced so far, this place is meant to kill anything and everything that will enter it. Just so many insane lethal traps for just a pill. I wonder what pill that is." Xiao Lin said with a deep perplexed expression in his face.


    However, just as he finished speaking, a thought suddenly flashed in his head.


    "Or is there something else in here that the concealed killing traps are meant to protect from the reach of anyone that would come into this place? Hmm. Might be. Because from the level of the traps arranged in this place, I can definitely tell that something much more important or greater than the pill that master sent me here for, is stored somewhere in this crazy death house"


    "I have to see what that thing is. I must find it" Xiao Lin said as his curiosity had now been tremendously provoked.


    Clank!


    Clank!


    Clank!


    The clanking sounds that had been ringing out since he stepped on a particular part of the floor in the treasure storage house didn''t stop, even for once.


    However Xiao Lin who was incredibly wary of this place as it spoke volumes of great danger to him, didn''t dare to lower his guards down even for once.


    Besides, he felt that this particular trap was only trying to play tricks on his mind, which was by producing those clanking sounds and make him feel that nothing was really going to appear. Then when he had possibly dropped his guards, it could suddenly appear and then attack him with whatever killing elements had been put in it.

 Chapter 133 - Overwhelmed

    Clank!


    Clank!


    Clank!


    The clanking sounds that had been ringing out since he stepped on a particular part of the floor in the treasure storage house didn''t stop, even for once.


    However Xiao Lin who was incredibly wary of this place as it spoke volumes of great danger to him, didn''t dare to lower his guards down even for once.


    Besides, he felt that this particular trap was only trying to play tricks on his mind, which was by producing those clanking sounds and make him feel that nothing was really going to appear. Then when he had possibly dropped his guards, it could suddenly appear and then attack him with whatever killing elements had been put in it.


    However, many minutes later, nine minutes to be precise, a large statue that was shaped like a python, suddenly appeared in front of him.


    And immediately it appeared, it mouth opened wide with a stream of tremendously hot flame instantly discharging out of it towards Xiao Lin.


    Not really expecting this, Xiao Lin quickly dashed backward with all the speed that he could possibly muster to evade the stream of flame shooting towards him.


    However, the stream of flame also moved at an incredibly high speed and succeeded in completely engulfing Xiao Lin who began to scream out in agony due to the intense burning effect of the violet-colored fire on his body.


    But as the violet fire tried to burn his body to ashes, Xiao Lin''s healing factor which was slightly comparable to that of powerful God-like cultivators, immediately began to heal from the terrifying burns that the fire covered his entire body with.


    After a long time of burning, the fire that encompassed Xiao Lin''s whole body began to recede as it slowly lost it strength. Then a few moments later, it finally died off with Xiao Lin collapsing to the ground. And as he laid on the ground after collapsing unto it, multiple grievous burns could be seen all over his body which were however beginning to disappear rapidly, and not even leaving any form of scar behind.


    When the burns totally vanished away from his body, Xiao Lin chose to remain on the ground for sometime as he was both physically and mentally fatigued. It was like the rapid healing that took place on his body had drained him of both his life energy and mental energy. But this was actually true. Anytime his healing ability worked for a really long time, it begins to draw from his life essence to continue powering itself, thereby lowering his lifespan since his life energy was being depleted to help him heal from present injuries. And there was no way he could stop this as it was self-operating; automatic.


    However, after lying on the ground for a while, he stood to his feet with more caution in his eyes. He was now more dreadful of this place that sent chills of horror down his spine than when he would be facing an eighth-layer or ninth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator.


    Not long as he began to walk forward, observantly looking around for any storage box, vase or a well-hidden room that might contain the decorated vase that Nine Calamities sent him down here for, he suddenly heard a muffled bang sound ring out from seemingly everywhere using his powerful vampiric hearing.


    And not knowing what to expect from this sound that had suddenly rang out, Xiao Lin quickly recalled the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade to his hand.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!...


    Numerous swooshing sounds began to ring out as seemingly countless, small metallic balls that had sharp-pointed projections like spikes all over their surfaces, began to shoot towards him from everywhere.


    "The hell!" Xiao Lin shouted out in horror and readied himself to dodge or deflect the spiked, metallic balls that were shooting towards him from every angle and direction.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    Xiao Lin who was wielding the blades in his hands tightly, began to use them to slash out at the metallic balls. And as he did so, bang sounds began to instantly ring out, with the balls immediately cutting into two once they were struck by the sharp edges of the blades that Xiao Lin directed at them.


    However, there was a number that he could try to block or deflect. So, the rest that weren''t struck by his blades, simply went on to impact Xiao Lin, such that they blasted through his body and made holes in them because of the tremendously high speed that they were moving at.


    Not long after blasting through his whole body and making numerous small holes in them which clearly revealed what was behind them, with only a few parts of his body now hanging together and giving the feeling that any other attack like this type again would scatter his body apart and turn it into shreds of flesh, the barrage of the small metallic balls that he was faced with stopped.


    Xiao Lin should have long become thousands of pieces of flesh that would litter the entire ground of the treasure storage house if not for his nigh-godlike healing factor. So, as the holes were blasted into his body by the small spiked balls that bolted at him at insanely fast speeds, they were quickly sealing up and healing in that same second due to Xiao Lin''s vast tissue regeneration speed, which then basically kept his body from falling apart into fragments that will litter the whole floor of the treasure storage house.


    After the rapid-fire barrages of the spiked metallic balls stopped a few moments later, Xiao Lin began to think of leaving this place, as he wasn''t sure if the next attack that would be launched at him from any of the lethal traps concealed at strategic places within the treasure storage house, would be capable of killing him. .


    "Do I leave this place or still continue to push on with hopes that I may be able to acquire the pill that my master wants?" Xiao Lin asked as he looked around with great fear in his eyes.


    "Although the traps kept in here are meant to totally stop anyone from reaching a particular treasure or pill that was kept hidden in here, I am not really sure if it would be worth it in the end, as I could have died before I am able to acquire or obtain the damned unique treasure or pill hidden here. Ugh!" Xiao Lin said and then heaved a sigh of intense frustration.


    "Well, what can I do? I cannot return to the castle without the pill that Nine Calamities sent me down here for in my hands, or he might look down at me with great scorn in his eyes. And I don''t want the favoritism and preference that he has for me over others to quickly fade away from his heart."


    "So, that means that I will have to push on until I am able to acquire at least the pill that he sent me down here for." Xiao Lin mentioned and began to walk forward with more cautiousness in his eyes, and with his sense of hearing and smell fully deployed to instantly perceive whatever would be launched at him from his front, back or around him


    Then after walking forward for sometime, for about twenty minutes to be precise, a large steel door suddenly swung open to reveal a dark place when he arrived in front of it. Then when he stepped into the dark place through the door, huge lamps hung on projections that stuck out from the wall, suddenly lit up as flames unexpectedly appeared in them and began to burn brightly within them, instantly revealing to Xiao Lin in the next instant that it was a wide passageway and was one that was really long, since it stretched into the far distance.


    Then carefully walking in the passageway as he was tremendously wary of attacks that would be suddenly launched at him and without warning, rectangular-shaped holes began to open up from the surfaces of the walls that stood on both sides of the passageway.


    Then in the next instant, large pikes made of metal began to shoot out towards him at furious speeds like they had the aim to tear him apart.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Bang!... Bang!... Bang!... Bang!...


    Immediately the pikes began to shoot out towards him, Xiao Lin quickly produced the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade in his hands and used them to immediately slash out at the pikes. And as he did so, multiple bang sounds that caused the passageway to constantly slightly tremble, began to ring out with the large pikes instantly cutting into halves upon coming into contact with the razor-sharp sharp edges of the blades that Xiao Lin wielded.


    And this time, Xiao Lin tried his utmost best to block any of the pikes that couldn''t be struck by his blades from hitting him at any part of his body by immediately employing his Vampiric Agility ability which simply enabled him to swiftly and skillfully move away from the directions that some of the lethal pikes would be coming from.

 Chapter 134 - Battle With A Statue

    After blocking off the pikes and agilely dodging the ones that couldn''t be struck by his blades, a statue wielding a large round shield and a thick long spear, suddenly came up from within the checkerboard-patterned floor of the passageway that he was in many moments later


    Once the statue which was colored bronze and was a few inches taller than Xiao Lin, then a bit bulky in size appeared, it suddenly shot out towards Xiao Lin like it was exceedingly furious at him and simply wanted his death for trespassing.


    But immediately the statue dashed out towards him, Xiao Lin who was basically ready for anything in this place, quickly made a large stream of his dark-colored Spiritual Energy to instantly erupt from his hands, which then rapidly turned into a large, dark-colored blade that shot out at a great speed towards the statue.


    Seeing the fierce and incredibly-sharp attack that was shooting towards it since it had a bit of intelligence within it head, the statue quickly struck out with it spear towards the attack.


    BANG!


    The dark energy blade upon being struck by the thick spear, immediately turned into a powerful, localized blast of dark-colored Spiritual Energy that raged towards the statue and simply knocked it backwards. .


    However, because of the tough and durable materials used to mold the statue, the pocket-sized blast of Spiritual Energy that suddenly surfaced upon shattering Xiao Lin''s solid, blade-shaped attack with it spear, couldn''t even affect it in any way, talk more of inflicting it with great or frightening damages.


    So, it skin which was simply like metal as it produced this polished metallic sheen, was able to effortlessly resist the great and violent burst of Spiritual Energy that unexpectedly manifested before it.


    Then when it regained it balance from the backward shoving force of that terrifying blast a moment later, it looked at Xiao Lin with it eyes that glowed dazzlingly in deep amber and suddenly hurled the spear in it hand out at him.


    But as soon as it did that, Xiao Lin who was monitoring it every action, quickly aimed his right hand at the statue and prepared to utilize the Mortal Saint Beheading technique from the Way of the Demonic Blade battle art.


    So, once he deployed the Mortal Saint Beheading technique, currents of Hermetic Demonic Energy which were dark scarlet in color, quickly rushed out from some of the True Demonic Marks in his dantian and travelled to his right palm as a turbulent and violent stream of wild energy, after moving through some special meridian pathways in his body.


    Then when this raging stream of energy arrived at his right palm, it erupted out of it in the next instant like a small explosion and rapidly condensed into a large, dark scarlet blade that began to emit waves of perceptible, alarming sharpness.


    Once the dark scarlet blade which gave off ripples that will invoke the feeling of frightening, perceivable sharpness in the hearts of everything materialized before his right hand, he quickly pushed out that palm towards the statue. And as he did so, the blade before his right palm instantly shot out like a furious bolt of lightning towards the spear that the statue had hurled out towards him.


    Puchi!


    Immediately the colossal blade formed from Xiao Lin''s Hermetic Demonic Energy and the statue''s spear attack collided into one another, a piercing sound immediately rang out as the statue''s spear effortlessly pierced through Xiao Lin''s blade-shaped attack and continued towards him like it came across no obstacle.


    Seeing that the spear still continued to shoot towards him like it was an unstoppable spear of the gods, Xiao Lin quickly recalled the Awakening Doom blade to his left hand and used it to immediately slash out at the tip of the spear.


    Puchi!


    Argh!!


    However, he was a bit too slow as the spear struck him in the chest and instantly carried him off his feet and into the far distance of many feet away due to the tremendous speed that it moved with.


    Then when he landed a moment later to the ground with the spear pinning him to the ground, the statue instantly dashed out towards him to finally execute him.


    But before it could get to his side and perform it ultimate executioner move, Xiao Lin immediately recalled the Awakening Doom blade that had fallen off his hand back to his hand and then instantly used it to cut the spear that had impaled him in the chest into two.


    Slash!


    Clank!


    And immediately he did so, with the other half of the spear falling to the ground and making a clanking sound, Xiao Lin quickly got up from the ground like he simply levitated back to his feet.


    Then once he got back to his feet, he abruptly clenched his palms into fists and rapidly deployed the Mortal Saint Beheading battle technique for the next attacks that he was going to unleash at the statue. And immediately he did so, he began to punch out furiously and unendingly at the statue with his fists.


    Swoosh! Whoosh! Swish!...


    Swooshing sounds began to ring out as dozens of small-sized, dark scarlet blades shot out from Xiao Lin''s fists towards the sentient statue which simply placed it large round shield before it to block Xiao Lin''s seemingly endless attacks from impacting it.


    Then once Xiao Lin sent out those attacks, and not giving the statue time to rest, he immediately accompanied his previous attacks with attacks that will be unleashed from operating the King Annihilating Blade Wave battle technique.


    Therefore, tremendously wild, rampaging streams of Hermetic Demonic Energy that rushed out in significant amounts from the large numbers of True Demonic Marks residing deep within his dantian, abruptly traveled like fast moving currents of water to his two palms after following some special meridian passageways in his body.


    Then once these chaotic streams of energy arrived within his palms and began to surge, Xiao Lin quickly aimed out those palms at the statue that was still trying to protect itself from Xiao Lin''s torrents of extremely sharp attacks.


    Although using these powerful techniques were greatly laborious for Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin would however not mind using them to ruin this statue that was simply out for his life and blood.


    BOOM!


    BOOM!


    BOOM!...


    So, multiple deafening boom sounds began to ring out in the passageway which then shook violently in that same instant as many fearsomely powerful waves of Hermetic Demonic Energy that were fired immediately after the dark scarlet blades were unleashed, instantly erupted out of his fists and raged towards the statue with true, incomparable devastating intents.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    The numerous, extremely destructive nine-layered waves of Hermetic Demonic Energy which also possessed great sharpness, rammed really hard into the shield that the statue placed before it.


    However, after many collisions with the shield, the multi-stacked waves that emitted the power of seemingly immeasurable sharpness, and will easily invoke the thought or feeling in anyone that they could lacerate all things in their paths to uncountable shreds, began to lose their forms one after the other after impacting the shield that seemed totally indestructible due to the tough and surprisingly durable material that it was made of.


    Seeing that his overbearing attacks were being quickly negated by the exceedingly hard shield that the statue possessed, Xiao Lin quickly produced the Sorrowful Sea blade from his spatial ring and instantly dashed out towards the statue.


    Now, what was in his mind was to find a way to collect that shield from the hands of the statue and then destroy it.


    And like a ghost as he had employed his inborn Super Speed ability, and all the Movement Techniques that he had mastered to a particular level, he appeared before the statue in the next instant and then immediately slashed out with his blade at it metallic neck.


    Slash!


    However, his blade cut only through the air since there was nothing in it path to cut apart.


    Then before he could turn around to slash out at what had suddenly appeared behind him, the shield that the statue wielded rammed into Xiao Lin''s back with a tremendous amount of force which then sent him flying for many feet into the far distance.


    Thud!


    He landed to the ground heavily and couldn''t help but cough out many mouthfuls of blood.


    The shock that traveled round his body when the shield hit him was really powerful, as it was one will definitely shatter rocks into fine grains.


    Immediately the statue executed that shield-bolting move that could have splintered Xiao Lin into pieces if not for the amazing toughness of his body, it quickly dashed out again from where it was towards Xiao Lin to completely destroy him. While Xiao Lin who was alarmed by the skills of the statue, and absolutely horrified by it shocking battle power, quickly copied the method that those people that he killed outside the treasure storage house used to stop him from advancing towards them.


    Therefore, he quickly unleashed really powerful, radial blasts of his dark-colored Spiritual Energy, Hermetic Demonic Energy and Blood Energy from his whole body and in all directions to inhibit the killing statue from moving towards him.

 Chapter 135 - Saddened And Enraged

    The instant that he produced that radial blast of all his energies from his body, the battle statue which had gotten to where he was, became severely impacted by the blast and was abruptly sent flying into the far distance.


    And once the statue was blasted away by the rippling waves of different energies that exploded out from Xiao Lin''s body, Xiao Lin quickly got back on his feet and instantly dashed towards the place that the statue fell into.


    Then once he got to a few feet in front of it, and immediately jumping into the air towards the statue before it could get back on it feet, Xiao Lin abruptly recalled the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade to his hands which he used to viciously stab out at the head of the statue.


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    Dual stabbing sounds immediately rang out when the two blades in Xiao Lin''s hands pierced deeply into the head of the statue.


    And once the blades pierced the head of the statue, the statue''s head instantly shattered apart into pieces.


    "Finally. I have been able to kill it." Xiao Lin said and gave a heavy sigh of relief.


    He then quickly got back on his feet like invisible strings that were attached to his body pulled him back up to his feet. And once he had stood back to his feet, he returned the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade to his dantian.


    Then very quickly, he dashed away from where he stood in the wide passageway towards a particular metallic door that was far in front of him.


    But as he ran, he discovered that he couldn''t get to the door in time. It was like the door was moving rapidly away from him.


    ''Don''t tell me this is an illusion.'' Xiao Lin said within himself as the door seemed to be totally unreachable.


    "I have to get through that door before anything would suddenly manifest in this place that seems like a slaughter passageway." Xiao Lin said and then put more effort into his movement.


    However, he discovered to his shock many moments later that he couldn''t reach the door.


    Then sensing that this was an illusion, Xiao Lin quickly produced the Awakening Doom blade in his hand and began to slash out with it around him.


    So, as he ran within the passageway and slashed at nothing in front of him, he saw that the illusion didn''t disappear.


    "I guess that I haven''t started attacking the formation that is continuously producing the illusion. I simply have to do so before anything would occur in this place that smells of wickedness." Xiao Lin said with great caution in his eyes and heart. .


    He then suddenly stopped running and simply stretched his arms out besides him. And once he did so, he impaled the walls of the passageway with the blades and resumed running.


    Shrrrr!!


    This particular sound began to ring out as the blades gashed the wall open as Xiao Lin ran.


    Not long, the space around him began to distort like something wanted to break out from another dimension into his.


    BANG!!


    Then when the twisting and the distortion of the space around him stopped many moments later, a loud bang sound immediately rang out with the space around him instantly shattering apart into pieces like it was glass.


    Once the space around him splintered into fragments like it were a mirror, Xiao Lin quickly dashed towards the massive steel door that was in front of him.


    And immediately he arrived before the door, he began to use the blades in his hands to slash out incredibly fast at the door since he saw no handle to turn, or buttons to press to make it open.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!...


    After many slashes, about a hundred slashes that he sent out at the door really fast using his powerful movement ability and high reaction speed, the steel door became a shadow of it former self.


    Many parts of it had now fallen to ground with those places that the numerous parts of the steel door fell out from, revealing what was behind the door to Xiao Lin.


    While Xiao Lin who was basically excited since he could see many decorated vases at the other side of the door, increased the numbers of slashes that he sent out at the door.


    Then after delivering so many slashes, about a hundred more a few moments later, he abruptly brought his knee to his chest and then kicked out with it in a really fierce manner towards the door.


    Bang!


    With a deafening bang sound instantly ringing out the moment Xiao Lin''s leg connected with it, the door instantly shattered into pieces with Xiao Lin instantly rushing into the room to carry the vases and stow them into his spatial ring.


    However, he decided to go through them first to see what they contained. Then he would take his own portion for the the really hard work that he done here, and then the remaining for his master, Nine Calamities.


    And so, he began to go through them one after the other.


    But not quite long, the smile and excitement in his face became that of shock and confusion, before it became that of anger, unhappiness and frustration many moments later.


    At this point in time, having gone through the dozens of both large and small vases in here, he was able to discover that the decorated vases had nothing in them.


    They all basically held nothing within them, simply meaning that all the attacks that were shot at him by the numerous deadly traps in the treasure storage house was all for nothing, including his fierce and extremely tough battle with the statue that almost left him for dead if he didn''t have his overwhelming energies and an amazingly tough and resilient body.


    ARGHH!!!


    Xiao Lin unexpectedly screamed out into the air in great fury.


    At the moment, he could kill just about anyone and anything that would appear before him.


    Then moved by the great anger that was seething in his heart, he used the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade that he wielded to begin to attack the vases, slashing them into halves which instantly shattered into pieces upon crashing into the floor of the room that Xiao Lin was in.


    But even after slashing apart all the vases which still broke apart into thousands of bits when they hit the floor, the wrathful emotion that churned within Xiao Lin''s heart couldn''t be appeased. Now, at this moment, he was like a being designed to kill and slaughter all, as his eyes had turned blood-red. He was simply really mad because of what he had gone through and getting nothing out of it in the end.


    And so, acting under the influence of that anger, he began to slash out at the walls of the room. Now, he simply wanted to bring down the whole treasure storage house to the ground. It shouldn''t be called a treasure storage house if there weren''t any treasure in it to store, so he basically felt.


    However, after slashing out for more than a thousand times at all the walls of the room that he was in, in only a matter of some minutes, he stopped and then feel with his knees to the ground.


    Thud!


    And once he did so, he began to breathe heavily, as he had really forced himself to slash out at that speed that will astonish even veteran blade users themselves.


    After a long time of kneeling on the ground, feeling angry and totally frustrated, the madness and fury that had completely encompassed his senses, heart and mind, began to slowly subside.


    Then a few moments later, with the redness of his eyes clearing to reveal the usual color of his eyes, Xiao Lin stood to his feet from his kneeling position and returned the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade to his dantian.


    Then throwing himself into a deep thoughtful state, he began to contemplate on what he was going to tell Nine Calamities once he got back to the castle.


    "What do I tell Nine Calamities once I go back to that castle? For there is no way in hell he would believe that there was no pill in the treasure storage house. It has even been confirmed by the spy members of his bandit organization that there is a pill in this useless place that has only brought me nothing but misery and sadness"


    "Aii!".


    "Am I not doomed like this?"


    "Going there to tell him stories of how I blocked this, slashed that and fought this would certainly not end well for me. He would certainly slay me without bothering to listen to any of my speech."


    "I definitely can''t return there again. And I have to leave this town before some of his men would find me out no matter where I may hide"


    "That''s the best thing to do. I can''t return, and I have to leave this town to a really far away town or a city. Then with these bracelets that is enabling me to walk confidently under the blazing sun, maybe I can choose to join a really nice and popular sects. At least, they should be able to protect me from the higher-ups of Nine Calamities'' bandit organization till I am strong enough to defend myself from them"

 Chapter 136 - Saddened And Enraged

    The instant that he produced that radial blast of all his energies from his body, the battle statue which had gotten to where he was, became severely impacted by the blast and was abruptly sent flying into the far distance.


    And once the statue was blasted away by the rippling waves of different energies that exploded out from Xiao Lin''s body, Xiao Lin quickly got back on his feet and instantly dashed towards the place that the statue fell into.


    Then once he got to a few feet in front of it, and immediately jumping into the air towards the statue before it could get back on it feet, Xiao Lin abruptly recalled the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade to his hands which he used to viciously stab out at the head of the statue.


    Puchi!


    Puchi!


    Dual stabbing sounds immediately rang out when the two blades in Xiao Lin''s hands pierced deeply into the head of the statue.


    And once the blades pierced the head of the statue, the statue''s head instantly shattered apart into pieces.


    "Finally. I have been able to kill it." Xiao Lin said and gave a heavy sigh of relief.


    He then quickly got back on his feet like invisible strings that were attached to his body pulled him back up to his feet. And once he had stood back to his feet, he returned the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade to his dantian.


    Then very quickly, he dashed away from where he stood in the wide passageway towards a particular metallic door that was far in front of him.


    But as he ran, he discovered that he couldn''t get to the door in time. It was like the door was moving rapidly away from him.


    ''Don''t tell me this is an illusion.'' Xiao Lin said within himself as the door seemed to be totally unreachable.


    "I have to get through that door before anything would suddenly manifest in this place that seems like a slaughter passageway." Xiao Lin said and then put more effort into his movement.


    However, he discovered to his shock many moments later that he couldn''t reach the door.


    Then sensing that this was an illusion, Xiao Lin quickly produced the Awakening Doom blade in his hand and began to slash out with it around him.


    So, as he ran within the passageway and slashed at nothing in front of him, he saw that the illusion didn''t disappear.


    "I guess that I haven''t started attacking the formation that is continuously producing the illusion. I simply have to do so before anything would occur in this place that smells of wickedness." Xiao Lin said with great caution in his eyes and heart. .


    He then suddenly stopped running and simply stretched his arms out besides him. And once he did so, he impaled the walls of the passageway with the blades and resumed running.


    Shrrrr!!


    This particular sound began to ring out as the blades gashed the wall open as Xiao Lin ran.


    Not long, the space around him began to distort like something wanted to break out from another dimension into his.


    BANG!!


    Then when the twisting and the distortion of the space around him stopped many moments later, a loud bang sound immediately rang out with the space around him instantly shattering apart into pieces like it was glass.


    Once the space around him splintered into fragments like it were a mirror, Xiao Lin quickly dashed towards the massive steel door that was in front of him.


    And immediately he arrived before the door, he began to use the blades in his hands to slash out incredibly fast at the door since he saw no handle to turn, or buttons to press to make it open.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!...


    After many slashes, about a hundred slashes that he sent out at the door really fast using his powerful movement ability and high reaction speed, the steel door became a shadow of it former self.


    Many parts of it had now fallen to ground with those places that the numerous parts of the steel door fell out from, revealing what was behind the door to Xiao Lin.


    While Xiao Lin who was basically excited since he could see many decorated vases at the other side of the door, increased the numbers of slashes that he sent out at the door.


    Then after delivering so many slashes, about a hundred more a few moments later, he abruptly brought his knee to his chest and then kicked out with it in a really fierce manner towards the door.


    Bang!


    With a deafening bang sound instantly ringing out the moment Xiao Lin''s leg connected with it, the door instantly shattered into pieces with Xiao Lin instantly rushing into the room to carry the vases and stow them into his spatial ring.


    However, he decided to go through them first to see what they contained. Then he would take his own portion for the the really hard work that he done here, and then the remaining for his master, Nine Calamities.


    And so, he began to go through them one after the other.


    But not quite long, the smile and excitement in his face became that of shock and confusion, before it became that of anger, unhappiness and frustration many moments later.


    At this point in time, having gone through the dozens of both large and small vases in here, he was able to discover that the decorated vases had nothing in them.


    They all basically held nothing within them, simply meaning that all the attacks that were shot at him by the numerous deadly traps in the treasure storage house was all for nothing, including his fierce and extremely tough battle with the statue that almost left him for dead if he didn''t have his overwhelming energies and an amazingly tough and resilient body.


    ARGHH!!!


    Xiao Lin unexpectedly screamed out into the air in great fury.


    At the moment, he could kill just about anyone and anything that would appear before him.


    Then moved by the great anger that was seething in his heart, he used the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade that he wielded to begin to attack the vases, slashing them into halves which instantly shattered into pieces upon crashing into the floor of the room that Xiao Lin was in.


    But even after slashing apart all the vases which still broke apart into thousands of bits when they hit the floor, the wrathful emotion that churned within Xiao Lin''s heart couldn''t be appeased. Now, at this moment, he was like a being designed to kill and slaughter all, as his eyes had turned blood-red. He was simply really mad because of what he had gone through and getting nothing out of it in the end.


    And so, acting under the influence of that anger, he began to slash out at the walls of the room. Now, he simply wanted to bring down the whole treasure storage house to the ground. It shouldn''t be called a treasure storage house if there weren''t any treasure in it to store, so he basically felt.


    However, after slashing out for more than a thousand times at all the walls of the room that he was in, in only a matter of some minutes, he stopped and then feel with his knees to the ground.


    Thud!


    And once he did so, he began to breathe heavily, as he had really forced himself to slash out at that speed that will astonish even veteran blade users themselves.


    After a long time of kneeling on the ground, feeling angry and totally frustrated, the madness and fury that had completely encompassed his senses, heart and mind, began to slowly subside.


    Then a few moments later, with the redness of his eyes clearing to reveal the usual color of his eyes, Xiao Lin stood to his feet from his kneeling position and returned the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade to his dantian.


    Then throwing himself into a deep thoughtful state, he began to contemplate on what he was going to tell Nine Calamities once he got back to the castle.


    "What do I tell Nine Calamities once I go back to that castle? For there is no way in hell he would believe that there was no pill in the treasure storage house. It has even been confirmed by the spy members of his bandit organization that there is a pill in this useless place that has only brought me nothing but misery and sadness"


    "Aii!".


    "Am I not doomed like this?"


    "Going there to tell him stories of how I blocked this, slashed that and fought this would certainly not end well for me. He would certainly slay me without bothering to listen to any of my speech."


    "I definitely can''t return there again. And I have to leave this town before some of his men would find me out no matter where I may hide"


    "That''s the best thing to do. I can''t return, and I have to leave this town to a really far away town or a city. Then with these bracelets that is enabling me to walk confidently under the blazing sun, maybe I can choose to join a really nice and popular sects. At least, they should be able to protect me from the higher-ups of Nine Calamities'' bandit organization till I am strong enough to defend myself from them"

 Chapter 137 - Awed And Perplexed

    Once Xiao Lin thought all that, he prepared to leave the room that he was in.


    Then in the passageway as he was heading towards a particular exit door to leave the treasure storage house, he bent to pick up the shield of the statue.


    Then after stowing it away into his spatial ring, he immediately left the treasure storage house before anyone will appear and ask him for the treasures that he took from the treasure storage room.


    ...


    Many moments after he left there, cultivators began to appear one after the other.


    Then seeing that the door of the treasure storage house had been slashed open, they became surprised.


    Then they chose to go into the treasure storage house with great caution in their eyes, as they didn''t know what awaited them in there.


    After entering and walking for a bit within the treasure storage house, they suddenly sighted drops of blood on the ground.


    Then as their brows furrowed since their minds immediately sank into thoughtful states, one of them that entered suddenly said, "I think that someone who came into this place has been seriously injured. And given the lethality of the traps that are concealed at strategic places within this house, the person could probably be dead already."


    That person said while the people with him nodded their heads in agreement.


    One then said with a contemplative expression appearing in his face, "All the better for us. As the traps kept here wouldn''t try to attack us since it would have launched all the deadly projectiles that were stored into it."


    "Right!" Another said.


    However, not lowering their guards and raising the caution and wariness of this place in their hearts to a higher degree, they all fell silent and began to carefully and observantly look around, or they could be suddenly struck by poisonous darts or other sorts of projectiles that would be launched at them by the traps kept in hidden places within the treasure storage house.


    But after carefully walking forward for sometime, they were amazed to discover that they weren''t suddenly attacked by any sort of deadly trap hidden within this place.


    "My guess must be right. That person that owns those drops of blood that littered the floor of the treasure storage house must have tried his best to deflect the projectiles that would be launched at him by those traps." The person that first spoke when his group entered the treasure storage house, said with a definite tone in his voice.


    "Yes, your guess must be right. And we would definitely find his dead body, or numerous shreds of his corpse in the distance if we continue to walk further within this treasure storage house." Another said with the others around him nodding their heads in agreement to what he said.


    However, after following the trail of blood to the passageway, they became amazed that they still hadn''t come across the body of that cultivator that they felt should have been long torn to hundreds of pieces by the dart, spear, arrow or other projectile attacks that would be viciously fired at him by those lethal traps concealed at hidden places within the treasure storage house.


    "Are you guys sure that the guy that first walked into this place is dead?" One unexpectedly asked.


    Then before anyone could give a response to his question, that same person said further "As for me, I believe that he is still alive. And I want us to be really careful because if only one person can come into this place and still be living, despite all the grievous wounds that he must have sustained from being struck by the projectiles launched by the killing traps well hidden at different places in this treasure storage house, that person must be quite powerful and will be exceedingly dangerous to us, since the person could feel that we are here to reap fruits from his hard work and so could decide to attack us before we can possibly offer up any form of explanation to him or her."


    "So, I will advice that we ready whatever artifacts or weapons that we have with us and use them to immediately lash out with our Spiritual Energies at whoever we would suddenly come across in our path in this place." The person said.


    "Hmm. You are right." One of the people in their group said.


    He then said further, "Guys, let''s do as he says. Let ready our weapons so that we can quickly send out attacks at whoever that we would meet in this place and immediately annihilate such person so that we can take all the treasures in here for ourselves. Or what do you think?"


    "Yea" Everyone of them said in unison.


    Then they began to produce all sorts of treasures and artifacts from their spatial rings which they wielded and began to pump Spiritual Energies into them. And as they did so, they began to operate all sort of battle techniques in their minds which they would instantly fire once they came across any form of hostility or at any person that they would deem an adversary within this place.


    However, not quite long, they came across the tall statue in the wide and long passageway which Xiao Lin used both the Awakening Doom blade and the Sorrowful Sea blade to pierce it head so that he could kill it.


    "I guess it was that person that did this" One said.


    He then continued before anybody else in his group could speak, "That person must be really strong, seeing how far he has gone within this treasure storage house that''s basically a slaughterhouse."


    "Yea, I myself know that even with our group of seven male cultivators, it''s not all of us that would be able to make it to this place. But that person did. When I see the person whether he''s still alive or dead, or before he turns our adversary, I have to show him my respect. He really deserves it." Another said with the rest nodding their heads in agreements.


    Then when one of them noticed the gash in the wall of the passageway that they were in, the person said with astonishment in his eyes "Everyone, look at the gash in the wall that runs into the distance. That person must have been involved in some sky-shaking level battle within this place. Haha!"


    After walking for a bit more, they finally got to the door that Xiao Lin broke into to get to the storage room that decorated vases supposedly rumored to contain heaven-defying pills were kept.


    However, upon entering the room and immediately noticing the condition of the room, they became greatly astounded.


    "What the hell happened here?" One of them asked with tremendous shock in his heart.


    "I don''t understand too. It was like a battle greater than the one that could have been fought in the passageway was fought here, with absolutely no restraints allowed." Another said as he looked around with an highly baffled expression in his face.


    As they all looked at the room with deeply puzzled expressions in their faces, they couldn''t help but perceive the anger that was used to slash out at all the walls of the room. It was like the person that was here, and had surprisingly descended into a really mad and frenzied state, had vengefully slashed out in a resentful manner at the treasure storage room like it was it only great adversary in this world.


    "I still wonder what kind of battle took place in this room" One said while looking around with a perplexed expression in his face.


    Then a few moments later of looking around with deeply shocked expressions in their faces, they brought their intense gazes upon the vases that lied in dozens of small pieces before them on the ground.


    "Wha--?" The leader of the group asked with an anguished expression in his face.


    "There is not even a treasure containment case remaining. Damn!" Another said as he looked around on the floor with a sharp but bewildered gaze in his eyes.


    "Is that why a great battle occurred here? And maybe there were two of them that arrived within this room and began to fight one another for the treasure, with the stronger one taking the treasure for himself?" One suddenly asked.


    "That could be what must have happened. But damn! So, no treasure or even a single pill for us. Ugh! We only came for nothing. This is bad!" Another in their group said with a bit of sadness and frustration in his tone.


    "No. Not yet. The slashes in the room are still fresh, meaning that the person that came into this place couldn''t have gone really far. Therefore, if we can employ our tracing method and our best Movement Techniques, we should be able to come across the person that entered this room and possibly, greedily took all the treasures and pills in here for himself." The leader of the group said with a really determined gaze in his eyes, as he also badly wanted the pills or treasures rumored to be stacked in this treasure house for himself.

 Chapter 138 - Understanding What Xiao Lin Is

    Then once they came out of the treasure storage house, they began to dash at high speeds into the distance to search for whoever had come into the treasure storage house and took all the treasures and pills therein.


    However, after running at high speeds for more than thirty minutes into the far distance and in different directions, they discovered to their sadness and frustration that the person that came to the legacy ground to acquire all the treasures and pills stored in there had been long gone.


    "This is bad. No, I won''t accept this" The leader of the group who had gotten to a particular location said within himself with great annoyance and sorrow in his tone.


    He just couldn''t accept the thought in his mind that he had just missed out of acquiring tons of treasures or various sorts of rare cultivation pills for himself.


    However, not willing to give up, and being a persistent person, he still shot further into the distance to search for whoever came into the treasure storage house and left with everything in his position.


    But after a few more minutes of running, it dawned on him that he wouldn''t be able to ever find the person that took all the artifacts or pills in the treasure storage house.


    While Xiao Lin who had gotten to a particular street in the town that he was currently in, chose to go to the garage where he would be able to enter a carriage that would convey him to a faraway town.


    At the moment, his plan was to move from one town to another until he got to a new city where he would be able to start a new life.


    Therefore, not long when he appeared at a garage, he saw many large carriages that were waiting to be filled with people before taking off.


    Then when he entered into one of them, he sat on a seat and closed his eyes to resume comprehension of some techniques that he had the intention of first understanding to some extent before practicing them.


    ...


    - Few days later -


    The carriage finally arrived at a particular town that was really distant from the town that Nine Calamities'' castle was located.


    Then when he got down from the carriage, he began to ask around for the description to the location of another garage where he would take another carriage that would convey him to another town.


    So, following the descriptions of people that he came across on his way to the place, he finally got there. Then when he paid the transport fare which was really high, he entered into it and sat down. And as soon as he did that m, he resumed comprehension of the techniques that he wanted to understand and mentally practice, before going out there at a deserted area to physically practice so that he could master it.


    At the moment, since it had been a few days that Xiao Lin hadn''t returned, Nine Calamities could be seen pacing about furiously in his room.


    Then before him could be seen two of the higher-ups of his bandit organization. They too had perplexed expressions in their faces, as they couldn''t really understand what was going on.


    "Is it possible that he had been killed?" Nine Calamities asked with his brows deeply furrowed.


    "That we can''t say, master. But we found some bodies on the ground. And from the slowly dispersing auras of Spiritual Power that still lingered about their corpses, I can say that they were cultivators at the fifth-layer and sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage. Then if Bloodfang came across these people, they would instantly kill him. Not because of their high numbers, but because of their cultivation stages when compared to his. Therefore, just one of them at the fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage is enough to reduce Bloodfang into a mist of blood." One of the two males seated before Nine Calamities answered.


    While the other male seated before the male that spoke just how, mentioned before Nine Calamities could say or do anything, "However, what is greatly baffling is that the cultivators that should reduce Xiao Lin into mist of blood were found dead on the ground and severely mutilated when you sent us out to go see what was happening as Bloodfang hadn''t arrived from there."


    The male then said further, "So, I think that Bloodfang must still be alive, and that he was probably taken away by a stronger cultivator from an organization who might know about the treasure storage house."


    "Perhaps seeing that Bloodfang was a bandit and that he was young, was he taken away by this cultivator to be wickedly tortured so that he could give away the location of our castle."


    "And Bloodfang who might not be able to really endure the agonizing tortures that he would pass through in the hands of that cultivator that abducted him, will certainly give away the location of our bandit organization. And who knows, perhaps there are already lots of plans that are being generated so that they will raid our place when we were least expecting it so as to cart away with all the resources that we have stored and stacked up so far since the emergence of your bandit organization, Nine Calamities"


    "Hmm. Then I guess it is totally my fault for sending Bloodfang to such a place without a senior or an expert accompanying him." Nine Calamities said, seemingly angered at the action that he carried out which he felt was completely stupid.


    "Well, you can''t fault yourself for that Master. You were trying to train him. It''s just that he was unfortunate to come across that cultivator when you sent him to retrieve those treasures and pills stored in that treasure storage house for you." One of the males said.


    "Hmm. Well, I guess you are right. He was just unlucky." Nine Calamities said.


    He then furrowed his brows when a particular thought appeared in his mind.


    "What''s wrong, master?" One of the two males seated before him asked.


    "I just remembered something." Nine Calamities replied.


    He then said further, "Do you remember the blood contract paper that you signed on?"


    "Yea, what about it master?" The other male asked in confusion.


    "Now, I can use it to terminate Bloodfang''s life. However, that''s if he is still alive." Nine Calamities responded.


    "Whaaat?!" The two males shouted out in shocked.


    They couldn''t believe what they just heard.


    So, that paper could be used to end their lives anytime their master feels like it. It was just so unbelievable to them. Then they became more wary and dreadful of their master who they now understood that he had a tight and firm clutch on each of their lives. And that he could apply pressure on their lives that was in his absolute clasp if he''s angered and simply instantly turn them into corpses.


    "Yes. I can use it. That''s one of the mysterious functions of the lifelong servitude blood oath paper that all of you signed on using your blood." Nine Calamities said with great pride in his tone when he noticed the totally shocked expressions in their faces.


    Then taking his gaze off them and into his spatial ring to rapidly scan through it contents, he came across a large stack of papers that had softly glowing inscriptions in their surfaces.


    And once he did so, he began to go through the papers to search for that of Xiao Lin.


    But not long, he came across the blood oath paper that Xiao Lin''s signed on by squeezing a drop of his blood unto it.


    Then when he noticed the strange appearance of the paper, he quickly brought it out from his spatial ring and began to observe.


    But he didn''t need to observe it for long when he realized in the next instant that the life-termination and blood-binding power of the blood contract paper had been neutralized. He couldn''t even sense any form or ripple of that power emanate from the paper. It was like no one signed on the paper, causing the power of the paper to go back to dormancy until it has been signed upon by blood.


    But since it was signed by Xiao Lin, how come it wasn''t yielding any form of binding power? Then that simply meant Xiao Lin wasn''t a living being, as the blood contract paper would only work on people that were living.


    And Nine Calamities who could understand all these in the next moment, immediately shouted out with great shock in his tone, "Whaat?!!"


    Then gasping for breath due to the tremendous shock that struck him, he asked himself, "What is really going on here? I don''t understand what is happening. What is this?"


    The two males before Nine Calamities who couldn''t really understand what was going on within their master''s mind, stood to their feet to look at their master with deeply concerned expressions in their faces.


    "Master, what''s wrong? Why are you like this?" One of the two males asked with a perplexed expression in his face.


    "That brat, Bloodfang, I just discovered now that he isn''t a living being. He is a corpse. We have been relating with an animated corpse all these while."

 Chapter 139 - Understanding What Xiao Lin Is

    Then once they came out of the treasure storage house, they began to dash at high speeds into the distance to search for whoever had come into the treasure storage house and took all the treasures and pills therein.


    However, after running at high speeds for more than thirty minutes into the far distance and in different directions, they discovered to their sadness and frustration that the person that came to the legacy ground to acquire all the treasures and pills stored in there had been long gone.


    "This is bad. No, I won''t accept this" The leader of the group who had gotten to a particular location said within himself with great annoyance and sorrow in his tone.


    He just couldn''t accept the thought in his mind that he had just missed out of acquiring tons of treasures or various sorts of rare cultivation pills for himself.


    However, not willing to give up, and being a persistent person, he still shot further into the distance to search for whoever came into the treasure storage house and left with everything in his position.


    But after a few more minutes of running, it dawned on him that he wouldn''t be able to ever find the person that took all the artifacts or pills in the treasure storage house.


    While Xiao Lin who had gotten to a particular street in the town that he was currently in, chose to go to the garage where he would be able to enter a carriage that would convey him to a faraway town.


    At the moment, his plan was to move from one town to another until he got to a new city where he would be able to start a new life.


    Therefore, not long when he appeared at a garage, he saw many large carriages that were waiting to be filled with people before taking off.


    Then when he entered into one of them, he sat on a seat and closed his eyes to resume comprehension of some techniques that he had the intention of first understanding to some extent before practicing them.


    ...


    - Few days later -


    The carriage finally arrived at a particular town that was really distant from the town that Nine Calamities'' castle was located.


    Then when he got down from the carriage, he began to ask around for the description to the location of another garage where he would take another carriage that would convey him to another town.


    So, following the descriptions of people that he came across on his way to the place, he finally got there. Then when he paid the transport fare which was really high, he entered into it and sat down. And as soon as he did that m, he resumed comprehension of the techniques that he wanted to understand and mentally practice, before going out there at a deserted area to physically practice so that he could master it.


    At the moment, since it had been a few days that Xiao Lin hadn''t returned, Nine Calamities could be seen pacing about furiously in his room.


    Then before him could be seen two of the higher-ups of his bandit organization. They too had perplexed expressions in their faces, as they couldn''t really understand what was going on.


    "Is it possible that he had been killed?" Nine Calamities asked with his brows deeply furrowed.


    "That we can''t say, master. But we found some bodies on the ground. And from the slowly dispersing auras of Spiritual Power that still lingered about their corpses, I can say that they were cultivators at the fifth-layer and sixth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage. Then if Bloodfang came across these people, they would instantly kill him. Not because of their high numbers, but because of their cultivation stages when compared to his. Therefore, just one of them at the fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage is enough to reduce Bloodfang into a mist of blood." One of the two males seated before Nine Calamities answered.


    While the other male seated before the male that spoke just how, mentioned before Nine Calamities could say or do anything, "However, what is greatly baffling is that the cultivators that should reduce Xiao Lin into mist of blood were found dead on the ground and severely mutilated when you sent us out to go see what was happening as Bloodfang hadn''t arrived from there."


    The male then said further, "So, I think that Bloodfang must still be alive, and that he was probably taken away by a stronger cultivator from an organization who might know about the treasure storage house."


    "Perhaps seeing that Bloodfang was a bandit and that he was young, was he taken away by this cultivator to be wickedly tortured so that he could give away the location of our castle."


    "And Bloodfang who might not be able to really endure the agonizing tortures that he would pass through in the hands of that cultivator that abducted him, will certainly give away the location of our bandit organization. And who knows, perhaps there are already lots of plans that are being generated so that they will raid our place when we were least expecting it so as to cart away with all the resources that we have stored and stacked up so far since the emergence of your bandit organization, Nine Calamities"


    "Hmm. Then I guess it is totally my fault for sending Bloodfang to such a place without a senior or an expert accompanying him." Nine Calamities said, seemingly angered at the action that he carried out which he felt was completely stupid.


    "Well, you can''t fault yourself for that Master. You were trying to train him. It''s just that he was unfortunate to come across that cultivator when you sent him to retrieve those treasures and pills stored in that treasure storage house for you." One of the males said.


    "Hmm. Well, I guess you are right. He was just unlucky." Nine Calamities said.


    He then furrowed his brows when a particular thought appeared in his mind.


    "What''s wrong, master?" One of the two males seated before him asked.


    "I just remembered something." Nine Calamities replied.


    He then said further, "Do you remember the blood contract paper that you signed on?"


    "Yea, what about it master?" The other male asked in confusion.


    "Now, I can use it to terminate Bloodfang''s life. However, that''s if he is still alive." Nine Calamities responded.


    "Whaaat?!" The two males shouted out in shocked.


    They couldn''t believe what they just heard.


    So, that paper could be used to end their lives anytime their master feels like it. It was just so unbelievable to them. Then they became more wary and dreadful of their master who they now understood that he had a tight and firm clutch on each of their lives. And that he could apply pressure on their lives that was in his absolute clasp if he''s angered and simply instantly turn them into corpses.


    "Yes. I can use it. That''s one of the mysterious functions of the lifelong servitude blood oath paper that all of you signed on using your blood." Nine Calamities said with great pride in his tone when he noticed the totally shocked expressions in their faces.


    Then taking his gaze off them and into his spatial ring to rapidly scan through it contents, he came across a large stack of papers that had softly glowing inscriptions in their surfaces.


    And once he did so, he began to go through the papers to search for that of Xiao Lin.


    But not long, he came across the blood oath paper that Xiao Lin''s signed on by squeezing a drop of his blood unto it.


    Then when he noticed the strange appearance of the paper, he quickly brought it out from his spatial ring and began to observe.


    But he didn''t need to observe it for long when he realized in the next instant that the life-termination and blood-binding power of the blood contract paper had been neutralized. He couldn''t even sense any form or ripple of that power emanate from the paper. It was like no one signed on the paper, causing the power of the paper to go back to dormancy until it has been signed upon by blood.


    But since it was signed by Xiao Lin, how come it wasn''t yielding any form of binding power? Then that simply meant Xiao Lin wasn''t a living being, as the blood contract paper would only work on people that were living.


    And Nine Calamities who could understand all these in the next moment, immediately shouted out with great shock in his tone, "Whaat?!!"


    Then gasping for breath due to the tremendous shock that struck him, he asked himself, "What is really going on here? I don''t understand what is happening. What is this?"


    The two males before Nine Calamities who couldn''t really understand what was going on within their master''s mind, stood to their feet to look at their master with deeply concerned expressions in their faces.


    "Master, what''s wrong? Why are you like this?" One of the two males asked with a perplexed expression in his face.


    "That brat, Bloodfang, I just discovered now that he isn''t a living being. He is a corpse. We have been relating with an animated corpse all these while."

 Chapter 140 - Arriving In A New Town

    "What?" The two males in Nine Calamities'' room shouted with shock.


    "Master, are you really sure about what you just said?" One of the males asked.


    "Yes, I am sure about what I just said" Nine Calamities replied.


    "So, you mean that he is out there walking about as we speak?" The other male asked while Nine Calamities solemnly nodded his head as a response to his question.


    "Wow! That''s crazy" The male that spoke previously said with deep astonishment in his eyes.


    He then shook his head and said, "Master, should we go look for him and bring him back here so that we can understand how he is able to walk about as a living corpse. If we can get the technique, it could be really beneficial to you, master"


    "Hmm. I had quickly thought that too when I was able to understand a moment ago that he was only an animated corpse." Nine Calamities said.


    Then with a determined expression appearing in his face, he said "Go out there and find him. Then when you do, bring him back here. He has so many questions that he must answer. Now, go. And gather everyone else to move with you. Bloodfang shall not escape from us. He must be brought back here for questioning"


    Once he gave that command, the two males in the room said "Yes, master. Bloodfang will be brought back to you. We will surely do our best to catch him"


    Then they left Nine Calamities'' room and went to the higher-ups residential chamber of their bandit organization. And once they appeared there, they went into the quarters of their fellow members to tell them about what their master just found out and what he requested.


    Then whey those members heard what their colleagues said, they became deeply astonished as they were when they first heard about it.


    "So, Bloodfang is only a corpse?" One of the higher-up members asked the male that delivered the news to him.


    "Yes, he is only a corpse. And we have been sent out by master to go capture him and bring him back" The male that entered the room to deliver the news to his colleague said.


    "Alright." The person said.


    He then continued, "I guess Master must want to learn the technique that he used to transform himself into a corpse from him."


    "Yes, that is what he he has in mind." The male replied and then stood from the seat that he sat on to leave the room that he was in.


    And not long, the news of Xiao Lin being a corpse went round the whole castle, which then caused the hearts of many of them to be rocked by this amazing discovery.


    Then in a particular room, many members of the bandit organization who could be seen seated on their bunker beds, began to discuss about Xiao Lin.


    "I have always suspected that Bloodfang was a corpse. But I just couldn''t say. You know, from his really pale skin and the way he behaves, I have always felt that he was a corpse"


    "But would he be a true corpse that resurrected by itself after he had died sometimes ago in the past, or by some power from the world?"


    Haha!


    One of them suddenly burst into a loud and raucous laughter.


    The person that laughed then said, "So, you think it was some power of the world that brought him back from the dead? Not really as a human being like us, but as a corpse that possessed life within it?"


    Immediately he asked that question, one of them nodded his head and said, "Yes, I think that it was the world that brought him back from the dead."


    "But do you really think that is possible in anyway?" That same person that spoke a moment ago, asked again with a curious expression in his face.


    "Yes, I think so" Another said.


    He then continued, "But from the way that you spoke, it''s like you doubt that the world brought him back to life. So, since you heavily doubt this, what do you think allowed him to come back to life, even if he possibly used a resurrection technique?"


    "Well, I don''t know what technique he used to bring himself back to life, all I know is that it is not the world that infused life into his body." The person that was asked that question gave a response.


    But just before they could continue their discussion on the topic, the voice of one of the higher-ups of their bandit organization unexpectedly rang out, saying "Everyone, let''s move out, as per the order of our Master, Nine Calamities."


    Once the voice said that, all the bandits quickly stood to their feet and quickly went to take some things which they stowed into the spatial rings.


    Then when everyone felt that they were ready, they all left the castle to go find Xiao Lin.


    While Nine Calamities who didn''t want to leave everything to the hands of his bandits, walked to the window of his room and opened it up.


    Then once he did so, he jumped out of it and immediately shot towards the sky.


    ...


    At the moment, Xiao Lin who felt that he had gotten to a town that was really distant from the town that Nine Calamities castle was, began to ask around from people for the best sect that was around in this place.


    Then after asking around from people, he was able to know which sect was the best. And this was the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect. A sect had ranked number one for fifty years as the sect that produced the best and outstanding student cultivators.


    "I will have to go to that sect then" Xiao Lin said.


    He then continued, "As a sect that has produced exceptional student cultivators for fifty years, that is the best place I can think of going to."


    Then after making up his mind, he left where he was and went to a wine-drinking inn to relax there.


    Once he got there, he sat down calmly and didn''t try to order for anything, since he wouldn''t be able to consume them. However, someone came to his side and asked, "What would you like to eat?"


    "Oh. Don''t worry yourself too much about that. I only came here to relax, before setting out on my journey" Xiao Lin said.


    "Okay. But are you really sure that you don''t want anything?" The person before him who was a waiter asked further.


    "Nah. I am fine. Thanks for thinking too much about my welfare" Xiao Lin said with a smile


    "Alright" The person nodded his head and turned around to leave Xiao Lin''s presence.


    Then once the waiter left, someone came to seat down at the table that Xiao Lin sat at.


    And immediately he sat at the table, with Xiao Lin looking up at him, he said "Hello there, I have been observing you since. And you seem really calm. Anything going on in your life that you are trying to calm to your mind to think a way or ways out of it?"


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin laughed upon hearing that, he then said "Nah, I am fine."


    "Alright" The person seated before Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then continued, "So, let me introduce myself first to you."


    Then without waiting for Xiao Lin to say anything, he said "My name''s Lou Xian. And I am a rogue cultivator"


    And once he said that, whilst looking at Xiao Lin, he asked, "What yours?"


    Xiao Lin who had no choice than to reciprocate the action of the male seated before him, said with a smile in his face, "My name''s Xuang Wen. And I am also a rogue cultivator like you."


    "Oh really? That''s nice! We can bond together bro. We can form like an adventuring team that will travel to many remote places of our vast cultivation world, such as ancestral legacy grounds and so on to acquire treasures, legacy arts." The person that called himself Lou Xian, said with a smile in his face.


    He then continued by asking, "Or what do you think? You like the idea, right?"


    "Yea, bro Xian. I like your idea. But it can''t work out for me, as I am on a very different path. I have many things to settle with my time in this settle. Sorry about that, bro Xian" Xiao Lin said with an apologetic expression appearing in his face.


    Haha!


    "It''s nothing bro. I am cool with it. However. Can you tell me what you plan on doing? I mean, the plans that you want to fulfill now that you are here in this town?" Lou Xian said.


    Xiao Lin gave a smile upon hearing what Lou Xian said, he then said "I am sorry to disappoint you, bro. Xian, I can''t divulge that to you."


    Xiao Lin then stood to his feet and left the table that he sat at to head to the exit door of the inn.

 Chapter 141 - Arriving In A New Town

    "What?" The two males in Nine Calamities'' room shouted with shock.


    "Master, are you really sure about what you just said?" One of the males asked.


    "Yes, I am sure about what I just said" Nine Calamities replied.


    "So, you mean that he is out there walking about as we speak?" The other male asked while Nine Calamities solemnly nodded his head as a response to his question.


    "Wow! That''s crazy" The male that spoke previously said with deep astonishment in his eyes.


    He then shook his head and said, "Master, should we go look for him and bring him back here so that we can understand how he is able to walk about as a living corpse. If we can get the technique, it could be really beneficial to you, master"


    "Hmm. I had quickly thought that too when I was able to understand a moment ago that he was only an animated corpse." Nine Calamities said.


    Then with a determined expression appearing in his face, he said "Go out there and find him. Then when you do, bring him back here. He has so many questions that he must answer. Now, go. And gather everyone else to move with you. Bloodfang shall not escape from us. He must be brought back here for questioning"


    Once he gave that command, the two males in the room said "Yes, master. Bloodfang will be brought back to you. We will surely do our best to catch him"


    Then they left Nine Calamities'' room and went to the higher-ups residential chamber of their bandit organization. And once they appeared there, they went into the quarters of their fellow members to tell them about what their master just found out and what he requested.


    Then whey those members heard what their colleagues said, they became deeply astonished as they were when they first heard about it.


    "So, Bloodfang is only a corpse?" One of the higher-up members asked the male that delivered the news to him.


    "Yes, he is only a corpse. And we have been sent out by master to go capture him and bring him back" The male that entered the room to deliver the news to his colleague said.


    "Alright." The person said.


    He then continued, "I guess Master must want to learn the technique that he used to transform himself into a corpse from him."


    "Yes, that is what he he has in mind." The male replied and then stood from the seat that he sat on to leave the room that he was in.


    And not long, the news of Xiao Lin being a corpse went round the whole castle, which then caused the hearts of many of them to be rocked by this amazing discovery.


    Then in a particular room, many members of the bandit organization who could be seen seated on their bunker beds, began to discuss about Xiao Lin.


    "I have always suspected that Bloodfang was a corpse. But I just couldn''t say. You know, from his really pale skin and the way he behaves, I have always felt that he was a corpse"


    "But would he be a true corpse that resurrected by itself after he had died sometimes ago in the past, or by some power from the world?"


    Haha!


    One of them suddenly burst into a loud and raucous laughter.


    The person that laughed then said, "So, you think it was some power of the world that brought him back from the dead? Not really as a human being like us, but as a corpse that possessed life within it?"


    Immediately he asked that question, one of them nodded his head and said, "Yes, I think that it was the world that brought him back from the dead."


    "But do you really think that is possible in anyway?" That same person that spoke a moment ago, asked again with a curious expression in his face.


    "Yes, I think so" Another said.


    He then continued, "But from the way that you spoke, it''s like you doubt that the world brought him back to life. So, since you heavily doubt this, what do you think allowed him to come back to life, even if he possibly used a resurrection technique?"


    "Well, I don''t know what technique he used to bring himself back to life, all I know is that it is not the world that infused life into his body." The person that was asked that question gave a response.


    But just before they could continue their discussion on the topic, the voice of one of the higher-ups of their bandit organization unexpectedly rang out, saying "Everyone, let''s move out, as per the order of our Master, Nine Calamities."


    Once the voice said that, all the bandits quickly stood to their feet and quickly went to take some things which they stowed into the spatial rings.


    Then when everyone felt that they were ready, they all left the castle to go find Xiao Lin.


    While Nine Calamities who didn''t want to leave everything to the hands of his bandits, walked to the window of his room and opened it up.


    Then once he did so, he jumped out of it and immediately shot towards the sky.


    ...


    At the moment, Xiao Lin who felt that he had gotten to a town that was really distant from the town that Nine Calamities castle was, began to ask around from people for the best sect that was around in this place.


    Then after asking around from people, he was able to know which sect was the best. And this was the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect. A sect had ranked number one for fifty years as the sect that produced the best and outstanding student cultivators.


    "I will have to go to that sect then" Xiao Lin said.


    He then continued, "As a sect that has produced exceptional student cultivators for fifty years, that is the best place I can think of going to."


    Then after making up his mind, he left where he was and went to a wine-drinking inn to relax there.


    Once he got there, he sat down calmly and didn''t try to order for anything, since he wouldn''t be able to consume them. However, someone came to his side and asked, "What would you like to eat?"


    "Oh. Don''t worry yourself too much about that. I only came here to relax, before setting out on my journey" Xiao Lin said.


    "Okay. But are you really sure that you don''t want anything?" The person before him who was a waiter asked further.


    "Nah. I am fine. Thanks for thinking too much about my welfare" Xiao Lin said with a smile


    "Alright" The person nodded his head and turned around to leave Xiao Lin''s presence.


    Then once the waiter left, someone came to seat down at the table that Xiao Lin sat at.


    And immediately he sat at the table, with Xiao Lin looking up at him, he said "Hello there, I have been observing you since. And you seem really calm. Anything going on in your life that you are trying to calm to your mind to think a way or ways out of it?"


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin laughed upon hearing that, he then said "Nah, I am fine."


    "Alright" The person seated before Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then continued, "So, let me introduce myself first to you."


    Then without waiting for Xiao Lin to say anything, he said "My name''s Lou Xian. And I am a rogue cultivator"


    And once he said that, whilst looking at Xiao Lin, he asked, "What yours?"


    Xiao Lin who had no choice than to reciprocate the action of the male seated before him, said with a smile in his face, "My name''s Xuang Wen. And I am also a rogue cultivator like you."


    "Oh really? That''s nice! We can bond together bro. We can form like an adventuring team that will travel to many remote places of our vast cultivation world, such as ancestral legacy grounds and so on to acquire treasures, legacy arts." The person that called himself Lou Xian, said with a smile in his face.


    He then continued by asking, "Or what do you think? You like the idea, right?"


    "Yea, bro Xian. I like your idea. But it can''t work out for me, as I am on a very different path. I have many things to settle with my time in this settle. Sorry about that, bro Xian" Xiao Lin said with an apologetic expression appearing in his face.


    Haha!


    "It''s nothing bro. I am cool with it. However. Can you tell me what you plan on doing? I mean, the plans that you want to fulfill now that you are here in this town?" Lou Xian said.


    Xiao Lin gave a smile upon hearing what Lou Xian said, he then said "I am sorry to disappoint you, bro. Xian, I can''t divulge that to you."


    Xiao Lin then stood to his feet and left the table that he sat at to head to the exit door of the inn.

 Chapter 142 - Nightclouds Thought

    Then when he came out of the wine-drinking inn, he thought of getting a place to stay for sometime till the popular sect that he wanted to apply at will start admitting new disciples in.


    So, deciding to execute this thought, he began to walk around to search for a low-key inn that he will hire a room at.


    Then when he arrived before one after following people''s descriptions to that kind of inn, he went in and headed for the desk at which the receptionist sat at.


    "Hello, what can I do for you?" The receptionist asked.


    "I want a nice room in this place." Xiao Lin replied with a smile.


    "Alright" The receptionist said.


    And after telling the costs to Xiao Lin who quickly paid for it since he had large amounts of coins with him, he was given the key.


    Once Xiao Lin accepted the key, and which had a particular room number inscribed to it, he headed straight for that room. Then upon reaching there, he went in.


    After closing the room''s door behind him, he quickly sat down in the cross-legged position. Then he closed his eyes to start comprehension of some advanced battle and movement techniques that he hadn''t really mastered.


    So, this went on for days, with Xiao Lin not standing for once from where he sat at to enter a deep comprehension state.


    At this moment, precisely six days after Xiao Lin arrived at the inn, Nine Calamities''s men have spread throughout the town, with some appearing in other towns just to search for Xiao Lin. And equipped with Xiao Lin''s image which was drawn by a talented artist amongst them, they asked from people that they came across in their path to ask if they had ever seen or heard of him.


    But they were utterly disappointed as not any one of the the people that they met in their path and showed Xiao Lin''s image to could really tell them his directions or give them his last seen position and location.


    ...


    At a particular inn, six of the many dozens of men that Nine Calamities sent out to search for Xiao Lin, capture him and bring him back to the castle, could be seen resting on a massive bed in the widely-spaced and large inn that they all had to contribute money together to be able to pay for it.


    "Do you think we would be able to capture Xiao Lin?" One of them asked with his brows deeply furrowed.


    "Capture him? Of course. Even if it would take us ten years to do so, then ten years it will take us. We just have to capture him so that Master will be extremely happy with us."


    "And, although we are really far away from our castle by now and would have to sort ourselves out, I believe that with the intense and rough training that we have all gone through back at the castle under our master, Nine Calamities, it shouldn''t be that difficult for us, right? We should be able to easily survive out here. Then with our numbers, we should be able to do great exploits here" One of them said in a really confident manner.


    While the person that asked that question that this person tried to answer, only shook his head with an uncertain expression appearing in his face.


    "Hey! What''s wrong? Why the sudden inexplicable expression in your face, Nightcloud?" One of them called Iron Blazer asked.


    Once the person named Nightcloud was asked that question, he said "Bladetiger gave a completely different answer to the question that I asked him."


    Then he continued, "The question that I asked is, can we truly capture Xiao Lin? And if you guys don''t really understand my question, let me make it clearer to you guys so that I will get a better, nail head-hitting response."


    "Now, do you guys think that we truly have the capabilities to be able to capture Xiao Lin? Yea, I know that he is just a first-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator and should be nothing in our eyes. But we all know or can guess a bit accurately the level or degree of his shocking battle power, attacking and skill deployment prowess."


    "Remember that when we first met him, when he was running from a particular street in the town to the Blackheart forest, he mentioned to us that he killed two government officers who tried to capture him and incarcerate him. And even if he used silly or outrageous methods to do that, the point is that he still killed them, he killed a first-layer and second-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator. And what cultivation stage was he then? He was at the Spiritual Ascendance stage, a stage that he should be literally nothing to the government officers who could kill him with a strike to the forehead using a flick of their finger"


    "So, what I am trying to stay is, if he can do that then, what about now? We can''t tell what deadly or fatal tricks that he has up his sleeves now and could use against us if we try to antagonize him" Nightcloud said.


    "Hmm. I see great sense in what you just said. But..." The person called Ironblazer said and then took a pause, seemingly thinking of what to say next.


    Then after a brief moment of pause, he continued "But, we can''t say because of that we won''t try to capture him due to whatever killing cards that he may have up his sleeve."


    "Come on, Nightcloud, we are six in numbers. And not just many in number but we are also individually powerful in our own right. We are each fifth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivators that no matter what trick he has up his sleeve, he won''t be able to do a thing to us. Ugh. Nightcloud, to be sincere, I don''t like your thinking. I suddenly feel like you have become retarded because we left the castle"


    Hahaha!


    Immediately Ironblazer said that, everyone except Nightcloud burst into loud and raucous laughter. While Nightcloud only produced a smile in his face and then slightly shook his head.


    Actually, he still felt that he was right, and that they were all wrong.


    He had an inexplicable feeling surface in his heart anytime he thought of capturing Xiao Lin.


    ''These guys don''t know or have a slight idea of what they are up against. Even with our relatively overwhelming numbers and high cultivation stage, we would still be useless before him. That boy is much more powerful than we imagine him to be'' Nightcloud said inwardly and then shook his head once again before producing a sigh that won''t be perceivable by anyone gathered around him.


    Then when they all stopped laughing in the next instant, one of them called Gravekeeper asked "So, when are we moving out again to search for Bloodfang? And I wonder what town that animated corpse has arrived at now."


    Then once this person called Gravekeeper asked that, he questioned further "Guys, do you think Bloodfang found us boring and then left to go join another one that is really far away from the town that our master''s castle is located?"


    "Hmm. I can''t say." Nightcloud said with a thoughtful expression appearing in his face.


    He then continued, "Actually, our master Nine Calamities sent him to a particular place rumored to be a treasure storage house that contained a particular pill that could probably allow him, our master, to have a vast increase in his cultivation. I mean, the pill could allow him to break through many layers to arrive at a higher cultivation stage."


    "But perhaps when Bloodfang got there and was able to successfully retrieve the pill and possibly many other types of pills and treasures stored on there, he suddenly developed an overwhelming greedy thought in his heart, which then tried to influence him."


    "And since he was now being controlled by that thought of greed to have the pill and the other pills and treasures that he acquired at the treasure storage house for himself, he chose to dump his position at our master''s bandit organization and run far away with the pills, artifacts and treasures that he was able to obtain at that treasure storage house." Nightcloud mentioned and then kept quiet so as to give room to his colleagues to be able to contribute to the ongoing topic.


    "Hmm. What a bastard the guy is. Haha! But come to think of it, and let''s be sincere with ourselves, won''t you rather chose to leave the group that you are in and run far away with the tons of pills, treasures and artifacts that you were able to acquire at the treasure storage house? Eh?"


    "So, I won''t really blame him as he was bestowed with that evil opportunity. Instead, I will blame Master. He brought this upon himself, since he trusted that lying-ass bastard and arrogant traitor way too much."


    "If he didn''t allow Bloodfang to run that mission for him and instead went for it himself, none of these would have cropped up. Now, we have to clean up his terrible mess, which will certainly expose to many hidden or open dangerous elements that could take or snap away our wonderful, youthful lives.. Ugh!" Someone in their six-male group called Shadow Wrecker, said with a displeased expression in his face.

 Chapter 143 - Carrying Out Investigations

    "Yea, you are right about that. Anyways, we would be careful" Another of their colleague said with the others nodding their heads to what he said.


    ...


    At the moment, Nine Calamities was busy strolling round the area the treasure storage house was located, seemingly looking for something.


    Actually, he had flown down here to see what exactly happened at the treasure storage house.


    Then seeing dead bodies littered here and there all over the ground, he began to wonder what really happened here.


    "I wonder what these bodies are doing here." Nine Calamities said as he gazed at the numerous mutilated and slashed bodies on the ground.


    "I guess that some other people who knew about the treasure storage house also came here to acquire the treasures stored here. Hmm."


    "But who killed them in this vicious manner?"


    "Well, it definitely can''t be Bloodfang, since his cultivation stage is completely lower to that of the cultivators found here."


    "Besides, they are many in number. And maybe when he got here, he found a group of people fighting each other and then hid himself somewhere to avoid being seen by them, or he could be quickly killed by the attackers of these people."


    "I really need to understand what happened here" Nine Calamities said. .


    He then flew towards the treasure storage house to go in and see for himself what really went down here.


    So, upon reaching the entrance of the treasure storage house, he flew in and then lowered himself to the ground.


    Once he entered, he began to look around him.


    "Wow. So many projectiles in here." Nine Calamities said.


    He then said further with a curious expression appearing in his face, "Even if Bloodfang is a living corpse, with all that I am seeing littering the floor, he definitely wouldn''t be able to survive it. The life that allows him to move his dead body around will be instantly snuffed out by these projectiles, because from their densities, I feel that they are something Bloodfang would be able to deflect or block successfully without getting seriously injured"


    "And since he wouldn''t be able to deflect these heavy spears, pikes and so on, then that means that someone more powerful and stronger than him had arrived here first who must have tried his best to block the attacks" Nine Calamities said with his brows furrowed as he deeply sank his mind into a detective-like state.


    Then after looking around and picking up the projectiles on the ground to feel their weight and denseness, he dropped them back to the ground and headed for the passageway where Xiao Lin fought thar statue.


    Once he got there, he began to look around with a light of confirmation to what he previously said, coming forth from within his eyes. And this was because of the gashes made into the opposite walls of the long passageway towards the other side of the passageway, then because of the battle guard statue that he saw on the ground with it head smashed into pieces.


    From what he could he perceive about the protective combat statue, he was able to quickly conclude within himself that this statue was no ordinary statue. It was more like a killer statue designed to kill anything that would enter the passageway. From it towering height and the bulky size of it lustrous metallic body, the heaviness, and the power fluctuations coming from it which still lingered in the air, he was able to swiftly comprehend that this statue was a designated intruder or trespasser annihilator, for low-rank cultivators anyways, since if it was him that came into this place, just a simple effortless blast of Spiritual Energy from him would utterly reduce the statue to tens of millions of bits.


    "Bloodfang definitely wouldn''t be able to take down this statue. And since he wouldn''t be the one to do so, then that means somebody else did it."


    "Furthermore, I am guessing that he arrived very late. Probably when the person who wielded two extremely sharp blades and made gashes into the opposite walls of this passageway had destroyed the statue and went to the treasure storage room to take away the treasures stored in here along with him, did he arrive. Hmm." Nine Calamities said.


    Then with a single step, he arrived at the treasure storage room. And once he did so, he began to look around with surprise in his eyes.


    "What happened here?" Nine Calamities asked.


    Then he asked further with the surprise in his eyes intensifying, "Seems like a really mad battle occurred between two people here. But it definitely wouldn''t be Bloodfang and that male cultivator that arrived here before him."


    "So, I suspect that when that male had successfully cleared all the lethal traps hidden on the way to the treasure storage room, another person, possibly a male too, suddenly appeared with the intention of taking away all the pills or treasures kept here with him since that male who first arrived here, would be excessively weak, and seriously injured after trying his best to deflect or slash apart the projectile attacks that the deadly traps concealed here and there in this place would launch at him with the two really sharp blades that he wielded."


    "Then becoming tremendously mad at the person that just appeared from nowhere, furious attacks were instantly unleashed and in an insane manner and in every directions to utterly annihilate this person that had just entered. Hmm. I wonder which of the two of them was able to get out of here with the pills or treasures stored in this storage room. Would be certainly, really interesting to know. Haha!"


    "However, I have a feeling that it was the first person that arrived in this place that will cart away with whatever pills or treasures that were stored here by whoever built this treasure storage house and then probably deserted it."


    "And maybe he or she is dead. That could be the best answer to why this deadly trap-filled artifact house is absolutely devoid of any presence of the owner. Probably he or she was in killed in battle, or died of some rare cultivation sickness. Hmm." Nine Calamities said with a deep thoughtful expression in his eyes.


    Then when he was done thinking, he looked around for sometime before deciding to leave the place.


    Then with a single step after deploying a powerful movement technique for his cultivation stage, he appeared hundreds of feet away from the treasure storage house. And immediately he appeared at this new location like he teleported, he immediately shot into the air at a great speed to continue his search for Xiao Lin.


    "I wonder where Bloodfang went to" Nine Calamities said with a thoughtful expression in his face.


    Then thinking further, he said "I doubt that Bloodfang is still in this town, or in the town closer to this. Ugh. I hope to find him soon so that I can understand how he became a corpse that has a life."


    "It''s just so mysterious how he was able to do that. I wonder what technique or method he used to infuse his corpse with life. Or did someone do that for him? Hmm. And maybe someone really powerful who then employed an extremely rare and utterly profound corpse animation technique used it to reanimate his dead body. Anyways, when I am able to find him, I will understand how he was able to accomplish that, or who he helped him accomplished that"


    "But now that I have made catching Bloodfang my utmost priority, it is going to seriously affect my cultivation practices. Hmm."


    "But to be sincere, it''s really worth the immense delay in my cultivation and comprehension exercises, since when I eventually capture him and I am able to extract the technique out of him, and then try it out, I could become non-living, unaging, and undying. I just hope to catch him really soon."


    Boom!


    Then with a sudden boom sound ringing out when Nine Calamities suddenly increased his speed, he shot away at a great speed to a town that was closer to the one that he was currently in.


    ...


    After many days of cultivating, Xiao Lin''s eyes suddenly sprung open. He then stood to his feet from his cross-legged position on the ground and stretched himself really well.


    "When is that damned sect going to start taking in new sect members? At least, I asked from people around, and they said that they haven''t taken in any sect member this year."


    "So, I am quite lucky that they haven''t done disciple enrolment, and that when they eventually start, I will be able to register and go in. But now, I seriously wonder what''s taking them so long. I really need to enter the sect soon, if I don''t want to be captured and then taken away by Nine Calamities and the others who must be out of the castle by now to really search for me."


    "And one thing that I am absolutely sure about is that they would have figured by now that I am not a living being, and then have this stupid belief that my body holds some sort of key to a type of mysterious and odd power that they haven''t really come across or heard before in their entire lives.." Xiao Lin said with a frustrated and unhappy expression in his face.

 Chapter 144 - A Bell Chime Rings Out

    And once he finished thinking this, he returned to his cross-legged position on the ground and then closed his eyes to resume his cultivation.


    ...


    Many days later, precisely a week and three days after, the loud chime of a bell suddenly surfaced and swept throughout the entire town like some sort of mysterious power was acting on the chime sound, making it travel round the entire city and alert everyone of if presence. While some people who knew what this sound was, had their eyes glow with surprise and gladness. Then very quickly, they began to pack their things into their spatial rings and immediately exited where they all were to quickly move to the location that they believe the bell rang out from.


    Xiao Lin who was busy cultivating, was instantly jolted up from his cultivation state by the loud chime of bell that suddenly rang out from somewhere that was really far away from the inn that he rented a room at.


    "What was that bell? And where did it come from?" Xiao Lin asked with surprise in his eyes.


    When the bell rang loudly in his ear, it also surprisingly shook his mind and heart at the same time, and briefly produced an inexplicable throbbing sensation in his entire body, forcing him awake in the next instant. It was like the sound of a bell that was rung farther away from here literally possessed a mind of it own, and then tried to produce some effect on his mind, heart and body to bring him out of his cultivation state.


    And once this happened to Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin quickly stood to his feet with a weird and intensely baffled expression in his face.


    Then developing a thought in his mind that everyone else might also be struck by that mysterious bell sound, Xiao Lin made way for the door of his room to exit it and then the inn so that when he appeared in the street, he would be able to ask from people that he met on his path what that sound was and where it came from.


    And once he did so, in which he appeared in the street, he chose to ask some people that he felt should understand what that mystifying bell sound was and where it came from. And these people that he chose to throw his questions at were the cultivators that were moving up or down the street to attend to things that they were really concerned about.


    Then when he appeared before one of them, he asked "Fellow cultivator, hope you don''t mind if I take a few moments out of your time"


    "Hmm. Alright" The cultivator that Xiao Lin asked, who was an older, short bald man and carried a katana with him, said with a gentle nod of his head.


    "Thank you" Xiao Lin said and clasped his fist before him.


    He then proceeded to ask the question that was continuously buzzing in his mind, "Fellow cultivator, did you hear this loud chime that should have possibly sounded out from a massive bell that was heavily struck with probably a large beam of metal?"


    "Yea I did" The short and bald cultivator immediately said.


    "Oh. Cool." Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further with a smile appearing in his face afterwards, "Do you know what that chime was, and probably where it originated from? Don''t mind me asking these, I am just utterly curious about it because I felt a lot of things the instant it rung within my ears."


    Once Xiao Lin asked those questions, the older and bald cultivator before him looked at him with an inexplicable expression in his eyes, he then asked with a curious expression appearing in his face the next moment, "I guess you aren''t from around here, right?"


    "Uhm... Yeah. I am not. I am just a visitor. I came by a week ago" Xiao Lin said.


    "Alright. I was also able to immediately sense that you were a visiting cultivator from probably a faraway town, since cultivators from neighboring towns will definitely know what that bell sound is and what it represents." The bald cultivator said.


    And once he said that, he continued "Well, to explain to you what that bell sound is, and what it really means to we cultivators in this town, is that, it is to herald the opening of the golden gate of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect."


    "Oh really?" Xiao Lin asked with an excited tone in his voice to confirm what he just heard.


    "Yea" The short and bald cultivator said with a nod of his head.


    Then before Xiao Lin could say anything else, he spoke further by saying, "That chime, produced by the most powerful artifact of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect which is called the Heavenly Dragon Bell, was generated simply to announce to all mortals and cultivators alike about the opening of the sect''s gates for discipleship admission trials and exams."


    "Now, every cultivator that have interest in joining the sect can rush down there to take the entrance exams and become a disciple there when they pass the exams with flying colors, which would certainly be conducted by some of the indifferent and arrogant elders of the massive sect"


    "Wow!" Xiao Lin uttered with excitement in his tone.


    He then clasped his fist before the older, bald cultivator and said "Thank you for taking your time to explain all these to me. Now, I would have to hurry down there to register before it closes. I am immensely anxious of becoming a disciple there"


    Hehe!


    However, once Xiao Lin said that, the older cultivator before him produced a slight giggle. He then said, "No need to rush down there this instant. It would only make you seem extremely desperate to the elders who would already be out scanning the crowds of young cultivators for potential disciples that they can allow into their sects and give uniforms to become true and bonafide members of their sects."


    "Therefore, once you rush down there now and they catch sight of you, you will make things more difficult for yourself as you will become a target by that elder that easily noticed you for your conspicuous act of desperation to join the sect, or by entirely all the elders of the sect. And you should be able to imagine what would happen to you if all the examination-conducting elders at the place their focus on you. It certainly won''t end well for you."


    "So, chill for now till probably three weeks or a month later, as that''s roughly the time that the admission exams will truly start, speaking from gathered experiences anyways. Haha."


    "Oh. Okay" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head after calming his anxiety down due to what the bald and short cultivator before him said.


    "So, what exactly is happening at the sect at this moment?" He asked.


    "Well, as at this moment, people, I mean cultivators like you and I, will just be arriving from near and far away to join the sect." The old and short cultivator said.


    "Oh. Alright." Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then gazed at the cultivator and asked with a curious expression appearing in his face, "So, you will also head down there to take the discipleship admission exams?"


    "What?! No. Haha. It''s not my type that they are looking for." The bald cultivator before Xiao Lin said.


    He then said further with a self-deprecating tone in his voice, "I first took the exam when I was sixteen, then stopped taking the exams when I got to the age of twenty-seven. Haha. I couldn''t even pass through the first trial. Well, I blame my utterly useless and bad talent for that. Haha. I am so useless, fellow cultivator. I can never retake the exams. It''s too difficult for me to pass"


    "Wow. Sorry about that. I guess the question that I asked you dug up really bad memories that you have buried a long time ago in your mind. I am immensely sorry for that" Xiao Lin said with an apologetic expression in his face while the bald cultivator before him only shook his head with an amiable smile surfacing from his lips.


    "Aii" He sighed.


    He then said "Fellow cultivator, no need to be sorry. It''s all thanks to my useless talent that I am not able to get to where I want to be. Anyways, I have accepted my fate like that and have completely moved on. So, no need to be sorry."


    "Anyways, it''s you guys that I feel quite sorry for. I mean, I feel a bit of sorry for you guys taking the sect''s discipleship exams." The bald cultivator said, provoking a surprised and curious expression in Xiao Lin''s face.


    "Huh? How you you mean, fellow cultivator? Hope you don''t mind elaborating to make things a little bit clearer to me?" Xiao Lin with a puzzled expression in his face, as he didn''t really get the last message of the cultivator that stood before him with a solemn expression in his face.

 Chapter 145 - Arriving Before The Sects Gate

    "Haha. I will, fellow cultivator" The short and bald cultivator before Xiao Lin said.


    He then continued, "Now, why I said I feel deeply sorry for you guys is because of the elements that are included in the first trials for the discipleship admission exams."


    "In that trial, you will be facing the arrogant seniors of the sect. I mean, disciples who are one to two layers above each and everyone of you that will partake in that really difficult exam."


    "What? Really?" Xiao Lin asked to confirm what the older, bald cultivator before him said.


    "Yes, really." The older, bald cultivator before him said with a nod of his head.


    "Hmm. I guess that is why it''s really difficult for non-genius cultivators to become actual members of the sect" Xiao Lin said with a light of comprehension shining forth from within his eyes.


    "Yes. That''s why." The cultivator said.


    "Hmm. Thank you for this information. I really appreciate it." Xiao Lin said.


    "Haha. Don''t mention, fellow cultivator. So, just give it a rest for sometime. Then when it''s a few days later, you can start preparing to head down to the location of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect" The cultivator said.


    "Alright. I will. Thank you for the advices and suggestions so far" Xiao Lin said while the older, bald cultivator before him only slightly shook his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    Then once Xiao Lin said that, he turned around and headed back for the inn that he came out from to appear in the street. And immediately he appeared in the inn, he calmly walked towards his room to resume his comprehension.


    The moment he appeared in his room, he sat down in the cross-legged position to resume his comprehension. And this he did for more than six days before standing back to his feet from his seated lotus position in the ground to leave the room that he was in. Then immediately he came out of the inn feeling calm and inspired within, he headed for the garage where numerous beast-drawn carriages were parked at.


    Not long, he appeared there. Then when he chose one of the wild beasts-pulled carriages to transport him to his desired location and entered it, the carriage driver immediately started whipping the wild beasts which howled in pain and immediately shot out from where they were towards the massive, widely-opened gate of the garage. Then once they came out of it, they began to dash in the direction that their rider guided them by whipping to go in.


    ...


    After many hours of moving at high speeds since the beasts possessed great stamina, endurance and strength, they arrived at the location of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect. And once they appeared in this location, Xiao Lin could immediately feel that he had appeared in another region, despite the windows of the carriage shut tight with thick and silver-patterned curtains that hung down from a thin cable fully obstructing his view.


    However, he was able to instantly understand that he had gotten to a new area because of the life and vibrancy in the atmosphere. It wasn''t dull and slightly chaotic like the one that he could experience back at the town that he took a beast-drawn carriage from. Besides, once they entered this location, a really thin mists that was white in color and transparent, fully permeated the whole region where the sect was located. And once one inhaled this particular thin mist, it brought down a feeling of coolness, calmness, ecstasy and delight upon the mind, body and soul of that person that inhaled it.


    Xiao Lin who could see the thin mist due to his powerful vision, shook his head in awe.


    He then said with immense happiness in his tone, "This is the right place to be. I can feel and smell it at the same time."


    Then once he thought this, he swung open the windows and pulled the curtain up. And the instant that he did so, he looked outside only to become amazed by what he saw.


    At the moment, the carriage that he was in was moving through a wide, straight-line path that stretched into the far distance, for as far as the eyes could see anyways. Then by the sides of this road were chains of towering mountains that also went on into the far distance for as far as the eyes could see too.


    "Wow. This is really great." Xiao Lin said with a marveled expression in his face.


    Then a thought suddenly flashed in his head when he thought of something, "With where this sect is actually located, like as if in the wilderness, it wouldn''t ever occur to Nine Calamities and the rest that I could have come here to enrol as a disciple. They wouldn''t even think about it. Besides, it''s possible that they won''t accept the idea that I could choose to join a sect."


    "All that will be in their minds now is that I am on the run for my life due to the horrific things that they would believe that I boldly and fearlessly carried out. Well, if that is truly what they would think, then I guess I just got more lucky. Haha!" Xiao Lin said with a contemplative look in his eyes and then ended it with a chuckle.


    He then kept quiet and rested his back on the soft, leathery seat that he sat upon within the carriage. And once he did so, he began to greedily inhale the mist that saturated the entire atmosphere in this region.


    Then after the carriage that he was in journeyed for many minutes more, forty minutes more to be precise, the carriage finally arrived before the large gate of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect which was golden in color, and had images of all sorts of fierce, dragon-looking creatures engraved into it.


    Then once they came before the massive golden gate, the carriage immediately came to a full halt, instantly forcing Xiao Lin awake from his deeply relaxed state.


    Then immediately this happened, with Xiao Lin coming out from his relaxed state, the voice of the carriage driver at the front rang out, "We have arrived before the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect"


    "Oh. That''s awesome" Xiao Lin immediately responded with a delighted look in his face.


    He then produced the amount of coins for the journey which the driver actually told him about from his spatial ring and then gave it to him.


    Then once he did so, he opened one of the doors of the carriage and climbed down to the ground using it steps. And immediately he came down from the carriage, he was greeted by hundreds of people that were also cultivators like him, and seem unaffiliated with a body or an organization.


    "Wow. So many people have gathered here already" Xiao Lin said with shock in his tone as he looked at the back of the large numbers of people that were gathered outside the huge golden gate of the sect.


    He then went to meet one of them and asked with a polite tone in his voice, "Fellow cultivator, have any of the elders conducting the admission exam come up yet to say anything of great importance to all of us that are gathered here?"


    "No. Not yet. It isn''t time for them to say anything to us yet. Not a lot of cultivators have arrived."


    "Although we look large in number at the moment, we are however not that many in their eyes. So, probably not until this place is filled with people for many miles down the road, will the sect elders deem our numbers large enough to say anything of importance to us."


    "Therefore, we would have to wait many days more. Probably two to three weeks later when everyone have arrived."


    "The thing is, they are giving chance to other cultivators from far and really distant towns or cities to arrive here in time and be able to participate in the admission exams. So, if they initiated the exams now, with other cultivators from faraway places still journeying down here and then miss out of it due to their lateness, it would seem that they are biased towards only the people from this town and hence, could have their ratings lowered. So, they want to give everyone a fair chance of being able to participate in the exams" The person that Xiao Lin asked, said.


    "Hmm. I see." Xiao Lin said with an appreciative nod of his head.


    However, he knew these things already. Majority of what the cultivator here told him, had already been explained to him by the bald and short cultivator that he met at the town that he took a carriage to this place.


    Then just before Xiao Lin could turn around to go find a place, like a cave or somewhere similar to stay till two weeks or three weeks was over, the cultivator that spoke to him said, "Since you are all by yourself, why don''t we band together so that we can move mountains together? With our combined strengths, we would be able to go further in the tasks set for us by the elders of the sects. Or what do you think?"


    "Hmm. That''s good" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then continued before the cultivator could say anything else, "I would love to join your group, but I have made up my mind to work alone."

 Chapter 146 - The Bullies

    "Oh. Alright then" The cultivator said and faced his front, while Xiao Lin simply nodded his head.


    He then left where he was to go find a place to stay till the elders conducting the exams will appear to tell them that exams have started, which would actually occur in two to three weeks time.


    So with this thought, he walked down the road to where he would actually get a place that he could transform into a place that he could stay for two to three weeks.


    Not long as he walked down the road, precisely thirteen minutes later, he discovered an hollow place at the foot of one of the chains of mountains that lined the particular side of the road that he was facing, which was the right side.


    "I guess I can make use of this place for my stay till the elders will appear to announce the start of the exams" Xiao Lin said and then nodded his head.


    He then walked towards the place. And once he appeared in front of it, he used his powerful vampiric vision and hearing which he instantly deployed to immediately detect or perceive if anyone was looking at him from far. He wanted to be really careful with exposing his possessions in this place which will definitely have large numbers of fearsomely powerful people who would be able to sense even the slightest ripples of astonishing power that will emit from the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade, particularly. And he didn''t want to create loud boom sounds using his explosive techniques which would instantly draw all sorts of undesired attention towards him.


    Then after looking around for sometime and feeling that no one was looking at him, Xiao Lin abruptly produced the Demonic King''s blades from his dantian and began to use them to slash at the already hollow place at the foot of the mountain.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!...


    Rapidly sending out large numbers of slashes with the blades tightly clasped in his hands, and in which he delivered more than hundreds of slashes in less than a minute, he was able to quickly create a really hollow cave for himself at the foot of this Karri mountain. Then to mention how deep the hollow cave that he just created using the blades was, it was approximately twelve feet deep.


    After seeing that he had really dug up a deep and large cave for himself in this place, he produced a sigh and returned the blades to his dantian. And once he did so, he sat down on the ground in the cross-legged position to start his comprehension. Then being a vampire who only depended on blood for energy, but rarely did so due to the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian, Xiao Lin didn''t need to think of where to get food to eat or anything like that since he would stay in this place to both cultivate and comprehend till the elders from the sect will appear and announce the start of the exam ceremony. .


    The Blood Energy that would be derived from the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian, is basically more than enough to power him till they would all dry up, and that could take many months for that to happen.


    So, Xiao Lin wasn''t at all worried of what to eat. All he just needed to do in this place was to comprehend peacefully and calmly till when the elders will show up.


    However, a few hours into his comprehension, Xiao Lin who was in a deep apprehension state, could suddenly perceive the voices of people approaching the cave that he made for himself using the Demonic King''s godly-sharp blades.


    Then when these people were finally arrived at his cave, one of them said, "Finally, a cave to stay. Let''s go in guys"


    But just before they could go in, one of them immediately said with a thoughtful expression in his face, "Guys wait, look at the walls and roof of the cave. It seems they were slashed at by something really sharp. And from their smoothness and texture, I can tell that these slashes are fresh. Someone has definitely arrived here before us and used something that I can''t really guess what it is to dig a deep, hollow cave for himself to reside in"


    "Oh. And so what? We are gonna evict the person. Whoever did this did so because he or she realized that their kings are coming over here. So, they quickly prepared a cave before us to settle down." One of them arrogantly said with a nonchalant and carefree look in his face.


    "Yea, true." Another said.


    While the person amongst this group that discovered the slashes made into the wall and roof of the cave to possibly widen it and extend it into the distance to make a deep cave, quickly said to his friend, "Guys, be careful with your arrogant and foolish utterances. What if the person in here is a solitary master of the sword, katana or blade? We have to be really careful with our words so as not to offend who we can''t possibly go up against."


    Hahaha!


    Once that person said that, another person in their group that consisted of six males, immediately said after laughing in a wild and uncontrolled manner at what one of their group members said, "What master is that? Haha! Don''t make laugh at you Xiang Jun. There is no master here. It''s just one of the people that came here for the discipleship exam that opened up a cave in here. And now that this person has done so, he has saved us the stress of doing so ourselves. So, the person should get ready to leave, as his majesties have arrived."


    As this person was saying this, Xiao Lin who had stopped comprehending and was listening to what the people far before him, at the entrance of the dark cave were saying, suddenly had his eyes flash a cold glint.


    "Majesties? We shall see who is the true majesty here, you bastards" Xiao Lin said as he looked at them with the gaze of fat lambs for slaughter using his powerful vampiric vision that completely allowed him to see in even thick darkness.


    Then once he said this, he stood to his feet with his fists clenched. Now, his fists were as hard as rock, and were ready to smash through rocks or anything that seemed like a rock. Then slowly, he began to walk with a calm mind towards them from where he stood. Although his mind was calm, the blood flowing in his body was however like raging dragons ready to tear apart everything with their immensely powerful jaws.


    A moment after talking to the male called Xiang Jun, the male that spoke to him turned his head to look into the darkness before them and which stretched into the distance with sinister intent erupting from his eyes. He then said, "Fellow cultivator, I know that you have been listening to all that we were saying since we arrived here. So, if you don''t want us to come over there and brutally beat you up to chase you out of this cave in a deeply embarrassing manner, I will suggest that you quickly run towards the entrance of this cave and dash out of it into the road in the next instant. Or if you don''t do so and we advance towards the location that you are doing only Heavens knows what, you could probably meet your doom there. So, hurry up now and scurry out of here like the scaredy rat that you are, brat"


    "Really?" Xiao Lin asked with a cold smile on his lips and a cold but fierce glint in his eyes.


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the cultivators who could perceive that the voice was closer to them and seemed to be approaching them, quickly readied themselves for what might come at them anytime soon.


    Then the male that said that said with a nod of his head, "Yea, really. Now, get towards here and kowtow to us severally before dashing out of here like the rat that you are, lad"


    Hahaha!


    Immediately the male said that, Xiao Lin burst into a loud and raucous laughter.


    "What''s making you laugh, brat?" The male asked with a fierce expression appearing in his face. He just couldn''t understand what was making Xiao Lin laugh, when instead he should be frightful and reply their questions with trembling voices.


    "It is just way funny how you keep calling me brat, whereas you fools are the brat. Yea, you and your foolish friends that don''t have eyes to notice an exception that should be exempted from your stupid bullying practices. Anyways, when I get there, and I still meet you guys there, I will teach you all a great lesson that you wouldn''t forget for the rest of your puny, miserably useless lives.. Haha!" Xiao Lin said with his voice slowly growing deeper, thicker and beast-like.

 Chapter 147 - The Bullies

    "Oh. Alright then" The cultivator said and faced his front, while Xiao Lin simply nodded his head.


    He then left where he was to go find a place to stay till the elders conducting the exams will appear to tell them that exams have started, which would actually occur in two to three weeks time.


    So with this thought, he walked down the road to where he would actually get a place that he could transform into a place that he could stay for two to three weeks.


    Not long as he walked down the road, precisely thirteen minutes later, he discovered an hollow place at the foot of one of the chains of mountains that lined the particular side of the road that he was facing, which was the right side.


    "I guess I can make use of this place for my stay till the elders will appear to announce the start of the exams" Xiao Lin said and then nodded his head.


    He then walked towards the place. And once he appeared in front of it, he used his powerful vampiric vision and hearing which he instantly deployed to immediately detect or perceive if anyone was looking at him from far. He wanted to be really careful with exposing his possessions in this place which will definitely have large numbers of fearsomely powerful people who would be able to sense even the slightest ripples of astonishing power that will emit from the Awakening Doom blade and Sorrowful Sea blade, particularly. And he didn''t want to create loud boom sounds using his explosive techniques which would instantly draw all sorts of undesired attention towards him.


    Then after looking around for sometime and feeling that no one was looking at him, Xiao Lin abruptly produced the Demonic King''s blades from his dantian and began to use them to slash at the already hollow place at the foot of the mountain.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!...


    Rapidly sending out large numbers of slashes with the blades tightly clasped in his hands, and in which he delivered more than hundreds of slashes in less than a minute, he was able to quickly create a really hollow cave for himself at the foot of this Karri mountain. Then to mention how deep the hollow cave that he just created using the blades was, it was approximately twelve feet deep.


    After seeing that he had really dug up a deep and large cave for himself in this place, he produced a sigh and returned the blades to his dantian. And once he did so, he sat down on the ground in the cross-legged position to start his comprehension. Then being a vampire who only depended on blood for energy, but rarely did so due to the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian, Xiao Lin didn''t need to think of where to get food to eat or anything like that since he would stay in this place to both cultivate and comprehend till the elders from the sect will appear and announce the start of the exam ceremony. .


    The Blood Energy that would be derived from the Ordinary Blood Symbols in his dantian, is basically more than enough to power him till they would all dry up, and that could take many months for that to happen.


    So, Xiao Lin wasn''t at all worried of what to eat. All he just needed to do in this place was to comprehend peacefully and calmly till when the elders will show up.


    However, a few hours into his comprehension, Xiao Lin who was in a deep apprehension state, could suddenly perceive the voices of people approaching the cave that he made for himself using the Demonic King''s godly-sharp blades.


    Then when these people were finally arrived at his cave, one of them said, "Finally, a cave to stay. Let''s go in guys"


    But just before they could go in, one of them immediately said with a thoughtful expression in his face, "Guys wait, look at the walls and roof of the cave. It seems they were slashed at by something really sharp. And from their smoothness and texture, I can tell that these slashes are fresh. Someone has definitely arrived here before us and used something that I can''t really guess what it is to dig a deep, hollow cave for himself to reside in"


    "Oh. And so what? We are gonna evict the person. Whoever did this did so because he or she realized that their kings are coming over here. So, they quickly prepared a cave before us to settle down." One of them arrogantly said with a nonchalant and carefree look in his face.


    "Yea, true." Another said.


    While the person amongst this group that discovered the slashes made into the wall and roof of the cave to possibly widen it and extend it into the distance to make a deep cave, quickly said to his friend, "Guys, be careful with your arrogant and foolish utterances. What if the person in here is a solitary master of the sword, katana or blade? We have to be really careful with our words so as not to offend who we can''t possibly go up against."


    Hahaha!


    Once that person said that, another person in their group that consisted of six males, immediately said after laughing in a wild and uncontrolled manner at what one of their group members said, "What master is that? Haha! Don''t make laugh at you Xiang Jun. There is no master here. It''s just one of the people that came here for the discipleship exam that opened up a cave in here. And now that this person has done so, he has saved us the stress of doing so ourselves. So, the person should get ready to leave, as his majesties have arrived."


    As this person was saying this, Xiao Lin who had stopped comprehending and was listening to what the people far before him, at the entrance of the dark cave were saying, suddenly had his eyes flash a cold glint.


    "Majesties? We shall see who is the true majesty here, you bastards" Xiao Lin said as he looked at them with the gaze of fat lambs for slaughter using his powerful vampiric vision that completely allowed him to see in even thick darkness.


    Then once he said this, he stood to his feet with his fists clenched. Now, his fists were as hard as rock, and were ready to smash through rocks or anything that seemed like a rock. Then slowly, he began to walk with a calm mind towards them from where he stood. Although his mind was calm, the blood flowing in his body was however like raging dragons ready to tear apart everything with their immensely powerful jaws.


    A moment after talking to the male called Xiang Jun, the male that spoke to him turned his head to look into the darkness before them and which stretched into the distance with sinister intent erupting from his eyes. He then said, "Fellow cultivator, I know that you have been listening to all that we were saying since we arrived here. So, if you don''t want us to come over there and brutally beat you up to chase you out of this cave in a deeply embarrassing manner, I will suggest that you quickly run towards the entrance of this cave and dash out of it into the road in the next instant. Or if you don''t do so and we advance towards the location that you are doing only Heavens knows what, you could probably meet your doom there. So, hurry up now and scurry out of here like the scaredy rat that you are, brat"


    "Really?" Xiao Lin asked with a cold smile on his lips and a cold but fierce glint in his eyes.


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the cultivators who could perceive that the voice was closer to them and seemed to be approaching them, quickly readied themselves for what might come at them anytime soon.


    Then the male that said that said with a nod of his head, "Yea, really. Now, get towards here and kowtow to us severally before dashing out of here like the rat that you are, lad"


    Hahaha!


    Immediately the male said that, Xiao Lin burst into a loud and raucous laughter.


    "What''s making you laugh, brat?" The male asked with a fierce expression appearing in his face. He just couldn''t understand what was making Xiao Lin laugh, when instead he should be frightful and reply their questions with trembling voices.


    "It is just way funny how you keep calling me brat, whereas you fools are the brat. Yea, you and your foolish friends that don''t have eyes to notice an exception that should be exempted from your stupid bullying practices. Anyways, when I get there, and I still meet you guys there, I will teach you all a great lesson that you wouldn''t forget for the rest of your puny, miserably useless lives.. Haha!" Xiao Lin said with his voice slowly growing deeper, thicker and beast-like.

 Chapter 148 - Drawing Everyones Attention

    Immediately Xiao Lin said that, the eyes of the people that gathered before the cave that he made, instantly glowed with unbridled fierceness. However, the glow of ferociousness that emanated from their eyes rapidly receded when the voice of the person speaking to them from within the cave, gradually changed from that of a human to that of a beast. It was like the person currently inhabiting the cave was not a human but a beast that had changed into a human. And now that they had possibly provoked it, it had reverted back to it true form.


    But not willing to back down due to their numbers and their confidence in their strength and battle power, the leader of the group called Long Wei said with a harsh tone in his voice, "So, you have concluded in your mind that we are bullies? Haha! We are not. We are rather a group of cultivators that will try to suppress and bind up anyone that will contest with us for anything that we have placed our gazes upon."


    "I see. However, you are still bullies to me. And you know what I do to bullies? I could possibly handicap them if I am in the mood. And for your information, I am in the mood. Haha!" Xiao Lin said and produced a raucous laughter.


    Then immediately he ended his unbridled laughter, he appeared before the group of young cultivators that had gathered at the entrance of the cave that he created using the Demonic King''s blades.


    Once the group of young cultivators saw him, they immediately burst into loud and raucous laughter.


    Then the leader of the group called Long Wei said, "I see that you are really bold to make those utterances when you are just a sickly and dying cultivator. Haha!"


    However, immediately after he said that, Xiao Lin who had clenched his right hand into a fist, abruptly sent it out towards his chest.


    Bang!


    The instant Xiao Lin''s fist connected with his chest, Long Wei was instantly shoved off his feet and into the distance where he crashed into the earth eight feet away.


    Xiao Lin moved incredibly fast that Long Wei wasn''t given the chance to evade the punch that Xiao Lin sent out in a really fierce manner towards his chest.


    And once Long Wei was knocked into the distance for eight feet away, he instantly dashed out to attack his next target which was the person closest to Long Wei.


    So, immediately he arrived before his next target, he quickly brought the knee of his right leg up to his chest level and then abruptly kicked it out like he had the aim to shatter a wall with his feet.


    Bang!


    Arghh!!


    The moment his feet impacted the chest of that person, the person immediately screamed out in pain and was abruptly sent flying into the distance where he crashed into the earth many feet away. But even when his body smashed into the earth from the wall-collapsing kick that was sent out at his chest, his body still dragged along the ground for a few feet more before coming to a complete halt.


    Seeing that Xiao Lin had quickly taken down two of their colleagues, the other members of the group that Xiao Lin was attacking, immediately readied themselves to unleash furious Spiritual Energy attacks at him.


    So, raging attacks that howled like wrathful gales of slicing winds, immediately shot out towards Xiao Lin at where he stood. While Xiao Lin who could sense the power of their attacks, had large quantities of his dark-colored Spiritual Energy quickly erupt out of his hands before transforming into a dark, dome-shaped shield of Spiritual Energy around him.


    And immediately he did that, the many attacks that were sent out towards him by his attackers, began to heavily impact the protective shield of Spiritual Energy that he skilfully weaved around himself to guard himself from their seemingly vengeful attacks.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    So, once the roaring attacks struck the shielding dome of Spiritual Energy, loud bang sounds began to ring out with waves of power immediately surfacing from the points at which the attacks struck the dome before raging into the far distance at great speeds, radiating the power and the invisible mights to shatter all things in their paths.


    However, as the bang sounds rang out, the attentions of people that were still standing before the large golden gate of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect, were immediately pulled towards the distant location that Xiao Lin was busy fighting his persevering and stubborn attackers.


    "What the hell is going on down there?" One questioned with a puzzled expression in his face.


    While another that stood a few feet away from the person that just spoke, asked with a perplexed expression in his face, "Don''t tell me that a battle is going on between cultivators down there?"


    Immediately this person asked that, the eyes of everyone gathered here glowed. Everyone, including mortals themselves, have always enjoyed the spectacle of a great battle. So, as soon that person asked that question, it quickly occurred to everyone that a battle was taking place somewhere down the wide road of the Celestial Dragon Emperor''s sect.


    "But who would have the courage and boldness to start a battle somewhere near the location of the sect?" One asked with a bewildered expression in his face.


    Haha!


    One unexpectedly laughed and then replied saying, "Someone really stupid, folks."


    He then continued, "Guys, let''s go check it out. Let''s see who is fighting. So, as we are busy waiting for the elders from the sect to appear and announce the start of the discipleship exams, we can as well feast our eyes on the battle currently taking place so that we can entertain ourselves. Or what do you think?"


    "Yea, let''s do just that." Another said with eagerness in his tone. Then not waiting for the others to say or do anything, he immediately dashed out from where he was towards the place that the bang sounds were loudly ringing out from.


    Once this person took off, the others behind him immediately also took off and began to head in the direction that the bang sounds were ringing out from.


    ...


    Xiao Lin''s dark, dome-shaped shield of Spiritual Energy actually resisted the destructive power of the fierce Spiritual Energy attacks that were sent out towards it. And once it did so, with the attacks that struck it rebounding in other directions, Xiao Lin immediately canceled off the protective energy dome and aimed out his two hands at them.


    Then the instant that he did so, large amounts of dark-colored Spiritual Energy immediately discharged from his palms before transforming into two large solid balls that immediately shot out towards two of his attackers at high speeds. They had shot out towards them like cannonballs fired from a powerful cannon.


    Bang! Bang!


    Argh! Argh!!


    So, once the heavy, dark energy balls that Xiao Lin shot out from his palms struck the two attackers that he targeted, they were tyrannically impacted by them which caused them to instantly cry out in pain and anguish before being lifted off their feet and then launched into the distance like arrows fired from a bow.


    Immediately those two were flung far away by the solid, round-shaped Spiritual Energy constructs that struck them in the chest, Xiao Lin quickly dashed out to where his remaining attackers were. And once he appeared before one of them, he immediately turned around and sent out a powerful whipping kick towards the head of his target.


    Bang!


    Immediately Xiao Lin''s whipping kick struck the side of the head of that cultivator, he was immediately sent flying for many feet into the distance like a spear that was furiously thrown by a tyrannical brute. And even when he crashed into the earth a moment later, his body still tumbled on the ground for many seconds more before coming to an absolute halt.


    At the moment, due to the heavy kick that Xiao Lin sent out towards the head of that cultivator, half of his face had torn away to reveal the bony framework that held the skin of his face. While blood which had started to gush out like a small fountain from that part of his face that was ripped away by the heavy shredding kick that Xiao Lin sent out towards his face, turned into a pool of blood around him which soaked the cloth that he wore.


    But he wasn''t the only one that got terribly injured. Others too, and even sustained more damages in their bodies than this person that was brutally kicked in the face in a whipping fashion by Xiao Lin.


    So, the leader of this group called Long Wei and who was the the first to receive Xiao Lin''s lethal punch to the chest, had his chest completely cave in that it almost flattened out.. While different sizes of fragments of bones that could be found at his chest and rib regions, could be seen sticking out of his chest and rib-bones area, giving them a rather messy, bloody look that will seriously invoke the urge to vomit in anyone that looks at them.

 Chapter 149 - The Elders Take Notice Of Xiao Lin

    Then the last person of the group that tried to attack Xiao Lin began to tremble in fear when Xiao Lin appeared before him.


    He then said in a stuttering manner, "P-Please forgive me."


    Xiao Lin only gave a cold smile when he heard that.


    He then said, "Your transgressions cannot be forgiven."


    Then before that person could say anything, Xiao Lin suddenly threw out his fist towards his chest.


    Bang!


    Immediately his fist struck the person''s chest, he was immediately sent flying into the distance with blood beginning to spurt out of his mouth like a small fountain. Then when he crashed into the earth a moment later, his body tumbled across the ground for sometime before coming to a full halt.


    Once Xiao Lin had taken care of these people that came to his cave to expel him, he prepared to go in.


    But before he could do so, he heard the sounds of footsteps and hearts pounding in great excitement rushing towards him from afar.


    And immediately Xiao Lin heard those, he produced an awry smile in his face.


    He then said, "I guess that the boom sounds that rang out from the collision of our attacks have drawn their attention towards us. Ugh!"


    Not long, a large number of people with expressions of excitement written all over their faces began to arrive before Xiao Lin in the distance. And once they saw Xiao Lin, they began to look around for his opponents.


    "There. Look at them, they are on the floor" Someone suddenly said, pointing his hand in a particular direction.


    And once this person did so, everyone quickly looked in that direction that he pointed at and saw about seven badly damaged bodies scattered here and there over the earth surface in this location.


    "Damn. But this guy is ruthless" One said and looked at Xiao Lin with a shocked expression in his face.


    "Yea, he couldn''t even try to retract his punching power or lower the damaging power of the attacks that he sent out. He is just wicked." Another one unexpectedly said as he looked at Xiao Lin with his brows furrowed in both shock and perplexity.


    However, just after that person said that, another who was looking at Xiao Lin with an awed expression in his face, immediately said "Guys, have you all forgotten about the fact that he took care of seven cultivators himself? If you have, do recall now. So, if he can take care of this number of cultivators himself, that goes to show that he is no ordinary rogue cultivator and that he is really powerful."


    Then before anyone could say anything else or perform a gesture, that person that spoke just now continued with a terrified expression appearing in his face, "Damn! I hope anyone of us wouldn''t have to face him in one of the trials that will take place when the elders from the sect come out to announce the start of trials for discipleship admission into the sect. And I am beginning to wonder if he wouldn''t do us the way that he did those cultivators scattered here and there all over this area. Ugh! If that''s the case, then we have to immediately surrender to him, or be thrown out of the discipleship exam ground with our bodies covered in frightening injuries"


    But immediately that person said that, another one spoke, looking at the person that spoke just now with a disgusted expression in his face, "What? Who the heck is this moron? Are you really here for the exams, or you are here to bow in fear to some cultivator that knocked out seven useless and miserable cultivators? Huh?"


    Once that person said that, everyone gathered there burst into laughter. While Xiao Lin only shook his head and prepared to go back into the cave that he dug out for himself to continue his comprehension before it was disrupted by those seven cultivators that came to disturb him.


    However, as they were busy discussing about Xiao Lin with shocked and puzzled expressions in their faces, many elders from the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect whose attentions were also attracted to the battleground that immediately manifested between Xiao Lin and those seven cultivators, began to look at Xiao Lin with their brows deeply furrowed.


    "Hmm. That boy is tough. And his punches are really hard. He must be a body cultivator" One of the elders in a large hall that many elders of different ranks could be seating on the ground in the cross-legged position to either cultivate or comprehend, said with an indifferent expression in his face.


    "Yea, he may. However, even if he is, he is nowhere close to possessing the degree of toughness possessed by the bodies of our disciples. He is a only a show-off trying to be quickly popular amongst his fellow cultivators that are here to take the discipleship exams. And speaking of exams, I don''t think he may really go far. He would be evicted in just the first phase of the trial" Another one immediately said.


    However, another elder who didn''t agree with what that elder just said, immediately spoke to counter what he said, "Nah. Don''t reason like that elder Xi, that boy will do just fine in the exams. Besides, only as a rogue cultivator, he already possesses the strength to knock out seven cultivators on his own. That goes to show that the lad is really strong and powerful. Besides, it is really wrong of you to compare him to our disciples. They are on different levels. They are cultivators being trained by our magnificent instructors and have consumed the consummate cultivation resources that our sect provided them, while that lad is just a kid out there trying to survive and become stronger over time. Some of the disciples that we have now if they were just like him and they met somewhere to battle, they could be quickly taken care of by that boy. Then you people should watch, once that boy passes the trials and becomes admitted into the sect, he will quickly ascend in power and fame. It could be so rapid that you guys will be tremendously perplexed. Haha!"


    Haha!


    Immediately that elder said that, every other elder cultivating in the large hall called Hall of Elders, burst into grins.


    One of them then said, "Hmm. You might be right, elder Wei. Anyway, let''s see how far the boy can go when the exams start"


    ...


    Xiao Lin who had gone back into the cave to continue his comprehension, began to have all sorts of thoughts run through his mind.


    "Now that those bastards have caused me to engage in battle with them, thereby showing some of my abilities, the elders from the sect would have taken note of me. Basically everything that I tried to avoid has come back in my face to poke it. Ugh!" Xiao Lin said.


    He then continued, "Well, I will try my best to absorb everything thrown at me by them, because by now, I am certain that they will pay more attention to me than the others"


    And once Xiao Lin thought all these, he closed his eyes to resume his comprehension.


    While Xiao Lin was focusing on his comprehension, the people that hurried down to where he was to watch the battle taking place between him and those seven that he wickedly knocked unconscious, frowned their brows when Xiao Lin just walked away on them like they were nothing.


    "That guy... What''s fe feeling like?" One asked and then shook his head in displease.


    "Well, he is feeling himself. And it''s all our fault. Now, we have unintentionally made him feel that he is a superstar by rushing down here and discussing about him more than the sect." Another person said.


    He then continued, "Well, you guys can stay here to continue feeling him. As for me, I am out of here. We shall meet at the examination ground. And I hope that he is good and strong as you all think"


    Immediately that person said that, he turned around and walked away, heading back to the place where the sect''s massive golden gate was. And as he did so, many other people also turned around and began to walk behind him back to the sect''s gate to await the announcement of the exams by the examination-conducting elders.


    Why those that still remained there, began to think of a place to stay till the day that the elders from the sect will announce the start of the discipleship examination.


    "Should we go meet that guy and beg him to allow us to stay for the night? Then that we would move out the next day to go find a place that we would stay?" One of the people still gathered here said in a whispering tone to a cultivator that he just made friends with in this place.


    "What? Go meet that ruthless tyrannical guy and beg him to stay with him for the night? Haha! We wouldn''t want to do that. Let''s go try to make our own cave. Just a shallow one will do for the night.. Then we can deepen it the next day by sunrise" One of them said and then walked away to go find an area at the foot of one of the numerous mountains here that was a bit weak so that he could make a cave in it with his power.

 Chapter 150 - Trials Start

    Once that person arrived at the foot of a mountain, he began to use his Spiritual Energy to try to carve a rock in it. And as he did so, the other people that he made friends with in this place also left where they were and joined him to use their Spiritual Energies to make the cave-carving process much more faster.


    As they were doing so, the other people who could be found in this place, also realized in the next instant that they needed to find a place to stay till the elders will appear to announce the start of the exam. And so, they started making caves at the base of the mountains that they picked.


    Then after waiting for a few weeks more, with everyone minding their businesses, a loud horn sound suddenly rang out from far.


    Once this horn sound rang out, with everyone that stayed at the different artificial caves that they made at the base of the chains of mountains immediately realizing where it came from and what it was, quickly sprung open their eyes and then stood to their feet.


    Then they immediately rushed out of their caves towards the large golden gate of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect which was already open.


    And once they arrived there one after the other, they saw a few of the elders of the sect floating in the air and looking at them with smiles in his face.


    "I welcome you all to the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect. As you all know, this sect has been producing top exceptional cultivators for the past fifty years, with many of them going on to become immensely famous and powerful cultivators." One of the elders at the forefront suddenly said with an amiable smile.


    He then continued, "So, you all should understand that now that you are here, you are on your way to becoming one of the greatest cultivators that the world haven''t heard or seen before."


    "But before you can be allowed to become our disciples here and be trained by our top-notch instructors who will groom you into cultivators that will marvel every being in the world, you must first take exams that will assess your true battle capabilities, comprehension and cultivation talents."


    "Now, for the first trial of the discipleship exams, you will be facing our own students. But don''t be frightened, they won''t try to go too serious with you lads, unless you manage to piss them off. Haha."


    "So, once the first phase of the exams starts, each of you lads gathered here will individually engage a disciple of ours."


    "If you manage to knock your opponent out of the large circled floor that you will find yourself in any moment from now, you have passed. But if it''s the other way around, then you have lost and must immediately leave this region." The elder floating in the air said.


    He then questioned "Am I clear?"


    "Clear as day, senior" One of them said out loud while the others nodded their heads.


    "Good!" The elder said.


    He then continued, "Your exams start now!"


    And immediately the elder said that, two large pillars that had strange words inscribed on their surfaces, began to gradually rise out from within the ground. And as they rose, they caused the earth to slightly tremble.


    Then when the large pillars which reached fifty feet high stopped rising a moment later, spatial fluctuations began to occur at the space between the two pillars. Then a moment later, the spatial fluctuations grew stronger with a miniature portal suddenly appearing there and rapidly growing larger in size.


    Immediately this portal appeared, it produced a tremendously strong attractive power that drew all the people gathered at the large golden gate into it.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!...


    Numerous swoosh sounds instantly rang out as people were pulled into the portal and then immediately transported through space to another region where they will take the exams.


    Xiao Lin who was amongst these people, had also been sucked into the portal and then taken to a part of the massive region where the exams will take place.


    And as soon as he landed with his feet to the ground, he looked up to notice someone staring at him from far in the distance. And immediately he saw this person, he quickly braced himself for the intense battle that will occur between the both of them soon.


    The person that he saw, was a long-haired, towering male that wore a bright uniform that had the logo of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect attached to the chest area of the uniform.


    Then all of a sudden, the male cracked a ruthless smile in his face and said "Welcome!"


    And as soon as he said that, an astonishing amount of fire and lightning exploded out from within his body, generating a multi-colored brilliance that illuminated where they were.


    Then the instant that fire and lightning surfaced on his entire body, seeming as if the male was engulfed by both fire and wild currents of electricity, he quickly pointed out at Xiao Lin and said "Thunderous Celestial Fireball!"


    Whoosh!


    Very quickly, a dazzling huge ball composed from both fire and electricity that produced constant, deafening thundering sounds, suddenly surfaced in the air and abruptly shot out towards Xiao Lin.


    Seeing the ball of fire and lightning that was shooting towards him, Xiao Lin quickly erupted dark-colored Spiritual Energy from one of his hands which then abruptly condensed into a blade similar to the Awakening Doom blade.


    And as soon as the blade formed in his hand, he immediately raised it into the air and slashed it out very quickly at the gigantic, lightning fireball shooting towards them.


    BOOM!


    As soon as the blade struck the lightning flaming ball, the ball instantly exploded with a terrifying boom sound, releasing a massive, powerful blast of fire and electricity in the next instant that heavily impacted Xiao Lin and sent him flying for many feet into the distance.


    While the male who saw that he had blasted Xiao Lin away, quickly dashed out towards where he was to continue unleashing barrages of attacks that will knock Xiao Lin out of the large, glowing blue circle that had suddenly and mysteriously appeared on the ground in this seemingly uncharted region.


    Seeing that the male was rushing down towards him, Xiao Lin quickly stood back to his feet like he levitated from the ground to his feet. And once he stood firmly on his feet, he immediately caused large amounts of dark-colored Spiritual Energy to gush out tremendously fast from his palms.


    And once this happened, it immediately transformed into a large blade that Xiao Lin tightly grasped and used to immediately slash out at the uniformed male dashing towards him.


    Slash!


    Then the moment that he slashed out, huge amounts of Spiritual Energy actually erupted from the edge of the large blade composed from his Spiritual Energy and abruptly transformed into a massive blade that immediately shot out at a great speed towards the male.


    But just before he could really slash out at the male, the male who was able to quickly figure out what Xiao Lin was about to do, made massive amounts of lightning Spiritual Energy to erupt from his palms at an insanely fast rate. Then once this type of elemental Spiritual Energy appeared, it abruptly turned into a massive, lightning-based energy attack that shot out at a great speed towards Xiao Lin in the distance.


    BOOM!!


    So, the attacks which were sent out at the same time, smashed into each other with a tremendous amount of force due to their shocking densities and the great momentums that they individually possessed. And once this absolutely fierce collision occurred between them, a visible wave of energy bearing a great destructive power, abruptly surfaced and rushed out into the surroundings in all directions.


    And as soon as that devastating wave surfaced after the heavy impact of their fierce attacks and then swept out at a shocking velocity in all directions, a violent and raging stream of electricity abruptly burst out into the surroundings and also moved at a great speed like a tsunami in all directions with the power to seemingly turn all things in their paths to bits.


    Seeing that his powerful and absolutely overbearing, elemental energy attack was quickly nullified by Xiao Lin, the male from the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect laughed in a rather raucous manner.


    He then asked with a smile that expressed an inexplicable intent appearing in his face, "You are powerful for a rogue cultivator. I am impressed. Who are you? What''s your name and where are you from?"


    But as soon as that male gave that compliment and asked that question, Xiao Lin said with a rather fierce and battle-ready expression appearing in his face, "Who I am is not important. What is important is that you should ready yourself to be thrown out of the glowing blue circle by me"

 Chapter 151 - Storm Fists

    But as soon as that male gave that compliment and asked that question, Xiao Lin said with a rather fierce and battle-ready expression appearing in his face, "Who I am is not important. What is important is that you should ready yourself to be thrown out of the glowing blue circle by me"


    Then very quickly, without giving that male the chance to respond to his statement, Xiao Lin quickly moved large amounts of dark-colored Spiritual Energy from his dantian to his right hand.


    Immediately he did that, the energy channeled to his palm erupted out of it like a small explosion before rapidly turning into a solid, jet-black blade that Xiao Lin grasped. And once he did that, whilst deploying a powerful battle method in that same instant, he tightly clasped the blade formed from his dark, high-quality Spiritual Energy and used it to slash out at his fierce male opponent from the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect. .


    However, the male who was simply ready to battle Xiao Lin, abruptly channeled large amounts of Lightning Spiritual Energy to his palm and quickly punched it out at the attack that Xiao Lin launched at him. And as he did so, he shouted "Heavenly Thunderous Fist Desolating Continents!"


    So, once Xiao Lin slashed out with the dense, blade-shaped construct held in his hand, large amounts of black-colored Spiritual Energy that pulsed with great power, instantly erupted from the sword in a seemingly furious manner before abruptly turning into a massive, ink-black sword that shot out at a great speed towards the male in the distance. And as it did so, it radiated the power of sharpness that will invoke the terrifying feeling in anyone that it possessed the absolute power to cut everything in its path to innumerable shreds.


    As for the male that Xiao Lin battled with, an astonishing amount of lightning Spiritual Energy instantly exploded out of his fist before instantly transforming into a large and transparent, blue-colored fist that was many feet tall and dozens of feet wide. And from it appearance, it will simply conjure the thought in anyone that it was the hand of a lightning giant.


    So, as soon as it formed which only took less than half of a second, it quickly shot out a great speed towards the frightening blade-shaped attack that the Xiao Lin sent out towards him. Then whilst traveling towards that attack at an insane speed, it rampantly produced echoing, deafening boom sounds with long and thick arcs of electricity endlessly discharging from within it, which then abruptly caused the earth directly below them to rapidly develop dark-black patches at different sections of it surface that began to emit thick, white-colored fumes when it was struck by them.


    BOOM!!


    Then the instant both attacks collided in mid-air, waves of high destructive power abruptly surfaced from the point of their collision and rushed out at great speeds into the distance in all directions.


    And as soon as the waves surfaced and swept out, they were immediately accompanied by a raging stream of electricity that also rushed out in all directions to burn and electrocute everything in it path.


    Seeing the waves and the rampaging stream of lightning that had manifested from the collision of their attacks, Xiao Lin and the male from the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect quickly backed away by many feet before they could be wickedly impacted by the furious kinetic waves and the raging lightning stream.


    "Since you are surprisingly so powerful, get ready to be overwhelmed and subjugated by my more powerful attacking skills" The male from the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect unexpectedly said out loud from where he was with admiration in his tone.


    Then as soon as that male said that, he abruptly aimed out one of his palms at Xiao Lin.


    Then the instant that he did so, a stream of lightning Spiritual Energy abruptly erupted out of it in large amount before rapidly transforming into a massive, blue-colored axe that had dozens of profound inscriptions in it surface and then began to brim with power to burn and sunder all things in it path.


    Immediately the blue lightning ax appeared, it shot out at a great speed towards Xiao Lin who only produced a smile in his face.


    And Xiao Lin who could sense the power and great pressure that emanated unendingly from the powerful ax-shaped attack that had begun to travel towards him like it were a spear, quickly prepared to destroy the attack, using only his fist.


    Since he got those Spiritual Aura-bestowing pills from the Obsidian Abdicator and had used them to increase the number of Ordinary Spiritual Cyclic Revolutions in his body, which would in turn definitely heighten the resilience and durability of his body to a high level, he wanted to know how tough his body had become. And although the attack that was shooting towards him gave off a feeling of tremendous sundering might, he wasn''t however scared of it. And this was because he believed in the hegemonic body-cultivation art of the Demonic Blade King.


    As for the male from the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect who was attacking Xiao Lin, when he saw that Xiao Lin didn''t reciprocate with his own Spiritual Energy attack to either negate or neutralize his ax-shaped attack, he became very worried as he understood that his attack might instantly kill Xiao Lin if care wasn''t taken.


    Then once the dreadful attack arrived in front of him, Xiao Lin abruptly punched out at it with his clenched fist that was imbued with his majestic and overbearing dark-black Spiritual Energy.


    BOOM!!


    The instant his fist fiercely struck the attack in the form of an ax, a powerful wave of frightening power immediately surfaced and swept out with a tremendous amount of force to shatter all things in it path.


    Then when the wave of energy carrying that shocking destructive power disappeared, and the huge cloud of dust that it heaved up towards the sky dispersing away many moments later, Xiao Lin could still be seen standing at his spot with a knowing smile in his face. He had this particular smile in his face because he had predicted the outcome within himself.


    Then for anyone that would look at him, they will discover to their shock that he wasn''t even moved away from his position. It was like the attack that he struck out against with his fist was mainly composed of air.


    While the male from the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect who was his opponent, couldn''t help but have his eyes glow in utter astonishment. And it wasn''t only him, one of the many elders who manipulated the space transference power of the portal that sucked everyone into this region for the discipleship exams so that he could pit Xiao Lin against this male nicknamed Storm Fists, couldn''t help but open his mouth wide in shock.


    ''Wow. What a strong body. Hmm. This brat must be an excellent body cultivator'' The elder said from where he watched the battle while the others that also watched the battle with him agreed in unison.


    ...


    The male that was battling Xiao Lin, abruptly aimed out one of his palms again at Xiao Lin and discharged a larger amount of lightning Spiritual Energy from it this time.


    Then once the energy erupted out of that hand in a tremendous amount, it abruptly transformed into a massive blue halberd that speedily shot out towards Xiao Lin with a tremendous amount of unbearable pressure beginning to emit off of it and radiate unrestrainedly into the far distance. And as this great pressure emanated from it which then pressed heavily against everything that it came across, it caused the ground immediately below it to begin to crack like it were glass.


    When the halberd-shaped attack got to him in the next instant, Xiao Lin who was totally ready to face this powerful attack head-on, simply sent out his other fist again towards it.


    BOOM!!


    Then like a powerful explosion which simply shook the portion of earth that Xiao Lin stood upon and abruptly released a wave of terrifying power that traveled at an extreme speed with a high ruination power into the far distance to devastate all things in it path, the large halberd composed from lightning Spiritual Energy, rapidly shattered apart upon being struck by Xiao Lin''s fist and then reverted in the next moment into wisps of crackling Spiritual Energy that returned to the world.


    When the immense, mushroom-shaped cloud of dust that erupted into the air because of the huge, terrifying blast that resulted from the explosion of the halberd-shaped, lightning Spiritual Energy attack upon clashing with Xiao Lin''s fist dispersed many moments later, Xiao Lin could still be standing at his spot.


    It was like the attack launched at him this time also didn''t have the power to move him away from his spot.


    So, when the huge amounts of dust heaved into the distant and surrounding atmosphere cleared away some moments later, Xiao Lin looked at his male opponent called Storm Fists from the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect and said "My turn, get ready!"

 Chapter 152 - Overpowering Storm Fists

    Then as soon as Xiao Lin said that, he suddenly dashed out from where he was towards Storm Fists who unexpectedly had great difficulty in seeing him due to the tremendous speed that he was now moving at, since he had started utilizing the Movement Skills that he had fused together and had mastered to a certain level.


    Then once he appeared before Storm Fists, he abruptly punched out one of his rock-hard fists towards his chest.


    Bang!


    A deafening bang sound immediately rang out when Xiao Lin''s fist struck Storm Fists by the chest. Then because of the force that the fist struck his chest with, Storm Fists was instantly hurled away from where he stood to a shocking distance of more than ten feet. And this was just from a single punch that Xiao Lin didn''t pack much punching power into.


    As soon as Storm Fists landed to the ground at that distance that he was heaved to by that punch, he couldn''t help but cough out a few mouthful of blood.


    The powerful force that transferred from his chest to the rest of his body when Xiao Lin''s hard fist connected with it, caused his entire blood within to begin to roil so violently that they wanted to burst out of his body like small, pressurized fountains.


    Xiao Lin''s fist could have possibly pierced through or blasted a miniature hole in Storm Fist''s chest if it was more focused. But since it wasn''t, it became a punch that could only project a certain amount of force into his body which then caused Storm Fists to be violently lifted off his feet and shot through the air in the backwards direction like he were an arrow that was furiously fired from a powerful bow..


    Not long, the blood that seethed within Storm Fist''s body stopped. He then tried standing back to his feet with a small bit of struggle.


    But as soon as he did so, Xiao Lin who didn''t want to give Storm Fists a little bit of time to allow him to attack him, suddenly appeared before him in the next instant.


    Then once he arrived before him, he sent out another powerful punch again towards his chest.


    Bang!


    Immediately the punch sent out by Xiao Lin struck Storm Fists in the chest, Storm Fists was abruptly knocked off his feet and sent flying for a few feet into the distance where he crashed into the solid earth beneath him with his back.


    Thud!


    Then landing with a heavy thud, the air in his lungs were forcefully expelled out of them as he slammed hard with his back right into the ground from that punch.


    And before he could even think of standing, Xiao Lin had appeared before him once again. Then as soon as he appeared, Xiao Lin grabbed Storm Fists by one of his legs and flung him away like he were a ball to another place within the large glowing circle that both of them were having their intense showcasing battle.


    Whooosh!


    Bang!


    So, immediately Storm Fists was heaved away by Xiao Lin, a whoosh sound began to ring out as his body pierced through the air like an actual projectile to a distance of ten feet, which was immediately accompanied by a bang sound when his body crashed into the earth at that distance that he was ruthlessly flung to by Xiao Lin.


    Xiao Lin then abruptly jumped into the air towards Storm Fists from where he stood, which was more than ten feet away from where Storm Fists crashed into the solid brown earth of this vast region.


    Then as soon as he appeared above Storm Fists in the air at a height of fifteen feet, he unexpectedly folded his two knees and then tried landing with them on Storm Fist''s chest so as to probably knock him out.


    However, before he could make them impact Storm Fist''s chest, Storm Fists who had recovered from the flinging action of Xiao Lin, quickly rolled away from the spot at which Xiao Lin''s knees would heavily strike him.


    Bang!


    Xiao Lin''s unprotected knees struck the bare solid ground and unbelievably caused a wide but shallow crater to appear on the surface of the earth at this part of the region. Then around this massive superficial crater that he caused with his knees, could be seen cracks that extended into the distance, seeming as if it were a huge web-like crack when viewed from above.


    Storm Fists who was able to evade the lethal, double knee-strike to his chest and tried to withstand the pressurized, strong currents of air that resulted from Xiao Lin''s knees heavily impacting the ground with a shocking amount of force and then breaking it apart, quickly pushed his entire body off the ground and into the air using his arms when he caused his body to immediately spin around by kicking out one of his legs in a whipping manner.


    And once he did this, where he was now a few feet above the earth surface, he quickly forced his body to turn around and then sent out a really powerful kick towards Xiao Lin''s head.


    However, the instant that he did this, Xiao Lin quickly put out his arms vertically and firmly before his face to block the sudden kick that was aggressively whipped out towards his face by Storm Fists. .


    Bang!


    Immediately Storm Fist''s kicking leg made contact with Xiao Lin''s vertically-placed blocking arms, a bang sound rang out which was instantly accompanied by a small discharge of air that rushed out in a violent manner in all directions, giving the feeling that a miniature, pocket-sized explosion had occurred.


    However, due to the impossible and amazing strength in Xiao Lin''s arms, and the shocking toughness and resilience of his body, Xiao Lin didn''t even move away from his spot.


    It was like he was literally kicked by nothing, and that the violent discharge of air that surfaced was an illusion.


    While Storm Fists who sent out that kick that would surely sunder a large rock rock into halves, was immediately displaced from his position in the air as the reaction force that surfaced upon impacting Xiao Lin''s powerful and tough arms with his kicking leg, acted on him alone by pushing him off from the air and into the distance of several feet away.


    "Had enough yet? Or you want more?" Xiao Lin who had appeared before Storm Fists using his fused, superior Movement Skills, asked with a slight smile in his face.


    "I certainly don''t want more. But I haven''t had enough of it yet" Storm Fists immediately answered with battle intents beginning to erupt from his eyes like a small flood, thereby causing his eyes to glow and sparkle at the same time.


    "Hmm. Alright then" Xiao Lin said with his eyes narrowing.


    He then unexpectedly walked away from Storm Fist''s side and into the distance for a few feet. While Storm Fists who was on the ground, immediately stood back to his feet with a kip-up. And as soon as he did so, a roiling aura that caused the air around him to surprisingly seethe, and will certainly invoke the intense feeling of immense thirst for battle in anyone, began to unceasingly emanate in a seemingly furious manner from his whole body.


    Arghhh!!


    When Xiao Lin had gone further for a few feet into the distance, he suddenly turned around and leaped towards Storm Fist from where he was with a shout. And when he arrived before Storm Fists in the next moment, he abruptly sent out his rock-hard fist towards his shoulder.


    However, Storm Fists who had comprehended that Xiao Lin had a shocking close-quarters combat prowess and was really quick and agile, quickly twisted his body to the right to evade the incoming punch that Xiao Lin sent out towards his left shoulder. .


    And once he dodged the punch that Xiao Lin sent out towards him by contorting his body, he quickly brought up one of his knees to his chest level and then instantly whipped it out with a huge amount of force towards Xiao Lin''s chest to simply knock him flying.


    Bang!


    However, Xiao Lin who had an amazingly tough body, couldn''t be knocked or pushed backward by the immense force that Storm Fist''s leg struck his chest with. Rather, it was Storm Fists who was knocked off-balance, as he began to stagger backwards from the reaction force that acted on him alone.


    Xiao Lin was simply like a solid and thick wall of some rare, dense metal to Storm Fists who still staggered for a few feet more before eventually regaining his balance.


    ''What sort of an amazingly tough body does this guy possess? It felt so much like I snapped my kicking leg against a nigh-indestructible statue made of some metal. Hmm. I guess I would have to switch back to my Spiritual Energy attacking method, or I would seriously fail and disappoint the examination-conducting elders that put me in here by not knocking this male out of the glowing blue circle'' Storm Fists said inwardly with great shock and a bewildered expression in his face.

 Chapter 153 - Devil Fangs

    Then once he regained his balance after staggering backwards for many feet, he quickly aimed his two hands out at Xiao Lin and abruptly expelled violently seething streams of Spiritual Energy from them.


    The moment that the streams of Spiritual Energy gushed out from his two palms, they instantly transformed into two blue-colored blades of lightning that were each six feet wide and ten feet long.


    Then as soon as the blades which unceasingly shot off long and thick, wild arcs of electricity from their entire edges formed, they instantly shot out at great speeds towards Xiao Lin to strike him.


    But the moment that Storm Fists expelled lightning Spiritual Energy from his hands, Xiao Lin also did the same by releasing his overbearing, dark-colored Spiritual Energy from his hands which then actually, instantly transformed into a solid and heavy hammer that he wielded like he was a belligerent, warring god of hammer.


    Then with a fearless and confident smile appearing in his face as Storm Fist''s lethal, lightning-based energy attacks shot out towards him, he unexpectedly dashed out towards the incoming blue lightning blades and then smashed out heavily at them with the huge, dark-colored hammer grasped in his powerful hands.


    BANG!


    BANG!


    Two loud bang sounds immediately rang out as the dual, lightning-bound attacks that Storm Fists sent out towards Xiao Lin, instantly shattered into tens of thousands of fragments like they were mirrors that were struck hard by a rock when the solid and heavy hammer that Xiao Lin wielded, collided really hard into them.


    Then once Xiao Lin had reduced Storm Fist''s blade-shaped attacks to many pieces, he unexpectedly lifted the dark Spiritual Energy hammer that he wielded above his head and suddenly hurled it out of his hands towards Storm Fists to knock him away..


    The hammer which didn''t even sustain a single mark or crack from smashing really hard into the dreadful lightning blades that Storm Fists sent out, shot through the air like an actual arrow fired from a powerful bow towards Storm Fists.


    But quickly comprehending the kind of devastating power that the dark Spiritual Energy hammer was shooting towards him with, Storm Fists quickly packed power into both of his legs and then rapidly launched himself into the air like a spear that was hurled towards the sky by a giant.


    Then once he got to a height where he was more than fifteen feet above the ground, he flexibly contorted his body in the air and quickly went into an aerial forward roll before landing back to the ground a few feet away from Xiao Lin.


    The instant that he landed, he quickly punched out at Xiao Lin and immediately expelled a raging flood of lightning Spiritual Energy from his fist, which then abruptly transformed into a massive, deep blue fist that radiated a great and overwhelming pressure that pressed really hard against everything in it presence, and unceasingly exploded with terrifying amounts of blindingly bright lightning arcs.


    Swoosh!


    Then shooting towards Xiao Lin like an actual cannonball that was fired from a cannon, the immense, thunderously booming blue fist of compacted lightning arrived before Xiao Lin in the next instant.


    But before it could really impact him, Xiao Lin who was quick and was a fast-thinker, abruptly punched out with his clenched fist towards the thundering fist that had arrived before him with an intent to seemingly collapse and ravage all things in it path.


    BOOOM!!


    And like a localized but really powerful explosion suddenly occurred before him, Xiao Lin was instantly sent flying into the distance by the waves of both lightning and kinetic energy that had abruptly surfaced from the point of collision when his rock-hard fist impacted the seemingly vengeful, blue-colored fist of lightning with a tremendous amount of force. .


    However, the elemental Spiritual Energy fist that Storm Fists sent out in mid-air towards Xiao Lin, couldn''t really do much damage to Xiao Lin''s body as it was astonishingly tough and durable.


    And at the moment, the large and solid, deep blue fist formed from lightning Spiritual Energy that Storm Fists sent out towards Xiao Lin, had instantly splintered about in thousands of places like it were a large mirror that was struck hard by something heavy.


    While Xiao Lin who had crashed into the earth a few feet away from the violent, tyrannical waves that suddenly impacted him upon the explosion of the lightning Spiritual Energy fist into tiny shreds when his hard fist heavily clashed with it, quickly stood back firmly on his feet like some unseen pulling force lifted him up from the ground to allow him stand back on his feet.


    And once he was back on his feet, with his feet becoming rooted towards the ground, he gazed at Storm Fists and unexpectedly said with a smile in his face, "My turn! Prepare yourself to experience one of my supreme attacking skill!"


    Then he abruptly aimed out one of his hands at Storm Fists and rapidly unleashed a dark-colored stream of his overbearing Spiritual Energy from it.


    Once the energy erupted very quickly from that hand in a massive amount, it actually, instantly transformed into a large dark halberd that began to radiate an overwhelming and suppressive pressure, then a peculiar and dreadful power that caused Storm Fists to quickly develop currents of chills in his body at where he stood.


    Then the instant that the halberd formed, it abruptly shot out towards Storm Fists to impact him.


    However, just before the attack could strike him, Storm Fists who had quickly understood that there was nothing he could really do against such an overpowering attack, quickly recalled a glowing, treasure saber that he possessed from his high-grade spatial ring to his hands.


    Then as soon as the saber appeared in one of his hands with the dark halberd-shaped attack that Xiao Lin sent out also appearing a few feet away from him in that same instant, Storm Fists quickly slashed out with the saber tightly clasped in his hand at the attack.


    BOOM!


    Xiao Lin''s fearsome attack which couldn''t really withstand the high laceration power of the blade that Storm Fists struck out at it and with a tremendous amount of force, quickly lost it form and instantly exploded into thousands of pieces that lit up the surrounding like sparks of dark-colored radiance. However, as soon as it exploded, it produced a powerful blast wave which stuck Storm Fists and sent him flying into the distance.


    But Storm Fists who had quickly returned the blade called the Scarlet Moon Emperor blade back to his spatial ring, quickly folded his legs as his body shot backwards through the air at a great speed like he were a furiously thrown spear.


    Then once he did this, his body turned around in the air like a wheel. And immediately his body turned a few times in the air as he shot backwards, he forced himself to land back to the ground with his feet firmly placed on the floor.


    While Xiao Lin who remained where he was looked at Storm Fists with a smile in his face.


    He then said out loud from where he was at Storm Fists, "Hey, great fighting prowess you have there, disciple of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect. Besides, you have also got a nice blade."


    "I won''t ask where you got it from because I am not the type to dabble into people''s personal affairs. But anyways, I want to praise you for it. It''s beautiful and at the same time, really sharp. I saw how it effortlessly shattered my fierce attack into tiny fragments without a single pulse of energy emitting from it, meaning that it possesses it own unique sharpness. Well done"


    Xiao Lin said sincerely with a bright smile plastered in his face. While Storm Fists who now understood that Xiao Lin wasn''t his mate when it came to battle prowess and attacking skills, unexpectedly produced a smile in his face and then suddenly went into a bow.


    Then when he straightened himself back, he said to Xiao Lin with sincerity and gladness in his tone, "Thank you for the battle, examinee. I really enjoyed myself. Furthermore, from our short but intense battle, I have been able to understand many other ways of improving my attacking methods. Now that I have realized the flaws in my attacks, I will go meditate to remove them and refine my techniques once again. Then I hope that the elders pass you so that we can have a rematch. I would really love to fight with you again in the soonest future"


    Once Storm Fists said that and turned around to leave the glowing blue circle that they were both in, Xiao Lin who was now looking at his back with a smile in his face, immediately said, "Wait... I don''t know your name."


    "Just call me Storm Fists." Storm Fists said without turning around to look at Xiao Lin.


    "Hmm. Alright, Storm Fists. I am glad that from our battle, you were able to gain some degree of comprehension that will enable you to refine your battle skills to make them faultless and much more powerful."


    "Then as for me, just call me Devil Fangs." Xiao Lin said with a smile.


    Immediately Xiao Lin said that, Storm Fists turned around to look at him with an inexplicable expression in his face. He then said "Alright, Devil Fangs. Glad to know you"


    He then turned around once again to leave the blue circle.

 Chapter 154 - Second Trial

    A moment later, Storm Fists came out of the circle and began to walk into the distance. And just when he was about to take his next step, the space around him began to warp, seeming as if everything around him was only an illusion. Then when the warp that suddenly occurred stopped in the next moment, Storm Fists was nowhere to be seen.


    While Xiao Lin who was looking at Storm Fists as he headed into the distance in a random direction after coming out of the glowing blue circle that they were in, shook his head with a comprehensive expression appearing in his face after he witnessed Storm Fists disappear before his very eyes in a rather mysterious manner.


    But it wasn''t that mystifying to Xiao Lin as he rapidly understood that one of the many elders from the sect and was watching them, had used his or her power to affect the space around Storm Fists so as to take him away from the examination ground.


    So, when Storm Fists had teleported away, Xiao Lin turned around to face a random direction. Then once he did so, he waited to hear any of the booming voice of the elders who would tell him what to do next.


    Therefore, as he patiently waited for the instructions of the elders, a voice suddenly rang within his mind, saying "Devil Fang, you have passed the test. Now, move out of the circle to be taken to the ground for your next trial"


    Immediately the voice said that and faded away in the next instant, Xiao Lin nodded his head with a brilliant smile appearing in his face.


    Then still looking in that random direction that he previously turned to face, he began to walk in that direction towards the edge of the glowing blue circle to come out of it. And once he came out of the circle, the circle disappeared, while Xiao Lin had the space around him begin to twist.


    Then before he could close his eyes and open them in that same moment, he suddenly found himself before a place that seemed like a shrine.


    Actually, this place was a shrine and was one that was really large in size, as it could easily accommodate more than tens of thousands of people.


    So, Xiao Lin who had appeared before it gate, prepared to go in. And seeing that no other person had appeared here, Xiao Lin felt that he was the first to have finished from the first ground for their discipleship trial.


    Then when he arrived before the huge door to go into the massive shrine, a voice that gave the feeling of absolute ancientness, as it sounded like one that had seen everything even before the origin of time, suddenly rang in Xiao Lin''s ears and mind at the same time, "Welcome to your next trial, potential disciple."


    And once it said that, giving Xiao Lin really strong chills as it caused his entire body to go into a state of total immobility, it said further "Now, for this trial, you will have to go into the shrine that you see before you to comprehend a particular diagram that will be sent to your mind before a month is up."


    "If you can''t unravel the mystified principles hidden in the cultivation diagram before a month is over, you will be immediately taken out of the examination ground."


    "Oh. Alright, senior" Xiao Lin said with a shaky voice within himself.


    However, one couldn''t blame him, as he had never experienced this kind of total paralysis that was brought upon him by only a voice before in the past.


    Then immediately after Xiao Lin said that, the voice still active in his mind, said "Good!"


    Then it continued by saying further, "However, going into the shrine won''t be easy for you, as you will experience this immense pressure that will try to stop you on your way to where the diagrams will be sent to your mind. Am I well understood?"


    "Yes, senior." Xiao Lin immediately said respectfully.


    "Good! You can go in now" The voice said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    And as soon as that voice said that and rapidly faded away from Xiao Lin''s mind, the huge door of the massive shrine immediately swung open by itself like some unseen entity had pushed it open.


    Once the huge door that was noticeably formed from rocks opened by itself, Xiao Lin made up his mind to go in.


    Then the instant that he went in, a pressure so vast that it seemed like a large, invisible mountain was pressing against him, suddenly came upon him. And as soon as this type of immense pressure appeared, it struck Xiao Lin so hard that he was simply rammed to the tiled floor of the enormous shrine with a loud bang sound immediately ringing out.


    Arghh!!


    While Xiao Lin who wasn''t expecting this degree of pressure that could possibly rip apart his organs, and cause his blood to burst out of his body like sprays, quickly screamed out in pain, horror and anguish.


    And as he remained on the floor trying to find a way to overcome the pressure that had suddenly come upon him and pressed him really hard against the tiled ground of the shrine that it began to gradually crack, the pressure acting on him suddenly went up by some degree. While Xiao Lin could who could immediately sense this, screamed out in horror and frustration.


    Now, he wasn''t sure if the same insane pressure that was acting on him at the moment, would also be the same that will act on the others from the first ground for the discipleship trial when they eventually appeared here.


    He actually thought this because he felt that there was no way that they would be able to withstand the pressure currently affecting him, as they could even burst into mists of blood if care wasn''t taken. And he was also able to think this because he now knew the degree of toughness of his body when he fought Storm Fists. So, from their intense battle where he destroyed most of Storm Fist''s attacks with his fist alone, he was able to comprehend that the hardness, resilience and durability of his body was definitely one that he felt shouldn''t be rivaled in any way by any of the other people currently taking the discipleship exams.


    So, immediately Xiao Lin thought this, he was able to quickly arrive at another train of thought, which was that, the unseen entity that owned that majestic, ancient voice, and the elders who had seen him as he used only his fists to ruin many of Storm Fist''s rock-shattering attacks, thereby had the idea that his body was really tough and strong.


    And so, when taking this particular exam that involved resisting a pressure that will try to inhibit him from reaching the place where the diagram transmission was, the entity that owned that voice, had no choice than to increase the pressure that Xiao Lin would experience to another level.


    Once Xiao Lin thought this, he was now able to understand that the entity that probably resided within the shrine, and had understood the toughness of his body to a certain extent, had to allow him face this kind of pressure that the others would not probably face when they arrived here.


    And immediately Xiao Lin contemplated this, he couldn''t help but utter ''ugh'' within himself in a really frustrated manner.


    ''I guess that exposing one of the attributes of my body has brought this upon me. Well, it''s my cross to bear. So, I have to do it if I want to pass this test.'' Xiao Lin said internally and then tried mustering great strength within his body so that he could get back up on his feet from the ground and try to move to the place where the diagram transmission place in the shrine was.


    Then with a loud and furious shout, he tried to stand back to his feet after gathering much strength within his body.


    However, it wasn''t enough, as the immense pressure that continuously acted on him, pressed him back to the ground. He couldn''t even bring himself to kneel on just a knee.


    ''I have to do this. I have to get up'' Xiao Lin said and tried to gather more strength in his arms and legs.


    Arghh!


    He shouted again and tried to force himself to stand back on his feet, but he couldn''t do so, as the enormous pressure unceasingly acting on his body, simply prevented him from doing so.


    ''What do I do? This pressure is extremely overwhelming for me. There is no way I will be able to stand back on my feet with just this measly strength that I am putting out.'' Xiao Lin said unhappily within himself as he rapidly thought of what to do.


    Now, every second was highly important to him, as he was still going to try to figure out the principles that will be concealed within the myriad, mystified cultivation diagrams that will be sent to his mind.

 Chapter 155 - Cheating I

    So, as he forced himself to get back on his feet, but found it really hard to do so, a thought suddenly popped in his mind


    ''Should I unleash a bit of my vampiric power to give myself more strength so that I will be able to force myself back to my feet?'' He asked inwardly with a contemplative expression in his face.


    ''Hmm. I guess that''s the only thing that I can do right now, or I will fail this test and be immediately taken out of this place.'' Xiao Lin said further inwardly.


    Then with an odd glow flashing in his eyes which were already closed and prevented the unseen entity residing within this shrine from seeing it, currents of a well-concealed, seemingly ancient power began to surface and circulate about in his body.


    Once these currents of power appeared in his body, and which was hard to notice by the powerful senses of either the shrine-inhabiting entity or the examination-conducting elders, since it didn''t ripple off from his body apart from being well-hidden, Xiao Lin began to feel a rapid increase in his physical muscular strength, which then gradually allowed him to begin to withstand the slowly increasing vast pressure that pressed down heavily upon him.


    Then when he felt that the amount of True Vampiric power that he caused to appear in his body was enough, since his body''s strength had shot up to the point of now being able to resist the pressure that certainly felt that like some enormous, unseen mass was pressing against him, he decided to force himself to get back on his feet.


    So, with long and deep growls of determination and an unbreakable resolve, producing the absolute feeling in the mind of anyone that he was really trying his best to muster a great deal of strength to be able to get back on his feet, which was only a facade, Xiao Lin began to climb back to his feet, slowly but surely.


    At first, when Xiao Lin was on his chest against the ground since that immense pressure suddenly appeared and descended on him, instantly causing him to fall with his front first to the ground, and then pressed him heavily to the tiled floor of the shrine so that he wouldn''t get back on his feet, the elders who were watching Xiao Lin and were utterly impressed by him after easily overpowering one of their best, lower-level elite disciples, they couldn''t help but shake their heads sadly and in a frustrated manner when they felt that Xiao Lin would definitely fail in this place, since he seemed to lack the strength to be able to get back on his feet.


    But to their great shocks, they were amazed to see Xiao Lin stand back to his feet slowly.


    "This boy is really persistent, determined, and has a lot of tenacity. I like him. I hope he can complete the trials so that he can become a disciple of our great sect." One of the elders suddenly said with a smile in his face from where he was as he watched Xiao Lin try to get back to his feet to advance to the place where the diagrams transmission will take place.


    "Same here. I hope he can really complete the trials so that he will become our disciple. It''s people like him that are really befitting for our sects. The sects needs people like him who are dogged, persevering, strong, challenging and above all, try to surpass their limits in everything." One elder said with a bright smile in his face.


    He then continued with his brows furrowing when something suddenly came to his mind, "And even if he does fails because he isn''t taking the exact same exams that others will take, the sect must try to acquire him. We can''t lose this kind of person, even though he might not be a cultivation genius, to other sects that are out there and are really trying hard to compete with us and surpass us to become the best."


    "Yes, Elder Luo, I completely agree with you on what you just said. So, if that boy does fail the exams, we will make him an exception by passing him. He just have to be ordained as a disciple into our glorious sect." Another elder said, showing that he totally agreed to what the elder called Elder Luo mentioned.


    While the unseen entity inhabiting the shrine and was also amazed that Xiao Lin could still stand back to his feet to further advance within the shrine, despite the heavy pressure that it put out and will certainly press a fourth-layer Mortal Spiritual stage cultivator to the ground for an indefinite period of time, chose to increase the pressure a little bit again so as to see Xiao Lin''s true limit.


    Immediately the pressure increased, Xiao Lin who had taken a few steps which clearly showed that he was really struggling to walk towards the place where the enigmatic cultivation diagrams would be transmitted to his mind for unraveling, all because of the intense pressure acting continuously on him, suddenly fell with one of his knees to the ground.


    "Hmm. The shrine artifact spirit has increased the pressure once again. I don''t think this lad will be able to make it to that place, or can he?" One of the elders watching Xiao Lin asked with a solemn expression in his face.


    "Haha. I seriously doubt it" Another immediately said after he ended his chuckle.


    Xiao Lin who had fallen with one of his knees to the ground, quickly caused more True Vampiric power to appear in his body. And as soon as currents of this peculiar power manifested within his body, he abruptly channeled them like streams of energy to his two legs where they rapidly imbued his legs muscles and made them much more stronger so that they would be able to resist the new level of pressure that was acting on his body.


    And immediately he did this, Xiao Lin unexpectedly roared towards the high ceiling of the huge shrine, then he forced himself to get back on his feet from his one-leg kneeling position that he was forced to go into when the pressure acting on him suddenly increased by a tad.


    So, now that he was on his feet, he began to head towards the place where the diagram transmission will take place.


    And not long, other people that were able to conquer the highly-proficient disciples of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect, began to arrive one after other before the shrine. Then as soon as their bodies rapidly materialized from the spatial displacement power that moved them through fabric of space to this region, the anciently voice of the unseen entity residing within the shrine, suddenly rang out in their minds at all once, telling them what to do next.


    After listening to it instruction and the obstacle that awaited them within, they courageously stepped in with resolute gazes in their eyes.


    However, as soon as they stepped in with the varying degrees of pressure that emanated from the shrine artifact spirit suddenly descending upon them, they immediately fell with their chests to the ground, since they weren''t expecting it. While the pressure that pressed them hard to the tiled floor of the shrine, simply produced the terrifying feeling in each of their minds that it basically wanted to smash their bodies into thousands of bloody fragments. .


    But when they recalled what the shrine artifact spirit told them, they braced themselves to push themselves back to their feet. And as they tried to do so, they discovered to their shock that they couldn''t bring themselves to stand back to their feet. However, the only exception were a short boy and a tall, slender girl that were at different areas of the shrine''s large hall. They had basically mustered strength within their arms and legs and then stood to their feet to advance to the distant place that Xiao Lin was heading to.


    And not long, like a few minutes later, they arrived directly behind Xiao Lin.


    Now, they could easily surpass Xiao Lin if they wanted to. And since they wanted to, as they were now even competing amongst themselves on who would first get to the place where the diagram transmission will take place, they outpaced Xiao Lin who was now a feet feet behind them and began to mysteriously pick up speed as they walked to that place, giving the shocking feeling to everyone watching them that no pressure was acting on the both of them.


    ''Hmm'' Xiao Lin said with a smile within himself.


    Anyways, he wasn''t in a hurry to rush down there, since he would get there very soon. Besides, he wasn''t one that would let the activities of others to influence his. Then furthermore, he wouldn''t like to partake in their meaninglessness competition, since it was literally all of them that were given one month to unravel the mysteries locked up in the various mystifying diagrams that will be sent to each of their minds. And finally, he doesn''t want to reveal any of his powers and attributes in any way. So, he would gradually inject his myriad strange powers into various parts of his body to grant him some level of ability to be able to finish certain tasks at this examination ground.

 Chapter 156 - Arguments Occurring Between The Elders

    Not quite long, the short boy and the tall slender girl that walked like the pressure emitting from the shrine artifact spirit was nonexistent, arrived before the place where they would have their minds penetrated into by complex diagrams that they would have to quickly unravel to move to the next tasks to become disciples of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect.


    So, once they arrived at that place that was simply a really large and thick board formed from probably a massive earth fragment and had all sorts of diagrams engraved on it surface, they sat down on the cross-legged position before it to start their unraveling of the intricate cultivation diagrams that will be sent into their minds anytime from now.


    Immediately they sat down on the ground before it, ripples of unknown power began to emit from the large earthly board that had all sorts of diagrams engraved into it. Then in the next instant, a soft glow of various colors of light began to emanate from the whole board, before two resplendent rays of light suddenly shot out of it towards the two people seated on the ground before it.


    The instant the rays of light struck them, they effortlessly penetrated straight into their minds where they turned into massive diagrams.


    So, in the inner visions of the two people seated before the large earthly board, were massive complicated diagrams that actually weighed down on their minds upon their manifestation and caused them to have this immense urge to spit out blood from their mouths.


    Therefore, due to the sudden, massive mental pressure that the mystified diagrams exerted on the minds, the short boy and the tall girl had their skin rapidly turn sheet-white in color.


    Now looking really pale-skinned, it appeared as though they had unexpectedly fallen sick. And this was immediately noticed by everyone since they all fixated their eyes on them due to their abilities to easily resist the pressure that pressed down against everyone, consequently attracting their entire gazes towards them..


    Xiao Lin who was also watching them, could understand in the next moment that the diagrams sent into their minds had suddenly exerted a vast pressure on them, thereby causing their fair-complexioned skins to quickly turn sheet-white color.


    Now understanding what would happen next once the diagrams got sent to his mind, he took his mind off it and focused on getting to the huge earthly board and start his own mystification unraveling test.


    So, taking one step after the other which clearly showed that he was struggling to take them, he arrived before the board too. And once he did, the immense pressure particularly weighing down on him quickly receded and vanished. Then immediately the pressure affecting him vanished, he also sat down in the cross-legged position on the ground before the earthly board that had all sorts of images and diagrams engraved on it smoothened, flat stony surface.


    When Xiao Lin tried his best to arrive before the large stony board by taking one step after the other that was full of struggle, the elders watching him from where they were couldn''t help but utter ''wow'' in their minds. They couldn''t believe that Xiao Lin will defy the immense pressure affecting him to arrive before the large stony board and initiate the other exam which was extracting meaning from the complex diagrams that will transmitted to his mind.


    "This boy is a very good seed. He has just shown us that he deserves to be a disciple of our great sect." One of the elders said while the others nodded agreeably.


    "Definitely. He has proven that he isn''t one that will back out of something just because of the pressure that he would face doing so. I like him." The elder said and then continued with a smile appearing in his face, "And if you old, eccentric elders can watch very closely, you will see that this boy is really persistent, just like water. Nothing can stop water from conquering something. It''s a really persistent element of nature. And so is this boy. He is persistent."


    Once the elder said this, every other elder looked at him with smirk expressions surfacing in their faces.


    Then one asked with a naughty expression in his face, "So?"


    "So, that means he should be taken to the department in the sect which I supervise where he would be able to cultivate water element Spiritual Energy." The elder said and continued by saying, "From his persevering and persistent behavior when the pressure was affecting him, you elders should be able to understand that his natural element is water. Therefore, he must be trained in any of the spiritual arts for the water element, or if he is trained in the spiritual arts for other classical elements of our world, he could become stagnant in his cultivation growth. So, don''t let us impede his growth by trying to prove that what I said is wrong" That elder said with a solemn expression in his face.


    Haha!


    Immediately he said that, the elders in the Elder Hall who were calmly listening to him to understand what he was trying to convey to them, suddenly burst into loud and raucous laughter.


    One of them then said while still grinning, "Elder Xin, I like your method. Sounds sweet. Anyways, I won''t try to impede the boy''s growth by trying to prove that what you said is wrong. But I still want to speak anyway."


    "Now, you mentioned that the boy has a persistent behavior which is one of the many characteristics of water. However, do you know that what you said is wrong. No, don''t get me wrong. Water truly has a persistent nature, but so does fire."


    "Fire won''t stop at anything until it has burned down everything in its path to ashes. So, being a really persistent person that boy, he has a behavior that is similar to that of fire."


    "Look at him, right from when he started fighting Storm Fists, he dominated him like Storm Fists was inconsequential to him. And ''Domination'', elders, is the greatest property of fire. It loves to dominate other elements. Nothing can stand in its path when it''s moving. It''s either they are turned to ashes or liquid. So, that boy should be taught the spiritual arts for fire element."


    Haha!


    Once that elder said this, the elder that first spoke and was from the Water Element department in the sect, suddenly gave out an unbridled laughter before asking in the next moment, "Elder Wen, so you think that the boy should be taken to the Fire Element department?"


    Then the elder called elder Wen and was from the Fire Element department, replied with a smile appearing in his slightly wrinkled face, "Yes, he should be taken there. That''s the department that is befitting for the boy, if we really do not want to kill off his talent"


    But as soon as he said this, another elder quickly spoke in defiance, showing that he totally disagreed with what Elder Wen from the Fire Element department said. And so, another round of fresh argument started on which department that Xiao Lin should be taken to so as not to inhibit and eventually ruin his cultivation talents.


    As for Xiao Lin who had gotten to the enormous stony board which still retained it soft, prismatic glow of brilliance, it immediately shot out a pencil-sized ray of light out towards Xiao Lin''s head which penetrated into it in that same instant and abruptly turned into a massive and really complicated diagram that weighed down heavily on his mind. And if anyone else were to experience this, they will suddenly develop this horrifying thought that some massive, unseen mass had appeared in the region of their minds and was now pressing against their minds to seemingly crush them to hundreds of fragments.


    So, because of this effect on his mind which also deeply affected his body, Xiao Lin couldn''t help but also get the urge to spit out several mouthfuls of blood from his mouth.


    However, he tried to control this by causing his blood which was much more thicker than that of his peer cultivators to settle down back.


    Then because of his skin which was already pale-white than normal, the sheet-white color that his skin was supposed to develop upon that pressure surfacing and viciously pressing against his mind, couldn''t really appear, as the pale-whiteness of his skin was very intense that it just easily absorbed the sheet-white color that his already pale-skin was supposed to change into.


    After recollecting himself from the greatly disoriented state that his mind was hurled into, Xiao Lin who already had his eyes closed when he sat down in the cross-legged position before the immense stony board, began to try to comprehend the complicated diagram that was transmitted to his mind.


    Then upon a single gaze at the huge, luminous diagram formed from thousands of seemingly ancient texts in his mind, he couldn''t help but shake his head in dismay and have a morose feeling surface in his heart that this would take more than one month to break down and comprehend.

 Chapter 157 - The Elders Notice Two Other People

    However, he didn''t let the highly intricate diagram in his mind deter him from trying to comprehend it abstruseness.


    So, with his eyes closed, he tried to understand the principle that the diagram hid within it form.


    However, with the pressure that the diagram mysteriously exerted on his mind, he had a little bit of trouble in trying to focus on the diagram.


    But he wasn''t the only one that was having this trouble, the two other people around him were also having great difficulties in understanding the diagrams in their minds due to the unbearable pressure that was exerted by the diagrams upon their minds.


    So, as they tried to comprehend the diagram, they also tried to resist the pressure that affected them.


    Many minutes later, precisely twenty minutes after, other people who tried their best to resist the pressure emanating from the shrine artifact spirit and which affected their bodies, preventing them from advancing forward, also appeared before the large stony board that had many engravings of profound diagrams and images on it surface.


    Then when they arrived before the massive stony board, they sat down in the cross-legged position on the ground before the board that was endlessly radiating a soft glow of all kinds of colors. Then as soon as they did so, multiple resplendent rays of light shot out from the boards towards their heads.


    Immediately the rays burrowed into their heads and appeared in their minds, they abruptly turned into large diagrams that suddenly emitted pressures which unexpectedly pressed down on their minds, giving them the frightening feeling that it simply had the aim to crush their minds to paste.


    As Xiao Lin was busy trying to comprehend the diagram that continuously emitted a certain degree of pressure on his mind to stop him from trying to comprehend it, Xiao Lin began to look at the diagram from one point to another point.


    Now, his aim was to understand a small portion of the diagram before moving on to the small next part of it. He felt that with this method that he was employing to understand the massive diagram in his mind, he would be able to quickly break down it immense structure than to look at it as one whole thing, which would definitely waste his time in doing so. And surprisingly when he switched to this comprehension method, the pressure emitting from the diagram floating in his mind and invisibly weighing down upon it, actually lessened in degree.


    Once Xiao Lin felt this, he slowly broke a smile across his face. He then focused more on that part that he was currently looking at to understand it.


    At the moment, the diagram in his mind which was simply composed from millions of anciently profound texts that were linked together by an invisible force to form the diagram, was simply a massive hand when looked from far above.


    So, as a hand that consisted of five fingers and the palm, Xiao Lin focused on one of the fingers, trying to comprehend what that part really meant before moving on to the next finger to understand what that also meant.


    And, although it was a hand if looked at from far above, Xiao Lin however couldn''t do that in his mind and comprehend in the next instant that the diagram was simply a palm, before moving on to really understand what the diagram which was in the shape of a massive palm was really about.


    So, intensely focusing on one of the fingers of the hand, he tried to understand what profundity was hidden within it. And as he did this, trying to comprehend what the diagram was about, many others who were now taking the exam with him, began to cough out mouthfuls of blood one after the other from their mouths before directly fainting. While others who couldn''t mentally withstand the pressure acting on their minds for long, abruptly removed their attention from the diagrams and stood to their feet to leave the hall. Thus signifying that they had given up on the test and wanted out of it immediately.


    Xiao Lin who didn''t know that this was happening around him, tried to comprehend the diagram in his mind bit by bit before connecting them together to have one whole comprehension of what the diagram floating within his mind was.


    ...


    "Do you think that he would be able to finish that test before a month is up?" One of the many elders who had their eyes now fixated on Xiao Lin as he had shown himself to be one of the best examinee here, asked with one of his brows furrowed.


    "I don''t know. But seeing how far he has come and understanding the level that his persevering spirit operates at, I can confidently say that he will complete the task required to pass this stage before a month is finally up" Another watching Xiao Lin said with a smile in his face.


    "Hmm. Alright." One elder said and spoke further by asking, "Apart from that boy that named himself Devil Fang, which other examinee here do you think that we can bring into our sect even if they fail at this stage?"


    "Oh. Well, if that question is directed at me, I will say that short boy and that girl that shot past Devil Fang when the pressure came upon them in the palace hall." A female elder said, giving her own unbiased response to the question that the elder before her asked.


    "Hmm. Very good answer, Elder Yun" The elder said with a nod of his head.


    He then said further, "That boy and that girl also have what it takes to become our disciples here, even if they fail that tasks that basically tests their overall comprehension skills."


    "The thing is, from the different ways that they individually completed the first task that they came across, I could notice how they easily handled it like the disciples of our sect that they were facing weren''t good enough to knock them out of the glowing blue circle. So, based on that, I can easily tell that these lads aren''t also normal-gifted kids." The elder said looking at the other elders who were looking at him and patiently listening to what he was saying.


    And as soon as he finished what he was saying, another said, agreeing to what that elder just said, "From the fearsome battle techniques and movement methods that they unleashed and deployed to overwhelm and subjugate their opponents, I could quickly tell that they aren''t also ordinary lads. They are just like that boy named Devil Fang but actually, less skilful and less stronger than him."


    "Hmm." The elders agreeably nodded their heads in unison and then turned them away from that elder that they were gazing at to continue looking at Xiao Lin and the other boy and girl that they had identified as the more skilful and strongest amongst this batch of people that wanted to be admitted into the sect and be given titles as members.


    After trying to comprehend for many days what the diagram in her mind was all about, the tall slender girl who had a massive, black-colored pyramid that was upside down and had engravings of skulls on it surfaces, which then moved in and out of visibility like it was formed from certain incorporeal materials, was able to comprehend what the large base of the pyramid was. And as soon as she did so, the immense stony board before her which was monitoring their individual rates of comprehension, shot out a colored beam of light towards the girl which then pierced into her body and turned into actual, dazzling motes of energy which made her feel completely refreshed and energized.


    This was basically like a reward system to keep them going. So, anyone who was able to solve or understand a small bit or portion of the massive diagrams sent to their minds, they would be fired by a prismatic beam of mysterious energy which would penetrate into their bodies and fill them up with energy that they had drained when trying to comprehend the abstruseness of the diagrams.


    Immediately she had that chromatic beam fired towards her which then penetrated into her body and formed dozens of radiant motes of fused mental and vital Spiritual Energy which traveled to her head at inconceivable speeds and rapidly permeated her whole body, the girl''s rate of comprehension slightly increased. Then because of the small boost of her comprehension ability, she was able to quickly solve three-tenth of one of the numerous parts of the pyramid image that she was now focusing on.


    And as for the other boy who started the comprehension test with the girl, he was still trying to figure out what the diagram in his head really represented. It was really confusing to him as it contained a lot of part that were each intricate to solve. He was also having the same issue as Xiao Lin who was now frantic at not being able to produce even a small bit of meaning from the finger that he was focusing on. Then still focusing on it, he asked within himself, ''Can I use my vampiric powers to increase my comprehension rate to a higher degree? For I am sure that even this image composed entirely from cryptic texts in my head, is certainly much more harder than the ones that my peers taking the exams received.''

 Chapter 158 - Xiao Lins New Plan

    So, immediately Xiao Lin thought this, and without looking around to see if anyone was looking at him, he immediately unleashed his True Vampiric power which appeared as currents of a peculiar power within his body. And once this occurred, Xiao Lin suddenly felt his comprehension rate go up by many folds.


    Feeling glad at the upgrade of his comprehension capability, he focused again on the massive image of a palm floating in his mind and exerting pressure on it. And immediately he did that, he was able to quickly perform feats in his mind, such as enlarging the image to a magnification level of hundred times more, or shrink it so much that the image became like a grain of sand.


    ''Awesome! I didn''t know I have this kind of ability. Coming here wasn''t really in vain. In fact, it has helped me to understand a little more of my hidden abilities.'' Xiao Lin said excitedly within himself.


    ''Now that I have discovered another way to use my True Vampiric power, I will be able to use it to comprehend more intricate diagrams and images of battle, movement or cultivation techniques in the very near future. Haha.'' Xiao Lin said within himself once more and laughed.


    Now, returning his mind to a state of complete seriousness, he began to study the image.


    Then with a particular thought from him which was simply ''Magnify'', the diagram which was composed from tens of thousands of linking, glowing texts, suddenly enlarged so much that if they appeared in the outside world, they would connect with the sky, and possibly break through it to reach the dark empty void outside the cultivation world.


    And now that the diagram had grown so large in his mind, Xiao Lin was able to see the enlarged texts that composed the image so clearly in his head. Then observing the linkages of the texts by moving his mind really fast around it so as to study it very carefully and systematically, he was able to come to a conclusion that this image which seemed strange, was similar to a hand.


    ''Is this image the image of a palm?'' Xiao Lin asked within himself, as he couldn''t be very sure of what it was.


    Then deciding to move his mind round it again and again to carefully and observantly study it, he came to a final conclusion that the image in his head was the image of a hand. And once he arrived at this conclusion, he began to think further.


    ''But why the image of a hand? What''s it for? Can it be for cultivation? Or for battle? Or it could be a movement skill that uses the concept of the technique to generate an illusory or solid palm formed from Spiritual Energy to move the user or operator of the technique into the distance?''


    But once he thought this, he shook his head in disagreement to what he just uttered within himself.


    Then he continued, ''This palm can''t definitely be for movement. And neither can it be for cultivation. Therefore, it should be for battle.''


    And once he contemplated this, a thought suddenly flashed in his mind, ''Wait... Can I create my own move using this hand image in my head. Although it''s gonna probably take me a lot of time to do so, it would however be really nice to have a self-created technique of my own. And when I finish creating it and eliminate the flaws in the hand-shaped attack to make it strike harder and deal a lot of inconceivable damages, I can call it the Devil''s Ominous Crushing Hand. Hmm. I like the name. Sounds nice. Let me get to work.''


    But before he could so, he recalled that that he was still at the examination ground and had to comprehend the abstruseness of the image in his head before a month was up.


    So, once he remembered this, he couldn''t help but utter'' Urgh!'' within himself and have his rapidly swelling excitement die down.


    ''Anyways, I can always come back to it. All I just have to do now is to copy the form of the hand image so as to generate my own attack based on it form.'' Xiao Lin spoke internally.


    Then as he was thinking of copying the form of the hand image so as to build one himself later that wouldn''t be structurally flawed, he said inwardly to himself with the brows on his face deeply furrowing, ''Will it be possible to look at the image from above so that I can see how it really looks and duplicate mine?''


    ''Hmm. I could probably do so with my mind now imbued with my True Vampiric power. Let me try it out first.'' Xiao Lin said within himself.


    Then with a simple thought from him which was simply ''sky view'', his mind suddenly appeared far above the massively enlarged diagram of a hand in his mind.


    ''Whaaat?! I actually succeeded in doing so. Haha! This is really wholesome!'' Xiao Lin said within himself with a delighted expression appearing outwardly in his face.


    Then quickly recollecting himself in the next instant before any of the elders watching them would take note of the expression on his face, he focused again on the massive hand far below his mind. And once he did so, he began to take notice of the form of the hand. He made sure that he really took his time to observe the way the hand was. And after doing that for sometime, he came to a conclusion that this wasn''t the hand of a human, but the paw of probably some primitive beast that have lived long ago in the past and could possibly still be living.


    ''Hmm. I will still copy it like that. The only thing that I will need to do is to modify it name so that it can really suit the battle technique.'' Xiao Lin said inwardly.


    He then continued, ''So, I will either call it the ''Ominous Underworld Beast Paw, or the Rebellious Devil Beast Paw.''


    And once he said that and liked the two names that he wanted to give his self-created technique, he began to contemplate more, in the direction of preparing a template for the the battle technique.


    ''Now, for every Spiritual Energy attack, they always have a particular base or foundation that the attack is built upon."


    ''So, for mine, and since I cultivate four different energies for now, as I am sure that the elders will want to make me pick one or two particular elemental Spiritual battle arts to study and master the techniques therein, I can start off the foundation for my attack using the strongest energy that I possess. And that should be Blood Energy, or is it my dark Spiritual Energy? Ugh! This is confusing.''


    ''Well, since they are both overbearing and tyrannical at the same time, and much more stronger than my other energies since I focused on them the most, I can make a foundational energy matrix for my newly conceived attack.''


    ''So, I will mix the both of them and blend them to form one, and then use that perfect fusion of my energies to create the powerful base for my attack. Then using this base of fused energy for my attack, I will build upon it using my Hermetic Demonic Energy and Paragon Werewolf Energy. Also, I could add some wisps of my Blood Energy and my dark Spiritual Energy to them so as to strengthen them, which would in turn raise the damaging power and destructive capability of my attack to another level. Hmm. Sounds right'' Xiao Lin said within himself.


    He then placed his concentration once again on the palm far below his mind which floated at a higher altitude above the palm. And as soon as he did so, he made sure to study the palm again so as not to make any mistake that wood result in his self-created technique becoming severely or heavily flawed.


    So, after scanning the palm again and again and checking with the one that he had branded to his memories for reference in the nearest future when he would set out to create his technique, he immediately stopped what what he was currently doing and lowered himself like he was actually flying to the bottom of the enormously magnified image in his mind.


    Now, he wanted to take his time to memorize one after the other, the linkages of the glowing cryptic texts formed from the combination of indecipherable letters and symbols, and how the linkages connected to one another to form the supposed paw of possibly, an exalted anciently beast.


    Although this would utterly waste the time that he was supposed to use for comprehending the profoundness of the image in his mind, Xiao Lin however felt that it was completely worth it, as the attack which would continue to grow as he added other cultivated energies in future to it, would become so powerful that even glorified empyrean spiritual rulers of continents, majestic spiritual beasts and heavenly-rebelling devils and ancient supreme demons will become terrified of it.

 Chapter 159 - Known And Unknown Enemies

    In a majestic and imposing palace that floated many feet above the ground, a towering man that continuously exuded an aura of incomparable magnificence and power from his entire body, could be seen seated on a ravishing throne that floated a few feet above the tiled ground of the palace. The throne that he sat on, was matchlessly ravishing in appearance, since it was entirely formed from the most beautiful and priceless gemstones in the Spirit Continent.


    "Have the men that you sent out to search for Xiao Lin been able to find him and slay him?" He asked with total indifference in his narrowed, spine-chilling eyes.


    "No, my Lord. They haven''t been able to find your son" A man that knelt with one knee on the ground before the towering man before him, said with absolute reverence and dread in his tone.


    "What? How dare you?!!" The man seated on that floating beautiful throne, asked with a seriously angry tone in his voice.


    Then before the man kneeling on one of his knees could speak, the tall man seated on that throne suddenly waved his hand at him.


    Swoosh!


    Immediately he did that, the man kneeling with a knee to the ground, was abruptly heaved towards the large golden door that stood many dozens of feet away in the distance within the massive hall that they were in.


    Bang!


    The man''s body crashed into it with an amount of force that will cause a small house to be quickly reduced to thousands of small rubbles.


    And once the man''s body impacted that door with the power of many dozen bombs, the intensely angered booming voice of the man seated on that throne, immediately rang out saying, "Never you, I mean all of you, ever call that useless thing my son again. If anyone of you tries to do that in the future, I will take it that you are trying to ridicule me for giving birth to that useless and miserable failure. And do you know what I do to such kind of people? I simply kill them, in the worst way possible."


    And once he said that, the people, cultivators to be exact, who were also around in the hall and witnessed what had happened, quickly went on their knees and nodded their heads in total reverence and fear to what the man seated on the throne said.


    "Good!" The man, who was without surprise Xiao Lin''s excessively proud and egoistic father, said with a slight nod of his head.


    Then clenching his hand into a fist and slightly stretching it outwards before him, he pulled the man that he sent flying into the distance by a slight wave of his hand. And as soon as the man appeared before him in the air, a tremendous pressure suddenly erupted from his body which then tyrannically weighed down on the body of the man who was made to float a few feet in the air before him.


    "Am I clear?" Xiao Lin''s father asked with one of his brows furrowed.


    "Yes, my Lord. Your statement was as clear as day. And I want you to please forgive me for foolishly and ignorantly uttering those highly offensive words to you, my Lord." The man who was made totally uncomfortable because of the great pressure acting on him, quickly said in response to what Xiao Lin''s father said.


    "Good!" Xiao Lin''s father said once again and retracted the pressure weighing down on the man floating before him. And immediately he retracted that unbearable pressure and the unseen force that caused the man to levitate in the air before him, the man dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.


    But very quickly, the man stood back to his feet with an awry smile in his face. Then as soon as he got up on his feet, he bowed at Xiao Lin''s father for a few minutes in fear and respect before straightening himself back.


    Ahem!


    Once he did so and cleared his throat before speaking, he said "My Lord, the men that I sent out haven''t been able to find Xiao Lin. They are even wondering if he has died or something, since they couldn''t find him anywhere."


    Then immediately the man said that, Xiao Lin''s father furrowed his brows and said with a contemplative expression in his face, "Hmm. So, the men that you sent out haven''t been able to discover Xiao Lin using their divine spiritual scanning senses?"


    "Yes, my Lord. So, since they couldn''t find him, they presumed that he has probably died. He could have been killed by other cultivators who will definitely notice the aura of affluence around him when he appeared in that region of our endlessly vast cultivation world. They could rob him of the wealth in his spatial ring and ruthlessly slay him so that he wouldn''t grow strong and come after them in the future when he has probably gotten stronger." The man said, trying to describe his reasons to Xiao Lin''s father.


    "Hmm. You might be right" Xiao Lin''s father said with his brows still furrowed, showing that he was still thinking of something.


    Then he said further, "Anyways, I want them to keep searching for him. Only when they have discovered his rotten corpse can they return. But for now, let them keep searching. And if they eventually catch the bastard, tell them to immediately slay him. He mustn''t be brought here for me to kill, since he could corrupt and contaminate my glorious palace with his filthy aura that invokes nothing but failure."


    "That has been recorded, my Lord. My men will do as you have commanded." The man said and immediately turned around to come out of the hall and convey his message to some group of people that he sent out many months ago to search for Xiao Lin and utterly destroy him.


    ...


    "It''s been many weeks now since Bloodfang left our organization to be on his own. I am certain that since we haven''t been able to find him, he has probably gone to a faraway town or city." One of the members of Nine Calamities'' bandit organization said with a frustrated expression in his face.


    "Yes, I am also thinking the same thing. Since we are finding it really difficult to find him, he is no longer in this place, but some extremely distant city or town that we probably haven''t heard of before." Another bandit said with an awry expression in his face.


    "And we can''t return to the organization to tell Nine Calamities that we returned because we couldn''t find Bloodfang." Someone amongst them suddenly said.


    "Yea. We definitely can''t do that, or we would be immediately killed off by him" Another person said.


    "Hmm. That boy called Bloodfang has succeeded in creating a record for himself in our organization. He would never be forgotten for what he put us and our master through." One of the bandits gathered here said with a shake of his head.


    "I wonder where he is now. With all the treasures and pills that he failed to give to our master and ran off with, he would be really rich now to move from one city to the next without any form of hassle. Our boy can no longer be financially stranded. Ugh! I wish I had like his kind of gut too. Would have also done this too and ran off. But I am utterly scared of our master, Nine Calamities. When he eventually catches me, I immensely doubt that even godlike cultivators would be able to really save me from his hand." Someone amongst them said with a slight degree of fear in his tone, while others upon hearing what he said, immediately burst into loud and carefree laughter.


    "But guys, what do we do now?" One of them unexpectedly asked with a solemn expression appearing in his face.


    "Huh? I don''t understand. What do you mean by what do we now?" Another who was perplexed by what this person just asked, questioned with a baffled look in his face.


    While the person that unexpectedly asked that question that quite confused everyone of them gathered here to concertedly make strategic plans, continued by saying, "Since we can''t return to the castle and don''t have much money with us to be moving around, like from one town to the next in search of that bastard, I guess we would have to stay put in this town for sometime before resuming our mission to search for Bloodfang. Or what do you guys think?"


    "Hmm. Then if we stay put here, what are we going to be doing? Sleeping, waking and discussing?" One asked with a frown in his face.


    "No. Not that. What I mean by stay put in this town for sometime is that, since we would definitely exhaust our monies on feeding, and in moving about from one town to the next in search of Bloodfang, we could just base here for the time being and either rob or steal from people and from places to replenish the amount of monies on our hand, just so that we can easily go about executing the errand that our master, Nine Calamities sent all of us out for." That person replied with an hopeful expression in his face.

 Chapter 160 - Successfully Branding The Image To His Memory

    "Hmm. You are right." One of the bandits said.


    "Yea, I also agree with him" Another said with a nod of his head.


    So, just like that, everyone agreed with him. Then they chose to all remain here at this town where they can steal or rob from people to increase the amount of coins in their hands.


    ...


    At the second examination ground...


    Xiao Lin who was busy copying out the linkages of the anciently texts that formed the beast paw into his mind, had only been able to copy only five-hundredth of the paw.


    ''This is going to take a lot of time! Ugh!'' Xiao Lin said within himself.


    ''Well, I am not supposed to complain, since it is basically what I signed up for.'' Xiao Lin said further and then focused intensely on copying the millennia-old texts that consisted of cryptic symbols and signs into his head.


    At this point in time, a week had gone by, leaving everyone taking this particular test with only three weeks. And if they couldn''t comprehend the profoundness of the images in their minds before the three weeks remaining was up, they would be immediately expelled from the examination ground since they have basically failed one of the most important tests in becoming a disciple at this sect.


    Comprehension abilities were very necessary since it would help a cultivator to unravel and understand the mysteries of Spiritual cultivation, battle and movement arts. So, if one lacks comprehending capabilities, one''s growth and development of their skill sets will become terribly affected that one''s technique could become stagnant and outdated. And this could lead to being either intimidated or terrorized by other cultivators who can comprehend really well, since their level of skills would be highly advanced than that cultivators own. So, apart from exploration of uncharted regions to source for consummate cultivation materials or item to increase cultivation levels, ability to understand techniques and methods contained in spiritual arts was also really important to cultivators. Then furthermore, with high comprehension abilities, a cultivator could actually come up with his own techniques and methods, which could be inspired from some certain techniques in a particular battle, cultivation and movement art.


    So, as Xiao Lin was intensely focusing on the image in his head to copy it off and create his own battle technique, the girl who had a polychromatic beam of energy fired at her from the large stony board, had comprehended up to fifty percent of the profundity of the image in her head.


    Therefore, once she had understood the mystery of the image floating in her head up to that degree, a larger resplendent beam of energy was immediately shot at her again from the large stony board, which certainly invoked the feeling that it was sentient and that it was able to immediately realize when the people before it have unraveled to a certain level the mysteries of the images floating in their heads.


    The moment that the beam of energy appeared and penetrated into her without causing her any form of pain, it quickly turned into many dozens of larger, dazzling motes of energy that quickly moved round her body and permeated it. Also, some of these pearl-sized motes of energy shot into her mind, where they immediately infused it with energy to seemingly invigorate and refresh it. And once her mind was bombarded with the brightly glowing motes of energy and became more energized, her rate of comprehension immediately shot up again to the point that she was able to rapidly understand the abtruseness of the image in her head up to a percentage of sixty-five.


    With a delighted smile appearing in her face due to what was going on, she said within herself, ''I could probably be the first to finish this particular test. And once I am able to do so, the elders will take notice of me. And once they do, they will fight themselves over me so that I can come join any of their departments or factions. Haha. Let me focus once more to try and unravel the secrets hidden by the image in my head. I have to be the first to finish this test. I must outdo everyone here.''


    Once she said this, she focused more on the image to discover the enlightening messages hidden in it.


    ...


    So, as everyone carried on with their comprehension, with only a week and some days left for the test to come to an end, a prismatic beam of light suddenly shot out of the head of the girl towards the ceiling of the hall that they were in. And immediately this happened, a seemingly ancient voice rang in the girl''s head, "Well done. You have passed the test. Now, you can stand to your feet and wait at a side for your colleagues to finish theirs."


    ''Oh. Thank you very much, senior.'' The girl said to the voice ringing in her head.


    She then continued, ''But senior, since I finished before everyone, shouldn''t I be allowed to advance to the next ground for our discipleship examination. It''s not fair if I am allowed to stand and wait for them to finish with what they are doing or till the remaining days left for the test are over.''


    Immediately she said that, the voice in her head kept quiet. It then said after a few moments later, ''Lad, if you don''t shut your mouth, I will shut it for you. I know what I am doing. You can''t teach me my job or tell me what to do. And, although I could have given you a slight punishment for saying too much, but I will just let it slide, seeing that you are an examinee, and I am not supposed to be punishing an examinee until he or she becomes our disciple. Now, do as I said, or get ready to find yourself anywhere in any of the towns out there.''


    ''I am sorry, senior. I only wanted to air my opinions. But since senior has found it offensive, I render my apologies to you. So, I plead that senior forgives me, and I promise not to be unbridled next time.'' The girl inwardly said with an apologetic tone in her voice.


    ''It''s okay. Now go stay at a side and await further instructions from me.'' The anciently voice in her head said.


    ''Yes senior'' The girl responded in a polite manner while the voice sounding in her head rapidly vanished.


    Then once the voice disappeared, the girl stood to her feet from her cross-legged position on the ground and walked to a side where she would stay till the time for the comprehension test was up.


    While the elders who were seeing this, nodded their heads in favorable impression of the girl. Then one of them who was a female, and was old as them, said with a serious expression in her face, "That girl is far better than Devil Fang in terms of comprehension. Up till now, he hasn''t been able to cause the stony board to shoot even a tiny ray of mind-and-body refreshing energy at him. Ugh! What a shame of someone said to be the best crop of this batch of examinees. Haha."


    "Yea, I agree with you on that, Elder Chu. But that is the only area that I can say the girl is actually better than Devil Fang. So, if we talk about other key areas like possessing characteristics such as tenacity, persistence, perseverance, the boy gives the girl a massive gap which could be actually be likened to the unfathomable distance between the heaven and earth. So, the girl is better in comprehension than the boy, the boy is far above her in all other things that you would be able to mention." A male elder who had the aim of making Xiao Lin join the department that he supervises, said out loud in his defense.


    Haha!


    But as soon as he said this, that female elder called Elder Chu, suddenly burst into a loud and raucous laughter. Then when she stopped laughing some moments later, she said with a mocking smile appearing in her face, "True that the boy you elders have placed your eyes on is exceptionally good, only in battle actually. It is only a matter of time before he is far surpassed in skills and strength by that girl who has a comprehension ability that cannot be rivaled by that boy, or any other male clown currently taking that comprehension test. Haha."


    "Hmm. I don''t want to argue with you Elder Chu. I am far too old for that. So, keep your opinions to yourself, while I keep mine to myself." That male elder said and turned his head away from Elder Chu to gaze at Xiao Lin and the other male examinees currently taking the comprehension test.


    ...


    A few days more went by with Xiao Lin finally succeeding in permanently imprinting the perfect form of the image of a primitive beast paw to his memory. And once he was able to do this, he prepared to comprehend the image in his head.


    Then because of his initial comprehension of the image, and the branding of the entire image of the beast paw to his mind, he was able to quickly cause the stony board to fire a colorful beam of energy at him.

 Chapter 161 - Surprising The Elders

    Immediately that happened, the elders seated in the Elder Hall and were watching the examinees, had their eyes glow. Then that elder that was speaking in Xiao Lin''s defense, gazed with a smile in his face at the female elder that was praising the girl that finished the comprehension test first and said, "Well, he''s not that bad. I am sure that before the remaining days are up, he would go join your girl at that place that she is. Haha."


    "Well, I won''t be too sure about that. He has only been able to make the stony board project a beam of energy at him, while that girl has caused the stony board to project four beams of energy at her. So, if I were you, I will not immediately jump to the conclusion that he will finish the task very soon and go join her where she is" The female elder called Elder Chu said with a smile as she gazed that elder that was speaking in defense of Xiao Lin.


    However, once the female elder said that, a beam of energy suddenly shot out of the stony board towards Xiao Lin. And once it arrived in front of him, it immediately penetrated into his body and turned into dozens of motes of brilliance and energy which saturated his body in the next instant and invigorated it.


    Haha!


    One of the elders laughed.


    He then said to Elder Chu, "You see, he has made another bean of energy to be launched at him. Just seat back in a relaxed manner and see how another beam of energy will be sent out at him from the stony board."


    But just as the elder finished talking, another beam of energy shot out of the stony board towards Xiao Lin, which then penetrated into his body and turned into dazzling, colorful motes of energy that rapidly moved round his body and permeated it in the process. And as they did so, some of them surfaced in his mind and fused with it, thereby nourishing his mind with energy, which then caused his comprehension rate to go up by many folds.


    "What? Another one? That was quick. Haha!" That elder that spoke just now, said and produced a raucous laughter. While Elder Chu who was thoroughly amazed at how Xiao Lin had caused the stony board to shoot another beam of energy at him again, furrowed her brows.


    She then turned her head to face that elder and said, "Well, he''s not doing bad. But you can''t compare him to that girl. He may beat her in other areas, but when it comes down to unraveling and comprehending the mysteries of techniques, he is certainly inconsequential before her. And it''s only a matter of time before she surpasses him in skill sets because she would become exposed to lots of powerful techniques that she will comprehend and master and would enable her to overwhelm and subdue the boy if they ever meet to fight. So, that girl is still the winner. Haha!"


    Kekeke!


    The elder that Elder Chu spoke to only cackled. He then said, "Well, we shall see. What is only making me look at you with the gaze that you don''t really know what you are saying, is that you speak like the boy too will not try to improve himself and grow his battle power and develop his skills. It''s like as if once he becomes a member of this sect, he will go to sleep and allow the girl to far surpass him in skills and abilities. The girl is not even a competition for him in the first place. Anyways, no disrespect Elder Chu, but I shake my head at your retarded way of thinking"


    Hmph!


    Elder Chu harrumphed and turned her head away from him to gaze back at the examinees taking the test.


    And immediately she turned her head to gaze at the people other than Xiao Lin taking the tests, her eyes was attracted over to Xiao Lin''s side because of the brilliance of the multi-colored beam of energy that suddenly shot out of the massive stony board before the large number of examinees at Xiao Lin, which then penetrated into his body like it was immaterial and turned into many motes of energy that rapidly pervaded both his mind and body, nourishing them to negate the fatigue and weariness that might have come upon them.


    Once this happened, the elders who were looking at Xiao Lin, didn''t make a sound or say anything, as any sound or word uttered at this point in time, could probably result to a serious argument or fight between them and Elder Chu who seemed to be quite unhappy at Xiao Lin''s rapid progress in the comprehension test.


    Anyways, it wasn''t that she was not happy with his progress, it was just that the male elders were seriously hyping him like he is the best that they had seen so far, which then caused her to be quite mad at them, and unfortunately at Xiao Lin because he was the one being really hyped about by the elders who seem to don''t give a damn about anyone''s feelings or thoughts about the other examinees. Therefore, she was trying to prove them wrong that he wasn''t really the best, but as beams of light emitted from the stony board towards him one after the other anytime that she mentioned something about him, she became annoyed.


    Xiao Lin who didn''t know that his actions and the collective hype of other elders had caused an elder to be really mad at him, snapped open his eyes and stood to his feet to go stand at the place that the girl who first finished the test stood at.


    Actually, he wouldn''t have made any move if he hadn''t been spoken to directly by that same anciently voice that spoke to the girl, which was that he should go stand beside the girl since he had successfully completed the comprehension test.


    Now standing beside the tall slender girl who was looking at him, he said, "So, you are the first to finish. Congrats"


    The girl only smiled and said, "Thank you. Congrats to you also for being the second to finish"


    Xiao Lin slightly nodded his head with a smile manifesting in his face. He then turned it away from her to look at the other people still taking the apprehension tests.


    "So, where did you come from to take the sect''s discipleship exams? I bet that it must be really far away" The tall slender girl who was previously bored as she had been standing here for hours with no one to talk to, but was now glad that Xiao Lin had come to join her, asked with a smiling expression written on her face.


    "Yea. It''s really far away. Well, I am more of a pilgrimage or traveling cultivator. I have been in more towns than I count. And I don''t really put the names of places that I have been to in my head as they aren''t that important. So, I don''t have the name of that particular town, sorry." Xiao Lin said while the girl only smiled.


    "It''s okay." She said.


    Xiao Lin nodded his head and asked her, "So, what about you? Where did you come from for these exams?"


    "Well, the town I am from is a neighboring town to the town that the sect is based at. So, when I heard that the discipleship exams were up, I immediately hurried down here as I didn''t want to miss the exams. Or I would have to wait another one year again, which wouldn''t be too good for me." The girl replied.


    "Oh. I see. Well, you are here now and will surely have been noticed by the elders who are currently monitoring us to take notes of our abilities." Xiao Lin said while the girl smiled.


    "Well, I hope so. And I hope that my unbridled mouth hasn''t ruined their impression of me." The girl said with her face looking down.


    "Huh? How do you mean?" Xiao Lin asked as he turned his head to look at her.


    "Well, I told this voice that might have also sounded in your head that it should let me advance to the next phase of the test so that I can finish before everyone else and be noticed by the elders who would argue amongst themselves on which department or faction that I should join" The girl replied.


    "Oh that. Nah, it''s nothing actually. Their impression of you isn''t going to be ruined because of you just saying that. Instead, it''s going to shoot higher. They will see you as someone who is eager to complete the tasks that they laid down for us, and as someone who is definitely hungry for success and is ready break records so that you will be noticed by the best elder out there who would be currently watching us to take notes of each of our performances." Xiao Lin said and winked at her.


    "Thank you for cheering me up. I really appreciate it" The girl said with the down expression on her face disappearing while Xiao Lin only nodded his head.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!...


    Not long, multiple bright and colorful beams of energy began to shoot out from the immense stony board towards many of the people currently taking the comprehension tests.

 Chapter 162 - Hell-Devouring Blood Princess

    And once they became impacted by the energy beams which then penetrated into their bodies to fill them with energy that rapidly permeated their bodies and pervaded their minds to nourish and strengthen them, their comprehension rates shot up more, allowing them to understand the mystery hidden in the images projected to their minds.


    "Wow. Looks like a beautiful and colorful display of brilliant fireworks" The tall slender girl said to Xiao Lin while Xiao Lin nodded his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    But as Xiao Lin and the girl were discussing, Elder Chi who had been angered by Xiao Lin''s unconscious actions, and the serious hyping by the male elders around her in the Hall of Elders, began to look at him with scorn in her eyes when she saw him discussing and smiling at the same time with the girl that she had made up her mind to either persuade or coerce to join the department that she supervises.


    "See the way the annoying brat is smiling at her anytime she asks a question. Hmm. I have to do something about this before they become good friends. She can''t be friends with him and a student in my department. That''s not going to be possible. So, I have to split them. But that can only be after the test is over. Once I split them, she would never see him again.." Elder Chu said, taking things quite far.


    All these from her was actually not really necessary, but because of the elders who praised Xiao Lin way too much, had caused her to intensely dislike him.


    However, she only disliked him, she didn''t hate him. So, she wouldn''t try to perform any feat that would be seriously detrimental or devastating to his cultivation growth in their sect once he passes the discipleship exams and becomes a bonafide and loyal disciple.


    While Xiao Lin and the tall slender girl who didn''t know what was going on in the mind of Elder Chu, and the schemes that she had angrily orchestrated for the both of them, continued to discuss with smiles in their faces.


    "Hmm. That''s pretty cool" The girl said in response to what Xiao Lin told her.


    She then smilingly asked, "What''s your name?"


    "Li Huang" Xiao Lin replied.


    "Oh. That''s a nice name." The girl said with a nod of her head.


    She then continued, "As for me, my name is Zhao Yu"


    "That''s a nice name too" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then said further, "It''s nice meeting you, Zhao Yu"


    "Yea. Same here, Li Huang" The girl called Zhao Yu said.


    She then asked with one of her brows furrowed, "Do you have like a nickname or a moniker that you would like to be called?"


    "Yea, I have many actually" Xiao Lin said with a smile.


    He then continued by saying, "Anyway, you can call me Devil Fang. I am cool with that"


    "Oh. Devil Fang. I like that" Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin smiled.


    She then asked with one of her brows furrowed, "I want to ask this question and I hope it won''t get on your nerves?"


    "Oh. It''s alright. You can ask." Xiao Lin replied.


    "Alright. Thanks" Zhao Yu said.


    She then spoke further by asking, "Why did you pick Devil Fang out of all the other nicknames that you claimed to have?"


    "Well, I just love the name. Besides, it sounds tyrannical. It will definitely invoke fear in both Gods and Devils when they hear the name." Xiao Lin responded.


    "Haha. That''s nice." Zhao Yu giggled and said.


    Xiao Lin then asked as he looked at her, " What about you? What nickname or nicknames do you have and which of them would you like me to call you"


    "Hmm. Well, I also have many nicknames like you do. They were actually given to me by some of my female cultivator friends who are from the same neighboring town that I am from."


    "However, it''s too girlish and delicate in my own opinion. So, I made up one for myself which you can call me. I believe that should sound more tyrannical and fierce like the way your name does. Haha!"


    "The thing is, I don''t want to be seen as a budding and delicate girl that needs protection from a powerful male all because of my embarrassing, girly nickname. So, I created one for myself to be seen as a fierce challenger and a domineering female fighter and combatant."


    "That moniker is the Hell-Devouring Blood Princess." Zhao Yu said with a smile in her face as she stared at Xiao Lin who simply became lost of what to say. And this was because he was deeply astonished by the name that Zhao Yu gave herself, which basically sounded more fierce and tyrannical than his own.


    Then seeing the astounded look on Xiao Lin''s face, Zhao Yu said with a smile, "I guess you are planning to review the nickname that you gave yourself, since mine sounds more badass and ferocious than yours. Haha!"


    "Yea. You are right, Zhao Yu. I have to review mine again. And fortunately for me, I have been able to come up with a new nickname" Xiao Lin said and looked at her.


    Kekeke!


    Hearing what Xiao Lin said, Zhao Yu slightly giggled and said, "I see. So, we have started battle of nicknames right here, right? Alright, go on and tell me. I want to know the nickname that you just gave yourself"


    While Xiao Lin who heard this, simply nodded his head and said with his lips curling into a bright smile, "Actually, I was able to quickly produce two newer nicknames for myself. And they are the Heavenly Tempests Bloodking and the Grand Darkness Dominating Blades."


    "Hmm. What a big and shameless thief you are Li Huang. You simply stole my nickname and modified it to your taste." Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin only shook his head with a smile in his face.


    Then before he could say anything, Zhao Yu said further, "Anyways, they sound really tyrannical and should induce fear in your future opponents. You did a quick good job with the naming, Li Huang."


    "Thanks!" Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu nodded her head.


    But Zhao Yu who still had many more things to question Xiao Lin about, prepared to ask to get his responses to them. However, before she could really do so, Xiao Lin who just recalled something, looked at her and asked with a solemn expression in his face, "So, your nickname... Why that, Zhao Yu? Do you cultivate any energy that is blood-red in color, or gives the feeling that it is basically composed of blood?"


    "Why do you ask?" Zhao Yu asked looking at Xiao Lin.


    "Well, I asked because of the moniker that you gave yourself. You know, friends or people around at a particular location would only give other sorts of names to someone or an entity that has this signature move about them. I mean, take for example, someone called a Scarlet Flame Emperor. Such a name only means that the person, who might not necessarily be an emperor, actually possesses this magnificent and majestic aura that constantly revolves around them, or possesses a power that can rival that of actual emperors that preside over the affairs of a small or large empire. and is able to generate strong and raging, fierce flames that are colored either bright scarlet or dark scarlet."


    "So, because of the nickname that you gave yourself, which is the Hell-Devouring Blood Princess, I assumed that your aim is to devour the vast, endless flames of hell, and that you cultivate a special and uniquely characterized Spiritual Energy that could be blood-red in color." Xiao Lin said and looked at Zhao Yu who only looked back at him with an impressed gaze in her eyes.


    "Wow. You are intelligent" Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin only smiled.


    He then said, "Well, it''s not a matter of intelligence. Anyone, I mean cultivators, heck even mortals, should be able to quickly figure that simple thing out. It doesn''t require any sort and level of intelligence to say what I just said, Zhao Yu. So, what''s your response to my question?"


    "Well, you are completely right about what you just said, which is nicknames should be based off what we say or do, or off the signature moves and feats that we effortlessly perform out there." Zhao Yu said.


    She then spoke further with a smile surfacing on her lips, "And yea, you are right about what you lastly mentioned, which was that do I cultivate a special kind of energy that is blood-colored. Actually, the kind of energy that I cultivate which is called the Limitless Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy, is an elemental Spiritual Energy that possesses dual characteristics of both fire and ice."


    "So, with a single thought from me after expelling it out of my hands, it will turn a into blood-colored flame that is both gentle and calm. It would appear docile and completely harmless to anyone that would see it. However, upon coming into contact with other sorts of Spiritual Energies, it will rapidly absorb them like it were a black hole and grow quickly in size and strength. Then still retaining it false and illusionary gentleness and harmlessness, it would engulf my challenger and rapidly turn him or her to ashes, that''s if I wanted that."


    "It was because of this physical docile property of my fire that my female cultivator friends gave me that fragile-sounding nickname that would make me sound weak to anyone that hears it"

 Chapter 163 - I Want To Become Your Friend. Or I Will Fight You Till You Agree!!

    Once Xiao Lin heard that, he nodded his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    He then said, "But wow, you have a powerful Spiritual Energy that I can actually become envious of. Haha."


    "Yea. Most people, if not everyone that hears about how special my energy is, become totally envious of it." Zhao Yu said with a smile appearing in her face..


    "Hmm. That should be right" Xiao Lin said.


    Zhao Yu nodded her head and continued, "As for the other characteristic of my Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy, it can turn anything that it engulfs into ice. I mean, solid, blood-colored ice that''s absolutely much more colder than normal ice. Anything that makes contact it with it or enters a close range with it, will also turn into blood-red ice. And I have a feeling that it is kind of permanent. It wouldn''t unfreeze or have it ice thaw under some heat."


    "Well, except the heat of cultivators which are much more powerful than mine, should be able to undo or eliminate the near-irreversible and flash-freezing effect of my Spiritual Energy."


    Immediately Zhao Yu said that, Xiao Lin looked at her with an astonished look on his face.


    "Wow. So, you mean your Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy can either become a consuming burning fire or a chilling coldfire?" Xiao Lin asked to confirm the thought that had abruptly surfaced in his head.


    "Yes. So, with just a simple thought from me, my fire can either burn or freeze, or do both simultaneously, that is it will burn and freeze at the same time. And nothing, I tell you, Li Huang, can escape the fearsome dual-elemental onslaught of my Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy. Haha."


    "Therefore, because of that special and exceedingly rare characteristic that my Spiritual Energy possesses, I have always battled opponents of higher cultivation layers and even stages and then took them down with great ease."


    "My challengers always scurry off like some colossal, invincible elemental beast was right in front of them to devour them whole. Haha."


    "The female senior that I fought at the first examination ground, had to run away from me with expression of both fear and terror written all over her pale, swollen and bloodied face." Zhao Yu said with a smile on her face while Xiao Lin nodded his head with an impressed look on his face.


    "Hmm. From the way that you speak, I have a feeling that you must be one incomparably ruthless female, right?" Xiao Lin said as he looked at her.


    While Zhao Yu only produced a slight smile in her face. She then said, "Well, I can''t really say if I am ruthless. But what I know is that I can be really ruthless and emotionless whenever I want to. As for now, this is the jovial and carefree me. You wouldn''t want to see the other me, Li Huang"


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin giggled.


    He then said, "Well, that''s good, Zhao Yu. It''s really great of you to be ruthless, cold, distant and aloof whenever the time for you to be comes"


    Then still looking at her, he asked with a solemn look on his face, "But what I want to understand is why you are comfortable telling me all these. Especially about the dual characteristics of your Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy which you are supposed to keep as a secret to yourself, just so that it would serve as a great advantage to you anytime that you are involved in some battle with another person who isn''t aware of the shocking exceptional properties of your peculiar fiery Spiritual Energy"


    "Well, I myself can''t actually understand why I felt comfortable telling you all those things that I said. But promise me that you will keep what I told you a secret." Zhao Yu said.


    "Oh! Well, I don''t know if I am good at keeping secrets, but just so you know, when we leave here, I don''t think you will be seeing me again... Including everyone else in this sect, except maybe the elders, the teachers, some seniors, and a few of the disciples in the department that I will be taken to by the elder who has now fixed his eyes on me." Xiao Lin said.


    "Hmm. I like that. Well, I don''t mind the secret properties of my Spiritual Energy being in your hands" Zhao Yu said with a smile.


    She then continued with a puzzled expression appearing in her face the next instant, "But why do say that when we leave this place, which is the exam ground, nobody would be able to see you again? Why is that?"


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin laughed.


    He then said, "Well, I am someone that you can call ''ride alone, die alone'', not ''ride together, die together''. I am a lone ranger. I like being only with myself. I like my own company, very much."


    "Wow. That''s really cruel of you to do that to yourself" Zhao Yu said with a solemn expression manifesting in her face and then shook her head.


    "Well, that''s the only way to grow stronger very quickly. I don''t want to be pulled behind by people called friends. They would only slow me down. So, I don''t want to be concerned about anyone but only myself and my abilities which I want to grow and develop fast so that I can handle everything that will be thrown at me, or come my way on my journey to become the strongest in our world." Xiao Lin said with a smile.


    Although he said that with a smile, anyone who would hear, this will immediately strongly perceive the unbreakable intent and determination in his voice.


    And as he said those, he could picture himself unleashing all sorts of powers to take down his father, who he believed still held his mom in captivity and treated her immensely bad.


    "Well, you still need a company of friends, I mean friends of the same mindset. Only they can produce the pressure needed to push you to achieve your goals." Zhao Yu said as she gazed at Xiao Lin, who only shook his head and said, "Nah. I don''t need them. The sounds and images in my head are enough to generate the pressure needed to push me to my goals. So, I really don''t need them"


    "Hmm. Well, I would like to become your friend. Since I can feel comfortable with telling you all that I should keep as secrets, then that should quickly mean to you that I have taken you as a friend. Therefore, in my own eyes, you are no longer a stranger, but a friend."


    "So I want to become your friend, and you mustn''t refuse or decline. Or I will fight you so hard till you agree" Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin looked at her with a shocked gaze in his eyes.


    "What? You would fight me for that?" Xiao Lin asked with an intensely surprised expression manifesting on his face.


    "Yea. Since asking by mouth wouldn''t work. Then asking via battle should work. We are going to fight like real enemies till either you or I give up and we make a truce and then become friends." Zhao Yu said with a really serious expression in her face.


    And immediately she said that, Xiao Lin''s eyes widened with great shock. He didn''t know what else to say.


    Then still looking at her, he asked to confirm if she was truly serious about what she just said, "Wait Zhao Yu, are you really serious about what you just mentioned to me? That you will intensely battle me like we are actual adversaries of each other and fight till anyone of us surrenders and makes a truce, then we become friends?"


    "Exactly!" Zhao Yu said out loud.


    And immediately she said that, her Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy which was actually blood-red in color, abruptly erupted out of her two hands and began to burn as brilliant blood-red flames on her two palms, which then began to generate both intense cold and heat of extreme degree at the same time.


    "Wow. This girl is a maniac." Xiao Lin who was shocked by what she just did, said with his brows furrowed.


    He then quickly said to avoid creating a scene here, "Alright, Zhao Yu. I will become your friend."


    Once he said that, the raging blood-colored flame burning on her two hands immediately vanished like they weren''t there in the first place.


    And why they previously raged and howled like they were wrathful, instead of the peaceful and gentle nature of her peculiarly-colored fire, was because Zhao Yu wanted to go all out with Xiao Lin, who she felt would be incredibly strong since he was the first to arrive at this particular examination ground.


    So, when the oddly-colored flames burning fiercely on her hands vanished, Zhao Yu whose eyes had also begun to brightly shine in the color of blood, but immediately receded after Xiao Lin mentioned that, looked at him with her lips curling into a smile.


    She then said "Thank you!", while Xiao Lin only nodded his head and said "Don''t mention."


    However, a few moments ago when flames suddenly erupted out of Zhao Yu''s hands, the elders who were looking at the people taking the comprehension tests to see who would stand up next after Xiao Lin, couldn''t help but have their gazes attracted towards them. Then they began to wonder what had suddenly happened between her and Xiao Lin with deep pondering gazes in their narrowed eyes.

 Chapter 164 - Appearance Of An Elder

    "Was she just about to fight with him?" One of the many elders who had their gazes attracted towards Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu, couldn''t help but ask with his eyes glowing.


    "You think so? Look at her, she''s smiling at him. I think she only did that to frighten him." Another elder said with a smile in his face.


    "Threaten? Threaten him for what? Does he owe her anything? Or have they known each other before coming down here for the discipleship exams?" Another elder asked.


    "Well, I think not. But she would definitely have a reason for doing that" One elder said, contributing to the discussion that was ongoing between the elders present in the Hall of Elders.


    And before any of the elder could ask a question or say anything else, the elder who just finished speaking, unexpectedly flew out of the Hall of Elders that all the sect elders were in and shot out a great speed towards the examination ground.


    While the elders who weren''t expecting that elder to fly out of the hall, and couldn''t guess where he was actually flying to, began to look at one another to see if any of the elder seated in the hall has a clue of where he was going to


    "Where is Elder Shanxiang flying to?" An elder asked with his brows furrowed..


    "I don''t know. Neither can I guess." Another said, giving a response to the question that the elder seated in front of him just asked.


    Then seeing where he was flying to, they had shocked expressions develop in their faces.


    "What? Don''t tell me he is actually going to the examination ground. What is he going there to do?" An elder asked with a puzzled expression in his face.


    "Oh my. Perhaps he flew down there to go meet that boy that calls himself Devil Fang and ask about the tension that had suddenly brewed and immediately died down between him and that girl that appears to be Elder Yun''s favorite of the batch of new examinees here." One elder said and looked at Elder Yun with a smile in his face, while Elder Yun who turned her head to look at him when she heard him mention her name, turned it away to continue focusing on the remaining people taking the comprehension test.


    Not long, the elder that flew out of the Hall of Elders and flew at a great speed towards Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu, appeared a moment later above them in the air.


    He then asked with a smile in his face, "Lads, what suddenly happened between the two of you? Care to tell me?"


    While Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu who wouldn''t really dare to hide anything from the elder, firstly bowed to him for a short breath of time before straightening themselves back.


    Then Zhao Yu who was looking at Xiao Lin to see if he would talk, but was disappointed to find out that he wasn''t ready to speak, decided to speak. And since she wouldn''t try to conceal anything from the elder who would be able to immediately detect that she was lying, or that she was hiding some things away from him, could get angry and decide to punish her in a way that will affect her ability to complete the ongoing discipleship exams.


    Then with a smile appearing in her face, she said "Esteemed elder, actually we spoke at length to the point where I got puzzled by what he said, which was that he didn''t want to develop any sort of relationship with anyone in this place, including friendship with anyone."


    "So, completely baffled by what he mentioned, I tried to tell him that it was good to have a company of good friends who would cheer and support him along the way to the apex of power. But he politely declined my suggestion by saying that he didn''t need such companies, and that he in fact enjoys his own company than companies of friends. Also, he mentioned that the images and sounds in his head, which could actually be memories of things that happened to him in the far past and are probably haunting and worrying him, will produce the pressure that''s needed to force him to climb the zenith of power in our world."


    "However, slightly angered by the statement that he made since I totally believe in the power of true and mutual friendship, I had to unleash my fearsome Spiritual Energy to force him to accept me to become his friend when I requested for it and he refused. But everything is okay between us now. He has accepted to become my friend." Zhao Yu said with a smile in her face while Xiao Lin only shook his head with a sigh being uttered deep within his mind.


    "Oh. That''s good. I like that" The elder who was looking at Zhao Yu as she spoke, said and gave her a thumbs-up.


    He then turned his head to look at Xiao Lin who only turned his head to look at the ground. And once the elder did so, he said, "Boy, I don''t know what may have happened to you in the past to make you utter those words that you mentioned to this beautiful lad here. However, just like she said, having friends... No, I mean having true, ambitious, zealous, and like-minded friends who would always be there to support you, are very much needed for your growth and development. Only you can''t do all sorts of things by yourself. Even the most special being in the world still need friends that will support him in everything that he has mind on. Even the strongest, deity-level cultivator from the Spirit Continent will have friends. So, in summary, you need friends to help you grow and reach your full potential."


    "Then if you would like to take a look at what I am saying from another angle, imagine yourself being chased down by powerful people who have the intention to kill you to take the ravishing and powerful treasure that you accidentally discovered in an uncharted region that could be a legacy ground to some powerful ancient cultivator who has died. If you have friends, not greedy ones who would crave, desire and lust after the items such as pills and treasures that you have in possession, they will come up to protect you from the attacks of the people chasing after you to kill you and share your treasures amongst themselves" The elder called Elder Shenxiang said.


    He then said further, "I think I have spoken enough. So, it''s really up to you to either want friends or not. But note that you need friends that will support you in anything that you will put your mind to do. Even if it is the most terrible and most horrendous thing to do in the world, they will actually support you and won''t try to stop you from achieving your objectives. Bye for now, lad. It''s time for me to return"


    Immediately the elder said that, he shot into the sky like an arrow and flew back to the Hall of Elders to have his seat.


    When the elder uttered his last statement and shot into the sky to return to the Hall of Elders, Zhao Yu looked at Xiao Lin who seemed to be in deep thought.


    However, Xiao Lin was actually deep in thoughts. He was ruminating over all that the elder mentioned to him.


    He then thought back to his master, Lin Shou Wen, who was the Demonic Blade King. And once he did so, he said within himself, "If my master had friends who would support him in the things that he was doing, he would still be alive till now. But if he hadn''t died, I wouldn''t have come across him and possess those spiritual art books and scrolls that he passed down to me as his legacy inheritor. Hmm. Well, not being in the company of true and supportive friends had cost him his life, a mistake I hope not to repeat."


    "But who would want to become my friend once they realize what I am doing? I will appear really dangerous to them, and once that happens, they would begin to dread me. Then the day that they start to fear me, that is the day that they will start to plan and scheme to kill me, since they wouldn''t want me to make my move first and kill them to use their blood for cultivation." Xiao Lin said with his eyes narrowing.


    Then once he thought all these, he looked at Zhao Yu and asked with a serious expression in his face, "What if the stuffs that I do doesn''t conform to the things that cultivators would normally do, would you still be my friend by then?"


    "Well, since I have made up my mind to be your friend, then I should be able to accept anything and everything that you will set out to do, even if they are things that will make the world turn their backs on me, or worst, request for my body and soul. Then I who requested to be your friend, will put in my utmost best to help you achieve the very best results in whatever thing that you would set to do." Zhao Yu responded with her lips curling into a bright smile.

 Chapter 165 - Zhao Yus Sad Story

    "Hmm. We shall see about that" Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu nodded her head with a smile appearing in her face.


    She then asked, "So, what about you? What kind of Spiritual Energy do you cultivate?"


    Xiao Lin looked at her and said, "Well, it''s only a normal Spiritual Energy. It isn''t as special as yours which can devour the essences of other Spiritual Energies that it would come into contact with and grow stronger in ferociousness and size very quickly. Haha!"


    Immediately he said that, he ended his statement with a chuckle. While Zhao Yu who heard what he said, only produced a slight smile in her face.


    She then said, "Well, you got a prolonged glimpse of mine. Show me yours. Even if it just a short glimpse. I wanna see it, please"


    Xiao Lin exhaled heavily.. He then looked at her and asked, "Why do you want to see it?"


    "Because you said your Spiritual Energy is an ordinary energy, which is something that I will never believe" Zhao Yu said with a serious expression in her face.


    "Oh. And why won''t you believe?" Xiao Lin questioned with his interest piqued.


    "Because you were the first to arrive at this particular examination ground. If you can quickly defeat the senior that you fought with before I could arrive here, despite how powerful and consuming my fiery energy is, then that can only mean that your Spiritual Energy possesses a type of characteristic that makes it really strong and powerful to enable you quickly overwhelm your opponent" Zhao Yu said, discreetly mentioning her reason to Xiao Lin on why she felt that his Spiritual Energy would also be strong and powerful, just like hers.


    "Hmm. I see." Xiao Lin said.


    He then said with a slight nod of his head in the next instant, "Alright then. I will show you"


    Zhao Yu gladly nodded her head upon hearing that. She then fixed her gaze upon his hands and awaited the appearance of his Spiritual Energy.


    While Xiao Lin who had promised to show her how his Spiritual Energy looks like, brought out of one of his hands and placed it in front of him.


    Then with a thought from him, dark-black Spiritual Energy began to slowly erupt from the surface of his palm. And as it erupted, it invoked the feeling in Zhao Yu who was staring at them with astonishment in her eyes that it were a type of energy that will dominate other forms of Spiritual Energy under the Heavens and above the Skies.


    "Wow. Look at it. So fierce!" Zhao Yu said with an impressed look in her face.


    She then said to Xiao Lin, "I have seen enough."


    "Okay" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head and immediately ceased the eruption of his ink-black Spiritual Energy.


    Then immediately he did that, Zhao Yu who was still looking at him, said with a smile in her face "No wonder you were able to quickly finish off your challenger at the first examination ground before I could arrive here."


    "Well, if you say so" Xiao Lin said.


    Then before he could say or do anything else, Zhao Yu unexpectedly said, "Let''s fight... When you have the time"


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, he turned his head to look at her. He then asked with an astonished expression written all over his face, "You want us to duel when I have the time?"


    "Yea!" Zhao Yu said with a nod of her head, while Xiao Lin shook his head with an awry smile appearing in his face.


    He then said with a solemn expression appearing in his face, "And why would you want to fight me?"


    "Well, because I want to see who has the stronger Spiritual Energy between the both of us." Zhao Yu said with a crooked smile manifesting in her face.


    While Xiao Lin who abruptly developed an inexplicable expression in his face, said "Really? Well, to be sincere, that will be good for us to know. But I would not really like to fight you. I have so many things to do. So, a fight with anybody isn''t on my mind at the moment."


    Haha!


    Zhao Yu laughed.


    She then asked with a mischievous smile surfacing on her brightly-colored red lips, "Scared that I will overwhelm you and beat defeat you in the end?"


    "What? Well, I don''t know about that. But I am not scared of a fight. Why I don''t want to fight with you anytime now, is because I have so many things to do. And if you ask me what those things are, they are simply endless cultivation, unending comprehension and limitless physical training" Xiao Lin mentioned while Zhao Yu only shook her head.


    She then said, "Really? Well, those are very nice. But a fight of only ten or twenty minutes shouldn''t take out of the infinite hours that you have designated for your cultivation, comprehension and physical training."


    Then she said further before Xiao Lin could say anything, "So, I say we fight to know who has the stronger Spiritual Energy."


    Xiao Lin looked at her as she spoke and said after coming to a conclusion in his mind, "From your statements so far, I can easily that you are someone who would certainly enjoy indulging herself in all forms of battle that will occur before her and the ones that she would spring up herself, right?"


    "Yea, right" Zhao Yu said with a playful smile.


    "Alright then. Request accepted." Xiao Lin said and continued with a relaxed smile surfacing on his lips, "However, if I beat you in a domineering manner, don''t start hating on me and then run home to your mommy to report me to them so that she can come beat me up and you happily getting your undeserved vengeance. Hehe."


    Haha!


    Zhao Yu burst into laughter once he heard that.


    She then said with a serious look manifesting in her face, "Why would I do that? I am a grown girl. So, if I lose to you in our upcoming battle of Energies, I will accept my defeat and go train more so that I can bring you down and step on you. Besides, I don''t have a family to run to like a little girl and report that some boy beat me up. I have been living for myself and them since I was young. I have been moving from one place to another so as to survive, till I fortunately met my female master who taught me all the combat techniques that I know, and helped me discover the peculiarity of my rare elemental Spiritual Energy."


    Once Zhao Yu said that, Xiao Lin looked at her and said, "Oh. The Heavens were smiling at you that they made you come across a master that trained you and groomed you into what you are today. And I am really sorry about your family. What happened to them?"


    "Well, they were murdered. I mean, the building that we were all in, was set on fire by some really vicious people that my father was owing a tremendous sum of money. He borrowed large amounts of money from them, after using our home and land as collaterals, to start a business. But the business failed, so he couldn''t pay them back their monies."


    "Excessively angered, and after so many warnings and threats that were issued at the whole household, they came one particular night and set our building and land on fire. Everyone in my family of five, all burned to crisps, except me."


    "I could escape that terrible fate because of my Limitless Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy arteries. They were the ones that prevented the fire from burning me to grey ashes by absorbing the flames that continuously engulfed my body."


    "If I knew how to use my special arteries then, I could have kept my family alive by absorbing the fire that tried to raze down our house and land to nothing." Zhao Yu said with her eyes beginning to glisten, since tears had began to slowly well up in them.


    "No. Don''t cry, Zhao Yu. You will be fine" Xiao Lin said, trying his possible best to comfort her in the way that he felt was best. While Zhao Yu who heard what Xiao Lin said, nodded her head with a tiny, thin stream of tears suddenly escaping one of her eyes and rolling down one side of her flushed cheeks. She then abruptly wiped it off and smiled at Xiao Lin who only winked at her.


    "What about you? You have a family that you could go visit when the sect send us out for errands or tasks or missions?" Zhao Yu asked as she looked at Xiao Lin, who she felt could also have a story that was similar to hers. Then why she felt so was because of the way that he looked, from what he had said so far to her, and from the statement that he previously made after they had kicked off their conversation, which was that the ''sounds and images in his head were enough to keep him going and force him to reach the zenith of power in their cultivation world.''


    So, immediately she asked that question, Xiao Lin looked at her and said with a raging expression quickly appearing in his face, "I don''t have a family. They don''t exist. As far as I know, they are dead. And this is because I have totally erased any memory of them from my mind."


    However, as soon as he said that, he calmed and then looked at her. Then he said with his lips curling into a smile, "Let''s speak about something else, Zhao Yu."

 Chapter 166 - Another Examinee Passes The Test

    Zhao Yu who was looking at him nodded her head.


    Xiao Lin then asked, "So, what do you plan to do about the people that burned your family members to their death?"


    Once he asked that question, Zhao Yu said with coldness manifesting in her voice, "I am going to kill them all. They shall all die"


    "Yea. That''s the best thing to do. You can''t leave your worst enemies walking around when you are still alive. They just have to be destroyed since you can''t live under the same sky with them" Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu nodded her head.


    Then they fell silent and continued to look at the people taking the comprehension tests.


    As for Elder Shenxiang who had flown back to the Hall of Elders, once he arrived there, the other elders who were overly curious of what Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu mentioned to him, prepared to ask him.


    However, before they could ask him any question, Elder Shenxiang said with a smile appearing in his face, "I can see the curiousness in your faces regarding what those kids told me. However, I won''t tell you a thing. If you damned elders want to know what I know, I mean what those lads told me, go meet them and ask them about it too. Haha!"


    Once he said that, he went to his chair in the Hall of Elders to have his seat and relax himself. While the other elders who were in the hall, simply looked at him with all sorts of expressions surfacing in their faces. They really wanted to know what Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu told Elder Shenxiang, but it would be terribly shameless of them to stand from their seats, fly down to the examination ground and ask both Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu what they told Elder Shenxiang.


    Realizing in the next instant that they couldn''t do that, they let it slip. Then they turned their gazes away from Elder Shenxiang and fixed it upon the other people still taking the comprehension tests. While Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu who had fallen silent and also fixed their gazes upon the people still taking the comprehension test, had their eyes pulled towards the direction that a resplendent beam of light suddenly surfaced and impacted someone.


    Then when they looked at the face of the person that was struck by that colorful beam of light that suddenly shot out from the large stony board, Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu were able to immediately recognize who this person was. And to no surprise, it was the short boy who tried to compete with Zhao Yu in resisting the intense pressure that heavily bore down on them.


    Once Xiao Lin saw the person and quickly recognized him as that boy that easily surpassed him in that test of pressure which was simply made to test their levels of determination and resolve, he shook his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    He then said inwardly, ''Well, I guess we are the best crops of this year''s batch. This boy must be really good too''


    While Zhao Yu who could also quickly recognize the boy, nodded her head in an impressed manner and said to Xiao Lin who was right beside her, "That boy too must be good. I wonder what kind of Spiritual Energy he cultivates. It would be really nice to also have a duel with him"


    Once she said that, Xiao Lin turned his head to look at her. Then he shook his head while Zhao Yu who was wondering why Xiao Lin was shaking his head as he looked at her, asked with her lips curling into a slight smile, "What, Li Huang? Did I say anything that came off as bad or totally wrong to you?"


    "What? No. Not at all." Xiao Lin said and smiled.


    While Zhao Yu who wasn''t really satisfied with the answer that Xiao Lin provided to her question, spoke further by asking, "Then why were you shaking your head? You must tell me, Li Huang"


    "Ugh!" Xiao Lin uttered with an awry smile in his face.


    He then said with a solemn look in his face, "Well, you must be someone that loves battle so much. You have an upcoming fight with me, but you are already preparing to extend a battle proposal to that boy over there. You should give it a break. Let your mind and body absorb the corrections to the flaws and faults in some of some battle methods that you were able to figure out while fighting a particular opponent."


    "What? No. Never! I will never ever do that" Zhao Yu said determinedly.


    She then continued with her smooth oval face which possessed eyes that looked like polished gems, bringing up a serious expression, "Only by continuous battles of increasing intensity and difficulty, would I be able to really improve, Li Huang. It would force me to break past my limits and step into a dimension that would open the tightly shut door to a vast and boundless region of endless growth and development."


    "Hmm. That sounds right, Zhao Yu. You are correct. But still, you need to settle down and look at the flaws that you were able to figure out in your battle methods while using them to battle a particular opponent." Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu nodded her head in agreement.


    "Alright then. I will, Li Huang. Thank you for your kind suggestion" Zhao Yu said sincerely while Xiao Lin nodded his head and said with a smile in his face, "Anytime, Zhao Yu".


    Then they turned their gazes away from one another to look at the short boy in the distance who was intensely concentrating on the diagrams in his mind.


    A moment after Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu turned their eyes away from one another after they had finished their discussion to look at the boy who was able to cause a polychromatic beam of light to shoot out from the large stony board, had their eyes widened in slight shock when a beam of light suddenly shot out from the large stony board again towards the short boy.


    Witnessing what had happened, Zhao Yu said to Xiao Lin, "He would soon come to join us here."


    While Xiao Lin who heard what Zhao Yu said, nodded his head in agreement.


    Then not quite long, another beam of light suddenly shot out from the large stony board once again and impacted the short boy, causing the boy''s body to glow, since the beam which unexpectedly surfaced and struck him in the body, turned into many dozens of glowing motes of energy which moved round his whole body and permeated it.


    Feeling refreshed and his rate of comprehension increased to some degree, the boy was able to unravel and fully comprehend the final last piece of the mystified diagram in his mind, which then caused the large stony board that was a feet feet in from of him to project another multi-colored beam of light towards him.


    The instant that he was struck by this radiant and colorful energy beam, he felt fully invigorated and energized, then his mind totally refreshed. Then not quite long, a seemingly ancient voice that sounded surreal, suddenly rang calmly within his head.


    "You have finished the test, lad. You can stand to your feet from your lotus sitting position and go join those two people standing at a side" The voice said gently, while the short boy who heard all that the voice mentioned, abruptly stood to his feet from his cross-legged sitting position to go join Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu who patiently stood at a side to wait for this particular test to come to an end.


    The moment he appeared before them and walked a few steps more to stand by Xiao Lin''s side, Zhao Yu gazed at him with a smile manifesting in her face. She then said with her sweet-sounding feminine voice, "Welcome"


    "Haha. Thank you" The boy chuckled and said to Zhao Yu, and then politely nodded his head in greeting to Xiao Lin who also nodded back in a friendly and welcoming manner.


    While the boy who was amazed that some people had finished the test before him, gazed at them and said with an impressed look written all over his face, "Damn! You guys must be really good in comprehension. I can''t believe that I ended up being third. Anyways, it''s all good"


    Once he said that, Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu turned their heads to look at him, with Xiao Lin saying, "I guess your comprehension ability must be really high, since you were expecting others to successfully pass the test before you, right?"


    Haha!


    The boy chuckled.


    He then said, "Not really. The thing is my master has always told me that I have a high comprehension power. But since I finished third in this place in the test of comprehension that he mentioned that I was exceptionally good at, then I guess my comprehension ability isn''t that high. Probably he was just saying that those times in a praising manner to enable me put more effort into my developing my comprehension ability, which could actually be weak when compared to a few others."

 Chapter 167 - Another Examinee Passes The Test

    Zhao Yu who was looking at him nodded her head.


    Xiao Lin then asked, "So, what do you plan to do about the people that burned your family members to their death?"


    Once he asked that question, Zhao Yu said with coldness manifesting in her voice, "I am going to kill them all. They shall all die"


    "Yea. That''s the best thing to do. You can''t leave your worst enemies walking around when you are still alive. They just have to be destroyed since you can''t live under the same sky with them" Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu nodded her head.


    Then they fell silent and continued to look at the people taking the comprehension tests.


    As for Elder Shenxiang who had flown back to the Hall of Elders, once he arrived there, the other elders who were overly curious of what Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu mentioned to him, prepared to ask him.


    However, before they could ask him any question, Elder Shenxiang said with a smile appearing in his face, "I can see the curiousness in your faces regarding what those kids told me.. However, I won''t tell you a thing. If you damned elders want to know what I know, I mean what those lads told me, go meet them and ask them about it too. Haha!"


    Once he said that, he went to his chair in the Hall of Elders to have his seat and relax himself. While the other elders who were in the hall, simply looked at him with all sorts of expressions surfacing in their faces. They really wanted to know what Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu told Elder Shenxiang, but it would be terribly shameless of them to stand from their seats, fly down to the examination ground and ask both Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu what they told Elder Shenxiang.


    Realizing in the next instant that they couldn''t do that, they let it slip. Then they turned their gazes away from Elder Shenxiang and fixed it upon the other people still taking the comprehension tests. While Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu who had fallen silent and also fixed their gazes upon the people still taking the comprehension test, had their eyes pulled towards the direction that a resplendent beam of light suddenly surfaced and impacted someone.


    Then when they looked at the face of the person that was struck by that colorful beam of light that suddenly shot out from the large stony board, Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu were able to immediately recognize who this person was. And to no surprise, it was the short boy who tried to compete with Zhao Yu in resisting the intense pressure that heavily bore down on them.


    Once Xiao Lin saw the person and quickly recognized him as that boy that easily surpassed him in that test of pressure which was simply made to test their levels of determination and resolve, he shook his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    He then said inwardly, ''Well, I guess we are the best crops of this year''s batch. This boy must be really good too''


    While Zhao Yu who could also quickly recognize the boy, nodded her head in an impressed manner and said to Xiao Lin who was right beside her, "That boy too must be good. I wonder what kind of Spiritual Energy he cultivates. It would be really nice to also have a duel with him"


    Once she said that, Xiao Lin turned his head to look at her. Then he shook his head while Zhao Yu who was wondering why Xiao Lin was shaking his head as he looked at her, asked with her lips curling into a slight smile, "What, Li Huang? Did I say anything that came off as bad or totally wrong to you?"


    "What? No. Not at all." Xiao Lin said and smiled.


    While Zhao Yu who wasn''t really satisfied with the answer that Xiao Lin provided to her question, spoke further by asking, "Then why were you shaking your head? You must tell me, Li Huang"


    "Ugh!" Xiao Lin uttered with an awry smile in his face.


    He then said with a solemn look in his face, "Well, you must be someone that loves battle so much. You have an upcoming fight with me, but you are already preparing to extend a battle proposal to that boy over there. You should give it a break. Let your mind and body absorb the corrections to the flaws and faults in some of some battle methods that you were able to figure out while fighting a particular opponent."


    "What? No. Never! I will never ever do that" Zhao Yu said determinedly.


    She then continued with her smooth oval face which possessed eyes that looked like polished gems, bringing up a serious expression, "Only by continuous battles of increasing intensity and difficulty, would I be able to really improve, Li Huang. It would force me to break past my limits and step into a dimension that would open the tightly shut door to a vast and boundless region of endless growth and development."


    "Hmm. That sounds right, Zhao Yu. You are correct. But still, you need to settle down and look at the flaws that you were able to figure out in your battle methods while using them to battle a particular opponent." Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu nodded her head in agreement.


    "Alright then. I will, Li Huang. Thank you for your kind suggestion" Zhao Yu said sincerely while Xiao Lin nodded his head and said with a smile in his face, "Anytime, Zhao Yu".


    Then they turned their gazes away from one another to look at the short boy in the distance who was intensely concentrating on the diagrams in his mind.


    A moment after Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu turned their eyes away from one another after they had finished their discussion to look at the boy who was able to cause a polychromatic beam of light to shoot out from the large stony board, had their eyes widened in slight shock when a beam of light suddenly shot out from the large stony board again towards the short boy.


    Witnessing what had happened, Zhao Yu said to Xiao Lin, "He would soon come to join us here."


    While Xiao Lin who heard what Zhao Yu said, nodded his head in agreement.


    Then not quite long, another beam of light suddenly shot out from the large stony board once again and impacted the short boy, causing the boy''s body to glow, since the beam which unexpectedly surfaced and struck him in the body, turned into many dozens of glowing motes of energy which moved round his whole body and permeated it.


    Feeling refreshed and his rate of comprehension increased to some degree, the boy was able to unravel and fully comprehend the final last piece of the mystified diagram in his mind, which then caused the large stony board that was a feet feet in from of him to project another multi-colored beam of light towards him.


    The instant that he was struck by this radiant and colorful energy beam, he felt fully invigorated and energized, then his mind totally refreshed. Then not quite long, a seemingly ancient voice that sounded surreal, suddenly rang calmly within his head.


    "You have finished the test, lad. You can stand to your feet from your lotus sitting position and go join those two people standing at a side" The voice said gently, while the short boy who heard all that the voice mentioned, abruptly stood to his feet from his cross-legged sitting position to go join Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu who patiently stood at a side to wait for this particular test to come to an end.


    The moment he appeared before them and walked a few steps more to stand by Xiao Lin''s side, Zhao Yu gazed at him with a smile manifesting in her face. She then said with her sweet-sounding feminine voice, "Welcome"


    "Haha. Thank you" The boy chuckled and said to Zhao Yu, and then politely nodded his head in greeting to Xiao Lin who also nodded back in a friendly and welcoming manner.


    While the boy who was amazed that some people had finished the test before him, gazed at them and said with an impressed look written all over his face, "Damn! You guys must be really good in comprehension. I can''t believe that I ended up being third. Anyways, it''s all good"


    Once he said that, Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu turned their heads to look at him, with Xiao Lin saying, "I guess your comprehension ability must be really high, since you were expecting others to successfully pass the test before you, right?"


    Haha!


    The boy chuckled.


    He then said, "Not really. The thing is my master has always told me that I have a high comprehension power. But since I finished third in this place in the test of comprehension that he mentioned that I was exceptionally good at, then I guess my comprehension ability isn''t that high. Probably he was just saying that those times in a praising manner to enable me put more effort into my developing my comprehension ability, which could actually be weak when compared to a few others."

 Chapter 168 - Coming Face To Face With A Senior

    Once the boy said that, Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu nodded their heads with Zhao Yu saying, "Alright"


    She then spoke further by asking, "What''s your name?"


    "Tian Xi" The boy responded while both Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu nodded their heads.


    Then they continued to speak after that, trying to know more about each other. While Xiao Lin who surprisingly discussed with them at length, gave them completely wrong information about him and where he was from.


    ....


    Many hours later, after resplendent beams of energy shot out of the immense stony board before a large number of people and impacted a few of them, immediately filling them with energies and refreshing their bodies and minds, the test came to an end.


    So, those who weren''t able to successfully finish the comprehension test, were asked to immediately leave the sect by a few of the elders who had appeared high above them in the air.


    Then remaining Xiao Lin, Zhao Yu, Tian Xi and ten more people that passed the test, they were asked to go rest till tomorrow when the final test will start.


    So, being shown the way to the place where they would go relax till the next day that they would commence the final discipleship exams, the room that Xiao Lin was given, also had Zhao Yu and Tian Xi in it.


    ...


    "So guys, what do you think tomorrow''s test would be about?" Tian Xi asked looking at both Zhao Yu and Xiao Lin who were seated relaxedly on their bed.


    "I don''t know too. But I hope that it would be one that would involve a battle between us. I seriously want to duel you guys" Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin shook his head.


    ''This girl has one indefatigable battle spirit. If I am to fight her, despite all my energies, I don''t think I would be able to beat her. Her Spiritual Energy is one thing, while her battle spirit is another thing. That''s one combo that would make her really domineering in a battle.'' Xiao Lin within himself as he looked at.


    He then said further, ''Now that you have provoked my spirit, I also want to battle with you. Let''s see who is better between the two of us.''


    Then once he said that, he continued ''But I have a feeling that I might actually be the one to lose, since her Spiritual Energy consumes the energy of others and grows strong. If it continues to devour the energies of others like a colossal primitive whale that has a massive bottomless hole for a stomach, all my energies would get consumed by her Limitless Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy and will grow immensely strong and powerful that it would become too powerful for even the fusion of my energies to possibly overwhelm, even after she has ''switched'' off the passive limitless devouring ability of her unusual Spiritual Energy.''


    ''Hmm. She seems like a truly worthy opponent. She and Li Chuang, the Obsidian Abdicator, are two people that I know would give me a really tough time fighting them. That''s really nice... I am already identifying my true opponents.'' Xiao Lin said further within himself.


    Noticing Xiao Lin''s long gaze on her body, Zhao Yu turned her head to look at him and playfully asked, "Hey handsome, can''t get enough of my beauty?"


    "What?" Xiao Lin was suddenly jolted awake by what she said.


    He then hurriedly turned his head to look in another direction. And once he did that, he exhaled slowly. While Zhao Yu who saw the petrified look that unexpectedly manifested in his face, slightly giggled and laid her back on her bed to rest after standing for so many hours at the second examination ground.


    "So, when we become disciples of this sect, what would be the first thing that you would do?" Tian Xi asked Xiao Lin who was still seated on the bed.


    "Well, I don''t know. Maybe cultivate at their special cultivation rooms for disciples, or comprehend more techniques from a huge numbers of books in their vast libraries of Spiritual Arts. That''s what I plan to spend all my time doing once I become a disciple of this sect" Xiao Lin replied.


    He then asked as he gazed at Tian Xi, "What about you?"


    "Well, my master was the one that recommended this sect to me. He said that his time training me was up and that I should go find a sect to join. So, now that I am here, I also plan to cultivate and comprehend, since that''s the only way that I can grow quickly in strength and power." Tian Xi mentioned while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then Zhao Yu who didn''t want to be left out of the conversation, sharply cut in and contributed to the topic that they were discussing about, "Since you guys won''t bother about asking me what I will firstly do when I become a disciple of this great sect, then you shouldn''t mind my sudden intrusion into your damned discussion."


    Immediately she said that, and not giving either Xiao Lin or Tian Xi the chance to respond to her statement, she continued "So, as for me, what I will do once I become a disciple of this sect, is to battle the popular male and female disciples that would be in my cultivation class. I need to battle them to be able to comprehend my battle methods deeper. Then once I am able to achieve that, with the flaws and faults in my attacking methods revealed to me, I will try to remove them and perfect my attacking method. I want to become the strongest in this sect, and then in the world once I am done with my training"


    "Wow. That''s nice!" Tian Xi said while Zhao Yu nodded her head.


    Then Tian Xi who suddenly recalled something, looked at Xiao Bilan and asked, "Wait, do you have your own technique? Since it sounded to me like you don''t want to make use of the sect''s battle technique. Or what did you really mean by noticing the flaws in your attacking method and remove them to perfect them?"


    "Well, it''s not like I have my own attacking method. It was my master who created them for me. So, to deeply understand the attacking method that she took her time to design for me, I have to go about battling people until I am able to grasp the method really well." Zhu Lian said while Tian Xi nodded his head.


    "Wow. Your master is really cool. So, she designed your battle method for you? That''s nice" Tian Xi said while Zhao Yu nodded her head with a smile appearing in her face.


    Then they continued to talk about other things.


    After sometime of discussing at length with one another, Tian Xi said to Xiao Lin and Zhao Yu, "Guys, why should we just stay holed up in here? Let''s go out to receive some fresh air"


    "Hmm. That''s right. Let''s head out then" Zhao Yu said before Xiao Lin could say anything.


    Then she abruptly stood to her feet and rushed to where Xiao Lin was seated. Immediately she appeared before him, she stretched out her hand and grabbed Xiao Lin by the hand. She then pulled him to his feet and dragged him along with her as she rushed towards the door just behind Tian Xi.


    Once they came out of the door of their room and appeared in the sect''s premises, they began to move around the sect for sightseeing, and in the process receive fresh clean air.


    However, after walking around for sometime, Xiao Lin''s group suddenly came across the female senior that Zhao Yu soundly and brilliantly defeated. Then by this, it meant that she defeated her overwhelmingly.


    Immediately the female senior saw Zhao Yu and recalled what she did to her at the first examination ground, she quickly walked up to her with the males and females walking with her.


    Then once she appeared before Zhao Yu, she said with an indifferent expression in her face, "Hey you, battle girl, I saw how you fought me today. It was really brilliant. However, I would like you to fight me again"


    Once she said that, Zhao Yu looked at her and asked with an astonished expression in her face, "What? Right here? Right now?"


    "No, stupid! When you have the chance, I would love to fight you again." The female senior said while Zhao Yu gazed at her with annoyance in her face.


    "Angry? Would you like to fight me now, stupid?" The female senior unexpectedly questioned as she stared at Zhao Yu with an angry expression in her face.


    "Don''t call me stupid ever again, you fucking loser. I defeated you like you were nothing. So, before me, you are absolutely inconsequential and useless, moron" Zhao Yu said and giggled in a way that will make the female senior before her really vexed.

 Chapter 169 - Creating The Attack

    Once Zhao Yu said that, the female senior looked at her with a surprised gaze in her eyes. However, the shock in her eyes didn''t last for long as it rapidly changed from deep shock to intense coldness.


    "How dare you speak to me in this manner?" The female senior asked.


    She then spoke again before Zhao Yu could really reply to her question, "Do you want your life in this place to be filled with sadness when you become a disciple? Trust me, you wouldn''t want that to happen. Or if you push me too much and I make up my mind to ruin you in this place, just know that you are in for it."


    Haha!


    Zhao Yu laughed.


    She then said, "I will love to see that."


    Once she said that, she turned around to look at both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi and said, "Let''s get out of here, guys"


    "Alright" Xiao Lin and Tian Xi said at the same time..


    But just before she could take a step to leave her presence, the female senior standing before Zhao Yu suddenly sent out a heavy palm strike towards Zhao Yu''s chest.


    However, Zhao Yu who was agile and fast, immediately sent out her own palm strike towards the palm shooting towards her chest.


    Bang!


    Immediately the palms struck each other, a deafening bang sound rang out with Zhao Yu staggering backwards for sometime. While the female senior remained where she was with a mocking smile in her face.


    "Is that all you can do? Hahaha! So weak. I don''t even know why I got a useless challenger as you in the first place at the first examination ground?" The female senior said while Zhao Yu looked at her with cold glint in her eyes at where she was.


    "Why don''t you shut up and mind your own business, you moron. Being able to push her back with just a palm strike doesn''t mean anything. Your palm strike was unexpected, and how being able to quickly tackle it proves that she is actually a far better fighter than you, idiot" Xiao Lin said as he stared coldly at the female senior a few steps in front of him.


    "What? What did I just here you say?" The female senior asked as she began to fume.


    "Well, you heard me. I am not repeating myself to anyone" Xiao Lin said indifferently while the female senior quickly developed an intensely angry expression in her face.


    But just before she could try to attack Xiao Lin with her clenched fist, a male senior who was on top of a building and was watching everything that was going on, suddenly jumped down from that roof and landed before the female senior.


    Once he landed before her, he turned his head to look at her and and said with a smile appearing in his face, "Song Yun, let them go. They aren''t worth your time. Besides, you will surely get them another time."


    While the senior caked Song Yun nodded her head and said to the senior, "Alright, brother Wen. I will surely get them another time. Especially this pale-skinned idiot that doesn''t recognize a senior and how to respectfully talk to them"


    Once she said that, she bowed slightly and in a polite manner at the senior and turned around to leave where she was. As soon as she turned around to leave where she was, the males and females who were accompanying her earlier, quickly hurried to her side when they noticed that she was about to leave. Then when they joined up with her, they began to walk away with her into the distance.


    While the male senior who had appeared before that female senior and remained where he was, turned around to look at Xiao Lin and said, "Boy, whatever your name is, I will tremendously advise you to stay low. Now is not the time to start engaging in one form of fight with a senior. You are not even a disciple yet and you are annoying your seniors. You should be real careful, that''s all I will tell you."


    Immediately the senior said that, he jumped into the air and abruptly shot away at a high speed back to where he came from.


    "Wow. He can fly? That''s amazing" Xiao Lin said. While Tian Xi and Zhao Yu who were also looking at the senior, nodded their heads with expressions of awe written all over their faces.


    Xiao Lin then turned around and walked to where Zhao Yu was and asked, "Still want to go around for sightseeing? Or their threats has killed your excitement?"


    Haha!


    Zhao Yu laughed.


    She then said, "Nah. They haven''t. I am good, Li Huang."


    She then said further, "Let''s continue what we came out to do before we came across that female senior that feels so bad after losing a fight to me."


    "Yea. Haha!" Tian Xi said and laughed.


    Then they began to walk around the premises of the sects to familiarize themselves with places in the sects before they would become disciples.


    After walking around for sometime, they were able to come to a conclusion that the sect was really large in size and that it had just many buildings which they couldn''t figure what they do in there yet, since they weren''t allowed to go in as they haven''t become disciples of the sect.


    Then as they walked around for sometime to still catch more stunning sights at the sect, they came across some disciples who looked at them with both friendly and unfriendly gazes.


    After walking for about thirty minutes more, Zhao Yu quickly said to both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi, "Let''s return to our rooms. I guess we have seen enough."


    "Yea. That''s right. Let''s return" Tian Xi said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then they both walked back to their room to go rest and prepare for tomorrow''s activity.


    When they arrived in the large room that they shared, Xiao Lin sat down on the ground in the cross-legged position to do some certain things, while both Tian Xi and Zhao Yu laid down on their beds to rest.


    Seeing what Xiao Lin was about to do, Zhao Yu looked at him and asked, "I guess you don''t want to rest. Or are you nervous about tomorrow?"


    "What? Nervous? Nah. I am not. Why would I be?" Xiao Lin asked while Zhao Yu nodded her head.


    She then said, "Alright Li Huang, you can carry on with what you want to do"


    Once she said that, she closed her eyes to rest for sometime.


    While Xiao Lin who was now seated in the lotus seating position, shut his eyes tight and recalled the battle skill that he created for himself many hours ago when he was studying and analyzing the image of a beast paw that the immense stony board sent to his mind.


    So, now that he had basically generated a template for the move in his mind, he began to practice how to physically reproduce the attack.


    Therefore, following what he laid out in his mind, and with one of his palms right in front of him, he began to make all the energies within his dantian to slowly rise and flow to that palm that he placed in front of him.


    Then the instant that the different energies arrived within that palm, they began to to slowly erupt out of it in small and thin streams. And immediately these energies which were his dark-colored Spiritual Energy, his Blood Energy which could also be fully called True Vampire Origin Blood Force energy, his Hermetic Demonic Energy, and lastly his Paragon Werewolf Energy, erupted in narrow, calm streams from the surface of his palm, they began to slowly condense to form the fearsome beast image in his mind.


    However, he wasn''t able to achieve what he really wanted as he could visibly notice all sorts of flaws and faults in the energy beast paw that had manifested above his palm.


    So, he immediately dispelled it and tried to recreate another one.


    Then again, the different energies that he cultivated, began to flow to one of his palms from his dantian. And once these energies arrived within his palm, they slowly discharged out of it to form a multi-colored misty cloud of energies above his palm.


    And now that he gained a bit of experience in physically reproducing the paw-shaped battle attack that he created in his mind when carefully analyzing that massive image of a beast paw in his head, he tried to shape the thick misty cloud of mixed energies floating above his hand into it.


    So, intertwining the strongest of his four energies which were the dark-colored Spiritual Energy and Blood Energy to form the solid and powerful base of his attack, then slowly condensing the Hermetic Demonic Energy into thousands of small texts that were individually composed of different symbols, characters and signs, and were tightly linked to one another by numerous thin lines of energies that ran from the base of the attack and through all the texts that have formed, something that resembled the paw of a beast, no matter what angle it was looked at from, suddenly materialized above his palm.

 Chapter 170 - Creating The Attack

    Once Zhao Yu said that, the female senior looked at her with a surprised gaze in her eyes. However, the shock in her eyes didn''t last for long as it rapidly changed from deep shock to intense coldness.


    "How dare you speak to me in this manner?" The female senior asked.


    She then spoke again before Zhao Yu could really reply to her question, "Do you want your life in this place to be filled with sadness when you become a disciple? Trust me, you wouldn''t want that to happen. Or if you push me too much and I make up my mind to ruin you in this place, just know that you are in for it."


    Haha!


    Zhao Yu laughed.


    She then said, "I will love to see that."


    Once she said that, she turned around to look at both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi and said, "Let''s get out of here, guys"


    "Alright" Xiao Lin and Tian Xi said at the same time.


    But just before she could take a step to leave her presence, the female senior standing before Zhao Yu suddenly sent out a heavy palm strike towards Zhao Yu''s chest.


    However, Zhao Yu who was agile and fast, immediately sent out her own palm strike towards the palm shooting towards her chest.


    Bang!


    Immediately the palms struck each other, a deafening bang sound rang out with Zhao Yu staggering backwards for sometime. While the female senior remained where she was with a mocking smile in her face.


    "Is that all you can do? Hahaha! So weak. I don''t even know why I got a useless challenger as you in the first place at the first examination ground?" The female senior said while Zhao Yu looked at her with cold glint in her eyes at where she was.


    "Why don''t you shut up and mind your own business, you moron. Being able to push her back with just a palm strike doesn''t mean anything. Your palm strike was unexpected, and how being able to quickly tackle it proves that she is actually a far better fighter than you, idiot" Xiao Lin said as he stared coldly at the female senior a few steps in front of him.


    "What? What did I just here you say?" The female senior asked as she began to fume.


    "Well, you heard me. I am not repeating myself to anyone" Xiao Lin said indifferently while the female senior quickly developed an intensely angry expression in her face.


    But just before she could try to attack Xiao Lin with her clenched fist, a male senior who was on top of a building and was watching everything that was going on, suddenly jumped down from that roof and landed before the female senior.


    Once he landed before her, he turned his head to look at her and and said with a smile appearing in his face, "Song Yun, let them go. They aren''t worth your time. Besides, you will surely get them another time."


    While the senior caked Song Yun nodded her head and said to the senior, "Alright, brother Wen. I will surely get them another time. Especially this pale-skinned idiot that doesn''t recognize a senior and how to respectfully talk to them"


    Once she said that, she bowed slightly and in a polite manner at the senior and turned around to leave where she was. As soon as she turned around to leave where she was, the males and females who were accompanying her earlier, quickly hurried to her side when they noticed that she was about to leave. Then when they joined up with her, they began to walk away with her into the distance.


    While the male senior who had appeared before that female senior and remained where he was, turned around to look at Xiao Lin and said, "Boy, whatever your name is, I will tremendously advise you to stay low. Now is not the time to start engaging in one form of fight with a senior. You are not even a disciple yet and you are annoying your seniors. You should be real careful, that''s all I will tell you."


    Immediately the senior said that, he jumped into the air and abruptly shot away at a high speed back to where he came from.


    "Wow. He can fly? That''s amazing" Xiao Lin said. While Tian Xi and Zhao Yu who were also looking at the senior, nodded their heads with expressions of awe written all over their faces.


    Xiao Lin then turned around and walked to where Zhao Yu was and asked, "Still want to go around for sightseeing? Or their threats has killed your excitement?"


    Haha!


    Zhao Yu laughed.


    She then said, "Nah. They haven''t. I am good, Li Huang."


    She then said further, "Let''s continue what we came out to do before we came across that female senior that feels so bad after losing a fight to me."


    "Yea. Haha!" Tian Xi said and laughed.


    Then they began to walk around the premises of the sects to familiarize themselves with places in the sects before they would become disciples.


    After walking around for sometime, they were able to come to a conclusion that the sect was really large in size and that it had just many buildings which they couldn''t figure what they do in there yet, since they weren''t allowed to go in as they haven''t become disciples of the sect.


    Then as they walked around for sometime to still catch more stunning sights at the sect, they came across some disciples who looked at them with both friendly and unfriendly gazes.


    After walking for about thirty minutes more, Zhao Yu quickly said to both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi, "Let''s return to our rooms. I guess we have seen enough."


    "Yea. That''s right. Let''s return" Tian Xi said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then they both walked back to their room to go rest and prepare for tomorrow''s activity.


    When they arrived in the large room that they shared, Xiao Lin sat down on the ground in the cross-legged position to do some certain things, while both Tian Xi and Zhao Yu laid down on their beds to rest.


    Seeing what Xiao Lin was about to do, Zhao Yu looked at him and asked, "I guess you don''t want to rest. Or are you nervous about tomorrow?"


    "What? Nervous? Nah. I am not. Why would I be?" Xiao Lin asked while Zhao Yu nodded her head.


    She then said, "Alright Li Huang, you can carry on with what you want to do"


    Once she said that, she closed her eyes to rest for sometime.


    While Xiao Lin who was now seated in the lotus seating position, shut his eyes tight and recalled the battle skill that he created for himself many hours ago when he was studying and analyzing the image of a beast paw that the immense stony board sent to his mind.


    So, now that he had basically generated a template for the move in his mind, he began to practice how to physically reproduce the attack.


    Therefore, following what he laid out in his mind, and with one of his palms right in front of him, he began to make all the energies within his dantian to slowly rise and flow to that palm that he placed in front of him.


    Then the instant that the different energies arrived within that palm, they began to to slowly erupt out of it in small and thin streams. And immediately these energies which were his dark-colored Spiritual Energy, his Blood Energy which could also be fully called True Vampire Origin Blood Force energy, his Hermetic Demonic Energy, and lastly his Paragon Werewolf Energy, erupted in narrow, calm streams from the surface of his palm, they began to slowly condense to form the fearsome beast image in his mind.


    However, he wasn''t able to achieve what he really wanted as he could visibly notice all sorts of flaws and faults in the energy beast paw that had manifested above his palm.


    So, he immediately dispelled it and tried to recreate another one.


    Then again, the different energies that he cultivated, began to flow to one of his palms from his dantian. And once these energies arrived within his palm, they slowly discharged out of it to form a multi-colored misty cloud of energies above his palm.


    And now that he gained a bit of experience in physically reproducing the paw-shaped battle attack that he created in his mind when carefully analyzing that massive image of a beast paw in his head, he tried to shape the thick misty cloud of mixed energies floating above his hand into it.


    So, intertwining the strongest of his four energies which were the dark-colored Spiritual Energy and Blood Energy to form the solid and powerful base of his attack, then slowly condensing the Hermetic Demonic Energy into thousands of small texts that were individually composed of different symbols, characters and signs, and were tightly linked to one another by numerous thin lines of energies that ran from the base of the attack and through all the texts that have formed, something that resembled the paw of a beast, no matter what angle it was looked at from, suddenly materialized above his palm.

 Chapter 171 - Trouble I

    Once the paw surfaced, Xiao Lin looked at it and nodded his head.


    Although he nodded his head, he however wasn''t really satisfied with what he got. And this was because he felt that something was missing. He then came to a conclusion that only through intense battles would he be able to perfect the paw.


    He then made up his mind that after he became a disciple at this sect, he would go to a place to train his paw technique so as to develop more on it, and be able to rapidly produce it for an attack which he would send out at his opponent.


    Then once he finished thinking this, a thought suddenly came to his mind that, as soon as the discipleship exams finished and the elders came to him to ask him what departments he would like to go to after telling him the various departments that they each supervised, he would have to go for the one that will help him increase the destructive capability of his paw.


    All that was actually in Xiao Lin''s mind was to increase the devastating power of his meticulously created Beast Paw attack, since it was formed from the fusion and mixing of his various, unique and overpowering internal energies.


    Once he thought this, he broke a slight smile across his face. He then thought of a way to test the power of his Beast Paw attack to see how powerful it would be. Then when he recalled that he wasn''t yet a disciple, an awry smile surfaced on his lips..


    He then said internally, ''Oh well, just a matter of time. So, after tomorrow''s test which will be the final test, and I become a disciple of this sect, I will be able to practice my attacks for as long as I desire. Also, I would be able to create and develop new attacks.''


    ''However, for me to do that, I would have to go through a lot of books and learning materials to pick out shapes or forms that my fused and mixed internal energies can morph into.''


    ''But for now, this Beast Paw attacking skill would be my main offensive skill, and who knows, probably in the future too, since I feel that it should be a really strong attack that will wreak unbridled havoc and incomparable destruction in its path once it is unleashed. Haha! Now, imagine unleashing a crystallized, multi-colored Beast Paw of dozens of unique energies which spans ten times the size of the tallest mountain in our world at my hundreds of shocked and horrified opponents. Would they able to stop it? Haha! Of course they can''t. Only utter and total annihilation and devastation awaits them. Damn! I can''t wait for that time to arrive.''


    Then once he finished thinking that, he said further within himself, ''I think I have to find a way to learn how to cultivate Sword Spiritual Energy, or any form of energy that is related to sharpness or severing. So, once I am able to infuse that kind of energy into my Paw attack, it would be unstoppable, since it would carry with it a matchless and overbearing might to sever or cut all things in its path to countless shreds. Hmm. That''s correct. I also have to do this. Then once I am able to do so, I will become unstoppable.''


    When Xiao Lin finished thinking this, he caused the Beast Paw that softly glowed in the color of blood, deep scarlet, silver-white and dark black to immediately disperse.


    But as they dispersed, they caused the air around them to pushed away to create an actual vacuum. While the small volume of air that that was pushed away turned into a small gale that caused the loose materials in the room to flutter and fly about.


    Immediately this happened, Zhao Yu and Tian Xi immediately sprang open their eyes and seated on the bed with dumbfounded looks in their faces.


    "What just happened?" Zhao Yu asked as she looked at Xiao Lin who had his eyes closed, and his mind seemingly deeply immersed into his cultivation.


    ''Hmm. I doubt that even he would know what just happened here. Anyways, let me join him in cultivating. I think that I have rested my beautiful eyes for some time. So, it''s time to be diligent, or my dreams to become the strongest and most feared in the world and beyond won''t come true. Hehe.'' Zhao Yu said within herself with a slight chuckle and then stood from the bed to her feet. Then once she did so, she also sat down on the ground in the cross-legged position to initiate her comprehension practices.


    Then with her eyes shut tight, she began to go through the battle techniques for her unique Spiritual Energy which her veteran and creative female master designed for her to be able to control and utilize her fearsomely powerful and limitlessly consuming Spiritual Energy in battle.


    As for Tian Xi, after he saw that Zhao Yu had sat on the ground to join Xiao Lin in either cultivating or comprehension, he only lazily yawned at them and then laid back on his bed to still rest for a while.


    Xiao Lin who saw the stunning physical effect that his Beast Paw generated upon only it dispersion, which shouldn''t have created any type of scene, couldn''t help but be astonished within himself.


    ''Wow. My technique is kinda powerful. It was really cool and great of me to copy off that beast paw that was sent into my mind by that stony board. This is great. So, if only it dispersion could generate such an effect that caused a tiny vacuum to be instantly formed, and a miniature gale that caused the numerous small items in the room to be abruptly scattered about, then what if I sent it out at an opponent of my level? That opponent is probably doomed, unless if he or she has a powerful skill to negate or bring my attack to a stalemate. Hmm. Well, I can''t be so sure of that. Let''s see how everything goes anyway.'' Xiao Lin spoke further within himself and then nodded his head.


    Then with a smile surfacing in his face, he stood to his feet from his cross-legged position on the ground and went to lie in his bed to think of what the final test would really be about tomorrow.


    Then after lying in his bed, he began to contemplate about tomorrow''s tests and how things would really turn out for him, especially now that he had offended a senior. So, he felt that he should be ready for bullying by numerous seniors who that female senior would go report what they did to her to and even exaggerate it so as to force their wrath upon him.


    ''Ugh!'' He uttered.


    He then said further within himself with a ferocious expression appearing in his face in the next instant, ''Anyway, if that actually happens, she would be slain by my blade and her blood turned into a Demonic Mark or Blood Symbol within my dantian. Then those of the seniors too who will approach me to bully me over that silly matter. They would be ruthlessly slain by me and their blood essences transformed into either Blood Symbol or Demonic Mark in my dantian.''


    Once he said that, he closed his eyes.


    However, he wouldn''t be able to sleep since he was a vampire, a cold-skinned living corpse that sucked blood.


    ...


    In a particular room that was large in size and permeated by intoxicating floral scents constantly emitting from the flawless bodies of delicate-looking, slender and gorgeously attractive ladies, could be seen that female senior that accosted Zhao Yu to bully her. Then in front of her was a really beautiful girl who was quite older in age and emanated the grandeur of a princess and an expert. This particular girl, who was surrounded by other girls who were less striking than her in appearance, was seated on a seat that looked like an actual throne.


    "Senior Bi Yuan, there is this girl that I was instructed to challenge by the elders. Then at the examination ground where we met and fought, she was able to soundly defeat me using her fiery Spiritual Energy which possesses some attributes that I don''t quite understand."


    "However, if things had ended there, I wouldn''t be so angry at her and full of murderous vengeance. But after we met inside the sect''s inner premises, that girl that I fought actually came to me to embarrass me. She said at me with great contempt in her eyes that I was extremely weak and useless and that I was not deserving to be a senior of this prestigious sect."


    "She really embarrassed me so much that a senior who was watching us from the roof of a particular building, had to fly down from where he was to come seriously warn her. As for me who was immensely embarrassed by her because of all the hurtful things that she said, had to dash away from her presence as I couldn''t take all the scathing words that she indifferently rubbed in my face. Now, I fear that everyone that will hear about that incident will begin to look at me with great scorn in their eyes. My days in the sect will be full of contemptible gazes directed only at me... I am really sad and vexed, faction leader."

 Chapter 172 - Trouble II

    "Really? A non-disciple who defeated you in an examination battle tried to harass you when she came across you? How bold and foolish of her." The girl seated on the throne said with slight wrath in her face.


    She then said further with the wrath on her face intensifying, "Didn''t you tell her what faction you belonged to so that she would go make her research and swiftly search for you to publicly apologize?"


    "No, faction master. I immediately dashed away from there due to the intense embarrassment that I faced in her hands when we came across each other." The female senior called Song Yu said.


    "Hmm. Alright" The girl seated on that throne and was called Bi Yuan, said with a nod of her head.


    Then before she could say anything else, Song Yu said, "Also, senior Bi Yuan, there is this boy that was accompanying her. It seems that they both know each other since they were walking together with another boy in the sect''s inner premises."


    "This boy, actually joined his female friend in insulting me. He said so many things that made me really mad. I could have attacked him right where he was, but I was trying to obey the sect''s rules as I didn''t want to get severely punished for fighting non-disciples, and at a place not designated for battle. So, I had to let it go and absorb all the insults that he and his female friend brutally, endlessly hurled at me till that senior flew down from the roof of a particular building to rescue me from their unceasing verbal onslaughts." Song Yu said with a morose expression appearing in her face.


    She was actually saying these things to force the calm, older girl before her to send some of the members of her faction out with her to go beat up the female that spoke to her without fear or dread in her voice.


    Since she had fought Zhao Yu and knew how strong she was, despite being trained in the numerous, powerful battle techniques of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect, she still dreaded her because of her insane offensive skills and the shocking, peculiar attribute of her Spiritual Energy which seemed to devour the energies of others and grow stronger, whilst still looking gentle and weak like it could be rapidly extinguished by even the slightest blast of Spiritual Energy directed at it.


    "Hmm. Alright. They will be dealt with." Bi Yuan said while Song Yu broke a brilliant smile in her face.


    ''Mission accomplished!'' She said delightedly within herself.


    So, all that remained was to come witness how the members of her faction will beat up both Zhao Yu and Xiao Lin and make them scapegoats to others so that the examples made out of them, will seriously deter the others from picking on other seniors just because they possess battle powers much more higher than their own.


    But Bi Yuan who hadn''t finished speaking, continued with a solemn expression manifesting in her face, "However, we really can''t touch either of them now until they have become disciples of the sect. So, after they have been turned into disciples by participating in the sect''s discipleship ceremony, we can go after them with the intent of severely punishing them for not obeying a senior and being rude towards her, which is something totally against the rules and regulations of the sects."


    "Yes. I understand, faction leader. I will be patient for them to become disciples of the sect so that we can mete out serious punishment at them." Song Yu said while Bi Yuan nodded her head.


    "Alright, faction leader. I want to return to my room now. If I have anything else again, I will immediately come to you to report it" Song Yu said further while Bi Yuan nodded her head once again.


    ...


    Several hours after Xiao Lin had stood up from the ground to rest on his bed, Zhao Yu who was intensely focusing on comprehending some of her plethoric special battle skills that were designed and developed by her master who was actually a terrifying pilgrimage cultivator from the Spirit Continent, snapped open her eyes and also stood from her cross-legged position on the ground to lay in her bed and relax for tomorrow''s exciting activity.


    While all of them in the room were busy relaxing, Xiao Lin who had closed his eyes since he got up from the ground to lay in his bed and relax, couldn''t sleep since it didn''t come to him. As a true vampire, the only time he could truly sleep was when he slept in a tombstone or a wooden coffin.


    ''I guess I would have to get a wooden coffin for myself very soon, or I wouldn''t be able to sleep. However, that would be in the farthest future, since I can''t use such in any room that I would be given in this sect once I become a bonafide disciple.'' Xiao Lin said within himself and nodded his head in agreement at what he said.


    Then after thinking this, he stood to his feet and walked towards the window of the room that he was in. And when he arrived there, he looked through it to see what was currently going on in his broad range of vampiric vision.


    However, after looking for sometime and seeing that nothing exciting was going on, he went back to his bed and sat down on it with dozens of thoughts suddenly rushing to his mind.


    ''Now that I am still weak, I will be subjected to lots of vexatious and miserable things at this sect, especially now that I verbally bullied a senior who might belong to some group or faction of some sorts. Ugh! Then on top of this problem which is actually the least for me, is the issue of Nine Calamities''s men searching for me everywhere. I seriously hope they don''t direct their gazes here very soon. Only until I have gotten powerful enough can they come, especially the damned higher-ups who possess the astonishing power of flight, and then Nine Calamities himself. Can''t wait to kill that bossy bastard and take all the wonderful treasures that he has amassed for himself so far. So, when I get stronger and I go out there to search for him with the intent of killing him, I will become many times wealthier with the possession of his humongous amounts of coins and immense treasure accumulations in my hands, which I will absolutely exchange for rare and consummate cultivation materials to upgrade many times more my body''s durability and toughness to both physical and Spiritual Energy attacks.'' Xiao Lin said within himself and then nodded his head in agreement at his line of thought.


    Then he continued when he recalled something, ''As for that man that bluntly refuses to be seen as my father because he sees me as a total failure who will ruin his reputation and greatly tarnish his tremendous fame, will surely meet his doom when I reach and surpass his cultivation level soon. Although he would also grow and develop in power as I am growing too, making it quite difficult for me to attain his Godhood level very quickly, I will however do everything in my power to catch up with him so that I can slay him, free my mother from his evil grasp which is the most paramount thing to me, and then seize his treasure mansion and his amazing, vast collections of treasure and currency for myself.''


    ''That time, although is really far, is however drawing closer to me day by day. I can both feel it and smell it at the same time. Then coupled with the incomparably enormous possession of the Demonic Blade King which he hid at some region in the Spirit Continent, I will become extremely wealthy that even the wealth of other deity-level cultivators wouldn''t be able to rival with mine in anyway. Therefore, my cultivation in the future to the apex of power should be smooth and free of all sorts of hindrances or setbacks. Haha!'' Xiao Lin said and chucked within himself, clearly visualizing the future that he generated for himself in his head.


    Although he thought all this, he however knew that it wasn''t going to be easy, as only killing the higher-ups of Nine Calamities''s men, will be really difficult for him at a particular cultivation stage which would certainly be lower to theirs when they eventually come across him, talk more of Nine Calamities who is much more powerful than them and will know much more offensive and defensive skills being a bandit organization leader. Being something like that, requires that the person should be really strong and powerful in his own right.


    However, Xiao Lin wouldn''t let this worry him, as he knew that he even if he was several cultivation stages below them, he would still be able to devastate them, given the plethoric, insane battle and movement skills that he would create for himself in the future, and then the other sorts of powerful, rare World Energies that he would religiously cultivate, harness and turn into his own unique and exceptionally powerful, overbearing internal energies for their extravagant utilizations during any type of battle that he will find himself intentionally or unintentionally participating in.

 Chapter 173 - Final Test Begins

    Next day...


    "Welcome!" An elder floating in the air, said to a group of people below him.


    This group, which consisted of a large number of people, roughly hundred of them, were the people that successfully completed the comprehension test before time was up.


    Once the elder greeted, the people gathered below him nodded their heads and said in unison, "Thank you, elder"


    The elder floating in the air before them then said, "Now, for today''s test, it will be all about the durability and perseverance of your mind. At the second examination ground, you were faced by a particular pressure to test your physical strength, body resilience and perseverance level by inhibiting your body from moving forward to your required, main test area."


    "However, in this test, you will faced by near-realistic illusions that will prevent you from moving forward. You will see things that you haven''t seen before in your entire life and it will greatly horrify you to the extent that you will swiftly, seriously beg to be immediately brought of the test that will terrify you to the core of your being. This particular test, is designed to break or hollow out your minds. Now, as a note of warning, don''t push yourself too much to finish the test, you could either run insane or enter into a vegetative state that may take unknown number of years to fully come out from. Besides, it''s traumatizing. If you aren''t mentally strong, it could lead to manifestations of dreadful images in your mind that could possibly haunt you till the day that you die" The elder solemnly said.


    Huuuu!


    Once he said that, everyone gathered below him deeply inhaled with terrified expressions appearing in their faces. Even Xiao Lin couldn''t help but be alarmed by what the elder just said.


    He then asked within himself, ''Can I be terrified of anything? Actually, I have seen things that will terrify me, such as the first appearance of the Demonic Blade King with that powerful suffocating presence that yielded a strongly choking smell of blood before me in the past. So, what could be as dreadful as that?''


    ''Hmm. Anyways, I am not sure if that could be as terrifying as the one that this elder spoke about. Ugh! Well, whatever the case may be, I am not going to back out, for I am not the type to chicken out of things that will take me to my place of amazing strength and dominating power.''


    ''Therefore, I am going to proceed to take this test. Then if I either run mad or enter into a vegetative state, it was my fate all along. However, because of my mother who could be held in torturous captivity by my father, I will fight this horrendous fate. I will do everything to finish this test and become a dignified and proud member of this great and illustrious sect.'' Xiao Lin said within himself and nodded his head.


    Just as he finished thinking, Tian Xi who was an overly curious person, raised one of his hands up and looked at the elder with a puzzled expression in his face.


    Sighting Tian Xi''s hand that was raised into the air, the elder looked at him and asked, "You, what''s it?"


    "Nothing, elder. However, I want to ask a question that just surfaced in my mind" Tian Xi said as he stared puzzledly at the elder.


    "Question?" The elder asked with a perplexed expression appearing in his face.


    "Yes, dignified elder" Tian Xi said respectfully and with a slight nod of his head.


    "Hmm. Alright then. You can ask away." The elder said while Tian Xi nodded his head once again.


    "Thank you elder" Tian Xi said.


    He then continued with a polite tone in his voice, "Actually, elder, this particular test that we are to start very soon, what''s it purpose?"


    "Hmm. The curious one I see." The elder floating in the air before them said.


    He then said further, "Now, this particular test is actually for the benefit of the sect. We don''t want to have student whose mind will break upon being horrified by whatever frightening thing will be shown to them and then leak out everything about us, about the sect, to our many enemies out there who are always scheming to take down this eminent and grand sect so that they could rise above us and take our place."


    "So, once any of your minds can break, then that person will be immediately shown the way out of the sect. You can see yourself as disciples that will be trained by our sect, but in actual sense, you are warriors that the sect is building to stand up for it when the time comes. So, the test will give us the ability to assess the determination, revolve, and ultimately, perseverance level of your hearts." The elder said.


    He then continued, "Enough has been spoken. It is time for you all to take the test. I want to see who will become a warrior of the sect that will leave to go train himself or herself out there and then selflessly return for it when the times comes."


    Then with a slight wave of his hand, the space around the large stony board began to warp. Then once the warp stopped in the next moment, the immense stony board immediately disappeared and swiftly materialized in the air far above the group of examinees gathered below the elder.


    Once the board appeared, the elder said to them with a serious expression appearing in his face, "The test will start now. Guard and prepare your minds for it! Good luck"


    The moment the elder said that, he shot away from them to the Hall of Elders to go join his colleague and watch the event that was soon to occur. While the massive stony board that was floating behind the elder in the air, began to release all sorts of soft, colored glows of light from it seemingly polished, smooth stone surface that instantly caused Xiao Lin and the others who were looking at it to suddenly find themselves in another region.


    They were still there, where they currently stood at, but because of the illusion projection power of the enormous stony board floating in the air above them, it was as if they had been physically teleported far away to another world that was entirely different from their cultivation world.


    Then in regions that their minds were pulled to in this vast, illusionary world, were things that began to horrify them little by little.


    Once the illusions that the stony board sent to their minds began to take effect, the space around each of them began to warp before their bodies actually disappeared from where they stood to other regions of the large examination ground.


    This was actually done so that when the examinees started sending out attacks in terror because of what they would see, they wouldn''t send out attacks at themselves which will surely instantly kill them off.


    Then once their bodies surfaced at those parts of the regions that their bodies were teleported to in order to stop them from sending out deadly Spiritual Energy attacks at each other in great fear and total horror, massive, cylindrical columns of a particular glowing energy, rapidly rose up from the earth around them to a shocking height of hundred feet above the ground.


    ...


    Xiao Lin who was incredibly wary of where he was as it felt really strange to him, began to think if he was actually teleported to this place, or that his body was still where he previously stood at, and that he was only in an illusion generated by a powerful, mind-breaking illusions master.


    "No matter what the case may be, whether I am in an illusion or not, I have to be tremendously careful here. I have to successfully complete the test, or I would be quickly sent out from the sect where I can only return next year to take the damned test all over again. Lot of things will be ruined if that happens. Ugh! That definitely can''t be my portion. I must finish this test'' Xiao Lin said within himself with his jet-black Spiritual Energy rushing to his hands, which then caused his hands to begin to generate a stunning glow of blackness.


    "Look at that pale, handsome lad that calls himself Devil Fang, he is already sending his devilishly-colored Spiritual Energy to his hands in preparation of launching attacks at whatever will appear in front of him to ruin or devastate him. Hahahaha! That''s kind of bad of him. So mentally weak. Now, who said he was a battle genius again?" The female elder called Elder Chu, who was particularly opposed to Xiao Lin, said with a mocking tone in her voice that invoked the feeling that she was immensely delighted at what she could witness happening before her.


    Then before anyone else could talk, she said further with the gladness in her heart leaping by bounds, "Just a matter of time before that sick-looking brat have his mind break into thousands of places. Haha!"


    "I just can''t wait to see him screaming, ''Elders, help! Please bring me out of here. I don''t want to die or go into a coma.. Help! Mwahaha!''" Elder Chu said and laughed at his misery which she could easily, clearly visualize in her head.

 Chapter 174 - Illusion

    Once Elder Chu said that, other elders present in the hall looked at her with all sorts of expressions in their faces.


    Then they turned their heads away from her and gazed back at the group of people taking the illusion-based test of perseverance.


    ...


    In Xiao Lin''s vision, he found himself in a region that seemed boundless. However, the particular place that he found himself at, was the edge of a massive land that was actually a really large island which was surrounded by a lake of red-hot, churning lava.


    Then within this pool of lava that surrounded the black, barren island which had all sorts of miniature, odd-looking creatures such as small, six-headed, grey-colored worms and turtle-shelled, scorpion-tailed spiders burrow out from within it from time to time, could be seen dreadful, winged and scaly monstrous creatures that brought their heads out to look at him as they swam in the lake of lava, and then dipped themselves back into the lava to continue swimming pleasurably.


    Xiao Lin who fearfully looked into the eyes of the monsters that intensely gazed at him, was able to read the expressions of their massive frightening eyes, which was that they had seen food and would step out of the lake of lava soon to come devour him.


    Huuuu!


    He then inhaled deeply and asked within himself, ''Am I still in an illusion? If this is an illusion, it''s so scarily real. This black-soiled island, the weird and spooky creatures, the air that I am breathing, the brilliant, deep violet-colored sun, the vast grey-black sky, they all feel very real to me. I definitely have to master the Art of Illusion Projection too. This is certainly a great and easy way to distract or terrify a much more powerful opponent, which would then me give a little bit of time, even just a second, to deal a paralysing or absolutely lethal attack on him or her. Nice! My tiny horizon of combative knowledge has just been broadened further!"


    Once Xiao Lin thought this, the dark-black glow that emanated from within his palms as a result of being permeated with his dark-black Spiritual Energy, since he was preparing himself to immediately launch out attacks at anything that will unexpectedly jump in front of him to attack him, began to slowly recede. Then not quite long, the stunning, ink-black glow coming from his hands, completely died off as the energy that had rapidly gathered in his hands due to being alarmed by where he was which didn''t firstly seem like an illusion to him, returned to his dantian where they infused into the large, liquid-like mass of seething, dark-black Spiritual Energy floating there.


    Immediately the energy moved away from his palms back to his dantian, the elders who could notice the abating, charcoal-black glow in his hands, looked at Elder Chu with intense mocking expressions in their faces before one of them suddenly said out loud, "Elder Chu, I will advise you to think with your brain anytime you want to say anything in regards to that boy called Devil Fang, or he would only continue to disgrace and embarrass you, making you feel like you actually don''t know what you are saying. Haha. I like this boy, always proving his enemies and haters wrong by first doing the wrong thing, and then quickly switching it to the right thing to embarrass them. Which lover of his wouldn''t love the boy more? Hehe. Ride on, Devil Fang, this old man has got your back."


    Once that elder who was a male and was Xiao Lin''s staunch supporter said that, Elder Chu looked at him with great annoyance in her eyes. She then turned her head away from him and began to look at Zhao Yu. Then seeing that Zhao Yu didn''t cause her strange, fiery Spiritual Energy to permeate her hands in readiness to attack whatever would suddenly appear in front of her to attack her, she produced a glad smile in her face and said within herself, "Nice one, girl. Far better than that sick-looking idiot who I wonder really hard how long he is going to actually live for. Well, I will advise the elder who will accept him to check what sort of illness is wrong with him so that they can cure him of it, since he looks like someone that already has both feet in the grave."


    ...


    As Xiao Lin was busy staring at the gigantic, scaly hideous creatures that brought out their heads from time to time to look at him as they swam enjoyably in the massive pool of lava that surrounded the island that he was on, he suddenly heard numerous low, deep growls behind him.


    Once he heard those sounds that seemed to come from beasts, he instantly froze where he was with a petrified look manifesting in his face. He then slowly turned his head back in fear a moment later to see what had surfaced behind him.


    Then behold, he could see hundreds of really muscular, nine-headed wild dogs which had fangs that lustered in the blinding, deep violet brilliance that dazzlingly shone from the blazing violet sun hung in the vast, grey-black sky.


    Immediately he saw those, two thoughts instantly appeared in his mind, and these were should he attack them or run away from them.


    However, he stopped and did nothing, as he realized a moment later that he was in an illusion.


    As he waited there and gazed at the ferocious wild dog beasts, they slowly approached him with low deep growls ringing out from them. Then a moment later, they suddenly leaped towards him.


    Seeing that he would have to do something since the beasts had leapt towards him, Xiao Lin immediately performed a powerful jump over them and landed at their own position.


    So, because there was nothing in their paths when they jumped towards Xiao Lin, they began to fall into the lake of lava that surrounded the black, barren land.


    Plosh! Plosh! Plosh!


    They began to fall into the lava one after the other and immediately screamed out in intense pain as their bodies rapidly dissolved into the lava pool which was extremely hot.


    Xiao Lin who could witness all these, couldn''t help but be shocked by what was going on.


    "Whether this is an illusion or not, I have to be really careful." Xiao Lin said as he slowly moved further away from his position.


    However, the ground started to tremble when he thought of doing do, giving the feeling that something massive and was probably a subterranean creature wanted to burst out from within the earth.


    "What''s going on now?" Xiao Lin asked as the ground shook.


    Then he made up his mind to move to the center of the island, as he wanted to be really far away from the massive lake of lava that surrounded the island. Or if he fell into it, that was death. Even if it was only an illusion, he still had to be wary.


    So, as he began to dash towards the center of the island despite it furious trembling like some gigantic, primitive entity dwelling within it wanted to come out from it and take him away to devour him in it massive lair, cracks began to appear at several places of the ground. And once these cracks surfaced, they only spread further into the distance at the speed of lightning before the ground actually started to break apart very quickly, with the pieces falling in to create a massive hole. It was simply like the ground was collapsing in upon itself.


    Then a second later, a beast that looked like a snake and had a skin that was gleaming under the brilliant violet sun, giving the feeling that it skin was actual metal, began to slowly rise from the massive hole that was caused by the ground suddenly collapsing in upon itself.


    "What? Really? How am I supposed to battle this now?" Xiao Lin who was absolutely terrified of what he saw, said out loud with frustration in his tone.


    The snake which had risen from the ground and was looking at him like it had just seen a meal, prepared to dash towards him. Then it opened it mouth wide to reveal a massive circular gum that had giant fangs sticking out of it. Then if one looked further into it mouth, one would notice a smaller circular gum behind that enormous one which also had massive fangs sticking out of it.


    Xiao Lin who turned his head back to look at it as he ran, could see this using his powerful vampiric vision. He then put more power into his powered dash to give a massive gap between him and the snake that was still rising towards the sky, seeming as if it had an infinitely-long body, which was something that horrified Xiao Lin.


    RAAAARGH!!!


    Whoosh!


    The thickly-skinned, gargantuan snake-like beast whose shiny, metallic head had actually connected with the sky, casting it unimaginably immense shadow over the island and the lava pool that possibly stretched for an unfathomable amount of length into the distance, suddenly growled that it caused the air to violently roil, and then actually brought deafness to Xiao Lin''s ears when it impacted them.


    Then a second after it growled, it suddenly shot itself like a massive spear launched from a gigantic bow towards Xiao Lin who was frantically doing his possible best to leave an incredibly great gap between himself and the colossal, metal-skinned serpent.

 Chapter 175 - Illusion II

    Perceiving that the snake had shot out towards him, Xiao Lin tried his utmost best to garner more power in his legs so as to evade the gigantic serpent rushing towards him from up in the air.


    However, what Xiao Lin didn''t know that although he tried to move very fast using his powerful Movement Techniques, he was however fixed at a spot, as a particular, imperceptible inhibiting force had descended upon him from above and fully encompassed his being so as to prevent him from dashing off into the distance in horror due to what he saw in his vision.


    So, in his vision, he was using a particular Movement Technique to increase his speed to shocking levels, he was however fixed at a spot by the force that unexpectedly surfaced above him and fully bore down on him in an imperceivable manner to restrain him.


    However, it wasn''t only Xiao Lin that the movement-inhibition force was affecting, it was affecting all of them taking this particular test, with Zhao Yu being the only exception.


    She still remained where she was, however, a small aura of horror could be seen slowly building around her body, meaning that she was gradually being terrified by what she saw in her vision.


    As for Tian Xi, he had started to scream and launch powerful Spiritual Energy attacks at the inexistent, horrifying entities in his mind, due to the continuous projections of illusionary elements into his head. But thankfully, the massive and towering, glowing pillar of energy that rose from within the ground around everyone of them to protect them from each other''s attacks, easily absorbed the devastating power of his attacks, therefore preventing destructive shockwaves from surfacing and moving on to impact Tian Xi in his body and seriously injuring him.


    Xiao Lin at the moment who couldn''t understand why such an alarmingly gigantic beast had appeared in his vision, began to wonder if the colossal, shiny serpent that seemed to be formed from metal was real. Although he could just wait there and let the snake hit him to know if it was true or not, but he couldn''t do that, as he wasn''t entirely sure if the serpent was real. The thought that surfaced in his mind and horrified him was that what if it was actually real and then gulped him whole simply because he was thinking that it was an illusion. So, he didn''t want to have any regret and do one thing that he could do best in this place at the moment, which was Run.


    Besides, Xiao Lin felt that it was true, as he had basically gone deaf with his powerful Vampiric Hearing not healing in the next moment to return his hearing ability to him. Also, he was racked by a severe headache that made him feel like continuous, powerful chain explosions were going on within his head once he was hit by the sound wave of the sky-shaking deafening growl of that lustering serpent which simply overshadowed the whole landscape of the region in his mind.


    So, because of these things that happened to him, Xiao Lin was forced to believe that the snake before him could be possibly true.


    But this was only an illusion, a much more powerful version of illusion called Hyper-Realistic Illusion, which was there to force everyone of them into believing that was was happening to them was actually true.


    Like one who had been caught up with it as he ran in horror and became unfortunately surrounded by three gigantic, thousand-legged cyan spiders that released green-colored lava from certain orifices in their anuses and formed surprisingly thick webs of molten magma which didn''t solidify and maintained their partly-liquid, partly-solid form, couldn''t help but screech out in great pain when they wrapped him with their hot green lava into a large cocoon.


    So, due to being attacked by the spiders and giving in to the illusion, he was abruptly taken out of the illusion ground before his mind would break and result in him entering into a vegetative state, since the illusion would force him to believe that he would die after being wrapped up in a green-colored cocoon of burning hot lava.


    ...


    - Hall of Elders -


    "Many of them will be taken away from this legacy ground very soon, their minds are already breaking. They wouldn''t be able to really last for long in the tests." One elder said to another elder who was seated beside him.


    "Yes. Very soon. But those guys that have switched first, second and third position amongst themselves are still going to retain their top positions." That elder that was spoken to, mentioned to the elder that talked to him.


    "But take a look at that girl, she is relatively calm than the rest. Her mind is strong. I am impressed. She isn''t even horrified by the dreadful, utterly strange things occurring in her mind. Haha. I like that. I guess that for this year''s batch, she holds the number one position, while Devil Fang holds the second position. Then as for that short boy, he will have the third position. And now that they seem to have become friends, they could possibly form a small group that will contest with or be challenged by other groups existing in the sect. Can''t wait to see their individual growths, their growth as a group, and how far they would be able to go in this eminent sect of ours." One elder said while the rest nodded their heads in agreement to what he said.


    Xiao Lin at the moment who was trying to leave an astonishingly wide gap between himself and the gleaming serpent that was raging towards him, thought to himself that he would continue to run till the time for the test was eventually up. And since he wouldn''t collapse to the ground in a vegetative state, then he would have successfully passed the test.


    However, what he didn''t know was that, the test which was meant to assess the determination and perseverance level of each their minds, and their individual degrees of resoluteness, could go on and on for months until basically everyone of them had surrendered to the illusions operating in each of their minds after exhausting both their physical and mental energies.


    So, as Xiao Lin ran, hoping to leave the colossal serpent far behind, suddenly found that same serpent far in front of him and was shooting towards him at a great speed.


    "What the hell?" He asked with a solemn expression manifesting in his face and a terrified gaze appearing in his narrowed eyes.


    He then swiftly turned back to see if it was that same gigantic snake chasing after him from before that had suddenly appeared far in front of him. However, seeing that exact glistening snake behind him, Xiao Lin shook his head with an awry expression surfacing in his face. Then very quickly, he changed his direction and prepared to move in the left direction instead of the front as he was previously doing.


    But the instant that he took a step, he found himself at the edge of the black-soiled barren island, with his leg going straight into the seemingly boundless lake of lava surrounding the massive, mystifying black island.


    Plosh!


    His body fell into the lava and Xiao Lin couldn''t help but scream out in pain and agony.


    Arghhhhh!!


    Everything was too abrupt for him and so he couldn''t stop himself on time from falling into the pool.


    Suddenly appearing at the edge of the island had taken him by tremendous surprise. He wasn''t expecting that in any way at all.


    Then the illusion being an Hyper-Realistic Illusion, made Xiao Lin feel a great degree of heat that caused his amazingly tough body to begin to burn off very quickly, causing him a great deal of pain that racked both his mind and powerful senses. Then his senses being powerful ones, ones which were much more powerful than those of his peer cultivators and those a step or two steps above his current cultivation stage, the pain that he felt was increased many times more, causing him to begin to writhe in pain and agony like a worm doused with salt water within the non-existent lake of constantly fuming, red-hot lava.


    Seeing how quick his tough body burnt off and rapidly charred because of the intense heat produced by the immense lake of lava that he fell into, Xiao Lin began to try his best to swim back to the edge of the island and climb back on it before his body will literally burn off to ashes.


    However, as soon as that intention surfaced in his mind, he suddenly found himself at a place farther away from the edge of the island. Then before he could even blink his eyes in horror at what was happening, he unexpectedly found himself at a place in the lake of lava where he couldn''t even see the island again. It was simply like he had been moved to the center of the seemingly endless lake of lava.. Then not quite long, an actual incomprehensible storm began to manifest where he was, resulting in the occurrence of an enormous whirlpool in the lava which abruptly pulled him towards it center.

 Chapter 176 - Illusion III

    Seeing the whirlpool that had surfaced and began to pull him towards it center to seemingly grind him to bits, Xiao Lin began to scream out in horror within the lava pool that rapidly burned off his body.


    As he was busy screaming within the lava pool, he began to think of a way to get out of it before he would be crushed into pieces by the vortex that grew larger in size every seconds.


    However, since there was nothing that he could hook himself to so as to prevent himself from being sucked into the whirlpool, his entire body which was acted upon by a pulling force generated by the whirlpool, abruptly drew him into it.


    Then the instant that he appeared in this vortex, he suddenly found himself back on the island. But, he could notice himself being surrounded by huge, silver-clawed cats that had golden eyes and fiery violet pupils, giving the absolute feeling that blazing fire was burning within them.


    Meow!


    The cats individually meowed before dashing towards him to bite him to pieces.


    Seeing that he was left with no choice than to fight these cats or they might tear him to pieces, he quickly clenched one of his hands into a fist and sent it straight towards a cat that had powerfully leapt towards him from where it stood.


    However, the cat opened it mouth wide, letting Xiao Lin''s arm to go all in. Then the instant that Xiao Lin''s fist went in, the cat which surprisingly had fangs that grew and glistened like actual steel, closed it jaw upon Xiao Lin''s arm, plunging it long sharp fangs into Xiao Lin''s flesh.


    Arghhh!


    Xiao Lin who believed in the durability of his entire body, couldn''t help but screech out in pain when the fangs sank into his flesh, causing blood to immediately spurt out like a fountain when the cat raised it jaw once again to go for another damaging bite.


    However, before the cat could give him another painful bite that seemed like it would cut his entire powerful arm off, Xiao Lin tried to shake the cat off his arm so as to prevent it from going for another bite.


    But his effort proved futile as the skin of his arm seemed to have glued to the internal organs of the cat.


    "Bastard!" Xiao Lin screamed out in fury.


    Then ragingly, he said, "Die now!"


    BANG!!


    A powerful, savaging burst of dark-colored Spiritual Energy immediately exploded out of his fist. Then the instant that this happened, the cat was immediately reduced to pieces. It body just couldn''t withstand the abrupt, explosive eruption of Xiao Lin''s fierce and overbearing Spiritual Energy from his fist.


    The instant that the cat died, the other cats who had surrounded Xiao Lin had their eyes glow with fierceness before they all shot out towards him to bite his head off.


    Seeing that the cat had become angered and wanted to destroy him, Xiao Lin immediately took off before they could pounce on him and carry on with their fearsome destruction activities.


    As for Zhao Yu, her hands had began to glow due to being infused with her Limitless Devouring Flame Spiritual Energy. Therefore, due to the infusion of her arms with her unique and bizarre Spiritual Energy, the air around her palms began to swirl till it became a raging cyclone that actually began to pull the life force of what was in front of her in vision into it. Then as the cyclone absorbed that energy that it drew out from the frightening inexistent entity in her head, the glow radiating outwards from her two hands that were imbued with her odd Spiritual Energy, began to increase in intensity and power.


    "Die!" Zhao Yu said and aimed a palm at the monstrous creature far in front of her.


    The instant that she aimed out one of her glowing palms at the massive creature far in front of her, the energy that had gathered in that palm, immediately erupted from it and turned into a massive crystalline fist that began to move with the power to devour all things, energy or matter from the world and automatically turn them into a form of essence that it would absorb and self-utilize for it own rapid growth. Then as it shot at the speed of lightning towards the illusionary, horrendous beastly creature in her head, the sands on the ground began to crystallize till it turned into one massive, thin sheet of glass due to the shocking, vast degree of hot temperature that it constantly put out.


    "What?!" One of the many astonished elders in the hall who saw how the huge, blazing fist composed from Zhao Yu''s special Spiritual Energy increased quickly in size and power, couldn''t help but scream out.


    "What kind of energy is that?" Another elder who was witnessing what was happening, asked with his brows deeply furrowed in awe and shock.


    The fist which hadn''t impacted the protective barriers of energy that rose up from within the ground to protect the examinees from each other''s Spiritual Energy attacks, still grew in size and power as it drew all forms of energy and matter into it and self-converted them into an indescribable form of energy that it rapidly absorbed like a gigantic, boundlessly-hungry whale, which then caused it power to shoot up the more, it speed to rise to an inconceivable level, and the temperature that it put out to increase vastly in degree that it simply caused the immense sheet of thin glass covering the earth to immediately melt into liquid and actually turn into vapor that rose into the air.


    BANG!!


    It heavily struck one of the luminous, towering barriers of energy and caused it to tremendously shake, giving the feeling that it would shatter the barrier into smithereens in the next instant and continue on it journey into the far distance to seemingly destroy all things in it path with it unstoppably-growing might, and it seemingly unfathomable devastating power.


    However, it was just too weak to shatter something as powerful and immensely sturdy as the barrier that a powerful, exam caretaker elder had generated using his power of the World Principles that he had comprehended to a high degree and mastered.


    ''Wow! I am impressed! This girl has a powerful Spiritual Attack skill and a terrifying type of Spiritual Energy. Hmm. Seems like Elder Chu might me right after all, that this girl is far stronger than that lad that calls himself Devil Fang. Well, just this can''t prove anything really. Anyway, I would love to seem them fight so that I can fully satisfy my curiosity that has been immensely provoked by her seemingly catastrophic-level attacking power. Haha.'' The exam caretaker elder said within himself with a brilliant smile appearing in his face.


    He then said further inwardly, ''And now that it seemed they have become friends, I guess they would ruin anyone that will try to pick on the both of them. Then coupled with that short lad who seems to like the way that they carry individually themselves, well... Just like that elder said some moments ago, I can''t wait to see their growths as individuals, and as a group. Oh my, these group will be nothing short of terrifying. I just hope that they won''t disappoint me in the future.''


    Zhao Yu who saw that she had used the technique called, ''Supreme Fiendgod Heaven-Devastating Punch'' to completely annihilate the monstrous creature in her head, which was all the thing that the immense stony board floating far above them wanted her to see, Zhao Yu couldn''t help but break a brilliant and victorious smile across her face.


    However, her mood in the next instant when she realized that she was only in an illusion and that the creature that she sent out that attack wasn''t real, immediately ruined. She wasn''t happy that the illusion got hold of her in the end and made her unleash a powerful offensive.


    "Ugh!" She uttered in a frustrated manner and began to think of a way to break out of the powerful illusion, instead of being led around by it and forcing her to unleash powers and abilities that she would like to keep totally secret from anyone, which she fully believed will become her trump cards in either the nearest or farthest future.


    ...


    Xiao Lin who had finally taken care of all the huge, impressively muscular cats that previously surrounded him to devour him whole by feeding on his flesh and bones, began to look warily around in case anything would unexpectedly jump out at him to attack him.


    Although he knew that everything that had happened so far to him was only an illusion, he still felt that some of it were real, as the intense pain that racked his physical body felt completely real to him.


    ''Fighting only those six damned cats have caused me to lose half of my dark-colored Spiritual Energy. Then what if I was surrounded by dozens of them? If that were to happen, I would be immediately depleted of my Spiritual Energy and forced to use my other energies. Ugh!'' Xiao Lin said within himself.


    However, just as he finished speaking, dozens of cats, the same as the previous ones that attacked him earlier but only much more larger in appearance and more ferocious-looking, and possessed seemingly tougher hides since they shone in the miniature purple sun in the sky, appeared far in front of him and unexpectedly howled to the sky in incomparable rage.

 Chapter 177 - Illusion IV

    Once Xiao Lin saw the cats, he shook his head and said, "Ugh! Not you damned cats again"


    Immediately he said that, the cat growled loudly and then suddenly jumped towards him.


    The instant that the cats jumped towards him, Xiao Lin quickly channeled the dark-colored Spiritual Energy in his dantian to his palms. He then punched out at one of the cats and unleashed a destructive blast of energy at it.


    Bang!


    The moment the powerful blast of energy struck it, the cat whined as it was struck away by the power of the blast. It then landed to the ground with blood bursting out of the numerous cracks that had appeared in it tough body.


    However, due to it shocking weight because of it massive size and astonishing muscular appearance, Xiao Lin''s fist actually cracked, causing him intense pain at his wrist region and his knuckles in which the skin covering it tore off with blood oozing out of it.


    "The hell!" Xiao Lin said with fear in his eyes.


    He then looked at the corpse of the cat in the distance and said, "Heavens, what a tough body. It actually caused my wrist to hurt and the tough skin covering my bones to actually rip away"


    As soon as Xiao Lin killed that cat with his punch, the other cats surrounding him growled in fury and suddenly dashed towards Xiao Lin with their intense golden eyes that screamed nothing but anger.


    The instant one leaped towards him, Xiao Lin who could see that his Spiritual Energy would hit the bottom very soon, quickly shot himself into the air and immediately curled himself into a ball which caused his body to roll backwards through the air. Then when he uncurled himself a moment later, he plunged back to the ground with a contemplative look in his face.


    While the cat that jumped into the air towards him to bite him, fell to the ground from it jump since there was no there to bite.


    As soon as it fell to the ground, it stood to his feet and looked at Xiao Lin with rage in it eyes. While Xiao Lin who was also gazing at it and the rest of it kind with a deep pondering look on it face, prepared to dash away from here.


    The powerful attacks that he earlier unceasingly unleashed to destroy the cats that were trying to attack him, had caused his dark-colored Spiritual Energy to rapidly deplete. And, since he didn''t want to reveal that he had other types of energy to the people watching them, he made up his mind to dash for as long as he could away from the cats till he had given a large gap between them. Furthermore, he felt that with his Super Speed alone, an ability that he was bestowed with when he became a vampire, should allow him to leave a tremendous distance between them.


    Swoosh!


    The moment he deployed his Super Speed ability and flitted to escape from the illusionary cats dashing towards him with frenzy in their glittering golden eyes, he suddenly left behind a huge cloud of dust and numerous after-images.


    Once Xiao Lin unexpectedly dashed off at this astonishing movement speed, the elders watching him couldn''t help but have their eyes glow in awe.


    "What speed!" One of the many elders that had their eyes fixated on Xiao Lin, couldn''t help but say with narrowed and surprised, sparking eyes.


    "Yea. His movement speed is immense. This brat has been hiding it from us all these while. I would seriously love to know more of the exceptional abilities that he keeps hidden from us. What a brilliant black gem we have captured this time." An elder said while another elder nodded and said, "His speed can''t be rivaled by any of the disciples from last three or four batches. I wonder what Movement Technique that he studied which allows him to be able to move at such a peerless, ungodly speed. Haha."


    "Yea, me too. I am curious. Those lads that we placed in the top three positions definitely came across immense fortuitous encounters, or they won''t have this powerful abilities that they are exhibiting at the moment." Another elder said with a nod of his head.


    However, once he said that, another who didn''t agree with him, said after a slight chuckle, "Although you mentioned that the lads we automatically placed in the top three positions came across fortuitous encounters, however they could possess them because they were really strong and determined to acquire the legacy. Look at them, pushing on like some massive reward, one much more higher than being a disciple of this sect is waiting for them."


    "Hmm. Well, you are right about that. The inheritance probably selected them because they chose to acquire it using whatever they had in their possessions. Only the Heavens know what they all went through to acquire the different legacies that are now theirs. Look at them, so young, but already have a high starting place of power. When I was young, there was nothing like that for me. Only until I got to the age of forty after so many battles with fierce challengers was I able to acquire something that made me who I am today. Haha! Those days, those beautiful mad days of blood, sweats and battles." The elder spoken to said with a reminiscent gaze in his eyes.


    ...


    As for Tian Xi, after fighting with the illusionary creatures in his head which were towering trees that possessed sentience and innumerable thick branches, he collapsed to the ground with a look of great exhaustion in his face.


    "Am I still in an illusion or I am really fighting these damned, hellish creatures that look like trees with intelligence?" Tian Xi azked.


    "I am tired. But I have to keep going. I have to keep going till I have destroyed every last one of them. Then maybe this insane illusion test for perseverance and determination will really come to an end for me. Ugh! This sect is one crazy sect. What kind of demonic test is this? Even my esteemed master never made me pass through this kind of enormously exhaustive test. Well, what can I do? I have come too far to quit now. I have to push on till even my damned last breath" Tian Xi mentioned with a resolute look appearing in his face, before struggling for sometime to stand back on his feet and face whatever the immense stony board will throw at him.


    Then the instant that he did so, he noticed some bizarre, seemingly otherworldly creature standing far in front of him with a gaze to devour all things in it path in its frightening scaly face. Then when he looked at what had appeared before him in the distance, he saw a massive, limbless reptilian creature that was blue-skinned and had three glowing silvery horns on both sides of it large head. Then on top of it huge head was an actual, suspended bolt of red-colored lightning that caused countless, bright red sparks to endlessly jump out from within it. While it massive glistening tail that stretched for many miles into the distance like it were an anaconda, had a shiny, metallic hook at it tip that surprisingly burned with intense black fire, causing cold currents of fear and horror to move down Tian Xi''s spine and to the rest of his body upon noticing it.


    Huuuu!


    Tian Xi inhaled deeply.


    Then he suddenly dashed towards the colossal, illusionary beast in the distance with a resolute look in his visibly exhausted face.


    Just before he would arrive before the beast, the hand that he had clenched into a fist and began to glow with an incomprehensible form of power, which then caused the ground beneath him to actually crack as he moved across it towards the beast, suddenly erupted out of it as a spiraling mass of energy when Tian Xi abruptly punched out with his glowing fist at the beast.


    BOOM!!!


    Then the instant that he punched out, with a sky-shaking deafening boom sound immediately ringing out, a gigantic luminous mass of nebulous, grey-colored energy, which suddenly brought down a huge amount of pressure upon the wide area of ground beneath it and instantly caused it to crack and dent that it turned into a seven feet-wide crater that was also dozens of meters deep, immediately discharged from Tian Xi''s fist and raged in a spiraling motion towards the beast a few meters in front of it.


    BANG!!


    The attack struck the beast with a shocking amount of devastating power. However, nothing happened to the beast which seemed to possess a nigh-indestructible hide.


    "Oh no!" Tian Xi said in great horror and quickly backed far away from the beast.. While the beast which was preparing to counter-attack, immediately swung out it massive, exceedingly long tail at Tian Xi to knock him flying into the distance with an horrendous, cavity-like injury appearing on his upper body and exposing the mashed, paste-like organs in his chest and abdomen.

 Chapter 178 - Completing The Test (1)

    But before the beast could lash out with it massive, anaconda-length tail at him, Tian Xi immediately jumped really high into the air with all the strength that he could muster.


    Then immediately he got to a height of eighteen feet above the ground, which was only slightly sufficient to escape the destructive whipping strike of the astonishingly large tail that was sent out at him by the limbless, six-horned reptilian, Tian Xi who had abruptly, forcefully gathered more amounts of his Spiritual Energy in one of his fists, abruptly punched out with it at the monstrous, serpent-like creature.


    BOOM!!


    The instant that he punched out at the creature, a massive, grey mass of energy instantly erupted out of his fist and shot towards the beast below him in the distance in a furious, spiraling motion. And immediately the mass of energy shot out of his fist and began to spiral, forming into a enormous powerful drill composed of grey-colored Spiritual Energy, it radiated the unbridled, shocking power of incomparable heaviness and matchless sundering might, since it immediately caused a large area of the vast earth beneath it to instantly crack and shatter apart, in which the ground heavily shook, breaking and tearing apart like it were respectively a soft mound of sand and a sheet of wet paper before turning into a deep crater that was many dozens of meters deep. The overbearing pressure emanating from it as it shot towards the colossal, illusionary beast was simply, unimaginably powerful.


    BANG!!


    The fearsomely powerful, drill-like whorling Spiritual Energy attack struck the beast and sent it flying into the distance at a great speed like it were an arrow fired from a powerful bow. Then when it landed to the ground sixteen meters away despite it frightening gargantuan size, millions of cracks instantly appeared all over it body before it shattered into pieces with blood immediately bursting out of it completely damaged body like a cloud which then permeated the atmosphere around them.


    While Tian Xi collapsed to the ground from that astonishing height in the air with a totally exhausted expression in his face.


    The elders who were watching Tian Xi''s battle with a non-existent opponent, couldn''t help but be shocked by the devastating power radiated by the powerful attack that he unleashed.


    "Wow. What a boy. This boy is really powerful too. Haha. I am loving this. We have managed to capture three wonderful genius-level cultivators with our widespread fame. So, even if we let all the others go and retain only this three, it''s totally worth it. Each one of them is hundreds of times better than the other examinees at the illusion test ground. This is really good. Besides, it''s awesome that we created this test, which would force them to show the shocking abilities that they are hiding from us. So, with what we have learnt so far about them, we would be able to teach them in ways that would bring out their true potentials. Haha!" An elder said while the others slightly laughed and nodded their heads in agreement.


    ...


    Tian Xi who had collapsed to the ground after using one of the many fiercely powerful, Spiritual Energy offensive techniques created by his master for him and was called, ''Great Earth-Sundering Divinity Chaos Punch'', tried to stand back to his feet and continue fighting till he would produce his last breath. He was boundlessly determined to pass this test, and so would anything and everything in his power to successfully pass it. Nothing will stop him, well at least death.


    So, with red eyes that produced intensely blurred vision, and bulging veins that covered his entire body, right from the scalp of his head to the soles of his feet due to being overly exhausted and totally drained of his Spiritual Energy, he actually tried to stand back to his feet. But he just couldn''t and then fell back to the ground with total absence of consciousness in his bulged eyes.


    Once he collapsed to the ground and directly slipped into the unconscious state, the elders nodded their heads with fully impressed looks in their faces.


    "Not giving up even when he has nothing left to fight with. This is good. I like this boy. I will take him into my department for training. Only he and perhaps Devil Fang have the capability to be able to resolutely withstand the torturous training of my department which contains only a few disciples. Haha" An elder said and softly chuckled.


    But the other elders seated in the Hall of Elders ignored him as they had plans for the three examinees who had so far shown brilliant results in each overwhelmingly difficult stages of the exams.


    As soon as Tian Xi collapsed to the ground and directly became unconscious, the exam caretaker elder immediately flew to the place where Tian Xi''s unconscious body was and picked him up using an invisible, telekinetic-like forcefield that was generated from the base of his cultivation power. Then once the unseen force unleashed by his cultivation base wrapped around Tian Xi''s body like an actual piece of fabric, the elder flew with Tian Xi behind him to the place where he would be exposed to a luminous, continuous stream of softly-pulsing, mind and body refreshing energy, which was intended to help examinees regain their lost energies and help them quickly heal from injuries that they had unintentionally inflicted upon themselves.


    "There he goes" An elder said as Tian Xi was being carried away by that caretaker elder to the place where he would be duly taken care of.


    Then as soon as the elder and Tian Xi vanished from his vision into the far distance, the elder returned his gaze back to the people still taking the exams, which at this time, had become only twenty in number.


    Although only a hundred people were brought in here to have this particular test that will force them to unleash whatever abilities they had, and also to expose the bad eggs amongst them, it was however this number of people that the sect was going to accept this time. Each of them had displayed shining brilliance in their own ways, and so the sect will admit all of them and turn them into her disciples which she would train very hard to become powerful and famous cultivators in the future who will return to her to protect her once anything terrible or catastrophic will come up in the future and head her way to ruin or destroy her.


    Xiao Lin who was busy dashing about at immense speeds away from the huge, muscular cats chasing after him with frenzy in their intense golden eyes, and to hide his other unusual internal energies from the mildly and overly curious elders currently watching all of them, suddenly found himself in front of a humanoid creature that instantly sent chilling shivers of fear down his spine and to the rest of his body.


    The creature which stood majestically and domineeringly far in front of him, was so tall that it height was more than twenty feet tall. Then on both sides of it abdomen were long, muscular arms which had glowing, alarmingly sharp weapons as hands. Then the creature which had an upper body that was close to that of a human, could be seen on a lower body that was similar to that of a centipede, meaning that it had close to hundred legs which seemed powerfully muscular. Then on both sides of it head that was covered with a jet-black helm which burned with raging, blackish-violet flame, were large crystalline horns that produced ripples of power which caused the air around it to roil unceasingly.


    So, once Xiao Lin saw the appearance of this tall, intimidating creature, it appearance quickly invoked great terror in his heart.


    "What do I do about this now?" Xiao Lin asked in a complaining tone. While the beast in front of him began to snarl and growl with saliva continuously dripping out of it mouth that had sharp fangs sticking out of the thick fleshy gums in it protruded jaws.


    Then as soon as the beast finished snarling with great madness appearing in it intense golden eyes that had changed to intense bluish-crimson, it immediately shot out towards Xiao Lin at a high speed with it many dozens of arms swinging out the weapons that it possessed at Xiao Lin to brutally shred him apart.


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Slash!


    Seeing the attacks that the hundred-limbed, half-humanoid, half-centipede creature sent out at him without stop, Xiao Lin who knew that he couldn''t let the attacks to cut him due to the visible, thin black lines caused by the weapons as they slashed across and through the air at inconceivably fast speeds, Xiao Lin immediately backed away from the creature and channeled wisps of his nearly-depleted, dark black Spiritual Energy to his fist.


    He then unexpectedly dashed towards the beast and leaped over it.. And as soon as he appeared high in the air above the the beast, he turned his body upside down in the air and immediately aimed out his palm which had began to glow in a stunning black radiance at the towering, horrifying creature below him.

 Chapter 179 - Completing The Test (II)

    He then unexpectedly dashed towards the beast and leaped over it. And as soon as he appeared high in the air above the the beast, he turned his body upside down in the air and immediately aimed out his palm which had began to glow in a stunning black radiance at the towering, horrifying creature below him.


    Bang!


    The instant that he aimed his glowing palm out at the creature, a loud bang sound abruptly rang out with a huge mass of jet-black energy immediately erupting from his fist and turning into a large, jet-black blade that began to emanate the power to devastate all things in it path.


    So, seeming like a massive, luminous black blade that was unleashed by a devil, the blade which produced ripples of unbridled laceration power, struck the creature.


    Bang!


    The instant that the huge blade heavily struck the armored hide of the petrifying humanoid creature, hundreds of sparks abruptly jumped out from the blade''s point of collision with the hide of the creature. But because of the toughness of the thick armor worn by the creature, the radiant black blade was not able to cut through the armor and through the body of the creature to slash it into halves from the head down.


    While Xiao Lin who would soon land to the ground from his high jump into the air towards the creature, was unexpectedly caught by one of the limbs of the creature which had a glowing bronze hook as a hand. Then as soon as it caught Xiao Lin, it smacked him really hard against the ground.


    Bang!


    Arghhh!!


    The instant Xiao Lin''s body smashed into the floor, he screamed out in pain and fury. Despite the amazing toughness of his body, he wasn''t able to fully resist the force transmitted into his body from his insanely heavy impact with the ground.


    Then as soon as the creature smashed Xiao Lin''s body into the ground, it lifted him once again into the air and abruptly flung him away into the far distance like he were a small piece of rock.


    Bang!


    Xiao Lin''s body smashed into the ground once more.


    However, he quickly stood back to his feet from where he was thrown to and then began to look at the dreadful creature in the distance with fierceness and deep contemplation in his eyes.


    Now, there was no dark-colored Spiritual Energy in his dantian to continue contesting with his fearsome, non-existent opponent, since it only existed in his mind.


    ''What do I do about this damned creature before me?'' Xiao Lin asked.


    He then continued, ''Perhaps this is the last phase of the illusion and so, I was made to come across this creature that looks and feels like the ultimate illusionary challenger that I am supposed to battle with to successfully complete the test.''


    ''But it''s so damn strong. I can''t even count the numbers of strong, muscular limbs that it has on both sides of it powerful, elongated abdomen. Ugh! And if I don''t perhaps destroy it, the test won''t come to an end, which would only mean that I have failed once the time duration for the test is up.''


    ''I guess I am left with no choice than to unleash my Blood Energy? Because if I call it quit here since I don''t want to display any of my energies to the elders presently watching us for our performances, they would immediately take me out of this exam ground. And I have come too far only to be shown the way out, which is absolutely a terrible result that I wouldn''t like to settle with. It''s better to destroy myself than to be shown the way out of here and then come across the enraged Nine Calamities and the higher-ups of his organization''


    Once Xiao Lin thought to here, he nodded his head. He then said further within himself, ''Then if they ask me that what particular cultivation method am I using to be able to cultivate two Spiritual Energies, and generate that blood-colored energy which is my True Vampire Origin Blood Force energy, I will tell them that it was as a result of my Animal Spirit which caused a total change to my Spiritual Energy. Then I will explain further that when it was summoned into my body during the Spirit Summoning Ritual, it immediately transformed half of my dark Spiritual Energy into the blood-colored energy that they noticed I unleash. Then it grew stronger with time as my Animal Spirit grew.''


    ''Well, I hope that they accept this explanation, since the elders who have studied and comprehended a lot before getting to their respective high cultivation stages, may be able to quickly tell that I am speaking lies, since there is possibly no one in our world who has been able to cultivate even two internal energies at once before.''


    ''Anyways, there is nothing that I can do about that than unleash my Blood Energy to pass this test, or this creature with many limbs and weapons as hands, is going to prevent me from successfully completing this difficult task. Besides, unleashing my Blood Energy, is far better than losing to this illusionary opponent of mine. Although this second part of my four internal energies would be shown to them, I still however have two more energies and can cultivate more since the mysterious, dantian-sealing method of my Animal Spirit has basically transformed my dantian, allowing me to cultivate much more energy than normal.''


    Immediately Xiao Lin rapidly contemplated all these within his mind, he nodded his head in agreement to what he thought and then abruptly dashed towards the creature far in front of him to continue attacking it.


    So, as he dashed towards the creature without using any form of Movement Technique to augment his speed to a shocking level, his fist began to emanate an ominous blood-red color, which then gave the absolute feeling that thick, bright blood had filled his fist and that a light of dazzling brilliance was shining forth from within it, causing his fist to emit that blinding, eerie blood-red glow.


    Then once he appeared a few feet before the creature some moments later, he abruptly jumped into the air once more towards the creature which stared at his fist that was producing that bright, spine-chilling glow of blood that made his fist comparable to the glowing, blood-red claws of a Blood-Sucking Ghoul or Demon.


    "Destroy!" Xiao Lin shouted as he punched out at the creature.


    BANG!


    The instant that he punched out at the creature, after moving Blood Energy from his dantian through some special arteries to his fist, with the energy beginning to churn violently and produce a shocking bizarre power and an overbearing, suffocating presence that gave the feeling that it was the incomparably powerful essence of a tyrannical Blood God, Blood Energy immediately discharged out of Xiao Lin''s fist as a huge mass of blood, before abruptly turning into a solid, blood-red halberd that shot towards the creature at a great speed, and constantly emitted a rippling, horrifying power to turn everything in it path into nothing but blood.


    BANG!!


    The halberd heavily struck the creature in Xiao Lin''s vision and simply shattered it into pieces. And as soon as the halberd reduced the creature to nothing but countless shreds, it continued into the distance like it didn''t come across any obstacle before brutally impacting into one of the many luminous, solid barriers of energy which basically enclosed each of them and protected them from the rebound of their own attacks, and from the launched attacks of their fellow examinees.


    Xiao Lin who saw that he had simply destroyed the creature in his head with one of the more powerful attacks that he had been busy comprehending all these while before he came to this sect to become a disciple, produced a bright and joyous smile in his sheet-white face.


    He then collapsed to the ground with his back to rest after sending out such a powerful attack that required a tremendous amount of Blood Energy.


    Actually, the attack that he sent out was a pretty higher-level attack which also required a longer amount of time to build, but because he was desperate in finishing the battle with his illusionary opponent on time, he was left with no choice than to use that advanced, highly offensive technique and abruptly send it out to instantly annihilate his target.


    Then due to the massive amounts of energy required to operate the fearsomely powerful attack, the quantity of Blood Energy in his dantian, the one stored by the Ordinary Blood Symbols floating in his dantian, quickly reduced by more than half. Furthermore, a lot of energy was wasted in producing the attack, since some of the energy weren''t pulled back to the core or base of the attack to generate the massive halberd. Therefore, because of this wastage which Xiao Lin couldn''t avoid due to not being adept at unleashing the attack yet, the attack had it destructive power reduced by many degrees.. However, it was still powerful enough to frighten someone at a higher cultivation stage than him, and grievously injure him or her if they underestimated the devastating might carried by the absolutely baleful offensive that he unleashed.

 Chapter 180 - Completing The Test (III)

    So, with his back on the ground, he prepared to stand back to his feet. However, by the time that he would stand back to his feet, he saw the creature that he just destroyed right in front of him, which then began to look at him with a frightful gaze in it eyes.


    Once Xiao Lin saw the creature, he shouted, "Come on! Why don''t you just die?! Ugh!"


    He then quickly rolled on his back like a ball to stand back to his feet. Then the instant that he rolled back to his feet from his lying position on the ground, he immediately leaped in the backwards direction to evade whatever attack that would be sent out towards him.


    Whoosh!


    He shot away from the creature and began to think of what next to do.


    While the creature which had grown much more larger and towering in size, such that the helm that it wore on it head could almost contact the sky, and it body covered an area of many hundreds of feet, with many more arms growing out from it abdomen such that they numbered in the thousands, and only chains which burned with all kinds of seemingly illusory and unreal flames, replacing the hands of the thousand, powerfully muscular limbs that had grown out from it massive abdomen, unexpectedly shot towards Xiao Lin as he shot backwards away from it to attack him with the thousand, bizarre burning chains that replaced it hands.


    Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!


    Seeing the chains that were powerfully lashed out towards him like whips and carried with them incredibly hot flames which could cause house-sized rocks purely formed from metal to actually, easily cut into two, Xiao Lin quickly shot far away from the creature using his Super Speed ability and one of his Movement Techniques once he landed to the ground from his evasive backward jump.


    The instant that he shot away from the creature to evade it countless, fiercely powerful chain whips, the burning chains heavily struck the ground that Xiao Lin stood previously on and caused it to crack with a massive crater appearing in it.


    While Xiao Lin who had dodged the furious, whipping chain attacks that the creature sent out at him, quickly moved large amounts of Blood Energy to his fist, which then caused his fist to begin to brilliantly glow in the color of blood. And once this blinding, ominous glow of blood began to emanate from his fist, the air around his fist began to seethe like it were a turbulent sea.


    "Great Blood God Fist of Overshadowing Unparalleled Carnage!" Xiao Lin hurriedly said and abruptly punched out at the massive creature far in front of him.


    BOOM!


    The instant that he punched out at the creature, large amount of Blood Energy instantly discharged from Xiao Lin''s fist. And once this mass of energy which resembled a large, chaotic pool of blood erupted from his punched fist in a second, it began to radiate a particularly overwhelming presence that gave the absolute feeling that it was the incomparably majestic and peerlessly overbearing essence of a True Blood God, a mythological being capable of desolating entire worlds, and even entire star systems with the unfathomably vast power to manifest immense, boundless seas and oceans of blood that can sweep through and ruin entire universes.


    The instant this unsurpassably wild and strongly pulsing sanguine energy surfaced and began to emit this kind of power, all because of the advanced, powerful technique that Xiao Lin was forced to deploy, it abruptly transformed into a massive crystalline fist that shone with a blood-red brilliance which then shot towards the non-existent creature in his head at a blazing speed. And as it did so, it produced a suffocating ferric smell that could possibly choke all living things to death, then an illusionary, vast and rippling, fearsome bizarre power to crush all things in it path.


    BOOM!!


    It struck the creature and simply knocked it away, then it continued onward like it didn''t come across any obstacle in it path towards the towering, luminous circular barrier that enclosed Xiao Lin to prevent the rebound of his attack from smashing into him and severely injuring him, then the attacks of others from impacting him and wounding him.


    The instant Xiao Lin sent out that seemingly, ultimately powerful attack, he immediately collapsed to the ground and passed out, with his entire body becoming paler than his usual, dumbfounding paleness.


    Since his Blood Energy was like a vital or life-force energy for him, as he was a vampire and needed it to sustain his consciousness, he couldn''t help but immediately pass out when he completely drained himself of this particular energy which will fortify his consciousness and nourish his animated dead body.


    ...


    When Xiao Lin sent out that first attack using his Blood Energy, the elders who were watching him to see what feat he was going to pull against the frightening, illusionary creature that had appeared in front of him to scare the soul out of him, couldn''t help but be tremendously dazzled by what they saw.


    They couldn''t help but be immensely shocked by what they witnessed, which was that Xiao Lin could still unleash another type of energy from his dantian, a feat that no one should be able to perform since it was one of the grand laws or supreme principles of their world, which is; everyone can only be entitled to the cultivation a single Spiritual Energy, but can find different Spiritual Battle Skills, or Spiritual Offensive Methods to be able to allow their energies unleash their inherent, greater destructive powers.


    Then when they saw how near-calamitously powerful the energy was, they couldn''t help but be deeply marveled once again, such that their mouths opened wide and formed circles or ''o''.


    "What a frightening attack. But why is the color of his energy and attack sanguine? So eerie to look at. Truly, he deserves his name Devil Fang. We have to watch out for this boy, he is displaying the potential to become a devil in the future." One elder said with great curiousness in his eyes.


    Immediately he said that, another said after he nodded his head in agreement to what that elder said, "True. He is showing the characteristics. Recall his jet-black Spiritual Energy? That energy, if I were to call it, I would say Devilish Energy. It simply looks like the energy that would be produced by a devil or half-devil."


    "Well, whether he is showing the features of being a devil in the future or not, why can''t we applaud the fact that this boy is able to produce two powerful energies at once? Look at him, so young, and yet is able to unleash two different energies that radiates the power and presence that should possibly make his opponents, even challengers of higher cultivation stages to become wary or tremendously horrified of him. Haha! What a great day I am having, fellow elders. I have to say this again, I can''t believe that our eminent sect is able to capture three inimitable gems in our net this time. I look forward to their growths. Only the three of them and a few others in the previous batches have been able to successfully provoke me to study their growth and development in the nearest and farthest future. Hehe! I am loving this" Another said in defense of Xiao Lin, since he had taken a great liking towards him.


    However, just as he finished talking, Xiao Lin who quickly unleashed a second attack using his Blood Energy and that highly advanced offensive skill called, ''Great Blood God Fist of Overshadowing Unparalleled Carnage'' at the creature that had resurfaced once again in front of him and was now several times larger and stronger, the attack which Xiao Lin sent out at it produced a bewilderingly strong ferric smell that instantly pervaded everywhere and surprisingly caused the elders in the Hall of Elders to feel that they were choking, and an incredible, phantasmic power of matchless destructive might which made their bodies feel like they were going to explode into countless shreds of flesh.


    Once these effects occurred, the elders couldn''t help but look at him from where they were with awed expressions in their faces.


    Although this seemingly unreal power of unbridled devastation that encompassed their bodies wouldn''t actually do anything to them since it was fundamentally unreal, it however still possessed the power to be able to instantly kill cultivators below Xiao Lin''s cultivation stage.


    "My goodness, what sort of horrifying, phenomenal attack is that? Where did this lad learn such a brutally powerful move from?" An elder who was totally flabbergasted by the illusionary dreadful power radiated by the attack that Xiao Lin produced, said out loud as he gazed at Xiao Lin''s completely exhausted body that laid on the ground.


    "I am starting to have strong tingles because of this boy." Another elder said with radiant smile in his face. He was one of the many elders developing a higher degree of likeness for Xiao Lin every second.


    Immediately Xiao Lin collapsed to the ground due to fully draining the energy that operated in the same way currents of Lifeforce or Vital Energy behaved in mortals, the exam caretaker elder instantly shot to where Xiao Lin''s unconscious body was.


    Then when he arrived before Xiao Lin''s body that seemed to peacefully lay on the ground, he wrapped the telekinetic-like power that his powerful cultivation base yielded around his body and pulled him into the air with it as he dashed away at an incredibly high speed to the place where Xiao Lin''s body would be able to regain lost energy and help him snap out of his unconscious state.

 Chapter 181 - Appearance Of A Dark Horse

    Before Xiao Lin was carried away from the illusion test ground, he was one of the very few people remaining there. To be precise, he was one of three people which included Zhao Yu and one other female that remained at the test ground. Others had been immediately carried off for treatment by the exam caretaker elder after either having their souls scared out of their bodies and then fainted, or were simply knocked out by the unreal, ferocious Spiritual Energy attacks that their illusory challengers unceasingly sent out at them, or had totally drained their Spiritual energies to form attacks which they will use to destroy the non-existent creatures before or far in front of them.


    So, since Xiao Lin had been taken away, it was remaining only two people on the test ground, and these were Zhao Yu and that female. And surprisingly, these girl wasn''t frightened, since a frightful expression couldn''t be discovered on her face, and neither had she sent out any type of Spiritual Energy attack since the beginning of this test.


    Although she clearly perceived the effects of the illusion, giving her the feeling that they were real, she however maintained the fact that it was only an illusion, and the things that she were feeling, were basically unreal. So, this made her to easily resist the illusionary attacks sent out at her by her illusionary challengers. However, she was able to easily achieve these because of strong mental power. She was able to force herself, more precisely, her mind, to strongly believe that the things occurring around her were untrue, and that the effects that she was experiencing on her body and within her body weren''t real, that they were only illusions generated by a veteran or master Spiritual Illusionist.


    Therefore, because of the girl''s ability to instantly dispel the illusions and the near-realistic effects of the illusions that she was experiencing, the elders who didn''t notice her before began to notice her.


    "By the way, who is that girl, right from the start of this test, she is yet to throw out a single Spiritual Energy attack. Is her soul still in her body, or it has been silently chased out of her delicate fleshy shell?" One elder asked as he looked at her with a curious gaze in her eyes.


    He could mention that because the girl never for once showed any sort of expression in her face, even blink her eyes, which then gave him the feeling that she was probably, already unconscious. Also, she never left were she was to move to another position, meaning that she just remained still there like a statue, and this has been since the initiation of the illusion test, therefore further reinforcing and affirming his thought that the girl being already unconscious was true.


    However, he was forced to change his thought about her when the girl unexpectedly broke a slight smile in her face, and then nodded her head, seemingly making jest of the horrendous, hideous creature or preternatural bizarre objects that had suddenly surfaced in her vision.


    "Hmm. This girl has a rather strong mental will. She is able to actually cancel off and nullify the illusion and the illusionary effects that the immense stony board is continually projecting into her mind. That''s good. I never thought that someone else would be able to actually brilliantly surpass the people that we placed in the top three in this particular test." An elder said with a smile manifesting in his face, while the others simply nodded their heads in agreement to what he mentioned.


    As for Zhao Yu, after sending out that attack and becoming calm in the next moment with a strong belief manifesting in her heart and the continuous, inward utterance of affirmation that she was only in an illusion, and all that she was experiencing weren''t true, also began to gaze without any sort of fear, terror or wariness in her narrowed eyes at the nigh-realistic things that were unendingly appearing in her mind.


    So, being only the two of them that remained there for hours without twisting or warping their faces in horror or fear at what was in their lines of sight, the illusion test was abruptly brought to an end by the anciently Spiritual Being residing in the shrine where all the examinees took their second test which was Comprehension test.


    Therefore, the instant that the test was brought to an end, the stacked layers of false reality that were individually weaved around each of them, began to rapidly distort and contort before eventually crumbling into bits and disintegrating to reveal the actual, true reality around them.


    So, the moment that the sturdy, overlapping layers of untrue reality woven around both Zhao Yu and the strongly-willed girl crumbled to bits, they found themselves back on the test ground. And as soon as they found themselves back on this ground, they shook their heads with ''knowing'' gazes in their eyes, as right from the start of the illusion, they knew in their hearts that they were never taken away to another region of some sort to undertake their illusion test which would assess the level of perseverance of their minds to adversarial brainwashing and hostile mind infiltration or penetration to unravel or discover extremely useful bits of information.


    Not long as they looked around to see who was still on the field, they were surprised to find out that it was only the two of them that actually remained.


    "The hell!" Zhao Yu said as she frantically looked around in search of both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi. They had become her friends and so wanted them to be with her as they hone their abilities and develop their skills and other attributes that they possessed right in the sect.


    But now, she couldn''t find them and so became worried and unhappy.


    She was actually able to think this because she had a feeling that if no one passed this particular test which was the last of the test, they wouldn''t be able to become proud and zealot disciples of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect, one of the top and famous sects in the city and even in other far away cities.


    "Nooo! This can''t be happening to me. Those guys are also good. How would they not be able to pass this simple test of illusion? Or am I still in an illusion? If that''s true, then it''s starting to get to me, because those guys are my friends who I totally made up my mind to befriend. Now that I would be the only one left, how I am supposed to cope with the disciples that joined this sect last year. I would be bullied and cursed at by them here and there unceasingly. This is bad." Zhao Yu said with a morose expression in her face.


    She then continued, "Well, if it''s true that they have been taken off the discipleship testing program, all I can say is that I wish them immense luck and fortune in whatever they would try to do next out there in this brutal cultivation world of ours."


    As Zhao Yu was thinking this, the girl who had a strong mental will could also contemplate this. She was deeply, thoroughly amazed by the fact that only the two of them, she and Zhao Yu, will move on to successfully become the disciples of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect for this year''s batch.


    Then once she thought this, she walked to where Xiao Bilan was and said with a friendly smile surfacing on her lips once she arrived in front of her, "Hey you, congratulations on making it to becoming a disciple of this great and illustrious sect."


    Zhao Yu nodded her head and said with her lips curling into a smile, "Thank you. Congrats to you too"


    She then asked before the girl could say anything, "What''s your name? I am Zhao Yu by the way."


    "Oh. I am Jiang Yun. It''s nice meeting you, Zhao Yu." The strong-willed girl said while Xiao Bilan nodded her head.


    She then said further, "We are better than the males after all, since only the two of us females can still remain here. Hehe"


    Zhao Yu only chuckled and wanted to say something unrelated when the booming voice of an elder who had appeared high in the air above them, suddenly rang out saying "Congratulations to you girls with combative and enduring spirit. You have now become disciples of our sects. Very soon, in maybe a day or in two days time, the discipleship ceremony will start."


    "Now, take a good look at your colleagues who have made it so far in the exams designed to test your skills, prowess and abilities, they will become your fellow disciples very soon. So, memorize their faces and auras and try to treat them with both love and respect as you would for your teachers. Congratulations to you you girls once again, see you in two days time for the disciple welcoming ceremony" The elder, who was the exam caretaking elder, said and disappeared into the horizon using his power of incredibly fast flight.


    Then as soon as he disappeared from both Zhao Yu''s and Jiang Yun''s vision, leaving them stunned and puzzled by what he mentioned, which was; ''Now, take a good look at your colleagues who have made it so far in the exams designed to test your skills, prowess and abilities, they will become your fellow disciples very soon. So, memorize their faces and auras and try to treat them with both love and respect...'', space began to warp around them, and far in front and behind them at the same time.. And as soon as this spatial disturbance occurred and ceased in the next instant, young people of opposite genders began to surface one after the other with looks of intense joy and delight in their faces.

 Chapter 182 - Room Of Beasts

    Zhao Yu and Jiang Yun who were intensely surprised by the appearance of a huge number of people on the field, began to look around for the friends that they had made.


    "Li Huang and Tian Xi, where are you boys?" Zhao Yu asked as she looked around for the both of them.


    Then when she saw them, she beamed a brilliant smile in her face. She then quickly dashed to where they were. And once she got in front of them, she embraced each of them for only a few seconds and said with joy and delight in her face, "I thought you guys were out of the test since I couldn''t find you both after the test came to an end. But how could you guys not make it? I am yet to understand that as the test is a simple test, really"


    Xiao Lin stared at Zhao Yu with an awry smile in his face and asked, "Simple? If that''s what you think, well there is nothing I can say"


    While Zhao Yu who was gazing at both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi, asked with a curious expression in her face, "So, boys, where were you guys taken to?"


    "Well, when I woke, I found myself in a particular room that was permeated with a form of energy that refreshed our body and mind and energized us" Tian Xi said while Xiao Lin nodded his head in agreement to what Tian Xi said.


    "Hmm. Alright" Zhao Yu uttered and nodded her head.


    Then they began to talk about other things like how the discipleship ceremony will go, and how they would start a new life in the sect and cultivate their strengths to the peak to become powerful and famous cultivators that will cause the world to shake from just the slight emission of their auras which could be as powerful as an incomparably boundless ocean.


    So as they continued to speak, the voice of an elder who had suddenly appeared above everyone of them in the air, suddenly rang out, saying "Now, you all can go to your rooms to relax and prepare for the discipleship ceremony that will start in a few days time."


    Then once the elder said that and shot away, Zhao Yu said to Xiao Lin and Tian Xi, "Boys, let''s return to our room to rest. And if you are okay with it, we can move round the inner or outer premises of the sect again with great confidence, since we have all passed the final test to become a true and proud disciple of this sect."


    "Yea. That''s right. Now, we can probably enter the places that we felt were restricted to non-disciples. Haha." Tian Xi said with a delighted nod of his head and then chuckled.


    ...


    When they arrived in the room that they shared together and settled down, Zhao Yu laid back on her bed and began to peacefully and enjoyably roll about on it. While Tian Xi and Xiao Lin who had sat in their beds, had the heavy, overwhelming thoughts of failing to become disciples at this sect totally disappearing from their minds.


    However, the most affected was Xiao Lin, as he wouldn''t have to worry about Nine Calamities till he would leave the sect for a particular, ranked sect mission and return. And there was no telling if he could have gotten stronger by then to be able to decimate Nine Calamities and the higher-ups of his organization in an instant with only a lazy, dispassionate wave of his hand.


    Then with a smile appearing in his face, he laid back on his bed and closed his eyes to think of many things, which included his mother and what she could probably be going through in the hands of his ruthless dad, the powerful Fusion Battle Skill that he created for himself during the comprehension test and how to make it more devastatingly powerful, the new friends that he had made and how they would feel when they realize what he truly is and what he does to grow stronger sometimes in the future, the other energies and their related Battle Skills that he would like to cultivate and study, then the near-countless enemies, which would definitely include Elders and teachers that he was going to make in the sect as time goes on.


    Huuuu!


    Once Xiao Lin thought this, he deeply inhaled and then shook his head


    He then said within himself, ''Now that I have made myself a disciple of this sect, I will have to find a way to cultivate two of my four energies which require human blood for their advancement in growth and development''


    As soon as he contemplated this within himself, the eager and excited voice of Zhao Yu suddenly rang out saying, "Alright boys, it''s time to head out. Let''s visit those damned places that are restricted o non-disciples. Although we are not yet true and bonafide disciples of the sect per say, which is only until after the discipleship ceremony. However, we can still be seen as their disciples since we have passed the final test, and so should be allowed into those places that should be forbidden or prohibited for non-disciples to go into"


    "Yea, that''s right" Tian Xi said, agreeing with her.


    Zhao Yu then stood to her feet and walked towards the door to come out of the room that they were in. Then immediately accompanying her from behind were both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi who were also enthusiastically eager like Zhao Yu to see what was contained or stored in those rooms prohibited to both outsiders and non-disciples.


    As they walked across a few of the numerous wide roads in the sect which led to different places, Zhao Yu came across other disciples of opposite genders who were elegantly cladded in the sect''s uniform and emanated an unbridled aura of arrogance from their bodies.


    But whenever Zhao Yu met these uniform-clad people in her path, she immediately gave way for them to pass. She was the type that would try to avoid any form of confrontation or reduce it to the barest minimum. However, she wasn''t the type to chicken out of a fight that she could easily prevent by doing the right thing, which was trying every intelligent means to avoid them.


    Then with a brilliant, friendly smile appearing in her face as she did that, she was able to dissolve any of the intense gazes of enmity or dislike that could be directed at her by the people who emitted seemingly matchless arrogance from their bodies as they walked past high and didn''t even glance at her once, making her feel like she was some large clumps of stinking matter.


    ''Bastards.'' Zhao Yu said within herself and turned her gaze away from them to continue looking into the distance in search of one of the many prohibited rooms.


    Not long, they appeared before one who had a short, bald-headed elder seated in front of it, seemingly guarding it from unauthorized entry by both outsiders, such as bricklayers, carpenters and so on that had walked into the sect to have some brick or wooden construction jobs done, or from non-disciples.


    Seeing Xiao Lin''s group of three surface before him, the elder who could quickly realize who they were, since they showed shocking and amazing brilliance during the discipleship admission tests, suddenly broke a slight smile in his face and then raised his head to look at each of them in the eyes.


    "Welcome, budding, fresh disciples of our sect." The elder greeted warmly and in a friendly tone, while Xiao Lin, Zhao Yu and Tian Xi nodded their heads at him with expressions of both reverence and politeness in their faces.


    The elder then asked as he gazed strangely at them, "What do you lads want here? You should be in your rooms relaxing and preparing for the discipleship ceremony that will start two days from now, a date that we unanimously chose after coming to a conclusion. So, you lads should go back to your room to relax. Then when you become disciples of our sects after the meritorious ceremony ends, you lads will have absolutely all the time in the world to visit everywhere in the sect, of course except the places, such as vaults and special rooms that are restricted to even teachers and nearly all the elders."


    "Okay. Thank you for suggestion, senior. However, we still want to see what is in this room since we want to satisfy our endlessly burning curiosity. So, could kind and esteemed, great elder give us the chance, even just a fairly small bit of it to see what is in this room. We would be very much grateful to you, elder." Zhao Yu said calmly and persuasively.


    "Alright then." The elder surprisingly agreed while Zhao Yu beamed a bright smile at both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi who then shook his head and said within himself, ''The irresistible persuasive power of a woman. Hmm. That''s nice anyways. It''s great that we have an intelligent, charming and inquisitive girl in our tiny group of three, for if it was only boys all through, it definitely wouldn''t be that much fun.''


    The elder who had stood to his feet from the seat that he sat on, said to Xiao Lin''s group with a slight smile surfacing on his lips, "Alright lads, you can come in with me. Now, before you go in, there is something that you must know, which is this particular room is the one that houses large numbers of spiritually-enchanted massive cages that contains terrifyingly huge and highly dangerous cultivation beasts.. So, always stay behind me at all times and look around from there. Am I clear?"

 Chapter 183 - Fearsome Beasts

    "Yes, senior" Xiao Lin and his group said at the same time.


    "Good!" The elder said.


    He then turned the door knob of the door with the door opening to reveal what was in the room.


    As soon as the door opened and showed to everyone what was in the room which surprisingly spanned hundreds of meters in length and width, Xiao Lin and the others couldn''t help but become shocked by what they saw.


    In this particular room that was immensely large in size, could be seen hundreds of huge cages that had some form of thin brown papers with glowing, glyphic characters written on them, attached to the doors of the cages.


    Zhao Yu who was naturally, overly inquisitive, looked at the elder in front of them and asked without shyness in her tone, as she wasn''t the one to be shy about anything that will increase her knowledge, or make her understand about things more, "Senior, what are those papers attached to the door of the cages?"


    "Oh, those are just Spiritually Enchanted Restrictive papers. They are pasted on the doors like labels to prevent the monstrous cultivation beasts from leaving their cages and wreaking havoc outside." The elder replied.


    "Wow! Alright. Thank you for your explanation, senior" Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin and Tian Xi nodded their heads. While the elder said, "Anytime!"


    But Zhao Yu who still wanted to ask questions, asked further, "But senior, what are the beasts doing in the cages? What are they really meant for?"


    "Well, we tame them. But at this moment, these beasts which are freshly captured cultivation beasts, right from deep, dark valleys that no lone cultivator will dare to venture into alone, haven''t been fully tamed. Although we are trying our best to tame them, the beasts however are making our efforts futile. But at the end of the day, they will eventually succumb to us. There is nothing they can do than have their minds subdued by us and turned into tamed cultivation beasts, which we would give to some of our noteworthy disciples as prizes for a particular ranked mission." The elder said while Xiao Lin and the rest nodded their heads.


    "Oh. That''s great. So, senior, when do you think that the sect will allow us to go for ranked missions?" Zhao Yu asked with a smile in her face.


    "Well, that will be after you have spent a year and the half at the sect, cultivating and comprehending. Then once that requirement has been satisfied, and your individual and group battle prowess has been assessed and marked as ''fair'', ''fairly good'', ''good'', ''excellent'', ''transcendent'', ''bewildering'', ''otherworldly'', and ''godly'', then you will be given missions that is correspondent to your battle prowess scores. Haha." The elder said and chuckled.


    "Oh. That sounds great. Thank you once again for your explanations, elder. I now understand a bit of the sect and hope to understand much more." Zhao Yu said while the elder only nodded his head.


    He then said, "Just a matter of time, lad. Therefore, with time, you will get to understand so many things about the sect, as long as you can pay attention to why is being talked or discussed about by your teachers and their supervisory elders"


    "Alright" Zhao Yu said with a delighted smile appearing on her face.


    She then began to look at the seemingly, infinitely long rows of enormous cages that lined both sides of the wide, rough stony path that they were walking on at the moment.


    "So, would you like to know the names of these cultivation beasts and a fair bit of their abilities?" The elder asked as he looked at the cages that were on both sides of the path that they calmly walked on.


    "Yes, senior" Zhao Yu and the rest immediately nodded their heads.


    "Here, this beast..." The elder said, pointing at one, "...is a beast called the Furious Annihilating Roar Beast. It is a beast, as it name implies, that is capable of killing both mortals and cultivators with it roar that can travel thousands of meters in far less of an instant."


    "It roars normally, like usual beasts. But when using it inherent bloodline power, it is capable of turning the sound waves produced by either it soundless or high-pitched roar into actual, radiant blades formed from the tremendous compaction of air and invisibly imbued with it inherent lineage power, which will rapidly slash apart and quickly lacerate to shreds anything that they would come across in their paths of near-unlimited, sharpness-bound destruction."


    "Therefore, this beast which is always in a frenzied state, can only be truly captured by powerful cultivators, I mean those that stand at cultivation stages far above it own." The elder said while Xiao Lin and the others couldn''t help but have their eyes glow in shock.


    ''What power.'' Xiao Lin said within himself.


    He then thought further, ''With my inherent power of Vampiric Compulsion, a sub-ability of Absolute Mind Control, I should be able to force this beast into being my Beast Slave, for as long as I would be able to hold the power coursing about within it mind. But just imagine having this kind of terrifying beast in my possession, I will just seat on my throne of power and make it go wreak carnage in the organizations of my damned enemies. Haha.''


    ''However, unfortunately for me, I don''t have that level of ability yet to mind-compel this huge beast, or it would be the beast that will turn me into smooth, tiny slices of flesh and bones if I dare come near it and try to use my invasive compulsion power on it. Ugh!'' Xiao Lin said within himself.


    He then said further inwardly, ''How I wish I could have all these beasts for myself, but that is only a dream that I know cannot come true.''


    He then looked at the beast in another cage which the elder pointed at and listened to his explanations, "Now, this other beast, is called the Profound Freezing Devil Beast. As it name also implies, is a beast capable of releasing powerful, ravaging breaths of exceedingly cold air from it mouth, therefore meaning that is a ice and frost-breather. Apart from that, it can use it inherent, ice manipulation power to affect the temperature of the atmosphere around it. So, it could cause snow to fall almost endlessly that it could bury an entire region, can turn large bodies of water into solid blocks of ice, can draw large amounts of moisture from the air and turn it into sharp-pointed, mountainous glaciers which could materialize directly above a particular target and fall with immense heaviness upon them. Haha. What a terrifying beast. I would prefer this beast more than the other beasts stored in cages in here. I might be wrong, but I love it abilities."


    "True, elder. The abilities of the beasts that you have mentioned so far are really impressive. So, this makes them excellent to use in human and supportive beast-companion battles!" Zhao Yu said excitedly while the elder nodded his head.


    He then said further as he pointed at another beast in one of the immense cages stored in the Beast Taming room, "That beast, is called the Heavenly Wooden Burst Scarlet Lion. It''s a beast with the ability to unleash towering, devastating floods or incomparably-sized tidal waves of Wood Spiritual Energy, one of the classic, elemental Spiritual Energies from it entire wood-like body, which is however tremendously tough to break, despite being wood."


    "So, the large, destructive floods of energy which would rush out from this particular beast that is hypothesized to possess the largest amounts of Wood Spiritual Energy in the world, will cause great havoc and devastation wherever they would sweep through."


    "Then aside from that, and since it possesses the ability to release floods and even devastating, super-sized tsunamis of Wood Spiritual Energy, is totally capable of causing thick and huge, spiraling branches of trees to near-endlessly sprout from deep within the ground to viciously impale a particular target, or fully wrap around their bodies and then constrict, instantly causing their bodies to violently burst into clouds or mists of blood."


    "Also, before I forget, it is one of the beasts that we are wary about at the sect. Since it can control anything made of wood, it could use the remaining slivers of it nascent, Wood Control spiritual power to strip away the Spiritually Enchanted Restrictive papers pasted on the doors of their beast storage cages. And once that happens, with all the cultivation beasts here regaining their fully restricted inherent abilities, they could cause unimaginable devastation and irrecoverable damages to our sect for imprisoning them, then for trying to tame them to become our beast mounts, something that virtually no living entity would accept, unless they don''t want their freedom and are tremendously glad to be stepped upon and ordered about like actual, will-less slaves. Haha." The elder said and chuckled, while Zhao Yu and the rest became more wary and careful immediately after they heard what the elder mentioned.


    Seeing how careful they had become, the elder unexpectedly burst into laughter again.


    Hahaha!


    He then said to them with a friendly smile surfacing in his face, "Lads, no need to panic. The beasts here can''t do anything, even after the papers pasted on their doors have been torn off, they would just be lambs waiting for their helpless slaughter. Do you know the number of powerful teachers, elders and even mighty, recluse elders that we have here at the sect? Haha! Furthermore, I was only mentioning the abilities of the beasts at their apex stages. Right now, they are still extremely far away from those stages, which is why we tame them and give them to our disciples who are able to successfully complete a particularly ranked mission or task. So, no need to panic anymore. Stop your shakiness and return your dilated eyes to normal.. Haha."

 Chapter 184 - Xiao Lins Scheme

    Once the elder said that, Xiao Lin, Zhao Yu and Tian Xi nodded their heads with visibly calmed expressions appearing in their faces.


    Then the short elder who was obviously enjoying the way that he explained things about the beasts to Zhu Lian''s group, continued to do so with a broad smile hung in his face all the time. And Xiao Lin and the rest who were taken in all that the elder said nodded their heads as he explained things to them.


    After more than two and the half hours of speaking, the elder turned his head to look at Zhao Yu and the rest and said, "Alright lads. I guess I have explained enough. You can return to your rooms now."


    Once the elder said that, Zhao Yu and the rest who had marvelous smiles in their faces all because of what the elder told them about the cultivation beasts stored here, nodded their heads and then bowed in gratitude to the elder for really taking his time to lecture them. While the elder only nodded his head and said, "Anytime, lads."


    He then continued, "Alright, you can move out now. Let me close this place before any accident happens, or the sect wouldn''t like it"


    As soon as the the elder said that, Xiao Lin and the rest nodded their heads. Then they turned around and headed towards the door to leave the room with the short elder following them from behind.


    As they left, Xiao Lin began to think of how strong he would be if he had all these beasts under him as subjects.


    ''How powerful would I be? I will be unstoppable.'' He said within himself.


    Then as he headed towards the door with the others, he began to look left and right at the beasts who only gazed back at him with immense, seemingly inextinguishable rage in their eyes.


    Xiao Lin only smiled seeing their rages and then shook his head unhappily, as he really couldn''t have all these fearsomely powerful beasts for himself which would become his contracted beasts or mind-controlled beast puppets and help him take over regions and territories.


    When they all finally out of the room with the elder closing the door behind him, Zhao Yu and the rest bowed to the elder once again and delightedly gave statements of gratitude to which the elder only nodded his head to and said with a slight smile in his face, "Alright lads, you can return to your rooms now. Go ruminate on what I explained to you, then when you come back here next time, possibly in the nearest future, you will be able to pick the beast that most suit you for yourself.


    "Yes elder. We will do that" Zhao Yu said and then turned her head to gaze at both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi and said, "Alright boys, let''s go back to our rooms to relax. We have seen enough for today, so we could set out tomorrow once again to take in more things about the sect"


    "Yea. That''s right. Let''s return" Tian Xi said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then as they began to walk in the direction of their room to return to it, a particular thought suddenly flashed in Xiao Lin''s mind.


    ''What if I create many Life Termination slave seals from my Blood Energy and attach it to the minds of the beasts to be able to control them using the multiple, nigh-inseverable connections of my Blood Energy to their minds and the rests of their organs? Hmm. Can that be actually possible, as it is only something that I came up with just now?'' Xiao Lin asked within himself.


    He then said further inwardly, ''I am really missing by Animal Spirit. Ever since it went to slumber to regain it Spiritual Power which I unintentionally exhausted during my intense battle with an opponent far stronger than me, it hadn''t come up once to ask how I am doing. Bastard creature. If not that I am smart and full of wits, I should have lost my life long ago without it support. Anyways, I hope that it wakes from it deep slumber very soon since I am in need of it help. Perhaps what I previously said about creating many undetectable enslavement seals with my Blood Energy could be true. Ugh. I need to create those seals in time and plant them like seeds within the minds of the beasts and nourish them into massively towering trees if is true that I can really perform that kind of deeply marveling feat with my Blood Energy.''


    As he was deeply lost in thoughts, he didn''t know when Zhao Yu appeared by his side and ruffled his hair with a smiling expression in her face.


    The instant that she did that, Xiao Lin instantly came out of his thoughtful state and stared at her with surprise in his face. He then asked, "Zhao Yu, what''s wrong?".


    "I have been calling you since, but you weren''t responding." Zhao Yu said and smirked at him.


    She then spoke further by asking, "What were you thinking hard about that you became so lost in your thoughts, huh?"


    "Oh really?" Xiao Lin asked with a slight smile appearing in his face.


    He then said further, "Well, nothing really. I was just thinking about stuff."


    "Hmm. Alright." Zhao Yu said with a nod of her head.


    Then before she could speak further, Xiao Lin abruptly asked, "So, Zhao Yu, what were calling me for? Wanted to tell me something paramount?"


    "Nah. Not really. Just wanted to tell you that we have had a change of plans. So, instead of going back to our room to do nothing at best, we could go to other places in the sect to check them out and enlighten ourselves more. Hehe" Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin shook his head.


    "What an overly curious Zhao Yu. Now, what are you exceedingly inquisitive about? Care to tell me?" Xiao Lin asked with a full smirk expression in his face.


    Immediately Xiao Lin mentioned that, Zhao Yu shook her head and said, "Nothing, Li Huang. Actually, I just wanted us to go round the sect to see more things that we weren''t able to see then when we walked in the outer premises of the sect as non-disciples. But now that we have become disciples and are automatically authorized to walk in the inner premises of the sect, we should try to walk around to see more things. We definitely can''t return to our shared room now. There''s still more time. So, let''s go round many more times till evening then we can return to our room. How about that?"


    "Hmm. Sounds nice. Alright then. Let''s do that." Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu and Tian Xi nodded their heads. Then they began to walk together on a particular path in a random direction to do more sight-seeing.


    After walking for close to two hours with their hearts fully satisfied with the things that they had seen so far, they all prepared to return to their room with smiles in their faces when they suddenly came before the female senior that lost to Zhao Yu during their first discipleship exam, and some other girls who she tagged along with to move to a particular place that they had in mind.


    "Well, well, well, if it isn''t the amazing, top three examinees of this year''s batch as mentioned by the blind elders. Haha." She said with a hideous smile in her face, since her face contorted due to the boiling anger and intense dislike in her hearts, and a smile manifesting in her face at the same time.


    "Senior, what in hell do you want now? Another round of hurling curses and insults at each other, is that what you want? Why don''t you try to respect us for once, then we would respect you back?" Zhao Yu who had disliked this senior since she took things to heart a little more than too much, asked with unbridled anger in her face.


    "I should respect you, then you will respect me back? Why? Hahaha! How immensely stupid, untamed and really uncultured of you to say that. Heavens! You guys are already growing wings that need to be clipped and cut, and in fact, burnt to ashes! How dare you develop the guts to say those words to me? Anyways, I won''t try to touch you now, I will keep my calm. Then when you filthy and disrespectful little monkeys become actual disciples of the sect, which is after your exceedingly boring discipleship ceremony, you would be thrown into hell where your minds and body will be enshrouded and encompassed at the same time by nothing but hellish PAIN! And by then, you will tremendously regret the stupid and vexatious words that you unrestrainedly rubbed in my face. We shall see very soon, morons. I suggest you brace yourselves for unending rides of torturous pain and sadness, for you will soon get that. Haha!" The female senior called Song Yu, contemptuously said and spitefully spat on the ground before them.. She then left their presence with an aura of great arrogance exuding from her whole body before either Zhao Yu or Xiao Lin could really say or do anything.

 Chapter 185 - Becoming True Disciples

    But Zhao Yu who was exceedingly furious and wanted to do something, was immediately stopped by Xiao Lin who then said with a smile in his face, "Zhao Yu, let her go. She''s not worth our time.".


    "Hmm. Alright" Zhao Yu said with a nod of her head.


    Then they continued to walk to their room to go relax.


    When they arrived in their room, they each laid on their beds to relax, while Xiao Lin who had also laid on his bed, began to think of all sorts of things again. He had been quite thoughtful lately concerning a lot of things that centered around him.


    ...


    A few days later, all the hundred examinees that successfully passed the discipleship test, were asked to come to the discipleship ceremony ground where they will swear an oath that they wouldn''t do anything or be involved in actions that will bring about the ruination or devastation of the sect, and that they will stand and uphold it honor and glory if the time for them to do so arrives.


    At the moment, they had been given uniforms and hats that fitted them, seeming as if a tailor had come to measure them to be able to determine their actual body sizes.


    Then with smiles in their faces as they headed to the ceremony ground which was like a stadium, since it was a really massive circular building that possessed seemingly countless rows of seat and circled round an enormous piece of barren land that the ceremony was going to take place, Zhao Yu said to both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi, "Our dreams of reaching the peak of unmatchable divinely power are already becoming a reality. This is surely our first step to enter that exceedingly distant realm."


    "Yea!" Xiao Lin said with a smile in his face immediately after Zhao Yu mentioned that, while Tian Xi only nodded his head and looked around him observantly.


    Not long, after having walked for more than twenty minutes on a particular path that was shown to them by one of the ceremony-coordinating elders, they finally reached the place where the discipleship ceremony, which was only oath-swearing will take place.


    As soon as they arrived at the ceremony ground that had tens of thousands of people already seated on those rows of wooden seats permanently fixed to the ground of the massive, round-shaped building which circled round the large ceremony ground, an elder suddenly shot into the air from where he seated with other elders and began to speak with a powerful booming voice so that all could clearly hear.


    "Welcome, lads. Now, as conveyed to you before by an elder immediately after the illusion test came to an end that you all will participate in a particular ceremony before you can become true disciples of the sect and be fully authorized to visit places in the sect that you couldn''t as non-disciples, this is the ceremony, which however is only oath swearing. So, only until you lads have sworn the oath can you become actual disciples of our famous and illustrious sect and be allowed to know our secrets, keys to some mysteries, special techniques, and absolutely mystifying, primitive age-cultivation methods for certain Spiritual Energies that are tremendously rare and nigh-impossible to cultivate" An elder said with a smile in his face and looked at the examinees below to see their expressions.


    And he wasn''t disappointed, as their faces began to beam with great joy and unfathomable delight. Even Xiao Lin who had so many powerful techniques with him and hadn''t really cultivate any of them to a particularly high stage, couldn''t help but produce a bright smile in his face. Furthermore, as someone that possesses a special dantian due to the sealing method used on it when it was irreversibly damaged and wanted to cultivate more energies to increase the devastating power of his monstrous, paw-shaped composite energy attack which was at the ''seed'' level in his dantian to a peerless level, couldn''t help but have his mind be shook by the last statement of the elder, which was; ''...and absolutely mystifying, primitive age-cultivation methods for certain Spiritual Energies that are tremendously rare and nigh-impossible to cultivate''.


    The elder who was still pleasurably looking at the faces of the examinees, softly chuckled and said further, "Yes, those are just one of the benefits that you lads will get by becoming disciples our sect!"


    He then paused and continued his speech a few seconds later with a stern expression appearing in his face, "However, they won''t be given to you just because you are now our disciples. Therefore, only by being hardworking in your cultivations and comprehension and displaying peerless brilliancy in all kinds of competitive battles that will come up for certain consummate cultivation materials and artifacts, could your names be written in a particular list that will be sent along with many visual records of your individual battle prowess to the Founder or the overseeing Great Elder of the sect for approval and what he thinks should be given to you to help you with your cultivations and increase your battle prowess further."


    "Well understood, elder. So, we all promise to do our very best to have our names written in the list that will be sent to the founder or the overseeing Great Elder of this great and eminent sect" An examinee suddenly said out loud from where he was, speaking for both himself and everyone else.


    "Good!" The elder said with a slight nod of his head.


    He then suddenly flicked his fingers at them and caused hundred rays of light to suddenly appear in the air and shoot towards them at great speeds.


    Once the rays of light arrived before them in the air in far less than a second, they abruptly turned into stony tabs that had glowing inscriptions of ancient words on their surfaces.


    Then immediately after the tabs appeared before the disciples and remained afloat in the air, the elder spoke again, "Now, those are what we are going to use to swear an oath."


    He then continued, "So lads, I want you to grab the stony tabs floating in the air before you and say after me."


    As soon as he said so, the examinees quickly grabbed the tabs suspended in the air before them by an unseen force and then prepared themselves to say after the elder who will mention the oath to them soon.


    However, once they grasped the tabs, a particular power that was totally imperceptible, suddenly flowed into their bodies and actually formed a connection with the tabs, seeming as if they had become binded by blood to the tabs. Then if one could see the Spiritual Power used to create the nigh-indestructible bonds between them and the tabs, one would be able to notice innumerable, glowing, thread-thin lines of power that actually ran throughout their entire bodies and attached to the radiant inscriptions of anciently words on the surfaces of the tabs.


    But when the power flowed into Xiao Lin''s body and circulated about within it for a few seconds and couldn''t find any vital organ to attach itself to, then found his special Spiritual Arteries and specially-sealed dantian basically unresponsive and seemingly inanimate, since they didn''t pulse with any type of energy, therefore made the penetrative power from the tab unable to detect even the slightest evidence of life in them. So, the power from the stony tab, eventually, sentiently likened him for a truly dead person and then swiftly returned back into the tab that Xiao Lin tightly held. Therefore, no type of connection was formed between Xiao Lin and the tab.


    Xiao Lin who didn''t know what was going on within his body and the stony tab that he clutched with his powerful fingers, prepared to say the oath after the ceremony-conducting elder floating in the air before them.


    "I swear this day that I will never do anything that will bring about the ruination of the sect. I also swear to never participate or involve myself in things that could possibly bring down any degree of calamity upon the sect. But anytime that I go against the oath that I have sworn today, let my Spiritual Arteries be ruined, my dantian be shattered, and myself, turned into an empty shell" The elder said.


    Once the elder mentioned that, the examinees, including Xiao Lin, immediately said after the elder.


    The instant that they swore the oath with the elder and other elders watching them, he said, ''Good! Now, you guys have become true disciples of the sect. So, you have all been given the authorization to go into any place within the sect. Congratulations!"


    "Thank you, elder" All the examinees said and then bowed in veneration to the elder floating high in the air before them.


    Then once they straightened themselves back, the elder made a simple, wave-like gesture with one of his hands and instantly withdrew all the stony tabs that the new, true disciples clutched in their hands back at him. And once he did that, he said with a calm and affable expression appearing in his face, "You all can return to your rooms now.. By tomorrow, you will be given rooms that you will stay, with materials that will mention to you when certain cultivation, battle and movement classes will take place."

 Chapter 186 - Becoming True Disciples

    But Zhao Yu who was exceedingly furious and wanted to do something, was immediately stopped by Xiao Lin who then said with a smile in his face, "Zhao Yu, let her go. She''s not worth our time.".


    "Hmm. Alright" Zhao Yu said with a nod of her head.


    Then they continued to walk to their room to go relax.


    When they arrived in their room, they each laid on their beds to relax, while Xiao Lin who had also laid on his bed, began to think of all sorts of things again. He had been quite thoughtful lately concerning a lot of things that centered around him.


    ...


    A few days later, all the hundred examinees that successfully passed the discipleship test, were asked to come to the discipleship ceremony ground where they will swear an oath that they wouldn''t do anything or be involved in actions that will bring about the ruination or devastation of the sect, and that they will stand and uphold it honor and glory if the time for them to do so arrives.


    At the moment, they had been given uniforms and hats that fitted them, seeming as if a tailor had come to measure them to be able to determine their actual body sizes.


    Then with smiles in their faces as they headed to the ceremony ground which was like a stadium, since it was a really massive circular building that possessed seemingly countless rows of seat and circled round an enormous piece of barren land that the ceremony was going to take place, Zhao Yu said to both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi, "Our dreams of reaching the peak of unmatchable divinely power are already becoming a reality. This is surely our first step to enter that exceedingly distant realm."


    "Yea!" Xiao Lin said with a smile in his face immediately after Zhao Yu mentioned that, while Tian Xi only nodded his head and looked around him observantly.


    Not long, after having walked for more than twenty minutes on a particular path that was shown to them by one of the ceremony-coordinating elders, they finally reached the place where the discipleship ceremony, which was only oath-swearing will take place.


    As soon as they arrived at the ceremony ground that had tens of thousands of people already seated on those rows of wooden seats permanently fixed to the ground of the massive, round-shaped building which circled round the large ceremony ground, an elder suddenly shot into the air from where he seated with other elders and began to speak with a powerful booming voice so that all could clearly hear.


    "Welcome, lads. Now, as conveyed to you before by an elder immediately after the illusion test came to an end that you all will participate in a particular ceremony before you can become true disciples of the sect and be fully authorized to visit places in the sect that you couldn''t as non-disciples, this is the ceremony, which however is only oath swearing. So, only until you lads have sworn the oath can you become actual disciples of our famous and illustrious sect and be allowed to know our secrets, keys to some mysteries, special techniques, and absolutely mystifying, primitive age-cultivation methods for certain Spiritual Energies that are tremendously rare and nigh-impossible to cultivate" An elder said with a smile in his face and looked at the examinees below to see their expressions.


    And he wasn''t disappointed, as their faces began to beam with great joy and unfathomable delight. Even Xiao Lin who had so many powerful techniques with him and hadn''t really cultivate any of them to a particularly high stage, couldn''t help but produce a bright smile in his face. Furthermore, as someone that possesses a special dantian due to the sealing method used on it when it was irreversibly damaged and wanted to cultivate more energies to increase the devastating power of his monstrous, paw-shaped composite energy attack which was at the ''seed'' level in his dantian to a peerless level, couldn''t help but have his mind be shook by the last statement of the elder, which was; ''...and absolutely mystifying, primitive age-cultivation methods for certain Spiritual Energies that are tremendously rare and nigh-impossible to cultivate''.


    The elder who was still pleasurably looking at the faces of the examinees, softly chuckled and said further, "Yes, those are just one of the benefits that you lads will get by becoming disciples our sect!"


    He then paused and continued his speech a few seconds later with a stern expression appearing in his face, "However, they won''t be given to you just because you are now our disciples. Therefore, only by being hardworking in your cultivations and comprehension and displaying peerless brilliancy in all kinds of competitive battles that will come up for certain consummate cultivation materials and artifacts, could your names be written in a particular list that will be sent along with many visual records of your individual battle prowess to the Founder or the overseeing Great Elder of the sect for approval and what he thinks should be given to you to help you with your cultivations and increase your battle prowess further."


    "Well understood, elder. So, we all promise to do our very best to have our names written in the list that will be sent to the founder or the overseeing Great Elder of this great and eminent sect" An examinee suddenly said out loud from where he was, speaking for both himself and everyone else.


    "Good!" The elder said with a slight nod of his head.


    He then suddenly flicked his fingers at them and caused hundred rays of light to suddenly appear in the air and shoot towards them at great speeds.


    Once the rays of light arrived before them in the air in far less than a second, they abruptly turned into stony tabs that had glowing inscriptions of ancient words on their surfaces.


    Then immediately after the tabs appeared before the disciples and remained afloat in the air, the elder spoke again, "Now, those are what we are going to use to swear an oath."


    He then continued, "So lads, I want you to grab the stony tabs floating in the air before you and say after me."


    As soon as he said so, the examinees quickly grabbed the tabs suspended in the air before them by an unseen force and then prepared themselves to say after the elder who will mention the oath to them soon.


    However, once they grasped the tabs, a particular power that was totally imperceptible, suddenly flowed into their bodies and actually formed a connection with the tabs, seeming as if they had become binded by blood to the tabs. Then if one could see the Spiritual Power used to create the nigh-indestructible bonds between them and the tabs, one would be able to notice innumerable, glowing, thread-thin lines of power that actually ran throughout their entire bodies and attached to the radiant inscriptions of anciently words on the surfaces of the tabs.


    But when the power flowed into Xiao Lin''s body and circulated about within it for a few seconds and couldn''t find any vital organ to attach itself to, then found his special Spiritual Arteries and specially-sealed dantian basically unresponsive and seemingly inanimate, since they didn''t pulse with any type of energy, therefore made the penetrative power from the tab unable to detect even the slightest evidence of life in them. So, the power from the stony tab, eventually, sentiently likened him for a truly dead person and then swiftly returned back into the tab that Xiao Lin tightly held. Therefore, no type of connection was formed between Xiao Lin and the tab.


    Xiao Lin who didn''t know what was going on within his body and the stony tab that he clutched with his powerful fingers, prepared to say the oath after the ceremony-conducting elder floating in the air before them.


    "I swear this day that I will never do anything that will bring about the ruination of the sect. I also swear to never participate or involve myself in things that could possibly bring down any degree of calamity upon the sect. But anytime that I go against the oath that I have sworn today, let my Spiritual Arteries be ruined, my dantian be shattered, and myself, turned into an empty shell" The elder said.


    Once the elder mentioned that, the examinees, including Xiao Lin, immediately said after the elder.


    The instant that they swore the oath with the elder and other elders watching them, he said, ''Good! Now, you guys have become true disciples of the sect. So, you have all been given the authorization to go into any place within the sect. Congratulations!"


    "Thank you, elder" All the examinees said and then bowed in veneration to the elder floating high in the air before them.


    Then once they straightened themselves back, the elder made a simple, wave-like gesture with one of his hands and instantly withdrew all the stony tabs that the new, true disciples clutched in their hands back at him. And once he did that, he said with a calm and affable expression appearing in his face, "You all can return to your rooms now.. By tomorrow, you will be given rooms that you will stay, with materials that will mention to you when certain cultivation, battle and movement classes will take place."

 Chapter 187 - Separation

    But when the power flowed into Xiao Lin''s body and circulated about within it for a few seconds and couldn''t find any vital organ to attach itself to, then found his special Spiritual Arteries and specially-sealed dantian basically unresponsive and seemingly inanimate, since they didn''t pulse with any type of energy, therefore made the penetrative power from the tab unable to detect even the slightest evidence of life in them. So, the power from the stony tab, eventually, sentiently likened him for a truly dead person and then swiftly returned back into the tab that Xiao Lin tightly held. Therefore, no type of connection was formed between Xiao Lin and the tab.


    Xiao Lin who didn''t know what was going on within his body and the stony tab that he clutched with his powerful fingers, prepared to say the oath after the ceremony-conducting elder floating in the air before them.


    "I swear this day that I will never do anything that will bring about the ruination of the sect. I also swear to never participate or involve myself in things that could possibly bring down any degree of calamity upon the sect. But anytime that I go against the oath that I have sworn today, let my Spiritual Arteries be ruined, my dantian be shattered, and myself, turned into an empty shell" The elder said.


    Once the elder mentioned that, the examinees, including Xiao Lin, immediately said after the elder.


    The instant that they swore the oath with the elder and other elders watching them, he said, ''Good! Now, you guys have become true disciples of the sect. So, you have all been given the authorization to go into any place within the sect. Congratulations!"


    "Thank you, elder" All the examinees said and then bowed in veneration to the elder floating high in the air before them.


    Then once they straightened themselves back, the elder made a simple, wave-like gesture with one of his hands and instantly withdrew all the stony tabs that the new, true disciples clutched in their hands back at him. And once he did that, he said with a calm and affable expression appearing in his face, "You all can return to your rooms now. By tomorrow, you will be given rooms that you will stay, with materials that will mention to you when certain cultivation, battle and movement classes will take place."


    Once the elder said that, Xiao Lin and the rest of the examinees that stood on the field nodded their heads.


    Then they prepared to head back to their rooms to go relax and await further instructions from any of the sect''s elders concerning where they would stay till they become senior disciples, as they were junior disciples at the moment.


    On their way to their rooms, Xiao Lin and his group came across Jiang Yun, the girl who easily withstood the Hyper-Realistic Illusion from start to finish, showing herself as a dark horse during the test.


    Xiao Lin didn''t know her, so he didn''t bother saying anything to her. But since Zhao Yu had made friends with her when it was only two of them that remained on the exam ground, Zhao Yu approached her and asked with a smile in her face, "Heyy, how are you doing?"


    "I am good. What about you?" Jiang Yun responded and asked back with a smile also appearing in her face.


    "Great" Zhao Yu simply responded.


    She then questioned, "So, Jiang Yun, how does it feel to be a true disciple of this sect?"


    "Well, I feel greater than any marvelous thing that you can think of or imagine. Haha" Jiang Yun said and laughed.


    She then asked when she ended her cackle, "What about you? How you do feel at the moment?"


    "Just like you. I feel great that I can punch through the skies and swim through the endless void. Hehe" Zhao Yu said and chuckled.


    "Good" Jiang Yun said with a slight nod of her head.


    She then looked at both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi who were busy looking around at the moment at the faces of other examinees and asked Zhao Yu who was right in front of her, "I received news that the three strongest people from this year''s batch have become friends and have created a group. Is that right? Or those are just rumors?"


    "Well, that''s partially true. They are friends, but they haven''t thought of creating a group yet. So, the rumors are partly true, partly false." Zhao Yu said while Jiang Yun nodded her head


    Jiang Yun then said further, "Anyway, when they think of creating a group in the future, I wish they would let me know. I will like to join."


    "Oh. Then you will be the first person to know once they plan on creating such" Zhao Yu said with a smile in her face while Jiang Yun nodded her head with an appreciative look in her eyes.


    "Thank you" Jiang Yun said and then turned around to leave her presence.


    Immediately she left, Zhao Yu walked back to where she left Xiao Lin and Tian Xi.


    "Alright guys. Let''s return to our room" Zhao Yu said once she appeared in front of them, while both Xiao Lin and Tian Xi nodded their heads at the same time in agreement and began to walk behind her.


    Not long, they arrived in the room that they shared with one another and went in to relax.


    "Tomorrow, we would be made to split and taken to rooms that we would stay throughout our level. I will really miss you guys. I wish we can stay together in the same room." Zhao Yu suddenly said while Tian Xi nodded his head.


    "Don''t worry, we boys will come to pay you a visit" Tian Xi while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    "Alright now, I am going to sleep. See you guys when I wake." Zhao Yu unexpectedly said while both Tian Xi and Xiao Lin produced smirk expressions in their faces.


    Once Zhao Yu said that, she laid down on the bed to relax, eagerly anticipating tomorrow''s activities in her heart.


    ...


    "Senior, those idiots have become true disciples of this sect. Isn''t it time for us to go beat them up for being unruly to their seniors?" Song Yu asked with an angered expression written all over her face.


    "No, Song Yu. It''s not yet time. Let''s relax till it''s time for us to set out and go deal with them. So, for now, let them enjoy the benefits of becoming true disciples of our sect" The senior that Song Yu spoke to and was called Bi Yuan, said calmly with a smile in her face. However, the smile hid the overwhelming, poisonous intents in her heart.


    "Hmm. Alright senior. I will be patient enough then, senior Bi Yuan." Song Yu said while Bi Yuan nodded her head.


    She then left where she was and returned to her room in the sect.


    A day later,


    "Alright, our fresh disciples, do come out of your rooms. It''s time to take you to your normal rooms" An elder who had flown down to the middle of long rows of staying rooms, said as he tapped on the doors of the rooms with his finger.


    As he did so, the fresh disciples began to come out of their rooms after the other to appear before the elder who nodded at them with a smile in his face as he saw them.


    Once they had all come out of their temporary staying rooms, the elder flicked a finger at them and then small, shiny objects seemingly made of metal instantly appeared and shot out towards them at great speeds.


    The instant the items flicked out at them by the elder appeared in front of them, they immediately turned into cards that the disciples caught between their fingers.


    Then when they looked at the cards, they saw that it was the cards having the numbers to their rooms that they were given.


    "Li Huang, I got room thirty-five. What about you?" Zhao Yu suddenly asked after catching the cards flicked at them by the elder and looked at it.


    "Oh. I got room sixty-five" Xiao Lin said with a smile in his face.


    "That''s nice" Zhao Yu said and then turned her head to look at Tian Xi.


    "What about you, Tian Xi? What room did you get?" She asked.


    "I got room forty." Tian Xi replied.


    "Okay. Now that we all know each other''s room, we should make sure to visit the other whenever we have the time." Zhao Yu said while both Tian Xi and Xiao Lin nodded their heads.


    Then they immediately shot out to the different rooms that were given to them by the elder that had appeared between the long rows of staying rooms that were firstly given to them as examinees.


    As soon as they left where they were, the others immediately followed behind them and began to dash to the different rooms that were inscribed in the metallic cards that they caught between their fingers with unbridled excitement in their faces.

 Chapter 188 - Called Back By The Elders

    Once they started appearing in their rooms one after the other, with Xiao Lin appearing at his, he simply opened the door and went in to check out the room that they gave him.


    Then after looking around for sometime, he arrived at a fact that the room was good, well-ventilated and was spacious. He then laid in his bed and prepared himself for tomorrow''s activity.


    Not long, he suddenly heard a loud chime ring out from somewhere in the sect with a loud, booming voice immediately accompanying it, saying "All fresh disciples should find their way to the Assembly Hall now"


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, he shook his head and said, "What now?"


    He then quickly stood to his feet and hurried to where the booming voice that rang out a moment ago ordered them to go.


    But since he didn''t know the way to the place, he asked old disciples that he came across for directions to the Assembly Hall mentioned by that voice that unexpectedly boomed out seconds ago.


    ...


    Not long after asking for directions from the old students that he met, he arrived before the Assembly Hall and went in.


    And like it name implied, the Assembly Hall was simply a hall for gathering in massive numbers, as it was really large in size within, thereby giving the feeling that it could easily contain up to thirty thousand people at once with lots of spaces between each of them.


    Once all the fresh disciples had gathered in the hall, an elder who stood with many other elders on an elevated stony platform, walked forward to address them.


    He started, "As you can all see, all the elders for the departments in the sect have gathered here. Now, what we want you lads to do for us is to pick a department that you feel will be most suitable for you. And, I will advise to think carefully about them, because once you make your choice and you return to me that you want you want a change of department, I will ignore your request. So, after the elders have each told you lads about the different departments that they individually supervise, you should take your time to ruminate on them before making your choices. I beg you, don''t make ghastly ones, or if you come to begging for a switch of department, I will deny you."


    Once the elder said that, he looked at the other elders behind him and said, "Alright elders, please carry on."


    The elders nodded their heads and began to come forward one after the other to mention the department that they each supervised, and then the amazing benefits that would be obtained if they chose their department for studies related to cultivation and battle prowess honing.


    Furthermore, since the elders would also get benefits from the sect itself, depending on the numbers of disciples that they were able to persuade to come join their departments, they put in more efforts at convincing the students when they mentioned the department that they were from and what they do there.


    When the last elder finished explaining what they do in his department and the benefits that will be obtained if they chose there to study for their cultivation and battle prowess developments, he went back to join the other elders standing in line and awaited the instructions of the Grand Elder, who also called the First Elder to the disciples gathered before the massive stony platform that they stood on.


    "Alright disciples, you have heard it all" The First Elder came out and said.


    He then said further, "So, I want each of you to go back to your rooms and think of the various departments that you were informed about before making your choices on which particular department that you want to become a part of"


    And once he said that, he said with a stern expression in his face, "Alright. You can go back to your rooms. And remember, make good choices, or you will see me as a bad elder in the future"


    "Yes, elder" All the disciples said at the same time and began to walk to their rooms.


    However, before Xiao Lin who had turned around could take any step to leave where he was, he suddenly heard the voice of the First Elder saying, "Devil Fang, do wait behind. I and the elders want to discuss something paramount with you."


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, his heart jumped. But he immediately calmed it back in that same moment.


    He then turned around and walked closer to the platform since he was a bit far away from it because of where he stood upon entering the Assembly Hall.


    When everyone heard what the First Elder said, they became intensely surprised. However, since it was none of their business, they killed off their varying degrees of curiosity about it and made way to their rooms. And as they did so, they began to talk at length with one another concerning the different departments that were introduced and highly elaborated to them in calm, persuasive and dignified tones.


    As for Zhao Yu and Tian Xi, they became slightly worried when they heard what the elder said. Then they began to rapidly think within themselves if Xiao Lin had done something wrong or terrible.


    But after thinking for a while as they both headed towards the large bronze door of the Assembly Hall to come out of it, they came to a definite thought that Xiao Lin had done nothing wrong, since someone who was just inducted into the sect as a true disciple yesterday, wouldn''t have the time to do anything of horrendous levels so quickly.


    Xiao Lin who had appeared before the elders, entered a deep bowing position for sometime and then straightened himself back up some moments later.


    A second after Xiao Lin came out from his bowing position, the First Elder said to him, "Devil Fang, do not be needlessly scared. I only called you back because I and the other elders want to ask you a few questions, which we want you to be sincerely truthful about. Would you do that for us?"


    "Yes, elder" Xiao Lin said with a respectful nod of his head.


    "Good!" The first elder said.


    He then spoke further, "Now, my first question goes thus; how were you able to cultivate two energies at once?"


    "It''s all due to my phenomenal Animal Spirit, elder." Xiao Lin calmly said.


    He then spoke further with an incomparably great calmness in his tone, as he had long been expecting this question from the elders which he had cooked an excellent, truth-sounding lie for, "Actually, on the day that I summoned it, frenzied streams of it immense Spiritual Power violently rushed from it into my body and began to course about within my body, ravaging basically everything that it came across."


    "Then when my parent who were also powerful cultivators found out about what was happening to me the instant that my Animal Spirit appeared and shot into my body, they immediately passed their Spiritual Powers into my body which was now looking pale to help me expel the slivers of my beast Spiritual Power which had made it way into my body."


    "Then after a really long struggle which lasted for days, the evasive, pervading power from my beast was completely flushed out, but with the help of so many kind cultivators who came around to watch the Spirit Summoning Ritual."


    "However, great, irreversible damages had already been done to my body. My skin tone permanently changed to make me look like a walking, animated corpse, as it turned me from being fair-complexioned to pale-looking. Also, many of my delicate organs turned into shreds, almost making me lose my precious life then."


    "Then worst of it all, something that could stand on equal footing with something as great and marvelous as life for cultivators, which was my dantian, had been badly punctured at several places and covered in so many cracks, thereby disabling me from being able to store Spiritual Energy in it and so, killing my great dream to become a powerful cultivator that will stand at the apex in the distant future." Xiao Lin said with a seemingly truthful, false reminiscent gaze in his eyes.


    He then looked at the elders and continued with an intensely sad look appearing in his face, "My father and mother who went out to search and source for rare, legendary and transcendental items that could possibly help me to cultivate again, even it was only to a particular low-rank level, unfortunately lost their beautiful and bright lives in doing so for me."


    "And so, I was all alone, growing up in the street as a useless and disabled young boy that even the weakest human pounced on and constantly beat blue black over amazingly silly things."


    "Then when I made up mind to kill myself since there was nothing left for me in this world, as I was basically useless and disabled, and my parent who will comfort me always had died because of me, I decided to take my life. And so, I climbed to the top of a particular mountain since I was highly determined to take my own life and go join my parent wherever they were. Then I jumped down from there to my death.. But before I could impact the ground and turn into mist of blood, something shocking and miraculous unexpectedly happened."

 Chapter 189 - Called Back By The Elders

    Once they started appearing in their rooms one after the other, with Xiao Lin appearing at his, he simply opened the door and went in to check out the room that they gave him.


    Then after looking around for sometime, he arrived at a fact that the room was good, well-ventilated and was spacious. He then laid in his bed and prepared himself for tomorrow''s activity.


    Not long, he suddenly heard a loud chime ring out from somewhere in the sect with a loud, booming voice immediately accompanying it, saying "All fresh disciples should find their way to the Assembly Hall now"


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, he shook his head and said, "What now?"


    He then quickly stood to his feet and hurried to where the booming voice that rang out a moment ago ordered them to go.


    But since he didn''t know the way to the place, he asked old disciples that he came across for directions to the Assembly Hall mentioned by that voice that unexpectedly boomed out seconds ago.


    ...


    Not long after asking for directions from the old students that he met, he arrived before the Assembly Hall and went in.


    And like it name implied, the Assembly Hall was simply a hall for gathering in massive numbers, as it was really large in size within, thereby giving the feeling that it could easily contain up to thirty thousand people at once with lots of spaces between each of them.


    Once all the fresh disciples had gathered in the hall, an elder who stood with many other elders on an elevated stony platform, walked forward to address them.


    He started, "As you can all see, all the elders for the departments in the sect have gathered here. Now, what we want you lads to do for us is to pick a department that you feel will be most suitable for you. And, I will advise to think carefully about them, because once you make your choice and you return to me that you want you want a change of department, I will ignore your request. So, after the elders have each told you lads about the different departments that they individually supervise, you should take your time to ruminate on them before making your choices. I beg you, don''t make ghastly ones, or if you come to begging for a switch of department, I will deny you."


    Once the elder said that, he looked at the other elders behind him and said, "Alright elders, please carry on."


    The elders nodded their heads and began to come forward one after the other to mention the department that they each supervised, and then the amazing benefits that would be obtained if they chose their department for studies related to cultivation and battle prowess honing.


    Furthermore, since the elders would also get benefits from the sect itself, depending on the numbers of disciples that they were able to persuade to come join their departments, they put in more efforts at convincing the students when they mentioned the department that they were from and what they do there.


    When the last elder finished explaining what they do in his department and the benefits that will be obtained if they chose there to study for their cultivation and battle prowess developments, he went back to join the other elders standing in line and awaited the instructions of the Grand Elder, who also called the First Elder to the disciples gathered before the massive stony platform that they stood on.


    "Alright disciples, you have heard it all" The First Elder came out and said.


    He then said further, "So, I want each of you to go back to your rooms and think of the various departments that you were informed about before making your choices on which particular department that you want to become a part of"


    And once he said that, he said with a stern expression in his face, "Alright. You can go back to your rooms. And remember, make good choices, or you will see me as a bad elder in the future"


    "Yes, elder" All the disciples said at the same time and began to walk to their rooms.


    However, before Xiao Lin who had turned around could take any step to leave where he was, he suddenly heard the voice of the First Elder saying, "Devil Fang, do wait behind. I and the elders want to discuss something paramount with you."


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, his heart jumped. But he immediately calmed it back in that same moment.


    He then turned around and walked closer to the platform since he was a bit far away from it because of where he stood upon entering the Assembly Hall.


    When everyone heard what the First Elder said, they became intensely surprised. However, since it was none of their business, they killed off their varying degrees of curiosity about it and made way to their rooms. And as they did so, they began to talk at length with one another concerning the different departments that were introduced and highly elaborated to them in calm, persuasive and dignified tones.


    As for Zhao Yu and Tian Xi, they became slightly worried when they heard what the elder said. Then they began to rapidly think within themselves if Xiao Lin had done something wrong or terrible.


    But after thinking for a while as they both headed towards the large bronze door of the Assembly Hall to come out of it, they came to a definite thought that Xiao Lin had done nothing wrong, since someone who was just inducted into the sect as a true disciple yesterday, wouldn''t have the time to do anything of horrendous levels so quickly.


    Xiao Lin who had appeared before the elders, entered a deep bowing position for sometime and then straightened himself back up some moments later.


    A second after Xiao Lin came out from his bowing position, the First Elder said to him, "Devil Fang, do not be needlessly scared. I only called you back because I and the other elders want to ask you a few questions, which we want you to be sincerely truthful about. Would you do that for us?"


    "Yes, elder" Xiao Lin said with a respectful nod of his head.


    "Good!" The first elder said.


    He then spoke further, "Now, my first question goes thus; how were you able to cultivate two energies at once?"


    "It''s all due to my phenomenal Animal Spirit, elder." Xiao Lin calmly said.


    He then spoke further with an incomparably great calmness in his tone, as he had long been expecting this question from the elders which he had cooked an excellent, truth-sounding lie for, "Actually, on the day that I summoned it, frenzied streams of it immense Spiritual Power violently rushed from it into my body and began to course about within my body, ravaging basically everything that it came across."


    "Then when my parent who were also powerful cultivators found out about what was happening to me the instant that my Animal Spirit appeared and shot into my body, they immediately passed their Spiritual Powers into my body which was now looking pale to help me expel the slivers of my beast Spiritual Power which had made it way into my body."


    "Then after a really long struggle which lasted for days, the evasive, pervading power from my beast was completely flushed out, but with the help of so many kind cultivators who came around to watch the Spirit Summoning Ritual."


    "However, great, irreversible damages had already been done to my body. My skin tone permanently changed to make me look like a walking, animated corpse, as it turned me from being fair-complexioned to pale-looking. Also, many of my delicate organs turned into shreds, almost making me lose my precious life then."


    "Then worst of it all, something that could stand on equal footing with something as great and marvelous as life for cultivators, which was my dantian, had been badly punctured at several places and covered in so many cracks, thereby disabling me from being able to store Spiritual Energy in it and so, killing my great dream to become a powerful cultivator that will stand at the apex in the distant future." Xiao Lin said with a seemingly truthful, false reminiscent gaze in his eyes.


    He then looked at the elders and continued with an intensely sad look appearing in his face, "My father and mother who went out to search and source for rare, legendary and transcendental items that could possibly help me to cultivate again, even it was only to a particular low-rank level, unfortunately lost their beautiful and bright lives in doing so for me."


    "And so, I was all alone, growing up in the street as a useless and disabled young boy that even the weakest human pounced on and constantly beat blue black over amazingly silly things."


    "Then when I made up mind to kill myself since there was nothing left for me in this world, as I was basically useless and disabled, and my parent who will comfort me always had died because of me, I decided to take my life. And so, I climbed to the top of a particular mountain since I was highly determined to take my own life and go join my parent wherever they were. Then I jumped down from there to my death.. But before I could impact the ground and turn into mist of blood, something shocking and miraculous unexpectedly happened."

 Chapter 190 - Persuading The Elders

    He then looked at the elders and continued with an intensely sad look appearing in his face, "My father and mother who went out to search and source for rare, legendary and transcendental items that could possibly help me to cultivate again, even it was only to a particular low-rank level, unfortunately lost their beautiful and bright lives in doing so for me."


    "And so, I was all alone, growing up in the street as a useless and disabled young boy that even the weakest human pounced on and constantly beat blue black over amazingly silly things."


    "Then when I made up mind to kill myself since there was nothing left for me in this world, as I was basically useless and disabled, and my parent who will comfort me always had died because of me, I decided to take my life. And so, I climbed to the top of a particular mountain since I was highly determined to take my own life and go join my parent wherever they were. Then I jumped down from there to my death. But before I could impact the ground and turn into mist of blood, something shocking and miraculous unexpectedly happened."


    Once Xiao Lin said that and produced a smile in his face, he continued, "My Animal Spirit that caused great damage to my body and dantian, suddenly unleashed a type of mysterious sealing power that fully encompassed my dantian and my entire body, which then gave me the strength, toughness and durability to withstand the impact at falling from such a great height."


    Xiao Lin then stopped talking and gazed at the elders who had developed absolutely shocked expressions in their faces. They couldn''t believe what Xiao Lin just said.


    "Wow!" An elder said with intense amazement in his eyes.


    He then spoke further, "So, your Animal Spirit, upon your great fall to your death, unexpectedly unleashed a sealing power that encompassed both your dantian and your body, preventing you from bursting into mist of blood once you will make contact with the solid brown ground due to the tremendous velocity that you plunged at, right?"


    "Yes, elder" Xiao Lin politely responded with a nod of his head.


    "Hmm. I am terrifyingly amazed by your Animal Spirit, Devil Fang. It will certainly possess great power that will lead you to the path where you can claim to be one of the strongest in the world. I am absolutely certain of that." The elder speaking to Xiao Lin said, he then said further with his brows furrowed, "But lad, can I see your Animal Spirit? I want to take a good look at it. Please do conjure it for my observation."


    "I apologize about that elder because I wouldn''t be able to do so. My Animal Spirit is slumbering and is far from within my reach. I borrowed it Spiritual Power too much to escape from a certain, high-level cultivator that wanted to viciously destroy me, leaving it totally exhausted, senior. But when it finally awakens from it deep slumber that it has been in for many months now, you will be first to know about it. " Xiao Lin said with a deep apologetic look in his face. However, he knew within him that he wouldn''t show anyone how his Animal Spirit looked like. He was only saying that to make the elder not get angry at him, since he wouldn''t be able to summon it so that he could take an in-depth observatory look at it.


    "Hmm. Alright then. However, make sure you do as you said, boy" The elder said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Once that elder finished talking, another elder came forward and asked, "So, it was your Animal Spirit that allowed you to be able to cultivate those two internal energies that you displayed at the examination ground?"


    "Yes, elder. It was my Animal Spirit''s mystical sealing power that engulfed my dantian and sealed it up that prevented energies from leaking from it. So, because of that attribute of it sealing power which enveloped my dantian, I discovered that it allowed me to be able to cultivate those two energies that you saw me reveal at the discipleship trial ground, senior." Xiao Lin answered, twisting the truth as he mentioned it to them with an unwavering voice.


    He then said further with a concealed mischievous look appearing in his face, "Furthermore, since it allowed me to be able to cultivate two different energies at once, I have a feeling that it should allow me to be able to cultivate much more energies, due to it unusual sealing power. Therefore, I want seniors to please allow me to cultivate in all the departments previously listed to my colleagues. I believe that I should be able to cultivate all the energies studied in those departments due to my special dantian"


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the elders looked at him for sometime and began to look at each other with intensely surprised expressions in their faces.


    Then the First Elder who called Xiao Lin back to ask him questions related to his dantian and his marveling ability to cultivate dual energies, began to ask him questions that came up in his mind, "Why do want to cultivate that many energies? You of all people should know that cultivating many energies at once is something that is totally forbidden in our world. You are lucky that the unseen powers that set down the laws and sub-laws of our boundlessly vast universe haven''t phenomenally appeared before you to strike you down. Furthermore, apart from being noticed by those nonchalant, invisible primal entities that were were birthed before the formation of our world, the immense continents and the innumerable forms of creatures in it, you should be able to understand that cultivation of so many energies at once will tremendously slow you down to the point of stagnating your cultivation growth. Where do you want to get the increasingly large amounts of corresponding, consummate cultivation materials and resources to be able to keep up with the cultivation of those energies that you are cultivating, heh?"


    Xiao Lin who was staring at the elder as he spoke, then looked at him with a smiling expression in his face and said, "Senior, do not be alarmed in any way by what I said. Since I have made up my mind to do it, then I can do it. The thing about me is that anything that I set out to do, I always try all means to accomplish them in anyway whatsoever, senior. So, don''t let the fear of primordial beings that we don''t know if they are truly existing, to make you stop me from trying to cultivating many energies that will be of great benefit to me in the future, senior"


    Once Xiao Lin said that, he continued before any of the astonished elders standing before him on that elevated platform could speak, "Then to what you asked me about, which is that would I be able to really cultivate the different internal energies without unintentionally stagnating my cultivation growth, since they would all require large amounts of excellent cultivation materials which would increase at an exponential rate in every cultivation stage that I enter? Actually, elders, I have come to a concrete conclusion that the growths of my energies are completely independent of each other. They aren''t mutually interdependent on one another, as they don''t rely on each others growth to exhibit the powers that they inherently possess. Therefore, if I stop cultivating one due to my lack of ability to be able to acquire and gather large heaps of cultivation resources for it, it wouldn''t affect the growth of the others in any way, senior."


    "However, I don''t plan on stopping the growth of any of them, simply because I couldn''t find perfect or pristine cultivation resources and items for them, or that they became much more difficult to cultivate along the way. No, that''s not how miserably weak my determination is, elders."


    "So, as someone of great and unyielding resoluteness, I will make sure that they rise to the peak, everyone of them. That''s my resolve, elders, and I hope that you don''t stop me from achieving what I want for myself, and what will surely benefit the sect in the distant future, since I will become strong enough to single-handedly stop or ward off any form of calamity or disaster that will direct it gaze of carnage and death to this place, seniors." Xiao Lin mentioned with a confident look in his face as he gazed at the elders standing on the platform before him.


    Aii!


    One of the elders sighed and looked at the other elders who stood by his side, "Fellow colleagues, I think he is right. We have to let him do what he wants, as long as he is totally sure of himself that what he plans on plunging his hands into wouldn''t retard his cultivation growth in any way. And from the way that he spoke, I am certain that what he plans to do will surely become a beaconing success to all, making our sect even more popular for birthing a monstrously-talented, rare cultivation genius.. So, let''s allow him to do what he wants and how it pleases him."

 Chapter 191 - A Boy Of Great Promise

    Immediately the elder said that, all the elders looked at Xiao Lin with pondering look in their faces before beginning to nod their heads one after the other in agreement to what that elder said.


    "Alright then. You are allowed to study at the different department." The first elder said while Xiao Lin nodded his head with a smile appearing in his face.


    ''Finally!'' He said excitedly within himself.


    He then bowed at the elders in front of him and said with a glad expression in his face, "Thank you, elders. I will always remember this favor"


    "Alright, Devil Fang. You can go back to your room now." The First elder said while Xiao Lin nodded his head and came out of his bowing position.


    He then turned around and walked back to his room to go relax.


    As he left, he could pick up what the elders were saying about him...


    "That kid is one damned, blessed son of the world. Can you imagine that we would actually be alive to come across someone that will really go against the laws of our world? Haha. In this case, we have performed far better than our ancestors, since we are able to communicate with and train someone that will grow up to become a Heavenly Defiant, something that has never been achieved in the far past, in fact, since the birth of cultivation of Spiritual Energy by the spiritual cultivation pioneers."


    "Yes, you are right. I am immensely glad and appreciative to have come across this uniquely-powered boy. This is something really great for our sect, and certainly requires great celebration amongst us. Therefore, because of this, we are fully obliged to teach him well so that he will be able to use all the energies as he pleases. His amazing and stunning cultivation potential must not go to waste."


    "Exactly, Elder Wen. We have to teach him well so that all the energies will become his. This is something great for our sect. However, only we elders here should really know about this for now. I don''t want true, false and exaggerated news about the boy''s abilities and attributes reaching other sects, or they would really start Sect Wars with us in hope of killing that boy. So, only until he has gotten to a particularly high stage and will be able to protect himself without relying on any of us, can we finally expose him to the world as the hidden, monstrous genius of our sect who we have spared no resources to tremendously nurture to his current growth."


    "You are right, First Elder. As just him alone, will cause the fame and strength of our sect to rise to levels that won''t be rivaled anymore by the other sects around us, and those in faraway cities and even in continents. Haha! I am just so delighted thinking about this boy''s future. Although it would be one full with peril, misery and sorrow due to his world-shaking abilities, but once he can overcome those floods of wrath and jealousy that will come from dangerously envious cultivators, and from the world itself, then he is very much on his way to becoming the Absolute Strongest in our world."


    "True, his Animal Spirit is one of a kind. It must be among those powerful Battle Beast Spirits that can cause great phenomena to manifest upon it appearance. I just hope his Animal Spirit wakes soon so that I can take a very good look at it. I want to see why and how his Animal Spirit is special."


    "Yea, me too. I am exceedingly curious about his Animal Spirit. It must be really magnificent in appearance and overbearing in power and might. However, the boy too is someone who has an incomparably resolute heart, and an immensely determined spirit that is peerlessly enduring and persevering. At least, we all saw his shocking and bewildering performance during the test, right? So, all I am trying to say in essence is that, without those marveling features that I just mentioned now, even if he had a peculiarly sealed dantian that now operates at another dimension of power, he will be nothing if he didn''t train himself to this stage that he is now. Did you see those energies that he unleashed? Those energies actually caused me to be stifled and slightly horrified of them. Now, imagine the effect of those energies on people at his level or lower than his level. Furthermore, did you guys have a good look at his battle techniques and try to comprehend how he came across them? The instant that he unleashed them, I had a feeling that the attack was possibly from a supreme-grade, Empyrean-rank Battle Art, as no other technique will be able to possess that kind of power that it revealed upon it brief appearance. Therefore, if you can accept my opinion that what he used was a battle art of that tier, how did he come across them? By being determined and persistent..."


    "Hmm. That''s right. You gave us nice points, Elder Kang. So, First Elder, since we want to keep the boy''s ability a well-kept secret, how do we really go about it? You know, we can''t allow him to attend cultivation classes with his peers, or all kinds of news about him will immediately explode and their waves traveling from one sect to the other, alarming them about our boy and causing them to cast their dangerously envious and venomous gazes upon our sect. Although we can survive a Sect War, that''s only if all the sect aren''t focusing on us alone."


    "Well, what you said is true. We can''t allow Devil Fang to attend more than one class, or all sorts of news about him will be abruptly generated and spread like ripples to other sects who will immediately start Sect Wars in hopes of reducing our power, and ultimately destroying the gem of limitless potential that we unexpectedly found by an unusual stroke of serendipity. So, this is what we would do, fellow elders... We will call him and explain a lot of things to him, with most of them being on why he can''t attend classes or training with his other peers. Secondly, we will give him cultivation books and corresponding battle art scrolls for him to study on his own, since he can actually study an empyrean-grade cultivation art and it battle techniques without getting confused or becoming dazzled by the profound steps or instructions mentioned in them. However, we wouldn''t entirely leave them for him to comprehend alone. We will also play our part in painstakingly guiding him through all the steps that he doesn''t quite understand clearly. Then thirdly, we will individually open or create large practice areas for him at restricted or hidden places around the sect, as we don''t want anyone entering there and coming to know about his unique and special features. Am I clear?"


    "Clear as day, First Elder"


    "Hmm. Then remember, you are to bring the top-grade cultivation books and some of the battle art scrolls related to them for Devil Fang, and also many cultivation resources and items that will assist him in his cultivation and comprehension."


    "Alright, Grand Elder."


    "Good. You all can return to your rooms to prepare. I will contact you very soon concerning the preparations that I just spoke about. You are dismissed."


    ...


    Xiao Lin who was walking slowly and calmly since he was listening with his vampiric enhanced hearing to all that the elders were talking about in the Assembly Hall, broke a slight smile in his face and then shook his head in awe and astonishment.


    "Wow. So, all these preparations for me? That''s nice." Xiao Lin said as he walked.


    He then said further, "I that dislike public gathering to some extent, can now practice with nothing holding me back, and for as long as I desire in the practice areas that the elders will individually create for me at concealed or prohibited areas in the sect. That''s is just really nice!"


    "And now that I will be given top-rated cultivation arts and battle techniques, I am very much on my way to becoming absolutely strong and powerful."


    "The sect has really tried for me... And I will try not to disappoint them. Although we have sworn oath to stand by the sect, which then allows us to enjoy the benefits of the sect since we have become true disciples, this is however much more benefits that I ever imagined, which is all because of my unbelievable cultivation potential. So, because of the huge steps that they have taken to nurture me to the point of becoming a powerful independent cultivator, that even the powerful seniors at the phase of graduating from the sect will be left absolutely shocked, stunned and deeply jealous, if what the elders did ever leaked out to their hearing, I will try my best too to fulfill what I swore to. I will not break my promise for once... even after they have discovered the horrendous thing that I truly am and may reject me.." Xiao Lin said with a smile in his face as he headed for his room.

 Chapter 192 - Called Once Again

    "The sect has really tried for me... And I will try not to disappoint them. Although we have sworn oath to stand by the sect, which then allows us to enjoy the benefits of the sect since we have become true disciples, this is however much more benefits that I ever imagined, which is all because of my unbelievable cultivation potential. So, because of the huge steps that they have taken to nurture me to the point of becoming a powerful independent cultivator, that even the powerful seniors at the phase of graduating from the sect will be left absolutely shocked, stunned and deeply jealous, if what the elders did ever leaked out to their hearing, I will try my best too to fulfill what I swore to. I will not break my promise for once... even after they have discovered the horrendous thing that I truly am and may reject me." Xiao Lin said with a smile in his face as he headed for his room.


    Not long, he arrived in front of his room only to find Zhao Yu and Tian Xi there, possibly waiting for him to return from the Assembly Hall.


    When Xiao Lin saw them leaning against the wall of his room, he smiled at them and said, "Guys, what are you doing here?"


    "Well, we were waiting for you to return from the Assembly Hall." Zhao Yu said while Tian Xi nodded his head.


    "Oh. But why?" Xiao Lin asked with a startled expression in his face.


    "Because we worried about you. We couldn''t find a clue as to why you were called back by the elders. So, we became worried and waited here for you to return so we could ask you what happened." Zhao Yu said as she gazed at Xiao Lin who only produced a smile in his face.


    "Oh. Nothing really. I was just called back because they wanted to discuss something with me. That''s all" Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu and Tian Xi nodded their heads after producing sighs of relief.


    "If you say that you are good, then I guess we would have to leave. So, I and Tian Xi will be returning to our rooms. See you later Li Huang." Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then when Zhao Yu and Tian Xi turned around and began to walk into the distance, Xiao Lin went into his room.


    ...


    Xiao Lin who had gone into his room to relax and anticipate the next day activities, didn''t know that the elders were busy running around their department to search for thick, large books that have records of cultivation arts in them, scrolls that contain top-rated battle techniques, and then consummate cultivation resources that they will give to him to help his cultivation to grow to a stage where he would become reliant on only himself.


    So, as he waited in his room trying to think of what the elders would present to him tomorrow, he didn''t know that the elders were going through a lot to help him get and gather the best books and scrolls that he will self-study, and then large amounts of stalks, herbs, flowers, small edible stems of trees that contain large amounts of different Spiritual Energies which they absorbed from the atmosphere that they individually grew in at remote and exotic places.


    After getting all that they were instructed to give Xiao Lin for his cultivation, since the First Elder only gave them one day to do so, they immediately went to his room to go meet him with spatial rings that contained the cultivation books and tons of consummate, edible cultivation materials and items that they were going to provide Xiao Lin with for his cultivation to a great stage.


    When they began to arrive in front of his room one after the other, the door suddenly swung open for them with all of them walking in with excellent and imposing auras revolving around them as they were proud and dignified cultivators.


    "I see that everyone is ready, right?" The first elder asked as he looked at them.


    "Yes, we are ready" An elder said while the First Elder nodded his head.


    He then looked at one of them and said, "Elder Kwang, please help me call Devil Fang to this place. We need to discuss with him again now that everyone is set"


    "Okay" Elder Kwang said and walked towards the door which swung open by itself once again. And once he walked out of the room, he immediately shot into the air to Xiao Lin''s room where he silently dropped to the ground before his room and knocked.


    Knock!


    He knocked once while Xiao Lin who wasn''t expecting to have any visitors so soon, immediately stood to his feet to go attend to the person that was at his door.


    However, since he had a powerful vampiric sense of smell, he could immediately perceive that this person was an elder, since the smell emanating from his body was different from that of younger cultivators.


    ''An elder? But so soon? Or has he come here to tell me something? Well, only until I meet him would I know.'' Xiao Lin said inwardly as he headed towards the door.


    The instant he opened the door, and before he could say anything to the elder, the elder said with a slight smile in his face, "Follow me!"


    And as soon as he said that, a powerful unseen force immediately emitted from his body and instantly wrapped around Xiao Lin''s body like a thick cord. Then once this happened, Xiao Lin who had no time to think, was immediately lifted into the air where he shot through the air like a ray of light along with the elder to the place where they were having a second meeting again, which was the First Elder''s expensively decorated and grandly furnished room, regarding Xiao Lin''s development.


    Immediately they landed before the First Elder''s room, with the force that coiled round his body disappearing, the elder that brought him here, said to him, "Devil Fang, come in with me. There is something that my colleagues want to discuss with you"


    "Okay, senior" Xiao Lin said with a polite tone to the elder.


    He then went in along with that that elder when the door automatically opened for the both of them to come in.


    Once Xiao Lin who pretended like he didn''t know anything appeared before all the elders that he saw at the Assembly Hall many moments ago, he twisted his face like he was absolutely shocked to see them again so soon.


    He then deeply bowed and respectfully said to them, "It''s an honor to appear before the great and esteemed elders of the sect once again."


    "Don''t mention, boy." The first elder said with a smile in his face, as he was very pleased with Xiao Lin''s comportment in front of them.


    The way Xiao Lin carried himself in front of them, despite the overbearing, imposing and majestic auras radiating from their bodies that will cause his peers to absolutely feel overwhelmed and develop alarmed, shaky voices, made them feel like even if a literal true god of boundless, incomparable cosmic powers was in front of him, Xiao Lin will surely comport himself well before him.


    The other elders who also noticed this, nodded their heads with impressed looks appearing in their faces.


    The First Elder then spoke to Xiao Lin, "Boy, can you at least try to guess the reason why we have called you here?"


    Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    "Good!" The First Elder said.


    Then he continued, "The floor is yours"


    "Okay. First Elder" Xiao Lin said with a nod of his head.


    He then said further, "Now, I believe that elders have called me here concerning what I mentioned the last time, which is that I want to study in all the departments and develop all the corresponding Spiritual Energies within my special dantian after studying and practicing their respective cultivation arts and battle techniques."


    "Exactly" The First Elder said with a nod of his head.


    Then he continued, "So, I asked Elder Kwang to call you here because we have discussed at length about what you said, and have come to a final conclusion, which is to let you study in all the departments in the sect, since it is your wish to grow far stronger above your peers and reach a stage where you can become reliant on only yourself, and become something hugely terrifying that you will deter the enemies of this sect, which is of course, the enemy of everyone here from proceeding forward to ruining and destroying our great and illustrious sect"


    "Wow! Thank you very much elders, I really appreciate this. And I promise this day to always stand by my promise, no matter what may happen in the nearest or farthest future" Xiao Lin said with great delight and a strong determination in his voice, while the elders gleefully nodded their heads, as their efforts felt like it hadn''t been in vain or for nothing.


    The First Elder then said with a solemn expression appearing in his face, "I know that once you become strong enough, you will have the power to easily break the oath that you and your fellow disciples swore to, which is to protect the sect and everyone in it when the time comes. But from the intent emanating from your voice, I could perceive that you will surely honor and uphold that binding oath by all means."


    "So, to get to the start of things, elders, please hand those spatial rings in your hands to Devil Fang."

 Chapter 193 - Becoming A Dragon Child

    Once the First Elder said that, the elders nodded their heads and began to come forward one after the other to give him the rings. While Xiao Lin who accepted the rings from them, didn''t try to open it to see what they held or contained within them. So, as he got the rings, he immediately stowed them away into his spatial ring and clasped his fist before the elders that gave him the spatial rings.


    Not long, the elders gave Xiao Lin all the rings that they brought here with them.


    Once the elders finished doing so, the First Elder said with a slight smile in his face, "So, Devil Fang, now that you have gotten rings which contains the best books for cultivation of certain Spiritual Energies, animal hide scrolls that have battle techniques printed in them, then top-tier cultivation resources for the cultivation of those different energies, we would like you to study them when you return to your room soon. Although we wouldn''t entirely leave you to study them on your own, as the elders will come from time to time to ask how it''s going and provide help where needed, we however want you to study the arts yourself as you have done with other arts that we saw you display at the exam ground. We want you to do that as we want to keep what we are doing a secret to everyone, to even our teachers. Right now, to the whole sect, you are the most important person. We don''t want news of what we are doing get to others, or if that happens, and other sects are able to possibly infer what we are doing, they might start Sect Wars, where they would aim to destroy you, our most valued asset."


    "So, since we don''t want news of your ability reaching the public and getting to the hands of sect elders and even their founders, we want you to try to comprehend the cultivation arts that were given to you to the best of your ability. Then the elders will come from time to time to ask how you are doing and provide assistance where needed to eliminate anything that might as a barrier to your smooth comprehension of those cultivation arts and battle techniques. Then once once you are able to comprehend them and have acquired some degree of understanding in the different arts and techniques passed to you, you can go right ahead to practice in the practice areas solely created for you. You are to bring no one there as the practice places are meant only for you alone to enable you understand the battle techniques tied to those cultivation arts more. So, many of them will be opened up in different, hidden or restricted places around the sect, within the jurisdiction of an elder so that they can monitor what you are doing and drive away people that will unintentionally wander there." The First Elder said while Xiao Lin shook his head with a smile in his face, as he had already heard about this before from the elders using his enhanced vampiric hearing ability when they were in the Assembly Hall.


    "Alright, elder. I understood everything that you said." Xiao Lin said while the First Elder nodded his head.


    The First Elder then asked, "So Devil Fang, would you like us to continue calling you Devil Fang, or you would want us to know you true name?"


    "Well, I will prefer that I am called Devil Fang. But since elders would also like to know my name, I will say it. My name''s Li Huang." Xiao Lin said.


    Although he could have told them Xiao Lin, but because he had told Zhao Yu and Tian Xi that he was called Li Huang, he just had to tell the elders the same thing too, or it could lead to a false name crisis in the future where everyone would be wondering who was Li Huang or Xiao Lin, and may cause the elders and teachers to be wary of an infiltrator or a spy from other sects, making them delve deeper into the backgrounds of their disciples so as to find out and eliminate the spy or espionage agent that may have come from other sects or organizations that are antagonistic to their growth. And if that happens, that wouldn''t be too good for him, since it would expose him and make him lose their trust.


    Once Xiao Lin said that, the First Elder said with a nod of his head, "Good!"


    He then said further, "Li Huang, now that you have become our most favorite disciple, you can now be called the Dragon Child of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect. What this mean for you is that you are allowed to enter any place in the sect that are even prohibited to teachers and some lower-ranked elders. Also, you will be allowed to know so many secrets about things that we will never want you to know. Then again, you can be given as many beast companions as you want after they have been tamed so that they won''t hurt you or kill you."


    "However, you can''t use many of those powers now, as we want you to keep you and your abilities hidden to prevent the occurrence and recurrences of trouble and disasters in the far, unforeseeable future. Then when we have shown you to the world as the monstrously-talented pride of our great sect, only after we are fully ready and totally geared to do so, then you can now use that unquestionable power delegated upon you as the Dragon Child of the Celestial Dragon Emperor sect to do those things that I listed a moment ago." The First Elder said and smilingly gazed at Xiao Lin who wasn''t expecting this at all.


    He then said further, "Since the establishment of this sect millions of years ago, we have never had anyone become the Dragon Child, as we didn''t find anyone to be given the title, or could even fit the title. But you, you are different. You have shown yourself to be someone totally worthy of that title. So, Li Huang, you should be glad and honored at receiving such a title that will allow you to command your seniors and even your teachers."


    Immediately the First Elder said that, Xiao Lin immediately went into a bowing position for a few minutes. He then said with a sincere, unfaltering tone in his voice, "Elders, I am deeply honored by your commitment to me and for the title that you unexpectedly gave me. I sincerely appreciate it."


    "Don''t mention, Li Huang." The First Elder said with a nod of his head.


    He then spoke further, "Alright, you can return to your room now."


    Once he said so, he looked at Elder Kwang and said, "Please, return him to his room"


    Elder Kwang nodded his head and immediately unleashed a power that fully encompassed Xiao Lin, making him feel like he was in an invisible cocoon of pulsing energy. And once that unseen cocoon composed purely of telekinetic force surfaced, he was immediately lifted into the air and shot out like a ray of light to his room along with Elder Kwang who flew at a great speed alongside him.


    Once they appeared high in the air before the roof of his room, the elder silently dropped Xiao Lin to the ground before his door and canceled off the force that seemingly wrapped into a cocoon around his body for levitation purpose. And the moment he did so, and without waiting for any sort of speech or gesture from Xiao Lin, Elder Kwang abruptly shot back to the Grand Elder''s room since the meeting wasn''t over yet, and his presence would surely be needed so that they can finally wrap up things and leave to their respective rooms.


    When he appeared there, the First Elder said with a stern expression appearing in his face, "Now that Li Huang has been taken back to his room to initiate his comprehension of the arts and techniques inked in those books and scrolls that we gave him, I want all of us here to swear an oath that we would never divulge anything that happened here to a third party."


    Immediately he said that and without waiting to hear anything from the elders, including their thoughts or opinions concerning what he just said, the First Elder opened his palm to reveal something like a brilliant red seal. Then on this seal that gleamed with intense redness, could be seen characters that could be likened to the characters used during the primeval times, giving the feeling that the seal was something gotten from the really ancient era.


    "Here, is a seal called the Primordial Life and Death Seal of Oath. So, what we are all going to do is swear before this seal that none of us will mention what happened here to any person other than all of us that are gathered here.." The First Elder said and gazed at the elders who stood before him with all sorts of expressions in their faces.

 Chapter 194 - Choosing Their Department

    Immediately he said that and without waiting to hear anything from the elders, including their thoughts or opinions concerning what he just said, the First Elder opened his palm to reveal something like a brilliant red seal. Then on this seal that gleamed with intense redness, could be seen characters that could be likened to the characters used during the primeval times, giving the feeling that the seal was something gotten from the really ancient era.


    "Here, is a seal called the Primordial Life and Death Seal of Oath. So, what we are all going to do is swear before this seal that none of us will mention what happened here to any person other than all of us that are gathered here." The First Elder said and gazed at the elders who stood before him with all sorts of expressions in their faces.


    ...


    When Xiao Lin entered his room, he sat on his bed and immediately brought out all the spatial rings that were given to him by the elders.


    And once he did so, with the rings forming a small heap on the ground, he began to pick them one after the other to go through their contents.


    He picked one of the dozen rings that formed into a small pile before him and looked into it to see what it contained, and immediately he did so, he couldn''t help but smile, as he was able to notice large amounts of excellent cultivation resources stored in it.


    "Nice!" Xiao Lin said with a delighted expression in his face.


    Then he continued, "With all these resources, I should be able to have a smooth and flawless cultivation into the next stage."


    And once he said that with his heart brimming with unfathomable joy, he began to go through the names of the book and scroll that the particular ring in his hand contained, "Fire Cultivation Art, Golden Blazing Palms battle art"


    "Haha. Awesome!" Xiao Lin said with an ecstatic nod of his head.


    He then continued, "Although the technique will not measure up to the one that the Demonic Blade King and my Animal Spirit gave me, since those are peerless-grade, Empyrean-rank cultivation art and battle technique, this technique is however powerful enough to allow me go one on one with a cultivator that would be at a stage that is three times higher than that of Nine Calamities."


    Xiao Lin then stowed the ring back into his own spatial ring and picked up another one to go through it content


    "Cold Misty Claws of the Heavenly Ice Dragon" Xiao Lin read the book and nodded his head.


    "This is definitely a mixture of cultivation and battle art meant for Ice Spiritual Energy. Cool. I am slowly getting there to becoming an unparalleled Spiritual cultivator." Xiao Lin said with a smile appearing in his face.


    So, like that, he began to go through the contents of the rings one another with a greatly excited expression in his face.


    ...


    Next day, all the fresh disciples had gathered at the Assembly Hall once again to tell the elders the particular department that they would like to go to.


    So, they began to walk towards the elevated platform one after the other to announce to everyone, including the elders who stood on the raised metallic platform, the different departments that they would like to study at, after an entire day of deep contemplation.


    When it got to Zhao Yu''s turn, she said with a smile in her face, "I would like to study at the Fire Department. Since my Spiritual Energy is composed of fire, that is the department that will best suit me."


    "Good!" The First Elder said while Zhao Yu bowed and immediately left where she was so that another person can come to state the department that he or she had deeply, contemplatively chosen.


    The moment she left, another person came forward to mention the department that she would be going to and her reason for picking that department.


    Therefore, one after the other, the number of people yet to speak about their department became fewer.


    Not quite long, it became Tian Xi''s turn. And once he got to the front of the elders who stood gloriously on the elevated platform, he bowed to them. Then when he straightened himself back, he said, "Esteemed elders, I have to opt to study at the Earth Department. Since my Spiritual Energy shares similarities with Earth Spiritual Energy, which is the power of heaviness, I have made up my mind to study at the Earth Department. I hope that elders will allow me to do so."


    "That''s an excellent choice. You can go" The First Elder said while Tian Xi nodded his head and immediately turned around to leave where he was for another person.


    After everyone had gone to state the department that they would like to study at, it was only remaining Xiao Lin who then walked forward to appear before the elders.


    Then when he got in front of them, he bowed. And once he straightened himself, he said with a respectful tone in his voice, "Great elders, I have chosen to study at the Spirit Sword department. Although my dark Spiritual Energy is not really fit for any department, I have however always wanted to study the Way of the Sword. So, I hope that elders will allow me to study at the department that I have opt to study and practice at."


    Why Xiao Lin picked the Spirit Sword department was because he was already studying Way of the Demonic Blade, which caused him to develop strands of Hermetic Demonic Energy in his dantian. So, by having Way of the Sword too, he would become a master of sword and blade, which would allow him to get away with things in the future, since cultivators wouldn''t be able to identify him due to the forms, styles or methods that he would use when engaged in battle with others.


    "Hmm. Alright" The First Elder uttered while Xiao Lin bowed once again. And immediately he straightened himself, he turned around and walked back to the crowd gathered behind him.


    "Now that everyone have you picked the department that you want to study at, you can leave with the elders supervising those departments so that you can immediately start lessons on cultivation." The First Elder said.


    He then continued, "And once you get there, make sure to read the particular rules and regulations for that department, or if you do things in sharp contrast to what was written in the rules and regulations manuals or tabs for that department, you will be heavily punished by your seniors, teachers or worst, the elders themselves. Also, you should try to get a copy of the the general laws of the sect that everyone of you must abide to. Am I clear?"


    "Yes, elder" Everyone of them said at once.


    "Good" The First Elder said.


    He then looked at the elders that stood by his sides on the platform and said, "Elders, please carry on with your duties."


    "Okay, grand elder" The elders who stood by his side said together in unison.


    Then they floated their bodies to where the crowd of fresh disciples were gathered and landed before them.


    "Alright. So, if you picked my department, do follow behind me to the hall where your cultivation lessons will start." The elders said to the disciples who nodded their heads and began to follow behind them to the department that they had individually chosen to study at.


    Tian Xi and Zhao Yu quickly walked to where Xiao Lin was to discuss with him. And once they arrived before him, Zhao Yu said to him with smiles in her face, "Hey, swordsman. I will come to take lessons on the Way of the Sword from you in the soonest future. Hehe"


    "Haha. You are more than welcome, Zhao Yu. Would be expecting you" Xiao Lin said while Zhao Yu nodded her head.


    Tian Xi then softly tapped Xiao Lin on his shoulder and said with a smile in his face, "Brother Li Huang, I would be leaving now. If you come across any trouble in the future, don''t be shy to come to me for help. I will certainly drop what I am doing to come help you clear the issues that you are having."


    Haha!


    Xiao Lin chuckled.


    He then said with a beaming smile in his face, "Sure. If I come across any sort of trouble in the nearest or distant future, I will surely call out for the both of you to come help me. However, if you also need my help, don''t be shy to come to me. I will be always be available for you guys."


    "Okay. See you around, Li Huang. And remember, always be a good boy. Don''t go around causing trouble." Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then when they departed from his presence to go join up with the other disciples that also chose the department that they individually opted to study at, Xiao Lin also left where he was to join the disciples walking behind the elder leading them to the Spirit Sword Department.

 Chapter 195 - Training Begins

    He then said with a beaming smile in his face, "Sure. If I come across any sort of trouble in the nearest or distant future, I will surely call out for the both of you to come help me. However, if you also need my help, don''t be shy to come to me. I will be always be available for you guys."


    "Okay. See you around, Li Huang. And remember, always be a good boy. Don''t go around causing trouble." Zhao Yu said while Xiao Lin nodded his head.


    Then when they departed from his presence to go join up with the other disciples that also chose the department that they individually opted to study at, Xiao Lin also left where he was to join the disciples walking behind the elder leading them to the Spirit Sword Department.


    ...


    Many minutes later, since they walked slowly behind that elder, Xiao Lin and the others finally arrived at the department where they would study Sword Cultivation.


    As soon as they entered, Xiao Lin could immediately notice many awesome things about the place, which included tall statues that stood at the different corners of the massively spacious, rectangular hall, and had large swords that seemed to stab deep into the marbled ground of the hall.


    "Here, is the Spirit Sword Hall. In this place, you will trained in everything that''s related to the Way of the Sword. So, for your first training session, I will have some teachers come teach you basic moves regarding the Way of the Sword. And by moves, I don''t mean those that have to do with Sword Spiritual Energy, but basic blocking and attacking moves, before you are finally shown how to use your palms, legs, others parts of your body including your eyes and even your mouth to unleash tremendous amount of Sword Spiritual Energy. Yes, don''t be baffled. Sword Spiritual Energy does not necessarily need to be discharged or expelled from the hands alone, with enough training and focus, a Spiritual Sword Cultivator should be able to exhale a terrifying amount of energy possessing boundless sharpness that will lacerate everything in it path."


    Haha!


    Once the elder finished saying that and noticed the expressions in their faces, the elder laughed and said with a smile, "Yea, perplexing and at the same time awe-inspiring right? I know. That''s one of the reasons why other departments in the sect respect the Spirit Sword Department. So, even with our legs and hands cut off or bound up, we can still deliver a startlingly powerful attack on an opponent who wouldn''t be expecting that kind of bizarre and highly lethal move, since the move is mostly utilized for close-range battles. However, don''t think that this move will come easy for you guys. It will take a lot of training to be able to turn your throats and mouths into channels where Spiritual Energy can be discharged out from. And if is not done right when you guys start training for it, you could end up having your throat slashed apart to shreds, resulting to a permanent disability to speak which is called muteness. But in more severe cases, you could end up dying, since the Sword Spiritual Energy when moving from your dantian to your throat region will gash and slice everything in it path, which includes your lungs, chest and so on."


    Once the elder finished saying that, he continued with a bright smile appearing in his face, "Although I am not supposed to say this now, since it''s an highly advanced move for old and well-seasoned experts like me, I am however trying to let you guys know that you have made the right choice picking this department for your cultivation."


    "Now, your training will start. So, I will leave everything in the hands of your teachers. However, I will appear once in a while to contribute greatly to what our friendly and battle-experienced teachers have taught you lads so far. Bye for now!" The elder said with a smile in his face and suddenly shot away at a speed that no eyes could follow, including that of some of the teachers present in the hall at the moment, as it was their turn to teach the disciples.


    "Hello, disciples" A teacher who had suddenly appeared before Xiao Lin''s group greeted with an amiable smile in his face.


    "Hello, teacher" The group responded enthusiastically while the teacher nodded his head.


    He then said further, "My name is Lin Bao. However, you all can call me Eight Flashing Swords. I think I will prefer that, as it is a way of getting closer to all my trainees, instead of the name or title that carries a lot of authority with it. Haha!"


    "Alright, senior Eight Flashing Swords" A disciple said while Lin Bao nodded his head gladly.


    Lin Bao then mentioned, "You guys are just too many for me to know your individual names. Although I know that cultivators, regardless of cultivation rank, possess highly retentive and sharp memories, I am just too lazy for that at the moment. So, what do you say we immediately get to training, and from thereon, I will become used to each of your names?"


    "Yes, it''s a cool plan, senior Eight Flashing Swords" A disciple said while Lin Bao nodded his head.


    And so, Lin Bao began to instruct them on how to correctly used the sword to block attacks and deliver their own attacks, and the correct forms and stances to assume or enter when facing an opponent in battle.


    "It''s very important to know how to use the sword, because it will surely go a long way for you when engaged in an intense or deadly battle with other cultivators of a particular Spiritual Energy." Lin Bao said.


    He then asked with a bright smile in his face as he looked around at the disciples gathered in large numbers before him, "So, which one of you can tell me the reason why?"


    "Can I try, senior Eight Flashing Swords?" A girl suddenly raised up her hand and asked with a polite expression in her face.


    "Sure, anyone can have a go at any question that I will ask. Also, no need to raise your hand to answer my question. Just answer it if you feel that you can provide an answer to it" Lin Bao replied.


    "Alright, senior Eight Flashing Swords" The girl that raised her hand said and put her hand down.


    She then continued, "So, to answer the question that you asked us, it''s simply because our dantians at this stage, can only store certain amounts of Spiritual Energy. So, once we run out of them, with that of our opponent''s depleting too, we would still be able to fight them and kill them, that''s if we were ever locked in a rigorous battle to the death with them."


    "Good! I like your intelligent response to my question" Lin Bao said with a nod of his head, while the girl that answered the question broke a smile in her face


    Lin Bao then said further, "Then to contribute to the response that your colleague mentioned, now, imagine that you are locked in a serious battle with someone who is a cultivator of a particular type of energy, let''s say anyone of those weak, Elemental Spiritual Energy such Fire Spiritual Energy or Earth Spiritual Energy, once both of us fully exhaust the Spiritual Energies in our dantians, we Spiritual Sword Cultivators would still be able to subdue and defeat them, even if they were armed with powerful defensive weapons. So, with the correct blocking form, method or style, we would be able to easily deflect or ward off our opponent''s heavy or killing strikes. Then with the accurate or precise attacking method or form, you will be able to disarm your opponents in battle, or cut off their heads and behead them if we were ever engaged in a really fierce battle to the death with them."


    Once he said that, everyone nodded their heads with light of comprehension shining forth from within their eyes.


    "Good! I am glad that you all understood my contributed answer" Lin Bao said with a nod of his head.


    He then said further with a serious expression appearing in his face, "Now, let''s return to training in perfecting our swordsman''s blocking form and attacking method."


    ...


    So, everyone continued to train in perfecting the blocking and attacking form that were taught to them by Lin Bao who was impressed by the way the disciples were quickly taken in everything that he was teaching them.


    After training them for hours where Lin Bao didn''t give them even a second to take a break from what they were doing, he said "Stop!"


    Once he said that, the physically fatigued disciples standing before him immediately had expressions of delight appear in their faces. They thought that it was time to take a break. However, what Lin Bao said next shocked them to the core of their being.


    "Now, everyone of you should divide yourself into a ten-person group, where each group will face each other in battle without the usage of your individual Spiritual Energies. Then any group that wins, as in comes out on top, will be allowed to rest for only a few minutes. While those that lost, will continue to train till I say it''s over. And nothing is ever over for me.. Now, start!" Lin Bao said with a dead serious look manifesting in his face, while Xiao Lin''s seniors who meditated at a spot in the tremendously large hall, began to laugh gloatingly at the miseries of their juniors with the look of ''Thank Heavens that I am done with that man'' appearing in their faces.

 Chapter 196 - Sparring (1)

    Once he said that, the physically fatigued disciples standing before him immediately had expressions of delight appear in their faces. They thought that it was time to take a break. However, what Lin Bao said next shocked them to the core of their being.


    "Now, everyone of you should divide yourself into a ten-person group, where each group will face each other in battle without the usage of your individual Spiritual Energies. Then any group that wins, as in comes out on top, will be allowed to rest for only a few minutes. While those that lost, will continue to train till I say it''s over. And nothing is ever over for me. Now, start!" Lin Bao said with a dead serious look manifesting in his face, while Xiao Lin''s seniors who meditated at a spot in the tremendously large hall, began to laugh gloatingly at the miseries of their juniors with the look of ''Thank Heavens that I am done with that man'' appearing in their faces.


    Once Lin Bao said that, everyone began to rush where they searched for the perfect member that will join their team and help them come out on top of the intense group battle that was about to occur, as the prize that would be given to the group that wins, was a few minutes break from all the training that seem to have a limitless duration.


    Not quite long, about seven different groups were formed with Xiao Lin being in one that consisted of six boys and four girls.


    "Now that you guys have formed groups, I want you all to agree on a specific color that you will give to your group. It''s what I will call your groups. Now, begin!" Lin Bao said with a serious expression in his face.


    As soon as Lin Bao said that, the people in the different groups that stood before Lin Bao, began to individually think of what color to give to their groups.


    "Guys, let''s call ourselves blue" Someone in Xiao Lin group suddenly said.


    However, as soon as he said that, someone immediately spoke, "And why would you suggest that? You aren''t the leader of the damned group. So, know your place and shut the hell up. Leave the color-naming to us."


    "What? How dare you? Look at this thing, you think you are the leader of this group? Alright, give a color, let''s me see if you can do better than me. Bastard" The male that first spoke, mentioned with overflowing annoyance in his tone.


    Just as Xiao Lin''s group descended into chaos since no one wanted to go with the color provided for the group, other groups also entered into a state of disorderliness since literally none of them wanted to agree with the color that their counterparts suggested.


    "I say let''s go with red. And no one should defy me, or you will instantly regret it." A voice that radiated beastial brutality and sent strongly chilling shivers down the spine, suddenly rang out from within Xiao Lin''s group.


    Once that voice rang out, everyone in Xiao Lin''s immediately turned around to look in the direction that the frigid and blood-curdling voice rang out from.


    Then their gazes landed on Xiao Lin who looked at them with a gaze that immediately made them feel like their entire body were pierced through by blades.


    "O-Okay, we will go with red" Someone immediately said in a stuttering manner while the others nodded their heads in agreement.


    Xiao Lin only looked at them for sometime and turned his head away to look back at Lin Bao who couldn''t help but be stunned by the chilling and overbearing aura that suddenly emanated from Xiao Lin''s body when he spoke to the people in his group. Actually, what he felt from that aura was that Xiao Lin was someone who could have possibly slaughtered lots of people in the past.


    "Who is that pale-skinned guy? First, he was silent, now he is exceedingly frightening. Gives me the feeling that he is someone that one shouldn''t annoy if one wants to remain intact." A girl in a particular group said to her fellow members.


    "Yea, me too. He seems scary and unapproachable. When he spoke, I immediately felt this aura that radiated viciousness emit from his body which then caused me to feel like hiding myself away from him in a shell forged purely from iron." Another girl said, contributing to what the member of her group said.


    "Good luck to whoever will fight this guy." Another said, seemingly gloating at the person that will engage Xiao Lin in battle.


    "Have you all agreed on the colors that you want your teams to be called by?" Lin Bao asked once five minutes was up.


    "Yes, senior Eight Flashing Swords" Everyone replied.


    "Good!" Lin Bao said with a nod of his head.


    He then looked at a particular group and asked, "You, what color have you decided for your group?"


    "Yellow" The person that gave the color for the group immediately answered.


    "Alright." Lin Bao said.


    He then looked at another group and questioned, "What about you guys, what color have you decided for your group?"


    "Grey" The person that also named this group immediately answered.


    "Okay. Now, team yellow and team grey should step out to face one another. And here''s the rule of the battle, only one member will come out at a time to face a member from the opposing group. Furthermore, you aren''t allowed to unleash attacks composed of Spiritual Energy at your opponent. Anyone that does that will surely be severely punished by me. And trust me, you wouldn''t want to get punished by me. Or you will regret it for the rest of your life as the experience will always come back to haunt you and torment your soul." Lin Bao said with a stern expression in his face while everyone nodded their heads.


    "So, what I want to see are the correct sword-fighting forms and postures that I painstakingly taught you guys. If I see anything else other than the basic sword forms and styles that I taught you guys, that group will be immediately disqualified. Am I clear?" Lin Bao asked.


    "Very clear, senior Eight Flashing Swords" Everyone said out loud while Lin Bao nodded his head.


    Once Lin Bao had clearly given the instructions for the battle, team yellow and team grey immediately stepped out to face one another.


    "Alright guys, back off a bit. Let''s give these people a bit of fighting space." Lin Bao said while everyone nodded their heads and began to move back.


    After they had given enough space, they stopped. While Lin Bao walked forward to appear between the two groups and waved a hand.


    Swoosh!


    Immediately he did so, a shocking number of different types of practicing swords appeared on the ground at a distance.


    He then said, "Go pick a sword. And if I were you, I will try to connect with the swords and pick the one that will best suit me, I mean, flow with my being like as if it were a part of me."


    Once Lin Bao said that, everyone in the opposing group nodded their heads. Then they walked forward to where the heaps of swords where to feel out the swords and determine the particular one that will flow with their type of being, their individual personalities.


    After going through the swords one after the other, they finally chose the ones that they felt will flow with their kind of person.


    Actually, this was a training at the highest level of subtlety, as it was going to help them in the nearest future to determine if a particular sword, from the way that it was built, was truly for them. So, by feeling out the swords, which they did by rubbing their palms on it and sensing if the sword actually connected with them deeply, then they would know if the sword was for them.


    Not long, after everyone from the opposing factions had picked up their swords, they returned to their groups where they would face their individual opponents from the other group.


    "Are you guys ready?" Lin Bao suddenly asked.


    "Yes" The two groups immediately responded.


    "Good! Then begin at once. Don''t waste my time by staring at each other" Lin Bao said with a serious expression appearing in his face.


    As soon as he said that, someone in a particular group walked forward to appear before the other group.


    He then raised the sword tightly clasped in one of his hand and pointed it at a particular member of the other group.


    "You, scaredy soul. I want to challenge you. Come forward right now and fight me!" The person said while the person that he pointed his sword out at, nodded his head and walked out of his group to appear before the person that called him out.


    As soon as he appeared before his opponent, both of them immediately raised their swords into the air and swung it out towards each other using a particular sword-striking form that they were repetitively taught by Lin Bao, who at the moment deeply furrowed his brows at the way that the two disciples were sparring with one another.

 Chapter 197 - Sparring (2)

    "You, scaredy soul. I want to challenge you. Come forward right now and fight me!" The person said while the person that he pointed his sword out at, nodded his head and walked out of his group to appear before the person that called him out.


    As soon as he appeared before his opponent, both of them immediately raised their swords into the air and swung it out towards each other using a particular sword-striking form that they were repetitively taught by Lin Bao, who at the moment deeply furrowed his brows at the way that the two disciples were sparring with one another.


    ...


    Like that, members of a particular team began to fight the members of other teams, with the ones possessing more skills than the other winning the battle and preparing themselves to face the other teams that also won their own matches.


    Not long, Xiao Lin walked out of his group to face the member of another group.


    Then when he arrived before the heap of practicing swords that were placed on the ground by Lin Bao, he began to go through them to see or know the one that will best suit him.


    However, after running his hands through the swords with none of them appealing to his mind or consciousness, he just picked one and went forward to stand before his opponent.


    The moment he appeared before his opponent and bowed, his opponent who ignored Xiao Lin''s greetings, immediately slashed out with the practicing sword that he clasped at him, seeking to end the battle before it could even start.


    While Xiao Lin who was always aware of his surroundings and could sense the whistling sound of the sword as it cut through the air really fast towards him using his enhanced, powerful hearing, he immediately, fluidly entered into a crouch position from his bowing position and instantly turned around while in that position, powerfully swinging his leg out with a lot of force to sweep his opponent off his feet to the floor.


    Swoosh!


    The leg that he swung out wasn''t able to sweep his opponent to the floor because his opponent immediately jumped high into the air to evade Xiao Lin''s sweeping leg once he could think what he was about to do.


    Then when he landed back to the ground, Xiao Lin immediately exited his crouching position and instantly dashed towards his opponent to slash out with his sword at him.


    Bang!


    The moment he slashed out at his opponent using the striking style that Lin Bao taught them, it was abruptly blocked by his opponent using the sword-blocking form that Lin Bao also taught them.


    He then immediately pulled away from Xiao Lin''s presence since the invisible aura emitting from Xiao Lin''s body gave him the illusionary feeling that he was fighting someone who had slaughter thousands of people for their bodies and souls.


    ''What''s with this guy?'' Xiao Lin''s opponent asked inwardly.


    Although he looked unfazed on the outside, his mind was however roiling within, and this was because anytime Xiao Lin approached him, he could sense an intent to devour all things in his path emanate unceasingly from his body.


    ''Well, I just have to win this match no matter what. I can''t let my group down simply because of one guy that has a body that emits a deep baleful aura.'' Xiao Lin''s opponent said further within himself.


    Swoosh!


    He suddenly dashed towards Xiao Lin to hit him with the practicing sword that he wielded.


    However, before he could get to where Xiao Lin was, Xiao Lin unexpectedly disappeared. It was like he had teleported away from their presence since no one could detect a ray of light or any sort of after-image appear when Xiao Lin suddenly vanished off from their presence.


    "Looking for me?" Xiao Lin''s voice suddenly rang out from behind his opponent.


    "What?" His opponent said out loud with unbridled shock in his face.


    Then before he could turn around to slash out with his sword at Xiao Lin, Xiao Lin who had already gained the biggest advantage in their sparring battle, only used the tip of the sword that he wielded to hit his opponent at his upper back. And as soon as he did that, he said with a serious, unquestionable tone, "Stop. You have lost already!"


    Once he said that, his opponent unhappily uttered "Ugh!"


    He then dropped the sword that he wielded onto the floor and prepared to walk away.


    However, before he could do so, the leader of the group that he was in, suddenly said out loud with unconstrained fury in his tone, "Senior Eight Flashing Swords, we wouldn''t take this as defeat! This guy cheated. I believe you saw him use a movement skill that was powered by circulation of his Spiritual Energy. And you said that no one should use Spiritual Energy in this battle, or their group will be immediately disqualified. This guy has obstinately done so and should have his group quickly eliminated from the rest of the matches!"


    "Oh, and who are you to give me instructions on what to do?" Lin Bao suddenly asked with a calm but serious expression in his face.


    Immediately Lin Bao said that, the person that spoke quickly fell on his knees and said with a sincere apologetic tone in his voice, "I am sorry, senior Eight Flashing Swords. It will never happen again"


    "Good!" Lin Bao said and then turned his head to look at everyone, both the groups that have lost and the ones still in the game.


    "Although it''s true that I said that no one should use Spiritual Energy in this fight against their opponents. However, I never said that you shouldn''t use it to power whatever Movement Skill or Technique that you have. And if you correctly recall what I said, what I said was that none of you should unleash attacks at your opponent using Spiritual Energy, as that will cause grievous harm to the body of your opponent since this is just a friendly sparring battle. Well, I guess you guys never fully analyzed what I said and use it to your advantage."


    Immediately Lin Bao said that, he looked at Xiao Lin and said, "He did so and therefore, should be able to use what I said and didn''t say to his advantage to win the fight against his opponent. Have you guys gotten it now?"


    "Yes, senior Eight Flashing Swords" Everyone said with a nod of their head and began to look at Xiao Lin with a gaze that held inexplicable meanings.


    "Good!" Lin Bao said.


    He then continued with a serious look in his face, "However, our boy here didn''t even use Spiritual Energy that you guys accused him of using. He simply used what he had and what others wouldn''t probably have to overwhelmingly defeat his opponent and win. And what I meant by that is, he used his naturally strong and powerful muscular legs to achieve that teleportation-like movement speed that you saw him exhibit, meaning that he is a body cultivator as well as a Spiritual Energy cultivator. So, he never for once used the Spiritual Energy that he cultivates to power and harness whatever Movement Skill that he may possess."


    "Wow!" Everyone said out loud with deep amazement in their eyes as they looked at Xiao Lin who only shook his head and walked back to his group with the sword that he selected for his sparring battle.


    "Alright. You guys should be done staring at him. So, next battle should immediately occur." Lin Bao''s impatient voice suddenly rang out.


    Immediately he said that, someone from a particular group and another from another group, quickly rushed out from their individual groups to face each other in battle.


    Then because of what Lin Bao said, which was that he would tolerate the use of their Spiritual Energies to power and operate their Spiritual Movement Styles or Forms, slivers of Spiritual Energy began to move upward from within their dantians into their Spiritual Veins which then began to course about in their Spiritual Arteries. And immediately this occurred, Spiritual Auras immediately evolved from within their bodies, alerting everyone that currents of Spiritual Energy were in play.


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    They immediately dashed out towards each other at immense speeds to fight themselves.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!...


    Not long, numerous bang sounds began to ring out as they fought each other at high speeds, exchanging hundreds of strikes in a minute.


    Bang!


    One of the people fighting currently was immediately knocked out by a heavy punch to the nose by his opponent, causing him to fall to the ground with a heavy thud and immediately slipping into the unconscious state.


    "Great! That was a really brilliant finish. I want to see more like that, more!" Lin Bao said with an excited expression in his face.


    He then said further, "Take that guy off. He is lying on the battleground.. I don''t want anyone sleeping on the battlefield. Then the next group should come up immediately!"

 Chapter 198 - Sudden Misfortune

    Bang!


    One of the people fighting currently was immediately knocked out by a heavy punch to the nose by his opponent, causing him to fall to the ground with a heavy thud and immediately slipping into the unconscious state.


    "Great! That was a really brilliant finish. I want to see more like that, more!" Lin Bao said with an excited expression in his face.


    He then said further, "Take that guy off. He is lying on the battleground. I don''t want anyone sleeping on the battlefield. Then the next group should come up immediately!"


    As soon as Lin Bao said that, people from the group that the disciple lying unconscious on the ground came out from, immediately rushed out to pick up his unconscious body.


    And immediately the ground was cleared, other disciples from opposing groups came out to fight one another with the winner emerging after sometime of intense, high-speed battle.


    ...


    Many moments later, it was Xiao Lin''s turn again to fight.


    Immediately he came out with the sword that he wielded tightly clasped in his hand, he looked at his opponent who had appeared in front of him with a smile in his face and simply asked, "Ready?"


    "Yes I am" Xiao Lin''s opponent replied with a nod of his head.


    Then suddenly, he rushed out towards Xiao Lin to hit him with the practicing sword that he wielded.


    Swoosh!


    He arrived before Xiao Lin''s body in the next instant and used his sword to slash out at Xiao Lin''s abdomen.


    Swoosh!


    However, his sword simply cut through the air as there was nothing in its path.


    Then when he looked to see why his sword only cut through the air instead of Xiao Lin, he saw that Xiao Lin had virtually disappeared from his presence.


    He then quickly looked around to search for Xiao Lin. Then immediately he caught sight of Xiao Lin, he immediately dashed out towards him to attack him with the sword that he wielded.


    But the moment that he arrived in front of Max to impact him with the sword that he wielded, Max had disappeared once again.


    "Arghh!!" Xiao Lin''s opponent screamed out in frustration.


    He then began to look around again to search for Xiao Lin.


    "Looking for me?" Xiao Lin suddenly asked from behind him.


    The instant Xiao Lin''s opponent heard that, he immediately turned around to block the sword strike that Xiao Lin might send out at him.


    However, he was wrong, as Xiao Lin only disappeared once again from his presence, seemingly toying with his mind.


    "What sort of ungodly speed is this?" One asked with his brows deeply furrowed.


    "I don''t know too. And he seems to be able to pull it off rather easily. Then one other thing that keeps me baffled is how he does that without utilizing his Spiritual Energy." Another said as he constantly looked around to see where Xiao Lin who kept on disappearing would appear at.


    "Well, you guys shouldn''t forget that he is a body cultivator, as mentioned by our teacher, senior Eight Flashing Swords. So, as a body cultivator who are always, usually far stronger than Spiritual Energy cultivators, since they have torturously infused huge amounts of Spiritual Energy into the veins, arteries, tissues and delicate organs of their bodies to strengthen them to great degrees, he will surely be able to move at high speeds that can never be rivaled by a Spiritual Energy cultivator, unless that cultivator has mastered a particular Movement Skill that will enable him or her to move at speeds greater than that at which the body cultivator can really move at." Someone suddenly said, contributing to the ongoing topic being discussed by his fellow group members.


    "But who is he by the way? Why don''t we know him? Didn''t he shine during the test for everyone to take note of him? Or he kept his outstanding abilities hidden till now?" One suddenly asked with his forehead wrinkled.


    "Well, I can''t say..." Another group member was trying to speak when someone suddenly cut in and interrupted his speech.


    "Yea, you guys wouldn''t exactly know him because you could possibly be at the back and might be entirely focused on what you were doing when the difficult tests came up. So, you wouldn''t have noticed the shocking feats that he pulled during each of the tests. Now, that guy, emerged as one of the best examinee for this year''s batch. He was among the top three that showed unrivaled brilliancy during the tests. And here he is again, replicating a bit of what he demonstrated during the discipleship tests." That person who was a female, said with a smile in her face as she easily, clearly recalled the spectacular feats that Xiao Lin and the other two exhibited during the tests.


    "Oh. No wonder he has this confident, unique but bizarre aura around him." Another said as he looked at Xiao Lin who had appeared before his opponent once again with a frightening smile in his face.


    "But I wonder why he''s so pale-skinned like a corpse? It''s possible that he has practiced some type of cultivation art or battle art that caused his skin color to change so terribly." Someone said as he stared at Xiao Lin.


    "It''s possible. If you discover an art that will make much more stronger than your peers and would only change your skin color and tone, wouldn''t you practice it and find numerous ways to advance further in the art?" A person in their group who had been quiet all this while, suddenly asked with a contemptuous look in his face as he gazed at that person that he was responding to.


    "Yea, that''s right. I was only being ignorant." The person said and then kept quiet.


    "Why do you keep disappearing and appearing? Fight me like a true man if you can!" Xiao Lin''s opponent unexpectedly said out loud in frustration and anger.


    "Really? Then I will fight you like a true man." Xiao Lin said with a serious look in his face.


    Swoosh!


    He appeared before his opponent before he could even blink his eyes and easily lifted him into the air by the neck which he grasped with a hand.


    As soon as Xiao Lin did that, he turned around and flung his opponent far away.


    Thud!


    A moment later, his opponent who was hurled about twenty feet away from his initial position, crashed against the smooth marbled ground of the hall and even dragged along it for sometime before coming to a halt, after smashing slightly hard against a large round pillar of the room which raised it ceiling higher.


    Once Xiao Lin had done that, he left where he was and returned back to his group.


    As he returned to his group, his group members and the members of other groups couldn''t help but gaze at him with shocked expressions in their faces.


    "What strength!" One of them said with an astonished look in his face.


    "Well, I guess we already know the group that will win. So, fighting any further is pointless. Or who would like to go against that guy whose true physical strength we can''t really fathom yet." Someone from a particular group suddenly asked.


    "Yes, you are right. Fighting any further has no meaning as we have caught a glimpse of the group that will definitely win. The group already have all that they would need to win, which is that guy. He is tremendously fast, super-strong, highly skilled, and above all, one of the three best examinee for this batch. So, we already have a clear understanding of who would win. Therefore, we should all drop our swords. It''s better to honorably surrender than obstinately fight him and be embarrassedly knocked out the way he did that frustrated poor guy." Another person in that same group said with an inexplicable look in his face.


    "Hmm. What a brilliant, awe-inspiring show of great strength" Lin Bao said with a smile in his face to the different groups looking at him once he appeared where Xiao Lin previously stood at.


    He then unexpectedly said as a serious expression manifested in his face, "Well, it''s the great luck of the group that chose Devil Fang to be a member. However, I am here to ruin that luck. Now, Devil Fang, because you are way stronger than the individuals that compose a particular group, therefore making you a cheat, I want you to stop participating in any of the battles currently taking place. Let''s see what your group can really do without you pushing them all the way to the top."


    As soon as Lin Bao said that, the eyes of everyone immediately lit up with joy.


    "Hahaha! Nice one, senior Eight Flashing Swords" Someone from a particular group laughed and said with great joy in his voice.


    As everyone began to rejoice and gloat at the sudden misfortune of Xiao Lin''s group, the people in Xiao Lin''s group who thought that they had simply won all the group matches because of Xiao Lin, couldn''t help but develop sad and frustrated expressions in their faces, as they weren''t really sure if they could win against the people from other groups that will come up to face them anytime soon.

 Chapter 199 - Against All Odds

    He then unexpectedly said as a serious expression manifested in his face, "Well, it''s the great luck of the group that chose Devil Fang to be a member. However, I am here to ruin that luck. Now, Devil Fang, because you are way stronger than the individuals that compose a particular group, therefore making you a cheat, I want you to stop participating in any of the battles currently taking place. Let''s see what your group can really do without you pushing them all the way to the top."


    As soon as Lin Bao said that, the eyes of everyone immediately lit up with joy.


    "Hahaha! Nice one, senior Eight Flashing Swords" Someone from a particular group laughed and said with great joy in his voice.


    As everyone began to rejoice and gloat at the sudden misfortune of Xiao Lin''s group, the people in Xiao Lin''s group who thought that they had simply won all the group matches because of Xiao Lin, couldn''t help but develop sad and frustrated expressions in their faces, as they weren''t really sure if they could win against the people from other groups that will come up to face them anytime soon.


    However, Xiao Lin who didn''t like what Lin Bao said, suddenly spoke with a smile in his face, "Senior Eight Flashing Swords, what about all the groups face me alone? Don''t you think that it would make things more interesting for you?"


    As soon as Xiao Lin said that, everyone in the hall including Lin Bao, all turned their heads to look at Xiao Lin with inexplicable expressions manifesting in their faces.


    "You want to face all of them alone?" Lin Bao asked as he gazed at Xiao Lin.


    He then asked further before Xiao Lin could respond, "Do you think that you are capable of facing all of them?"


    "Yes, if they come at me with only their sword-fighting skills and their individual movement skills. But I don''t know how I would perform if they come at me with Spiritual Energy attacks." Xiao Lin replied humbly.


    "Hmm. You sound humble and arrogant at the same time. I like that" Lin Bao said as he looked at Xiao Lin who only maintained a smile in his face.


    "Well, since you said that it would make things more interesting for me, why don''t I go with that? I love really interesting and spectacular sights. Haha!" Lin Bao said and chuckled.


    He then said out loud, "Everyone of you should assemble yourself and prepare to take down this arrogant, humble boy by all means, and by all means, I mean every other method that you can use without usage of your Spiritual Energy."


    Once he said that, he looked at Xiao Lin and said with a dead serious expression in his face, "Then you, prepare to defend yourself from unceasing enemy attacks. And to take things up a notch, I forbid you from using your Movement Skill. Therefore, stand your ground and fight your adversaries with only the sword-fighting forms that I taught you. Now, begin the battle!"


    Immediately Lin Bao said that, Xiao Lin instantly clasped the practicing sword in his hand tightly, while the other groups, both the ones still in line for battle with other groups, and those that have lost after being subdued by members of other groups, all came together to attack Xiao Lin. And as they would do so, they will unrestrainedly employ their individual Movement Technique to overwhelm and defeat Xiao Lin.


    At the moment, since the fight had gotten more interesting, all the seniors in the hall had stood to their feet to see how Xiao Lin was going to come out of this form of overwhelming battle unscathed. Furthermore, many of them had began to call for their colleagues to come see an exciting match of what could be described as ''one against countless odds'' taking place, as Xiao Lin was going to engage close to a hundred people who will be using Movement Skills.


    Swoosh!


    One of them suddenly rushed out towards Xiao Lin to attack him.


    The moment he arrived before Xiao Lin and sent out his practicing sword towards his head, Xiao Lin immediately used the blocking form that they were taught to deflect the sword.


    However, as soon as he blocked that attack, three more people dashed towards him at great speeds to hit him with their practicing swords.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Xiao Lin who was incomparably agile and possessed an amazingly fast reflex that could be simply described as Superhuman Reflexes due to the uncanny vampiric power that transformed his body, moved his body at a shocking rate to block off the attacks that were directed at him by his three opponents. And as soon as he skilfully and rapidly warded off their attacks, he immediately entered a crouch position and powerfully swept out one of his legs in a 360-degree motion to sweep all three of them to the ground really hard.


    The moment he did so and because of the speed and force that he used to sweep off his opponents, they were blown away like they were caught in a strong gale of wind into the distance were they landed dozens of feet away from their previous position.


    "Wow!" Others who were watching the battle unconsciously said out loud with great shock appearing in their faces. Even Lin Bao was so amazed that he broke a wide smile in his face and nodded his head, seeming as if he was being seriously entertained by Xiao Lin''s fight with the horde of fast-moving, sword-wielding opponents.


    A few moments after Xiao Lin had knocked away his three opponents, six more people suddenly dashed towards him with their practicing swords to attack him.


    Immediately they arrived in front of him, Xiao Lin who had quickly read off that they were a bit too much for him to handle, and had seized the sword of the first person that rushed out to attack him, immediately leapt into the air, where he reached a height of twenty feet above the marbled ground.


    As soon as Xiao Lin reached the peak height of his amazing jump, he turned his body upside down and began to surprisingly spin himself really fast as he plunged back to the ground, seeming like he were blades attached to a furiously-revolving wheel that was falling to the ground.


    Weirded out by the rapidly-improvised attacking style that Xiao Lin was exhibiting, the six opponents that rushed out towards him quickly backed away from him, or they could be brutally hit by the two swords that Xiao Lin wielded and spun with to deal damages on anyone that they would heavily struck.


    Before Xiao Lin could fall to the ground headfirst since he was upside down, he immediately forced his body to twist into another position where he smoothly executed an aerial cartwheel and landed firmly to the ground.


    The moment he landed, he suddenly jumped into the air towards one of the six people attacking him with one of his legs fully straightened out and the other folded.


    Then like an arrow that was shot out from a bow, Xiao Lin''s body whooshed through the air towards that person that he targeted.


    Bang!


    His leg that was straightened out struck that person in the chest and sent him flying like a projectile into the distance where he landed to the marbled ground dozens of feet away from his previous position.


    As soon as Xiao Lin had taken care of that person, he jumped once more into the air towards one of them. But before he could really impact that person in the chest with his leg that had been straightened out like a pole, the person completely dodged it by falling with his back to the ground and immediately did a kip up to get back to his feet so that he could evade other types of attack that Xiao Lin might ruthlessly send out towards him in his disadvantageous position.


    Since Xiao Lin''s flying kick couldn''t impact anyone, he shot away like an arrow into the distance before landing back to the ground with a fierce look slowly creeping in his face.


    "Getting tired, huh? You shouldn''t have said what you said" One of the five males attacking Xiao Lin said with intense mockery in his voice.


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, he looked at the person that spoke and said with his lips curling into a slight smile, "I will say what I said over and over again with no regret. I am simply a man of no regret. I don''t brood over any unfortunate, rash or stupid decisions that I may have made. I always man up to them and eventually clear them, sooner or later. So, the mocking swordsman, will you come for me or keep exchanging useless words with me and waste everyone''s time?"


    "Hmm." That person that Xiao Lin made that response at uttered with his brows furrowed in anger.


    He then looked at the others and said wrathfully, "Let''s take down this bragging idiot", which was completely obvious that he couldn''t really take down Xiao Lin all by himself and needed people to do that with him.

 Chapter 200 - A Brilliant Finish

    "Getting tired, huh? You shouldn''t have said what you said" One of the five males attacking Xiao Lin said with intense mockery in his voice.


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, he looked at the person that spoke and said with his lips curling into a slight smile, "I will say what I said over and over again with no regret. I am simply a man of no regret. I don''t brood over any unfortunate, rash or stupid decisions that I may have made. I always man up to them and eventually clear them, sooner or later. So, the mocking swordsman, will you come for me or keep exchanging useless words with me and waste everyone''s time?"


    "Hmm." That person that Xiao Lin made that response at uttered with his brows furrowed in anger.


    He then looked at the others and said wrathfully, "Let''s take down this bragging idiot", which was completely obvious that he couldn''t really take down Xiao Lin all by himself and needed people to do that with him.


    As soon as he said that, Xiao Lin broke a smile in his face and said, "Come over. Let''s fight!"


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Suddenly, swoosh sounds began to ring out as up to thirteen people dashed out at immense speeds towards Xiao Lin to attack him. While Xiao Lin who had a greater movement speed than them, because of his inborn vampiric movement ability and the various Movement Skills and Evasion Skills that he had mastered, he focused on his powerful sense of vision and super-hearing to immediately pick up the different locations that his opponents who were moving at fast speeds would appear at.


    Therefore, deploying his powerful senses to detect the location of his challengers and raising them to a really high level, he was able to perceive when an opponent out of the twelve that rushed out towards him to attack him appeared in front of him.


    Bang!


    The moment that person appeared in front of him and swung his sword towards him to strike him with it, Xiao Lin immediately raised his sword and used the blocking form that they were taught to ward off the attack.


    And as soon as he warded off the attack, two more people appeared in front of Xiao Lin to attack him with it.


    However, as soon as they directed their swords towards him to strike him with it, Xiao Lin who could hear the whistling sounds of their swords as they cut through the air towards him, immediately utilized his incomparable reflex and agility to skillfully evade the swords that were sent out at him.


    The moment that he dodged their attacks, three more people appeared behind him to take him down.


    But they couldn''t do so as Xiao Lin used the sword that he wielded with his two hands to block the attack of the three opponents that arrived behind him.


    Then with the powerful outward sweep of his leg in a 360-degree motion, his five opponents were instantly knocked off their feet and launched into the distance like spears.


    Haha!


    Lin Bao laughed, simply becoming more and more amazed by the abilities that Xiao Lin showed as he battled his larger number of challengers.


    "Do that guy have invisible eyes all over his body? Because I really don''t understand how he is able to block the many attacks that were sent out at him by them from different angles." Someone suddenly said with his brows furrowed.


    "Yea, I wonder too. Besides, how is he able to move his body so fast to ward off the attacks that were sent out at him by his opponents? Furthermore, despite being a body cultivator and should be quite clumsy with his movements, he moves just like fluid. He is so graciously agile and nimble, just like a cat. I envy this guy. What material has he been consuming?" Another questioned with a puzzled expression appearing in his face.


    Just as they were talking in a whispering manner to one another, Xiao Lin looked at his opponents and said with a smile in his face, "Guys, would you prefer to stand all day and talk? Or you would come at me and allow your swords do the damned talking?"


    Once Xiao Lin asked that, some people began to give up, since they felt that they couldn''t possibly win the battle. Right now, they were feeling like Xiao Lin was someone that was undefeatable. Furthermore, from the ability that he had shown so far, Xiao Lin looked like someone that possessed other forms of abilities that they couldn''t quite point out what they really were. From the way that he moved and how he was able to evade and block the attacks at the right time, just before they could hit him, caused them to be completely baffled.


    Not long, about thirty people had given up while the rest still brimmed with energy and unparalleled enthusiasm to see how far Xiao Lin can go in blocking their attacks.


    "Guys, since this guy is so good, let''s rush out all at once to attack him instead of going in threes or sixes to attack him, or what do you think? Although it would get insanely rowdy and rough, it''s however worth giving a try, since we need to take this arrogant guy down. Also, it would help us to know the actual limits of his abilities, since even monstrous battle and cultivation geniuses will have a limit that they can really be stretched to before they finally snap. So, let''s go for it and see for ourselves" Someone unexpectedly said while the others began to nod their heads as they thought really hard about what he said.


    Then all of sudden, many swoosh sounds began to ring out as close to thirty people suddenly rushed out from where they stood towards Xiao Lin to jointly attack him.


    Seeing what they have made up their minds to do, Xiao Lin deeply inhaled and then exhaled.


    Then he clasped his two swords tightly and gazed fiercely at them. And immediately he did so, a ferocious and baleful aura that screamed of great evil and resentment, began to emanate from his body, scaring off many of them that couldn''t breathe under the stifling and heavy, unseen aura that emitted from Xiao Lin''s body and radiated unequalled brutality.


    So, with only about twenty of them remaining as they were obstinate and believed that regardless of the dreadful aura coming from his body, there is no way that Xiao Lin would be able to really single-handedly face all of them, they rushed out towards him and tried to gather great strength in each of their arms so that they could knock him off-balance with the amount of force that they wielded in each of their arms.


    Once they arrived in front of him at once, Xiao Lin immediately kicked out at a speed that no one could imagine. He kicked so fast that he heavily kicked the faces of the twenty people in a second.


    Immediately he performed that stunning feat of speed, with each of them launched into the air like arrows that were fired from a powerful bow, Xiao Lin shot into the air towards them one after the other. And as soon as he arrived in front of anyone of them from his jump, he would abruptly deliver a punch in their face or chest which would cause them to be instantly knocked out.


    By the time Xiao Lin would stop what he was doing, all the bodies that he punched out at as they shot backward in mid-air into the distance from his powerful rapidly fast kick, could be seen lying on the ground around him and in the distance.


    "Wow! What a beast!" A girl said with great shock in her tone.


    Not quite long, people gathered in the hall, including seniors and their friends that have long arrived to watch the battle, began to discuss intensely with one another about the inconceivably fast kicks that Xiao Lin sent out towards his twenty challengers. It was unbelievably fast that they couldn''t even hear the sounds of the kicks as they struck the faces of Xiao Lin''s opponents. It was like they were silent, but yet carried enough power since the people that were struck by the lightning-fast kicks, shot into the distance like spears that were furiously thrown by a strong barbaric brute.


    "This is amazing." A senior said with a stunned look in his face.


    He then looked at his colleagues and said with a smile in his face, "I am glad that I recorded the battle. I will show this to our friends in other departments and ask them if they can really replicate what that boy did even if they used their Spiritual Energy. Haha! I want to mock their asses out."


    Just as they were talking, Lin Bao suddenly said, "Well, I guess the sparring battle has finally come to an end, in the most brilliant manner.. Now, everyone of you can seat and try to meditate to recover your energy. I will see you guys soon"

 Chapter 201 - A Brilliant Finish

    "Getting tired, huh? You shouldn''t have said what you said" One of the five males attacking Xiao Lin said with intense mockery in his voice.


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, he looked at the person that spoke and said with his lips curling into a slight smile, "I will say what I said over and over again with no regret. I am simply a man of no regret. I don''t brood over any unfortunate, rash or stupid decisions that I may have made. I always man up to them and eventually clear them, sooner or later. So, the mocking swordsman, will you come for me or keep exchanging useless words with me and waste everyone''s time?"


    "Hmm." That person that Xiao Lin made that response at uttered with his brows furrowed in anger.


    He then looked at the others and said wrathfully, "Let''s take down this bragging idiot", which was completely obvious that he couldn''t really take down Xiao Lin all by himself and needed people to do that with him.


    As soon as he said that, Xiao Lin broke a smile in his face and said, "Come over. Let''s fight!"


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Swoosh!


    Suddenly, swoosh sounds began to ring out as up to thirteen people dashed out at immense speeds towards Xiao Lin to attack him. While Xiao Lin who had a greater movement speed than them, because of his inborn vampiric movement ability and the various Movement Skills and Evasion Skills that he had mastered, he focused on his powerful sense of vision and super-hearing to immediately pick up the different locations that his opponents who were moving at fast speeds would appear at.


    Therefore, deploying his powerful senses to detect the location of his challengers and raising them to a really high level, he was able to perceive when an opponent out of the twelve that rushed out towards him to attack him appeared in front of him.


    Bang!


    The moment that person appeared in front of him and swung his sword towards him to strike him with it, Xiao Lin immediately raised his sword and used the blocking form that they were taught to ward off the attack.


    And as soon as he warded off the attack, two more people appeared in front of Xiao Lin to attack him with it.


    However, as soon as they directed their swords towards him to strike him with it, Xiao Lin who could hear the whistling sounds of their swords as they cut through the air towards him, immediately utilized his incomparable reflex and agility to skillfully evade the swords that were sent out at him.


    The moment that he dodged their attacks, three more people appeared behind him to take him down.


    But they couldn''t do so as Xiao Lin used the sword that he wielded with his two hands to block the attack of the three opponents that arrived behind him.


    Then with the powerful outward sweep of his leg in a 360-degree motion, his five opponents were instantly knocked off their feet and launched into the distance like spears.


    Haha!


    Lin Bao laughed, simply becoming more and more amazed by the abilities that Xiao Lin showed as he battled his larger number of challengers.


    "Do that guy have invisible eyes all over his body? Because I really don''t understand how he is able to block the many attacks that were sent out at him by them from different angles." Someone suddenly said with his brows furrowed.


    "Yea, I wonder too. Besides, how is he able to move his body so fast to ward off the attacks that were sent out at him by his opponents? Furthermore, despite being a body cultivator and should be quite clumsy with his movements, he moves just like fluid. He is so graciously agile and nimble, just like a cat. I envy this guy. What material has he been consuming?" Another questioned with a puzzled expression appearing in his face.


    Just as they were talking in a whispering manner to one another, Xiao Lin looked at his opponents and said with a smile in his face, "Guys, would you prefer to stand all day and talk? Or you would come at me and allow your swords do the damned talking?"


    Once Xiao Lin asked that, some people began to give up, since they felt that they couldn''t possibly win the battle. Right now, they were feeling like Xiao Lin was someone that was undefeatable. Furthermore, from the ability that he had shown so far, Xiao Lin looked like someone that possessed other forms of abilities that they couldn''t quite point out what they really were. From the way that he moved and how he was able to evade and block the attacks at the right time, just before they could hit him, caused them to be completely baffled.


    Not long, about thirty people had given up while the rest still brimmed with energy and unparalleled enthusiasm to see how far Xiao Lin can go in blocking their attacks.


    "Guys, since this guy is so good, let''s rush out all at once to attack him instead of going in threes or sixes to attack him, or what do you think? Although it would get insanely rowdy and rough, it''s however worth giving a try, since we need to take this arrogant guy down. Also, it would help us to know the actual limits of his abilities, since even monstrous battle and cultivation geniuses will have a limit that they can really be stretched to before they finally snap. So, let''s go for it and see for ourselves" Someone unexpectedly said while the others began to nod their heads as they thought really hard about what he said.


    Then all of sudden, many swoosh sounds began to ring out as close to thirty people suddenly rushed out from where they stood towards Xiao Lin to jointly attack him.


    Seeing what they have made up their minds to do, Xiao Lin deeply inhaled and then exhaled.


    Then he clasped his two swords tightly and gazed fiercely at them. And immediately he did so, a ferocious and baleful aura that screamed of great evil and resentment, began to emanate from his body, scaring off many of them that couldn''t breathe under the stifling and heavy, unseen aura that emitted from Xiao Lin''s body and radiated unequalled brutality.


    So, with only about twenty of them remaining as they were obstinate and believed that regardless of the dreadful aura coming from his body, there is no way that Xiao Lin would be able to really single-handedly face all of them, they rushed out towards him and tried to gather great strength in each of their arms so that they could knock him off-balance with the amount of force that they wielded in each of their arms.


    Once they arrived in front of him at once, Xiao Lin immediately kicked out at a speed that no one could imagine. He kicked so fast that he heavily kicked the faces of the twenty people in a second.


    Immediately he performed that stunning feat of speed, with each of them launched into the air like arrows that were fired from a powerful bow, Xiao Lin shot into the air towards them one after the other. And as soon as he arrived in front of anyone of them from his jump, he would abruptly deliver a punch in their face or chest which would cause them to be instantly knocked out.


    By the time Xiao Lin would stop what he was doing, all the bodies that he punched out at as they shot backward in mid-air into the distance from his powerful rapidly fast kick, could be seen lying on the ground around him and in the distance.


    "Wow! What a beast!" A girl said with great shock in her tone.


    Not quite long, people gathered in the hall, including seniors and their friends that have long arrived to watch the battle, began to discuss intensely with one another about the inconceivably fast kicks that Xiao Lin sent out towards his twenty challengers. It was unbelievably fast that they couldn''t even hear the sounds of the kicks as they struck the faces of Xiao Lin''s opponents. It was like they were silent, but yet carried enough power since the people that were struck by the lightning-fast kicks, shot into the distance like spears that were furiously thrown by a strong barbaric brute.


    "This is amazing." A senior said with a stunned look in his face.


    He then looked at his colleagues and said with a smile in his face, "I am glad that I recorded the battle. I will show this to our friends in other departments and ask them if they can really replicate what that boy did even if they used their Spiritual Energy. Haha! I want to mock their asses out."


    Just as they were talking, Lin Bao suddenly said, "Well, I guess the sparring battle has finally come to an end, in the most brilliant manner.. Now, everyone of you can seat and try to meditate to recover your energy. I will see you guys soon"

 Chapter 202 - Studying The Books And Practicing (1)

    He then unexpectedly said as a serious expression manifested in his face, "Well, it''s the great luck of the group that chose Devil Fang to be a member. However, I am here to ruin that luck. Now, Devil Fang, because you are way stronger than the individuals that compose a particular group, therefore making you a cheat, I want you to stop participating in any of the battles currently taking place. Let''s see what your group can really do without you pushing them all the way to the top."


    As soon as Lin Bao said that, the eyes of everyone immediately lit up with joy.


    "Hahaha! Nice one, senior Eight Flashing Swords" Someone from a particular group laughed and said with great joy in his voice.


    As everyone began to rejoice and gloat at the sudden misfortune of Xiao Lin''s group, the people in Xiao Lin''s group who thought that they had simply won all the group matches because of Xiao Lin, couldn''t help but develop sad and frustrated expressions in their faces, as they weren''t really sure if they could win against the people from other groups that will come up to face them anytime soon.


    However, Xiao Lin who didn''t like what Lin Bao said, suddenly spoke with a smile in his face, "Senior Eight Flashing Swords, what about all the groups face me alone? Don''t you think that it would make things more interesting for you?"


    As soon as Xiao Lin said that, everyone in the hall including Lin Bao, all turned their heads to look at Xiao Lin with inexplicable expressions manifesting in their faces.


    "You want to face all of them alone?" Lin Bao asked as he gazed at Xiao Lin.


    He then asked further before Xiao Lin could respond, "Do you think that you are capable of facing all of them?"


    "Yes, if they come at me with only their sword-fighting skills and their individual movement skills. But I don''t know how I would perform if they come at me with Spiritual Energy attacks." Xiao Lin replied humbly.


    "Hmm. You sound humble and arrogant at the same time. I like that" Lin Bao said as he looked at Xiao Lin who only maintained a smile in his face.


    "Well, since you said that it would make things more interesting for me, why don''t I go with that? I love really interesting and spectacular sights. Haha!" Lin Bao said and chuckled.


    He then said out loud, "Everyone of you should assemble yourself and prepare to take down this arrogant, humble boy by all means, and by all means, I mean every other method that you can use without usage of your Spiritual Energy."


    Once he said that, he looked at Xiao Lin and said with a dead serious expression in his face, "Then you, prepare to defend yourself from unceasing enemy attacks. And to take things up a notch, I forbid you from using your Movement Skill. Therefore, stand your ground and fight your adversaries with only the sword-fighting forms that I taught you. Now, begin the battle!"


    Immediately Lin Bao said that, Xiao Lin instantly clasped the practicing sword in his hand tightly, while the other groups, both the ones still in line for battle with other groups, and those that have lost after being subdued by members of other groups, all came together to attack Xiao Lin. And as they would do so, they will unrestrainedly employ their individual Movement Technique to overwhelm and defeat Xiao Lin.


    At the moment, since the fight had gotten more interesting, all the seniors in the hall had stood to their feet to see how Xiao Lin was going to come out of this form of overwhelming battle unscathed. Furthermore, many of them had began to call for their colleagues to come see an exciting match of what could be described as ''one against countless odds'' taking place, as Xiao Lin was going to engage close to a hundred people who will be using Movement Skills.


    Swoosh!


    One of them suddenly rushed out towards Xiao Lin to attack him.


    The moment he arrived before Xiao Lin and sent out his practicing sword towards his head, Xiao Lin immediately used the blocking form that they were taught to deflect the sword.


    However, as soon as he blocked that attack, three more people dashed towards him at great speeds to hit him with their practicing swords.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Xiao Lin who was incomparably agile and possessed an amazingly fast reflex that could be simply described as Superhuman Reflexes due to the uncanny vampiric power that transformed his body, moved his body at a shocking rate to block off the attacks that were directed at him by his three opponents. And as soon as he skilfully and rapidly warded off their attacks, he immediately entered a crouch position and powerfully swept out one of his legs in a 360-degree motion to sweep all three of them to the ground really hard.


    The moment he did so and because of the speed and force that he used to sweep off his opponents, they were blown away like they were caught in a strong gale of wind into the distance were they landed dozens of feet away from their previous position.


    "Wow!" Others who were watching the battle unconsciously said out loud with great shock appearing in their faces. Even Lin Bao was so amazed that he broke a wide smile in his face and nodded his head, seeming as if he was being seriously entertained by Xiao Lin''s fight with the horde of fast-moving, sword-wielding opponents.


    A few moments after Xiao Lin had knocked away his three opponents, six more people suddenly dashed towards him with their practicing swords to attack him.


    Immediately they arrived in front of him, Xiao Lin who had quickly read off that they were a bit too much for him to handle, and had seized the sword of the first person that rushed out to attack him, immediately leapt into the air, where he reached a height of twenty feet above the marbled ground.


    As soon as Xiao Lin reached the peak height of his amazing jump, he turned his body upside down and began to surprisingly spin himself really fast as he plunged back to the ground, seeming like he were blades attached to a furiously-revolving wheel that was falling to the ground.


    Weirded out by the rapidly-improvised attacking style that Xiao Lin was exhibiting, the six opponents that rushed out towards him quickly backed away from him, or they could be brutally hit by the two swords that Xiao Lin wielded and spun with to deal damages on anyone that they would heavily struck.


    Before Xiao Lin could fall to the ground headfirst since he was upside down, he immediately forced his body to twist into another position where he smoothly executed an aerial cartwheel and landed firmly to the ground.


    The moment he landed, he suddenly jumped into the air towards one of the six people attacking him with one of his legs fully straightened out and the other folded.


    Then like an arrow that was shot out from a bow, Xiao Lin''s body whooshed through the air towards that person that he targeted.


    Bang!


    His leg that was straightened out struck that person in the chest and sent him flying like a projectile into the distance where he landed to the marbled ground dozens of feet away from his previous position.


    As soon as Xiao Lin had taken care of that person, he jumped once more into the air towards one of them. But before he could really impact that person in the chest with his leg that had been straightened out like a pole, the person completely dodged it by falling with his back to the ground and immediately did a kip up to get back to his feet so that he could evade other types of attack that Xiao Lin might ruthlessly send out towards him in his disadvantageous position.


    Since Xiao Lin''s flying kick couldn''t impact anyone, he shot away like an arrow into the distance before landing back to the ground with a fierce look slowly creeping in his face.


    "Getting tired, huh? You shouldn''t have said what you said" One of the five males attacking Xiao Lin said with intense mockery in his voice.


    Once Xiao Lin heard that, he looked at the person that spoke and said with his lips curling into a slight smile, "I will say what I said over and over again with no regret. I am simply a man of no regret. I don''t brood over any unfortunate, rash or stupid decisions that I may have made. I always man up to them and eventually clear them, sooner or later. So, the mocking swordsman, will you come for me or keep exchanging useless words with me and waste everyone''s time?"


    "Hmm." That person that Xiao Lin made that response at uttered with his brows furrowed in anger.


    He then looked at the others and said wrathfully, "Let''s take down this bragging idiot", which was completely obvious that he couldn''t really take down Xiao Lin all by himself and needed people to do that with him.