bookandnovel Chapter 14698 The Old Man withered Vine
Chapter 14698 The Old Man withered Vine
Chapter 14698 The Old Man withered Vine
Chunxiao added, "But you only have a little over a month left. The most urgent thing is to have the strength to protect yourself and even fight against Muyin before Wenyan's protection period expires... Survival is the most important thing."
Ling Xiao replied crisply, "Understood!"
"Keep practicing."
In the following days, Ling Xiao devoted himself entirely to arduous cultivation.
Deep within the bamboo forest, the roar of spatial collapse echoed every day. He deduced the synchronous battle tactics again and again, from the initial sluggish connection to the later instantaneous synchronization; from the domain requiring a breath to open to the speed of a thought.
The outline of the demon god's avatar became more and more solid, and the compatibility between the sword spirit and the domain deepened day by day, naturally increasing its power.
He still had two trump cards hidden in his heart: one was the World-Destroying Demon Needle... It was a killing weapon left behind by the Demon Lord, powerful enough to crush any strong person in the Silent Realm, but it required burning his original demonic energy to activate, and if he was not careful, he would hurt himself. He never dared to try it lightly.
The other is the mysterious power hidden deep within the magic needle space, which is his last resort, but also the shackle he least wants to touch.
He deliberately restrained the urge to use that power...
He feared both the potential for dependency and complacency, and the fear that using it too early might trigger unforeseen changes. Yet, a subtle expectation lingered in his heart: that when he was strong enough in the future to reunite with that mysterious being, he could restore this power completely.
After about ten days of arduous training, Ling Xiao had become adept at controlling the Dharma Aspect Domain. Even without the aid of pills, he could continuously activate the Synchronous Battle Technique three times without exhaustion.
Wen Yan remained secluded in the bamboo house, his aura gradually becoming more and more concentrated, clearly digesting Chunxiao's guidance in order to break through to a higher realm.
Three days later, Ling Xiao was deep in the bamboo forest, concentrating on his deductions, trying to integrate the Five Elements Dragon Souls into his domain to strengthen his foundation.
A communication jade talisman at his waist suddenly began to buzz rapidly, its shimmering white light almost breaking free from his palm. The piercing buzz shattered the tranquility of the bamboo forest.
He abruptly raised his hand and pressed it against the jade talisman, quickly channeling spiritual energy to connect. Lin Muying's voice, filled with barely concealed panic and urgency, instantly came through:
"Lingxiao! Something has happened in the Batian Empire! That old bastard Mu Yin has appeared on the empire's border, and his troops are being frequently mobilized, as if he is about to take action against the Batian Empire. You must return immediately!"
"The Overlord Empire!"
Upon hearing the words in the communication jade talisman, Ling Xiao's expression changed drastically. His demonic intent surged uncontrollably from his body, and the dark demonic energy churned like waves, causing even the branches and leaves of the surrounding bamboo forest to tremble violently.
The next moment, a terrifying crimson color spread uncontrollably from the depths of his eyes. It was a sign that the demon god's bloodline was ignited by rage, and the ferocious aura was almost enough to devour people and steal their souls.
He never expected that Mu Yin would be so despicable as to target the Overlord Empire! The intention was all too clear... to use his close relatives and friends left in the old world as hostages, forcing him to walk into the trap and surrender!
Without a word, Ling Xiao turned around and was about to fly away when a refined figure suddenly appeared in front of him. It was Wen Yan, who had just emerged from seclusion.
“Young friend, you must not go!” Wen Yan’s expression was solemn, and his tone was admonishing. “This is a deadly trap deliberately set by Mu Yin, specifically to force you to show yourself. Moreover, I have sensed that there may be more than just the Sword Star Holy Hall behind this matter; there may be a larger scheme.”
Ling Xiao stood silently, his demonic energy stagnating, yet his crimson pupils showed no hesitation.
After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse but firm: "My dearest family, my old friends, and those I can never betray in this life are there. Even if it's a dead end, I will forge ahead!"
After saying this, he didn't linger. His figure transformed into a fierce black mist, carrying boundless rage as he soared into the sky, heading straight for the Batian Empire.
But as soon as he rushed out of the bamboo house, a vast pressure, as powerful as the Kunlun Mountains, crashed down from the sky. The invisible force instantly solidified the surrounding space, and Ling Xiao's figure was abruptly halted for half a breath.
His eyes flashed, and he quietly grasped the hilt of the Demon Lord Black Heaven Sword in his palm, about to draw the sword to break the deadlock, but Wen Yan had already stepped in front of him.
The old man looked up into the depths of the sky, his tone calm: "It's the Old Man withered Vine." He frowned slightly, then raised his voice and shouted into the void: "Old blockhead, are you going to wade into this mess too?"
From the distant horizon, an aged and indifferent voice slowly drifted over, carrying an undeniable certainty: "I owe Mu Yin a favor, which must be repaid today. Ling Xiao, I'm determined to stop you."
Wen Yan chuckled upon hearing this, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalance: "I see. But this favor will probably cost me half my life, the price is not small."
He turned to look at Ling Xiao and spoke very quickly: "I will keep this man in check. You return to the Overlord Empire immediately! Remember, do not act impulsively."
Ling Xiao clasped his hands deeply, his voice full of gratitude: "Thank you, senior!" Before he finished speaking, his figure had already transformed into a streak of light, tearing through the sky and shooting towards the horizon, leaving only a dark demonic mark that vanished in an instant.
Just as he left, Wen Yan flicked his finger, and a shimmering white rune, imbued with the profound power of space, silently entered Ling Xiao's body...
This is a spatial rune he has honed throughout his life, which can freeze the surrounding space in times of crisis, giving Ling Xiao a chance to catch his breath.
Watching Ling Xiao's figure disappear from sight, Wen Yan slowly turned his head and looked towards the direction of the clouds where the old man withered vines was hiding. He shook his head and sighed softly, "It seems that this time, Mu Yin is determined to take Ling Xiao's life and will not leave any room for maneuver."
"If you were the Sword Star Saint Hall Master, would you allow such a heaven-defying prodigy to live?" The old man with withered vines responded from the distant void, carrying a touch of cold reality.
Wen Yan lightly waved his folding fan and laughed heartily: "Don't you think that the Sword Star Holy Hall has become too arrogant in recent years? Monopolizing resources and bullying fellow practitioners, it has long lost the status of a top sect."
"They have the right to be arrogant, don't they?" The old man with the withered vines spoke calmly, yet he stated an undeniable fact.
Wen Yan nodded slowly, his expression becoming more serious: "Indeed."
Sword Star Holy Hall is arguably the number one sect in the Silent Extinction Realm. It has been passed down for thousands of years and its foundation is unfathomable. It has a multitude of powerful figures under its command, including several experts at the Returning to Truth Realm.
Even if all the forces in Broken Boundary Mountain joined forces, they might not be able to contend with it. No one knows how many trump cards this behemoth has hidden, and no one dares to test it lightly.
After a moment of silence, Wen Yan said no more, his loud laughter echoing through the sky: "Since you insist on stopping me, then let's have a fight! Let this old man see just how much skill you've acquired over the years!"
With a loud laugh, a raging inferno suddenly erupted around him. It was no ordinary fire, but a white-incandescent flame containing his original Daoist essence, which transformed into a towering pillar of flame that shot straight into the sky, dyeing half the sky crimson.
In an instant, a deafening, muffled roar came from the distant sky. The invisible shockwaves from the collision of the two terrifying forces spread out, causing the entire space to tremble violently. Even the bamboo forest below was uprooted and broken, and the spiritual energy became chaotic and boiling...