"Of course, for this opening of the Abyssal Realm, I, Yan Ao, have only one goal. If any major inheritance appears, I hope all fellow Daoists will know your place and step aside."
Yan Ao's indifferent tone made many people raise their eyebrows. His utter disdain was obvious. Every young cultivator in this restaurant was a chosen prodigy of their respective sects. Why the hell should they yield to him?
The atmosphere in the building grew tense and strange, yet the blue-haired young master's expression remained unchanged—still that arrogant, high-and-mighty look as if he stood above all living beings.
"If anyone is foolish enough to refuse… heh."
"Then I'll test whether your blood can finally warm up my Heavenly Chill Blade."
Swish!
Yan Ao gripped a massive, ferocious blade that was nearly as tall as a man. Bloody light instantly flared from it.
One second the restaurant was filled with lights, wine, and laughter; the next, it felt like they had fallen into an icy hell. The bone-chilling cold pierced everyone to the core.
"That… that's the Heavenly Chill Blade of Extreme Martial Ancestor!"
An experienced elder from some sect cried out in shock. Only then did everyone realize that this exaggerated, menacing giant blade was the infamous killing weapon that had shaken the entire immortal world.
"I never thought that after a hundred years, someone would be able to wield this demonic blade again… The younger generation is truly terrifying!"
"It looks like no one can compete with Frostheaven Sect in this Abyssal Realm expedition."
The waves of shocked gasps made Ling Shuo's expression turn grave.
I don't know how it compares to Master's Frost Thousand Swords, but this murderous aura…
Seeing that Ling Shuo didn't fully understand, Xi Yan quietly explained beside him:
"Extreme Martial Ancestor was a collateral descendant of Emperor Hao Wu from several thousand years ago. He used this Heavenly Chill Blade to slaughter countless enemies in the Northern Border guarded by the Dragon Race. Thanks to his military achievements, he founded the Frostheaven Sect, which has lasted until today."
"However, after Extreme Martial Ancestor died… no one has been able to use it again."
"Hmph. Someone who has never seen mountains of corpses or seas of blood dares to wield such a vicious weapon? The juniors of Lingxiao really don't know the height of the heavens."
Yu Yi still looked bored, though her interest was clearly piqued by the blade itself.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, Ling Shuo heard the sound of teeth grinding in fury.
"It's… it's this one!"
He looked down and saw Ying Lingling in his arms had turned deathly pale. Her teeth were sunk deep into her lower lip as her body trembled uncontrollably with terror. She slowly curled into herself.
"No… don't… don't kill them…" the girl screamed and violently flipped the table in front of her. Plates and wine cups shattered across the floor.
All eyes in the restaurant instantly turned toward them.
"Lingling!"
Everyone was caught off guard. Ling Shuo quickly pulled the little dragon girl tightly into his embrace. Having some understanding of trauma from his previous life, he soothed her gently: "Lingling, don't be afraid. I'm right here."
"Ah… ah! I remember now…"
In the safety of the man's arms, the girl's terrified cries gradually stopped. Then her entire body began shaking violently—this time with pure, burning rage.
"Lingling?" Ling Shuo leaned down to look at her. He had never seen her like this before. Her golden dragon pupils were blazing like raging flames.
"I remember… Mother… Father… everyone… one by one, right in front of me… all of them… it was all because of this…"
White jade dragon scales began to emerge across her skin. Two streams of bloody tears flowed from Ying Lingling's eyes.
"Filthy animals!!!"
An overwhelming surge of spiritual power exploded outward, shattering tables and chairs. Dragon might swept through the hall. Immortal cultivators with demi-human bloodlines instantly bled from their noses and ears. Even pure-blooded humans felt an instinctive urge to kneel.
"There's actually a dragon here!!"
"Run! Get away!"
The crowd quickly realized what was happening. The primal terror of dragons was engraved in their bloodlines, so most instinctively tried to distance themselves. Only Yan Ao on the first floor had a sharp, excited glint in his eyes.
"Oh? After Extreme Martial Ancestor's northern campaign, there are still dragons brave enough to leave the Northern Domain? And this one even dares to hide here and injure my Lingxiao disciples in public."
The blue-haired warrior hoisted the giant blade onto his shoulder and turned his gaze toward the second floor where Ying Lingling was.
"Then I'll use your dragon blood to offer a sacrifice to my Heavenly Chill Blade—the blade that has slaughtered countless dragons!"
"Shut up… shut your filthy mouth!! I will make you pay with blood for blood!!"
Ying Lingling floated into the air, dragon scales covering her body. Golden light blazed from her white jade sword as she charged straight at Yan Ao without hesitation.
"Lingling!!"
Ling Shuo realized the situation had gone to hell. He instantly put on his fox mask and leaped down from the second floor in one swift movement.
"Shuo!"
Xi Yan and Xiao Qian'er both paled. They quickly covered their faces with veils and drew their weapons.
BOOM!!!
A deafening clash of metal rang out. A towering pillar of white light shot into the sky. Ling Shuo didn't care about exposing himself anymore—he had to protect Lingling at all costs!
But before he could even draw the Frost Thousand Swords—
"Cough!!!"
Thud!
Time seemed to freeze. A massive blood-red light ripped through the entire restaurant as if trying to split it in half.
When the white light faded, Ying Lingling's body was sent flying like a broken rag doll. Warm blood sparkled under the lights as it poured from her wound. In Ling Shuo's disbelieving eyes, she slowly fell.
"Courting death."
Yan Ao stood with the giant blade resting on his shoulder. The blade's edge seemed alive, greedily sucking in the remaining dragon blood.
"Lingling!"
Ling Shuo rushed forward and caught the girl at the last moment.
"Ling… Shuo…"
Her voice was extremely weak. A horrifying diagonal slash had nearly cleaved Ying Lingling in two from shoulder to waist. White bone could be seen through the gaping wound.
"Lingling! Are you okay?!"
Xi Yan, who specialized in healing, immediately appeared beside them. Seeing such a gruesome injury, even she lost all color in her face.
The divine weapon used to slaughter giant dragons had almost cut the little dragon girl in half while she was in human form.
"Bastard! I will never forgive you!" Xiao Qian'er pointed her sword at Yan Ao, her beautiful eyes burning with fury as she rapidly circulated her Heavenly Profound Heart Art.
"Oh? The dragon actually has such beauties helping her." Yan Ao's eyes filled with undisguised lust as he brazenly looked the two women up and down. "Besides this beast, it seems this young master will have some excellent trophies tonight."
"A mere dragon dares to act so arrogantly in front of the Heavenly Chill Blade. Today she will die right here!"
Seeing Ying Lingling's miserable state, many cultivators relaxed and began surrounding Ling Shuo's group.
At that exact moment—
Bang!!
A streak of cyan lightning flashed past. Yan Ao staggered back several steps.
"What a fast blade. Who are you?" He stabilized himself, battle intent blazing in his eyes.
"Hmph."
Yu Yi gripped a full-length nodachi, looking as relaxed as ever. Yet through their shared bond, Ling Shuo clearly felt her shock.
"Yan Ao… I will cut you into ten thousand pieces!"
Ling Shuo handed the severely wounded Lingling to Xi Yan and stood up. His face was twisted with beast-like rage. In his eyes, there was only the arrogant man in front of him.
He would never let him go. He had to carve him apart piece by piece to vent this hatred!
"Roar? You don't seem to be that beast's servant. Interesting." Yan Ao laughed wildly, clearly intrigued by Ling Shuo.
"Don't be reckless… There's something wrong with this guy." Yu Yi's voice transmission couldn't stop Ling Shuo's fury. Even if he had to empty the entire storage ring today, he refused to let Yan Ao live.
"Shuo! We can't delay any longer! Lingling needs immediate treatment!"
Xi Yan grabbed his sleeve. Ling Shuo looked down and saw the little dragon girl's skin turning deathly pale, her breathing shallow and fading.
"Shuo, we have to leave!" Xiao Qian'er was still thinking clearly. Staying here was the worst possible choice—especially with Lingling needing urgent healing.
"Don't let them escape!"
The surrounding cultivators from various sects had already closed in. There were far too many experts here. Ling Shuo gritted his teeth and pulled out a command token from his storage ring, gripping it tightly in his palm.
If he crushed this token, the four of them would be instantly teleported back to Ling Peak. However, doing so would mean forfeiting their chance to enter the Abyssal Realm and compete for the inheritances.
But in this desperate situation, he had no other choice.
With a hardened heart, the young man raised the token high above his head.
****
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