"Xiao'er, you go collect the treasures from the Yuan Yue Holy Land's treasure vault. I'll go capture that spirit vein for you."
Ling Tianlin glanced towards the depths of the holy mountain, took a step, and his figure instantly vanished.
Ling Xiao merely nodded with a smile and also headed towards the back mountain.
With his experience from the Yun Shu Holy Land, Ling Xiao found the Yuan Yue Holy Land's treasure vault almost effortlessly.
He realized that the layouts of these supreme orthodoxies were indeed monotonously similar.
A grand treasure pavilion, showcasing its majesty.
Three full floors: one for spirit artifacts, one for pills and spiritual materials, and one for cultivation techniques and martial arts.
"Ling Xiao."
But just as Ling Xiao stepped forward to collect the treasures, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
Ling Xiao's footsteps halted, and a look of grief and helplessness instantly surged onto his face. "Little Ancestor… you wouldn't…"
"Be careful of that woman… named Ye Qingchan…"
After speaking, Feng Ling just gave Ling Xiao a deep look and then vanished.
"Hmm?"
Ling Xiao frowned slightly, his eyes revealing surprise.
Was that… a faint trace of worry in Feng Ling's eyes just now?
Could it be because of… that innate wisdom?
But in the end, Ling Xiao didn't ponder it too much. He had the System, which could easily judge Ye Qingchan's psychological changes, so… he didn't need to worry about her suddenly becoming someone else.
However, he did need to find a way to see if he could help Ye Qingchan… erase her original self!
Ling Xiao selected some insignificant items to reward those hardworking vassal forces.
People's hearts, after all, still needed to be won over.
Otherwise, why would these cannon fodders willingly die for their master?
Only when a clear dragon's roar came from the direction of the back mountain did a smile finally curl on Ling Xiao's lips.
So-called spirit veins were also called dragon veins.
Earth was the dragon's flesh, stone its bones, grass and trees its scales.
But what truly influenced fortune was the strand of spiritual energy hidden beneath the earth, stones, grass, and trees.
Places with ancient mountains and great rivers always had dragon veins crisscrossing them.
The higher the mountain, the deeper the river, the stronger the dragon vein.
Therefore… places with high mountains and deep rivers were densely populated with immortal sects and holy lands.
They were considered lands of excellent Feng Shui.
Currently, Ling Xiao's Domain World had sun, moon, mountains, and marshes, but not a trace of spiritual energy.
Of course, if left to develop naturally, it would eventually give rise to life.
But Ling Xiao couldn't wait that long. What he intended to do was capture nine dragon veins and place them within, transforming it into a sacred land for cultivation.
This would be his reliance for proudly standing at the pinnacle of heaven in the future.
Identities given by others were never as reliable as power held in one's own hands.
Especially for a villain, caution and strength were both indispensable.
Buzz!
But!
Just as Ling Xiao opened the Yuan Yue Holy Master's Qiankun Bag, intending to take all the spirit treasures within, a clear buzzing sound suddenly came from it.
Immediately after, a golden ancient seal suddenly shot out, turning into a stream of light as it fled towards the distant sky.
"This is… a Dao artifact that has developed an artifact spirit?"
Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed, the smile on his lips growing wider.
An unexpected little surprise.
As everyone knew, the development of an artifact spirit was akin to sublimation for a spirit treasure.
Earlier, when he slaughtered the Holy Land's three thousand disciples, the Primordial Demon Blade had emitted a strange fluctuation.
According to Ling Xiao's thoughts, the shattered artifact soul within it had shown signs of awakening after being nourished by blood.
But he never expected the Yuan Yue Holy Master to possess a Dao artifact containing an artifact soul.
"Where do you think you're going!"
A soul light flickered in Ling Xiao's eyes. His hand suddenly clenched, and a lightning hand seal materialized out of thin air, directly suppressing the golden light.
Boom!!
But to Ling Xiao's surprise, the golden light only trembled for a moment before breaking through the sky full of lightning radiance and fleeing towards the distant sky.
"Come back to me!"
Ling Xiao's expression turned stern. The eight Dao Principles around him bloomed with a strange divine glow, once again transforming into a giant palm that grasped the golden light within.
Screech!
A strange cry echoed. The golden light suddenly blazed, trying to break free from Ling Xiao's control.
But a Dao artifact, without anyone wielding it, no matter how divine its might, couldn't possibly be a match for Ling Xiao.
After a stalemate, the golden light finally dissipated and was pulled down from mid-air by Ling Xiao.
In his hand was a square golden ancient seal, four fingers thick, carved with a golden phoenix silhouette.
"Xiao'er!"
Ling Tianlin's figure descended from the sky. In his hand, he held a ball of spiritual light, within which a green shadow seemed to be thrashing about violently.
"Father!"
"I've erased the consciousness of this spirit vein. You can refine it directly."
Ling Tianlin handed over the spiritual light, then glanced at the golden seal in Ling Xiao's hand. "Hmm? Is this the Yuan Yue Holy Master's Golden Crow Divine Seal?"
"Golden Crow Divine Seal?"
Ling Xiao's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Correct. This seal was originally an ordinary Dao artifact. Later, the Yuan Yue Holy Master captured and killed a Divine Emperor Golden Crow and imprisoned its soul within, turning it into this Supreme Grade Dao artifact. But during the earlier battle, the Golden Crow's soul was severely injured. Xiao'er, do you want me to erase its consciousness?"
Ling Tianlin's gaze was cold as he looked at Ling Xiao.
"No need, I'll handle it myself. Father, I plan to leave the Eastern Territories today."
Ling Xiao looked up towards the distant sky.
The Eastern Territories no longer posed any challenge for him.
He was somewhat impatient to go to the Western Territories battlefield and indulge in slaughter.
"So soon? Xiao'er, let Ghost Shadow accompany you."
Ling Tianlin hesitated for a moment before speaking.
Especially now, with the Holy Church having sent Divine Envoys to the four regions, although their exact purpose was still unclear… it never hurt to be cautious.
"No need, Father. The Ling Clan has been conquering everywhere recently. Someone is bound to get impatient soon. You just need to protect the Ling Clan well. Leave the rest to me."
Ling Xiao shook his head. The Holy Church never acted according to convention.
Ghost Shadow, as the Ling Clan's biggest hidden trump card, was more useful staying by his father's side.
Although he had revealed his talent and demonic intent…
The more so, the more confusing it became for others.
After all, those with forbidden physiques, before growing up, usually wished they could bury their heads in the ground.
Being flamboyant wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Of course, the Holy Church would rather kill by mistake than let anyone go.
So…
Ling Xiao already had a plan in mind.
The bloody path through the Yuan Yue Holy Land today was the bait to lure the cat.
"Alright! If you encounter difficulties… contact me anytime. The Western Territories are chaotic and disorderly. If not for the Holy Church's ironclad rule that supreme orthodoxies cannot cross territories to conquer, the Eastern Territories would likely have been taken over by those dynasties long ago."
A grave look flashed in Ling Tianlin's eyes.
Killing and conquest, though cruel and bloody, had to be admitted, were more effective in tempering one's mind and cultivation.
Especially now, in this era of great contention, where prodigies emerged in droves.
Although Ling Xiao was the strongest prodigy in the Eastern Territories, facing an entire dynasty was like an ant trying to shake a tree.
But…
If anyone dared harm his son, a dynasty?
Even a royal dynasty could be destroyed!
"I understand. Don't worry, Father."
Ling Xiao bowed deeply to Ling Tianlin.
A land of constant slaughter was the perfect place to conceal his demonic nature.
The leeks of the Western Territories?
Are you… ready?
In the end, Ling Tianlin said no more and led the Ling Clan experts away.
From within the crowd, Qin Leng glanced back several times at the white-robed figure standing atop the mountain, his face filled with loss and sorrow.
Originally, I thought that by following the Ling Clan, I could stand side by side with you.
Turns out… I was overthinking.
Perhaps only by becoming your enemy can I truly catch your eye?
For some reason, a look of determination suddenly flashed in Qin Leng's eyes.
At this moment, he seemed to have gained some insight.
"Young Master…"
Ye Qingchan walked to Ling Xiao's side. Behind her, Huo Heng and the other Fire Clan Divine Kings stood quietly.
"Where are we going now?"
"Home."
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, but Ye Qingchan's expression froze slightly.
"Back to the Ling Clan? We…"
But before she could finish, the scenery before her eyes changed. A desolate aura instantly rushed towards them.
At the end of their sight, a towering stone staircase connected heaven and earth.
Above the clouds, a bluestone ancient hall stood imposingly, exuding endless majesty.