Inside the main hall of the Grand Tutor's Residence, the Xia Emperor and the others stood with grave expressions, not daring to leave.
Ling Xiao and Sikong Yu had suddenly vanished. Clearly, the latter's attitude had offended the mysterious lord. They just didn't know how the lord would punish their Great Xia's Count of Loyalty and Righteousness.
Thump!
Just as everyone was lost in thought, a head suddenly fell from the void, landing right in the middle of the hall.
Everyone shuddered. When they looked down, their eyes instantly went wide.
"Father!!!"
Sikong Hun's face turned deathly pale. He looked up at the white-clothed figure descending from the sky, a look of utter despair and desire for death surging in his eyes.
"I'll fight you to the death!!"
Pfft.
Ling Xiao didn't even glance at him. Sikong Hun, who had just leapt into mid-air, was suddenly enveloped in a mass of golden flames.
In mere moments, he was burned to ashes on the floor.
"So, Grand Tutor, what is your decision?"
Ling Xiao landed, his clear, cold gaze falling on Qiao Yunli, his tone ever calm.
"I… am willing to become the lord's servant!!"
Dammit!!
Do I even have a choice?!
The older you get, the more you fear death. Besides, following this lord might truly lead to ascending to the Upper Realm one day. Why wouldn't I want that?
It's not that I'm cowardly; I wanted to submit to the lord from the very start!
I was purely won over by the lord's righteous, loyal, and supreme spirit!!
"Open your mind."
Ling Xiao's expression was icy, the soul light in his eyes transforming into a seal.
Qiao Yunli didn't dare hesitate in the slightest, allowing the seal to sink into his Sea of Consciousness and turn into shackles.
"Kill everyone here. Xia Sheng, within three days, gather all the talented youths of Great Xia in the imperial palace."
Ling Xiao's figure vanished once more. Spiritual light immediately shimmered around the Xia Emperor and the other man.
The entire main hall of the Grand Tutor's Residence instantly became a living hell.
…
At the border of Great Xia, in front of a desolate mountain.
Xia Feng stared gloomily at the Spirit Jin in his hand, a trace of doubt flickering in his eyes.
For some reason, he felt that everything he had experienced today was like a conspiracy.
But… who would go to such lengths to deal with him?
The Empress was the most suspect, but he was the esteemed eldest prince of Great Xia. Now branded as a demon, it was a disgrace to the entire Great Xia.
Could it be Sikong Hun?
But what benefit would he gain from doing this?
An intense sense of unease filled Xia Feng's heart. It felt as if an invisible hand was toying with his fate.
And!!
Now that he had lost his identity as a Great Xia prince, it would be impossible for him to enter that secret realm of the Cold Moon Immortal Palace.
Unless…
Xia Feng sighed softly, his gaze profound as he looked towards the peak of the desolate mountain.
His only course of action now was to claim the several hidden ruins scattered throughout the Western Frontier.
Then, he would find a way to infiltrate the Immortal Palace and obtain the status of a true disciple.
When that time came…
Fairy Han, do you still remember that Great Xia prince from back then… the one who stood in the corner, gazing at you as if you were an immortal?
But!!
Just as Xia Feng reached the mountain peak and waved his hand to open the gate of a ruin before him, a sharp shout suddenly came from the void.
A Divine King's aura descended from the sky, instantly halting his steps.
"Hmm?"
Xia Feng's eyes narrowed. Looking up, he saw a figure with a ghost-faced mask falling and blocking his path.
"This is the forbidden ground of my clan. Trespassers will die!"
"What?!"
A look of astonishment instantly flooded Xia Feng's face, but in the end, he didn't dare to stay. He turned and hurried down the mountain.
Dammit!
Even the settings of this ruin have changed!
Exactly how much of the world's structure has my rebirth altered?
But, looking at it this way, my influence seems to be… quite significant?
Only after Xia Feng's figure disappeared did the Divine King sneer coldly, his heart filled with even greater reverence for his master.
"The master's calculations are indeed divine! Wherever this Xia Feng goes, ancient ruins truly appear!"
For two whole days!!
No matter where Xia Feng went, a Divine King would inevitably appear to drive him away.
Moreover, he couldn't shake the feeling that the Divine Kings blocking him… seemed to be the same person?
What the hell?!
Is someone deliberately following me?
Quite suddenly, Xia Feng felt a chill run up his spine, his body trembling involuntarily for a moment.
Immediately after… the spiritual talisman in his hand glowed with golden light…
Whoosh!
Xia Feng's figure vanished from the spot, reappearing a thousand miles away.
But even so, he seemed somewhat uneasy. He took off his python robe, hesitated for a moment, then suddenly reached out, using his Dao Principle to carve countless bloody gashes across his own face.
"It seems… my only choice for now is to infiltrate the Cold Moon Immortal Palace and temporarily assume a new identity!"
"Hmph! Great Xia, one day I will return, and when that time comes… I will make you all kneel at my feet!!"
Ding. The Son of Fate feels fearful and disfigures his own face. Congratulations, Host, on plundering 300 Luck Points and 3000 Villain Points.
Inside his Domain World, Ling Xiao heard the system notification, a flicker of surprise also passing through his eyes.
He had to admit, this Xia Feng was truly a master of laying low. To survive, he'd even disfigured his own face.
But the more he acted like this, the more it proved he must be hiding an even greater secret within his heart.
In other words, with a rebirth template like his, he undoubtedly knew about the major events about to unfold in the Western Frontier.
And his current forbearance was likely him waiting for an opportunity, a fortuitous encounter that would allow his strength to skyrocket and make a comeback!
If he had truly died by Ling Xiao's hands in his previous life, it was clear that this fortuitous encounter wasn't meant for him alone.
Therefore, Ling Xiao wasn't worried about him secretly growing stronger. He only needed to wait patiently; Xia Feng would inevitably bring him more surprises.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Over these three days, the news that Great Xia's Prince Xia Feng was actually a true demon had already spread far and wide.
Countless imperial dynasties issued decrees: upon sighting Xia Feng, kill without mercy.
Suddenly, the situation in the Western Frontier changed dramatically, carrying a suppressed tension, like a storm brewing.
Meanwhile, the Great Qi Imperial Dynasty, whose second prince had been killed, issued a declaration of war against Great Xia over the Jiang Yu incident, demanding territorial compensation. The Xia Emperor flatly refused.
With the lord here now, let alone Great Qi, even if all seven dynasties attacked, the Xia Emperor was confident he could wipe them all out.
As for Ling Xiao, he had remained within his Domain World, patiently guiding Ning'er's cultivation, drinking with Ye Qingchan, and casually discussing their ideals in life.
It wasn't until noon on the third day that Ling Xiao's figure appeared in the main hall of the Xia palace. The Xia Emperor and the others had been waiting for a long time.
"Lord! The young talents you requested are all outside."
The Xia Emperor bowed, his expression humble.
To gather Great Xia's young talents, he had followed Ling Xiao's instructions and issued a decree announcing a palace competition where the victor would receive a heaven-defying opportunity.
This way, whether they were scions of noble families or prodigies from the wilds, they all came on their own, eager to compete and prove themselves.
Ling Xiao nodded, walked to the front of the palace, and looked out at the several thousand youths standing in the square.
Since Xia Feng had already escaped and the Xia Emperor and others had soul marks planted on them, Ling Xiao didn't bother to conceal his appearance this time.
As he appeared, the entire square quieted for a moment.
Then, waves of discussion instantly erupted.
"Which prince is that?"
"Looks like it… Anyone who can stand here must be royalty or related to the imperial family."
But just as everyone was guessing Ling Xiao's identity, the Xia Emperor walked up from behind and respectfully bowed to Ling Xiao.
"Lord… shall the competition begin now?"
"Huh?"
The expressions of all the prodigies, who were about to bow in respect, froze completely at that moment.
Lord?
The ruler of our Great Xia… actually called that young man… Lord?
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!