Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

On this trip north, Ling Xiao had reached the Golden Core Great Success stage. Of the ingredients needed for Song Mingyue’s father, only the Thousand-Year Jiao Blood was missing. Coincidentally, this was also the most difficult ingredient to acquire. Let alone whether a Thousand-Year Flood Dragon even existed in this world, trying to obtain a single drop of Essence Blood from such a Magical Beast would be an incredibly difficult task!

He thought back to the Deep Sea Demon Chapter. While it could no longer be considered a simple Tier Nine Magical Beast after absorbing the power of faith, in terms of sheer might, a true Tier Nine Magical Beast wasn’t necessarily any weaker than the disembodied Deep Sea Demon Chapter!

The Deep Sea Demon Chapter had fallen for Ling Xiao’s ploy. Underestimating its opponent, it carelessly entered the Urgently Cold Treasure Cauldron, where Ling Xiao used himself as a catalyst and, with the supreme power of the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword, managed to refine it completely.

If he encountered a Tier Nine Magical Beast with a physical body, it would be impossible to replicate this method unless he reached the Nascent Soul stage. Besides, what he needed was the Essence Blood of a Thousand-Year Flood Dragon, not to refine the entire creature.

’It seems my only hope is to possess something that can persuade a Thousand-Year Flood Dragon to willingly offer up a bit of its Essence Blood.’ So, for now, the only thing to do was wait for news of one. Otherwise, he would have to wait until his power had increased significantly and then go find a lone dragon to pick a fight with.

However, while Dragon Blood was potent, it wasn’t the ideal ingredient for the Small Returning Pill Song Yi needed. Therefore, picking a fight with the Dragon Race was a measure of last resort.

Even so, Song Mingyue felt that things had gone remarkably smoothly. They had managed to collect the Purple-Backed Sunflower, Sweet Osmanthus, Acorus Fruit, Seven Scattering Grass, Cold-land Snow Lotus, and the blood of an Ice Crystal Celestial Silkworm in such a short time. Now, only the Thousand-Year Jiao Blood was left. This was an achievement that even the Sea Domain Song Family, with all its power, could not have managed!

’Although luck played a huge part,’ she thought, ’I have to admit... luck is often a reflection of strength! If it had been anyone other than Ling Xiao, things would never have turned out this way.’

The mass migration of the Ice Sea Secret Race was also groundwork Ling Xiao was laying for the future relocation of the Beast Race into his territory. A sudden thought had struck him: he would forge his domain into a paradise for all non-human races!

’As long as they abide by the rules, I will shelter all non-human races!’

’If the territory faces a crisis, everyone will have a duty to defend it. That way, never mind the Southern King or His Majesty the Emperor; even a hidden, powerful family like the Zhe Family wouldn’t dare to underestimate my domain!’

Quefeng, Clan Leader of the Ice Sea Secret Race, honored his promise. Though it pained him, he allowed Ling Xiao to take two drops of the Ice Crystal Celestial Silkworm King’s Essence Blood. Then, bidding a final farewell to the Polar Ice Sea where they had lived for generations, he led his people to write a new Chapter in their race’s history.

Along the way, the Ice Sea Secret Clan People were extremely disciplined and obedient, following all orders to the letter. Since most of them could not speak the human tongue, Zhang Danian, the leader of the Adventurer’s Guild, took it upon himself to act as their teacher, instructing them in the human language.

...

「In the north, inside the assembly hall of the Bauhinia Clan.」

Qin Shifang, the Clan Leader of the Bauhinia Clan and a First-grade Duke, was in his forties, with a handsome and refined face. His skin was healthy and glowing, his chin clean-shaven. Dressed in a black sable fur coat, he had a secret report laid out before him.

"Everyone," Qin Shifang began, "over the past year, I’ve been receiving constant reports about the Ling Family. The speed of their growth is cause for concern. Moreover, Ling Xiao, who was once just their ordinary third young master, has become the key figure behind their rapid rise. Do any of you have any news on this matter?"

To Qin Shifang’s left sat an elder in his fifties. His eyes were as sharp as lightning and his aura was calm and composed. His face was smooth, with few wrinkles, and a long beard flowed from his chin. Hearing Qin Shifang, the elder subconsciously stroked his beard and asked, "Clan Leader, are you implying that the Ling Family’s rapid growth is a threat to our clan?"

Qin Shifang sighed softly. "The resources of the Lanyue Empire have long been monopolized by the Li Family. My original plan was to slowly erode the Lanyue Kingdom through infiltration. The Li Family has controlled the Royal Family for over a thousand years, and the true strength of the Western Li Family remains hidden. Using brute force would likely trigger widespread chaos. Even worse, if we were to alert the other great families and sects, they would all want to jump in and take a slice of the pie. We’d end up making powerful enemies for no benefit, a trade that is simply not worth it. But Ling Xiao’s emergence has completely thrown my plans into disarray. Observing his movements, I get the distinct impression that the boy’s ambition is the kingdom itself! Qin Zhan, what do you think?"

To Qin Shifang’s right sat another middle-aged man, also in his forties. His cheeks were gaunt, his frame was thin, and his eyes always seemed half-closed, as if he couldn’t be bothered to open them fully. He slouched lazily in his chair, yet despite his casual posture, no one in the room dared to object.

This was because the man was not only Qin Shifang’s own younger brother but also a Tier Six Sword Sect! He was the same Qin Zhan whom Zhang Danian had mentioned was a Tier Five Sword Sect. However, Tier Five was in his past; three years ago, Qin Zhan had successfully broken through to become a Tier Six Sword Sect, truly establishing himself as a formidable young expert of the Bauhinia Clan.

The Bauhinia Clan’s true power, of course, did not end there. However, their masters at the rank of Sword Emperor and above were in seclusion, cultivating year-round and paying little heed to worldly affairs. One would never see them unless the clan faced a major crisis. Consequently, many who were not in the know underestimated the Bauhinia Clan. After all, even Qin Zhan had always operated in the shadows, his existence known to very few.