Ling Tian Sword God

His body descended lightly from mid-air. Ling Chen sheathed his sword, and his aura receded accordingly.

The ruptured lake took about ten breaths’ time to return to its original state.

”Impossible... You seemed so weak...” the little girl stammered, still finding it hard to accept.

”If you learn from me, you’ll eventually be able to do this with ease,” Ling Chen enticed her gently.

”But...you’re an outsider...” The little girl still hesitated.

”Little one, opportunities must be seized. If you aren’t willing, I can only turn to others.” Ling Chen shook his head, as if intending to leave.

”Wait, I’m willing!” The little girl gritted her teeth, quickly ran up to Ling Chen, and stopped him. ”My name is Nina. I’ll be relying on you from now on!”

”Alright then, Nina. I can teach you the methods to cultivate True Qi, but in return, you must also help me with something.” Seeing his objective was achieved, Ling Chen’s gaze grew focused, and he spoke lightly.

”Help with what?” Nina asked, surprised.

She didn’t fully trust Ling Chen and remained wary. After all, he was an outsider. Despite her youth, as the Clan Leader’s daughter, she couldn’t be deceived by a few simple words.

”Have you heard of Deer Reviving Grass?” Ling Chen asked tentatively.

”Deer Reviving Grass? Of course, I have.” Nina’s eyes brightened slightly. ”Deer Reviving Grass is a sacred object of the Barbaric Temple. It’s said to bring the dead back to life! Why do you ask about this?”

”A Sacred Object?” Ling Chen was stunned for a moment, then frowned. It seems this Deer Reviving Grass is extremely important to the Barbarian Tribe. This will make obtaining it rather tricky.

”Is it possible to lend it to others?” Ling Chen pondered for a moment, then asked.

”Impossible. The sacred objects of the Barbaric Temple absolutely cannot be given to others. Even my father, the Clan Leader, can’t borrow something as valuable as the Deer Reviving Grass.” Nina shook her head and then looked at Ling Chen. ”Why, do you want this Deer Reviving Grass? I’d advise you to give up now. For an outsider like you to dream of obtaining Deer Reviving Grass... that’s pure wishful thinking.”

”A friend of mine is critically ill, and only Deer Reviving Grass can save her.” Ling Chen sighed, but then a determined glint flashed in his eyes. ”Regardless, I must get the Deer Reviving Grass.”

”The hope is too slim. You better not get your hopes too high.” Nina shook her head; trying to get the Deer Reviving Grass from those stubborn old men in the Barbaric Temple was, in her mind, harder than ascending to the heavens.

”You mean you can’t help me?” Ling Chen looked somewhat disappointed and shook his head. ”If that’s the case, I should return from whence I came. It seems I can’t help you get stronger either. Goodbye.”

”Hey, wait!” Nina stopped Ling Chen; she obviously wasn’t going to let him leave just like that. ”Why the rush? My father is the Clan Leader; he must have a way. As long as you can help me get stronger, I’ll do my best to assist you.”

”Alright then.” Only then did Ling Chen nod. He was merely provoking her. He was determined to get the Deer Reviving Grass; how could he give up so easily?

”A month from now is our annual strength competition. I must be in the top three this time; otherwise, I will lose my qualification to be the next Clan Leader.”

Although Nina was a little girl, her words surprised Ling Chen. She spoke like a boy, with an air of great determination. In her, Ling Chen thought he saw a shadow of his former self. After all, when his own martial arts had been crippled, he had to start his cultivation all over again, enduring countless setbacks.

”It’s possible for you to become stronger, but you must treat me as your master and obey my words absolutely. Whatever I say, you do. No arguments, no questions,” Ling Chen said indifferently.

”Alright! I promise you!” Nina nodded her head vigorously.

”Good. Start by running fifty laps around this lake, until you’re exhausted.”

”Fifty laps? That’s too many...”

”What did I just say? No arguing, no questions. Just do it.”

”Yes!” Nina took a deep breath and sped off.

Fifty laps sounded terrifying, but if she could learn to use True Qi like Ling Chen, she was willing to run any distance.

Watching the small figure quickly recede into the distance, Ling Chen’s expression flickered. It looks like I’ll be spending a considerable amount of time with this little girl.

「Earth Country.」

「Spring and Autumn Sect, a small sect of the Demon Way.」

BANG!

A scream echoed through the air as the large mountain gate suddenly shattered. Over ten disciples of the Spring and Autumn Sect were sent flying backward, their bodies exploding into a mist of blood.

WHOOSH!

Following a sound like tearing air, a huge black shadow abruptly shot out from the shattered mountain gate. It was a fearsome-looking Exotic Beast, exceptionally hideous, almost like a chimera of various Exotic Beasts. Foul-smelling mucus continuously dripped from its mouth.

As soon as this Exotic Beast appeared, it lunged towards the dense mist of blood in the air, opened its cavernous mouth, and swallowed it all.

Behind it, the entire Spring and Autumn Sect lay in ruins, littered with severed limbs and splattered brains. Not a single person was left alive.

If Ling Chen were here, he would undoubtedly recognize this Exotic Beast. It was the very same Exotic Demon Beast that had been rescued from the Black Sand Land by the Dragon Demon Temple.

However, the current Exotic Demon Beast was undoubtedly far stronger than before. When Ling Chen had last seen this creature, it was merely a Third Grade Exotic Demon Beast. Now, it had advanced to the Fourth Grade.

On the back of the Exotic Demon Beast stood an elderly figure. He glanced at the Spring and Autumn Sect, now reduced to ruins, and a sinister smile spread across his face.

”The Saint Witch Religion, the Cyan Robe Association, the Divine Intent Sect... they will all be eradicated by me, the Elder of Myriad Beasts! Eventually, this world will belong to the Myriad Beasts Sect!”

The elderly figure was indeed the Elder of Myriad Beasts. His ambitions were boundless. With this Exotic Demon Beast aiding him, what grand enterprise could he not achieve?

Even the most talented martial arts Experts could not match the cultivation speed of this Exotic Demon Beast he had created. This beast could devour other human warriors and Exotic Beasts to rapidly enhance its own strength. When this Exotic Demon Beast was first created, it was merely a First-grade Exotic Beast. Now, it had evolved into a Fourth Grade Exotic Beast.

And all this had taken place within a single year.

It was precisely the existence of this Exotic Demon Beast that led the Elder of Myriad Beasts to view the entire Martial World as his personal property. The Saint Witch Religion, the Cyan Robe Association, the Divine Intent Sect... all these sects that had recently caused such a stir in the Martial World would inevitably be destroyed by him.