Hong Qi observed the cultivating Ling Xiao from outside his window with a gratified smile.
Adopting Ling Xiao at that time had perhaps been his greatest fortune.
He quietly strolled around the courtyard while gazing at the vast sky full of stars with tears flowing from his aged eyes.
“Your son has already grown up and become a talented person. This old beggar, I didn’t betray you two’s great trust. I hope you two are also safe and sound.”
Ling Xiao was unaware of what was happening outside his room.
He didn’t even know that his father and mother might still be alive.
Now, he wholeheartedly sought to break through to Rank Three Martial Vein. He was currently employing the momentum of the breakthrough pill to continuously attack his third martial vein.
A night later
Ling Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and punched out.
“Bang!”
Along with a loud explosion, the thick brick wall in front of him broke, leaving behind a big hole.
He could feel that the true qi within his body had had an amazing improvement. His muscles, skeleton, meridians and lifeblood all seemed to have strengthened.
This punch had, at minimum, the strength of a thousand pounds!
This was the strongest strength a Rank Three Martial Vein martial artist could display.
“I never thought it would be so easy to breakthrough. The Landscape Martial Soul is indeed out of the ordinary!”
Ling Xiao knew clearly that although the effects of a breakthrough pill were not bad, they would not be so amazing.
In the end, his current success was inseparable from his Landscape Martial Soul.
During the process of breaking through last night, every time he had feared falling short for lack of willpower or energy, his Landscape Martial soul would emit a strange power to help him defeat any obstacles.
In addition, since he had suppressed his breakthrough for so long, his power had greatly accumulated like a river barricaded by a dam.
When this energy had been released, breaking through had become a lot easier.
Rank Three Martial Vein was just the beginning!
Although Ling Xiao was excited, he also understood that the current him was at most on the level of disciples like Ling Fei, Ling Feng, and Ling Tieshou.
There was still a gap compared to people like Ling Yixue and Li Xingyun.
Moreover, these few genius disciples could breakthrough to Rank Four Martial Vein at any time.
Rank Three to Four were separated by a single realm, but they were as different as sky and earth.
After all, true qi had no way to compete with gang qi.
Their strength would be reforged, and all their attacks would enjoy a qualitative improvement.
Unless a Rank Three Martial Vein martial artist could also use gang qi, it was impossible for one to skip realms and challenge a Rank Four Martial Vein martial artist.
This was obvious from the fight between Li Xingyun and the Howling Moon Wolf.
“What happened?”
Hearing the commotion, Hong Qi rushed over and was dumbfounded. “I say! Child, did your cultivation go amiss? How did the house get demolished?”
“Grandpa, as I’ve said before, we have money now. Don’t worry about this house; we can always build a new one.”
Ling Xiao wanted to become stronger not only to avoid being bullied by others but also to live a good life.
He was honestly fed up with this house that leaked during rainy days.
“You child, even if you plan to build a new house, where will we live for now?” Hong Qi asked with a wry smile.
“You don’t need to worry. There are rental places in the Ling Clan. We can rent a house for a while and then move back after our house is repaired.”
Ling Xiao smiled and continued, “Grandpa, I’ll go look for a construction team to repair our house now.”
After speaking, he dashed out full of joy and expectations.
After breaking through to Rank Three Martial Vein, he didn’t fear running into anyone seeking trouble.
In fact, he truly hoped that someone would look for trouble with him. Like that, he could test his current strength.
After he left the gates of the Ling Clan estate, a person hiding in a corner stealthily snuck away.
“Senior apprentice brother Xingyun, that fellow finally came out.”
This person arrived at a small forest where Li Xingyun and two middle-aged men were talking.
These two middle-aged men were Rank Three Martial Veins as strong as Li Rui.
“Good! Okay, you two, here is 100 taels of silver. I don’t want him alive. Just kill him! After you finish, I will give you two another 100 taels each.”
Li Xingyun revealed a cold smile.
“Heh, heh. Young Master Li, rest assured. For the right price, we brothers have never failed to eliminate other people’s disasters. We might fail in everything else, but killing people is easy!”
……
After leaving the Ling Clan, Ling Xiao visited the marketplace to look for some construction workers. Quickly negotiating the repairs for his house, he immediately returned to the Ling Clan.
When passing a small forest on the way back, he suddenly stopped his steps.
“Friends, since you all are here, why are you hiding?”
He stared at a tree not far away with a sharp gaze.
“Hahaha, you’re good! Boy, since you were able to notice us, it seems you are truly not weak!”
Two people jumped down from that tree.
Both were roughly 30 years old. They wore black bandanas to cover their faces, and their clothes differed from the typical fair found in Heavenly Peak City. They more resembled bandits.
“Black Scarf Thieves?”
Ling Xiao recognized these two people based on their outfits.
This was a group of extremely vicious bandits who generally stayed around Heavenly Peak City. However, because the four major clans of Heavenly Peak City were quite powerful, they didn’t dare to openly enter.
However, their reputation was not small. Allegedly, they had about 600-700 people in total and were led by 13 leaders.
Their named stemmed from their proclivity to use black cloth to cover their faces. In addition, these people all carried scimitars, making them very distinct.
“Boy, since you could recognize this grandpa, don’t talk nonsense. Take out all your silver, and I might spare your little life!”
Although they had received Li Xingyun’s commission, these Black Scarf Thieves were greedy. Lecherous and willing to kill people like flies, they always tried to maximize their profits.
Even while threatening him, the two had already split to his left and right, not giving Ling Xiao a chance to escape.
“Hehe, the clan has an outstanding reward of 100 taels and 10 merit points for each ordinary member of the Black Scarf Thieves. Since you two have come, don’t even think about leaving!”
Ling Xiao smiled, remaining calm and collected.
While 100 taels of silver was still a decent amount, even for him, it was now far less important than the merit points.
Generally speaking, only martial artists above Rank Four Martial Vein were qualified to accept clan missions for merit points.
These merit points could not only be used to exchange things within the clan but would also increase one’s position.
Ling Clan had upheld this tradition throughout many years.
As long as you obtained 100 merit points, you could upgrade from a ninth-class to an eighth-class family member.
Ninth-class family members didn’t have regular incomes; moreover, they could be expelled at any time and couldn’t enjoy many clan privileges.
Eighth-class family members were different. Not only did they have a monthly regular income, but also as long as they didn’t make a grave mistake, they would not be expelled. Moreover, they would hold a genuine position in the Ling Clan.
Ling Xiao had been a beggar since childhood, so he hoped the clan would one day provide him and his loved ones shelter from wind and rain.
Although he had suffered a lot of grievances since entering the Ling Clan, he had also received many benefits. Naturally, he was unwilling to leave and had some fond memories of this place.
“Boy, you truly are as arrogant as the rumors claimed. Kill us for the reward? I’m afraid you are not capable enough!”
Like the rumors?
The only outsiders he had recently contacted were those of the Li Clan.
Could it be that the Li Clan had actually invited these Black Scarf Thieves to kill him?
He was an intelligent person. From the other party’s words, he roughly guessed the situation.
He had suspected that those Li Clan disciples wouldn’t leave the matter alone. Initially, he had been waiting for the Li Clan to express their grievances to the Ling Clan, but to his surprise, they had announced no complaints.
Now he understood why.
Li Xingyun and those people hadn’t reported the truth. Instead, they had quietly asked someone to dispose of him.
