CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 79: THE ATTACK OF THE EVIL GOD!

The round-domed barracks, inside Ling Xiaolan’s wooden hut.

Hmm—

Accompanied by a slightly lazy hum, the figure seated atop several layers of cushioning stretched languidly. Her exquisite form, under the illumination of the Formation’s light walls, fully expressed the beauty and gentleness of a woman.

Her realm had stabilized and taken yet another small step forward; she was not far from becoming an immortal.

Strange. When I’m by Brother... no, I should call him Brother Wuwang. This is to prevent his identity as the Young Master of Northern Wilderness from being exposed. Indeed, I have more insights into Cultivation when I’m by Brother Wuwang’s side than usual.

Why was that?

Ling Xiaolan was slightly perplexed and sat thinking. An hour passed before she shook her head softly and murmured, "Truly profound."

As she got up, her delicate feet slowly extended and descended from the side of the bed. Her smooth legs, from knee to foot, were just perfect. Her feet hovered half an inch above the ground before her toes daintily touched down, creating faint ripples in the air.

The long dress’s waistband wound around in circles, concealing the short top inside layers of short and long robes.

According to the dress code of the Tianyan Xuan Nu Sect’s Disciples, the collarbone could be exposed. However, Ling Xiaolan still covered the skin around her neck completely with a soft and protective thin garment.

She couldn’t quite accept the gazes of others.

It’s been over three months since I’ve secluded myself for Cultivation. I wonder if Lin Qi has bothered Brother Wuwang.

Thinking so, she instinctively reached for her Treasure Sword, only to realize that the Jade Bracelet was missing from her wrist, which reminded her of the confiscation of her storage magic treasure.

Lifting her hand to disperse the Barrier of the Formation and using Mana to push open the wooden door in front of her, Ling Xiaolan hopped out with a light step. But after only a few paces, she halted and turned to look at the rippling small lake not far away.

When had this scenery appeared here?

By the lake, a somewhat abrupt mansion stood, without any Barrier coverage. Sounds of silk and bamboo music came from within, and upon scanning with Spiritual Sense...

"This?"

Ling Xiaolan’s almond-shaped eyes widened slightly, her mouth corners under the veil pursed, and she couldn’t help but raise her hand to her forehead.

What was she seeing?

Inside the courtyard, Xu Mu and seven or eight Generals with robust auras were drinking and making merry.

If she wasn’t mistaken, these Generals should be the commanders and deputy commanders here. The elder-looking Heavenly Immortal was the commander of this place, while the other four men and three women were all True Immortals with considerable cultivation.

In the distance, several beautiful women and handsome men danced gracefully, while a few mortal elders played instruments and sang by the side.

In the bamboo thicket on the other side of the courtyard, Ji Mo was meditating in the furthest corner, surrounded by Immortal Light, a prelude to a breakthrough.

And the scene Ling Xiaolan found most incomprehensible was...

Wu Wang lay in a recliner reading a book. The Lin Family’s young master stood behind him, his expression calm, holding a cup of tea and quietly waiting for Wu Wang to reach out.

The tea is poisoned?

Just as this thought emerged in Ling Xiaolan’s mind, Wu Wang reached for the tea, about to drink it.

"Brother Wuwang!"

With a shout, Ling Xiaolan shot up into the air, her sword-finger unleashing a streak of Sword Qi that nearly grazed Wu Wang’s cheek!

The Generals, who were enjoying their drinks and the show, turned their heads, and Lin Qi’s eyes bulged, ready to ’take the bullet’ for him!

Wu Wang suddenly stretched out a finger, his motion natural and unadorned, and lightly tapped Ling Xiaolan’s Sword Qi, easily dissipating it.

A breeze passed by, causing the tea in Wu Wang’s hand to ripple gently. Wu Wang calmly took a sip from the teacup. The drink was aromatic and refreshing, and his demeanor was relaxed.

Ling Xiaolan landed softly like a falling lotus, frowning at the teacup in Wu Wang’s hand and blinking lightly.

Wu Wang smiled and said, "Does Fairy Ling think there is poison in my tea?"

"What is the meaning of this, Fairy Ling?"

Lin Qi’s forehead was streaked with black lines, his entire being consumed by shadows, his eyes flashing with an intimidating Divine Light. "How dare you insult me so! Would I stoop to such despicable means to harm my teacher!"

Old?!

"Alas," Wu Wang said with a smile, "Fairy Ling was merely having a breakthrough and playing around with me—I misspoke earlier."

"Yes, teacher, it was your disciple who overstepped the mark," Lin Qi answered in a warm voice.

"Go and cultivate," Wu Wang continued, "Do not waste this golden time; only when you ascend to the Immortal Realm do you truly succeed. You are now a beacon of hope for the Human Domain. Do not let down the trust that the Human Emperor has placed in you."

Lin Qi’s eyes brimmed with emotion. He nodded vigorously, bowed his head in a Daoist salute, and walked over to Ji Mo’s side.

Just after sitting down, Lin Qi took a small notebook out of his sleeve and wrote down today’s ’Teacher’s Words’—Do not waste this golden time; only when you ascend to the Immortal Realm do you truly succeed.

Ling Xiaolan drifted to Wu Wang’s side, shock in her eyes. She watched Lin Qi for a moment, then lowered her head to look at Wu Wang.

"Soul Capture Technique?"

"How could that be."

"Heart Replacement Technique?"

"Fairy Ling, do not think of me in such a way. Lin Qi just wants to learn some life philosophies and scholarly matters from me."

Wu Wang summoned a recliner and used his Mana to clean it thoroughly.

"Sit."

Ling Xiaolan hesitated slightly, spread a thick layer of clouds which she then made condense without dispersing, and only then did she lie down on it.

Lacking a storage magic treasure made everything a bit inconvenient.

Wu Wang conveyed a few instructions to Xu Mu through a message; the latter immediately called over a Soldier. Shortly after, Ling Xiaolan’s storage magic treasures had been delivered, indeed spotless.

Ling Xiaolan calmly produced a ball of pure white flame, passed the storage magic treasures through it, and then meticulously wiped them with a handkerchief before carefully putting them on.

Wu Wang frowned slightly at the sight.

Compared to the strange illness inflicted on him by an Innate God, Ling Xiaolan’s inner obsession with cleanliness seemed a bit more troublesome.

After all, his strange illness could be overcome with increased strength. However, as Ling Xiaolan’s power continued to grow, it would be very easy for her wariness to thicken, worsening her condition.

What if she feels that everything in this world is dirty and unclean? What then?

Wu Wang couldn’t help but worry about her.

"Fairy Ling, why do you feel... that is, why are you particularly sensitive to contact with people or natural objects?"

"I’ve been like this since childhood," Ling Xiaolan sighed softly. "I know it’s somewhat improper. Others are the same to me, without such notions of filth or purity. But I find it really hard to convince myself to make contact with others; it always feels somewhat... uncomfortable."

Wu Wang mulled over this but couldn’t fathom why. He decided to search for relevant books after leaving the military camp to ponder it on her behalf.

Ling Xiaolan then asked, "What exactly happened to Lin Qi...?"

"You can think of it as him being defeated by me," Wu Wang communicated telepathically.

"Defeated?"

Ling Xiaolan couldn’t help but tilt her head.

"Is he such a character? These noblemen’s children should be prouder than the next. Shouldn’t they rather die than submit?"

Wu Wang smiled without a word, his eyes squinting with amusement as he continued to hold up "Basic Formation - Sanxian Daoist Annotations," savoring the read.

Ling Xiaolan lay next to him, her beautiful figure even more slender from the shade of the trees, a faint smile on her lips.

She turned her head slightly to look at Wu Wang, a hint of amusement in her eyes, and whispered softly, "Brother Wuwang... may I borrow one of your hands to hold?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Wang’s left hand was already extended toward her.

But it was wrapped in a thick layer of solid ice, which even emitted a faint chill.

Ling Xiaolan drew a soft breath, raised a finger, and slowly reached toward Wu Wang’s palm, her lovely brows tightly furrowed.

On the first attempt, her finger was only half an inch away from the ice layer but quivered and withdrew.

On the second and third attempts, she couldn’t even break the record of ’half an inch apart,’ each time missing by just a little.

Forget it!

Ling Xiaolan inspected her Spirit Platform inwardly, her lips slightly pursed, as her master’s worried voice echoed in her ears.

Xiaolan, you must ultimately overcome such inner demons, or they may become obstacles to your progress as you delve deeper into Cultivation.

She took a deep breath.

Ling Xiaolan started to repeatedly tell herself that Brother Bear was good, Brother Bear was good, and visualized the palm of her hand as a piece of ordinary hard ice topped with lemon fruit, just like the cooling dessert she had eaten at home when she was little.

She closed her eyes tightly, then swiftly sat up, her pink tongue slipping out from her lips, and quick as a flash...

Gave the ice a light lick.

Silence.

Wu Wang forgot to retract his hand and stared blankly at Ling Xiaolan.

The latter’s face turned slightly red, but she quickly suppressed the blush and calmly lay back on the lounge chair, casually tidying a lock of hair beside her ear, pondering how to wrap things up.

In a corner of the bamboo grove, Ji Mo, who had woken up at some point, was clenching his fists with tears streaming down his face. He punched Lin Qi on the shoulder and was too excited to compose himself, his eyes filled with a father’s relief.

Lin Qi, who was sitting cross-legged, punched his own knee and cursed through gritted teeth, "Damn, that must have been an ice cube containing the essence of heaven and earth. I wish it was me!"

SIGH.

Wu Wang let out a deep sigh, cradling his left hand, and murmured, "I’m tainted now."

PAH!

Ling Xiaolan’s cheeks quickly flushed red, but she explained with composure, "I was just trying to find a way to overcome this issue. It’s not that I have improper thoughts about you, Brother Wuwang."

"Mmm, mmm."

Wu Wang nodded with a smile, dispelled the solid ice, and continued to read his book. He was just about to say a few words of encouragement when he saw a figure swiftly fly through the air, landing directly in front of the stage, urgently shouting, "General! An urgent order from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion!"

The group of Generals, who were drinking beside him, instantly lost their drunkenness and stood up with a spirited look.

Moments later, the music and dancing in the small courtyard stopped.

The musicians and dancers hired from the mortals’ grand city had been sent away by the Soldiers, and more than a dozen military officers gathered together. Wu Wang and his companions also listened from the sidelines.

The old man with grey-white hair and wearing armor was named Zhong Lin. At the early stage of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, he was also the Grand Commander of the Wuchen Garrison of the Round Dome. He now placed a Jade Talisman on the table, his face showing concern.

"Everyone has read the contents inside. Any thoughts?"

The Generals remained silent.

A junior officer wondered, "Since it’s a secret order, why did you let us all see it, Commander?"

Zhong Lin replied, "This matter is of great importance, and everyone present is someone I can trust."

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow slightly and pondered thoughtfully.

The content of the secret order was not complicated. It was a reminder to the Wuchen Garrison of the Round Dome to be alert for the presence of some Ten Evils Hall evil demons nearby, and that Lin Qi’s whereabouts had likely been exposed.

Clearly, the Ten Evils Hall intended to target Lin Qi, the holder of the Yan Emperor’s Order.

Combined with Zhong Lin’s reaction at this moment, this secret order was definitely not the first one given by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion; it seemed they were intentionally putting on an act.

Putting on an act for the four of them to see?

There was no need for that.

The four young people—two of them being sons of Military Families with powerful fathers holding important positions in the Human Domain, one being the Saintess of one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects, and that Tianyan Xuan Nu Sect also had considerable influence in the Human Domain.

It was only his, the Demonic Sect’s Sect Master’s public identity that was somewhat ’ordinary.’

If we rule out the possibility of acting for the four of them, then Commander Zhong Lin must be performing for any possible spies in this place.

Wu Wang glanced at Ling Xiaolan without betraying any emotion, and she gave him a look that said ’there might be a problem.’

Then they heard Commander Zhong Lin say, "Young Master Lin Qi is a bearer of the Human Emperor’s Order and also the beloved son of General Lin Nuhao. We must handle this with caution and cannot afford any mistakes."

Someone asked, "Will the high-level experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion come to our aid?"

"They’re already on their way," the old commander explained. "The enemy is hidden, and we are in the open; we still cannot afford to take them lightly."

Xu Mu said, "From today onwards, we will strengthen the vigilance, and the grand Formation must not stop for even a moment."

"Should we dispatch patrol teams to scour the area within a three hundred li radius?"

"That is also a good idea."

The old commander looked towards Wu Wang and the other three, smiling as he asked, "Do any of you have any suggestions?"

Wu Wang shook his head and looked at Ling Xiaolan. Ling Xiaolan slightly shook her head and glanced at Ji Mo, who stepped back half a step and nudged Lin Qi forward.

Lin Qi’s mouth twisted into a half sneer as he indifferently said, "How could we cultivators fear the likes of Ten Evils Hall? Just post a notice challenging them to an open duel, be it one-on-one or group against group, we must ensure they cannot return from whence they came!"

SMACK!

A Spirit Fruit was forcefully stuffed into Lin Qi’s mouth by Ji Mo, while Wu Wang repeatedly bowed, apologizing with several "My fault, my fault."

The group of Generals each revealed a light smile and began to discuss the arrangements for the follow-up.

Soon, the military camp bustled into action. The once leisurely atmosphere was instantly parched by a feeling of tension, as groups upon groups of cultivators kept watch and patrolled everywhere, while the grand Formation was reinforced by several more layers.

Xu Mu, who stayed behind to closely protect the four of them, explained the background and aftermath of the situation to them through a secret transmission.

Xu Mu said, "The day Lin Qi received the Yan Emperor’s Order, he appeared at the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion on his own and was subsequently marked by the Ten Evils Hall. The higher-ups felt that with Lin Qi’s temperament, it would be hard for him to lie low. Therefore, elaborate arrangements and countermeasures were set up.

"The information I received is that the higher-ups want to use Lin Qi to lure out some of the high-level experts from the Ten Evils Hall to strike a heavy blow against them.

"At this moment, in the towns and villages outside the military camp among the mortals, a large number of experts are already lurking in the dark, waiting for the Ten Evils Hall’s high-level experts to show themselves."

Wu Wang smiled and said, "I reckon the Ten Evils Hall is probably thinking the same thing."

"Oh?" Xu Mu asked, puzzled. "What do you mean by that?"

Ling Xiaolan also said, "Who is the bait, and who is the angler, it’s still too early to tell."

But Ji Mo disagreed, "No matter what, the experts from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion in this area must number several times, or even dozens of times more than those from the Ten Evils Hall."

Wu Wang thought of Wang Lin and the dissipated Essence Blood of Qiong Qi and muttered, "Then, what if the nearby experts have to be reassigned elsewhere?"

Ji Mo asked puzzledly, "What does that mean?"

Lin Qi said, "Teacher means ’Lure the tiger away from the mountain.’ This is a common trick used by the Ten Evils Hall."

"It’s not luring the tiger away from the mountain."

Wu Wang pondered for a moment. "I just tried to analyze the entire situation, and I’m feeling a bit uneasy. If something happens in the North Border or the West Border right now, the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion would have to focus its energy on the borders rather than here. This would necessitate reassigning all the experts. In that case, we might truly face a difficult problem."

Xu Mu asked, "What kind of problem?"

Before the word ’problem’ fully left his lips, the grand Formation at their location suddenly trembled slightly.

Everyone looked up to the sky, only to see the once clear blue fade a bit, with vast clouds gathering from the north, beneath which faint columns of light could be vaguely discerned.

All of a sudden, roars of beasts emerged from deep within everyone’s hearts, as if these sounds were ingrained in their bloodlines, triggering their senses of fear and helplessness.

Wu Wang’s brow furrowed slightly as he gazed, along with the multitude of Soldiers in the camp, towards the north.

Ji Mo’s voice trembled a bit as he asked, "What is that?"

Wu Wang said in a low voice, "The Great Wilderness, the Ten Evil Gods."

"It’s the Beast Tide! A Beast Tide has emerged in the North Border! All troops prepare for battle!"

The military camp, already filled with a tense atmosphere, suddenly erupted into chaos. Beneath the dark and distant sky to the north, streaks of light tore across the heavens, racing southward!

The Jade Talisman sent out signals; the whole line was in emergency!