"A bunch of beasts!"

The killing intent in Ling Xiao’s heart was already uncontrollable.

These people, they didn’t even spare the elderly, women, and children. For the sake of that so-called reward, they were willing to become inhumane things.

Such trash, what’s the point of keeping them?

A wave of furious sword Qi suddenly exploded in the void.

So sharp, it seemed capable of instantly tearing everyone apart.

The ten or so leaders of the Black Wind Stronghold were beheaded on the spot, without even a chance to scream before they died.

He initially killed the chief of the Black Wind Stronghold, eradicated the main culprit, and planned to spare the others, but hearing the words of that Dog Head Military Advisor, these people wanted to eliminate the elderly, women, and children.

And then exchange them for their own wealth and glory.

What’s the point of keeping such things around?

Witnessing this scene, the remaining people fell to the ground, trembling, terrified by Ling Xiao’s frightening sword Qi.

"The rest of you, cripple your cultivation, and then scram!"

Ling Xiao did not kill them all, he only killed the dozen leaders, but the remaining ones, they could avoid death, but they could not avoid punishment.

Cripple their cultivation?

The remaining dozens of people looked terrified.

They relied on their martial arts to behave arrogantly, if they lost their cultivation, wouldn’t they become ordinary people?

How would they continue their lives as bandits?

"I only give you three breaths of time, after which, I will show no mercy!"

Every word from Ling Xiao carried a fierce killing intent, like a chilling breeze, making everyone tremble.

But ultimately, there were still those unafraid of death.

"Let’s fight him together. There are so many of us. Are we really afraid of just one of him? Losing our cultivation, we might as well die!"

Amidst the crowd, one person stood up, shouting loudly.

Ling Xiao watched him shout coldly, but did nothing.

He wanted to see who else sought death.

The man thought he could incite the crowd, but found no one responded to him.

"Looks like your attempt to stir the crowd is pointless. If you wish for death, then I will grant it!"

Ling Xiao did not give the man a chance to beg for mercy, sending a punch through the air, blasting the man into dried flesh with terrifying lightning power.

To kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, that’s how it’s done.

The others dared not hesitate any longer, crippling their cultivation, and then leaving the valley.

"Let’s go, Miss Fanghua."

Ling Xiao gazed calmly at the escaping bandits and then spoke to Yue Fang Hua.

He wanted to call out "Sister Moon" once more, but knew now was not the time.

So he decided to hold back.

"Why do you care so much about me? Is it because of my looks?"

Yue Fang Hua suddenly asked.

"If I told you that you look exactly like a woman I once loved dearly, would you believe me?"

Ling Xiao hesitated for a moment but then spoke what was on his mind.

The words were suffocating him, and he felt very uncomfortable.

Yue Fang Hua paused, then said, "If anyone else had said that, they would already be dead by now.

But you! I believe you!

And I allow you to call me ’Fanghua’ in the future!

But your beloved one, what was her name?"

"Moon Lady!"

Ling Xiao’s eyes were full of gentleness and affection when he mentioned these two words.

"Such a familiar name."

Yue Fang Hua frowned; it was the second name that felt extremely familiar to her.

She sighed lightly and said, "I envy her. It’s clear that your love for her is sincere."

Listening to Yue Fang Hua’s words, Ling Xiao opened his mouth, almost uttering "you are my beloved" several times.

But he ultimately held back.

Because he loved her.

He was afraid of scaring her away.

"The valley is on fire!"

Ling Xiao looked into the distance, where one of the thatched huts was ablaze, and sounds of crying could be heard.

"It seems that the forces trying to find the Royal City Ling Family’s descendants are not alone."

Ling Xiao suddenly became anxious.

These people were the kin of his good brother Ling Yan.

Although Ling Yan was not there, he still intended to save these people.

His speed suddenly increased significantly.

Yue Fang Hua’s speed also increased at the same time, indicating that Yue Fang Hua was also likely saved by these people, so she too was unwilling to see the village’s people captured.

Ling Family Village.

In the village square, the elderly, women, and children were chained with heavy iron chains, all wearing heavy shackles.

The Chen Royal Family issued a grand reward, a head for 100 million low-grade spirit stones, plus a martial arts skill of top-grade Jade quality.

But if they returned alive, the spirit stone reward would double, and the martial arts skill would be upgraded to the ultimate top-grade Jade quality.

Therefore, if possible to capture them alive, these people would definitely choose to do so.

Judging by their attire, they were absolutely not from the Black Wind Stronghold bandits.

They were actually wearing proper Secret Realm Academy disciple robes.

However, their status seemed relatively low because their cultivation levels didn’t appear particularly high.

Yet, even so, the weakest had a Hell Early Stage Cultivation of the First Cycle of Yin-Yang Realm Seventh Layer.

This level of cultivation in Eight Immortals County City would be considered top-tier experts.

The disparity between Royal City and Eight Immortals County City’s strength was just so vast.

Moreover, Secret Realm Academy’s actions weren’t concealed at all, blatantly wearing their academy uniforms to abduct people, showing that the Royal City Ling Family was deeply feared by the royal family.

Ling Xiao had yet to join the Secret Realm Academy and already had a bad impression of it.

Seems it is just a dog serving the Chen Royal Family.

Luckily he’s only going there to train, otherwise, seeing people like this daily would be utterly disgusting.

"Hahaha, who would have thought this Ling Family Village would be in such a hidden spot? If it weren’t for our insider in the Black Wind Stronghold, it would’ve been hard to find."

In the crowd, a lavishly dressed young man laughed loudly.

He wasn’t very old, looking not even twenty, yet his cultivation had already reached the First Stage Yin-Yang Realm, Eighth Layer Hell Early Stage.

His arrogant laughter demonstrated his cruelty and indifference.

At his feet lay a corpse that wasn’t fully cold yet.

It was just a little girl not even seven.

She was crushed to death by him simply because she wasn’t from the Ling Family but an orphan taken in from outside, not eligible for reward money.

It wasn’t just him; the other Secret Realm Academy martial artists were doing the same despicable acts.

These people were mostly young, roughly between seventeen or eighteen to their mid-twenties.

Only a few were slightly older, with relatively stronger abilities.

Logically, with their refined attire, they shouldn’t be short of money, yet they still disregarded human life for the reward.

To know these people, they were once fiercely protected by the Royal City Ling Family.

The Royal City Ling Family, which was Ling Yan’s family, fought bravely against the Volcano Kingdom to defend the Chen Dynasty.

If it weren’t for them, the Chen Kingdom’s defenses would’ve fallen, and these ingrates would’ve died.

Alas, even the Ling Family themselves didn’t know, they saved a group of beasts lower than dogs.

Not only were they ungrateful, but also determined to eliminate the Royal City Ling Family completely, leaving none alive.