As the young man finished his poem, Xia Lianqiao's heart burned with fervor, and her eyes sparkled with admiration. In that moment, she couldn't help but admit that she was genuinely impressed—even to the point of feeling a surge of determination, thinking, "If he can do it, so can I!"
Coach, she wanted to learn this!
"Such boldness, fellow cultivator!!" Mimicking the heroic immortals from games and novels, Xia Lianqiao exclaimed with heartfelt enthusiasm.
Ling Chongxiao: "..."
For Ling Chongxiao, reciting poetry on a whim was nothing unusual, but Xia Lianqiao's reaction was overly dramatic. Her mix of embarrassment and fiery admiration made him feel slightly uncomfortable for the first time.
The young man pursed his lips slightly, his long eyelashes fluttering, and an uncharacteristic hint of unease appeared on his face.
Perhaps to regain his composure, Ling Chongxiao's dark eyes swept over her face, cold and distant like stars submerged in frost. His expression remained impassive as he said, "To recognize one's mistakes and correct them is a great virtue. If what you said that night was true—if you possess a Daoist heart—then you must act with integrity in all matters and strive diligently."
Though he had noticed the changes in Xia Lianqiao's demeanor, whether she was good or evil made little difference to Ling Chongxiao.
If she was willing to reform, he wouldn't hold it against her.
A Daoist heart? Did he mean the poems she had recited from the Drunken Sword Immortal? Could playing games really help her gain favor? Xia Lianqiao was momentarily stunned, silently musing that perhaps she should stop criticizing the increasingly disappointing *Sword and Fairy* series.
"Got it," Xia Lianqiao said, finding Ling Chongxiao's current talkative state rather intriguing. "I didn’t expect Fellow Cultivator Ling to be so chatty."
The young man looked back at her, his voice icy and detached: "...If you find it bothersome, I won’t speak."
"Don’t stop," Xia Lianqiao retorted, shrinking her neck a little but unable to resist teasing. "Your voice is so pleasant, and you’re so handsome. Keep talking; I love listening."
Ling Chongxiao: "………………"
Help! She was really starting to enjoy the mischievous act of teasing this aloof, untouchable figure!
Who wouldn’t love seeing such a cold, young sword immortal lose his composure?
When it came to verbal sparring, Ling Chongxiao was no match for Xia Lianqiao, a seasoned internet surfer.
The young man pursed his lips, at a loss for words, and could only mutter, "Nonsense," before turning away, his tone as cold as ever, pushing her away figuratively.
No matter how much she tried to provoke him afterward, Ling Chongxiao kept his mouth shut tighter than a clam.
Left with no choice, Xia Lianqiao rested her chin on her hand and sat quietly on the sword, waiting for her "precious daughter" Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an to arrive.
Before long, another streak of sword light appeared in the sky. Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an finally arrived, their sword light dissipating as they stepped onto the waves. Seeing Xia Lianqiao, Li Langhuan asked with concern, "Are you alright, fellow cultivator?"
Xia Lianqiao, with teary eyes, replied, "Actually, I’m already dead. The person talking to you now is just a wandering soul, wuwuwu."
Ling Chongxiao: "..."
The young man completely ignored Xia Lianqiao's sarcastic remark. Seeing that everyone had gathered, he took out the pre-prepared Water-Avoiding Pills from his sleeve and distributed them.
Xia Lianqiao curiously examined the pill in her hand, marveling at its properties. After all, consuming it would allow her to walk freely underwater. She casually asked, "Fellow Cultivator Ling, what is this pill made of?"
She expected no reply, but to her surprise, Ling Chongxiao glanced at her and answered, "It’s made from Red-Spotted Spiders and Seven-Layered Water Horses, combined to form the Fengyi Narcissus Pill."
Spiders? Xia Lianqiao grimaced as she looked at the small, delicate red pill in her palm. Still, it was better than the infamous "recovery liquid" made from cockroaches.
"There’s no time to waste in our mission to slay the demon," Ling Chongxiao said, his voice cold and resolute as he glanced at Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan. Without giving anyone time to rest, he declared, "Since everyone is here, let’s begin."
With that, he led by example, slashing his sword through the roaring waves.
The currents parted violently, revealing a swirling underwater vortex large enough for three people to pass through. In a flash of white light, Ling Chongxiao disappeared into the vortex.
Li Langhuan, true to her role as Ling Chongxiao's righteous daughter, was equally decisive in action. "I’ll take the rear. Xia Lianqiao, follow Bai Ji'an. Does that work?"
Xia Lianqiao nodded. Though she had the "script," she knew that demon-slaying was no trivial matter and maintained a serious attitude.
Despite his dislike for her, Bai Ji'an didn’t hesitate to act responsibly in a dangerous situation. With the demeanor of an elder, he instructed Xia Lianqiao to stay close and take cover behind him if needed.
Without further delay, Xia Lianqiao swallowed the Water-Avoiding Pill in one gulp, took a deep breath, and plunged into the endless depths of the ocean.
Thankfully, she didn’t suffer from thalassophobia. At first, everything was pitch black, with only faint rays of sunlight piercing through the water.
Ling Chongxiao's sword light guided the way ahead, and soon, the group descended to the ocean floor. As Xia Lianqiao stood and looked around, her eyes widened in awe.
This was her first glimpse of the underwater world of the cultivation realm, and the breathtaking beauty of the scene left her momentarily breathless.
The surroundings shimmered with radiant light, water cascading like waterfalls, forming deep pools. Pearl palaces and shell towers stood majestically, adorned with dragon carvings, glazed tiles, crystal curtains, coral trees, and walls of white jade.
The only blemish was the bloodstains and scattered talismans and broken blades on the white jade tiles at the palace entrance. Xia Lianqiao’s heart tightened as she recognized the remnants of the previous wave of cultivators who had ventured here before them. A fierce battle had clearly taken place not long ago.
Ahead, several demonic creatures resembling the shrimp soldiers and crab generals from *Journey to the West* stood guard, their eyes wary.
Before Xia Lianqiao could fully process the surreal beauty of the scene, the shrimp soldiers and crab generals sensed the threat. Some turned to flee and report, while others charged forward, shouting, "Who dares—ahhh!!!"
Before they could finish, Xia Lianqiao saw the sword light in front of her dart forward, weaving through the shrimp soldiers and crab generals in a flash.
In an instant, bursts of blood mist filled the air, and limbs flew in all directions.
Xia Lianqiao: "..."
Meanwhile, the perpetrator beside her remained spotless, his white robes unstained by a single drop of blood.
Seemingly dissatisfied with the slow pace, Ling Chongxiao frowned slightly and summoned a five-foot-wide array disk.
This array disk was unique to disciples of the Zhengyang Sect. Normally, Zhengyang disciples could store sword energy within it, unleashing dozens or even hundreds of sword beams in battle.
Ling Chongxiao flicked his fingers across the center of the disk. Instantly, light surged, and the needle spun wildly. Multiple sword beams shot forth, their golden energy sharp enough to slice through flesh and bone.
The beams tore through the air, mercilessly cutting down any demonic cultivators in their path.
In just a few moments, screams erupted all around, and the dense green demonic aura surrounding the crystal palace began to dissipate.
Only then did Ling Chongxiao calmly announce, "There were no fewer than three to five hundred demonic cultivators here. All have been slain by my sword." His tone was indifferent, but his words carried a chilling, metallic sharpness.
Everything happened so quickly that Xia Lianqiao was left speechless. Ling Chongxiao's ruthless efficiency even stunned Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an.
Xia Lianqiao’s face paled, but she remained silent. Before coming, she had expected a tough battle, but Ling Chongxiao moved like a bulldozer, his sword light cutting through everything in its path.
The crystal palace of the Evil Flood Dragon of the Xiao Clan had three gates separating it from the outside world. The demonic cultivators guarding the first gate were mere cannon fodder.
After passing the first gate, Xia Lianqiao could sense that the demonic cultivators here were more powerful than before. Still, they were no match for the killing machine beside her.
Knowing her limits, Xia Lianqiao quickly found a safe spot to hide, dodging the flying sword beams as best she could.
She wasn’t entirely useless, though. She tried attacking the demonic cultivators who were already fleeing from Ling Chongxiao’s onslaught, but her efforts were half-hearted. After all, she needed the fishmonger’s help to kill a fish at the market. Facing these half-human shrimp soldiers and crab generals, she couldn’t bring herself to strike.
Further ahead, the air suddenly filled with the sound of music and drums, accompanied by a strange fragrance spreading in all directions. A series of delicate, tinkling laughter echoed like silver bells, "Lord Xiao once took us in, and such great kindness cannot go unrepaid."
A white, eerie mist surged like a tide, quickly spreading along the hems of everyone's robes. From within the mist emerged several graceful figures—young men and women adorned with precious jewels and elegant attire. The girls all had cloud-like hair and stunning beauty, while the young men were as handsome and refined as orchids and jade trees.
The leading female demon performed a respectful bow, "Fellow cultivators, we seek your guidance."
Seeing this, Li Langhuan's expression changed slightly, "These are the clam demons of the East Sea, known for their illusionary arts and ability to bewitch the mind. Fellow cultivators, please be cautious."
Among the four seas, the clam demons of the East Sea are renowned for their unparalleled beauty.
These clam demons typically lurk on reefs and isolated islands, luring passing ships to devour their flesh and blood to enhance their cultivation. Skilled in the art of seduction, countless male cultivators have fallen victim to their charms, proving that even the most steadfast hearts are no match for the allure of beauty.
However, Ling Chongxiao remained utterly indifferent to the temptations before him. His chiseled face showed no emotion, his gaze focused and sharp. With a swift motion, he unleashed several sword beams, one of which decapitated a clam demon with ease. The sword energy circled briefly before seeking its next target.
The clam demons were stunned. None of them had expected their companion to fall so quickly under the young cultivator's sword. Exchanging glances, they paled with fear. The green-clad leader hurriedly began forming hand seals to defend herself, but another sword beam, unrelenting in its force, flashed like snow and pierced through her chest, killing another demon!
The sword energy buzzed and danced in the air, searching for its next victim in an unending cycle.
In an instant, all the clam demons lay decapitated, their lifeless bodies transforming into large clams that clattered to the ground without even the strength to struggle or fight back.
Xia Lianqiao, seeing the bloodied, severed necks of the corpses, couldn't help but feel her stomach churn. Her breathing grew rapid, her body broke out in a cold sweat, and her legs grew weak as her vision blurred.
Having lived for so many years, this was the first time she realized she had a fear of blood. It also dawned on her that she had underestimated the harsh realities of cultivating immortality.
The brutality and savagery of the cultivation world were laid bare in the contrast between the delicate forms of the clam maidens and the cold, sharp edge of the sword.
Glancing over, she saw Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan whispering to each other. Li Langhuan's expression remained calm, as if such scenes of slaughter were nothing unusual, something she had long grown accustomed to.
Xia Lianqiao crouched down, struggling to suppress the urge to vomit.
She had almost forgotten that the world of cultivation depicted in web novels was the epitome of the law of the jungle.
Ling Chongxiao, however, glanced sideways, his icy gaze taking in Xia Lianqiao's disheveled state. His expression was cold and indifferent, leaving his thoughts unreadable.
At the third gate, Ling Chongxiao finally lowered his gaze slightly and offered a word of advice, "The path of cultivation is fraught with danger and cruelty. Only those with unwavering determination can succeed."
Xia Lianqiao: …Was that supposed to be comforting??
The innocent young man who had been flustered by her teasing just moments ago was now a decisive killer, his sword energy radiating an imposing aura.
The contrast was too stark. She was momentarily at a loss for words, hesitating for a long while before finally nodding and saying, "Thank you."
Ling Chongxiao said no more. He had noticed Xia Lianqiao's potential earlier, and during the sword fight, it seemed she had gained some insight. For cultivators, such moments of realization often signaled an impending breakthrough, which was why he felt a slight sense of appreciation for her talent.
He had said his piece. Whether she could comprehend it or not was entirely up to her, and it had little to do with him.
At the third gate, the guardian demon was different from those at the previous two gates. Thick demonic mist rolled before the hall, with the densest concentration of demonic energy coming from the northwest.
The intensity of the demonic energy was such that even Ling Chongxiao couldn't handle it alone with his sword techniques.
Frowning at the oppressive mist, Ling Chongxiao said, "There are too many evil spirits here. I alone may not be able to handle them all. Fellow Daoist Li, let us split up and act separately."
Without hesitation, Li Langhuan clasped her hands and agreed, "As you say, Fellow Daoist."
The young man nodded slightly, "Then I leave this place to you. I will head to the northwest."
Without another word, he transformed into a streak of light and flew westward.
Looking at the towering gate before her, Xia Lianqiao took a deep breath and tried to steel herself. If she remembered correctly, Bai Ji'an was about to encounter the first mini-boss of the Evil Flood Dragon arc. It was during this battle that Bai Ji'an would break through the Initiation Realm and step into the next stage of cultivation.
