Batian Martial Soul

"I took a nap, had a dream, and suddenly figured something out." Ling Xiao scratched his head and spread his hands innocently. "Then I broke through."

Akane nearly crushed the hilt of the sword.

You become stronger through your dreams while sleeping? ???
Great, excellent! Your dream is truly remarkable!
She stared intently at Ling Xiao, her killing intent almost tangible, with only one thought in her mind: If this guy continues to "dream" like this, the entire Silent Realm will be destroyed by his dream!
Lingxiao Refines Pills and Forges Power
Ling Xiao looked at Chi Ling's ashen face and spoke with a half-smile, his tone tinged with mockery: "By the way, Lord Chi Ling, you're back so soon? Did you find that 'Black Soul King' senior?"

"Ling Xiao, is he still in the Overlord Empire?" Chi Ling's eyes were icy cold as she locked onto Ling Xiao. The remaining sword intent around her trembled slightly with anger, as if it was about to explode at any moment.

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao frowned slightly, his expression so sincere it seemed to see right through people, making anyone who saw it believe him to some extent: "Of course I'm leaving! Otherwise, what would I be doing here? Did you expect me to sleep and dream in this courtyard with you, trying to comprehend some kind of demonic state of mind?"

Chi Ling stared straight at him, her gaze sharp as a knife, as if she wanted to cut him open from the inside out. Ling Xiao, on the other hand, looked back calmly and even blinked deliberately, his eyes clear and his face full of "honest and reliable young man".

After a long pause, Chi Ling's red lips curled into a cold smile, her tone filled with undisguised skepticism: "What exactly are you up to? Don't think you can get away with this pretense!"

Ling Xiao suddenly dropped his joking expression and spoke seriously, his tone as solemn as if he were discussing a matter of utmost importance: "Lord Chi Ling is joking. I am a very honest person, and I always speak from the heart. Senior Black Soul King is truly no longer in the Overlord Empire, there is absolutely no falsehood about that!"

"Then where do you think he is?" Chi Ling pressed coldly, clearly not intending to give up easily.

"How would I know?" Ling Xiao shrugged, then took a half step forward, lowered his voice, and said in a tone that sounded like a "kind reminder," "But I do have a little suggestion, you might want to listen."

"Speak." Chi Ling spoke sparingly, her eyes remaining icy.

“Think about it,” Ling Xiao said slowly, tapping his fingertip lightly, “with my meager cultivation, I was lucky enough to get my hands on the ‘Demon Lord Black Heaven Sword’ back then, and I could barely exchange a few blows with you. Now the sword is in the hands of Senior Black Soul King, a demonic giant who swept through an era a thousand years ago!”

“Once he fully refines the sword, his strength will undoubtedly rise to another level. At that time, let alone seizing the treasure, your ‘Holy Hall’ will probably not even be qualified to get close. So I sincerely suggest that you hurry up and chase after him! Strike while the iron is hot, and you might be able to get a share of the spoils before he refines the sword.”

Chi Ling stared intently into Ling Xiao's eyes, trying to find the slightest flaw, but Ling Xiao smiled openly, without a trace of guilt in his eyes.

“I’m just an ordinary demonic cultivator now, with no treasures or cheats, so there’s no point in you staring at me, right?” Ling Xiao’s smile widened, his tone almost overflowing with mockery.

After a long silence, Chi Ling finally suppressed her doubts and anger, turned around and transformed into a streak of crimson light, suddenly tearing through the void and disappearing into the horizon. The white-robed man gave Ling Xiao a deep look, his eyes filled with vigilance and solemnity, and then he too transformed into a streak of white light, following closely behind Chi Ling.

In the distance, a threatening voice from Chi Ling drifted faintly into Ling Xiao's ears: "Ling Xiao... you'd better not let me find any fault with you, or the Holy Temple will not forgive you!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao shrugged indifferently, a hint of triumph flashing in his eyes, before turning and returning to his courtyard.

Before long, the news that "Black Soul King and the Demon Lord Black Heaven Sword have disappeared" spread like wildfire, centered on the Overlord Empire, and swept through the major forces of the Silent Extinction Realm.

The Demon Lord's Sword! That's a legendary treasure that can help the strong break free from the prison of the Annihilation Realm! Countless forces moved at the first sign of trouble, their eyes filled with greed. For a time, all eyes were focused on the "pursuit of the Black Soul King," and even the Holy Temple temporarily forgot about the "small place" of the Overlord Empire.

Ling Xiao was happy to have some peace and quiet, which was a good opportunity to consolidate his cultivation level and manage the affairs of the empire.

At this moment, he was sitting in the main seat of the Batian Empire's council hall, listening to his two capable assistants report on recent political affairs.

"The Sword Sect is still causing trouble," Ji Mingkong, dressed in green, stood below, rubbing his throbbing temples, his tone tinged with helplessness, "They're clinging to that ruin left by the Holy Temple, insisting that we hand it over."

Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his tone tinged with amusement: "They haven't given up yet?"

"Not only have they not given up, but they have also been frequently contacting Miss Ling Bi recently," Ji Mingkong added, "presumably trying to exert pressure through Miss Ling Bi's relationship."

Ling Bi had trained at the Sword Sect and was regarded as the next successor by the Sword Sect. Now the Sword Sect is using the favor as an excuse to try to take advantage of the connection between Ling Bi and Ling Xiao to plot the secrets hidden in the Holy Hall ruins.

"Where is she?" Ling Xiao asked, his tone tinged with concern.

Ji Mingkong couldn't help but smile: "That girl is very shrewd. She has already found a place to hide. It's a dilemma for her. The Sword Sect has raised her, so it would be unreasonable to refuse them directly; but she would never allow the Sword Sect to harm the interests of the Empire."

"Good for her to hide." Ling Xiao nodded, his tone relieved. "Let her hide and cultivate in peace. She's learned quite a few advanced techniques from me recently, so this is a good opportunity for her to digest and solidify her foundation. By the way, where's Jin Yan?"

“Jin Yan is still in seclusion,” Ji Mingkong replied. “Judging from his aura before he went into seclusion, it seems that he has touched the bottleneck of his breakthrough. I estimate that he will come out of seclusion soon. However, he made an agreement with someone before, and after he comes out of seclusion, he will probably leave the Batian Empire to fulfill his promise.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of warmth flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes. Jin Yan possessed exceptional talent and was willing to work hard. This breakthrough in seclusion would undoubtedly lead to a surge in his strength upon his emergence, which was something to look forward to.

And Meng Haoqing, Weiwei, Momo, and the others—it's been so long since I've seen them. I wonder how their cultivation is progressing? A trace of concern swept through Ling Xiao's heart.

"By the way, Lord Meng Haoqing is still the same as ever, very straightforward," Ji Mingkong said with a smile, as if he had just remembered something.

"He kept chasing Lu Fan for sparring, making Lu Fan suffer terribly. Strangely enough, Meng Haoqing seemed to be a born battle maniac. The more he fought, the more his cultivation improved, and his physical strength increased by leaps and bounds."

Ling Xiao smiled upon hearing this, but then his smile vanished, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Does the Sword Sect really think my Overlord Empire is so easy to manipulate, or that I, Ling Xiao, have such a good temper?"

Ji Mingkong and Shangguan Yue exchanged a glance, neither responding... They naturally knew that Ling Xiao was truly enraged, and the Sword Sect was likely in trouble. (End of Chapter)