Batian Martial Soul

Chapter 14623 Border City

"If I force it, either the enemy will die, or I will be burst open, or at worst, we will both perish." Ling Xiao smiled bitterly to himself and took out a dark red ring from his pocket... This was the only relic left behind by the Maha Ancestor after his fall.

The ring's surface was covered with twisted and eerie runes, and three layers of soul restrictions were faintly circulating inside. Ling Xiao tried to probe it with his divine sense, but was repelled by a backlash.

He knew very well that this restriction was extremely powerful, and forcibly breaking it would only lead to self-destruction, so he could only temporarily put it away.

Two days later, Ling Xiao keenly sensed that more than ten powerful auras had quietly appeared in the surrounding void, subtly protecting him and Mu Qianxue in the middle.

“They are the Holy Guards of the Holy Temple.” Mu Qianxue noticed his gaze and explained, “They are all Realm Lord level experts, ordered to escort us along the way to the border city of the Holy Temple.”

"Quite a show of force." Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning on him... The Holy Temple was afraid something might happen to him, extinguishing his hope of leaving the Realm of Annihilation.

“After all, your current identity is related to the breakthrough opportunity of the Holy Hall’s higher-ups.” Mu Qianxue paused, seemingly hesitant, but finally spoke, “Young Master Ling, there is something I would like to ask you. If it is inconvenient for you to answer, please pretend I didn’t ask.”

"But it doesn't matter."

"What exactly is the realm of the being behind you, known as the 'Moon Maiden'?" Mu Qianxue's tone was somewhat solemn, clearly indicating that this question had troubled her for a long time.

Ling Xiao pondered for a moment, then truthfully replied, "To be honest, I don't know either."

"You didn't know either?" Mu Qianxue was quite surprised.

“She has never used her full strength in front of me.” Ling Xiao turned to look at her and asked, “I would like to ask Miss Mu, how is she regarded within the Holy Temple?”

After a long silence, Mu Qianxue slowly uttered four words: "Unfathomable."

"If that's the case, why do you still dare to target me?"

"Because we once thought that if she really had the strength to crush the Holy Temple, she should have already razed the border city to the ground."

Mu Qianxue gave a bitter smile. "There are only two possibilities for why she didn't do that: one is that she was restrained by some secret and couldn't go all out; the other is... she was wary of the ancient foundation of my Holy Temple."

"So you're betting on the latter?"

“It used to be.” Mu Qianxue’s eyes became complicated.

"But as the investigation into you deepened, especially after witnessing these 'abnormalities' about you, more and more people in the hall began to suspect that we may have underestimated her strength from the very beginning."

Ling Xiao nodded, deeply agreeing: "I also think you have indeed misjudged the situation."

Although he was unsure of the Moon Maiden's true cultivation level, an existence that could easily suppress the Black Soul King and make even the Holy Temple wary was definitely not something an ordinary martial artist from the Realm of Annihilation could contend with.

"Now I finally understand Chi Ling's choice." Mu Qianxue sighed softly, her tone tinged with relief. "Being your enemy was indeed not a wise move."

As they were talking, ripples suddenly appeared in the void ahead.

A colossal, towering portal, as majestic as a mountain, slowly appeared. The portal was forged from nine brilliant stars, shimmering with starlight. At the center of the portal was a deep, chaotic vortex, exuding a chilling aura.

"We've arrived." Mu Qianxue stopped, her expression turning solemn.

"Is this the entrance to the Holy Temple Border City?" Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, sensing the antiquity and majesty emanating from the gate.

“No.” Mu Qianxue shook her head, a complex look flashing in her eyes. “This is just the first trial on the way to the border city… ‘The Gate of Inquiry’.”

She turned to Ling Xiao and solemnly reminded him, "Those who step into this gate must confront their deepest fears and obsessions. The slightest carelessness will result in the destruction of their soul and body, trapping them within forever. Young Master Ling, are you... ready?"

Ling Xiao gazed at the mysterious Gate of Inquiry, took a deep breath, and a resolute look flashed in his eyes.

"Let's go."

As soon as they finished speaking, the two stepped side by side into the deep, chaotic vortex, and their figures disappeared instantly.

In the instant they disappeared, three pairs of scarlet eyes slowly opened in the shadows at the edge of the Gate of Inquiry, revealing a sinister yet expectant look.

"The pieces have been placed in the game."

"Inform 'that' person..."

"The show is about to begin."

Passing through the Gate of Inquiry, the view suddenly opened up, as if stepping into another world.

Lingxiao stood atop the sea of ​​clouds, the clouds surging like cotton beneath his feet, and before him stretched an endless, rugged mountain range...

The mountains were not rooted in the earth, but floated in the vast sea of ​​stars, with colorful rays of light flowing between the peaks and ridges, like silk wrapping around the mountains.

Cranes soar and circle, their clear cries echoing through the sky; a cascading waterfall plunges from the void, its spray transforming into countless stars before finally converging into a shimmering, silvery stream that meanders through the mountains, a breathtaking spectacle.

Above this floating immortal mountain, figures could be vaguely seen moving back and forth, their auras unfathomable. The weakest among them possessed the cultivation of an Emperor, while World Lord level experts were also frequently seen.

"This is the border city of the Holy Temple." Mu Qianxue's voice rang out beside her, tinged with pride.

Ling Xiao looked around. The spiritual energy in the world was so dense that it was almost condensed into liquid. With each breath, wisps of spiritual energy seeped into his limbs and bones, and even his cultivation level was slowly increasing. He was secretly amazed.

He turned to look at Mu Qianxue, his tone somewhat tentative: "The attitude towards me within the Holy Temple must be quite complicated, right? It's impossible for everyone to want to discuss cooperation with me."

"Of course." Mu Qianxue nodded frankly, stating the facts in a calm tone.

"Factions are rife in the border city: many pro-war factions advocate seizing the Demon Lord's Black Sky Sword at all costs; some pro-peace factions support cooperating with you and sharing the opportunity to break through the boundary; and there is even a small group of extremists who believe that your potential is too terrifying and want to completely eliminate you to prevent future troubles."

Ling Xiao suddenly stopped walking, and without saying a word, turned around and was about to walk back, looking like he was saying, "If I can't afford to offend them, I'll just avoid them."

Mu Qianxue stepped in front of him, smiling helplessly, "Young Master Ling, are you scared already? Didn't I say that the peace faction is in the majority?"

“What I fear are those few who want to kill me.” Ling Xiao said seriously. “Sometimes, the extreme obsessions of a few can stir up a huge wave and ruin the whole situation.”

"With me here, they can't cause any trouble." Mu Qianxue's tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable confidence. "Since I dared to bring you in, I'm confident that I can ensure your safe departure."

Ling Xiao gave her a deep look, becoming even more certain that this woman's status in the Holy Temple was probably higher than he had imagined, and she was definitely not an ordinary border city lord.

The two flew through the air, heading towards the depths of the mountains.

About an incense stick's time later, a huge floating city appeared in front of them.

The city was carved from a single piece of star-shaped divine iron. It was pitch black all over, with billions of golden runes flowing across its surface. Each rune contained the power to suppress heaven and earth and exuded an ancient and majestic aura.