A Misstep! A Warning!

"Elder Ling, you're too modest."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling hurriedly clasped his hands toward the old man.

He held the old man in great respect. After all, with his strength at Dou Emperor Peak, he could do as he pleased anywhere in the Jia Ma Empire.

Even Yun Shan wouldn't dare make an enemy of someone like him. If the old man escaped, it would be a real problem.

After all, one could be a thief for a thousand days, but one couldn't guard against thieves for a thousand days.

That was why the strong were respected wherever they went.

Seeing the curious looks from the old man and the girl, Xiao Ling couldn't help smiling.

"Elder Ling, I'd like to ask you to kill someone for me. This is the reward I've prepared for you."

"A Sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill."

"It can guarantee that you'll break through to Dou Zong without any side effects or cost. Elder Ling, would you be satisfied with this reward?"

"This..."

Hearing this, a look of shock appeared on Ling Ying's aged face.

Although he was a member of the Ancient Clan, to be honest, he was merely a marginal figure in the clan leader's faction, with talent that was abysmal.

Otherwise, he wouldn't still have been unable to break through to Dou Zong in his sixties. Those of his generation had long since reached Dou Zong, and the most talented had even attained Dou Zun.

It was precisely because his strength was relatively low and his attribute was unusual, making him less likely to attract the attention of the Ancient Clan's enemies, that the clan leader and the Elder Council had appointed him to protect the young lady.

His reward was that, while protecting her, he could access "some" resources, and completing the mission would earn him one chance to inherit the clan's legacy.

As long as he wasn't terribly unlucky, he should be able to break through to Dou Zong. But that would be his limit...

He had no hope of reaching Dou Zun in this lifetime.

But now, a hope had appeared before him: the Breakthrough Pill. He remembered this pill vividly.

After all, the youth before him had once handed out First-grade and Second-grade pills as rewards to the younger generation of the Xiao Clan.

And now, the other party had offered him a Sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill in exchange for his help. Did that mean he had...

At the thought, a glint flashed through Ling Ying's old eyes. But instead of agreeing right away, he bowed to Xun'er.

"Miss, what do you think...?"

Hearing this, Xun'er came back to her senses. Her beautiful eyes stared at Brother Xiao Ling in shock. Then she took a deep breath, her slight chest rising and falling, before saying, "Elder Ling, after this, go warn the Xiao Clan's higher-ups about the Breakthrough Pill. No one is to reveal it to anyone, or they'll bear the consequences."

She wasn't making a fuss over nothing. This Breakthrough Pill was clearly an ancient pill.

Otherwise, its medicinal power wouldn't be so domineering.

And who could guarantee that Brother Xiao Ling didn't have Seventh-, Eighth-Tier, or Ninth Grade Breakthrough Pills?

After all, people tended to believe their own assumptions. And when everyone was convinced you had something, it was best if you really did.

"Rest assured, Miss. This old servant understands."

Ling Ying's expression was grave.

He understood the young lady's concerns. After all, the value of this pill—or rather, what it represented—was enormous. Few people could resist such temptation.

Watching the old man and the girl's shocked expressions and listening to their conversation, Xiao Ling felt warmth flow through him. A rare, faraway look appeared in his dark eyes.

"By the way, Brother Xiao Ling, are you offering Elder Ling such a huge reward because you want him to kill some Dou Wang?"

Xun'er blinked her beautiful eyes at him.

"You silly girl, what are you imagining?"

Coming to his senses, Xiao Ling reached out and ruffled her head, then explained with a smile, "I want to ask Elder Ling to make a trip to the Aoba Family and kill Wu Ming for me."

"Huh?!"

Xun'er froze, her mouth falling open in shock. Then she hurriedly leaned close to Xiao Ling's ear and whispered, "Um... Brother Xiao Ling, you're giving way too much just to kill Wu Ming. You don't need to offer so much. How about... asking Elder Ling to wipe out the Aoba Family too?"

"Ahem..."

Her voice was quiet, but Ling Ying was a Dou Emperor Peak expert. At such close range, how could he not hear her?

Even Xiao Ling was stunned. He looked at the girl only inches away from him. Her features were flawless: beautiful eyes, a delicate upturned nose, and rosy lips...

"Ahem..."

Xiao Ling hurriedly suppressed his improper thoughts and cursed under his breath.

"Damn..."

Xun'er was startled by Xiao Ling's cough. Coming back to her senses, she recoiled like a startled fawn, then turned her head and changed the subject. "Elder Ling, it's getting late. You should hurry and go. Don't let that guy get away."

"Yes, Miss."

Hearing this, Ling Ying withdrew his gaze from the bottle containing the "Sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill" and replied respectfully.

His movements had been subtle, but Xiao Ling had still noticed.

"Elder Ling, please take this Sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill first. Consider it payment for your help."

Xiao Ling smiled.

"This..."

Ling Ying glanced at his young lady. Seeing that she didn't object, he accepted the pill with a smile.

"Rest assured, Young Master Xiao Ling. I'll bring you Wu Ming's head."

"Then I'll trouble you, Elder Ling."

Xiao Ling replied politely.

"It's no trouble... This old servant will be off, then."

"Mm."

Watching Ling Ying leave, Xiao Ling glanced at the sunset on the horizon, then turned to the lovely girl beside him and smiled. "Xun'er, are you hungry? Never mind, let's go to the dining hall and get something to eat."

As he spoke, Xiao Ling took her hand and led her toward the clan dining hall.

Along the way, they came across many excited young members of the Xiao Clan. When they saw the white-robed youth and the little girl in a purple dress, they all stopped and greeted him.

"Brother Xiao Ling..."

"Mm."

Xiao Ling was the same as ever, his face cool as he gave a calm reply.

The younger members of the Xiao Clan were used to his expression. To them, Brother Xiao Ling was just like that—cool and handsome. He had charmed who knew how many female disciples in the Xiao Clan.

Night.

From the Aoba Family estate on the western side of Wutan City came angry curses and the sound of porcelain shattering.

The young members and servants of the Aoba Family who passed by the meeting hall didn't dare even breathe too loudly, afraid of drawing the clan leader's fury.

Everyone knew that the two great families had joined forces to provoke the Xiao Clan that day.

But they had returned in defeat.

They'd heard that the losses had been considerable. Anyone who dared stir up trouble now would be like a man on the verge of death asking for poison—clearly tired of living.

At that moment, a hazy figure silently appeared above the Aoba Family estate.

Yet no one noticed. The young members and servants of the Aoba Family seemed not to see him at all.

Ling Ying's expression was grim. He had been searching for two hours and had nearly turned all of Wutan City upside down.

To his surprise, though, the trace of aura Young Master Xiao Ling had given him hadn't led him to Wu Ming. Apparently, the man had already left Wutan City.

At that thought, Ling Ying looked toward the meeting hall below. A glint flashed in his old eyes, then his figure flickered and vanished.

Inside the meeting hall, Aoba Pa had apparently finished venting. His face was gloomy, and his eyes glinted as he plotted something.

Suddenly, a hazy figure silently appeared in front of Aoba Pa, startling him. He looked at the indistinct figure warily and asked cautiously, "May I ask who you are, Senior, and why you've come to the Aoba Family? My family shouldn't be qualified to associate with someone of your stature, much less have offended you."

Cold sweat beaded on Aoba Pa's forehead. Just a moment ago, he had truly felt death's threat. In his mind, the other party had to be at least a Dou Wang.

Someone like that already stood at the peak of the Jia Ma Empire. Why had he come to the Aoba Family in the dead of night? Aoba Pa never even considered that it might have something to do with the Xiao Clan.

As far as he was concerned, the Xiao Clan couldn't possibly have connections to an expert of this level.

Otherwise, Wutan City would have belonged to the Xiao Clan long ago. There'd have been no place for the Aoba Family or the Jialie Family.

Hearing this, Ling Ying looked at Aoba Pa without taking him seriously.

If Young Master Xiao Ling hadn't refused to wipe out the Aoba Family, Ling Ying would have destroyed them for the sake of this "Sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill."

When Aoba Pa saw the other man look his way, his years of experience told him that the visitor hadn't come to destroy the Aoba Family—or perhaps he had some sort of misgiving?

Whatever the reason, the weight in Aoba Pa's heart finally lifted.

"The Aoba Family has been making a little too much noise lately."

Ling Ying left him with those words. His figure flickered almost imperceptibly, then vanished.

After the visitor left, Aoba Pa went limp and collapsed onto the ground. He gasped for breath, pondering the meaning of the other man's parting words.