Chapter 26: The God of War's Wrath—Blood Must Be Shed Before It Ceases

Glancing at the rearview mirror, Ming Cheng couldn't help but frown.
“I've always thought Zhang Daochu was a capable man. How did he end up with such a ridiculous grandson?”
Xiu'er suppressed a laugh.
“Could this be what they call the curse of wealth not lasting three generations?”
Hearing their banter, Ling Xiao commented coolly,
“Though that boy is indeed mischievous, his talent is not lacking. If properly nurtured, his future achievements may not necessarily fall short of either of you.”
A gasp followed.
Neither doubted Ling Xiao's words, but it still seemed incredible.
“Young Master… is that boy truly so monstrous?”
Ling Xiao said nothing, lost in thought.
It seemed that with his arrival in this world, the fate of many had been altered.
First, there had been Qin Lang, the youth who obtained the jade ring, and now this young warlord, Zhang Wenhe. Both were outstanding among their peers, in fortune and in strength.
Given time, their accomplishments would be limitless!
Yet, before Ling Xiao, whether fate or talent, all was but empty illusion.
Ling Xiao—
The Invincible—
What was there to fear?

...

“By the way, Lord Ming, weren't you just napping in the car? How did you get out so quickly?”
Xiu'er's question startled Ming Cheng.
“Oh, right, I almost forgot. Young Master, a report from the Hall of the War God: the brats at the Hall of the Divine Healer have been getting out of hand, withholding a good portion of the medicine pills from our brothers.”
This snapped Ling Xiao from his reverie. His eyes narrowed, two cold rays of killing intent flashing forth!
The sudden chill made all three of his companions shudder involuntarily.
“Return to Ghost Valley!”
“Huh? Right now, so suddenly?”
“Enough nonsense.”
“Yes… I wouldn’t dare.”

Soon after, a chartered plane took off from Jiangzhou Airport.

Ghost Valley is famed for its Three Perfections.
The First: Medicine.
The Second: Strategy.
The Third: Martial Prowess.
Relying on these Three Perfections, Ghost Valley has stood unshakable in the martial world of China for a thousand years!
And each perfection is embodied in its own hall.

The Hall of the Divine Healer!
The Hall of Shadows!
The Hall of the War God!

The Hall of the Divine Healer counts nine hundred disciples. Each is a master physician, their skill with medicine and pills reaching the miraculous. They are the foundation of Ghost Valley’s elite strength.
The Hall of Shadows boasts nine thousand disciples. Though all women, they have established the most advanced intelligence and assassination network, providing not only a source of income but also Ghost Valley’s eyes and ears upon the world.
The Hall of the War God commands ninety thousand warriors. They are Ghost Valley’s proudest force, a blood-forged legion of unmatched might—no one in the martial world can stand against them!

Three years ago, when Ling Xiao first entered Ghost Valley, the new generation of hall masters had yet to be appointed, but after years of training, the upper ranks already had their ideal candidates.
Yet the moment Ling Xiao began his cultivation, everything changed.
In three short years, his monstrous, almost inhuman talent allowed him to seize the position of War God Hall Master.
More than that, he shattered traditions thousands of years old.
No need for the contest among the three halls—he advanced directly to Young Master of Ghost Valley.
But the tallest tree attracts the fiercest wind.
A figure too outstanding is bound to draw jealousy and attack.
If Ling Xiao were less vigilant, one day he might well be stabbed in the back!

...

Two hours later.
“Young Master, we’ve arrived—just below us is Ghost Valley!”
Ling Xiao nodded, strode directly to the hatch, and opened it. The torrent of air howled into the cabin, yet it couldn’t budge the hem of his robe.
“I’ll go first. You follow after.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
With that, Ling Xiao leapt out. His solitary figure descended like a meteor, blazing as he plummeted into the mountains below.
In a flash, he seemed to step into another dimension!
To the eye, the scenery was little different—flowers more fragrant, grass more lush.
But only by breathing in deeply could one sense the true wonder here, a boundless nourishment.
This was the heart of Ghost Valley, inside the barrier, where spiritual energy was dense.

Ling Xiao’s sudden arrival disturbed the barrier, immediately drawing a crowd of disciples.
From afar, several figures came rushing, riding the wind at impossible speed.
“Who dares trespass in our Ghost Valley?”
Ling Xiao cast them a cold glance and snorted. A wave of pressure swept forth, and in an instant, a hundred men fell to their knees.
“It’s the Young Master! The Young Master has returned!”
“Greetings, Young Master!”

Ling Xiao remained aloof, hands clasped behind his back as he strode forward.
Though his steps appeared unhurried, each stride covered a thousand meters. In a few blinks, he vanished from their sight.

When he appeared again, he was within the gates of Ghost Valley.
In the front plaza, more than ten thousand disciples were in the midst of drill.
Any one of them, unleashed in the mundane world, would stir up a storm of blood and violence—let alone ten thousand!
Yet at the sight of them, Ling Xiao’s expression turned to anger rather than joy.
“Where is Xing Zhentian?”
His order rang out. The ten thousand were stunned for a moment, then with a great clamor, fell to their knees.
“Welcome home, Young Master!”
Their shout shook the heavens, imposing and grand.
From among them, a man about Ming Cheng’s age dashed forward, clad in black iron chain armor, running with the force of a tiger.
Yet when he reached Ling Xiao, all his bluster vanished; without a word, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the ground.
“Your subordinate, Xing Zhentian, greets the Young Master! Why has the Young Master returned so suddenly?”
Ling Xiao snorted coldly.
“If I hadn’t returned, what would become of the War God Hall—bullied until there’s nothing left?”
Xing Zhentian trembled.
“Your subordinate is at fault!”
“Indeed you are. Acting War God Hall Master, and yet you let things fall into this state? I ought to kill you!”
Xing Zhentian shivered, hastening to beg for mercy.
“Spare me, Young Master! It’s the Hall Master of the Divine Healer, Ning Xuanyuan—he’s gone too far. His power is deep, and I am no match for him. I dared not let the brothers throw away their lives, so our supply of medicine has dwindled, and fewer men drill each day. I’ve had to rotate them just to keep up.”
Ling Xiao’s face was icy, terrifying.
“Arm the troops. Follow me to the Hall of the Divine Healer! When we return, you’ll take a hundred lashes yourself!”
“Thank you for your punishment, Young Master!”
Ling Xiao turned and strode off. The ten thousand elite warriors of the War God Hall needed no further orders; they fell in behind him at once.

A legion of iron, their battle spirit surging!
Ten thousand strong, yet not a single step out of place, as disciplined as clockwork soldiers.
Each man began to exude a murderous intent, and in a blink, what had been a drilling force transformed into a tiger-wolf army!
This was a mighty force, but only in Ling Xiao’s hands did they deserve the name. In other hands, they were but ordinary soldiers.
Ling Xiao was the soul of this iron cavalry—the battle spirit, the god of war, the spark that set blood aflame!
And now, War God was angry; thus the army was angry.
And when the War God is enraged, only blood can quell his wrath!