Chapter 29: Spreading Wings Toward Great Ambitions

After arranging matters at the Ghost Valley War God Hall, Ling Xiao immediately hurried back to Jiangzhou.

The plane floated above the clouds. Ling Xiao gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Xiu’er poured tea for him, while Ming Cheng couldn’t help but mutter, “Why didn’t you just kill Ning Xuanyuan? That guy is so sly—just looking at him makes me sick.”

Xiu’er smiled gently. “Lord Ming, the Young Master spared Ning Xuanyuan’s life because, for now, he still has his uses.”

“His uses? Even if you gave me that scoundrel for free as a servant, I wouldn’t want him!” Ming Cheng grumbled.

Xiu’er shook her head with a soft laugh. “Lord Ming, the Young Master sees a thousand miles ahead—how could he be bound by what’s right in front of him?”

Seeing Ming Cheng’s confusion, she continued patiently, “What is the Young Master’s ultimate goal? Of course, it is to destroy the Hua family. But do you know how powerful the Hua family is?”

At this point, Xiu’er’s expression grew more solemn. “The Hua family is one of the Eight Great Clans of Yanjing! Not a single one of the Eight Great Clans is easily trifled with. Setting aside their immense mundane influence, even just their martial might is astonishing.”

“Five experts at the fifth tier of Martial Saint and above! Three at the pinnacle of tenth-tier Martial Saint! And one Supreme Army Commander!”

Ming Cheng couldn’t help but gasp, his usually arrogant face now tinged with respect. “Fifth-tier Martial Saints, tenth-tier Martial Saints at their peak—how do they have so many? Only after stepping into the fifth tier of Martial Lord does one qualify for the title of Supreme Army Commander! The Hua family actually possesses so many top-tier experts?”

“That’s not all,” Xiu’er said, taking a deep breath. “A Supreme Army Commander is already qualified to cultivate their own forces. It’s said that the old master of the Hua family commands a force of over a million, each one an accomplished martial artist.”

“My heavens, with a million like that, wouldn’t they be invincible?” Ming Cheng exclaimed.

Xiu’er sighed. “Who could disagree? In the martial world, there are ranks: Warrior, Martial Master, Martial Saint, Martial Lord, and Martial Emperor. Excluding the legendary Martial Emperors, the Hua family lacks none of the others.”

“Even if the majority of their million-strong force are only at the Warrior or Martial Master level, that sheer number is already a headache! Not to mention how many top experts they have!”

“That’s why the Young Master must train his troops—to seize victory over the Hua family as quickly as possible. Ning Xuanyuan violated the Young Master’s greatest taboo by stealing elixirs and hindering military training, which is why the Young Master personally rushed back to Ghost Valley, furious.”

Ming Cheng nodded in understanding. “So that’s it. The Young Master spared Ning Xuanyuan’s life for now, just to keep pressure on the Hall of the Divine Physician and accelerate the refining of elixirs.”

“Exactly. The Young Master is drilling troops in the War God Hall, capturing Jiangzhou, seizing territory, building strength, and accumulating power—all to utterly destroy the Hua family.”

“No wonder! Normally, our Ghost Valley never meddles in the Hundred Sects Competition, yet this time we’re participating. If we succeed, the Young Master’s power will reach unprecedented heights. By then, our Ghost Valley will ascend to even greater heights.”

Xiu’er pursed her lips in a smile. “Lord Ming, you’re truly getting wiser by the day.”

Ming Cheng puffed out his chest with pride. “Of course! Who do you think I learn from?”

Ling Xiao ignored their banter. Xiu’er’s analysis was sound, but his participation in the Hundred Sects Competition was not for strength alone. It was because the Hua family had left many bloodlines scattered throughout the martial world.

“Xiu’er, did you deliver the message I asked you to give to Gu Mingyan?”

“I did, Young Master. Hall Master Gu has already begun investigating Ning Xuanyuan’s embezzlement of the elixirs and tracking their whereabouts. With Shadow Hall’s intelligence network, I believe the truth will come to light soon.”

“Tell her to move faster. Elixirs are consumables—if we’re too late, they’ll have been swallowed by someone else.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

...

After a circuitous journey, they returned once more to Jiangzhou.

As soon as they disembarked and reached their hotel, before they’d even entered, Zhang Wenhe popped up from who knows where, rubbing his hands and wearing a sycophantic grin. “Young Master, you’ve returned?”

Ling Xiao frowned slightly, but Ming Cheng barked, “Why do you follow us around like a shadow?”

Zhang Wenhe pouted. “Senior Brother, I genuinely want to follow the Young Master.”

He turned an eager gaze to Ling Xiao. “Young Master, please give me a chance.”

Ling Xiao pondered for a moment before replying coldly, “You’d best think it through. If you don’t follow me, you might one day become a hegemon in your own right. If you do, no matter how high you rise, you’ll always be my dog.”

Zhang Wenhe straightened, not a trace of hesitation in his eyes, his expression firm. “In this life, I am willing to blaze a trail for the Young Master! Through fire and water, I will not shrink back!”

Ling Xiao nodded. “Very well. From now on, you’ll train alongside Ming Cheng.”

Zhang Wenhe was overjoyed, but before he could savor his happiness, Ming Cheng doused him with cold water. “Hold on, Young Master. If you want me to beat someone up, I wouldn’t even fear death. But if you want me to teach someone, you might as well kill me now—I hate teaching disciples.”

“Then learn to like it.”

With that, Ling Xiao turned and walked into his room, leaving behind a resentful Ming Cheng and a grinning, obsequious Zhang Wenhe.

“Lord Ming, I’ll be in your care from now on!”

“Care for your own damn self!”

...

Once Ling Xiao returned to the hotel, he entered a state of meditation and cultivation.

The enemies awaiting him in the future would only grow stronger and more numerous; the greater his strength, the better his chances of victory.

This session of cultivation lasted quite some time. When he awoke from meditation, the moon was already high above the treetops.

Xiu’er was preparing dinner for Ling Xiao. Seeing him rise, she offered a gentle smile. “Young Master, you’ve finished meditating?”

Ling Xiao nodded. “Why are you here alone?”

“Lord Ming was taken out by Zhang Wenhe—they seemed to be off enjoying themselves.”

“That Zhang Wenhe is no fool. He knows to curry favor with Ming Cheng.”

“Indeed! Ever since you permitted him to cultivate and assigned him to Lord Ming, he’s practically worshipped him as an ancestor. This afternoon alone, he bought Lord Ming all sorts of gifts.”

After a pause, she continued, “By the way, Young Master, why did you insist Lord Ming teach Zhang Wenhe, when he clearly didn’t want to?”

“Because only Ming Cheng can train Zhang Wenhe properly.”

Zhang Wenhe—a once-in-a-generation Young Soldier King, a child of destiny. If he were trained by an ordinary person, he might well bring them to ruin. His fate is too strong; it can affect those around him. But Ming Cheng has nothing to fear.

Once a Martial Emperor in his past life, having failed his tribulation, he was reborn into this life. Ming Cheng, too, is a child of destiny. Yet now he’s grown weary, no longer wishing to compete. Otherwise, he would’ve already broken through the shackles of Martial Emperor in this lifetime.

Two children of destiny—if they both rise, they might well become Ling Xiao’s left and right arms.

Ling Xiao walked to the window and glanced out at the brilliant, bustling city night. His voice was calm. “Ming Cheng, I hope the optimistic Zhang Wenhe can move your weary heart. And I hope you won’t let down my painstaking efforts.”