We Villains Don't Want to Be Stepping Stones - Chapter 7
"We Villains Don't Want to Be Stepping Stones - Chapter 7: Shocking the Sword Sect"
Chapter 7: Shocking the Sword Sect
The vast sky stretched endlessly, clouds obscuring the sun.
The Xuan Jian Sect was a staggering 108,000 miles away from their current location.
Even with Ye Qingchan and the others' cultivation levels, they had to push themselves to their limits, taking an entire day to reach their destination.
By the time night fell, their figures finally appeared at the foot of the mountain.
"Halt! This is the territory of the Xuan Jian Sect. Outsiders are not permitted to enter."
"Senior Brother Liu, it's me."
Ye Qingchan smiled faintly, shaking her head as she stepped in front of Ling Xiao and bowed deeply to the sect disciples guarding the entrance.
"Ye... Ye... Ahh!! Ghost!!"
Unexpectedly, upon recognizing Ye Qingchan's face, the two guards immediately activated protective talismans and fled in panic.
Buzz!
A sudden golden radiance erupted in the void, illuminating the entire Xuan Jian Mountain as if it were daylight.
Before Ye Qingchan and the others could react, powerful auras surged from the mountain peak, rushing toward them.
The scene resembled a demonic sect attacking the mountain, drawing out all the powerful experts of the Xuan Jian Sect.
Especially the leading figures—though not as strong as Yue Qiuci, they were still considered top-tier experts of the Northern Wastes.
"Father? Ancestor? What is going on...?"
Ye Qingchan quickly moved forward to greet them, fearing that their impulsive actions might offend Master Ling Xiao.
"Qing... Qingchan? No, who exactly are you?!"
Among them, a middle-aged man dressed in white with a stern appearance frowned slightly, his lips trembling as he struggled to believe what he was seeing.
Previously, Chu Yang had returned to the sect and reported encountering demonic sect members outside a secret realm who had massacred everyone.
Originally, he had assumed that Ye Qingchan, not being at the agreed-upon location, must have returned to the Xuan Jian Sect.
But to his shock, upon returning to the sect, there was no trace of her, causing him to panic.
Given Yue Qiuci's methods and ruthlessness, she surely wouldn't leave any survivors.
And Chu Yang hadn't opposed this because, over the years, the various sects of the Northern Wastes had been targeting the Xuan Jian Sect both openly and covertly, making them deserving of such retribution.
But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Junior Sister Qingchan would also fall victim to such cruelty.
"Look!! That youth is holding Yue Qiuci!"
"What? Yue Qiuci?!"
A voice of astonishment suddenly rang out from the crowd.
Immediately, countless gasps echoed, and the faces of the Xuan Jian Sect disciples were filled with shock and fear.
Especially now, the once-mighty Demon Empress, who had looked down on everyone like ants, was now being held by the black-clad youth like a dead dog—it was simply unbelievable.
"Qing... Qingchan? You're really alive?!"
Seeing this, Ye Liuyun's eyes narrowed in utter terror.
"If you're being coerced, just blink."
Demon sect practitioners were known for their cunning schemes. Even now, Ye Liuyun remained vigilant.
Chu Yang, as a disciple of the Xuan Jian Sect and Ye Liuyun's direct disciple, would never lie.
And across the Four Wastes, who could possibly reduce Yue Qiuci to such a half-dead state?
When something unusual happens, there must be foul play!
Could it be a ruse staged by the demonic sect?
But looking at Yue Qiuci's swollen face and shattered dantian, Ye Liuyun felt even more confused.
Wasn't this performance a little too realistic?
"Hmph!"
Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao's face turned icy cold.
Immediately, a transcendent aura swept through the heavens, shaking the earth.
The wariness on Ye Liuyun and the others' faces froze instantly.
What... the hell?!
What kind of presence was this?
A mere youth possessing such a vast and terrifying aura?
Suddenly, Ye Liuyun seemed to realize something. Looking at Yue Qiuci's pitiful state, he no longer found it surprising.
"Qing... Qingchan! Hurry up and introduce this gentleman to us!"
Ye Liuyun bowed deeply, his face filled with a humble smile.
"Father, this is Master Ling, who hails from..."
"I understand! I understand! Master Ling gracing our Xuan Jian Sect is truly an honor. Quickly... prepare a feast! Tonight, we dine!"
Ye Liuyun descended from above, his demeanor extremely servile. "Master, please come this way!"
"Mm."
Ling Xiao nodded indifferently, his expression unchanged.
To be honest, people of this caliber weren't even qualified to be his servants in his eyes—they were nothing.
However!
Just as he was about to ascend to the peak, a young man dressed in white suddenly stepped forward from the crowd and bowed deeply to Ling Xiao.
"Master, someone like Yue Qiuci, a demonic sect fiend, would dirty your hands. Allow me, Xiao Ge, to relieve you of this burden."
"Oh?"
Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips as he casually tossed a pill to the young man.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Brother Xiao."
"Master..."
Xiao Ge caught the pill, and as a fragrant aroma wafted into his nose, his body trembled, feeling as though his bones had turned to jelly.
Spiritual pills weren't important!
What mattered was that this mysterious master had called him "Brother Xiao!"
Brother Xiao!!
An incomparably monstrous figure who surpassed even the sect leader, the ancestors, and numerous elders—calling him Brother Xiao!!
Sometimes, the joy of being a sycophant was just that simple and unpretentious.
"This is... a Grade Three Spirit Pill?!"
Gasps of astonishment erupted around the mountain.
In the Northern Wastes, a Grade Three Spirit Pill was undoubtedly a top-tier treasure.
And yet, this master casually tossed one to Xiao Ge.
His manner made it seem as if he were throwing away a mundane object.
"Thank you, Master! Your generosity leaves me humbled."
Xiao Ge's face displayed an expression of being overwhelmed with gratitude. Though he claimed to be humbled, the joy in his eyes was unmistakable.
Many of the surrounding disciples couldn't help but feel envious.
If they had known that offering flattery could earn them a Grade Three Spirit Pill, they would've knelt down and kowtowed to the master earlier.
Brothers, if we kneel now, won't it seem a bit deliberate?
Xiao Ge hesitated for a moment but ultimately swallowed the pill amidst the envious gazes of the crowd.
Buzz.
What happened next was unexpected.
Suddenly, dazzling golden light erupted from Xiao Ge's body!
In just a short moment, his aura skyrocketed from the peak of the Void Spirit Realm to the Awakening Spirit Realm!
"Gulp."
The entire Sword Mountain fell silent in an instant!
Everyone gazed at the black-clad master standing before the crowd, their eyes brimming with deep longing.
What did cultivators care about?
Treasures and resources!
But these were all external things!!
Only one's own cultivation level determined survival in this world.
On this path, everyone strived desperately to cultivate and advance. Yet, this master casually bestowed a pill that could allow someone to break through a realm?!
At this point, no one cared anymore about Yue Qiuci slaughtering the geniuses of the Northern Wastes.
Everyone was thinking about how to curry favor with this mysterious Master Ling.
Even Ye Liuyun's eyes flickered with greed.
With his discerning eye, how could he fail to recognize Ling Xiao's origins?
If the Xuan Jian Sect could seize this opportunity to become this master's loyal dog, not only would they dominate the Northern Wastes, but across the Four Wastes, who would dare to challenge them?
It was rumored that a certain ancient clan in the Northern Wastes had an ancestor from eight generations ago ascend to the Sacred Continent—a tale still boasted about to this day.
"Let's go."
Ling Xiao casually waved his hand, ignoring the longing in everyone's eyes, and strode toward the mountain peak.
As the saying goes, at home, you rely on your parents; when you're out, you rely on your parents' treasures.