After confirming that his young disciple only had some damage to his meridians and nothing serious, Wu Yunzi finally allowed himself to relax. He immediately drew more than ten protective talismans on Xiao Lingyu before stepping out of the protective circle of Tianshui Wuhen.
The attack on Xiao Lingyu had thrown everyone into chaos. On top of that, the emaciated elder had infused his own essence into the Soul-Refining Banner, causing a tremendous surge of ghostly energy and a dense mist of blood. The situation turned precarious.
Wu Anguo clutched the Lei Han Mirror, feeling the spiritual energy in his body draining rapidly into it. If this continued, he would soon be completely exhausted. The Lei Han Mirror, a supreme lightning artifact, could only be fully controlled by someone with a single-element lightning root. Wu Anguo, having a metal-element root, would never have been able to wield it effectively if not for his deep cultivation. Seeing the Soul-Refining Banner’s power rising sharply, he realized that failing to break the formation could be disastrous. With that thought, he flipped his left hand, producing a milky-white jade bottle containing over a dozen top-grade Essence-Nurturing Pills. Without hesitation, he swallowed them all at once. A surge of spiritual energy coursed through him, and Wu Anguo quickly circulated his cultivation technique to force it into the Lei Han Mirror. With a resonant hum, the fully energized mirror quivered with delight.
“Great Thunder Technique!” With Wu Anguo’s shout, countless cracks of thunder echoed through the world, and massive bolts of lightning fell like rain. Within moments, the blood mist in the courtyard was obliterated. Those protected beneath the Lei Han Mirror were safe, while outside it, disciples of the Lian You Sect cried and screamed as the lightning struck them mercilessly.
Xiao Lingyu, forming hand seals to maintain Tianshui Wuhen, watched as the grand Heaven-and-Earth Soul-Refining Formation was smashed to pieces in moments. He frowned, puzzled. “Last life, I never personally experienced the Soul-Refining Banner, but it was said to be immensely powerful. Yet today… it seems overhyped. Has its power been exaggerated?”
The old ghost chuckled, picking at his ear. “A treasure’s worth depends on its wielder. That black-robed elder may be strong, but the other younger disciples setting the formation are no higher than the Refining Realm. How much power could their formation really have? And with you holding the Lei Han Mirror, specially designed to counter evil, breaking the formation was only a matter of time. It would be laughable if it didn’t break.”
While the two of them discussed formations, a white figure clambered at the inn wall, scrambling to get over.
“Oink oink, smells good, food is here! I want it, I want it!” The little white pig kicked frantically, desperate to reach the food that had led it from the outskirts into the city. It finally reached the top of the wall—only to be struck by lightning, revealing a terrifying face before it.
“So scary!” The startled pig fell straight down.
“Oink… have to climb again.” Struggling back to the top, the little pig sniffed around anxiously, eyes narrowing as they landed on Xiao Lingyu. That was it—the source of the irresistible aroma was there, in the arms of that two-legged creature. The white figure dashed toward Xiao Lingyu, only to be blocked by a transparent barrier a meter away, sliding down helplessly.
“What is this… a pig? And so dumb?” Xiao Lingyu frowned. “A Lingxi Pig?” The old ghost’s shocked exclamation surprised him further. Xiao Lingyu glanced at the little pig circling Tianshui Wuhen, trying to get in. “You know this pig?”
The old ghost stomped angrily. “What tone is that? Do you know how valuable this pig is? A Lingxi Pig, naturally born and raised, loves to seek out heavenly treasures. It’s one of the top treasure-hunting pigs. With it, finding rare materials is no longer a problem.”
It was the first time the old ghost had ever described something with such enthusiasm. Though Xiao Lingyu had never heard of a Lingxi Pig, given the old ghost’s extensive knowledge, he reluctantly let the seemingly foolish pig in.
The little pig, suddenly realizing it had gotten in, rushed straight to Xiao Lingyu’s chest, sniffing and nudging. “Delicious food is here! I want it!” Xiao Lingyu watched the pig drool over him, his pale face flushing. He quickly grabbed the pig by its tail, holding it upside down, and squinted at it. “So stupid… let’s see if it’s really as useful as the old ghost says. Might as well eat it.”
The pig struggled violently, and when Xiao Lingyu loosened his grip, it rolled away to keep a safe distance. “Oink, I want food, but this little monster is too dangerous!” It darted around, trying to escape but felt blocked. Looking back at Xiao Lingyu, it froze and fell on its back, feigning death.
Xiao Lingyu twitched at the pig’s humanlike expression, amused, before refocusing on the battle outside.
By now, the formation was destroyed, and everyone wielded their artifacts directly. Wu Yunzi was locked in a fierce duel with the black-robed elder who had attacked Xiao Lingyu earlier. Xiao Lingyu’s eyes narrowed—he had never forgotten that attack.
In this life, no one else had ever dealt him such a loss. The elder had truly provoked him. His gaze fell on the weapon used in the attack: the Soul-Devouring Dart. If this was meant to strike him, he would not let it go unpunished.
Xiao Lingyu lowered his right hand, letting the long sleeves conceal his movements. After several intricate gestures, the Soul-Devouring Dart, which had lain motionless on the ground, floated and spun toward the black-robed elder. Caught off guard while wielding a curved blade against Wu Yunzi, the elder was struck in the chest by two swift flashes. Staggering in shock, he fled immediately.
Xiao Lingyu’s expression was one of indescribable satisfaction. The Soul-Devouring Dart, a vicious artifact used mostly for sneak attacks, could gradually consume a target’s soul; the heavier the blow, the greater the torment. While Xiao Lingyu couldn’t yet destroy the elder outright, the mere presence of the dart ensured the elder would suffer daily soul-devouring pain unless he had decades of skill to remove it. The thought thrilled Xiao Lingyu—he still enjoyed exacting swift revenge, just as in his past life.
The elder’s hasty retreat astonished the disciples of Yuntian Sect. Wu Yunzi’s fleeting look of puzzlement passed quickly; he seemed to have realized something.
“Senior Brother?” A middle-aged man called out, surprised. Seeing the elder flee without explanation, his expression darkened. He snatched the Soul-Refining Banner and hurried his disciples toward the Ailao Mountains.
“Do not pursue.” Wu Yunzi stopped several elders ready to chase. Wu Anguo, drained from prolonged control of the Lei Han Mirror, needed immediate attention for the injured disciples and the protection of nearby civilians. After the Lian You Sect’s Heaven-and-Earth Soul-Refining Formation, any remaining mortals at the inn were likely compromised and needed urgent healing.
With everything arranged, Wu Yunzi turned to his obedient young disciple, who looked at him with admiration. His gaze fell on a palm-sized white pig joyfully hopping around his disciple.
“Where did this pig come from?” Wu Yunzi asked.
“My disciple doesn’t know, it just appeared,” Xiao Lingyu answered innocently. Two words caught Wu Yunzi’s attention. He waved his hand, catching the pig’s tiny legs. Scanning it with his divine sense, he found it had no spiritual energy—just an ordinary, unusually small pig, likely a special breed raised by humans. Satisfied, he handed it to his disciple. Children, after all, benefit from having pets.
The poor little pig, first threatened by monsters, then checked by a giant creature, was having a rough time. When Xiao Lingyu ordered it to shut up, the pig instantly pressed its lips together and froze, feigning death again.
The old ghost looked on in envy. Lingxi Pigs are naturally top-tier ancient beasts, rare, with innate treasure-seeking abilities. Most had gone extinct due to human greed. Even the old ghost, despite his longevity, had only seen one elsewhere. Now, without any effort, Xiao Lingyu had one come to him. Paired with the Spirit Core, it was clear this boy’s fate was extraordinarily lucky.
Wu Yunzi arranged for Xiao Lingyu to rest. Concerned after his earlier coughing up blood, Wu Yunzi wished he could lie in bed until returning to Yuntian Sect.
Quietly lying in bed, listening to the sect disciples outside, Xiao Lingyu formed a seal to block intrusions of divine perception. Reaching into his bosom, he drew out a milky-white rhombus-shaped crystal.
The little white pig, whose eyes had gleamed when it saw the crystal, immediately froze again upon seeing Xiao Lingyu’s smile.
“Stupid pig!”