Ye Ling watched the spot where the Earth Deity had disappeared, and said softly, "This Earth Deity claims to be unfamiliar with the Qi family, yet he repeatedly asked us to spare the Qi family. After I refused, he left in a hurry. Don't you find that a bit strange?"
Tian Ling asked, "Didn't he say he wanted to rely on the Qi family to retrieve the scroll that sealed the ancient demon spirit, which is why he didn't want the Qi family to be destroyed?"
Ye Ling shook his head and smiled, "You girl, you believe people too easily? We don't know that Earth Deity at all, why should we take his word for it?"
"Moreover, even if the ancient demon spirit truly exists, it's quite unreasonable for the Earth Deity to place all his hope of finding it on the Qi family, whom he doesn't understand."
"Also, the Qi family has been a cultivation family for over two thousand years. Judging by the farmer riding the divine ox in the village earlier, the Qi family still has connections to the immortal realm. With the Qi family's heritage, they wouldn't know the Earth Deity of this mountain."
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Tian Ling also frowned and said, "If senior brother is telling the truth, then why would the Earth Deity dare to lie to us? And the Qi family clearly doesn't know your true identity, senior brother, otherwise they wouldn't dare to provoke you."
This Earth Deity of Wuling Mountain clearly knew the dynamics of the Three Realms and understood Ye Ling's status.
Yet, even so, with the Qi family having provoked Ye Ling, the Earth Deity had the audacity to deceive Ye Ling... Tian Ling couldn't understand what benefit the Earth Deity would gain from such an act.
Ye Ling replied, "Who knows what he's thinking? This Wuling Mountain and the village below are full of inconsistencies. Perhaps the Earth Deity has his own plans."
Tian Ling frowned and shook her head, "I still can't figure it out."
Ye Ling smiled and said, "If you can't figure it out, then forget it. Let's head up the mountain first. No matter what his scheme is, we'll know everything once we've dealt with the Qi family."
After a brief conversation with the Earth Deity, Ye Ling wasted no more time and led Tian Ling up the mountain.
Although Wuling Mountain had a complex maze and fierce beasts and birds, these were like paper to Ye Ling, unable to hinder his progress.
Before long, Ye Ling reached the summit of Wuling Mountain.
At the summit, there was only a stone staircase suspended in the air. At the end of the staircase was a manor floating amidst clouds and mist, with a plaque at its entrance bearing the four characters "Hidden World Manor."
Above the floating manor, a barrier enveloped everything, concealing all within Wuling Mountain.
From the outside, Wuling Mountain appeared no different from any ordinary peak. No one would have guessed that it held such a hidden world within.
Ye Ling stood before the stone staircase, gazing at the floating manor, and chuckled, "This floating formation requires a large amount of spiritual energy to maintain. The Qi family living in such an environment is truly extravagant."
Tian Ling chimed in, "Outsiders can't see these things anyway. They go to such lengths for their own living space, they must not be lacking in spirit stones, right?"
If such a floating manor were built in the outside world, it might serve as a facade, making outsiders perceive it as an aloof immortal lineage and thus enhancing the sect's reputation.
However, in Wuling Mountain, outsiders couldn't enter, and the world was unaware of this floating manor. The Qi family's undertaking this was pointless, other than to satisfy their own vanity.
As Tian Ling was commenting on the floating manor, two Qi family disciples dressed in white flew out from the manor on their swords, stopping above Ye Ling and Tian Ling. They said coldly, "This is the Hidden World Manor. Uninvited guests are not allowed. If you don't want to die, descend the mountain quickly!"
Ye Ling smiled and asked, "May I ask how many of the Qi family's experts are currently in the mountain and how many are outside?"
One of the Qi family disciples retorted coldly, "That's none of your business. Since you wish to die, you have only yourselves to blame!"
With that, the two disciples immediately unleashed their flying swords and shot towards Ye Ling and Tian Ling, showing no mercy!
Seeing the two Qi family disciples attack with their swords, Ye Ling chuckled and sighed, "They really have no manners, attacking right away. Very well, I can't be bothered to waste more words."
As Ye Ling spoke, icy demonic energy emanated from his body, instantly engulfing the two attacking Qi family disciples!
In the blink of an eye, the two Qi family disciples turned into blood, staining the floating stone staircase red.
As Ye Ling made his move, a deafening bell sound erupted from within the manor. Immediately, over a dozen more Qi family disciples flew out from the manor, shouting sternly, "Bold intruders! How dare you kill our disciples of the Hidden World Manor! Surrender quickly and accept death!"
The Qi family disciples shouted in unison, unleashing their flying swords and charging towards Ye Ling!
The flying swords multiplied, two becoming four, and by the time they reached Ye Ling, they were a sky-covering torrent, like a rain of swords from the heavens!
An ordinary cultivator seeing this sight would likely have been terrified and fled.
Unfortunately, the Qi family disciples were facing Ye Ling.
Ye Ling smiled faintly, took a step onto the floating stone staircase, and an invisible aura erupted from his body. The sky-covering rain of swords abruptly halted in mid-air, as if time had stood still!
"Who exactly is this person?"
All the Qi family disciples watched Ye Ling freeze their flying swords, their expressions filled with shock. They all realized that their opponent was no ordinary person and hurriedly increased their spiritual energy output, attempting to break through Ye Ling's domain.
Ye Ling continued to smile, taking another step up the stone staircase. The flying swords automatically changed direction, pointing towards the dozen or so Qi family disciples in the air.
Seeing that their flying swords were completely out of their control and even aimed at them, the Qi family disciples' faces were filled with terror, and a bad premonition arose in their hearts.
Ye Ling chuckled and said, "Go."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As Ye Ling's voice fell, the myriad of flying swords in the air shot towards the Qi family disciples at extreme speed!
Blooms of blood unfurled in the air!
Deep within the Hidden World Manor, in a cultivation room, the Qi family patriarch, Qi Heng, was in seclusion.
At that moment, he suddenly heard a commotion outside. He frowned slightly, opened his eyes, and asked, "What is happening in the manor? Why is it so noisy?"
A panicked voice from outside replied, "Patriarch, something terrible has happened! Someone has attacked our manor!"
"Attacked the manor?" Qi Heng's expression changed slightly. "How many people are there?"
The panicked voice from outside said, "Just, just two! A young man in his twenties, and a little girl!"
"Two?" Qi Heng was somewhat bewildered. While his Qi family might not be the foremost family in China, they were still one of the four major families, enjoying a great reputation. How could someone dare to attack their ancestral home?
And only two people at that!
How audacious could they be?
Thinking of this, Qi Heng felt like laughing.
"This is utterly ridiculous!" A cold glint flashed in Qi Heng's eyes. He stomped his foot and roared, "Earth Deity! Come out here!"
As Qi Heng shouted, a wisp of green smoke rose from the ground. The Earth Deity of Wuling Mountain emerged from the earth, respectfully bowed to Qi Heng, and said, "This humble deity, the Earth Deity of Wuling Mountain, pays respects to the immortal."
Qi Heng asked coldly, "Earth Deity, I ask you, who are the identities of these two who have attacked Wuling Mountain?"
The Earth Deity replied, "Reporting to the immortal, the visitors are the Palace Master of the Demonic Palace, Ye Ling."
"Ye Ling?" Qi Heng was stunned for a moment, then realized who Ye Ling was and sneered, "So it's that fellow! The Demonic Palace is now acting with impunity in the outside world, and my Qi family has remained indifferent, which is the greatest concession to the Demonic Palace!"
"I never expected that after the Demonic Palace developed, Ye Ling would truly believe he could ride roughshod over my Qi family, daring to attack Wuling Mountain!"
The Earth Deity continued, "According to my understanding, Qi Mo clashed with Ye Ling, and Qi Mo has now been killed by Ye Ling."
Qi Heng exclaimed in shock, "What did you say? Qi Mo is dead?"
The Earth Deity lowered his head and said, "I have already dispatched the mountain spirits to investigate the situation. It is absolutely true. The Qi family's estate in the capital has been destroyed."
Boom!
A powerful aura erupted from Qi Heng's body. The Earth Deity, struck by Qi Heng's immense power, spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying, rolling several times on the ground before managing to stop himself.
Qi Heng's eyes turned crimson, and he roared to the heavens, "You dare to kill my Qi family's son, Ye Ling! I will ensure you have a miserable death!!!"