Chapter 464 - 317: Gongsun Huang’s Request

Chapter 464: Chapter 317: Gongsun Huang’s Request

After entering the Inner City, several carriages were waiting there. It was still a considerable distance from the Inner City gate to Lingxiao Mansion.

Gongsun Sword peered out the carriage window, carefully observing his surroundings. He was astonished to discover that there wasn’t the slightest trace of a battle anywhere in the Inner City! The trees lining the road were tall and verdant. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a fragmented, dappled pattern on the ground. In the small gardens beyond, tender grass grew in vibrant green patches, crisscrossed by numerous crystal-clear streams. When a stretch of water came into view, Gongsun Sword could even see fish swimming within.

’What in the world!’

Gongsun Sword found it all too incredible. ’What method did Ling Xiao possibly use to make the Zhe Family’s powerful Martial Artists vanish without a trace?’ Today, the proud Gongsun Sword finally had to admit that Ling Xiao’s strength was definitely far greater than his own. The very fact that he couldn’t sense any energy fluctuations from Ling Xiao was proof enough that the man wasn’t just a little stronger—he was on a completely different level.

This conclusion left a sour taste in Gongsun Sword’s mouth. He’d always thought of others as frogs in a well, their vision obscured, but today he realized that he was the one looking at a mere palm-sized patch of sky.

The group arrived at the reception hall of Lingxiao Mansion. Chunlan and Qiuyue, Ling Xiao’s two personal Maids, served tea. After giving Ling Xiao a gentle smile, they withdrew in silence.

Gongsun Huang merely glanced at the two Maids and was slightly startled. ’These two young girls serving tea... their Inner Strength fluctuations have actually reached the Mad Sword Master realm! Ling Xiao’s foundation is deep indeed!’

’Although he may not have many high-level experts at the Sword Emperor Realm under his command right now,’ Gongsun Huang knew perfectly well, ’it doesn’t actually take long to build a truly powerful family!’

And Ling Xiao already possessed all the necessary conditions!

First, he possessed vast lands. Second, his financial power was in no way inferior to that of the great, wealthy clans. Nothing else needed to be said; the Beauty Pill alone would ensure Ling Xiao never had to worry about a shortage of Gold Coins.

Most importantly, if he could concoct an elixir as miraculous as the Beauty Pill, who would dare claim he couldn’t create elixirs that enhanced one’s strength?

In just two years, six experts of the Sword Emperor Realm had already gathered by his side. Gongsun Huang was certain that in less than a century, the Ling Family would firmly establish itself among the great clans, rising to a rank even above the first-tier!

In fact, in their hearts, many great clans already considered the Ling Family of Penzes to be a first-tier power. They had even managed to eliminate a Sword Venerable. If that wasn’t first-tier, what was?

Gongsun Huang’s resolve to befriend Ling Xiao grew even firmer. ’I must find a way to build a good relationship with this young man!’ When it came to interpersonal relations, Gongsun Huang was different from many other powerful families—he didn’t like to use force to solve problems.

This was also a key reason why, in the hearts of many, the Gongsun Clan—despite being a recognized super-clan—wasn’t even considered as formidable as a first-tier clan like the Zhe Family.

They were too low-key. Genuinely low-key. If Gongsun Huang hadn’t, on a whim, used divination to learn that a great powerhouse would appear here, and if he himself weren’t on the verge of breaking through from the Sword Venerable Realm to the Saint Tier and stepping through the gates of the Holy Sanctuary, he never would have brought his grandson to this place.

"Ling Xiao, my young friend, we’ve taken the liberty of visiting. I hope you’ll forgive the intrusion." Gongsun Huang spoke with extreme politeness, a gentle smile on his face.

Ling Xiao held no animosity toward Gongsun Huang. He chuckled and replied, "On the contrary, it was my battle that disturbed so many experts. In that sense, I am the source of the trouble. May I ask which family you and your esteemed self hail from? Though, I imagine it must be one of the legendary super-clans!"

Gongsun Huang looked at Ling Xiao with great interest and chuckled. "Heh, why don’t you first tell me how you concluded that we come from a super-clan?"

Ling Xiao smiled faintly. "I’ve heard that a family with a Sword Venerable in its ranks can be called a first-tier family, and your strength far surpasses that of the Zhe Family’s Sword Venerable. What’s more..." Ling Xiao glanced at Gongsun Sword beside him. "He is so young, yet he has already reached the level of a Peak Sword Sect. I can’t imagine any family other than a super-clan being able to produce such an outstanding heir!"

At Ling Xiao’s words, Gongsun Sword’s eyebrow twitched. ’This kid sure knows how to talk!’ he thought. The animosity he felt toward Ling Xiao diminished significantly. In truth, his so-called ’animosity’ was more... just a form of jealousy. But Gongsun Sword was someone who could let things go. Seeing that Ling Xiao, though younger than him, was so poised and magnanimous while he himself was just mired in baseless suspicion, he felt he had already shown himself to be the lesser man.

So, he smiled and said, "Lord Marquis, you are the truly formidable one! You were able to slay an expert of the Sword Venerable Realm from the Zhe Family. I, Gongsun Sword, am far too lacking in comparison. I humbly concede."

Ling Xiao smiled. "Just call me Ling Xiao." He said it with an air of casual indifference, not mentioning the matter with the Zhe Family at all.

At this, Gongsun Huang laughed from the side. "This is my unaccomplished grandson. My surname is Gongsun, and my given name is Huang. As for these ’super’ or ’first-tier’ labels, they are just empty titles not worth discussing. We Cultivators shouldn’t be spending our days fighting for fame and profit! If all that energy were instead focused on cultivation, I believe many more Martial Artists would one day be able to enter the Holy Sanctuary!"