Chapter 384: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

It wasn't until the scholar spat out words of begging for mercy that Yang Ling finally released his grip on the man's fingers.

Lin Hai and the others witnessed this scene, and once again gasped sharply in their hearts.

This personal disciple of the Devour Heaven Palace Master truly didn't treat the disciples of Star Observation Academy as human beings at all.

"You're Middle Fifth-Rank?"

Wang Yaozu's hoarse voice slowly sounded.

He had already climbed back to his feet with the support of his disciples.

Yang Ling felt somewhat emotional. His techniques just now, applied to any Upper Sixth-Rank with attributes similar to Wang Yaozu's, would have sent them on two trips to the Western Paradise.

The terrifying recovery ability brought about by the Lesser Master gene mutation was, without a doubt, a form of dimensional reduction strike.

"Soon. Before long, I'll possess this ability too."

"By then, combined with the Vajra Indestructible Body, the Ironclad Fortress, and the damage reduction from the Fire Crocodile Set, my life will be incredibly tough!"

He temporarily regarded this ability as a passive health regeneration effect.

Only after he became a Fifth-Rank Lesser Master could he confirm whether his speculation was correct.

"Give me two hundred taels."

Yang Ling asked Lin Zhen for another two hundred taels of silver, then walked over to Wang Yaozu and stuffed it into his hands.

"Instructor Wang, consider these two hundred taels my compensation for your medical expenses."

"The Crimson Ghost Ginseng is already in my hands, so don't conspire with others to scheme against the Lin Family anymore."

"Junior Brother Lin Zhen is the Chief Disciple of Flying Dragon Mountain of Devour Heaven Palace, and I am the Palace Master's personal disciple."

"Targeting the Lin Family is targeting our Devour Heaven Palace."

Looking at the two hundred taels of silver in his hands, Wang Yaozu didn't fly into a rage this time. Instead, he asked:

"Did the Devour Heaven Palace Master send you down the mountain this time?"

"No, Master doesn't know about this matter, and this doesn't rise to the level of a conflict between Devour Heaven Palace and Star Observation Academy."

"But if you want it to be, it can be."

Yang Ling smiled. "Our Devour Heaven Palace has never been afraid of trouble."

"..."

Wang Yaozu was silent for a few breaths, then spoke with a somewhat hoarse voice:

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-four."

"A Middle Fifth-Rank at twenty-four!?"

Military Officer Mo exclaimed in shock.

"I'm Upper Sixth-Rank, not Middle Fifth-Rank."

Yang Ling said, "I forgot to mention that earlier."

"You're only... Upper Sixth-Rank? How is that possible!?"

Wang Yaozu gasped sharply.

He suddenly understood why this person had shown up here!

The Crimson Ghost Ginseng!

If this person was Upper Sixth-Rank, he could completely consume the Crimson Ghost Ginseng and unleash its maximum efficacy!

"Upper Sixth-Rank, possessing the strength to defeat me, and only twenty-four years old..."

A chill ran through Wang Yaozu's heart.

If nothing unexpected happened, Devour Heaven Palace would indeed gain another Fourth-Rank Grandmaster!

And this one might even have a chance to break through to Third-Rank!

"Today's matter ends here."

Wang Yaozu spoke slowly, then left swiftly with his disciples in tow.

Seeing this, Military Officer Mo squeezed out a forced smile on his face, exchanged pleasantries with Lin Baoshan and Yang Ling, and then led his men away as well.

[Congratulations, you have successfully resolved the conflict between the Lin Family and Star Observation Academy, intimidated the Lin Hai branch, and intimidated Military Officer Mo, the leader of the garrison troops of the Qi Heavenly Provincial Capital]

[Evaluation in progress...]

[Quest Evaluation: S]

"Only an S, not even an S+? Where did I fall short?"

"Would I have needed to beat Wang Yaozu to death to get an S+?"

Yang Ling felt somewhat disappointed inwardly.

This side quest's difficulty wasn't actually high. If Wang Yaozu were treated as a boss, he'd be around a B- to C+ level.

This man's combat power was actually inferior to the C+ difficulty White Bone Demon King.

At least the White Bone Demon King had 400 points of Strength and 300 points of Agility.

"'Divine Realm' assesses rewards and experience based on the strength disparity between both parties."

"This quest was completed very simply and easily, so I estimate the rewards won't be much."

[Reward obtained: Free Attribute Points 10, Foundation Consolidation Pills 10, Spirit Nurturing Pills 20]

[Choose one of the above rewards]

"Indeed, not much. But 10 free attribute points is a good thing."

Yang Ling's eyes brightened. He wasn't overly ecstatic, but it was still a solid gain!

He chose the free attribute points, and the free attributes on his Status Panel jumped from 53 to 63 in an instant.

"63 free attribute points now. Once I break through to Lower Fifth-Rank, my strength will experience another meteoric rise!"

Yang Ling was raring to go, his heart full of anticipation for the surge in strength he'd gain after breaking through to Lower Fifth-Rank.

Just then, he seemed to hear some commotion, as if someone had mentioned his name.

Yang Ling spread out his perception, and various sounds poured into his ears.

He locked onto a conversation amidst the many voices.

"Things have changed. Lin Zhen wasn't the only one who came down the mountain. The Crimson Ghost Ginseng wasn't taken by Wang Yaozu. He lost to Yang Ling, the Devour Heaven Palace Master's personal disciple."

"Should we make our move? This is a rare opportunity. If we can kill the Palace Master's personal disciple Yang Ling, it's a bigger profit than the original plan!"

"I heard Jiu Xingkong ended up dead in the end. He probably died at this Yang Ling's hands. If we can kill him too, we can frame Arhat Temple for it."

"Let Arhat Temple and Devour Heaven Palace fight to the death, and we can take advantage of the situation."

"Let's do it! The two of us, Lower Fifth-Rank experts joining forces, can't possibly lose to some personal disciple."

"I think we should forget it. That Yang Ling managed to defeat Wang Yaozu, so he definitely has something strange about him. Even the two of us joining forces might not necessarily come out on top."

"Are you just going to watch him walk away with the Crimson Ghost Ginseng? If the two of us each eat half, our cultivation levels will soar!"

"Fine... let's do this job!"

The sounds then shifted. The two seemed to have stopped conversing and were rapidly approaching the Lin Family's direction.

"Wang Yaozu was set up by someone. They deliberately sent him to the Lin Family to seize the Crimson Ghost Ginseng, planning to be the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

"These two even used this to lure Lin Zhen down the mountain, just to kill him."

Yang Ling suddenly recalled the first time he entered the Devour Heaven Palace dungeon, the description in the dungeon summary:

Devour Heaven Palace was being besieged by Arhat Temple and Extreme Flame Sword Manor...

"That's right, Devour Heaven Palace has another opponent: Extreme Flame Sword Manor..."

"Extreme Flame Sword Manor is clearly also at odds with Arhat Temple. The relationship between the three factions should be mutual enemies..."

Yang Ling suddenly looked at Lin Hai and his group, opening up all their Status Panels and examining them carefully.

He didn't even miss the younger generation among them.

Soon, he locked onto a young woman who appeared to be just over twenty years old.

Her strength was around Ninth-Rank, and her faction was Extreme Flame Sword Manor.

"As I thought, it's very likely she leaked the information that the Lin Family possessed the Crimson Ghost Ginseng."

"The Lower Fifth-Rank experts of Extreme Flame Sword Manor used this to scheme against Wang Yaozu, wanting to discreetly spirit away the Crimson Ghost Ginseng..."

A trace of emotion welled up in Yang Ling's heart.

No wonder it was a sacred martial medicine. It could instantly attract the covetous attention of all parties.

He estimated that the news of the Lin Family possessing the Crimson Ghost Ginseng had only spread recently.

Lin Hai and the others felt a creeping unease under Yang Ling's gaze, but they could only squeeze out forced smiles on their faces, trying their best not to provoke him.

He's looking at me!

That young woman's heart was filled with fear.

Already guilty, she now discovered that this Personal Disciple Yang was scrutinizing her, making her unable to help but wonder if she had already been exposed.

Just then, two figures suddenly rushed into the small courtyard.

They wore plain gray clothes with black cloths covering their faces, their target clearly being Yang Ling.

But just as they made their move, a figure descended from the sky and shattered both their skulls.

The two bodies were sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, already dead.

The figure who appeared suddenly was a woman of stunning beauty with an icy, aloof expression.

Yang Ling hurriedly cupped his fists in salute:

"Master."

Lin Zhen gasped sharply and hastily bowed with cupped fists:

"Palace Master!"