Chapter 11 - Ling Xi Sword

The Desolate Beastlands were the borderlands between Cangyang Kingdom and Lihuo Kingdom.

The kingdoms never had to set up border patrols along it as the region was the demonic beast’s heaven.

The Desolate Beastlands were also filled with treasure. Rumors had it that the reason why the region was so desolate that not even grass grew was due to the spiritual herbs and spiritual objects absorbing all of nature’s spiritual energy.

“Sigh ... Luckily we didn’t fly too deep into the region. We should be able to leave this damned place in a couple of days.”

Long Chen felt Ling Xi cheering happily on his back.

They had already spent more than a day with each other. Even though Ling Xi was at first very cautious about spending time with a man, she was now sitting comfortably on Long Chen’s back and enjoying the feeling.

“Xiao Xi, be quiet! If you hadn’t been chatting all the time, we wouldn’t have gotten into so much trouble. Let this be clear, if I must die here, I will rape and kill you first!”

Long Chen threatened her in frustration. He had been carefully navigating the area to leave the region but she kept chattering from time to time without warning, startling him too many times to count.

Long Chen had some lingering fear after the close call with the Moon Devouring Wolf.

“Hmph! Bastard, do you think I’m stupid? I’m just a sword now, the Ling Xi Sword. What can you do to me?”

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The grey mountains and the grey sky blended together in the distance, as if there were no end to the region. The air was filled with the scent of rot and decay. Long Chen furrowed his brows as he continued walking.

“It’s almost been half a month. Not only do I need to exit this place, but I must also break through the Fifth Draconic Stage. The Family Meeting is just around the corner. If I can’t get the Dragon Seal, there’s no way I can validate my existence with my meager strength at the stupid wedding.”

Ling Xi said casually, “You are only at the Third Draconic Stage. It’s going to be very difficult to break through the Fifth Draconic Stage within half a month in this small place with limited resources.”

She was speaking the truth, and it caused Long Chen’s heart to sink further.

He stared at the mountains blocking his path in front as if they were also shackling him his entire life.

“Wait a second ...”

Long Chen felt as if he had thought it out. “Mountains are meant to be climbed over. The half month isn’t over yet, how can I give up? My dad never gave me the option to do so!”

He suddenly felt a surge of pride in his heart.

When she saw the sudden burst of light in Long Chen’s eyes, Ling Xi was perplexed. “What a weird guy ...”

“Wait a minute. Xiao Xi, you said that this is a small place? There are seventeen counties in Cangyang Kingdom, and each of them is very large, like Yuanling County where Baiyang Town is located. There are hundreds of towns the size of Baiyang Town in Yuanling County.”

Ling Xi rolled her eyes. “You are nothing but a toad in the well. You are residing in the area known as the Ten Thousand Nations Territory. Cangyang Kingdom is but a small nation and there’s at least 10,000 nations of a similar size within the territory. Besides, the Ten Thousand Nations Territory is just a small portion of the Dragon Continent.”

Long Chen was baffled.

He shook his head. “Miss, since when has our world been so large? I’ve only heard about a couple of kingdoms bordering Cangyang Kingdom.”

“Believe what you want! Hmph!”

The dried twigs Long Chen stepped on made soft sounds.

Long Chen ignored Ling Xi and focused on getting out of the region. The Desolate Beastlands had a myriad of strange stone formations, and Long Chen could hide himself behind them.

They heard the howls of a beast ahead.

“Ling Xi, I think there’s danger lurking ahead. Don’t talk too loud if you have nothing useful to say.”

Ling Xi had noticed the same thing and agreed obediently.

Half a day passed after they crossed the mountain. Long Chen raised his head and saw that the skies were no longer grey. There was a hint of sunlight passing through the clouds. Long Chen was ecstatic!

Thankfully we weren’t too deep into the region. If there’s no danger, we only need two to three days to exit the Desolate Beastlands. I’ve already wasted nearly five days. How can I fight Yang Lingyue in just ten days?

They continued their journey.

When there was no danger, they bickered and teased each other playfully. If danger was close by, they were silent. Because Ling Xi’s senses were very powerful, they managed to avoid most of the ordinary demonic beasts.

Days passed, and Ling Xi felt the urgency in Long Chen’s heart. One day, she whispered to him sneakily, “Hey. I think I smell the scent of a demonic ginseng. Hehe.”

Long Chen paused and muttered, “Smell? Are you a dog? I know dogs have a good nose.”

Ling Xi was angered by his words. “Bastard. I’m helping you out of my own good will, and you dare call me a dog? I-I won’t help you anymore. Let’s see how you embarrass yourself at the Family Meeting. Hmph!”

Long Chen pleaded for forgiveness and buttered her up, even addressing her as “great aunt” before she was placated. “That’s more like it. The demonic ginseng is one of the better spiritual herbs at the intermediate Yellow-tier. While it’s not very useful, it should help you a little.”

Long Chen chuckled.

I should probably keep her close to me since her nose is so sensitive.

Thinking about the mountain of spiritual herbs that he would soon obtain, Long Chen decided to take a detour. Ling Xi, who was excitedly trying to pinpoint the location of the demonic ginseng, had no idea that Long Chen had decided to keep her close.

“The demonic ginseng is a strange spiritual object. Even though it's technically a spiritual herb, after growing for a hundred years, it gains some sentience and can move around. It’s fairly difficult to find, but there’s no way it can escape me!”

“Over here. Keep going, we are almost there. Aiya, it’s running away. Over there ...”

Under Ling Xi’s command, Long Chen chased the demonic ginseng at high speed. When he climbed over a large boulder, he finally saw the demonic ginseng with his own eyes. It was around a foot in height, and it resembled a small man emanating a soft yellow glow. A thick herbal fragrance exuded from its body. Long Chen almost wanted to pounce on it.

This is the key to making my name at the Family Meeting. I must get it no matter what.

Thanks to the Constellation Body, Long Chen shot toward the demonic ginseng at an explosive speed.

He ran into the canyon when the demonic ginseng was right in front of him. Suddenly, Ling Xi shouted. “Wait! Stop! Hide!”

After spending time with each other for three days, they already worked with each other well. Even though the demonic ginseng was within reach, Long Chen knew that as long as he stayed alive, he’d get another chance. This was the Desolate Beastlands, not a place where he could move freely. Preserving his life was of the utmost importance. When Ling Xi shouted for him to hide, he immediately rolled into a crevice.

Just as he hid himself in the crevice, the demonic ginseng stopped running. There were numerous growls from the depths of the canyon as several shadows flew out and surrounded the demonic ginseng, breathing heavily.

There were five lean, jet-black beasts that looked like black panthers. They had long snouts and four blade-like claws. As they ran, they left dark-red streaks and filled the air in the canyon with the stench of blood.

“They are ... Devil Groundhounds ...”