Inside the Creation Space.
Lin Xiao sat cross-legged, deep in cultivation.
It had been three days since he had slain Prince Zhennan.
Now, Lin Xiao was attempting to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm 3rd Layer.
The Blazing Flame Army had yet to retreat, so Lin Xiao dared not slack off.
He wasn't arrogant enough to believe that, with just his Spirit Transformation Realm 2nd Layer cultivation, he could completely defeat the hundred-thousand-strong Blazing Flame Army.
Last time, the Blazing Flame Army had been too careless, unaware of his existence.
Now, the Blazing Flame Army was on guard, and they wouldn't be so easy to deal with.
Therefore, he needed to enhance his cultivation strength once more to better protect the Azure Light Sect.
Boom!
Before long, a thunderous sound erupted from within Lin Xiao, his aura surged, and he instantly stepped into the Spirit Transformation Realm 3rd Layer.
With a cultivation speed thousands of times faster than normal, his realm bottleneck seemed as fragile as paper.
"Martial artists in the Spirit Transformation Realm can leap dozens of meters and glide through the air. It's said that if one reaches the later stages of the Spirit Transformation Realm, above the 7th Layer, they can even hover briefly. I wonder if that's true?"
Lin Xiao opened his eyes, pondering silently.
He felt that as long as his True Essence was sufficiently dense, not only hovering briefly but even true flight wouldn't be impossible.
However, Lin Xiao realized that, in terms of True Essence alone, his wasn't as powerful as Prince Zhennan's.
In their last battle, although Prince Zhennan only used one or two moves, his True Essence was extremely dense, and the True Essence attached to his battle saber seemed more refined and powerful than Lin Xiao's.
Lin Xiao understood that this was because the True Brightness Art he practiced was somewhat low-level and not strong enough.
Whether it was the True Brightness Art or the Gale Saber Art, they were both high-grade Human-rank martial arts, not high enough in level.
In the Qi Condensation Realm and Meridian Opening Realm, high-grade Human-rank martial arts weren't bad, but at the Spirit Transformation Realm level, they were somewhat lacking.
Although he had cultivated the Gale Saber Art to Transcendent Mastery, making it extremely powerful, comparable to a top-grade Human-rank martial technique at Perfect Mastery, it didn't change the fact that the True Essence cultivated through the True Brightness Art wasn't strong enough.
The Azure Light Sect did have over a dozen top-grade Human-rank cultivation arts, and even one Earthly-rank cultivation art.
However, only the Sect Master and Elders were allowed to practice the Earthly-rank cultivation art; even True Disciples weren't qualified.
"Forget it, once the crisis at the Azure Light Sect is resolved, I'll find a way to acquire two Earthly-rank cultivation arts and martial techniques to practice!"
"And better weapons too. Last time, when I sliced that Black-Armored General along with his battle saber, my long saber got a huge crack!"
Lin Xiao thought to himself.
His foundation was too thin; whether it was martial arts or weapons, they were all ordinary.
It was only because his cultivation was deep enough and he had mastered the mysterious Blade Force that he was so powerful.
If he revealed his identity now, he could obtain some good things from the Azure Light Sect.
Afterward, Lin Xiao exited the Creation Space. It was already evening.
Lin Xiao leaped onto a tall tree, gazing down the mountain.
The Blazing Flame Army hadn't left!
The royal family was relentless, and he couldn't just wait idly. Since they weren't moving, he would take the initiative.
Over an hour later, as night fell, Lin Xiao quietly descended the mountain.
He spotted several Azure Light Sect disciples guarding the mountain path, bypassed them, and hid at the foot of the mountain.
At this moment, although the Blazing Flame Army was still surrounding the Azure Light Sect, the main force had retreated a mile away.
Clearly, the Blazing Flame Army was also worried about Lin Xiao attacking again, causing massive casualties, so they kept a safe distance.
The Blazing Flame Army's defenses were extremely tight, with a wall of tall shields forming a steel fortress.
Behind them were countless archers, ready to unleash a rain of arrows if anyone from the Azure Light Sect charged out.
Not far behind the steel fortress were rows of tents, brightly lit.
Lin Xiao observed all this, contemplating how he could force the Blazing Flame Army to retreat.
With his current strength, could he take the enemy general's head amidst the army?
Not a problem!
Currently, the Blazing Flame Army was leaderless and shouldn't be able to hold him back.
After a moment, Lin Xiao took a deep breath, donned his mask again, and slowly drew the long saber from his waist.
Whoosh!
With a step, Lin Xiao darted like a phantom toward the steel fortress formed by the Blazing Flame Army's shield formation.
"Enemy attack!"
"He's here!"
"Release the arrows! Quickly, release the arrows!"
Although Lin Xiao moved swiftly, the firelight illuminated him, and the ever-vigilant Blazing Flame Army soldiers spotted him.
Swish, swish, swish!!!
Instantly, a dense rain of arrows shot toward him, blotting out the sky.
These archers were all martial artists, and each arrow was powerful, with a range exceeding two hundred paces.
In an instant, hundreds to thousands of sharp arrows were fired, forcing even ordinary Spirit Transformation Realm experts to avoid the onslaught.
However, Lin Xiao was no ordinary Spirit Transformation Realm expert. His footwork technique was unparalleled, swiftly dodging each arrow, and those he couldn't avoid, he sliced apart with his saber.
Saber light flashed, leaving trails of afterimages as Lin Xiao advanced rapidly.
"Stop him!"
A Blazing Flame Army commander shouted, even personally drawing his bow to shoot.
The rain of arrows continued to pour down, sealing off a large area ahead.
But Lin Xiao was too fast, his form flickering, leaving a trail of afterimages.
Ordinary Blazing Flame Army archers couldn't lock onto Lin Xiao's exact position, let alone shoot him.
Forty meters!
Thirty meters!
Twenty meters!
Lin Xiao quickly closed in on the shield formation, the rain of arrows unable to halt his advance.
When he was just twenty meters from the shield formation, he leaped, his entire body soaring like a great bird, flying over the shield formation.
Boom!
Before he even landed, Lin Xiao slashed down from above.
Gale Saber Art—Gale Tempest.
Instantly, hundreds of tiny saber energies burst forth from his long saber, slicing into the army formation.
"Ahhh!!"
In a moment, hundreds of Blazing Flame Army soldiers were wounded or killed, screams echoing all around.
Whoosh!
Lin Xiao landed, his foot striking the ground as he shot like an arrow toward the central tent of the Blazing Flame Army.
At this moment, the entire Blazing Flame Army was in chaos, countless soldiers converging from all directions to encircle Lin Xiao.
Kill!
Lin Xiao swung his saber wildly, his long saber like the scythe of death, each strike claiming numerous lives.
Lin Xiao couldn't charge into the tents ahead because there were too many Blazing Flame Army soldiers, densely packed, surrounding him tightly.
So, Lin Xiao could only kill relentlessly, whether they were ordinary Qi Condensation Realm soldiers or mid- to low-level Meridian Opening Realm officers, none could withstand a single move from him.
Lin Xiao didn't even use the power of True Essence; with his formidable physical strength, a single slash could shred a person to pieces.
Lin Xiao focused on killing those officers wearing special armor, regardless of their rank, he slaughtered them all.
"Form up!"
"Form the battle array!"
A high-ranking officer shouted from a distance, and immediately countless Blazing Flame Army soldiers began to form up.