Li Xue calmly replied, "In our clan, other than the founding ancestors, no one had ever managed to surpass the tenth layer of the formula, but to think that you have cultivated so quickly!"
"The tenth layer of the Divine Shocking Dragon Formula, like the eleventh and twelfth layer, have long been altered beyond recognition ages ago. No matter how outstanding your aptitude is, you can't do a thing about it, and the quicker you cultivate, the higher the risk of a cultivation deviation! This was something I happened to overhear by accident. Right now, for you to rely on this crippled formula to reach the ninth layer, that's already a miracle! However, this is also your peak, because if you follow the formula to break through to the tenth layer, you're likely to suffer a backlash!"
Ling Tian blew out a breath of air, before saying in a calm manner, "So that's the case." Then he fell silent. No wonder he always felt that the formula had some problems with the cultivation. With his own heaven-defying talent, as well as his high perception, he had memorized many different cultivation formulas and cross-referenced from there every time he came across something that he didn't understand. This allowed him to take the alternative route in order to progress further, but as the formula became more profound, Ling Tian also became more helpless, finally plateauing before the tenth layer!
Li Xue actually saw this as a matter worth profiteering from and wanted to use this chance to send him into a panic. But seeing his calm reaction, she couldn't help but feel unbearably disappointed, and pouted as she grumbled, "Aren't you the least bit nervous? Your martial arts might not ever improve further in your lifetime!"
A hint of laughter appeared at the corners of Ling Tian's mouth, "If someone else had told me this, I would definitely be worried because I pay a lot of attention to my own cultivation! However, since this is you, not only am I not worried, but I'm instead more relaxed."
"And why so?" Li Xue felt curious, that Ling Tian would actually have such a unique way of thinking.
"I recall in the past that the women of our family were not allowed to come into contact with the Divine Shocking Dragon Formula. The formula was one that would only be passed down to the men. Thus, you should have had no chance to come into contact with the formula, not to mention understanding the profundities within it." Ling Tian smirked, "However, not only do you understand the deficiencies within it, but you're even proficient in the most mystical movement technique of our Divine Shocking Dragon Formula. Lass, so how long are you gonna wait before you pass me the actual formula?"
"How would you be sure that I have the actual formula?!" Li Xue jumped up in fright like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on. "I don't have it, don't have it!"
"No need to be in such a hurry to explain, to explain is to cover up, and to cover up means there exists some truth! You don't have it? If you didn't have it, then would you purposefully say it to make me panic?" Ling Tian mocked. "As if! Lass, even after so many years, the moment you point your butt out I know…" 1
Li Xue immediately covered his mouth, her face red as she screamed, "Okay, okay, you win this time! Don't talk anymore, this mouth of yours is so incredibly dirty!"
Ling Tian sniggered as he replied, "I wanted to say that the moment you point your butt out I'll know which direction you're moving towards. What did you think I was gonna say? Aiya, your mind is really unhealthy these days."
"LING TIAN!!!!!" Li Xue stomped her feet in apoplectic rage.
"Hmm? Do you have something to tell me?" Ling Tian shrugged his shoulders at her suggestively.
Li Xue let out a defeated sigh as she replied, "I must say, you were more of a gentleman in your past life. Right now, you're an utter hooligan from head to toe!"
A cold expression passed over Ling Tian's face as he snorted, "Gentleman? If I didn't insist on maintaining that darned act of a gentleman in my past life, the Ling Family would have long become my territory! How else would I have landed in such a pathetic scenario, and how else would I have ended up here? Those that deserve death the most in the world are those f**king gentlemen or those so-called great heroes! Their deaths are all asked for, because they display all their weaknesses in front of their enemies and opponents, trusting them to be as fair as them. It's no wonder that they die! Don't link those main characters in those novels with reality!"
Li Xue fell silent, and only whispered after a long while, "I definitely am not so naive, but, in the past you were definitely a great hero, a true gentleman."
Ling Tian barked out a bitter laugh, "Are you praising me? This is worse than pointing your finger and cursing me. You might as well call me a martyr for the masses! In this life, I refuse to be a hero and a gentleman anymore, I want to be the dictator, ruling over everything with an iron fist!"
Li Xue giggled, before placating him, "Alright, let's not dwell on this topic. I'll now recite the things I know regarding the missing points of the Divine Shocking Dragon Formula. While you've already reached the Ninth Layer, because of the gaps in the formula, your meridians are bound to have been damaged. The good part is that you've been using the purest XianTian energy from your mother's womb to cultivate, and hence these injuries can be quickly mended. However, if you are to continue cultivating the erroneous method, then there will come a point where your meridians can't take it and break down. By that time, it would be too late! If that happens you will need to cultivate from scratch again. This matter should be done as early as possible."
In response, Ling Tian only laughed, "Now's as good as time as any. There's no need to rush it though, you can just write it down for me. This would be less troublesome, and when the time comes, I only need to pick up and book to read and practice, so much easier!"
Li Xue's eyes opened wide as she huffily said, "You really know how to take advantage of people, oh great noble Ling! Are you treating this lady here as your servant girl? This is too much!"
Only to be met with a grin from Ling Tian, "Treat you as a servant girl? Oh my, I wouldn't dare! However, we do have a lot of matters on hand currently, and this problem is something that will require a long period of time. Do you think I can finish recultivating in a day or so? If that's the case, you really look up to me too much, as though I'm a god!"
Li Xue furrowed her brows and thought about it. After all, she was also a practitioner and could understand the meaning of Ling Tian's words. The reason why she urged Ling Tian was that she was mainly worried about his body. However, Ling Tian was not someone who didn't know his priorities, thus if he decided to alter his cultivation at a later date, Li Xue had no objections. However, she spoke again, "But you will need to slowly patch up your mistakes, one at a time from now onward."
"That goes without saying! You think I'm fearless about death?!" Ling Tian immediately agreed.
"Then will we be leaving here? Where are we headed to first then?" Looking at her surroundings, Li Xue let out a wistful expression. After all, this was the 'house' she grew up in!
Ling Tian took in a sharp breath, and calmly spoke, "We can't go to Sky Bearing for the time being, firstly is because the martial order has not ended, and so long as I can't pinpoint the location of Justice we can't relax, because his capabilities are too out of this world! Secondly, Ling Chen and Ling Jian have just started the plan, and if I return that would be wasting their efforts. Thirdly, the Xiao Family, as well as those from Above Heavens have definitely not given up on me, so why not bring them on a wild goose chase and at the same time visit my old friends the Yu and DongFang Families? As for the fourth point…" Ling Tian stroked his chin and let out an evil smile, "I've never had the chance to really play in my ten odd years here. That's sullying the tag of 'number one silkpants' that I have! I'll take this time to have a vacation then, and play all I can!"
"Vacation? Play all you can?!" Li Xue burst into laughter. "What a vacation this great noble Ling is having. How is running around escaping from the entire world wanting to kill you considered a vacation? You had better not shoot yourself in the foot, in the event that the eighteen experts from Above Heavens catch up to you, that would really be considered as 'playing all you can'!"
"Trap me? If they really can do that, then it would be their lucky day! You think that I'll play fairly with them like that fool Justice? What a joke! If I don't play them to death, my name isn't Ling Tian!" Ling Tian let out a raucous laugh.
"That's true…" Li Xue nodded her head in agreement, "Under your innumerable traps, this group will have to worry more about their lives than yours! Oh yes, how exactly did Justice escape from all your traps, given your skill in hidden weapons? Did you actually hold back?!"
"That's not the case. I threw a few of my trump cards just on Justice already! This guy might be a fool, but he is an adorable one who has unimaginable strength and skill. If he even thought of playing dirty, I estimate that even with three of me, I would still end up dead!" Ling Tian shook his head.
"Just based on the battle by the hillside, he indeed has a frightening strength, far surpassing anybody of our generation. That's right, have you already calculated your moves? Are you really planning to open up a path of slaughter? Aren't you afraid that if you kill too many people, then it will end up offending even Heaven itself?" Li Xue questioned.
"Offending heaven?! Hahaha…" Ling Tian burst into laughter, only stopping to catch a breath after a long while, "When a man takes action, he will definitely be ruthless. Work and morals are two opposing sides, unrelated to each other! If I'm supposed to kill, then I'll be merciless. Never pausing in my job even after a thousand autumns, immersing myself in slaughtering… every three steps I take, I will kill one. The heart stops but my hands won't. Blood flows for ten thousand miles, and corpses pile up like a thousand mountains… Killing one is a sin, but ten thousand makes me a hero. If I can slaughter nine hundred thousand, then I'll be a hero among heroes. As a hero among heroes, my path is different. I've seen through the righteousness of a millennium, but today I'll show off my awe and influence. I'll choose infamy over a good reputation, my heart does not reprimand me for the millions I've killed. I would rather teach the masses to gnash their teeth in hate of me than to have none knowing about me. Cast your eyes over the history of the past few millennia, which heroes have not been murderers? … hahaha…"
Following a long laugh, Ling Tian strode in front, his skinny figure bringing about an aura of disaster, of bloodshed and cruelty! Gazing at his back, Li Xue stood dumbly on the spot for a moment, before twisting her body and catching up. The two of them traversed quickly, disappearing past a corner.
Among the varied mountains and the verdant foliage, there existed a nameless hill with a huge hole. Both of them were witnesses to a scene of battle among the absolute experts on this land!
Northern Wei, Yu Family, Martial Pointer Pavilion.
Yu ManLou stood with a heavy expression in front of the window. The weather outside was raging, haze covering the scenery, and a torrential downpour lashed through the area. It was akin to the current political scene of Northern Wei, with the rains and winds of chaos striking in all directions!
While the Imperial Court of Northern Wei having collapsed in a single night was a horrifying incident, it wasn't a big affair to the supervisor of Bright Jade City. So long as the Yu Family existed, there was no difference in having an Imperial Court or not. After the climactic battle where the Northern Wei troops were almost totally wiped out, the reputation of the Northern Wei Imperial Court had received a great hit, with its prestige falling into the gutter!
The full phrase would typically be something like "I know what you're gonna sh*t out the moment you point your butt", meaning he is too familiar with her actions.