Decisive Decision

Lin Xiang could understand everyone's thoughts at this moment.

Using cosmo energy would be a great shortcut to mortal cultivation. The average cultivator wouldn't need to do separate comprehension of the Heaven and Earth and Great Dao essence.

Simply perceiving the particles within cosmos energy can dramatically improve one's speed by dozens of times.

However, there was a catch. Cultivators can only comprehend cosmos energy through Heavenly Clouds and its later evolutions.

Every Heavenly Cloud only contains a small portion of cosmos energy. Heavenly Clouds can only be formed once one reaches the Heavenly Origin realm.

Furthermore, the number of Heavenly Clouds one can gain depends on the grade of their Laws.

A low-graded Law would only allow a cultivator to perceive the tiniest sensation of cosmos energy, thus only allowing them to form one Heavenly Cloud.

Just a single Heavenly Cloud wouldn't allow a cultivator's speed to increase by a lot. In fact, it would only be a slight increase compared to their cultivation speed in the Profound realm.

Compared to cultivators, monstrous beasts have it much easier. Their bodies and cores are fused with larger portions of cosmos energy!

It's because of this that monstrous beasts' Divine Senses can automatically perceive cosmos energy from wherever they are.

Through comprehending and absorbing cosmos energy would a monstrous beast grow stronger. Every single part of a monstrous beast would have an endless flow of cosmos energy particles running through.

Thus, when refining and purifying monstrous beasts could cultivators absorb their strength for their own cultivation or used the beast's cosmos energy to make weapons, medicine, formations, or other powerful items.

It's why both Xie Ya's group and the sword cultivators were thankful that Lin Xiang only chose the flood dragon's core. Every other part of its body was still highly valuable.

Moreover, if Lin Xiang did decide to be gluttonous, there wouldn't be anything anyone could do about it. Less they would want to put a useless struggle against Lin Xiang and die for nothing.

The peaceful route made everyone feel grateful for the benevolent action.

In just a few minutes, the sword cultivators teamed up with Xie Ya's group to carve out debone the massive flood dragon.

With their powers, the process was quickly done.

Soon enough, Lin Xiang had a flood dragon's core within his palm. The beast core was shaped like a miniature flood dragon, still retaining its majestic prestige superior to the average monstrous beast.

A cool sensation warmed Lin Xiang's palm. His Soul Sense could already perceive numerous profound particles of cosmos energy.

For a special bloodline user, Lin Xiang would have complete ease comprehending and absorbing the beast core.

With the spoils equally splitten up, the sword cultivators gratefully nodded at Lin Xiang.

The young genius joyfully said, "It was all thanks to this fellow brother that everything could go so smoothly. If you ever have the time, please visit our palace as an honorable guest."

As he spoke, the young sword genius tossed out a badge in the shape of a sword toward Lin Xiang. "With that, everyone in our palace will recognize you as an ally of mine. My name is Cui Chao, the 4th young sword prince of the entire palace. You will not be treated unjustly once with me."

"Mn." Lin Xiang casually nodded while taking in the sword badge. He could already tell that being a prince entails that they are a special kind of genius with high hopes for the future.

Both Cui Chao and the ninth demon prince were only mid-layer Heavenly Origin geniuses, merely three minor boundaries above the Lin Family Manor geniuses.

But from the Early layer to the Middle layer is still a tremendous gap most ordinary cultivators would fail to overcome.

These young princes would also have high-graded Laws and other kinds of foundations that propel them to the top of the younger generation.

Lin Xiang found both of them as not too shabby to have as allies. He smiled, saying, "If I have the time, I will pay a visit. Farwell for now."

The sword cultivators gave one last nod to both Lin Xiang and Xie Ya's group. Afterward, they surged their Heavenly Clouds underneath their feet and took off into the skies.

As the sword cultivators took their leaves, Lin Xiang briefly glanced at the lake of fire-ice radiance. His thoughts swirled, 'So, just why isn't the system telling me that the mission is completed? This is the peak of the mountain...'

While his thoughts stewed, Lin Xiang turned over to Xie Ya's group and asked, "And? What of your group? I intend to stay here for some last cultivation."

Xie Ya, Elder Jing, and the ninth demon prince stayed silent for a moment.

For Elder Jing and the ninth demon prince, a silent sense of relief spread through them. They had only come along because of Xie Ya's decision.

Out of the two Elders, Xie Ya was the clear leader with her adaptable personality and formidable prowess. But in all honesty, both Elder Jing and the ninth demon prince didn't want to get close to Lin Xiang that much.

They evidently respected his strength. But at the same time, with the way he so casually slaughtered the Spirit Heaven Valley group without any regard for their background, left them stifled.

This was a genius who won't follow the common rules. Wild and unchained, daring to challenge anyone in their way.

They only knew Lin Xiang for so long. But this impression couldn't leave either Elder Jing or the ninth demon prince's minds.

Elder Jing took the initiative to send a sound transmission to Xie Ya. 'We should call it quits while we're ahead. We can't even be sure that Lin Xiang prevented retaliation from the Spirit Heaven Valley. Overstepping our boundaries may just cause a disaster for us...'

His words certainly processed through Xie Ya's mind. It caused her to pause for a simple second. Afterward, a calm smile etched across her face. 'Maybe there will be danger wherever he goes. His personality doesn't seem to be a flexible type and is quite headstrong. But, where danger exists, there also lie opportunities! You felt it too, right? Just his small talks of cultivation and I felt my comprehension abilities increase more in minutes than I can achieve in days. You know me, Elder Jing. I'm not the type of cultivator to shrink in the face of danger or the unknown. If there is a path, I will unhesitatingly take it! But of course, you and the ninth demon prince should get back to the sect after this. There is much to report.'

Both Elder Jing and the ninth demon prince felt a tremor streaking through their minds, like an intense voltage of electricity lighting up their bodies.

Wasn't this a little too extreme?

Wasn't this a little too hasty?

After all, Lin Xiang is still a largely unknown existence!

Who's to say he won't turn rogue the moment they leave?

The ninth demon prince couldn't help but voice his thoughts. 'Elder Xie...isn't there too much risk involved? Lin Xiang could intentionally just be showing his best side to sneakily strike at you. Plus, he could very well get you killed. I can concede he has a vast knowledge of cultivation compared to even our Supreme Elders. But, there's no way anyone of us can trust him.'

'Naturally, I consider these possibilities.' Xie Ya's tone was still calm. 'But I still want to try. Even if he wants my guard to lower, why would he wait until now? He evidently cares little about being on orthodox or righteous practices. There were plenty of times, including right now, when he could already act if he wanted to. As for danger? Hehe, the life of us Profound Law cultivators is filled with danger the day we decided to walk our path. What's a little bit more? Naturally, if brother Lin doesn't accept my proposal, I will just need to find other opportunities.'

At this point, all Elder Jing and the ninth demon prince could do was helplessly stare at each other.

Xie Ya's position in their sect was that of a medium-force Elder. She held a considerable status within and can take a period of absence as long as she returned to the sect within a certain amount of time.

Only the highly powerful Heavenly Ruler masters and higher realm masters would need to stay within the sect to hold down the fort.

Hence, Elder Jing and the ninth demon prince silently looked on, their thoughts a confusing mess. Their conversation only lasted for a short instant.

Xie Ya had already turned back over to Lin Xiang, the same gorgeous smile alluring her beautiful face. She was akin, no, perhaps even more radiant than a bewitching temptress.

She calmly asked, "Brother Lin? A request? What are your plans after leaving Polaris Mountain?"

The way Xie Ya's whole presence changes would be lethal to most other vigorous males.

Lin Xiang can tell this wasn't even an intentional change. But a natural occurrence when a cultivator had made an important decision within their minds.

Lin Xiang had paid attention to Xie Ya during this whole trip. He could quickly tell what her request would build up to.

Truthfully, if this was normal circumstances, Lin Xiang probably wouldn't have even bothered to help Xie Ya's group in the first place. It was only the 'System' reasoning that he decided to act.

And after this small adventure, Lin Xiang could just faintly see that potential within Xie Ya. Her mind was sturdier than a sharpened spear, but was still open to be sharpened even further. She had also progressed the most from his brief pointers about cultivation.

With what he personally saw and the 'System' own evaluation, Lin Xiang can tell this would be the best of both worlds.

Still, Lin Xiang's expression didn't even so much as twitch. He calmly regarded Xie Ya, saying, "After this, I am planning on visiting a few spots of Sacred Emperor City before fully leaving and exploring the continent. I have no immediate destination to go to."

"Oh? Well, isn't this just so excellent?" Pausing for a moment, Xie Ya cleared any doubts and simply said, "I will just be blunt, brother Lin. Can I follow you for some time on your journey? Since you have no destination, I can lead you to the Blood Demon Sect as an honorable guest on your journey. This may seem sudden, but I will never back down on what I set my mind to. Bluntly speaking again, I would have to be downright moronic to not see the vast potential and knowledge brother Lin has."

'So she really outright and said it, huh...' Elder Jing and the ninth demon prince simultaneously sighed on the inside and out.