The cultivators charged into battle, swords drawn, as they clashed with the demon beasts. The Qiongqi proved to be powerful foes, and despite their best efforts, the creatures would revive and return stronger than before.
Mrs. Mei's face fell, her voice laced with worry. "Elder Tianyang, we're in trouble. They can't 't die!"
Tianyang's voice remained calm and steady. "They can die, but we need to find their weakness."
The Qiongqi breathed fire, engulfing many cultivators. The Dragon Den Clan was taking losses, and the beasts showed no signs of stopping. Ling Tian fought hard, but the Qiongqi just kept coming back.
Ling Tian thought for a moment, then asked, "If you want to kill a demon tree, what do you do?"
The cultivators smiled, answering together, "Cut out its heart!"
Ling Tian's eyes lit up. "Then the eye on the Qiongqi must be its weak point."
Tianyang's voice rang out. "Ling Tian, you're a genius! Target their eyes!"
Their swords targeted the Qiongqi's eyes, and although it wasn't easy, the strategy worked. The beasts began to fall, one by one.
Just then, a loud noise echoed through the cave, and the Qiongqi retreated. The specter within Ling Tian's Diamond Seal spoke to him, "That's the leader of the Qiongqi. It's got two heads and a massive body, and it's way stronger than the others."
Ling Tian asked, "What's going on? Why are they retreating?"
The specter replied, "I don't know, but you guys need to get out of here, now. The beast transmigration is coming."
Lianhua suddenly called out Ling Tian's name, and he turned to see who it was. "Lianhua, you're awake."
He walked over to Lianhua, whispering, "You shouldn't be here. It's not safe. Leave now."
Lianhua's face changed, his voice slow. "But I can help. I've reached the Core Formation."
Ling Tian's eyes widened, but he acted like he hadn't heard anything. "Get out of here, now!" he shouted.
"Let's follow them!" Elder Chen Kai commanded, his voice firm and resolute.
"Halt! No, we have to leave here now. What's coming is more dangerous than ever," Ling Tian said, his voice laced with urgency.
"Hahaha, who are you to tell us what to do? You think you're the one to decide what's right?" Chen Kai sneered, his face twisted in contempt. He slapped Ling Tian's face, the sound echoing through the cave.
Elder Tang San, the patriarch of the Dragon Den Clan, narrowed his eyes and said, "Ling Tian, you're wrong. After this, you're banished. You have no respect for others."
Ling Tian's face worried, but he remained brave. "I apologize, but if you say so, I may leave."
Tianyang quickly stood at Ling Tian's back and said, "Elder Tang San, he's just a young boy. Please forgive him. But what he said was true. The Qiongqi are more dangerous, and we don't know their plans."
"This is my final decision, Tianyang. He will leave the Dragon Den Clan!" Tang San shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.
All the cultivators turned in worry, noticing Ling Tian's banishment. The Jade Emperor's Staff flew from the cave to Ling Tian's hand, and he said slowly, "Where have you been?"
All the elders' eyes widened in surprise and shock, even Tianyang, at seeing Ling Tian as the new owner of the Jade Emperor's Staff.
"How...how can you possess such a powerful staff? No one can hold it apart from the Jade Emperor. How did it belong to someone as weak as you?" Elder Wang Zhe asked, his voice filled with confusion.
Ling Tian didn't say a word and turned to leave. He hopped on the staff and flew away from them. Tianyang's face was filled with sadness.
Ling Tian went to Lianhua, stood beside her, and whispered into her ear, "Wait for me, Lianhua. I have to overcome who I am so that people will understand what I was meant to be. I'm weak, so I've been banished from this sect, and I have to find my way to become stronger. In 1000 years, I'll become powerful, and I'll come back."
Lianhua quickly hugged him tightly, her eyes full of tears. Her face looked sad and heartbroken. She spoke softly, "I'll wait for you, Ling Tian. Be careful out there. You can leave now."
Her cry took over as she talked. Ling Tian flew and looked back with a sad and brave face, smiled, and then flew into the sky.
"Elder, you shouldn't have banished Ling Tian. There's something extraordinary about that kid, please," Tianyang spoke, his voice filled with concern.
Elder Tang San turned and walked away.
"Hey, young one, release me from this seal. I'm tired," the specter spoke, his voice weak.
Ling Tian released him.
"Oh, young man, it seems you're sad enough," the specter said, his voice filled with curiosity.
Ling Tian kept quiet as he flew.
"What should I call you, young master? It has been 5 thousand years in this earth cultivating, and I know a better place you can cultivate to improve your cultivation," the specter said, his voice filled with excitement.
Ling Tian turned to him and said, "Whatever, lead the way."
The specter led the way, not knowing that he wanted to escape. He thought to himself, "I'll be free from this young master."
Ling Tian smiled and said, "You want to escape me?"
The specter's eyes narrowed in surprise, and he asked curiously, "You can hear my thoughts? Come on, what kind of person are you?"
"I don't even understand why," Ling Tian said, his voice filled with confusion.
They flew in the sky for six hours and reached the middle of the forest around 10:30 pm. Ling Tian decided to rest for a bit.
"So, young master, it looks like you're not from the Dragon Den Clan, right?" the specter asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Ling Tian replied, "Yes, I'm not. Let's not speak about it again."
Ling Tian closed his eyes to sleep and wisely hid the Jade Emperor's Staff so that the specter wouldn't try to escape.
"Huh, is he asleep? Yes, he is. I have to leave before he gets up," the specter whispered to himself.
He walked slowly onto the ground. The Jade Emperor's Staff sensed he was escaping and struck him, hitting him harder where Ling Tian was sleeping.
Ling Tian laughed at him and said, "Don't worry, you're not going anywhere."
Suddenly, they heard voices coming towards them, and Ling Tian quickly flew to the top of a tree.
It wastwo friends chatting, "Dong, we're going to win the tournament tomorrow." One of them said, and the other replied, "Yes, I heard if you win the match, you'll receive a gift." "Yeah, I heard it too. Gifts like 4000 power stones, treasures, and talismans."
Ling Tian's eyes widened as he heard the news. The friends passed by, and Ling Tian descended from the tree.
"Tournament, huh? If you win, you get power stones. I have to take part," Ling Tian said, his voice filled with determination.
The specter looked at him and shook his head, whispering, "You want to die."
Ling Tian chuckled and said, "Tomorrow, we're going to Tianjin."
He closed his eyes and slept. When Ling Tian was asleep, he heard the specter screaming, and he woke up to see why. The specter was being pulled by a monkey, and it was pulling him on the ground by holding his leg.
Ling Tian went and took the specter from the monkey. The monkey seemed funny and cute, but before he could realize how the monkey saw the specter, it ran to the tree.
Ling Tian called out his staff and ran towards the monkey. The specter was about to run away once more, and the Diamond Seal absorbed him into it again.
Ling Tian followed but got lost. Suddenly, a big roar came from nowhere, and Ling Tian turned to see.
It was a big beast that resembled an ape but was extra large. Ling Tian saw it and started to run, but the staff turned its direction towards the beast.
The specter whispered, "Moon Ape!"
Ling Tian's eyes widened, and he said, "What's a Moon Ape?"
The specter replied, "It's a powerful beast that lives in the forest. It's said to have the strength of a thousand men."
Ling Tian's face turned serious, and he said, "I'll take care of it."
The Moon Ape roared again, and Ling Tian prepared himself for battle. He gripped his staff tightly and said, "Let's see what you're made of."