“Ah! Ah! Ah!”
Countless people were instantly reduced to ash by the blast, while others let out waves of agonised screams. A multitude of figures were hurled backwards.
Lin Xiao’s strike could injure Martial Kings and even kill low-tier ones. With everyone suppressed to the Heavenly Martial realm—and some only at low-tier Heavenly Martial or even below Mysterious Martial—how could they withstand his attack?
A single explosion sent them sprawling.
At the same time, many shouted their surrender during the blast, protected by the array and teleported out. Some called out too late, surviving with injuries as they were whisked away, while others, slower still, were killed outright. Those who didn’t even have a chance to shout perished in droves, leaving countless dead and wounded.
Guan Shuo, retreating hastily, wore a look of horror. Fortunately, he had moved to assist the old man in the dark robe rather than directly attacking Lin Xiao, or he wouldn’t have remained here.
The old man in the dark robe and the purple-robed youth were shaken to their cores, their faces ashen. They had never seen this strike from Lin Xiao before, and its sheer power was utterly staggering.
If they had faced it, suppressed to this cultivation level, it would have been enough to kill them.
Gazing at the youthful figure soaring into the sky, their faces were filled with profound dread.
By now, the young commander of the Tiger Guard had long since stopped fighting. Witnessing this, his face mirrored their shock. Lin Xiao’s strength far exceeded his expectations.
This strike from Lin Xiao was overwhelmingly powerful, toppling nearly everyone because the crowd had been too densely packed, all rushing toward him at once.
Aside from a few dozen clever individuals at the platform’s edge, the rest were either dead, injured, or had conceded, teleported out by the array.
With the fallen, those on the outskirts who retreated in disarray after being caught in the blast, and the wounded sprawled on the ground, only just over a hundred remained on the Talent Platform.
“They brought it upon themselves—wiped out in one go, haha!” Hu Yue burst into excited laughter. The move’s power was indiscriminate, and with the crowd charging in, it was practically suicide.
Hu Yue’s words were irrefutable. No one dared to argue or respond. Who among those left could stand against the combined might of Lin Xiao and his allies?
Even if the hundred-plus survivors banded together, it wouldn’t be enough.
Lin Xiao’s gaze swept over the remaining crowd. To his surprise, he spotted Ji Mo from the Ji family and Qi Mubai from the Jade Fan Sect among them—both had been sly enough not to charge in.
Of course, among those who hadn’t acted, there was another familiar face: Yu Jingge. His expression showed no hostility, only deep admiration.
Lin Xiao gave Yu Jingge a slight nod. He wasn’t an enemy.
As for the strangers who hadn’t attacked, Lin Xiao had no intention of wiping them out entirely. Instead, he turned his attention to the old man in the dark robe, the purple-robed youth, and Guan Shuo. Their faces twisted with emotion.
“I reckon you three will flee without a fight, conceding at the first chance, right?” Lin Xiao said with a teasing look, a mocking smirk curling his lips.
“You!” The three paled.
How could they still be a match for Lin Xiao and his group now? They were already on the verge of defeat, and with Lin Xiao joining in, their deaths would be certain.
Yet being dismissed so casually by a junior infuriated the old man in the dark robe and Guan Shuo beyond measure.
“You’ve got three breaths to get lost!” Lin Xiao said coolly. If he made a move, they’d surely concede—he couldn’t kill them anyway. Better to slap them with humiliation instead. Daring to oppose him was their own disgrace.
“Lin Xiao, you have no idea where we come from. You’ll regret this!” The old man in the dark robe gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury.
“Lin Xiao, I, Luo Chen, will never let this go!” The purple-robed youth’s gaze surged with killing intent as he shouted.
“Lin Xiao, my Guan family won’t let you off either!” Guan Shuo snarled viciously.
“Finished talking? Then scram—time’s up!” Lin Xiao’s gaze hardened, killing intent radiating from him.
“Let’s go!” Despite their rage, the three knew the situation. No matter how furious they were, they had to leave, or they’d be trapped. They’d settle the score with Lin Xiao once they were out.
“Hahaha, old fools, take your time leaving—we won’t see you off. We’ll come for your heads another day!” Hu Yue’s得意 laughter rang out.
“Whoosh!” “Whoosh!” “Whoosh!”
After shouting their surrender, the space warped, and the three were teleported away.
Then, Lin Xiao’s gaze shifted to Ji Mo and Qi Mubai, making their hearts tremble. With the inheritance about to begin, how could they bear to leave now?
“You two—do I need to act, or will you leave on your own?” Lin Xiao’s indifferent voice sounded as he asked.
Qi Mubai stepped forward, explaining, “Brother Lin, I didn’t attack you. The sect master’s decisions aren’t something we can change. In this situation, everyone’s a rival. The sect master acted only to eliminate a strong competitor, not to target you specifically. I hope Brother Lin can understand.”
“Oh?” Lin Xiao’s lips curved into a smile at the words. Qi Mubai was certainly interesting. A glint of sarcasm flickered in his eyes as he replied, “You’re right—everyone here is a rival. Now, I’m not targeting you either, just eliminating a few competitors. I hope you’ll understand.”
Faced with Lin Xiao’s mocking smile, Qi Mubai was left speechless. After all, they were in the wrong first, and no matter what Lin Xiao said, he had no grounds to argue.
“Go to hell!” Suddenly, Ji Mo sprang into action, his sword blazing with black light as he attacked the dozens around him.
“Ah!” “Ah!” “Ah!”…
Screams rang out as over ten people were cleaved in half. Another dozen hurriedly conceded, teleporting out via the array.
Lin Xiao frowned. Ji Mo was trying to eliminate others to secure his own place. Lin Xiao didn’t want either of them to gain any opportunities—both were peak Martial Kings from factions hostile to him.
“Cease fighting—the inheritance appears!” Sure enough, once the number dwindled to a hundred, a resonant, grand voice boomed out. A massive mountain peak descended from the sky, crashing down outside the thousand-zhang stone platform.
Ji Mo’s gamble had paid off—he’d managed to stay. Qi Mubai quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Boom!”
The ground shook, dust billowing into the sky.
Everyone’s gazes turned toward the enormous mountain peak. Lin Xiao, casting a cold glance at Ji Mo, shifted his attention to the peak. Since the rules here demanded a ceasefire, he likely couldn’t act now—or he might face punishment from the rules, losing his chance at the inheritance.
A mere Ji Mo wasn’t worth that risk.
Staring at the colossal mountain peak, Lin Xiao’s heart surged with awe. Its surface was smooth, rising ten thousand zhang high with a majestic, awe-inspiring presence. Its overwhelming pressure was like a sharp sword poised to cleave the heavens, faintly radiating an intangible yet palpable aura.
