In no time, the rolling waves of energy on the battlefield dissipated. On the stone platform, Ka Gu Kui was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a complete humanoid skeleton stood on the platform.
Clearly, it was Ka Gu Kui’s skeleton.
At that moment, everyone was dumbfounded, their eyes nearly popping out in shock.
Ka Gu Kui had been corroded into a skeleton?
Yet some were puzzled. Wasn’t that Yellow Spring power supposed to dissolve people into sludge? Why had it left a skeleton?
Even Lin Xiao’s face showed astonishment. He hadn’t expected the skull palm’s transformation to corrode Ka Gu Kui into a skeleton, sending him to his death.
In truth, he had no intention of killing Ka Gu Kui.
After all, he had no grudge with the Burial Sect, and Ka Gu Kui hadn’t expressed any intent to kill him.
At the Burial Sect’s seats, the Martial Emperor elder, already standing, trembled in shock at the sight. “When Yellow Spring power reaches a certain purity, it corrodes only flesh, not bone. I never thought this was true!”
The Burial Sect had records stating that pure Yellow Spring power corroded only flesh, leaving bones intact, but it was hard to believe, and he had never believed it.
Now, he had witnessed it with his own eyes.
Such pure Yellow Spring power existed in this world!
“Using a weapon far beyond your own strength, Lin Xiao, you’re suspected of violating the Southeast Region Youth Summit rules!” Amid the crowd’s shock, Sheng Qianyu’s slightly angry voice suddenly rang out.
Lin Xiao frowned. The skull palm’s transformed power did seem suspicious.
But this was an unexpected transformation. Though the Yellow Spring power was strong, it didn’t seem to vastly exceed his own strength, did it?
If no one had raised the issue, it might not have mattered, but Sheng Qianyu’s sudden objection felt targeted.
“Using a weapon far beyond one’s strength to kill an opponent clearly violates the summit’s rules. Lin Xiao should be punished!” Xing Huang’s voice chimed in, seizing the chance to make trouble now that Lin Xiao had shown a weakness.
“Violating the rules and taking a life warrants execution, and his team should be barred from the summit for three events,” Duan Huang added, deliberately escalating the matter.
Zi Huang frowned and spoke up. “The skull palm’s power, though it killed Ka Gu Kui, wasn’t overwhelmingly stronger. Lin Xiao has the strength to defeat Ka Gu Kui himself. It’s not fair to punish him for using a weapon far beyond his ability.”
“Who says Lin Xiao could kill Ka Gu Kui? The weapon killed him, the evidence is clear. Are you suggesting we ignore it?” Luo Huang retorted.
Having been beaten by Ling Xiao and with Luo Fan defeated by Ling Hu, he harboured enmity toward both the Ling and Zi families.
Given the chance, he wouldn’t hesitate to make trouble for the Zi family.
“Lin Xiao’s strength is obvious to all. Since Ka Gu Kui is dead, how can you be sure Lin Xiao couldn’t defeat him?” Zi Huang asked, her expression darkening.
“That’s just sophistry!” Luo Huang snapped angrily. Seeing the dispute, Sheng Qianyu, as if anticipating it, spoke calmly. “Since opinions differ and Lin Xiao is suspected of breaking the rules, let’s follow tradition and hold a public vote. All factions present will decide whether Lin Xiao violated the rules or not!”
“When the results are in, my Sheng family will uphold justice and maintain the rules’ integrity!” Sheng Qianyu’s voice carried authority, positioning himself as an impartial third party.
Lin Xiao’s expression darkened. A vote by all factions would allow those with grudges against him or the Zi family to target him, which wasn’t entirely fair.
Sheng Qianyu’s tone clearly suggested he was targeting him.
“Everyone!” At that moment, the silent Burial Sect Martial Emperor elder suddenly spoke. “The deceased is my sect’s disciple. By tradition, if a vote is to be held, shouldn’t it be initiated by my Burial Sect?”
“My sect doesn’t believe Lin Xiao violated the rules. On the battlefield, life and death are fated. Ka Gu Kui’s defeat was due to his own lack of strength.”
The elder’s words stunned everyone.
The Burial Sect’s top genius was killed by Lin Xiao, yet they didn’t want to hold him accountable?
By the rules, a vote should indeed be initiated by the Burial Sect. If they didn’t pursue it, what was there to investigate?
Hearing the elder’s words, Duan Huang, Xing Huang, and others’ faces soured.
They had thought this was a chance to trouble Lin Xiao and the Zi family, but the Burial Sect elder unexpectedly cleared Lin Xiao, making their targeting obvious.
Even Lin Xiao was surprised that the Burial Sect elder would defend him.
Moreover, the elder’s expression as he looked at Lin Xiao was baffling. Despite Ka Gu Kui’s death, he showed no anger, only a faint smile?
Did the Burial Sect care so little for their own disciples’ lives?
Lin Xiao even noticed a hint of admiration on the elder’s face.
Was the elder impressed by him?
Or perhaps by his skull palm?
Sheng Qianyu’s face showed embarrassment as he said, “Since Elder He doesn’t mind, let this matter pass. The summit continues.”
“Perhaps, because of the Holy Spirit Vein replacement, the seven major sects don’t want Lin Xiao dead!” the crowd thought silently.
This was just a minor episode in the summit. After Lin Xiao retrieved the skull palm from the platform, the event continued.
Three of the eight major sects’ top disciples had died, with Ming Rui and Ji Shengchong filling the spots.
The rankings were now:
First: Lin Xiao.
Second: Li Renchou.
Third: Shi Jiuming.
Fourth: Yin Mu.
Fifth: Zi Ling.
Sixth: Qu Shang.
Seventh: Sheng Li.
Eighth: Xiao Disheng.
Ninth: Chu You.
Tenth: Ming Que.
Eleventh: Mo Yan.
Twelfth: Yang Xiu.
Thirteenth: Chen Long.
Fourteenth: Ming Rui.
Fifteenth: Ji Shengchong.
Only three top geniuses from the eight major sects hadn’t yet challenged: Ming Que, Mo Yan, and Yang Xiu.
Next was Ming Que from the Nether Sect, who challenged Shi Jiuming of Baichuan Sea.
Their strengths were close, and they fought for nearly half an hour before Ming Que lost to Shi Jiuming.
The crowd was shocked. Shi Jiuming, a fourth-level Martial Lord genius, had even defeated the Nether Sect’s Nether Son.
“Next, Mo Yan!” As Ming Que lost, the referee’s voice rang out.
All eyes turned to Mo Yan, who leaped onto the platform.
Everyone else had fought, but Mo Yan of the Demon Sect hadn’t faced a strong opponent.
Logically, Mo Yan could assess others’ strengths and choose strategically, giving him an advantage.
Who would Mo Yan choose, and how strong was he?
