Willing to risk everything, daring to pull the Holy Emperor off his throne!
Ling Xiao had no choice. Faced with the Holy Emperor’s aggressive stance, he could only defend himself in the most extreme way.
Looking at the Holy Emperor’s grim expression, Ling Xiao flicked his sleeves, leaving without a trace. “Sister Yue Nü, let’s go!”
As Yue Nü followed Ling Xiao away, the Holy Emperor’s face turned livid with rage, yet he refrained from acting further.
He couldn’t understand why Ji Fuling won Yu Xuanyue’s favour.
Why could this Ling Xiao also gain the affection of a remarkable woman like Yue Nü?
Could Ling Xiao truly be Ji Fuling’s son?
No!
That was impossible. Ji Fuling’s son died in an assassination, and he had personally confirmed it.
Perhaps he just resembled Yu Xuanyue, with a personality like Ji Fuling’s. Such people existed.
The Holy Emperor took a deep breath, watching Ling Xiao and Yue Nü’s retreating figures. Suddenly, he slammed his palm onto the floor tiles, shattering the foot-thick tiles to dust.
“In the Tianjiao Battle the day after tomorrow, any man who defeats Ling Xiao will take Ming Kong as his wife! Any woman who defeats him will be named a princess of the Holy Dynasty!”
With those words, a cold, murderous glint flashed in his eyes.
Defeating Ling Xiao was only the first step. Next, he would thoroughly humiliate this insolent youth who dared to defy him.
…
One day and two nights passed quickly.
Fearing the Holy Emperor might harm the Yuehua Sect, Ling Xiao worked through the night to create numerous secret teleportation scrolls, capable only of returning to the Yuehua Sect.
They relied on the divine power of the Yuehua Pagoda, so other destinations were impossible.
But the next day, the Holy Emperor made no moves.
Even on the third day, when the Tianjiao Battle began, there was still no sign of action from him.
Though Ling Xiao couldn’t fathom the Holy Emperor’s intentions, he was determined to join the Tianjiao Battle. With escape plans in place, he wasn’t afraid of any tricks.
At dawn, as the sky barely glowed with the first light, the arena was already packed, the crowd’s noise deafening.
Today’s audience was larger than ever.
The original ten fighting platforms had been merged into one, a massive square stage, a hundred metres long and wide.
Surrounding the platform were ten defensive arrays, designed to withstand stronger attacks.
After all, today’s twenty Tianjiao were the most outstanding under twenty on the Tianlong Continent.
Their strength could break through at any moment.
If a battle between Heaven-Human realm fighters occurred, ordinary arrays wouldn’t hold.
Upon arriving, Ling Xiao sensed a different atmosphere. The other Tianjiao, already present, looked at him with a new intensity.
It was a thirst for victory.
More than that, a desire to defeat him.
Except for Long Chen, whose eyes showed worry, the others radiated fierce battle intent.
“What’s going on, Junior Brother Ling? Why do they all seem to have a grudge against you?”
Lan Yu’er asked, puzzled.
“Hmph, probably because of the banquet. I don’t know what that old fool, the Holy Emperor, said, but they’re all targeting me now.”
Ling Xiao snorted coldly. Facing their pressure, he felt no fear. Instead, the calm fire in his heart blazed fiercely.
“You want to take me down? I want to seize your Nine Cauldron Luck! Let’s see who laughs last!”
A gleeful expression crossed Ling Xiao’s face.
After gaining Jian Wuji’s three cauldrons of luck, he discovered that luck didn’t just improve fortune or ease the flow of Tianyuan energy. It also nourished the body and soul, elevating the entire being.
The sensation was indescribable.
Naturally, the other Tianjiao likely shared this ambition.
While they saw Ling Xiao as their greatest enemy, they were also wary of each other, none willing to lose to another.
This was the final battle among the top twenty, the most intense and thrilling.
Whoever claimed the final Nine Cauldron Luck would become the Chosen One, blessed by the fate of the entire Tianlong Continent.
At that point, everything would change.
After the Yuehua Sect arrived, about a quarter of an hour later, all the referees were present.
The chief referee announced the rules of the Tianjiao Battle to everyone.
The battle used a point-seizing format.
It took place on a single platform.
There would be twenty rounds, each with a different opponent.
There was no rule for elimination after consecutive losses.
This meant every Tianjiao would get a chance to face every other, regardless of outcome.
The question of who was stronger or weaker would soon be answered.
Moreover, every Tianjiao would receive some Nine Cauldron Luck, though the amount varied.
Losing a match reduced luck, while winning increased it.
Surrendering would result in significant losses.
The twenty rounds would run day and night, with rest periods between each round until the end.
This rule was reasonable. Mortal realm martial artists could survive days without food or sleep, and with rest periods for meditation, recovery was easy.
Additionally, since Jian Wuji was killed, Feng Mo Ting, previously ranked twenty-first, was lucky enough to take his place among the top twenty.
Jian Wuji’s death raised many questions, but those present that night kept silent, making it nearly impossible to uncover details.
“One final rule: we will select six seeded contestants based on prior performance. These six will not face each other in early rounds to ensure the competition’s excitement!”
The chief referee continued.
Though some were dissatisfied, they had no choice but to accept the chief referee’s authority.
Besides, this ensured the competition’s excitement and fairness, which the audience strongly supported.
“Who do you think the six seeded contestants will be?”
“Obviously, His Highness the Holy Son is a sure pick!”
“Don’t forget Mo Wushang. In the last competition, the Holy Son himself said Mo Wushang was the toughest opponent!”
“Bai Qianjiao has to be one.”
“That’s three. Liu Taiyin and Hong Sanmei, maybe?”
“Liu Taiyin’s fine, but Hong Sanmei lost to Qin Bixue, so she’s out.”
“True, that makes four. The fifth must be Qin Bixue. He beat Hong Sanmei, so he’s a seed for sure.”
“That leaves one. Who should it be?”
“Ling Xiao, probably. He defeated Jian Wuji!”
“I think Long Chen’s just as good!”
“Have you forgotten Hong Li?”
“Tch, that last spot’s tough to call.”
