In a winding, ancient forested mountain range, countless peaks had collapsed, lakes were buried, and rivers were severed. The area within a hundred miles was filled with massive craters, nearly reduced to a desolate ruin. Clearly, a fierce battle had taken place here.
At the edge of the ruins stood three blood-stained elders. They hovered in the void, their gazes fixed on a distant cluster of mountains.
“We must hurry to check on the Crimson Beast cub, or that Rhino Beast might return,” said an elder in Lingjian Sect robes, speaking urgently. This was none other than the Second Elder of Lingjian Sect, a peak First-Level Martial Emperor.
“The Seventh-Order Initial Rhino Beast was only driven off after Elder Mingluo used a Cracked Flame Stone to wound it. That cost was not small. As for the Crimson Beast cub, we cannot let anything happen to it,” sighed an elder in a grey-white robe with the character “Duan.” He glanced at the elder in black-patterned robes beside him. This was the Duan Family Patriarch, Duan Emperor.
“We, the Xi Emperors, do not want the Crimson Beast cub taken by the Zhengxiu,” said the black-robed elder, Mingluo, his tone carrying a hint of coldness.
Hearing this, Elder Zhou frowned, hesitated, and cautiously said, “Even if I wanted to seize it, I couldn’t. I’m just curious to see the Crimson Beast cub.”
But as he spoke, noticing the killing intent in their eyes, Elder Zhou’s heart trembled. Reluctantly, he added, “In that case, I’ll withdraw from the contest for the Crimson Beast cub!”
However, the killing intent in their eyes did not lessen. Mingluo gripped his sword, and Duan Emperor clenched his fist. Both radiated intense murderous aura.
Feeling their overwhelming intent, Elder Zhou’s heart shook again. He realized they intended to attack him regardless, not merely to prevent him from taking the cub.
Frowning, he looked at Duan Emperor and said, “Brother Duan, given our friendship, can you let me go?”
Duan Emperor shook his head. “I am an Xi Emperor. Our goal is to eliminate non-Xi Emperors. You are from Lingjian Sect and cannot join us.”
“You’re so heartless?” Elder Zhou’s expression darkened.
“In the face of duty, friendship is cheap,” Duan Emperor said coldly. “Brother Zhou, it’s time to go!”
“You!” Elder Zhou was furious.
Initially, when he teamed up with them against the Seventh-Order Initial Beast, he had a trump card and could have escaped even if they turned on him. But the beast was too powerful, putting him in danger, forcing him to use his trump card and leaving him severely injured. Now, facing both of them, he wasn’t sure he could escape.
Duan Emperor’s words enraged him. After decades of friendship, he expected some leniency, but none was given.
“Die!” Mingluo snorted coldly, preparing to strike.
At that moment, a golden light streaked across the sky, speeding toward them and stopping nearby. The three paused, turning their gazes toward it. Seeing the black-clad young man’s face, they were all shocked.
“Lin Xiao!” Duan Emperor’s pupils shrank as he exclaimed coldly.
Nearly all the Duan Family’s top members had been killed by Lin Xiao, their greatest enemy. Despite several attempts, they failed to kill him, and now, he appeared here.
Elder Zhou’s eyes also flashed with killing intent. Lin Xiao was an enemy of Lingjian Sect, responsible for his injuries from an Xi Emperor attack that took months to heal. However, as Lin Xiao was part of the Zhengxiu Alliance, his appearance was a stroke of luck. With Lin Xiao’s Purple Corpse Puppet, they might eliminate one of the two enemies. But, given his hatred for Lin Xiao, he wouldn’t cooperate.
Instead, an idea formed.
“Lin Xiao, kill them for me!” Elder Zhou shouted, then turned and fled toward the horizon.
Duan Emperor and Mingluo’s hearts sank. They had planned to eliminate the injured Elder Zhou, but Lin Xiao’s arrival disrupted their plan. With him here, they couldn’t pursue Zhou.
On the other hand, Zhou’s escape was somewhat fortunate. Otherwise, they’d face both Elder Zhou and Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao paused, quickly grasping the situation. He felt a twinge of regret, wishing he’d arrived later to let them fight and reap the benefits. Still, encountering Duan Emperor here was unexpected.
Staring at Duan Emperor, a smirk curved Lin Xiao’s lips, his face showing excitement, as if relishing the chance to eliminate an enemy.
Seeing Lin Xiao’s confident expression, Duan Emperor sneered, “Hmph, Lin Xiao, do you think you can handle both of us?”
“Indeed, I do,” Lin Xiao replied, waving his hand to release the Purple Corpse Puppet.
The puppet unleashed a surge of yin energy, charging toward Mingluo. Lin Xiao drew his Shaking Light Broken Sword and rushed at Duan Emperor, shouting, “Duan Emperor, your time has come!”
“Hmph, we’ll see who dies!” Duan Emperor roared, unleashing his Intercepting Emperor Fist. Brilliant light burst from his fist, the uneven beams carrying the power to sever everything, as if unstoppable, aimed diagonally downward.
This core Duan Family technique was hundreds, if not thousands, of times stronger than when Duan Dongtian used it against Lin Xiao.
“Roar!”
Lin Xiao unleashed his Blood Dragon Vision. A dragon’s roar echoed, and a blood dragon phantom appeared behind him, exuding an ancient aura. Terrifying pressure swept across all directions.
Clearly, Lin Xiao was using his strongest elemental attack, though limited to his Fifth-Level Martial Lord power, as he deliberately suppressed his cultivation to that level.
Holding his sword aloft, his killing intent soared, hair dancing wildly. Activating the Shaking Light Sword Technique, his body became translucent. The Shaking Light Broken Sword seemed to awaken, radiating dazzling light that illuminated the surroundings.
In this moment, Lin Xiao appeared consumed by vengeance, ready for a decisive battle.
This confirmed Duan Emperor’s thoughts. Though Lin Xiao could rival Second-Level Martial Emperors, his Fifth-Level Martial Lord elemental power was far less robust. Lin Xiao had to fight decisively, using his strongest trump card.
As a Second-Level Martial Emperor, Duan Emperor believed he couldn’t be defeated. If he couldn’t kill Lin Xiao quickly, he’d outlast him until Lin Xiao’s elemental power was depleted, creating the perfect moment to strike.
