At this moment, everyone saw only a youth in his twenties stand up, glancing at Xue Ling and the two family heads, before speaking in a calm tone: “Elder Xue Ling, two family heads, this junior also wishes to have a try.”
Everyone could not help but be stunned, this youth also wished to have a try? He wanted to fight Ouyang Chen?
Even Shangguan Xiong could not help but be taken aback, he had refrained from sending Lin Xiao to the field precisely to avoid pointless sacrifice.
And now, Lin Xiao had actually stood forth of his own accord to seek battle, a turn he had not anticipated.
Even Shangguan Rui had not anticipated it.
A trace of astonishment appeared on Shangguan Tong’s face, and she hastily said to Lin Xiao: “Lin Xiao, have you gone mad!”
Lin Xiao did not answer Shangguan Tong’s words, instead deliberately revealing his aura, saying: “To be frank with all present, this junior’s cultivation has also reached the sixth-layer Martial Monarch realm, having agreed to fight on behalf of the Shangguan family, naturally this junior must contribute what little he can.”
The crowd was stunned once more.
The Ouyang family members all revealed gazes as if looking at a fool.
Not to mention sixth-layer Martial Monarch, even seventh or eighth-layer Martial Monarchs, or even ordinary ninth-layer Martial Monarchs, might not necessarily be Ouyang Chen’s match.
And he, a mere sixth-layer Martial Monarch, actually flaunted it as if afraid others would not know, deliberately emanating it and making it a point?
Shangguan Xiong also felt a headache coming on, and before Xue Ling could speak, he opened his mouth: “Lin Xiao, that you think this way gladdens our Shangguan family greatly, however, this is no mere spar, it is a contest where life and death hang in the balance, so you had best not take the field.”
Shangguan Xiong was already bearing the pressure from Xue Ling to speak on Lin Xiao’s behalf.
After all, he was one fighting on behalf of their Shangguan family, and could not simply allow him to sacrifice in vain.
Xue Ling also said nothing, which amounted to giving Shangguan Xiong face, as the grand elder of the Spirit Phoenix Valley, she need not quibble with a junior.
Everyone could hear that Shangguan Xiong’s words had made his stance abundantly clear, yet Lin Xiao remained unmoved, as if oblivious, continuing: “But, this junior truly wishes to give it a try.”
Shangguan Xiong’s brows furrowed, having advised the other not to court death, yet he insisted on pressing forward, could it be that this fellow his son had found was a fool?
Or had he taken a fancy to his granddaughter and lost his reason?
Shangguan Tong also grew anxious, and hastily transmitted to Lin Xiao: “Lin Xiao, do not show off beyond your means, you saw Ouyang Chen’s strength, if you go up, you will only court death, he will show you no mercy!”
Lin Xiao turned a deaf ear.
At this point, even Ouyang Kuo could not help but sigh deeply: “Shangguan family head, since the junior wishes to have a go, why not permit it? To refuse would ill become you, denying the youth his chance to shine.”
“Moreover, this junior is so eager, interrupting Elder Xue Ling before her words concluded, evidently single-minded in his pursuit of battle, since he desires a fight, why make things difficult for him?”
Ouyang Kuo’s words were evidently accusing Lin Xiao of interrupting Xue Ling’s speech, leveraging Xue Ling’s prestige to coerce Lin Xiao into the fight.
And with matters put thus, even if Shangguan Xiong were inclined otherwise, he would perforce consider Xue Ling’s face to some degree.
“You are certain?” Shangguan Xiong asked Lin Xiao with a somewhat darkened expression, and in posing this question, it signalled that he would advise no further, if the other sought death of his own volition, then he could not intervene.
To say more might yet offend Xue Ling.
Now, with Xue Ling favouring Ouyang Chen, the outlook for their Shangguan family was already unfavourable.
Should he provoke Xue Ling’s displeasure further, their Shangguan family’s position would grow yet more precarious.
Before Lin Xiao could reply, Shangguan Tong immediately transmitted once more: “Lin Xiao, I know, I took the field ahead of you to fend off Fu Ren on your behalf, you are grateful to me, perhaps you have even come to like me, but that was merely because I did not wish for someone I had brought to go to his death in vain, you need not do this.”
Lin Xiao.
At a loss for words, Lin Xiao ignored Shangguan Tong, instead gazing at Shangguan Xiong and nodding affirmatively: “Certain!”
Shangguan Tong also froze in place, transmitting no further, now that Lin Xiao had spoken, whatever she said would avail nothing, and in her heart she could only sigh helplessly.
“Very well then, go on, on behalf of our Shangguan family complete this final bout, take good care of yourself.” Seeing Lin Xiao’s insistence, Shangguan Xiong also nodded in agreement.
Though it amounted to courting death, on the surface it was still phrased graciously.
“I too am keen to see what becomes of a youth so full of zeal.” Xue Ling also said.
Lin Xiao, as if oblivious to the pair’s words, cupped his hands towards them: “Many thanks to Elder Xue Ling and the Shangguan family head for your indulgence!”
With that, Lin Xiao turned and hurtled violently towards Ouyang Chen in the forward void.
“He truly courts death, the family head sought to shield him, could he not see it?”
“Does he fancy he could survive in Ouyang Chen’s hands, seeking to display his strength and earn our Shangguan family’s regard?”
“I say he is besotted, deluding himself, knowing the young miss is to marry into the Ouyang family, engaging in futile resistance.”
“A pointless endeavour, it will only bring shame upon our Shangguan family!”
“In my view, he is a fool, blind to the situation even now.”
“It is he who seeks his own death, we of the Shangguan family cannot be blamed!”
The Shangguan family crowd murmured in low voices, each revealing discontent.
And Shangguan Yu, in the midst of recuperation, felt only cold scorn in his heart, seeking to play the hero at this juncture was nothing short of courting death, dead he would avail Shangguan Tong naught.
“Could it be my words that day moved him, to the point of recklessly staking all for the young miss?” Lu Ze behind Shangguan Tong sighed inwardly with some self-reproach, now regretting somewhat having spoken those words to Lin Xiao back then.
His intent had not been to send Lin Xiao to pointless death, and if those words had prompted this decision, then his fault would be grave indeed.
The others who had once escorted Shangguan Tong and journeyed alongside Lin Xiao could now wholly dismiss notions of him as a spy.
Yet Lin Xiao’s foolhardy conduct evoked in them no sentiments of remorse or sympathy, but rather, indifference.
Lin Xiao’s fate concerned them not.
“To win advancement, casting aside even life.”
“Perhaps he still believes he could exchange a few moves with the young master, seizing a chance to concede aloud.”
“Alas, he cannot last even one move before the young master.”
“Then it depends on whether the young master deigns to slay him in a single strike.”
Amid the Ouyang family crowd too arose a chorus of scornful voices.
In the void, seeing the other truly flying towards him, even Ouyang Chen could not help but pause, a thought arising unbidden in his mind, could this fellow be addled of wit?
“Please!” Lin Xiao said to Ouyang Chen.
“Heh heh!” Gazing upon Lin Xiao who remained composed, the corner of Ouyang Chen’s mouth curled into a mocking arc, saying: “You may fight me if you wish, but first, kneel before me!”
With that, an invisible yet potent spiritual power surged forth at once, enveloping Lin Xiao’s form, directly compelling him to kneel.
Sensing Ouyang Chen’s spiritual power, Lin Xiao felt only cold laughter in his heart, seeking to control him into kneeling, to humiliate him before all?
