“Can you kill Ji Juan in a single strike?” At that moment, Bi Zhuang, who was fighting not far from Lin Xiao, suddenly shouted the question without any attempt to hide his voice.
“Kill me in one strike?” Ji Juan’s face twitched violently, rage boiling in his heart.
He was a Ninth-Layer Martial Emperor, yet these juniors dared to speak of killing him in one blow?
And one junior was asking another junior, loud enough for everyone to hear. This was naked humiliation.
Ji Juan nearly rushed forward to slaughter them on the spot.
But too many people wanted him dead, and some could actually wound him.
He could only stay protected in the centre, picking off weaker opponents when he could.
“One strike?” Hearing Bi Zhuang, Lin Xiao paused for a moment and almost denied it outright.
He had already used the Nine Nether Demonic Body several times and still failed to kill the man.
Even heavily injured, with Ji Juan’s strength, Lin Xiao could not guarantee a one-hit kill.
But then he thought of the Heavenly Demon Palm and silently pondered, “The Heavenly Demon Palm surpasses the Nine Nether Demonic Body. It should be enough to kill him, right?”
“The power doesn’t leave the body. It shouldn’t drain all my energy in one go.”
With that thought, Lin Xiao replied to Bi Zhuang, “I can try!”
Hearing Lin Xiao’s answer, Ji Juan’s face twitched again.
One dared to ask, the other actually dared to agree.
“When the seal ends, I’ll make you beg for death!” Ji Juan swore inwardly.
“I hope you can do it!”
Suddenly, Bi Zhuang’s speed doubled. He broke free from the youth he had been fighting.
In a flash, he appeared beside Lin Xiao, placed both hands on Lin Xiao’s back, and propelled him forward. They weaved through the crowd at terrifying speed, curving several times in the void before breaking straight towards Ji Juan.
Lin Xiao was shocked. He had not expected Bi Zhuang could still explode with such velocity.
Demonic essence surged like a raging sea inside Lin Xiao’s body. His skin and expression changed colour.
Though no aura leaked out, Lin Xiao now felt like a true demon lord, utterly terrifying.
Ji Juan instantly sensed mortal danger. He unleashed his strongest technique and activated his innate talent. Vast primal force circulated wildly within him.
Whoosh! In the blink of an eye, Lin Xiao was upon him. Hands spread wide, gripping the Nether Heaven Demonic Pillar horizontally, he charged straight at Ji Juan. His left palm pressed against the pillar and drove it forward, smashing towards Ji Juan.
“You think you can kill me? Keep dreaming!”
Roaring furiously, Ji Juan met the attack with his mightiest sword strike.
Clang!
The piercing screech of metal on metal rang out. Lin Xiao’s palm, pressing the Nether Heaven Demonic Pillar, along with Ji Juan’s sword, slammed directly into Ji Juan’s body.
Blood exploded outward. Ji Juan was hurled backwards, crashing into a middle-aged Ji family member.
Half of Ji Juan’s chest split open in a gruesome wound.
“You…!” Ji Juan’s eyes bulged in terror and disbelief. Then he perished.
Until his death, he could not accept that he, a grand Ninth-Layer Martial Emperor and chief elder of the Ji family’s Fiftieth Division, had died at his own front door to a junior.
In that instant, everyone who saw it was stunned, whether those still fighting or the onlookers outside. Shock covered every face.
“They really killed a Ninth-Layer Martial Emperor?”
“Heavens, they slew the chief elder right on the Ji family’s doorstep. Something huge is about to happen in this region.”
“That youth is insanely bold!”
“So ferocious. He must have some terrifying physique or talent. What a pity, the Ji family will hunt him without end.”
…
Murmurs and exclamations rose from all sides. Outside the barrier, the Ji family members clenched their fists.
Their chief elder killed, several hundred of their people slaughtered, this was the greatest humiliation.
“He’s dead! Hahaha…”
Inside the Sealed Light Rod, Xi Yucheng suddenly burst into wild, triumphant laughter. Then he roared, “Everyone, there are still some left. Since we’ve already killed the Ninth-Layer Martial Emperor, why not wipe them all out?”
“Hahaha, kill them! Kill these Ji family bastards!”
“Damn right, kill them all!”
“Kill!”
…
The crowd went berserk. At this point, consequences no longer mattered. They had already gone this far.
With the Ninth-Layer Martial Emperor dead, morale on their side soared, battle intent blazing.
The Ji family’s morale, on the other hand, collapsed completely.
“Hold on! The seal is almost over! Once it lifts, I will slaughter them all!”
At that moment, a youth’s resounding shout rang out.
It was Ji Yang, the earth-grade genius of the Ji family who had been locked in combat with Bi Zhuang.
Hearing him, the onlookers outside erupted into discussion again.
“That’s Ji Yang, the Ji family’s earth-grade genius. If enough of them hold out until the seal lifts, once his strength returns, he can indeed kill those people.”
“Not necessarily. Who says the youth who killed Ji Juan isn’t powerful enough himself?”
“He probably only has a strong body. Without close combat, he’s useless. Barely twenty years old, no matter what, he can’t possibly match Ji Yang. Plus, more Ji family members are returning outside. Experts from another division might arrive soon.”
“Many in the crowd out there will probably join the Ji family’s side.”
“Right now, won’t Ji Yang face attacks from those two youths?”
“Those two must have used some secret technique. They can’t possibly do it again!”
“Exactly. They must have suffered massive backlash or even injured themselves. Look, that youth can barely fight anymore.”
…
The chatter never stopped. Killing a Ninth-Layer Martial Emperor and trying to annihilate the Ji family at their own gate, this incident had become far too big.
Inside the battlefield, Lin Xiao felt as though his body had been hollowed out.
Although the Heavenly Demon Palm’s power had not been released outward and had not instantly drained him dry, the consumption was still enormous. For a short time, he could barely muster any significant strength.
Even a normal strike was beyond him now.
“Cover me!” Lin Xiao said to Bi Zhuang, tossing a mid-seventh-grade primal-replenishing pill into his mouth.
At the same time, he moved towards Xi Yucheng and ordered the Purple Corpse Puppet to disengage and rush back to him.
He remained wary of Bi Zhuang, but the man should remember that Lin Xiao had saved his life inside the ancient city.
He probably would not repay kindness with betrayal and strike now.
“Can I say I need protection too? Do you think bursting with that speed costs me nothing?” Bi Zhuang grumbled beside him, also swallowing a pill.
“…” Lin Xiao was speechless.
Fortunately, their side’s momentum had skyrocketed. They pressed the attack even harder. Even if the Ji family wanted to target them, few could break through.
Though Bi Zhuang complained of huge consumption, he could still fight. Anyone who charged was blocked by him.
No one reached Lin Xiao.
The pill’s effects surged through Lin Xiao’s body, rapidly replenishing his primal force. In a short while, he regained combat strength.
A little longer, and his power was fully restored.
Whoosh!
At that moment, the Sealed Light Rod finally vanished completely. In an instant, all fighting stopped.
Powerful auras erupted one after another from everyone’s bodies.
