Lin Xiao frowned and looked up. A grey-robed youth around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old was flying rapidly towards them.
The youth had a slightly sinister expression and an ordinary aura, yet he radiated the presence of a seventh-layer Martial Emperor.
The grey robe bore the emblem of the Sacred Heaven Sect.
Clearly, he was a disciple of the Sacred Heaven Sect.
“One of the top geniuses of the Sacred Heaven Sect!”
Lin Xiao recognised him immediately. This was one of the three seventh-layer Martial Emperors that Bi Zhuang had pointed out to him.
Although his reputation was not as great as Yi Xiaoxi or Yang Fengyi, and he was not at the eighth layer, the aura he now unleashed was noticeably stronger than that of Ji Dong, the heaven-level genius of the Ji family whom Lin Xiao had killed earlier.
The geniuses of these great powers truly were extraordinary, every single one of them.
“Jiang Yi?”
Seeing this youth suddenly appear, a spark of hope lit in the eyes of the Ji family fifth-layer Martial Emperor. He shouted at once, “Big Brother Jiang Yi, save me!”
Clearly, the Ji family youth also knew this Jiang Yi.
“You plan to intervene for him?”
Jiang Yi swiftly arrived not far from the pair. Lin Xiao asked him directly.
Jiang Yi shrugged, took two steps back in mid-air, and said, “I’m only here to watch. Please continue!”
Lin Xiao understood roughly what was going on. It seemed the people of the Sacred Heaven Sect also hoped more Ji family geniuses would die.
As for whether he was really just watching, that was another matter.
Nevertheless, no matter what, Lin Xiao had to deal with this heaven-level genius of the Ji family first.
Whoosh!
Lin Xiao moved. His entire body shot towards the Ji family youth at extreme speed.
“Big Brother Jiang Yi! He’s Lin Xiao! He killed an elder of your Sacred Heaven Sect in the ancient city, and just now he killed another of your sect’s disciples!”
The Ji family youth shouted frantically. At the same time, he unleashed a fist beam that blasted towards Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao was a dual cultivator of essence and spirit. If the enemy got close, he would be in danger.
Seeing the attack, Lin Xiao directly activated his Nine Heavens Thunder Dragon spiritual energy. A surge of thunderous power erupted from his brow, instantly shattering the opponent’s strike.
The resulting shockwave sent the Ji family youth flying backwards once more.
Lin Xiao pressed his advantage and quickly reached the youth’s side. He swung the iron staff down with crushing force.
This strike also carried spiritual power.
The Ji family youth hurriedly crossed his arms to block.
Clang!
His fists could not stop it at all. The unstoppable iron staff smashed directly into the youth’s head, producing a loud metallic clang.
The youth spewed a large mouthful of blood. His skull was cracked open, blood pouring down. His entire body plummeted downwards.
“He’s still not dead?”
Lin Xiao was startled.
He had assumed one blow would finish the opponent. After all, this was his primal force combined with spiritual power. Even a seventh-layer Martial Emperor struck squarely on the head would have their skull exploded.
Yet this fifth-layer Martial Emperor’s golden-body head merely suffered cracked bone and flesh and severe shock. It had not been smashed to pieces.
One could see just how formidable the golden body defence was.
Splat!
Before Lin Xiao could strike again, the instant the Ji family youth was sent flying downwards, a fist beam tore through the air and punched straight through his skull.
A strand of Buddhist light shot out from the Ji family corpse and flew towards Jiang Yi.
Lin Xiao’s brow furrowed. He turned to look at Jiang Yi.
This fellow was no saint. He had probably calculated that Lin Xiao could not kill the youth in one blow and seized the chance to take the prize.
“How dare you kill a member of my Ji family? You have some nerve!”
At that moment, a delicate yet furious shout rang out. An overwhelming aura suddenly blanketed the sky and surged towards them.
A woman so beautiful that she made the moon lose its lustre appeared in their sight.
Her features were exquisitely refined, her pure white dress fluttering gently. Every inch of her radiated supreme nobility.
“Ji Yue!”
Lin Xiao’s heart jolted.
This was none other than Ji Yue, the heaven-level genius of the Ji family at the eighth-layer Martial Emperor realm.
She was one of the most dangerous individuals Bi Zhuang had warned him about inside these ancient temples.
He had not expected Ji Yue to arrive here as well. His identity was now exposed. This time, he was in serious trouble.
The moment Ji Yue appeared, she did not look at Jiang Yi. Her gaze fixed first on Lin Xiao. In an indifferent tone she asked, “You are Lin Xiao?”
Lin Xiao did not answer. He switched to the Nether Heaven Demonic Pillar and said calmly, “If I’m not mistaken, you were already here long ago, weren’t you? You didn’t act because you wanted that Ji family youth to die so you could claim the Buddhist light on him?”
Ji Yue did not directly answer Lin Xiao’s question. With a calm expression she replied, “No wonder you’re a genius who has shaken this entire region. Ji Yang did not die unjustly at your hands.”
Lin Xiao frowned. That had only been his guess, yet Ji Yue’s words tacitly confirmed it. She had been present all along and had even been willing to let her own family genius die.
This woman truly was ruthless and decisive.
“However, since you have met me today, your fame ends here!”
A cold glint flashed in Ji Yue’s eyes. Thick killing intent spread from her body.
“Jiang Yi, we join forces against him. Otherwise, neither of us will escape!”
Lin Xiao’s expression grew grave. While speaking, he kept his eyes locked on Ji Yue. With a wave of his right hand, he threw out the Purple Corpse Puppet.
“Join forces?”
Jiang Yi’s face twitched. He retreated two wary steps and said to Ji Yue, “Lady Ji Yue, all those Ji family fellows are dead anyway. I merely picked up what was left. I didn’t kill anyone. This is your affair. I’m staying out of it.”
Lin Xiao frowned again.
“Join or not, we both die!”
Ji Yue’s tone was icy. She was about to attack.
Yet at that very moment, an elderly voice rang out clearly from one side. “Hold!”
Immediately afterwards, a white-robed elder carrying the aura of an eighth-layer Martial Emperor swept towards them. He quickly arrived not far from Jiang Yi.
Golden light suddenly burst from the elder’s body. His aged frame transformed into a vigorous, powerful golden body. An even mightier presence radiated from him.
“Lady Ji Yue, please do this old man a favour. The Sacred Heaven Sect will not interfere in your matters.”
The white-robed elder said.
Lin Xiao’s expression changed.
This elder was clearly an elder of the Sacred Heaven Sect at the eighth-layer Martial Emperor realm. Yet now he chose to stand aside and watch.
Lin Xiao could not tell whether the elder wanted him to die at Ji Yue’s hands first, or wished to use him to test Ji Yue’s strength.
Or perhaps the elder truly feared Ji Yue’s power.
However, with the elder’s cultivation and his forged golden body, plus Jiang Yi present, they should not fear a single Ji Yue.
Regardless, it seemed Lin Xiao would have to face Ji Yue head-on.
Relying on his combined essence and spirit combat strength, he could defeat seventh-layer Martial Emperors. Overcoming an eighth-layer would be very difficult, but it did not mean he was completely powerless to resist.
He would also have to stay constantly alert for the two from the Sacred Heaven Sect stabbing him in the back.
Those two would never truly stay out of it.
Of course, there was also a chance they might strike Ji Yue instead.
