Glancing at the number tag in his hand, Lin Xiao replied, “As you wish!”
“Er…” Yan Huashu was momentarily stunned. It had actually been drawn?
Although Mu Haoran’s spiritual power was the weakest among this group, even after his breakthrough to the first level, there was still a lingering sense that he was far from Mu Haoran’s match.
“Group one? Heh, Lin Xiao, you cannot escape the Ji family’s punishment after all.” At this moment, an elder in ancient robes stepped forward a few paces towards Lin Xiao, his voice cold.
“The Ji family’s personal spiritual controller?” Lin Xiao’s brow furrowed.
This man was none other than the Ji family’s dedicated spiritual controller, Su Dongfeng, a seventh-rank high-level spiritual controller in his late fifties, nearly fifty, who had been drawn into the same group as him in this round.
“Indeed. I know your methods, but your spiritual power is merely average. If the Ji family did not wish to keep you alive, I would take your life this round.”
Su Dongfeng said coldly, “Unless you forfeit directly. But with your personality, you would not forfeit, would you?”
Lin Xiao’s expression chilled slightly. “No need to provoke me. Even the Ji family cannot kill me. You alone are not qualified. Even purely in terms of spiritual power, it is too early to say who wins or loses.”
“However, you have reminded me of something. When the time comes, I need not hold back against you. You cannot kill me, but I can kill you.” Lin Xiao added.
It was easy to guess that the Ji family wanted to learn the whereabouts of their members and the Martial Saint from the Holy Heaven Sect, as well as the situation inside that void rift. That was why they would not let Su Dongfeng kill him outright.
But he had no such reservations towards Su Dongfeng.
Since the man was acting on the Ji family’s behalf, he would surely strike hard. If an opportunity arose, Lin Xiao would show no mercy.
Yet Su Dongfeng was a seventh-rank high-level spiritual controller, evidently extremely powerful. Defeating him would be no easy task. Lin Xiao’s expression grew grave.
“Heh, two juniors in the same group as us. Truly an honour.”
At that moment, a laughing voice rang out. Zhu Dingshan, Minn Province’s seventh-rank high-level spiritual controller, several years younger than Su Dongfeng, approached, looking at Lin Xiao with mockery. “Friend Su has some reservations, but I have none.”
Lin Xiao’s brow arched. He said coldly, “So you also intend to kill me?”
“You offended Xiao Zihao, and as it happens, I have some ties with him. If you take the stage, it would be a good chance to do him a favour.” Zhu Dingshan said indifferently.
“Very good!” A trace of icy killing intent flickered in Lin Xiao’s eyes. It seemed that in this round, he might have to use all his trump cards.
“Brother Mu, your situation does not look good!” Yan Huashu said from the side.
“I have already killed a great many from the Ji family. Even a Martial Saint they sent failed to kill me. These two alone cannot do it.” Lin Xiao replied.
“Brother Mu speaks true. The number one genius of the Nine Provinces can use primal force to preserve his life even if his spiritual power is insufficient. At worst, he would only lose the match.” Yan Huashu sighed in admiration.
“…” Lin Xiao.
Was Yan Huashu trying to comfort him?
Yet these words made both Zhu Dingshan and Su Dongfeng’s faces darken.
Indeed, if Mu Haoran used primal force, they truly could not kill him. They might not even manage to cripple him. As long as he disregarded the competition rules and used primal force at a critical moment, he could protect himself.
“He certainly will not willingly resort to primal force. If I seize an opportunity, I may still kill him.” Zhu Dingshan thought to himself.
Just then, a white-robed old woman stepped towards them, causing Zhu Dingshan’s brow to furrow. He said gravely, “Dantai Wenjun!”
Dantai Wenjun was not merely considered the favourite by the spectators; even in his own mind, she was a leading contender for champion, one of his strongest rivals.
Dantai Wenjun had actually been drawn into the same group as them.
Su Dongfeng beside him also showed deep wariness. Dantai Wenjun was too strong, and coming from a family of spiritual controllers, her hidden cards were unpredictable. Unless absolutely necessary, he did not wish to face her in this round.
Lin Xiao was surprised, then a pleased expression appeared on his face.
With Dantai Wenjun in his group, dealing with Su Dongfeng and Zhu Dingshan would be much easier.
Dantai Wenjun flicked her robe, maintaining an air of indifference towards everyone, radiating complete confidence.
The other group moved to the opposite side: Duanmu Gaoming, Situ Kongchen, Lu Mohann, Murong Dian, Hou Zixiao.
“It’s fortunate that the strongest, Dantai Wenjun and Duanmu Gaoming, were not drawn together. Otherwise, the clash of titans might have begun this round.”
“Even if they had been drawn together, they would not clash this round; they would each get a bye instead. Though Duanmu Gaoming avoided Dantai Wenjun, he drew Lu Mohann. Unexpectedly, those two probably will not clash either.”
“Compared to the second group, the first group is much weaker. Both Mu Haoran and Yan Huashu are in the first.”
“Mu Haoran and Yan Huashu are destined to finish at the bottom. No matter which group, they are just making up the numbers.”
“Now, at last, we will see Mu Haoran defeated.”
…
With the groups divided, the crowd grew lively again, faces filled with anticipation.
Those who bore grudges against Lin Xiao all revealed cold expressions.
At this point, the referee soared into the high sky and announced loudly, “Now, the number one spiritual controller from the first group steps forward to challenge an opponent. Once you leave your designated platform, the battle begins. All other rules remain unchanged.”
The group eyed one another. Lin Xiao’s gaze also swept over the others.
His number was four.
This positioning was actually somewhat disadvantageous for him, as he had no priority in choosing.
“Number one is me!” At that moment, Yan Huashu shot forward, landing at the edge of a platform ahead. Facing Lin Xiao and the others, he said, “Brother Mu, originally I should choose you first, but seeing how many enemies you have, I will not take advantage of you.”
“Senior Zhu Dingshan, you are several years younger than Senior Su Dongfeng, so you should be slightly weaker. I will choose you, Senior Zhu.”
At these words, Zhu Dingshan flew into a rage. Yan Huashu’s statement was nothing less than a massive provocation!
“Hmph, overestimating yourself!”
Zhu Dingshan snorted coldly and shot forward, his aura surging mightily.
In that instant, Yan Huashu stepped beyond the platform edge. Two pills flew from his hand. Infusing them with spiritual power, they transformed into two torrents of flame that merged together, attacking Zhu Dingshan immediately.
The crowd was startled and no longer underestimated Yan Huashu.
In this sixth round, Yan Huashu’s strength was among the lowest, near the bottom.
Yet he still had energy pills. In the previous round, a single energy pill had defeated Jin Hongwei, who could nearly fight above his level.
This time, he used two at once. Their power was incomparably fierce. It was unknown whether Zhu Dingshan could withstand them.
In the instant after activating the energy pills, Yan Huashu also summoned his primary spirit: a stone-like spiritual form that blasted towards Zhu Dingshan.
Two energy pills combined with his own primary spirit attack. This assault was extraordinarily powerful.
“Hmph!” Opposite him, Zhu Dingshan’s expression turned solemn. He snorted coldly and immediately summoned his primary spirit.
A massive beast claw primary spirit materialised, its substantialisation reaching sixty percent. Carrying heaven-shaking might, it whistled through the air and smashed towards Yan Huashu’s attacks.
