“Hahaha, I didn’t expect you, kid, to actually go through with it!” A hearty laugh rang out as a black-haired elder’s voice boomed through the air.
“Martial Venerable!” Feng Youyu turned to face the figure, her brows furrowing. She unleashed a brilliant palm strike to meet it.
“Boom!” An earth-shattering clash erupted as the two forces collided, unleashing a sea of power that radiated outward, its terrifying pressure enveloping all directions.
This strike was evenly matched.
The crowd grew even more astonished. What was Lin Xiao, exactly? So many powerhouses were stepping in for him—the Spirit Controller Alliance Leader Ye Fenghua, Tianxuan Sect Master Yi Xuanfeng, and now another Martial Venerable.
A battle between Martial Venerables was a spectacle of devastating might.
“You’re not from the Lanlan Empire!” Feng Youyu raised her hand, launching another profound, boundless palm strike.
“Entrusted by someone—can’t be helped,” Ge Mu chuckled lightly, countering with his own strike.
“An outsider daring to meddle here—courting death!” Feng Youyu’s expression chilled. She soared into the air, drawing a long sword. With an elegant swing, radiant light surged from the blade, unleashing a terrifying sword beam. Its dazzling brilliance carried earth-shaking power, slashing across the sky like a rainbow.
“A Martial Venerable from the Moyu Empire!” Meng Xi’s eyes narrowed, instantly recognizing Ge Mu’s identity.
Zhou Moyi’s face grew solemn. Lin Xiao had ties to the Moyu Empire too?
Ye Fenghua, still battling Feng Ziyang, frowned. Seeing Ge Mu challenge Feng Youyu, a faint coldness crossed his face.
This was deeply complicated for him. He longed to stand with Feng Youyu against their foe, but duty and honor bound him to protect Lin Xiao.
Otherwise, even Feng Youyu might look down on him…
“Boom!”
At that moment, another direction erupted with a deafening blast. A torrent of energy exploded in the air, its boundless waves crashing outward like a stormy sea.
“Yi Xuanfeng, do you truly intend to make enemies of our two families?” Chen Wendao’s furious shout rolled through the sky.
“Entrusted by someone—Lin Xiao must not die!” Yi Xuanfeng replied with a resonant voice.
“Anyone who acts is an enemy of the Chen and Feng families!” Feng Ziyang’s thunderous roar followed.
Yet his answer came in the form of Ye Fenghua’s potent spiritual power—a transparent palm print hurtling toward him.
“Very well! Feng family, heed my command: kill Lin Xiao with all your might! Anyone who interferes, slay without mercy!” Feng Ziyang roared in fury, his vast power surging forth.
“Chen family, heed my command: kill Lin Xiao at all costs! Anyone who acts is an enemy of the Chen family—slay without mercy!” Chen Wendao bellowed, his rage now fully unleashed.
As their words fell, terrifying auras erupted from the families’ ranks. Among them, ten stood out—Martial King powerhouses.
“Spirit Controller Alliance—save our member!” Ye Fenghua shouted succinctly.
The alliance members’ hearts trembled. The Spirit Controller Alliance acting meant openly clashing with two major powers.
Some hesitated, weighing their options. The alliance wasn’t a rigid organization—those unwilling could stay neutral or even leave without much consequence.
But Ye Fenghua held immense prestige, now bolstered by his fifth-grade breakthrough. At his command, many made their choice. Waves of powerful spiritual energy erupted in succession.
Le Zheng Hongmao and Situ Guang, the two vice-leaders—fourth-grade intermediate spirit controllers—acted instantly, followed by the two fourth-grade elementary spirit controllers.
“This kid’s turning the world upside down!” Wen Renliang charged forward. He’d brought Lin Xiao to the capital—he couldn’t stand by.
“Damn kid, the alliance is risking everything for you—but let’s do this!” Wu Meng and Pang Po joined the fray, followed by Wu Sha, Xuanxuan, and others. Except for Wu Gong and Fan Renlou, the entire Spirit Controller Alliance surged forth, their spiritual power crashing toward the Feng and Chen experts like a tidal wave.
The battle between the two sides ignited.
“Master, do we act?” Wu Gong asked, glancing at the charging crowd.
“They chose Wen Renliang back then, and they weren’t wrong—it was I who erred,” Fan Renlou sighed deeply. “This time, let’s go all in. Protecting Lin Xiao might benefit you greatly in the future!”
With that, Fan Renlou unleashed his third-grade advanced spiritual power, propelling himself into the air.
Nodding, Wu Gong followed, a flying sword darting from his hand as he joined Fan Renlou’s assault.
Even Ye Yu joined the fight, though he wasn’t sure whose side he was on. He knew his uncle admired Feng Youyu, but Ye Fenghua was a man of honor and unwavering word. In this situation, he had no choice but to oppose the Feng family. With the alliance fully engaged, Ye Yu couldn’t just stand idle…
Seeing both sides clash, Lin Xiao’s heart quivered. He hadn’t expected so many to fight for him today—even the entire Spirit Controller Alliance, including Fan Renlou and Wu Gong, who’d once opposed him.
Etching their faces into his memory, Lin Xiao’s vitality surged within him.
“Tianxuan Sect disciples, hear me! If you still see me as your Sect Master, save Lin Xiao!” Yi Xuanfeng’s voice boomed.
At his call, his loyalists—three inner elders, all Martial Kings, and five outer elders, peak Heavenly Martial experts—acted without hesitation.
These were men and women who’d received Yi Xuanfeng’s favor, some even owing him their lives. They’d carried that debt for years, fearing they’d never repay it after his disappearance. Seeing him now, they were overjoyed—ready to brave any peril at his command.
With the Spirit Controller Alliance fully committed and the eight elders charging forth, Tianxuan Sect disciples began to join, intercepting the two families’ forces.
Yet a third remained still—overwhelmed by the families’ numbers and lacking deep ties to Yi Xuanfeng.
Crucially, Grand Elder Yan Yitian, two inner elders, and four outer elders stayed put.
“Hmph, you dare kill my disciple? No matter what, I’ll end you today!” Yan Yitian roared, charging toward Lin Xiao.
“We can’t save someone who killed a fellow sect member, Sect Master!” Beside Yan Yitian, a Martial King inner elder took flight with him.
“Kill this beast who murdered a Tianxuan disciple!” Another inner elder shouted, vitality wings sprouting as he joined them.
Simultaneously, four outer elders loyal to the Grand Elder surged toward Lin Xiao.
Many disciples from Yan Yitian and Chen Yan’s faction followed, especially those who’d expelled Lin Xiao—they couldn’t let this threat live.
“You traitors! Liu Yuan, Yu Bai, Jing Ran—stop them!” Yi Xuanfeng roared in fury.
Two inner elders and several outer elders turned, attacking Yan Yitian’s group.
The scene descended into chaos—blades flashing, vitality crisscrossing, brilliant lights bursting everywhere. A torrent of energy surged as a massive melee erupted.
The outer guests, invited to the event, recoiled in horror, retreating to the Feng family’s perimeter.
Their factions couldn’t compare to these elite imperial powers—none dared approach.
Only two groups remained untouched on the plaza: the imperial family and the Zhou family. But with the battle’s chaos, it wouldn’t be long before stray shockwaves reached them.
Watching the melee, Meng Ying frowned, turning to Meng Xi. “If Lin Xiao survives, the two families will deepen their alliance to hunt him down. With their marriage bond severed, tensions might grow. Should we act—help them kill Lin Xiao to prevent their unity?”
