Seeing Lin Xiao’s smug antics, the Liu family’s fury boiled over. Liu He snarled, “Hmph, a mere eighth-tier Heavenly Martial— I could kill you with one finger! Our Liu family elders and patriarch could cut you down like grass!”
“Enjoy your last moments— in an hour, I’ll end you!” Liu Yan raged.
“Since you say so…” Lin Xiao’s grin grew even more infuriating as he declared, “Then I’ll head back and give you lot a thrashing first!”
With that, he stepped out, striding back towards them.
“Pfft!”…
Not just Liu Yan and Liu He— even others couldn’t help spitting blood. This guy was mad— he’d made it out, yet he was coming back!
“Heaven’s unfair!” someone wailed, collapsing to their knees, hands on the ground, their resolve crumbling.
“I’d love to wipe him out!”
“Is this guy even human?”
“He’s a beast— a bloody animal!”
“Madman!”
“Monster!”
Lin Xiao’s move sparked a uproar— everyone glared as if they’d skin him alive. They couldn’t even cross once, and he was walking back…
Comparing people was maddening!
The Liu family, especially, nearly fainted with rage— Lin Xiao was returning to beat them!
Tolerable? Hardly!
But Lin Xiao ignored their reactions, heading straight back. Since the Liu family was begging for a thrashing, he’d oblige.
He also wanted another round of tempering— one more session, and his flesh in this realm would near perfection. His cultivation was a hair’s breadth from ninth-tier Heavenly Martial— a rare chance.
As for Junzang inside, he’d make it in time. He reckoned other areas, even without a Heavy Force Palace, had their own trials— no one would reach the core so fast.
Returning felt easier— in just over fifteen minutes, he met someone.
It was the black-robed youth, the furthest along, past halfway.
“No idea what trick you’re using to outpace everyone here, but this is just one stage. True talent isn’t proven by walking!” the youth said as Lin Xiao approached.
“What’re you getting at?” Lin Xiao stopped before him, asking.
“I’m saying your talent’s a joke— you’ll see once we’re out. Outshining others in the Heavy Force Palace proves nothing,” the black-robed youth sneered, clearly irked by the setup.
“Heh, heh…” Lin Xiao laughed, dripping with mockery.
“What’s so funny?” The youth’s expression chilled.
“I’m laughing at how there’s still people like you— I haven’t even started hitting you, and you’re begging for a smack!” With that, Lin Xiao swung a fist at the youth’s face. This guy, tied to the grey-robed youth and Master Yuling, wasn’t someone he’d spare.
Bang!
A soft thud— Lin Xiao’s fist landed square on the black-robed youth’s face.
No vital qi flared, and the move was slow, but the youth’s gravity limit was far below Lin Xiao’s— he couldn’t match his speed or block, only take the hit.
The crowd behind gaped— this was a young Martial King, backed by a sixth-tier Martial Venerable, and Lin Xiao dared strike him?
“You— you dare hit me?” The youth’s face stiffened. A genius from a mighty faction, always fawned over— yet today, someone struck him, and on the face?
“Don’t dare!” Lin Xiao smirked, then swung again, harder this time, blackening the youth’s eye.
“I don’t dare!” Another left hook landed, turning the youth’s left eye blue.
“You dare hit me— you’re courting death!” The youth roared, never having faced such humiliation.
Lin Xiao’s reply was a flurry of fists, pummelling the youth into furious howls. As he staggered, Lin Xiao’s hands showed no mercy, hammering until the youth collapsed.
“Don’t dare? You’re all out to kill me, and I don’t dare?” After knocking him down, Lin Xiao landed another blow to his face.
His current strength couldn’t kill, though— or he’d have bashed the youth to death.
“Lin Xiao, I’ll kill you!” The youth’s thunderous roar echoed through the palace, laced with furious anguish.
This was utter disgrace!
“What? Still yapping?” Lin Xiao blinked, his grin growing wickeder, “Alright then…”
He slowly raised a foot, aiming for the youth’s face.
“No!” the youth cried.
Bang! The foot stomped down, pressing his face into the ground.
Humiliation— raw, blatant humiliation!
The black-robed youth passed out from sheer rage.
The crowd was dumbfounded.
This— too brutal, too degrading!
One could imagine— this planted a heart demon in the youth. Unless he killed Lin Xiao, his cultivation might never progress.
Blocked qi and blood!
Silence fell, but Hu Yue clapped wildly from behind.
Many sucked in cold breaths, inwardly cursing— this youth had met a ruthless pair.
They barely dared breathe— struggling to move— if they provoked Lin Xiao into this, they’d be done for.
Liu Yan and Liu He’s faces darkened. Liu Yan’s cheek muscles twitched— if Lin Xiao did this to him…
He couldn’t bear to think of it.
But next, Lin Xiao strode straight towards him.
Being closest to the black-robed youth’s spot, it didn’t take long to reach Liu Yan, a smile on his face.
“Brat, you dare—” Liu Yan panicked, swinging a palm at Lin Xiao first. But under the gravity, he couldn’t match Lin Xiao’s speed.
Before his palm landed, Lin Xiao’s fist smashed into his face.
Bang!
Liu Yan’s head jerked, a bruise blooming on his cheek.
The crowd gasped again— a true ruthless bastard, hitting even a Martial Venerable without hesitation.
“Thick-skinned git!” Lin Xiao shook his hand, muttering. A Martial Venerable’s flesh was indeed tougher than the youth’s.
“You…” Liu Yan nearly choked with rage.
Bang!
Another fist flew, knocking out Liu Yan’s teeth.
“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!”…
The crowd turned to stone— the Liu family froze. Their patriarch, a mighty Martial Venerable, was being thrashed by a junior…
Unbelievable— unbearable!
Amidst it, Hu Yue’s jarring laughter rang out, determined to drive them mad.
“Disgrace— utter disgrace!” Liu Yan mumbled, fury splitting his liver and gall.
Then Lin Xiao raised a foot and stomped down.
Liu Yan’s vision darkened, nearly fainting from rage.
“Lin Xiao, you’ll regret this— you’ll regret it!” Liu He trembled beside him, shaking with anger.
