At Arena 40, after countless battles, another voice rang out.
“Next match, Ba Hu versus Fang Yang!”
Ba Hu finally took the stage again, but this time his opponent was none other than Fang Yang, a Third Stage Martial King.
After stepping onto the arena, Fang Yang’s face bore a meaningful smile.
“Ba Hu, concede!”
Off the arena, Lin Xiao immediately spoke. Though Ba Hu held great anger towards Fang Yang, Fang Yang’s cultivation was at Third Stage Martial King, far beyond Ba Hu’s reach. If he fought recklessly, Fang Yang might not hold back.
Pausing, Ba Hu was reluctant but finally said, “I… I con…”
But before Ba Hu could finish, Fang Yang moved. His figure flashed like lightning, rushing before Ba Hu and slapping him across the mouth, cutting off his words.
Ba Hu’s entire body was knocked to the ground.
“You!” Lin Xiao flared with anger. He hadn’t expected Fang Yang to be so ruthless. Ba Hu was clearly about to concede, yet was forcibly interrupted.
Hearing Lin Xiao’s furious voice, Fang Yang’s lips curled into a mocking smile. Then he stepped on Ba Hu’s body, causing Ba Hu to spit out a mouthful of blood.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fang Yang’s foot stomped repeatedly on various parts of Ba Hu’s body, each strike precise, nearly breaking his bones. Every footprint almost crippled Ba Hu.
After countless stomps, Ba Hu was left just on the edge of being ruined.
Ba Hu nearly fainted from pain but gritted his teeth, blood filling his mouth, yet he didn’t cry out. His eyes glared fiercely at Fang Yang.
“Heh, want to kill me? I’m ready anytime!”
With a light chuckle, Fang Yang kicked Ba Hu out of the arena, then clapped his hands, acting as if nothing happened.
Lin Xiao slowly walked to the unconscious Ba Hu, took out a healing pill, and placed it in his mouth. Then the medical team carried Ba Hu out of the arena.
“Don’t worry, I’ll deal with him the same way, but I’ll spare his worthless life for you!” Watching Ba Hu being carried away, Lin Xiao coldly muttered.
Hearing Lin Xiao’s words, Fang Yang treated it as empty bravado, glancing at him disdainfully and spitting, “Ignorant.”
The battles continued.
In the next match, Fang Yang drew his opponent, Yu Ning, who immediately conceded.
But Fang Yang didn’t attack as he had with Ba Hu. Instead, he smiled at Lin Xiao, letting Yu Ning leave safely.
Clearly, it was deliberate.
Targeted at Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao said nothing more, only waiting for his chance to draw Fang Yang.
At the final match of this round, it was Lin Xiao’s turn to draw. He silently prayed to get Fang Yang, but instead, he drew someone he had no grudge against, Zhu Shi.
“I’d love to see what a Spirit Controller can do!” Facing Lin Xiao, Zhu Shi showed no fear, his fighting spirit high, eager to challenge Lin Xiao.
“Then let me show you!”
With that, a powerful spiritual force surged, enveloping Zhu Shi. Then, it controlled Zhu Shi’s body, lifting him into the air.
Zhu Shi’s strength wasn’t great, not even on par with Jia Chao.
Lin Xiao, now with Third-Grade Advanced spiritual force, equivalent to an ordinary Fourth-Grade Beginner Spirit Controller, was comparable to a typical Third Stage Martial King.
Among Second Stage Martial Kings, Zhu Shi’s strength was only average, naturally lacking the ability to fight across tiers.
Thus, he couldn’t resist Lin Xiao’s Third-Grade Advanced spiritual force.
Boom!
Lin Xiao, burning with anger, found Zhu Shi standing in his line of fire. With a surge of spiritual force, he slammed Zhu Shi into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The crowd was shocked. Lin Xiao’s spiritual force was so powerful, not relying on tricks but directly controlling a Second Stage Martial King and smashing him into the ground.
They were also puzzled. Wasn’t Lin Xiao only at Third-Grade Advanced spiritual force? How could he control a Second Stage Martial King?
On the main platform, Zi Ling’s gaze fixed on Lin Xiao, a trace of surprise in her eyes. She could tell Lin Xiao’s spiritual force had the strength to fight across tiers.
“He’s indeed at Third-Grade Advanced spiritual force, but his spiritual force is stronger than average, able to fight ordinary Fourth-Grade Beginner Spirit Controllers!” Zi Ling said.
The onlookers were shocked again. Lin Xiao’s spiritual force could fight across tiers, meaning he could battle Third Stage Martial Kings?
That meant Lin Xiao had a shot at the top 100.
That was what many thought.
“Swish!”
At Arena 40, Lin Xiao controlled Zhu Shi’s body, tossing him out of the arena.
Lin Xiao won this match.
In the next round, when Dao Yi drew his opponent, he happened to select Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao, just off the stage, stepped up again.
The crowd showed anticipation. In previous battles, Dao Yi had defeated both chosen and drawn opponents, including Zhu Shi and Jia Chao.
He was someone in the arena capable of fighting across tiers, his strength nearly matching Fang Yang, perhaps even able to challenge him.
“Finally, it’s our turn to fight!”
Looking at the calm Lin Xiao, Dao Yi spoke solemnly. Facing Lin Xiao now, his expression grew a bit more serious.
“Your strength has exceeded my expectations, but I should still beat you!” Dao Yi continued.
“When you say ‘should,’ you’ve already lost confidence. This match, you’ll definitely lose!” Lin Xiao said calmly.
“Hmph, let’s see if you’ve got what it takes!”
Dao Yi, enraged, unleashed his vital energy. Dazzling light burst from his long blade, a three-to-four-metre-long ferocious blade beam stirring up rolling force, slashing towards Lin Xiao.
But as the blade beam fell, Dao Yi realised he’d missed, striking beside Lin Xiao.
The moment he attacked, Lin Xiao had controlled him, shifting his aim slightly.
The shockwave hitting the ground had no effect on Lin Xiao.
“Good, let’s see how many more slashes you can control!” Dao Yi slashed again, still not reaching Lin Xiao.
Fighting a Spirit Controller up close was the dumbest move.
“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!” …
A series of booming sounds echoed. The crowd saw only dazzling golden blade beams relentlessly striking around Lin Xiao, waves of force surging out.
Not a single blade beam landed directly on Lin Xiao.
From start to finish, Lin Xiao stood unmoved in the arena, long hair flowing, exuding an imposing aura. The shockwaves hitting the ground didn’t budge him.
“This guy’s so cool, even cooler than me, Lord Ma. He hasn’t moved an inch in the arena!”
“Heh, yeah, let the storm rage—I stand unmoved. Cooler than me too!” Nearby, Bull Nose chuckled alongside Ma Bi.
The watching Tianmen disciples let out waves of exclamations.
Weren’t you, Dao Yi, once third in the outer court? Didn’t you join the Blade-Sword Alliance? Didn’t you boast you’d defeat Lin Xiao?
Now, aren’t you about to lose to Lin Xiao!
And lose pathetically—Lin Xiao doesn’t even need to move.
