The appearance of Han Bin caught the crowd off guard. Even Wu Yifeng and Wu Xiaofei, who had been quietly relieved for Lin Xiao, now looked solemn again.
Seeing Han Bin, Yuan Fen, the Yuan family disciples, Liu He, and Zhang Fan all showed a flicker of joy.
Even if Han Bin didn’t act on their behalf, his words made it impossible for Lin Xiao to move against them.
Sensing the formidable fifth-level Martial King aura from Han Bin, Lin Xiao’s expression grew serious.
He could handle any fourth-level Martial King, no matter how strong.
But a fifth-level Martial King was too great a gap. Without his ultimate trump cards, Lin Xiao might not stand a chance.
Still, he’d never feared anyone. If pushed too far, he’d unleash all his cards and fight to the end.
“Hahaha, daring to touch the top-ranked disciple of the Holy Origin Academy’s preliminary list? Your guts are something!”
At that moment, a hearty laugh rang out, and a figure approached the crowd.
The newcomer was a handsome youth, around twenty-five, exuding an extraordinary aura, seemingly not much weaker than Han Bin.
“A disciple of the Holy Origin Academy, and the top of the preliminary ranking list!”
The crowd’s hearts trembled at the youth’s words.
In terms of background, who in the Chaotic Lands could rival the Holy Origin Academy, save for the Nether Sky Demon Palace?
It was laughable that Yuan Fen had threatened Lin Xiao with the Yuan family’s strongest disciple. If Lin Xiao called on his Holy Origin Academy seniors, any moderately high-ranked Star List disciple would outshine Yuan Ren.
Wu Yifeng and Wu Xiaofei were stunned, unable to fathom Lin Xiao’s powerful background.
The top of the preliminary list meant he was the most outstanding disciple of this generation at the Holy Origin Academy, undoubtedly valued highly by the institution.
He’d surely have Star List disciples backing him.
Zhang Fan was utterly shocked. He’d feared Yuan Fen’s strength and status, yet Lin Xiao not only surpassed Yuan Fen in power but also in background.
Regret consumed Zhang Fan for betraying Lin Xiao and burning that bridge.
If Lin Xiao settled scores, he’d be in deep trouble.
Yuan Fen and Liu He’s hearts quaked. Lin Xiao had joined the Holy Origin Academy and was the top figure on its preliminary list?
This was far beyond their expectations. Yuan Fen even felt a twinge of fear, having dared to threaten Lin Xiao with Yuan Ren.
His background was useless against Lin Xiao.
The Holy Origin Academy and Nether Sky Demon Palace were the overlords of the Chaotic Lands, and in the Mysterious Domain Battlefield, it was no different.
“Human Star List disciple?” Lin Xiao glanced at the handsome youth, slightly stunned. He’d glimpsed this person before entering the battlefield, though he didn’t know his name or exact rank on the Human Star List.
Still, he could sense a powerful aura radiating from the youth.
At fourth-level Martial King, his presence felt no weaker than Han Bin’s. His cultivation was infinitely close to fifth-level, and his combat power at the same tier was likely formidable.
Even Han Bin showed deep wariness at the youth’s appearance, saying gravely, “Zuo Ye, ninety-third on the Holy City’s Human Star List!”
The crowd’s hearts stirred with caution. Every disciple on the Holy City’s Human Star List was a top-tier mid-level Martial King, capable of sweeping through geniuses.
Ranked ninety-third was extraordinary, and his presence in this area was unexpected.
Lin Xiao was slightly surprised.
The Yuan family’s expressions grew grave. They’d thought Han Bin’s arrival tilted things in their favour, only for a Human Star List genius from the Holy City to show up.
It went without saying that Holy City disciples would look out for each other, uniting against outsiders to uphold the Holy City and Holy Origin Academy’s prestige.
“Exactly!” Zuo Ye’s face carried a hint of pride. He glanced at Lin Xiao, a mocking sneer curling his lips. “But no need to worry. I’m not here to help Lin Xiao.”
“On the contrary, I’m here to kill him.”
The crowd froze, stunned. A Human Star List disciple wasn’t here to aid Lin Xiao but to kill him? What was going on?
Yuan Fen and the others, momentarily worried, were now elated. Whatever grudge existed, Zuo Ye was here to kill Lin Xiao. With the ninety-third-ranked Human Star List disciple acting, Lin Xiao was in for a rough time.
Wu Yifeng and Wu Xiaofei were shocked. They’d thought Lin Xiao’s saviour had arrived, only to find an enemy. The twist was too sudden.
A Human Star List disciple targeting Lin Xiao, with Han Bin and the Yuan family watching eagerly—Lin Xiao was in deep trouble.
Deep down, they didn’t want Lin Xiao to come to harm.
Lin Xiao himself was baffled. He’d never met this guy, yet he was here to kill him?
“Are you a lackey of the Xiahou family or Mo Jiutian?” Lin Xiao asked sceptically.
Since the other party openly declared intent to kill him, he saw no need for courtesy.
An unfamiliar person targeting him was likely tied to the Xiahou family or Mo Jiutian.
Zuo Ye didn’t take offence, instead laughing, “Heh, you’re self-aware. Some people you can’t afford to offend. You dared kill Xiahou Jing and still entered the Mysterious Domain Battlefield. I must say, your courage is something.”
“The Martial Alliance issued a kill order, and the Xiahou family put out a mandatory bounty. In the Mysterious Domain Battlefield, you’re a dead man. That I’m the one to kill you just means you’re lucky to meet me before others.”
Zuo Ye’s face glowed with barely concealed joy, clearly imagining the rich rewards for killing Lin Xiao.
“That old hag and Mo Jiutian really went all out,” Lin Xiao sighed, a chill rising in his heart.
Mo Jiutian and the Xiahou family disciples in the battlefield—if he got the chance, he wouldn’t let them off.
At the very least, he had the Green Corpse Puppet. Once it broke through, who’d be hunting whom was uncertain.
“But since even Xiahou Jing died by my hand, aren’t you a bit too confident thinking you can kill me?” Lin Xiao’s icy gaze met Zuo Ye’s as he countered.
“Breaking through to second-level Martial King so quickly did surprise me, but even so, I’m capable of killing you,” Zuo Ye said confidently.
Every Human Star List disciple was a prodigy, and as the ninety-third-ranked, why would he fear a preliminary list disciple?
But the next moment, as a black-robed, gaunt-faced, sinister-looking youth approached, many in the crowd silenced their thoughts.
Even Zuo Ye’s face showed deep wariness as he said, shocked, “Ma Yin, eighty-eighth on the Nether Sky Demon Palace’s Human Demon List!”
As a Human Star List disciple, Zuo Ye paid close attention to the Nether Sky Demon Palace’s Human Demon List, gathering some intelligence on them.
The Demon List was similar to the Holy City’s Star List, with the Human Demon List akin to the Human Star List, their rankings and strengths roughly comparable.
Zuo Ye had seen Ma Yin before, ranked eighty-eighth, five places above him.
Ma Yin was a ruthless figure with cruel methods, making even Zuo Ye wary.
After hearing Zuo Ye’s cautious words, the crowd, initially unaware of the newcomer, felt a chill. A Human Demon List disciple sparked fear.
They couldn’t fathom why so many powerhouses were appearing in this dilapidated Mist Forest City.
Geniuses from both the Holy City and Nether Sky Demon Palace had come.
At Ma Yin’s arrival, Lin Xiao’s expression grew graver. Ma Yin was also a fourth-level Martial King, but his chilling aura was sharper than Zuo Ye’s.
“Human Star List, ninety-third? I’d like to test your weight,” Ma Yin said, his lips curling into a cold, ambiguous smirk, his gaunt face making it unclear if he was sneering or laughing.
“But I’ll wait until you dogs finish biting each other,” he added.
He showed little fear of Zuo Ye, ranked ninety-third.
Zuo Ye’s brows furrowed tightly. He’d been about to act against Lin Xiao, but with Ma Yin’s arrival, he abandoned the idea, unwilling to play into Ma Yin’s hands.
Nor would he admit to being a dog.
“What if I don’t act against Lin Xiao now?” Zuo Ye stared icily at Ma Yin, his tone cold.
“Heh, if you don’t, I’ll test your strength first,” Ma Yin replied, his eyes glinting with cold menace.
Zuo Ye’s frown deepened. After a pause, he said, “Ma Yin, I admit your rank is higher, but if we fight, you might not defeat me.”
He produced a token, continuing, “Plus, I’m a member of the Holy City’s Blade and Sword Alliance. This token lets me sense allied disciples within a thousand miles.”
“As it happens, Senior Brother Pei Chenyu, ranked eightieth on the Human Star List, is within that range. If I crush this token, he’ll come quickly. Then, with both of us, no matter your methods, you won’t escape!”
Ma Yin’s expression visibly darkened. The Nether Sky Demon Palace had also gathered intelligence on the Holy City. Before entering the battlefield, Ma Yin had paid a steep price for some of it, and Zuo Ye’s claim was plausible.
In the Mysterious Domain Battlefield, various factions had their means of rallying.
Human Star List disciples were all formidable. Ma Yin was confident against Zuo Ye alone.
But add an eightieth-ranked disciple, and he’d struggle against them alone.
The Human Star and Human Demon Lists were comparable, and rank eighty carried significant weight.
Together, Ma Yin knew he’d be outmatched and might even be in danger.
What worried him more was that his purpose in coming to Mist Forest City might be snatched by Pei Chenyu.
After a long pause, Ma Yin’s face twisted into a cold smirk. “Heh, I’ll take your word for now. But we both know why we’re in Mist Forest City. If you summon Pei Chenyu, the treasures in the Mist Forest won’t fall to you, will they?”
Zuo Ye’s brows twitched. That was indeed his concern. If Pei Chenyu came, the lion’s share of the spoils wouldn’t be his.
Seeing Zuo Ye’s silence, Ma Yin smiled, “Since that’s the case, I won’t push you. Let’s cooperate for now. I’ll kill Lin Xiao, take his head, and you can have the body to claim the reward. How’s that?”
Lin Xiao frowned. Ma Yin was here to kill him too?
Zuo Ye was stunned. Ma Yin’s proposal was unexpected, but killing Lin Xiao was good news, and Lin Xiao wasn’t weak. If Ma Yin took the lead, it couldn’t be better.
Though claiming the body was less prestigious than the head, it didn’t matter much.
“Not hiding it, our Nether Sky Demon Palace also issued a kill order with a hefty price,” Ma Yin said with a chilling smile, his face brimming with killing intent.
“Good!” Zuo Ye nodded immediately.
The crowd was shocked. What kind of figure was Lin Xiao that both the Nether Sky Demon Palace and elements within the Holy Origin Academy had issued kill orders?
Amid their astonishment, Yuan Fen, Liu He, and Zhang Fan felt a surge of joy. With the eighty-eighth-ranked Human Demon List disciple acting, how could Lin Xiao survive?
“Then let’s do this!”
Lin Xiao gripped his sword, standing firm, his face fearless.
Since they insisted on fighting, he’d give them a battle. He was eager to test the strength of Human Star and Human Demon List disciples.
A fierce battle intent ignited within him, his unmatched aura radiating, sweeping all directions, far surpassing other second-level Martial Kings, making the crowd wary.
“Good talent, but a pity,” Ma Yin said, his lips curling coldly, an icy aura bursting forth. His pupils narrowed, glinting like eternal ice.
Everyone could see Ma Yin was about to strike.
“Lin Xiao’s in trouble!” the crowd thought, stunned.
“Hiss! Hiss!” But at that moment, a sudden change occurred.
The winds surged, the sky shifted, and from the Mist Forest behind the city, the barrier qi roiled violently. A pillar of barrier qi shot skyward, as if connecting to the heavens, vast as a sea, converging into the pillar and surging upward.
All eyes turned to the Mist Forest, including Ma Yin, who paused.
“The barrier qi is dissipating?” Lin Xiao said, shocked, gazing into the void.
High above, the sky seemed churned by the rolling barrier qi, its flow rushing upward.
“Hiss! Hiss!” Moments later, the pillar vanished, and the heavens returned to calm.
“The barrier qi’s gone!” someone shouted, and figures shot towards the Mist Forest.
