Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned.
Was Gu Xuanyuan suggesting the crowd stay out, letting the four strongest—himself, Wang Ming, Yuan Ren, and Gu Xuanyuan—settle things first, leaving the crowd to seize the spoils later?
If so, it would spare Lin Xiao some trouble. Facing too many attackers while dealing with the trio would stretch him thin.
Still, the three would likely target him first, since he held the fourth-grade spirit stone.
The two to three hundred eager fighters paused. The earlier massacre was a lesson—their strength paled in comparison. Rushing in risked death, as the twenty to thirty fallen proved.
Waiting until the four exhausted each other offered a better chance. Whether the four aimed to thin the competition or not, it benefited the crowd.
So, they held back, tacitly agreeing with Gu Xuanyuan, watching closely for an opening.
“Then let’s kill him first!” Wang Ming snarled, his killing intent surging.
Yuan Ren, seething, flanked Lin Xiao’s other side, eyes blazing with rage.
Gu Xuanyuan approached as well.
Lin Xiao’s brows furrowed. Facing three powerhouses, he gripped a Thunder Evil Fire Pill, ready to use it. Battling them while the crowd loomed was perilous.
But as he held the pill, Gu Xuanyuan shook his head at Wang Ming. “No, my fight with a fellow disciple can wait. First, we deal with you, Nether Sky Demon Palace scum.”
With that, Gu Xuanyuan unleashed a torrent of aura, charging Wang Ming.
“Lin Xiao, don’t disgrace Holy Origin Academy!” his booming voice rang out.
Lin Xiao paused, surprised. Gu Xuanyuan’s stance was clear—he was helping him!
Even if they’d fight later, this move caught Lin Xiao off guard.
“Gu Xuanyuan, you’re courting death!” Wang Ming, shocked and enraged, clashed with him.
The crowd realized Gu Xuanyuan’s intent. Loyal to Holy Origin Academy, he was teaming with Lin Xiao for a two-on-two battle.
Still, they’d wait to capitalize on the outcome.
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* …
Explosive clashes erupted as Gu Xuanyuan and Wang Ming fought fiercely, terrifying shockwaves bursting between them.
“Worthy of a top genius from our academy’s preliminary competition—true grit!” Lin Xiao praised sincerely, his face alight with battle lust. “Don’t worry, I won’t shame Holy Origin Academy!”
He raised his sword skyward, channeling the third form of the Thunder Sword Art. A towering aura surged, shaking the heavens. The clear sky darkened, ink-black clouds roiling in from all directions, turning day to near-night.
Immense pressure poured from the clouds, gripping everyone’s hearts. Lin Xiao’s attack held apocalyptic energy.
“Hidden heavenly thunder, bow to me!” Lin Xiao roared, hair whipping wildly, his aura overwhelming. A deafening thunderclap exploded in the clouds, torrents of lightning cascading into his sword and body.
“Thunder Three Forms, Thunder Judgment!” With another shout, he slashed down. A thunderous boom rang out as a river of lightning surged toward Yuan Ren.
“What, he’s summoning heavenly thunder?” Yuan Ren’s face paled. He unleashed his full sixth-level power, a radiant blade beam bursting from his sword. Carrying unmatched force, it met the lightning river like a soaring rainbow.
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* …
A deafening roar shook the earth, blinding light forcing eyes shut. Cataclysmic energy erupted, shockwaves surging outward, threatening to annihilate the void.
*Bang!*
Amid the chaos, Yuan Ren spat blood, his body hurled back.
This was his second time wounded by Lin Xiao.
The crowd was dumbfounded, even Wang Ming, battling Gu Xuanyuan, was shocked.
Lin Xiao was this strong, channeling heavenly thunder into his body for such a devastating attack?
It was unprecedented!
Yuan Ren’s face showed deep shock. They’d underestimated Lin Xiao’s combat power.
But as someone rivalling Wang Ming, he had his own trump cards. Swallowing a pill, his aura surged, a ferocious momentum exploding from him.
“Still able to fight?” Lin Xiao was surprised. Yuan Ren’s resilience was impressive, enduring the Thunder Three Forms and still radiating such power.
Back when he fought Lei Kuang, a thunder cultivator, one strike nearly crippled him.
“The cultivation gap is significant,” Lin Xiao thought. Undeterred, he pressed the attack, charging Yuan Ren. Above him, a massive black-green energy palm formed.
If Yuan Ren could endure, he’d keep striking until he couldn’t.
*Boom!*
The energy palm, radiating devouring and scorching power, descended like a divine judgment, bearing unstoppable force toward Yuan Ren.
Sensing its terror, Yuan Ren’s expression shifted. He summoned his sixth-level power again, slashing out. A radiant blade beam, pulsing with immense energy, met the energy palm.
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
Another earth-shaking explosion erupted, shockwaves surging. The force struck Yuan Ren, forcing out another mouthful of blood as he was flung back.
*Swoosh!*
Lin Xiao, sustained by spiritual energy, gripped his sword and charged, ready to unleash the first and second forms of the Thunder Sword Art in a relentless assault.
“Lin Xiao, you’ve forced my hand!” Yuan Ren roared. His aura skyrocketed, a ferocious blood qi surging from him. His eyes turned red, his arms bulging, shredding his clothes.
“Roar!”
With a beastly bellow, Yuan Ren transformed into a berserk monster. Swinging his blade with savage force, he smashed it toward Lin Xiao.
