Lin Xiao’s voice, amplified by his vital energy, resounded not only among the Holy City’s forces but also across dozens of miles, reaching everyone in the vicinity, including the Nether Heaven Demon Palace.
The thousands of onlookers were stunned, while the Nether Heaven Demon Palace disciples erupted in fury. This young man was outrageously bold, declaring his intent to wipe them out before the treasures even appeared.
At that moment, they were itching to start a fight, but without orders from their top elites, they didn’t dare act rashly.
Moreover, reason told them that now wasn’t the time for battle.
They were also curious to see how the Holy City’s side would respond. Surely, it wasn’t up to this one youth alone. If they didn’t fight, the Holy City would lose face.
Among the Holy City’s forces, Mu Yao, Bai Moxuan, and others frowned. Lin Xiao now carried significant weight, but starting a fight now seemed premature.
Bai Moxuan was about to speak diplomatically when Ruxian cut in bluntly, her tone dripping with displeasure, “Now is not the time.”
Other disciples silently nodded in agreement, thinking Lin Xiao’s boldness would be curbed for making suggestions out of turn.
Yet, facing the crowd’s indignant stares, Lin Xiao grinned and said, “I think now is exactly the right time. Since you’re not making a move, I’ll go deal with them myself.”
The crowd was dumbfounded. Deal with them himself? How? Was he planning to charge in alone?
Had he lost his mind?
But Lin Xiao didn’t just say it—he acted. He shot forward, flying toward the Nether Heaven Demon Palace’s position.
Halfway between the two sides, he halted and shouted at the four to five hundred Nether Heaven Demon Palace disciples, “I am Lin Xiao, the top disciple of the Holy Origin Academy’s Human Star List, aged seventeen by bone age. I challenge any disciple of the Nether Heaven Demon Palace. Who dares to face me?”
His voice boomed, echoing across dozens, even hundreds of miles.
The onlookers were shocked. Many didn’t know Lin Xiao or had never seen him fight. To become the top of the Human Star List at just seventeen was astonishing.
Even more shocking was that a seventeen-year-old dared to challenge any disciple of the Nether Heaven Demon Palace.
Being the top of the Human Star List was impressive, but compared to the Demon Lists—Earth Demon List and Heavenly Demon List—how could he possibly match their strength?
“Who is this guy? Has he gone mad?”
“Too arrogant! Does he think he can single-handedly sweep through all the Nether Heaven Demon Palace disciples with that challenge?”
“Probably got cocky from a recent power spike. Any Earth Demon List disciple could take him down in a single move.”
“I bet the Nether Heaven Demon Palace will send out a high-ranking Earth Demon List disciple to crush him in one strike, showing their might!”
The surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion, many cursing Lin Xiao’s reckless audacity.
Hearing this, many Holy City disciples were equally stunned. They’d heard of Lin Xiao defeating Mo Jiutian to claim the top spot on the Human Star List, but they hadn’t witnessed his later battles.
Challenging any Nether Heaven Demon Palace disciple right off the bat? That was tantamount to suicide. Where did his confidence come from?
Xiahou Wanyu’s face showed utter shock, then a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He sneered inwardly, “Hmph, truly seeking his own death!”
At that moment, Xiahou Wanyu wished Lin Xiao would be killed on the spot.
Among the Nether Heaven Demon Palace disciples, the crowd was like a boiling pot, seething with rage. Many disciples were barely restraining themselves from rushing forward to tear Lin Xiao apart, held back only by the lack of orders from Gu Shiyou or the Heavenly Demon List disciples.
But for those who had witnessed Lin Xiao’s earlier fight, their brows furrowed. They had seen him repel Gu Shiyou with their own eyes.
Back then, Lin Xiao was only at the sixth level of Martial King. Now, having broken through to the seventh, he truly had the qualifications to challenge any of them.
By shouting this challenge, Lin Xiao was clearly aiming to slap the Nether Heaven Demon Palace’s face.
Younger disciples or those high on the Earth Demon List were no match for him and risked being killed if they stepped up.
But if their top elites took the challenge, they’d lose face before the fight even began.
Thus, they had no desire to accept Lin Xiao’s challenge.
However, refusing would also damage the Nether Heaven Demon Palace’s reputation, leaving them in an awkward predicament.
“What’s wrong? Is there not a single person in the mighty Nether Heaven Demon Palace who dares to face me?” Lin Xiao’s taunting voice rang out again, as provocative as it could be. “Or does the Nether Heaven Demon Palace only know how to gang up on others? Now, in a one-on-one, no one dares to step up?”
“Damn it, I’ll go chop him up!” A disciple from the Earth Demon List couldn’t take it anymore, roaring as he prepared to charge. But he was stopped by a Heavenly Demon List disciple who barked, “I’ll handle this.”
The Earth Demon List disciple was stunned. “Senior Brother Paigu, a mere Human Star List top disciple—why would you need to step in?”
The youth was baffled, as were many others. Sending a Heavenly Demon List disciple against a Human Star List disciple seemed like a loss of face.
The disciple named Paigu shot a fierce glare at the Earth Demon List disciple, silencing him instantly.
Others didn’t dare object. One disciple’s eyes flashed with insight as he said, “Senior Brother Paigu will go up and kill him in one move. Won’t that make this guy a laughingstock?”
His words sparked realization among the others, who nodded as if it all made sense.
Since the opponent challenged anyone, it seemed bold and boosted the Holy City’s prestige.
But if a Heavenly Demon List disciple stepped up and killed him in one strike, all his earlier arrogance would turn him into a joke.
It would leave the impression that the Holy Origin Academy’s disciples were fools.
Yes, that must be it! Senior Brother Paigu must be thinking the same!
The group silently affirmed this in their hearts.
“Senior Brother Paigu is brilliant!” one even blurted out in admiration.
But Paigu shot a fierce glare at this youth and the one who spoke earlier, leaving the “clever” pair stunned. Had they said something wrong?
Others were also puzzled. Wasn’t this their plan?
Paigu didn’t explain. His figure shot forward toward Lin Xiao, roaring, “Heavenly Demon List disciple, Paigu, accepts your challenge!”
Watching the lean youth charge with surging killing intent, Lin Xiao suddenly shouted, “Wait!”
“What, scared?” Paigu didn’t rush to attack, standing in the void a hundred zhang from Lin Xiao, sneering coldly.
“Hahaha, this guy’s hilarious! He boasted about challenging any Nether Heaven Demon Palace disciple, but now a Heavenly Demon List disciple steps up, and he’s chickening out. Did he think they wouldn’t send a top fighter?”
“I bet he’s dumbfounded. Talked too big. If they’d sent someone of similar rank, he might’ve gotten away with his bravado.”
“This guy’s an idiot, spouting nonsense to show off. Let’s see how he handles this.”
“I bet he’ll turn tail and run!”
The onlookers erupted in mocking laughter, watching the scene with amusement.
