“If you’re talking about Xiahou Jing, then yes,” Lin Xiao replied calmly. “In the grand competition, she insisted on a life-or-death match, so I defeated her fair and square.”
His words were a direct counter to Xiahou Li, shutting down any attempt to pin blame on him while striking a blow to Xiahou Li’s pride.
“You!” Xiahou Li choked, unable to retort. Lin Xiao’s statement left him no grounds to accuse him.
But those words fueled his rage.
“Well done!” Xiahou Li’s eyes flashed with cold fury as he turned to Yue Xingchen. “Yue Xingchen, can we make this a life-or-death match today? Cripple him for me!”
In the Holy City, normal fights couldn’t maim or cripple, but in a life-or-death match, even killing was allowed—crippling an opponent was no issue.
Once Lin Xiao was crippled, he’d lose Shengyuan Academy’s favor, and Xiahou Li could find a chance to kill him personally.
“No life-or-death matches today!” A majestic voice boomed, its commanding aura enveloping the plaza. An elderly figure in simple robes flew through the air, landing above the square.
“Elder Baili!”
The crowd gasped in recognition.
It was Baili He, the overseer of the Holy City and Shengyuan Academy’s first core elder.
“Elder Baili!” Lin Xiao bowed respectfully.
He’d delayed fighting, waiting for Baili He’s arrival. With Baili He present, no one could interfere or pull tricks.
He trusted that the Vice Dean and others wouldn’t let anyone kill him in the Holy City.
Baili He’s presence was perfect—even Xiahou Lan couldn’t act.
Xiahou Li’s brows furrowed at Baili He’s appearance.
“Both are Shengyuan Academy’s top geniuses. A spar is fine, but no life-or-death matches. Anyone who strikes too heavily will face academy discipline. If control is lost, this fight ends immediately!” Baili He declared sternly, setting strict rules that left no room for a life-or-death match.
“You’re overthinking, Elder Baili. Junior Brother Lin Xiao is a rare talent. I only accepted his challenge out of curiosity to spar. How could it be a life-or-death match?” Yue Xingchen bowed to Baili He, speaking respectfully. “Rest assured, Elder, I’ll hold back.”
He was pragmatic. Killing Lin Xiao, who’d just returned, would provoke the academy’s wrath, even the Vice Dean’s. From the start, he had no intention of a life-or-death match.
He only wanted to dim Lin Xiao’s fame and momentum.
“I’ll keep it light too,” Lin Xiao said with a grin.
“Good!” Baili He nodded, then looked at Lin Xiao, advising, “Lin Xiao, spar carefully. Don’t overdo it!”
His words showed his bias towards Lin Xiao, though it wasn’t surprising for such a prodigy to be favored by the academy’s leaders.
Baili He didn’t hide it.
Thrilled by Lin Xiao’s return, allowing this fight was already a concession.
He couldn’t let anything happen to this genius now.
Lin Xiao nodded, remaining noncommittal.
“Alright, begin. Everyone else, clear the plaza,” Baili He ordered, waving his hand.
“It’s finally starting! How strong is Lin Xiao now?”
“A peak Martial King beating Yue Xingchen? That’s tough.”
“Have you forgotten his performance in the ultimate battlefield? At Martial King Seventh Realm, he fought peak Martial Kings and even killed Martial Venerables. Surviving the thunderstorm, he must have a trump card. Otherwise, with his temperament, he wouldn’t challenge Yue Xingchen.”
The crowd buzzed, retreating to the sides.
“Be careful!”
“Knock that Yue guy down!”
Ziling, Mu Yao, and Tianmen disciples offered encouragement before heading to the plaza’s edge.
Xiahou Li snorted coldly, leading his family away with a grim face.
Only Lin Xiao, Yue Xingchen, and Baili He remained in the plaza’s center, with Baili He above, ready to intervene as referee.
The scene fell silent.
All eyes were on them.
“Junior Brother Lin Xiao, show everyone your strength,” Yue Xingchen said, drawing his gleaming moonlight white sword, its radiant aura bursting forth.
“Let’s go!” Lin Xiao didn’t draw a weapon, standing still and speaking calmly.
“Hmph, let’s see what you’ve got!” Yue Xingchen snorted, moving first. His white-robed figure shot forward like lightning, slashing at Lin Xiao.
Though not a martial technique, the strike carried the full force of a Third Realm Martial Venerable.
“Chi!”
As Yue Xingchen attacked, Lin Xiao’s arm visibly petrified, turning stone-like. He reached out, grabbing the white sword with his palm.
Clang!
A piercing metallic sound rang out. Lin Xiao’s hand clamped onto the sword, stopping it dead. Waves of force rippled from the clash.
“He caught the sword barehanded?!”
The crowd gasped in shock. Yue Xingchen’s cultivation far surpassed Lin Xiao’s, yet Lin Xiao had grabbed his sword with his hand?
“It’s the stone man’s power—he petrified his arm!” A youth who’d been in the Mysterious Domain battlefield recognized the odd transformation, exclaiming.
“No wonder he dared challenge Yue Xingchen!”
The crowd marveled.
Ziling and others sighed in relief, convinced Lin Xiao hadn’t challenged recklessly.
Tianmen disciples cheered, while Moon Gate members’ faces darkened.
The Xiahou family looked equally grim.
On the field, Lin Xiao smirked at Yue Xingchen’s stunned face. “Second on the Heavenly Star List? That’s it?”
“Don’t celebrate too soon!” Yue Xingchen’s other hand struck, its force tearing through the air, a terrifying palm aimed at Lin Xiao’s chest.
Explosive power surged within Lin Xiao. His left hand shot out, meeting Yue Xingchen’s palm head-on.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed, shockwaves spreading. The impact forced Lin Xiao to release the sword, stepping back five paces. Yue Xingchen was also pushed back five steps.
Their physical clash was a draw!
Yue Xingchen’s shock deepened. If Lin Xiao’s earlier move relied on a strange technique, this was pure physical power. A Martial King Ninth Realm matching his Third Realm Martial Venerable strength?
Lin Xiao’s physical prowess was astonishing.
The crowd was stunned, their perception of Lin Xiao’s strength shattered once again.
