“A Martial Emperor’s decree is as good as the Emperor’s own words. To defy it is to challenge imperial authority, Cao, old dog. Do you still dare touch my Ling family now?” Ling Xiao’s booming shout rang out.
Cao Tianchao’s face darkened. Though the Jin family was far away, with the Martial Emperor’s decree as a warning, he absolutely dared not defy it, lest the Emperor’s wrath destroy the entire Cao family.
“Since the Jin family’s Martial Emperor decree protects the Ling family, we naturally won’t touch your people,” Cao Tianchao said, his expression grim. Pointing at Lin Xiao, he added, “But he’s not part of your Ling family. If I kill him, the Jin family likely won’t care, will they?”
In truth, the Cao family’s real target was Lin Xiao. Whether they moved against the Ling family mattered little to them.
Hearing Cao Tianchao’s words, Lin Xiao and Ling Hu frowned. Indeed, as Cao Tianchao said, the Martial Emperor’s decree only protected the Ling family, not outsiders. Even if Cao Tianchao acted, the Jin family would have no grounds to hold the Cao family accountable.
Given the Jin family’s vast distance, they likely didn’t care much about the entire Ling family, perhaps only granting Ling Xiao this favour for his sake. As for the life or death of someone outside the Ling family, they probably wouldn’t bother.
“Father, he’s my brother. If not for him, I’d still be suppressed by the Black Seal Poison. My achievements today are all because of him,” Ling Hu said urgently.
Ling Xiao gave Lin Xiao a deep look and said, “Don’t worry, my son’s brother is my brother. I’ll protect him.”
“…” Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned, almost speechless. Ling Xiao’s personality was so similar to Ling Hu’s, speaking without restraint. His words even made Lin Xiao feel their generations were getting muddled.
Ling Xiao’s gaze turned to Cao Tianchao. “Cao, old dog, the Jin family may not care if you touch him, but I do!”
“Hmph, you think you can protect him?” With a cold snort, Cao Tianchao unleashed the terrifying pressure of a ninth-level Martial Lord, enveloping Lin Xiao. His figure moved, charging towards him.
“Indeed, I can!” Ling Xiao roared, his body surging forward to meet Cao Tianchao.
As Ling Xiao charged, a faint tiger’s roar seemed to emanate from within him.
Then, his body glowed with fiery red light, turning crimson. His arm muscles swelled, doubling in size, as if transforming into tiger limbs, brimming with explosive, barbaric strength.
An aura as if from ancient times radiated from Ling Xiao, an unmatched pressure that shook the soul. He seemed to become a primordial ferocious tiger, the entire space growing wild with his presence, his ferocious and violent aura dominating all directions.
Clearly, as he charged, Ling Xiao had unleashed the power of his Heavenly Flame Emperor Tiger physique.
Boom!
When the two collided, a massive explosion rang out, the void trembling slightly. Both were pushed back dozens of zhang.
The clash was evenly matched.
The crowd was stunned. Ling Xiao, at the seventh-level Martial Lord, could actually contend with the Cao Family Patriarch, a ninth-level Martial Lord?
His combat strength was simply too terrifying.
“How is it possible that you can match my strength?” Cao Tianchao’s face showed utter astonishment.
A ninth-level Martial Lord was far beyond the seventh or eighth level. Reaching such a height required exceptional talent and immense power, nearly invincible among peers.
Yet, Ling Xiao, at the seventh-level Martial Lord, could hold his own against him, something Cao Tianchao had never encountered.
If a seventh-level Martial Lord could match a ninth-level, what would happen when he reached the ninth level? Wouldn’t he sweep through all Martial Lords?
“Nothing’s impossible, Cao, old dog. With me here, are you sure you can touch him?” Ling Xiao said, glancing at Ling Hu. “Ling Hu, step back.”
He could see Ling Hu’s aura weakening. Having burned his essence blood to activate the Heavenly Flame Saint Tiger physique, Ling Hu couldn’t hide it from him.
With the Martial Emperor’s decree, the Cao family wouldn’t dare touch Ling Hu or the Ling family. By retreating to recover, Ling Hu could avoid being caught in the crossfire, allowing Ling Xiao to act freely and take Lin Xiao away.
As he spoke, he tossed a pill towards Ling Hu.
“Alright!” Ling Hu nodded, swallowed the pill, and flew towards Ling Zhongqian’s position, his aura rapidly declining.
In the void, seeing that Ling Hu and the Ling family were unharmed, Lin Xiao relaxed slightly. He immediately ordered the Blue Corpse Puppet to rush towards him, saying, “Senior Ling, thank you, but there’s no need to tangle with the Cao family. I can leave first.”
He was about to activate the Qingling Stone, but at that moment, another terrifying ninth-level Martial Lord aura swept over from the opposite direction.
“Leaving so soon? Isn’t that a bit premature? You still need to explain the matter of my Xu family’s genius and Martial Lord being killed,” an old man’s voice rang out. A white-robed elder with white brows and a sage-like aura swiftly approached, standing before Lin Xiao, his fearsome Martial Lord aura locking down the surroundings.
“Another ninth-level Martial Lord!” Lin Xiao’s expression changed drastically. He quickly positioned the Blue Corpse Puppet in front of him to offset some of the pressure.
He hadn’t expected another ninth-level Martial Lord to be hiding in Ling Family City.
It was obvious this was none other than the Xu Family Patriarch.
Following the Xu Patriarch’s appearance, four other Xu family Martial Lords flew in from all directions, surrounding the void.
Cao Ting and the others frowned slightly, also rising into the air. Seven Martial Lords surrounded the area, both to trap Lin Xiao and to be ready to act against the Xu family if needed.
Then, dozens of Cao family Martial Venerables soared up, encircling the area even more tightly.
Even Ling Xiao’s brows furrowed deeply. If it was just one ninth-level Martial Lord, he could hold his own and take Lin Xiao away, with other Martial Lords unlikely to stop him.
But with two ninth-level Martial Lords, plus eleven other Martial Lords, taking Lin Xiao away was nearly impossible.
“Hmph, this kid orchestrated a war between our Xu and Cao families. Think he can just leave? Ling Xiao, let’s see how you protect him now!” Cao Tianchao shouted grimly.
Though wary of the Xu family, with Xu Zilan present, Lin Xiao escaping with the Void Sky Phoenix Wings was nearly impossible.
At the same time, Cao Tianchao cursed inwardly. If Ling Xiao hadn’t appeared, Xu Zilan and the others wouldn’t have had a chance to act, and Lin Xiao’s possessions would’ve been his.
Lin Xiao frowned, scanning his surroundings. If he activated the Qingling Stone into the Void Sky Phoenix Wings, everyone around would likely attack simultaneously, and he’d have no chance to break through.
With two ninth-level Martial Lords, two seventh-level Martial Lords, and eight lower-tier Martial Lords, even with Ling Xiao and the Blue Corpse Puppet protecting him, he couldn’t withstand their assault.
Once again, he was in a perilous situation.
“Attack!” Xu Zilan was the first to speak, and with his command, the group surged into action, a battle on the verge of erupting.
“Stop!” But at that moment, a woman’s loud shout echoed from the horizon. Immediately after, an elder with a surging ninth-level Martial Lord aura swept forward, carrying a woman towards the Ling Family City square.
