“Everyone, stop!”
Just as six powerful Eighth Layer Martial Lords charged forward, a booming voice from an elderly man echoed from the horizon ahead of Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao’s heart skipped a beat, the voice seemed somewhat familiar, yet he couldn’t place who it was.
He was puzzled, having only recently arrived in this area, there didn’t seem to be anyone who could help him.
Hearing this, the six charging figures frowned slightly but didn’t halt, continuing their advance.
Lin Xiao had killed all the young geniuses of their clans, how could a single shout from someone make them stop?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the six closed in within a few miles of Lin Xiao, six massive palm strikes of energy surged from both sides of Lin Xiao, hurtling towards them.
Each palm strike carried an overwhelming, boundless force.
The six Eighth Layer Martial Lords furrowed their brows and swiftly countered with their own palm strikes, clashing with the incoming attacks.
“Rumble!” “Rumble!” “Rumble!” …
A series of thunderous explosions erupted, waves of energy surged violently, the void trembled, and terrifying shockwaves caused the ground below to collapse.
Both sides were evenly matched.
However, the six Eighth Layer Martial Lords from the three major clans were pushed back some distance by the terrifying shockwaves.
“Swish!” “Swish!” “Swish!” …
At that moment, six figures streaked across the sky from the horizon, positioning themselves in front of the six Eighth Layer Martial Lords from the three clans, standing in opposition.
These six were all elderly men, three exuding the aura of Seventh Layer Martial Lords, two radiating Eighth Layer Martial Lord strength, and the one in the centre emanating the fearsome presence of a Ninth Layer Martial Lord.
The six Eighth Layer Martial Lords from the three clans were stunned, how could so many high-tier Martial Lords appear at this moment?
Moreover, one of them was a Ninth Layer Martial Lord!
None of these six were familiar faces, when did this region gain so many top-tier powerhouses?
Even Lin Xiao was taken aback, he didn’t recognise any of these six high-tier Martial Lords.
“Could they be from the Zi family?”
Lin Xiao glanced at Zi Ling, who had stopped beside him, but noticed a look of astonishment on her face.
Clearly, Zi Ling didn’t recognise these six sudden arrivals either, meaning they weren’t from the Zi family.
“Lord Shi has ordered you to stop!”
At this moment, the Ninth Layer Martial Lord in the centre of the six coldly addressed the six Eighth Layer Martial Lords from the three clans.
“Lord Shi?” The six from the three clans were bewildered, which Lord Shi was this?
“Swish!” “Swish!” “Swish!” …
At this point, from behind the group, six more Seventh Layer Martial Lords from the three clans broke free from their restraints, along with two Eighth Layer Martial Lords and three Seventh Layer Martial Lords from other forces, all rushing over to join the original six Eighth Layer Martial Lords.
Now, a total of seventeen high-tier Martial Lords stood in opposition to the six elderly newcomers, exuding an overwhelming aura.
Lin Xiao’s brows furrowed again, even with the sudden appearance of six high-tier Martial Lords, their strength was far from enough to stop the enemy.
At that moment, an elderly man in a brown robe, lean and wiry with a head full of white hair, appeared in everyone’s sight, flying to the side of the six. His aura was restrained, yet it gave off an unfathomable depth.
“Shi Jindou!”
Upon seeing this white-haired elder, both Lin Xiao and the members of the three clans revealed expressions of shock.
This man was none other than Shi Jindou, the master of the Vientiane Pavilion in the Cao family’s Fourth City.
No one had expected Shi Jindou to step in and intervene.
Even Lin Xiao hadn’t anticipated that Shi Jindou would come to his aid, as they had no connection whatsoever.
What surprised him even more was Shi Jindou’s influence, managing to bring along six high-tier Martial Lords, including a Ninth Layer Martial Lord, a powerhouse comparable to the patriarchs of the three clans.
At this moment, even Cao Tianchao, Lu Yuan, and the enchanting Zi Mo, who were fighting elsewhere, halted their battle.
“Everyone, please do me, Shi Jindou, a favour and spare Lin Xiao this time.”
Shi Jindou calmly addressed the group of powerhouses ahead.
“Lord Shi, your Vientiane Pavilion has always stayed out of faction disputes and focused solely on business. Is it appropriate to intervene today, and for a mere junior?” a Cao family Eighth Layer Martial Lord asked coldly.
Even Lin Xiao was puzzled, Shi Jindou wasn’t acting on behalf of Zi Ling or the Zi family, but for him?
“I owe someone a favour,” Shi Jindou replied lightly.
“Hmph, Lord Shi, Lin Xiao killed all the young geniuses of our three clans and every Martial Venerable youth in this region. Do you think a single word from you will make us let him go? Isn’t that a bit too fanciful?” a Xu family Eighth Layer Martial Lord retorted sharply.
Their patriarchs had been defeated, how could they possibly spare Lin Xiao?
Though the Vientiane Pavilion was powerful, Shi Jindou was merely the master of a city branch, not influential enough to sway them.
“Indeed, while your Vientiane Pavilion is vast, you’ve broken its rules. Besides, we have justification on our side. Even if the higher-ups of your pavilion intervene, they can’t touch us. The southeast region isn’t ruled by your Vientiane Pavilion alone!” another Lu family Eighth Layer Martial Lord angrily declared.
How could Shi Jindou’s single statement make them back down?
At this, even Shi Jindou’s face twitched slightly, as he hadn’t expected Lin Xiao to have caused such a massive upheaval.
“Lord Shi, Lin Xiao killed all our geniuses. No matter who you owe a favour to or what your reasons are, we will never let him go!” Cao Tianchao’s icy voice rang out.
Cao Tianchao, Lu Yuan, Zi Mo, and Zi Ling all flew over, positioning themselves among the group.
“Then I’ll have to stop you by force!” Shi Jindou replied coldly, his expression resolute.
“Lord Shi, I know your strength is no less than mine, but do you really think that your seven, along with Zi Mo and Elder Zi, can stop our nineteen?” Cao Tianchao sneered at Shi Jindou.
Their side had nineteen fighters, while Lin Xiao’s side, even with Shi Jindou’s seven high-tier Martial Lords, only totalled nine, giving them a significant advantage. A single high-tier Martial Lord breaking through could deal with Lin Xiao.
