In the void, Jin Xiaoyue gazed at Lin Xiao with disdain, as if she didn’t take the arena seriously, her voice cold, “You’re no match for me.”
Lin Xiao chuckled, “I think so too.”
“Then concede,” Jin Xiaoyue said.
“It seems your arrogance has made you deaf to others’ words,” Lin Xiao replied.
“If you’re not my match, what’s the point of fighting?” Jin Xiaoyue, not quite catching his tone, countered.
Lin Xiao said, somewhat speechless, “I don’t know how, with your wit, you reached the fourth-stage Martial Venerable. I meant, I also think you’re no match for me.”
“…” Jin Xiaoyue’s face darkened, only now understanding, her anger flaring with embarrassment.
So, he was insulting her, even using the term “wit” as if she were a spirit beast. “If not for the rule that the first two rounds forbid killing, you’d already be a corpse,” Jin Xiaoyue said icily, a thick killing intent radiating from her. “I think so too,” Lin Xiao replied, noting her unparalleled arrogance.
“One move to defeat you!” An icy voice came from Jin Xiaoyue as she gripped a gleaming longsword. Her body moved, turning into a blur, stirring a sinister wind, and charged at Lin Xiao with astonishing speed.
A sword strike, brimming with immense force, slashed fiercely toward Lin Xiao’s chest.
“How foolish to provoke Jin Xiaoyue!”
“Jin Xiaoyue’s using her killer move, Shadow Slash. The second thrust, not the slash, is key. Though she’s not using full strength, no one at her level can block it.”
“That guy’s done for!”
Among the Jin family, Jin Ye and others sighed inwardly, already picturing Lin Xiao wounded.
If not for the no-kill rule in the first two rounds, that youth would likely be a corpse.
Seeing Jin Xiaoyue’s speed, the onlookers gasped, their faces showing astonishment.
They hadn’t expected Jin Xiaoyue to be so fast, reaching the Zi family’s youth in a blink.
This strike would surely bring the Zi family’s defeat, and the forty-first city would change hands.
Yet, just as everyone thought Lin Xiao was doomed, his hand shot forward, grabbing at Jin Xiaoyue’s longsword.
“Clang!”
A metallic ring erupted as Lin Xiao’s hand seized the blade. In that instant, he felt her strike lacked real power, as if she were pulling back.
Jin Xiaoyue had prepared her next move while striking.
But no preparation mattered before Lin Xiao, for he held her sword firmly in his grasp.
“How is this possible?”
Seeing this, Jin Xiaoyue was shocked. Countless had fallen to this strike, and she’d seen many ways to counter it.
But never had someone caught her sword barehanded.
Bang!
The next moment, Lin Xiao’s other hand swung a full-force punch, slamming into Jin Xiaoyue’s chest.
“Pfft!”
A gush of blood sprayed as Jin Xiaoyue’s body was sent flying backward.
It all happened in an instant. Everyone saw Lin Xiao catch her sword with his bare hand and blast her away with a punch.
“How is this possible?”
All eyes widened, as if their eyeballs might pop out.
The Jin family’s faces showed disbelief, frozen in shock.
Not only had Jin Xiaoyue failed to strike her opponent, but she was blasted away?
And by someone who caught her sword with one hand?
Even the Zi family on the city wall was stunned. They knew Lin Xiao was strong, able to send Zi Hao flying with one punch.
But that was when Zi Hao fought without a weapon, in a direct clash.
They never imagined Lin Xiao was this formidable, catching a sword barehanded and blasting Jin Xiaoyue away.
“Bang!” A thud sounded as Jin Xiaoyue’s body crashed in front of the Jin family, kicking up dirt.
Seeing her battered state, it was clear she was gravely injured, unable to fight on.
“If not for the rule forbidding killing in the first two rounds, you’d be a corpse now,” Lin Xiao’s voice rang out, throwing her words back at her.
“Pfft!”
Jin Xiaoyue spat blood in shame and rage. She, a genius of the Jin family, undefeated in her realm, praised by peers and elders alike, had lost to this youth.
And in just two moves, so miserably, with her own words mocked back at her, it was unbearable.
“Hahaha…” Zi Jinchen’s hearty laugh rang out, “Jin Wuhuan, you really overthought!”
Jin Wuhuan was furious, as Zi Jinchen echoed his earlier words, dripping with sarcasm.
He had thought Zi Jinchen’s words were mere bravado, but they were true. Zi Jinchen didn’t care if Jin Xiaoyue would break through to the fifth stage, or even know.
Because this youth was strong enough, the Zi family didn’t let Zi Hao defend but chose this fourth-stage Martial Venerable, uncaring of Jin Xiaoyue’s breakthrough.
“Help her up!” Jin Wuhuan waved, and two youths carefully brought Jin Xiaoyue back into the crowd.
“Third Elder…” Jin Xiaoyue couldn’t face him or the Jin family.
“Victory and defeat are common for martial artists. Your talent is great, but you’re too used to underestimating opponents. Reflect on this loss, it may not be bad for you,” Jin Wuhuan, though angry at Zi Jinchen, restrained himself and advised Jin Xiaoyue, fulfilling his elder’s duty.
Jin Xiaoyue nodded, still struggling to accept it, but said no more. She turned, glaring at Lin Xiao, vowing inwardly, “I’ll kill you!”
Jin Wuhuan stared at the city wall and said loudly, “Zi Jinchen, we miscalculated this round, but you’ve only held one of five arenas. We’ve won four cities.”
“In the next round, who knows how many more cities your Zi family will lose.”
The Zi family frowned. Zi Jinchen replied, “We’ll see about that. In the next round, the Zi family will win back all lost cities.”
“Let’s see if your Zi family has that strength,” Jin Wuhuan sneered, “By the way, for the next team arena, our Jin family will open all five arenas at once. Does your Zi family have the guts?”
Zi Jinchen and the others frowned. Five arenas at once meant setting all fighters simultaneously, with no changes allowed.
Only supreme confidence would prompt such a move, as any mishap could lead to consecutive losses.
They hadn’t expected the Jin family to be so bold.
“How will your Jin family set the five arenas?” Zi Jinchen asked, frowning. Arena details had to be shared for preparation, and he was curious what lineup the Jin family would field with such confidence. The rest of the Zi family was equally intrigued.
