“Until I get to the bottom of this, I won’t join the Jin family!” Ling Hu said coldly, “This round, will your Jin family fight or not?”
Hearing this, Zi Jinchen and the others quietly sighed in relief. Fortunately, Ling Hu didn’t defect mid-battle.
“No matter, the Jin family’s doors are always open to you!” Jin Wuhuan replied, surprisingly without much frustration, sounding generous instead, “This round, you win!”
The Jin family’s youth with a special physique was under twenty, with cultivation and combat power far inferior to Ling Hu’s. Since Ling Hu was defending for the Zi family, fighting him was pointless.
It would only lead to humiliation, and they risked being severely injured by Ling Hu.
With two matches of their third round lost without a fight, the Jin family had already failed. The third match, involving a special bloodline, was unnecessary.
Among the Jin family youths, two clenched their fists tightly.
This round was meant to showcase their talents, but Ling Hu had overshadowed them before they could even step forward.
Observing Jin Wuhuan and the older Jin family members from afar, Lin Xiao noticed their expressions weren’t overly upset. Instead, they stared at Ling Hu like wolves, as if they’d discovered something. He sensed something was off.
The Jin family’s desire to recruit Ling Hu wasn’t just about recruitment.
“Now, it’s time for the Zi family’s third round: one with a dantian phenomenon, one with a special physique, one with a special bloodline, all under twenty years old. The first…” Zi Jinchen announced loudly, but before he could finish, a Zi family youth interrupted, “Third Elder, I’d like to test how strong the Jin family’s special bloodline is.”
Zi Jinchen had planned to say Lin Xiao and Ling Hu would take the first two matches, asking if the Jin family still wanted to fight, but he stopped short.
The interrupter was Zi An, a Zi family genius with the Purple Lantern bloodline, eager to fight the Jin family for experience.
Even if the Jin family won this match, it wouldn’t affect the round’s outcome, as the Zi family would still win the latter two.
The Jin family didn’t know Lin Xiao had a dantian phenomenon and could compete, ensuring their victory.
Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned. He wanted to end things quickly but forgot the Zi family youths also had a thirst for battle against the Jin family.
He and Ling Hu had dominated so far, leaving others no chance to shine.
Since someone spoke up, he couldn’t interrupt.
“Very well, you’ll take the first match of this round!” Zi Jinchen said to Zi An.
The Zi family set the round, and the Jin family would choose challengers; the order didn’t matter.
“Thank you, Elder!” a youth’s voice rang out. In Lin Xiao’s view, a roughly twenty-year-old youth in plain brown robes flew out from the crowd, soaring to the high air.
This youth, unremarkable in appearance, exuded a first-level Martial Venerable aura, though it was restrained, making it hard for Lin Xiao to sense from a distance.
He seemed very understated, but what kind of bloodline did he possess?
“I’m Zi An, bearer of the Purple Lantern bloodline, twenty years old, first-level Martial Venerable. I seek guidance from the Jin family’s genius!” The brown-robed youth bowed respectfully towards the Jin family.
“Purple Lantern bloodline?” Lin Xiao was taken aback. Even with the memories of the Devouring Spirit Emperor, he’d never heard of such a bloodline.
“Jin Guanglie, Golden Flame bloodline, twenty years old, second-level Martial Venerable, let’s spar!” A pent-up shout rang out. From the Jin family crowd, a sturdy red-robed youth flew forward on wings of vital energy, charging straight at Zi An.
As he charged, a dazzling golden fist beam shot out, its radiant power like a roaring river, surging through the air with unmatched force, sweeping across the sky.
“Second-level Martial Venerable!” Zi An frowned slightly, thrusting his palms forward. Brilliant purple light erupted before him, forming two palm prints with immense power, accompanied by fierce gusts, colliding with Jin Guanglie’s fist beam.
“Rumble!”…
A thunderous explosion erupted, a dazzling light bursting forth, with sea-like waves of energy surging through the air, rippling fiercely in all directions.
“Kill!” Jin Guanglie drew a long blade, gripping it with both hands. A brilliant golden light shone, and with a single slash, an unmatched blade beam parted the waves of energy, slicing straight at Zi An. Zi An remained calm, drawing a staff inlaid with a broken lantern. With a swing, a mass of purple light shot out, forming a massive horizontal pillar that broke through the waves, clashing with Jin Guanglie’s blade beam, unleashing another surge of terrifying energy, its unmatched force roiling fiercely.
The two clashed fiercely, one with a blade, the other with a staff, from long-range strikes to close combat. Bursts of dazzling light exploded, and the sounds of their clashes echoed endlessly.
Though Zi An’s cultivation was one level lower, his combat power was not inferior to Jin Guanglie’s.
Their battle was evenly matched, with each unleashing trump cards, fighting for nearly half an hour without a victor.
Both were bloodied from the fight.
Their battle was thrilling, drawing countless gasps of amazement.
“It seems without using bloodline powers, we can’t determine a winner!” Zi An said calmly.
“Then you’ll lose!” Jin Guanglie shouted, his back glowing with a radiant golden light from his bloodline, a terrifying force rippling outward from his body.
A scorching aura spread, doubling the temperature of the surrounding space.
“Jin Guanglie’s unleashed his Golden Flame bloodline. If this strike doesn’t decide it, it’s a draw!” the crowd exclaimed.
Opposite him, Zi An’s bloodline also glowed, radiating brilliant purple light. Above his bloodline, a purple lantern shone even brighter, like divine light illuminating the world, enveloping the area in purple.
Where the purple light spread, all restlessness seemed to calm, imbued with a serene aura.
“The Purple Lantern bloodline has a serene aura?” Lin Xiao was quietly surprised by this calming presence.
It wasn’t overpowering but brought a sense of peace. The Purple Lantern bloodline was truly unique. A Martial Emperor force was indeed extraordinary, with countless talents, even a first-level Martial Venerable possessing such peculiar powers.
