“So, within Zi Ling’s body, there has always been a Martial Emperor Battle Seal!” Lin Xiao thought to himself, gazing at the majestic phantom.
The Martial Emperor Battle Seal, forged by a Martial Emperor using their own essence blood through a special method, bore some resemblance to the drop of Martial Emperor Battle Seal essence blood Lin Xiao had integrated into his body in the Holy City.
However, a Martial Emperor Battle Seal capable of directly forming a phantom to fight without relying on another’s body required far greater resources to create.
Unless the person was of utmost importance, no Martial Emperor would willingly seal such a Battle Seal within someone’s body.
It was astonishing that Zi Ling, as the great-granddaughter of a Martial Emperor, was so cherished by the Zi family’s Martial Emperor that he had directly sealed the Battle Seal essence blood within her.
No wonder Zi Ling had spoken so boldly earlier. To kill her would not only provoke the Martial Emperor’s retribution afterward but would also be nearly impossible.
As soon as Zi Ling faced a life-threatening danger, the Martial Emperor Battle Seal would activate, instantly posing a threat from the seal itself.
“Purple Emperor!” The black-robed elder, restrained by the Martial Emperor’s pressure, was horrified. He hadn’t anticipated that Zi Ling would possess a Martial Emperor Battle Seal, nor that she would recklessly activate it.
Had he known, he would never have dared to target Zi Ling.
He had planned to have a group abduct Lin Xiao and then escape, since his concealed identity meant breaking trust would have no consequences for him.
But now, all his plans were ruined, and he himself faced a grave threat.
Cao Tianchao and the masked figures in that area were equally shocked. They had never encountered a Martial Emperor, and the power of a Martial Emperor was indeed terrifying. To think that even a direct descendant like Zi Ling could trigger a Martial Emperor Battle Seal.
The onlookers were also stunned. Though they felt the immense power, it was clear that the Martial Emperor’s pressure was primarily directed at the black-robed elder. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.
“You dare to kill my descendant, how bold!”
The Martial Emperor’s phantom spoke in a supremely authoritative voice, then moved a hand, unleashing a torrent of overwhelming power toward the black-robed elder.
The entire void seemed unable to contain that force, as the heavens themselves trembled, an incomparably terrifying aura sweeping in all directions.
“No!!!” The black-robed elder let out a terrified scream, channeling all his lifelong cultivation into a massive fist strike.
However, though it was merely the power of a Martial Emperor’s phantom, it was still Martial Emperor power. Before it, even the strength of a Ninth-Tier Martial Lord elder was utterly useless, collapsing instantly.
The terrifying Martial Emperor power struck the black-robed elder’s body.
With a deafening “Boom!”, the elder’s body disintegrated into a cloud of blood mist.
Jin Wuhuan’s pupils contracted, his fists clenched tightly. Only he and a few Jin family elders knew that the one who died wasn’t someone targeting Lin Xiao, but their own Jin family elder.
The loss of a Ninth-Tier Martial Lord elder was a tremendous blow.
In the blink of an eye, their Jin family elder had perished.
Moreover, as he had appeared as a black-robed figure, his death was in vain.
Apart from those in the Zi family who knew the truth, everyone else’s faces were filled with shock.
A Martial Emperor was indeed overwhelmingly domineering. The moment the Battle Seal appeared, it instantly killed the opponent, leaving no room for negotiation.
A Ninth-Tier Martial Lord had no power to resist before the Martial Emperor’s phantom, reduced to blood mist with a single strike.
If a mere Battle Seal was this powerful, one could only imagine how terrifying the Martial Emperor himself would be.
“No wonder he’s a Martial Emperor realm expert. The gap between a Martial Emperor and a Ninth-Tier Martial Lord is just one step, yet the difference in strength is like heaven and earth. Stepping into the Martial Emperor realm truly places one among the ranks of the mightiest!”
Lin Xiao marveled inwardly, a surge of excitement coursing through him. The Martial Emperor realm, he would reach it sooner or later…
Not only Lin Xiao but also Ling Hu and countless youths present felt a sense of longing. However, few possessed the same resolve and confidence as Lin Xiao.
Most could only look up in awe.
“You all deserve to die!” After slaying the black-robed elder, the Purple Emperor turned, casting his gaze toward the remaining black-robed figures.
“Run, now!” Cao Tianchao cried out in panic, fleeing outward.
The others scattered in terror. Having witnessed a Ninth-Tier Martial Lord being obliterated in one strike, they had no courage left to fight.
Boom!
The Purple Emperor’s phantom flipped a hand, unleashing a terrifying palm strike that hit two nearby black-robed figures, instantly reducing them to blood mist.
The rest managed to escape, fleeing as if they’d seen a ghost.
However, the Martial Emperor’s phantom did not pursue them.
After the group had fled far away, the phantom’s gaze turned toward the Jin family’s city, declaring sternly, “Anyone who dares touch Zi Ling will pay a heavy price!”
With that, the phantom slowly faded.
The Jin family members felt a jolt in their hearts, only breathing a sigh of relief once the phantom had completely vanished.
At that moment, Zi Jinchen and Zi Mo immediately flew to Zi Ling’s side to protect her from further attacks.
Given the terror of the black-robed figures, they were likely too busy fleeing to return.
Zi Ling’s condition, fortunately, was unharmed.
“Killing a Ninth-Tier Martial Lord, this Martial Emperor Battle Seal was worth it!” Zi Ling said to Zi Jinchen and the others.
Zi Jinchen and the others said nothing. Forging this Battle Seal had cost the Purple Emperor greatly, primarily to protect Zi Ling.
Creating another would require significant time and effort.
In terms of effect, even a Martial Emperor couldn’t casually kill a Ninth-Tier Martial Lord from another Martial Emperor faction, as it would provoke retaliation.
They could guess that the dead black-robed figure was from the Jin family. Using a Battle Seal to kill a Ninth-Tier Martial Lord was, in truth, worthwhile.
However, if someone targeted Zi Ling again, they would lack a trump card to ensure her safety.
“Roar!”
After a brief silence, the Five-Colored Spirit Beast suddenly attacked Mei Tianmo. The battle between the two spirit beasts was not yet over.
Mei Tianmo, enraged, launched powerful attacks. After a quarter-hour of fierce combat, Mei Tianmo gained the upper hand, overpowering the Five-Colored Spirit Beast.
Half an incense stick later, Mei Tianmo severely wounded the Five-Colored Spirit Beast, completely defeating it.
“If I could kill you, you wouldn’t have lasted this long!” Mei Tianmo said coldly, looking at the battered Five-Colored Spirit Beast carried to the city wall, before retracting its iron wings and venomous stinger and returning to Lin Xiao’s side.
At this point, the Jin family members’ expressions froze. In today’s ten arena battles, whether defending or attacking, the Jin family had been utterly defeated by the Zi family.
The Jin family had lost five cities.
The primary reason was Lin Xiao.
“Jin Wuhuan, your Jin family lost five cities. Three of them, we’ll redeem for the three cities the Zi family lost. The other two will be the two cities closest to the Zi family. Is that acceptable?” Zi Jinchen said to Jin Wuhuan.
“Naturally, the cities will be returned later!” Jin Wuhuan replied with a grim face. Today, the Jin family had lost all face.
“However, in the next round, the Zi family may not be so lucky,” Jin Wuhuan added in a low voice.
“Perhaps your Jin family will lose another five cities,” Zi Jinchen retorted. “Let’s go!”
The Zi family members nodded and returned to their base. As for the cities, they weren’t worried that the Jin family would refuse to hand them over.
This was a longstanding rule between the two families, and the Jin family wouldn’t dare break it.
Lin Xiao, Mei Tianmo, and the others followed the Zi family back to Zi Family City No. 41.
On their return, they faced no interference from any forces.
With the combined strength of Mei Tianmo, Xiao Mao, Zi Jinchen, Zi Mo, and the others, no one from the Jin family in the vicinity could likely match them.
As Lin Xiao and his group returned, news of the Martial Emperor Battle Seal’s appearance quickly reached a certain Jin family city.
Upon hearing of the black-robed elder’s death, a distinguished young man trembled, clenching his fists and shattering a valuable table and chair, his voice quivering as he said, “Uncle Mu!”
“No wonder the Zi family dared let Zi Mo escort Zi Ling alone. The Purple Emperor had a contingency in place for her,” a golden-robed elder said angrily nearby.
“Young Master, Elder Jin Tong asks you to restrain your grief!” A grey-robed elder bowed nearby, adding, “I’ve received urgent news. Jian Tianjiao’s younger brother, Jian Wuqu, from the Ling Sword Sect, has arrived at the Zi family headquarters. Zi Gong’s people have already sent someone to summon Zi Ling back. If we don’t act this time, we may lose our chance.”
