Lin Xiao’s brow twitched, and he forced himself to explain politely, “Senior, this junior had no intention of killing Jian Wuqu. It was Jian Wuqu who challenged me to a life-and-death duel. Being outmatched, I had to fight with all my strength, unintentionally triggering Senior’s war seal.”
Hearing this, the Martial Emperor phantom frowned, scanning the surroundings and roughly grasping the situation.
Though only a phantom, it carried a strand of consciousness.
Still, it couldn’t comprehend how this youth had defeated Jian Wuqu and even threatened his life.
“Fourth Elder, this kid cheated!” Jian Wuqu spat viciously from behind the phantom.
“I see,” the phantom nodded, its tone indifferent. “Regardless, activating my phantom came at a great cost. You must pay a heavy price for triggering it.”
Lin Xiao’s brow furrowed.
“Please, Emperor Xin, show mercy!”
At that moment, a hurried voice rang out. Zi Jinchen soared into the air, flying toward Lin Xiao.
“Emperor Xin, this youth has deep ties with our Zi family. In a life-and-death duel, he didn’t break any rules. For the sake of our Zi family, please spare him,” Zi Jinchen said courteously.
In truth, he was inwardly outraged. This was a life-and-death duel, and Emperor Xin saving Jian Wuqu already broke the rules.
Breaking the rules on the Zi family’s martial arena tarnished their reputation.
Now, Emperor Xin even intended to act against Lin Xiao.
“You know how grave an offence it is to activate a Martial Emperor war seal. But since this is a life-and-death duel on the Zi family’s arena, I’ll give you face.”
Emperor Xin’s tone softened, his gaze shifting to Lin Xiao. “However, while the death penalty can be spared, punishment cannot. For offending me, kneel and apologise.”
Zi Jinchen frowned, surprised that Emperor Xin would impose such a humiliating demand.
Just kneeling, without attack, didn’t entirely disgrace the Zi family.
For an ordinary martial artist, kneeling to a Martial Emperor wasn’t unthinkable.
But for a prodigy like Lin Xiao, it would deeply affect his spirit.
Especially for someone as exceptional as Lin Xiao, kneeling to anyone was unthinkable.
Kneeling meant submission, even to a Martial Emperor.
“Lin Xiao, kneel already!” Jian Wuqu barked.
With those words, Lin Xiao kneeling to the Fourth Elder would also mean kneeling to him.
Though he couldn’t kill Lin Xiao, making him kneel would vent some of his rage.
He’d spare Lin Xiao’s life for now, plotting to settle this humiliation later.
Lin Xiao’s face darkened. “Senior, you intervened in a life-and-death duel, already breaking the rules. Now you demand I kneel? Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
Emperor Xin’s expression hardened. “Activating my war seal is your fault. Merely kneeling to apologise is already lenient.”
“Emperor Xin…” Zi Jinchen tried to interject.
“No more words.” Emperor Xin waved, silencing him.
Lin Xiao sneered. “I thought Martial Emperors were broad-minded and upright. Turns out, you’re just a narrow-minded, shameless old fool.”
He’d never kneel to anyone but his parents—not to heaven, not to earth, not to anyone.
The crowd gasped at his words.
Calling a Martial Emperor narrow-minded and shameless? This was the boldest youth they’d ever seen.
Even non-Emperor elders wouldn’t dare insult a Martial Emperor, even a phantom.
The air seemed to carry Emperor Xin’s furious aura.
Xiao Mao and Mei Tianmo readied themselves to assist, holding back only to avoid provoking Emperor Xin immediately.
After all, a Martial Emperor war seal was overwhelmingly powerful, capable of easily killing even a Ninth Stage Martial Monarch.
Zi Jinchen’s face twitched at Lin Xiao’s words. “Emperor Xin, please reconsider!” he urged.
At the same time, he summoned his vast energy.
Though no match for Emperor Xin, as a seasoned Ninth Stage Martial Monarch, he was far stronger than most. He could withstand one strike from the phantom without dying.
And this was Zi family territory. He knew Emperor Xin wouldn’t dare kill him easily.
Otherwise, once the phantom vanished, Jian Wuqu and Zhang Tianze wouldn’t leave the Zi family alive.
Emperor Xin sensed Zi Jinchen’s brewing aura, surprised that he’d protect Lin Xiao so fiercely, even risking a confrontation.
Finally, Emperor Xin growled, “It’s been a long time since anyone dared speak to me like this.”
“But since I said you’d only kneel to apologise, I won’t attack you. For your earlier offence, add another condition: kneel and kowtow.”
A terrifying pressure forced Lin Xiao’s body toward the ground.
With a “thud,” Lin Xiao crashed onto the arena, his feet sinking into the stone, shattering it and kicking up dirt.
His ankles were buried in the ground.
Emperor Xin, carrying Jian Wuqu, landed directly in front of Lin Xiao.
He deliberately made Lin Xiao kneel before Jian Wuqu, who was, after all, a Lingjian Sect disciple.
Zi Jinchen’s brow furrowed as he landed beside Lin Xiao, not daring to act.
“Kneel!”
Emperor Xin’s voice thundered, an even greater pressure enveloping Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao felt immense weight, as if his body were about to collapse.
But having endured a Martial Emperor’s blood essence pressure, his body was incredibly resilient, and his will was unyielding. Emperor Xin’s pressure couldn’t force him to kneel.
Seeing Lin Xiao stand firm, Emperor Xin was slightly surprised, then increased the pressure.
“I’d rather die standing than live kneeling!” Lin Xiao gritted his teeth, spitting out the words. The crushing pressure made him feel suffocated, his legs bearing the brunt, more than any other part.
He felt excruciating pain in his legs as the ground sank beneath him, his knees half-buried in the earth.
Yet, seeing Lin Xiao still holding out, Emperor Xin intensified the pressure.
Pfft! Pfft!
Lin Xiao’s legs burst, blood gushing out, but his knees remained rigid, fixed to the ground.
Though his body trembled under the pressure, his knees didn’t bend an inch. “Kneel!” Emperor Xin roared again, unleashing an even more terrifying force.
