“Crack.” A sound of bones on the verge of breaking echoed, and Lin Xiao felt as if his knee bones were about to shatter, a sharp pain piercing his heart.
Yet, he gritted his teeth and endured, his hands trembling tightly, his eyes fixed fiercely on Xin Huang’s illusory figure.
At this moment, Zi Jinchen, standing nearby, was already preparing to intervene. On the other side, Xiao Mao and Mei Tianmo had auras emanating from them, while Ling Hu’s fists were clenched tightly.
“Let’s see how much longer you can endure!” Xin Huang spoke again, intensifying the pressure slightly.
“Enough!” At that very moment, a voice suddenly rang out.
Immediately, a powerful aura enveloped Lin Xiao, directly dispelling Xin Huang’s pressure.
Then, an elderly figure appeared instantly beside Lin Xiao, moving so swiftly that Lin Xiao could barely see, as if teleporting.
The old man had a kind face, wore a light purple ancient robe, and had a restrained aura. His hair was greying, his face lined with wrinkles, yet he didn’t appear overly aged, looking like an ordinary man in his sixties or seventies.
However, Lin Xiao knew this man was far from ordinary. To effortlessly dispel a Martial Emperor’s pressure in this place, there could only be one possibility.
It was the Zi Clan Leader, Zi Huang.
His true age was likely well over one or two hundred years.
“Clan Leader!” Seeing this figure, Zi Jinchen let out a quiet sigh of relief. He had been on the verge of acting.
But he also knew that if he had intervened, the outcome wouldn’t have been good.
Moreover, even if he were knocked back, the pressure on Lin Xiao wouldn’t have lessened.
Now, with Zi Huang emerging from seclusion to personally intervene, Lin Xiao was safe.
Xiao Mao, Mei Tianmo, Ling Hu, and Zi Ling also quietly sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, Zhang Tianze and Jian Wuqu frowned.
With Zi Huang’s appearance, their hope of forcing Lin Xiao to kneel was likely impossible.
“Zi Huang,” even Xin Huang’s illusory figure furrowed his brow slightly.
“Xin Huang, he’s just a junior, no need to be so enraged,” Zi Huang said calmly, “I hope, for my sake, you’ll let this matter go and spare the lad.”
Xin Huang frowned and said, “Since Zi Huang has spoken, let this matter end here.”
With that, he turned to Jian Wuqu, whose body was bloodied and mangled, and said, “Swallow the pill.”
Jian Wuqu nodded, immediately taking out a pill and swallowing it.
Then, Xin Huang’s illusory figure placed a palm on Jian Wuqu’s shoulder, and Jian Wuqu’s injuries began to heal at a visible rate.
Clearly, Xin Huang’s illusory figure was helping Jian Wuqu refine the pill’s power to heal.
With the aid of a Martial Emperor’s illusory figure, Jian Wuqu’s body soon returned to normal.
However, his clothes were tattered, leaving him in a dishevelled state.
“Zi Huang, until we meet again,” Xin Huang’s illusory figure said lightly to Zi Huang, waving his hand before dissipating into the void.
“Xin Huang, today’s humiliation, I’ll settle it one day!” Lin Xiao vowed resolutely in his heart, watching the vanishing figure.
If anyone knew Lin Xiao’s thoughts, they would surely scoff. A mere junior daring to challenge a Martial Emperor?
For a Martial Venerable to seek retribution against a Martial Emperor was perhaps too far-fetched.
But Lin Xiao didn’t see it that way.
Even Martial Emperors rose from weakness. One day, he too would reach a level to challenge them.
At this moment, Jian Wuqu’s eyes were locked coldly on Lin Xiao as he said icily, “Lin Xiao, today’s humiliation, I’ll repay in the future!”
With that, he turned and walked toward Zhang Tianze.
“Let your brother come for revenge. If Xin Huang hadn’t intervened today, you’d already be dead,” Lin Xiao said bluntly.
Jian Wuqu’s body trembled, his heart burning with anger, but he had no retort. After a pause, he quickened his pace toward Zhang Tianze.
“Elder Zhang, your Ling Sword Sect won’t go back on your word, will you?” Zi Ling suddenly said to Zhang Tianze.
Zhang Tianze’s face darkened as he said, “Our Ling Sword Sect keeps its word. Two years from now, Jian Wudi will face him in battle. If he wins, the marriage proposal is off, but if he loses, you’ll set the engagement immediately.”
“Agreed!” Zi Ling nodded.
Zhang Tianze bowed to Zi Gong and Zi Huang, saying, “Zi Huang, Elder Zi Gong, we have matters to attend to and won’t disturb you further.”
“I’ve been in seclusion and couldn’t personally receive Elder Zhang. Please forgive me. Since you’ve settled the matter with the juniors, I won’t interfere,” Zi Huang said calmly, without a trace of a Martial Emperor’s arrogance.
“You’re too kind, Zi Huang. If you have time, please visit our Ling Sword Sect. Farewell!” Zhang Tianze said.
“Send my regards to your Sect Leader,” Zi Huang replied.
Zhang Tianze nodded, then left with Jian Wuqu.
Today, the Ling Sword Sect had thoroughly lost face.
They came to propose on behalf of Jian Tianjiao, only to fail, with Jian Wuqu defeated by a fourth-level Martial Venerable junior. If word spread, it would damage the Ling Sword Sect’s reputation.
But as things stood, they were helpless.
They certainly wouldn’t spread the news themselves.
If the Zi Clan were wise, they would likely stay silent too, as the fewer who knew about Zi Ling’s Substitute Holy Spirit Vein, the better.
If it were publicised, it would be highly disadvantageous for Zi Ling.
After Zhang Tianze and Jian Wuqu left, Zi Huang addressed those present, “Today’s events are not to be discussed or spread. Otherwise, clan rules will apply!”
The Zi Clan members nodded. None dared defy Zi Huang’s words.
Yet, their hearts were filled with shock, astonished that Lin Xiao had defeated Jian Wuqu and amazed by Lin Xiao’s many talents.
“Not yielding under pressure, a strong will,” Zi Huang said, looking at Lin Xiao. He handed over a black jade bottle, saying, “Take this healing pill.”
“Thank you, Zi Huang,” Lin Xiao nodded, accepting the pill but not taking it immediately.
He was cautious, wary that if Zi Huang, like Xin Huang’s illusory figure, helped him refine the pill, he might probe his body and discover the Heavenly Eye within.
Assisting with healing could be seen as a form of probing. Without consent, most wouldn’t do so.
Of course, there was no such concern between Xin Huang’s illusory figure and Jian Wuqu, as the Martial Emperor’s shadow was already imprinted in him.
Xin Huang was fully aware of Jian Wuqu’s condition.
Most people’s bodies held no great secrets, perhaps just unique bloodlines or constitutions, which were hard to conceal anyway.
At this moment, Zi Huang had no intention of healing Lin Xiao. His knee bones weren’t shattered, just on the brink, and though his flesh was mangled, it wasn’t a severe injury.
With the pill, he would recover quickly.
“When you’ve recovered, come see me,” Zi Huang said calmly to Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao nodded. A meeting with a Martial Emperor was a rare opportunity.
Zi Huang then glanced at the elders present, his gaze settling on Zi Gong. “Notify the core elders of the Zi Clan to hold a family meeting immediately, with Zi Ling included.”
Zi Gong’s brow twitched, sensing something, but he quickly regained his composure and nodded to Zi Huang, saying, “Yes, Clan Leader.”
