The two Sky Boats, one personally operated by Zi Huang with minimal material consumption, and the other driven by a ninth-level Martial Monarch elder using a considerable amount of materials, moved at comparable speeds, both astonishingly fast.
Moreover, Zi Huang had calculated the Sky Boats’ speed with pinpoint accuracy. In exactly two hours, the group arrived at the Jin family’s headquarters.
It was midday, with the sun shining brightly. As they approached the Jin family headquarters, a vast array of resplendent golden buildings came into view.
The scale of the Jin family’s headquarters was similar to that of the Zi family, but in terms of architectural style, the Jin family favoured gold, exuding a more opulent and grandiose aura.
At the entrance of the Jin family, there stood a towering city wall, adorned with a golden plaque inscribed with Martial Emperor battle seals. The words “Jin Family” were written in a bold, flowing script, faintly emanating a terrifying pressure.
What shocked Lin Xiao and the others most was that atop the Jin family’s city wall stood over a hundred powerhouses, each radiating the aura of a Martial Monarch, forming a formidable momentum that surged forward.
Among the crowd were several familiar figures to Lin Xiao, including Jin Zhi and Jin Wuhuan.
At the centre stood an elder in a golden robe, dignified in appearance, with robust bones and sinews. His piercing tiger-like eyes gleamed with intensity, exuding an unparalleled pressure. Standing there, he seemed almost divine, inspiring awe.
It was clear that this man was none other than the Jin family’s patriarch, a Martial Emperor powerhouse, Jin Huang.
“One Martial Emperor and over a hundred Martial Monarchs?” Lin Xiao’s heart jolted in shock at the sight.
A Martial Emperor and over a hundred Martial Monarchs—this lineup was far too terrifying.
It seemed the Jin family had long known that the Zi family was coming to disrupt the Sky-Stealing Furnace and had prepared this formidable array in advance.
Likely, the entire Jin family, along with their top-tier vassals, had gathered here.
The number of ninth-level Martial Monarchs alone surpassed the group Zi Huang had brought.
How were they supposed to charge in and destroy the Sky-Stealing Furnace?
“Zi Huang, what brings your Zi family and this group of experts to our Jin family?” Jin Huang asked, his eyes coldly fixed on them.
Zi Huang pointed at Ling Hu and said calmly, “This young man, named Ling Hu, works for our Zi family. We’ve heard that his father, Ling Xiao, is being refined by your Jin family using the Sky-Stealing Vein Refining Technique. We’ve come to ask the Jin family to release Ling Xiao so they can reunite.”
At this, the Jin family members’ expressions darkened. A mere junior working for the Zi family had prompted Zi Huang to personally lead over a dozen ninth-level Martial Monarchs and a Half-Step Martial Emperor? This excuse was absurdly far-fetched.
Moreover, it wasn’t just far-fetched—it was blatant.
He had directly called out the Jin family’s Sky-Stealing Vein Refining.
Their true aim was to sabotage the Jin family’s creation of a Martial Emperor.
“Zi Huang, isn’t your excuse a bit ridiculous? Interfering in our Jin family’s affairs—does your Zi family intend to declare war on us?” Since Zi Huang had spoken so openly, Jin Huang responded just as directly.
“Where do you get that idea, Jin Huang? We only wish to rescue Ling Xiao, not to start a war with the Jin family,” Zi Huang said, suddenly thrusting a palm forward. A massive palm force, spanning a hundred metres and carrying the terrifying pressure of a Martial Emperor, surged forward.
The entire space seemed on the verge of shattering.
Lin Xiao’s heart raced. As expected of a Martial Emperor—decisive in action. While claiming no intention of war, he struck at the Jin family directly.
If this palm landed, those hundred-plus Martial Monarchs would likely be blasted away, with countless casualties.
Boom! From the opposing side, a dazzling golden light erupted, and an equally massive palm force shot out almost simultaneously, colliding with Zi Huang’s palm force. A deafening explosion rang out, and torrential shockwaves burst forth, rippling in all directions—up, down, left, and right—without spreading forward or backward.
“Rumble!”
The downward shockwave struck the ground, causing the earth to tremble and splitting it with a massive trench, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.
Lin Xiao sucked in a breath. The power of a Martial Emperor was indeed terrifying. If even a fraction of that shockwave had hit him, he’d likely be dead.
“Hmph, Zi Huang, we’ve been waiting for you!” Jin Huang snorted coldly, his body flashing forward like lightning.
Zi Huang instantly shot out from the Sky Boat, meeting Jin Huang head-on in the blink of an eye, their palms clashing with a thunderous impact.
Boom!
The void seemed to shudder as their terrifying forces collided. A massive shockwave erupted from their palms, surging in all directions—up, down, left, and right. The downward force struck the ground again, causing another tremor and kicking up more dust.
“Boom!” “Boom!” “Boom!”…
The two continued to clash, the void trembling with each deafening explosion. Waves of overwhelming force surged in all directions.
As they fought, they ascended higher into the sky.
Clearly, both intended to keep the other occupied and away from the ground below.
Soon, they had exchanged countless moves, rising so high they nearly vanished from sight.
The shockwaves cascading downward no longer reached the ground.
Lin Xiao’s heart pounded with awe. This was the most intense battle he’d ever witnessed—a clash between Martial Emperors.
Their power was terrifying, their speed blindingly fast, almost too quick for him to follow.
Moreover, their attacks perfectly countered each other, neither gaining nor losing ground in the vertical plane, preventing either from freeing up a hand.
Such evenly matched strength was truly fearsome.
“Get ready to act. You have the time of one incense stick,” Zi Huang’s booming voice echoed from the sky, reaching everyone’s ears.
In response, Jin Huang’s mocking voice followed, “Zi Huang, we’ve stationed over a hundred Martial Monarchs. Do you think your group can destroy the Sky-Stealing Furnace?”
“Just watch them!” Zi Huang replied coolly.
“Swoosh!” At that moment, Xiao Mao, standing beside Lin Xiao, suddenly shot forward. Countless white whiskers erupted from his body, moving with incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, they entangled all the hundred-plus Martial Monarchs except Jin Zhi.
“Did Zi Huang coordinate with Xiao Mao?” Lin Xiao wondered, shocked.
As soon as Zi Huang spoke, Xiao Mao acted instantly. With his eighth-level Martial Monarch strength, comparable to a Half-Step Martial Emperor, Xiao Mao’s whiskers moved even faster, trapping even ninth-level Martial Monarchs before they could react.
In that instant, the Jin family members were horrified, their faces paling. Even powerhouses of their level had been ensnared before they could act?
What kind of technique was this?
“Attack!” Zi Gong roared, charging forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, the sound of Jin Zhi and Zi Gong clashing erupted.
Jin Zhi was at the Half-Step Martial Emperor level. Though Xiao Mao had Half-Step Martial Emperor combat power, his countless whiskers couldn’t trap a Half-Step Martial Emperor. It was better to leave Jin Zhi to Zi Gong for a direct confrontation.
It seemed Zi Huang had already planned this strategy with them.
“Charge!” The Zi family’s Second Elder shouted, and the two Sky Boats surged forward at incredible speed, soaring over the city wall.
