“Lin Xiao wins and advances to the next round!”
The referee’s voice rang out immediately, concluding the battles in Lin Xiao’s group.
Xing Feng was carried away by the youths from the Xing family. A Martial Emperor from the Xing family fed him a pill and began healing his injuries.
“Don’t worry. In the next round, if we face the Zi family team, I’ll definitely kill him!” a youth from the Xing family said coldly, glaring at Lin Xiao.
Seeing Xing Feng’s miserable state, Jin Wucheng couldn’t help but shiver. He felt a lingering fear, glad he hadn’t drawn Lin Xiao; otherwise, his fate might have been even worse.
The battles in other arenas continued but didn’t last much longer. They all ended soon, with no one able to defeat the top five from the first round.
All five advanced smoothly, leaving the crowd in awe. The top five from the first round were indeed exceptional.
However, while Lin Xiao was strong, the crowd still doubted whether he could have beaten Duan Tianya in a fair fight.
Many also felt pity for Duan Tianya in their hearts. Otherwise, he would surely have been among the thirteen who advanced.
They regretted not seeing Duan Tianya’s talent. After all, someone who boasted of taking first place in the first round and nearly did so must have extraordinary aptitude and strength.
But the Southeast Region Youth Summit had too many geniuses. The thirteen selected were essentially the top fifty in the preliminary ranking of the summit. Apart from Duan Tianya, the others were basically the strongest from the 148 in the first round up to now.
It was all too normal for one or two to be eliminated due to bad luck.
“The advancement list for the third round: Lin Xiao and Zi Ling from the Zi family team, Ping Tianhao from the Jin family, Li Renchou from the Li family, Huyanziru from the Lian family, Yu Dandan from the Yu family, Ling Hu from the Ling family, Qu Yuan from the Qu family, Wu Shiyuan from the Wu family, Yin Hao from the Yin family, Luo Fan from the Luo family, Li He from the Li family, Cui Sheng from the Cui family!”
Sheng Qianyu’s voice rang out, announcing all the advancers and their teams.
The crowd sighed inwardly. Among these teams, except for Lin Xiao, Ping Tianhao, and Huyanziru, all were youths from Martial Emperor forces’ own families.
The proportion showed that talents from loose cultivators or small families were far inferior to those from Martial Emperor families.
It also revealed the Martial Emperor forces’ ability to nurture the younger generation.
The Zi family’s performance was particularly surprising. Two from one team advanced, which was extremely rare.
“The thirteen advancers each reward their teams with eight cities!” Sheng Qianyu spoke again. “Now, the second round concludes. The third round will be held in seven days.”
With Sheng Qianyu’s words, the scene erupted in noisy chatter and heated discussions. The thirteen who advanced in the second round gained immense fame. Even if eliminated in the third round, it was enough to spread their names across the entire southeast region.
The second round’s rewards were straightforward, with no ranking; each simply received eight cities.
Lin Xiao sighed inwardly. With him and Zi Ling advancing, plus the twelve cities from the first round for the two of them, the Zi family had broken even and earned an extra eight cities.
Before long, the crowd at Shengshi City square dispersed. Lin Xiao and his group returned to the Tianjiao Inn.
Whether at the Tianjiao Inn, other inns, or throughout Shengshi City, news of the summit echoed everywhere.
The names of the top ten from the first round and the top thirteen from the second round were mentioned countless times.
Lin Xiao’s story was undoubtedly the most dramatic and miraculous.
However, upon returning to the Tianjiao Inn, Lin Xiao went into seclusion.
After the life-and-death battle with the three-clawed divine dragon in the illusion array, Lin Xiao’s combat experience and skills had improved again. His strength was even greater than before.
His Sixth Level Martial Venerable cultivation had fully stabilised.
During these seven days, Lin Xiao planned to use spirit stones to break through his realm.
“Cabinet Master Shi, Zi Ling and Ling Hu both received high-grade pills. Aren’t you giving Lin Xiao a pill to break through his essence realm?” In the Wanxiang Pavilion trading hall, an elder asked Shi Jindou doubtfully.
Shi Jindou shook his head. “His cultivation realm has advanced too quickly. But after the battle with the three-clawed divine dragon phantom beast, it should be consolidated. Perhaps with spirit stones, he can break through one level. Then, giving him the pill might allow another breakthrough.”
“But if we give him the pill to break through first, there’ll be no chance for further advancement.”
Hearing this, the elder asked suspiciously, “But that pill takes at least several days to refine and impact the realm. If he doesn’t break through with spirit stones, won’t the third round be dangerous?”
“I believe he can break through. Even if not, as long as he doesn’t unluckily draw the strongest opponents in succession, with that kid’s trump cards, he should have a good chance of advancing,” Shi Jindou said.
“But what if he draws…” the elder asked doubtfully.
“If that’s the case, even giving him the pill for one breakthrough probably won’t make him a match!” Shi Jindou said. “Don’t worry. That kid is uncanny. He should be fine in the third round.”
The elder remained doubtful. The third round involved the strongest youths from each Martial Emperor force, selecting the top fifteen from fifty. The difficulty was imaginable.
Let alone Lin Xiao’s current Sixth Level Martial Venerable; even at Seventh Level, advancement would be tough.
If not for years of trust in Shi Jindou, he might think the cabinet master was talking nonsense.
The seven days passed quickly.
However, Lin Xiao disappointed Shi Jindou and the others; he didn’t break through successfully.
But he had half-stepped into the Seventh Level Martial Venerable threshold. With some time or opportunity, Lin Xiao was confident he could succeed.
Upon secretly learning that Lin Xiao hadn’t broken through, Shi Jindou and the others frowned. Shi Jindou even felt a twinge of regret, as the third round’s competition was too fierce.
He worried whether Lin Xiao, at Sixth Level Martial Venerable, could advance.
But it was done now; they could only wait for the results.
On the morning of the eighth day, Lin Xiao, Zi Ling, and the others gathered again.
Upon meeting, Lin Xiao saw thick joy on Ling Hu and Zi Ling’s faces.
After sensing their cultivations, Lin Xiao was shocked. “You’ve both broken through?”
“That’s right. This fifth-grade advanced Blue Dew Green Spring Pill really works. After refining it, I directly broke through one cultivation level,” Ling Hu chuckled.
“Yes, I got a sixth-grade intermediate pill, the Misty Spirit Pill, and advanced one spiritual power level!” Zi Ling laughed excitedly. “By the way, Lin Xiao, what pill did the Wanxiang Pavilion give you?”
“Wanxiang Pavilion gave a pill?” Lin Xiao’s eyes widened, utterly confused. When had the Wanxiang Pavilion given a pill? He hadn’t heard of it.
