Amid the doubtful gazes of numerous Martial Emperors and countless murmurs, Jian Wuque continued to advance, step by step, towards Lin Xiao, utterly disregarding the crowd’s reactions.
“Lin Xiao, your time is up!” Jian Wuque’s tone was ice-cold, his eyes brimming with intense killing intent.
“A mere defeated foe, yet you dare step onto the stage again.” Lin Xiao’s face showed surprise. Jian Wuque, who had only passed the Life-and-Death Gate and was merely at the second level of Martial Lord, dared to challenge him.
After all, Jian Wuque had previously lost to him when Lin Xiao was only at the fourth level of Martial Venerable with mid-fifth-grade spiritual energy. Now, Lin Xiao had reached the seventh level of Martial Venerable, with his spiritual energy advanced to high-fifth-grade. Even the second-level Martial Lords of the other seven major sects had fallen to him.
Yet Jian Wuque, also at the second level of Martial Lord, was so confident?
Could the so-called Life-and-Death Gate of the Lingjian Sect truly be that remarkable? Or did Jian Wuque possess some other trump card?
Hearing Lin Xiao’s words, the crowd掮 crowd grew even more astonished.
A defeated foe? Did that mean the two had fought before?
With the Zi family and the Lingjian Sect so far apart, how could Lin Xiao have fought Jian Wuque and even defeated him?
Was Jian Wuque now seeking revenge? Hearing Lin Xiao’s words, Jian Wuque’s face darkened with anger. “Hmph, yes, I did lose to you. But so what? To avenge that humiliation, I entered the Lingjian Sect’s Life-and-Death Gate early, enduring countless life-and-death trials, breaking through from the eighth level of Martial Venerable to the first level of Martial Lord!”
The crowd was shocked. Jian Wuque and Lin Xiao had indeed clashed before, and Jian Wuque had truly lost to him.
Jian Wuque had entered the perilous Life-and-Death Gate, a trial even Jian Tianjiao had not yet faced, all because of Lin Xiao.
To seek revenge, Jian Wuque had risked his life to enter, ultimately succeeding and breaking through to the Martial Lord realm.
Ignoring the crowd’s reactions, Jian Wuque continued, “After that, I trained relentlessly, breaking through from the first to the second level of Martial Lord!”
“Now is the time for me, Jian Wuque, to wash away my shame!”
His voice boomed, filled with thick killing intent.
Lin Xiao responded without courtesy, “Back then, you challenged me to a life-and-death battle, yet you had the Martial Emperor battle seal of the Lingjian Sect’s fourth elder imprinted in your body. It activated at the brink of death, saving your life!”
“I wonder if, this time at the Southeast Region Youth Summit, you’ll break the rules again with another Martial Emperor battle seal?”
Jian Wuque’s expression darkened, while the onlookers secretly scorned him. Challenging someone to a life-and-death battle while bearing a Martial Emperor battle seal was clearly shameless.
Who would have thought the brother of Jian Tianjiao could be so dishonourable?
At the same time, Lin Xiao’s words served as a warning to the Lingjian Sect under the guise of the Southeast Region Youth Summit.
If Jian Wuque bore a Martial Emperor battle seal at the summit or if someone intervened to protect him, it would be a grave violation of the summit’s rules.
“Rest assured, the Lingjian Sect will not violate the rules of the Southeast Region Youth Summit. If Jian Wuque has a Martial Emperor battle seal, I will personally strike him down!” Sikong Jian’s indifferent voice rang out, declaring firmly.
Lin Xiao’s words had effectively cornered him. With Jian Wuque’s strength, enhanced by refining the Heaven-Breaking Dragon Pill to reach the fourth level of Martial Lord, Sikong Jian had no concerns about any mishaps.
“Since Sect Leader Sikong has spoken, I am reassured!” Lin Xiao replied.
With Sikong Jian’s public statement, Lin Xiao had no fear of interference.
Thus, today, no matter what tricks Jian Wuque had, Lin Xiao was determined to kill him. Since the enmity was irreconcilable, he would not leave this threat unresolved.
“Hmph, Lin Xiao, don’t think you can kill me. I stepped onto this stage today with absolute confidence in slaying you!”
J—“ Jian Wuque’s tone was resolute, his face cold. “But before I kill you, there’s one thing I’ll make clear!”
The crowd looked puzzled.
“Over three months ago, I went to the Zi family on behalf of my brother, Jian Wudi, to propose to Zi Ling. I unexpectedly lost to you, and was forced to agree to a two-year battle wager on my brother’s behalf!”
Jian Wuque continued, “Including these past three months, there’s one year and eight months left until your battle with my brother. The Zi family has agreed that if you lose to my brother, Zi Ling will be betrothed to him.”
“But today, you will die by my hand. Your death means you forfeit the battle, making you the loser by default. Thus, Zi Ling will be betrothed to my brother today!”
The Martial Emperors in attendance frowned.
Jian Wuque’s words were not just directed at Lin Xiao and the Zi family but at everyone present.
He made it clear that the Zi family and the Lingjian Sect had already set an agreement.
If Lin Xiao lost to Jian Wudi in two years, the Substitute Saint Spirit Vein would marry Jian Wudi.
And if Lin Xiao died, it would count as the Zi family forfeiting, making the agreement take effect immediately.
This was a blatant move to exclude other forces from openly vying for the Zi family and the Substitute Saint Spirit Vein.
They hadn’t expected the Lingjian Sect to be so shrewd, having discovered the Zi family’s possession of the Substitute Saint Spirit Vein long ago.
Hearing Jian Wuque’s words, others were equally shocked. They hadn’t imagined that Jian Tianjiao had already proposed to the Zi family and set a battle wager.
In their view, Jian Wuque might not be Lin Xiao’s match, but Jian Tianjiao, one of the eight great prodigies, was undoubtedly beyond Lin Xiao’s ability to defeat.
Jian Tianjiao had reached the sixth level of Martial Lord, unrivalled in his tier across the Southeast Region, with a mid-earth-grade phenomenon and exceptional talent.
In two years, Lin Xiao might progress remarkably, but so would Jian Tianjiao.
Lin Xiao had no chance of defeating him. The wager was clearly a loss for Lin Xiao.
The Zi family and the Lingjian Sect were essentially already bound by a betrothal.
Since the Zi family and the Lingjian Sect had an agreement, others had no chance to claim the Substitute Saint Spirit Vein.
However, they couldn’t fathom why the Zi family, given Jian Tianjiao’s status as the Southeast Region’s top prodigy and the Lingjian Sect’s dominance, would reject such a marriage alliance.
Still, they had to admire Lin Xiao’s audacity to wager a battle against Jian Wudi, one of the eight great prodigies, though it was likely a desperate move by the Zi family at the time.
“The agreement was made when I was in seclusion and not present. However, since the Zi family made this agreement, they will honour it. If Lin Xiao forfeits, Zi Ling and Jian Wudi will be betrothed early. Of course, if Jian Tianjiao forfeits, the betrothal will also be cancelled early, and Zi Ling’s marriage will be rearranged,” Zi Huang had to respond.
Since the agreement was made, he could not evade it, or Sikong Jian would never agree.
However, in responding to Jian Wuque, he also threw Jian Wudi into the equation.
If the Lingjian Sect wanted Lin Xiao dead to count as a forfeit and secure the betrothal immediately, then if Jian Wudi died, the agreement would similarly be dissolved early, nullifying the betrothal.
The Zi family lacked the power to act, but other sects might use various means, overt or covert, to eliminate Jian Tianjiao.
After all, no force did not covet the Substitute Saint Spirit Vein.
Surely, the other seven great prodigies would also be tempted.
Though Jian Wudi was hailed as the top prodigy, he might not truly be the first, nor guaranteed to remain so in two years.
If the betrothal was cancelled early and Zi Ling’s marriage rearranged, Zi Huang’s words subtly implied that whoever killed Jian Wudi would have Zi Ling betrothed to them. This was a threat left for Jian Wudi, a response to the Lingjian Sect.
