“Indeed, the southeast region’s youth summit is about fairness. We cannot baselessly accuse a junior just because a faction’s disciple died,” the Martial Emperor elder from the Demon Sect said bluntly, showing little regard for Sikong Jian’s face.
Sikong Jian’s expression darkened further. Then, the Martial Emperor elder from the Nine Heavens Sect spoke up, “For a junior to refine miles of the Grand Wall is likely beyond their capability. We cannot simply assume it was Lin Xiao’s doing based on suspicion and settle the matter hastily. If the true culprit emerges later, we’d be a laughingstock.”
The Martial Emperor from the Burial Sect added grimly, “Punishing a youth participating in the southeast region’s youth summit isn’t the decision of any single faction. It’s a collective decision of all factions present. Conviction requires evidence. We only believe in evidence. Convicting someone without proof would tarnish the reputation of all factions here.”
Many other Martial Emperors from the eight major sects, along with Ling Xiao, Zi Huang, and the Pavilion Master of Myriad Phenomena Pavilion, echoed in agreement.
Other factions remained silent.
Xing Huang and others were biding their time. “Everyone here is an emperor among men, with exceptional talent. You all know that for a highly gifted individual, refining something beyond their apparent strength isn’t impossible. Otherwise, do you think the Grand Wall was destroyed by a Martial Saint or Martial Emperor?” Sikong Jian retorted with a grim expression.
His words left the group of Martial Emperors speechless. Sikong Jian’s point was valid: if it were purely about strength, only such powerhouses could destroy the Grand Wall.
Yet, the southeast region hadn’t seen a Martial Saint in countless years, let alone a Martial Emperor.
A Martial Emperor hadn’t appeared on the entire continent for over a thousand years.
The only one, over a millennium ago, was the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor, who achieved emperor status through spiritual energy.
To suggest the Grand Wall was destroyed by a Martial Saint or Emperor was utterly impossible.
The only plausible explanation was that it was destroyed through unconventional means.
After silencing the group, Sikong Jian continued, “Possessing petrifying power, even if unrelated to the Stone People Clan, must mean inheriting the ancient Stone People Clan’s legacy. His talent is likely no different from that of the ancient Stone People Clan.”
He turned to Sheng Qianyu, asking, “Emperor Sheng, since the Stone-Devouring Rat can consume Grand Wall stone, couldn’t the ancient Stone People Clan, far older than the Stone-Devouring Rat, refine Grand Wall stone as if it were food?”
Sheng Qianyu nodded, affirming, “Indeed, the Sheng family records mention the ancient Stone People Clan. This race, even without great strength, could refine Grand Wall stone.”
“So, that means Lin Xiao has the ability to refine the Grand Wall?” Sikong Jian pressed.
“Indeed,” Sheng Qianyu nodded again, his eyes turning cold. Sikong Jian nodded and scanned the other Martial Emperors, saying, “The Grand Wall has stood for endless ages, never destroyed. Now, someone capable of refining it appears here, and the Grand Wall happens to be destroyed during this time. Don’t you think it’s most likely him?”
The crowd was momentarily stunned.
The Grand Wall, indestructible even by Martial Emperors, had stood for ages, proving brute force couldn’t destroy it.
No powerhouse in the southeast region or even the entire continent could destroy the Grand Wall by force. That left only one possibility: an unconventional method.
A spirit beast or a special race with the right ability refined the Grand Wall.
Lin Xiao happened to possess such an ability.
With Lin Xiao present and the Grand Wall destroyed during this period, only one conclusion remained: Lin Xiao refined the Grand Wall.
At that moment, everyone turned to Lin Xiao. Some looked contemplative, the Sheng family members showed anger with killing intent radiating, while others displayed extreme astonishment.
That Lin Xiao, participating in the southeast region’s youth summit, dared to refine the Grand Wall, the foundation of the southeast region, was almost unbelievable.
Yet, the deduction pointed to only this possibility.
Zi Huang, Ling Xiao, and Shi Jindou frowned.
Lin Xiao’s expression darkened completely. He hadn’t expected Sikong Jian to be so cunning, laying out the reasoning step by step, making it nearly impossible for him to refute and pinning the blame on him.
“Lin Xiao, you still won’t confess?” Sheng Qianyu’s furious voice rang out.
“Hah,” Lin Xiao laughed sarcastically, saying, “Because I can refine stone materials, I’ve inherited the ancient Stone People Clan’s legacy, have the ability to refine the Grand Wall, and thus refined it?”
“Emperor Sheng has the ability to kill any Martial Lord. Does that mean every Martial Lord who died near Grand Wall City was killed by Emperor Sheng?”
“Because I have petrifying power, you pin the crime of refining the Grand Wall on me and demand I confess. Where’s the logic in that?”
Lin Xiao continued, “Without evidence, relying on mere guesses to convict someone—is this the justice of the Sheng family, who oversees the southeast region’s youth summit?”
His voice thundered across the square, showing no fear despite facing the top Martial Emperors of the southeast region.
Sheng Qianyu’s expression darkened. Before he or Zi Huang could respond, Sikong Jian spoke first, coldly saying, “There’s no other possibility, no room for excuses. Destroying the foundation of the southeast region, and even the entire human race, is a crime of treason. I’ll cripple you first, then hand you to the Sheng family for judgment!”
With that, a stronger Martial Emperor pressure emanated from Sikong Jian, and a sword aura suddenly shot from him.
Lin Xiao’s face stiffened. He hadn’t expected Sikong Jian to be so decisive and ruthless, pinning a crime on him and acting immediately to cripple him, striking first and judging later.
At that moment, his elemental and spiritual energy surged rapidly within him.
However, the Martial Emperor pressure on him made breathing difficult, preventing him from releasing his power.
Unable to move his body an inch, he could only watch as the sword aura shot towards his dantian.
“Stop!” At that moment, two loud shouts rang out simultaneously. Zi Huang and Ling Xiao rushed forward, their powers shooting towards the sword aura.
“Swish! Swish!” But as if Sikong Jian had anticipated their intervention, the moment they moved, he acted. Two materialized sword-shaped energies, with suffocating force and incredible speed, struck Zi Huang and Ling Xiao’s powers from both sides of Lin Xiao, shattering their attacks.
With unstoppable momentum, they shot towards Zi Huang and Ling Xiao, as if the void itself was about to shatter. Meanwhile, the relatively weaker sword aura continued unobstructed towards Lin Xiao’s dantian.
