Zi Jinchen continued, “Zi Ling achieved fifth place on the assembly’s initial list!”
The crowd was stunned. Zi Ling had actually secured fifth place, surpassing even Zi Long?
“And Lin Xiao took first place on the assembly’s initial list!” Zi Jinchen added.
“What? First place on the initial list?”
The Zi Family was dumbfounded. Even Zi Mo and the other Ninth Stage Martial Lords couldn’t fathom Lin Xiao achieving such a result.
Zi Ling’s fifth place on the initial list was already shocking.
Lin Xiao taking first, sweeping through the youths of thirty-six Martial Emperor forces, was beyond belief.
How did the two of them manage this?
“Furthermore, Zi Ling also secured seventh place on the assembly’s final list,” Zi Jinchen said again.
“What?” The crowd was shocked once more.
Zi Ling achieving fifth on the initial list was one thing, but seventh on the final list?
That list included the four major chambers and eight major sects!
What stunned them even more was Zi Jinchen’s next statement, “Lin Xiao took first place on the assembly’s final list.”
“What?”
This time, everyone was so shocked they nearly jumped.
First place on the final list meant Lin Xiao not only dominated the youths of the other thirty-six Martial Emperor forces but also swept through the geniuses of the eight major sects.
How was that possible?
When Lin Xiao left, he was only at the Sixth Stage Martial Venerable realm with mid-level fifth-grade spiritual power.
How could someone with that cultivation sweep through the geniuses of all forces?
“Second Elder, you’re not joking, are you? How could Lin Xiao take first place on the final list?” Zi Gong asked, full of disbelief.
The others shared his skepticism, unable to trust Zi Jinchen’s words.
“Would I jest about such a matter?” Zi Jinchen said. “During the assembly, Lin Xiao advanced from the Sixth Stage Martial Venerable to the Seventh Stage, and from mid-level fifth-grade spiritual power to high-level fifth-grade spiritual power. His other talents surged as well. He defeated Jian Wuqu, who was on the verge of breaking through to the Fourth Stage Martial Lord, and Yang Xiu, the strongest Fourth Stage Martial Lord from Ling Jian Sect, sweeping through other geniuses to take first place and earning the Shengshi Token.”
“As for Zi Ling, she advanced from a high-level fifth-grade spiritual controller to an initial sixth-grade spiritual controller, securing seventh place.”
The Zi Family was stunned speechless.
What had happened at the Southeast Region Youth Assembly?
In just two months, the two had made astonishing progress, one taking seventh place and the other first.
Moreover, Lin Xiao had obtained the Shengshi Token, a feat only Sikong Jian and Dongfang Kaiyuan had achieved.
The realization that Zi Ling was now an initial sixth-grade spiritual controller sent waves of excitement through their hearts.
An initial sixth-grade spiritual controller was immensely valuable to a family.
Zi Ling was still young, and it was hard to imagine how far she would elevate the Zi Family in the future. “However, there was an incident in Shengshi City. The Shengshi Wall was destroyed, and the Holy Emperor’s Ruins appeared. The Clan Leader and Ling Huang entered it…” Zi Jinchen recounted the events in Shengshi City and the fact that Lin Xiao and others had joined sects, leaving the Zi Family in shock.
They hadn’t expected such major events to unfold in Shengshi City.
After finishing, Zi Jinchen’s expression grew serious. “Without Martial Emperors, some may be tempted to act.”
“Our Zi Family should recall our external forces and prepare defenses, especially against the nearby Jin Family and Yin Family.”
The Zi Family members’ expressions grew solemn. With no Martial Emperors present and the Zi Family having won immense resources at the assembly, many forces might target them before those resources could be claimed.
“With all Martial Emperors absent, things won’t be peaceful for a while!” Zi Gong sighed heavily, his expression grave. “The family must prepare, and we need to plan for the worst!”
The other elders nodded in agreement.
…
**Duan Family**
When Duan Tianya and his group returned to the Duan Family on the Skyship, the waiting Duan Family members stirred with excitement and anticipation.
“Tianya, where are your brother and the Clan Leader? Were they delayed by something?” The first to speak was a Seventh Stage Martial Lord, Duan Dongtian, the father of Duan Tianya and Duan Dongfeng.
“Exactly, did Dongfeng join another sect? What ranks did you and Dongfeng achieve on the assembly’s initial list?” The next to speak was Duan Tianya’s mother, Yang Lan, a Fifth Stage Martial Lord and a middle-aged beauty.
Yang Lan’s face was full of excitement, her eyes brimming with pride and expectation. She firmly believed both would rank on the initial list.
The other Duan Family members looked at Duan Tianya with hope.
But Duan Tianya’s face was filled with dejection, his heart heavy with frustration.
All along, he had been adored within the family, treated like a star.
Now, not only had he failed to achieve anything, but he was eliminated in the first round, and his brother had died. He found it hard to speak.
“I, I…” Duan Tianya stammered, feeling utterly humiliated for the first time.
“Come on, how high did you rank?” Yang Lan urged impatiently, not noticing the expression on Duan Tianya’s face, eager for the pride a high ranking would bring.
“I’m sorry, Mother, Father. I didn’t achieve any ranking. I was eliminated in the first round,” Duan Tianya finally said.
“What?” Yang Lan’s expression froze, filled with disbelief.
The others were equally stunned.
They all knew how strong Duan Tianya was.
Among the Martial Emperor family forces, few could rival him. How could he have been eliminated in the first round?
Was it bad luck, facing an overwhelmingly strong opponent in the first round?
“Who eliminated you? Were they that strong?” Duan Dongtian frowned.
“His name was Lin Xiao…” Duan Tianya nodded. “Yes, very strong.”
“The Southeast Region Youth Assembly gathers countless geniuses. It’s normal to encounter an overly strong opponent due to bad luck. Though it’s regrettable, there’s no need to be discouraged!” Duan Dongtian, himself a genius with a strong mindset, comforted Duan Tianya.
“That damned Lin Xiao!” Yang Lan’s face was filled with anger, her eyes burning with hatred. “Did Dongfeng teach him a lesson?”
“My brother…” Duan Tianya swallowed hard. “My brother was killed by Lin Xiao.”
“What?” Yang Lan’s body trembled, and she staggered back two steps, unable to accept the truth.
Duan Dongtian’s heart also shook. Their genius son with boundless potential had fallen at the Southeast Region Youth Assembly?
The Duan Family members were all stunned.
Duan Tianya eliminated, Duan Dongfeng killed. Had the Duan Family gained nothing from this assembly?
And all by the same person?
They couldn’t accept this news.
At this moment, the Fourth Elder, who led the return, spoke up. “Lin Xiao, Seventh Stage Martial Venerable, high-level fifth-grade spiritual controller…” The Fourth Elder recounted Lin Xiao’s various talents and the matter of the Shengshi Token, then said gravely, “With Lin Xiao’s talent, if he’s allowed to grow, he’ll become a figure like Sikong Jian or Dongfang Kaiyuan, or even surpass them, posing a huge threat to our Duan Family!”
“Therefore, our Duan Family must have someone step up to eliminate Lin Xiao before he fully matures, to remove this future threat!”
Pausing, the Fourth Elder continued, “Ling Jian Sect’s Elder Zheren Feng has openly stated they’re gathering experts to go to Spear Dragon Sect to challenge Lin Xiao. They’ll also assist the experts sent by various forces, suppressing their Martial Lord cultivation to the peak Martial Venerable realm.”
The Fourth Elder’s gaze swept over the crowd as he asked, “Who among you is willing to go?”
The crowd was somewhat shocked. Suppressing cultivation to the Martial Venerable realm was akin to lowering one’s cultivation, albeit through gentler means.
Restoring one’s original cultivation afterward would be difficult and could even hinder future progress.
Lowering cultivation could ruin a person’s future.
Unless absolutely necessary, no one would willingly do this.
“Fourth Elder, I’ll go!” As soon as the Fourth Elder finished speaking, Duan Dongtian stepped forward without hesitation. “I will personally avenge my son!”
Yang Lan, standing beside him, added, “Dongtian, I want to see you avenge our son with my own eyes!”
The Fourth Elder nodded with satisfaction. “Good, then it’s up to you!”
At the same time, similar events were unfolding at the Xing Family and Ling Jian Sect.
