The sun rose, casting golden light across the land.
The Duan family headquarters was located in a grand city, filled with towering palaces, majestic and opulent. The buildings rose like a dense forest, shimmering in the hazy golden light, creating a picturesque scene.
However, today, the Duan family’s city was nearly deserted.
A massive crowd, numbering two to three hundred thousand, gathered on and before the city walls. These were the Duan family’s forces, along with some hidden factions, all waiting to witness the battle.
In the air ahead, hundreds to thousands of Martial Lord experts stood.
Dozens of yards to the left and right were two groups, each with over a hundred people. One side had two Martial Emperors, the other three.
Further out, two smaller groups of a dozen or so each were present, their strength modest, led by a single Ninth-Level Martial Lord, with the rest being low-tier Martial Lords.
These groups wore the attire of the Xiang and Xing families, clearly the other two families involved in the duel, observing from the front lines.
Miles around, an even larger crowd, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, watched from a distance, outnumbering the city’s own population.
Lin Xiao had created miracles time and again. Could he do so again this time?
“It’s hard to say. Lin Xiao is formidable. One-on-one, he can sweep Ninth-Level Martial Lords with ease, but challenging an entire family, even with a Half-Step Martial Emperor Blue Corpse Puppet, seems unlikely!”
“True, without using the Burial Sect’s Yellow Spring, his chances are slim. But since Lin Xiao dared to agree to this duel, he must have a trump card. Perhaps he’ll surprise us again.”
“A figure like Lin Xiao won’t fall so easily. Though his odds are low, I’m rooting for him. I hope he sweeps these lofty Martial Emperor families.”
The onlookers’ discussions filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere.
The crowd was diverse and chaotic, and with some distance from the Duan family, they spoke freely without much restraint.
Regardless of their stance, everyone eagerly anticipated the battle.
All were curious about how Lin Xiao would face the Duan family.
After a long wait, amid the crowd’s anticipation, several Sky Boats streaked across the horizon, heading toward the Duan family.
The Sky Boats, moving at lightning speed, stopped a hundred miles away, in the air before the Duan family’s thousand-strong force.
Compared to the vast crowd, only five Sky Boats arrived, each carrying twelve people, totaling sixty.
Yet each person’s aura was immensely powerful.
Five were Martial Emperors, ten were Half-Step Martial Emperors, and aside from a few youths, the rest were mostly Ninth-Level Martial Lords.
As the sixty arrived, the scene nearly erupted.
These were Lin Xiao’s forces, including the Nine Heavens Sect Leader, two Martial Emperor elders, the Spear Dragon Sect’s two Martial Emperor elders, and the top experts of both sects.
The group disembarked from the Sky Boats, standing in the air, and the boats were stored in their storage rings.
“Bringing so many elites, are you planning to break the agreement?” Fu Yan said coldly, his voice soft but carrying hundreds of miles.
“Elder Fu Yan, no need for reminders. We will honor our promise and not interfere. We brought people to ensure others keep their word,” Yun Jing replied.
Now fully recovered, they feared no one.
Five Martial Emperors against five, even without the Burial Sect, they were confident.
Their forces were enough to handle the Absolute Blade Sect and Nine Heavens Sect’s other experts.
Even if the other side broke the agreement, they were unafraid.
Knowing Lin Xiao’s trump cards, they weren’t worried.
But the Spear Dragon Sect members were visibly angry, itching to fight the Ling Sword Sect.
During their crisis, it was the Ling Sword Sect’s Martial Emperors who pressured them, nearly causing their downfall.
They wouldn’t forget this debt.
However, with Lin Xiao’s duel against the Duan family today, they wouldn’t act rashly.
If the other side dared to act, they would make them pay a heavy price.
“As long as you keep your promise, we won’t break ours. Let Lin Xiao come forward. Let’s see what he’s capable of today,” Fu Yan said with a cold snort, waving his hand.
“Lin Xiao, let’s see how you leave here alive today!”
At that moment, the Duan family’s Half-Step Martial Emperor shouted, waving his hand, leading hundreds to thousands forward, confronting Lin Xiao’s group dozens of miles away.
In the Duan family’s crowd, Duan Tianya and Yang Lan stood, their eyes filled with intense killing intent. The entire Duan family shared the same murderous aura.
Not only had Lin Xiao killed Duan Dongfeng and his son, causing the deaths of many Duan family experts, but challenging their family alone was a blatant insult.
“Lin Xiao, I don’t believe you’ll survive this time!” Among the two to three hundred thousand in the city, Cao Tianchao and others stood, glaring at Lin Xiao.
“He’s dead for sure!” Lu Yuan said coldly.
Xu Zilan and the three families’ experts also glared with icy hatred, wishing for Lin Xiao’s immediate death.
“The Luo family’s vengeance will be repaid today!” A Luo family Martial Venerable, hidden in the crowd, gritted his teeth, eyes flashing with cold fury and grief.
“The Wen family’s threat should end today,” a Wen family expert thought, gripping their fists.
The Yin family experts, also hidden among the onlookers, shared the same sentiment.
Lin Xiao, however, ignored the surrounding crowd, focusing his gaze on the hundreds to thousands of Duan family fighters.
“I’d like to see how you survive today!” Lin Xiao responded coldly.
With that, he flew forward from his group, stopping dozens of miles away, facing the Duan family alone.
The scene fell silent.
One person against an entire family was a shocking sight.
Moreover, this was a mere twenty-year-old youth.
This was enough to be recorded in the Southeast Region’s genius history.
“Lin Xiao, show all your trump cards, or you’ll have no chance,” the Duan family’s Half-Step Martial Emperor said coldly, not rushing to attack.
They wanted to see what cards Lin Xiao had.
“As you wish!” Lin Xiao waved his hand, summoning the Blue Corpse Puppet.
As it appeared, a surge of yin energy rolled out, spreading in all directions.
Having refined the Cold Abyss Yin Fish, the Blue Corpse Puppet had reached the Ninth-Level Martial Lord realm.
Its combat strength now surpassed Half-Step Martial Emperor.
Seeing the puppet, many onlookers sighed. It was indeed extraordinary, instilling a sense of dread.
But with the Duan family’s thousand-strong force, was this puppet alone enough?
“Hmph, is this your trump card? You think a Half-Step Martial Emperor puppet can challenge our Duan family?” the Duan family’s Half-Step Martial Emperor sneered. They had anticipated the puppet and felt no fear.
