Ji Mingkong now only wanted to defeat Ling Xiao as quickly as possible. The longer she looked at him, the more uncomfortable she felt.
Yet, despite her anger, she still strove to maintain a graceful image.
Standing there, she resembled a sacred white lotus, noble and untouchable.
“Hmph, all show and no substance!” Sikong Xuan, the deputy sect master of Tianwang Gate, sneered.
“Heh, even if it’s an act, to remain so composed in front of such a crowd is no small feat,” Sikong Zun said with a faint smile.
“Big brother, whose side are you on?” Sikong Xuan said, displeased.
“It doesn’t matter whose side I’m on. What matters is that Mingkong absolutely cannot lose this fight!” Sikong Zun said slowly. “If she loses, it’s not just a loss of face but also a loss of luck and the title of ‘Chosen One.’ That would be a massive blow to the Holy Dynasty’s royal family and our Tianwang Gate, even affecting the establishment of Tianlong Academy.”
“What do we do then?” Sikong Xuan asked.
“Just in case, you should make preparations. If Ling Xiao wins, don’t let him leave here alive. I don’t believe the Moon Lady would go all out for a mere youngster. Once he’s dead, she’ll likely back off,” Sikong Zun said coldly.
“No way, that Ling Xiao could win?” Sikong Xuan said dismissively.
“Just do as I say. Why waste words?”
“Fine, I’ll listen to you! You’re the big brother and the sect master of Tianwang Gate,” Sikong Xuan said, standing up and leaving.
“Ling Xiao, is there anything else? Why aren’t you on the stage?” The referee stood, frowning.
The arena and its array had been fully repaired.
Ji Mingkong had already stepped onto the stage, but Ling Xiao stood still, unmoving, which irritated him.
“There is indeed something else,” Ling Xiao said slowly. “The Martial Arts Festival’s duels are too dull. No life-or-death stakes—what kind of duel is that? I propose that my fight with the Holy Son be a battle where life and death are left to fate!”
It wasn’t that Ling Xiao was bloodthirsty.
He was at a disadvantage and had to do this.
If Ji Mingkong accidentally killed him, she would face no consequences. The entire Holy Dynasty and Tianwang Gate would protect her.
Unless the Moon Lady sought vengeance.
But if he accidentally killed Ji Mingkong, the Holy Dynasty and Tianwang Gate would openly come for his life, even branding him an enemy of the state.
By making it clear beforehand, they wouldn’t dare act openly, as there were many witnesses here.
The Holy Dynasty, to maintain its rule, still cared about appearances and wouldn’t throw everything away for one Holy Son.
As long as they couldn’t act openly, he’d have room to maneuver and be safer.
All eyes in the arena instantly turned to Ling Xiao.
No one expected him to say such a thing.
Wasn’t this courting death?
His opponent was Holy Son Ji Mingkong, not some nobody, and he was proposing a life-or-death battle?
“Golden Light, should we try to dissuade Ling Xiao? This is too risky!” Sky Eye Heavenly Lord said, frowning.
“Dissuade him?” Golden Light Heavenly Lord shook his head with a bitter smile. “Do you think we can?”
As he spoke, he glanced at the Moon Lady’s expression, only to find she showed no worry at all. Instead, a satisfied smile graced her face.
“What the heck!” Golden Light Heavenly Lord was speechless. He had hoped the Moon Lady could talk Ling Xiao out of it, thinking he’d at least listen to her.
But who knew she seemed to fully support this?
A flicker of surprise passed through Ji Mingkong’s eyes, but it quickly faded.
Was he planning to go all out?
With a cold sneer, she said lightly, “I agree. Life and death are left to fate!”
Hearing Ji Mingkong’s words, the Holy Emperor in the VIP seats frowned.
Though Ling Xiao had fought his way to the final match, shocking many, the Holy Emperor still believed he was no match for Ji Mingkong.
After all, Ji Mingkong was the carefully nurtured talent of Tianwang Gate and the Holy Dynasty. Her strength was clearest to him.
Even so, he didn’t want a life-or-death battle declared publicly.
That would allow Ling Xiao to fight without restraint, and who knew what sinister moves he might unleash.
Even if Ji Mingkong won, a severe, unhealable injury would be a loss not worth the cost.
But his reluctance didn’t matter.
Ji Mingkong had agreed, and if he objected now, the royal family’s dignity would be utterly lost.
The referee snorted, “Kid, you previously impersonated my dear son Ji Fuling’s son to scam others, and I let it slide. Now you’re making such a request. Are you really seeking death?”
“Referee, I don’t know who fed you such nonsense, but I don’t know Ji Fuling, nor have I ever impersonated anyone’s son!” Ling Xiao instantly understood why the referee suddenly disliked him. Someone had whispered lies in his ear.
Was it the Holy Emperor?
Or Ji Mingkong?
It didn’t matter who.
He offered his explanation and then leaped onto the arena.
Seeking death?
He had no intention of dying; he was merely protecting his life.
A life-or-death battle, paradoxically, was the fairest kind.
The Purple Lightning Sword appeared in his hand, the strongest sword he currently possessed, perfect for facing Ji Mingkong.
The sword’s thunderous hum roared like a storm, with electric currents flickering along its blade.
His Heavenly Origin Power, fully transformed into the lightning attribute, emitted a dazzling blue light, swirling around him.
Ling Xiao stared at Ji Mingkong and said, “When you brought Chen Nanxing to Yuehua Sect to cause trouble for me, you never imagined this day would come, did you? It’s time we settled things between us.”
He held no goodwill toward Ji Mingkong.
Since their first encounter, she had repeatedly sent people to deal with him, aiming for his life.
Feng Yaorao, Po Qianjun, Ya Qianxue, Jian Wuji, and others had all tried to kill him.
But he had countered and overcome them one by one.
Who could remain free of resentment after someone repeatedly tried to kill them?
Ling Xiao couldn’t.
Perhaps the old Zhao Ci could, with a saintly, lotus-like disposition. But that wasn’t him.
Ji Mingkong gently touched a storage ring on her jade hand.
Crafted from beautiful gems, it was both spacious and exquisite.
A flash of red light, and a slender sword appeared in her hand.
This sword was about a foot longer than most, extremely thin, and exuded an eerie aura.
