"The top three in this Grand Competition will receive a Top Grade Divine Artifact. On this battle stage, life and death are irrelevant. Everyone, prepare yourselves."
The Tai Xuan Dao Master swept his clear, cold gaze over the crowd and suddenly waved his hand.
A streak of immortal light flashed, and everyone felt a momentary dizziness in their heads before they found themselves standing on the thousand-zhang battle stage.
"Hmm?"
Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly. Xiao Tu was no longer by his side, leaving only Fu Yunao looking at him with a bewildered expression.
Around them, the faces of hundreds of ancient sect prodigies twitched, and they immediately scattered, fleeing towards the distance.
Boom!
At the same time, terrifying surges of spiritual power erupted across the battle stage.
In just a short moment, countless figures were blasted into pools of blood and flesh.
Ling Xiao coldly watched everything unfold, thunder principles surging around him to guard against any sneak attacks.
"Young Master…"
"It's fine. They don't have the guts."
Ling Xiao grinned, his gaze piercing through the battle stage to fix on the elderly figure in front of the great hall.
He had no objections to the Tai Xuan Dao Master's current method.
Killing was indeed the fastest way to grow.
As for fairness…
If the rule-makers declared it fair, then it was probably fair.
Besides, without sufficient foundation, background, and support, even if those so-called prodigies from the wilds entered the Land of Fallen Emperors, most would likely perish anyway.
Early death or late death—it was all still death.
Ling Xiao just couldn't figure out why the Tai Xuan Dao Sect, for hundreds of years, had been willing to offer spiritual treasures to attract numerous prodigies to come and slaughter each other, and even open the secret realm for them to train in.
What benefit did the Tai Xuan Dao Sect ultimately gain from this?
This smelled… of conspiracy!
Buzz.
A deafening sword cry suddenly rose behind Ling Xiao. But the moment he turned his head, he saw a figure abruptly freeze mid-air, looking at him with a face full of terror.
Shit!
I was careless!
It's… Young Master Ling Xiao!!
No wonder the area around him is empty!!
I thought I could sneak attack…
Dammit!!
"Young Master!!!" The prodigy's figure landed on the ground with a thud and knelt. "I'll do it myself!!"
"Hmm?"
Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly as he watched the ancient sect prodigy plunge his own sword into his chest before turning and fleeing the battle stage.
The slaughter continued, and a thick, bloody aura gradually filled the entire peak of Path-Enlightenment Mountain.
However, the area of the battle stage where Ling Xiao stood had fallen into an extremely bizarre scene.
"If you want to stay on the stage, each of you must hand over one Divine Artifact."
Ling Xiao walked before the crowd, his expression icy as he looked at them.
Hearing this, many prodigies didn't dare hesitate and hurriedly offered their treasures, hoping to escape the clutches of this Ling Clan heir.
"Hmm, a Mid Grade Divine Artifact. Not bad. You can stay."
"Huh? A Low Grade Divine Artifact? Will you do it yourself, or shall I help you?"
"What? You're willing to offer yourself? You're insulting my character! Get lost!"
Immediately, many prodigies from ancient clans and holy sons of great sects were sent flying off the battle stage with a slap from Ling Xiao.
In just a short time, the hundred-zhang area around him was completely empty.
The remaining twenty prodigies stood huddled together on one side of the stage, arms wrapped around themselves, trembling as they stared at the figure not far away.
From beginning to end, Ling Xiao hadn't displayed his strength.
Of course, given his fearsome reputation, no one with any sense dared to provoke him easily.
This Grand Competition seemed to have ended the moment Ling Xiao appeared.
"You… come here."
Suddenly, Ling Xiao seemed to remember something and called over one of the young prodigies.
"Young… Young Master… I already gave my Divine Artifact…"
Thud! The man knelt before Ling Xiao, his face filled with terror as he awaited his fate.
"Don't be nervous. I keep my word. Right now… I just want to… borrow some of your blood…"
Ling Xiao grinned, took out a demon beast's gallbladder from his Qiankun Bag, held it to the prodigy's mouth, and then slammed a palm hard against his back.
Pfft!!
"Not enough. A bit more…"
Pfft! Pfft!
Only when the prodigy's face was deathly pale and he lay limp on the ground did Ling Xiao shift his gaze to the remaining few.
Gulp.
The urge to urinate was overwhelming; their delicate bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Now they finally understood: the phrase "killing people and drinking their blood" wasn't just a metaphor for the Young Master's cruelty—it was a literal description!
"You are all good people. Giving me Divine Artifacts and offering your blood. Good people, truly good people. Good people get good rewards. See, you're still standing here, while all those bad people have been thrown down by me."
Dammit!
Tears welled in the eyes of all the prodigies upon hearing this, their lips trembling as they uttered, "Young Master is truly righteous!"
Only when the demon beast gallbladder was full of blood did Ling Xiao give them a meaningful glance. He then walked to the dividing line and looked at the two figures leaning against each other in the distance.
There, Ling Tian held an immortal sword, principles swirling around him. With each casual swing of his sword, boundless waves of blood splattered.
Behind him, Ye Xun'er was enveloped in a vibrant green aura of life. A continuous stream of vital energy poured into Ling Tian's head, washing away his fatigue.
"Heh. Ling Tian, what a coincidence."
Just then, four figures walked through the crowd, their auras all at the mid Breakthrough Realm.
The leader was none other than the young master of the Primordial Unity Ancient Sect, Shangguan Qinghe!
"Shangguan Qinghe!!"
The expressions of both Ling Tian and Ye Xun'er changed simultaneously, their eyes filled with intense wariness.
This Primordial Unity young master was also a prodigy who had comprehended a Dao Principle. Back in Path-Enlightenment City, Ling Tian had already been humiliated by him.
If Ling Xiao hadn't appeared at the critical moment, Shangguan Qinghe would likely have severed one of Ling Tian's arms.
Similarly, although Shangguan Qinghe was no match for Ling Xiao, the resentment in his heart towards Ling Tian had only grown.
The humiliation that day had nearly shattered his Dao Heart. This hatred, of course, had to be paid with Ling Tian's blood.
Fortunately, Ling Xiao wasn't in this section now. How could Ling Tian and Ye Xun'er possibly be a match for him alone?
"Heh, how fate plays with us. Junior Brother Ling Tian, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon?"
Shangguan Qinghe smiled faintly, the Primordial Unity power around him roaring forth, so intimidating that many ancient sect prodigies nearby stopped their fights and scrambled away.
The Land of Fallen Emperors held countless opportunities.
But Ling Tian, I'm afraid you won't have the chance to enter.
Even if I can't kill you today, humiliating you will still vent some of the hatred in my heart!
However!!!
Just as Shangguan Qinghe stepped forward, intending to approach Ling Tian, a light cough suddenly came from the edge of the battle platform in the distance.
Ahem, ahem.
Shangguan Qinghe's expression stiffened. When he turned to look, he saw a familiar figure in white standing in the distance, coldly staring at him.
"Ling Xiao!!!"
Suddenly, Shangguan Qinghe's entire body trembled, nearly losing his balance. The coldness on his face vanished completely, and he nodded with a smile towards Ling Tian and the other. The spiritual light around him surged between heaven and earth as he abruptly charged towards the disciples who were surrounding Ling Tian and his companion.
You must be joking!!
He, Shangguan Qinghe, was a top prodigy of the Eastern, blessed with a Dao Principle.
But that single palm from Ling Xiao that day had nearly crushed him to death.
Now, faced with the Ling Clan heir, even if he had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare openly oppose Ling Tian.
After all…
Ling Xiao seemed to dote on his younger brother quite a bit.
It seemed he would have to wait until they entered the secret realm to find a way to deal with Ling Tian.
"Hmm?"
Ling Tian's expression also froze for a moment. Then, as if sensing something, he turned his head and happened to see Ling Xiao turning away. A dark glint immediately flashed in his eyes.
"It's you again!!"
This feeling of being protected by Ling Xiao didn't bring him the slightest bit of luck; instead, it only fueled the resentment and anger in his heart.
Since when did I, Ling Tian, need your protection?
Seven years of endurance, and in the end, he still lived under Ling Xiao's shadow.
"Huh? Why did Shangguan Qinghe suddenly leave?"
Ye Xun'er's pretty face showed confusion, the vibrant principle energies around her gradually dissipating.
But at this moment, Ling Tian didn't say much. He just stared fixedly at the retreating figure, the edge of the immortal sword in his hand flickering with sharp light, evolving mysteries.
"Ling Xiao! Just you wait. Once I master the Immortal Art, I'll show you how I'll cut you down!"
Over here, Ling Xiao smiled faintly, but his heart couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Three thousand Luck Points!
In just a few days, the Luck Points on Ling Tian had actually increased again!
Incredible! The more setbacks he faces, the more courageous he becomes!
It's not in vain that I've endured so much criticism to let you grow!
Work hard, my dear brother. Your usefulness far surpasses that of an ordinary Son of Fate!
Ling Xiao's figure circled around the battle stage, appearing at the dividing line on the other side.
In the next instant, his eyes narrowed sharply.
In another section of the stage, Xiao Tu stood drenched in blood at the center, coldly watching the tall, straight figure in front of him.
Xia Chen!
These two had finally met!