Upon hearing Lin Xiaoyao's words, many powerful individuals inside the great hall had peculiar expressions on their faces.
Lin Xiaoyao was an expert of the Earth King realm, while everyone had a clear understanding of Ning Tian—a complete and utter waste!
Even on the dais, Luo Wuqing's eyebrows furrowed slightly at this moment.
Was this guy going too far?
"A challenge?"
Hearing Lin Xiaoyao's words, Ning Tian's eyebrows lifted, and after quickly pondering, he made up his mind.
He thought it would be possible to take advantage of this guy to truly shock the strong ones around!
Ning Tian's mouth curved slightly, revealing a radiant smile that was exceptionally handsome, causing the eyes of many saintesses and princesses around to brighten, their hearts fluttering with infatuation.
Although this guy was a waste, he was quite handsome.
However, the next words from Ning Tian caused everyone in the great hall to undergo a slight change of expression.
With a sunlit smile on his face, Ning Tian said, "A challenge? Then, I accept your challenge!"
"He actually accepted?"
"He really doesn't fear death."
"Who doesn't know that Lin Xiaoyao is an Earth King realm expert? Even among the royal family of Dongxing Kingdom, he's considered a genius."
Inside the great hall, the gathered guests were gloating, prepared to witness a spectacle.
*Sigh*
"This child is so naive and foolish."
"Could he be unaware of the consequences of his actions? It's more than just his own face he's losing—it's the Demon Sect's face, and even the Empress' face!"
Seeing Ning Tian accepting so quickly, some elders of the Demon Sect were incessantly sighing.
Ning Tian was now Luo Wuqing's fiancé, representing their Demon Sect!
If he were defeated by Lin Xiaoyao in just a few moves, wouldn't that be losing face for the Demon Sect and the Empress?
Thinking about the prestige the Demon Sect had established over the years, now to be completely lost by such a waste, these elders were nearly spitting blood in anger.
They were even more perplexed as to why the Empress would choose such a waste for marriage!
Luo Wuqing slightly frowned, her beautiful eyes landing on Ning Tian, yet in a blink, she saw Ning Tian smiling at her.
For some reason, she felt the dissatisfaction in her heart suddenly calm down.
"What! You agreed!?"
Lin Xiaoyao was astounded, looking at Ning Tian in disbelief.
He was just making a casual statement and hadn't expected Ning Tian to seriously agree!
"Well, what else?" Ning Tian's smile remained on his lips.
"Hahaha!"
Lin Xiaoyao laughed loudly, his eyes filled with scorn as he looked at Ning Tian, "Honestly, I was worried you wouldn't agree. But this matter still requires the Empress' approval."
After speaking, the scorn on his face vanished without a trace, replaced with what he assumed was a very handsome smile.
"I wonder, what does the Empress think?"
Luo Wuqing sat high on the throne, simply nodding lightly. Her stunningly beautiful face was now obscured by a red bridal veil, preventing anyone from seeing her expression.
Seeing this, Lin Xiaoyao was overjoyed.
It seemed the Empress had clearly given him this opportunity!
The surrounding people were somewhat surprised—did the Empress actually agree?
"Ning Tian, don't say later that I bullied you, a waste. I will seal half my strength, leaving only the power of a Xuanwu Master to duel with you!"
Lin Xiaoyao said with a light smile. In his view, to use all his strength against a waste would definitely leave room for ridicule and was not fitting for his status as the Third Prince; hence he decided to seal half his strength.
Nevertheless, even with only the strength of a Xuanwu Master, he harbored absolute confidence he could defeat Ning Tian.
"How impressive of the Third Prince of Dongxing Kingdom, quite magnanimous."
"It's just a pity that even if he seals half his strength, Ning Tian won't be a match for the Third Prince."
Inside the great hall, many forces sighed, with mixed admirations and disparagements. In their hearts, Ning Tian was already belittled beyond description, yet they only dared to think this and not speak out loud.
After all, they still needed to give face to the Empress.
"Seal half your strength? Comparing a Xuanwu Master's strength against me?"
Hearing Lin Xiaoyao's words, Ning Tian was momentarily stunned, followed by a hint of a smile on his lips.
Was this guy really worried Ning Tian wouldn't be able to kill him?
"Come on, Ning Tian, let me see where you stand worthy of the Empress!"
Lin Xiaoyao snorted coldly and walked towards the center of the grand hall.
The two men locked eyes—one enraged, the other casual, with a smile on his face.
At this time, he could still smile!?
Seeing Ning Tian's posture, as if he didn't take Lin Xiaoyao seriously at all, Lin Xiaoyao grew angry. The surrounding sons and daughters of sanctity and many forces were also stunned.
Could it be that the Empress is about to wed a fool?
They had done a lot of research about Ning Tian before coming.
They all knew that he was just a menial worker within the Demon Sect, having been there for three years without any progress in strength, still stagnating at the first level of a martial artist!
Mockery arose at this point.
How could a single-tier martial artist compete against a Xuanwu Master?
Ning Tian beckoned to Lin Xiaoyao, "Why haven't you made a move?"
"Hmph, even if I let you strike first, what difference will it make?" Lin Xiaoyao scoffed disdainfully, believing that just moving his finger would be enough to defeat a waste.
"Fine, then let me strike first."
A smile appeared on Ning Tian's face, and he never refused such opportunities.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the grand hall, Ning Tian nonchalantly lifted his hand, adopting a fighting stance.
"Unstable stance, zero spiritual energy, unsettled breath—looks like your combat experience is also miserably scarce," Lin Xiaoyao critiqued Ning Tian's fighting stance like a grandmaster.
Upon hearing this, Ning Tian's face revealed a smile, and he immediately sent out a palm strike. His hearty laughter rang out, "The palm technique may lack form, but it's sufficient to finish you!"
Facing the palm wind, Lin Xiaoyao glanced at it indifferently, with no interest whatsoever, "Simple and unadorned, devoid of any technique—I see you…"
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Xiaoyao's expression suddenly changed!
The palm wind in mid-air transformed, demonic aura skyrocketed, forming an astonishing giant palm. The palm wind roared with incredible power!
"What!"
Lin Xiaoyao's face changed, a look of astonishment flashed in his eyes.
He actually felt an intense sense of horror in this palm!
In that moment, he wanted to unlock his own seal to withstand this move, but then his body was pressed down heavily, and his seal was not lifted.
Boom!
The dark demonic palm struck him.
Bang!
The next moment, Lin Xiaoyao spat out blood, his body hurled backward as if hit by a heavy blow, crashing heavily against a stone pillar in the great hall.
"What!"
"Isn't that the Earth-class martial art 'Demon Palm' that's extremely difficult to cultivate in the Demon Sect!?"
"He's supposed to be a waste, right?"
"How can he execute the Demon Palm!"
"A single palm defeating the Third Prince, did I see that wrong?"
At this moment, the expressions of many leaders of forces present changed dramatically, a deep shock flashing through their eyes, and their hearts already stirred by a tumultuous storm!
Ning Tian's palm had indeed shocked everyone present!
(End of Chapter)