A slightly mocking voice echoed in everyone’s ears. The atmosphere quietly grew heavy, and as Lin Huang and Lin Cangxue stopped in their tracks, the onlookers’ hearts skipped a beat.
"How should I address you, Senior Brother?"
Lin Huang turned around and raised his eyes, gazing indifferently at the young man in a yellow shirt standing before him. Standing eight feet tall, the man could be considered handsome and dashing. His clothes were luxurious, but he lacked a truly noble aura. A faint smile hung on his face, making him appear extremely confident.
"Outer Sect Profound Institute, Xue Ping!"
Seeing that Lin Huang didn’t seem angry in the slightest, the smile on Xue Ping’s face grew increasingly contemptuous. "What, do you have some advice for me? Was anything I just said wrong?"
"I wouldn’t dare offer advice. Let our skills do the talking!"
The smile on Lin Huang’s face froze. He gently brushed aside Lin Cangxue’s delicate hand and lunged fiercely at Xue Ping, the Demon-Suppressing Blade in his grasp already raised high into the air.
A single disagreement was all it took for a life-or-death struggle to unfold!
The sudden scene caught the onlookers off guard, but their shock soon gave way to amused smiles.
"This kid named Lin Huang really doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. It’s his very first day in the sect, and he already dares to challenge a senior."
"A reckless fool who hasn’t even reached the Earth Element Realm actually dares to draw his blade. It’s simply laughable!"
"So this is Lin Cangxue’s little brother."
"He looks a bit dense."
Listening to the crowd’s murmurs, Lin Cangxue’s expression remained aloof. Her starlight-like eyes settled on Lin Huang without a trace of unnecessary worry.
Even though she had fallen from grace, a mere disciple of the Outer Sect Profound Institute could not dream of harming a single hair on Lin Huang’s head.
"What an ungrateful wretch!"
Seeing Lin Huang charge at him, Xue Ping broke into a bright smile, completely disregarding the boy. Even if he was Lin Cangxue’s brother, he was just a kid at the Human Element Ninth Heaven. How dared he draw his blade against him?
Xue Ping thrust a punch into the air. The Gang Qi on his fist condensed into sharp spikes and shot toward Lin Huang.
As Xue Ping struck out, the oppressive pressure in the air surged forward like an avalanche, crushing down on Lin Huang. Within a few breaths, the sheer gap between the Earth Element Realm and the Human Element Realm was laid bare for all to see.
However, Lin Huang showed no sign of fear. Instead, his face was ice-cold as the Demon-Suppressing Blade in his hand instantly ripped through the air, creating countless blade afterimages.
Three Thousand Miles.
Slaying Kunlun.
Shooting the Celestial Wolf.
Asura’s Fury, a twofold combat power increase!
Along with an Array formed from dozens of streams of Sword Qi.
All of Lin Huang’s techniques exploded forth in a single instant. The cold gleam on the Demon-Suppressing Blade flashed as it slashed toward Xue Ping with unstoppable force, completely reversing the tide of the battle in that very moment.
Xue Ping’s expression changed drastically. He retreated rapidly, but he ultimately couldn’t outpace the blade in Lin Huang’s hand. The freezing glint of the Demon-Suppressing Blade flashed, descending like a guillotine from the heavens, and instantly cleaved into Xue Ping’s shoulder.
At the exact moment the Demon-Suppressing Blade fell, the Sword Qi within the Array howled and crisscrossed, lacerating Xue Ping’s body with gaping wounds that poured blood.
With a bloodcurdling scream, Xue Ping shot backward even faster, staring at Lin Huang in absolute horror.
Lin Huang had already sheathed his blade. He looked at the miserable, battered Xue Ping, his voice freezing to the extreme. "Insult me all you want. But if you’re going to insult my sister, take a good look at the pathetic piece of trash you are first."
"You..."
Clutching his bone-deep wounds, Xue Ping glared furiously. This outcome was something he couldn’t have possibly anticipated.
He had actually lost to a newly admitted disciple.
It wasn’t just Xue Ping who was shocked; everyone present was utterly stunned. They still hadn’t processed what happened, thinking their eyes were playing tricks on them.
Although Xue Ping was merely a disciple of the Profound Institute, he had been in the sect for over a year and had reached the Earth Element Second Heaven. Lin Huang, on the other hand, was nothing more than a Martial Artist at the Human Element Ninth Heaven.
In the eyes of the crowd, this battle was supposed to end in Lin Huang’s miserable defeat, no matter how one looked at it. Yet the result defied all expectations. In less than ten breaths, Lin Huang had absolutely crushed Xue Ping, leaving him in a wretched state.
Furthermore, Lin Huang was actually a First Level Array Master!
This realization left everyone in disbelief. Array Masters were incredibly rare entities on the continent, yet this kid was a genuine First Level Array Master.
To achieve such a rank at his age... it seemed only Moyu Spear Hann Ming of the Celestial Thunder Sect was capable of such a feat.
At this thought, the crowd couldn’t help but gasp collectively.
Standing to the side, Lin Cangxue remained aloof, but a clear trace of pleasant surprise danced in her eyes as she looked at Lin Huang. She had been fully prepared to intervene at a moment’s notice, never expecting her brother to be so overbearing and fierce.
Gazing at the somewhat lean yet uncompromising figure standing before her, a proud smile tugged at the corners of the young woman’s lips.
"I was careless this time. Just you wait! Next time, I’ll make you taste true agony! And as for your sister—she’s nothing but a fallen genius, yet she prances around every day pretending to be some pure and flawless Saintess who’s above the mortal world. It makes me sick just looking at her!"
Xue Ping glared at Lin Huang, his face twisted in venomous resentment.
Lin Huang, who had already turned to leave, abruptly stopped. Underneath his sleeves, his hands clenched into tight fists as an insane, murderous intent surged from the depths of his heart. Still facing away from Xue Ping, his voice carried a bone-chilling coldness.
"You won’t have a next time!"
Accompanied by a low growl akin to a tiger’s roar, Lin Huang silently turned around under the crowd’s watchful gaze. The Demon-Suppressing Blade in his hand slowly left its scabbard once more, releasing a cascading glint of cold light.
Staring at the murderous Lin Huang, Xue Ping laughed brazenly. "The Piaoxue Palace strictly forbids private duels between disciples! That fight just now was already a major violation of the rules. Do you really have the guts to kill me?"
Lin Huang raised his eyes, a thoroughly mocking smile curling his lips. "So what if I kill you?"
Before his words even finished echoing, Lin Huang lunged forward like a hunting leopard, aiming the Demon-Suppressing Blade straight at Xue Ping.
Seeing Lin Huang close in at breakneck speed, dread finally surfaced on Xue Ping’s face, and he scrambled backward. But severely wounded as he was, how could he possibly escape Lin Huang’s razor-sharp assault?
As the Demon-Suppressing Blade drew nearer, Xue Ping’s face grew deathly pale. When the edge was less than a foot away, sheer terror seized him. The aura of death draped over his heart, making his blood run freezing cold.
Behind him, Lin Cangxue’s expression shifted slightly. She didn’t want Lin Huang to take a life on his very first day in the Piaoxue Palace; doing so would make it incredibly difficult for him to survive here.
However, it was already too late to stop him.
Within the corridor, Lin Huang’s blade slashed ruthlessly toward Xue Ping’s throat...
CLANG!
At the exact moment the blade was about to sever Xue Ping’s neck, the sharp ring of colliding weapons echoed through the air. Lin Huang suddenly felt his arm go numb as the Demon-Suppressing Blade was forcefully deflected.
"How dare you act so brazenly!"
Accompanying the metallic clash was a steady yet furious voice.
The sudden intervention caused the crowd’s expressions to shift. Looking at the middle-aged man striding down from the end of the corridor, they were all somewhat taken aback, silently clicking their tongues. "It’s actually an Elder of the Profound Institute."
But soon, understanding dawned on them. The surprise on their faces gradually morphed into odd, amused expressions as they looked at the Lin siblings. "It seems things have just gotten interesting."
By this time, Lin Cangxue had already stepped up to Lin Huang’s side. Standing shoulder to shoulder with him, she coldly watched the middle-aged man pace toward them.
"Elder Meng, this... this kid is crazy! He actually dared to ignore the rules of the Piaoxue Palace and tried to murder me right here!"
Seeing the stern-faced middle-aged man, Xue Ping was overjoyed. He cried out in a tragic tone, "If Elder Meng hadn’t shown up in time, this disciple would have surely lost his life!"
The middle-aged man frowned slightly and flatly commanded him to shut up. He then turned his head, looking down at Lin Huang condescendingly, a mocking sneer on his lips.
"It is an ironclad rule of the Piaoxue Palace that, barring official tournaments, those who engage in private duels shall be dealt fifty strikes of the cane and expelled from the Palace. Those who commit murder shall pay with their lives!
"Just who do you think you are to dare flout the ironclad rules of the Palace and act so outrageously here?!"
Elder Meng’s words exploded in the air like sharp invisible blades. His fierce eyes locked onto Lin Huang with an overbearing intensity. As his aura of the Celestial Element Realm rippled outward, everyone present felt a heavy jolt in their hearts.
Lin Huang silently raised his head. Staring at the domineering Elder Meng, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "And how should I address you, Elder?"
"Elder of the Profound Institute, Meng Zhiqiu!" the middle-aged man coldly snorted.
"Oh... so it’s Meng the Dog. Just a moment ago, when you saw that Xue Ping’s realm was higher than mine, you hid in the shadows. But now that this disciple of your institute has been beaten into a dog, you jump out barking wildly. Spouting the ironclad rules of the Piaoxue Palace so self-righteously... have you truly abandoned all sense of shame?"
Looking at Meng Zhiqiu, Lin Huang fired off his words rapidly, his tone dripping with malice.
Lin Huang’s words swept through every corner of the corridor like the wind. The sheer mockery in his tone turned Meng Zhiqiu’s face an ashen, furious green. He laughed coldly. "What a sharp-tongued brat. However, it is an undeniable fact that you violated the ironclad rules of the Piaoxue Palace. Once I capture you and drag you to the Law Enforcement Hall, a proper verdict will be rendered."
Meng Zhiqiu stepped forward, slowly walking toward Lin Huang.
Lin Cangxue took a graceful step forward, blocking his path to Lin Huang. Tilting up her snow-white face, she spoke coldly, "Don’t you think you’re taking this a bit too far, Elder Meng?"
In the Piaoxue Palace, private duels among disciples were indeed forbidden. But wherever Martial Artists gathered, conflicts and friction were inevitable. Completely banning them was simply impossible.
Because of this, the Palace usually turned a blind eye to private scuffles—unless matters blew out of proportion or someone was killed.
If they had to intervene in every little skirmish, the enforcers of the Law Enforcement Hall would be busy enough to run themselves ragged like rabid dogs.
"Lin Cangxue, even though you are an Inner Sect Disciple, this matter concerns the rules of the Palace, so do not try to stop me." A phony smile crept onto Meng Zhiqiu’s face. "Besides, you should know that you’re in no position to be my match right now. You... are no longer the East Spirit Legend you once were. You are nothing but a..."
Meng Zhiqiu didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone present understood exactly what he meant.
Lin Cangxue was no longer the Lin Cangxue of the past. She had been reduced to a piece of trash!
Before Lin Cangxue could even speak, a low, guttural roar suddenly erupted from Lin Huang behind her. The murderous intent radiating from his voice was far more terrifying than when he had fought Xue Ping.
"Do you believe me when I say I’ll kill you?!"