As the words of the Thunder Venerable faded, the atmosphere in the square suddenly tightened. Fifty-three gazes swept over each other, filled with caution and vigilance. In this chaotic situation, whoever managed to stay until the end would be the victor. However, most were well aware that this selection was extremely harsh and cruel. Only eight out of the fifty-three would be left standing, and four of those spots were already almost assuredly taken by the members of the Four Pavilions. This meant that from the remaining forty-nine, only four would succeed! The selection process, a fierce one from forty-nine to four, would surely be a bloody battle. As the tension in the square escalated, the area outside the square also fell silent. Countless pairs of eyes fixed unblinkingly on the participants, who were all considered the crème de la crème of the younger generation. With the exception of a select few, the majority possessed true formidable strength. The battles between these individuals, naturally, attracted immense attention. Since discovering Lin Yan’s presence, Xiao Yan’s gaze had been fixed on him. With his current discerning eye, he could instantly gauge the latter’s strength—a Four-Star Battle Emperor. While this tier might be considered decent elsewhere, here it was just barely enough to qualify for participation.
“Hard to believe that after several years, he has reached the Battle Emperor level. I remember before he went into seclusion, his strength was only at the Dou Wang level. It seems that these years have brought him some extraordinary experiences,” Xiao Yan muttered, his eyes wandering over Lin Yan’s back.
Encountering extraordinary experiences wasn’t an uncommon occurrence in the Central Plains. He himself had used the Celestial Mountain Blood Pool to break through to the Battle Sect realm, so it was natural that others could have similar encounters. The vast Central Plains held many untold secrets within its endless mountain ranges, waiting to be explored.
“However, I wonder why Lin Zhanye and Liu Qing are not with him. They were supposed to leave together, weren’t they?” Xiao Yan mumbled. He had a good relationship with Lin Yan and the others, and although their shared journey had ended after dealing with the Yun Lianzong, he still couldn’t forget the camaraderie they shared. But unfortunately, after the matter with Yun Lianzong was resolved, the three of them simply left, depriving Xiao Yan of the chance to repay their kindness.
“Clang!”
As Xiao Yan murmured, the already unbearable tension in the square finally broke. Someone, unable to hold back any longer, lunged at a nearby opponent with a lightning-fast attack. However, everyone in the square was on high alert, and the target immediately responded. Filled with rage, they unleashed their Dou Qi and attacked their aggressor in return.
The clash between the two shattered the tense silence, and a wave of various-colored, powerful Dou Qi surged forth, plunging the entire square into chaos. Over fifty Battle Emperor-level auras permeated every corner of the square, and the overwhelming energy pressure made many feel stifled.
Dou Qi clashes and the clashing of weapons echoed throughout the square, and the surrounding spectators erupted in deafening cheers. Many faces turned red and necks strained as if they wished to be part of the fray. The ear-splitting noise also annoyed Xiao Yan, who covered his ears with a layer of Dou Qi to block out the sound and focused intently on the chaos.
Within moments, the already chaotic square became even more tumultuous. Some weaker contestants were forced to retreat, and the rules dictated that they would no longer be targeted if they conceded. The disorder served as a catalyst, and within ten minutes, over a dozen injured participants had to withdraw.
Xiao Yan observed Lin Yan’s peculiar, yet effective, movements, which resembled a duck waddling awkwardly. Despite its appearance, Xiao Yan could see that it was no ordinary skill, rivaling the profundity of the Three Thousand Lightning Move.
“That guy has had some extraordinary experiences indeed,” Xiao Yan smiled. He was certain that Lin Yan must have acquired this strange and awkward technique during his recent adventures. Seeing Lin Yan persist, Xiao Yan felt relieved. Their friendship was still strong, and he was pleased to see Lin Yan’s progress.
Xiao Yan’s gaze shifted to four relatively safe areas in the square, guarded by Feng Qing’er, Mu Qingluan, Tang Ying, and Wang Chen. These four maintained their peak Battle Emperor auras, their faces coldly observing the chaos. Anyone bold enough to enter their territory would be met with swift and intense retaliation. Their strength was among the best in the square, and none dared to challenge them carelessly.
The chaos continued, but the number of participants dwindled rapidly. As the number of people dropped to around eleven, an eerie quiet settled over the square. Each of the eleven, scattered across the field, cautiously eyed each other, breathing heavily.
Xiao Yan’s gaze scanned the survivors, surprised to see Lin Yan among them. However, Lin Yan was the weakest of the bunch, while the rest were mostly Seven- or Eight-Star Battle Emperors. His unique technique had undoubtedly played a significant role in his survival.
Lin Yan, now isolated, easily drew attention. He had managed to persevere as a mere Four-Star Battle Emperor, a rarity in the history of the Quad Pavilion Gatherings. Of course, such luck wouldn’t last forever. After a brief respite, hostile gazes focused on him. A red-clad man, an Eight-Star Battle Emperor, lunged at Lin Yan with malicious intent.
Caught off guard, Lin Yan barely evaded the attack, his odd technique allowing him to dodge the deadly blow. However, the red-clad man pursued relentlessly, his blade skills forcing Lin Yan to continually retreat.
Xiao Yan, watching from the spectator’s platform, stood up, closely observing the dangerous situation. He wouldn’t let Lin Yan die under someone else’s blade; if necessary, he would intervene.
“Something seems off…”
Xiao Yan’s sharp eyes followed the two, noting that the red-clad man seemed to be herding Lin Yan towards another combatant. Fixing his gaze on a cold-faced man in yellow robes—Wang Chen of the Yellow Springs Pavilion—Xiao Yan saw that Wang Chen was glaring at Lin Yan with a sinister smile, his intent to attack clear.
“He wants to force Lin Yan into Wang Chen’s range!” Xiao Yan realized. This man was planning to kill Lin Yan with someone else’s hands!
As Xiao Yan deduced the red-clad man’s intentions, Lin Yan inadvertently stepped into Wang Chen’s range. A chill ran down Lin Yan’s spine as he saw the red-clad man’s grin and the black, lethal aura shooting towards his throat from behind.
“Stop, I concede!” Lin Yan shouted, terrified. There was too much of a gap in strength, and even his technique couldn’t save him from Wang Chen.
Ignoring Lin Yan’s plea, Wang Chen launched a ruthless attack. Despite Lin Yan’s attempts to evade, a black aura struck his shoulder, and he coughed up blood, sliding across the ground.
The crowd booed and cursed at Wang Chen’s despicable actions. Ignoring the noise, Wang Chen’s eyes glowed with cold malice, and he charged at Lin Yan, twin black daggers in hand. In a flash, he was upon Lin Yan, his daggers striking at his vulnerable chest.
“Just what a shameless bastard,” the crowd jeered, their anger rising. Just as the final strike was about to land, a suction force pulled Lin Yan back. He felt a warm hand on his shoulder and heard a familiar, exasperated voice in his ear.
“You fool, why did you have to get involved here?”
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