Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

"Kill!"

"Previously, when I was in Dongfang main city, I had bad luck and encountered Dongfang Qinglong, resulting in my elimination. I didn't expect such an opportunity to come before me now."

"This is Baiyu's sacred Kill Order, which must have the unanimous approval of the Elders' Council and the Holy Master. Even if I can't kill Xiao Yi, if I perform exceptionally well while fighting him, I may still catch the attention of Baiyu's upper echelons..."

Rich rewards breed the bravest warriors.

Not to mention those powerful individuals who were already eliminated and now want to seize this hard-earned second chance.

Even those who initially believed they had no chance of winning and didn't participate in the martial contest felt tempted by the Kill Order's bounty.

A multitude of combatants sprang into action.

In an instant.

Hundreds of thousands of powerhouses from the Four Main Cities stormed into the Sacred Mountain, all targeting Xiao Yi in hopes of earning a direct spot in the final stage of the martial contest.

After all.

Just a single chance to appear before the Holy Maiden Hall...

Who could say for sure that the Holy Maiden wouldn't favor them?

Even if the Holy Maiden didn't take notice, being acknowledged by the Elders' Council on the Sacred Mountain could still ensure they soar to new heights!

Although this hope was exceedingly slim.

It was, at the very least, a hope.

Such is human nature.

Oftentimes, even when the odds are remote, people will still exert all their effort for that faint glimmer of hope, even at the cost of bloodshed and broken bodies.

It's a flaw of human nature.

Yet at the same time...

This flaw is precisely why the frail Human Race has managed to survive within the survival-of-the-fittest, law-of-the-jungle world.

Dongfang Qinglong glanced at Little Lin and Jin Yi with a smile, shaking his head and sighing: "It looks like this wager is certain to end in your loss!"

Peng Yu sneered, his voice tinged with sarcasm: "This was a bet doomed to fail from the start... I just didn't expect Baiyu's sacred Kill Order to yield such a terrifying effect. Facing this vast number of combatants, even you and I would need to use every means at our disposal!"

Dongfang Qinglong nodded.

After all, this was hundreds of thousands of powerhouses!

Not only were there talented youths from all corners, but also highly skilled experts who had lived within Baiyu for decades.

Some of them were even ancient relics who had achieved the Longevity Secret Realm thousands of years ago.

With thousands of years of accumulated power...

Even with mediocre talent, the strength and techniques they possessed far exceeded those of ordinary practitioners in the same realm.

Little Lin snorted coldly, his fists clenched tightly, revealing a trace of his inner tension and worry. However, he absolutely refused to show his true thoughts. Instead, he said coldly: "It's far too early to declare a winner. Let's wait and see how the story unfolds!"

"Hmph, stubborn till the very end!"

Peng Yu chuckled mockingly, shaking his head. "Within an incense stick's time, the outcome will be decided!"

"Xiao Yi is doomed!"

"He can't possibly win..."

All around them, whispers of discussion filled the air.

Little Lin and Jin Yi's faces grew ashen. With a glance exchanged between them, they saw the concern mirrored in one another's eyes.

Yet at this moment...

They were unable to intervene to assist Xiao Yi.

If they acted, Dongfang Qinglong and Peng Yu would undoubtedly strike them immediately. Not only would they fail to help Xiao Yi, but they would also become a huge burden instead. The group was as anxious as ants on a hot pan, but they had no choice but to suppress their worry and watch the direction of the Sacred Mountain in silence, praying: "Boss, you must win!"

"Hold on, big brother..."

...

Within the Sacred Mountain.

Xiao Yi watched as hundreds of thousands of warriors surged into the mountain in unison, a grave expression flickering across his eyes.

He hadn't expected Baiyu to issue the Kill Order at this moment.

The Kill Order.

It required the approval of both the Grand Elder and the Holy Master before it could be issued. This meant that Fang Qingzhu's father, Baiyu's Holy Master Fang Ru, had agreed to this.

This plummeted Xiao Yi's impression of this future father-in-law, whom he had never met, straight to rock bottom.

In fact, he now completely loathed him.

"Well done, Fang Ru... You disregarded Qingzhu's wishes and forcibly held this martial contest; I could consider it as you having your own struggles. But now that Qingzhu has been suppressed under the Seal Demon Stele by Chen Longxiang, suffering inhumane torment and living a fate worse than death, not only have you failed to stop Chen Longxiang, but you've also issued a Kill Order against me? Very well, well done..."

Xiao Yi's eyes turned blood-red.

Initially, for Fang Qingzhu's sake, he intended to show Fang Ru some respect and participate in the martial contest, proposing to Fang Qingzhu in an honorable manner.

But now...

It seemed there was no longer any point in continuing to participate in this contest.

He had already made the worst decision—the decision to forcefully claim his bride!

His gaze turned to the Sacred Mountain's summit.

Beneath the Seal Demon Stele.

When Fang Qingzhu heard about the Kill Order, her whole body trembled violently, her delicate face turning ghostly pale without a hint of color.

Her eyes reddened almost instantly.

Her lips quivered uncontrollably.

"Father, father... is your daughter's happiness really worth less than Baiyu's sanctity?"

Tears of despair streamed down Fang Qingzhu's crimson eyes. She had been unwilling to trouble her father and had agreed to the martial contest. Yet now, with Xiao Yi's appearance and Chen Longxiang detaining her beneath the Seal Demon Stele, Fang Ru still issued the Kill Order at such a critical time.

This act utterly shattered the last sliver of hope Fang Qingzhu had clung to in her heart.

Clenching her throat, Fang Qingzhu screamed toward the mountain's base at Xiao Yi, her voice cracking with desperation: "Xiao Yi... I'll wait for you to take me home!"

BOOM!

As her words rang out.

Thunderous bursts echoed across the summit, fury erupting like a storm.