"How do you wish to die?"
The icy voice suddenly arose.
In front of Little Lin, an invisible palm gradually became visible to everyone's eyes. The light of wind and thunder slowly dissipated, and it was Xiao Yi, who had been sitting cross-legged above Little Lin's head. He now grasped the qi blade single-handedly.
The five fingers tightened quietly.
The qi blade burst into explosion.
Xiao Yi slightly lifted his head and looked toward Nangong Shengtian, Yang Jin, and the others who were not far away.
Everyone was startled.
At the beginning of the descent of the heavenly tribulation, they instinctively assumed the person undergoing tribulation was Xiao Yi.
Looking at Xiao Yi standing in front of Little Lin, it was clear that he merely possessed the aura of the First Layer of the Tao Tribulation Realm!
"Could it be that the one who actually underwent the tribulation was that beast?"
"This guy is just at the Tao Tribulation Realm, and he has just broken through not long ago. There's no way he could have induced such a heavenly tribulation. The only possibility is that beast. However, for a beast to draw a tribulation comparable to when Xiao Tianjiao advanced, its bloodline must also be incredibly strong..."
"It seems like a dragon but has wings... Such a beast is unheard of; it could very well be a mutant!"
"If we could subdue this creature, its future would be boundless!"
The gazes of the strong beings towards Little Lin became fervent, while Xiao Yi was instinctively overlooked by them.
Xiao Yi was merely basking in Little Lin's light.
A youngster who had just broken through to the Tao Tribulation Realm, in front of these giants at the peak of the Tao Tribulation Realm or even the Dharma Manifestation Realm, indeed seemed as insignificant as an ant.
Dongfang Kuang and Qi from the crowd did not see it that way.
Listening to everyone's discussion, Dongfang Kuang laughed scornfully, "A bunch of idiots... How could you know that the heavenly tribulation was induced by Xiao Yi? Tsk tsk, to trigger a tribulation comparable to the one Xiao Tianjiao faced when breaking through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm upon advancing to the Tao Tribulation Realm, this kid's talent is definitely far beyond Xiao Tianjiao's. It's limitless! Now, only I know that it was Xiao Yi who brought about the tribulation. This is an opportunity for the Dongfang Family!"
Although the sarcasm and triumph on his face were subtle, they were still caught in the eyes of Qi.
Qi also recognized Xiao Yi's identity and, seeing Dongfang Kuang's various expressions, suddenly transmitted his voice, "Old Dongfang, it seems you share a close relationship with President Xiao!"
"Naturally, he... uh..."
Dongfang Kuang subconsciously retorted and immediately thereafter, his expression changed. Angrily glancing at Qi, he said, "You old man, how dare you trick me into speaking?"
Qi snorted coldly and said solemnly, "Old man, we have known each other for hundreds of years, you should know my temperament. What should be hidden from me and what should not, you ought to be clear on that, right?"
Dongfang Kuang's face slightly changed.
He did not want to expose Xiao Yi's talent but only wished for the Dongfang Family to be on good terms with Xiao Yi alone.
But then he thought...
After all, Xiao Yi was the President of the Xiaoshanhe Institute, and at least for now, the royal family seemed to have a good attitude towards him. With this thought, Dongfang Kuang gave Xiao Yi a deep look and transmitted back, "The tribulation just now was induced by Xiao Yi." He didn't care about the astonishment on Qi's face and continued, "Xiao Yi has passed through my seven Yin Yang Five Elements Towers!"
Qi couldn't help but inhale sharply.
He knew all too well what it meant to have passed through seven Yin Yang Five Elements Towers!
Xiao Tianjiao had only traversed five of the Five Elements Towers when he entered the Tao Tribulation Realm, and even so, he had already become the most talented individual in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty.
Could Xiao Yi be even stronger than Xiao Tianjiao?
Was that Heavenly Tribulation really brought about by Xiao Yi?
Qi said in a heavy voice, "He is merely at the Tao Tribulation Realm..."
Dongfang Kuang scoffed, "Who told you that someone at the Tao Tribulation Realm can't trigger a Heavenly Tribulation?"
Qi looked at Xiao Yi, his eyes filled with disbelief. Before this, the royal family had already placed great emphasis on Xiao Yi, especially after learning that he, under the alias One Punch, had broken Xiao Tianjiao's consecutive victory record at the Combat Pavilion. Emperor Qian's attention to Xiao Yi had reached new heights. Now it seemed that the royal family's understanding of Xiao Yi was still too limited.
"With talent surpassing Xiao Tianjiao, combat strength beyond that of Xiao Tianjiao at the same realm, and capable of drawing a Heavenly Tribulation upon breaking through to the Tao Tribulation Realm... this boy must be firmly recruited!"
Qi, who had spent his life loyally serving the royal family, had a flash of thought in his mind and made a decision, transmitting his voice solemnly, "Dongfang, we must protect Xiao Yi with all our might!"
Dongfang Kuang nodded his head.
Their conversation, all through voice transmission, took but a moment.
Nangong Shengtian's intense gaze shifted from Little Lin to speak in a heavy tone, "Boy, in consideration of your young age and ignorance, I forgive your disrespect. However, while death may be avoided, punishment cannot be escaped. Kneel before me now and swear loyalty to the Nangong Family, and I shall spare you both!"
Yang Jin's eyes, too, burned with eagerness as he looked at Little Lin. Even the Heavenly Tribulation triggered by Xiao Tianjiao's fire dragon's breakthrough to the sixth rank was no more than half as intense as Little Lin's. If he could bring Little Lin back and present it to Xiao Tianjiao, it would definitely be a tremendous achievement. He immediately said in a deep voice, "Although the Nangong Family is strong, it still does not compare to our Tianjian Sect. As long as you join our sect, I will secure a position as a Core Disciple for you—an opportunity countless people dream of!"
"Come to our Vast Righteousness Pavilion!"
"Our Yin Yang Dao Arena is not bad either..."
One after another, people began to speak up, attempting to recruit.
They all thought it was Xiao Yi who was undergoing the tribulation, and so a human strongman, with talent not inferior to Xiao Tianjiao and beyond their control, was naturally someone they desired to deal with swiftly.
They thought the one undergoing the tribulation was Little Lin.
This was a mythical creature!
To recruit it would be akin to possessing a mythical beast to protect their sect!
Compared to the ambitious and difficult-to-control human strongmen, such a talented mythical creature was naturally easier to control, and at the same time, an immediate combat force that all major sects and powers were eager to obtain!
As several people competed to recruit.
Xiao Yi's lips curled up slightly as he looked at Little Lin on his shoulder, "Little Lin, what do you think?"
Little Lin grinned, "Wherever big brother goes, I go!"
Xiao Yi smiled, his expression playful as he leisurely said to the crowd, "However, I have no intention of joining any of your sides!"
Nangong Sheng's face was as dark as water.
Yang Jin sighed, his expression turning cold and sinister as he said, "Boy, if you know what's good for you, you'll make your beast recognize me as its master. As long as you hand it over to our Tianjian Sect, I not only spare you from death, but I will also recommend you to Brother Xiao Tianjiao, so that you can become a servant under his command and care for this creature. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless... It's not difficult to simply kill you and then make this beast recognize a new master!"
Yang Jin's gaze was icy, aggressively pressing.
Facing Yang Jin's coercion.
Xiao Yi let out a light sigh, his body leaning forward slightly as he locked eyes with Yang Jin, "Have Little Lin recognize you as master? You're not even fit to ask—look in the mirror before you say such things."