Three years ago, the Saintbeast War-Soul had been the opportunity for Lin Xiaoting to soar to the heavens in one leap.
âThe Saintbeast War-Soul was obtained by Li Tianming? And Mu Qingqing used to be Li Tianmingâs girlfriend? And when she found out Li Tianming had obtained it, she told Lin Xiaoting, and became his girlfriend? And after that, she set Li Tianming up and seized the War-Soul, executing his lifebound beast and crippling him in the process?â
This rumour had already filled Ignispolis ever since Mu Qingqing wrote those eight words under the stone gate at Flameyellow Scions Institute. Now, Li Tianmingâs words made everyone recall them.
The truth was starting to surface.
âSo the real victim turned out to be Li Tianming. What a vicious move!â
âHow ruthless. I canât believe I even mocked Li Tianming several times.â
âThey really hoodwinked everyone. Itâs no wonder Li Tianming wants to kill Lin Xiaoting so much. They really went too far.â
Everyone guessed at the truth when they saw Lin Xiaotingâs ashen face.
The Gelding Blight made Lin Xiaoting the butt of all jokes and lose his dignity as a man. And now, the truth from three years ago ruined his reputation. If he werenât a Heavenâs Elysium disciple who had a powerful status, the audience would probably have started throwing eggs at him by now.
Lin Xiaoting clenched his fists, his eyes red as he stared at Li Tianming. However, he suddenly cracked a smile. âTrying to concoct that story again? You, obtain the War-Soul? Please, if you want to lie, at least make it believable!â
âThree years ago, you couldnât obtain Qingqing, so you sullied her in the Abyssal Battlefield, leading to her suicide. And now, you dare to come here to slander me? Everyone, do you actually believe this nonsense?â Lin Xiaoting was furious, thinking repeatedly that if he knew this day would come, he should have just killed Li Tianming. However, who would have thought the cripple could make a comeback?
Lin Xiaoting had indeed pointed out something. It was difficult for people to determine the truth without evidence.
Hence, for one more day, the truth remained uncovered!
âWe were all just frightened by Mu Yang, but all he did was get one more point.â
âRight, that has nothing to do with Li Tianming.â
âI feel Lin Xiaotingâs version is more believable.â
As long as there were people, all kinds of theories would abound, some even going so far as to forget Mu Qingqingâs words under the stone gate.
However, Li Tianmingâs words had only been said casually. He didnât expect many people to believe him without evidence.
However, tomorrow he wanted everyone in Ignispolis to be convinced without a doubt he was speaking the truth!
Let Lin Xiaoting quibble all he wants. Iâll deal with him tomorrow.
âLi Tianming, youâll be fighting tomorrow, right?â Lin Xiaoting said icily.
âI will be the only one from the Wei Clan,â Li Tianming replied.
âVery well. Iâll give you a chance to challenge me. However, it will be a deathmatch. Only one will walk out of the Heavenly Pattern Barrier tomorrow!â Lin Xiaoting narrowed his eyes. He could only vent the frustration from being ridiculed publicly by killing Li Tianming!
âI couldnât ask for more!â Li Tianming smiled brightly.
âPretty gutsy.â Lin Xiaoting said disdainfully. True, the Lightning Manor suffered heavy losses, and he was afflicted by the Gelding Blight, but in the end, him being countless times stronger than Li Tianming was an immutable fact. Li Tianming seeking a deathmatch with him was simply suicidal.
âHow will you guarantee only one person can walk out from the deathmatch?â Li Tianming asked.
âWeâll ask the inspectors to allow it, with all the experts of Ignispolis bearing witness! Inspectors, as long as someone hasnât died, please do not open the barrier!â Lin Xiaoting said ferociously.
âThen let me make it a tad more specific: As long as someone is still breathing, please do not open the barrier!â Li Tianming added. Li Tianming had many things he planned to do before Lin Xiaoting stopped breathing. Lin Xiaotingâs suggestion was a true godsend.
âPermitted.â That one word from Jin Yixuan was enough to light the fires of war.
Everyone had been planning to leave, as they hadnât expected a good show the next day. However, now their minds had changed.
âLetâs watch how Lin Xiaoting will torment Li Tianming to death.â
âHeâll probably vent all his hatred for Mu Yang and the Gelding Blight on him.â
âDeath by a thousand cuts? Or will he flay him alive and pull out all his tendons?â
âIâm looking forward to it.â
âIt seems the matter with the Saintbeast War-Soul could be true. Otherwise, Li Tianming wouldnât be drawn to revenge the same way a moth is drawn to a flame.â
âWhat a pity. Lin Xiaoting is going to Heavenâs Elysium soon. Heâll lose his chance forever then, which is why he has to choose this self-destructive action.â
âI hear heâs quite strong, able to defeat people at ninth level Spiritsource. Still, does he not know the gap between him and Lin Xiaoting who has the War-Soul and is at Unity?â
Making it so that the barrier wouldnât open until one died made it no different from a fight between caged beasts. It was obvious how bloody and violent it would be.
âWait, donât tell me you forgot about me.â Suddenly, a girl with a cold expression walked out. It was Yueling Ji.
She looked at Li Tianming. âIâve already reached Unity. In the Abyssal Battlefield, you relied on tricks to offend me. Tomorrow, I will give you a sound beating!â
Offended? In truth, she was just displeased that Li Tianming had defeated her. Now, however, she was in Unity and had an eight-star beast, the Blizzard Spirit Dragon. She wouldnât be satisfied if she didnât take the opportunity to crush Li Tianming.
âThen itâll make things meaningless. I want him to come at me at full strength, so he knows how futile all this is.â Lin Xiaoting sneered.
âRelax, Iâll leave him in one piece for you. I just want to show Li Tianming who is stronger!â Yueling Ji had trained hard for one whole month just to wipe clean that humiliation. Else, how could she go to Heavenâs Elysium if she couldnât even beat someone from the countryside?
âThatâll be fine.â Lin Xiaoting smiled. All he wanted was for Yueling Ji to not snatch away the prey he wanted to savour slowly.
âThereâs no suspense tomorrow. Li Tianming with his combat prowess of ninth level Spiritsource is just too far from Yueling Ji.â
âNow, husband and wife are fighting over the prey. Li Tianming will have a miserable end; heâs like a little rabbit in front of them.â
âHusband and wife? Pfffttt...â When they thought of the Gelding Blight, people burst out into laughter again.
âAlright, alright, disperse. The battle continues tomorrow!â Song Yixue shouted, bringing an official end to the day.
......
After half a month of clear skies, a huge downpour began. It wasnât just any heavy rain, but a full-on torrential storm that came with gales and lightning.
The various families of Ignispolis all shut their doors. Few left the safety of their houses tonight.
This storm was reminiscent of three years ago.
At Lightning Manor.
Lightning Manor was located in a more low-lying area, and water quickly accumulated on the ground. Lin Xiaoting was kneeling in the downpour, soaked to the bones. He had been in this position for four hours.
âVice-inspectors, Lin Xiaoting requests for a meeting.â This was his third time imploring them. However, no activity could be heard. By now, his eyes had turned red.
Suddenly, the door opened, causing Lin Xiaotingâs face to light up.
However, the people who came out were instead Yuling Hong, Yueling Xiao and Yueling Ji.
âDonât waste your time. Get lost, the inspectors donât want to see you. How tactless.â Yueling Ji rolled her eyes, before walking around him to leave.
âWhy?â Lin Xiaoting was stupefied.
âYou want to ask the inspectors to help you kill Mu Yang to seek justice for Lightning Manor, no?â Yueling Xiao stopped.
âYes.â Lightning Manor, as of now, only had him who could request to meet the inspectors.
âDonât indulge in wild fantasies. Mu Yang isnât easy to deal with. It was your Lin Clan that offended him. They wonât take the risk for you all,â Yuling Xiao said.
âWe offended him? Lightning Manor was fighting for your sake!â Lin Xiaoting stared dumbfoundedly at his father-in-law.
âSo? Alright, the jobâs done, you got the one point for us, thank you very much. You all can withdraw already. Just make sure you all act more honest in the future.â Yueling Ji cut in.
Lin Xiaoting paled.
âCome on, you canât be that naive, can you? Lin Xiaoting, youâre going to Heavenâs Elysium. You need to mature more. Be realistic; Lightning Manor is worthless now.â Yueling Ji smiled.
Lin Xiaoting was utterly flummoxed, because these words seemed very familiar to him. Was this the same girl that had had so many daydreams of him in the past? âYou say that, but have you forgotten weâre married...â
âHuh? What joke is that? Lin Xiaoting, who got married to you? In the future, watch your words, lest you lose your life. I, Yueling Ji, could never have married some genderless thing. Donât ruin my reputation. You have to see reality clearly!â She looked down at him from above. She had already been thinking of this for quite a while, so it was good to clarify things now.
âXiaoting, donât worry. Our Yueling Clan still maintains its friendship with you all. Still, letâs forget all about that marriage, okay?â Yueling Xiao consoled as he patted him on the shoulder.
âI understand.â Lin Xiaoting was currently filled with so much humiliation and frustration that it felt like his heart was tearing apart.
And yet, why do their words sound so damn familiar?
âAlright, Lin Xiaoting. Now that weâve clarified our relationship, donât go and try to die in your deathmatch with Li Tianming. If you want to do so, give me a heads up so I can kill him first.â Yueling Ji smiled.
It didnât matter that she did so now. After all, the battle was a deathmatch where losing meant death. No matter how much grief Lin Xiaoting had, he wouldnât want to die. Hence, even if he didnât want to fight for the Yueling Clanâs sake, he still had to work hard for their sake.
âLin Xiaoting, youâre a mature person. You wonât be childish, right? You know when to admit defeat, right?â Yueling Ji used her finger to tap Lin Xiaoting on the head. Hard. A clear sound rang out as Lin Xiaotingâs head was forced to the ground. However, he didnât move, keeping it lowered as he sniffled.
A streak of lightning lit up the world as brightly as if it were daytime. For a moment, that girl tapping Lin Xiaotingâs head seemed to be wearing white.