Chapter 43: Endless Provocation

Lin Qian stood still, his eyes coldly scanning the person who had spoken. The one who had called out was a muscular young man with a shaved head. His tightly toned muscles stretched the white robe he wore, clinging to his powerful frame like a second skin. He stood like a small giant among the others.

This was Liu Ming, a name Lin Qian had heard before. Ranked seventh among the inner disciples, Liu Ming's martial spirit took the form of a pair of fist blades, and its special ability was to enhance his physical strength. Coupled with his habitual physical training, this martial spirit made him an exceptionally formidable opponent in close combat among the inner disciples.

There had been discussions within the Myriad Manifestations Sect comparing Lin Qian and Liu Ming, debating whose physical body was stronger. While most inner disciples acknowledged that Lin Qian's physical strength surpassed that of ordinary Nirvana Realm soul warriors, they believed he would be no match for Liu Ming, who had trained extensively and possessed a martial spirit that further amplified his strength.

Lin Qian remained silent, but Lei Qian stepped forward on his behalf. "Liu Ming, why did you go back on your word? You agreed to a fair fight."

"Oh, isn't this Lei Qian?" Liu Ming sneered, rubbing his bald head. His yellowed teeth gleamed as he mocked, "I heard you lost to a mere Foundation Establishment brat and even had the gall to call him your boss. A top ten inner disciple, yet so spineless?"

Liu Ming spread his arms wide, gesturing to the crowd behind him. "Take a good look, Lei Qian. Many of your former Thunder Division followers are now with me."

Lei Qian glanced at the group behind Liu Ming and indeed recognized several familiar faces—once loyal members of his Thunder Division.

"Ungrateful scum! Lei-shixiong always shared his gains with us, and now they've betrayed him..." A few remaining Thunder Division members shook their heads in disappointment, sighing deeply.

"It's not even noon yet, Lei Qian," Liu Ming smirked, feigning innocence. "The challenge hasn't officially begun, so I can change the venue and rules as I please. It's all within the rules—how is that going back on my word?"

Lei Qian was about to retort, but Lin Qian raised a hand to stop him. Stepping forward, Lin Qian stared directly at Liu Ming. "Tell me, how do you want to do this?"

Seeing the youth approach, Liu Ming's smile widened. "Simple. A group battle." He pointed to the sky. "There's still half an hour until noon. Whoever you can gather by then, bring them on."

"Despicable!" Lei Qian couldn't help but shout at Liu Ming's proposal.

Group battles were a specific type of competition, and Liu Ming's choice of the larger Arena Number Thirty-Six had already hinted at his intentions. Group battles meant that both sides could bring as many people as they wanted, with no fixed number, making it a chaotic brawl.

As the challenger, Liu Ming had the advantage of choosing the rules, and his decision put Lin Qian at a significant disadvantage. Liu Ming, ranked seventh among the inner disciples, had a substantial following. Coupled with the defectors from Lei Qian's Thunder Division, he could easily muster five or six hundred people. Already, there were over three hundred disciples behind him on the platform.

In contrast, Lin Qian's side only had a few dozen people, including Lei Qian's remaining Thunder Division members. With just half an hour left, even if they tried to gather more people, there simply wasn't enough time.

"Lin Qian, why don't you call those useless outer disciples? At least you'll have the numbers, even if they are weaklings." Liu Ming's taunting laughter echoed across the platform. "Remember, the rules don't allow killing, but injuries and crippling—those are fair game. Make sure your recruits know what they're signing up for."

"Who are you to insult the outer disciples, calling them useless?" Lin Qian's face darkened. "Weren't you once an outer disciple yourself?"

"Exactly. And that's how I know how many useless fools there are among them," Liu Ming sneered, spreading his hands as if apologizing. "Sorry, I just like to speak the truth."

"Brother Liu, I'm here!" Suddenly, a brash, arrogant voice called out from behind Lin Qian and his group. A large group of disciples, even more numerous than Lei Qian's, pushed their way onto the platform, intentionally shoving the Thunder Division members aside.

The leader of this group, a young man with cropped hair, deliberately bumped into Lei Qian as he passed, sneering, "A bastard with no parents, clinging to his grandfather's coattails."

Whistling nonchalantly, the young man led his group over to Liu Ming's side.

Lei Qian stood trembling with rage, his teeth grinding audibly as he glared at the young man's back.

"And you're not going to do anything?" Lin Qian asked, his voice icy as he observed Lei Qian's restraint.

Lei Qian took a deep breath, his voice hoarse as he replied, "We're already on the platform, which means the challenge has started. If I make a move, you'll lose the match, Boss."

"I never expected that guy, Lei Kuo, to side with Liu Ming," Lei Qian added bitterly, his gaze fixed on the young man who had insulted him.

Lei Kuo, wearing a purple robe and leading over two hundred disciples, casually walked up to Liu Ming, exchanging pleasantries. Lin Qian recognized the name—Lei Kuo was Lei Qian's cousin, the grandson of Lei Xiang, Lei Heng's younger brother.

"So, it seems these two cousins aren't exactly on good terms," Lin Qian thought as he observed Lei Qian's simmering anger.

"Are you Lin Qian?" A sudden voice interrupted Lin Qian's thoughts. It was Lei Kuo.

Before Lin Qian could respond, Lei Kuo raised his chin arrogantly and sneered, "I heard your master, the War Emperor, is dying soon? Hahaha..."

The moment those words left Lei Kuo's mouth, Lin Qian's expression turned ice-cold, his eyes locking onto Lei Kuo with a chilling gaze.

"What are you glaring at? Just because you beat my worthless cousin, you think you're some kind of hotshot? You're nothing!" Lei Kuo spat. "You're only riding on your master's coattails. What'll you do when he dies, huh?"

"Speaking of which, isn't your master supposed to be dead by now? What's taking him so long?" Lei Kuo's words dripped with venom, and Lin Qian's hands clenched into fists, his face expressionless as he listened in silence.

"Coward!" Lei Kuo sneered, seeing that Lin Qian wasn't responding. He turned away, dismissing Lin Qian as he resumed chatting with Liu Ming, waiting for the challenge to begin.

Murderous intent radiated from Lin Qian's body. If it weren't for his master, Wei Wushuang, Lin Qian would have died long ago. To Lin Qian, Wei Wushuang was not just a master but a lifesaver, a mentor, and a second father. Yet here was Lei Kuo, daring to insult Wei Wushuang, even wishing for his death.

"I'm going to kill Lei Kuo. Do you mind?" Lin Qian asked Lei Qian, his voice as cold as ice.

Lei Qian took a deep breath, a savage grin spreading across his face. "I'll help you kill him, Boss!"