Chapter 431: The Ice Saint's Promise

"Bastard, how dare they do this?"

At this moment, Bing Linyan, the Clan Leader of the Lin Branch, lacked the composure and grace of a branch leader; his cursing made him look more like a common thug.

His eyes were bloodshot, his aura was chaotic, and he stared fixedly at the Presiding Elder who was announcing the rules on the platform.

It was not just Bing Linyan; the other clansmen of the Lin Branch also had cold, ferocious expressions, with veins bulging on their foreheads. If not for a shred of remaining reason, they might have swarmed forward and attacked that arrogant and indifferent Presiding Elder.

"This Lin Branch is truly unlucky!"

"Who's to say otherwise? Just because a traitor appeared, this entire branch is finished."

"Stop talking, stop talking. Didn't you see the people from the Lin Branch looking over? Do you really want to pick a fight with these powder kegs?"

"..."

The ridiculing and gloating remarks from others were like knives, stabbing one after another into the hearts of the Lin Branch clansmen. The anger within them seemed to have been fueled, burning rapidly, wanting to completely incinerate these fickle people who kicked them while they were down.

"The whole world is an enemy!"

Listening to the unkind discussions all around, Xiao Han remained indifferent, his voice unchanging as he whispered softly.

"Lord Xiao Han, it is our Lin Branch that has failed you this time."

Bing Linyan said to Xiao Han, full of apology:

"Why don't you withdraw from this Ice God Festival? We cannot let you throw your life away for our sake."

He finally understood completely now; these bastards had no intention of showing any mercy—they truly wanted their branch to die!

If even the one-on-one duel rules of the Ice God Festival, which hadn't fluctuated for thousands of years, could be changed into a melee, what wouldn't these guys dare to do?

A melee? What is a melee?

It was nothing more than a fig leaf for nearly two hundred people to gang up on Xiao Han. Afterward, they would naturally dismiss it with a light remark about bad luck, and the current Lin Branch had no possibility of lodging a complaint.

"Are you really prepared to end it like this?" Xiao Han's sudden question moved Bing Linyan quite a bit; he had already prepared to give up, yet their external helper was actually still planning to help them.

But he simply could not let someone die for his sake!

"Lord Xiao Han, let's just leave it at that." Bing Linyan waved his hand dejectedly, his face ashen.

"At most, our Lin Branch will be disbanded. The other clansmen won't be affected; it's just as well that this old man can finally get some rest."

"Really?"

Xiao Han's tone was playful, and his gaze toward Bing Linyan was somewhat meaningful.

Although the Lin Branch had hundreds of millions of descendants, as fellow clansmen, after the Lin Branch was disbanded, the clansmen could indeed save their lives by being incorporated into other branches and the main branch.

However, that brand belonging to the Lin Branch might require several or even dozens of generations of reproduction to be completely erased, and during this period, this brand would only bring endless pain to those clansmen who had lost the protection of the Lin Branch.

Whether it was the pain of losing their clan or the discrimination from other branches, both were predictable results.

As for Bing Linyan and the others who were originally the upper echelon of the Lin Branch, in Xiao Han's view, the hope of survival was slim to none.

No one would accept them after they had lost everything, and their own pride would not allow them to bow to their former rivals; thus, self-destruction would be the only outcome.

This is the cruelty of power transition!

"Uh..." Bing Linyan opened his mouth, his throat moving a few times, but in the end, he could not utter a lie as completely untrue as saying there would be no impact.

"In any case, Lord Xiao Han, you should withdraw yourself. We of the Lin Branch will not let them have an easy time." When he said this, a trace of determination appeared in Bing Linyan's eyes.

Perhaps their efforts could not change the result, but they had to tell everyone that they were not dough to be kneaded at will.

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"Boom!"

A palm slapped forcefully onto his shoulder. The determined look instantly vanished. He looked toward his side, his eyes filled with intense confusion.

"Lord..."

Before Bing Linyan could finish his sentence, Xiao Han gave him a reassuring look, the smile at the corner of his mouth almost overflowing.

"Since you intend to bring down the curtain, shouldn't you prepare a magnificent exit?"

"What does Lord mean?"

Bing Linyan still did not understand Xiao Han's meaning. Facing nearly two hundred Earth Sovereigns, among whom were five Great Perfection Earth Sovereigns and dozens of Upper Earth Sovereigns—even if facing a legendary Heavenly Sovereign, one could barely stall for a while—what method could Xiao Han possibly have?

"There shouldn't be any restrictions on methods in a melee, right?" Xiao Han asked with a smile.

"Each relies on their own ability; use your full strength."

"Very good." Xiao Han nodded as if satisfied. "I cannot guarantee that I will definitely enter the so-called top twenty and obtain the qualification for the Heavenly Frost Ice Spring."

This point was understandable. Bing Linyan subconsciously listened on, and then was directly shocked into speechlessness by Xiao Han.

"One hundred and seventy-three people; by the time I exit the stage, there will be fewer than fifty of them left."

"This is my, the Ice Saint's, promise!"

As his voice fell, Xiao Han's figure suddenly disappeared from the Lin Branch's area. When Bing Linyan recovered from the shock just now, he could only stare blankly at Xiao Han's back as he walked toward the arena's preparation area.

"Clan Leader, Lord Xiao Han is..."

The other Lin Branch clansmen saw Xiao Han's departing figure. The latter's direction was undisguised, so they also clearly knew that it was the final arena, and they couldn't help but ask curiously.

A sense of expectation rose in their hearts; could it be that he really had this ability?

"Bing Yi, pass down the order!"

Bing Linyan's eyes were deep. The seed of gratitude quickly sprouted and took root in the warm bed of his heart, growing at a speed visible to the naked eye into a towering tree under the irrigation of the hot current flowing through his body. The broad canopy was lush with leaves, and the branches swayed gently.

"No matter the result of this battle, Lord Xiao Han will always be the most honored guest of our Lin Branch."

"Regardless of whether the Lin Branch exists at that time."

"This is my final request as Clan Leader."

"Yes." Bing Yi bowed slightly and agreed. Before turning away, he looked again at the figure walking toward the arena, revealing a gratified smile.

"It seems that kid Bing Yu found a pretty good teacher!"

In public, Xiao Han's actions naturally could not be hidden from others who were constantly paying attention to the Lin Branch side.

"What? That Xiao Han is actually still going to compete?"

Upon hearing the report from his subordinate, Bing Lingkun, who had been drinking heavily in the lounge, suddenly froze, and the oversized wine goblet made of Heavenly Cold Jade in his hand fell powerlessly to the floor.

"That is correct."

"You may go first." Waving his hand to dismiss the subordinate, Bing Lingkun picked up the wine goblet from the floor, and without cleaning it, continued to pour wine while looking toward a hidden corner of the room,

"Ling Ye, can you guess the intention of that Xiao Han?"

The massive gap in combat power was something even a Reckless person like Bing Lingkun, whose brain capacity was not large, could easily discern; why put in effort when one knows there will be no result?

However, regarding Xiao Han's choice this time, even a clever person like Bing Lingye could not see through the truth shrouded in fog, and after racking his brain to no avail, he could only shake his head helplessly,

"In any case, I ask that the Young Master be careful in all things and try not to take action personally; please remember, your only opponents are those two."

This was a necessary reminder, otherwise, the other party might truly be unable to restrain his restless heart and turn this chaotic battle into a "chaotic battle" in the true sense of the word.

"Got it, got it." Bing Lingkun waved his hand impatiently and continued to drink.

"Sigh." Bing Lingye sighed helplessly in his heart, then ceased to make a sound and continued to hide in the darkness; in the silent room, there was only the sound of Bing Lingkun drinking.