107: Why doesn't he come?

When the Qin Family Elder's declaration of "The victor is king" echoed like a great bell throughout the Taihe Hall Plaza, igniting the Battle Intent of all Prodigies to a boiling point, he slowly stepped down from the high platform, leaving this "Deification Platform," which had gathered the world's attention, entirely to the young people of this golden era.

The Martial Arts Tournament officially began!

The rules were simple, yet brutal—a challenge-based system.

Anyone could step onto the stage and become the first challenger. Then, he would accept successive attacks from all challengers from all directions. Group attacks, encirclement, no limits on methods. In the end, the one who could stand on this arena until no one dared or was able to challenge him would be the sole victor!

This was not just a competition of strength, but the ultimate test of endurance, mind, and even one's foundation!

The rules were announced.

Instantly, the eyes of tens of thousands of top Prodigies and observers from around the world in the entire plaza were drawn by an invisible magnet, subconsciously and uniformly focusing on the most prominent, most distinguished, and most eye-catching position in the front row of all seats—

the Huaxia Long Family.

They were waiting.

Waiting for that man.

Waiting for the man who, at the age of fourteen, had already suppressed the world and was recognized as the "Sole King of the Golden Generation."

Waiting for the man who had just astonished the world with a single tune at the Heavenly Pride Zither Gathering, treating S-grade divine zithers as nothing.

Waiting for the man who was explicitly challenged by Marquis Champion Huo Qubing of the military to a duel at The Peak of the Forbidden City.

Lin Tian!

In everyone's opinion, with his overbearing and unparalleled style of action, and his unrivaled status as a king, he would undoubtedly be the first to step onto this "Deification Platform"! He would accept the homage and... challenges of all challengers with a majestic, world-dominating posture!

However... one second.

Ten seconds.

One minute... The Long Family's seats were eerily quiet.

Elizabeth still maintained her queen-like elegant smile, sitting gracefully. Long Ling'er, like the most professional secretary, kept her eyes downcast, as if everything outside had nothing to do with her.

But the figure that should have been the focus of the entire venue did not appear.

The most central seat in the Long Family's section was... empty!

Lin Tian was absent?!

This realization exploded like a depth charge in everyone's hearts!

"What's going on? Where's Lin Tian?"

"He... he wouldn't be afraid to come, would he?!"

"Impossible! With his status and previous performance, how could he be afraid to fight! There must be some unforeseen change that we don't know about!"

The entire venue erupted in an uproar!

The tens of billions of viewers watching this scene through global live broadcast instantly exploded into a frenzy! All kinds of speculations and conspiracy theories, like a tide, Flooded all online platforms!

In the military's section, Marquis Champion Huo Qubing, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them. In his sharp, eagle-like eyes, for the first time, a trace of almost imperceptible... disappointment flashed.

Among the Loose Cultivator seats, Ye Fan, wearing a bamboo hat, also frowned slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. Given his understanding of Lin Tian's domineering personality, this was definitely not a choice he would make.

Inside the Long Family's section, Elizabeth and Long Ling'er were communicating rapidly through internal telepathy.

"Ling'er, what on earth is Master up to? How could he be late for such a highly anticipated event?" A hint of worry, which she herself hadn't noticed, was in Elizabeth's voice.

Although there was a trace of confusion on Long Ling'er's face, there was more of an almost blind, absolute trust in Lin Tian.

"Don't worry, Your Highness," her voice was calm and assured, "Master... he definitely has his own plan. We just need to... watch quietly."

Just as the entire venue was plunged into a strange commotion and speculation due to Lin Tian's "absence," a loud, arrogant, and mocking laugh suddenly broke the deadlock.

"Hahahaha! I thought Number Zero of the Long Family was so amazing, able to make the whole world crazy for him! Turns out, he's just a... cowardly turtle who doesn't even dare to come up and fight!"

From the North America "Holy Mountain" section, Kyle suddenly stood up. Amidst astonished gazes, he was the first to leap, like a cannonball, slamming heavily onto the massive white marble arena!

Boom!

The entire arena trembled violently!

He snatched the Magical Artifact megaphone from the host's hand. His eyes, which had turned Blazing White due to the Awakening of the Seraphim Legacy, were filled with undisguised venom and contempt. He mocked Lin Tian to the fullest extent, addressing the global live broadcast camera and the empty seats of the Long Family.

"Lin Tian! Do you hear me?! If you're still a man, get out here! Weren't you very impressive in the War Emperor's Mausoleum? Didn't you purify the Martial God? What, now facing the challenge of the entire Golden Generation, you're so scared you don't even dare to show your face?!"

His voice echoed throughout the Taihe Hall Plaza, extremely harsh.

After thoroughly mocking Lin Tian, his frivolous and aggressive gaze slowly shifted to the beautiful figure on the high platform, like a Fairy, standing aloof from the world—Qin Yubing.

A demeaning and malicious smile appeared on his face.

He knew that directly insulting Lin Tian might only draw his disdain. But insulting his "possession" was the most direct and effective way to touch a man's most primal possessiveness and dignity!

He spoke to Qin Yubing on the high platform in an extremely frivolous tone, as if appraising an item, uttering the most vicious provocation.

"Young Miss of the Qin Family."

He deliberately drew out his words, and that voice instantly turned the faces of all Qin Family members present ashen.

"Since your cowardly t-turtle... oh no, since your 'Master' doesn't dare to fulfill his duty as a 'King.'"

"How about..."

He stuck out his tongue and licked his dry lips, his gaze like the hungriest jackal appraising the most delicious lamb.

"...you come down first and have a drink with me?"

"And let everyone in the world see what kind of taste a woman whom Number Zero of the Long Family would protect even at the risk of antagonizing the world... truly has?"

Boom—!

At these words, the entire venue fell silent!

Then, there was monstrous rage!

"Presumptuous!"

"Beast! How dare you!"

In the Qin Family's section, several Elders suddenly stood up, their terrifying S-grade Qi erupting, almost rushing onto the arena on the spot to tear this arrogant madman to shreds! But they were firmly pressed down by the Grand Elder, who led them, with a single look.

This was the Martial Arts Tournament of Prodigies, and it had its own rules. Elders were not allowed to interfere!

On the high platform, Qin Yubing's beautiful face, as cold as snow, instantly lost all color, turning pale. In her eyes, which were like a thousand-year-old ice lake, for the first time, a monstrous fury capable of incinerating the eight wastes ignited! Her jade hands, hidden beneath her wide palace sleeves, were clenched tightly into fists, her fingernails even deeply piercing her palms, drawing a trace of crimson blood.

What a monstrous humiliation!

This was not just a personal insult to her, but the ultimate provocation to the entire Qin Family, and even to the man who had taken her as his maid!

She was trapped in a dilemma, a humiliating predicament.

Go down? Go down and drink with him? Then her and the Qin Family's face would be completely lost!

Not go down? Not going down would mean tacitly admitting that Lin Tian was a "cowardly turtle," tacitly admitting that he dared not accept the challenge!

Kyle's move was insidious, malicious, yet incredibly effective! He successfully focused all the conflict, all the humiliation, on her alone!

She stood there, trembling slightly from extreme anger, feeling the gazes from all over the world, filled with sympathy, pity, and schadenfreude. For the first time, she experienced a true, inescapable... helplessness and despair.

He... is he really not coming...?