79: Cruel Bai Xiaoxiao

Outside.

As Zhao Peng's points far surpassed everyone else's, many people began to whisper and discuss.

"As expected of someone from the Zhao Family, his points quickly pulled ahead of everyone else."

"Indeed! I originally thought Zhao Peng, with only an A-grade Talent, wasn't outstanding, but it seems I was narrow-minded."

"Besides Zhao Peng, what I didn't expect was that the second place was Su Yu from the Su Family."

"Su Yu is actually quite good; if he hadn't wasted some time during his first Advancement, he would probably be even stronger."

"It's Night Shadow who hasn't made any moves; that's a bit of a shame."

"Does that even need thinking about? He must have already..."

"Heh! Arrogant and without a matching status, such an outcome is not surprising."

...

At the Zhao Family's outpost, Zhao Changlin looked at the name 'Zhao Peng' displayed as first on the stone tablet.

A long-lost smile finally appeared on his face.

"This kid Zhao Peng is still good; if he's properly nurtured, he can take over his grandfather's position in the future."

"Indeed, and he is similar in age to Young Master Hao. With him assisting Young Master Hao, our Zhao Family's glory can be continued," Zhao Mo said with a hint of excitement, "Perhaps, in the future, our Zhao Family might even leap to become the head of the Eight Great Families."

Although Zhao Changlin felt Zhao Mo's words were a bit exaggerated, he didn't refute them, only nodding with a smile.

After all, for nearly a hundred years, generations of the Zhao Family had worked so hard for this very goal.

However, just as the two of them were fully envisioning the future glory of the Zhao Family, a subordinate beside them suddenly exclaimed, "Elder, Commander, quickly look at the stone tablet!!!"

The startled cry interrupted Zhao Changlin and Zhao Mo's reverie, making them extremely displeased.

Zhao Changlin's face fell even further, and he said coldly, "Zhao Mo, is this how you command a legion? Your subordinates are constantly shouting and yelling all day; what kind of discipline is that?"

Zhao Mo also had a dark expression and was about to angrily scold his subordinate.

However, when his peripheral vision caught sight of the stone tablet, his eyes suddenly widened in fury, and his mouth involuntarily dropped open.

"This... this..."

Zhao Changlin, who was beside him, also noticed Zhao Mo's abnormality, frowned deeply, and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing?"

Zhao Mo shivered and quickly shouted, "Elder, Night Shadow, it's Night Shadow..."

Zhao Changlin's heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly looked at the stone tablet.

On the stone tablet, the original first place, Zhao Peng, was gone.

In his place was that incredibly glaring name—Night Shadow!

At the same time, the names from second to fiftieth place, which had originally been occupied by various prominent families, had all changed.

Not a single familiar name remained.

This result shocked not only Zhao Changlin.

Almost everyone outside, upon seeing the sudden change in rankings, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

In just that instant, Night Shadow, who had almost been forgotten, suddenly saw his points skyrocket to 380,000.

This score, even when compared to past historical achievements, was quite explosive.

After all, according to estimates, these 380,000 points were equivalent to four-fifths of the total points all participants obtained in the first round.

Before this, the highest score, Zhao Hao, had only just over 20,000, and those from second place onwards had only around 10,000.

This sudden increase was a nineteen-fold surge.

If nothing unexpected happened, as long as Night Shadow survived until the end, he would directly become the first in points in the 702 Novice Zone and successfully enter the final stage.

At the same time, the names of Zhao Peng and others had directly dropped off the stone tablet.

Clearly, all of Night Shadow's points came from people like Zhao Peng.

What this meant was self-evident.

It was precisely for this reason that the onlookers outside were so shocked.

Zhao Changlin looked at the conspicuous name and could no longer suppress his roar.

"Bastard!! What on earth is going on? Why did this Night Shadow jump to first place? That good-for-nothing Zhao Peng! The Zhao Family gave him so many resources and personnel, yet he can't even deal with a small Night Shadow?"

...--- ---

At this moment, within the Path of Exile.

Zhao Peng, also from the Zhao Family, shared the same feelings as Zhao Changlin.

With another kill by Ye Xiao's Fireball, this was his twenty-fifth death.

His level had also dropped to 35, eight levels lower than before entering the Path of Exile.

This situation filled Zhao Peng's heart with rage.

He wanted to roar, to vent.

However, he couldn't.

Ye Xiao's merciless Fireballs came in wave after wave, giving him no chance to make any moves.

This suffocating feeling of being slaughtered almost made him spit blood.

In the past few decades, whenever anyone encountered someone from his Zhao Family, they were always respectful and cautious.

Even people from the other seven families, in non-essential situations, would not actively provoke their Zhao Family.

Yet today, he was being slaughtered like this by an "unknown nobody."

Humiliation mixed with anger filled his chest.

When had anyone from his Zhao Family ever received such treatment?

The Night Shadow before him was a madman, a madman who didn't know his place.

At this moment, Zhao Peng's eyes were filled with venom.

"Night Shadow, for a moment's gratification, even if you kill me down to level zero, what then? With my status, it would only take a few days to return to my peak. Do you really want to go this far?"

Ye Xiao heard this and his hand unconsciously paused.

Seeing this, Zhao Peng assumed Ye Xiao had finally understood the consequences and was afraid, a sneer rising in his heart.

Finally, he knows fear? A small fry is always a small fry; in the face of an existence like the Zhao Family, even a dragon must coil.

Just wait; after he leaves, he will repay the humiliation he suffered today a hundred, a thousand-fold.

He wanted Night Shadow to suffer a fate worse than death!

However, just as Zhao Peng was secretly planning how to retaliate against Night Shadow after escaping, Ye Xiao spoke in a very surprised tone:

"Did you misunderstand? From the very beginning, I never intended to kill you down to level 0."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Peng's heart couldn't help but feel even more delighted.

But his expression remained calm, "Since you don't have such intentions, why not stop now? As long as you let me kill you once to return my points, I can overlook you attacking me just now."

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Peng intended to add a few more words to stabilize Night Shadow.

But before he could speak, Ye Xiao's next sentence plunged him into an ice cellar.

"It seems you really did misunderstand. What I meant by 'not intending to kill you down to level 0' is that I plan to kill you, and all these people behind you, until you can no longer revive."

Accompanying Ye Xiao's words was another dense volley of Fireballs.

The fifty-odd people led by Zhao Peng, including Bai Xiaoxiao, all died again.

The scorching Fireballs caused the temperature of the entire resurrection point to continuously rise.

However, at this moment, not only Zhao Peng and his group, but even the tens of thousands of Professionals who had long since hidden far away, felt a chill run down their spines.

What did Night Shadow just say?

He actually wanted to kill Zhao Peng and them?

He must be crazy, right?

Zhao Peng was a member of the Zhao Family!

Night Shadow actually wanted to kill a Zhao Family member? Didn't he know what kind of existence the Zhao Family was?

Furthermore, even without mentioning Zhao Peng's identity, all fifty-plus of these people were top new Talents from Yun Province.

The forces behind them almost spanned the entire Yun Province.

If Ye Xiao killed them all, wouldn't he become the public enemy of all forces in Yun Province?

One person challenging the forces of an entire province?

And among them was the colossal entity, the Zhao Family, one of the Eight Great Families of the Alliance.

Was he tired of living?

For a moment, everyone was completely stunned by Ye Xiao's understated tone.

At this moment, Ye Xiao's figure in their eyes was almost synonymous with 'madman' and 'devil.'

Zhao Peng also heard Ye Xiao's words.

However, he didn't believe it.

Because no one would dare to do something so insane as to offend the Zhao Family and all the forces in Yun Province.

This was the confidence of a Zhao Family member.

But very quickly, the 26th time, the 27th time... Ye Xiao showed no intention of stopping.

A few more seconds passed, and Zhao Peng's level had already dropped to 10.

Only 10 more deaths remained until true death.

This continuous cycle of death and resurrection shattered Zhao Peng's original certainty again and again.

Especially after he saw Ye Xiao's unwavering eyes, his heart trembled violently.

This person was truly going to kill him!

Instantly, Zhao Peng completely panicked.

Not only him, but Wang Cheng, Lin Yong, and the others behind him.

At this moment, they were already pale with fear at Ye Xiao's madness.

However, just then, Bai Xiaoxiao, who had not had a chance to speak, was suddenly enveloped in holy light.

She incredibly blocked a round of Ye Xiao's Fireballs.

This scene invigorated everyone.

It also surprised Ye Xiao quite a bit.

After all, he knew the power of his Fireball best.

Even though not many Fireballs landed on these people, by all accounts, it should have been impossible for anyone to block them.

However, Ye Xiao didn't care.

Even if Bai Xiaoxiao could block them, it was likely due to using a trump card.

How long could such a state last?

So, Ye Xiao raised his hand, about to cast Fireball again.

However, at this moment, an unexpected change occurred.

Bai Xiaoxiao, who had blocked Ye Xiao's Fireballs, suddenly turned and attacked a companion who had just resurrected.

The newly resurrected person was originally an S-grade Talent Awakener.

But he clearly didn't expect Bai Xiaoxiao to suddenly attack him.

Coupled with the fact that his level had already dropped to single digits, he was caught off guard and was directly sent away by Bai Xiaoxiao.

After doing all this, Bai Xiaoxiao ignored the shocked gazes around her and instead turned her head, saying in an incredibly gentle tone:

"Brother Ye Xiao, Xiao Xiao is willing to kill this group of beasts with you."