Under the eyes of the crowd, Ling Tian snatched Shi Ao's Immortal Artifact. His actions left everyone dumbfounded, but when they remembered that Ling Tian had done the same thing before, they found it easier to accept. The people of the Golden Lion Clan were both shocked and furious when they saw Ling Tian take Shi Ao's Immortal Artifact. They wanted to rush onto the stage and berate him, but thinking of the arena's rules and Ling Tian's past actions, they ultimately stayed where they were. Then they began to worry about whether Shi Ao would survive.
Of course, apart from Shi Xin and Shi Heng, who were genuinely worried about Shi Ao's life, most of the Golden Lion Clan members hoped he would stay alive only because he was the one who could claim the Immortal Artifact awarded for making it into the top sixteen. After all, a dead man had no need for an Immortal Artifact.
Ling Tian paid no mind to the onlookers. He was in high spirits. Just as he had predicted, Xuan Huang was exceptionally fond of him. There was no need to improve their compatibility at all; after asking the artifact about its nature and making it his Natal Dan Artifact, Ling Tian could already use it. Of course, he still couldn't fuse the furnace with his Earth Phenomenal Domain as Shi Ao had. That would require some time and insight.
On the arena, Shi Ao stood with a despondent look after losing his Immortal Artifact. He was rooted to the spot, utterly dumbstruck, and no longer had the slightest will to resist.
Ling Tian summoned You Ye and took a step forward, but for a moment he couldn't bring himself to strike the man before him. No matter what, Shi Ao had been