“The Moyu Empire’s chief spirit controller!” Lin Xiao’s gaze sharpened. The black-robed elder who’d attacked him was the Moyu Empire’s top spirit controller?
“True to his name, his speed is something even I can’t catch up to!” A stooped figure sighed, gazing at the vanishing silhouette against the horizon.
“Even Empress Dowager Meng can’t catch him?” Lin Xiao was stunned again. Meng Xi was the Lanlan Empire’s mightiest figure—if even she couldn’t keep up, then likely no one in the empire could.
No wonder Yunfeng had brazenly joined the Refining Competition and dared infiltrate the Spirit Controller Alliance to assassinate him—he had such a powerhouse backing him.
Lin Xiao’s eyes shifted to Meng Xi. Her body was hunched, her white hair nearly gone, her face like wrinkled orange peel, creases so deep they almost hid her eyes, her mouth toothless.
At first glance, she looked like a corpse risen from a coffin—hard to imagine she’d just exuded such earth-shaking might.
“Zhuifeng’s spiritual power is fourth-grade advanced, naturally no match for Senior Meng’s cultivation, but he possesses a secret technique that maximizes explosive speed, making him fearless,” Ye Fenghua explained beside him.
Lin Xiao nodded in understanding. Fourth-grade advanced spiritual power couldn’t rival a high-tier Martial Venerable, so Zhuifeng’s edge must lie in a unique technique that pushed his speed to the limit.
Glancing at Ye Fenghua and then Meng Xi, Lin Xiao cupped his hands sincerely, “Thank you, Empress Dowager Meng and Alliance Leader, for stepping in. Otherwise, I’d have been in grave danger.”
“Young one, you’re too kind. Even if they hadn’t targeted you, I’d have acted. If I’m not mistaken, those two are the ones who attacked my Yingying, aren’t they?” Meng Xi’s raspy voice carried a hint of coldness.
“Oh?” Lin Xiao jolted, his mind racing to connect the dots.
That day, a third-grade and fourth-grade spirit controller had targeted Meng Ying, striking after Zhou Xiong’s defeat at his hands. It seemed like the Feng and Chen families framing Zhou Xiong, deepening the royal family’s suspicion and widening the rift between the three great families and the crown.
But in truth, it was likely Zhuifeng and Yunfeng stoking the flames. If so, the Moyu Empire had bigger plans.
Their blatant presence in the Lanlan Empire’s sights hinted at a grand conspiracy brewing.
Still, even if war broke out between the nations, that wasn’t his immediate concern.
“It seems the Moyu Empire’s strength has grown considerably in recent years,” Ye Fenghua sighed with a touch of worry.
Meng Xi’s brows furrowed, a cold glint crossing her face as her wrinkled lips twitched, “If they dare stir trouble, with the Lanlan Empire’s reserves, we’ll ensure they regret it.”
Ye Fenghua nodded, sharing her confidence on that point without excessive concern.
A clash between nations would bring immense losses—explaining why, despite longstanding tensions, neither had made bold moves.
“By the way, Heimu, your cultivation’s reached Heavenly Martial Third Layer?” Meng Xi’s gaze fixed on Lin Xiao, her tone laced with astonishment.
His true cultivation couldn’t escape her keen eyes.
Sixteen and at Heavenly Martial Third Layer—his vitality talent matched Feng Lanyue and Chen Yan’s.
“I got lucky refining the Serpent Blood Void-Breaking Elixir and broke through,” Lin Xiao nodded honestly.
“Dual cultivation in vitality and spirit with such achievements—you’re a rare gem in the Lanlan Empire. In a few years, the Moyu Empire might be left in the dust,” Ye Fenghua said with an approving nod.
Of course, he still saw Lin Xiao’s primary gift as spiritual power.
“You flatter me, Alliance Leader,” Lin Xiao replied modestly.
At that moment, Le Zheng Hongmao, Situ Guang, Wen Renliang, and other alliance experts rushed over.
“What happened?” Le Zheng Hongmao asked, frowning at the scene.
“Someone got jealous of Heimu and tried to snatch him. When that failed, they aimed to kill him to silence him,” Ye Fenghua answered.
The group had arrived swiftly, but Zhuifeng and Yunfeng’s attack had been lightning-fast.
“Who’s bold enough to come murder someone in our Spirit Controller Alliance!” Situ Guang roared, furious.
“Exactly! We’re not a pushover. To blatantly disrespect us like this—we’ll make them pay!” another elder chimed in.
“Calm down. They’re not from our empire, so rooting them out won’t be easy. I’ll handle this,” Ye Fenghua said to the group.
“Not from the Lanlan Empire—could it be the Moyu Empire?” The crowd’s brows furrowed, anger flaring on their faces.
“Heimu, are you alright?” Wen Renliang stepped forward, concern etched on his face.
“I’m fine. Thanks for your worry,” Lin Xiao smiled, easing their tension.
“Heh, Little Ye, I’ve got some matters I’d like to discuss with Heimu alone,” Meng Xi said, her wrinkled face quivering as she grinned.
Only then did the group notice her, their hearts tightening. No wonder he was safe—with the empire’s top powerhouse here, who could touch him?
Ye Fenghua frowned slightly, scanning the gathered crowd, “It’s over now. Disperse and tighten security.”
“Senior Meng, let’s head to that room over there,” he said, pointing to a nearby courtyard.
With a chuckle, Meng Xi shuffled toward it, her frail, wind-swayed gait like that of a dying elder—nothing suggesting she was a Martial Venerable.
After a quick farewell to the others, Lin Xiao followed her slowly. Once inside the room with the door shut, he asked, “May I know why Empress Dowager Meng sought me out?”
“Heh, I hear your talent’s something extraordinary,” Meng Xi cackled, her wrinkles nearly swallowing her eyes.
“You’re too kind, Empress Dowager,” Lin Xiao replied humbly.
“I also heard you’re not too keen on Shengyuan Academy?” Emperor Meng cut straight to it.
“Uh… not exactly. I just don’t plan to head there anytime soon,” Lin Xiao said, a touch of awkwardness on his face.
“Looks like you really don’t know what Shengyuan Academy is,” Meng Xi sighed, explaining, “I won’t even get into how deep its resources run, but it’s famous across the continent because it holds the Nine Heavens Thunder Dragon spiritual energy. Disciples there cultivate with it, advancing countless times faster than outside. That place might be of great use to you.”
“What, Nine Heavens Thunder Dragon spiritual energy!” Lin Xiao’s heart jolted hard.
Ranked thirteenth on the spiritual energy list, it embodied thunder’s might—wild and powerful, rivaling even the peak Heaven-Devouring spiritual energy.
He’d never imagined Shengyuan Academy housed such a cosmic force.
Of course, the spiritual energy rankings were relative. A millennia-old energy far outstripped a newly formed one, though age alone didn’t dictate strength—comparing them precisely was tricky.
Still, this revelation reshaped Lin Xiao’s view of Shengyuan Academy.
It was far from the simple place he’d assumed.
