Everyone was shocked, and the Martial Saints from the major continents all appeared one after another.
Each one was a peak figure on the entire continent; even a slight movement of their foot could make an entire region tremble three times.
Today, all these people had gathered together.
Of course, that Elder Ximen was also surprising. Apart from his own strength, his status on Spirit Pool Island was probably not low.
“Who is that person? He actually made the great elders from the eight major forces greet him one by one?”
“An early eighth-grade spirit controller. Even without status, he would be one of the most terrifying existences on the continent. It is normal for the major forces to greet him.”
“His status on Spirit Pool Island must be very high!”
…
The crowd began whispering among themselves.
“That is the managing elder of Spirit Pool Island, the early eighth-grade spirit controller Ximen Haoyue, who was the champion of the previous continental spirit controller grand competition.” At this moment, An Miao, beside Lin Xiao, introduced him through divine sense transmission.
“The champion of the previous competition?” Lin Xiao was shocked. The previous champion, even among early eighth-grade spirit controllers, was probably an existence that swept across all peers on the continent, right?
Moreover, as a spirit controller, just how strong was his combat power?
“In the previous few competitions, spiritual power cultivation was not that high. In the last one, Ximen Haoyue, at fifty years old, only had mid seventh-grade spiritual power cultivation. Fifty years have passed, and now he has stepped into early eighth-grade spiritual power realm.”
An Miao said, “Over thousands of years on the continent, no major wars have occurred. Wealth has accumulated more and more, cultivation insights and experience have become richer, and the new generation of geniuses of the same age have grown stronger.”
“Now, among those participating in the spirit controller grand competition, the highest cultivation has reached advanced seventh-grade spirit controller. It might well be that in our generation, an era of upheaval will erupt.”
“An era of upheaval?” Lin Xiao was startled in his heart. He had not expected An Miao to say such words. He had only heard this from Li Renchou.
Li Renchou was also an old monster who had seized a body. Only old monsters would know what an era of upheaval was.
For An Miao to casually mention it, she had probably heard a lot from her mother.
However, as An Miao said, if no major wars occurred, over time, wealth would accumulate more and more. The new generation born would enjoy more cultivation resources and experience. Compared to the old generation at the same age, overall, they would definitely be stronger.
The old generation had not died either, so the accumulation of strong experts would increase. Once the number grew too large, some conflicts might erupt, and upheaval could occur.
Of course, this was only one reason. There might be many others.
For example, the continental forbidden ground that appeared once every thousand years.
Lin Xiao vaguely felt that their generation might very well usher in the era of upheaval An Miao mentioned.
“Of course, it is just a guess. It might not happen in our generation.” An Miao added.
In fact, she thought the possibility of it happening was greater, because she had been gestating for a thousand years and was born in this generation. That itself might symbolise something.
“By the way, what kind of person is the island master of Spirit Pool Island? How strong is he?” Lin Xiao could not help asking curiously.
An Miao shook her head and replied, “The island master has not appeared for one or two hundred years. No one knows his exact strength. There are also rumours that the island master of Spirit Pool Island has already passed away in seclusion.”
“Even the deputy island master is elusive, appearing only for matters of life and death for Spirit Pool Island. Other matters are all handled by the managing elder Ximen Haoyue.”
“With such high-grade spirit controllers on Spirit Pool Island, would it not be very dangerous for others to enter?” Lin Xiao immediately thought of this issue.
For example, Ximen Haoyue’s own strength had reached early eighth-grade spiritual power realm, and he was among the very top. Would the Martial Saint experts from the major forces not risk being enslaved if they entered?
Once enslaved, would Spirit Pool Island not be able to control a large portion of the power of other forces?
After all, those were great elder-level figures from the major forces, essentially second-in-command existences.
Thinking of this, Lin Xiao could not help feeling a chill in his heart. Spirit Pool Island was the most likely to control others. Perhaps some force already harboured slaves of Spirit Pool Island in secret…
“It is indeed somewhat dangerous. Have you noticed that every Martial Saint is wearing a head ornament?” An Miao said at this point.
Lin Xiao had indeed noticed. The experts from the major forces wore head chains or special caps, with things like ink jade hairpins inserted downwards, all in dark black colours.
“Could it be…” Lin Xiao asked in return, and An Miao immediately nodded. “Yes, those are weapons that defend against divine sense. Otherwise, these Martial Saints would not dare enter Spirit Pool Island.”
“I see!” Lin Xiao suddenly understood. No wonder these people dared approach an eighth-grade spirit controller and enter such a dangerous place as Spirit Pool Island. It turned out they had weapons to defend against enslavement.
Such weapons were probably very rare on the entire continent. Otherwise, it would not be only the Martial Saints wearing them.
However, he soon thought of something else and continued asking, “Then what about these spirit controllers participating in the competition…”
Those spirit controllers had no divine sense defence weapons. They could even enslave each other. If the high-grade spirit controllers of Spirit Pool Island made a move, would they not become slaves of Spirit Pool Island?
Especially the top ten, or the champion?
Thinking deeper, Lin Xiao could not help drawing a cold breath. Had every champion been enslaved by Spirit Pool Island?
Was Ximen Haoyue himself perhaps a slave of other spirit controllers on Spirit Pool Island?
Even that spirit controller from the Tantai family, was he here to prepare to enslave the champion…
All sorts of associations emerged in Lin Xiao’s mind.
“In principle, there is such a danger. However, each spirit controller can only enslave one person, and only someone of equal or lower realm whose divine sense is significantly weaker than their own.”
An Miao explained, “Even Spirit Pool Island does not have that many high-grade spirit controllers. With so many people entering, even if Spirit Pool Island openly enslaved them, they could not control many.”
“As for eighth-grade spirit controllers, it is impossible for them to enslave a junior at the Martial Emperor realm or seventh-grade spiritual power realm unless that junior is truly peerlessly talented.”
“Those spirit controllers participating in the competition who rank highly, some possess secret techniques or methods to defend against enslavement. Just like you, who possess spiritual energy. Even an eighth-grade spirit controller could not control you.”
“Moreover, early eighth-grade spirit controllers are not that easy to appear. Otherwise, a continental top-tier spirit controller genius like Ximen Haoyue would not have taken four or five decades to step into the early eighth-grade spiritual power realm.”
“Even with Spirit Pool Island’s accumulation over thousands of years, the total number would not be many.”
“In addition, there is a balance between Spirit Pool Island and the major forces. Enslaving them without cause would be declaring war. Therefore, even if those Martial Saints did not wear divine sense defence weapons, the eighth-grade spirit controllers of Spirit Pool Island would not dare act rashly unless they had absolute confidence of success.”
Lin Xiao nodded. That made sense. Otherwise, these forces would not need to come for the spirit controller grand competition at all.
Of course, since the major forces had open and hidden struggles, there might be such actions in secret even if not openly.
Therefore, when entering Spirit Pool Island, it was still best to be cautious.
At the entire scene, Lin Xiao also noticed that Yaochi Holy Land and Tianji Holy Land had no Martial Saint experts appear. Only an elder each at half-step Martial Saint realm paid respects to Ximen Haoyue.
With the strength of the two holy lands, it was impossible for them to lack Martial Saint experts.
It was possible they feared Spirit Pool Island and dared not enter.
Or because they were located in Holy Continent, represented by Spirit Pool Island, they did not send Martial Saint experts to appear.
Or the Martial Saint experts had come but did not show themselves.
Lin Xiao did not ask further about this.
