“The top one hundred spirit controllers aged thirty or below who wish to become disciples of Spirit Pool Island, please step to one side. Those who wish to join other forces may make their own requests.”
“The top thirty who wish to join Spirit Pool Island and become elders of Spirit Pool Island, please also step forward.”
As he spoke, Ximen Haoyue added a reminder. “However, there is one point to note. If anyone is currently a slave to another, please consider carefully. The Spirit Illuminating Mirror can detect not only energy weapons but also whether someone has been enslaved. Anyone wishing to join Spirit Pool Island must undergo inspection by the Spirit Illuminating Mirror. All slaves will be disqualified without exception.”
Spirit Pool Island had endured for so long precisely because it possessed powerful methods. Otherwise, if slaves of others infiltrated it, the island would have collapsed long ago.
Even Lin Xiao was startled. He had long suspected that the Spirit Illuminating Mirror did more than simply identify energy weapons.
He had not expected it could also reveal whether someone had been enslaved.
Spirit Pool Island truly possessed means to detect enslavement. As the holy land of spirit controllers, it was far from simple. With this, the island would become much safer, and other forces would not dare lightly enslave its people.
Any spirit controller who had forced their way into the top one hundred, if they were someone else’s slave, would no longer dare join Spirit Pool Island. If discovered, not only would they be denied entry, but their slave status would also be exposed.
Even the second-ranked Tantai Wenjun was his slave. Lin Xiao was certain that among the top one hundred, and even the top thirty, there were definitely spirit controllers enslaved by others.
As soon as Ximen Haoyue finished speaking, several young spirit controllers from the top one hundred and many older ones from the top thirty stepped forward and gathered in one area.
For spirit controllers, the allure of Spirit Pool Island was simply too great. As long as they did not already belong to another major force, most were willing to join.
“The top ten each receive one high-grade seventh-rank Spirit Charging Pill. However, since three of the top ten have fallen, the survivors each receive two.”
As Ximen Haoyue spoke, he sent four jade vials flying towards Situ Kongchen and Hou Zixiao.
Strictly speaking, only the tenth to sixth places remained, now just two people, so their rewards were doubled.
For previous top-ten seventh-rank intermediate spirit controllers, a high-grade seventh-rank Spirit Charging Pill refined by Spirit Pool Island, combined with their own talent, almost guaranteed success in breaking through to high-grade seventh-rank spirit power.
Now, however, both survivors were already high-grade seventh-rank spirit controllers, so the pills were less immediately useful to them.
Still, they could use the Spirit Charging Pills to attempt a breakthrough to initial eighth-rank spirit power.
The success rate would simply be quite low.
Using both pills at once would slightly improve the chances.
Of course, they could also trade the Spirit Charging Pills with major forces or other individuals for other items.
Such pills, once offered, would draw countless seventh-rank intermediate spirit controllers willing to pay enormous prices to acquire them.
At this moment, many spirit controllers grew eager.
To spirit controllers, Spirit Charging Pills were worth more than life-saving medicines. This was why only Spirit Charging Pills were given as rewards, and no other elixirs.
“The top five each receive one initial eighth-rank Spirit Charging Pill. However, the ingredients differ. The first place’s pill offers a thirty per cent chance of breaking through to initial eighth-rank spirit controller. The second place’s offers twenty per cent, and third to fifth offer ten per cent.”
Ximen Haoyue announced.
The crowd erupted in excitement. Countless eyes burned with desire.
Breaking through to initial eighth-rank spirit controller was extraordinarily difficult. Even the previous champion, Ximen Haoyue himself, had taken decades.
Once someone became an initial eighth-rank spirit controller, they could stand among the continent’s peak experts, equal to the patriarchs of major overlord forces, with status perhaps even higher.
Just like Ximen Haoyue.
Therefore, a pill that aided breakthrough to initial eighth-rank spirit controller, even with only a ten per cent success rate, would cause many high-grade seventh-rank spirit controllers to fight desperately for it if offered.
Twenty per cent or thirty per cent were incomparably precious.
If sold, they would fetch astronomical prices.
However, such pills were exceedingly rare. No spirit controller would ever sell them.
Ximen Haoyue flicked his finger, and five more jade vials containing the pills flew out, landing in the hands of Lin Xiao and the other four.
Feeling the jade vial, Lin Xiao’s gaze grew heated.
His current spirit power was still insufficient to attempt initial eighth-rank spirit power.
Yet breaking through to intermediate seventh-rank spirit power would be virtually certain.
Still, using such a precious pill for intermediate seventh-rank spirit power would be far too wasteful.
Lin Xiao had not yet decided how to use it.
Yan Huashu was overjoyed. This reward had not originally been meant for him, yet it had fallen into his hands.
“The remaining high-grade seventh-rank Spirit Charging Pill from tenth to sixth place is awarded to first place.”
Ximen Haoyue spoke again, and another jade vial containing a pill flew towards Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao was delighted. He could use this pill to break through to intermediate seventh-rank spirit power cultivation.
The previous one could then be safely reserved for attempting initial eighth-rank spirit power.
No other forces objected to this additional reward.
Although various forces had contributed some materials, most ingredients and the refining itself came from Spirit Pool Island. Moreover, the reward was reasonable, so they raised no opposition.
“Additionally, for any spirit controller who fell in the grand competition and whose force is not present here, their storage rings belong to their victors.”
Ximen Haoyue added.
At these words, Lin Xiao grew excited again. Over the rounds of the competition, he had killed several opponents, especially high-grade seventh-rank spirit controllers like Lu Mohang, whose storage rings surely contained many valuable items.
This grand competition had nearly exhausted his savings, but these rewards had made his harvest bountiful.
Soon, the storage rings previously sealed in boxes by Spirit Pool Island, along with those collected by referees from fallen contestants, were sent flying by the elder in charge towards their respective victors.
It was that elder’s duty. He remembered clearly who had killed whom on the battle stages.
In this way, several more storage rings landed in Lin Xiao’s hands.
“Fifth to second place each receive one opportunity to refine destructive spirit energy. First place receives five opportunities, to be used within ten years.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiao was inwardly startled again. Ten years was more than enough time. He no longer needed to worry about failing to refine it quickly.
From this, it was clear Spirit Pool Island was giving the top five the chance to refine the destructive spirit energy after breaking through to eighth-rank spirit controller.
Of course, the prerequisite was breaking through to initial eighth-rank spirit controller within ten years.
“Before refining, each person may experience the destructive spirit energy once. There are also two conditions. Any spirit controller who successfully refines the destructive spirit energy must never oppose Spirit Pool Island in the future. If Spirit Pool Island faces a crisis, they must assist three times.”
Ximen Haoyue added.
No one objected to this.
Offering the chance to refine destructive spirit energy was Spirit Pool Island generously giving extra opportunity at its own expense.
If someone truly succeeded, they would owe the island an enormous favour. To then turn against it would invite universal condemnation. Their reputation would be ruined forever.
Even if someone did refine it and wished to oppose such a colossal entity as Spirit Pool Island, they would need to think carefully.
Anyone truly planning to become an enemy for other reasons would not declare it before refining.
What they did afterwards was another matter.
As for assisting three times in a crisis, the likelihood was low, and three times was not an excessive demand.
Thus, no one at the scene voiced any opposition.
Instead, everyone envied the top five spirit controllers.
“Rewards complete.”
Ximen Haoyue’s gaze swept over the group of spirit controllers preparing to join Spirit Pool Island, then settled on Lin Xiao.
Seeing that Lin Xiao had not joined that group nor made any statement, Ximen Haoyue spoke. “Mu Haoran, are you willing to join my Spirit Pool Island and become an elder of Spirit Pool Island?”
Before Lin Xiao could reply, Ximen Haoyue continued. “If you are willing, Spirit Pool Island will certainly not mistreat you. We will cultivate you as the next generation’s chief elder, and even as the future island master.”
At these words, the entire venue erupted in commotion once more.
