Several days later.
At the Jiang family, the Great Elder stood in his courtyard when a figure rushed in and reported to him, “Great Elder, something has happened. News has come that Elder Jiang You has fallen, killed by Lin Xiao.”
“What?”
The Great Elder’s heart jolted. For a long while, he could not recover.
Previously, when the Divine Striking Bamboo vanished, they had only suspected something might have happened to Elder Jiang You. The chance of his death still seemed small.
But now the news of his fall had arrived, and it was hard for him to accept.
What he found even harder to accept was that Jiang You had fallen to a junior, Lin Xiao.
News had already spread that the Ji family’s Martial Saint from the Holy Province branch had been killed by Lin Xiao. That alone had shocked them.
Yet now, who would have thought their Jiang family’s Martial Saint had also died at Lin Xiao’s hands.
A mere youth with such audacity, killing two Martial Saints in succession?
And with the means to erase the mark on their Jiang family’s Divine Striking Bamboo?
Of course, the Jiang Great Elder did not yet know that news of the Hong family Martial Saint’s death was already spreading widely in You Province. It simply had not reached here.
“Pass my order. Send Jiang Sheng to Cold Demon Ridge to report to the family head. Mobilise a thousand men to search for Lin Xiao’s whereabouts!”
The Jiang Great Elder said angrily.
“Yes!”
The messenger quickly withdrew.
At the same time, the entire Jiang family shook upon receiving the news.
This information could not be concealed even from the higher levels.
Because not only had the Jiang family received it, but as the news reached them, word of their Martial Saint’s fall also spread outward. The whole region was stunned.
The fall of a Martial Saint from a dominant force was a monumental event.
“Heavens, Lin Xiao again. Lin Xiao, who swept the geniuses of the nine provinces, swept the continent’s spirit controllers under fifty, killed the Ji family Martial Saint, wiped out their Holy Province branch, and now he has killed the Jiang family’s Martial Saint too?
This fellow is utterly mad!”
“Truly a reverse Saint. Two first-layer Martial Saints in a row. Such talent and strength are monstrous!”
“He had reason to kill the Ji family, but why the Jiang family Martial Saint?
Offending one dominant force is one thing. Does he want two dominant forces hunting him?”
“I heard he stole the Jiang family’s treasured Divine Striking Bamboo. Greed for wealth, perhaps.”
“Truly audacious, daring to target even these dominant forces!”
… Hao Province erupted. The news spread like wings, reaching ever further.
As the region buzzed with the news, a figure activated an array on his body and flew north towards Xuan Province.
… Several thousand li from Tianji Holy Land in Holy Province, space twisted. A spatial tunnel gate suddenly appeared. Then three figures burst out.
The tunnel gate vanished after a while.
These three were none other than Lin Xiao and his companions.
Apart from Array Saint Mu Bosang, almost no one in Holy Province had seen their faces.
Huo Ruyan, with her Blood Demon Body, had some fame in the northwest of Holy Province, but everyone who had seen her was dead. No one knew.
Demon frog Qing Yan was only on his second outing. The first had been at Cold Demon Ridge, where only a few Saints survived. Others died. People from other regions naturally had not seen him.
Lin Xiao had previously used Mu Haoran’s mask. His true face was unknown in Holy Province.
Still, to be safe, Lin Xiao changed to another mask.
From their investigation, this place was not too far from Tianji Holy Land, only five or six thousand li. Without pause, the three flew southeast, away from it.
Along the way, they passed an array and used wealth to enter quietly.
With their strength, unless mobbed by Martial Saints, they had few rivals. Thus, they were not overly cautious.
After ten-odd days, the three reached Bafang City, ten thousand li from the outer edge of Spirit Pool Island.
“The hidden high-tier spirit controllers on Spirit Pool Island are extremely fearsome. You two stay here for now. I will go and return quickly!”
After a brief word to Huo Ruyan and Qing Yan, Lin Xiao went alone to Spirit Pool Island.
Neither had absolute defensive means. He did not trust letting them enter. Who knew how powerful the unseen island master’s spirit control and enslavement abilities were.
Soon, Lin Xiao reached the lake periphery ten thousand li around Spirit Pool Island. He reverted to his true appearance, produced the token, and entered directly to find An Miao.
Upon reaching An Miao’s island, she came out full of hope to greet him.
A figure perfect as if formed from light entered Lin Xiao’s sight. The guiding elder immediately withdrew.
“You obtained those items?”
An Miao asked at once.
“Mission accomplished!”
Lin Xiao smiled and nodded. As he prepared to take out the Heaven Swallowing Spirit Emperor token, An Miao interrupted. “Come with me to see my mother.”
Lin Xiao nodded. He followed An Miao to an exquisite, elegant pavilion on the island.
It was a hall twenty-odd zhang across. Opening the door, Lin Xiao entered with An Miao.
In the spacious, bright hall, they went further to where Miao Ling was.
An Miao activated the key. The underground mechanism door opened. The two jumped in, landing two hundred zhang below.
Under the faint glow from the stone walls, a vast space a hundred zhang across appeared.
Inside, simple tables, chairs, tea sets remained exactly as before, unmoved.
At the front stone wall’s centre, in a six or seven zhang wide, seven or eight zhang deep space decorated in ancient style, Miao Ling sat.
Miao Ling still wore a white dress. Her hair was snow-white and flowing. Her figure was flawless. Facing Lin Xiao and An Miao, eyes closed, faint white light circulated over her body. She sat like an immortal fairy, utterly picturesque, breathtakingly beautiful.
At that moment, Lin Xiao felt his heart almost melt.
She was simply too beautiful, too pleasing to behold.
Whoosh!
At that instant, the picturesque woman suddenly opened her eyes. Sharp light flashed in them. She stood excitedly and asked urgently, “You have the items?”
Lin Xiao nodded. He stepped forward into the small space and handed over the rouge box and jade hairpin.
Seeing the two items, Miao Ling’s picturesque eyes widened. Bright light circulated within them.
