In the days that followed, news of the annihilation of the Ying family, the Jiang family, and the Ji family spread across every province. Countless regions were profoundly shaken.
The upheaval was as though bombs had gone off in every corner of the land. Uproar swept through all areas, and people were shocked beyond words.
“How is this possible? Three hegemonic powers wiped out?
Even a seventh-layer Martial Saint has fallen?”
“Heavens, this is terrifying.
Are they still human?”
“The pattern of the continent has undergone earth-shaking changes in a single month. Now the entire continent is truly about to quake.”
“Lin Xiao and his group are truly not to be provoked. First they eliminated Martial Saints from various forces, then they attacked the Tianji Holy Land. Now even three great hegemonic powers have been destroyed.”
“Of those who made enemies of Lin Xiao’s group, only the Hong family and the Tianji Holy Land remain intact. But who knows how much longer they can survive?”
“In one month, they have shown the ability to destroy three hegemonic powers. Now not only the five great forces, but all other hegemonic powers must feel threatened. Who knows how the situation will evolve? Will more hegemonic powers band together to form an alliance against the Monster Gate group?”
“An alliance of all hegemonic powers seems unlikely. Lin Xiao has ties with Spirit Pool Island, which probably won’t act. He also seems to have good relations with the Wang family. The other forces are extremely wary too. No one is willing to rashly offend that group and risk clan extermination.”
“But they won’t just sit by and let a force capable of destroying hegemonic powers hang over their heads.”
“I hear beast clans were involved. With three hegemonic powers gone, the already restless beast clan forces will surely all leap into action.”
“Now the situation grows even more complicated.”
“The continental pattern has begun to descend into chaos!”
News swept like a storm across every province and every force on the continent.
Every power, upon receiving the reports, immediately convened the most critical family meetings to discuss the implications.
Scattered cultivators and geniuses from non-hegemonic forces, hearing the news, flocked in large numbers towards the northwest of Holy Province, hoping to join the Monster Gate.
The Monster Gate now could not only contend with hegemonic powers but destroy them. It clearly showed signs of becoming the foremost power on the continent.
Geniuses who had previously watched and waited now began to move.
Even those with slightly lesser talent could not resist heading there, hoping to be accepted into the Monster Gate.
Of course, some opposed the idea and chose not to go yet.
“Now that three hegemonic powers have fallen, the top-tier forces remain untouched. This means they no longer have rear worries and can fully ally to attack the Monster Gate. One could say the Monster Gate is now in greater danger than before. The situation is still unclear.”
One genius sighed.
“If the situation is unclear you stay away, but when it becomes clear, who will want you?
By then, countless people will be breaking down doors to join the Monster Gate.”
Another youth countered.
“Exactly. Forget the future. Even now we don’t know how many geniuses are heading there. With our talent, we don’t even know what chance we have of being accepted.”
Someone else added.
“I hope we can make it in time. It’s a pity we didn’t join earlier. Back then, the chances might have been greater.”
Another said.
During this period, Ma Bi activated the worship battle platform, carrying everyone first to the vicinity of the Spirit Phoenix clan to send Huang Rong home.
Then to the vicinity of the Tyrant Heaven Crab clan to send Ba Qiu home.
After extracting some more wealth, Ma Bi once again infused energy and activated the platform, returning to the northwest of Holy Province, the area of the ten-thousand-zhang tree stump that served as the Monster Gate “headquarters”.
As soon as they entered the “gate” several thousand li from the Monster Gate, the spot where Huo Ruyan had once set up the sign, Lin Xiao and the others saw a crowd gathered there.
Guarding the sign was an elderly man with burn scars on his face, receiving the visitors.
Though his appearance was unremarkable, he had a kindly and approachable air. No one in the crowd dared show him disrespect.
Yet the elder did not lead a single person inside. He simply had them wait outside.
From time to time, more youths arrived at the site.
When they saw a thousand-zhang stone platform flying towards them, everyone was shocked and turned to look.
In a short time, the platform suddenly shrank from a thousand zhang across to several zhang in size and was stored away in a storage ring by a horse-faced youth.
“Lin Xiao. It’s Lin Xiao and the others returning.”
“Lin Xiao is the sect master. Is the sect master’s name something you can casually use?”
“Our chance has come.”
The crowd immediately grew lively. The elder present only watched over things and had no decision-making authority.
Whether one could enter the Monster Gate still depended on Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao did not address the crowd immediately. Instead, he looked at the Holy Origin Academy dean and said to Long Tutian and the others, “Doesn’t he look very much like a proper dean now?”
“Not really. A dean wouldn’t personally recruit students.”
Long Tutian also smiled with gratification.
Of course, it was only teasing. The Holy Origin Academy dean truly did resemble a proper dean now.
Having been imprisoned for over a century in a hellish place, he was now out and personally receiving applicants. This warmed the hearts of those who had been students of Holy Origin Academy and filled them with joy.
It was like an elder of the family caring for the young.
“Sect Master, this humble one is Wan Qing, eighteen years old, sixth-layer Martial Emperor realm, possesses an earth-tier high-grade dantian phenomenon, the Evergreen Tree phenomenon. I come to seek entry into the Monster Gate. I beseech the Sect Master to grant permission.”
“This humble one is Su Taigao, sixteen years old, fourth-layer Martial Emperor realm, possesses the Stele Script bloodline. I beg the Sect Master to give me a chance.”
“This humble one is Yang Hongbo, twenty-five years old, seventh-layer Martial Emperor realm, has comprehended two martial intents. I implore the Sect Master to accept me!”
The youths in the crowd began introducing themselves one after another, each possessing remarkable talent.
Many were teens, and some were even twelve or thirteen-year-old boys.
Looking at these youthful faces, Lin Xiao could not help recalling his own youth.
Back then, he had been just the same, full of hope for the martial path.
Yet compared to these people, he had been far inferior.
Among them, quite a few truly qualified to join the Monster Gate.
At that moment, a group of people suddenly flew in from the outskirts.
“Lin Xiao!”
A voice rang out.
Everyone turned to look.
Lin Xiao saw a group of familiar faces appear in his sight.