In a few days, Lin Xiao followed a group of people and flew out of the forest.
Along the way, they encountered some rather strong spirit beasts, but with the group’s combined efforts, they could easily slay them.
Flying out this way, they didn’t face any danger. Travelling with a group of spirit controllers had its benefits, as Lin Xiao hardly needed to lift a finger.
“Finally out.”
Looking at the endless plain appearing ahead, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but sigh in relief, then turned to the group, cautiously saying, “Thank you all for your help! I will definitely remember this kindness. If there’s nothing else, shall we part ways here?”
As soon as Lin Xiao spoke, the group turned to look at him in unison.
“You can’t leave yet!” The Martial Emperor elder was the first to speak, his tone carrying a faint hint of threat.
Lin Xiao’s brows furrowed slightly. This group, as expected, still suspected him?
If he insisted on leaving, they might even attack him, wouldn’t they?
“I’m sorry, but you can’t leave just yet.”
At this moment, Shangguan Tong spoke up, her tone tinged with apology as she explained to Lin Xiao, “You’ve seen my strength. To prevent any leaks, you cannot leave until our Shangguan family and the Ouyang family place the betting contract.”
“However, after the betting contract is made, you’ll be free to go. During this time, please stay with our Shangguan family. Rest assured, our Shangguan family will treat you with courtesy.”
“Moreover, for this competition, you might be able to help. If you can assist, the Shangguan family will surely reward you generously.”
“Betting contract? Competition?” Hearing Shangguan Tong’s words, Lin Xiao was slightly taken aback.
He had thought they suspected him of being a spy leaking their whereabouts, but it turned out Shangguan Tong had led him out and kept him for this reason?
They wanted him to compete on behalf of the Shangguan family?
Nodding, Shangguan Tong explained unhurriedly, “Our Shangguan family and the Ouyang family are both spirit controller clans. To avoid overly intense conflicts, we’ve maintained a tradition for years, holding a youth competition every five years for those under twenty-five. Before each competition, we place a betting contract, wagering wealth and medicinal mountains. If the other side knows our details in advance, it would be disadvantageous for both betting and the competition.”
“Wagering wealth and medicinal mountains?” Lin Xiao was inwardly shocked. As expected of a spirit controller clan, they even had medicinal mountains?
The wealth of a spirit controller clan must be astonishing, right?
At this moment, he couldn’t help but grow curious about spirit controller clans.
“Before I left the Shangguan family, my strength was only at the sixth-grade initial spirit realm. I went to train and broke through one level, and apart from this team, no one knows this.”
Shangguan Tong explained further, “Although I trust you, to prevent any leaks, we have to take every precaution.”
“Moreover, to be honest, someone with your cultivation strength is very rare in this region.”
Shangguan Tong continued, “For the competition between our two families, each side sends three young disciples, not limited to our own youths or spirit cultivators. The battles are one-on-one in succession, and the last one standing wins.”
“Although the final battle depends on the strongest fighter, the exhaustion of the other two also matters significantly. So, you might be able to help. If you fight for our Shangguan family, win or lose, we will reward you.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned. From Shangguan Tong’s words, it seemed she was the main fighter, and they just wanted to use him to wear down the opponent?
“Young lady, it seems our Shangguan family already has candidates for the three spots.”
At this moment, a sixth-grade initial spirit controller suddenly interjected, “I heard from the Third Elder that our Shangguan family plans to recruit Miss Wen Ruo from the Wen family. Though Wen Ruo is only at the fourth-stage Martial Monarch realm, her strength is said to be formidable, capable of fighting fifth or sixth-stage Martial Monarchs.”
“And the other two candidates, apart from you, young lady, include Shangguan Yu. His spot is probably…”
“Wen Ruo?” Hearing the sixth-grade spirit controller’s words, Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned.
The Shangguan family was actually seeking Wen Ruo to fight for them?
Coming back to his senses, Lin Xiao sighed inwardly, “Wen Ruo is indeed strong, even catching the Shangguan family’s attention. However, they probably don’t know Wen Ruo’s true strength. If they could get Wen Ruo to fight, the Shangguan family’s chances of winning would be high, but unfortunately…”
Wen Ruo had been killed by him, her body destroyed without a trace. The Shangguan family couldn’t possibly find her.
“It’s said Wen Ruo has some skill, but after all, Lin Xiao is a true sixth-stage Martial Monarch. It’s hard to say who’s stronger.”
Responding to the sixth-grade spirit controller, Shangguan Tong glanced at Lin Xiao, smiling awkwardly as she said, “Of course, you’ll need a test. If you can defeat Wen Ruo, you’ll be able to help. Rest assured, the Shangguan family’s reward will definitely satisfy you.”
Lin Xiao’s face couldn’t help but show a strange expression. Wen Ruo was already dead, so how could he defeat her?
There was no need to fight at all!
If they knew Wen Ruo had been killed by him, what would they think?
“Young man, it’s an honour that the young lady nominated you. Countless people in this region would dream of being chosen by our Shangguan family.” At this moment, the Martial Emperor elder standing nearby couldn’t help but speak up.
If it were anyone else, they’d be eagerly thanking their lucky stars.
But this guy, with his odd expression, who knows what he’s thinking?
Lin Xiao didn’t directly respond to the elder’s words. Instead, he deliberately showed a trace of worry and asked, “May I ask, what is the highest-grade spirit controller in the Shangguan family? If I fight for the Shangguan family, will I face threats from the Ouyang family?”
In truth, he was worried about the Shangguan family having overly high-grade spirit controllers. Though he possessed spirit energy, making it difficult for other spirit controllers to enslave or control his mind, if the strength gap was too large, it would still be very dangerous.
After all, he had never tested how strong a spirit controller’s mind control or enslavement his spirit energy could resist.
If he were enslaved, his life would be over.
The Martial Emperor elder was momentarily stunned. So this kid was worried about that. It seems he really knows nothing about the forces in this region.
Shangguan Tong also smiled and said, “You don’t need to worry about that. Our Shangguan family has a seventh-grade initial spirit controller, my grandfather, the head of the Shangguan family. The Ouyang family’s strongest is also just a seventh-grade initial spirit controller, and their overall strength is comparable to ours. The Ouyang family can’t afford to target those fighting for our Shangguan family.”
“Imagine, if our Shangguan family couldn’t even protect those who fight for us, who would represent us in the future?”
Lin Xiao nodded, inwardly letting out a long sigh of relief.
The Shangguan family’s strongest was only a seventh-grade initial spirit controller, so he had no need to worry about entering their family.
With his current spirit power, he could hold his own against an average seventh-grade initial spirit controller. Combined with his primal energy, even if the opponent’s combat strength was formidable, they couldn’t overpower him.
Most importantly, he was confident that a seventh-grade initial spirit controller couldn’t enslave him.
Of course, if something unexpected happened, he didn’t want to confront the entire Shangguan family.
After all, the Shangguan family was a spirit controller clan with many high-grade spirit controllers.
If the entire Shangguan family’s spirit controllers, along with a seventh-grade initial spirit controller, launched a coordinated attack, he definitely wouldn’t stand a chance.
However, if it came to escaping, he was quite confident. The entire Shangguan family probably couldn’t keep him.
“Alright, I agree. However, I don’t need the Shangguan family’s reward. Instead, I’d like the Shangguan family to help me find someone,” Lin Xiao finally agreed.
