As soon as Shangguan Yu uttered these words, the members of the Ouyang family all furrowed their brows.
Shangguan Yu’s choice of words was “depletion” rather than “a battle”.
It was evident that Shangguan Yu intended to sweep through the three opponents with the posture of a superior.
“Does the Shangguan family truly intend to sweep through the three of us?” Even the Ouyang family head dismissed his previous assumptions and became more convinced that this was the Shangguan family’s true intention.
“How arrogant!” The young members of the Ouyang family all muttered inwardly, with flames of anger beginning to rise.
“As expected, they want Guan Yu to sweep through the opponents!”
“For the family to make such a choice, they must have sufficient confidence. This time, our Shangguan family might finally vent its frustrations!”
“Impressive!”
The members of the Shangguan family whispered among themselves, their faces all revealing expressions of eager anticipation.
“Ouyang Peng, go and test his strength!” At this moment, the Ouyang family head spoke up.
Originally, their Ouyang family had already prepared the order of combatants, but now they had no choice but to make some adjustments.
The sixth-grade initial-level spiritual controller who had been sitting with Ouyang Chen and the others was momentarily stunned, then nodded and said: “Yes!”
With that, Ouyang Peng stood up and locked eyes with Shangguan Yu: “I would very much like to see how you intend to sweep through the three of us!”
The Ouyang family and the Shangguan family had long been at odds, so upon seeing Shangguan Yu’s arrogance, anger had already ignited in his heart, and his words naturally carried no courtesy towards Shangguan Yu.
“You are hardly qualified!” Shangguan Yu’s own anger surged, and he responded directly.
“Whether I am qualified or not will be clear on the field!” Ouyang Peng said coldly.
“You will understand soon enough!” Shangguan Yu snorted coldly and prepared to surge forward and upward.
However, at that very moment, a clear voice transmitted from afar: “Distinguished guests have arrived!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire scene fell silent.
At a time like this, someone else was arriving?
Not only the Ouyang family head and his members, but even the Shangguan family head and his members were all stunned.
In family competitions like these, only the forces of the two families were traditionally present.
Moreover, nearly all the Martial Emperor-level forces in the vicinity were affiliated with one of the two families, so it could be said that every family of any note in the entire region had arrived.
No one else had been invited beyond that.
Yet now, someone was arriving uninvited?
Slightly furrowing their brows, the Shangguan family head, the Ouyang family head, and the others all turned their gazes towards the distance.
At this time, a woman, led by a reception attendant, strode boldly into the sight of the crowd.
The woman had a medium build and fair skin. Judging by her head of snow-white hair, her age was likely no less than a hundred and eighty, yet her appearance resembled that of someone in her thirties, with only a few faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
The woman wore a golden robe embroidered with phoenixes, her hair styled in three high buns atop her head, standing tall and straight, adorned with a phoenix hairpin. Her aura was otherworldly yet carried an imposing dignity, making her seem exceedingly noble.
Around the woman emanated a faint yet tangible mental pressure at the seventh-grade initial-level spiritual power realm. As she walked, it caused the crowd to feel a jolt of alarm, not daring to offend her.
“Seventh-grade initial-level spiritual power realm?” Sensing the spiritual power aura the woman had deliberately revealed, Lin Xiao felt a slight shock in his heart. Another seventh-grade initial-level spiritual controller had arrived?
There were so many high-grade spiritual controllers here? Was spiritual cultivation in the Central Province truly so prosperous?
“Spirit Phoenix Valley, Elder Xue Ling!” Upon seeing this figure, the Shangguan family head and the Ouyang family head were so startled that they nearly jumped to their feet.
Others might not recognise her, but they had seen her before. This woman was precisely an elder of Spirit Phoenix Valley, one of the ten major powers in Yang Province.
Spirit Phoenix Valley was a place they could only look up to, and the status of its elders was far beyond what they could compare to.
Yet Spirit Phoenix Valley was quite a distance from this location. Why would an elder of Spirit Phoenix Valley come to this region?
Daring not to think too much, the two men immediately rose and descended from the stone platform, hurrying forward.
The heads of the families affiliated with the two major houses and the Martial Emperors also rose one after another, following closely behind.
When the two parties drew near, the Shangguan family head and the Ouyang family head hurriedly cupped their hands in greeting:
“Ouyang Kuo pays respects to Elder Xue Ling!”
“Shangguan Xiong pays respects to Elder Xue Ling! We were unaware of your esteemed arrival and failed to welcome you from afar. We hope Elder Xue Ling will forgive our oversight!”
Hearing the two men’s words, the crowd was filled with shock.
One house, two sects, three clans, four valleys: these were the most powerful forces in the entirety of Yang Province. Families of spiritual controllers like theirs counted for nothing in the face of such powers.
They had never imagined that Spirit Phoenix Valley, renowned throughout Yang Province, would actually come to their remote little corner.
As for the heads of the families affiliated with the two major houses, none dared to speak, merely cupping their hands in unison with Shangguan Xiong and Ouyang Kuo.
They did not yet have the qualification to greet her.
“The two family heads are too courteous!” Xue Ling spoke modestly, but her tone still carried the subtle haughtiness of one in a superior position.
“I have come this time on behalf of Spirit Phoenix Valley to select talented spiritual cultivation disciples. I heard that your two great families are holding a competition, so I thought I would come and take a look.”
Xue Ling paid no heed to the two men cupping their hands beside her and walked straight past them, speaking as she went: “If any genius from your two families catches my eye, I will take him back to Spirit Phoenix Valley to become a disciple of the valley. If his talent is sufficient, Spirit Phoenix Valley will even bring him to Spirit Pool Island to observe the Continental Spiritual Controller Grand Tournament two years from now.”
“What?” Hearing Xue Ling’s words, the two men were stunned on the spot, their faces showing expressions of disbelief.
Spirit Phoenix Valley was actually recruiting disciples?
Xue Ling had come here to watch their two families’ competition and select disciples?
It was well known that Spirit Phoenix Valley’s selection process was extremely stringent, the most rigorous among the four valleys.
Within a radius of millions of li, countless spiritual controller geniuses vied desperately for a chance to enter, yet found no way in.
They had never expected that today, an elder of Spirit Phoenix Valley would actually come to this place to recruit disciples. This was an exceedingly rare occurrence.
If one performed well, their family’s genius might be selected.
Once someone joined Spirit Phoenix Valley, not only would that individual’s status soar, but even the standing of their entire family would rise dramatically. In future, anyone who wished to act against them would have to consider Spirit Phoenix Valley’s influence.
Moreover, Spirit Phoenix Valley possessed spiritual controllers of even higher grades and vastly more abundant resources. If one could enter, surpassing their current strength in the future would be no issue at all.
In other words, as long as someone from their family entered Spirit Phoenix Valley, it would become difficult for the other family to make a move in the future, and eradicating the rival family might not even be out of the question.
Thinking of their own family’s strongest genius, Shangguan Xiong and Ouyang Kuo both felt an involuntary surge of excitement.
“Elder Xue Ling, please take a seat!” Shangguan Xiong hurriedly said with agitation, his spiritual power stirring as the tables and chairs on the stone platform swiftly shifted sideways. Originally, the two central tables faced each other, but now one table and chair was moved to the very centre position.
This table and chair was precisely the one Shangguan Xiong had occupied before, transforming from a shared seat of equal honour to the single most prestigious position.
Xue Ling paid it no mind and ascended the high platform, sitting down directly before speaking: “Everyone, let us prepare to begin.”
Shangguan Xiong, Ouyang Kuo, and the others all nodded repeatedly and hurriedly took their seats.
