This youth was none other than Lin Xiao.
Though he walked calmly, Lin Xiao stayed fully alert. Power already flowed through his body. If anything went wrong, he would respond at once.
“Who is this guy?”
“I have not seen him. Is he a spirit controller too?”
“At this age, he still wants to test? Who does he think he is?”
“At twenty years old, even Linghuang Valley cannot train a sixth-grade advanced spirit controller. Can his cultivation reach that level?”
“He just wants to try the test stone, perhaps?”
“This is the Ji family selection test. If every low-grade spirit controller comes to test, the Ji family dedicated spirit controller envoy would tire to death.”
Waves of sceptical voices rose everywhere. Not to mention at twenty years old. Even at twenty-five, few sixth-grade advanced spirit controllers existed. Linghuang Valley had none. Other forces had even fewer.
This youth clearly wanted too much to join the Ji family spirit controllers. So he stepped up to test.
To go ahead without strength was mere recklessness.
Such people drew dislike.
“Ignorant!” From the Linghuang Valley crowd, the seventh-grade initial spirit controller youth spat in disdain.
The others showed thick scorn on their faces too.
In Linghuang Valley, only half passed above twenty-five. A nameless youth of twenty wanted to pass the test?
That was simply impossible.
Lin Xiao caught their gazes. He felt slight relief in his heart. These Linghuang Valley youths had not yet heard his news.
This way, he faced no trouble.
“You want to test?” Zhen Qian eyed Lin Xiao. He frowned a bit. He spoke with some displeasure.
As the people nearby said, the Ji family selection test was not for any cultivation. Otherwise, they could not finish recruiting for years.
The Dingjiang City lord nearby stayed indifferent. After all, this did not concern him.
As city lord, he had seen much of those without strength who sought to show off.
“Yes!” Lin Xiao answered without fear or flattery.
“Have you reached sixth-grade advanced spirit power realm?” Zhen Qian asked.
“No!” Lin Xiao said. “But I reached sixth-grade intermediate spirit power. This realm should allow a try, right?”
Zhen Qian had said that with matching strength, even lower cultivation could test.
Linghuang Valley had tested a sixth-grade intermediate spirit controller too.
The other side should not refuse this.
At Lin Xiao’s words, the crowd gasped in shock. Even Zhen Qian looked shocked. “You reached sixth-grade intermediate spirit power?”
Lin Xiao nodded. He released his spirit power aura. Everyone present sensed it clearly.
“A sixth-grade intermediate spirit controller at twenty? How is that possible?”
The crowd stirred in shock. Even the Linghuang Valley group showed surprise.
Linghuang Valley had none at twenty this generation.
Many reached sixth-grade intermediate at twenty-three or twenty-four. They hit sixth-grade advanced at twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
This came under Linghuang Valley’s vast resources.
This youth came from no great force. How had his spirit power cultivation reached sixth-grade intermediate?
“Perhaps he took some pill to boost his cultivation. His combat power likely falls short of his own realm.”
“Heh, no matter what, even junior brother Qiu Qin with cross-level combat could not pass. He surely cannot.”
“He just wants to show his face before the Ji family dedicated spirit controller.”
The Linghuang Valley youths spoke in scorn and contempt one after another. Others thought the same.
Though this youth had sixth-grade intermediate spirit power cultivation, the Ji family selection needed at least medium combat power at sixth-grade advanced spirit power.
The test stone’s medium combat power required beating ninth-layer Martial Monarchs, even half-step Martial Emperors. Only nearly half of Linghuang Valley’s sixth-grade advanced spirit controllers passed.
As for high-grade, none did.
That meant sixth-grade advanced medium combat power stood near the peak of the realm.
Otherwise, no pass.
A sixth-grade intermediate spirit controller at twenty could not pass. No need to think.
“Your talent is indeed strong. Even this old man feels tempted. But this time, I represent the Ji family. I select dedicated spirit controllers for them. To pass the selection, you need to pass the test.”
Zhen Qian said, “Of course, if you have power matching your cultivation, even if you cannot become a Ji family dedicated spirit controller, this old man would take you as a disciple.”
At his words, the crowd buzzed with talk. Many showed envy.
A seventh-grade initial spirit controller beat few Linghuang Valley elders. But as a Ji family dedicated spirit controller, huge benefits would follow.
Now, they seemed to grasp this youth’s aim.
The test might fail. But with such talent, he could show his face. He might get taken as a disciple.
With a Ji family dedicated spirit controller, a seventh-grade initial spirit controller’s backing, he might break through a grade in a year or two. Then he could try the Ji family selection.
The Linghuang Valley youths felt irked. They disliked someone acting as genius before them.
After all, as a spirit controller force, they always shone as the brightest spirit controller geniuses.
Even in their hearts, some scorn grew.
This Zhen Qian before them was a Ji family dedicated spirit controller. But only a seventh-grade initial one.
Their senior brother Ximen Jing reached seventh-grade initial at twenty-seven. He matched him.
Their spirit controller elders held at least seventh-grade initial spirit power. Four stood at seventh-grade intermediate.
So in their view, it was just apprenticeship under a seventh-grade initial spirit controller.
If it were them, Zhen Qian lacked the right to take them as disciples.
Of course, Zhen Qian was a Ji family dedicated spirit controller. He spoke for the Ji family. They dared show nothing.
At Zhen Qian’s words, even Lin Xiao paused in surprise. A seventh-grade initial spirit controller wanted him as a disciple?
“I will test first.” Lin Xiao said with some awkwardness.
He could not tell the other, you lack the right to take me as a disciple, right?
That would offend him fully before the test began.
The softest refusal was to let the other see his strength himself.
Zhen Qian nodded too. In his heart, he sighed at his haste. If the other’s strength proved too weak, even at sixth-grade intermediate at twenty, he would not take him.
All depended on the other’s strength.
“Sizzle!”
At this point, Lin Xiao urged his strongest spirit power. He poured it straight into the test stone.
He wanted to see too. What realm his strength would show on the test stone.
