Wang Qi explained, “Take our Wang family as an example. We have a Fourth Young Master behind the scenes. His age is nearing thirty, and his strength far surpasses my current level. Exactly how strong, I do not even know. However, no matter how fiercely these contests are fought, even if our Wang family loses, he will not appear. He is one of our Wang family’s trump cards. We do not wish to expose him.”
“Other forces cannot be ruled out from having such individuals either. If I challenge across ages and sweep the opponent’s face, such a figure might emerge. At that point, my fate would be miserable. They might even strike to kill.”
“Therefore, in reality, these genius exchanges are merely minor skirmishes. The true trump cards of the major forces will not be easily revealed.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiao was shocked inside. The Wang family had a Fourth Young Master? His strength far exceeded Wang Qi’s?
Did that not mean he was infinitely close to Martial Saint, or even, like him, possessed the power to contend with Martial Saints?
“Truly a gathering of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!” Lin Xiao sighed inwardly.
Immediately afterwards, the final youth from Mysterious Province standing in the void ahead shouted provocations for a while. With no one responding, Flame Province ultimately ended in defeat.
However, since it was one to two overall, Mysterious Province no longer acted so arrogantly. After a simple declaration, the group left the area.
The clash between the northern and southern provinces, Mysterious Province and Flame Province, thus concluded.
News spread outwards continuously. The entire city buzzed with activity. Other cities also began to liven up.
Lin Xiao and Wang Qi’s group returned to the inn courtyard.
In the courtyard, before entering the building, Wang Qi said to Lin Xiao, “Brother Lin, rest well. Tomorrow, someone will probably challenge us again.”
“Oh?” Lin Xiao was curious. They had only just started fighting today. Tomorrow, someone else was preparing to come?
“Once our two provinces clashed, the other provinces certainly could not sit still. As soon as the news spreads, someone will definitely take action.”
Wang Qi explained, “This time, our Flame Province won two out of three. The other provinces will definitely target the victor rather than the loser. Defeating the loser brings them no glory. Losing would be even more humiliating.”
“Defeating us, however, would be equivalent to defeating two provinces.”
“Therefore, the other provinces will come for our Flame Province, not Mysterious Province.”
“Mysterious Province, to avoid leaving their face hanging like this, will also quickly challenge another province.”
“Heavenly Secret Holy Land and Jade Lake Holy Land, I hear their people have not all arrived yet. Mysterious Province dares not touch them.”
“As for Zhu Province, the Tan Tai family will not participate. Without the main force from the first tier, no other province will challenge them.”
“Thus, Mysterious Province has five choices. They will challenge any one of the others. Mysterious Province initially wanted a southern clash with us. Next, they will probably target a force with some conflict, one of the two neighbouring provinces.”
Wisdom gleamed in Wang Qi’s eyes as he continued, “Therefore, apart from the province selected by Mysterious Province, the other four all have a chance of challenging our Flame Province.”
“Who is most likely to come challenge us?” Lin Xiao could not help asking.
Challenges from other provinces had nothing to do with him, or even with Yang Province. He was from the southeast domain and did not count as one of the nine major provinces. He had only recently arrived on the Central Continent and had no strong sense of belonging.
He did not feel he belonged to any particular province.
However, if it was Yang Province or the northeastern Min Province, it would have some connection to him.
Yang Province’s Ji family Holy Heaven Gate had enmity with him. In Min Province, his mother was from the Xiao family. When suppressing his mother back then, the Xiao family had reportedly also acted.
If he encountered these two provinces, perhaps he would not remain silent.
“Since the clashes have begun, the next one is very likely to be a province with some interaction and conflict with our Flame Province.”
Wang Qi analysed, “To our left is southwest Zhu Province. Without the Tan Tai family’s participation, Zhu Province is unlikely to challenge.”
“To our right is southeast Yang Province. The two have some interaction and conflict. Yang Province is most likely to challenge our Flame Province first.”
“If many provinces come to challenge at once, our Flame Province would similarly choose to clash with Yang Province.”
Hearing this, a cold gleam flashed in Lin Xiao’s eyes.
If Yang Province truly came to challenge, perhaps he would take action.
Of course, he also very much wanted to go to the city where Yang Province was stationed to inquire about news of Long Tutian and others.
However, since Yang Province might come tomorrow, he would wait.
“Does Brother Lin have enmity with Yang Province?” Seeing Lin Xiao’s reaction, Wang Qi asked directly.
“Some grudges. If it truly is Yang Province coming, tomorrow, I hope Brother Wang will not call me by name.” Lin Xiao said.
Wang Qi was somewhat puzzled but still nodded. “Brother Lin, rest assured. Yang Province and we do not get along. If Brother Lin truly does something, our Flame Province Wang family would be delighted. We would naturally side with Brother Lin.”
Lin Xiao suddenly smiled. “Then thank you in advance, Brother Wang. I may not necessarily take action.”
Wang Qi smiled in response and said no more.
Afterwards, the two returned to their rooms and began adjusting.
When the next day arrived, sure enough, someone came to challenge. A booming voice spread throughout the entire city.
Lin Xiao wore a human skin mask he had never used before. He stepped out from his room. The face on this mask matched his bone age.
At that moment, Wang Qi and the others also emerged from their rooms.
“Brother Lin?” Seeing Lin Xiao’s appearance, Wang Qi said with slight surprise.
In fact, he could not recognise Lin Xiao at all.
However, seeing him come from Lin Xiao’s room and recalling what Lin Xiao had said yesterday, he naturally guessed Lin Xiao’s identity.
Lin Xiao nodded. “I hope Brother Wang and the two elders will keep it confidential!”
Wang Qi and the two half-step Martial Saint elders nodded. Even changing to a human skin mask. He truly had enmity with forces from Yang Province. It might be a great enmity, the kind where being recognised would lead to a fight.
The three said nothing more. Immediately, together with Lin Xiao, they flew into the air. Soon, they arrived before the city gate, standing in the same position as the others from Flame Province.
At this point, inside and outside the city, on the ground, city walls, and in the void, dense crowds had already gathered. Most were there to watch the excitement.
Ahead of the city, three groups of forces had appeared. Each group gathered in front numbered several hundred. However, behind them were large numbers of people.
Among them, Lin Xiao recognised one group.
It was precisely the forces from Yang Province. Among them, many faces were very familiar to him.
Several half-step Martial Saint elders from the Ji family, and Ji Yue among the genius crowd.
The Second Peak Master from Azure Dragon Gate crowd, Luo Qianqiu, Bi Zhuang, Leng Rong, Dugu Li, and others.
In the Holy Heaven Gate crowd, most were unfamiliar faces. However, one person Lin Xiao knew very well: Nan Muling.
At this time, Nan Muling wore a Holy Heaven Gate disciple robe and stood among the Holy Heaven Gate disciples, not particularly noticeable.
However, in Lin Xiao’s view, Nan Muling was absolutely the most terrifying existence in strength among the Holy Heaven Gate geniuses.
More than a year ago, at Third Level Martial Emperor realm, Nan Muling could kill Ninth Level Martial Emperors.
Now, Lin Xiao did not know to what extent Nan Muling had grown.
Of course, Lin Xiao was also puzzled why Nan Muling had gone to Holy Heaven Gate and become a disciple there.
Apart from the one family and two gates, among the three sects and four valleys, there were also some faces Lin Xiao recognised.
The sect master of Demonic Void Sect, and Feng Yuan among the Demonic Void Sect disciples. Fu Chan from Cold Moon Sect. Shangguan Tong among the Spirit Phoenix Valley crowd.
If Lin Xiao guessed correctly, one of the old women among the Spirit Phoenix Valley group was probably the Valley Master. He had simply never seen her.
Spirit Phoenix Valley could also be considered one of his major enemies.
At this moment, Lin Xiao scanned the large crowd behind Yang Province again but did not see Long Tutian’s figure.
Lin Xiao felt some worry inside.
He wondered how Long Tutian was after that battle?
If he was fine, would he come here? Perhaps because he was at Martial Saint realm, he had not appeared?
