On this day, the entire region was shocked. At twenty-two years old, in the fifth-level Martial Emperor realm, he swept all the young geniuses of the nine states, including those from the two holy lands, across any age group. No one under thirty was an exception.
The name Mu Haoran spread like a comet streaking across the sky, reaching the cities around Spirit Pool Island and further into other parts of Holy State.
Before long, it would even spread throughout the nine states, shaking the entire continent.
Yet while his fame was at its peak, the person himself, Lin Xiao, went into seclusion again. He shut himself in the inn owned by the Wang family, focusing entirely on cultivating spiritual power.
At the same time, he put out word through the Wang family that for any seventh-grade mid-level or lower pills, whether for breaking through cultivation, healing injuries, or bursting power, as long as the herbs were provided, he would refine them for free.
This led to Lin Xiao receiving large quantities of herbs every day to refine into pills. It improved his alchemy skills and kept him fully occupied with refining.
Moreover, Wang Xizhi found a secure underground room in the inn for Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao refined pills day and night without rest.
This was Lin Xiao’s method to prepare for impacting spiritual power. Otherwise, without substantial practice, even with high-grade pills for breaking through spiritual power, he would never reach the seventh-grade initial spiritual controller realm.
While Lin Xiao refined pills frantically, outside, although young geniuses still fought daily and dark horses emerged, almost none involved Lin Xiao.
Compared to Lin Xiao, those battles and dark horses, no matter how brilliant, no longer seemed impressive.
Everyone placed the title of “number one” genius on Mu Haoran.
However, after more than a month, with only about ten days left until the spiritual controller grand competition, another super genius appeared in the area.
At twenty-four years old, he challenged geniuses under twenty-five, starting from the relatively weakest state and working his way through one by one.
In the end, he defeated Xiao Zihao, defeated He Xuejun, and swept the peers of the nine states.
Then he began cross-age challenges, sweeping state by state, defeating Hong Yixun and even Mu Feng from Tianji Holy Land. This once again caused a huge uproar.
Even more shocking, after defeating Mu Feng, the youth revealed his beast clan identity. He even challenged all human geniuses under thirty in the name of the beast clan.
This filled everyone with righteous indignation, yet they were helpless. No one stronger than Mu Feng stepped forward.
All hopes were placed on Mu Haoran. However, this time, Mu Haoran remained in seclusion and did not appear.
“The beast clan is becoming more and more arrogant. They actually dare to come to human cities to provoke us!”
“Nowadays the continent is ruled by humans. Humans and beasts usually mind their own business. At most, conflicts occur when humans go to spirit beast territories for training. In previous continental spiritual controller grand competitions, no beasts came. This time, with a beast clan genius provoking us, the beast clan probably wants to fight for status and make their presence known.”
“The continent has eight great families and three holy lands with deep foundations. The beast clan only has six major clans. Each is weaker than the eleven major human forces. Even if one or two powerful geniuses occasionally emerge, it changes nothing. At most, they seek some attention.”
“But no matter what, a beast clan member sweeping the young geniuses of the nine states is unacceptable. This is not a problem for one state, but for the entire human race.”
“I wonder how much longer Mu Haoran will remain in seclusion?”
…
People in every city discussed fervently. Even more shocking to everyone, in the following days, the beast clan youth issued a challenge every single day, making humans even more furious.
Yet after five days, no matter how the beast clan youth provoked, Mu Haoran still did not appear. This left everyone anxious and frustrated.
The spiritual controller grand competition was about to begin. The clashes between state geniuses were merely appetisers. The real main event was the continental spiritual controller grand competition.
Once it started, clashes between youths would end. The reputation that human geniuses were inferior to beast geniuses would be sealed.
Therefore, countless people were very anxious.
Some even began to hold grudges against Mu Haoran and doubt him.
After all, since defeating Mu Feng from Tianji Holy Land, Mu Haoran had not appeared again.
“Mu Haoran won’t be afraid of losing and ruining his reputation, so he dares not come out, right?”
“It shouldn’t be. The previous two times, he was in seclusion and did not accept challenges. After coming out, he still swept Xiao Zihao, Hong Yixun, He Xuejun, and Mu Feng.”
“But the spiritual controller grand competition is about to start. This time, there isn’t much time left for him.”
“This Mu Haoran always disappears at critical moments. This concerns the face of the entire human race!”
“Even if he loses, he should fight. He should lose gloriously. Hiding and not coming out, what kind of human genius is Mu Haoran?”
“If he knows the beast genius is strong and refuses to fight from seclusion, then he is a sinner of the human race!”
…
As time passed, opinions against Mu Haoran grew stronger. Many even labelled him a sinner of the human race.
Quite a few people came to Yan State to curse Mu Haoran. Of course, forces like the Ji family, Xiao family, and the two holy lands were pushing this behind the scenes.
Mu Haoran’s reputation had suffered considerably in recent days.
After the beast clan youth had issued challenges for the fifth day, people noticed that the beast clan youth no longer came out to provoke.
This made everyone even more anxious. Not speaking meant the opponent assumed Mu Haoran dared not fight and disdained to continue.
With only a few days left until the spiritual controller grand competition began, if Mu Haoran did not appear or the beast hid away, the title of humans being swept by beasts would be cemented.
Combined with forces that Mu Haoran had swept holding grudges and pushing behind the scenes, the fame Mu Haoran had built up turned into infamy.
During these days, Lin Xiao also heard about it. However, he focused entirely on cultivating spiritual power and did not take the challenge too seriously.
After all, figures like Nan Muling and the fourth young master of the Wang family remained silent. He would not bother with such unfounded accusations of being a human sinner.
Those cursing him were merely a mob. He had no need to pay attention.
His goal was to break through to seventh-grade initial spiritual controller during the spiritual controller grand competition and rely on his own strength to reach the top ranks.
However, with only three days left until the grand competition, Long Tutian unexpectedly sent someone to speak with him, asking him to meet the beast clan youth.
Originally not planning to act, Lin Xiao had no choice but to step forward. He had Wang Qi spread the word that he would fight the beast clan youth the next day.
As soon as Wang Qi spread the message, he naturally added fuel to the fire. Instantly, the major cities boiled with excitement again.
Early the next morning, large numbers of people gathered once more in Lingnan City. Top geniuses from the nine states all assembled here.
