“You are all too kind to this Ximen!”
At this moment, Ximen Haoyue’s voice rang out. He could be seen bowing politely to the Martial Saint experts from various sides, as well as to the elders from the two holy lands, and even to the crowd present. His attitude was quite courteous. “I warmly welcome all of you for travelling from afar!”
Ximen Haoyue spoke respectfully. “It is a great honour that Spirit Pool Island is once again hosting the continental spirit controller grand competition. As everyone knows, spirit controllers are the cornerstone and driving force of the entire continent’s martial cultivation world. Spirit controllers and essence cultivators complement each other. The level of spirit controllers symbolises the overall level of the cultivation world.”
“The level of spirit controllers comes from the diligent cultivation of all spirit controllers across the continent. The continental spirit controller grand competition held once every fifty years serves to reflect the progress in the overall level of spirit controllers. It is a grand event in the spirit controller community…”
Ximen Haoyue delivered a series of encouraging and uplifting words. Although somewhat clichéd, they still made the crowd’s blood boil with excitement.
What truly stirred the blood was not actually Ximen Haoyue’s words, but the continental spirit controller grand competition itself.
The grand competition was in itself an event that made hearts surge with passion.
Otherwise, so many high-grade spirit controllers would not have come, nor would so many Martial Saints have brought their elites, and there would not be so many spectators.
Even if Ximen Haoyue had only said something casual, the crowd would still have been roused to passionate excitement.
After finishing his speech, Ximen Haoyue continued in a loud voice. “I hope that this session of the spirit controller grand competition will display even more astonishing splendour and spark even more brilliant flames!”
“Now, representatives from the nine major continents, please follow me into Spirit Pool Island.”
As Ximen Haoyue said this, the crowd erupted in excitement. The entire scene became lively. The long-awaited spirit controller grand competition was finally about to begin.
At this point, Ximen Haoyue added, “As for the others, those holding entry tokens may enter. Everyone must follow the designated route. Otherwise, the consequences will be borne by yourselves!”
As soon as he finished speaking, above the lake, dark clouds faintly began to roll, with thunder faintly flashing within. Several thunderclaps echoed from them.
However, after just a short while, the thunder and dark clouds completely vanished, and the sky returned to being lightly shrouded in clear mist.
But in the next instant, a vast expanse of sky turned red, with flame energy faintly leaping about. The temperature in the entire area suddenly rose, and everyone felt a wave of intense heat.
It was as if terrifying flame energy was about to pour down.
In that instant, everyone’s expressions changed, even the Martial Saint experts present were no exception.
This was not some weather change, nor was it caused by thunder or flame attribute talents. Rather, it was induced by the spiritual power control of an early eighth-grade spirit controller.
Eighth-grade spirit controllers could manipulate heaven and earth energy, and within Spirit Pool Island, terrifying heaven and earth energy existed.
“Manipulating heaven and earth energy…” Lin Xiao also drew a cold breath in his heart. Eighth-grade spirit controllers were indeed terrifying!
“This Spirit Pool Island has existed for thousands of years. Who knows how much heaven and earth energy has been infused into the void. If anyone truly dares to attack Spirit Pool Island, they would absolutely die a miserable death!” An Miao transmitted to Lin Xiao beside him.
Lin Xiao could not help feeling a chill in his heart.
Manipulating heaven and earth energy meant that the heaven and earth energy in every patch of void was not inexhaustible. Some voids even lacked heaven and earth energy altogether.
However, even in voids without hidden heaven and earth energy, methods could be used to infuse energy into them.
For example, when two people fought, the energy ripples from their battle would actually merge into the nearby void. If an eighth-grade spirit controller were present, they could extract that energy to attack an enemy.
Another example was infusing the energy burst from various pills into the void, so that patch of void would contain corresponding energy.
If various energies were continually infused into one place and accumulated to a certain degree, an attack controlled by an eighth-grade spirit controller would undoubtedly be catastrophic.
With Ximen Haoyue’s deterrence, those who had originally planned to sneak in all abandoned the idea.
Entering without a token would likely mean dying without knowing how.
At Spirit Pool Island’s level, even if many more people attacked, they could not breach it.
After Ximen Haoyue spoke, the elites from each continent set off, following him inside.
Those with entry tokens followed behind the continental elites, having their tokens checked by other spirit controllers from Spirit Pool Island stationed there.
The spirit controllers checked tokens extremely quickly and accurately. These were tokens issued by Spirit Pool Island itself and could not be forged.
In a short time, the hundred thousand people formed a long dragon, grandly flying with Ximen Haoyue into the lake.
The others could only wait at the periphery of Spirit Pool Island for the first news to come out.
Upon entering the range of Spirit Pool Island, the crowd passed over the lake route. Along the way, they already saw many islands.
Some islands stood with palaces, some were lush with vegetation and overflowing with fragrance, and some even raised spirit beasts.
The entire area was extraordinary. The lake spanning ten thousand miles could truly be called a treasure lake with treasure islands.
“An Miao!” Along the way, a handsome young man in his late twenties from Spirit Pool Island flew to the side of the Yanzhou group and greeted An Miao.
Many from Yanzhou felt surprised. This woman of unearthly beauty beside Mu Haoran actually knew a young man from Spirit Pool Island?
“Hmph, just a disciple. Mind your status!” An Miao said to the young man in an unfriendly tone.
The young man’s expression darkened slightly. An Miao’s words made him lose face.
“Elder An Miao, I wonder who your lineage has chosen as the seeded contestant. It can’t be this kid, right?” The young man’s eyes turned to Lin Xiao beside An Miao, filled with thick hostility. He directed all his resentment towards Lin Xiao.
“She is an elder of Spirit Pool Island?” The crowd from Yanzhou were all shocked. The woman beside Mu Haoran was actually an elder of Spirit Pool Island?
So young, yet already an elder of Spirit Pool Island?
And Mu Haoran was actually associated with an elder of Spirit Pool Island?
At this moment, many people felt envy again. Just her appearance alone made them envious, and with her status as an elder of Spirit Pool Island, it truly made them green with envy.
Of course, as for the seeded contestant the young man mentioned, it absolutely could not be Mu Haoran.
Mu Haoran’s strength lay in essence power, not spirit control. He had come to spectate and could not possibly be a competing spirit controller seeded contestant.
The seeded contestants for the spirit controller grand competition were only the top spirit controllers from each continent.
The eight continents each had three seeded contestant slots, while Holy Continent had nine, with three for each of the three holy lands.
Such rare slots could only go to the strongest spirit controllers.
However, this also showed how extraordinary this woman’s status was. She actually held one seeded contestant slot in her hands.
