“Oh heavens, future island master? That is far too exaggerated.”
“Forget future island master. Even being cultivated as chief elder is an enormous benefit. Who knows how many resources will be poured into him. Becoming an eighth-rank spirit controller would be just a matter of time.”
“Just like Ximen Haoyue. Within fifty years, he is certain to reach eighth-rank spirit controller and become chief elder. The island master and vice island masters of Spirit Pool Island rarely involve themselves in affairs, so he is practically the acting island master.”
“Even for Ximen Haoyue back then, he was at most cultivated as chief elder. There was never any mention of inheriting the island master position. Now they are mentioning future island master. The weight of that is immense.”
“It really makes one incredibly envious.”
… All sorts of voices filled the entire venue. Almost none of those present had ever seen the island master of Spirit Pool Island. He stood at the absolute pinnacle of the continent. A single stomp of his foot would make the whole continent tremble three times. Which cultivator would not dream of becoming such a supreme expert?
“This fellow is about to rise to greatness.”
Bi Zhuang could not help saying.
“Hey, once Lin Xiao joins Spirit Pool Island, let’s see what the Ji family and Holy Heaven Gate can still do to him.”
Xuan Hua also said.
“It looks like we all need to work harder, or this guy will leave us far behind in the future.”
Luo Qianqiu sighed deeply.
Back then, she had been the top genius of this generation in Canglong Gate, while Lin Xiao had merely been someone under their protection.
Now, Lin Xiao stood at the very peak of the younger generation. Below martial saint level, no one from even the older generation could rival him.
With Spirit Pool Island’s focused cultivation on top of that, if they did not push themselves desperately, they would all be left far behind by Lin Xiao in the future.
“In the future, perhaps even our Canglong Gate will need his protection.”
“Once Lin Xiao joins Spirit Pool Island, who knows what the people from the Ji family and Holy Heaven Gate will think?”
… The group of Canglong Gate disciples all grew excited. Many even glanced towards the Ji family and Holy Heaven Gate contingents, enjoying their colourful expressions.
Meanwhile, Long Tutian, who led the Canglong Gate group, wore a thoughtful expression, as if speculating and deducing something.
Not far away, every member of the Ji family and Holy Heaven Gate groups looked utterly grim.
Just as the Canglong Gate people had said, if Lin Xiao joined Spirit Pool Island, it would become extremely difficult for them to move against him. They could only act in secret, and opportunities for that would be exceedingly rare.
Ji Zhen’s brows furrowed deeply.
Beside him, Wu Meng’s expression was icy cold.
Murong Jin, Shangguan Tong, and the others felt a profound shock in their hearts, as if all strength had drained from their bodies.
They were already far inferior to Lin Xiao in strength. If he joined Spirit Pool Island, even the Ji family could not touch him. How then could they ever avenge their grudge?
In the future, once Lin Xiao grew even stronger, would they not face his retaliation? Even Spirit Phoenix Valley might be reduced to ashes.
At that point, perhaps even the Ji family could no longer protect them.
As for the Shangguan family, how could it continue to exist?
Shangguan Tong, Murong Jin, and the others seemed to have suffered a heavy blow. They could not recover for a long time.
Xiao Zihao of the Xiao family, He Xuejun of Yaochi Holy Land, and others opened their mouths, yet found themselves speechless.
Even though they were the foremost geniuses of their generation, the patriarchs and holy lords of their forces had occupied their positions for who knew how many years. The heir’s seat might not reach their generation at all. They did not even have the chance for their names to be mentioned.
As for Mu Haoran, whether he could become island master in the future was still uncertain, but with this mention and the guarantee of being cultivated as chief elder, once he joined Spirit Pool Island, the backgrounds they relied upon would count for nothing before him.
Their status would be far below Mu Haoran’s. Their talent and strength were also vastly inferior. They had no qualification even to speak of revenge, let alone to be compared with Mu Haoran.
As the top geniuses of their forces, this was hard for them to accept.
On the other side, the disciples of Spirit Pool Island were also stunned. Future island master was something they had never dared imagine.
If Mu Haoran was truly cultivated as future island master, did that not mean the island master might emerge from their own generation?
“We must build a good relationship with Mu Haoran. If he becomes island master one day, we can rise with him.”
Some had already decided in their hearts to draw closer to Lin Xiao.
“He must apologise. He absolutely has to apologise.”
Nangong Jun panicked. He dared not even think about the matter with An Miao. His only thought was how to reconcile with Lin Xiao.
Future island master, even if only mentioned, was terrifying. How could he possibly compete with such a figure over a beauty?
“Humph. Future island master. You really dare to say it. Can you decide that?”
An elderly elder from the first lineage of Spirit Pool Island snorted coldly in his heart.
Ximen Haoyue was merely an outsider. The deep-rooted foundation of Spirit Pool Island lay with their three lineages.
Becoming island master required the agreement of those three lineages. Though Ximen Haoyue was chief elder, he did not yet have the authority to mention a future island master.
“This Ximen Haoyue truly sees himself as the island master of Spirit Pool Island?
He actually dares to decide such a thing?”
An aged elder from the second lineage thought darkly.
Then another possibility occurred to him. “Ximen Haoyue would not have the nerve to mention future island master on his own. Could the vice island master or the island master have sent him a message?”
At this thought, the elder’s brows furrowed deeply as he pondered whether that was possible.
An extremely ancient elder from the third lineage also thought to himself. “Is the future island master not An Miao?
What is Ximen Haoyue trying to do?”
An Miao’s identity and background were known to very few throughout Spirit Pool Island. He knew only because of his absolute loyalty to An Miao’s mother.
As for having An Miao inherit the island master position, even An Miao herself was unaware.
Ximen Haoyue was one of the few who knew. Now raising the matter of island master, no one knew what he was scheming.
Though it was very likely just to attract Mu Haoran to join, the position of island master was not something to be used as a bargaining chip.
An Miao also opened her mouth in surprise. This had completely exceeded her expectations.
Tantai Shuo was stunned too. He had already planned how he would win Mu Haoran over.
Yet with Ximen Haoyue’s words, the conditions he could offer held no appeal compared to Ximen Haoyue’s.
There was no chance of competing with Spirit Pool Island on terms. He could only try other methods.
Lin Xiao wore an expression of shock. The conditions Ximen Haoyue had suddenly offered truly surpassed his imagination.
In truth, he had been hesitating. To attack Tianji Holy Land, he also wanted Spirit Pool Island to back him.
However, Spirit Pool Island had taken part in sealing his mother all those years ago.
If he joined, whether Spirit Pool Island would permit him to move against Tianji Holy Land was another question entirely.
Still, deep in his heart, Lin Xiao was greatly tempted.
“Whatever happens inside Spirit Pool Island is a separate matter. I can adapt when the time comes. Do it.”
Lin Xiao decided inwardly.
Yet at that very moment, An Miao’s divine sense transmission suddenly reached his ears. “Lin Xiao, do not join Spirit Pool Island.”
Lin Xiao’s heart jolted. He looked towards An Miao with some bewilderment.
He did not understand why An Miao was stopping him from joining Spirit Pool Island.
However, he harboured no doubts about An Miao at all.
Her words suddenly filled him with all sorts of uneasy premonitions.
Were there still all manner of terrifying things within Spirit Pool Island?
Or was it because he was the inheritor of the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor, because of Miao Ling?
“Do not ask me why. In any case, you will understand in the future.”
An Miao transmitted again.
Seeing Lin Xiao remain stunned for some time, his gaze turning back to An Miao, Ximen Haoyue also glanced at her, then turned to Lin Xiao and asked once more. “Lin Xiao, are you willing to join Spirit Pool Island?”
At these words, the crowd snapped back to attention. It was as if they themselves were the ones being asked, and they were already nodding vigorously on Lin Xiao’s behalf.
“He must join. Absolutely must join.”
“Yes, what is there to think about? Of course he should join.”
“He is probably just stunned himself and has not reacted yet.”
… All sorts of voices filled the venue.
Yet at that moment, Lin Xiao spoke. “I am unwilling.”
“What?”
The entire scene instantly erupted.
Mu Haoran was actually unwilling?
