“Oh heavens, what did he say? He is actually unwilling to join Spirit Pool Island?”
“Is this Mu Haoran insane?”
“Such excellent conditions and he refuses? Has he gone mad?”
“To hell with you. If you do not want it, give it to me. I am willing. I am a million times willing.”
“This fellow is utterly mad. What a waste of heavenly gifts. What a waste.”
“Bloody hell, every kind of lunatic exists.”
“Do not stop me. I want to hack him to death.”
… The crowd erupted in heated discussion. All manner of curses rang out.
They had racked their brains for any chance at all, yet Mu Haoran, faced with such terms, actually refused.
It was simply too infuriating.
Surprise appeared on Ximen Haoyue’s face. The martial saints from other major forces were also momentarily stunned.
Those who bore grudges against Lin Xiao were even more astonished. They had braced for the worst outcome, yet Lin Xiao himself had refused to join Spirit Pool Island.
“Thank you, Senior Ximen, and Spirit Pool Island for your high regard. This junior has long admired Spirit Pool Island. However, I already have a master, and my esteemed master forbids me from joining any force. Thus, I can only deeply regret missing this opportunity.”
Lin Xiao explained with evident regret.
In truth, he did feel genuine regret.
The mention of a master was merely a polite excuse to decline.
Of course, there was a slight real element. Miao Ling probably did not wish him to join Spirit Pool Island and tarnish the name of the Swallowing Heaven Spirit Emperor.
Yet that reasoning did not entirely hold, since both Miao Ling and An Miao had joined Spirit Pool Island themselves.
Lin Xiao suspected he might be overthinking it.
Still, he trusted An Miao. Refusing Spirit Pool Island was surely the correct choice. He also wanted no restraints upon him.
Naturally, mentioning a master also served to imply a powerful background and deter others.
Though many would doubtless not believe it.
The people from Yangzhou, for instance, would never believe it.
If Lin Xiao truly had a powerful master, that master would have emerged long ago. How could Lin Xiao have been hunted across the land?
Moreover, they knew exactly how strong Lin Xiao had been back then. Even if he had a master, it must have been pitifully weak, with no deterrent force whatsoever.
Not just the Yangzhou contingent. Even the martial saints from other major forces dismissed it, taking it as a mere pretext to refuse.
Those unaware of the truth, however, included quite a few who believed him.
“No wonder he is so formidable. There is a master behind him after all. His master must be a great figure.”
“Exactly. How could a lone cultivator achieve dual origin-spirit cultivation and become first across the nine provinces?”
“I am truly curious what sort of person his master is.”
“Yet even with a master, it should not stop him joining Spirit Pool Island. What master would forbid their disciple from entering such a force?
It is surely just an excuse.”
“Precisely. Said only to spare Ximen Haoyue’s face. That fellow. I really want to beat him to death.”
… Shouts of astonishment rose, followed by waves of curses.
“Hahaha…” At that moment, Tantai Shuo burst into loud laughter. He had already devised all sorts of later plans to poach the man, ways to place Mu Haoran in their debt, even schemes to have him sire descendants in the Tantai family.
Who could have foreseen that the other party would outright refuse Spirit Pool Island? Now everything would be far easier afterwards.
Tantai Shuo’s mood was utterly refreshed.
“Young Friend Mu speaks truly. How could such an outstanding figure lack a master?”
Tantai Shuo gave a mocking laugh, then said, “Our Tantai family invites Young Friend Mu to become a guest elder. You need fulfil no duties of ordinary elders, yet enjoy their full privileges. This is not equivalent to joining the Tantai family. Should Young Friend Mu be willing, the Tantai family welcomes you at any time.”
Wow! As soon as Tantai Shuo spoke, another uproar swept the crowd.
The aristocratic spirit controller family, the Tantai, was inviting Mu Haoran to become a guest elder, free of duties yet receiving full benefits?
Such treatment was extraordinarily generous.
“Of course, if Young Friend Mu takes a liking to any female disciple of our Tantai family and wishes to become our son-in-law, that too is acceptable. Your master surely cannot forbid you from marrying, can he?”
Tantai Shuo added.
Boom! The entire venue exploded.
“Heavens, an initial eighth-rank spirit controller elder of the aristocratic spirit controller family personally invites him to become son-in-law. Does that not mean he can marry whomever he fancies?”
“The Tantai family’s foremost genius, Tantai Xin, is a true ice-cold beauty. Marrying her would surely take only a word from Mu Haoran.”
“Tantai Xin already showed affection on the battlefield. Marrying her would pose no issue. Perhaps the Tantai family hides even more captivating maidens. So long as Mu Haoran wishes, they too would be his.”
“The Tantai family is offering such an immense price to win Mu Haoran.”
“It makes one green with envy. I wish I were Mu Haoran.”
… The young Tantai disciples were consumed with envy and jealousy. Such treatment was beyond even their core geniuses. To marry whomever they desired still required their own efforts.
Of course, what drew still greater attention was the privileges Mu Haoran would enjoy as son-in-law.
Since they were courting him for that role, his treatment would surely be exceptional.
Aside from patriarch, he could probably attain any elder position in future.
The Canglong Gate elders and disciples were likewise stunned.
“Wherever this fellow goes, beauties abound. My poor little sister.”
Bi Zhuang could not help sighing.
Xuan Hua and the others nearby rolled their eyes at Bi Zhuang. With your sister’s build, would Lin Xiao even glance at her?
“Men truly are no good at all.”
Luo Qianqiu sighed coldly.
Bi Zhuang and the others suffered innocently. What had they done to deserve this?
What did it have to do with them?
Yet, mindful of Luo Qianqiu’s strength, they dared not speak.
“If he learned that Tantai Wenjun has been enslaved by Lin Xiao, who knows what expression he would wear?”
Wang Qi stared at Tantai Shuo in shock.
Others were unaware that Tantai Wenjun had been enslaved by Lin Xiao, but he knew full well.
Even the final match, Lin Xiao claiming championship, might well have been because he commanded Tantai Wenjun to yield.
The Tantai family had painstakingly nurtured her, pouring in untold resources to grant her such power.
Yet not only was she enslaved, now Tantai Shuo was spending vast sums to court her enslaver. If Tantai Shuo knew, how would he react?
He would doubtless explode with fury.
Fortunately, Lin Xiao had been impeccable. The matter remained hidden.
Otherwise, the scene would be entirely different.
As for whether Lin Xiao would choose the Tantai family, Wang Qi was certain he would never, not even if beaten to death.
Ji Zhen, Wu Meng, and the others from the Ji family and Holy Heaven Gate grew increasingly grim. The more forces courted Lin Xiao, the deeper their discomfort.
Ximen Haoyue’s brows furrowed slightly. The Tantai family truly knew how to exploit openings. No sooner had Mu Haoran refused Spirit Pool Island than they struck.
The martial saint elders from other forces inwardly scorned him. That old fox Tantai Shuo was utterly shameless.
“Ahem. Our Wang family likewise hopes Young Friend Mu will come and become our son-in-law.”
At that moment, Wang Xizhi also spoke.
“Our Chu family also welcomes Young Friend Mu as son-in-law. Three wives and four concubines are perfectly acceptable.”
The Chu family grand elder joined in.
“Our Hong family welcomes Young Friend Mu as son-in-law.”
“Our Ying family welcomes young friend as son-in-law.”
“Young people vie fiercely. There was some conflict between Xiao family disciples and Young Friend Mu. We hope young friend will be forgiving. Our Xiao family also welcomes young friend as son-in-law.”
“Our Jiang family welcomes young friend to come.”
Aside from Ji Zhen, the martial saint elders of every other province overlord force spoke up in turn.
