The crowd was collectively stunned. Two martial saints, killed by Lin Xiao?
The Canglong Gate group all widened their eyes in disbelief. Those two martial saints had been killed by Lin Xiao?
“What did you say?”
Ji Zhen’s body jolted. Thick disbelief appeared on his face, followed by a cold snort. “Hmph. Just you?
Even if they stood still for you to kill, you could not do it.”
Not only Ji Zhen. Everyone else also snapped back to reality. For a cultivator below martial saint realm to kill a martial saint was impossible.
Unless the person had truly reached the realm of defying saints.
But clearly, Mu Haoran had not reached that level.
This meant Mu Haoran was simply toying with Ji Zhen.
The expressions of the Ji family and Holy Heaven Gate contingents all turned extremely grim.
“If you do not believe it, why ask in the first place?”
Lin Xiao smiled lightly, as calm as ever. “However, since you say they could not be killed even if standing still, how about this? In front of Elder Ximen and everyone present, you stand motionless and let me try to kill you.
If I fail, you may kill me instead. How does that sound?”
Lin Xiao wore a mocking expression.
This caused Ji Zhen’s face to darken completely. As the grand elder of the Ji family, how could he stand still and allow a junior to attack him?
He did not believe Lin Xiao possessed the power to kill him.
Yet since Lin Xiao was wagering his own life, it was not impossible that he truly held some trump card capable of slaying a martial saint.
After all, the current Lin Xiao was already on the verge of martial saint-level combat strength.
But speaking to him in this manner was clearly contempt.
The others were stunned once more, unsure whether Lin Xiao spoke truth or lies.
“You dare not, do you? Hahaha…” Lin Xiao laughed loudly, then said seriously. “The two were indeed killed by me. Of course, not by my own strength alone. Think about what happened back then. Even the ten great anomalies charged in and emerged severely injured. You know better than I what occurred inside. Some strangeness took place, and I seized the chance to finish them off. It was effortless.”
At these words, Ji Zhen and Wu Meng’s expressions turned utterly cold.
Lin Xiao was right. Back then, even the ten great anomalies had charged in and come out gravely wounded.
If the two martial saints had entered, even if not fallen to Lin Xiao’s hand, they might well have perished to the strangeness within.
“Enough. The two martial saints are already dead. You may return.”
Lin Xiao said with some impatience.
“You!”
Ji Zhen, Wu Meng, and everyone from the two forces erupted in fury.
Did Lin Xiao truly think this was his home?
Daring to dismiss them in such a tone?
“Elder Ji Zhen, Mu Haoran is the champion of the continental spirit controller grand competition. Targeting him like this is probably inappropriate.”
At that moment, Ximen Haoyue spoke to Ji Zhen with some displeasure.
“Elder Ximen, fellow elders.”
Ji Zhen glanced at Ximen Haoyue, then swept his gaze over the martial saints of the other forces. “To be frank with you all, a major event occurred in our Yangzhou.”
“A strange profound domain appeared. Several anomalous experts, no weaker than us and possibly stronger, charged into the domain and emerged severely injured.”
“There must be enormous opportunities within. Otherwise, those anomalous experts would not have forced their way in.”
At this, the martial saints from other forces were all moved. Anomalies no weaker than Ji Zhen had attacked yet been gravely wounded. That place was surely no simple matter.
Even the Ji family could not claim it alone, or they would not reveal it publicly.
“Lin Xiao was pursued by two martial saint elders from our forces into the entrance of that profound domain. The entrance suddenly sealed. For over a year, our two martial saint elders have been unheard from. Yet Lin Xiao has appeared here safe and sound.”
Ji Zhen continued. “He must know what happened inside.”
“Why not compel this boy to reveal the truth? Though the place is in our Yangzhou, our Ji family is willing to share it with everyone and explore together.”
Lin Xiao’s brows immediately furrowed.
Clearly, the Ji family wanted to expose the matter, hoping other forces would join in pressuring him.
“Everyone, regardless of the truth, let us discuss it another day. If the major forces unite to threaten the champion of the continental spirit controller grand competition, who would dare participate in the next one?
What face would our spirit controller holy land, Spirit Pool Island, have left?”
Ximen Haoyue stated decisively. “My Spirit Pool Island will never allow such a thing. Everyone, please return.”
Ximen Haoyue had issued the order to leave, his tone extremely firm.
Hearing Ximen Haoyue’s words, even Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised. Ximen Haoyue was so resolute, directly speaking up for him?
The martial saints from other forces all frowned. Was Ximen Haoyue trying to monopolise the information?
However, pressuring Lin Xiao now would indeed be improper.
Ximen Haoyue’s stance was already very firm. If conflict truly arose, even united, the various forces’ martial saints would gain no advantage.
After all, this was Spirit Pool Island, an extremely dangerous place.
Moreover, with Lin Xiao’s talent, becoming an initial eighth-rank spirit controller was only a matter of time. They were still thinking how to win him over.
If they pushed too hard now, not only would they fail to recruit him, he would become a major threat in future.
An eighth-rank spirit controller possessing spirit energy. Just imagining that power was terrifying.
Of course, some began to think that if they could not recruit him, they should find a chance to eliminate him.
Most importantly, Ji Zhen’s information was vague, without concrete proof. It did not warrant them risking conflict, losing face to pressure a junior, especially the first-place winner of the continental spirit controller grand competition.
“Elder Ximen is right. For grand elders of mighty forces to bully a junior is truly beneath contempt.”
Wang Xizhi chimed in at that moment. He already favoured Lin Xiao and naturally would not side with Ji Zhen and the others.
“Elder Ximen speaks correctly. This spirit controller grand competition is the honour of the entire continent’s spirit controller community. Its fame will spread across the land. As the aristocratic spirit controller family, our Tantai family will absolutely not allow such a thing.”
Tantai Shuo also spoke immediately.
“Elder Ximen, this matter concerns us not. Everyone, farewell.”
The Hong family martial saint cupped his hands towards the group.
Then, the elders from other major forces also took their leave one after another, some even renewing their overtures to Lin Xiao. This left Ji Zhen’s expression exceedingly dark.
Clearly, this group of old fellows did not wish to pressure Lin Xiao.
Yet it also caused the other forces to harbour other thoughts towards Lin Xiao. His goal was achieved.
“Good that they do not know it is one of the continent’s nine great forbidden lands. Otherwise, they would dig three feet deep to find the Death White Rock.”
Long Tutian sighed inwardly.
These grand elders from the great families were all shrewd figures. Based on Ji Zhen’s few words alone, they would not step forward to oppose Spirit Pool Island and be used as spears by Ji Zhen.
However, once Lin Xiao left, that would be another story.
“Lin Xiao, you will pay the price. We are leaving.”
Ji Zhen flicked his sleeve, turned, and flew outwards.
The Ji family members all glared furiously at Lin Xiao before departing one by one.
Seeing no further drama, the onlookers also left in succession. The other major forces departed amid constant heated discussion along the way.
“Ji Zhen and Wu Meng will surely not leave for several months. Other forces will also wait to watch the excitement. You may as well stay on Spirit Pool Island to cultivate in seclusion first.”
At that moment, Long Tutian transmitted via divine sense to Lin Xiao. “I will also remain on Spirit Pool Island for a time, to prevent any mishaps.”
Lin Xiao nodded. Having taken first in the continental spirit controller grand competition and being the foremost origin cultivator genius across the nine provinces, the Ji family felt threatened. They certainly did not wish him further growth.
He would never rashly leave Spirit Pool Island. Even if he did, he would prepare thoroughly.
Moreover, with the destructive spirit energy and matters concerning Miao Ling, he would certainly linger on Spirit Pool Island for a while.
“You lad, impressive. First in dual origin-spirit cultivation, invincible among peers across the continent.”
Bi Zhuang and the others came forward, chatting with Lin Xiao.
Previously, they had avoided it to prevent exposing his identity. Now, they had no such concerns.
Afterwards, Feng Yuan, the Demon Void Sect master, Wang Qi, and the others from Yanzhou all spoke with Lin Xiao for a while before bidding farewell.
