Outside Spirit Pool Island, the many people who lacked the qualification to enter waited with eager anticipation.
Originally, several hundred thousand people had already gathered here. During the grand competition, more kept arriving, and the outer shores of the lake surrounding the island were now packed with a vast sea of humanity.
In every round of the Spirit Controller Grand Competition, someone would emerge to announce the results. Now, what they awaited was the outcome of the seventh round, the final rankings of the entire event.
The sky had already turned dark, yet the crowd continued their heated discussions, voices rising endlessly in a ceaseless clamour.
“The top spot has to be Tantai Wenjun, no doubt about it. I heard the Tantai family paid an enormous price for this competition.”
“Exactly. The Tantai family is an ancient lineage of spirit controllers with who knows how many hidden cards. Even Tantai Xin can refine Spirit Form pills. Tantai Wenjun’s combat strength in the previous round was already terrifying, and with a few Spirit Form pills besides, he’ll surely sweep his opponents in the decisive matches.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Spirit Pool Island is the sacred ground of spirit controllers, with a history far older than even the Tantai family. How could it lack its own trump cards? Duanmu Gaoming has a greater chance of taking the crown.”
“Who says it has to be one of those two? The previous champion wasn’t from Spirit Pool Island or the Tantai family. Lu Mohan’s combat strength is no joke, and he can refine extremely fearsome poison pills. I’m betting this time it’ll be Lu Mohan who wins!”
“Who knows what happened back then. Ximen Haoyue was a once-in-centuries dark horse who seized the title. Not every spirit controller from outside the major powers is that kind of genius. Both Tantai Wenjun and Duanmu Gaoming are monsters in their own right, backed by great forces, so their ultimate strength is unimaginable. Lu Mohan’s chances are clearly lower than theirs.”
“I’ve put my money on Duanmu Gaoming anyway. Wait till the results come out and see how you all lose!”
The noisy arguments continued without pause. Some even began placing bets, wagering against one another. Those with more confidence took on multiple stakes.
Yet no one dared accept every bet. With so many people present, even the wealthiest could not afford to cover all losses.
The main candidates the crowd discussed for champion were Tantai Wenjun and Duanmu Gaoming. Only one or two in ten favoured Lu Mohan.
As for Mu Haoran, not a single person backed him.
The gap in strength was simply too great.
Some even opened bets on specific rankings. Most had already decided the order in their minds: first and second would be Tantai Wenjun or Duanmu Gaoming, third Lu Mohan, and dead last Mu Haoran.
Only a few believed Lu Mohan would take first, with Tantai Wenjun and Duanmu Gaoming second and third, and Mu Haoran still last.
A handful had even opened bets on Mu Haoran being killed.
The entire scene brimmed with feverish excitement.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
At that moment, the crowd saw long columns of people streaming out from within Spirit Pool Island, flying towards the outer lake.
“They’re coming out!”
Eyes brightened across the multitude, and a surge of excitement swept through them.
Soon, the first wave of competitors emerged from the island.
“Fellow daoists, who won the championship this time?”
“Was it Tantai Wenjun or Duanmu Gaoming?”
“Or Lu Mohan?”
The crowd shouted questions in a chaotic chorus.
“Hmph!”
The leading group was headed by Ji Zhen. Though no one had asked him directly, his expression darkened. He flicked his sleeve and stormed away in fury.
The rest of the Ji family followed, each face grim, offering no reply.
“What’s wrong with the Ji family? That attitude is appalling. We only asked a question. Was that worth such coldness?”
Murmurs of discontent rippled through the crowd.
“You don’t understand,” someone from the next group called out, watching the Ji family depart in haste. “This year’s champion is neither Tantai Wenjun nor Duanmu Gaoming.”
“What? Lu Mohan won?”
Before the speaker could finish, shocked exclamations erupted, faces registering disbelief.
Tantai Wenjun and Duanmu Gaoming had not taken the crown. In the end, Lu Mohan had claimed victory?
“Lu Mohan? Lu Mohan is dead. This year’s champion is Lin Xiao, also known as Mu Haoran, the great enemy of the Ji family. That’s why they left so quickly. Oh, and Lu Mohan was killed by him too.”
The speaker continued.
“What?”
The crowd froze in stunned silence.
“Impossible. Absolutely impossible.”
“Heavens, Mu Haoran won the championship? And killed Lu Mohan? That can’t be.”
“How is it possible? The number one genius of the Nine Provinces. Entering the top ten would already have been difficult enough for him. How could he take first place among spirit controllers? Dual cultivation of origin spirit and martial path is impossible even if one started training in the womb.”
“He’s only a high-grade sixth-rank spirit controller. How could he kill Lu Mohan or defeat Tantai Wenjun and Duanmu Gaoming? What on earth happened?”
Cries of astonishment echoed everywhere.
More than one person spread the news.
Those emerging from the island eagerly boasted to the waiting crowds, recounting events with growing embellishment and exaggeration.
Within moments, countless versions of the story were circulating.
Tales spread of major powers trying to recruit Lin Xiao as a son-in-law, of threats made to Ji Zhen, and of Lin Xiao slaying two Martial Saints.
The scene became utterly chaotic.
“My blue spirit stones. I wagered all my blue spirit stones!”
“My sixth-grade pills!”
“My rare stone. I nearly died obtaining it. I bet on Tantai Wenjun.”
“Mu Haoran as champion? Who on earth would have bet on that!”
Wails of despair mingled with occasional laughter from those who had held the winning stakes.
The uproar continued for a long while before the crowds outside Spirit Pool Island finally began to disperse.
News of the continental Spirit Controller Grand Competition spread like wildfire on wings, carried outward by the departing masses.
Thousands of miles away, cities still hosted countless stationed forces.
Inside Spirit Pool Island.
After claiming the championship, the attitude of the island’s elders and disciples towards Lin Xiao changed completely. One by one they greeted him warmly. Even Nangong Jun apologised on the spot.
The other spirit controllers preparing to join the island also offered their congratulations.
Once the festivities ended, Ximen Haoyue arranged for Lin Xiao to be housed on a secluded small island.
Night had deepened. Moonlight spilled across the vast lake. Occasional lights glowed from islands, contrasting with the surrounding darkness. Insect chirps and frog calls drifted through the air. Across tens of thousands of miles of islands, everything felt profoundly tranquil.
In a room on one small island, only Ximen Haoyue and Lin Xiao stood face to face.
Standing close to Ximen Haoyue, even though she revealed no trace of cultivation, Lin Xiao felt overwhelming pressure.
It was as if she could see straight through him.
He almost dared not meet her gaze.
An early eighth-rank spirit controller was simply too terrifying. If she chose to act against him, Lin Xiao was certain he would not survive a single move.
“No need to be nervous. You possess spirit energy. Even I cannot control you.”
Sensing his unease, Ximen Haoyue spoke calmly.
“Elder Ximen speaks truly.”
Lin Xiao gave an awkward smile. This was, after all, his first time facing an eighth-rank spirit controller directly, so some wariness was natural.
“Should I call you Lin Xiao, or Mu Haoran?”
Ximen Haoyue asked with a faint smile.
“Mu Haoran was merely a disguise to conceal my identity.”
Lin Xiao removed his mask, storing it in his storage ring as a sign of respect.
Since his identity was already exposed, the mask was no longer needed.
To Spirit Pool Island, his true appearance meant nothing.
Still, the mask could continue to mislead onlookers outside.
If he left now, most people would recognise only the face of Mu Haoran and not his real one.
To Lin Xiao’s surprise, upon seeing his true features, Ximen Haoyue froze. Her voice rose in shock.
“You… you are Lin Tianshu’s son?”
