The Saint Heaven Gate likewise received news from Shengzhou.
Upon learning of the fall of Martial Saint Elder Zhan Meng, the sect master flew into a rage.
Though it was only Lin Xiao’s one-sided claim, that space was far too strange. The void rift had closed. Two Martial Saints had charged in. Lin Xiao had emerged alive. The two had no news. The likelihood of mishap was high.
“Sect Master, shall we also issue a warrant for Lin Xiao?”
A half-step Martial Saint elder asked.
The Saint Heaven Gate master shook his head. “Though Zhan Meng very likely fell, it is, after all, only from Lin Xiao’s mouth. Elder North of the Ji family definitely died by Lin Xiao’s hand. The Ji family hates him to the bone and will surely take major action.”
“Now Lin Xiao has grown to reverse sainthood strength. Canglong Gate will very likely intervene. Even if we act, we should be the last. No need to exert full effort.”
“For now, we observe quietly. First dispatch people to probe the Ji family’s reaction.”
“Yes.”
The elder nodded and quickly withdrew to act.
… At the same time, in distant Youzhou, the Hong family.
News of Ji family Martial Saints falling reached the Hong family.
At that moment, the Hong family Great Elder, convening a meeting, could not help feeling startled. Then he revealed a gloating smile. “The Ji family truly wanted to scheme against Lin Xiao, stationing at Spirit Pool Island. In the end, Lin Xiao counter-killed one of their Martial Saints. This is simply the greatest joke.”
“Hehe, rumour has it another Martial Saint may already have fallen earlier. Now the Ji family has lost yet another. This time, the Ji family’s strength is greatly reduced.”
The other elders nodded. Their relationship with the Ji family was hardly good.
The Ji family was one of the eight great clans. A reduction in strength was naturally good news for them.
“However, a reverse sainthood powerhouse has emerged. In future, will he not become a major threat?”
One elder asked.
The Hong family Great Elder shook his head. “This trouble the Ji family will surely resolve. Yet it is very likely to involve massive action, even injuring their foundations. We need only sit and watch the show.”
The group nodded. Dealing with Lin Xiao was not yet worth the Hong family in northwest Youzhou acting.
The Hong family had no conflict with Lin Xiao.
On the contrary, they hoped even more to see the Ji family injure their foundations.
Merely the fall of Ji family Martial Saints was enough for them to gloat for quite some time.
“Report.”
Just as everyone felt pleased, a hurried voice suddenly came from outside.
Then a middle-aged man specialised in urgent reports rushed in. He half-knelt before the Great Elder in the hall and cupped hands. “Reporting to Great Elder. Someone sent word. Elder Hong Lie has met misfortune. The forces Elder Hong Lie led were completely wiped out. Elder Hong Lie fell at Cold Demon Ridge.”
“What?”
In that instant, every gloating expression froze. Like a bolt from the blue, those who had just mocked the Ji family were stunned, unable to recover.
Even the Hong family Great Elder took a long while to react. “From where did this news come?
Is it reliable?
Who killed Elder Hong Lie?”
“A seventh-level Martial Emperor came to relay it. He said it was passed by a masked powerhouse. According to that seventh-level Martial Emperor, the one who killed Elder Hong Lie was a youth named Lin Xiao.”
The reporting middle-aged man said.
“What?”
The group was even more shocked, eyes wide.
They had just rejoiced that Lin Xiao killed a Ji family Martial Saint.
Now their Hong family’s Martial Saint had also fallen to Lin Xiao?
Though the news was hard to believe.
Yet no one would dare falsely report to the Hong family.
Moreover, Martial Saints had not fallen for many years. The Ji family had lost some to Lin Xiao. Lin Xiao killing their Hong family’s first-level Martial Saint was very possible.
Only a youth so bold and heaven-defying could do it.
“Urgently report to the patriarch. Investigate the messenger.”
The Great Elder slammed the table in fury.
“Yes.”
The middle-aged man replied.
Now the Hong family nearly exploded. A Martial Saint’s fall was a heaven-shaking matter.
No one had expected it to land on their Hong family.
If anyone knew they had been gloating over the Ji family moments before, mocking them, they would surely face endless ridicule from the Hong family.
This was the Hong family’s greatest humiliation.
Now everyone wished to devour Lin Xiao.
The Hong family shook. Upon learning the news, the Hong family patriarch raged. He sent the Great Elder with a Hong family treasure to Cold Demon Ridge.
The news spread. The regions near the Hong family erupted in commotion.
The news continued rapid outward spread.
Combined with the recent news of Ji family Martial Saints falling, now another Hong family Martial Saint fallen, and both to one person, it felt explosively sensational.
“Heavens. In months, two Martial Saints fallen. This news is truly explosive.”
“A true reverse sainthood powerhouse has emerged. Killed Martial Saints from two overlord forces. This continent will be lively again.”
“First genius of the nine provinces. First spirit controller. What kind of monster is this Lin Xiao?”
“Simply a legend.”
“Lin Xiao truly is a model for our generation.”
“These words cannot be said before the Hong family. Otherwise, the Hong family will surely vent fury.”
… Everywhere, people discussed Lin Xiao. Martial Saints falling caused massive waves across regions.
“If that boy encounters trouble, the Blood Demon Physique will surely help, not draw attention to itself. Then we can reap the benefits. But we must find Lin Xiao and the Blood Demon Physique before these others. For now, let these forces serve as vanguard.”
In the shadows, a figure swiftly left Youzhou, speeding towards another province.
That speed was like activating an array, extraordinarily fast, nearly invisible to the naked eye.
The departing figure was none other than the Array Saint, Mu Bosang.
… In another location northwest of Shengzhou.
After over half a month of rapid flight, Lin Xiao and Huo Ruyan, following the Demonic Frog Qing Yan, arrived at a vast swamp.
This region was endless marsh, mist rising, obstructing qi pervasive. Marsh birds flew low. Crocodiles crawled. Frog croaks filled the air.
Of course, these frog sounds were merely ordinary toads, not demonic frogs.
The Demonic Frog clan, it was said, were enormous in size, differing from ordinary toads by tens of thousands of times.
“Another five hundred li, and we reach the true obstructing qi. Our Demonic Frog clan lies deepest within, surrounded by obstructing qi.”
Qing Yan said to Lin Xiao and Huo Ruyan. “The depths of this obstructing qi possess extremely powerful destructive force. Our Demonic Frog clan innately possesses the ability to defend against obstructing qi. We can enter and exit freely.”
“As for outsiders, without a treasure to dispel obstructing qi, even a Martial Saint entering would suffer heavy injury. This is why our Demonic Frog clan remains isolated from the outside world.”
Lin Xiao and Huo Ruyan could not help feeling startled. It seemed entering and exiting the Demonic Frog clan truly was no easy matter.
