Ling Hu scratched his head awkwardly and answered, “These five are disciples from Shengyuan Academy who haven’t joined any factions. A few days ago, they heard you defeated Ba Hu and Mo Xuan, so they came to join us.”
“Join us?” Lin Xiao was slightly taken aback. “We’re not exactly a faction, are we?”
“Not a faction, but can’t we create one?” Hu Yue blinked her big eyes, a sly glint on her face as she countered.
“Create a faction?” Lin Xiao paused.
He hadn’t really considered it.
But if he did establish a faction and gathered some people, it could handle weaker factions and minor troubles, letting others deal with them. Starting a faction might indeed cut down on hassles.
Looking further ahead, if he built a faction, it could offer decent support in three years when he returned to the Lanlan Empire for revenge.
Yet, creating a faction would surely bring its own share of headaches.
“By the way, there’s news going around. Three months from now, Shengyuan Academy’s holding a brutal slaughter trial. Complete the mission, and you can enter the inner court as an inner disciple,” Hu Yue said.
“Right. Lately, outer court disciples and factions have been recruiting and snatching Thunder Beads everywhere, gearing up for a final push in Thunder Qi Tower. That group just now was the fifth batch to come up Dragon Tiger Mountain trying to rob Thunder Beads,” Ling Hu nodded in agreement.
“A slaughter trial for inner court spots?” Lin Xiao’s eyes narrowed. The name alone was intimidating, and since completing the mission granted inner court entry, the trial must be ruthless.
For Lin Xiao, who’d danced on the edge of a blade, a slaughter trial held no fear.
Instead, anticipation flickered across his face.
The outer court’s three floors of Thunder Qi Tower were already a massive resource, with disciples reaching Heavenly Martial Ninth Layer. If he made it to the inner court, wouldn’t the resources be even richer?
“This is a good chance!” Lin Xiao couldn’t help but voice his approval, glancing at Hu Yue and the others before saying, “Starting a faction isn’t out of the question, but even if we do, I probably won’t have time to manage it.”
“Leave that to us!” Ling Hu grinned, thumping his chest.
“Yeah, we’ll just use your reputation to go rob stuff!” Hu Yue added.
“Uh…” Lin Xiao was speechless. Hu Yue’s head was full of mischief, wasn’t it?
“Then you’re our boss from now on!” Ling Hu said excitedly.
He’d once failed to join Dragon Tiger Gate, but now, with Lin Xiao—stronger than Ba Hu—founding a faction, it was perfect.
“Boss!” The five behind him shouted in unison.
“You’d better think it over. I’ve crossed the Mo Alliance, and their powerhouses might come knocking any time,” Lin Xiao said coolly, eyeing the five.
They hesitated, a few showing flickers of doubt. The Mo Alliance clearly unnerved them.
After a brief pause, a sturdy youth clasped his fists and said, “If we don’t join, we’ll just get robbed anyway. They can’t kill us—worst case, the Mo Alliance beats us up.”
“Right, we’ve decided. We’ll follow Boss Lin Xiao to the death!” another said firmly.
“Us too!” Hearing them, the other three nodded, resolute.
Seeing their determination, Lin Xiao nodded. “You can join us, but I’ve got two rules: obey Ling Hu and Hu Yue, and never betray any of our members.”
“Yes, sir!” The five thumped their chests solemnly.
“With a faction, we need a bold name to draw more disciples. Any ideas?” Hu Yue asked Lin Xiao.
After a moment’s thought, he said, “How about Heaven Gate?”
“Heaven Gate? Nice—it’s got swagger!” Ling Hu grinned. Heaven Gate sounded far more imposing than Dragon Tiger Gate or Mo Alliance.
Hu Yue nodded, satisfied, a cunning look crossing her face. “So, should we make a big splash with a founding ceremony to flex our muscle?”
Lin Xiao rolled his eyes. This girl was full of schemes.
“Lin Xiao, get out here!” A thunderous roar echoed from afar just as he pondered.
The voice was familiar—Dragon Tiger Mountain’s Ba Hu.
“Speak of the devil,” Lin Xiao muttered, eyebrow twitching as he turned toward the mountain gate. Several groups were charging up, bristling with anger.
Leading them were over a dozen figures, followed by a scattered crowd—some in small clusters, others rushing in, clearly drawn by the commotion to watch the show.
Spotting a familiar face in the middle, Lin Xiao’s lips curled into a mocking smirk.
“Dragon Tiger Gate’s back for trouble!” Hu Yue glared ahead, pouting angrily.
“That’s Wang Long—he’s out of seclusion!” Ling Hu frowned. Wang Long was a cut above Ba Hu.
The five new recruits looked wary.
Behind Dragon Tiger Gate’s crew, onlookers pointed at Lin Xiao, buzzing.
“That’s Lin Xiao, the new disciple who ousted Ba Hu and beat Mo Xuan. He’s strong—wonder if he can take Wang Long.”
“He’s got skill, but not enough. Wang Long’s a genius with a蛟龙 anomaly, leagues above Ba Hu and even Mo Xuan. At Heavenly Martial Eighth Layer, fresh from seclusion, he’s probably stronger now. Lin Xiao’s no match!”
“Even if he can’t beat Wang Long, he took down Ba Hu. Wang Long won’t win easily—that’ll still rile him up plenty.”
The chatter made Ba Hu and the Dragon Tiger Gate crew’s faces darken further.
“Big Brother, that’s the punk who stole our turf!” Ba Hu pointed furiously at the少年 ahead.
But the moment Wang Long saw Lin Xiao’s face, he froze.
“Hmph, Lin Xiao, you dared to kick Dragon Tiger Gate—today, you’ll pay tenfold!” Ba Hu snarled, charging forward at the sight of him.
Seeing Lin Xiao’s silence, the Dragon Tiger Gate disciples assumed he was intimidated. Gou Shi pointed angrily, shouting, “Lin Xiao, weren’t you all high and mighty? Get over here now!”
“Kid, what’s wrong? Our boss is here—scared stiff? Hurry up and beg for mercy!” Yang Huai joined in. With Wang Long present, they feared Lin Xiao no more.
“Lin Xiao, get out of Dragon Tiger Gate!” With someone starting, the rest chimed in, cursing. Lately, they’d been mocked everywhere, pent-up and miserable.
Now, with Wang Long backing them, they were ready to vent.
