Just as everyone was pondering this, Hu Yue’s words happened to ring out again, “Now, we’re preparing to establish a faction. If you’re willing, you can all join us. By uniting together, we’ll have some hope of entering the inner court!”
As soon as her words fell, everyone was startled. Only now did they understand that they were planning to create a faction and recruit people.
This caught them off guard. Establishing a faction that could hold its ground was no easy task.
However, with Lin Xiao’s strength in defeating Mo Xuan and Black Tiger, along with the formidable power Ling Hu had displayed, they could imagine that this faction would, at the very least, be stronger than Dragon Tiger Gate.
“Our strength is clear for all to see. Joining us comes with obvious benefits. Since we’re in the early stages of setting up, we’re giving everyone a chance. If you wait too long and our faction gains fame, it might be hard for you to join later,” Hu Yue said again, causing many to start thinking it over.
The girl’s words carried considerable persuasiveness. Even setting aside Lin Xiao’s combat prowess, Ling Hu’s strength alone far surpassed theirs.
Joining them would undoubtedly bring significant advantages. And, as the girl had said, this was the founding stage, their window of opportunity. If they waited until the faction made a name for itself, it’d likely be much harder to get in.
At this point, quite a few people began to stir with interest.
“Oh, by the way, our faction is called Heaven’s Gate!” Hu Yue added, announcing the bold name.
“I’ll join!” Finally, someone couldn’t hold back and shouted, stepping forward.
It was a lean young man with the aura of Heaven Martial Fifth Stage, his presence notably strong.
“I’ll join too!”
“Me too!”
Once someone took the lead, others followed suit. In a short while, a total of twelve people stepped forward.
Lin Xiao scanned the group. The highest cultivation among them was surprisingly Heaven Martial Sixth Stage, while the lowest was Heaven Martial Third Stage. Together, these dozen or so individuals formed a decent force.
Lin Xiao couldn’t help but cast an appreciative glance at Hu Yue. He hadn’t expected this girl, who’d come up through the ranks of mercenaries, to have such a knack for rallying people.
But just as Lin Xiao was about to speak, a voice laced with doubt and a hint of something else rang out, “I wonder how your Heaven’s Gate plans to deal with the Mo Alliance. I’ve heard that the two leaders of the Mo Alliance, Mo Chang and Mo Yi, came out of seclusion today. What’s more, their boss, Mo Yi, has broken through to Heaven Martial Ninth Stage and become a Three-Star Disciple.”
Those words made everyone’s expressions darken as they turned to look at the young man who’d spoken. To raise such a point right as someone was founding a faction and about to speak was clearly ill-timed.
Still, his words gave everyone pause, causing several youths who’d been eager to join to hesitate.
A Three-Star Disciple was a top-tier existence in the outer court, with fewer than twenty in total across the entire outer court.
Heaven’s Gate crossing a faction like that? It didn’t take much to figure out that their days ahead wouldn’t be easy.
Seeing everyone’s gazes, the young man who’d spoken quickly shut his mouth. Realising he’d misstepped, he instinctively shrank back a step, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
Lin Xiao gave the youth a faint glance. Noticing his timid expression, he didn’t linger on him.
Then, ignoring the crowd’s reactions, he turned his gaze to the twelve who’d stepped forward and asked, “Everyone, I assume none of you will back out now, right?”
The twelve showed a trace of awkwardness on their faces. Mo Yi becoming a Three-Star Disciple had indeed shaken them.
But at this point, even if they were wary of the Mo Alliance, they couldn’t possibly withdraw in front of so many people.
Seeing their reactions, Lin Xiao nodded with satisfaction and spoke calmly, “Everyone, since you trust Heaven’s Gate, we won’t let you down in the future. Of course, you’ll also need to contribute to Heaven’s Gate. I think you all understand that much.”
The twelve nodded. This was something every disciple of Shengyuan Academy knew well.
“As for the Mo Alliance…” Lin Xiao said, looking at Hu Yue and Ling Hu with a smile, “Don’t you two need a grand founding ceremony?”
“What do you mean?” Ling Hu’s brows jumped, while Hu Yue’s eyes lit up.
“Attack the Mo Alliance, now!” Lin Xiao’s calm voice echoed across the entire Dragon Tiger Mountain, and the whole scene froze in an instant.
The newly founded Heaven’s Gate was going to take on the Mo Alliance? Had they heard that right?
The Mo Alliance’s two leaders included one who ranked high among Two-Star Disciples and another who was a Three-Star Disciple. This faction, just established, with its strongest member only at Heaven Martial Seventh Stage, was going to challenge them head-on?
The twelve who’d stepped forward, along with the five behind Ling Hu, were stunned. They hadn’t expected that joining would mean diving into something so thrilling right away. It felt unreal. If they won, the thought was exhilarating, but if they lost, the consequences would be dire…
Still, considering they hadn’t done much since arriving at Shengyuan Academy, and knowing the Mo Alliance couldn’t kill them, they figured Lin Xiao and Ling Hu would lead the charge anyway. So, what was there to worry about?
With that, they all puffed out their chests.
“This is bloody exciting!” Hu Yue burst out in delight, her chaotic energy shining through as she shouted gleefully.
“Attack the Mo Alliance!”
Beside her, Ling Hu’s expression grew animated too. Ever since the black seal poison was lifted, he’d been itching for a proper fight. Back when even Dragon Tiger Gate was out of reach, the idea of now taking on one of the outer court’s top twenty factions set his blood ablaze.
“Attack the Mo Alliance!” The seventeen youths who’d joined Heaven’s Gate shouted in unison, their thick battle intent spreading through the air.
The onlookers were dumbfounded. Some were moved by the energy—after all, everyone who’d made it to Shengyuan Academy had once been a genius in their own domain.
A few smirked mockingly. A faction barely formed daring to challenge one of the outer court’s top twenty? That was just naive.
But most wore expressions of anticipation, eager to watch the show. Attacking the Mo Alliance head-on was a rare spectacle in the academy.
“Since trouble’s inevitable, might as well deal with it!” Lin Xiao looked ahead, a glint flashing in his eyes.
In Shengyuan Academy, keeping a low profile wasn’t an option. Fine then, he’d go big. He’d make sure everyone knew that he, Lin Xiao, wasn’t someone anyone could mess with lightly.
With that, he took a step forward, leading the group in a grand march towards the Mo Alliance’s territory.
