“What?”
In that instant, everyone was stunned.
A month later, Lin Xiao was going to challenge Jian Wudi? Was Lin Xiao mad?
Everyone thought their ears had deceived them.
As for Lin Xiao breaking through to the first level of Martial Lord in less than a month, they barely had time to be shocked.
Or rather, it didn’t seem that shocking anymore.
Mainly because Lin Xiao’s declaration to challenge Jian Wudi had left them dumbfounded.
After a long moment of stunned silence, Yun Jing couldn’t help but speak, “Lin Xiao, do you need to reconsider?”
“Exactly, although you’ve stepped into the first level of Martial Lord and your strength has greatly increased, Jian Wudi is a prodigy at the seventh level of Martial Lord, with unknown powerful trump cards. Challenging him now is highly unwise,” Zhong Moyang also objected.
“Indeed, Lin Xiao, you still have over a year. Wait another year or so, break through a few more levels of Martial Lord, then challenge Jian Wudi. It’s not too late.”
“Right, once Junior Brother Lin Xiao breaks through two or three more levels, defeating Jian Wudi would be effortless.”
“We believe in Junior Brother Lin Xiao’s strength, but challenging him now is too dangerous. There’s no rush, why not wait a few months?”
“Since you’ve already reached the Martial Lord realm, breaking through one or two more levels shouldn’t be too hard. Lin Xiao, calm down and think it over,” the elders and young disciples chimed in with劝说, not because they doubted Lin Xiao, but because the gap in cultivation between the two was simply too vast.
Jian Wudi’s displayed strength was too terrifying, and Lin Xiao challenging him now had little chance of success.
Moreover, there was no need to challenge Jian Wudi at this moment.
Looking at the shocked and well-meaning crowd, Lin Xiao calmly shook his head and said, “Elders, senior brothers, I’ve made up my mind. Please rest assured, I, Lin Xiao, don’t do things without confidence.”
“This…” The group was left speechless.
“Lin Xiao, are you sure?” Yun Jing held his breath and asked again.
“Absolutely!” Lin Xiao nodded earnestly, his eyes flashing with confidence.
Seeing Lin Xiao’s assured demeanour, Yun Jing took a deep breath and nodded firmly, “Good!”
As seasoned elders, they could discern Lin Xiao’s character.
Since Lin Xiao had seen Jian Wudi in action and still chose to challenge him, it meant Lin Xiao had the strength to do so.
A first-level Martial Lord challenging a seventh-level Martial Lord was an exhilarating prospect.
Apart from Yun Jing and Zhong Moyang, the others were somewhat puzzled.
But in the end, they chose to trust Lin Xiao.
Afterwards, Lin Xiao passed the Bukubu Po technique to Yun Jing, who then used his powerful divine sense to transmit it to everyone else.
Once the group dispersed, they each went into secluded cultivation.
A ninth-level Martial Lord elder, under Yun Jing’s orders, used an ordinary Yutian Boat to deliver Lin Xiao’s challenge letter.
Later, Lin Xiao had a request and went with Zhong Moyang to a mountain peak.
“Elder Zhong, I have something to ask,” Lin Xiao said to Zhong Moyang, “Have you ever heard of the Temple of Fate?”
At this, Zhong Moyang’s face showed a trace of astonishment, “You know about the Temple of Fate too?”
Lin Xiao nodded and said directly, “Someone very important to me was taken by people from the Temple of Fate. I’ve been trying to investigate the Temple of Fate, but I’ve found no leads.”
“Taken? Was that person a Martial Emperor?” Zhong Moyang pressed.
“No,” Lin Xiao shook his head, confused by Zhong Moyang’s question.
Hearing this, Zhong Moyang looked surprised, “Could it be that the Temple of Fate has acted against those below the Martial Emperor level?”
“Below Martial Emperor?” Lin Xiao was even more puzzled, but hope flickered in his eyes. It seemed Zhong Moyang knew more about the Temple of Fate than Zi Huang. Zhong Moyang fell into a brief recollection before explaining, “The Temple of Fate is a secretive organisation in the Southeast Region, known for targeting Martial Emperors. They’re also called Emperor Assassins. Their ambushes are highly discreet, and even if they fail, they never reveal their true identities. They’re a force that all Martial Emperors in the Southeast Region fear.”
“Emperor Assassins?” Lin Xiao was shocked. The Southeast Region branch of the Temple of Fate dared to target Martial Emperors?
Did the Southeast Region branch of the Temple of Fate have extremely powerful Martial Emperors? “Despite many forces investigating thoroughly, no one has traced the Emperor Assassins. There are three possibilities. First, the assassin might be a lone individual, hiding in the shadows of the Southeast Region, with no fixed abode, making their whereabouts impossible to track.”
Zhong Moyang continued, “The second possibility is that the Emperor Assassins are Martial Emperors from a certain faction, aiming to eliminate other Martial Emperors one by one.”
“The third possibility is a massive, hidden force in the Southeast Region, unknown to all, which is the Temple of Fate you mentioned. The name Temple of Fate, no one knows how it first surfaced.” “The reason the eight major sects and various clans’ Martial Emperors don’t engage in all-out conflict, apart from their complex relationships, is their fear of the Emperor Assassins. They worry that the assassins might be a colossal entity, waiting to wipe out all Martial Emperors once their power in the Southeast Region is weakened.” Zhong Moyang added, “This isn’t mere speculation. Over the long history of the Southeast Region, not to mention Martial Saints, even high-tier Martial Emperors have never appeared. This isn’t just because Martial Emperors lack the talent to reach higher realms; it might well be related to the Emperor Assassins.”
“High-tier Martial Emperors either mysteriously fall, enter secluded meditation and pass away, or vanish.”
“Some speculate that breaking through to high-tier Martial Emperor triggers a deadly attack from the Emperor Assassins.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiao was stunned. Could the Temple of Fate be responsible for such things?
Suddenly, various terrifying possibilities crossed his mind.
Was the Southeast Region branch of the Temple of Fate tasked with weakening the region’s forces?
Depleting each area’s top powers to prevent any strong figures from threatening the Temple of Fate, could this be one reason the Temple of Fate has existed for ten thousand years?
Or perhaps, those fallen or vanished Martial Emperors were controlled by the Temple of Fate’s spirit insects?
There was an even more terrifying possibility…
At this thought, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but gasp, not daring to think further.
“But these are just speculations, with no evidence,” Zhong Moyang added uncertainly.
“Elder Zhong, the Temple of Fate is indeed a force, one that’s existed for a very long time, possibly longer than any faction in the Southeast Region,” Lin Xiao said with certainty.
Zhong Moyang was taken aback, “How do you know?”
“Some opportunities I’ve come across mentioned it in passing,” Lin Xiao replied.
“Is that true?” Zhong Moyang’s face showed shock.
Lin Xiao nodded.
Zhong Moyang gasped, then said, “If so, we’ll need to share this information with other factions.”
“Recently, dozens of Martial Emperors entered the Holy Emperor Ruins. We Martial Emperors will need to be extremely vigilant,” Zhong Moyang’s tone grew heavy.
Lin Xiao nodded, though he hoped the Temple of Fate would cause a stir, making it easier for him to track them down. After a moment of thought, Zhong Moyang added, “By the way, our investigations over the years haven’t been entirely fruitless. According to one lead, the Temple of Fate might be connected to a certain faction.”
“Which faction?” Lin Xiao’s eyes narrowed, his voice urgent.
