Abyss Sovereign 101 to 110

 

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 101

Yue Zheng Hongmao felt his face burn as he suddenly remembered that he had just compared Lin Xiao to Wu Sha, openly mocking Wen Renliang. How could the gap be so large?

He had spoken so confidently, praising Wu Sha while completely ignoring Lin Xiao, even suggesting a reduction in the funding for the Linshui City branch. Who could have expected that Lin Xiao would possess such talent?

This made Yue Zheng Hongmao’s old face flush with embarrassment.

“You old fool…” Yue Zheng Hongmao couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, cursing both himself and Wu Meng Pangpo in his heart.

No wonder those two had spoken up for Wen Renliang. They had already known that this young man was a third-grade spirit controller. Yet, they had kept it completely hidden from him…

“Ahem… Nephew Hei Mu, you are truly a dragon among men. I look forward to seeing your performance in the upcoming alchemy competition,” Yue Zheng Hongmao finally coughed awkwardly, shifting the topic away from Wen Renliang and offering Lin Xiao a hopeful compliment.

Seeing Yue Zheng Hongmao’s reaction and the stunned expressions of the crowd, Lin Xiao simply smiled faintly and repeated the humble words Ye Yu had said earlier:

“Ah, it’s just refining Nine Flame Wood. It doesn’t really mean much…”

As soon as these words left his mouth, everyone in the room cursed him inwardly!

Even if it was just refining, one still had to be capable of doing it! They had worked so hard and only managed a few refinements, while he had achieved ten refinements. And then he had the audacity to say it was nothing special? This was blatant showing off!

Ye Yu’s face twitched in discomfort…

“Alright, today’s assessment ends here. I will report this matter to the alliance leader. Everyone, go back and prepare. Oh, and let’s not spread this too widely,” Yue Zheng Hongmao finally waved his hand, addressing the crowd.

With that, the group left one by one, still in shock. The assessment had been too overwhelming for them, but at least witnessing such a scene made the trip worthwhile.

“Humph, don’t get too cocky. True alchemy skills will only be revealed during the alchemy competition. I hope you can still perform like this then,” Ye Yu sneered at Lin Xiao before storming out of the hall.

“I hope Young Master Ye Yu can also demonstrate such skills,” Lin Xiao replied with a light smile, causing Ye Yu to seethe with anger as he walked away.

Feng Huo followed Ye Yu out but stopped beside Lin Xiao. Her enchanting eyes blinked as she leaned in close, whispering with a smile, “Hehe, I suddenly feel like you’re even more of a man than Ye Yu.”

Her breath tickled his ear, sending a shiver down Lin Xiao’s spine. Fortunately, Feng Huo quickly walked away, her graceful steps swaying as she left.

Zhou Ruoyi, before leaving, merely let out a cold snort, her face flushed with embarrassment as she stormed off.

Behind Zhou Ruoyi was Chen Qing’er. Her clear eyes seemed to see right through Lin Xiao as she smiled sweetly and said, “I could tell you were a third-grade spirit controller from the start. I just don’t know what I did to earn your displeasure. If I’ve offended you in any way, I hope you can forgive me.”

“So that’s it!”

Lin Xiao finally understood. No wonder one of the four great beauties had主动 approached him—she had seen through his talent.

At the same time, he was puzzled. Even the deputy alliance leader hadn’t noticed his hidden strength, yet Chen Qing’er, a second-grade advanced spirit controller, had somehow seen through it.

“Perhaps she has some special method,” Lin Xiao thought to himself before smiling at Chen Qing’er and saying, “Miss Qing’er, you misunderstand. I hold no grudge against you. It’s just… I don’t want to cause trouble.”

In other words, his refusal to shake her hand earlier was simply to avoid trouble. In reality, since Chen Qing’er was Chen Yan’s sister, Lin Xiao didn’t want to stir up more trouble. What he said was indeed the truth.

“That’s good to hear!” Chen Qing’er smiled softly, lowering her head as she brushed past Lin Xiao and left.

“That guy… he stole all of Brother Ye Yu’s spotlight. How infuriating!” Xuan Xuan stomped her foot in anger, wishing it had been Ye Yu who achieved ten refinements.

“What’s wrong with him?” Wu Sha asked.

“It’s just…” Xuan Xuan initially thought of Ye Yu’s talent, which she admired so much, but then remembered Lin Xiao’s performance and stammered, “It’s just… he’s not as handsome as Brother Ye Yu.”

“…” Wu Sha was speechless.

“But in the real alchemy competition, he definitely won’t be a match for Brother Ye Yu!” Xuan Xuan added.

“Hehe, Brother Hei Mu, you’ve been hiding your talents well!” At that moment, a cheerful voice rang out as Prince Meng Sheng walked over with a smile.

“Oh? I must be the first person to speak so boldly to Prince Meng Sheng,” Lin Xiao replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Meng Sheng chuckled awkwardly, a touch of apology in his voice. “Earlier, I didn’t know Brother Hei Mu possessed such talent. I misspoke, and I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

“Typical of royalty!” Lin Xiao thought to himself. Just half an hour ago, they had been at odds, but now that his talent was revealed, Meng Sheng’s attitude had completely changed.

However, having grown up in a royal family, Lin Xiao understood. Assessing others’ potential and background was a necessity for those in power.

Moreover, having already made enemies with the Chen and Feng families, he didn’t want to add the royal family to that list.

“Prince Meng Sheng, you flatter me. I’m not one to hold grudges. If someone treats me as a friend, I will respond with sincerity. If someone treats me as an enemy, I will repay them tenfold,” Lin Xiao replied solemnly.

“The royal family naturally considers Brother Hei Mu a friend,” Meng Sheng said with a smile before leaning in closer and whispering, “My younger sister, Meng Ying, is also one of the four great beauties of the royal city. I’m sure she would love to meet you. When you have time, please visit the city so we can properly welcome you.”

Seeing Lin Xiao about to refuse, Meng Sheng quickly added, “Oh, and by the way, she currently manages nearly half of the royal city.”

“His sister holds the power?” Lin Xiao was slightly surprised. It was Meng Sheng’s sister, not Meng Sheng himself, who was in charge?

“Perhaps I’ll pay a visit when I have the time,” Lin Xiao replied with a faint smile.

“Then we will await your esteemed presence,” Meng Sheng said with delight, fanning himself with a golden fan as he left.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, still buzzing with excitement, Lin Xiao was “entertained” by Yue Zheng Hongmao for a while before finally leaving the assessment hall of the Spirit Controller Alliance with Wen Renliang.

While the disciples didn’t openly spread the news, they privately discussed it among themselves. Meanwhile, the news quickly reached the families of the disciples outside the alliance.

**Zhou Family Residence.**

When Zhou Ruoyi angrily recounted the events of the assessment, adding her own embellishments, Zhou Xiong nearly jumped out of his seat in rage.

“What? Qing’er主动 greeted him? And even tried to shake his hand?” Zhou Xiong roared.

“Yes!” Zhou Ruoyi nodded. “And that guy didn’t even acknowledge her.”

“What?!” Zhou Xiong was even more furious. Naturally, he didn’t want Lin Xiao to shake hands with Chen Qing’er. He had been openly pursuing her for so long, yet he hadn’t even been able to touch her hand. How could some country bumpkin have the audacity to reject her?

The fact that he, Zhou Xiong, had tried so hard and failed, while this kid had the nerve to act indifferent, only made Zhou Xiong angrier.

This was tantamount to saying that the woman Zhou Xiong had been chasing was nothing more than an afterthought in Lin Xiao’s eyes. It was a slap in the face for Zhou Xiong…

“Humph, once he leaves the Spirit Controller Alliance, I’ll teach that kid a lesson. I don’t care if he’s some alchemy genius or not. I won’t stand for this!” Zhou Xiong growled.

Zhou Ruoyi nodded with satisfaction.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 102

Meanwhile, at the Feng family residence.

As soon as Feng Huo returned to the Feng family, Feng Lanyue inquired about the assessment. Although Feng Huo was not particularly willing to share, she did not hide the details of the alchemy assessment and truthfully recounted what had happened. She was curious to see how Feng Lanyue would react.

Upon hearing Feng Huo’s account, Feng Lanyue was visibly surprised and exclaimed, “Heimu! It really is him!”

“Do you know him?” Feng Huo asked, somewhat puzzled.

“You don’t need to worry about my affairs. The family head has instructed that we should try to maintain good relations with this person,” Feng Lanyue replied indifferently.

“I… understand,” Feng Huo said, her expression cooling slightly.

“Do you know what the royal family and the Zhou family have been up to recently?” Feng Lanyue then asked.

“The royal family and the Zhou family have been in close contact, but there hasn’t been any significant movement,” Feng Huo answered.

“No movement is for the best!” Feng Lanyue’s expression hardened slightly. Despite her young age, she exuded the demeanor of someone in a position of authority. “Alright, if anything happens, I hope Sister Feng Huo will inform me immediately.”

“Of course,” Feng Huo nodded slightly, then turned and walked out. She paused at the door, thinking to herself, “Hmph, she’s not even the family head yet, and she’s already giving me orders.”

With that, Feng Huo strode away.

Feng Huo’s slight pause did not escape Feng Lanyue’s notice. Her gaze sharpened, and she sighed with a cold tone, “Feng Huo, I know you have issues with me. If it weren’t for your usefulness to the family, the Feng family would never tolerate you!”

Meanwhile, news of Lin Xiao’s situation had also reached Meng Ying, who then relayed it to an elderly man.

This elderly man was a figure from the royal family, the strongest warrior in the Lanlan Empire, a Martial Venerate at the ninth level—Grand Empress Dowager Meng Xi.

With the appearance of a frail old woman, she sat weakly on an ancient wooden chair in a secret chamber within the palace. Her wrinkled lips moved slightly as she spoke:

“The Feng and Chen families are making such a grand show of marrying their heirs. It seems they must have some hidden cards up their sleeves.”

“Our royal family has not produced anyone capable of reaching the Martial Venerate level for many years. As long as I am still here, we can handle the Feng and Chen families. But if I were to pass away, given the ambitions of those two old fellows, the royal family’s position might be in jeopardy!” She shook her head slowly and let out a helpless sigh.

“Grandmother, you will surely live as long as the southern mountains,” Meng Ying said beside her.

“Even a Martial Emperor has a finite lifespan, let alone me. There’s no need to comfort me. I know my situation well. If I cannot break through to the Martial Monarch level, I probably won’t last more than a few years.”

She shook her head and said to Meng Ying, “Therefore, for the royal family to maintain its legacy, we must continuously absorb talent and not become complacent.”

“If this person had not appeared, Ye Yu would have been the best candidate. However, this person’s talent is likely no weaker than Ye Yu’s, if not stronger. If we can win him over, we should do so with all our might. If there are any signs of trouble, we must eliminate him before he rises.”

“Yingying understands!” Meng Ying nodded immediately.

“By the way, how is the progress on the assassination of Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue?” Meng Xi’s slow voice sounded again.

“Since the marriage was announced, Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue have remained within their families, and there has been no opportunity. Moreover, even within their families, both are protected by strong experts in the shadows. It’s very difficult to make a move,” Meng Ying replied somewhat helplessly.

“This is what I expected. Feng Youyu and Chen Wendao would never allow anything to happen to them at this time. Eliminating either of them would be difficult, and doing so would inevitably provoke a counterattack. It’s not the best strategy. Let’s wait and see what the two families’ next moves will be,” Meng Xi said.

“Yes, Grandmother!” Meng Ying nodded.

…

Within the Spirit Controller Alliance, there was a tranquil mountain forest, a place of utter silence, located within the city yet resembling a secluded mountain retreat.

At this moment, a man of peerless beauty, like an immortal descended to earth, stood quietly in a pavilion by a green lake.

This man was none other than the famous Ye Fenghua, the leader of the Spirit Controller Alliance. After several failed attempts to seize spiritual energy over half a year ago, he had been recuperating in the royal city.

Upon hearing Le Zheng Hongmao’s report, Ye Fenghua couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

“It’s been a long time since such a talented spirit controller has appeared,” Ye Fenghua sighed deeply. “Even I, as I am now, would find it difficult to refine tenfold Nine Flame Wood. This Heimu possesses both extraordinary talent and such a unique method. He is no ordinary individual. No matter the cost, we must try to win him over.”

Ye Fenghua had essentially issued an order. Le Zheng Hongmao nodded with a smile. This was why he had informed Ye Fenghua—he too hoped that such a prodigy would join the Spirit Controller Alliance.

However, Ye Yu, who stood with them, was not pleased. He harbored some hostility toward Lin Xiao.

Ye Yu’s reaction naturally caught Ye Fenghua’s attention. He glanced at Ye Yu and said, “Xiao Yu, Heimu will likely be a formidable rival for you. Although the Spirit Controller Alliance wishes to recruit him, I still hope you won’t lose to him.”

“Of course, I also have great confidence in you for this alchemy competition,” Ye Fenghua added.

“Uncle, rest assured. I will not disgrace the Ye family name!” Ye Yu said solemnly, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect. His face showed determination, with a hint of anger beneath the surface.

Ye Fenghua nodded slightly and waved his hand. “Good, you may leave now.”

“Then I won’t disturb Uncle and the Vice-Alliance Leader any longer!” Ye Yu turned and left the lakeside pavilion.

“His temperament still needs work,” Ye Fenghua shook his head slightly as he watched Ye Yu leave.

Le Zheng Hongmao nodded in agreement.

While various parties were secretly discussing matters, Lin Xiao and Wen Renliang had already made their way back to their room.

Inside the room, Lin Xiao was not concerned with the discussions. He was indifferent to the fact that his information had been relayed back to others. After all, he was wearing a mask and had altered his aura.

Moreover, he had come to the royal city with the intention of making a big splash.

“Haha, Brother Heimu, you’ve truly brought great honor to our Linshui City branch. I never expected you to have such astonishing talent in refining medicinal herbs. Your alchemy skills must be equally impressive,” Wen Renliang said with a beaming smile, continuously praising Lin Xiao along the way.

“Refining Nine Flame Wood was thanks to the spiritual energy. In the alchemy competition, I’ll do my best to make it into the top ten,” Lin Xiao said indifferently. This was also to reassure Wen Renliang, though his ambitions went far beyond just the top ten.

“I believe you can make it into the top ten!”

Wen Renliang nodded emphatically. Even if it was due to the spiritual energy, refining tenfold Nine Flame Wood was no small feat. Moreover, if Lin Xiao could use spiritual energy to refine tenfold Nine Flame Wood, he could also use it to produce high-grade pills. Wen Renliang now had full confidence in Lin Xiao.

The top ten was within reach!

As he looked at Lin Xiao’s calm expression, Wen Renliang suddenly thought of something and turned to him with a serious expression.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 103

“By the way, these past few days, the alchemy market street in the royal city has been hosting a trade fair. You can exchange medicinal herbs, pills, and other rare treasures there. If you have time, you can go out for a stroll with Wu Sha and Xuan Xuan. You might even stumble upon some valuable items,” Wen Renliang reminded.

“Of course, if you do go, be careful. The trade fair has no restrictions, and it’s a mixed bag of people. There are quite a few hidden experts lurking in the shadows,” he added.

“A trade fair?” Lin Xiao was slightly surprised but nodded calmly. “I’ll go, but bringing those two would draw too much attention. I’ll go alone later.”

“Brother Xiao prefers to keep a low profile. That’s fine too…” Wen Renliang nodded slightly, though he sighed inwardly. “Wu Meng Pangpo, it’s not that I’m not helping you. Whether your granddaughter and disciple can make a connection with him is up to them now.”

…

As the sun approached sunset, Lin Xiao finally left the Spirit Controller Alliance. His attire was still as inconspicuous as ever, and he still wore the black iron mask, revealing only a dark chin and forehead, giving him a cold, aloof appearance.

After leaving the alliance and passing through several streets, Lin Xiao soon arrived at the bustling alchemy market street.

Perhaps because of the cool evening breeze, the street was still crowded with people. Shops were renting out spaces, and vendors were setting up stalls on the ground. Both young and old were displaying their wares, loudly hawking their goods, each hoping that their long-collected or accidentally acquired items would catch someone’s eye and fetch a high price.

Those walking the streets in search of medicinal herbs were all looking for something that suited their needs.

Many of the items here were traded using pills, and Lin Xiao was well aware of this. Although he didn’t have many pills, he did have some third-grade Yuan Restoration Pills and Spirit Restoration Pills, as well as second and third-grade healing pills. While these weren’t extremely rare, they were still quite valuable.

As Lin Xiao scanned the herbs on display, his eyes fell on a dark green fruit placed on a vendor’s stall. The fruit had a glossy sheen, almost like a gemstone, and looked smooth and radiant at first glance.

“This is… the Green Flame Evil Fruit!” Lin Xiao was inwardly shocked. He hadn’t expected to find such a rare item at a street stall.

The Green Flame Evil Fruit was a key ingredient for the fourth-grade pill, the Thunderous Evil Fire Pill. Just the herb itself was incredibly valuable and rarely seen.

Moreover, while most pills were used to enhance strength, power, or healing, there was also a rare category of pills used for attack purposes—offensive pills.

The Thunderous Evil Fire Pill was one such offensive pill, also known as an explosive pill.

Creating such a pill was extremely demanding. First, it required herbs that contained and could absorb energy.

Second, because the herbs contained energy, even the slightest mistake during the refining process could cause the pill to explode, potentially injuring or even killing the alchemist. This made the refining process incredibly difficult.

As a result, offensive pills were extremely rare and expensive. If one appeared on the market, it would fetch a price many times higher than a pill of the same grade.

Of course, because they were so scarce, offensive pills were almost never sold on the market.

The Thunderous Evil Fire Pill was one such rare offensive pill, a fourth-grade pill. The herb itself contained immense energy, and during the refining process, it absorbed large amounts of spiritual fire, condensing into a pill the size of a soybean. Once infused with spiritual energy, it would explode.

The explosive power of a fourth-grade Thunderous Evil Fire Pill could even injure a Martial King.

A pill capable of injuring a Martial King would undoubtedly become a coveted treasure, something that could serve as a trump card against such a powerful opponent. If word got out, countless people would go mad trying to obtain it.

It was easy to see just how precious the Green Flame Evil Fruit, the main ingredient for such a pill, truly was.

Therefore, when Lin Xiao saw this Green Flame Evil Fruit, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement, even though he wasn’t yet capable of refining fourth-grade pills.

However, if such a precious Green Flame Evil Fruit was being sold at a street stall instead of being auctioned, it was likely that the vendor didn’t know its true value. Perhaps the vendor was simply drawn to the fruit’s glossy appearance and decided to sell it here.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Xiao kept his expression neutral as he walked up to the middle-aged vendor and asked casually, “Senior, this green fruit looks quite interesting. How much are you selling it for?”

“Money?” The vendor, seeing yet another young person inquiring about the fruit, felt increasingly convinced that the fruit was something special. However, after giving Lin Xiao’s plain attire a once-over, he shook his head slightly and said, “Young man, this isn’t just a pretty fruit. Money won’t be enough to buy it.”

“Pills, then?” Lin Xiao asked. If money wasn’t accepted, then it had to be pills or other medicinal herbs. However, not everyone had herbs to trade, so most people at the trade fair exchanged pills. Items that could be traded for pills were already quite valuable.

“Exactly. One third-grade pill. Not a single pill less,” the vendor said firmly.

“A third-grade pill?” Lin Xiao frowned slightly. The price was clearly high. Did this vendor know the true value of the Green Flame Evil Fruit?

“Senior, while this fruit does look quite appealing, medicinal herbs are ultimately meant for alchemy. Isn’t your price a bit too steep? Does this fruit have some special use?” Lin Xiao pretended not to know and deliberately probed.

“Haha, I’m not sure about its uses, but I obtained this fruit deep in the mountains. It contains a large amount of essence, so it must be something special. Besides, when I was trying to get this fruit, I almost lost my life to a spirit snake. So, no bargaining. This green fruit won’t be sold for less than a third-grade pill,” the vendor said, seeing that Lin Xiao didn’t seem like someone who could afford it. He decided to stick to his price.

However, what he said was true. Although he didn’t know the fruit’s uses, he had nearly died trying to obtain it, so he wasn’t willing to sell it cheaply.

“Any third-grade pill will do?” Seeing the vendor’s unwavering attitude, Lin Xiao had no choice but to ask.

The vendor was slightly taken aback. A hint of doubt appeared in his eyes. This young man didn’t look like someone who could afford such a price. Could he really offer a third-grade pill for this seemingly useless green fruit?

“Exactly. Any third-grade pill will do,” the vendor finally nodded. Any third-grade pill was highly valuable, and it would make his near-death experience worth it.

“Alright, here’s a third-grade Yuan Restoration Pill. Senior, this green fruit is mine,” Lin Xiao said straightforwardly, taking out a jade bottle.

A third-grade pill in exchange for the main ingredient of a fourth-grade pill might be a barely acceptable deal for an ordinary spirit controller. But for Lin Xiao, exchanging a third-grade Yuan Restoration Pill for a Green Flame Evil Fruit was an absolute steal!

Even if it were ten third-grade Yuan Restoration Pills, Lin Xiao wouldn’t hesitate to make the trade!

Of course, Lin Xiao also needed Yuan Restoration Pills, but the herbs required to make them weren’t hard to find. Once he used one, he could always prepare to refine more.

Hearing Lin Xiao’s words, the vendor was shocked. He hadn’t expected this unremarkable-looking young man to produce a third-grade pill so readily and without hesitation to buy the green fruit.

It seemed that appearances could be deceiving. This young man was clearly someone with deep pockets!

Carefully taking the jade bottle and opening it, the vendor, who was a first-grade初级 spirit controller, probed it with a bit of spiritual energy. After confirming that it was indeed a third-grade pill, he became visibly excited. A wide smile spread across his face as he said repeatedly, “Young brother, it seems you know your stuff. This item is yours now!”

“Thank you, Senior!” Lin Xiao immediately picked up the Green Flame Evil Fruit from the ground.

“Hahaha…” Just as Lin Xiao was about to leave, a loud laugh echoed from behind him.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 104

Lin Xiao frowned and turned around. He saw a young man of about seventeen or eighteen walking towards him with a loud laugh.

“I’ve taken a liking to this item. You’d better sell it to me, and for the price of one gold coin,” the young man said slowly, looking at Lin Xiao with excitement.

He happened to be short on a gift to please his boss. He had his eye on this item but, after asking the price, found that a third-grade pill was beyond his means. Besides, anything sold by the royal team’s market was protected by a fee, and he didn’t dare to rob them.

Unexpectedly, this guy actually used a third-grade pill to buy the item, making him feel ecstatic. After all, buyers were not protected.

And the item bought with the third-grade pill would make for a decent gift, and he could also gain his boss’s appreciation.

The middle-aged man running the stall didn’t seem inclined to intervene. With the mix of people here, he didn’t dare to interfere and instead watched the two with an amused expression.

Anyway, the item had already been sold; it was no longer his concern.

“One gold coin for something I bought with a third-grade pill?” Lin Xiao said, slightly taken aback, looking at the young man with sympathy.

“That’s right. Hand it over. You should know I’m sparing your life and not cutting off your limbs or ruining your cultivation. That’s already a big concession. Although your life isn’t worth much, you letting me keep your life is quite valuable,” the young man said, folding his arms and speaking arrogantly.

“One gold coin is too much. How about you just cut off my limbs and ruin my cultivation?” Lin Xiao said mockingly.

The young man was momentarily stunned. Seeing Lin Xiao’s mocking expression, he angrily retorted, “Hmph! Do you think I’m joking with you? Do you know who I am?”

“Not interested,” Lin Xiao said dismissively.

“You!” The young man, enraged, scoffed, “Hmph! I’m Chen Tong’s subordinate!”

“Someone from the Chen family?” Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao’s expression suddenly turned cold.

Seeing Lin Xiao’s reaction, the young man revealed a triumphant expression and coldly threatened, “That’s right. Not only is he from the Chen family, but he’s also Chen Yan’s cousin! Do you know who Chen Yan is? Among the four young masters of the royal city, he’s the youngest and most talented. In his twenties, he’s already reached the Heavenly Martial Realm, with strength surpassing that of the princes and Zhou Xiong!”

“How about it? Are you scared now? Hand over the green fruit obediently, bow your head to me three times, and if I’m happy, I’ll let you off,” the young man continued, his gaze fixed on Lin Xiao’s visible eyes and chin, imagining Lin Xiao’s forthcoming frightened reaction, his face showing a smug and mocking expression.

However, Lin Xiao’s reaction disappointed the young man. Lin Xiao’s face shifted from cold to one of disdain as he said, “After all that, your point is that you’re just a dog for the Chen family?”

“I’ll f*** your mother!” Upon hearing this, the young man lost control, shouting furiously, “So what if I’m just a dog of the Chen family? Even if I’m a dog, I have to see who the master is! And damn it, after all that, can you even beat me?”

“…” The middle-aged man watching nearby was somewhat dumbfounded. This was the first time he had seen someone so proudly admit to being a dog.

And seeing Lin Xiao’s sharp retorts, he guessed that Lin Xiao was no ordinary person; this was going to be entertaining.

The young man’s words attracted a crowd nearby.

“Hey, look! Isn’t that Chen Tong’s subordinate Wu Neng?”

“That’s right. It’s Wu Neng. He’s using Chen Tong’s name to bully people again.”

“To be a lackey for Chen Tong, Wu Neng must be no weakling himself. At such a young age, he has already reached the first level of the Xuanwu realm. It seems that the boy with the mask is in trouble.”

The crowd began to murmur among themselves.

However, Lin Xiao didn’t respond to Wu Neng in public; instead, he looked at him with pity.

“I’ll give you three breaths of time. If you don’t kneel and bow your head, I’ll make you regret coming into this world!” Seeing the crowd growing, Wu Neng, wanting to assert his authority before taking action, shouted at Lin Xiao again.

He completely dismissed Lin Xiao, who looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Wu Neng’s legs kicked back, and his whole body suddenly flipped forward heavily.

“Bang!”

Dust flew everywhere as Wu Neng fell flat on his face.

“…” The crowd was stunned.

They initially thought Lin Xiao would be the one in trouble, but this unexpected turn of events left them speechless.

Wu Neng was dazed, took a moment, then raised his head and spat out mud, furious and embarrassed, “You, you dared to sneak attack me!”

With that, he slapped the ground with both hands, propelling himself upward.

However, at that moment, Wu Neng’s body wasn’t able to stand on the ground. He felt a powerful force controlling him entirely, no matter how he tried to circulate his energy, he couldn’t move. In the blink of an eye, this force lifted him several meters into the air.

“You are a second-grade Spirit Controller!” Wu Neng’s expression changed drastically as he exclaimed.

His cultivation was at the first level of Xuanwu, so only someone with at least second-grade primary spiritual power could completely control him. Seeing Lin Xiao’s age, he concluded that he must be a second-grade primary Spirit Controller.

This left Wu Neng finding it hard to accept. How could someone who looked so ordinary be a second-grade primary Spirit Controller?

The onlookers were equally astonished. To reach second-grade primary Spirit Controller at the age of sixteen or seventeen was already remarkable talent.

Finally, they had run into something formidable.

As the alchemy competition approached, the royal city indeed attracted many young Spirit Controller talents.

Ignoring the crowd’s reactions and Wu Neng’s words, Lin Xiao looked at Wu Neng calmly and said, “You want to make me regret coming to this world?”

Wu Neng’s heart trembled. For some reason, looking into Lin Xiao’s calm eyes gave him a sense of fear.

However, he was Chen Tong’s subordinate. Usually, he bullied others without anyone daring to provoke him. How could he show weakness to an obscure youth? He immediately got up from the ground and threatened Lin Xiao, “You’d better let me go, otherwise… ah!”

Before he finished speaking, Wu Neng’s body crashed heavily into the ground, letting out a pig-like scream.

Bang!

Wu Neng’s legs were controlled and lifted, causing him to land hard on the ground, a cloud of dust rising as a mouthful of fresh blood spewed from his mouth.

The crowd gasped in shock. Even Chen Tong’s lackey dared to attack; this youth was ruthless!

“Get lost immediately, or you won’t be able to leave!” Lin Xiao’s voice turned cold as he commanded.

“You…” Wu Neng was infuriated but, thinking about his aching backside, quickly suppressed his anger.

He crawled up from the ground, feeling as if his legs were paralyzed, but still managed to slowly crawl away.

“You wait for me!” Before leaving, Wu Neng couldn’t resist threatening Lin Xiao again.

Bang!

“Ah!”

As he stumbled, Wu Neng fell onto the ground again, letting out another pig-like scream.

“What did you say?” Lin Xiao asked.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 105

Wu Neng’s heart trembled, and he couldn’t help but reach out to touch his buttocks. He quickly spoke in a humble tone, “N-nothing, I didn’t say anything.”

He didn’t dare to say more, secretly regretting why he had threatened this guy before leaving. He should have just waited to find someone to deal with him later.

“Get lost!” Lin Xiao spat out just one word.

“I’ll go, I’m going right now!” Struggling to get up from the ground, Wu Neng limped out, clutching his buttocks. His appearance was as pathetic as it could be.

“He beat Wu Neng and let him go. This young man is going to be in trouble.”

“Exactly, the first thing Wu Neng will do is run to Chen Tong and report, exaggerating the situation.”

“What else could he do? Kill Wu Neng right here? That would make things even worse! The only option is to leave the market street and the imperial city immediately.”

“Right, this young man isn’t a fool. He must have a backup plan after beating Wu Neng. But Chen Tong seems to be at the trading fair too. I wonder if he can escape.”

“Wait, this young man is actually continuing further into the street?”

“Who knows if he’s fearless or just foolish, but this is going to be interesting. Let’s follow him.”

Whispers of discussion arose, but Lin Xiao ignored everyone’s reactions and continued walking leisurely down the street as if nothing had happened.

Chen Tong, Chen Yan’s younger brother?

Heh, he wasn’t even afraid of Chen Yan, let alone Chen Tong. If the other party went too far, he wouldn’t mind using heavy-handed measures here.

Before long, Lin Xiao indeed heard a commotion. As the crowd’s murmurs grew louder, he turned around to see the crowd parting to make way for two figures walking towards him.

One of them was none other than Wu Neng, still limping, his face twisted in pain with every step, clearly still suffering from his earlier injuries.

The other was a man around Wu Neng’s age, but his aura was much stronger than Wu Neng’s.

At the same time, more murmurs broke out.

“Wu Neng brought Chen Tong. This young man is in trouble now!”

“Chen Tong is a genius at the seventh level of the Xuanwu realm. Even if this young man is a second-tier初级灵控师, he’s no match for Chen Tong!”

“Such youthful arrogance. A second-tier初级灵控师 with such talent—if something happens to him, it would be a real shame!”

“Chen Tong never holds back. Let’s see if this young man can survive. If he begs for mercy, maybe… but if he stays stubborn, he’s doomed!”

…

Enjoying the crowd’s flattering remarks, Chen Tong, following Wu Neng, soon stood in front of Lin Xiao.

After giving Lin Xiao a disdainful once-over, Chen Tong asked in a calm tone, “So, you’re the ugly freak who took my subordinate’s herbs and beat him up?”

Lin Xiao was slightly stunned. Took Wu Neng’s herbs and beat him up? Since when were those herbs Wu Neng’s?

Wu Neng, still wearing a pained expression, glared at Lin Xiao with a hint of fear, one hand clutching his buttocks while the other pointed at Lin Xiao, insisting, “That’s right, boss! This guy stole my stuff, and when I mentioned your name, he beat me up!”

“What do you want?” Lin Xiao didn’t argue but instead calmly watched the two of them put on their act, asking indifferently.

“What do we want?”

Chen Tong crossed his arms, sneering, “Heh, as the saying goes, even when you hit a dog, you have to consider its owner. Not only did you beat my dog, but you also stole what my dog was going to give me. What do you think we want?”

“I see!” Lin Xiao nodded as if he had just realized something, then said lightly, “So, you want me to steal your stuff again and then beat you up?”

“…” The crowd.

Everyone was dumbfounded by Lin Xiao’s words. They had thought Lin Xiao was asking Chen Tong and Wu Neng what they planned to do to him.

But instead, Lin Xiao turned the question around, asking if they wanted to be beaten up…

This was outright contempt!

They couldn’t understand why Lin Xiao still had such strong confidence when facing Chen Tong.

Hearing Lin Xiao’s words, Chen Tong was also momentarily stunned, his face showing disbelief.

Chen Tong, a seventh-level Xuanwu genius and Chen Yan’s cousin, was always admired wherever he went. When had he ever been ignored like this?

Yet now, a young man had openly mocked him.

Chen Tong’s face quickly turned furious, his eyes narrowing as he said coldly to Lin Xiao, “Very well. You’re the first person in a long time who dares to provoke me so openly!”

“Hmph, you’ve angered the boss. Your fate will be even worse!” Wu Neng, standing to the side, secretly gloated.

He had brought Chen Tong here, and Lin Xiao was still acting tough. This was exactly what he wanted to see.

The tougher Lin Xiao acted, the worse his fate would be.

“Heh, you’re just like Wu Neng—both of you are dogs!” Lin Xiao chuckled, which only made Chen Tong even angrier, his eyes practically spitting fire.

“All you do is stand there and bark!” Lin Xiao added.

Chen Tong was on the verge of losing control, his chest heaving as he growled, “Fine, you’ve successfully provoked me. Originally, out of respect for Prince Mengren, I didn’t want to kill anyone here. But since you’re asking for it, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

With that, the aura of a seventh-level Xuanwu cultivator erupted from Chen Tong, and a cold, murderous intent spread from his body.

“What’s going on here? What’s going on!” At that moment, a voice rang out, and a group of soldiers in uniform pushed through the crowd.

“This is the imperial market street. Who dares to cause trouble here!” The leader of the soldiers shouted. With the alchemy competition approaching, conflicts had been frequent recently. They hadn’t wanted to intervene, but seeing such a large crowd gathering, they had no choice but to step in and control the situation.

He wanted to see which brat was being so arrogant as to attract so much attention.

However, when his gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Chen Tong, seeing the furious expression on Chen Tong’s face, his expression froze. Then, he forced a smile and spoke in a humble tone, “Young Master Chen, it’s you! I didn’t realize. Who’s the fool who dared to offend you… Hmph, anyone who dares to cause trouble on the imperial market street, just say the word, and we’ll chop him up!”

The leader of the soldiers thumped his chest, speaking with confidence.

This wasn’t about upholding the imperial family’s dignity—it was clear they were acting on Chen Tong’s behalf, which was actually an embarrassment to the imperial family. The imperial patrol team was taking orders from Chen Tong.

Of course, it had to be acknowledged that for small fries like them, Chen Tong’s influence was indeed significant.

“I’m the one causing trouble here. Are you going to chop me up?” Unexpectedly, Chen Tong shot back without any courtesy. Clearly, he was furious.

He had been about to deal with Lin Xiao when this group of lowly soldiers interrupted him.

“Young Master Chen, how could we dare to disturb you? If we had known it was you, we wouldn’t have dared to intervene even with ten thousand lives!” The leader of the soldiers trembled slightly, bowing repeatedly.

Although they were part of the imperial forces, they were just low-ranking soldiers with no status. They wouldn’t dare to offend Chen Tong, a friend of Prince Mengren.

“Since when do I, Chen Tong, need your group to solve my problems? Get lost!” Chen Tong barked at the soldiers.

“We’re leaving, we’re leaving right now!” The group of soldiers nodded repeatedly and quickly squeezed their way out of the crowd.

The crowd marveled in silence. Indeed, he was a young master of the Chen family. Even the imperial soldiers had to scram at his command.

“Kid, did you see that? Even the imperial soldiers have to scram when my boss tells them to, let alone you!” Wu Neng shouted at Lin Xiao, gloating.

“Now, do you regret it?” Chen Tong also asked coldly, his eyes fixed on Lin Xiao, trying to see a trace of fear in his expression.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 106

“Driving away the royal guards, Young Master Chen, you are quite impressive!” Lin Xiao said with a look of mock surprise. “A dog scaring off a pack of smaller dogs is indeed surprising!”

“You’re asking for death!” Chen Tong roared, his killing intent flaring. He was about to charge at Lin Xiao when, in that very moment, a loud female voice rang out: “Stop!”

Hearing this voice, Chen Tong’s heart skipped a beat. His charging figure immediately halted, and his gaze turned toward a woman quickly approaching through the crowd. He froze in place: “Cousin Qing’er!”

This was Chen Yan’s younger sister, a second-grade advanced spiritual power cultivator, far stronger than him. If it came to a fight, he would undoubtedly lose.

More importantly, regardless of whether Chen Qing’er took action herself, if she got angry, Chen Yan would come knocking, and he was far more ruthless than anyone else.

Last time, a talented young clansman had angered Chen Qing’er, and Chen Yan had nearly crippled him. The young man had to lie in bed for months before he could get up, and the family didn’t even intervene. Instead, they had to apologize to Chen Yan and Chen Qing’er.

Additionally, there was that fat madman, Zhou Xiong, who would be the first to charge in if anyone dared to provoke Chen Qing’er.

And that guy was a genuine lunatic. He didn’t care if you were a prince or a young master—if you weren’t stronger than him, he’d beat you up.

So, facing this gentle and elegant woman, Chen Tong didn’t dare to show the slightest hint of defiance.

As the crowd watched the beautiful woman approach, they were equally shocked. This was Chen Qing’er, one of the four great beauties of the imperial city and the second most talented genius of the Chen family.

No one had expected Chen Qing’er to show up at this trade fair.

With Chen Qing’er stepping in to stop Chen Tong, it seemed there would be no more drama.

“Cousin Qing’er, why… why are you here?” Chen Tong forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and spoke to Chen Qing’er with utmost respect.

However, Chen Qing’er didn’t even glance at Chen Tong. Instead, she immediately walked over to Lin Xiao, bowed slightly, and said in a polite tone:

“Lord Heimu, I sincerely apologize. Our family has failed in disciplining these people. I will ensure they are properly dealt with when we return. I hope you can forgive us.”

“What?” Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

What was going on? Chen Qing’er, one of the four great beauties of the imperial city, was actually bowing and apologizing to this young man?

In the imperial city, Chen Qing’er held an incredibly high status. Countless people dreamed of getting close to her, yet today, she was apologizing to this young man?

No one could make sense of it. What was happening?

Chen Tong and Wu Neng were equally dumbfounded, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads, their faces filled with disbelief.

How was this possible? Could it be that Chen Qing’er had taken a liking to this kid? But that seemed even more impossible!

Seeing Chen Qing’er’s apologetic expression, Lin Xiao was also slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected to run into Chen Qing’er at this moment.

With Chen Qing’er putting aside her status and reputation to apologize to him in front of so many people, he couldn’t be too harsh.

After all, the one he had a grudge against was Chen Yan, not Chen Qing’er.

Of course, if that weren’t the case, Chen Tong daring to direct killing intent at him would have ended very badly for both of them.

In other words, Chen Qing’er was essentially pleading for their lives.

With a light chuckle, Lin Xiao said mockingly, “It’s fine, it’s fine. They just wanted to kill me, no big deal.”

Chen Qing’er’s lips twitched slightly. Trying to kill someone was no big deal? If she had arrived any later, these two might have lost their lives.

“Moreover, Miss Qing’er, we don’t seem to be very familiar, do we? Let’s just let this go. In the future, please don’t interfere in my affairs,” Lin Xiao added.

As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers erupted.

“What the hell!”

“Did I hear that right? He actually rejected Chen Qing’er’s goodwill? Countless people dream of getting close to her, and he just turned her down?”

“Damn it, is he blind? Such a beauty, and he says he’s not familiar with her and doesn’t want her meddling in his business?”

“Chen Qing’er just saved his life, and he says ‘let’s just let this go’? Is this kid out of his mind?”

“Madness, this world has gone mad!”

“Even I want to beat this kid up now…”

The murmurs were barely concealed. If Chen Qing’er hadn’t been present, many would have rushed forward to give Lin Xiao a good beating.

This was one of the four great beauties of the imperial city, their goddess, and this brat had the nerve to reject her?

“Cousin Qing’er, this kid is so ungrateful. Step aside, let me teach him a lesson…” Chen Tong’s face turned purple with rage. He had swallowed his anger when Chen Qing’er intervened, but now Lin Xiao was even disrespecting her. This made him even more furious.

However, what he received in return was a furious glare. Chen Qing’er scolded him, “If you don’t want trouble, get lost!”

“I…” Chen Tong’s words were stuck in his throat.

Ignoring Chen Tong and the others’ reactions, Chen Qing’er turned back to Lin Xiao and apologized again, “I’m truly sorry about Chen Tong’s behavior…”

She paused for a moment, then added, “I think there might be some misunderstanding between us?”

Lin Xiao shook his head and said indifferently, “No, I just prefer not to have others meddle in my affairs.”

The crowd was stunned by Chen Qing’er’s reaction and Lin Xiao’s response. Chen Qing’er was practically throwing herself at him to protect him, and he was complaining about her meddling?

At this point, Lin Xiao no longer looked at Chen Qing’er. Instead, his gaze turned to Chen Tong and Wu Neng, who were still standing there in shock and anger. He said coldly, “I’ll give you three breaths to get out of my sight. Otherwise… you’ll face the consequences.”

“You!” Chen Tong was seething. If it weren’t for Chen Qing’er protecting him, he would have already charged forward to kill Lin Xiao. Now, this guy was threatening him, telling him to get lost?

Chen Tong was on the verge of exploding, but when he met Chen Qing’er’s sharp gaze, he shuddered and swallowed his anger. He glared at Lin Xiao and said, “You… just you wait!”

With that, Chen Tong stormed off, and Wu Neng, still dazed, limped after him.

Watching Chen Tong leave after his empty threat, Lin Xiao glanced at Chen Qing’er and said, “Miss Qing’er, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

With that, Lin Xiao walked forward without looking back at Chen Qing’er.

Chen Qing’er was momentarily stunned, feeling a sense of defeat. Was she really that unlikable? Why was this guy so cold toward her?

“Hey, I… I’m also here to trade for some medicinal herbs. Would it be alright if we go together?” After a moment of hesitation, Chen Qing’er suddenly spoke up.

“Whatever,” Lin Xiao replied indifferently after a pause.

Then, Chen Qing’er followed Lin Xiao, leaving the crowd in utter disbelief.

What was going on? Was Chen Qing’er actually chasing after him? The famously aloof beauty of the imperial city was now pursuing a young man? This was unprecedented. It was certain that rumors would spread like wildfire in the imperial city soon.

Lin Xiao naturally paid no attention to the onlookers’ thoughts or gazes. He walked calmly through the crowd that had parted for him.

However, after just a few steps, he saw Chen Tong and Wu Neng returning, accompanied by a young man dressed in royal robes.

Behind them was the royal patrol team, marching over with an imposing aura.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 107

“Prince Meng Ren?” Chen Qing’er’s brows furrowed slightly.

Meng Ren was one of the princes of the royal family. Although his talent and strength were far inferior to Meng Sheng, he was still a prince, representing the royal family, and his status was no less than hers.

Moreover, Meng Ren’s strength was at the ninth level of the Xuanwu realm, not weaker than her second-grade advanced spiritual power.

Meng Ren had a close relationship with Chen Tong, and now that Meng Ren had returned with Chen Tong, it was obvious that Meng Ren was here to back Chen Tong up.

“Chen Tong, what are you trying to do?” Chen Qing’er’s gaze sharpened as she scolded Chen Tong.

“Cousin Qing’er, I’m not trying to do anything. It’s just that this person robbed someone and even beat them up, violating the rules of the market street and disregarding the dignity of the royal family. The royal guards are here to enforce the law impartially,” Chen Tong pointed at Lin Xiao, immediately pinning a huge accusation on him.

He didn’t dare to defy Chen Qing’er, but surely Chen Qing’er couldn’t interfere with a prince, right?

Thinking about how he was about to teach this brat who had offended him a lesson, Chen Tong’s face revealed a look of satisfaction.

At this moment, the onlookers’ eyes lit up again. After being scolded away by Chen Qing’er, Chen Tong had brought back a prince. Now, the show was about to begin.

In truth, many of them were secretly supporting Chen Tong, not for any other reason but because this young man was too arrogant. He had even rejected Chen Qing’er’s approach, and they were all eagerly waiting to see this cocky kid get a good beating.

With a disdainful glance at Lin Xiao, Meng Ren turned his gaze to Chen Qing’er and said in a calm tone:

“Indeed, this person has provoked the dignity of the royal family. Our royal guards are here to enforce the law impartially. I hope Miss Qing’er will not interfere in this matter.”

Chen Qing’er frowned slightly and said, “Prince Meng Ren, there must be some misunderstanding here. Heimu is my friend. I hope you can give me some face and not trouble him.”

“Miss Qing’er, I have already investigated this matter, and the evidence is clear. Please do not make things difficult for me,” Meng Ren retorted. As a prince, if he couldn’t even teach a nameless kid a lesson after invoking the dignity of the royal family, wouldn’t he lose face?

“Prince Meng Ren…” Chen Qing’er’s expression hardened, and her tone became more forceful. However, before she could finish, Lin Xiao stopped her.

“Miss Qing’er, I appreciate your kindness, but I will handle this matter myself,” Lin Xiao said indifferently, cutting her off.

Chen Qing’er frowned slightly and whispered a reminder to him, “Heimu, this person is the third prince. His status in the royal family is not low. Conflict with him could lead to significant trouble.”

However, Lin Xiao seemed to ignore her words and calmly stepped forward, addressing Wu Neng, “Your ability to twist the truth and distort facts is truly impressive.”

“Wu Neng, I’d like to ask you, that green fruit requires a third-grade pill. Can you, Wu Neng, produce one?”

Wu Neng’s face immediately turned red. Everyone knew that he was merely Chen Tong’s lackey. Even Chen Tong would struggle to produce a third-grade pill, let alone Wu Neng.

Compared to Lin Xiao, who was a second-grade spiritual controller, it was clear to anyone with ears that Wu Neng had no ability to purchase medicinal ingredients worth a third-grade pill.

Chen Tong’s expression also darkened. Although everyone knew he was twisting the truth, having it exposed so blatantly in front of so many people damaged his reputation.

Ignoring the embarrassed and angry expressions on Wu Neng and Chen Tong’s faces, Lin Xiao then turned to Meng Ren and asked calmly, “Prince Meng Ren, may I ask if you are friends with Chen Tong?”

Meng Ren was no fool. He knew Lin Xiao couldn’t cause much trouble, but even in a war of words, he wouldn’t back down. He snorted coldly and said, “Hmph, I am here to enforce the law and uphold the dignity of the royal family. This has nothing to do with personal relationships.”

“No relationship?” Lin Xiao was slightly taken aback, then suddenly changed his tone and scolded, “If there’s no relationship, then why did you let yourself be fooled into coming here? Are you a pig?”

“Pfft!” As soon as these words were spoken, the entire area fell silent. The sound of people gasping could be heard everywhere. To call Prince Meng Ren a pig to his face—this kid really had the guts…

Meng Ren was also stunned. He hadn’t expected someone to call him a pig right in front of him, in front of everyone. He was a prince, after all. Few dared to provoke him on a normal day, and now, a nameless kid had called him a pig…

Just thinking about it, a surge of overwhelming anger rose from the depths of his heart. His face turned extremely gloomy, and his voice dropped to a low, menacing tone as he said, “What did you say? Say it again if you dare!”

Everyone knew that Prince Meng Ren was about to lose his temper. Lin Xiao was in for a world of trouble.

Chen Tong and Wu Neng, who had been momentarily stunned, now wore expressions of glee. To dare call Prince Meng Ren a pig—Lin Xiao’s fate would be dire.

Chen Qing’er’s brows furrowed even more tightly. She wasn’t worried about Lin Xiao getting into trouble; she was concerned that Lin Xiao would provoke the royal family, which would not be good for him.

However, to everyone’s surprise, Lin Xiao’s clear voice rang out again, following Meng Ren’s words, as casually as if he were greeting someone: “Prince Meng Ren, are you a pig?”

“You… you’re asking for death!” Meng Ren was almost choking with rage. He immediately erupted, unleashing the full force of his ninth-level Xuanwu aura. A murderous intent surged as he clenched his right fist, ready to strike Lin Xiao.

“Stop!” But at that moment, a sharp shout rang out.

At the sound of this voice, Meng Ren’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly restrained his energy, halting his movement.

The crowd was shocked. Who would dare interrupt Prince Meng Ren at such a critical moment? They were all curious.

Everyone’s eyes turned toward the direction of the voice, and Lin Xiao also turned to look.

At that moment, they saw an old man escorting a young woman, slowly making their way through the parted crowd toward them.

When Lin Xiao saw this woman, his eyes also lit up slightly.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, wearing a long blue dress that trailed on the ground. Her hair was styled in a princess bun, and her delicate features were exquisitely beautiful, truly a stunning beauty. Her curvaceous figure exuded a captivating charm, but her every step carried an air of unapproachable nobility.

Beside this breathtakingly beautiful woman stood a black-haired old man. The old man’s face was expressionless, as if everything before him was merely a play. His demeanor was simple, and he exuded no aura, but at a glance, one could tell that this old man was a profound and unfathomable figure.

Clearly, he was an extremely powerful expert, specifically tasked with protecting this stunning woman.

“Martial King!” Lin Xiao’s expression tightened slightly. For him to be unable to gauge the old man’s depth, this old man’s strength had to be at least at the Martial King level or higher.

Someone protected by a Martial King-level expert was definitely no ordinary person.

“Sister Meng Ying!” At the sight of this figure, Meng Ren’s heart trembled, and his face showed a mix of respect and fear, far more intense than Chen Tong’s reaction to Chen Qing’er.

“Princess Meng Ying!” Chen Tong, Wu Neng, and the surrounding crowd were all shocked.

Everyone knew that Princess Meng Ying had the support of Meng Xi, the strongest expert in the Lanlan Empire. She held partial royal authority and was a significant figure in the royal family. She rarely appeared in public, so it was surprising to see her at the trade fair today.

“So this is Meng Ying, one of the four great beauties? Truly, her reputation precedes her,” Lin Xiao thought to himself. Meng Ying’s beauty was indeed remarkable.

Under the crowd’s awed gazes, Meng Ying walked toward Lin Xiao. Her indifferent eyes swept over Meng Ren as she said in a calm voice, “Meng Ren, it seems you’ve grown bolder. You dare to lay a hand on my friend?”

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 108

“What?!” Meng Ren’s heart trembled violently, and his face showed an expression of disbelief. This young man was actually Meng Ying’s friend? What was going on?

It was important to note that within the royal family, there were constant power struggles and hidden threats. With just one word from Meng Ying, he could disappear from this world. If he had truly offended Meng Ying’s friend, there was no telling what she might do to him.

But how could this seemingly ordinary young man, who looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, be Meng Ying’s friend?

“Meng Ying, I… I didn’t know he was your friend. If I had known earlier, even if you gave me ten thousand guts, I wouldn’t have dared!” Meng Ren lowered his head and spoke repeatedly, his tone pleading for mercy.

“This time, I’ll let it slide. But if you dare to retaliate against him again, you know the consequences,” Meng Ying continued.

“Of course, of course! This young brother is Meng Ying’s friend, which means he’s also a friend of the royal family and my friend. From now on, whenever I see him, I’ll treat him with respect. There’s no question of retaliation,” Meng Ren said repeatedly.

“Remember your words. Take your people and leave,” Meng Ying said, her tone still polite, but everyone could tell that her words essentially meant “get lost.”

Feeling a sense of relief in his heart, Meng Ren nodded repeatedly. “I’ll leave right now, I’ll leave right now.”

With that, he shot a furious and confused glance at Chen Tong.

Chen Tong’s heart was also trembling. Who exactly was this young man? Not only did Chen Qing’er step in for him, but even Meng Ying was speaking up for him.

Only now did Chen Tong realize what kind of big shot he had provoked. He was starting to regret his actions.

If this person didn’t have a powerful background, there was no way these two would act like this.

“Chen Tong, you can get lost too!” At this moment, Chen Qing’er also shouted.

“I’m leaving, I’m leaving!” Chen Tong turned around and walked out with Meng Ren and his group.

However, before they had taken more than a few steps, a loud voice rang out from afar: “Which bastard is Heimu?!”

Everyone was stunned. Just as they had dealt with two, another one showed up?

As everyone looked on in shock, they saw a burly, fierce-looking young man storming over with an angry expression.

When they recognized the face of this young man, they were all taken aback, and then they turned their gleeful gazes toward Lin Xiao, who was standing beside Chen Qing’er.

It was clear that they all recognized who this young man was.

This person was none other than Xiong Han, one of the four young masters of the imperial city, the young master of the Zhou family—Zhou Xiong.

Seeing Zhou Xiong’s figure, Chen Qing’er’s brows immediately furrowed, and a look of distress appeared on her face.

Even Meng Ying frowned slightly.

“Zhou Xiong is here! This kid is done for!” Chen Tong and the others, who were about to leave, stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with excitement as they cast sinister glances toward Lin Xiao.

Zhou Xiong didn’t care about anyone’s background. Let’s see how he gets out of this one.

Seeing Zhou Xiong charging toward him with a fierce expression, Lin Xiao’s face also turned cold. One after another, people kept coming to provoke him. Did they really think he was easy to bully?

“Are you Heimu?” Zhou Xiong stopped a few feet away, staring directly at Lin Xiao, his tone domineering.

“What do you want?” Lin Xiao responded without any warmth.

“You refused to shake hands with the woman I love?” Zhou Xiong got straight to the point.

“You lunatic!”

Chen Qing’er’s face turned red with anger. Zhou Xiong was a brute, and he could say such things directly.

Moreover, his words not only implied that she was the object of his affection but also revealed that Lin Xiao had refused to shake hands with her. To those who didn’t know the full story, it sounded like something else entirely.

This was pure nonsense!

“If you think so, then so be it!” Lin Xiao’s tone was neither cold nor warm. No wonder Zhou Xiong wasn’t well-liked by Chen Qing’er—he didn’t think before he spoke.

“…” Chen Qing’er was momentarily stunned. Zhou Xiong was clearly looking for an excuse to pick a fight, but she hadn’t expected Lin Xiao to confront him directly. Remembering Zhou Xiong’s strength, she quickly whispered a warning to Lin Xiao, “Heimu, Zhou Xiong is at the fourth level of the Tianwu realm. You’re no match for him. Don’t provoke him.”

“Good, very good! Her hand—a woman I can’t even touch—and you dared to refuse her… Today, I’ll make you understand, kid, that there are some people you can’t ignore!”

As he spoke, Zhou Xiong unleashed the aura of a fourth-level Tianwu expert. Clenching his fist, he charged at Lin Xiao like a raging beast.

“Zhou Xiong, stop!” At that moment, Meng Ying’s sharp voice rang out, and immediately, a figure appeared in front of Lin Xiao, casually extending a hand to block Zhou Xiong’s advance.

“Whoosh!” A soft sound echoed as the black-haired old man’s hand firmly gripped Zhou Xiong’s fist, rendering him immobile.

“Young Master Zhou, the princess has ordered you to stop,” the black-haired old man said indifferently.

Zhou Xiong was slightly startled. He knew very well that Meng Ying’s personal guard was a Martial King-level expert. If he intervened, there was no way Zhou Xiong could touch Lin Xiao.

But Zhou Xiong wasn’t one to back down easily. His furious gaze turned toward Meng Ying as he shouted, “Meng Ying, are you really going to interfere in this?”

“My apologies, Young Master Zhou. Heimu is my friend. Please calm down. Another day, I will personally visit your residence to apologize,” Meng Ying said politely, her tone calm and composed.

Within the royal family, she could handle any prince, but as the young master of the Zhou family, Zhou Xiong’s status was on par with hers. Moreover, during this sensitive period, the royal family needed to cooperate with the Zhou family, so she wouldn’t openly offend them.

Of course, given Zhou Xiong’s brutish nature, even the Zhou family patriarch knew that as long as they didn’t go too far, the Zhou family wouldn’t make a big deal out of it.

This was something Meng Ying understood very well.

“Hmph, Meng Ying, you’re something else. Daring to interfere in my affairs—this debt will be settled with your royal family sooner or later!” Zhou Xiong threatened angrily.

Hearing Zhou Xiong’s words, Prince Meng Ren’s heart skipped a beat. They all knew how unreasonable Zhou Xiong could be. Every time Meng Ying offended him, he would take it out on the other princes!

This time would likely be no exception.

After finishing his threat, Zhou Xiong glared at Lin Xiao like a wolf and said, “Kid, if you have the guts, come out and fight me one-on-one. Hiding behind women—what kind of man are you?”

“Heimu, don’t fall for his provocation!” Chen Qing’er quickly warned Lin Xiao, fearing that this simple taunt might provoke him.

However, Lin Xiao shook his head and stepped forward, facing Zhou Xiong directly. “Zhou Xiong, right? Let me remind you of something. The woman you admire is not your woman. Whether I touch her or not has nothing to do with you. Stop being so self-important and going around proclaiming others as your woman. People only tolerate you because of your family’s influence, not because they want to deal with you.”

Hearing this, Chen Qing’er felt a slight stir in her heart. This cold and indifferent Heimu was actually standing up for her?

But then she shook her head slightly. Heimu was just speaking up for himself. She was being too sensitive.

“Also, among the four young masters of the imperial city, you’re the only one who’s all brawn and no brains. Your so-called talent, in the eyes of those who see clearly, is nothing more than blind arrogance. It seems you’re in need of a lesson, and I’ll be the one to give it to you!” Lin Xiao’s words were sharp and cutting.

“What? He’s going to teach Zhou Xiong a lesson?” The crowd was in an uproar. Was this kid serious? He was going to fight Zhou Xiong? What a joke!

Zhou Xiong’s situation was indeed as Lin Xiao described—he was simple-minded, reckless, and arrogant. But he had the capital to be arrogant. What did Lin Xiao have to challenge him? Calling Zhou Xiong a fool—wasn’t Lin Xiao the real fool here?

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 109

“You, what did you just say?” Zhou Xiong roared in fury, his eyes practically spitting fire.

“Didn’t you understand? What I mean is, I accept the challenge,” Lin Xiao replied calmly.

“Good! You’re asking for it!” Zhou Xiong’s eyes narrowed as he suppressed his anger. He turned to Meng Ying and said, “Meng Ying, you saw it yourself. This brat is asking for trouble. Now, you can step aside, right?”

“This…” Meng Ying was a little surprised. She hadn’t expected Lin Xiao to accept the challenge.

After all, even among those at the fourth level of the Heavenly Martial Realm, few could match Zhou Xiong. Lin Xiao was probably relying on his strong spiritual power and had become overconfident. Geniuses were always proud, especially Spirit Controllers.

However, since Lin Xiao was a third-grade primary Spirit Controller, even if he lost, the outcome shouldn’t be too severe.

With that in mind, Meng Ying nodded and waved her hand at the black-haired elder. “I hope both of you show some restraint.”

As soon as she spoke, the black-haired elder silently turned and walked back to Meng Ying.

Hearing this, Chen Tong and Wu Neng were overjoyed. Without Princess Meng Ying interfering, this brat was doomed.

“Alright, hahaha! You dared to call me an idiot? Now I’ll show you who the real f***ing idiot is!”

With a sudden movement, Zhou Xiong charged at Lin Xiao. His fierce aura erupted, and his unstoppable fist tore through the air with a deafening whoosh.

But Lin Xiao remained motionless, standing in place as if mocking Zhou Xiong.

“Is this guy stupid? Why isn’t he fighting back?”

“He’s a Spirit Controller. He must be waiting to control Zhou Xiong’s punch.”

“Zhou Xiong is at the fourth level of the Heavenly Martial Realm. Controlling his movements won’t be that easy. This is reckless. I bet this kid will go down in an instant.”

“Against Zhou Xiong, there’s no way he can last more than three moves.”

The crowd murmured, completely unconvinced that Lin Xiao had any chance. Zhou Xiong had a massive reputation in the royal city.

By now, Zhou Xiong had reached Lin Xiao and unleashed his devastating punch.

Whoosh!

His fist brushed past Lin Xiao’s shoulder, missing completely.

“What?”

The crowd, expecting Lin Xiao to be sent flying, widened their eyes in disbelief. Zhou Xiong, a fourth-level Heavenly Martial expert, had actually missed? Had a mere second-grade primary Spirit Controller altered his attack trajectory?

That was impossible. The gap between second-grade and fourth-level Heavenly Martial strength was immense. How could Lin Xiao’s spiritual power shake Zhou Xiong’s?

“Hmph, just a warm-up. Let’s see if you can do it again!” Zhou Xiong was shocked but quickly recovered. Unlike the others, he knew Lin Xiao was a third-grade primary Spirit Controller. But that last punch had contained considerable power, and Lin Xiao had deflected it with ease.

Still, as a fourth-level Heavenly Martial Realm cultivator, there was no way he could be controlled by a mere third-grade Spirit Controller. His dantian surged, and an overwhelming force burst forth, flowing into his arm. With a powerful swing, he launched another punch straight at Lin Xiao’s body.

Whoosh!

Lin Xiao tilted his body, sliding across the ground in an arc, easily dodging the powerful strike.

“Let’s see how long you can keep dodging!” Zhou Xiong roared, stepping forward aggressively. His fists struck out in rapid succession, unleashing a flurry of relentless attacks.

Swish!

Lin Xiao suddenly soared into the air, tracing an elegant arc before floating dozens of feet above the ground.

“What?! That’s self-controlled flight!”

“H-He’s a third-grade primary Spirit Controller! No way!”

In that instant, the crowd’s eyes widened in disbelief.

This sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy was actually a third-grade Spirit Controller?

This level of talent could rival Ye Yu! When had such a monstrous genius arrived in the royal city?

Chen Tong was completely dumbfounded, his body stiff as if petrified.

He… he was a third-grade primary Spirit Controller?

Damn it, he was only at the fifth level of the Xuanwu Realm. And he actually picked a fight with a third-grade Spirit Controller?

That was just asking for trouble!

Now, he was even grateful to Chen Qing’er. If she hadn’t stopped him earlier, he would have been in serious trouble…

Prince Meng Ren’s face twitched slightly. No wonder… No wonder Chen Qing’er and Meng Ying had protected this young man.

So his talent was this monstrous. He was comparable to Ye Yu, if not even stronger. Forget the influential figures behind such a prodigy—even if Meng Ren personally fought him, he wouldn’t stand a chance against a third-grade primary Spirit Controller!

At the same time, he was secretly grateful to Meng Ying. If she hadn’t stopped him, he would have made a complete fool of himself, and his injuries might have been even worse than Wu Neng’s.

Immediately, Meng Ren’s resentful gaze turned sharply toward Chen Tong. Chen Tong shuddered involuntarily. He wanted to explain a thousand times that this had nothing to do with him. If he had known Lin Xiao was a third-grade Spirit Controller, how could he have dared to provoke him?

But it was too late for excuses. All he could do was swallow his frustration and shift his glare toward Wu Neng.

If it weren’t for Wu Neng, how would he have ended up provoking someone like this?

Wu Neng trembled violently, his face turning deathly pale. This… this had nothing to do with him! He was only at the first level of the Xuanwu Realm. If he had known Lin Xiao was a third-grade primary Spirit Controller, he wouldn’t have dared to steal from him even if he had a hundred lifetimes!

But he had been the one to provoke Lin Xiao.

Wu Neng cursed Lin Xiao in his heart. Damn it, you’re a third-grade primary Spirit Controller! Why didn’t you wear your Spirit Controller robes? If you had, who in the entire street would have dared to mess with you?

Wu Neng was on the verge of tears. Never mind what Lin Xiao would do to him—just being punished by Chen Tong and Prince Meng Ren would be more than enough suffering.

Under their murderous gazes, he didn’t even dare to lift his head.

“Hmph! So what if he’s a third-grade primary Spirit Controller? Zhou Xiong is a fourth-level Heavenly Martial expert. His strength is still a level higher. Lin Xiao is no match for him. He’ll definitely be taught a lesson today. With Zhou Xiong standing in the way, he won’t come after small fries like me.”

Wu Neng tried to comfort himself. But the more he thought about how he had repeatedly provoked Lin Xiao, the more terrified he became. Given Lin Xiao’s status, even if he killed a lackey like him, it wouldn’t cause the slightest ripple.

In fact, Chen Tong might even applaud him for it.

Still, with Zhou Xiong as his shield, Wu Neng felt slightly reassured.

“Hmph! Hei Mu, do you think I can’t reach you just because you’re in the air?” On the ground, Zhou Xiong glared up at Lin Xiao and shouted.

“You can try,” Lin Xiao said, hovering in midair. He looked down at Zhou Xiong, the corners of his lips curving into a playful smirk.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 110

“Take this!” Zhou Xiong bellowed, his aura surging as he stepped into a bow stance, swinging his right fist forward. A burst of golden light erupted from his fist.

Tianwu, where energy transforms into light, allows for long-range attacks. Even while standing in mid-air, he could still strike.

The dazzling golden light carried immense force, rippling with powerful waves as it surged toward Lin Xiao in the air.

The speed was incredibly fast.

Whoosh!

In that instant, Lin Xiao had already moved, controlling his body to sidestep, causing Zhou Xiong’s powerful fist strike to miss.

“Swish!” “Swish!” “Swish!”…

Zhou Xiong’s fists danced continuously, sending out brilliant beams of light like pillars shooting into the sky, striking at various points in the void.

Lin Xiao, with his formidable spiritual power, pushed his speed to the limit. Combined with the distance of several meters, he repeatedly dodged Zhou Xiong’s attacks.

The more they fought, the more the onlookers realized that Zhou Xiong seemed unable to do anything about Lin Xiao in the air. Lin Xiao’s speed was extraordinary.

All the spectators were shocked. They hadn’t expected a spirit controller to have such an advantage. Flying in the air, as long as one’s speed wasn’t slow, even if the opponent’s energy was stronger, they couldn’t be touched.

In this situation, if Lin Xiao wanted to leave, Zhou Xiong wouldn’t be able to catch him.

“No wonder he dared to face Zhou Xiong like this. He has such skills!”

The crowd sighed inwardly. Among the younger generation, those who could hold their own against Zhou Xiong were few and far between. Today, they had truly witnessed something remarkable.

Seeing this, Wu Neng frowned deeply. If even Zhou Xiong couldn’t handle this, he was in danger. He even considered whether he should run.

“Hmph, if you have the guts, don’t dodge!” Zhou Xiong shouted angrily at Lin Xiao.

“Hehe…” Lin Xiao chuckled at Zhou Xiong’s words. In a life-and-death battle, there was no such thing as dodging or not. Evading was also part of one’s strength.

He was just using Zhou Xiong to test his skills and gauge his spiritual power. He had already estimated his speed in controlling spiritual flight. Now, it was time to face him head-on.

Stopping his movement, Lin Xiao looked down at Zhou Xiong below, his gaze sharpening slightly. “I have the guts not to dodge. But even if you don’t, you still can’t escape!”

With that, Lin Xiao flipped his hand, and a half-arm skeletal hand bone appeared before him, floating in the air. A surge of spiritual power attached to the skeletal hand, which clenched into a fist. The immense spiritual energy caused the skeletal fist to tremble faintly.

“Using a skeleton as a weapon? This young man is truly extraordinary!”

“He’s fallen for it. Facing Zhou Xiong head-on, how could he possibly win?”

The crowd murmured, while Meng Ying and Chen Qing’er frowned slightly. They didn’t have high hopes for Lin Xiao in a direct confrontation with Zhou Xiong.

After all, Zhou Xiong’s strength was overwhelming.

Seeing Lin Xiao stop and prepare to counter with the skeletal fist, Zhou Xiong’s face revealed a smile.

“You’re not worthy of making me dodge!” Zhou Xiong shouted at Lin Xiao.

“Worthy or not, you’ll find out soon enough!” Lin Xiao’s spiritual power surged in his mind, and he unleashed a powerful strike.

The skeletal fist, infused with immense spiritual energy, shot out like a bolt of lightning, heading straight for Zhou Xiong below.

“Hmph, with this trash, you think you can shake me?” Zhou Xiong snorted, gathering his full strength and punching directly at the skeletal fist. In a head-on clash, he feared nothing from Lin Xiao.

Boom!

When the two fists collided, a deafening explosion erupted, as if the air itself had detonated. The force of the impact radiated out between the skeletal fist and the flesh fist.

Just as everyone expected the skeletal fist to be sent flying, an unexpected result occurred. The skeletal fist pushed back Zhou Xiong’s punch and struck him squarely in the chest. Zhou Xiong’s body was sent flying diagonally, crashing into the ground several meters away, creating a small crater and sending dust flying.

“What? Zhou Xiong lost?” The crowd’s eyes widened in disbelief. What they had just witnessed was hard to accept.

One of the Four Young Masters, Zhou Xiong at the fourth level of Tianwu, had been defeated? And in just one move? This unknown youth had knocked him down with a single strike?

Chen Qing’er and Meng Ying were equally stunned. Lin Xiao’s strength was this formidable? He could easily defeat Zhou Xiong?

Meng Ren and Chen Tong were also dumbfounded.

Wu Neng, already in pain from his injuries, was so shocked that he fell to the ground.

Defeating Zhou Xiong in one move—what kind of person had he provoked? Wu Neng was filled with regret.

Even Lin Xiao in the air was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected his spiritual power to become so strong after breaking through to the third-level primary spirit controller. He hadn’t even used his full strength in that strike.

This gave him more confidence in dealing with Feng Lanyue and Chen Yan. However, he still couldn’t let his guard down. The last time he saw Feng Lanyue, he had a strange feeling—she was dangerous, likely far stronger than Zhou Xiong.

As for Chen Yan, he hadn’t met him yet, but according to Wu Neng, he was even stronger than Zhou Xiong. He couldn’t afford to be careless.

“Pathetic!” Lin Xiao chuckled, retracting the skeletal hand with his spiritual power and storing it in his spatial ring before slowly descending from the air.

By now, the dust had settled, and the crowd saw Zhou Xiong climbing out of the pit.

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Zhou Xiong glared coldly at Lin Xiao. “You… you’re something else!”

“I told you, in the eyes of those who understand, you’re just a fool. At least, that’s how I see you,” Lin Xiao said indifferently to Zhou Xiong.

“You!” Zhou Xiong’s anger flared, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

“Die!”

At that moment, a low, elderly voice rang out. A terrifying aura emerged from the crowd nearby, and a masked old man in black robes rushed out, flying past Zhou Xiong and striking directly at Lin Xiao with a palm.

“A fourth-level primary spirit controller!”

Lin Xiao’s brow twitched, and his expression turned前所未有的凝重.

This person was flying without energy wings, and based on the experience of the Devouring Spirit Emperor in sensing spiritual power, Lin Xiao could tell that this masked man’s spiritual power was at the fourth level.

A fourth-level primary spirit controller was beyond his ability to contend with.

Moreover, this masked man gave him a feeling that he wasn’t just a fourth-level primary spirit controller—he seemed even more terrifying.

“Zhou Xiong, have you gone mad?” Just as Lin Xiao was retreating and gathering his spiritual power for a counterattack, Meng Ying shouted. A figure instantly appeared in front of Lin Xiao, striking out with a palm toward the masked man.

Boom!

A thunderous collision erupted as their palms met. The force of the impact seemed to shake the void itself, and a terrifying shockwave radiated out from the point of contact, surging in both directions.

Those standing nearby on either side were blown back by the force, showing just how powerful this strike was.

At that moment, the two old men remained standing, neither retreating. It was a stalemate.

“Sir, isn’t this going too far?” The black-haired elder guarding Meng Ying spoke coldly.

“He deserves to die!” The masked man’s hoarse voice uttered softly, and a terrifying surge of spiritual power erupted from his head, targeting the black-haired elder.