Abyss Sovereign 111 to 120

 

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 111

The black-haired old man, a Martial King powerhouse, was not easily controlled. His vast vital energy surged, repelling the spiritual force. Immediately after, he swung his arms, launching a fierce attack towards the masked old man.

**Boom! Boom! Boom!**

The two clashed mid-air, their strikes creating thunderous roars. Waves of immense energy continuously radiated outward as the two powerhouses engaged in a fierce battle.

“You want to kill me?” Lin Xiao’s icy gaze fixed sharply on Zhou Xiong, an overwhelming killing intent surging within him.

However, at that very moment, Lin Xiao sensed an even colder aura of killing intent and danger approaching him. A spiritual force was controlling a dagger, flying towards him from the side at lightning speed.

The dagger did not come from the masked man’s direction but from someone else entirely.

“Third-grade advanced spiritual force! This is bad!” Lin Xiao’s expression changed drastically. He quickly flung out the skeletal hand, attaching a spiritual force to it, and swung it horizontally to block the incoming dagger.

“Wait, this direction is… Meng Ying!” Lin Xiao’s brows furrowed deeply. Meng Ying was standing about two zhang behind him, and the dagger’s trajectory was clearly aimed half an arm’s length away from him—directly at Meng Ying.

Now he understood. The masked man’s true target was Meng Ying, not him.

The masked man’s attack on him was merely a diversion to draw away Meng Ying’s guards, while another third-grade advanced spiritual controller took the opportunity to assassinate Meng Ying.

Lin Xiao had no time to think further. In that split second, he pushed his spiritual control to the limit, shifting his position to stand directly in front of Meng Ying.

**Clang!**

A sharp metallic clang rang out as the dagger struck the center of the skeletal hand. However, the dagger continued its momentum, pushing through the skeletal hand and still heading towards Meng Ying.

“Be careful!” Chen Qing’er shouted in alarm. A lotus-shaped weapon flew out, intercepting the dagger in front of Meng Ying.

**Clang!** Another metallic clang echoed as the dagger, still carrying the force from the skeletal hand, struck the lotus disk. Most of the dagger’s impact was absorbed, but a residual force remained, causing Meng Ying to stagger back four or five steps from the recoil.

Fortunately, Meng Ying was unharmed. The dagger, now too far from the attacking spiritual controller, lost its control and fell to the ground.

Meng Ying’s face showed a trace of seriousness as she sensed the danger. It was clear that someone had been lying in ambush, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The crowd was also in shock. The attack had been too fast and too sudden, leaving them barely any time to react.

“Be careful!” Lin Xiao urgently warned. He saw the attacker—a black-clad masked man—rushing out from the crowd towards them. At the same time, another dagger was already flying towards them.

In that instant, Meng Ying raised her sword, and Chen Qing’er controlled the lotus disk weapon to rise into the air.

Lin Xiao also hurriedly controlled the skeletal hand to return. But when the dagger flew closer, he realized that its speed and power had increased severalfold compared to the previous strike. In the blink of an eye, it was upon them.

“Fourth-grade initial spiritual force!” Lin Xiao was shocked. The spiritual force controlling the dagger had reached the level of a fourth-grade initial spiritual controller.

At the same time, the masked black-clad man fighting the Martial King guard was suddenly weakened by the reduction in spiritual force and was pushed back.

“It’s him amplifying the spiritual force!” Lin Xiao instantly realized that the fourth-grade initial spiritual controller fighting the Martial King guard had diverted a portion of his spiritual force to enhance the dagger.

In other words, the dagger, originally controlled by a third-grade advanced spiritual force, had been further amplified by a fourth-grade initial spiritual force, making its power unimaginably stronger.

By now, the dagger was already upon them. Even though Lin Xiao’s skeletal hand was only two or three zhang away, it still couldn’t intercept the dagger in time.

**Screech!** A metallic screech echoed as the dagger grazed the edge of the skeletal hand, sending sparks flying and knocking the skeletal hand far away.

The dagger, still carrying immense force, continued its trajectory. Similarly, Chen Qing’er’s lotus disk couldn’t intercept it in time, leaving them helpless as the dagger shot straight towards Meng Ying’s heart.

“How dare you!”

At this critical moment, a thunderous roar erupted, and a massive wave of spiritual force surged towards them.

The dagger froze in place, just half an inch away from Meng Ying’s chest.

“Phew…” Meng Ying herself gasped in shock. The speed of the dagger, enhanced by a fourth-grade spiritual controller, was so fast that she barely had time to react. In the blink of an eye, it had nearly pierced her chest. Thankfully, someone had intervened to save her.

The brush with death left Meng Ying’s heart racing, her chest heaving as she caught her breath.

“Hmph! How bold of you to dare assassinate the princess at the trading fair!”

The martial king’s guard, who was currently fighting the masked man, was drenched in sweat because the two consecutive strikes were too fast.

Moreover, the fourth-grade primary spirit controller opposite him unleashed the most fierce attack, making it hard for him to keep up and nearly causing a serious mistake.

In that instant, the opponent’s most ferocious attack weakened slightly, allowing him to repel the attacker. However, he didn’t expect the opponent to divert some spiritual energy to attach to a dagger and attempt to sneak an attack on Meng Ying.

A spirit controller of the same rank is truly terrifying.

Secretly relieved, the martial king’s guard immediately launched a frenzied attack on the masked man.

“Go!” After failing the sneak attack again and seeing the appearance of another fourth-grade intermediate spirit controller, the masked fourth-grade primary spirit controller shouted loudly. His speed suddenly surged as he swept toward the third-grade spirit controller masked man and swiftly flew away.

“Don’t chase! He’s using a speed-boosting secret technique!” the bald old man quickly shouted.

He clearly sensed that the opponent’s escape speed was faster than his own, making it impossible to catch up. Even with a higher grade, his speed couldn’t match it, indicating the use of some secret technique to accelerate.

Hearing this, the martial king’s guard, who had chased for over ten meters, immediately stopped and flew back toward Meng Ying, fearing that the two might return to attack her again.

“Who dares to be so bold as to target the granddaughter of the old lady!” the bald old man sighed, his gaze turning toward the stunned Zhou Xiong.

The black-haired old man, along with Meng Ying, Lin Xiao, and others, also turned their eyes toward Zhou Xiong.

Zhou Xiong’s heart trembled. Among the younger generation, he feared no one, but this bald old man was someone he couldn’t help but dread.

This person was none other than Situ Guang, one of the two deputy alliance leaders of the Spirit Controller Alliance’s main headquarters.

Even if Situ Guang were to reprimand him, his family’s patriarch would politely respond, and given their close relationship, if Situ Guang were to express any dissatisfaction to his grandfather, he would undoubtedly face severe punishment.

Therefore, Zhou Xiong feared Situ Guang more than anyone else.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 112

“Of course, it definitely wasn’t you. Given your temperament, even if Zhou Mori wanted to kill Meng Ying, he wouldn’t send you to cause trouble,” Situ Guang added, addressing Zhou Xiong.

This made Zhou Xiong secretly breathe a sigh of relief. Otherwise, things could have escalated badly.

“Deputy Alliance Leader Situ, thank you for saving my life!” Meng Ying stepped forward and bowed to Situ Guang.

“I just happened to be passing by. It was no trouble at all,” Situ Guang waved his hand dismissively, then turned his gaze to Lin Xiao with interest, praising, “But this kid, Hei Mu, almost blocked a fourth-grade spiritual attack. Truly worthy of being the super genius who made a name for himself across the entire Spirit Controller Alliance in a single day.”

Meng Ying also bowed to Lin Xiao, speaking politely, “Thank you, Hei Mu, for saving me. If it weren’t for you, I might have been killed by the first strike.”

“You’re too kind, Princess Meng Ying. You’ve helped me several times before, so it’s only right that I return the favor,” Lin Xiao replied indifferently, much like Situ Guang, showing no particular concern.

“Helping you before was just a small gesture. Originally, I wanted to chat with you today, but someone tried to kill me, so I’ll have to postpone our conversation. If you have time, I hope you can visit the palace so I can properly express my gratitude,” Meng Ying spoke softly, her tone gentle and polite, like a refined young lady.

However, Lin Xiao knew that behind this politeness lay a fierce determination. It wouldn’t be long before the people behind the assassination attempt were uncovered.

Of course, since Meng Ying was showing goodwill, he naturally responded with courtesy, saying calmly, “Once the alchemy competition is over, I will definitely pay a visit.”

“Then I will await your arrival, Hei Mu,” Meng Ying nodded in satisfaction.

Lin Xiao nodded faintly in return.

By now, the onlookers had finally regained their composure. They had just witnessed an assassination plot, and Princess Meng Ying, who held significant imperial authority, had nearly been killed.

If something had happened to Meng Ying, the strongest powerhouse in Lanlan Empire would have been furious, and the imperial city would have been thrown into chaos.

At the same time, they were shocked by Lin Xiao’s strength. His status and position were now on par with Prince Meng Ren and Chen Tong. They had witnessed a thrilling and exciting spectacle, and the name “Hei Mu” began to spread among them. His reputation started to overshadow Zhou Xiong’s.

Or rather, he had made a name for himself by defeating Zhou Xiong in battle and earning praise for saving Princess Meng Ying.

After this incident, Meng Ren, Chen Tong, and Wu Neng repeatedly apologized to Lin Xiao, but Lin Xiao paid no mind to these minor figures and let the matter go.

Later, at the trading event, Lin Xiao purchased some Yuan-replenishing Pills, Spirit-replenishing Pills, and some auxiliary ingredients for the Thunderous Evil Fire Pill.

Although he wasn’t yet capable of refining fourth-grade pills, he would eventually need these ingredients.

By nightfall, Lin Xiao had returned to the Spirit Controller Alliance. As for the assassination attempt on Meng Ying, he didn’t dwell on it.

Who wanted to kill Meng Ying and why were matters for the imperial family to worry about.

It had nothing to do with him.

However, the incident quickly spread among the major factions.

The fastest to react, naturally, was the imperial family. Upon returning to the palace, Meng Ying immediately went to the underground chamber and reported everything in detail to an elderly woman.

This elderly woman was the true power behind the imperial family, the strongest powerhouse in Lanlan Empire, Empress Dowager Meng Xi.

Empress Dowager Meng Xi was over a hundred years old, with snow-white hair and a face full of wrinkles. She lay half-reclined in her chair, as if she might pass away at any moment.

After listening to Meng Ying’s detailed account, the wrinkles on Empress Dowager Meng Xi’s face twitched slightly, and a hoarse, aged voice emerged from her lips:

“It couldn’t have been Zhou Xiong. Zhou Xiong wouldn’t dare to kill you, and it couldn’t have been the Zhou family. At this time, why would the Zhou family move against the imperial family?”

After a pause, Empress Dowager Meng Xi continued slowly, “It’s highly likely that the Feng and Chen families, during the marriage alliance, wanted to sabotage the relationship between the imperial family and the Zhou family, framing the Zhou family.”

“But aside from the Spirit Controller Alliance, neither the Feng nor Chen families have a fourth-grade primary spirit controller,” Meng Ying shook her head.

“Their true strength isn’t as simple as it appears on the surface. It’s entirely possible that they secretly recruited a fourth-grade primary spirit controller. In the future, you must be more cautious,” Empress Dowager Meng Xi said indifferently.

Meng Ying nodded deeply.

“As for the two fourth-grade primary spirit controllers from the Spirit Controller Alliance, it’s unlikely they helped the two families, but given how few fourth-grade primary spirit controllers there are, we must remain vigilant,” Empress Dowager Meng Xi warned.

Nodding, Meng Ying’s eyes gleamed with a cold light. “I’ll send people to investigate immediately!”

In the Zhou family, upon hearing Zhou Xiong’s account, the family head angrily slammed the table and immediately rushed to the imperial city to explain and communicate with Empress Dowager Meng Xi.

In the Feng family, Feng Lanyue was also discussing the matter with an elder. They speculated that the perpetrator was someone else, as the Feng family had not ordered the assassination of Meng Ying.

However, since the incident had occurred, the elder could only remind Feng Lanyue to avoid a similar fate. After all, the imperial family wasn’t easy to provoke, and there might be repercussions.

Whether or not the Feng family was behind it, they needed to be on guard against the imperial family.

The Chen family was in a similar situation.

While the three great families and the imperial family were busy speculating, two figures appeared in an inn within the imperial city.

One was a nearly seventy-year-old man in black robes, and the other was a young man around thirty, his face filled with resentment.

“I didn’t expect that kid to block my sneak attack!” the young man said angrily.

The black-robed elder also sighed regretfully, “That kid truly has extraordinary talent. At just sixteen or seventeen, he’s already reached such heights. If he continues to grow, he might become another Ye Fenghua.”

“Moreover, I have a feeling that he might be your toughest competitor in this alchemy competition.”

“Him? Maybe in a few years, but right now, he’s not even worth my attention,” the young man said with disdain and pride when the alchemy competition was mentioned.

“Hmm,” the black-robed elder nodded slightly, feeling somewhat reassured about the young man’s current strength.

“However, that kid is still a potential threat. Right now, his conflict with Zhou Xiong is causing some trouble for the Zhou family. If he ends up in a life-or-death struggle with these factions, that’s fine. But if he joins one of them, we must find a way to eliminate him,” the black-robed elder said, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Master. Although I don’t admit that my talent is inferior to his, I won’t let such a threat grow unchecked,” the young man nodded.

“Good,” the black-robed elder nodded, then sighed slightly. “This time, if we had killed Meng Ying, that old woman in the imperial family would have been furious, causing conflict with the other two families. It’s a pity we didn’t succeed.”

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 113

“However, it’s fortunate that I only used fourth-grade primary spiritual power. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for the imperial family and the Zhou family to believe that the Feng and Chen families were behind it.”

“If it had been discovered on the spot that a fourth-grade advanced spirit controller was involved, it would have been quickly deduced, as the only fourth-grade advanced spirit controller in Lanlan Empire is Ye Fenghua.”

The black-robed elder continued, “Although this mission failed, it achieved the goal of sowing suspicion among the factions. When the Feng and Chen families hold their marriage alliance, we’ll stir the pot again and let the major factions fight among themselves. Then, our mission will be accomplished.”

As he spoke, a cold, sinister glint flashed in the black-robed elder’s eyes. “The more chaotic Lanlan Empire becomes, the better it will be for the future invasion by Moyu Empire!”

“If you win the championship in the alchemy competition, it will also greatly benefit our efforts to recruit spirit controllers from Lanlan Empire in the future.”

Finally, the black-robed elder reminded the young man, “To avoid any mishaps, don’t go out these next few days. Focus on preparing for the alchemy competition.”

“Master, don’t worry. In all of Lanlan Empire, there isn’t a single third-grade advanced spirit controller under thirty. Winning the championship will be a breeze for me!” The young man nodded confidently.

“Good.” The black-robed elder nodded slightly, his eyes like a deep abyss as he glanced toward the northeast direction.

…

Over the next two days, news of the assassination attempt on Princess Meng Ying at the trading event spread throughout the streets and alleys. Everyone was on edge, knowing that Princess Meng Ying was the beloved granddaughter of Empress Dowager Meng Xi, the pillar of the imperial family. If something had happened to her, the imperial city would have been thrown into chaos.

At the same time, the name “Hei Mu” spread like wildfire.

A sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth defeating Zhou Xiong, one of the four young masters of the imperial city, undoubtedly shocked the ears of many young people. Some even found it hard to believe.

Naturally, the news reached the Spirit Controller Alliance, causing waves of surprise among its members. They had initially thought Lin Xiao had just barely reached third-grade primary spirit controller through some means.

No one expected his spiritual power to be so solid, allowing him to defeat Zhou Xiong, a fourth-grade martial artist, with third-grade primary spiritual power. This further elevated Lin Xiao’s standing in the eyes of the alliance’s higher-ups.

However, Lin Xiao himself remained oblivious to all of this and completely indifferent, fully immersed in his alchemy studies.

Over the two days, he refined another batch of Yuan-replenishing Pills, Spirit-replenishing Pills, and healing pills, while also studying some of the experiences and pill formulas left by the Devouring Spirit Emperor.

By the third morning, as the first light of dawn shone through the flower-patterned window, Lin Xiao, having rested for the night, finally rose. After washing up, he stepped out of his room.

Since the alchemy competition was held in the square right outside the Spirit Controller Alliance’s main gate, the alliance’s disciples didn’t need to gather beforehand. They could head directly to the venue, and as long as they presented their participation badges issued by the alliance, they could enter.

Walking along the main path inside the Spirit Controller Alliance, Lin Xiao quickly made his way to the alliance’s main gate. Before he even arrived, the distant clamor of voices reached his ears.

As he stepped out of the gate, what greeted him was the luxurious white jade platform, and surrounding the entire square was a large army stationed every couple of meters, fully alert.

After walking halfway around, Lin Xiao finally reached the entrance. By now, the seats in the square were already packed with a bustling crowd, and people were still streaming in through the entrance.

Among the crowd, spirit controllers, who were usually rare and highly respected, could be seen everywhere, highlighting just how attractive this competition was to them.

Looking along the long line of people, one could see the towering white jade platform set up at the far end of the square.

On the platform, there were over a dozen luxurious seats, and below it, a row of green chairs, presumably for the competition’s judges.

In front of the green chairs was a large, empty space—a low stone platform.

This stone platform was large enough to accommodate thousands of people, but no one had stepped onto it yet. Clearly, this was the venue for the competition.

Surrounding the stone platform were rows upon rows of ordinary seats, already filled with a large crowd.

Taking in the grand scene, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but marvel silently. He took out his participation badge and followed the crowd, slowly making his way inside.

The closer he got, the more he felt the buzz of excitement in the air.

It was clear that everyone was eagerly anticipating the alchemy competition, especially the younger participants, who were all passionately discussing it, almost to the point of spitting as they talked.

Not far to the right, Lin Xiao spotted the group from the Spirit Controller Alliance gathered together.

Lin Xiao quickly made his way to the Spirit Controller Alliance’s designated area. At that moment, he saw Wenren Liang, Wu Meng, and others still standing in front of their seats, discussing something. When Lin Xiao approached, the group’s eyes turned toward him.

“Hey, you ugly guy, you’ve really made a name for yourself, huh? Defeating Zhou Xiong and even saving Princess Meng Ying,” Xuanxuan said as soon as she saw him.

“I never expected you to be so strong, little brother,” Wenren Liang said, his face lighting up with excitement as Lin Xiao approached.

Being able to defeat Zhou Xiong showed that Lin Xiao’s spiritual power was formidable, stronger than that of an ordinary third-grade primary spirit controller. This increased his chances of making it into the top ten, which made Wenren Liang quite happy.

“Well… I just took advantage of being a spirit controller,” Lin Xiao replied modestly.

“Brother Hei Mu, you’re being too humble. Even with the advantages of being a spirit controller, I wouldn’t have been able to stand up to Zhou Xiong.”

Wu Sha also stepped forward, smiling. “Brother Hei Mu, with your strength, you must have prepared thoroughly for this alchemy competition, right? What rank are you aiming for?”

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 114

“Uh… top ten should be manageable,” Lin Xiao shrugged, giving a vague response.

“Top ten? Do you think alchemy is as simple as refining Nine Flame Wood or fighting? There are already twenty or thirty third-grade spirit controllers participating in the competition. Do you think getting into the top ten is that easy?” Xuanxuan retorted, clearly skeptical.

The top ten were already figures of extraordinary alchemical prowess in the spirit controller world. While she didn’t deny Lin Xiao’s talent, his youth likely meant he lacked the experience to rank that high.

“Of course, if it were my Ye Yu brother, getting into the top ten would be a breeze. Not just the top ten—he could even win the championship,” Xuanxuan added.

“…” Lin Xiao.

Fanatics are impossible to reason with! The only way to convince them is through results.

“Haha, with Brother Hei Mu’s talent, there’s a good chance he could make it into the top ten. Xuanxuan, you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance… uh, cough…” Pang Po awkwardly coughed twice, realizing that telling Xuanxuan not to judge by appearance might imply that Lin Xiao was ugly.

He quickly added, “Actually, Brother Hei Mu’s appearance probably isn’t bad either. He’s just a bit tanned…”

Lin Xiao smiled without responding. Just because he wore a mask, did that make him a hideous monster afraid to show his face?

“Refining Nine Flame Wood to ten rotations—do you think he just got lucky? His alchemy skills are definitely not weak. Not just top ten, he could even make it into the top five!” Wu Meng’s voice chimed in.

Wu Sha nodded in agreement, turning to Lin Xiao. “I believe in you.”

“Haha, whether I can make it into the top ten isn’t up to us to decide. It all depends on how I perform in the competition. But Miss Wu Sha, it seems you’re also quite confident about making it into the top ten, aren’t you?” Lin Xiao asked with a faint smile.

“I can only do my best,” Wu Sha replied modestly.

However, Lin Xiao could see the confidence shining in her eyes.

Hearing the others praise Lin Xiao, Wenren Liang’s face was filled with a proud smile. Lin Xiao’s appearance had finally allowed him to watch the competition without a frown.

“Hmph, Wenren Liang, is this the disciple you’ve brought?” Just then, a mocking voice of an old man suddenly rang out.

Hearing this, everyone frowned and turned to look in the direction of the voice.

They saw a gray-robed old man and a gray-clothed young man slowly walking toward them.

The old man was about the same age as Wenren Liang, with white hair, while the young man was in his early twenties, with an average appearance but an arrogant expression. When he looked at Lin Xiao, his eyes were filled with disdain.

“Fan Renlou!” Recognizing the old man’s face, Wenren Liang’s brows immediately furrowed.

“Glad you still remember me, the ‘Alliance Leader’ of the Linshui City branch,” Fan Renlou said with a meaningful tone, emphasizing the words “Alliance Leader.”

Wenren Liang frowned and retorted, “Fan Renlou, didn’t you retire? What, are you thinking of returning to the Spirit Controller Alliance now?”

“Haha!” Fan Renlou sneered, his expression turning cold. “If it weren’t for you, would I have needed to leave the Spirit Controller Alliance?”

“Hmph, back then, you and I had our conflicts, competing for the position of Alliance Leader of the Linshui City branch. But those old fools were blind and gave the position to you!”

Fan Renlou’s face showed a hint of anger. “Now, I’ve returned to prove that the Spirit Controller Alliance’s choice back then was a mistake, a huge mistake!”

“Who is this person? How dare he speak to the Spirit Controller Alliance like this? He’s got some nerve!” a young man from the alliance said angrily.

“This man was once a deacon of the main alliance, with a fairly high status. But during the alliance’s election, the higher-ups chose Wenren Liang. He left the alliance in anger after failing to become the Alliance Leader of the Linshui City branch. If he wants to return, he can come back anytime. So, don’t stir up trouble, or you might regret it if you end up under him in the future,” an older spirit controller explained.

Hearing this explanation, the other young men wisely kept their mouths shut. A deacon of the main alliance held a position just below the few elders and oversaw most of the alliance’s affairs.

If he returned, they might end up under his command, and if he heard their earlier comments, their lives would undoubtedly become difficult.

At this moment, Wu Meng and Pang Po, standing nearby, remained silent. The conflict between the two was complicated, and it wasn’t their place to intervene.

Hearing Fan Renlou’s direct accusations, Wenren Liang snorted coldly and retorted:

“Back then, the alliance chose me because of my character. No one forced you to leave the Spirit Controller Alliance—you left on your own. You can’t blame anyone for that.”

“Also, after all these years of retirement, you’re still the same. If we’re really talking about right and wrong, they didn’t make the wrong choice,” Wenren Liang added.

“Didn’t make the wrong choice? Haha, how can you say that with a straight face?” Fan Renlou sneered. “The ability of a branch alliance leader is judged by how well they lead the branch and nurture spirit controller talents. Since you say they didn’t make the wrong choice, let’s compare whose disciple is stronger!”

He pointed to the young man behind him and introduced, “Let me introduce you. This is my disciple, Wu Gong. He’s twenty years old and a third-grade primary spirit controller.”

“I wonder, what kind of disciple has the Alliance Leader of the Linshui City branch produced?”

Fan Renlou looked at Lin Xiao and Wenren Liang with disdain.

At this point, Lin Xiao fully understood. This old man, Fan Renlou, had returned to prove his abilities to the higher-ups of the Spirit Controller Alliance and Wenren Liang, seeking to right what he saw as a wrong.

His method of proof was to compare this young man to Lin Xiao, mistakenly assuming Lin Xiao was Wenren Liang’s disciple.

It had to be said, this young man’s talent was indeed remarkable. Reaching third-grade primary spirit controller at this age was even more impressive than Wu Sha’s talent.

But for Lin Xiao, that might not be the case.

“Twenty years old and a third-grade primary spirit controller?” Wu Meng and Pang Po were stunned. Even Wenren Liang was taken aback.

Wu Gong’s talent was undoubtedly that of a super genius. They hadn’t expected Fan Renlou to produce such a disciple.

Seeing their reactions, Fan Renlou’s face showed a mix of pride and relief.

Wu Gong’s arrogant expression grew even more pronounced as he glanced disdainfully at Lin Xiao and interjected, “Hmph, comparing trash like this to me is an insult.”

Lin Xiao frowned, and the others’ expressions also tightened.

“My only opponent is Ye Yu!” Wu Gong crossed his arms, his face filled with confidence.

Before anyone else could speak, Xuanxuan was the first to react, angrily retorting, “Hmph, who do you think you are? Comparing yourself to my Ye Yu brother is an insult to him!”

She was relatively polite to Lin Xiao since she didn’t dislike him, but this Wu Gong was thoroughly unpleasant, so she didn’t hold back.

Hearing Xuanxuan’s scolding, Wu Gong’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her. Seeing that she was only wearing the attire of a second-grade intermediate spirit controller, he sneered, “And who are you? Just a second-grade intermediate spirit controller. Do you even have the right to speak to me like that?”

He then glanced at Wu Sha and added, “Even you don’t have the right to compare yourself to me!”

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Wu Sha frowned slightly; she had been caught in the crossfire for no reason.

Wu Meng, Pang, and Po also immediately furrowed their brows. Wu Gong was being so arrogant, openly declaring his intention to compete with Ye Yu and showing such disdain for others. Did he possess some extraordinary strength?

Just as Wu Sha was about to speak, Lin Xiao slowly stepped forward and said to Wu Gong with clear annoyance:

“So, you’re Wu Gong, right? It seems to me that you’re just like your master—arrogant, blindly overconfident, and full of big talk right from the start. Aren’t you afraid of tripping over your own tongue? Moreover, you and your master share another common trait: you both bite without reason.”

Whoosh!

Wu Gong’s expression changed, his face filled with anger. How dare this trash speak to him like that, and even dare to criticize his master?

Fan Renlou’s face also darkened with anger. Even Wu Gong wouldn’t dare to directly insult Wen Renliang like this.

Who would have thought that Wen Renliang’s disciple would be so bold and disrespectful, not only mocking but outright insulting, even implicating him in the insult, subtly comparing them to dogs.

“You trash, how dare you say that my master and I are blindly arrogant and bite without reason?” Wu Gong’s furious gaze fixed on Lin Xiao, a cold aura emanating from his body.

“That’s right, I’m talking about you!” Lin Xiao’s gaze met theirs directly. “If you have real strength, prove it on the battlefield. The competition hasn’t even started yet, and you’re already barking all over the place. If you’re not dogs, then what are you?”

Wu Gong’s face darkened, his eyes seemingly about to spit fire.

Ever since he had entered the scene, wherever he went, he had been treated like a star, held in high esteem. Yet now, he was being called a dog to his face, making him feel an impulse to explode in rage.

Fan Renlou’s face was also filled with extreme anger, his eyes flashing with a cold light as he spoke in a deep, menacing voice:

“Wen Renliang, you’ve taught your disciple well! How dare he speak to me like this? If he doesn’t apologize to me today, I’d like to see who can protect him!”

Wen Renliang’s expression tightened. Lin Xiao was not his disciple, and it was they who had dragged Lin Xiao into this. He would never allow the two of them to attack Lin Xiao.

However, just as the tension between the two sides was reaching its peak, a wave of excited chatter erupted across the square. The enthusiastic voices were impossible to ignore, as if the entire square had suddenly come to life.

Lin Xiao followed the gazes of the others and looked over. At that moment, a group of people was walking into the square, led by a man of extraordinary handsomeness.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, with features more delicate and striking than most women’s. His eyebrows were like crescent moons, his eyes deep as abysses. Dressed in a flowing white robe, he moved with an ethereal grace, exuding an intangible charm that seemed to dim the brilliance of the sun and moon. He was truly a peerless beauty, with an otherworldly elegance and a radiant presence.

Beside him was another young man of notable appearance and imposing demeanor, but even he seemed somewhat overshadowed.

“Ye Fenghua is here! The number one spirit controller, Ye Fenghua, has arrived!”

“Ye Fenghua, with his unparalleled handsomeness and peerless elegance, is the most perfect man in the world!”

“Not just perfect, he’s like a man of mystery!”

“Stop talking, Ye Fenghua is my idol. It almost makes me feel like I’m into men…”

“My admiration for Ye Fenghua is pure, absolutely pure!”

“Ye Yu is the same. He’s the top contender for this year’s championship. Today’s spotlight belongs to him!”

“That’s right, Ye Yu is also my perfect man!”

“So, do you like Ye Fenghua or Ye Yu?”

“I like them both!”

“…”

The appearance of the two immediately caused a stir, especially among the spirit controllers, who all looked on with admiration and envy.

Every spirit controller aspired to be like Ye Fenghua. Reaching the level of a fourth-rank advanced spirit controller at around forty years old and becoming the leader of the Spirit Controller Alliance was nothing short of legendary.

Ye Yu, standing beside Ye Fenghua, also attracted a lot of attention, especially from the young women. The mention of the master and disciple’s names together was enough to send waves of excitement through the crowd.

“So, this is the number one spirit controller, Ye Fenghua!” Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t expected that Ye Fenghua, the top spirit controller of the Lanlan Empire, the leader of the Spirit Controller Alliance, and the renowned genius spirit controller of the empire, would appear so youthful and handsome. His eyes carried a mature authority, and his presence was effortlessly elegant, exuding an intangible charm. Even Lin Xiao couldn’t help but admire him.

In terms of reputation and appearance, there was probably no one in the Lanlan Empire who could surpass Ye Fenghua.

“The alliance leader, the alliance leader is here!”

“This is the head of the Spirit Controller Alliance, a fourth-rank advanced spirit controller, half a step into the fifth rank. His prestige is no less than that of Empress Dowager Meng Xi.”

“The alliance leader is already forty years old, yet he looks like he’s in his twenties. As expected of a high-level spirit controller, there’s a hint of rejuvenation about him.”

Among the seats of the Spirit Controller Alliance, murmurs of discussion also arose. The young spirit controllers gazed at him with admiration and fervor. This level of strength and status was what they all aspired to achieve.

In the other seats, the atmosphere was equally lively.

“That’s the leader of the Spirit Controller Alliance, a heavyweight figure in the Lanlan Empire, Ye Fenghua!”

“I heard he’s been half a step into the fifth rank for several years now. His strength is unfathomable; even Martial Sovereigns are wary of him.”

“The two deputy leaders beside him are no ordinary figures either. They’re both fourth-rank intermediate spirit controllers, and there are only two such individuals in the entire Lanlan Empire.”

“With the alliance leader and deputy leaders here, the Spirit Controller Alchemy Competition is about to begin.”

…

As soon as Ye Fenghua appeared, discussions erupted everywhere. There was no helping it; Ye Fenghua’s reputation was simply too great.

Amid the overwhelming respect and chatter, Ye Fenghua remained calm and composed. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he walked over to where Lin Xiao was standing, stopped in front of him, and asked with a hint of surprise, “Are you Hei Mu?”

This action immediately drew the attention of the entire crowd. Who was this person that Ye Fenghua would personally greet first?

Everyone was curious.

“Hei Mu? That name sounds familiar. Who is he? Why is Alliance Leader Ye Fenghua calling him by name…”

“Hei Mu… isn’t that the super genius who defeated Zhou Xiong a couple of days ago, the one everyone’s been talking about?”

“No wonder, no wonder the alliance leader knows his name. Only a genius like him could catch the alliance leader’s attention. It seems the rumors are true!”

“Him? Defeat Zhou Xiong? He doesn’t look particularly special. I’m still a bit skeptical…”

Amid the various murmurs and comments about “Hei Mu,” Lin Xiao ignored the noise. His gaze was fixed on Ye Fenghua.

From what he could see, Ye Fenghua could only be described in one way: unfathomable.

He was impossible to read!

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 116

Behind Ye Fenghua followed two other elders, both of whom Lin Xiao recognised, namely Le Zheng Hongmao and Situ Guang, the two deputy alliance leaders.

“This junior, Hei Mu, greets the Alliance Leader and the two Deputy Alliance Leaders!” Lin Xiao bowed respectfully, speaking with a calm and composed tone.

“No need for such formalities, haha, how interesting. So young, yet already a Third-Grade Junior Spirit Controller, not only refining the Ten-Turn Nine-Flame Wood but also defeating Zhou Xiong. Even I, back in my day, didn’t reach such heights!” Ye Fenghua’s face lit up with an appreciative smile, his presence as refreshing as a gentle breeze.

“What?”

Hearing this, Wu Gong’s heart jolted sharply. He had heard of the Four Great Young Masters long before arriving at the imperial city.

He paid little attention to others, and having just arrived at the imperial city, he was unaware of Hei Mu’s reputation. But upon learning that Lin Xiao was a Third-Grade Junior Spirit Controller who had defeated Zhou Xiong, he was momentarily stunned.

This person was far younger than him, meaning his talent surpassed Wu Gong’s own.

To think that the “trash” he had repeatedly insulted was more of a genius than himself—it felt as though his face had been slapped, burning with shame and anger.

“Hmph, so what if he defeated Zhou Xiong? In alchemy, you’re still far inferior to me. My only rival is Ye Yu!” Wu Gong clenched his fists, muttering to himself inwardly.

At that moment, Fan Renlou, standing beside Wu Gong, also looked grim. Beyond Lin Xiao’s spirit power rank, what caught his attention was Ye Fenghua’s personal mention that Lin Xiao had refined the Ten-Turn Nine-Flame Wood.

As an overseer of the Spirit Controller Alliance, he knew full well how difficult Nine-Flame Wood was to refine. Even now, he couldn’t achieve a nine-turn purification, let alone in his youth.

And ten turns, he understood clearly, though only a fraction purer than nine turns—by a mere one ten-thousandth—that tiny increment was no less challenging than reaching a purity of nine hundred ninety-nine out of ten thousand. Ten turns symbolised perfection, a purity only those with extraordinary talent could achieve.

He could scarcely believe that such a figure existed in the Lanlan Empire.

Even more astonishing was that this genius was the disciple Wen Renliang had brought to compete in the grand contest!

His face flushed with heat and embarrassment.

Though his own disciple possessed exceptional talent, even capable of vying for the championship, compared to this youth, the gap seemed vast.

He had hoped to use this to confront the alliance’s upper echelons and settle old scores with Wen Renliang, but now, that seemed unlikely to succeed.

Moreover, he noticed something else: Ye Fenghua’s first glance fell on Hei Mu, not on him, the one forced out years ago. Though Ye Fenghua hadn’t been the alliance leader back then, he had been present.

This alone showed how much Ye Fenghua valued Hei Mu, which could greatly hinder Fan Renlou’s goal of washing away past humiliations.

With this thought, a worried expression surfaced on Fan Renlou’s face.

Lin Xiao, the centre of attention, naturally paid no heed to their reactions. Looking at the faintly smiling Ye Fenghua, he said courteously and humbly, “Alliance Leader Ye flatters me!”

“You truly deserve this praise!” Ye Fenghua chuckled, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes as he continued, “However, combat prowess doesn’t necessarily mean alchemy skills are equally strong. Later, you’ll need to perform well, I have high hopes for you!”

“Thank you, Alliance Leader!” Lin Xiao replied sincerely.

Nodding, Ye Fenghua asked with slight curiosity, “Still, the alchemy contest is a time to shine. I wonder why you’re wearing a mask…”

Lin Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. Had Ye Fenghua seen through his disguise?

Even if he had, Ye Fenghua wouldn’t recognise him, having never met him before. Plus, Lin Xiao had applied aura-mixing powder to alter his presence, so it was unlikely his former identity would come up.

“Not to hide from the Alliance Leader, I was accidentally burned while refining medicine a while back,” Lin Xiao quickly explained.

“Burned?” Ye Fenghua paused, then laughed, “Haha, I see.”

Whether he believed it or not, Lin Xiao couldn’t tell, so he simply nodded noncommittally.

Beside Ye Fenghua, Ye Yu glared at Lin Xiao with clear displeasure, though in such a public setting, he didn’t dare undermine his uncle by mocking Lin Xiao openly, instead standing aside, quietly seething.

“I’m also looking forward to his performance!” At that moment, a mature, middle-aged voice rang out.

Lin Xiao’s gaze followed the sound, spotting several figures approaching. Leading them was a man in a golden dragon robe, his face exuding the stern authority and sharpness of power.

Beside him stood a woman of breathtaking beauty, noble and refined, her aura regal.

This woman was none other than Princess Meng Ying, one of the four renowned beauties of the imperial city, a sight to behold.

Seeing Lin Xiao, Meng Ying smiled softly, her expression warm as a spring breeze, greeting him with a familiar tone, “Young Master Hei Mu, we meet again.”

“Princess Meng Ying, you’re too kind. I presume this is Emperor Meng of the Lanlan Empire, yes?” Lin Xiao asked respectfully.

“Indeed, haha, if Young Brother Hei Mu doesn’t mind, just call me Uncle Meng,” Emperor Meng laughed heartily, showing no trace of imperial aloofness, his tone warm and approachable.

The crowd was taken aback. Calling the Emperor of the Lanlan Empire “Uncle Meng”?

The implications were profound. Though Emperor Meng lacked real power, he represented the imperial family and, by extension, the empire’s strongest figure, Grand Empress Meng Xi. A single word from him could make anyone in the empire think twice before crossing him!

Moreover, calling the emperor “uncle” carried a hint of intent to recruit a son-in-law.

Wu Gong’s heart trembled again. Not only did Lin Xiao have Ye Fenghua’s favour, but now the imperial family held him in such high regard.

Fan Renlou’s frown deepened.

“This junior is deeply honoured, I truly wouldn’t dare!” Lin Xiao said.

“Nonsense, Young Brother saved Yingying’s life, I should be the one thanking you. If you keep this up, you’re being too distant. In the future, if you need anything, just go to Yingying,” Emperor Meng said with a carefree laugh.

“Then this junior will boldly call you Uncle Meng. If I need help, I’ll trouble Princess Meng Ying,” Lin Xiao replied with a bow. Since the emperor insisted, he couldn’t refuse, calling an emperor “uncle” was likely a unique privilege.

“Humble yet confident, with such talent and this attitude, excellent, excellent. I, too, have high hopes for you,” Emperor Meng praised, his years as emperor lending him a keen eye.

The crowd gasped again, clearly interpreting this as an attempt to win Lin Xiao over.

Favoured by Ye Fenghua and now valued by the imperial family, the onlookers grew increasingly envious of Lin Xiao.

Inwardly, they resolved never to cross this youth, lest they meet an unknown end.

Glancing at Meng Ying, Emperor Meng said meaningfully, “In the future, you young people should spend more time together.”

As someone gradually taking control of imperial power, Meng Ying was usually composed, but her cheeks flushed slightly at this.

Paired with his earlier words, her father’s intent was clear: “I’m optimistic about you, you two should interact more in the future…”

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 117

“I hope Young Master Hei Mu won’t look down on my daughter!” Meng Ying said softly to Lin Xiao.

“How could I? It’s my honour,” Lin Xiao replied.

“Haha!” At that moment, Ye Fenghua’s faint laughter rang out, “I didn’t expect Emperor Meng to come in person.”

“As the Emperor of the Lanlan Empire, how could I not come to support such a grand event as the Spirit Controller’s alchemy contest?” Emperor Meng smiled politely at Ye Fenghua.

As he spoke, he glanced at Ye Yu beside Ye Fenghua and praised, “The Alliance Leader’s nephew truly inherits the Ye family’s bloodline. Nephew Ye Yu is quite exceptional, carrying the same flair as the Alliance Leader in his youth. He has a strong chance of winning this contest’s championship.”

“Emperor Meng overpraises him. Ye Yu’s talent is decent, but his temperament still needs some refinement,” Ye Fenghua shook his head slightly, speaking candidly, though to the crowd, it seemed like modesty.

“Hahaha, Alliance Leader Ye, Emperor Meng, you’ve arrived early!” Just then, a hearty laugh echoed through, and the crowd saw a robust elderly figure leading a large group towards them.

“Patriarch Zhou, you’ve arrived too,” Emperor Meng greeted casually.

Seeing this sturdy old man, who bore some resemblance to Zhou Xiong, Lin Xiao’s expression shifted slightly. This must be Zhou Xiong’s grandfather, Zhou Morui, Patriarch of the Zhou family and one of the Lanlan Empire’s Martial Venerables.

“So this is the young Hei Mu who defeated Zhou Xiong?” Zhou Morui’s gaze turned to Lin Xiao, his tone mildly surprised.

The eyes of Zhou Xiong and Zhou Ruoyi, following behind him, also fixed on Lin Xiao.

Zhou Xiong’s glare burned with anger, as if he longed to rush forward and thrash Lin Xiao.

Zhou Ruoyi’s face darkened; it was she who had told her brother about Chen Qing’er, hoping Zhou Xiong would teach Lin Xiao a lesson, only for him to lose to Lin Xiao instead.

“Patriarch Zhou, greetings!” Ignoring Zhou Xiong and Zhou Ruoyi’s stares, Lin Xiao addressed Zhou Morui calmly and confidently.

“Haha, my grandson has always been untamed, but now he’s finally met his match. Lad, you did well to knock some sense into him, let him see that his talent isn’t much among the younger generation,” Zhou Morui said.

His attitude caught Lin Xiao off guard.

“Hmph, this score, I’ll settle it with you sooner or later, just you wait!” Zhou Xiong said coldly to Lin Xiao.

“Anytime,” Lin Xiao replied nonchalantly. To such a brash, bear-like brute, he had nothing to say. If Zhou Xiong wasn’t convinced, Lin Xiao would beat him until he was, though whether Zhou Xiong even qualified to challenge him again depended on Zhou Xiong himself.

“Haha, it’s good for young people to have goals. In the future, I hope Young Brother Hei Mu will also spend time exchanging with my granddaughter Ruoyi,” Zhou Morui said with a smile.

Zhou Ruoyi’s face stiffened instantly. Exchange with Hei Mu? Impossible!

Lin Xiao brushed it off with a smile, exchanging with Zhou Ruoyi? He had no interest!

“Most of the people have arrived, let’s take our seats,” Ye Fenghua said, glancing over the crowd.

Emperor Meng and Zhou Morui nodded slightly. From the imperial side, only Meng Ying and an elderly personal guard followed Emperor Meng forward, while the others headed to the imperial seating area. Zhou Morui gestured to his group, and the Zhou family members moved towards their designated seats.

Only he, Zhou Xiong, and one elder stepped towards the main platform.

“Hei Mu, on the contest field, I hope your alchemy skills aren’t too shabby,” Ye Yu said with hostility before departing.

“You too,” Lin Xiao replied indifferently, uninterested in engaging with Ye Yu.

“Hmph!” With a cold snort, Ye Yu flicked his hand and strode towards the Spirit Controller Guild’s seating area.

“Brother Ye Yu is so cool!” Xuan Xuan called out from behind.

“Overseer Fan, are you planning to return to the Spirit Controller Alliance this time?” After a few steps, Ye Fenghua suddenly recalled something, turning back to glance at Fan Renlou before leaving, asking.

Fan Renlou froze briefly. Ye Fenghua had finally noticed him, though the attention felt dismissive.

“I’ve brought my disciple back to compete in the contest, to prove that your decision back then was wrong!” After a pause, Fan Renlou finally spoke.

He had been brimming with confidence, but seeing the current situation, his assurance wavered.

Even if Wu Gong won the alchemy contest, with Lin Xiao’s talent, if the Alliance Leader insisted the past decision was correct, Fan Renlou would have no recourse.

“Comparing alchemy with Hei Mu?” Ye Fenghua glanced at Wu Gong and said, “In that case, go ahead and compete.”

Shaking his head with mild disappointment, Ye Fenghua continued onward.

“Hmph, once Wu Gong takes first, we’ll see what you say!” Fan Renlou snorted inwardly, gesturing to Wu Gong, “Let’s go!”

With that, he shot a glance at Lin Xiao and strode off.

They had no fixed seats; aside from the major factions, everyone else went to the open seating area.

Wu Gong’s expression hardened as he said to Lin Xiao, “Hei Mu, I admit I can’t match you in combat, but in alchemy, you’re far behind me. We’ll settle this on the contest field!”

With that, he followed Fan Renlou.

“Yap!” Lin Xiao said lightly.

“You!” Wu Gong spun around in fury, his eyes practically spitting fire, before turning helplessly and storming off.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 118

Not long after, a group of prominent figures from the Lanlan Empire took their seats on the main platform.

The seats on the main platform were somewhat special, each primary seat had two accompanying seats behind it.

In other words, each faction could seat three people, the leader took the front position, while the other two, key figures of the faction, sat behind.

As the faction with the most spirit controllers and the host of the alchemy contest, the Spirit Controller Alliance’s leader, Ye Fenghua, naturally took the central seat without question, with Le Zheng Hongmao and Situ Guang seated behind him. To Ye Fenghua’s right was Emperor Meng, followed by Meng Ying and a guard.

To Meng Xi’s right sat Zhou Morui, Zhou Xiong, and an elder from the Zhou family.

On Ye Fenghua’s left, three faction seats remained empty, clearly indicating that those factions had yet to arrive.

“Haha, we’re not late, are we?” Shortly after they settled in, a booming laugh rolled through, and the crowd saw a large group approaching the entrance.

Leading them were several elders, each exuding an intangible air of authority, accompanied by a pair of stunning women.

One was as beautiful as a celestial fairy, with extraordinary grace, the other was valiant and spirited, moving with elegance, both radiating an impressive presence.

Their arrival instantly sparked a flurry of discussion among the crowd.

“The Feng and Chen families have arrived, that’s Chen Wendao, the Chen family patriarch, one of the Lanlan Empire’s few Martial Venerables!”

“The one beside him is the prodigy Feng Lanyue, and the Grand Elder of the Tianxuan Sect. I didn’t expect all three factions to arrive together.”

“With the Chen and Zhou family patriarchs here, why hasn’t the Feng family patriarch shown up?”

“I heard he’s in seclusion. Even without him, beside Feng Lanyue is Feng Ziyang, the Feng family’s Grand Elder, a peak Martial King powerhouse. Though he lacks the presence of a Martial Venerable, it’s still enough.”

“Feng Lanyue is like a goddess descended to earth, a dragon among men. It’s such a pity she’s to be married off so young…”

“Keep dreaming, even if she doesn’t marry, you’d never have a chance. In the entire Lanlan Empire, who besides Chen Yan could match her?”

“Chen Yan may be exceptionally talented, but he’s already twenty. In my opinion, that Hei Mu is the best match, alas, they met too late!”

“You could go after Chen Qing’er!”

“That’s just asking for death, I’m not Hei Mu!”

“Feng Huo’s not bad either, full of charm!”

Waves of excited chatter filled the plaza, Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue undeniably the most eye-catching figures, stirring endless speculation and regret among the onlookers.

Naturally, beauties like Chen Qing’er and Feng Huo drew plenty of covetous gazes as well.

But when Lin Xiao saw that strikingly handsome face and breathtaking beauty, a chilling murderous intent surged within him.

It was that handsome face that had personally crippled his dantian, leading the elders to expel him from the Tianxuan Sect, and together with Feng Lanyue, they had stolen his sixth-grade spirit stone, nearly costing him his life.

Beyond them, there were also the three elders present at the time who, under the sect’s honour, had banished him— one inner sect elder and two outer sect elders, all now walking within the Tianxuan Sect’s group.

Even the disciples who had driven him out were among the crowd.

Now, all his enemies stood before him, and Lin Xiao’s emotions surged forth, his fists clenched tightly, nails digging deep into his palms.

“Chen Yan, Feng Lanyue, and those three elders!” Lin Xiao’s eyes flashed with cold light, his icy gaze locking onto the approaching figures.

Today, Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue basked in glory, admired by thousands, much of it built upon the sixth-grade spirit stone they’d taken from him, while he had nearly perished, only to witness this day as if “from the spirit in the heavens.”

“Hei Mu, are you alright?” While everyone’s attention was on the three arriving factions, Wu Sha, standing nearby, noticed Lin Xiao’s odd behaviour and asked with slight surprise.

Hearing Wu Sha’s words, Lin Xiao snapped back to reality, slowly suppressing his emotions, then took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “I’m fine.”

At that moment, after the large group entered, they split into two streams, a smaller group led by Chen Wendao headed forward, while the majority dispersed towards the surrounding seats.

As they parted, Chen Qing’er, Feng Lanyue, Chen Yan, and Feng Huo’s gazes turned towards Lin Xiao.

Catching the sombre look in Lin Xiao’s eyes from afar, Chen Qing’er’s crystalline eyes flickered, her heart wondering in surprise, “Why do I see such deep hatred in his gaze?”

“This guy looks a bit cold, doesn’t he?” Feng Huo licked her lips, casting a flirtatious glance and smiling at Lin Xiao from a distance.

“So this is the one who defeated Zhou Xiong?” Chen Yan’s eyes shifted towards Lin Xiao.

Upon seeing the pupils Lin Xiao revealed, a vague sense of familiarity stirred in Chen Yan’s heart, though he couldn’t place where he’d seen them before, nor understand why he felt this way.

“That guy’s not simple, possessing spirit energy and defeating Zhou Xiong. He’s likely to make a big splash in this alchemy contest, the patriarch even told me to befriend him if possible,” Feng Lanyue muttered softly to Chen Yan, pursing her lips.

“That depends on Qing’er. It’d be best to win him over, if he joins another faction, he could become a threat,” Chen Yan’s gaze sharpened, exchanging quiet words with Feng Lanyue as they walked.

Watching them slowly approach the main platform, Lin Xiao’s mood gradually calmed.

His great vengeance would be exacted, but not today, the time wasn’t right yet. In a few days, he’d give them a proper shock.

Chen Yan, Feng Lanyue, and several key figures entered the main seats under everyone’s watchful eyes, exchanging pleasantries with Ye Fenghua, Emperor Meng, Zhou Morui, and the others, before Chen Wendao and his group took their places.

The Tianxuan Sect’s Grand Elder sat at the outermost position to Ye Fenghua’s left, with two elders behind him.

Next to the Tianxuan Sect’s spot was the Chen family’s.

Chen Wendao took the primary seat, with Chen Yan and an elder seated behind him.

To everyone’s astonishment, on the Chen family’s right, at Ye Fenghua’s immediate left, within the Feng family’s section, Grand Elder Feng Ziyang sat in an accompanying seat, while Feng Lanyue took the primary position.

This caused an uproar among the crowd, sitting in that spot was tantamount to acting as the family head’s proxy.

It seemed the Feng family placed immense value on Feng Lanyue, intent on letting her take the lead.

“Let’s take our seats too!” Wu Meng sighed, addressing Lin Xiao and the group.

Nodding slightly, Lin Xiao turned slowly and sat temporarily in the Spirit Controller Alliance’s regular seating area.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 119

Amid the lively chatter of the crowd, time gradually passed, after about an hour, two light coughs came from Ye Fenghua’s mouth. The crowd watched as Ye Fenghua’s figure slowly rose to his feet.

Seeing Ye Fenghua stand, everyone knew that the long-awaited alchemy contest was about to begin.

The noisy scene quickly quieted down.

Casting a glance around the plaza, Ye Fenghua spoke slowly, “Everyone, the Youth Spirit Controller Alchemy Contest, held once every five years, now begins.”

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried clearly across the entire plaza. As his words fell, the scene erupted with enthusiastic applause and cheers.

“First, let me announce the rules of the contest,” Ye Fenghua continued, “The alchemy contest consists of four rounds. The first three rounds will take place today. The first and second rounds test basic alchemy skills, the third round is a speed alchemy challenge, and the fourth round, the final, will have its rules announced once the qualifiers are determined.”

“Now, all disciples participating in the alchemy contest, please take the stage.”

At Ye Fenghua’s words, the young participants surged with excitement.

This day, under the gaze of thousands, was their chance to realise their dreams, to stand out in the contest, gain the support of major factions, and receive guidance from prominent figures. From this, they could alter their cultivation destinies, leap over the dragon gate, and soar to the heavens.

The moment had finally arrived, one by one, the youths strode confidently towards the stone platform.

Those who could take the stage were exceptional youths who had passed rigorous selections. Amid the roaring cheers and the squeals of young girls watching, a sense of pride welled up in them, their spirited resolve igniting instantly.

“Swish!” “Swish!” “Swish!” …

As the crowd surged towards the stone platform, several figures leapt into the air from all directions, flying towards the centre of the stage.

Entering by flight undoubtedly drew the most attention, signifying that the individual was at least a Third-Grade Spirit Controller, destined to rank high in the alchemy contest.

Even among those who flew, there were distinctions, but the most eye-catching was Ye Yu, soaring from the Spirit Controller section, his demeanor graceful and elegant, standing out prominently in the crowd.

“Let’s head up too!” Lin Xiao glanced at Wu Sha and Xuan Xuan, saying calmly.

Both nodded, following the other youths from the Spirit Controller Alliance onto the stone platform with a low profile.

Lin Xiao’s gaze swept over the scene, by now, all the youths had entered the stone platform area.

There were roughly two thousand participants, with nearly thirty dressed in Third-Grade Spirit Controller attire.

Including those like him who weren’t wearing the marked clothing, the number of Third-Grade Spirit Controllers was likely more than thirty.

As he reached a spot near the centre of the platform, Chen Qing’er and Feng Huo, ahead of him, turned to look his way.

“Young Master Hei Mu, do you have a grudge against our Chen family?” Chen Qing’er suddenly asked.

At her words, Lin Xiao’s expression stiffened.

With his current disguise of aura-mixing powder and mask, aside from Yi Xuanfeng and Ge Mu, no one knew his true background, and those two would never betray his secret.

The Chen family couldn’t possibly connect him to the person Chen Yan had crippled a year ago.

Otherwise, Chen Yan and Feng Lanyue would have shown killing intent the moment they saw him.

Moreover, in the past two days, neither family would have let him reach the alchemy contest grounds so peacefully.

So how did Chen Qing’er know?

At their first meeting, she had seen through his spirit power rank, could it be due to those clear, transparent eyes of hers?

Staring into Chen Qing’er’s eyes, Lin Xiao instinctively made this guess.

Seeing Lin Xiao’s startled reaction, a strange glint flashed in Chen Qing’er’s eyes. She suddenly let out a crisp laugh, “Haha, Qing’er was just joking with Young Master Hei Mu.”

“I didn’t expect Miss Qing’er to jest too,” Lin Xiao replied, though from her eyes, he was certain she hadn’t been joking earlier.

Her words were likely meant for others, to lighten the mood.

“Well, does Little Brother Hei Mu have a grudge against my Feng family too?” Feng Huo sauntered over with a seductive sway, teasing playfully.

Lin Xiao paused briefly, then smiled, “Haha, I have grudges with both your families.”

They might not realise it, but he spoke the truth, he truly bore an irreconcilable enmity with both houses.

“Oh, grudges with both our families, does that mean you want to claim us both for yourself?” Feng Huo teased with a playful smirk.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Lin Xiao shook his head. Her charm was indeed alluring, but he had no such inclinations towards either of them.

“Hmph, him?” Zhou Ruoyi, standing nearby, snorted coldly. Her brother had lost to Lin Xiao, and though she didn’t dare say much now, she’d have eagerly humiliated him otherwise.

But hearing Chen Qing’er, whom her brother adored, being linked to Lin Xiao pushed her to speak up.

Yet Chen Qing’er’s next move left Zhou Ruoyi’s expression frozen.

Chen Qing’er stepped forward, closing the distance to Lin Xiao. Her stunning face leaned towards his side, whispering near his ear, a barrier of spirit power blocking eavesdroppers, “I know you weren’t lying just now, but no matter what, I hope that even if there’s enmity with my family, there’s none between you and me, because…”

She paused there, her face flushing, before turning and walking away.

In that instant, those who witnessed it were stunned, Zhou Ruoyi’s face stiffening completely.

While other areas buzzed with discussion, this spot fell silent…

“Hey, ugly, she wasn’t confessing to you, was she?” Xuan Xuan’s unfiltered voice broke the quiet.

Everyone had been thinking along those lines but wasn’t sure what was said, until Xuan Xuan blurted it out, leading all to assume Chen Qing’er was confessing her feelings to Lin Xiao…

The nearby youths inwardly cursed a thousand times, bitterly wishing they were Hei Mu!

“Bloody hell!”

On the main platform, Zhou Xiong nearly leapt up in rage, his murderous glare fixed on Lin Xiao. If he could, he’d rush down and cripple Lin Xiao right then…

But the occasion didn’t allow it, and he couldn’t beat him anyway, Zhou Xiong’s frustration was enough to make his heart burst.

Chen Qing’er was the one he dreamed of day and night!

Now, seeing her with Lin Xiao…

The thought alone sent Zhou Xiong’s anger boiling over.

Abyss Sovereign Chapter 120

“Sigh, I don’t know what’s wrong with your sister, she seems to clash with this Hei Mu. Look at Chen Qing’er, striking while the iron’s hot. If Hei Mu gets pulled in by the Chen family, it’d be a huge loss of talent!” At that moment, beside Zhou Xiong, his grandfather Zhou Morui sighed in exasperation, as if scolding iron for not turning into steel.

Zhou Xiong nearly spat blood. His own grandfather, truly his own grandfather! Knowing he liked Chen Qing’er, yet praising her, knowing he’d been thrashed by Lin Xiao, yet suggesting his sister pursue him…

“Haha, I underestimated Qing’er. She may seem gentle and quiet usually, but when she’s clever, she’s sharper and braver than anyone, striking first. Good, well done! When we get back, I’ll make sure she’s well rewarded!” On the other side, Chen Wendao chuckled with delight.

Chen Yan nodded approvingly too. Hearing about Hei Mu, he’d personally mentioned to Qing’er the family’s intent to win him over, and he hadn’t expected her to act so swiftly today.

“That Chen girl moves fast, Yingying, you’d better seize this chance. We can’t let Hei Mu fall into someone else’s hands,” Emperor Meng remarked thoughtfully to Meng Ying from another seat.

“I…” Meng Ying hesitated, then replied, “I’ll try my best…”

At the regular seating outside, near the Spirit Controller Alliance’s front row, Wu Meng coughed anxiously, “Cough cough, this lad’s too good at catching girls’ attention. I hope he doesn’t get snatched away first!”

Wen Renliang beside him gave an awkward smile.

At that moment, Lin Xiao, the centre of it all on the stage, stiffened in shock. Could Chen Qing’er really discern the emotions he’d shown when looking at the Chen family?

And whether his claim of enmity with both families was true or false?

To see through someone’s thoughts so easily, wouldn’t that be terrifying?

What kind of eyes did Chen Qing’er have, could they be some special pupils?

Of course, he wasn’t foolish, her final words clearly carried a hint of intent towards him.

“Enmity with the family, but not between us, I’d like that!” Recalling Chen Qing’er’s words, Lin Xiao shook his head inwardly. If he told her he intended to kill her brother, would she still feel the same?

“Hey, ugly, you’re not grinning like an idiot, are you?” Seeing Lin Xiao’s complex expression, Xuan Xuan piped up again.

By now, Chen Qing’er’s face, not far off, was flushed red, further convincing everyone she’d confessed to Lin Xiao.

In truth, for Chen Qing’er, it was indeed so, though she hadn’t finished her last sentence.

To Xuan Xuan’s prodding, Lin Xiao sighed speechlessly and shook his head, casually explaining, “You’re overthinking it, Miss Qing’er just told me a few things.”

A few things? Who’d believe that? Everyone wore looks of blatant disbelief.

“Haha, I’ve got something to say to Little Brother Hei Mu too!” Feng Huo’s teasing laugh rang out as she stepped forward, leaning close to Lin Xiao’s ear.

Lin Xiao felt helpless, letting her fragrance wash over him. At this point, even if it was just talk, it’d be misinterpreted.

Yet, to his astonishment, it wasn’t a misunderstanding, Feng Huo kissed him on the face. Yes, not words, a kiss, right on the exposed lower side of his face, leaving Lin Xiao dumbfounded.

In front of thousands, under everyone’s eyes, she’d kissed him on the face?

This Feng Huo, her boldness was unreal!

Though Lin Xiao didn’t mind, the setting made him feel a tad awkward.

The others were outright gobsmacked.

Chen Qing’er’s whisper might not have been a confession, there was a slim chance she was just talking.

But Feng Huo’s action was blatant, that kiss said it all.

“Heavens, this, this is too much! That’s Feng Huo, a Third-Grade Mid-Level Spirit Controller, her beauty and talent on par with the four great beauties, kissing Hei Mu in public like that!”

“Admired by Chen Qing’er, one of the four beauties, and now Feng Huo too, this Hei Mu’s living the dream!”

“Who can blame him for being a genius? At his age, a Third-Grade Spirit Controller who beat Zhou Xiong, Zhou Xiong paved the way for him.”

“Sure, but he’s reaping all the benefits! I don’t mind flowers on cow dung, but not all the flowers on one pile, even if he’s not cow dung!”

“Sigh, I heard Feng Huo used to fancy Ye Yu, why the sudden change of heart? Wonder what Ye Yu thinks…”

The crowd buzzed with chatter, especially the young men, their tones laced with frustration, wishing they were Lin Xiao, with all the beauties throwing themselves at him.

The world was too unfair, beauties always belonged to someone else.

“What a disgrace, what a disgrace, haha…” On the main platform, Feng Ziyang laughed, his words scolding the impropriety, yet his face beamed brightly.

The Feng family would be thrilled to win over a talent like Lin Xiao, especially with a Martial Venerable backing him.

Zhou Morui and the others nearby felt their faces burn, this wasn’t reprimanding, it was flaunting.

“Using Sister Feng Huo to win over Hei Mu, not a bad move,” Feng Lanyue smirked slyly.

Chen Wendao frowned slightly. Though allied with the Feng family through marriage, he still hoped to bring a genius like Lin Xiao into the Chen fold.

“Compared to Feng Huo, Qing’er’s still a bit green,” Chen Wendao shook his head lightly.

“Given Qing’er’s nature, reaching this point is already impressive, and doing it in front of so many people, probably only Feng Huo could pull that off,” Chen Yan said beside him, knowing Feng Huo’s boldness, though not expecting it to this degree.

“Besides, if Hei Mu aligns with the Feng family, it benefits our Chen family too, no harm done,” Chen Yan added.

Chen Wendao nodded in agreement.

At another seat, Emperor Meng furrowed his brow slightly, saying meaningfully, “Yingying, feeling the pressure yet?”

Meng Ying blinked, dazed. The contest hadn’t even started, and factions were already vying for him, the pressure was indeed mounting.

“Yes, a bit,” Meng Ying answered blankly.

“Stealing the spotlight before the contest even begins, this lad’s something else!” Emperor Meng sighed deeply.

Below, at the Spirit Controller Alliance’s spot, Wu Meng grumbled under his breath, “That woman’s shameless!”

“Now Wu Sha’s got another tough rival,” Pang Po chuckled, teasing from the side.

“He’s bound to get snatched up, poor Wu Sha,” Wen Renliang clucked gleefully beside him.a