The moonlight, like mercury, meandered into streams on the Liuli eaves.
The branches of the ancient locust tree in the courtyard severed the light and shadow, casting shadows over countless faces, making the scene incredibly gloomy.
It wasn't just those geniuses from the four continents who were unaware of the inside story.
Even those involved who knew the situation looked rather grim, their eyes gleaming in the shadows.
Under the influence of multiple factors, they began to connect the historical Nether Soul Blood Venerable with this rising star of the Eastern Continent in the royal city.
Especially considering everyone's current predicament, this suspicion has only deepened.
Click!
Suddenly, a prodigy from the Northern Continent crushed the jade goblet, his voice trembling. "So that's how it is!"
"No wonder the Heavenly Supervision Department has imprisoned us here, no wonder I've never heard of this person before, and no wonder Brother Yang is still nowhere to be found!"
"This Heavenly Supervision Department is clearly trying to feed on our very foundations..."
"Fellow Daoist, be careful with your words!"
Xiao Jin feigned anxiety and raised his hand to set up a soundproof barrier, his words carrying a warning. "Those of us who know the truth are under a restriction, so we must be careful what we say, or our souls will be scattered!"
"But I've never said a bad word about that person, don't you dare ruin my life!!"
As his words, tinged with slight anger, fell...
The gloom on everyone's faces had not yet dissipated. The Buddhist Disciple from the Western Continent suddenly stood up, his eyes burning as he stared at Xiao Jin, and spoke with a livid expression:
"Benefactor Xiao...please tell this humble monk the truth, could that person truly be someone secretly cultivated by the Heavenly Supervision Department ...?"
"Don't talk nonsense!!"
Xiao Jin's expression grew even uglier, and he angrily retorted, "We've made Blood Soul Contract; you should know the dangers of careless words!"
His gaze swept over the four continents' prodigies, their brows furrowed, and he said, word by word:
"You're the ones who say it's impossible for anyone to reach the late stage of the Heaven and Earth Realm in a thousand years. I'm just telling you about a real-life example from back then. It's your own problem to make assumptions!"
"Don't let me fall into a place of injustice!"
Click!
Before he finished speaking, he smashed the teacup beside him, stood up abruptly, and seemed to intend to leave the room on the spot.
But someone beside him quickly pulled him back. "We are not fools, we understand Brother Xiao's good intentions! But could you please explain the level of that person's cultivation?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about! Let go!"
Xiao Jin seemed completely taken aback by everyone's speculation, and shouted in a mixture of shock and anger:
"I've made myself perfectly clear!"
Upon hearing this, a look of realization dawned on the man's eyes. "You mean... that person, like the Nether Soul Blood Venerable of yesteryear, is at the late stage of the Heaven and Earth Realm?!"
"I have no idea!"
Xiao Jin finally ignored his question, forcefully broke free from the man's grasp, and coldly shouted:
"I only said that a thousand years ago, there were indeed evil cultivators who broke through to higher realms by using the blood essence of geniuses. As for the rest... they are all just your own imaginations!"
Having said that, the strongest prodigy of Golden Scale Grotto-Heaven originally intended to leave this place directly.
However, the four prodigies who had risen one after another blocked his path, staring intently at him.
It's obvious.
If things aren't made clear, it's unlikely you can leave directly.
Xiao Jin could only sit back down "angrily": "I have said all I have to say. I hope you will all behave yourselves!"
He grabbed a new set of teacups and began pouring and drinking tea on his own.
However, his reaction led many present to believe that he was tacitly acknowledging the claim that [the Eastern Continent prodigy was in the late stage of the Heaven and Earth Realm].
Just then...
Not far away, Luo Lingxi, the Southern Continent Talisman Girl, suddenly pulled out a shimmering Talisman from her waist. She stared at it with a dim gaze, then shook her head and sighed after a moment.
"No wonder his cultivation speed is so incredible..."
His words carried a hint of self-deprecation.
She subtly activated the Divine Connection Realm Talisman bestowed upon her by the sect leader, subtly influencing the minds of everyone present.
Southern Continent Heavenly Talisman Sect, Mortal Tribulation Talisman.
Even True Person of the same Divine Connection Realm would have no chance of discovering the existence of this talisman without being present at the scene.
Moreover, what if we wait until the war is over?
Even if Elder Ye notices something amiss, with no witnesses or physical evidence available, he will have no way of tracing her back to her!
Thinking of this, Luo Lingxi's mood gradually lightened.
Human Race are often greedy.
During their adventures and training in the Divine Continent, whether they encountered the unparalleled Snake People Race or terrifying Mutant Beast far surpassing their own level, they still found it difficult to let go of the rare Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that were within their reach.
And she, Luo Lingxi, was a notorious greedy person even among the most talented!
Even if she were to face an unprecedented Divine Connection Realm, she still wanted to seize her own share of the opportunity!
If she succeeds, Luo Lingxi has a premonition that she will receive an incredibly generous reward from the Taiqing Dao Tablet!
So what's wrong with her taking on multiple layers of insurance?
In any case, even if all these geniuses from the four continents attacked at once, they would still be no match for Elder Ye.
At most, under the watchful eyes of many high-ranking Mountain Gate, the latter might be a little more reserved in their fighting.
Xiao Jin and she were thinking the same thing.
As expected of the most resilient prodigy in the history of Golden Scale Grotto-Heaven, he dared to snatch food from the mouth of an unparalleled genius, and afterwards managed to protect himself and extricate himself smoothly.
On the contrary, it was that group of geniuses from the four continents who were unaware of the inside story.
Seeing the strange expressions and postures of everyone in the know, the tension they had been holding in finally snapped.
It's over!
Therefore, it seems highly likely that the prodigy from the Eastern Continent is practicing evil arts!
Consequently, the likelihood that they would not be able to leave the royal city alive also became extremely high!
"I knew all along that the Heavenly Supervision Department was full of corrupt and wicked people!"
Someone cried out in alarm, their words filled with grief and indignation. "The underhanded things they do are no better than what our Qingshi Sect does!!"
"The Heavenly Supervision Department harbors a demon! They actually intend to turn us, their elite talents, into nourishment for that demon! We absolutely cannot accept this!"
"What kind of bullshit Five Continents War! It's clearly a flesh and blood feast set up by the Heavenly Supervision Department for those evil cultivators from the Eastern Continent!"
"Don't panic, everyone! Once the battle begins, we'll all swarm in, and even if that Eastern Continent prodigy is only at the late stage of the Heaven and Earth Realm, he'll surely perish on the spot!!"
"That's right! Let's drive the geniuses of the Heavenly Supervision Department out of the secret realm first! Once the battle is over, they won't be able to do anything to us!"
"That's right! Even if they want to keep us here, they'll have to consider the weight of the hundreds of Guardian behind us!!"
"..."
Xiao Jin slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the four continents' prodigies whose emotions were gradually spiraling out of control.
I couldn't help but feel an urge to laugh.
Great, the plan works.
Although Luo Lingxi seemed to be a bit of a freeloader, considering that her Talisman were indeed somewhat effective, we can still consider her to have made a contribution.
This was Xiao Jin's plan.
Anyway, that elder from the Eastern Continent wasn't a real evil cultivator, and he had a bad temper. Yang Shijian, as a famous prodigy from the Northern Continent, was slapped to death on the spot just for speaking rudely.
When besieged by such a large number of geniuses from the four continents, they will inevitably unleash a massacre.
Over a hundred prodigies from the four continents... that should be enough to keep that monster busy for a quarter of an hour, right?
If I take this opportunity to escape and create some distance, I will have a good chance of obtaining a reward at the level of the Divine Connection Realm technique.
Perhaps this move will even earn him the favor of the Daoist stele.
The rewards received will then be even higher, and there will be a chance to receive that Creation Baptism...
Xiao Jin's heart gradually warmed, and his breathing became slightly more rapid involuntarily.
You can't blame him for losing his temper.
The legendary Creation Baptism, which is said to increase the possibility of achieving the [True Lord] level, is so powerful that even the Old Ancestor of the Golden Scale Grotto-Heaven are driven mad by it.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have attracted that exceptionally talented elder from the Eastern Continent to come and participate.
As long as the news from this place remains unknown to the other party.
Xiao Jin was absolutely certain he would survive!
This unparalleled courage is one of the reasons why he is hailed as the person with the strongest will in the history of Golden Scale Grotto-Heaven!