At that moment, a blood-red light streaked across the sky, heading towards the summit of Floating Cloud Mountain.
“Look, what is that!?”
“It looks like Lord Spirit Venerable!”
“Lord Spirit Venerable’s aura is unstable, he seems to be injured…”
On Floating Cloud Mountain, some patrolling disciples noticed the approaching blood-red light.
Soon, the massive blood-red light landed directly in front of the Bloodsoul Hall with a loud “thud.”
Tyler and Ollie were startled and looked towards the blood-red light.
As the light dissipated, the Inferno Gryphon revealed its true form.
The Inferno Gryphon appeared weak, with numerous deep wounds on its massive body, one of which was so deep that bones were visible.
“Spirit Venerable!” Tyler’s face changed dramatically, and the teacup in his hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Ollie was equally shocked.
“Spirit Venerable, who injured you? What happened?” Tyler’s robe fluttered as he stepped forward to the Inferno Gryphon’s side.
“Where are Grand Elder Peter and the others?” Ollie also moved to stand beside the Inferno Gryphon.
“It was that damned boy. He set up a fourth-grade Killing Formation…” The Inferno Gryphon’s eyes burned with humiliation as it angrily recounted what had happened outside the north gate of Clearwind Town to Tyler and Ollie.
“What! They’re all dead!!?” Tyler’s vision darkened, and his body swayed involuntarily as his hands clenched tightly.
“How is this possible? How could that boy have killed Grand Elder Peter and Elder Courtney!?” Ollie’s old face twitched, his eyes filled with horror.
“That boy used the formation’s power. It was immense. I barely escaped with serious injuries. I swear, once I recover, I will devour him alive!” The Inferno Gryphon roared in fury.
Tyler’s hands creaked as his face twisted with uncontrollable rage.
The Bloodsoul Sect had eight Spirit Saint-level experts, including himself, Ollie, and the Supreme Elder. Now, five were dead. The Bloodsoul Sect’s strength had been halved. Such a loss was unbearable for any sect.
The Bloodsoul Sect, with its thousand-year legacy, was on the brink of destruction under Tyler’s leadership. This filled him with uncontrollable anger.
“My Bloodsoul Sect and that brat are irreconcilable!!” Tyler’s eyes turned a strange blood-black color, his voice hoarse like a ghost’s wail.
With a wave of his sleeve, he shattered the stone table under the Blood Maple Spirit Tree into pieces.
The battle outside Clearwind Town’s north gate spread throughout the Martial Dynasty within three days.
Soon, everyone in the Martial Dynasty knew that a young and powerful lord had appeared in Clearwind Town, who was also a fourth-grade formation master.
Along with this news came the recruitment notice from Clearwind Town Lord’s Manor.
Any Spirit King-level expert who joined Lord’s Manor would receive an Ascension Pill after twenty years of service, along with Spirit Stones and Demon King-level beast meat to help them break through to the Spirit Saint level.
This recruitment notice was a godsend for upper-level Spirit King peak cultivators.
Cultivators were concerned about the enmity between Clearwind Town’s lord and the Bloodsoul Sect.
But after the battle outside the north gate, all worries were dispelled.
Killing four Spirit Saint-level experts of the Bloodsoul Sect and severely injuring their guardian spirit beast was legendary.
In Clearwind Town, cultivators discussed this event fervently for days.
Within days, thirty Spirit King-level experts gathered in Clearwind Town, along with many other cultivators eager to see the new lord.
This influx caused congestion in the small town, making accommodation scarce and leading to conflicts over lodging.
Morning at Lord’s Manor.
Leo emerged from his cultivation chamber.
Elder Archie and Elder Noah were waiting in the courtyard.
“Lord, thirty Spirit King-level cultivators have come for the recruitment. They are waiting at the training ground,” Elder Archie reported respectfully.
Since witnessing Leo kill four Spirit Saint-level experts of the Bloodsoul Sect on the city wall, their reverence for him had deepened.
“Let’s go,” Leo nodded.
The training ground at Lord’s Manor was spacious. When Leo arrived, he saw thirty Spirit King-level cultivators waiting.
These individuals were dressed differently but all exuded strong auras.
While waiting for the lord, they introduced themselves and chatted.
Leo’s arrival immediately drew their attention.
“Is that young man the new lord?”
“He looks even younger and more handsome than in the images!”
The cultivators whispered among themselves.
After scanning the group, Leo flashed onto the dueling platform in an instant.
Feeling Leo’s powerful aura, everyone fell silent.
“Greetings, Lord!” The thirty cultivators bowed respectfully to Leo in unison.
Leo looked at them and spoke loudly, “You are here for Lord’s Manor’s recruitment. The conditions are clearly stated in the notice. If anyone wishes to withdraw, you may leave now.”
After Leo finished speaking, no one moved.
“Very well.” Leo nodded slightly and waved his sleeve. Ten streams of light flew out from his Storage Sack.
The thirty cultivators focused their gaze on ten white jade bottles.
With a flick of Leo’s right hand, the stoppers of the ten bottles opened simultaneously.
Ten round purple Alchemical Pills emitting lightning floated out of the bottles and hovered in mid-air under the influence of Pill Energy.
A peculiar fragrance spread across the training ground instantly.
Seeing those ten round purple Alchemical Pills, the thirty cultivators’ eyes burned with desire, their breathing becoming rapid.
“Ascension Pills!”
“Ten Ascension Pills!”
“What a grand gesture…”
Many cultivators swallowed instinctively. The eyes of upper-level Spirit King peak cultivators turned red with desire.
If there was something irresistible to upper-level Spirit King peak cultivators in this world, it was undoubtedly Ascension Pills.
The rich fragrance made their spiritual energy restless.
If not for being here and Leo’s presence, they might have fought over these ten Ascension Pills.
After displaying them, Leo flicked his finger again, and the ten Ascension Pills returned to their bottles.
With another wave of his right hand, Leo put the bottles back into his Storage Sack.
It wasn’t until the pills disappeared from their sight that the fervor in the cultivators’ eyes faded as they looked back at Leo.