Ling Xiao looked around at the forty-eight people. Almost all of them were between thirty-five and forty-five years old. Only five of them were under thirty years old. Overall, they seemed a little old.
This was the gathering of half of Meteorite City's mercenaries and adventurers.
"You all want to follow me, become stronger, and become Spirit Master experts like Lone Eagle and Cold Snake?" Ling Xiao asked calmly.
"Yes, Master Ling," the forty-eight people answered at the same time.
"Then tell me, what reason do I have to accept you?" Ling Xiao asked.
The forty-eight people looked at each other, and a forty-year-old high level Mystic Cultivator stepped forward and said, "Master Ling, I can help you kill someone. As long as Master Ling wants to kill someone, I will kill that person even if I have to risk my life."
"Uncle, what is your name?" Ling Xiao asked.
"Master Ling, I am Canto," the middle-aged man replied.
"Canto, do you think you are stronger than Lone Eagle?" Ling Xiao asked back.
"This …" Canto was speechless.
He could kill someone, but so could Lone Eagle. Lone Eagle was much stronger than him, so why would he want him to do it?
"Master Ling, I can do anything for you, as long as you accept me as a servant," a skinny low level Mystic Cultivator said.
"Okay, then kill yourself in front of me." Ling Xiao nodded.
With that, the low level Mystic Cultivator retreated guiltily and didn't dare to say anything else.
It was true that he wanted to become stronger, but how could he become stronger without his life?
For a moment, everyone was stunned speechless. They all felt that Master Ling was clearly making things difficult for them.
At this time, a clear voice sounded, "I can die for Master Ling."
The one who walked out was a woman with disheveled hair and a dirty face. Her voice was clear and melodious, and her figure was graceful. However, most of her face was covered by her hair, making it impossible to see her appearance.
"You can really die for me?" Ling Xiao asked the woman with squinted eyes.
"Yes, Master Ling," the woman answered and didn't say anything else. She took out a cold blade and slashed at her neck without hesitation.
"Enough!" Seeing that the cold blade was about to slash her neck, Ling Xiao stopped it and shouted.
Although Ling Xiao spoke in time, the cold blade still cut her neck, and a few traces of blood flowed out. It was undeniable that if Ling Xiao had called out a little later, she might have really died in front of Ling Xiao.
"Come here!" Ling Xiao waved at her.
The woman sheathed her cold blade and walked towards Ling Xiao.
"Raise your face," Ling Xiao ordered.
The woman's body trembled slightly and she raised her head.
Ling Xiao brushed aside the hair that covered her face, revealing a few hideous scars.
The woman's face was slashed with more than a dozen cuts. Her entire face was like the face of a ghost, hideous and frightening. Only her eyes were still clear and moving.
Ling Xiao took a deep breath and asked, "What's your name?"
"Others call me Gui Sanniang!" The woman replied.
At this time, the mercenaries and adventurers at the side changed their expressions. Obviously, they all knew the name Gui Sanniang.
"You stay!" Ling Xiao said indifferently as he put down her hair.
"Thank you, Grandmaster Ling!" The woman knelt down and thanked him.
Following that, Ling Xiao asked these mercenaries and adventurers some strange questions. In the end, he picked out seven people with strong willpower and good potential to stay. The rest were not spared.
These mercenaries and adventurers might be a decent force in Meteorite City, but their aptitudes were limited. At best, they could only serve as guards for the Ling Family.
Now that the Ling Family had a Grand Elder holding the fort, no one in Meteorite City would dare to provoke the Ling Family's prestige in the next two hundred years. Therefore, Ling Xiao did not need to raise these people with little potential.
The reason why he picked out eight people was to plan for his future. After all, his vision was not limited to Meteorite City.
The Xuanling Continent was vast and there were many experts. Meteorite City was only the most backward and remote city. When he roamed the continent in the future, he would need a group of loyal assistants.
Therefore, these eight people in front of him would become Ling Xiao's left and right arms in the future.
"In three days, I'll be going to the Purple Sky Sect to become an outer disciple. I'll let you stay here for now, but I can't give you any benefits in a short period of time. But I'll give you three years to think about whether or not you're determined to follow me. During these three years, you'll serve as guards for the Ling family, and when you're free, you'll cultivate. If you're still willing to stay with the Ling family after three years, then I'll give you what you want," Ling Xiao said to the eight people in front of him.
"We swear to follow Grandmaster Ling until death!" The eight people knelt on one knee and swore.
"Good, you will definitely not regret this choice in the future!" Ling Xiao said with a satisfied smile.
These eight people in front of him did not know that their choice to follow Ling Xiao would allow them to become the eight powerful generals by Ling Xiao's side in the future and become famous in the Xuanling Continent.
Ling Xiao ordered Lone Eagle and Leng She to temporarily lead the eight people and let them act as the family's nurses.
In the blink of an eye, another day passed. In two days, it would be the day to leave Meteorite City.
Ling Xiao went to the Great Elder's cultivation place at the back of the mountain.
Now that the Great Elder had once again returned to his youth and advanced to the King level, his lifespan had greatly increased. Therefore, he no longer guarded the Profound Skill Pavilion like before. Instead, he sent another elder from the previous generation to guard it and use his time to cultivate.
"Great Elder, may I know why you called me here?" Ling Xiao called out to the outside of the cave.
Then, the Great Elder walked out of the cave, his whole person seemed to be in high spirits.
"The day after tomorrow is the day you go to the Purple Sky Sect?" The Great Elder asked.
"Yes, Great Elder!" Ling Xiao replied.
"Are there any reluctance to leave?" The Great Elder asked.
"A little reluctance, but I want to leave even more!" Ling Xiao replied firmly.
"Good … Good!" The Great Elder patted Ling Xiao's shoulder and said with a smile, "Since you can cultivate Xuan Qi again, I feel that your mind has become more tenacious. That's why I chose you to be my successor disciple. But I didn't expect you to be so amazing in Tenbin. It seems that Meteorite City can no longer trap a dragon like you."
"Of course, don't you know whose disciple this young master is?" Ling Xiao said flatteringly.
"Little rascal, I called you here today to tell you some things about the Purple Sky Sect. Listen carefully, it will be good for your future!" The Great Elder scolded lightly.
Ling Xiao immediately became serious. Indeed, he didn't know anything about any sects. "First, I'll tell you about the division of sects.
"First of all, let me tell you about the division of sects. In our continent, sects are divided into nine ranks. Rank 9 is the lowest, and the higher the rank, the stronger it is. Rank 5 and above is a large sect, and rank 2 and above is a super sect. Each large sect has its own definition, and in our northwest, there are a total of 36 large sects. Among them, the Purple Sky Sect is ranked eighth among the 36 sects, and its strength is extremely powerful. It can be said that there are countless Xuan Scholars in the Purple Sky Sect, and Spirit Masters can be seen everywhere.
Listening to the Great Elder's words, Ling Xiao couldn't help but be a bit surprised.
He had never thought that the Purple Sky Sect would have such a great background that it actually had several King Level experts.
It must be known that in Meteorite City, reaching the Xuan Scholar Realm was already considered an expert, and Spirit Master Realm was already a peak expert. If the Great Elder hadn't broken through by luck, Meteorite City probably wouldn't even have a single King Level expert.
It was no wonder that during the Family Competition, all the Patriarchs and Elders had been so respectful to the two Elders of the Purple Sky Sect. Their background was truly great!
What kind of existence were King Level experts? As long as they sent one of them to Meteorite City, they would be able to slaughter all the families in Meteorite City.
"The Purple Sky Sect has already been established for over two thousand years. Our Meteorite City is under the jurisdiction of the Purple Sky Sect. In the past, they would send people to Meteorite City every once in a while to select the elites of the younger generation to compete for the position of Outer Sect Disciple. It's just that every time they were selected, none of them were able to pass the Outer Sect Disciple Test. As time passed, the Purple Sky Sect gave up on coming to Meteorite City to select Outer Sect Disciples. I just don't know why the Purple Sky Sect has appeared again this time. It's really puzzling," said the Great Elder.
"So that's how it is." Ling Xiao suddenly understood.
He felt that this time it was Yun Mengqi who had fought for this opportunity for him.
"Don't worry Mengqi, sooner or later you'll be mine." Ling Xiao could feel Yun Mengqi's painstaking efforts, and he firmly thought in his heart.
"No matter what, the Purple Sky Sect coming to Meteorite City to select Outer Sect Disciples is also a good thing. This time, we'll see whether or not you can pass the selection and open a new path for our Meteorite City," said the Great Elder expectantly.
"That's natural. What's so difficult about a mere Outer Sect Disciple Test? I'll definitely pass smoothly," said Ling Xiao confidently.
"I also believe that you can do it. Even if your martial strength isn't enough, just your status as an alchemist is enough for the Purple Sky Sect to treat you as an honored guest," praised the Great Elder. Then he continued, "Now that the internal and external troubles have been eliminated, it's time for me to travel around and see if I have the ability to take another step forward in this life."
"The Old Master is old but vigorous, of course there's no problem," said Ling Xiao.
"To tell you the truth, if it weren't for your drop of Ten Thousand Year Tree Milk, I would have long since gone to see the King of Hell. In fact, when I was young, in order to cultivate the Vajra Five Transformation Technique and travel around, my entire body was left with many hidden injuries. This is also the reason why I've been unable to break through. Fortunately, when my lifespan was about to end, I chose you. You're destined to be my lucky star, and also the lucky star of our Ling family!"
Indeed, if it weren't for Ling Xiao's drop of Ten Thousand Year Tree Milk, he would have long since died. He had always been rejoicing in his heart that he had chosen such a good successor.
Being praised by the Great Elder, even the thick-skinned Ling Xiao felt somewhat embarrassed.
He objected in his heart, thinking, "I'm more like the lucky star of many beautiful women!"
After chatting with the Great Elder for half a day, Ling Xiao went to see his grandfather Ling Cang. Naturally, he couldn't avoid chatting with him.
This caused Ling Xiao to feel grateful towards these two elders. When he became stronger in the future, he absolutely couldn't forget this.
Next, the appointed time with the Purple Sky Sect Deacon arrived.