As soon as Qin Xiao spoke, apart from Ling Ruoxue, the other seven people were all dumbfounded.
Cang Xing and Su Lin had already realized back in the second layer of the abyss that Qin Xiao and Yun Man had an extraordinary relationship. Later, they investigated and learned that the two were master and disciple, but they never expected that Lin Shimeng was also Qin Xiao's disciple.
"Brother Qin, if I'm not mistaken, this should be the Holy Maiden of Tianyuan Sect, Junior Sister Lin Shimeng, right? Are you sure she's also your disciple?"
The first to speak was still Yu Shaoqing. He felt he had encountered many unbelievable things recently.
A few days ago, he learned that a distant younger uncle of his was appointed as Deputy City Lord and would represent Pure Yang City in the competition. Today, he finally managed to invite disciples from various factions to treat them to a meal, but the Tianzi No. 1 Private Room was already occupied, and the people there ordered an entire menu's worth of dishes. Now, a person with no cultivation was saying that two prodigies at the Nascent Soul mid-stage were his disciples. Yu Shaoqing felt like he had been in Secluded Cultivation for too long and was starting to hallucinate.
"That's right. It seems my second disciple's reputation is still quite big, known everywhere."
Qin Xiao didn't deny it either; after all, Lin Shimeng's fame was indeed higher than his.
"Second disciple? Brother Qin, what do you mean? Junior Sister Lin is only your second disciple?"
Yu Shaoqing was even more confused. If there had to be some necessary reason for this arrangement, then as a Sect's Holy Maiden, Lin Shimeng should at least be the eldest disciple. Regardless of status or age, she was actually only the second disciple?
"Yes, I arrange them according to their Novice entry time. Shimeng entered late, so naturally she's the second disciple."
Qin Xiao couldn't let them know that Yun Man's strength was higher than Lin Shimeng's. He would keep it hidden for now and wait until the competition to give them a surprise.
"Why is this? Why exactly is this? Brother Qin, do you perhaps have some special method?"
Yu Shaoqing still couldn't figure it out. This made no sense.
"I wonder if Young Master Yu is a Heavenly Spirit Root?"
Qin Xiao didn't care why Yu Shaoqing had so many questions. Instead, he first asked Yu Shaoqing if he was a Heavenly Spirit Root. If you're not a Heavenly Spirit Root, then speak less.
"No, but I'm also a Top Earthly Spirit Root. What about it?"
Yu Shaoqing didn't know why Qin Xiao suddenly asked this.
"Since you're not, then forget it. The minimum requirement for me to take disciples is a Heavenly Spirit Root. Young Master Yu, what a pity, you don't have the fortune to become my disciple."
Seeing that Yu Shaoqing wasn't a Heavenly Spirit Root, Qin Xiao immediately lost most of his interest.
"You actually want to take me as your disciple?"
Yu Shaoqing only felt that Qin Xiao must have something wrong with his brain. He was the young City Lord; what ability did this person have to take him as a disciple?
"Since only you six are Heavenly Spirit Roots, how about this? I want to play a game with you and make a bet. I wonder if you six are interested?"
Qin Xiao directly ignored Yu Shaoqing. Since he wasn't a Heavenly Spirit Root, he could wait. Instead, he turned to ask the disciples of the Pure Yang Sect and Mysterious Yin Sect.
"Little brother, what game do you want to play? Big sister will play with you."
Luo Yunshuang increasingly felt Qin Xiao was an interesting person, so she directly agreed.
"The rules of the game are like this: in tomorrow's quota competition, if any of you six can consecutively defeat my two disciples, I will lose ten million Spirit Stones to you, or equivalent cultivation resources. If you lose, you will acknowledge me as master. Of course, this is only a private acknowledgment, unrelated to both sides' faction backgrounds."
Qin Xiao thought it over and over, and only this move could work. The other side were all prodigies, and they would surely have great confidence in themselves. Moreover, ten million Spirit Stones wasn't a small amount.
"Master, you really want to take new disciples?"
Yun Man initially thought Qin Xiao was just joking, but now she realized he was actually serious.
"Master, stop joking. They are all the prodigy direct disciples of their respective Sects."
Lin Shimeng also didn't expect Qin Xiao to play such a big move and quickly tried to dissuade him.
"Second disciple, don't you want a Junior Brother or Junior Sister? Right now, you're the youngest. If there's someone even younger, wouldn't you be the second Senior Sister?"
Qin Xiao didn't answer Yun Man because he knew she would understand. Instead, he spoke to Lin Shimeng.
"This, although, but, however."
After speaking for a long time, Lin Shimeng didn't say anything. She originally wanted to say that Qin Xiao's resources should belong to the Tianyuan Sect. If he took new disciples, those resources would flow outwards. But these resources were originally Qin Xiao's own; who he wanted to give them to didn't seem to be the Sect's business. After struggling for a long time, she still chose to say nothing.
"Ten million? Really?"
Luo Yunshuang originally thought Qin Xiao was just joking, playing a small game. She didn't expect him to be so generous. She was indeed tempted, and she had confidence in herself.
"Naturally it's real. By the way, since we're all gathered here today, I forgot to give everyone a little meeting gift."
After saying this, Qin Xiao took out eight small bottles from his space.
"One bottle per person, consider it a meeting gift."
Then Qin Xiao placed a bottle in front of each person.
"Brother Qin, what is this?"
Cang Xing asked somewhat puzzled.
"Everyone will know when they open it."
Qin Xiao didn't say anything, instead letting them open it and see for themselves.
Seeing Qin Xiao still being mysterious, Cang Xing directly opened the bottle and immediately was dumbfounded.
Seeing there were ten drops of Spirit Liquid in the bottle, Cang Xing also became a bit unsettled.
It wasn't that he had never seen Spirit Liquid before, but this was the first time he had seen someone giving ten drops of Spirit Liquid as a meeting gift. This gesture was a bit too extravagant.
"What? Ten drops of Spirit Liquid?"
Yu Shaoqing also quickly opened his own bottle to check.
"It really is ten drops of Spirit Liquid."
Seeing the Spirit Liquid, Yu Shaoqing was also a bit stunned. He didn't know how many times he had been stunned today.
Then the others all opened the small bottles in front of them to check.
Only Ling Ruoxue remained completely calm, because when she saw the bottle she already knew what Qin Xiao was giving.
"Little brother, are these ten drops of Spirit Liquid really just a meeting gift? You're not asking something of us, are you? Asking us to go easy in the competition is not possible; the Sect will blame us."
Although Luo Yunshuang was also tempted by these ten drops of Spirit Liquid, if she had to go easy, how would she explain it to the Sect?
Seeing Luo Yunshuang say this, the others all looked at Qin Xiao.
"Everyone, don't misunderstand. This really is just a meeting gift, with no requirements, let alone asking you to go easy."
Qin Xiao knew they misunderstood and quickly explained.
Go easy? What a joke. When the competition comes, he would give Yun Man the Middle Grade Dharma Treasure boots and the Heart-Protecting Turtle Shell. How could they still want to win?
"Are you sure you're just giving this to us? No requirements at all?"
Luo Yunshuang was still a bit unbelieving.
"Of course I'm sure. What's there to be unsure about? It's just some Spirit Liquid. I only hope everyone won't look down on it."
Qin Xiao said indifferently. This was just his way of displaying his financial strength, which would also let them know he could afford this gamble and that they could confidently accept it.
"Good. Since little brother is so sincere, I accept this bet. Don't go back on your word when you lose later."
Luo Yunshuang also knew what Qin Xiao meant and readily agreed. If she didn't take ten million Spirit Stones that fell into her lap, wouldn't that be too stupid?
"Little sister, how many times have I told you? Don't act impulsively. You'll suffer a big loss sooner or later this way."
Luo Yunbing wanted to stop her, but it was already too late. She could only say helplessly.
"This must be the elder sister, right? What? You don't dare to bet? How about this: as long as you two sisters defeat our master and disciples tomorrow, ten million Spirit Stones or equivalent resources per person. If you lose, you both acknowledge me as master. Of course, if you two sisters Concede now, I can also cancel the bet and treat it as a joke at the table."
Seeing only one person had taken the bait, Qin Xiao had no choice but to increase the stakes. Moreover, such prodigies usually couldn't resist provocation, and since he himself had no cultivation at all, the other side had a great chance of winning.
"What a joke? Want us to Concede? You think too highly of yourself. I'm just worried my little sister doesn't know the dangers of the world. Do you really think we sisters are afraid of you? I accept too. You better prepare the Spirit Stones for tomorrow."
Luo Yunbing originally didn't plan to get involved, but this kid actually spoke so arrogantly. She really couldn't bear it, not at all.