Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”How... how did you know?”

After the shock, Yin Huan abruptly stood up from his chair, then grabbed Yun Xiao’s neck, the harshness in his voice made it seem as if he would snap Yun Xiao’s neck in the next moment.

This was the biggest secret in Yin Huan’s heart, and it was also a longstanding ailment of their lineage. Even his mentor was helpless against this ”Three Yin Meridians” and could only suppress the outbreaks with elixirs.

But suppression was just that, and once noontime and midnight came, that strange chill would reach a limit, making him feel worse than death each time, as if all the blood in his body was frozen, unable to circulate at all.

”Heh... heh..., just the... Three Yin Meridians, it’s not like they can’t be... cured, right?”

Even as Yin Huan gripped his throat, even as he struggled to breathe, Yun Xiao managed to squeeze out a strange smile. After these words, the prodigy genius of the Jade Pot Sect instinctively released his hands.

”Cough... cough cough!”

Among Yun Xiao’s coughs, Yin Huan finally began to seriously consider this young man in plain clothes whom he had known for less than a time. He suddenly discovered that this kid seemed to have many secrets.

That unyielding pride despite only being at the late stage of Meridian Qi, the Cutting Vein Technique which he himself was not very proficient in, and now even his Three Yin Meridians were known to Yun Xiao. Yin Huan was at a loss for words, and he began to suspect whether the young man was merely bluffing.

”Do you have a way to... to cure...” After his doubt, Yin Huan spoke up gravely, but looking at Shang Yan, the Family Head of the Shang Family who wore a curious expression, he did not finish his sentence. However, he believed Yun Xiao would understand his meaning.

”A trifling matter, what say you? Care to wager? The condition is that you help me restrain that old man Shang Li!”

Yun Xiao didn’t care at all about Yin Huan’s threatening tone, and this attitude of his actually gave Yin Huan a bit more confidence in him.

After all, Yin Huan reasoned he had no grudges with Yun Xiao, and with the massive support of the Jade Pot Sect and as a feared Poison Vein Master, unless Yun Xiao was out of his mind, he wouldn’t dare to offend him—wouldn’t that be seeking death?

Thinking of his own identity, Yin Huan’s eyes flickered, and he said coldly, ”Why should I listen to you? Are you not afraid that I’ll use force to take you back to the Jade Pot Sect and make you reveal the solution?”

Yin Huan’s words were not entirely unreasonable, and as soon as the words left his mouth, a hint of dangerous aura began to emerge from his hands. He believed that with the means of a Poison Vein Master, the young man couldn’t refuse to talk.

If Yun Xiao really had a way to resolve the Three Yin Meridians, and if he could force the method out of Yun Xiao, it would not only greatly benefit himself but could also make his unfathomably powerful mentor owe him a huge favor.

Thus, at that moment, Yin Huan truly considered using his overwhelming strength to capture Yun Xiao. This disparity in strength would certainly allow him to subdue Yun Xiao more easily than Shang Li.

”Hehe, Brother Yin Huan, your words do have some truth to them, but how can you guarantee that the method I give you is correct—or after offering me to your mentor, you wouldn’t suggest a method that would intensify his pain?” Yun Xiao still wore a faint smile on his face, and upon hearing this, Yin Huan’s complexion changed.

As Yun Xiao said, only he knew the method to resolve the Three Yin Meridians. If Yin Huan eagerly extracted a method without knowing its veracity and presented it to his mentor, not to mention claiming credit, he might not even be able to save his own life.

Don’t think that just because Yin Huan was a disciple highly favored by his teacher, as a Poison Vein Master they could be exceptionally ruthless, where neither master-disciple affection nor anything else mattered—cultivation and interests were the most important things.

”How do I know that what you’re saying is true?” It seemed that Yin Huan already believed about seventy to eighty percent of what Yun Xiao had just said; he just needed proof.

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao did not speak but instead took a step forward, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, placed his right index finger upon Yin Huan’s right wrist.

”Hm?”

Yin Huan was unafraid of Yun Xiao employing any tricks. After all, the gap in Meridian Qi Cultivation between the two was too great. But when the latter’s finger barely touched his wrist, he felt a warm and moist energy seep in, bringing an indescribably comfortable feeling.

”How does it feel?”

Yun Xiao’s right index finger quickly retracted after a brief touch, and in just a few breaths of time, he pulled it back and asked with a smile. However, he received no response.

Those present looked up to see Yin Huan’s eyes gently closed, showing an extremely comfortable and contented demeanor. This startled even Shang Yan, the Family Head of the Shang Family, who secretly thought that Yun Xiao might truly possess some skills.

Considering that possibility, Shang Yan felt slightly uneasy and covertly signalled to Shang Ying seated below him. Understanding the cue, Shang Ying immediately sought to take advantage of the moment Yin Huan closed his eyes to slip out of the hall.

Swoosh!

Little did Shang Ying know that just as he retreated a few steps, a sudden rush of wind sounded, and the foremost authority figure of the Shang Family found he could no longer move an inch.

As everyone saw the figure with a hand placed on Shang Ying’s throat, they couldn’t help but gasp in shock, for this person was none other, than the talent from the Jade Pot Sect, previously seeming to enjoy the moment with closed eyes, Yin Huan.

”Brother Yin Huan, let’s talk this out!”

As the Shang Family Head, Shang Yan never expected Yin Huan to turn his back even faster than flipping a book, calling each other brothers one moment as if they were family, and then committing such ruthlessness in the next.

”Yun Xiao, do whatever you need to do, but be quick about it, I’ll only give you ten breaths of time!” Yin Huan completely ignored the slightly panic-stricken and ingratiating voice of Shang Yan, and upon these words, the color drained from the faces of those of the Shang Family.

No one knew why Yin Huan had suddenly switched sides, and that youngster named Yun Xiao seemed a bit too enigmatic. What exactly did he say to Yin Huan to make the Jade Pot Sect’s genius comply so obediently?

Only Shang Yan, the Shang Family Head who was closer by, managed to catch a clue from the conversation between Yun Xiao and Yin Huan just now. Regrettably, he did not hear the first sentence and could only conjecture that Yin Huan must have been seeking something from Yun Xiao, hence his abrupt action.

”Ten breaths? That is plenty!”

With Yin Huan’s promise secured, Yun Xiao grinned and then, under the horrified gaze of everyone from the Shang Family, approached Shang Ying.

”Yun Xiao, if you dare harm him, the Shang Family’s clan rules are not to be taken lightly!” Shang Yan, angry and shocked, was too apprehensive to confront Yin Huan, so he could only threaten Yun Xiao with words.

”Hmph, old man, have you forgotten that I’m not born with the surname Shang, and thus those so-called Shang Family clan rules are none of my business!” Hearing the threat from Shang Yan behind him, Yun Xiao let out a cold laugh, then added, ”Don’t worry, I won’t take his life!”

”Slap!”

As Yun Xiao’s voice fell, a sound eerily familiar to everyone in the Shang Family’s Righteous Hall rang out clear as day, as though it was their own faces being slapped.

Because that sound was from Yun Xiao slapping Shang Ying across the face, the same sound that was made when Shang Ying slapped Shang Li earlier. Yet to the ears of the Shang Family members, it felt disturbingly different.

Shang Li’s father was dead without any backing, her Cultivation was unremarkable, and she had always lived alone in a secluded courtyard, looked down upon by everyone; but Shang Ying? He was the leading authority of the Shang Family, the heir to the Family Head, with a status far above Shang Li by countless measures.

”As I said before, this is your doing. It does not matter if you humiliate and suppress me, after all, I don’t bear the surname Shang. But my mother is a Shang—an affront to her I cannot ignore!”

The cool voice echoed in the Righteous Hall, uttered by Yun Xiao himself. And as the words left his mouth, Shang Li, whose Meridian Qi had been in chaos, felt as if the oppressive feeling that had been lodged in her chest was finally being released, unspeakably comfortable and relieved.

”Is this really my ever-cautious and timid Xiao’er?”

Looking at Yun Xiao, speaking boldly under the gaze of all the Shang Family’s powerful figures, Shang Li suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Based on her long understanding of Yun Xiao, he would never be one to do something so resolute.

In stark contrast to Yun Xiao and his mother, all members of the Shang Family seemed to be frozen in that moment, suddenly recalling what Yun Xiao had said earlier, ”This is your making, you’ll regret it.”

Perhaps right now in Shang Ying’s heart, there truly was some regret. To be slapped in front of such a large audience, and by someone who was once regarded by everyone as insignificant—a tiny ant who hadn’t even broken through to the Meridian Introduction Realm.

If news of today’s affair spread, Shang Ying would surely become the laughingstock of every major family in Moon Bow City, possibly even jeopardizing his position as the heir to the Family Head.

But who the hell could have expected that a mere ant in the late stages of Meridian Qi strength, indeed, had a way to make Shang Ying regret his actions. With Yin Huan having released his grip on Shang Ying’s throat, Shang Ying did not dare make any rash movements—who could say whether Yin Huan would assist Yun Xiao once more?

”Yun Xiao, I’ve done what you asked me to do. I hope you do not go back on your word!”

Yin Huan, completely disregarding Shang Ying’s swollen cheek and ashen face, turned his head, staring coldly at Yun Xiao, emphasizing his point.

”Heh, Brother Yin Huan, are you still interested in the Jade Pendant in my hands now?” Yun Xiao did not answer directly. With his nature, he was, of course, going to maximize the benefit, and pushing his advantage was no burden to him.

”You..., hmph, the matter is unrelated to my Jade Pot Sect. Sooner or later, the Lingyun Sect will come personally for you!” Yin Huan initially wanted to burst out, but perhaps remembering something, he ultimately managed to contain himself, a cold snort serving as his response.