Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

To be honest, the combat strength Yun Xiao displayed today truly astonished the Shang Family Head, Shang Yan. With such a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment, coupled with covetous intentions towards Yun Xiao’s secrets, it was impossible for Shang Yan to vocally support Yun Xiao from any perspective.

A kid who was never favored, it would be nothing if he were to be killed. Yun Xiao had no significant background; his mother, Shang Li, was merely in the early stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm, and his father’s whereabouts were unknown. Shang Yan was not worried about any repercussions.

Although such actions were extremely despicable, in order to diminish one enemy for the clan, and possibly elevate the clan’s status, Shang Yan was willing to abandon all pretense of dignity. Besides, he had never had a good impression of Yun Xiao.

On the arena, Yun Xiao had never anticipated that Shang Ying would stoop to such an extent. This completely redefined his understanding of despicableness. From this moment on, he no longer felt any familial affection for this clan.

Unfortunately, Yun Xiao was somewhat baffled about how he had neutralized Shang Ying’s third move. If he had to face it again, he wasn’t sure if he would still be so lucky, since the fiery sensation in his palm seemed to have already vanished.

Shang Ying’s approach was extremely swift, and filled with a murderous intent. Now that matters had gone this far, in order to avoid prolonged complications, only by completely annihilating this detestable brat could he potentially salvage some reputation.

The saying ”showing no mercy” perfectly interpreted Shang Ying’s current state. Looking at Yun Xiao’s feeble presence, he truly believed that Yun Xiao must have resorted to some sorcery, otherwise how could he have survived that third strike?

This time, Shang Ying did not utilize any Meridian Techniques; instead, he intended to rely on his pure physical strength to blast Yun Xiao away. The punch he threw held no restraint.

Just as Yun Xiao was about to exert all his might in counteracting the attack, a figure rushed out from behind and instantly shielded him. Recognizing the obscure appearance of the figure, Yun Xiao was so shocked he felt as if his soul would leave his body.

Because Yun Xiao was almost certain that within the entire Shang Family, the only person who could and would dare to intervene on his behalf at this moment was his mother, Shang Li.

Unfortunately, Shang Li herself was only in the early stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm. Even Shang Huiyu, who had consumed the Blood Erosion Pill, was not necessarily weaker than her. How could she possibly withstand Shang Ying’s full-force strike?

Swoosh!

Bang!

The sounds of wind-breaking and impact rang out simultaneously. Yun Xiao suddenly felt a powerful force hitting him; it was Shang Li blasted away by Shang Ying’s attack, crashing directly into Yun Xiao. Mother and son both tumbled off the arena like rolling gourds.

As a result, Yun Xiao, already severely wounded, and Shang Li were not spared from the blow. After falling, if not for Yun Wei rushing to support them, they likely wouldn’t have been able to stand up at all.

”Hmph, what an overestimation of their own capabilities!”

Seeing his fatal strike on Yun Xiao intercepted by Shang Li, Shang Ying was naturally in a foul mood. As he leaped off the stage and extended his right index finger, he said, ”Shang Li, I am mindful that you share the Shang surname. If you continue to be unwise, do not blame your uncle here for being heartless!”

Upon his threatening words, Shang Li did not show the slightest sign of retreat. She retorted strongly, ”My son is right; we are better off without such a Shang Family. If you want to kill him, you’ll have to step over my dead body first!”

”And over mine too!”

Despite being extremely frightened inside, Yun Wei, seeing the chaotic breath and severe injuries of her mother and brother, along with sensing no hint of support from the many onlooking Shang Family members, threw caution to the wind.

Furthermore, Yun Wei was not naïve. She clearly understood; if her mother and brother were to die today, how could the members of the Shang Family not eradicate them completely? It was inevitable that she could not escape her fate.

”Mother, you... you could have actually...”

Behind Shang Li, Yun Xiao struggled with what he was witnessing. To be honest, his soul was no longer that of Shang Li’s biological son, but at this moment, he felt a long-absent sense of kinship. He didn’t want Shang Li and Yun Wei to lose their lives on his account.

”Xiao’er, I am your mother, how could I possibly abandon you?” Shang Li turned her head slightly, voice somewhat breathless, expressing her stance. This was the bond between mother and child, a connection of flesh and blood.

As soon as Shang Li finished speaking, it seemed she sensed Yun Xiao’s injuries. Her heart softened abruptly and she turned her head, staring in a certain direction, and loudly declared, ”Family Head, grandfather, I beg of you, please consider our past relationship and spare us. I assure you, from this day forth, we three of mother and sons will never set foot in Moon Bow City again!”

It appeared that Shang Li also understood Shang Yan’s concerns; having reached this point, the Shang Family Head feared that she and her sons, or specifically Yun Xiao, would seek revenge in the future. That’s why he turned a blind eye to Shang Ying’s actions.

Shang Li made this promise to show Shang Yan that she and her sons would never seek revenge against the Shang Family in their lifetime, in exchange for their three lives. She was gambling that Shang Ying still held some familial affection for them, and that Shang Yan still felt a father-son bond to her deceased father.

Unfortunately, Shang Li was wrong this time. For her and Yun Wei, Shang Yan might not have too many scruples, but the potential and unpredictability Yun Xiao displayed today was indeed a great threat to Shang Yan, even eliciting a tinge of fear.

As the Family Head of the Shang Family, Shang Yan was not someone who could be easily deceived. He had personally witnessed Yun Xiao’s methods during this period, and this young man not only possessed exceptional talent but also an extremely shrewd mind. Leaving such an enemy alive in this world truly made it difficult for him to sleep at ease.

Therefore, when Shang Li finished speaking, Shang Yan remained silent. Sensing Shang Li’s pleading gaze, he turned his head away directly. This action seemed to make Shang Ying understand something as well.

Just now, Shang Ying was genuinely afraid that his father would be swayed by Shang Li’s words and do something ”irrational.” As the person involved, he might understand Yun Xiao’s potential better than his own father.

If he could withstand three strikes from Shang Ying at the peak of the Meridian Gathering Realm - and even nearing the strength of a practitioner in the Meridian Rushing Realm - while only being in the late stage of the Meridian Introduction Realm without dying, then if Yun Xiao were truly to mature, perhaps the whole Shang Family would have no one who could contend with him.

Eliminating danger in its infancy was the wisest choice. With his father’s tacit approval, Shang Ying hesitated no more. In his view, killing one was murder, and killing three was no different. These three mother and sons with no background would not impose much of a psychological burden on him.

”Mother, Xiao’er, run quickly!”

Seeing that Shang Ying’s body was once again emitting strong Meridian Qi, and sensing the injuries of his mother and brother, Yun Wei stepped up without shirking her duty, for among the three of them, she was the only one who was unharmed.

Unfortunately, Yun Wei had just broken through to the early stage of the Meridian Introduction Realm. How could she possibly be a match for Shang Ying in a single blow? In doing so, she was merely fulfilling her obligations and leaving the rest to fate.

”Get out of the way!”

For such an ant-like girl, Shang Ying naturally wouldn’t take her seriously. With a wave of his right hand, a sweep of Meridian Qi burst forth, directly slamming into Yun Wei.

”Hmm?”

Who would have thought that Shang Ying’s fully expected killing blow would not produce the anticipated effect, prompting a surprised exclamation from him. He also felt an extreme chill emanating from the body of the girl who had been flung far away by his strike.

To be honest, with Yun Wei’s cultivation at the early stage of the Meridian Introduction Realm, she should have been unable to withstand Shang Ying’s strike. Yet, as the force hit her body, the Meridian Qi inside her seemed to be drawn by some force, rushing towards a certain meridian in her right arm.

This meridian, naturally, was the Ancestor Vein that Yun Wei had activated at the time of her breakthrough to the Meridian Introduction level, which, contrary to Yun Xiao’s Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein, was an extremely cold Ice Ancestor Vein.

It was because of this mysterious power of the Ancestor Vein that Yun Wei was able to avoid this fatal calamity. Nevertheless, due to the discrepancy in Meridian Qi, she, like her mother and brother, truly suffered serious injuries under this blow.

Although Yun Wei was not killed, Shang Ying didn’t think much of it. His main target was still Yun Xiao, and in the next moment, he no longer cared for Yun Wei but stepped forward, with his high-raised palm only needing to come down to ensure that neither Yun Xiao nor Shang Li and her daughter would escape unscathed.

”Sorry to interrupt!”

Who would have known, just at this life-and-death juncture, from a quiet corner of the Arena Hall of the Shang Family, came a somewhat flat but exceedingly strange voice, making all members of the Shang Family hear it clearly, causing them to turn their heads.

Even the Family Head of the Shang Family, Shang Yan, had his attention drawn by this sudden voice. When he turned his head and saw an old figure of unknown origin appear at the entrance of the Arena Hall, a chill ran through his heart.

The figure was a tall and thin old man. Despite being full of wrinkles, Shang Yan could see something extraordinary in those eyes. At least, the man’s cultivation was definitely not below his own.

”Who are you? How dare you intrude on the Arena Hall of the Shang Family?”

Naturally, the door of the Arena Hall was guarded by Shang Family guards. The tall and thin old man had appeared so suddenly that a guard stepped forward to question him immediately.

Crack!

Who would have thought that as soon as the guard of the Shang Family spoke, the tall and thin old man reached out and grabbed his throat. Everyone heard a light snap, and they immediately saw the guard’s head droop down, his eyes full of disbelief and shock.

”Dead?”

Not only did the guard with the tilted head have a hard time believing it, but all the Shang Family members in the Arena Hall, including Shang Yan, couldn’t believe the scene before their eyes.

Shang Ying, who was poised with his palm raised high in front of Yun Xiao and his mother, also seemed to be frozen in place by an Immobilization Technique, his hand hesitating to fall. And Yun Xiao and his mother took this opportunity to momentarily escape the disaster.