Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Tan Yun guessed right, Yun Xiao truly had no strength left even to lift his arm, and he knew why that was the case—it was because the activation of the Ancestor Vein Power just now wasn’t quite the same as the one over a year ago at the Shang Family’s place.

Back then, Yun Xiao had activated the Ancestor Vein Power several times, even using the Meridian Fire to leave the mysterious, tall and thin old man disheveled, but such a situation had never occurred at that time.

Yun Xiao, who had collapsed to the ground, pondered briefly and seemed to have understood a bit; those few life-threatening moments were autonomously triggered by the Ancestor Vein Power, consuming perhaps not his own strength, but something deep within his body.

However, this time, it was Yun Xiao who voluntarily stimulated the Ancestor Vein Power to achieve the effect of defeating and injuring his enemy, channeling all the Meridian Qi in his body into this Ancestor Vein, which is why such formidable power burst out just now.

It could be said that Yun Xiao had drained all the Meridian Qi within his body, after all, his enemy was at the Peak of Meridian Introduction Realm. If it hadn’t been for this sudden, critical strike, it might not have been so easy for him to defeat Cao Ju.

As a result, Yun Xiao was left completely depleted of Meridian Qi, also partly because he had underestimated the Meridian Qi Cultivation of his own body. If Cao Ju had endured the pain and struck back at him, perhaps the outcome would have drastically changed.

That was also why Yun Xiao didn’t pursue the victory just now—how could he even talk about chasing when he couldn’t even stand steadily?

However, through this battle, Yun Xiao gained a deeper understanding of his current combat ability. At least from now on, he wouldn’t put himself in such a powerless and risky situation.

”Yun Xiao, what’s wrong with you?”

Beside him, Tan Yun had also noticed something off about the young man, and she immediately asked with concern, the pallor on his face and his shortness of breath were quite obvious.

”Nothing much, just a bit weak!” Yun Xiao replied weakly, and in the next moment, he ignored everyone and went straight into cultivation mode.

Yun Xiao knew that the defeated Cao Ju brothers would probably not dare come here to provoke them again soon, especially after being struck by his Ancestor Vein Fire. Improper handling could result in an outcome like Shang Huiyu’s before, where the entire lower arm could be lost, or even worse, the entire right arm could be completely burned.

Whoosh... Whoosh...

As the Ancient Dragon Taming Technique started operating, an invisible whirlwind seemed to rise around Yun Xiao, leaving Tan Yun and the others exchanging looks, unsure of what to say.

”Tsk, tsk, who would have thought Brother Yun Xiao would be so formidable, even Cao Ju is no match for him!”

Ling Wan had also been injured earlier, but now his round, chubby face was filled with excitement, and turning his head to glance at someone, he said, ”I previously invited Brother Yun Xiao to join our team, and you were unwilling. How about it, convinced now?”

The chubby Ling Wan became increasingly excited as he spoke, as if all those achievements of Yun Xiao were his own, which made the young man he pointed at quite embarrassed.

Seeing the young man’s embarrassment, Tan Yun, as the leader of this team, did not want relations to become too stiff, and said solemnly, ”Alright, everyone restore your Meridian Qi. Those Cao brothers have suffered a big loss, and they definitely won’t let it go. Don’t forget, they still have an older brother!”

When Tan Yun mentioned the last sentence, Ling Wan and the others couldn’t help but shiver, and one robust young man seriously said, ”I heard that the eldest of the Cao Family had entered the Meridian Gathering Realm a month ago, but I don’t know if it’s just a rumor or the truth.”

”If he really is of Meridian Gathering Realm Cultivation...”

Tan Yun’s pretty face showed some worry, she did not finish her sentence but instead turned her head to look at the coarse-clothed young man who was cultivating with his eyes tightly shut, her meaning was quite clear.

Even Cao Ju, at the peak of Meridian Introduction Realm, was no match; if they were really cornered by the three Cao brothers again, Tan Yun had no confidence in escaping. The one she relied on was only this odd young man Yun Xiao, whom they had unintentionally saved.

Everyone then entered cultivation mode, either restoring depleted Meridian Qi or healing injured bodies, while not far from there, the voices of two brothers roared angrily, filled with bitterness.

......

”Ah!”

A shrill scream echoed through the Heaven Rank, startling all the Vein Demons within the dense forest of the Yulin Mountain Range, making them afraid to even breathe, lest they get caught in the aftermath.

Inside the dense forest, two figures had somewhat chaotic breaths. If Yun Xiao and his companions were here, they would definitely recognize these two as the brothers Cao Ju and Cao Jun, but at this moment, one had a gloomy face and the other was in painful spasms.

In front of Cao Family’s second eldest, Huang Ju, there was a small clump of black ash, and his right hand was severed at the wrist, with fresh red blood still dripping downwards, a somewhat ghastly sight.

Before, Cao Ju’s right hand was scorched by Yun Xiao’s Ancestor Vein Fire, and the extreme pain forced him to decide to retreat. However, he hadn’t expected that the blood-red flames would be so powerful, no matter how much he activated his Meridian Qi, he couldn’t extinguish it.

But it must be said that the Cultivation Technique and Meridian Techniques practiced by Cao Ju were a notch better than those of Shang Huiyu back in the day. Throughout this period, Yun Xiao’s Ancestor Vein Fire had only burned up to his wrist.

However, Cao Ju was clearly aware that the strength of the Ancestor Vein Fire was beyond his capability to withstand. The only way was to avoid getting touched by it. Now that it had already clung to him, the only solution was to decisively sever the wrist.

Cao Ju, who was at the Peak of Meridian Introduction Realm, didn’t possess the old tall and thin man’s Meridian Spirit and naturally couldn’t use that method to dissolve it. Thus, he could only follow Shang Ying’s previous example, drew a knife, and chopped off his right palm at the wrist.

Beside him, Cao Jun watched helplessly as his older brother severed his own right wrist and was unable to provide any help until the severed hand turned into a pile of ash on the ground; only then did he come back to his senses.

”Older brother, this vengeance, we must take!”

While bandaging Cao Ju’s wound, Cao Jun spat out these words, his voice filled with resentment. As someone like him, he wouldn’t look for the reasons within himself. In his view, whether Yun Xiao or Tan Yun and her group of five, they would have to pay with their lives for his older brother’s severed wrist.

Hearing Cao Jun’s words, Cao Ju, enduring the severe pain of his severed wrist, looked back somewhat apprehensively and said somberly, ”Just the two of us might not be a match for that kid, we need to find our older brother first!”

”True, with our older brother’s cultivation in the Meridian Gathering Realm, I refuse to believe we can’t sort out that kid!” Finally, a hint of excitement surfaced on Cao Jun’s face, it seemed they understood their older brother much better than Tan Yun and the others.

”However, a few days ago, older brother received an unexpected piece of information and has already led people to Medicine Valley, he might be too busy to lend a hand now,” Cao Jun didn’t wait for his brother to respond before muttering to himself.

”If that’s the case, then let’s release this information. Medicine Valley has unique terrain, and many rarely seen Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures grow within the valley. I don’t believe that those little bastards won’t be tempted by this news,” Cao Ju’s face was full of malice, it appeared he couldn’t swallow the hatred from his severed palm.

”Yes, yes, lure those kids to Medicine Valley. With our older brother there, he will definitely help us avenge greatly!” Cao Jun got excited, supporting his older brother with the severed palm. Moments later, they vanished into the depths of the dense forest.

...

Yulin Mountain Range.

Within the dense forest, six figures sat cross-legged, it was Tan Yun’s squad and Yun Xiao who was in a state of cultivation; it had already been a day and a night since their last battle.

The early morning sun rose from the east, shining through the branches onto their faces as Tan Yun, the leader of this small group, suddenly stood up.

Sensing that there were no other exam participants or powerful Vein Demons around, Tan Yun let out a sigh of relief. Honestly, she was quite afraid that the Cao brothers would come back for a counterattack, which could lead to unpredictable circumstances.

Whoo... Whoo...

While Tan Yun was carefully sensing the state of Ling Wan and the others, an unusual energy fluctuation arose beside her. Turning her head, she was both surprised and delighted,

”This is... a breakthrough?”

Tan Yun’s beautiful eyes stared at the slightly unfamiliar young man in coarse clothes. At this moment, she sensed very clearly that the chaotic energies in the air were swarming towards Yun Xiao’s body, the momentum was somewhat tremendous.

The Ancient Dragon Taming Technique, the grade of which was unknown, over the span of this one day and night, had not only replenished Yun Xiao’s depleted Meridian Qi but had also allowed him to achieve a breakthrough.

Actually, speaking of which, Yun Xiao had been stuck in the Middle Stage of Meridian Introduction Realm for over a year already. If not for spending this past year in a deep slumber and then being tortured by the Talisman Poison Master and apprentice upon awakening, he might have already advanced to the Meridian Gathering Realm.

With substantial reserves amassed, it was reasonable for Yun Xiao to achieve a breakthrough at this moment. Moreover, possessing the strong and peculiar Ancient Dragon Taming Technique, his cultivation speed surely wouldn’t fall far behind those young prodigies of the Xuanyue Empire.

”Ah!”

However, as Tan Yun marveled at Yun Xiao’s breakthrough, she suddenly heard a painful scream in her ears. Following that, she sensed something, looked up at the sky, and then turned her gaze in a particular direction.

Simultaneously, the other three members of their team, previously in a state of cultivation, were also awakened by this scream at the same time. However, it seemed they were prepared for it, as their gazes turned in unison towards one direction filled with a trace of concern.

That direction was where Lingling, the chubby boy, was located. At this moment, his obese body seemed like it was being inflated from the inside, continuously expanding and in just a moment, he resembled a balloon, appearing extremely eerie.