Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

At this moment, Xuan Zhi could no longer underestimate this rough-clothed lad of unknown origin, yet no matter how strange Yun Xiao’s methods were, how powerful the Ancestor Vein Fire was, or how high the grade of the Ancestor Vein was, the Meridian Qi Sword still perplexed him greatly.

As a prince born of the royal family, Xuan Zhi naturally had broader knowledge than the average cultivator, yet he had never heard of a cultivator below the Meridian Rushing Realm being able to externalize Meridian Qi – which was clearly impossible.

Therefore, at this moment, Xuan Zhi was just as incredulous as when he first saw Yun Xiao deploying the Qi Shield; seeing even the Third Prince of the Empire so astounded gave those observing prodigies a sense of balance—it seemed they were not the only ones ignorant.

However, Yun Xiao did not entertain so many thoughts. In his previous life in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, cultivators were already able to gather external Meridian Qi from the very beginning stage of Meridian Qi Cultivation – it was only that this insignificant Hidden Dragon Continent was too backward.

Therefore, seeing Xuan Zhi suddenly somewhat distracted, Yun Xiao knew this was a good opportunity, and with a movement of his handprint, led by the Meridian Qi, the sword thrust towards Xuan Zhi’s chest like an arrow leaving its bow.

Even though it was just an ethereal Meridian Qi Sword, if Xuan Zhi were truly stabbed by it, he would likely have a transparent hole in his chest.

Swish!

The fierce sound of the wind breaking through brought Xuan Zhi back from his distraction, but by this time, the Meridian Qi Sword was already mere inches from him, approaching swiftly—too swiftly for him to react in time.

With no chance to dodge, Xuan Zhi had to brace himself. His reaction was incredibly fast, quickly enveloping his hands in Meridian Qi, astonishingly stowing his weapons back in his Waist Storage in the nick of time, and then caught the Meridian Qi Sword between his palms—an exceptional response and perception.

”Hmm?”

However, Xuan Zhi, with the Meridian Qi Sword clamped between his palms, changed his expression the next moment as he sensed an incessant surge of potent energy from the ethereal sword—it seemed Yun Xiao was controlling the Meridian Qi Sword.

The Meridian Qi Sword was exceedingly sharp, and at this moment, Xuan Zhi suddenly felt a piercing pain in the palms of his hands, so he dared not be careless. Leveraging the moment he trapped the sword between his palms, he slightly shifted his body sideways, allowing the sword tip to finally no longer aim at his chest.

Whoosh!

A sound of breaking wind was heard, followed by the onlookers seeing the Meridian Qi Sword graze between Xuan Zhi’s hands, and even tearing open a slit in his left sleeve, with traces of fresh blood splattering out.

Apparently, Xuan Zhi, using his formidable Meridian Qi and Physical Strength, had barely altered the direction of the Meridian Qi Sword, plus his own body’s sideway movement, to just avoid the fatal strike initially aimed by the sword tip.

But Yun Xiao, having reached the Meridian Gathering Realm Early Stage, possessed strength beyond Xuan Zhi’s imagination. He had thought he could perfectly dodge the attack of the Meridian Qi Sword, but eventually, there was still a slight mismatch.

At this moment, the palms of this royal Third Prince each bore a cut from the Meridian Qi Sword, and his left shoulder’s sleeve was torn, also wounding the flesh underneath. Although these were only minor injuries, their significance in the eyes of the bystanders was utterly different.

Previously, when both had not activated the Ancestor Vein Power, Xuan Zhi seemed to have the upper hand, almost severing Yun Xiao’s right arm with that peculiar weapon.

But now, relying on the Ancestor Vein Power to elevate his Meridian Qi Cultivation to the Meridian Gathering Realm Early Stage, Yun Xiao seemed like a changed person, achieving bloodshed on Xuan Zhi with just a single move—a disparity in perception that left some people unable to accept it for a long while.

Swish swish!

Unbeknownst to the onlookers, the surprises hadn’t ended. The Meridian Qi Sword that had grazed past Xuan Zhi’s left arm suddenly curved in mid-air, rushing again towards the vital spot on Xuan Zhi’s back.

”What’s happening, this Yun Xiao not only can externalize Meridian Qi but can also control it?”

Even Yin Huan, an Inner Sect Disciple of Jade Pot Sect, had widened his eyes in shock, watching the Meridian Qi Sword swiftly flying toward Xuan Zhi’s back, momentarily unable to understand what was going on.

Indeed, from the understanding of Cultivation by Yin Huan and Mo Qing, the Meridian Gathering Realm only involved gathering Meridian Qi in the body’s major meridians—enhancing attack or defensive power in certain parts of the body, but certainly not externalizing Meridian Qi, let alone manipulating it as if it were an extension of the body.

This young man named Yun Xiao truly made breathtaking moves, determined not to stop until shocking everyone. Seeing the speed and trajectory of the Meridian Qi Sword flying in the air, perhaps even Yin Huan and the nearby Mo Qing might not be able to achieve this feat?

As the person concerned, Xuan Zhi, had no time to ponder these inexplicable matters. He only knew that the wind howled behind him, and a breath imbued with hints of heat was rapidly approaching him. Without thinking, he knew it was the Meridian Qi Sword that had wounded him flying back.

Xuan Zhi had not anticipated this scene, so when he dodged to the side in fright, the Meridian Qi Sword brushed right past his face. Not only did it slice off a lock of his hanging hair, but it also left a bloody mark on his face.

A thread of fresh blood emerged from Xuan Zhi’s left cheek, instantly dying half of his left cheek a bloody red, making him appear somewhat fierce and terrifying.

At this moment, the Meridian Qi Sword controlled by Yun Xiao finally did not turn again but instead trembled and dissipated into the air.

Indeed, Yun Xiao could gather Meridian Qi externally, but like now, controlling the external accumulated Qi to turn and attack an enemy was only possible when he had reached the Meridian Gathering Realm.

Moreover, the Meridian Qi Sword controlled by Yun Xiao could only change its course once; hadn’t it vanished into thin air right after slashing Xuan Zhi’s cheek? This was because his Qi was not sufficient to sustain such control for long. There was a limit after all.

But merely such a fleeting and rapid tactic was enough to dazzle onlookers, especially seeing the Third Prince Xuan Zhi’s half blood-red face and the blood droplets continuously falling. Everyone knew that in some sense, Xuan Zhi had lost this battle.

Even though the injuries Xuan Zhi sustained were just superficial flesh wounds, the images of the two were vastly different: one with a bloodied face and tattered clothes, the epitome of disarray; while the other stood unaffected, as if not even a corner of his clothing was crinkled, making their statuses instantly clear through comparison.

However, as the Third Prince of the Royal Family, a cultivator at the middle stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm who had also invoked the Ancestor Vein Power, how could Xuan Zhi swallow this insult lightly?

Feeling the pain on his palms, left arm, and cheek—though not too intense—Xuan Zhi also knew to what extent his image had become pitiful in everyone’s eyes.

”Cao Luo, join forces with me and finish off this brat Yun Xiao!”

In his frantic rage, Xuan Zhi could no longer care about anything else; hearing his loud shout, not only Cao Luo but also the surrounding onlookers couldn’t help but reveal a strange look.

Xuan Zhi had indeed lost much face today, while Yun Xiao had established his deterrence through two battles. Hence, no one would see him as a mere low-rank youth anymore.

At this moment, Xuan Zhi acted like a spoiled young master who refused to accept his loss and, without any regard for the observers, was seeking assistance blatantly.

In Xuan Zhi’s heart, as the Third Prince of the Royal Family, every sect and family within the Xuanyue Empire had to obey his commands, and naturally, Cao Luo dared not refuse.

If it were earlier, like during the time in Medicine Valley, Cao Luo would have agreed immediately without hesitation to Xuan Zhi’s request, seeing it as a great opportunity for the Cao Family to curry favor with the Empire’s Royal Family.

But now, with Yun Xiao’s powerful display, having placed Xuan Zhi in a disadvantageous position and even wounded him, Cao Luo had to reconsider seriously.

”Joking, even Xuan Zhi at the Meridian Gathering Realm middle stage had been disgraced; Yun Xiao’s strength was undeniably formidable. Cao Luo believed if he blindly went up, perhaps he wouldn’t even withstand a single move from Yun Xiao, he didn’t wish to be cannon fodder for Xuan Zhi.

”Cao Luo, what are you hesitating for? If you assist me today, I guarantee that your Cao Family’s standing within the Xuanyue Empire will tower above many other families!”

Seeing Cao Luo’s indecision, Xuan Zhi’s expression grew even darker, and after those words, Cao Luo finally felt somewhat tempted, his indecision stemming from the backgrounds of both Xuan Zhi and Yun Xiao.

Like Mo Qing, since clashing with Yun Xiao, Cao Luo had been inquiring if there was a Yun Family within the Xuanyue Empire, but no matter how much he inquired or how many people he asked, he never got a real answer.

This implied that the so-called Yun Family was basically insignificant within the Xuanyue Empire. Perhaps Yun Xiao had just been lucky to achieve such levels, his background truly nothing noteworthy.

In contrast, Xuan Zhi was undoubtedly the Third Prince of the Empire; as the saying goes, one seeks fortune amidst danger. For the Cao Family to climb a higher ladder, although still wary of Yun Xiao, Cao Luo had made a decision at this moment—to assist Xuan Zhi.

As the saying goes, it is easy to add flowers to the brocade, but difficult to send coal in snow. In Cao Luo’s view, his assistance now was that rare act of sending coal in snow, and should it truly succeed, Xuan Zhi would surely not forget his supportive gesture.

Moreover, Cao Luo himself held no good will towards Yun Xiao; from the very first sight of this young man, Yun Xiao always seemed to put him in a difficult position. Xuan Zhi wanting to leverage Cao Luo’s strength matched perfectly with his own desire to seize this opportunity to deal with Yun Xiao, hence the two readily agreed to join forces against Yun Xiao.