Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”No, this is impossible!”

Upon hearing Ling Wan’s words, Zhao Ningshu appeared contemplative, but his brother Zhao Xingwu next to him couldn’t contain himself and burst out, ”You’re just a freak, a freak from birth, that disgusting transformation of yours is the root cause of all the calamities that have befallen our family!”

It seemed Zhao Xingwu utterly refused to acknowledge that the very thing they’d considered a bad omen all along was actually the primary reason for Ling Wan’s substantial increase in strength. This result was something he simply could not accept, no matter what.

”Ling Wan, what you’re saying is really too preposterous. If you say you’ve always been in that special state since birth, why then has your cultivation speed been so slow all these years?” Zhao Ningshu, clearly more composed than his younger brother, pinpointed the crux of the matter.

To tell the truth, Ling Wan wasn’t much younger than the two Zhao brothers, yet his Meridian Qi Cultivation had been progressing slowly. It was precisely because of this fact, combined with his strange transformation, that he was hugely disliked by the Family Head of the Zhao Family, who even wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible to avert disaster for the Zhao Family.

Hearing Zhao Ningshu’s questioning, the sorrow on Ling Wan’s face instantly transformed into gratitude as he responded, ”For this, I must thank Brother Yun Xiao. If not for him, I wouldn’t have just failed to make the breakthrough to the Meridian Gathering Realm, I would probably have lost my life too!”

”Damn it, Yun Xiao again, why does this bastard always mess up our plans?”

The mention of that most unwelcome name caused Zhao Xingwu to curse out loud. From their previous few encounters, it seemed the resentment the brothers held towards Yun Xiao was not much less than that of the Cao brothers.

”So you mean to say, you’ve managed to break through three levels in such a short period of time, all because of that freak?” Zhao Ningshu’s initially calm expression suddenly grew much graver.

Considering that the eldest son of the Zhao Family had inquired with a pleasant demeanor and even offered Ling Wan a chance to save his life, all for the sake of learning about the method to improve one’s strength.

Now hearing Ling Wan speak thus, Zhao Ningshu felt not only the disappointment of his expectations being dashed but also a thick jealousy, because he suddenly realized that Ling Wan, whom the family had considered a waste, might actually surpass him in the near future.

Zhao Ningshu, since he was young, has always been known as the Zhao Family’s top prodigy, and with a keen mind, has always had the upper hand over enemies. And now faced with the threat of being surpassed by Ling Wan, how could he possibly let such a thing happen?

A joke, indeed, to think that one could break through from the middle stage of the Channel Introduction Realm to the Meridian Gathering Realm in just over ten days. Zhao Ningshu knew that even if he had a Spirit-grade Advanced Pulse Refining Master refining his meridians and activating an additional Ancestor Vein for him, he probably would not achieve such speed.

Since Ling Wan’s fortune came from being a specially born freak, something Zhao Ningshu could never replicate, the only option left was to nip this threat in the bud.

”Given that, you’re of no use to us anymore!”

Zhao Ningshu’s chilling words left his mouth, inciting a bloodthirsty glee on the face of the previously restless Zhao Xingwu. He had indeed been provoked to the extreme by Ling Wan’s kick just now.

”Big brother, second brother, out of consideration for us sharing the same mother, I urge you to think again, to avoid a situation that cannot be undone!” It must be said that Ling Wan’s nature was much more generous than that of his two brothers. His words showed some consideration for the blood ties.

However, the two brothers, having little understanding of Ling Wan, never considered they’d fail in a two-against-one situation, let alone did they have the word ”kinship” left in their hearts. Instead, they deemed Ling Wan’s plea as merely begging for mercy.

Zhao Ningshu didn’t wait another second after speaking, completely ignoring the undertones in Ling Wan’s words. His first move bore the unstoppable force of a thunderbolt, without a hint of mercy.

”All right, from today onwards, I, Ling Wan, will have no more ties with the Zhao Family of Ningfeng City, and don’t blame me for being merciless!”

Sensing the fierce murderous intent from Zhao Ningshu, Ling Wan repeated a speech he had made who knows how many times before. Yet each time, he held onto a sliver of hope. After all, despite the Zhao Family’s harsh treatment, it was the place where he grew up, the place linked to him by blood.

With his mind made up, Ling Wan was not prepared to simply let Zhao Ningshu’s powerful strike land on him. He skillfully twisted his plump figure to dodge, miraculously avoiding Zhao Ningshu’s powerful blow in the nick of time.

”You little bastard, die!”

Just as Ling Wan evaded Zhao Ningshu’s strike, another voice sounded from behind him. Without looking, he knew it was Zhao Xingwu launching a sneak attack.

But anyone else hearing Zhao Xingwu’s cursing might find it somewhat comical. He and Ling Wan shared the same parents; if the latter was a ”little bastard,” then he was no better.

Due to the hatred and jealousy in his heart, Zhao Xingwu paid no attention to his slip of the tongue. His sneak attack punch was powerful, aimed directly at Ling Wan’s vital point at his back. If it connected, even with Ling Wan’s current strength in the early stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm, he would definitely not escape unscathed.

Ling Wan was taken aback as well. With his current strength, he might not fear Zhao Ningshu, who was also in the early stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm, but if he were hit by Zhao Xingwu’s punch, the internal injury would mean he couldn’t get away easily today.

Zhao Xingwu had timed his punch extraordinarily well, choosing an extremely tricky angle. Ling Wan couldn’t avoid it, and at the same time, Zhao Ningshu’s second attack was fast approaching.

In a split-second decision, Ling Wan chose to take Zhao Xingwu’s punch, reasoning that this fellow was only at the Peak of Meridian Introduction Realm, and his attack was much weaker than Zhao Ningshu’s.

What Ling Wan didn’t realize was that as Zhao Xingwu’s punch landed harshly on his back, a powerful surge of energy suddenly emerged from his Dantian. In just a moment, it filled his entire body, meridians, and flesh.

Gasping...

Caught off guard by such an unexpected turn, Ling Wan not only failed to dodge the punch from Zhao Xingwu, his response to the palm strike from Zhao Ningshu in front of him was also delayed by a half beat.

It is worth mentioning that when this odd surge of energy erupted within Ling Wan, his entire body instantly transformed into a huge flesh ball in the blink of an eye. It looked somewhat grotesque and comically absurd.

Bang!

Bang!

The combined palm strike and punch from Zhao Ningshu and Zhao Xingwu landed fiercely on the front and back of Ling Wan. However, the next moment, the brothers’ complexions abruptly changed.

They discovered that it was unknown whether Ling Wan would be injured under the two heavy hits. Instead, they themselves were sent flying by a massive force.

Ling Wan, now transformed into a meatball, seemed like an inflated balloon with exceptionally tough skin—so tough that even Zhao Ningshu, a cultivator at the Early Stage of Meridian Gathering Realm, was propelled dozens of feet away by this force.

As for Zhao Xingwu behind Ling Wan, his Meridian Qi Cultivation was far less than his older brother’s, and he had already sustained some internal injuries earlier. Moreover, he had only managed to enter the second layer of the Jade Pot Cave with the aid of Zhao Ningshu.

The rebound of Ling Wan’s body was instinctive. The Mixed Element Qi’s energy was so impressive that even Yun Xiao, the former Long Xiao Battle God, would have marveled at it. Thus, in that instant, Zhao Xingwu met with tragedy.

Gasping...

One could see Zhao Xingwu’s burly body flying over a dozen feet away, violently crashing into a cave wall. The blood and fragments of internal organs he spat out indicated he had suffered fatal damage from the rebounding force.

”Second brother!”

Having been bounced off several feet and barely stabilizing himself, Zhao Ningshu saw his brother Zhao Xingwu sliding down the cave wall with a pained voice, indicating he had realized Zhao Xingwu was unlikely to survive.

While Zhao Ningshu felt no affection for his half-brother Ling Wan, he still had some brotherly bond with Zhao Xingwu, who had always schemed alongside him.

”Big... big brother, save... save me... cough cough...”

Zhao Xingwu, sliding down the wall and not yet dead, suddenly thought of his big brother, a bona fide low-level, Mortal Rank Meridian Refining Master, and hoped he could promptly save his life.

But Zhao Xingwu, his consciousness fading, was utterly unaware that his organs had been shattered by the rebounding force. Even the Sect Leader of the Jade Pot Sect—a Spirit-grade Advanced Meridian Master—would likely be powerless to save him now.

Hearing his brother’s pleas for help, Zhao Ningshu at this moment didn’t care about Ling Wan, who was gradually regaining his original appearance. Rushing to Zhao Xingwu’s side, he realized upon close sensing that he couldn’t save his brother.

”Ling Wan, you... your methods are vicious!”

Feeling Zhao Xingwu’s diminishing life force and his look of despair, Zhao Ningshu felt a suffocating frustration, and he uttered these words through clenched teeth.

People like Zhao Ningshu and Cao Ju were self-centered. Just moments ago, they were attempting to kill Ling Wan together, and now with Zhao Xingwu dying from the rebound, Zhao Ningshu had the audacity to accuse Ling Wan of being too ruthless. It really shows how bizarre human nature can be.

At this point, Ling Wan had already returned to his normal appearance, but his eyes carried a hint of bewilderment. Although he was quite satisfied with the outcome, he had no clue how it had all happened.

In truth, although Ling Wan had unlocked his governor and conception vessels, he had never truly controlled or released his Mixed Element Qi. Unexpectedly, under the dual strikes, the Mixed Element Qi burst out on its own, with tremendous power that instantly killed Zhao Xingwu.

Hearing Zhao Ningshu’s venomous words, Ling Wan, eager to explore the secrets within him, had no intention of attacking Zhao Ningshu again. He simply waved his hand and said, ”I don’t wish to kill you. You’d better leave quickly!”