Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 134: 134 Fu Du’s Ambition

”Teacher, do you still remember that lad named Yun Xiao?”

Yin Huan raised his head to glance at his teacher Fu Du, the words spoken triggering a fierce shudder in the latter’s heart as he recalled the agonizing pain from his two-month retreat, a flicker of strange light passing through his eyes.

”Heh heh, how could I forget, to speak the truth, I should actually thank that kid this time!” Fu Du collected his spirits, his face revealing an unusual smile, it was unclear whether his gratitude was genuine or simply a spur-of-the-moment emotion.

To tell you the truth, Fu Du had truly experienced the severe cold poison of the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad firsthand this time. If not for his strong Poison Meridian Skill and that bit of luck, maybe he would have ended up frozen into an ice sculpture just like Yun Xiao.

This also shows that if the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad hadn’t had some of its cold poison absorbed by Yun Xiao at that time, allowing Fu Du to refine it directly, he would have been doomed without a doubt.

To this extent, Yun Xiao indeed did Fu Du a great favor. However, in this cruel-hearted Poison Vein Master’s mind, that young man who tested the poison on himself was likely already a cold skeleton by now.

Because Fu Du had tested it himself, he knew exactly how potent the cold poison of the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad was. Even he, a cultivator at the Spirit Vein Realm, had nearly been unable to withstand it, not to mention Yun Xiao, who was only at the Meridian Introduction Realm Middle Stage at the time.

”Teacher, this matter is quite strange. That lad Yun Xiao... he actually didn’t die, and he even joined the Jade Pot Sect as an Outer Disciple!”

Yin Huan obviously didn’t know the deluge of thoughts that had crossed Fu Du’s mind in just a moment. As he talked about it, there appeared to be a trace of disbelief in his voice, as this matter was too illogical.

”What did you say?”

The disciple’s repeated words finally pulled Fu Du back from his reverie. Realizing that crucial piece of information, even he, the Jade Pot Sect’s Second Elder and a mighty Spirit Vein Realm expert, almost couldn’t keep his composure.

Compared to Yin Huan, maybe only Fu Du, who personally experienced the severe cold poison of the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad, knew how formidable that poison was. In his opinion, even if Yun Xiao encountered an Earth-rank Meridian Refining Master, it would have been impossible for him to be brought back from the dead.

But Yin Huan spoke with such certainty that Fu Du had no choice but to believe him. Moreover, he knew that his junior disciple would never dare to deceive him. So, was it possible that Yun Xiao was really still alive?

”Did you just say that Yun Xiao joined the Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect?”

After a brief shock, Fu Du quickly regained his composure. Hearing his voice laden with a strange intonation, Yin Huan already knew what was on his teacher’s mind.

”Teacher, you might not know this, but not only did Yun Xiao miraculously survive, his Meridian Qi Cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. He is now a Cultivator at the Meridian Gathering Realm, and he has even awakened his Ancestor Vein, becoming a Meridian Refining Master!”

Yin Huan once again described Yun Xiao’s remarkable achievements. Even he felt this was unbelievable, as these feats were hardly inferior to his own.

In just a short period, Yun Xiao had risen from the Meridian Introduction Realm Middle Stage to the Meridian Gathering Realm, and he had formidable combat abilities too, now being a Meridian Refining Master. Thinking back, Yin Huan, at Yun Xiao’s age, had achieved no more than that either.

This was still considering Yin Huan’s knowledge of Yun Xiao, which remained as it was over a month ago in Jade Pot Cave. If he knew that Yun Xiao was currently attempting to break through to the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage, one could only wonder what he would feel.

”Oh? Is that so? It seems that we, as teacher and student, have missed a Meridian Refining Genius!” Fu Du wasn’t as contemplative; seeing his wily eyes turn, his sinister voice let Yin Huan instantly realize what his teacher intended to do.

But in the next moment, Yin Huan frowned and said, ”Teacher, that Mo Qing seems to have also learned about some of Yun Xiao’s affairs. This time, those old fellows from the Medical Pulse faction might also take an interest in Yun Xiao!”

”No matter what, we must recruit Yun Xiao into our Poison Vein lineage at any cost!”

Who would have known, just as Yin Huan finished speaking, he thought his teacher would waver, but the next moment he heard Fu Du’s resolute voice, which left him quite puzzled.

In the past, the Poison Vein and Medical Pulse factions of the Jade Pot Sect were always at odds with each other. If a conflict occurred, the Medical Pulse usually had the upper hand, and Fu Du often stepped back.

That was because if you disregarded the Sect Master of the Jade Pot Sect, the Great Elder, who was the power holder of the Medical Pulse, was a true Spiritual Rank Intermediate Meridian Refining Master whose attainments in Meridian Refining surpassed those of Fu Du.

This was also why when Mo Qing stormed into the Great Hall that day, Fu Du didn’t harm her, because he was simply no match for the Great Elder Lu Zhan.

”Heh heh, Yin Huan, do you think the two months I spent in secluded cultivation were in vain? From today onwards, our Poison Vein lineage no longer needs to fear the Medical Pulse lineage!”

Seeing his disciple’s confusion, Fu Du was in high spirits and explained a few words. These words, containing deep implications, caused Yin Huan to be astonished and then overcome with ecstatic joy.

”Teacher, you... you’ve broken through to the rank of a Spiritual Rank Intermediate Meridian Refining Master?”

Yin Huan was no fool, he understood his teacher’s hint in an instant. He asked, his voice trembling, but seeing Fu Du’s expression, he already knew his guess was correct.

”It’s not just a simple matter of being a Spiritual Rank Intermediate Meridian Refining Master!”

Fu Du wore a smile of pride on his face, yet did not elaborate further. However, with a slight flick of his right hand, a subtle cold aura was occasionally emitted. Something extremely cold seemed to have been added to his body.

”Half a month from now, it should be the annual Outer Disciple Competition, right?”

Fu Du bowed his head and pondered for a moment, and upon seeing Yin Huan nod, he began to speak with a smile, ”This time, I want to personally see if there are any promising youngsters among those Outer Disciples. It’s time for our Poison Vein to shine!”

For some reason, upon hearing his master’s words, Yin Huan suddenly felt a surge of excitement. However, he was clear that the only person who could warrant his master’s personal attention at the Outer Disciple Competition was Yun Xiao and no one else.

The conversation between master and disciple ended there, and at this moment, the person they mentioned was completely unaware that he was being thought of again since he had reached a critical juncture in his cultivation.

...

On the north side of Jade Pot Sect, deep within the Yulin Mountain Range.

Huff... Huff...

Within the dense leaves of a large tree big enough to be embraced by several people, a thin figure sat cross-legged. It was Yun Xiao, who had been refining a Fire Spirit Crystal for three full days.

In the palm of Yun Xiao’s left hand, the crystal that had originally emitted a rich Fire Attribute warmth, glowing brightly even in the dark of night, now appeared dim and seemed as if it could shatter at any moment.

This indicated that the energy within the Fire Spirit Crystal had been mostly refined by Yun Xiao, all transformed into his Meridian Qi. And at this moment, Yun Xiao was on the brink of making a breakthrough to the late stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm.

Yun Xiao’s previous guess was correct. The reason the Fire Spirit Crystal was consumed by the golden snake worm was due to the Ancestor Vein transformed from the Blood Moon Jade.

The Blood Moon Jade was something miraculous indeed, not only providing Yun Xiao the remarkable Ancient Dragon Taming Technique but also activating his first Ancestor Vein.

Now it even allowed that golden snake worm to control some magical powers through the Ancestor Vein, or rather, the Blood Moon Jade transformed into a crimson mark. Therefore, Yun Xiao didn’t use his right hand for refining this time to prevent the golden snake worm from snatching it away again.

After three days and nights of refining, Yun Xiao felt a tremendous improvement in the Meridian Qi within his body, just one step away from breaking through to the late stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm.

Not far from Yun Xiao, on a branch of a tree, a palm-sized fiery red rat stared at him with tiny eyes, as if anticipating something.

Crack!

Under the watchful eyes of the Fire Cloud Rat, in a fleeting moment, the Fire Spirit Crystal in Yun Xiao’s palm finally exhausted its last bit of energy, emitting a soft cracking sound.

Had there been outsiders present, they would see the Fire Spirit Crystal, which had been enveloped in flames, now resembling a crystal-clear glass orb, devoid of any light or color.

Crash!

And from the bottom of this transparent Fire Spirit Crystal, tiny cracks began to crawl upwards, shattering abruptly in a moment, and remnants of energy fell from the tree, disappearing without a trace.

Yun Xiao naturally had no concern for the spent Fire Spirit Crystal. As his Ancient Dragon Taming Technique circulated, the Heaven and Earth Energy from the air swarmed towards him and transformed into strands of pure Meridian Qi, filling the major meridians throughout his body.

Boom!

Another half incense stick of time passed, and the Meridian Qi inside Yun Xiao finally reached a zenith. As his Cultivation Technique circulated, it directly broke through that barrier, reaching the late stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm.

It’s worth noting that it hasn’t been even a month since Yun Xiao used the Stone Heart Marrow by the hot spring to break through to the middle stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm. To make another breakthrough in such a short amount of time would be almost unbelievable if told.

If one also considers the time Yun Xiao spent recovering from near death in the Yulin Mountain Range, he astonishingly broke through from the middle stage of the Meridian Introduction Realm to the late stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm in just over two months. This speed of cultivation was simply incredible.

”Squeak!”

Seemingly sensing Yun Xiao’s successful breakthrough, the Fire Cloud Rat nearby excitedly chirped, and its tiny body even turned a somersault on the branch as if delighted for Yun Xiao.

”Huff...”

Now that his breakthrough was complete, Yun Xiao finally opened his eyes. As he exhaled a breath of turbid air and sensed the Meridian Qi energy that had more than doubled within him, his face involuntarily revealed a satisfied smile.

Yun Xiao had every reason to believe that his breakthrough to the late stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm would mean that if he encountered Guan Tong, who was ranked third on the Mortal List, he would no longer flee from battle as before. He, at this moment, had indeed transformed from his past self.