Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

The attention of most people was fixated on Ling Wan, so as the latter turned his head, their gazes followed suit, and in the next instant, they found their eyes hard to avert.

First to appear at the entrance of the hall was a figure in green robes, who, unlike the newly promoted Outer Disciples like Tan Yun and Ling Wan, was undoubtedly unfamiliar.

However, as Ling Wan and others sensed a touch of shock from the crowd around them, they realized that the reputation of the newcomer must be considerable. Didn’t you see even Guan Tong, ranked third on the Mortal List, showing a hint of intimidation?

”It’s Shen Xiao, senior brother, no wonder we haven’t seen him around lately. He must have been out on a mission!”

After an awed voice emanated from somewhere, newcomers like Tan Yun and Zhao Ningshu, who might not have seen this prodigy before, knew who the arrival was.

”Shen Xiao, ranked second on the Jade Pot Sect Outer Sect Mortal List!”

Tan Yun watched the figure in green walk leisurely into the Task Hall, muttering under his breath, and instantly, Ling Wan and the others understood, even if they hadn’t seen this fearsome figure who ranked second on the Mortal List, they had certainly heard the name Shen Xiao.

Despite the awe and fervor of the crowd around him, Shen Xiao seemed to show no response. On the contrary, there was a hint of gloom on his face, and his mood didn’t seem to be very good.

As for Shen Xiao, Steward Qin Wang was naturally very familiar with him. This was a standout among hundreds of Outer Disciples, very likely to be promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple after the upcoming Outer Sect competition. So even Qin Wang, the steward of the Outer Sect Task Hall, didn’t dare to be negligent.

Just advancing to the Inner Sect of the Jade Pot Sect meant access to very different resources. Although Qin Wang had reached the peak of the Meridian Rushing Realm, his prospects at this age were obviously not as bright as Shen Xiao’s, who was only in the early stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm.

Shen Xiao arrived at the wooden table and without a word, wiped his hand across the Waist Storage and handed over a familiar wooden token, which was the mission token.

”Wow, it’s a Spiritual Rank low-level mission. Huh? A Fire Spirit Crystal mission?”

Receiving the wooden token, Qin Wang glanced at the mission description, first admiring it and then showing a look of surprise on his face, stirring up excitement among the watching crowd.

This was a Spiritual Rank low-level mission after all, a daunting mission for these Outer Sect prodigies who at most reached the peak of the Meridian Gathering Realm, daring to dream but too afraid to take on. A slip could potentially cost them their lives.

What’s more critical was that failing such a mission at the Spiritual Rank level would lead to deduction of points. Points were hard to come by; for instance, completing a Mortal Rank Middle-Level mission only granted Tan Yun and the others three hundred points, and some Spiritual Rank missions deducted even more than that.

”Heh heh, with senior brother Shen Xiao personally undertaking it, there should be no mission he can’t complete, right?”

Whispers from various people indicated that they were all familiar with the genius ranked second on the Mortal List, knowing that he never fought battles he wasn’t sure of. Since he dared to take on this Spiritual Rank low-level mission, it surely wouldn’t result in failure.

On the other hand, as murmurs ceased, Qin Wang also looked forward with some anticipation. The Fire Spirit Crystal was of great use to some of the Elders of the Jade Pot Sect; should the mission be completed, it would be an opportunity for him to curry favour.

Little did they know, as Qin Wang and the many Outer Disciples were waiting for Shen Xiao to extract the mission item from his Waist Storage, the face of this genius ranked second on the Mortal List revealed a shadow of gloom.

”Sorry, this time, my mission has failed. Steward Qin, please deduct my points.”

Amidst the expectant gazes of all, Shen Xiao suddenly made such a statement, leaving the crowd momentarily dumbfounded before they saw him take another wooden token from his Waist Storage.

This token naturally belonged to Shen Xiao himself, unlike Ling Wan and Xuan Zhi, who did not yet own points cards. However, seeing the mere six hundred points left on it made his heart bleed.

Had his points not been reduced to a mere six hundred, Shen Xiao would not have taken on this two thousand point-reward mission. This time, not only did the unexpected emergence of Feng Hang complicate things, but an unrelated youngster also ended up with the Fire Spirit Crystal, which was frustrating to him.

At this point, Shen Xiao had no other recourse. Since leaving Yurong Volcano, he had searched the Yulin Mountain Range for several days, hoping to find traces of Yun Xiao, but in the end, it was all for naught.

”So senior brother Shen Xiao can fail too!”

These veteran Outer Disciples, who had great confidence in Shen Xiao, felt a twinge of poignancy in their hearts, silently noting that the Spiritual Rank mission was indeed no trivial matter. Even Shen Xiao, who had just reached the early stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm, could fail, and if they were to undertake such a task, success would likely be utterly out of reach.

Qin Wang, too, was clearly disappointed, but the fact remained unchanged, and he could not bend the rules. He took the points card from Shen Xiao and wiped clean all five hundred points.

Upon retrieving his points card, Shen Xiao looked at the mere hundred points left on it and felt an urge to cry without tears. This time, he couldn’t even enter the second floor of Jade Pot Cave.

Tap, tap!

Just as Shen Xiao was feeling down and everyone in the hall was reflecting sympathetically, the entrance of the Task Hall echoed with the sound of footsteps.

This time, when everyone shifted their gaze, they were startled and then gasped in unison, because apart from Xuan Zhi, Tan Yun, and others, none found this figure unfamiliar.

Wrapped in a purple robe, with a barely discernable face, this figure had even greater renown within the Outer Sect of Jade Pot Sect than Shen Xiao. He was the true number one of the Outer Sect Disciples of Jade Pot Sect.

”Mortal List Rank Number One: Feng Hang!”

This time, without waiting for the crowd to voice their speculations, Tan Yun had already confirmed the newcomer’s identity. Only this individual could make many of the Outer Sect prodigies, even those like Shen Xiao and Guan Tong, show a look of awe.

For the only ranking list in Jade Pot Sect, these Outer Sect Disciples who had joined for almost two months, had the names of the top five, or even the top ten prodigies, memorized thoroughly.

And this figure, dressed in a purple robe and with his face concealed, was clearly that of the elusive but legendary Feng Hang, who had been at the top of the Mortal List for the past year amid Outer Sect rumors!

However, in contrast to the many on-looking prodigies, Shen Xiao, who was highly distressed just before, seemed to relax a bit after Feng Hang entered the Task Hall.

Perhaps only Shen Xiao and Guan Tong, who had witnessed the events of the day, knew why Feng Hang entered the Task Hall, finding a sense of balance deep within their hearts.

Feng Hang, hidden beneath the purple robe and whose face couldn’t be seen, walked briskly to the task desk in a manner that gave rise to thoughtful looks from many. It seemed he too had taken on a significant task.

”Feng Hang’s task... surely he won’t fail, right?”

Somehow, a peculiar feeling arose in the hearts of a few, wondering after Shen Xiao’s failed task, whether the ruthless number one on the Mortal List would face the same fate.

Of course, aside from a few like Shen Xiao and Guan Tong, most couldn’t believe that the esteemed top disciple of the Outer Sect of Jade Pot Sect would ever fail a task.

Qin Wang was very familiar with Feng Hang, and as he took the task card from him, his expression shifted slightly, murmuring: ”It’s the same Spiritual Rank Low Level task for Fire Spirit Crystal!”

While speaking, Qin Wang’s eyes brushed past Shen Xiao, secretly wondering if the second-place holder on the Mortal List failed his task because the sole Fire Spirit Crystal was taken by Feng Hang?

Qin Wang had some knowledge about the details of the Fire Spirit Crystal, aware that only one Fire Spirit Snake appeared each year, and naturally, only one Fire Spirit Crystal would be available.

Although Feng Hang and Shen Xiao were both at the Meridian Rushing Realm Early Stage, their strengths differed due to their Cultivation Techniques and Meridian Techniques. Feng Hang had been on top of the Mortal List for over a year, and Shen Xiao had been unable to dethrone him, clearly showing that Feng Hang was considerably stronger.

Not only Qin Wang, but as the Task Hall Steward murmured, almost everyone assumed that Feng Hang had obtained the Fire Spirit Crystal, thereby causing Shen Xiao’s task to fail.

Yet when everyone’s gaze turned toward Shen Xiao, expecting to see his angry and frustrated look, they were surprised to find anticipation in his eyes and even a subtle excitement.

The item for his task had been taken, yet he showed such a reaction—had Shen Xiao reached a high realm of detachment from all things?

”I’m sorry, I’ve failed this Spiritual Rank Low Level task!”

As people were contemplating various thoughts, a hoarse voice came from beneath Feng Hang’s purple robe. In that moment, the entire Task Hall fell silent as if a needle drop could be heard, as everyone found it hard to believe this outcome.

This was the top talent of the Outer Sect, the ruthless number one on the Mortal List, and moreover, someone at the Meridian Rushing Realm Early Stage. Why would he fail a Spiritual Rank Low Level task?

Of course, there are different degrees of difficulty within Spiritual Rank Low Level tasks, but everyone knew that a person like Feng Hang would not accept tasks impossible to complete. Having taken on the task meant he was confident in completing it.

At this moment, everyone grew excited about this so-called Fire Spirit Crystal task, wondering if it required one to reach the Middle Stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm to accomplish it?

These Outer Sect prodigies knew that if even Feng Hang and Shen Xiao had failed the Fire Spirit Crystal task, likely no one else in the Outer Sect of Jade Pot Sect would be able to complete such a difficult task!