Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Tsk tsk, two thousand points!”

Yun Xiao held the points card in his hand, feeling quite satisfied. He thanked the steward Qin Wang and then casually walked over to Tan Yun, Ling Wan, and the others.

”Big Brother Yun Xiao, you’re really amazing!”

Ling Wan was naturally overjoyed, immediately praising him, and in his heart, he thought Big Brother Yun Xiao was probably omnipotent. A Spiritual Rank low-level task like the Fire Spirit Crystal was nothing more than a piece of cake for him.

As for the other members of the team, they all looked at Yun Xiao as if he were some kind of monster. Even now, they still hadn’t regained their composure. How could a task that even Feng Hang and Shen Xiao, first and second on the Mortal List, couldn’t complete be so easily accomplished by this guy?

”Let’s head back!”

In the face of this, Yun Xiao simply smiled, then waved his hand and led the way towards the entrance of the hall. There stood someone he had old grievances with, the top talent of the Mortal Rank: Feng Hang!

”Sorry to disappoint you, Senior Brother Feng Hang!”

As he passed by Feng Hang, Yun Xiao looked at his somewhat gloomy face and couldn’t help but speak out. He didn’t have the slightest fondness for this insidious and ruthless top talent of the Mortal Rank.

”Yun Xiao, the Outer Sect competition is in ten days. I will make you understand the consequences of offending me!”

Feng Hang seemed to have suppressed the anger in his heart, or perhaps he knew that no matter how angry he was, he couldn’t act against Yun Xiao inside the Task Hall. So all he did was deeply drop a harsh statement.

This was the second time Feng Hang had said this today, but Yun Xiao didn’t care at all. He led Tan Yun, Ling Wan, and the others, passing by Feng Hang, leaving the entire hall of people looking at each other in confusion.

It wasn’t until the figures of Yun Xiao and his companions had long disappeared from the door of the Task Hall that the hall erupted into a burst of intense discussion. These discussions revolved around the name ”Yun Xiao,” and at times, they even involved Feng Hang and Shen Xiao.

Indeed, Yun Xiao had garnered quite the limelight in the Task Hall today, as after all, he had completed a Spiritual Rank low-level task that even Feng Hang and Shen Xiao couldn’t accomplish.

Even though the Fire Spirit Crystal was only a Third Rank low-level, and fundamentally mismatched with the Mortal Rank tasks, it was precisely this that made Yun Xiao seem even more miraculous.

From this, everyone could foresee what kind of a fierce struggle the Outer Sect competition would bring in ten days. That would be the most important grand event for the entire Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect.

With nearly a thousand Outer Disciples in the Jade Pot Sect, every genius who entered the Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect was eager to squeeze into the Inner Sect. Yet, every year, only two Outer Disciples could enter the Inner Sect through the Outer Sect competition.

Even some of the Jade Pot Sect’s authoritative Elders, stalwart figures in the Spirit Vein Realm, might come in person to watch the Outer Sect competition, hoping to recruit some fresh young talents for their own lineages.

In fact, there was once an Outer Sect competition where a low-level Mortal Rank Meridian Refining Master didn’t make the top two but was favored by an Elder of the Jade Pot Sect and was directly taken into the Inner Sect, which could only be described as fate’s will.

So, all the Outer Disciples were rubbing their hands in anticipation; even if they couldn’t surpass talents like Feng Hang and Shen Xiao in the Meridian Rushing Realm, they still had to show their own style. Who knows, perhaps luck would strike from the sky?

However, in the discussions among these seasoned Outer Disciples, they didn’t seem too optimistic about Yun Xiao. Even though Yun Xiao made quite a splash today, in their eyes, it was just a side path.

Perhaps this year’s Inner Sect spots were already known to be reserved by Feng Hang and Shen Xiao, as only these two had broken through to the Meridian Rushing Realm tier. Below this level, all cultivators were as transient as clouds.

Yet, because of today’s drama and conflict between Yun Xiao and Feng Hang, everyone was kindling an interest, wanting to see just how far this mysterious young man would go in the Outer Sect competition.

As for those like Xuan Zhi and Zhao Ningshu, who had grievances with Yun Xiao, they were secretly grinding their teeth with resentment. Yun Xiao had repeatedly stolen the spotlight, and it seemed they would have to wait until the Outer Sect competition to see him humbled.

Yun Xiao, who had already left the Task Hall, naturally didn’t hear these discussions. Back in the courtyard, the group’s attention was caught by another matter.

”Big Brother Yun Xiao, where did you get this little mouse from? It’s so adorable!”

Ling Wan’s gaze had been fixed on Yun Xiao’s right shoulder since leaving the Task Hall, where a lazily sprawled fire-red mouse rested.

These few were geniuses from the great families of the Xuanyue Empire, and aside from the neglected Ling Wan, the others were well-informed. However, they had never seen this kind of fire-red mouse.

The Fire Cloud Rat, a special species, was rare even in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, for its extremely formidable strength. If there were many of them, perhaps the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud wouldn’t be under the reign of Emperor Canglong.

When Yun Xiao first discovered this Fire Cloud Rat, he was truly taken aback. How incredible was it that such a creature appeared on the Hidden Dragon Continent?

Hearing Ling Wan’s inquiry, and seeing everyone’s curious gazes on him, Yun Xiao slightly tilted his head and said, ”This is my new friend that I met at Yurong Mountain; its name is Chi Yan!”

”Chi Yan?”

Upon hearing this, Ling Wan became even more curious. Chi Yan seemed too listless to show any spirit, so Ling Wan couldn’t help but reach out to pet its fur.

”Eh...”

Yun Xiao wanted to stop him, but it was already too late, and just as Ling Wan’s fingertips nearly touched Chi Yan’s fur, the latter suddenly became alert, stood upright, and bared its teeth at Ling Wan.

”Squeak!”

A slightly dissatisfied sound came from Chi Yan. It was a proud Fire Cloud Rat; if it weren’t for the lingering affinity it felt for Yun Xiao’s Ancient Dragon Taming Technique, it probably wouldn’t have willingly followed any human.

Ling Wan, frightened by Chi Yan’s sudden reaction, withdrew his hand instantly. He hadn’t sensed Chi Yan’s true strength yet and thought it was just a low-level Vein Demon of the First or Second Rank. He smiled and said, ”This little one has quite the temper!”

Yun Xiao didn’t correct him and lifted his left hand to smooth down Chi Yan’s bristled fur, smiling as he said, ”Chi Yan, these people are all my good friends. Be nice to them, okay?”

With Yun Xiao’s words, Chi Yan’s fur settled down, but it ignored Ling Wan and Tan Yun, returning to lie on Yun Xiao’s shoulder without moving.

After calming Chi Yan, Yun Xiao turned to ask, with a slight ponderance, ”Tan Yun sister, do you know the rules of the Outer Sect competition?”

It seemed that although Yun Xiao didn’t care about Feng Hang’s harsh words before, he was still interested. Now that he had reached the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage in his cultivation, he felt that he might have a chance to compete for one of the slots to the Inner Sect.

What Yun Xiao knew was that there were two opportunities to advance into the Inner Sect, but as for the exact rules of the Outer Sect competition and whether all Outer Disciples could participate, he was in the dark.

Tan Yun, of course, had already inquired about such an important event. She took over the conversation and said, ”There aren’t many rules for the Outer Sect competition. As long as you are a disciple of the Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect, you can participate.”

Tan Yun emphasized before continuing, ”But before each competition of the Outer Sect, there will be a drawing of lots. All disciples who decide to participate will draw to select their opponent for the ring battle. The winner advances to the next round.”

”I see!” Yun Xiao nodded, now understanding some details about the Outer Sect competition. Although all Outer Disciples could participate, not all of them really did.

For example, some young prodigies who had just joined the Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect, without receiving any resources and training from the sect and not yet breaking through to the Meridian Gathering Realm, would only disgrace themselves by rashly entering the competition.

From Tan Yun’s words, Yun Xiao guessed that on the day the Outer Sect competition began, all disciples who decided to participate would gather together first and then draw lots to determine their opponents.

”Yun Xiao brother, you will definitely participate in the Outer Sect competition, right?” Ling Wan glanced at the Fire Cloud Rat on Yun Xiao’s shoulder before turning around and excitedly saying.

”Hehe, Yun Xiao, if you really do participate, you might become the second disciple to enter the Jade Pot Sect’s Inner Sect right after joining as an Outer Disciple!” Tan Yun chimed in softly with a laugh.

”The second? Then who was the first?”

Hearing Tan Yun’s words, Yun Xiao suddenly became curious. As far as he knew, this batch of new Outer Disciples, because of the presence of people like Xuan Zhi Zhao Ningshu, might even be of higher quality than previous batches. Could it be that there was someone stronger than Xuan Zhi before?

Considering that the Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect recruits new disciples every three years, the so-called Outer Sect competition wasn’t just a battle among the new disciples; it was a competition involving all Outer Disciples.

Even for a royal family genius like Xuan Zhi, despite having broken through to the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage, he probably wouldn’t last a few moves against Feng Hang or Shen Xiao, let alone anyone else.

Upon Yun Xiao’s inquiry, Tan Yun’s face warmed with a blush and she spoke with a hint of adoration, ”Speaking of whom, it’s someone we all know. It’s Sister Mo Qing, who welcomed us into the sect that day!”

”It’s her?!”

Yun Xiao’s heart stirred upon hearing her name, and a glimmer of strangeness flashed in his eyes. For some reason, the image of a pristine white body inexplicably appeared in the depths of his mind and lingered on.

”Ah, what am I thinking?”

Yun Xiao shook his head to dispel the fanciful thoughts from his mind, and then realized that his encounter with Mo Qing was probably not a good thing — that Inner Sect prodigy girl had always been hostile towards him.