Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 161: 161 Tiger Roar Mountain Forest

”Yun Xiao, this kid, seems to have some tricks up his sleeve. It’s just unclear if he can truly defeat Guan Tong!”

Mo Qing, slightly lost in thought, suddenly heard a peculiar voice beside her and involuntarily turned her head for a glance. However, she did not join the conversation.

Mo Qing was intelligent and perceptive, aware that Xue Gong had always harbored some hidden sentiments towards her. Reasonably speaking, he was fairly impressive too, ranking in the top three among the young generation of the Jade Pot Sect.

Yet, for some reason, Mo Qing felt nothing for this stunning and exceptional genius. In fact, she was somewhat displeased with his... hypocrisy, especially after her recent inexplicable interactions with Yun Xiao, which only made her find Xue Gong more annoying.

Poor Xue Gong, the top medical pulse genius of the Jade Pot Sect’s inner sect, remained oblivious to how his status in this junior sister’s heart had plummeted due to that rag-clad youth on the stage.

Having made that slightly sour comment and seeing no reaction from Mo Qing, Xue Gong felt somewhat embarrassed. When he turned his head, he somehow found himself, inexplicably, rooting for Guan Tong—hoping Guan Tong would keep that kid called Yun Xiao stuck on the second platform for good.

Perhaps it was what they called gut feeling and envy. Even if Xue Gong was unaware of Mo Qing and Yun Xiao’s exchanges, he instinctively disliked the rag-clad kid, which wasn’t quite in line with his identity as a Medical Pulse Master.

While Mo Qing and Xue Gong harbored their own thoughts, two fellow disciples in the southeast corner of the arena, Bi Luo and Yin Huan, watched the rag-clad youth on the stage with great interest. Perhaps their thoughts were even more complex.

As for what these spectating geniuses were thinking, the two on the stage had no time to care about that. It’s worth mentioning that, at this moment, everyone’s gaze was largely focused on this second platform, making the battles on the other three seem rather dull.

Spectators had grown tired of higher rankers defeating lower rankers. If, in this fight, Yun Xiao with his late-stage Meridian Gathering cultivation could defeat Guan Tong at the peak of Meridian Gathering, it would truly be spectacular gossip.

Unknowingly, besides some geniuses who were friendly with Guan Tong or bore grudges against Yun Xiao, the crowd began to anticipate Yun Xiao defeating Guan Tong, hoping for a miracle.

Since it’s termed a miracle, it indicates that the likelihood of it happening isn’t high. Even though the onlookers were hoping for Yun Xiao’s victory, they still maintained a sliver of rationality; Guan Tong hadn’t yet revealed all his techniques.

The battle on the stage continued, and the close-combat between Yun Xiao and Guan Tong entered an intense phase. But the more they fought, the more each of them developed some ideas: using their own strengths to exploit the other’s weaknesses.

Guan Tong’s supposed strength, his extraordinary physical power, was now apparent to him that it wasn’t just his forte but also Yun Xiao’s.

At this moment, Guan Tong realized he had made some errors in judgment. Yun Xiao, who had tempered his body with Stone Heart Marrow, was hardly weaker in physical strength, possibly even stronger.

Close-quarters combat consumes less Meridian Qi, relying solely on physical attacks. It became clear to Guan Tong that this was a case of attacking Yun Xiao’s strength with his own weakness.

Guan Tong, having realized his mistake, understood that relying purely on physical strength was not enough to suppress Yun Xiao, let alone defeat him.

It must be said that Guan Tong, ranked third on the Mortal List, was not without talent; after realizing the issue, he decisively unleashed his strength and instantly widened the distance from Yun Xiao.

It seems Guan Tong was not a fool; recognizing he could not overpower Yun Xiao with physical strength, he then sought to crush his opponent with superior Meridian Qi Cultivation, which was also his most important asset.

”Yun Xiao, I must say, you really make me sit up and take notice. But today, the one who will be defeated can only be you!”

Guan Tong, having put some distance between them, gasped heavily—whether from tiredness or out of anger towards Yun Xiao was uncertain. With those words spoken, Yun Xiao’s expression also grew more solemn.

Despite the evenly matched fight with Guan Tong, Yun Xiao knew that even with the enhanced Physical Strength from the tempering of Stone Heart Marrow, defeating Guan Tong that way would be impossible.

After all, the gap in Meridian Qi was objectively there, Yun Xiao’s greatest shortcoming. Continuing the fight this way, he would definitely fall first due to a lack of sustaining Meridian Qi.

Now that Guan Tong had also recognized this key point, denying Yun Xiao even the chance to persist, if they were to engage in another clash of Meridian Qi Energy, Yun Xiao would struggle even more than before.

Moreover, Yun Xiao knew that after their upfront confrontation, Guan Tong must have gained a new appreciation of his strength and would no longer underestimate him like Gao Zheng did.

Yun Xiao’s guess was indeed correct; as Guan Tong finished speaking, everyone sensed a unique aura emanating from him, and to some geniuses in the arena, this aura was not the least bit unfamiliar.

”It’s the power of the Ancestor Vein!”

Xuan Zhi, standing beside Guan Tong, his brother from the same mother as Guan Hu, sensed the nature of this aura the very first time and immediately spoke softly next to the Third Prince, finally bringing a smile to the latter’s face.

In truth, just now, when Guan Tong and Yun Xiao had been evenly matched in combat, how could Xuan Zhi’s mood possibly be good? He originally thought Guan Tong could swiftly kill Yun Xiao, only to be gravely disappointed.

Through the recent fight, Xuan Zhi even developed a bit of a psychological shadow over Yun Xiao in his heart. He believed that if it had been him facing Yun Xiao this round, perhaps he would have been miserably defeated already.

Xuan Zhi was clear in his heart that as long as Yun Xiao lived, this psychological shadow would persist in his mind, even potentially deeply affecting his cultivation path and resolve.

Apart from the potential fear of Yun Xiao, Xuan Zhi also felt a resentful frustration towards Guan Tong. It wasn’t until the latter activated the power of the Ancestor Vein, clearly about to reveal his full strength, that he could secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

The aura of the Ancestor Vein Power was vastly different from that of ordinary Meridian Qi Energy, and at this moment, the majority of people realized that Guan Tong had invoked the Ancestor Vein Power, and naturally, his combat strength greatly increased.

”Wow, to push Guan Tong to this extent, Yun Xiao can be truly proud!”

In the northeastern corner of the hall, Xue Gong, having sensed this aura, seemingly thought of something, and spoke up again. Although his words seemed to praise Yun Xiao, they actually confirmed that the shabbily-dressed young man was sure to lose.

Compared to Xue Gong, Mo Qing naturally knew more about Yun Xiao. Thus, at this moment, a glimmer of something different flashed in her beautiful eyes—an anticipation!

On the number two stage, Guan Tong indeed activated his Ancestor Vein, but it was unclear where exactly on Guan Tong’s body it was located – at least, it wasn’t manifesting on the hands, face, or neck because nothing showed externally.

Yun Xiao sensed very clearly that Guan Tong’s Ancestor Vein did not seem to be a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein, meaning this prodigy of the Imperial City’s Guan Family was not a Meridian Refining Master.

However, Guan Tong, who had activated the Ancestor Vein Power, although not having broken through to the Early Stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm, had undoubtedly taken another small step forward on his existing foundation, getting closer to the Meridian Rushing Realm.

”You little bastard, die!”

Confidently activating the Ancestor Vein Power, and with resentment from the previous stalemate, Guan Tong was speaking without reservation, unaware that the words ”little bastard” darkened Yun Xiao’s expression in an instant.

As he didn’t know his father, Yun Xiao had suffered endless humiliations in the Shang Family. If not for the reincarnation of the Long Xiao Battle God, he would have already died within the Snake Nest, beyond redemption.

Thus, the words ”little bastard” were like scales touched in reverse for both the former Yun Xiao and the Long Xiao Battle God who had taken over this body. Clearly, with these words, Guan Tong had enraged Yun Xiao.

But Guan Tong himself had no idea of the seriousness of the consequences. The next moment, in front of him, a tiger’s head appeared once again.

”Yun Xiao, don’t think that just because you’ve broken through my Meridian Techniques earlier, now I’ll let you witness the true power of ’Tiger Roar Mountain Forest’!”

Guan Tong was rather self-satisfied. This Tiger Head Meridian Technique was obviously from the same school of technique he had first cast, but now as he activated the Ancestor Vein Power, the power of the technique was undoubtedly much greater.

Especially the ferocious appearance of the tiger’s head seemed to contain an extremely violent force, as if it was truly roaring atop the mountain forest, intimidating all creatures far and wide.

All the spectators could clearly sense that this time, Guan Tong’s Tiger Roar Mountain Forest Meridian Technique was more than twice as powerful as before, and whether Yun Xiao could still withstand it with his Meridian Qi Sword was in question.

Whoosh... Whoosh...

However, just when everyone, including Guan Tong, thought Yun Xiao would struggle to cope with this Meridian Technique attack, the air above the number two stage became disturbed again in an instant.

Countless Heaven and Earth Energy rushed towards the shabbily-dressed youth, leaving the spectators dumbfounded, because some among them did not know this disciple, who had just been promoted to the Outer Sect, also possessed the Ancestor Vein Power.

At this moment, Yun Xiao clearly invoked the Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein in his right arm, leaving everyone feeling shocked, and the next moment, they were even more stunned beyond measure.

Because the Ancestor Vein-powered Yun Xiao instantly elevated his Meridian Qi Cultivation to the Peak of the Meridian Gathering Realm. What this implied was something the prodigies from the great families all understood very well.

The Ancestor Veins also had different grades, with distinct divisions between the Mortal Spirit and the fifth rank of the Spiritual Earth Sky Saint. At this time, the Ancestor Vein Power that Yun Xiao invoked was clearly proving something to everyone.