Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 229: 229 Strange Spirit Reappears

One had to admit that Yin Huan’s wit somewhat exceeded Yun Xiao’s imagination. As a blood-red flame ignited in the palm of his right hand, the handprint on the right hand of this time-honored genius among Inner Sect Disciples abruptly clenched.

Boom!

A Meridian Qi Sphere formed by several threads of Meridian Qi burst open under the grip of Yin Huan’s right hand. As the explosive Meridian Qi imbued with green hues ran wild, Yun Xiao suddenly felt his cheeks and palms being battered by the burst of Meridian Qi.

”Hmm?”

To Yun Xiao, these threads of Meridian Qi, now lacking in significant energy, did not pose much of a threat. However, the moment he sensed a trace of numbness spreading from his hands and cheeks, he immediately cursed the situation as dangerous.

A chilling realization dawning on him, Yun Xiao hastily raised his hands, only to see spots of viridian spreading wherever the explosive Meridian Qi had hit on the back of his hands—and they could not be shaken off.

”Damn it, this Meridian Qi is poisonous!”

Seeing this, Yun Xiao’s complexion turned extremely grim. Though he couldn’t see his own face, he was aware that a green hue must also be emerging there, and the numbing sensation was growing sharper—a sure sign of being poisoned severely.

While Yun Xiao had unique methods to neutralize severe poisons, under the current circumstances, Yin Huan would definitely not allot him the time needed to do so. Yun Xiao knew that in the end, he had still been calculated against by Yin Huan.

But even if he were to face this situation again, Yun Xiao would probably be unable to escape the onslaught of the Meridian Qi following the sphere’s detonation. The chaotic spraying of Meridian Qi in all directions was completely erratic, making it nearly impossible to defend against.

Yun Xiao’s guess was not wrong. As he started feeling numbness in his hands and cheeks, Yin Huan’s face revealed a triumphant smile. Soon after, with a change of the hand seal in his left hand, another energy-filled Meridian Qi Sphere brutally struck Yun Xiao’s back.

”Pu-chi!”

Caught in the act of neutralizing the poison, Yun Xiao had no time to dodge the heavy blow from behind. He was blasted forward, stumbling several steps and spitting out a mouthful of bright red blood—a sign of serious internal injury.

Unseen by both Yun Xiao and Yin Huan, however, was the peculiar fact that the blood Yun Xiao spat out upon hitting the ground instantly seeped in and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Having seen his Meridian Techniques strike Yun Xiao, Yin Huan could not help but rejoice. To be honest, even though he was very confident in his methods, Yun Xiao’s bag of tricks were so unpredictable that he had been genuinely concerned that the younger man would employ some bizarre tactic to escape.

Having been cultivated by Fu Du since childhood, Yin Huan’s Meridian Qi naturally contained a special, highly toxic substance, which, for someone like a Poison Vein Master, was as beneficial as a fish in water.

Yin Huan was aware of Yun Xiao’s Immunity to Hundred Poisons. He had never intended to take down Yun Xiao with just the poison in the Meridian Qi, but instead used the venom to temporarily incapacitate him, knowing that neutralizing poison took time.

With this successful strike at Yun Xiao, Yin Huan was confident that the overall situation was secured. Yun Xiao, suffering from internal injuries, would inevitably be no match for him as their strength waxed and waned. Indeed, Yun Xiao’s slim chance of escape had been utterly obliterated by this hit.

Since the young man was so unappreciative and refused to join the ranks of the Poison Vein, Yin Huan decided to show no mercy. His face wore a self-satisfied expression as he slowly approached, seemingly ready to deliver the fatal blow in the next moment.

At this point, Yun Xiao’s internal state was a mess, and the poison within the Meridian Qi was not to be underestimated. It seemed he was at Yin Huan’s mercy.

Tap, tap, tap...

Tap, tap, tap...

Just then, various figures began to emerge not far from this space on the fourth floor of Jade Pot Cave, seemingly Inner Sect Disciples searching for treasure on this level, attracted here by the noise of the combat.

”Look, isn’t that Senior Brother Yin Huan?”

A talented Disciple from the Poison Vein lineage had sharp eyes and recognized Yin Huan at a glance, uttering a shout of surprise. This call instantly clarified for everyone the identity of the person involved.

”Who is that kid who offended Senior Brother Yin Huan? He seems rather unfamiliar!”

There were more murmurs, as not all the Inner Sect Disciples had gone to watch the contest in the Outer Sect, and they only knew of Yun Xiao by name, with many never having seen him in person.

Despite not being among the top-tier in terms of Meridian Qi Cultivation within the younger generation of the Inner Sect, Yin Huan held a prestigious identity as the most beloved Direct Disciple of the Second Elder. This title alone made many wary of provoking him.

Therefore, whether from the Medical Pulse lineage or the Poison Vein lineage, when the Inner Sect Disciples sensed the feeble aura of the rag-clad youth who was only at the Peak of the Meridian Gathering Realm, they all showed a trace of disdain.

That kid, I don’t know by what means he entered this fourth level, daring to offend Yin Huan, a prominent figure among the Inner Sect disciples; he really seems tired of living.

Some exceptionally talented individuals from the Medical Pulse had an aversion to Yin Huan’s overbearing nature. However, most geniuses in this fourth level held a Meridian Rushing Realm Early Stage Cultivation, and even if they were lent some courage, they wouldn’t dare meddle in Yin Huan’s business.

To these attracted Inner Sect prodigies, Yin Huan naturally paid no mind. His sole objective at the moment was to kill Yun Xiao here, fulfilling the mission entrusted by his teacher.

Moreover, in the hearts of both Yin Huan and the Outer Disciples watching, they believed it would take only one blow to fell the youth at the Meridian Gathering Realm Peak, ending his life in this fourth level of Jade Pot Cave.

After all, life and death are not forbidden in Jade Pot Cave. Nearly every time, some Inner and Outer Sect Disciples would fight fiercely over Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, injuring or even taking lives was not uncommon.

Especially in the hands of the Poison Vein disciples, once a fight broke out, few lived to tell the tale. Therefore, watching Yin Huan’s movements, nobody found it too strange.

Despair flickered in Yun Xiao’s eyes; this was not the outcome he wished for. With the chaotic Meridian Qi within his body and the lethal toxin yet to be neutralized, he had no way to avoid Yin Huan’s powerful strike, even if he had a thousand strategies up his sleeve.

Whoosh!

Unimaginably, at this crucial moment, just as Yun Xiao was about to die at Yin Huan’s hands, a bizarre noise suddenly emanated from beneath the ground before him.

Having already resigned to despair, Yun Xiao now saw a marvel before his eyes. The ground in front of him began to sprout up segments of something resembling mud and stone.

Bang!

Yin Huan’s punch was aimed to claim Yun Xiao’s life without mercy, striking with tremendous force. Regrettably, it missed Yun Xiao and hit the strange object that popped up out of nowhere.

”What the hell is this?”

Yin Huan reacted swiftly, his expression turning incredibly dark from the rebounding force. His virtually certain kill turned into an unexpected development, how could he be pleased with that?

”What... what is that?”

In contrast to the principals Yin Huan and Yun Xiao, the multitude of Inner Sect prodigies watching from a distance were all dumbfounded, as a bizarrely shaped colossus had suddenly appeared between Yun Xiao and Yin Huan.

Or maybe bizarrely shaped was incorrect to say, for it resembled a giant humanoid figure, with its limbs and neck intact, but it was clearly different from a normal human being.

Particularly among those world-wise individuals, as they sensed no Vein Demon aura from the creature, their hearts stirred with shock waves, for they seemed to have guessed what it truly was.

”Is that actually a Fourth Rank Intermediate Strange Spirit? How is this possible?”

To those Inner Sect prodigies watching from afar, and closest of all to the event, Yin Huan’s heart sunk suddenly, filled with incredulity. Being one of the outstanding figures among the Inner Sect Disciples, he was even more assured in his heart.

With his back to the creature, Yun Xiao likewise recognized the true nature of this being at that moment. It was not a potent Vein Demon, but a Strange Spirit, just like the Fire Spirit Snake he encountered at the Yurong Volcano.

In fact, this Strange Spirit was even stronger than the Fire Spirit Snake, having reached the Spiritual Rank Intermediate level, equivalent to a human Cultivator’s Meridian Rushing Realm Middle Stage or even Late Stage.

Yin Huan’s murmurs resonated for this reason. This was the fourth level of Jade Pot Cave, where normally only Fourth Rank Low Level Vein Demons would appear as a test for the entering prodigies.

But these Inner Sect geniuses never knew that Strange Spirits, a species utterly different from Vein Demons, also existed inside the Jade Pot Cave—a kind with fierce hostility towards human Cultivators.

Even onlookers and Yin Huan had scarcely seen Strange Spirits in their lives, due to the fact that these beings would attack humans without reason and would eventually be slain collectively by the Cultivators.

Jade Pot Cave was a special place cultivated by the Jade Pot Sect over hundreds of years, and in theory, no Strange Spirit should have been able to appear inside, let alone a Fourth Rank Intermediate Strange Spirit appearing on this fourth level.

Strange Spirits possessed combat prowess stronger than Vein Demons of the same level. Yin Huan, at the Meridian Rushing Realm Middle Stage, could definitely escape from a Fourth Rank Intermediate Vein Demon. However, facing this Fourth Rank Intermediate Strange Spirit, he did not have a shred of confidence.

Especially when Yin Huan sensed the Mud Stone Eyes of the Fourth Rank Intermediate Strange Spirit, seemingly non-existent, yet appearing to stare directly at him, a shiver ran down his spine. He knew he had to make some strategic decisions.

Would he continue his attempt to kill Yun Xiao, or should he escape first? Yin Huan was quite torn, but in the next moment, he was not so indecisive anymore. As his mind wavered, the Strange Spirit had already taken the initiative and made its move against him.