Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Overnight, time rushed by in a flurry!

At the break of dawn the next day, Yun Xiao had finished his night of cultivation and consolidated his surging strength. Stretching his body, he felt refreshed and invigorated. The feeling of being in the early stages of the Meridian Rushing Realm was truly wonderful.

”Brother Yun Xiao, are you there?”

Just as Yun Xiao was getting up, a familiar voice sounded from outside the palace, bringing a smile to his face. He pushed the door open and stepped out.

The Cold Jade Hall was a place off-limits to all but Sect Leader Yu Shu and Yun Xiao. Not being allowed to invite outsiders in, Yun Xiao greeted the two familiar figures upon opening the door.

”Why are you here?”

Looking at Ling Wan and Song Tian outside, Yun Xiao was slightly surprised. Considering they had both just joined the Inner Sect with much to learn, what were they doing wandering about?

”Brother Yun Xiao, will you join us to the ’Jade Martial Institute’?”

Ling Wan appeared excited, and at his words, Yun Xiao felt a stir in his heart. He was not unfamiliar with this so-called ”Jade Martial Institute.” Although he had never been there, he knew it was a very special place within the Jade Pot Sect.

It was where the Jade Pot Sect stored its treasure trove of Cultivation Techniques and Meridian Techniques and also housed pill recipes and meridian arrays needed by Meridian Refining Masters. In terms of importance, the Jade Martial Institute was far more critical than the Mysterious Artifact Hall Yun Xiao had visited before, almost the foundation of the entire Jade Pot Sect.

Unlike the Jade Pot Cave, the items inside the Jade Martial Institute also required points to exchange. Yun Xiao knew that the institute even had high-level cultivation techniques or Meridian Techniques of Spiritual Rank.

However, acquiring such high-rank cultivation methods or Meridian Techniques would cost a significant amount of points. His current five thousand points might not even be enough to exchange for one advanced Spiritual Rank cultivation method or Meridian Technique.

Yun Xiao glanced at Ling Wan and instantly understood why the little fatty was so excited; for the cultivation technique Ling Wan had practiced was only of Mortal Rank and low level.

Due to the peculiar nature of Ling Wan’s Mixed Element Qi, he had never been well-regarded within his family and naturally could not cultivate any high-rank techniques, which had always been his weakness.

As for Song Tian, the cultivation technique he practiced was somewhat better than Ling Wan’s, but he too wanted to try his luck at the Jade Martial Institute. After all, the higher the rank of the technique, the better.

Just as Yun Xiao contemplated, Ling Wan excitedly called out again: ”Brother Yun Xiao, you might not know this, but because we were forced out of the Jade Pot Cave prematurely yesterday, the Sect has decided to compensate us. Any item we take a liking to in the Jade Martial Institute will only cost half the points!”

”Oh?”

Hearing this, Yun Xiao’s eyes lit up with anticipation. Such compensation was quite substantial, considering that some items of Spiritual Rank were only available on the fourth floor of the Jade Pot Cave. Ling Wan and Song Tian lacked the strength to enter that level.

Moreover, finding a matching item within the Jade Pot Cave was never guaranteed. This compensation couldn’t be sought after and was especially valuable for young talents like Ling Wan, who urgently needed to replace their cultivation techniques.

”Ling Wan, don’t be too optimistic though. I’ve heard that the cultivation techniques and Meridian Techniques in the Jade Martial Institute are all sealed. If you can’t break the seal, even at half price, you won’t be able to get it.”

Song Tian, being a seasoned Outer Disciple, knew far more than Yun Xiao and Ling Wan, and with this reality check, Yun Xiao immediately grasped some of the nuances.

It seemed that the Inner Sect worked differently from the Outer Sect. Back in the Mysterious Artifact Hall, as long as one had the points, one could make an exchange without dealing with any Protective Light Shields.

However, after a moment’s thought, Yun Xiao realized the Sect’s intention - to protect these young disciples. After all, high-rank Meridian Techniques weren’t something that low-rank cultivators could handle.

New disciples with towering ambitions wanted to try everything, but recklessly cultivating volatile Meridian Techniques and damaging their meridians could lead to grave losses.

”Hehe, isn’t that what Brother Yun Xiao is here for?”

Ling Wan was not overly concerned with Song Tian’s remarks. Perhaps this was the reason he came to find Yun Xiao in the first place - he subconsciously trusted that with Yun Xiao around, he would surely achieve his desires. His faith in Yun Xiao was bordering on blind trust.

Strictly speaking, for the highest possibly only advanced Spiritual Rank cultivation methods or Meridian Techniques, even those of the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, Yun Xiao held in scant regard.

In his previous life, as the Long Xiao Battle God of Holy Rank and a Holy Rank Meridian Refining Master, what cultivation method, Meridian Technique, or pill formula had he not seen? Any knowledge he harbored from his brain, if revealed, could shock the entire Hidden Dragon Continent.

Nevertheless, when in Rome, Yun Xiao knew to keep low. He understood the impact of revealing his past would have; thus, unless absolutely necessary, he would not reveal what he had hidden to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Although Yun Xiao already regarded the Spirit Pills as his sworn brothers, some things gained through personal effort were even more precious. Hence, this time, he decided to join the two of them for a visit to the so-called Jade Martial Institute.

”Since you have such great confidence in me, I can’t let you down, can I? Let’s go!”

Yun Xiao chuckled lightly, then waved his hand and strode forward, with the two people quickly following behind. It appeared they had already inquired about the location of the Jade Martial Institute so there was no need for directions from anyone else.

The three of them had walked for about thirty minutes, and as the number of people on the road gradually increased, they knew that they were not far away from the Jade Martial Institute and all became more spirited.

These young talents heading towards the Jade Martial Institute naturally included those Inner Sect prodigies who were expelled from the Jade Pot Cave yesterday, amongst them were Yin Huan, Xuan Zhi, Zhao Ningshu, and their peers.

The news of the compensation had clearly spread out, and it made those Inner Sect prodigies who had not entered the Jade Pot Cave yesterday cast envious glances at them.

That was half-price, after all, saving so many points. For example, a high-rank Spiritual Rank Cultivation Technique costing ten thousand points would only require five thousand points at half price. Such opportunities were truly a rare find.

Of course, the other Inner Sect Disciples could only look on enviously, as they no longer had a chance at this, and it might be impossible for them to ever encounter such an opportunity again.

In the midst of these envious or jealous stares, Yun Xiao and his two companions finally caught sight of a wall that stretched out on both sides, so far that it seemed endless.

”Is that the Jade Martial Institute?”

Yun Xiao surmised as he looked at the circular gateway in the middle and the extended walls on either side. Given that the word ”institute” was part of its name, it should be situated within a courtyard, just that this courtyard was dozens, if not hundreds of times larger than any he had seen before.

As Yun Xiao neared, the large characters ”Jade Martial Institute” above the archway became clearly visible. Before this gateway, a long queue had already formed.

It seemed like those prodigies expelled from the Jade Pot Cave yesterday were quite eager and had rushed over early in the morning, which caused Yun Xiao and his party to wait a bit longer.

”One hundred points!”

Finally, it was Yun Xiao’s turn when they heard a somewhat sinister voice. Immediately, the three of them saw an elder in a green robe extending a hand, seemingly waiting for them to hand over their points cards.

”This is the fifth Elder, Yan Chun!”

Seeing the puzzled expression on Yun Xiao’s face, Song Tian whispered an explanation by his ear. As an old Outer Disciple, he had seen this Sect Elder before.

Informed by Song Tian, Yun Xiao felt a chill inside. Although he had not personally met this man, he had already heard of his name, and what made him apprehensive was not the identity of the Elder, but the fact that Yan Chun was an Elder of the Poison Vein lineage, which brought tremendous pressure on him internally.

By now, Yun Xiao had already met the Sect Leader of Jade Pot Sect and its six Great Elders. Among these six Great Elders, the first, fourth, and sixth belonged to the Medical Pulse lineage, whereas the second, third, and fifth were of the Poison Vein lineage.

It was undeniable that there was a reason why the medical and poison lineages had been able to stand against each other all these years. Judging by the number of elders, they were evenly matched.

Yun Xiao knew that this Inner Sect Jade Martial Institute was a place of utmost importance, with its significance comparable to that of Jade Pot Cave. That fifth Elder, Yan Chun, could control this place, showing he truly possessed considerable strength.

”Hurry up, there are still others waiting!”

Seeing Yun Xiao suddenly become taken aback, the fifth Elder Yan Chun in charge of the Jade Martial Institute barked impatiently, evidently dissatisfied with the delay caused by this simply-dressed youngster.

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao did not dare to delay further. He took out his points card from his Waist Storage, and as he handed his points card over to Yan Chun, the fifth Elder’s eyes suddenly lifted, staring at Yun Xiao intently for a long while without moving.

”Are you Yun Xiao?”

Yan Chun was obviously seeing Yun Xiao for the first time, but having heard of the famous name recently, his curiosity was intensely piqued.

Of course, unlike the Talisman Poison Masters and their disciples, Yan Chun had no grudge against Yun Xiao. He was simply curious about this young man, wondering why the Sect Leader had favored such a youngster, who had only recently broken through to the Early Stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm, to become his Direct Disciple.

”Yes!”

Yun Xiao responded calmly and proudly. Due to Fu Du’s influence, he didn’t have much fondness for those of the Poison Vein lineage, including Yan Chun, but due to the power difference, he couldn’t afford to show his displeasure too overtly.

Seeing such an attitude from the youngster, Yan Chun was also slightly displeased and without saying more, he deducted a hundred points from the task token and then handed it back to Yun Xiao. Yun Xiao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at the exorbitance of this Jade Martial Institute as he watched a hundred points vanish from his card.