Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Swoosh!

At the moment when everyone, including Mo Qing and Chang Qing, thought Yun Xiao couldn’t possibly withstand Cao Kong’s palm strike, their vision blurred, and then, just like its namesake, Cao Kong’s palm sliced through empty air.

At that moment, Yun Xiao’s movement technique was like a ghostly apparition, so fast that even early and middle-stage Meridian Rushing Realm cultivators struggled to see it clearly.

It seemed as though Yun Xiao had anticipated that Cao Kong would launch a palm strike in his direction. Armed with the advantage of forethought against the unprepared, he managed to dodge the lethal blow at the crucial moment.

Regardless, the fact remained that Cao Kong, an early-stage Meridian Union Realm cultivator, failed to even scratch Yun Xiao, a spectacle so unfathomable to the onlookers.

Now, everyone could sense Yun Xiao’s Meridian Qi Cultivation level, merely at the early stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm. Still, he narrowly escaped death from early-stage Meridian Union Realm Cao Kong, and in such a bizarre way. At this moment, many became intrigued by this unknown youth in coarse clothing.

Included among these spectators was Yue Qi, the number one talent of the Poison Vein line of the Jade Pot Sect. He had certainly heard of Yun Xiao before, but even with the great commotion Yun Xiao caused in the Outer Sect competition, it would have never caught Yue Qi’s attention, as he only regarded Mo Qing as a worthy opponent.

But now, Yun Xiao’s quick reflexes and peculiar movement technique made Yue Qi take serious notice. This newcomer to the Inner Sect, who had been taken as a direct disciple by the Sect Leader, indeed had some outstanding qualities.

Yun Xiao, having narrowly avoided Cao Kong’s powerful palm strike, was too preoccupied to bother about the bystanders. Cold sweat broke out on his back as he pondered that if he had been even a tad slower, he might have become gravely injured or worse, which would put an end to his quest for treasures within the Meridian Treasure.

Clearly, Yun Xiao had relied on experiences and techniques from his previous life to dodge Cao Kong’s fatal palm strike at the critical moment, performing a death-defying dance on the brink that was utterly spellbinding to the observers.

Cao Kong’s mood was easy to imagine after his palm strike missed due to Yun Xiao’s strange evasion. As his grim expression turned over, he saw that Yun Xiao had, oddly enough, gotten even closer to the radiant gateway.

It appeared that Yun Xiao had not chosen his evasion direction at random. His goal was still to be the first to enter the Meridian Treasure and gain the upper hand in the search for treasures.

No one knew the situation inside the Meridian Treasure, so upon seeing the direction Yun Xiao had taken, Cao Kong’s face soured even more. If that kid managed to enter the Meridian Treasure, finding him again wouldn’t be easy.

However, just when everyone, including Yun Xiao himself, thought that entering the Meridian Treasure would allow him to escape Cao Kong, another figure suddenly emerged at the entrance.

”Hm?”

Poised to dive into the Meridian Treasure, Yun Xiao’s entire body bristled with alarm. Without a second thought, he once more employed the Body Meridian Techniques, narrowly dodging yet another powerful strike.

Having twice dodged fatal strikes, Yun Xiao’s mood was far from joyous. As he looked back after avoiding the attack, he saw an all-too-familiar figure had appeared before the radiant gateway.

”The Zhao Family Head?”

Yun Xiao had been watching from the shadows and was already attentive to these powerful Meridian Union Realm cultivators – who would be his strongest competitors within the Meridian Treasure. Thus he immediately recognized Zhao Huan.

Owing to the Ling Wan affair, Yun Xiao harbored no good feelings towards the Zhao Family. And with Ling Wan having to rush to Ningfeng City due to their mother’s severe illness, Yun Xiao had been deeply concerned.

Indeed, the instigator of it all was right before his eyes; Zhao Huan, Ling Wan’s father. Had Zhao Huan been kinder to Ling Wan, they might not have faced such oppression and expulsion within their family.

”Father, this kid Yun Xiao is involved in Xingwu’s death. Kill him quickly!”

As Yun Xiao’s expression darkened, a familiar voice rang out. It was Zhao Ningshu of the Zhao Family. However, his accusation was not the truth; Zhao Ningshu had been killed outright by Ling Wan’s Mixed Element Qi.

But driven by hatred towards Yun Xiao, and knowing that Ling Wan’s strength had soared, and surely Yun Xiao must have had a hand in it, Zhao Ningshu found a way to associate him with the situation.

This scene was witnessed by many onlookers. At this point, instead of racing to enter the Meridian Treasure, they found themselves engrossed with Yun Xiao.

”That kid’s name is Yun Xiao? He really does stir up trouble!”

Some couldn’t help but show a hint of schadenfreude on their faces. After all, Yun Xiao had just provoked the Cao Family and now seemed to have offended the Zhao Family as well. Today, his prospects seemed more perilous than auspicious.

Both family heads were early-stage Meridian Union Realm cultivators. Even on his own, Yun Xiao stood no chance against them, to say nothing of their potential to join forces. With one in front and one behind, they had cut off Yun Xiao’s retreat, leaving him with nowhere to fly.

Yun Xiao had indeed evaded the two family heads with an exceptional and stunning movement technique. However, such skill was clearly inadequate before absolute power.

Before, Yun Xiao was able to dodge mainly because he caught the two Family Heads off guard. If he were to use that movement technique again, the outcome might not be as favorable.

Family Head Zhao Huan and Cao Kong seemed to be wary of something, so at this moment they did not delay excessively. With a slight movement of their figures, they both pounced towards Yun Xiao in unison.

Mo Qing, who had just made a move on the other side, witnessed this scene and her expression changed once again. How shameless were these two old fellows? Not only bullying the weak but also ganging up on the fewer numbers. What Mo Qing didn’t know was that, in the face of avenging the death of one’s son, all semblance of dignity was trivial. Only by utterly defeating Yun Xiao could they truly quell the hatred in their hearts.

”This is what you’ve forced me to do!”

Seeing the two shameless elders lunging at him, Yun Xiao’s eyes also flashed with a fierce light, and in the next moment, his figure managed to once again avoid the pincer attack from the two Family Heads with a bizarre angle.

”Ningshu, be careful!”

Zhao Huan, after all, was an early-stage Meridian Union cultivator. As soon as Yun Xiao’s figure disappeared from his sight, he caught a glimpse of Yun Xiao’s shadow out of the corner of his eye and, with a drastic change of expression, he called out a warning in alarm.

But the warning from Zhao Huan seemed a little too late, or perhaps even though he timely opened his mouth, his beloved son’s strength was simply too lacking.

Whoosh...

Zhao Ningshu, who originally wore a smug smile on his face, merely felt a light breeze across his face and, in the next moment, he sensed a pair of cold hands around his throat which left him dare not to move, turning his face instantly ghastly pale.

Yun Xiao knew that while his movement technique might work once or twice, it wouldn’t hold up a third time, especially when facing the shameless collusion of those two old fellows. Alone, he simply couldn’t withstand even a single exchange.

Therefore, he made a split-second decision and employed his eerie movement technique again to slip away from the grasp of the two Family Heads. He didn’t head towards the Meridian Treasure, knowing that direction would be especially guarded by the two old men.

Yun Xiao’s thoughts raced rapidly, and he immediately chose Zhao Ningshu as his target. Given Ningshu’s late-stage Meridian Gathering cultivation, how could he possibly be a match for Yun Xiao in a fight?

With just an outreached hand, Yun Xiao seized Zhao Ningshu’s throat, and with a twist of his body, he ended up behind the Zhao Family prodigy. At this moment, the Zhao Family head had just barely arrived.

”Yun Xiao, release my son immediately, and perhaps I, the Family Head, might spare your life!”

The commanding Zhao Family Head Zhao Huan still maintained an air of superiority at this juncture, believing that his offer would surely satisfy Yun Xiao and save Zhao Ningshu’s life.

”Heh, Family Head Zhao, do you take me for a three-year-old child? I would advise you to stop speaking such foolish words,” Yun Xiao said with a cold laugh. As he finished his words, his left hand, gripping Zhao Ningshu’s neck, started emitting a trace of coldness, as if intending to freeze the breath of this Zhao Family genius.

No matter how arrogant and domineering Zhao Ningshu had been in the past, in such a life-and-death moment, his life was undoubtedly the most important thing to him. Sensing his breath obstructed by the ice-cold Qi, Zhao Ningshu was utterly terrified.

Having clashed with Yun Xiao several times before, Zhao Ningshu knew all too well that this young man was not one to be threatened. Indeed, if Yun Xiao decided upon mutual destruction under the threat of his father, the loss would be truly irreparable.

”Father, save... save me...”

With extreme fear in his heart, Zhao Ningshu’s words came out faltering, choppy. This made Zhao Huan truly believe Yun Xiao was ready to go all out, prompting him also to grow anxious.

”Yun Xiao, let’s talk this out. Let’s talk this out!”

The eminent Family Head of the Zhao Family, now that his cherished son was at someone else’s mercy, finally set his pride as a Family Head aside. After Zhao Xingwu’s death, Zhao Huan had only this one son left.

As for Ling Wan, who had been disfavored from a young age, Zhao Huan probably never really considered him a son, which was precisely why Yun Xiao chose Zhao Ningshu as a hostage in the first place.

After all, aside from Cao Luo, Family Head Cao also had another son. Even if Cao Luo were to be taken, Cao Kong might not compromise immediately. Yun Xiao’s decision to take Zhao Ningshu hostage, a flash of brilliant insight, indeed had its effect.

”Family Head Zhao, I ask you, how is Ling Wan?”

Seeing Yun Xiao’s eyes wheeling and not bothering about the immediate situation, he instead asked a question that most people at the scene found somewhat baffling. Upon hearing this question, Zhao Huan’s mind stirred.