Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Boom!”

A powerful and fatal palm strike hit Ling Wan, but no one knew precisely where on his body it connected. It sent his huge, ball-like figure flying through the air.

”Sputter!”

As Ling Wan flew backward, a mouthful of bright red blood spurted out. His ball-like body swiftly withered and ultimately crashed violently over several tables and chairs before lying motionless on the ground.

”Ling Wan!”

Seeing this, Yun Xiao’s eyes split with rage. He had long seen Ling Wan as a brother, and now, watching his brother being beaten to an unknown fate by Guan Rong, how could he not be infuriated to the point of madness?

”Kid, you might want to worry about yourself first!”

Just as Yun Xiao feared that Ling Wan might be killed, a voice imbued with a cold tone rose beside him. It was none other than Luocheng’s City Lord, Guan Rong.

Although Ling Wan’s intervention was a slight surprise to Guan Rong, it only meant he had to strike one more blow. He believed that this time, no one would dare to stand up for Yun Xiao. After all, this was Luocheng, and he was its City Lord, the sovereign of the entire city.

But sometimes, plans cannot keep up with changes. As Guan Rong’s words fell, Yun Xiao, with a face full of hatred, turned his head. Suddenly, from one direction above, a lazy-sounding voice drifted down.

”Hey, I came here to watch the performances at Gathering Immortal Tower, not to watch you all fight. How long are you going to continue this racket?”

Such a languid voice startled everyone in Gathering Immortal Tower, including City Lord Guan Rong, who had lifted his right palm.

People followed the voice to see who would dare to speak at such a crucial moment—a blatant offense to the City Lord’s dignity.

Unlike the onlookers, Yun Xiao paused when he heard the voice, as it seemed strangely familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

”Xuan Jing?!”

As Yun Xiao’s gaze followed upward, he immediately saw a young man in white seated at a table, holding a wine cup. It was indeed he who had spoken.

The young man acknowledged Yun Xiao’s gaze with a nod, seemingly remembering the incidents that occurred previously within the Meridian Treasure.

”What audacity... Ah, it’s the Second Prince!”

Guan Rong’s anger was considerable as his move was interrupted. He hadn’t fully turned his head when his voice burst forth in fury—perhaps believing that, in the domain of Luocheng, he need fear no one.

When Guan Rong followed the sound and turned to see a young face with a half-smile, he swallowed the word ”audacity” back down. In its place came an awkward respectful expression.

For the speaker in white was none other than the Second Prince of the Xuanyue Royal Family: Xuan Jing!

Regardless of how much power Guan Rong wielded in Luocheng, he was ultimately under the jurisdiction of the Royal Family. Even if his audacity was doubled, he wouldn’t dare to act presumptuously in front of the Second Prince.

Yet Guan Rong never expected the Second Prince to be present at the moment he intended to kill Yun Xiao. Why had the prince chosen to speak out precisely then?

Guan Rong was undoubtedly aware of the struggles within the Royal Family, but he wanted nothing to do with those secret royal affairs. Engaging in them was dangerous; he could end up with no place to bury his corpse.

”I was not aware of the Second Prince’s visit and have failed to receive you from afar. I beg your Highness’s forgiveness!”

Guan Rong promptly adjusted his attitude. Rather than concerning himself with someone at the mere Middle Stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm, he now sought to curry favor with the Prince. Bowing deeply, his tone was filled with utmost respect.

Phew!

Seeing Guan Rong act so obedient, Xuan Jing stood up. Amidst the intense stares of the crowd, he leaped from the upper floor and landed in the chaotic hall.

People had heard of the Empire’s Second Prince, but compared to the Crown Prince, his fame was much less. However, at that moment, no one spoke.

Landing on the ground, Xuan Jing sensed Yun Xiao’s slightly disrupted aura, turned his head, and said softly, ”Since he is the Royal Thief, why not hand him over to me? I will personally escort him back to the Imperial City, how about that?”

Xuan Jing was incredibly astute. He already knew that the so-called wanted order was just a little trick played by his Third Brother, aiming to keep Yun Xiao trapped in the Northwest Territory forever.

Having been saved by Yun Xiao within the Meridian Treasure, Xuan Jing owed him a life-saving debt. If it hadn’t been for Yun Xiao using the Golden Snake Worm’s power to seriously injure Master Yan, perhaps this Second Prince might have remained in the Meridian Treasure forever.

Unlike someone like Xuan Zhi, Xuan Jing knew to repay kindness with gratitude. Upon learning the details behind the arrest order, he had stayed in Luocheng because this major city was a necessary route for anyone returning to the Jade Pot Sect.

Moreover, Luocheng was the largest city in the Northwest Territory, and its City Lord, Guan Rong, was a key player in this incident. Xuan Jing believed that by keeping tabs on Guan Rong, there was a good chance he would encounter Yun Xiao.

Xuan Jing had not expected Guan Rong to act so swiftly and ruthlessly, injuring Yun Xiao with a single strike. He had no choice but to speak up at this moment, yet he did not openly fall out with Guan Rong.

”This...”

Hearing what Xuan Jing said, Guan Rong hesitated because this matter had been entrusted to him by the Third Prince, Xuan Zhi. If Xuan Zhi were here, Guan Rong wouldn’t have any objections, but standing before him now was the Second Prince, Xuan Jing.

Guan Rong was no fool. From Xuan Jing’s attitude, it was likely there was some relation to Yun Xiao. Why else would he speak up at this critical juncture?

Furthermore, through certain channels, Guan Rong also knew that the Crown Prince and his brother Xuan Zhi had subtle attitudes towards the Second Prince, Xuan Jing. If he complied with Xuan Jing today, and the Crown Prince blamed him tomorrow, he would be unable to bear the consequences.

”What? Is the command of my third brother an order, while that of this Prince is merely for display?”

Despite Yun Xiao’s impression of Xuan Jing as carefree and indifferent, when he got angry, there was a royal majesty about him that made Guan Rong tremble.

”How dare I! I will do as Second Prince says!”

His words, laden with an indescribable meaning, made Guan Rong instantly dismiss any impractical thoughts. He internally cursed, recognizing that he couldn’t afford to offend any of these royal figures, and it was best not to get involved.

No matter how unpopular Xuan Jing was with the Crown Prince, his status was set in stone and not something a mere Luocheng City Lord could manipulate at will.

Moreover, even the Crown Prince, with his immense power, only dared to covertly move against Xuan Jing, never openly breaking face. Such an act would surely be ridiculed by others and bring shame to the Royal Family.

After all, the current Crown Prince was still just that— a Crown Prince, not a King who controlled a nation. It wouldn’t be until he truly ascended to the throne that he could act on his own whims.

Seeing that Guan Rong was cooperative, Xuan Jing did not press further and turned his head to ask, ”Can you walk?”

”I am not severely injured, but my brother...” Yun Xiao shook his head with a wry smile and swiftly moved to Ling Wan’s side.

Feeling Ling Wan’s severe injuries from up close, Yun Xiao glared fiercely at Guan Rong, but he didn’t dare to delay, extending his hand to press a few major acupoints on Ling Wan’s chest.

”This youngster, to think he’s actually a Meridian Refining Master?”

This scene caught both Guan Rong and the other onlookers by surprise. Yun Xiao’s smooth and effortless Fuxue technique suggested he was quite skilled in the art of Meridian Refining.

With Yun Xiao’s intervention, Ling Wan’s condition was stabilized, though he couldn’t guarantee when he would awaken. The injuries Ling Wan had sustained were truly severe.

Yet, this was not a place to linger long. Despite Xuan Jing’s status, his strength was lesser than Guan Rong’s, and if Xuan Zhi or someone like Master Yan suddenly appeared, Xuan Jing might not be able to hold his ground.

Yun Xiao then carried Ling Wan on his back and followed Xuan Jing towards the exterior, walking past others to leave. Seeing their state, it was unlikely anyone would believe that the Second Prince was truly taking a great thief back to the Imperial City for judgment.

These Luocheng Cultivators were not fools. If Yun Xiao were truly the Royal Thief, it’s likely that Xuan Jing wouldn’t have intervened and would have let Guan Rong kill him.

It appeared there were some hidden complexities here; the waters of the Xuanyue Royal Family were indeed deep. Even though suspicions ran high among the onlookers, they dared not discuss too loudly, fearing the consequences of attracting misfortune.

Watching the three figures disappear outside the gate, Guan Rong’s expression was unnatural. However, in the next moment, he had made up his mind to report the events here to the Third Prince as soon as possible.

Guan Rong wanted to clear himself of involvement, letting Xuan Zhi know that he was not at fault for this internal royal conflict, which was not something a small Luocheng City Lord like him could meddle in.

However, what Guan Rong didn’t know was that the Third Prince, Xuan Zhi, who had already returned to the Jade Pot Sect, had another important matter to attend to and would not bother with what had happened in this trivial part of Luocheng.

...

In a room within a grand hall of the Jade Pot Sect, several imposing figures stood before a bedchamber. If Yun Xiao had been there, he might have recognized these black-robed elders as the major Elders of the Medical Pulse lineage of the Jade Pot Sect. It was unclear why they all gathered here.

And on the bedchamber’s bed lay an elder with a flushed face. Even from a distance, those present could sense a searing heat emanating from the elder’s body, which seemed rather sinister.