Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

If Yun Xiao were here, he would instantly recognize that the fire-red rat sneaking into the Mysterious Artifact Hall, regarded as a Treasure Stealer by Yin Huan and Shi Ping, was none other than his companion Chi Yan, whom he had picked up from Yurong Mountain!

Chi Yan was originally a Fire Cloud Rat, famously known in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud. As it matured, it could even evolve into the fearsomely formidable Fiery Holy Rat, a supremely esteemed species among Vein Demons.

Even Yun Xiao didn’t know why such a noble-blooded Fire Cloud Rat would appear in the humble Hidden Dragon Continent, but after spending some time with Chi Yan, he had stopped pondering these things and simply accepted it as his companion.

After absorbing the Fiery Fire Ganoderma that Yun Xiao had obtained for it, Chi Yan finally advanced to the Fourth Rank Intermediate level. However, since Yun Xiao had gone to the Meridian Treasure, it had felt somewhat bored staying alone at the Jade Pot Sect.

Boredom led Chi Yan to wander aimlessly and eventually discover a fascinating place, the Mysterious Artifact Hall of the Poison Vein lineage in the Inner Sect - a place brimming with enticing treasures.

With its considerable Spiritual Wisdom, Chi Yan also knew Yun Xiao was on good terms with the Medical Pulse lineage and not so with the Poison Vein lineage, thus it chose the Mysterious Artifact Hall of the latter.

Fire Cloud Rats have inherent pride, and it would never have stayed by Yun Xiao’s side if not for his possession of the Ancient Dragon Taming Technique, and it saw taking some treasures from the Poison Vein lineage’s Mysterious Artifact Hall as no big deal.

Chi Yan’s ventures had been smooth up until now, having tasted some sweet rewards. Although many items in the Poison Vein Mysterious Artifact Hall contained deadly poisons, this was no issue for a Fire Cloud Rat with its unique physique.

Thus, after a few days, Chi Yan sneaked into the Mysterious Artifact Hall again, never expecting that this time, a Heaven and Earth Net awaited it, putting its very life at risk with one careless move.

Upon entering the Poison Vein Mysterious Artifact Hall, Chi Yan sensed an immensely powerful Fire Attribute presence first and foremost and was instantly drawn to it, sensing a substantial gain this time.

In its simple-mindedness, Chi Yan never thought that this was a deliberate human trap; it just assumed that in the days it was absent, the hall had stocked up on more treasures and headed straight for the source of the Fire Attribute essence.

There, on a stone platform, a stone faintly wreathed in flames sat perfectly positioned, although the stone seemed to carry an unusual aura.

Clearly, the Fire Attribute stone placed by Yin Huan here was also laced with potent poison, a touch could have disastrous effects for the average person.

But Chi Yan, with its unusual bloodline, was immune to most toxins. It stretched forth its tiny forepaws, and after a flash of red light, it reached directly into the protective light shield in front of it.

”So that’s how it is!”

Witnessing this, Shi Ping, the perpetually perplexed steward of the Mysterious Artifact Hall, finally understood something - how the fire-red rat had been subtly removing objects from the hall without detection.

In fact, besides when new herbs were brought in, which Shi Ping would inventory, he mainly stayed outside because each item inside the hall was protected by a Light Shield that required corresponding Points to access.

These Protective Light Shields, personally set by the Elders, particularly those guarding the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures of Spiritual Rank, were exceptionally powerful.

To access the items inside the Light Shields without spending points was impossible unless one possessed a power comparable to that of the Spirit Vein Realm Elders of the Jade Pot Sect, and breaking these shields would certainly trigger a response from the outside.

Yet, when the forepaws of the distant fire-red rat reached into the Light Shield, there was no resistance whatsoever, as if the Light Shield didn’t exist at all.

Such an ability to retrieve items from behind a Light Shield without breaking it was something even the Spirit Vein Realm Sect Elders might not achieve; it seemed to belong to the category of using Space Power.

Although on the Hidden Dragon Continent, cultivators, even those at the Peak of the Spirit Vein Realm, couldn’t control even a shred of Space Power, this was the Jade Pot Sect; while they might not have tasted pork, they had at least seen a pig run, and they had heard of what Space Power was.

Yet, a Fourth Rank Intermediate Vein Demon like Chi Yan suddenly employing Space Power was truly shocking, and it left observers like Shi Ping and Yin Huan clueless about what was actually happening.

In truth, if Yun Xiao were here, he wouldn’t be so shocked because he knew that as a Fire Cloud Rat, Chi Yan had innately formed a space within its body, so this wasn’t cultivated Space Power but rather a natural Secret Technique of the Fire Cloud Rat.

Additionally, with Chi Yan’s present strength as a Fourth Rank Intermediate Demon Meridian Qi, this use of Space Power was limited to such stealthy acts; overcoming formidable foes was utterly beyond its capability.

Chi Yan, lacking such human considerations as Yin Huan’s, simply wanted to grab the rich Fire Attribute-emitting stone first to further enhance its Demon Meridian Qi.

Sigh...

Just as Chi Yan’s paws reached into the Light Shield and was about to seize the Fire Stone, a sudden whooshing sound came from above its head.

By the time Chi Yan looked up, a large net fell right over it, encompassing its entire rat body, making it evidently too late to dodge.

”Success!”

From a distance, Yin Huan, who was secretly observing, couldn’t hold back an exclamation when he saw the net descending right onto the fire-red rat; to him, how could a net that large not secure a palm-sized fire-red rat for sure?

Therefore, Yin Huan did not think of hiding himself any longer. He had great confidence in his net; as long as it could capture the fire-red rat, even if it was a Fourth Rank Advanced Vein Demon, it would likely be unable to escape.

As for Shi Ping, who was beside Yin Huan, he felt a sense of relief. Lately, the Mysterious Artifact Hall had been losing items continuously and the cause remained unknown. If the elders found out, he might not be able to keep his position as Steward.

Catching that mischief-causing fire-red rat would also serve as an explanation to the elders. Therefore, after Yin Huan shouted, Shi Ping also emerged from behind the rack.

But sometimes, plans do not adapt as quickly as circumstances change. Yin Huan’s nearly foolproof plan, despite the net having already been cast, ultimately encountered an unexpected twist.

Swish!

In the blink of an eye, the fire-red rat, which had initially been only the size of an adult’s palm, suddenly expanded without any wind, swelling to a massive rat nearly twenty meters in size.

The net prepared by Yin Huan was not small, but after Chi Yun transformed, it looked somewhat insufficient, at least not enough to completely encompass its entire form.

”Squeak!”

An angry squeak emanated from Chi Yan’s mouth. Even being naive, it knew it had fallen into a trap. Seeing its body twist, in a critical moment, it darted from the side of the net.

After transforming, Chi Yan’s Demon Meridian Qi Cultivation had also surged significantly. Although it had not reached the true Fourth Rank Advanced level, its speed at that moment was startling.

Having escaped the net, Chi Yan had no intention of lingering there. It knew well that Jade Pot Sect was filled with powerful figures; being caught by an elder or a Meridian Union Realm steward would mean no chance of escape.

Thus, Chi Yan made a swift decision and, seeing its body twist, aimed to break through in another direction. The speed was such that everyone present was awed.

”Steward Shi, quickly stop that beast!”

Having his foolproof plan fail, it was hard to imagine Yin Huan’s mood, but he reacted quickly. Seeing Chi Yan’s movement, he couldn’t help but shout loudly and was the first to take action.

Upon hearing this, Shi Ping’s body trembled, perhaps not expecting Chi Yan to react so swiftly. Having failed to catch it with the Heaven and Earth Net, a surge of frustration rose within him, and he unexpectedly outpaced Yin Huan.

Boom!

Shi Ping, being in the Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm, had both greater speed and strength than Chi Yan. While Chi Yan was fully focused on escaping, it was caught off-guard and took a harsh blow to its back.

Crash!

A loud crash sounded as Chi Yan’s entire form flew forward, even faster than when it had darted out, smashing open a big hole in the window in that direction.

”Hmm? Still alive?”

Seemingly sensing Chi Yan’s aura outside the window, Shi Ping’s expression turned ugly. He could clearly sense that, although the fire-red rat had sustained some serious internal injuries, it had not lost its mobility. If he was slightly slower, it might have escaped.

”After it!”

Shi Ping growled with a grim expression and immediately darted through the broken window, following Chi Yan’s aura, with Yin Huan and the others not far behind. A group of people, noisily chasing after a peculiar rat, caused quite a tumult in the Poison Vein branch of the Jade Pot Sect.

However, despite Shi Ping being an entire Great Rank stronger than Chi Yan, the Fire Cloud Rat, with its special bloodline and increased speed after transforming, was incredibly fast. For a moment, he couldn’t catch up.

Back in the Yurong Volcano, Chi Yan was only at the Fourth Rank Low Level, and at that time, after it transformed and carried Yun Xiao on its back, even Mo Qing couldn’t catch up. This was also a special survival technique unique to the Fire Cloud Rat species.

Meanwhile, on the path from the outer sect to the inner sect of Jade Pot Sect, a young man in coarse clothes was slowly approaching, perhaps soon to sense the commotion here.

It’s worth mentioning that despite the significant disturbance here, no elder from the Jade Pot Sect had come to investigate, as they were preoccupied with some other more pressing matters at the moment.