Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 313: 313 Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding

A farce concluded amidst Fu Du’s profound acting skills.

Before acquiring conclusive evidence against Fu Du, no one can do anything to him, after all, he is the Second Elder of the Jade Pot Sect, and the head of the Poison Vein lineage, second only to the Sect Master in rank and status.

Moreover, Fu Du believed that even though Yan Chun contributed more this time, the object had ultimately been obtained by Xuan Zhi, and his merits could not be erased.

As long as he could use this opportunity to connect with the Crown Prince, who was bound to become the next ruler of the Xuanyue Country, Fu Du believed that the position of Sect Master of the Jade Pot Sect would one day be his.

Now everyone dispersed on their own, except for the Great Elder, Lu Zhan, who went to report this matter to the Sect Master, both Su He and Yun Xiao had suffered severe internal injuries and needed time to recuperate properly.

Moreover, Yun Xiao knew that in battles between those in the Spirit Vein Realm, he simply couldn’t intervene and should instead leave the headaches to the Sect Master and the Elders.

Yun Xiao believed that having been outmaneuvered by the Xuanyue Royal Family this time, with the Sect Master’s temperament, he certainly wouldn’t just let it go easily. As for whether there would be a complete fallout with the Royal Family, Yun Xiao couldn’t care less.

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Xuanyue Empire, Imperial City of Baiyue City, Royal Family!

Half a month had passed since the battle at the ninth layer of the Jade Pot Cave, and during this time, Xuan Zhi and Yan Chun had tirelessly returned that object to the Royal Family.

In a resplendent great hall stood three figures, one old and two young. Among them, the two figures seemed familiar – they were none other than Yan Chun and Xuan Zhi.

As for the young man in a white robe embroidered with a golden crescent on the chest, he was none other than the current Crown Prince of the Xuanyue Empire and the next ruler of the Xuanyue Country: Xuan Jiuding!

The name Xuan Jiuding might sound peculiar but holds profound significance, as the Ding generally represents national treasures, and Jiuding signifies the whole realm. The selection of his name by the current King from the day of Xuan Jiuding’s birth set high expectations.

Interestingly, the third son of the King of Xuanyue is named ”Zhi,” so together they are ”Zhi Jiuding”, indicating how much the Xuanyue King values the sons born by the Empress.

As the Crown Prince, Xuan Jiuding had demonstrated remarkable talent and extraordinary governance skills from a young age. He excelled in the art of both the carrot and the stick, effectively securing a faction of courtiers to serve him.

However, as time passed, the aging King of Xuanyue was getting older, and Xuan Jiuding’s ambitions were gradually growing, showing signs of being uncontrollable.

Across the Nine Dragons Continent, whether ordinary humans or Meridian Qi Cultivators, everyone has a lifespan limit. For example, the lifespan of ordinary people is at most one hundred years, and by that age, regardless of who, none can escape the fate set by destiny.

A Meridian Qi Cultivator naturally has a longer lifespan. A Mortal Rank cultivator usually lives up to one hundred and fifty years if not killed.

For cultivators in the Spiritual Rank Three Realms, their lifespans are even longer but won’t exceed two hundred years, as it’s determined by the Heavenly Dao, beyond one’s control.

Only when a Meridian Qi Cultivator reaches the Earth Rank Three Realms can they significantly increase their lifespan. It is said that some cultivators of the Earth Rank Three Realms can even live up to five hundred years.

Those of higher levels, such as the Heaven Rank Three Realms or the Holy Rank Three Realms, naturally have even longer lifespans. For instance, many of the creatures in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud where Yun Xiao resided had lived for thousands of years, comparable to Vein Demons.

Currently, the ruler of Xuanyue hasn’t broken through to the Earth Rank Three Realms, so his lifespan will not extend beyond two hundred years, and now, his final moments aren’t too far away.

For Xuan Jiuding, even these last few years seemed too long to wait; he believed in his capabilities and considered himself a standout among his generation. He felt it was time for his father to abdicate.

However, given the entrenched authority of the current King of Xuanyue, Xuan Jiuding dared not usurp without absolute certainty. He had to wait for a flawless opportunity.

It must be said that the Crown Prince was profoundly scheming. Ever since he learned from certain sources over a decade ago about a supreme treasure in the Jade Pot Sect, he decisively sent a commander of the Xuantie Army, Yan Chun, to infiltrate the internals of the Jade Pot Sect.

Later, he also had Xuan Zhi pretend to join the Jade Pot Sect because Xuan Jiuding knew that relying solely on Yan Chun, who had risen to the position of the fifth elder, was still insufficient to fulfill his plan.

Additionally, Yan Chun’s identity alone wasn’t enough. Only a blood brother like Xuan Zhi, could convincingly persuade ambitious key elders like Fu Du to ensure an absolutely solid plan.

To be frank, such an old, worn wooden box felt oddly out of place in this splendid, magnificent hall, but a trace of excitement shimmered across Xuan Jiuding’s face, his usually steady demeanor slightly trembling.

In truth, Xuan Jiuding had no idea what was inside the wooden box. All he knew was that it was the foundation of the Jade Pot Sect’s establishment, and it was thanks to this item that the Jade Pot Sect could stand up to the Xuanyue Imperial Family without fear of offense.

What Xuan Jiuding was unaware of, however, was that even among the successive Sect Masters of the Jade Pot Sect, passed down through generations, none knew exactly what was inside the wooden box.

Since the establishment of the Jade Pot Sect, the wooden box had always been in the Jade Pot Cave, and due to the ancestral teachings of the sect, no one had ever dared to open it, until it ended up in the hands of the Royal Family.

”Yan Chun, open it!”

Xuan Jiuding was indeed exceedingly cautious by nature. Given that this was the Sect Treasure of the Jade Pot Sect, it was clearly extraordinary and possibly harbored latent dangers. A man of wisdom does not stand under a crumbling wall; being the Crown Prince, why would he take such a great risk?

Upon the Crown Prince’s command, Yan Chun naturally did not dare to object, and under the watchful gaze of the two princes, he slowly approached the wooden box.

As a practitioner of the Spirit Vein Realm, Yan Chun was bold and skillful. Reaching out his hand, he touched the iron lock even slightly rusted on the decaying wooden box and gently twisted it.

”Hmm?”

An unremarkable, dilapidated wooden box with a somewhat rusty old lock, Yan Chun had anticipated that any mechanism in the wooden box would likely only activate upon opening, but now, he discovered something eerie.

No matter how forcefully Yan Chun tried, the black lock was as if cast from copper and iron, not the slightest bit damaged. Even the wooden box itself remained completely immobile even under such force.

By now, Xuan Jiuding and his brother Xuan Zhi also noticed the oddity. If it were truly just an old wooden box, no matter how hard the material of the black lock, it should have broken apart amidst Yan Chun’s twist.

”I don’t believe this!”

Seemingly catching a glimpse of an unexpected look from the Crown Prince, Yan Chun growled lowly and immediately, a thick, green Meridian Qi appeared around him.

It seemed Yan Chun was eager to demonstrate his abilities before the Crown Prince, and no longer holding back, he added his Physical Strength and his Meridian Qi Cultivation of the Spirit Vein Realm, surely this small wooden box and black lock couldn’t withstand his power?

But Yan Chun had indeed overestimated himself. Even with the enhancement of his Spirit Vein Realm’s Meridian Qi, the wooden box and iron lock didn’t budge an inch, leaving his face flush with exertion, yet he still failed to damage the wooden box.

”Yan Chun, let me try!”

Seeing sweat form on Yan Chun’s forehead, a glint flashed in Xuan Zhi’s eyes. As he spoke, he reached to his waist and drew forth a flash of white light.

If Yun Xiao were here, he would instantly recognize that the flash of white was from a strange-shaped weapon, which nearly severed one of his arms the first time he encountered Xuan Zhi.

It seemed Xuan Zhi knew that merely Yan Chun’s physical strength and Meridian Qi might not suffice against the wooden box and black lock, so he chose to try with this extremely sharp weapon.

Clang!

A white streak flashed by, and then Xuan Zhi’s hand lightened, his expression turning exceedingly grim next moment. His famed Crescent Moon weapon had snapped clean in two.

This was an Intermediate Spiritual Rank weapon, renowned for its sharpness. Xuan Zhi had once terrorized many cultivators of his level with this weapon, invariably victorious.

Yet today, Xuan Zhi’s Intermediate Spiritual Rank weapon had failed, breaking upon attempting to cut through a mere lock, causing him unbearable frustration.

Even within the Xuanyue Imperial Family, Intermediate Spiritual Rank weapons were rare treasures. If not for Xuan Zhi being highly favored by the King of Xuanyue Country, he likely wouldn’t have possessed such a weapon.

Caught off guard and having destroyed his famous weapon, Xuan Zhi’s demeanor was dark as if about to drip, while Xuan Jiuding, seated at the head, had even more intense curiosity in his eyes.

From Yan Chun and Xuan Zhi’s attempts, Xuan Jiuding increasingly believed the content inside the wooden box was anything but ordinary. How could he still regard it as just a common, old wooden box, when it was clearly made of some exceedingly special material?

As Xuan Zhi mourned his damaged weapon, Xuan Jiuding decided it was time for him to intervene personally. Reaching to his waist, he drew a weapon.