Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Third Prince Xuan Zhi, the third son of King Xuan Haoran, is also the full brother of Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding, and is the youngest son most beloved by the current Empress.

As for Yan Chun, the former commander of the Xuantie Army, Xuan Haoran also has some recollection of him; however, it seems that Yan Chun is no longer the commander of the Xuantie Army, why would Yu Shu involve these two persons suddenly?

Moreover, the matter mentioned by Yu Shu, Xuan Haoran had not heard of at all; with the foundation of the Royal Family, what kind of thing would need to be stolen from the Jade Pot Sect?

Due to his previous peculiar mindset, Xuan Haoran did not immediately deny Yu Shu’s words, as he realized that he was becoming increasingly unable to see through his son – could it be that after so many years in politics, Xuan Jiuding’s personality has changed?

In fact, Xuan Jiuding’s character has always been so; it’s just that what he shows in front of his father is always his gentle side; those schemes conducted behind the scenes are not something he would openly discuss.

Being questioned by Yu Shu in this manner, Xuan Jiuding’s face did not even twitch, indicating that he was well-prepared, even a trace of cold sneer crossed the depth of his eyes at this moment.

”Hehe, Sect Master Yu Shu, you jest; the Yan Chun you spoke of was indeed once my commander of the Xuantie Army, but he was expelled from Xuantie Army thirteen years ago for committing a serious mistake!”

A slight smile rested on Xuan Jiuding’s face; this plan could be said to have been schemed by him for over a decade, thus seeming flawless now; using Yan Chun to pin the crime on him was clearly impossible.

Moreover, since both Yu Shu and Yun Xiao arrived at the Xuanyue Palace, not once did they encounter Yan Chun, indicating that Xuan Jiuding had planned long ago not to let Yan Chun reappear in public; the meticulousness of his thoughts was apparent.

”Tsk tsk, such bold moves from the former commander of Xuantie Army, hiding in Jade Pot Sect for thirteen full years, Crown Prince, what an impressive play!”

Hearing Xuan Jiuding’s words, Yu Shu knew that Yan Chun no longer held any significance; after hearing his mockery, he further pursued, ”What about Third Prince His Highness then? Surely that can’t be false as well, Crown Prince, why would a prince of an Empire’s Royal Family join a small sect like the Jade Pot Sect?”

”Sect Master Yu Shu, for this matter, you will have to ask my father, the King. This was not my decision, but a direct order from my father!”

To Yu Shu’s surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, Xuan Jiuding immediately responded, pushing the responsibility onto his father, King Xuan Haoran.

”Sect Master Yu Shu, you might not be aware, my youngest son has good talent, and he also activated a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein, and had the fortune to become a Meridian Refining Master. Tell me, in the entire Xuanyue Empire, which family or sect could offer a stronger Meridian Refining Technique than Jade Pot Sect?”

Seeing his son mentioning him, Xuan Haoran had no choice but to stand out and speak; although the overall power of the Xuanyue Royal Family in the Empire is strongest, some unique aspects of the empire’s sects are not something they can compare to.

Like the Physical Body Cultivation methods of Qingshan Sect and the Meridian Refining Technique of Jade Pot Sect, these are unique features of the major sects also forming their foundations.

However, what Xuan Haoran did not know was that this decision played right into Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding’s hands. The latter had long planned this, arranging for Xuan Zhi to enter the Jade Pot Sect, coordinating with Second Elder Fu Du and further conspiring with Fifth Elder Yan Chun, who had long infiltrated the Jade Pot Sect, to forcefully steal the Sect Treasure of the Jade Pot Sect.

This way, the two testimonies that Yu Shu had just referred to were diluted by the statements of these father and son duo, and Yu Shu could not produce more evidence at that moment, the other human testimonies being from Jade Pot Sect lacked credibility.

”Sect Master Yu Shu, you slander our Royal Family for stealing your Jade Pot Sect’s Sect Treasure, which is utterly unfounded, but we can treat it as if it never happened. However, your disciple has stolen from our Royal Treasure, surely that can’t be false, how do you explain that?”

Xuan Jiuding, with his extremely sharp mind, had dissolved a major righteous claim of Jade Pot Sect with just a few words, and he shifted the focus back to today’s main topic; this ability to counter-attack strikes awe in one.

Or perhaps aside from Yun Xiao’s escape incident, all of this was within Xuan Jiuding’s meticulous calculations, thus putting Yu Shu, the Sect Master of Jade Pot Sect, in an absolute disadvantage.

”Crown Prince, you repeatedly stated Yun Xiao stole the Royal Treasure; what exactly did he steal?”

At this point, Yu Shu could find no excuse to rebut, and could only follow Xuan Jiuding’s words, and after he spoke, that Crown Prince finally showed a hint of a smile on his face.

”What was lost, how should I know? Why don’t you come with us and check the Treasure Vault?”

Xuan Jiuding plays his part fully; with outsiders present and watched by Xuan Haoran, if he outright mentioned what was lost, wouldn’t that be admitting there’s ’No Silver Here’?

”My apologies to everyone present, please wait a moment!”

It must be said that the Crown Prince is highly adept in interpersonal relations; even as he entered the Royal Treasure Vault, he did not forget to greet the heads of families and sects, no doubt earning their favor with such attitude.

The Royal Treasure Vault is not somewhere anyone could just enter, and while the onlooking guests are extremely curious, it’s inconvenient for them to follow inside, so they could only watch as the royals disappeared at the entrance of the vault.

Among those who entered the vault with Yu Shu were the Yan brothers. However, Yan Yong, who had a narrow escape from death, still had a hint of panic in his eyes, completely unsure how the Crown Prince would treat him after knowing what happened.

A moment ago, Yan Yong’s life hung by a thread, but he knew that Yu Shu’s intervention was not for him, but to prove Yun Xiao’s innocence, as he and his brother were the only eyewitnesses.

As the five of them entered the vault, the old wooden box which was originally there, was naturally not in its place anymore. When Xuan Haoran saw an empty shelf at the deepest part, his steps involuntarily quickened.

”Father... Your Majesty, it’s... it’s ’Xuantian Treasure Manual’!”

Xuan Jiuding also moved quickly, but when his gaze also turned to that empty shelf, he exclaimed in shock, his voice even trembling slightly.

”What? Xuantian Treasure Manual?”

Even Yu Shu was greatly shocked, as he was all too familiar with this super famous cultivation technique; even prominent families or sects in the Xuanyue Empire would have heard of this technique.

The Xuantian Treasure Manual can be said to be the foundation of the Xuanyue Royal Family’s stability in the Empire for a thousand years. It’s an Earth Rank Low Level cultivation technique and possibly the only Earth Rank Low Level technique in the entire Xuanyue Empire.

Such an Earth Rank Low Level technique allowed the Xuanyue Royal Family to sustain its lineage for a thousand years, and even in their lowest periods, this powerful technique enabled them to defend the territory of the Xuanyue Empire and fend off foreign invasions.

But now, this technique, considered a Treasure of the Clan and even a National Treasure, has been stolen. This signifies something profound; even the usually steadying Xuan Haoran could not help but tremble slightly.

Although the method of cultivating the Xuantian Treasure Manual was deeply embedded in the minds of Xuan Haoran and Xuan Jiuding, the scroll stored in the vault carried an extraordinary significance.

Because it was hand-written by the founder at the inception of the Xuanyue Empire, survived a thousand years without slightest damage, and each Xuanyue sovereign treated it as a treasure of the dynasty, never daring to neglect it.

Even putting the Xuantian Treasure Manual’s scroll in the vault was for safety, after all, even Xuan Haoran, as the king, did not deem himself invincible. Should he die outside one day, wouldn’t the dynasty’s treasure be lost?

It was supposed to be absolutely safe in the Royal Treasure Vault, only possibly lost if the Xuanyue Empire was destroyed. Yet, now it was stolen by a mere lad, how could Xuan Haoran not feel a mixture of shock and anger?

”Issue my decree, proclaim the ’Xuan Kill Order’, the entire empire is to hunt down Yun Xiao, and he may be killed on sight!”

In his furious and heartbroken state, Xuan Haoran felt he had failed the legacy of his ancestors, as the dynastic treasure was lost on his watch. Thus, with a furious command, he startled Yu Shu who was beside him.

”Your Majesty, this has not been thoroughly investigated yet. What if someone is setting him up? Please don’t wrongly accuse a good person!”

As Yu Shu spoke, his eyes continuously glanced at Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding beside him, firmly believing it was Xuan Jiuding’s conspiracy. Such a ruthless move indeed.

The significance of the Xuantian Treasure Manual to Xuan Haoran, the current ruler, is beyond words. It was by seizing upon this point that Xuan Jiuding fueled Xuan Haoran’s wrath.

Hearing Yu Shu’s statement, Xuan Jiuding had already prepared his response, sneering coldly: ”Sect Master Yu Shu, don’t just consider Yun Xiao as your disciple. Even if you, the Sect Master of Jade Pot Sect, stole the Xuantian Treasure Manual, our Xuanyue Royal Family would not hesitate to wage war against Jade Pot Sect!”

By this, Xuan Jiuding meant to say, ”Count yourself lucky, Yu Shu, that the Xuanyue Royal Family is only targeting Yun Xiao, not the whole of Jade Pot Sect. Should you truly infuriate the Royal Family, the Jade Pot Sect might be annihilated soon.”

And he covertly warned Yu Shu not to drag the whole sect down because of Yun Xiao, reminding him that as a Sect Master he should consider not only his welfare but also that of his sect.

No matter how much Yu Shu believed Yun Xiao was framed, no matter how much he despised the Crown Prince’s performance, for the sake of Jade Pot Sect, he had to endure.

Because at this moment, King Xuan Haoran of Xuanyue clearly lost his rationale over the loss of the Xuantian Treasure Manual, regardless of whether Yun Xiao stole it or not, he would blame Yun Xiao—to the very least, he intended to capture him and bring him back to the palace.