Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Could it be...”

Yun Xiao shuddered—honestly, if it were possible, he truly did not hope that this matter was connected to the Lingyun Sect. If Yu Qian was just someone with the same name, then all would be well.

But even though Xu Lingsong’s change in expression was fleeting, Yun Xiao, who had been watching him closely, could not miss it. That even such a calculating Sect Leader could not maintain his composure indicated that there truly was something fishy going on.

”Haha, what unfortunate timing for my noble nephew to visit. The Great Elder has gone out to seek medical help and has not returned yet. You might have to wait a few more days if you want to meet him!”

The unnatural look on Xu Lingsong’s face vanished in a flash, and he soon regained his composure, even forcing a slight smile. However, in his heart, a storm had already begun to brew.

”Could it be that back then Elder Yu Qian showed some traces?”

In fact, Xu Lingsong also knew many details about that clan-destroying tragedy. Despite many things being beyond his control, he could never get past this obstacle posed by the Great Elder of Lingyun Sect.

However, it was only about wiping out a minor Shang Family, whose strongest member was at the early stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm. Xu Lingsong believed that with Yu Qian’s cultivation at the level of the Spirit Vein Realm, how could anyone possibly notice any clues?

Nevertheless, Xu Lingsong was always cautious. Yun Xiao’s inquiry had already made him extremely vigilant, thinking that no matter what, he could not allow Yun Xiao and Yu Qian to meet and confront each other.

”I wonder what matter my noble nephew wishes to discuss with our Sect’s Great Elder?”

Full of doubts, Xu Lingsong directly asked this question. Without clarifying this matter, he feared he would not be able to sleep well in the future because even his father, the former Sect Leader, was kept in the dark about this matter.

Hearing this, Yun Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. He inwardly remarked how reckless his question was. If the current Sect Leader really was involved in that affair, wasn’t this alerting the enemy?

With thoughts swirling in his mind, Yun Xiao maintained his composure and replied, ”It’s not that I am looking for Elder Yu Qian myself, but my teacher has something to inquire from him!”

”Your teacher?”

Lingyun Sect and Jade Pot Sect were nearly ten thousand miles apart, and there were some matters that even this Sect Leader wouldn’t be aware of. He did not know that Yun Xiao had already joined the Jade Pot Sect, let alone who his teacher was.

”My teacher is none other than the Sect Leader Yu Shu of the Jade Pot Sect!”

Yun Xiao didn’t hide this fact, as this was also a protective charm for him. Being a disciple of the renowned Sect Leader of the Jade Pot Sect, if he were to die ambiguously in Lingyun Sect, even if it was the number one sect in the Lingtian Empire, there would still be significant trouble.

”Your teacher is Sect Leader Yu Shu?”

This news genuinely surprised Xu Lingsong. Initially, a boy discarded by the Shang Family due to severed meridians not only survived that battle but had cultivated to his current level and even became a disciple of the Sect Leader of the Jade Pot Sect—wasn’t this turn of events a bit too drastic?

Originally, Xu Lingsong was polite to Yun Xiao merely because of his extraordinary cultivation talent. Now, it seemed his background was also extraordinary!

In fact, Xu Lingsong himself had personally requested Fu Du to handle the matter of breaking off the engagement with the Shang Family, but Fu Du, being lazy, sent his disciple Yin Huan instead. At that time, Xu Lingsong thought Yun Xiao had become useless and was totally unworthy of his beloved daughter.

Moreover, considering that the Shang Family was exterminated, Xu Lingsong believed Yun Xiao had died in that battle, only to see him appear all of a sudden in Lingyun Sect, even advancing his cultivation to the early stage of Meridian Union Realm.

Was this truly a waste? Clearly, he was a super-genius!

Such a genius might no longer be too far behind Xu Hongzhuang in terms of strength. Coupled with the identity of a disciple of the Sect Leader of the Jade Pot Sect, for a moment, Xu Lingsong even considered arranging a marriage with Yun Xiao.

However, such a thought only lingered in Xu Lingsong’s mind for a moment before dissipating like smoke. After all, truths cannot be concealed forever, and the day of reckoning would eventually come.

After all, the tragedy of the Shang Family’s extermination was deeply tied to Lingyun Sect—this kind of feud over the killing of sisters and mothers was irreconcilable. If everything were to come to light, the two parties would definitely be at each other’s throats.

Xu Lingsong would not push his beloved daughter into such a dilemma. The stronger Yun Xiao’s talent and background, the greater the threat to Lingyun Sect. He must find a way to nip this threat in the bud.

Currently, Xu Lingsong was still uncertain whether this young man had truly noticed some clues about the past tragedy, or if he really was here on his master’s errand.

”Noble nephew, since the Great Elder has not yet returned to the sect, why don’t you stay here for now? Once he returns, I will immediately send someone to notify you, how does that sound?”

With these thoughts in mind, Xu Lingsong decided to stabilize Yun Xiao first. Besides, during this period, his wife was on her deathbed, and he truly didn’t have the energy to deal with this minor youngster.

Also, this place was the headquarters of Lingyun Sect; he figured such a young man at the early stage of Meridian Union Realm wouldn’t be able to stir up much trouble—it was better to handle urgent matters first.

Since Yu Qian was not around, Yun Xiao had no other option. Having come all the way to Lingyun Sect, he would not be content without meeting Elder Yu Qian in person.

Yun Xiao always distinguished clearly between gratitude and grudges. Without any concrete evidence, his inquiries were merely speculative. It was not his style to wrongly accuse good people based on mere suspicions.

Xu Lingsong personally arranged for Yun Xiao to stay in a manor and then excused himself, leaving Yun Xiao to watch his departing figure thoughtfully.

...

Creak!

The gate of a manor of the Lingyun Sect opened from the inside, emitting a harsh sound, and a pretty young girl standing outside showed a respectful expression upon seeing a woman in red walking out from inside.

”Miss, is the madame’s illness still not improving?”

The pretty girl, who seemed to be the personal maid of the young woman in red, asked with a distressed face. However, a glance at the latter’s expression told her that the situation was not good.

The young woman in red was known as Hongzhuang, a nickname for Xu Hongzhuang. Hearing the maid’s question, she shook her head and sighed, ”Alas, if the Great Elder cannot bring the old master from the Royal Family, my mother might not last more than a few days!”

After speaking, a determined look flashed in Xu Hongzhuang’s eyes as she said sternly, ”Yu Man, accompany me to the Imperial Palace. If that old master refuses to come, I will kneel there and not get up!”

Diagnosed by Guo, the chief Meridian Refining Master of the Lingyun Sect, the Sect Leader’s wife could last at most half a month. Nearly half that time had already passed without the Great Elder’s return, leaving them potentially without any choice but to await death.

The Lingtian Royal Family and the Lingyun Sect supported each other and were not far apart—it would take at most three to four days to travel to and from, so Xu Hongzhuang decided to personally request the newly arrived Meridian Refining Master at the Lingtian Royal Family.

Although the specific grade of that Meridian Refining Master was unknown, the news brought back by the Great Elder suggested that he might be an Earth Rank Meridian Refining Master. If he could be persuaded to come, her mother might be saved.

”Miss, I have some news. Do you want to hear it first?”

Just as Xu Hongzhuang hurriedly took a few steps, the voice of Yu Man, the pretty girl, suddenly rang out, causing her to swiftly turn around, a look of surprise crossing her face.

”Besides my mother’s illness, what else could be more important?”

Yet, Xu Hongzhuang still asked, knowing that her maid, who had grown up with her, was insightful. At such a time, she likely wouldn’t mention anything irrelevant that might delay her.

”I overheard it from a guard unintentionally...”

Seeing her mistress looking annoyed, Yu Man shrank her neck slightly but continued, ”Yesterday, someone visited our Lingyun Sect calling themselves... Yun Xiao. Sect Leader personally received him!”

”What did you say?”

The sudden mention of ”Yun Xiao” made Xu Hongzhuang tremble and exclaim, as images of a young boy in coarse clothing and his impressive manner pointing things out among various treasures popped into her mind.

”He arrived so soon?”

With thoughts spinning in her mind and a return of color to her pale cheeks due to the angst over her mother’s health, she asked, ”Where is he?”

Seeing her mistress’s expression, Yu Man knew she had gambled correctly. Having grown up alongside her mistress, she clearly knew who Yun Xiao was, and she herself was quite curious.

”Miss, please follow me!”

Having already inquired clearly and knowing that this person was extremely important to her mistress, Yu Man dared not delay and led the way.

Holding a kind of strange mood, Xu Hongzhuang calmed herself on the way, wondering why her father, after meeting Yun Xiao, hadn’t told her about it.

Xu Hongzhuang was unaware of the Sect Leader’s undisclosed thoughts; over two years ago, he had discussed with her father because Yun Xiao’s Meridian Qi had completely depleted, and Xu Lingsong had strongly opposed.

But now, having encountered Yun Xiao in Xuri City and fought side by side with him, Xu Hongzhuang was well aware of the young man’s talent and strength, comparable even to her, the favored daughter of the Lingyun Sect.

Moreover, Xu Hongzhuang knew that as the daughter of the Sect Leader residing in a powerful sect like Lingyun, blessed with countless resources, it was natural for her cultivation to be stronger than Yun Xiao’s.

Considering that Yun Xiao had lost all his Meridian Qi more than two years ago, the young man had cultivated his Meridian Qi to the Peak of Meridian Rushing Realm in such a short period of time, a feat that was terrifyingly fast.

Engrossed in her thoughts, the two soon arrived in front of a somewhat secluded manor. Yet, for some reason, Xu Hongzhuang hesitated as they approached.

She knew Yun Xiao’s identity, but he only knew her as Hongzhuang. Despite her typical grace and poise, in this moment, she became shy like a young girl.

”Yu Man, wait a minute!”

Just as Yu Man was about to knock on the manor door, Xu Hongzhuang felt suddenly panicked and hurriedly called out to stop her, seemingly not yet ready to confront Yun Xiao, whether as Xu Hongzhuang or as his fiancée.