Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”You are Yun Xiao?”

The old Sect Master Xu Qingyuan didn’t have so many thoughts. At the mention of Yun Xiao, a sharp light instantly shot from his eyes, as if he found it extremely unbelievable.

”Weren’t you dead? No, no, you actually didn’t die? But that’s not right either, sigh... It’s so good that you’re not dead!”

Xu Qingyuan was somewhat excited, even speaking incoherently. Indeed, compared to his son, Xu Lingsong, the current Lingyun Sect Master with profound schemes, his nature was much more straightforward.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have impulsively agreed to this finger-pointing marriage alliance due to his good relationship with Yun Xiao’s maternal grandfather. However, over two years ago, when the news of the Shang Family’s annihilation reached him, he believed that Yun Xiao had met a violent death in that conflict.

If Yun Xiao had perished, the marriage alliance from those years would have been voided. Xu Qingyuan had always felt somewhat apologetic to his old friend and never expected that today, he would be able to see his grandson-in-law inside this room. How could he not be excited?

For a moment, even the sorrow of the Sect Master’s wife’s serious illness seemed to be diluted. Elder Guo, standing beside them, revealed a surprised expression as well. As an Elder of the Lingyun Sect, he naturally had heard of the name Yun Xiao.

Xu Qingyuan’s incoherent words oddly gave rise to some unusual feelings in Yun Xiao’s heart. It seemed that compared to Xu Lingsong, this person was more genuine, and the excitement did not seem feigned.

”By a stroke of luck, I managed to survive, troubling the old Sect Master with your concerns!”

Yun Xiao bowed slightly, not willing to dwell on this topic. As he spoke, Xu Qingyuan had already regained his composure and, sensing the young man’s cultivation level, was again surprised.

”Early Stage of the Meridian Union Realm? Good, not bad, fitting for my granddaughter, the treasure of Xu Qingyuan!”

This discovery made Xu Qingyuan even happier, but after the latter part of his sentence, Xu Hongzhuang spat out a mouthful of air. Normally composed, her face couldn’t help but blush with embarrassment.

”Grandfather, what are you saying!”

After a coy complaint, Xu Hongzhuang didn’t want to continue this topic and turned her head towards her mother, her expression suddenly becoming melancholic as she said, ”I’ve brought Yun Xiao here to take a look at mother’s illness!”

”Hm?”

As soon as these words came out, Xu Qingyuan had not yet spoken when Elder Guo’s brow furrowed. His gaze at Yun Xiao contained a hint of disdain as well as hostility.

He himself was a Spirit-grade Advanced Meridian Refining Master, and even he was powerless to cure the lady’s disease. You, a young lad, after only a few years of cultivation, are really ignorant of your own limits.

”Could it be that you have come here newly and wish to show off in front of the old Sect Master and the young lady?”

A thought suddenly sprung in Elder Guo’s mind, and the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. The rumor was that this kid hailed from a minor family within the Xuanyue Empire. Coming to Lingyun Sect, naturally, he would want to catch the young lady’s attention.

But the lady is critically ill, this is no joke. If we let this kid recklessly administer needles and medication and the condition worsens, we might not even get the chance to wait for that Royal Family Meridian Master to arrive.

With his mind already made up that Yun Xiao was just seeking attention, Elder Guo’s expression grew angrier and finally, he said coldly, ”Miss, the lady’s condition is grave. If some unrelated people meddle about, I’m afraid...”

Elder Guo didn’t finish his words, yet his gaze firmly fixed on ”some unrelated people,” his meaning already very clear: he did not trust Yun Xiao.

”Yes, Hongzhuang, although Yun Xiao has a good cultivation talent, as for the Meridian Refining Technique...”

Xu Qingyuan, too, hesitated slightly before advising. Although he held no grudge against Yun Xiao’s lowly background, if the youth was really so rash and wanted to take action out of his depth, it might really disappoint him.

In the eyes of the straightforward old Sect Master, cultivation talent and background were not important, but one’s character and integrity were critical. Only then, when his granddaughter was married off, could she have a happy life.

Seeing the elders blocking the way, Xu Hongzhuang said anxiously, ”Healing illness and injury sometimes doesn’t depend on the Meridian Master’s level. Let him give it a try!”

Xu Hongzhuang was applying what she had just learned from Yun Xiao’s earlier words. However, her point was valid; treating diseases and alchemy were different. Certain difficult diseases could just happen to be encountered by Low Rank Meridian Refining Masters, whose targeted treatment could potentially be much more effective than the random attempts of High Rank Meridian Refining Masters.

”Miss, the lady’s illness can’t bear any more disturbances. Let’s wait for the arrival of the Royal Family’s expert to provide treatment!”

A glint of annoyance flashed in Elder Guo’s eyes, but he knew the young lady could not be offended. Therefore, he could only try to reason, and even as he spoke, he himself wasn’t too confident.

The Great Elder of Lingyun Sect had gone to invite the Royal Family’s expert nearly ten days ago, and up until now, he had only sent back some messages, still failing to bring him. This showed that the situation was not guaranteed.

Sure enough, as soon as Elder Guo’s words fell, Xu Hongzhuang already said with a heavy heart, ”Instead of waiting for such an illusory opportunity, it might be better to let Yun Xiao try. Elder Guo, you said it yourself, mother’s illness can’t be delayed any longer!”

”This...”

Elder Guo was at a loss for words and could only turn his pleading gaze to the old Sect Master. With his temperament, it was impossible to let Yun Xiao, this inexperienced youngster, meddle with the lady’s condition.

”Yun Xiao, are you really confident about this?”

Xu Qingyuan was also somewhat conflicted. On one hand was Elder Guo, and on the other, his precious granddaughter, so his gaze fell on Yun Xiao. He looked at the calm faced youth and asked a question.

”Great Sect Master is joking. To heal and save lives, who can be absolutely certain? Let’s just give it a try!”

But the words that Yun Xiao spoke only made Xu Qingyuan’s frown deepen. Couldn’t he say something more optimistic at a time like this?

”If I’m not mistaken, if we don’t treat her soon, I’m afraid she won’t make it to tomorrow. Do you really want to delay any longer?”

In all honesty, Yun Xiao’s willingness to come here was purely for Xu Hongzhuang’s sake, or rather, for the help she had given him when she was disguised as Xiaolan.

Although recognizing the Highly Poisonous Jade Liquid Vine was partly returning the favor, if he ignored the situation at hand, his conscience wouldn’t allow it.

”Tomorrow?”

Hearing this time frame, both Xu Hongzhuang and Xu Qingyuan’s faces underwent a drastic change, as they turned their heads in unison towards Elder Guo, only to see that the elder’s face was quite embarrassed.

”Elder Guo, didn’t you say that Mother could hold on for half a month? It’s been less than ten days, how could...”

Xu Hongzhuang was somewhat annoyed. She had planned to ask the Meridian Master from the Lingtian Royal Family for help, but if they delayed for a few more days, as Yun Xiao said, by the time she returned, she might only see her mother’s corpse.

”This... Miss, the half-month time frame was just an estimation. I didn’t expect madam’s condition to worsen these past few days. She most likely... won’t last that long!”

Although Elder Guo felt embarrassed, he couldn’t just blabber nonsense. At the same time, he was somewhat astonished. This youth named Yun Xiao may not be well-versed in the Meridian Refining Technique, but his vision was exceptionally keen.

Even though Elder Guo had been constantly by the Sect Master’s wife’s side, it was only today that he realized the illness had rapidly deteriorated, with the estimated time she could hold on much reduced.

Yet this young man, from several yards away, was able to discern this at a glance, and was even sure that madam could last for another day. If this were true, just this level of keen observation alone would far surpass his own capabilities as a Spirit-grade Advanced Pulse Refining Master.

”Grandfather, let Yun Xiao have a look!”

Having received Elder Guo’s admission, for some reason, Xu Hongzhuang suddenly felt less confident towards this chief Meridian Master of the sect, and instead, her expectations for Yun Xiao grew. Hence, her words were filled with resolve.

”This... All right!”

Although Yun Xiao hadn’t given a definite answer, under the current circumstance, if there were no other accidents, his daughter-in-law probably wouldn’t last even a day. As Yun Xiao said, they might as well give it a try. At the very worst, it would mean death.

Since the Great Sect Master had spoken, Elder Guo did not insist any longer. It was time to see whether this was a mule or a horse; just take it out for a walk and it would be clear. If this kid turned out to be all show and no substance, it would be apparent soon enough. He just hoped the youngster wouldn’t end up killing the patient.

With everyone’s strange gazes upon him, Yun Xiao slowly stepped forward, and as he came within a foot’s distance of the bed, he already smelled a faint unusual fragrance, and his heart stirred.

”Could it really be that thing? But how could this be possible?”

Thoughts swirled through Yun Xiao’s mind, as he extended his right hand and placed it upon the wrist of the Sect Master’s wife. Upon checking her pulses, his face couldn’t help but turn somewhat gloomy, as the Sect Master’s wife’s pulse was faint and barely detectable, indicating traditional methods would be ineffective.

Patter, patter, patter...

Ignoring the strange and dark gaze of Elder Guo beside him, Yun Xiao’s forefinger and middle finger came together, and as his fingers moved in swift succession, he had already pressed several major acupoints on the Sect Master wife’s head.

”This kid, he does have some skill!”

Elder Guo, who had been disdainful, was at first annoyed, thinking Yun Xiao was acting recklessly, until he saw that every one of Yun Xiao’s fingers precisely pressed on an acupoint. His face instantly showed surprise.

Not to mention his skill in locating acupoints and the confidence on his face, he was definitely not inferior to himself, a Spirit-grade Advanced Meridian Master. Moreover, even he did not understand the purpose of Yun Xiao pressing these acupoints.

”What’s that?”

The next moment, Xu Hongzhuang’s cry of surprise drew Elder Guo back to his senses. As he turned to look, he saw that on the forehead of the Sect Master’s wife, some things had appeared out of nowhere.

They seemed to be seven extremely tiny star-shaped marks, arranged in the formation of the Big Dipper, faintly visible on the Sect Master’s wife’s forehead. It was extremely eerie to behold and seemed to be emitting some unknown aura.

”Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance, it really is you!”

At the moment when Elder Guo and Xu Hongzhuang were shocked, Yun Xiao took a deep breath, with a murmuring voice emerging from his lips, seemingly filled with a hint of peculiar emotion.