Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”This Crown Prince, he truly is a good person!”

Although Yun Xiao seemed to take it for granted, in his heart he was drumming nervously. However, after he took several steps forward and did not hear Nie Qianqiu’s refusal, he couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief.

It seems that not all the imperial princes are as disagreeable as those from the Xuan Jiuding, at least this Crown Prince of Lingtian Empire is a very nice person. It’s quite rare for someone to lend money without even frowning, especially to someone they’ve never met before.

If Nie Qianqiu knew what Yun Xiao was thinking, he would probably take back his gold coins immediately. After all, how could he, a Crown Prince with bloody hands, possibly be a good person?

Moreover, the term ’good person’ often describes those who are mediocre and uninfluential. As the saying goes, one who does not arouse envy is no talent. This Crown Prince, with his grandiose ambitions, would really not want to accept the ostensibly complimentary term ”good person”.

Since the Crown Prince did not object, Xiao Qiu also knew how to get things done. He led Yun Xiao to the door of the next room. Beside the door, there was a plaque that read ”Mortal Three.”

Creak!

Without any hesitation, Yun Xiao pushed the door and entered. Seeing his figure disappear behind the door, Xiao Qiu turned his head and asked, ”Sister Mu, how long do you think it will take for him to come out this time?”

”This...”

Hearing Xiao Qiu’s question, Mu Yun’s expression became quite complicated. She had always thought of Yun Xiao as a rakish wastrel who covet her beauty, spouting wild statements just to get her attention.

But now, it seemed that the young man named Yun Xiao truly had some ability. Without mentioning anything else, just the time he took to pass the Mortal Rank Low Level and Mortal Rank Middle Level examinations was probably unparalleled in the entire Meridian Refining Master Guild.

Regardless, Mu Yun was just an ordinary cultivator at the Meridian Rushing Realm Early Stage, and although she had activated a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein, she had taken the exam for several years without being able to pass the Mortal Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master examination.

From this point of view, Yun Xiao was now much stronger than her in every aspect. Considering his talent, he surely has an unlimited future ahead. Why would he care about her, a mere apprentice girl?

”Hmph, the examination for Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master is completely different from the previous two levels. This time, he will definitely not pass as quickly!”

Hearing Xiao Qiu’s question, Nie Qianqiu couldn’t help but snort coldly. He too had once taken the examination for Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master and knew exactly what it entailed. There was no room for any trickery.

Even though Nie Qianqiu had lent money to Yun Xiao three times, he still couldn’t muster any goodwill for the young man who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He even harbored an inexplicably articulate hostility towards him.

...

Not to mention the conversation of the others outside, Yun Xiao, who had entered the ”Mortal Three” room, looked up and saw a strong and domineering elder sizing him up.

”A Spirit Vein Realm powerhouse, and also likely to be a Spiritual Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master!”

With his sharp perception, Yun Xiao sensed the elder’s Meridian Qi Cultivation in an instant, and the invisible power fluctuations around him suggested a rather powerful Soul Power as well.

Indeed, the examination for Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master was presided over by a cultivator who had reached the Spiritual Rank Low Level. Such a level of Meridian Refining Master held a high position within the guild, so it was no surprise to see a trace of arrogance on the elder’s face.

”Hmm? The age of this young man?”

When the elder looked over with arrogance, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, as Yun Xiao was indeed extremely young, and youthfulness is not something one can feign.

Those who came here to be assessed for Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master were usually older practitioners, some in their forties or fifties, even in their sixties or seventies. In the path of Meridian Refining, Soul Power and Meridian Fire are crucial, but so is experience.

Without decades of Meridian Refining practice, it is impossible to achieve high-level skills in Meridian Refining. This young man seemed to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, how exactly had he passed the prior two assessments?

”I am Yun Xiao, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you, sir. May I inquire as to how the Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master examination is conducted?”

Yun Xiao did not dare to neglect such a Spirit Vein Realm powerhouse, and he was also aware that the examination for Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master must be different from the previous two levels.

”I am Liang Song; you may call me Elder Liang!”

The elder introduced himself first, then pointed with his fingers to either side, continuing, ”Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master requires choosing a specialty. Are you proficient in the Medical Pulse path or the Poison Meridian? The standards for the examination vary accordingly.”

”I am aware of that. Therefore, I would like to take the examination for both paths!”

Having been a low-level Meridian Refining Master in his previous life, Yun Xiao naturally knew that upon reaching the level of Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master, there would be a split in the techniques of Meridian Refining, much like the Medical Pulse and the Poison Vein pathways in the Jade Pot Sect.

In his previous life, Yun Xiao was unattainable in his skills as a Meridian Refining Master and practiced both Medical and Poison Cultivation. He treaded between righteousness and wickedness and did not adhere to rigid norms, following only his own heart.

The Medical Vein Path heals and saves lives and is revered by people; whereas the Poison Vein Path, although it involves creating poisons for attacking and killing, brings a level of deterrence that the Medical Vein Path cannot match.

Just like within the Jade Pot Sect, those disciples fear Fu Du far more than they fear Lu Zhan, even though Lu Zhan is the Great Elder of the Jade Pot Sect.

Because even if they made Lu Zhan angry, these Medical Pulse Masters would not deal a deadly blow, but if they angered Fu Du, they might not even know when they would die—such is the difference between the two paths of medicine and poison.

Moreover, everything in this world has two sides; among Poison Vein Masters, not all are evildoers. Using the Poison Meridian Skill to kill a villain is essentially the same as using the Medical Pulse Technique to save a good person.

However, practitioners with dual cultivation in both medical and poison paths are rare on the Nine Dragons Continent, and even more so on the Hidden Dragon Continent, as scarce as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Thus, when Yun Xiao made his statement, the elder responsible for the assessment, Liang Song, immediately frowned and said softly, ”Young man, you do not know the immensity of the heavens and the earth, have you never been taught about biting off more than you can chew?”

In Liang Song’s view, this youth must have a very powerful teacher to be able to walk into this room, and the truth he spoke is well known to every Meridian Refining Master on the Hidden Dragon Continent.

The philosophies of the Medical Vein Path and the Poison Vein Path are completely different, especially their directions of cultivation and techniques of application, both of which are worlds apart. The idea of dual cultivation in both medical and poison is simply impossible.

What Liang Song doesn’t know is that this rare occurrence on the Hidden Dragon Continent is occasionally seen in the high skies of the Nine Dragons, where the Medical and Poison Paths each have their strengths, one focusing on attack and the other on healing, each with their advantages, none of which Yun Xiao intends to give up.

”Then... let’s start with the assessment for the Medical Pulse Master!”

Hearing Liang Song’s words, Yun Xiao didn’t argue but decided to pass one assessment first. As he spoke, the other party thought his own words had an effect and immediately showed a satisfied expression.

Liang Song took several steps across and pointed to a black Medicine Tripod on the right-hand side, saying, ”Here we have prepared two sets of materials for refining the ’Quenching Meridian Pill,’ along with the Pill Recipe. If you can successfully refine it once, you will be considered to have passed!”

”Quenching Meridian Pill?”

Hearing this name, Yun Xiao nodded, knowing it was a Mortal Rank Advanced Elixir that could temper meridians, not top-notch but not the most basic either. Using it as an assessment was reasonable.

The elder reminded, ”No matter whether you succeed in refining the Quenching Meridian Pill or not, the Pill Recipe must not be leaked. Otherwise, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, the Meridian Refining Master Guild will capture you and bring you back!”

Liang Song delivered these lines quite smoothly, as if he was used to saying them. Yun Xiao was aware that Pill Recipes at the Mortal Rank Advanced level, especially some special ones, are considered valuable treasures. That’s why the Meridian Refining Master Guild could afford to be so imposing.

Even if the refinement is unsuccessful, this Pill Recipe is already imprinted in his mind. Although it cannot be casually leaked, those ten thousand Gold Coins would be well spent.

”Let’s begin!”

After Liang Song finished speaking, he had already returned to his seat. As a Spiritual Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master, he was well aware that refining a Mortal Rank Advanced Elixir would likely take at least one or two hours.

Yun Xiao didn’t protest and walked over to the Medicine Tripod, glanced at the Pill Recipe, and then placed his right hand over the fire inlet of the Tripod. With a thought, the blood-red Ancestral Vein Fire was already directly infused into the Tripod.

”That’s too reckless!”

Seeing that Yun Xiao had brought forth the Meridian Fire and directly thrown the first herb into the Tripod, Liang Song couldn’t help but shake his head, his face showing a bit of displeasure.

He had originally thought that such a young person, having passed the Mortal Rank Middle Level Meridian Refining Master assessment, would show some impressive performances that would open his eyes. Now it seemed he had expected too much.

Taking a brand-new Pill Recipe and many herbs he had never encountered before, and without proper study but instead just a glance and a direct increase in flames for melting, wasn’t this reckless?

In this regard, even if there were not two sets of materials but ten or twenty, they probably wouldn’t be enough for this lad to use. At this moment, Liang Song couldn’t help but think that the rule of the Meridian Refining Master Guild to collect a deposit for the assessment of Mortal Rank Meridian Refining Masters was extremely wise.

”Hm?”

But in the next moment, Liang Song’s eyes bulged round because the herb that Yun Xiao had thrown into the Tripod had just been lightly swept by the blood-red flames and turned into a puff of Medicine Powder essence, which appeared to be fully utilized without any waste.

Liang Song was unaware of Yun Xiao’s performances in the previous two rounds of the assessment, and seeing the latter’s speed of refining, naturally, he was as shocked as the hosts of the previous two rounds.

”What flame is that, exactly?”

Especially the blood-red Meridian Fire, which was so shockingly powerful that Liang Song was incredibly astounded. Generally, Ancestor Vein Fires are related to Meridian Qi, and only those with a high grade of Fire Attribute Ancestor Veins could have such formidable power.

Looking at this, Yun Xiao’s Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein must have at least reached the level of Spiritual Rank, or even higher, which was somewhat remarkable.

From this observation, Liang Song had begun to show more interest in this roughly dressed youth, musing that with such a strong Ancestor Vein, the youth’s origins were probably extraordinary.