Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”This guy is really in a hurry!”

Yun Xiao turned his head with a wry smile, then asked, ”Xiao Qiu, are there other rooms for examining Spiritual Rank Low-Level Meridian Refining Masters?”

”There are none. Our guild only has one examination room for each rank achieved at the Spiritual level!”

Xiao Qiu first explained, then gave Yun Xiao a slightly strange look, and couldn’t help but say, ”Mister Yun Xiao, the examination for a Spiritual Rank Low-Level Meridian Refining Master requires a deposit of fifty thousand gold coins first... Maybe you should wait for the Crown Prince to finish his examination!”

As soon as this was said, the expressions of the two bystanders turned strange, especially Mu Yun who felt quite indignant, thinking that if Nie Qianqiu didn’t lend money to Yun Xiao, this fellow might not have been able to make such a grand display.

”That makes sense!”

Even Yun Xiao felt a bit awkward upon hearing this, scratched his head, and then somewhat dissatisfied said, ”The Crown Prince entered too hastily. Couldn’t he have lent me the money before going in?”

Hearing this, Mu Yun rolled his eyes, thinking to himself where did this kid get such confidence, so sure that the Crown Prince would still lend him money?

In fact, since Yun Xiao had passed the first three trials, those deposits were all refundable. Nie Qianqiu hadn’t actually spent any money, so he felt it was completely reasonable.

Amidst people’s diverse and strange glances, Yun Xiao, who only had five hundred gold coins on him, could only peacefully wait. And this wait lasted for a full day and night.

Strictly speaking, if not for Yun Xiao, the examination for a Mortal Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master would typically take a day as well, so Nie Qianqiu’s one day and night duration wasn’t really considered too long.

Creak!

When the next morning arrived, the door to the room finally made a noise, followed by a young man with a somewhat pale and fatigued appearance stepping out.

This young man was naturally Crown Prince Nie Qianqiu of Lingtian, although his complexion was pale and tired, the excitement in his eyes couldn’t be hidden no matter what.

”Your Highness, did you... succeed?”

Mu Yun, seeing him immediately, couldn’t help but exclaim with joy. Soon, everyone saw the Crown Prince slowly pinning a black badge with a small crescent moon emblem radiating a profound dim light on his chest, as if it could draw their gazes into it. At this moment, other than Yun Xiao, the focus of the other three couldn’t be shifted away.

”Spiritual Rank Low-Level Meridian Refining Master!”

When Mu Yun and Xiao Qiu saw the name ”Nie Qianqiu” on the badge, they no longer doubted, all while deeply moved that such a young Spiritual Rank Low-Level Meridian Refining Master was a rare find in the entire Hidden Dragon Continent.

After putting on his badge, Nie Qianqiu didn’t pay much attention to everyone’s sentiment and astonishment but turned his gaze directly to a young man in coarse clothing.

Waiting for him to look at the young man in coarse clothes without any surprise on his face caused some disappointment – this was not the reaction he desired.

”Ah, examining a Spiritual Rank Low-Level Meridian Refining Master took so much time, it really...”

Just as Nie Qianqiu was feeling unsatisfied inside, a voice suddenly came from the mouth of that young man in coarse clothes. Following that, the latter seemed to have thought of something and did not finish his sentence.

”You...”

The frustration Nie Qianqiu felt was no trivial matter. He had spent a day and a night, nearly depleting all his Meridian Qi and Power of Soul, just to barely pass the examination. How could this young man before him regard it as trivial?

In fact, Nie Qianqiu hadn’t been entirely confident about passing the examination for a Spiritual Rank Low-Level Meridian Refining Master. In a way, Yun Xiao’s success in the previous three challenges had indeed played a role in pushing him.

Moreover, passing the examination for Spiritual Rank Low-Level Meridian Refining Master in one day and night was, in Nie Qianqiu’s opinion, unmatched across the entire Lingtian Empire. Yet, to Yun Xiao, it seemed entirely worthless.

”Cough..., well, Your Highness, can you please lend me fifty thousand gold coins again? I will repay you immediately after!”

Without minding the angry stare from Nie Qianqiu, Yun Xiao cleared his throat, which was the reason he had swallowed the harsh words just now. After all, he still needed to ask for a favor from the Crown Prince.

With the experience of being Dragon Cloud Battle God in his previous life, Yun Xiao knew that spending a whole day and night for examining a Spiritual Rank Low-Level Meridian Refining Master was indeed too long. It wasn’t that he intentionally mocked Nie Qianqiu; he simply unintentionally spoke the truth.

Having just mocked the Crown Prince and then turning around to borrow money from him, Mu Yun and the others who were oblivious to the truth stared at this young man in coarse clothes in amazement, completely unable to grasp how someone could have such a thick skin.

Even Xiao Qiu found it somewhat difficult to look directly at him for a moment, feeling that Yun Xiao’s aura was too dazzling to look at directly. This guy truly played by his own rules.

”You still want to borrow money?”

Suppressing a trace of anger in his heart, Nie Qianqiu suddenly seemed somewhat calm, directly countering with a question, but the implication seemed to carry another layer of meaning.

”Yeah, you know, I only have five hundred Gold Coins, and the Spiritual Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master’s assessment requires a deposit of fifty thousand Gold Coins!”

Yun Xiao explained on his own, and seeing that Nie Qianqiu did not nod, he continued: ”Moreover, the money I borrowed before has already been returned to you, and this fifty thousand Gold Coins will also be paid back soon!”

Yun Xiao spoke as if it were only natural, as though there wasn’t a trace of embarrassment, but indeed, strictly speaking, he really didn’t owe Nie Qianqiu a single Gold Coin.

In Yun Xiao’s view, this Crown Prince is a good person, he should not refuse him this time either, and the money that will be quickly repaid is nothing to worry about.

”Sorry, I didn’t bring that much money, this time, I’m afraid you’ll have to figure it out yourself!”

Just when Yun Xiao was filled with confidence, Nie Qianqiu shook his head and gave a reason that left everyone dumbfounded.

What a joke, the Crown Prince of the mighty Lingtian Empire, who controls nearly half of the empire’s wealth, couldn’t even produce fifty thousand Gold Coins, the perfunctoriness was self-evident.

And that ”didn’t bring” excuse was even more absurd, who nowadays doesn’t have some Waist Storage; a dignified Crown Prince would be dishonoring his prominent status if he didn’t carry hundreds of millions of Gold Coins when stepping out.

It was obviously a refusal; Yun Xiao was stunned on the spot, and the expressions of the other three also varied, with Xiaoqiu looking more anxious comparatively.

Mu Yun and that middle-aged man were both trying to curry favor with Nie Qianqiu, so they always disliked Yun Xiao; if this guy really couldn’t attend the Spiritual Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master’s assessment due to lack of Gold Coins, that would indeed be delightful news.

”Ah, it seems the Lingtian Empire is indeed far behind our Xuanyue Empire!”

Yun Xiao also perceived Nie Qianqiu’s implication, he sighed inwardly and gave Nie Qianqiu a strange look, his expression just short of calling the Crown Prince a pauper.

”Brat, do you really think I don’t have the money?”

Seeing Yun Xiao’s expression, Nie Qianqiu almost spit out a mouthful of blood, but from the latter’s comment, he finally understood where this kid was coming from.

”So you are from the Xuanyue Empire, no wonder I never heard of you!”

Beside him, Mu Yun and Xiaoqiu also secretly nodded; knowing that although Yun Xiao looked ”poor”, his Meridian Refining Talent was indeed solid, even they subconsciously didn’t think Yun Xiao was much weaker than Nie Qianqiu.

The Lingtian Empire was an old and powerful empire on the Hidden Dragon Continent, if it was the previous Xuanyue Empire, naturally it was incomparable, but in these recent hundred years under the energetic leadership of King Xuan Haoran of Xuanyue Country, it had vaguely begun to have the capital to contend with the Lingtian Empire, and it was not guaranteed who was stronger or weaker between the two.

”This could be a bit troublesome!”

Seeing that the Crown Prince was unwilling to lend him the money, Yun Xiao’s eyebrows furrowed, he turned his head and inquired, ”Xiaoqiu, is there any way for me to participate in the assessment first? I guarantee I will pass, after all, the deposit will be refunded at that time!”

”Hmph, do you think the assessment for Spiritual Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master is as easy as eating or drinking? Guaranteeing that you will certainly pass, that’s really boastful!”

Nie Qianqiu, who had just barely passed the assessment, hearing this guy speaking so lightly, couldn’t help but mock him, even if Yun Xiao performed stunningly in the first three stages of the assessment, this spiritual level assessment wouldn’t be that easy.

”You don’t believe it? How about we make a bet then?”

A strange light flashed in Yun Xiao’s eyes, he suddenly turned his head and stared at Nie Qianqiu saying: ”Lend me the fifty thousand Gold Coins first, let me take the assessment, If I cannot pass within three time periods, I will pay you one hundred thousand Gold Coins, how about it?”

”Oh?”

Suddenly seeing Yun Xiao directing the conversation towards himself, Nie Qianqiu indeed showed a bit of interest, but then thinking again, he showed a scornful look saying: ”You don’t even have a thousand Gold Coins, where would you get one hundred thousand Gold Coins to pay me?”

As Nie Qianqiu said, counting all Yun Xiao had was merely five hundred Gold Coins; upon hearing this, several people’s gazes were thoughtful as they stared at the young man in coarse clothes.

Especially Mu Yun showed disdain, this guy talked and talked, just trying to borrow fifty thousand Gold Coins from the Crown Prince to participate in the assessment, when the direct approach failed, he just tried another angle.

Swish!

Just as everyone was thoughtfully staring at Yun Xiao, the young man suddenly swiped his hand across his waist, a flash of golden light shimmered, and in the palm of his right hand, there appeared a shiny object, attracting everyone’s attention all at once.

”The Golden Horn Sheep Head, I presume with the Crown Prince’s knowledge, you wouldn’t fail to recognize it, wouldn’t this item be worth one hundred thousand Gold Coins?”