Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

The place where Yun Xiao lived was still that small courtyard for the time being. But as he had just returned to the courtyard, a slightly frail figure had already followed him in, causing him to be slightly stunned.

”Miss Ningxiang, did you gather all the herbs on the pill recipe?”

Yun Xiao felt somewhat helpless towards this lady of Xuanyin Hall, but he also understood why she had followed him here, so he asked directly on the spot.

”Those things are all rare items, how could they be gathered so easily? One of them is not even available in the Meridian Refining Master Association. Yun Xiao, you wouldn’t be playing tricks on me, would you?”

As soon as this was mentioned, Xue Ningxiang couldn’t help but feel a bit upset, stomping her foot on the floor inside the courtyard door, and glaring at Yun Xiao, as if she wanted to see some hint of deceit on the youth’s face.

”Are you referring to the ’Illusion Yin Grass’?”

Since Yun Xiao was the one who provided the pill recipe, he naturally knew which items were easy to find and which were not. And the item not even found in the Meridian Refining Master Association, was probably the ”Illusion Yin Grass,” which was a rare sight even in Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.

”You knew all along!”

Upon hearing Yun Xiao’s words, the gloom on Xue Ningxiang’s face deepened further. This guy immediately guessed the Illusion Yin Grass; how could he say it’s not intentional?

”My dear young lady, you have an Innate Pulse Cutting. If it were so easy to cure, why would you need me to step in?”

Yun Xiao sighed, noticing that the lady looked like she was about to get angry again. He immediately changed the topic, saying, ”Illusion Yin Grass is not available in the Meridian Refining Master Guild, but your Xuanyin Hall might have it. Why not go and ask your father, the Hall Master?”

In terms of understanding Illusion Yin Grass, Yun Xiao was far more knowledgeable than Xue Ningxiang. Moreover, he had spent some time learning about Xuanyin Hall’s background, and found that his speculation wasn’t entirely without basis.

”It’s something the entire Meridian Refining Master Association doesn’t have, and you say my Xuanyin Hall might have it? Yun Xiao, are you trying to send me back to Xuanyin Hall on purpose?”

Once again, Xue Ningxiang was filled with doubts. Her words made Yun Xiao feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. Could this lady Xue really not trust anyone?

”Do as you see fit. Anyway, without the herbs, I can’t refine the elixir, so staying here won’t do you any good!”

Yun Xiao helplessly spread out his hands. These words finally made Xue Ningxiang look a bit forlorn, and as if she had decided to stop pestering him, she no longer pursued the matter.

”Fine, I’ll go back first, but if you dare not come to Xuanyin Hall to find me, I... I...”

Xue Ningxiang wanted to say something threatening, but as the words reached her lips, she found herself at a loss for what to say.

As the lady of Xuanyin Hall, she previously never needed to say a word and others would immediately bow down. However, she knew that such threats would likely have no effect on Yun Xiao before her.

Moreover, Xue Ningxiang realized that offending Yun Xiao with a careless remark could jeopardize her treatment for Innate Pulse Cutting. Besides, her feelings towards the young man before her were not just about saving her life anymore, there was a touch of unexplainable sentiment.

”Don’t worry, I’ll be there!”

Yun Xiao actually did not have much ill feeling towards this lady of Xuanyin Hall who once helped him. He spoke in a serious tone, then suddenly thought of something and asked, ”Is Ling Wan doing well in Xuanyin Hall?”

Yun Xiao, after rebirth, had few friends. Aside from a few Vein Demon companions, Mo Qing, Liu Hanyi, and Ling Wan were the closest to him.

Yun Xiao knew that Ling Wan was invited by Xuanyin Hall and must have joined it immediately after arriving in Tenglong Continent.

Having not seen each other for over a year, Yun Xiao really didn’t know how Ling Wan was doing, so seeing this lady of Xuanyin Hall before him, he naturally wanted to ask clearly.

”He... should be doing fine, right?”

Yet, when Yun Xiao asked, Xue Ningxiang’s eyes flashed with a hint of peculiarity. In fact, she had invited Ling Wan only for Yun Xiao’s sake, not because she had genuinely paid attention to that chubby man.

”Should be?”

Hearing that, Yun Xiao couldn’t help but be stunned. How could this lady’s words be so vague? Has she never paid attention to Ling Wan?

”Rest assured, those in Xuanyin Hall, out of respect for me, won’t bully Ling Wan!”

Seeing Yun Xiao’s disbelief, Xue Ningxiang had no choice but to assure him again. Perhaps she really thought that way. After all, Ling Wan was invited by her to Xuanyin Hall. For Buddha’s sake, if not for the monk’s, she was the daughter of the Hall Master of Xuanyin Hall after all.

”Let’s hope so!”

Since there’s no definite news, Yun Xiao refrained from excessive speculation. After all, he would soon visit Xuanyin Hall, and he would then learn the true outcome of the Ling Wan.

However, what Yun Xiao didn’t know was that because the Ling Wan was brought back by this lady of Xuanyin Hall, her days in the hall were not smooth, and intense conflicts might erupt at any moment.

Yun Xiao advised on some precautions regarding Innate Pulse Cutting, seeing that Miss Xue Ningxiang was particularly attentive to him, she felt reassured and contentedly left the courtyard.

......

During the following three days, nothing much happened, except for a visit from Mo Qing and Liu Hanyi, so Yun Xiao had the best rest he’s had in recent times.

And on the morning three days later, when Yun Xiao opened the door and stepped outside, he saw a somewhat unfamiliar middle-aged man standing outside, who looked like a steward of Lianyun Mountain.

”Today is the day to enter the Refining Treasure Hall, please follow me!”

The visitor seemed stern, lacking even a simple greeting, and after speaking, turned and walked away, not even giving Yun Xiao the chance to offer a polite reply, so Yun Xiao had to quickly follow behind.

In fact, Yun Xiao’s residence was still situated on the outskirts of Lianyun Mountain, which, with its vast size and several thousand disciples from two sects, naturally divided them into core disciples and outer disciples.

In the past, disciples like Yun Xiao who were newly joined were only considered outer disciples, but because of his stunning performance in the selection competition, even those top talents from the two sects would not view him merely as an ordinary outer disciple.

After winding through several paths, Yun Xiao followed the middle-aged man to a grand hall and saw several figures already standing at its entrance. Among them were Mo Qing and Liu Hanyi, familiar faces, but the other four were strangers to Yun Xiao.

”Haha, our new junior brother has quite a presence, making so many of us wait here for him!”

Yun Xiao had just walked up when he heard a mocking voice. Looking over, he saw a tall and thin young man unfamiliar to him, dressed in the attire of a talented disciple from the Heavenly Hospital.

The ridicule in the voice was not disguised in any way, and such a tone made Yun Xiao frown slightly, wondering how he could have offended these veteran talents from Lianyun Mountain.

”Qingchen Junior Brother, you have witnessed Junior Brother Yun Xiao’s performance in the selection competition; a young man having some pride is only natural!”

A genteel youth beside Qingchen Junior Brother smiled gently. Although his words seemed to mediate the situation, Yun Xiao noticed traces reminiscent of Xue Gong, the second senior brother from Jade Pot Sect.

That Senior Brother Xue Gong was extremely insidious from the start, outwardly friendly, yet subtly resorting to schemes, almost causing Yun Xiao to suffer minor setbacks a few times.

With Yun Xiao’s worldly experience, he clearly knew these two were likely top talents from the Heavenly Hospital, aiming to give him a harsh welcome, leaving him feeling the animosity appeared rather unfounded.

Indeed, the two were the top talents of the Heavenly Hospital, Bai Wushuang and Liu Qingchen, who inherently didn’t favor Yun Xiao. Having waited here for a long time, their displeasure was understandable.

The Refining Treasure Hall was opened once a year to disciples of the younger generation, but not everyone could seize the opportunity; one needed to stand out with sufficient skill to secure a spot into the hall.

Simply put, both the Sky Poison Institute and the Heavenly Hospital each have three spots, with two for Seeking Origin Realm level and one for Qi Seeking Realm level.

For instance, Bai Wushuang and Liu Qingchen were the most formidable talents at the Seeking Origin Realm level, annually occupying the spots for their realm in the hall.

As for Mo Qing, though she had now advanced to the Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage, at the previous quota competition, she was still at the peak of the Qi Seeking Realm and claimed the first place spot for that realm, earning the opportunity to enter the Refining Treasure Hall.

The situation was similar at the Sky Poison Institute, with Ye Ku and Liu Hanyi as candidates for this entry, though for some reason, the usually ill-tempered Ye Ku remained silent, allowing the two from the Heavenly Hospital to continue their rude charade.

”With the teacher not yet here, how can this be considered tardiness?”

Seeing Bai Wushuang and Liu Qingchen exchange words of ridicule towards Yun Xiao, Mo Qing’s face hardened, speaking up, realizing that entering the Refining Treasure Hall required the Vice Chairman himself to open it.

”I say, Junior Brother Yun Xiao, can’t you speak for yourself? Do you really need Junior Sister Mo Qing to stand up for you?”

Mo Qing’s sudden intervention clearly intensified Bai Wushuang’s spite towards Yun Xiao, and his words carried even more blatant mockery, almost akin to revealing their confrontational stance.

”It’s because of Senior Sister Mo Qing; truly the source of trouble, an unforeseen disaster!”