Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Actually, I also want to tell you a secret!”

Yun Xiao was noncommittal about the words of the Half-step Holy Spirit; instead, he interjected with a soft voice, causing that Half-step Holy Spirit to be slightly stunned, as if he hadn’t expected such a response.

”What secret?”

So, it was actually the Half-step Holy Spirit who first developed an interest in Yun Xiao’s secret, subconsciously asking back. This kid was so extraordinary; surely he had some major secrets.

”To be honest, I’m actually from Nine-layered Dragon Cloud!”

At this point, Yun Xiao didn’t mind revealing his secret, although a single sentence like that was unlikely to lead anyone to the real truth, only letting them think his true form was from Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.

”No wonder!”

Upon hearing this, the Half-step Holy Spirit seemed to nod in realization, thinking to himself that if this human wasn’t from Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, how could he possess such incredible and formidable abilities?

Even the Myriad Phenomena Stone Stair Formation and Endless Stone Stairs posed no threat to him, and in the end, he even controlled the Artifact Heart of the Chongxiao Stairs, forcing me to relent and beg, which was simply too bizarre.

”Your secret is done, now it’s my turn!”

As soon as Yun Xiao finished speaking, the Half-step Holy Spirit was somewhat eager. This kind of situation, where someone was actively wanting to reveal their secret, was something Yun Xiao had never encountered before.

”There’s no need; I don’t wish to know your secret!”

Who would have thought that just as the Half-step Holy Spirit was about to reveal his secret to protect his Spiritual Wisdom, the ragged-clothed youngster in front of him shook his head, and his words made the Half-step Holy Spirit’s heart sink to the bottom.

Whoosh!

Yun Xiao acted without the slightest hesitation. Just as his words fell, with the movement of his handprint, the white light enveloping the Half-step Holy Spirit instantly grew more intense.

”Yun Xiao, even if you kill me, you can’t possibly walk out of the Chongxiao Stairs alive. Nine-layered Dragon Cloud already knows of the changes here, and there are probably experts who have entered the Chongxiao Stairs now, you...”

It seemed that even knowing he couldn’t survive under the control of the Artifact Heart, the Half-step Holy Spirit struggled to finish his words, wanting to cause trouble for Yun Xiao before dying.

After the last ”you” was uttered, the Half-step Holy Spirit’s voice abruptly stopped, and then the figure he had condensed exploded with a loud bang.

Countless energy auras scattered in the space of the Chongxiao Stairs, as if echoing the voice of the Strange Spirit, but all of this would completely disappear with the passage of time.

”Will Nine-layered Dragon Cloud send someone to come?”

Although Yun Xiao directly erased the Spiritual Wisdom of the Half-step Holy Spirit, he heard his words quite clearly, causing his brow to wrinkle slightly.

However, after thinking it over, Yun Xiao also felt this wasn’t necessarily the guy’s deliberate alarmist talk. After all, for hundreds of years, no cultivators from Tenglong Continent had gone to Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, which itself was a suspicious matter.

In Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, there must be someone in charge of managing this transport channel, and for so many years nobody ascended, it’s surely impossible that no suspicion arose.

These thoughts passed through Yun Xiao’s mind without much concern. He mused that nobody had come to check for so many years, it seems unlikely he would coincidentally encounter it now.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

After the Half-step Holy Spirit dissipated into the air, the entire space was filled with flashing lights, and a large group of people appeared, precisely the likes of Xue Changze and others who were trapped in the Myriad Phenomena Stone Stair Formation earlier.

”Yun Xiao, did you save us?”

Xue Changze, being the one with the highest cultivation in the scene, upon waking up, immediately saw the ragged-clothed young man at a certain spot, thought of a few things, and directly voiced his question.

”From today onward, you will no longer be trapped in the Chongxiao Stairs. As long as you pass the challenge, you can enter the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud!”

Yun Xiao nodded slightly; upon hearing this, figures like Xue Changze trembled with excitement. After all, they could now guess why they had been trapped here for a hundred years.

It was all because of the Spiritual Wisdom cultivated by the Artifact Heart of the Chongxiao Stairs, constantly causing trouble. Otherwise, how could such outstanding talents from Tenglong Continent not make it to Nine-layered Dragon Cloud?

But just as Yun Xiao said, even if the Artifact Heart Strange Spirit’s Spiritual Wisdom had been erased, the challenge of the Chongxiao Stairs still existed. From now on, everything would just fall back on track.

As for whether they could pass the challenge and truly enter Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, that was not Yun Xiao’s concern. Everyone had their own destiny, which cannot be forced.

Like those who were bewitched by the Half-step Holy Spirit earlier and died at Yun Xiao’s hands, recalling them now, it’s inevitable to sigh. All this is dictated by fate, and no one else can be blamed.

At this moment, everyone came over to express their thanks to Yun Xiao. No one dared to harbor any strange thoughts about him now, not even the cultivator whose brother died under Yun Xiao’s sword, who remained silent.

Given the current situation, the half-step Holy Spirit Strange Spirit expert had surely been taken care of by Yun Xiao. If someone who could handle a half-step Holy Spirit was present, what right did they have to feel dissatisfied?

Moreover, these people had already witnessed Yun Xiao’s strength. This young man, who didn’t look harmful on the surface, was far more decisive when he became fierce than they were.

”You all go ahead, I still have a few people to wait for!”

Yun Xiao didn’t mind the thanks from these people too much, and finally nodded. As soon as he said this, everyone thought of something and secretly acknowledged that this young man was indeed loyal.

It was obvious that Yun Xiao had come ahead to pave the way. If they encountered any danger in the Chongxiao Stairs space, his companions wouldn’t all be caught. Such selflessness was rare on this individualistic continent.

After seeing everyone heading deeper into the Chongxiao Stairs space, Yun Xiao pointed a finger at his brow, releasing an invisible force that ultimately dissipated into the air.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Roughly thirty minutes later, Yun Xiao seemed to sense something, and his gaze lifted with a hint of a smile, for he had already seen several figures quickly approaching from a distance.

Even though they were in the Chongxiao Stairs space, under Yun Xiao’s guidance, Lu Yanji, Mo Qing, and the others soon accurately located Yun Xiao’s position.

The faces of several women displayed a hint of relief. After all, they knew Yun Xiao was about to face a half-step Holy Spirit, and in the latter’s space domain, it was uncertain whether he could leave unscathed.

Even if Yun Xiao was invincible on the Tenglong Continent, facing a half-step Holy Spirit expert still involved many variables. It wasn’t until they received Yun Xiao’s information through the Soul Pearl that they truly felt at ease.

Swoosh!

A crimson light flashed by—Chi Yan leapt onto Yun Xiao’s shoulder. But those small eyes kept sizing up an elderly figure next to Yun Xiao, showing a hint of curiosity.

”Eh? You... you’re Master Xue?”

Just as Lu Yanji arrived, he hadn’t even had time to greet Yun Xiao before seeing a figure next to him, and upon seeing this, extreme shock filled his eyes.

As the ordinary cultivators headed deeper into the Chongxiao Stairs space, Xue Changze stayed behind. Yun Xiao said nothing more about it, given that the space’s danger had already been resolved.

Xue Changze was the master of Xuanyin Hall generations ago, while Lu Yanji belonged to the same generation as the last Xuanyin Hall Master, making Xue Changze a generation above Lu Yanji.

”You must be Lu Yanji from the Meridian Refining Master Association. I saw you back when you came with your teacher to Xuanyin Hall.”

Xue Changze seemed to have some impression of the current president of the Meridian Refining Master Association, though the event took place ages ago, back when Lu Yanji wasn’t yet president of the association.

Lu Yanji wore a look of shock, perhaps never expecting to meet the old master of Xuanyin Hall in the Chongxiao Stairs space. At the same time, he gained a fresh understanding of some of Yun Xiao’s previously disclosed information.

Conversely, Xue Changze’s attention lingered on Lu Yanji only for a moment before other young figures left him utterly astonished.

”These... all at the Lingyun Realm Early Stage?!”

Seeing Xu Hongzhuang, Mo Qing, Ling Wan, and others, Xue Changze felt an overwhelming surge of amazement. Had the Tenglong Continent completely transformed in the hundred years he was trapped in Chongxiao Stairs?

In the era when Xue Changze was mastering Xuanyin Hall, young geniuses like Liu Hanyi were rare even among the top four powers—at best, they would have just entered the Earth Bending Realm.

Yet, every one of these people hadn’t even reached the first Great Realm of the Heavenly Rank Third Realm, and were at least in the Lingyun Realm Early Stage.

Although there was still a gap compared to Yun Xiao’s Heavenly Realm Middle Stage, they far exceeded Xue Changze’s realm of understanding, leaving him momentarily speechless.

”Alright, enough chit-chat. Now that the Chongxiao Stairs’ space danger is resolved, let’s proceed with the test!”

Yun Xiao wasn’t in the mood to care about Xue Changze’s astonishment. With a wave of his right hand, he pointed behind him, drawing everyone’s gaze there.

”Hmm?”

However, as Yun Xiao also turned his head, his expression slightly changed. Immediately, everyone saw numerous figures emerging from the depth of space, looking somewhat familiar.

”Why have they returned?”

Xue Changze was most familiar with those figures and immediately recognized them as the cultivators who earlier went deeper into the Chongxiao Stairs space. He noticed their slightly panicked expressions and frowned slightly.