Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Is this... someone from the Emperor Palace?”

Yulong City is merely a remote city in the Western Regions, but the Wang Family Patriarch, Wang Yingqi, traveled the continent in his early years and has seen many great sights. His voice now carries a hint of tremor as he speaks.

The reason for this is the emblem tattooed on the left chest of the imposing figure, resembling a long spear. Despite its small size, it exudes an extremely domineering aura.

The Emperor Palace represents the Canglong Emperor Palace’s branches set up in various cities, allowing the palace to learn about any event occurring within the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud in a very short time.

And the spear-shaped emblem embroidered on the robes of each cultivator of the Emperor Palace is its symbol, said to be the ancient divine artifact used by the Sovereign of the Canglong Emperor Palace, namely the Dragon Emperor.

”It’s Emperor Palace again?”

With Yun Xiao’s sharp hearing, he naturally caught Wang Yingqi’s exclamation. This was already the second time he heard the name ”Emperor Palace,” since when he fell a century ago, this so-called Emperor Palace did not yet exist.

Thus, Yun Xiao could finally deduce that the Emperor Palace is branches set up by the Canglong Emperor Palace. It seems like in the past hundred years, the palace has spread across the entire Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, aiming for true domination of the continent.

Of course, Yun Xiao’s knowledge far exceeds that of Wang Yingqi and the others; he knows that above the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, besides the human territories, there are areas populated by Vein Demons, and even territories belonging to Strange Spirits, which the Canglong Emperor Palace probably cannot control.

But as the saying goes, one must eat meal bite by bite, and it seems the Dragon Emperor knows this well. He intends to first consolidate all human cultivators under his command before considering further plans.

”Wang Yinglong, come here!”

The middle-aged man with the imposing appearance steps slowly into the hall, not even glancing at Yun Xiao standing by the door, nor paying attention to the messy corpses. Instead, he beckons joyfully excited Wang Yinglong over.

It remains unknown what agreement this great figure from the Emperor Palace reached with Wang Yinglong, but it is certain he came here to preserve Wang Yinglong’s life, even though the latter was already considered a cripple.

”Stop!”

As Wang Yinglong stumbles towards the middle-aged man, Wang Yingqi’s eyes flicker with fury, and he calls out with a low stern voice, stepping forth to block Wang Yinglong’s path.

”Although your excellency is from the Emperor Palace, this is an internal matter of my Wang Family. It seems inappropriate for the Emperor Palace to intervene rashly, doesn’t it?”

As the head of the family, Wang Yingqi would not be terrified by the opponent’s status. At least on the surface, the Emperor Palace still adheres to rules and usually doesn’t oppress openly.

”Wang Yingqi, do you know this is Master Yu Guang from Yongxiu City? Why don’t you hurry up and kneel in obeisance!”

Seeing Wang Yingqi blocking his path, a cold smile flickers across Wang Yinglong’s pale face, and his words make the Wang family members tremble violently.

The so-called Yongxiu City is Yulong City’s superior city. In Yulong City, there is no Emperor Palace; only in major cities like Yongxiu City would the Canglong Emperor Palace establish branches.

In fact, upon seeing the middle-aged man for the first time earlier, everyone was puzzled by why a cultivator from the Emperor Palace would appear in a city like Yulong, a city without any Emperor Palace presence, which obviously defies logic.

From this, it is clear that Wang Yinglong has long been in contact with the Emperor Palace, and the Emperor Dragon Pill that preserved his life earlier probably also came from the Emperor Palace in Yongxiu City.

”Even if he is the overlord of the Emperor Palace in Yongxiu City, he cannot interfere in my Wang Family’s private affairs!”

At this moment, Wang Yingqi lost his temper as he reiterated that these are family matters. If the Emperor Palace forcibly intervenes, it would breach regulations, and spreading this abroad would tarnish the reputation of the Canglong Emperor Palace.

”Heh, just a mere Wang Family, yet so bold!”

Only at this moment did the Emperor Palace cultivator named Yu Guang finally speak for the first time, his cold laughter carrying a strange sound reminiscent of clashing metals, making it extremely uncomfortable to hear.

”Don’t be afraid to tell you, in this Nine-layered Dragon Cloud realm, there is nothing that my Emperor Palace cannot manage!”

Yu Guang’s gaze, imbued with dangerous gleams, fixes on the Wang Family Patriarch. With these words, Wang Yingqi’s complexion immediately turns extremely pale, suddenly realizing he had missed some obvious truths all along.

The Canglong Emperor Palace is the sovereign of the human realm within the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, and all city branches represent the palace. Within this realm, who dares to offend the Canglong Emperor Palace?

Even if the Emperor Palace publicly adheres to rules, in front of absolute strength, even if they wiped out the entire Wang Family, who would dare to say anything? Who would dare to do anything?

It is only at this moment that Wang Yingqi truly understands the principle that circumstances often overpower people. Even when facing the joint forces of Wang Yinglong and the Lu Family earlier, it didn’t feel nearly as dire.

Facing a supreme entity of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, perhaps any human cultivator on the entire continent, even those at the Holy Rank Third Realm, would feel powerless, wouldn’t they?

Although the Wang Family currently has Yun Xiao as a potential backing, Wang Yingqi has reason to believe that even if Yun Xiao were a true dragon, he would still have to bide his time before the Emperor Canglong Palace.

”Wang Yinglong, have you prepared the item I want?”

As he saw Wang Yingqi subdued, Yu Guang’s face revealed a satisfied expression, then he turned his gaze to Wang Yinglong, and his question stirred the crowd’s curiosity.

”What exactly did Wang Yinglong agree to that could make a dignitary from the Emperor Palace come personally to this remote Yulong City?”

The members of the Wang Family were frantically contemplating. Despite the Wang Family reigning supreme in Yulong City, they wouldn’t rank among the top five families in a city as large as Yongxiu City, let alone the sovereign power of the Emperor Palace.

The Wang Family members had reason to believe that even the best treasure in their family wouldn’t catch the eye of a dignitary from the Yongxiu City Emperor Palace, yet Yu Guang had come all the way here to Yulong City.

”Lord Yu Guang, please forgive my inadequacy, but the item you seek is in the storage of my elder brother!”

There was a glint in Wang Yinglong’s eyes as he lowered his head, then he pointed towards his elder brother Wang Yingqi, causing the family head’s face to change dramatically.

”Wang Yinglong, you...”

Wang Yingqi was genuinely shocked. He seemed to vaguely understand why the person from the Emperor Palace had come; besides the item he recently acquired, he couldn’t think of anything else that would warrant the interest of such a significant figure.

”Wang Yingqi, hand over the ’Heavenly Void Soul Liquid’!”

Just as Wang Yingqi trembled in anger, pointing at Wang Yinglong, Yu Guang of the Emperor Palace extended his hand and lightly demanded, as if it were perfectly natural.

”Heavenly Void Soul Liquid? Does the Family Head really have Heavenly Void Soul Liquid?”

Upon hearing a somewhat familiar name, the Wang Family members were initially stunned, then immediately excited. However, this excitement lasted only a brief moment before being extinguished by the dignitary from the Emperor Palace.

”Heavenly Void Soul Liquid?”

Standing by the hall door, Yun Xiao, who had been silent since Yu Guang entered, had a glimmer of interest in his eyes upon hearing the name ”Heavenly Void Soul Liquid.”

With Yun Xiao’s knowledge, he naturally understood what the Heavenly Void Soul Liquid was—a supreme treasure that nourishes the soul. Even the Long Xiao Battle God of his past life had rarely seen it.

For some Meridian Refining Masters, the soul-nourishing Heavenly Void Soul Liquid is an unparalleled treasure, far gentler than many aggressive Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

For instance, a small amount of Heavenly Rank Intermediate Heavenly Void Soul Liquid could enable a Meridian Refining Master, whose Power of Soul is at the Low Level Peak, to break through to a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Soul without any concerns in a very short time.

When Yu Guang entered the hall earlier, Yun Xiao not only sensed his Peak of Lingyun Realm cultivation but also assessed that his Power of Soul had reached the Low Level Peak.

Thus, it seemed that the Heavenly Void Soul Liquid within Wang Yingqi’s storage was likely at the Heavenly Rank Intermediate level. By conventional reasoning, such a treasure would not be particularly useful to Yun Xiao, who had already reached the Heavenly Rank Advanced Soul.

However, Yun Xiao was excited because the Heavenly Void Soul Liquid is unlike ordinary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures; it can be elevated by incorporating higher-level elements using special methods.

After all, Yun Xiao is now a Heavenly Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master, and with his past life experiences as the Long Xiao Battle God, enhancing the Heavenly Rank Intermediate Heavenly Void Soul Liquid to an Advanced level is not overly difficult.

But despite his excitement, Yun Xiao remained composed, quietly observing the unfolding drama. After all, it would be somewhat inappropriate for him to snatch the Heavenly Void Soul Liquid directly from the Wang Family Head.

”Wang Yingqi, you have ten heartbeats to hand over the Heavenly Void Soul Liquid, or face death!”

The powerful dignitary of the Emperor Palace, Yu Guang, grew impatient when the Wang Family Head failed to hand over the Heavenly Void Soul Liquid, delivering an ultimatum.

”Father, what should we do now?”

Beside Wang Yingqi, Wang Zifu couldn’t help but ask. As he spoke, he noticed his father looking towards a certain simple-clothed youth, and his eyes lit up.

It seemed that Wang Yingqi finally remembered that the Wang Family had a formidable ally—Yun Xiao—who had just obliterated the Lu Family with ease. In this situation, Yun Xiao appeared to be the last refuge for the Wang Family.