Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Tick-tock!

As soon as Yin Huan’s voice faded, footsteps echoed from the entrance of the Shang Family’s Righteous Hall, followed by three figures entering in single file—it was Yun Xiao and his mother and sister.

Seeing these three figures, the hall suddenly grew somewhat silent, while people like Shang Ying and Shang Huiyu wore a sneer of disdain on their faces.

At that moment, everyone knew that this mother and sons, who had always been unwelcome in the Shang Family, were about to be subjected to a unique form of humiliation—a spectacle they relished.

In the past, Shang Li’s father was extraordinarily talented, overshadowing his older and second brothers, which incited extreme jealousy in the two, extending the disdain to his daughter and grandchildren as well.

Moreover, because Yun Xiao and his siblings came from a mysterious background, people in the Shang Family felt that Shang Li’s character was disruptive and disgraceful, tarnishing the family’s reputation. Thus, even Shang Yan, the Family Head, developed a certain disgust toward this trio in recent times.

Especially Shang Huiyu, who had just lost face to Yun Xiao, now eagerly watched this unknown youngster about to suffer extreme humiliation, pre-emptively entering a mode of relish.

”Greetings, Family Head!”

Although Shang Li didn’t know the exact reason for being summoned, she guessed vaguely and didn’t know the whole truth, so upon entering the hall, she paid respects to Shang Yan at the upper seat, as she too belonged to the Shang Family.

Meanwhile, Yun Xiao surveyed the surrounding Shang Family powerhouses with a cold gaze, dredging up their characters from deep memories, only to find not a single benevolent soul among them.

Although reborn with the soul of the Long Xiao Battle God, Yun Xiao’s current Meridian Qi Cultivation was too weak—possibly only a match for Shang Huiyu in the entire hall.

When Yun Xiao’s gaze shifted to the highest seat, his heart chilled because he sensed that the young man sitting next to Shang Yan seemed quite terrifying, with a cultivation that might not even be inferior to the Family Head of the Shang Family.

”Oh?”

However, with his keen eyesight, Yun Xiao instantly noticed some interesting details. A strange glint flickered across his eyes as he thought to himself that today’s events might not be as difficult to handle as expected.

The Shang Family members were indifferent to Shang Li’s respectful greeting, but seeing the usually meek youth who always followed his mother behaving with cool detachment, they felt a surge of disgust.

Perhaps this is what is meant by ’appearance stems from the heart.’ Yun Xiao was already considered by the Shang Family as someone indecent, and now with his engagement to Lingyun Sect being broken off, he was truly a disgrace to the Shang Family.

”Enough!”

As the Family Head of the Shang Family, Shang Yan displayed a measure of grace, waved his hand, glanced sideways at Yin Huan, and spoke, ”Shang Li, I called you here today because there is something important I need to tell you!”

Hearing these words, Shang Li felt a stir in her heart, while Yun Xiao, having seen the mocking smiles on the surrounding Shang Family members’ faces, sneered internally, thinking that this so-called ”important matter” was probably not going to be pleasant.

A strange light flashed through Shang Yan’s eyes as he continued, ”Shang Li, what do you know about the promise your father made with the previous Sect Master of Lingyun Sect?”

”Lingyun Sect?” Hearing this name, Shang Li immediately furrowed her brows, then as if remembering something, her eyes brightened and she joyfully responded, ”Could it be... Lingyun Sect has proposed a marriage?”

As Shang Li spoke, she turned to look toward Yin Huan, sitting beside Shang Yan. How could she forget that past event? It was just that too much time had passed, and with no news from Lingyun Sect, she was a bit caught off guard.

In fact, the ’Smile’ in Yun Xiao’s name came from the prophecy once foretold by the elders, ”Li Feng suppresses the wicked and sheathes his sword with a smile at Hongzhuang,” which was considered a beautiful tale at the time.

Yet as Shang Li spoke, she didn’t notice that the mocking expressions on many faces among the Shang Family powerhouse intensified. To some extent, they had also previously thought the same, just that reality was different from their expectations.

”Propose a marriage?”

The joyful exclamation from his mother prompted Yun Xiao to retrieve this past event from the depths of his memory, thereby understanding the causal connection.

However, Yun Xiao, reborn with the soul fusion of the Long Xiao Battle God, knew that matters were not that simple. If he were truly going to be linked through marriage with Lingyun Sect, these opportunistic people of the Shang Family wouldn’t have such expressions.

Shang Li’s voice echoed throughout the hall. Before Shang Yan could close the discussion, Shang Huiyu could not help but coldly laugh, ”Cousin Shang Li, you really think too highly of yourself. How could someone of your status hope to climb to the heights of a great sect like Lingyun Sect?”

It seems that Shang Huiyu already knew the answer, so he spoke without as much reservation. Once he said those words, Shang Li’s face turned pale, and she asked with a trembling voice, ”What... what?”

”Let me explain it!”

At this moment, Yin Huan finally spoke. He didn’t care about Shang Li’s ashen face and said with a faint smile, ”I am Yin Huan from the Jade Pot Sect. Some time ago, my teacher, entrusted by the Sect Master of Lingyun Sect, specifically asked me to come to the Shang Family, hoping to call off this marriage!”

For Yin Huan, this matter wasn’t a big deal. If it weren’t for his teacher’s instruction, why would he, as just an Outer Disciple, make such an effort?

However, when the people of the Shang Family heard the word ”teacher” from Yin Huan’s mouth, they couldn’t help shivering. Given that Yin Huan was an Inner Sect Disciple of the Jade Pot Sect, how formidable must his teacher be?

Especially since Yin Huan belonged to the Poison Meridian Path of the Jade Pot Sect; his mastery of the Meridian Poisoning Technique was intimidating. How profound must his teacher’s proficiency in the Poison Meridian Path be?

Not to mention the palpable dread among the Shang Family due to Yin Huan’s words. At this time, Shang Li did not have the luxury to think about much else; her mind and ears were filled with the words ”call off the marriage,” and she felt too weak to stand, thankfully supported by Yun Wei.

However, Yun Wei’s pretty face was filled with anger, and after pointing around, she said, ”You... you are utterly unreasonable!”

The elder of the Shang Family, Shang Ying, sneered and responded, ”Niece Yun Wei, you must not speak recklessly. This matter of calling off the marriage was brought up by Brother Yin Huan of the Jade Pot Sect. You can question us, but surely you cannot question the Jade Pot Sect?”

Earlier, Shang Ying thought that Yun Xiao and his mother had some connection to Yin Huan and did not say much. But now, knowing that Yin Huan sought out Yun Xiao just to call off the marriage, why would he hesitate?

People are selfish. Over the years, mother and son Shang Li had not been treated well in the Shang Family, and those in power within the Shang Family certainly wouldn’t want to see them rise dramatically. The news brought by Yin Huan was indeed their delight.

”Shang Li, my teacher said that when your father and the old Sect Master of Lingyun Sect agreed on this marriage, both parties left a token. Now, please hand over that token!” With Yin Huan’s standing, he hardly cared about Shang Li’s state of mind, his icy demand making Shang Li even shakier.

Feeling utterly desolate, Shang Li looked up at the Family Head Shang Yan seated at the upper end of the room, and then around at the people of the Shang Family, feeling the world’s coldness. In the huge Shang Family, not a single person stood up to help her.

Seeing how events were unfolding, her right hand trembling slightly, Shang Li slowly took out a red object from near her chest — everyone looked intently and finally recognized that it seemed to be half of a Jade Pendant.

Other than Yun Xiao and his sibling, everyone else found the half Jade Pendant somewhat unfamiliar. However, recalling what Yin Huan said earlier, they all recognized it as that so-called agreed-upon token. Once this item left Shang Li’s hands, the marriage agreement would be considered terminated.

At that moment, Yin Huan stayed silent, but Shang Ying was visibly impatient. Seeing him make a gesture, Shang Family’s young master Shang Huiyu understood and quickly stepped forward, reaching out to snatch the half Jade Pendant from Shang Li’s hand.

Whoosh...

Just then, when Shang Li was slightly dazed, a gust of wind resonated. Following closely, Shang Huiyu felt two somewhat translucent fingers stabbing toward his eyes. If he didn’t dodge, his eyes might be gone.

Startled, Shang Huiyu still knew better and quickly dodged. Initially thinking it was Shang Li who acted, upon retreating and seeing the youth slowly withdrawing his fingers, a mix of shame and anger involuntarily surged within him.

For it was Yun Xiao, who had been silent all this while, who stepped in to stop Shang Huiyu from taking the Jade Pendant. His intervention brought up both new and old resentments in Shang Huiyu.

”Eye-Enlightening Jade Hand? How did this kid learn this Mortal Rank Middle Level Meridian Technique?”

On the other hand, Shang Ying was more observant than his grandson. From Yun Xiao’s right hand fingers that became translucent, he sensed a familiar energy. Wasn’t that the exact Eye-Enlightening Jade Hand, his son’s specialty?

However, Shang Ying didn’t have the luxury to ponder these trivial matters at the moment. What he saw was that after repelling Shang Huiyu, the young man in simple clothes stretched his hand and took the half Jade Pendant from Shang Li into his own hands.

”Mother, it seems this item should belong to me, right? Can I decide where it should go?”

Yun Xiao paid no attention to Shang Huiyu’s grim face. Having understood the backstory, he could no longer remain a disinterested spectator.

Truthfully, as the reincarnated soul of the Long Xiao Battle God, Yun Xiao initially wasn’t much interested in this matter. If the other party had come up with a reasonable justification to call off the marriage, he wouldn’t have been rigid about it.

But now, with Yin Huan gathering all the Shang Family members, and given their existing disdain for Yun Xiao and his family.

The events of today were not just an insult to Yun Xiao, but also to his mother and sister. If Yun Xiao could still tolerate this, then he was no longer the formidable Long Xiao Battle God he once was.