Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Beside the cauldron in the alchemy room of the Commerce Medicine Pavilion, there stood a stone platform specifically for placing medicinal herbs. Yun Xiao placed the wooden tray in his hand upon it, then directly stretched out his hand, resting it on one of the circular holes of the pitch-black medicine tripod.

This pitch-black cauldron, with its three legs and two ears, had holes the size of an adult’s palm on either side. Yun Xiao knew that the circular hole he had touched was precisely the fire entrance hole.

Speaking of becoming a Meridian Refining Master, aside from requiring a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein and formidable Power of Soul, one generally also needed a teacher who was likewise a Meridian Refining Master.

The path of Meridian Refining, perhaps even more complex than the cultivation of Meridian Qi, required hand-in-hand guidance from a teacher for controlling the properties of medicinal herbs and mastering the Pill Fire.

Even from the moment one activates their Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein to become a Meridian Refining Master, to successfully refine a Mortal Rank Low Level elixir, often this would take a year or even several years’ time.

Yet at this moment, Yun Xiao, who had just broken through to the Meridian Introduction Realm and just activated his first Ancestor Vein, had the qualifications to become a Meridian Refining Master due to his powerful soul. But to immediately start refining elixirs, that was simply an unbelievably audacious act.

Moreover, the elixir Yun Xiao intended to refine was not just any ordinary Mortal Rank Low Level elixir but a Meridian Rushing Pill of the Mortal Rank Middle Level. If such a matter were known to those elder Meridian Refining Masters, they probably wouldn’t believe it no matter what.

But Yun Xiao did just that, and he had tremendous confidence as well, all thanks to his previous life where he was a genuine High-level Saint Rank Meridian Refining Master. Judging solely from experience in alchemy, perhaps all of the Meridian Refining Masters on the Hidden Dragon Continent combined would not match up to him.

Thus Yun Xiao didn’t need any kind of Meridian Refining teacher at all. The soul from his previous life was the best teacher, and moreover, the experience and techniques he possessed were not something that could be witnessed in the Hidden Dragon Continent.

”Meridian Fire, appear!”

A light shout emerged from Yun Xiao’s mouth, and if someone could see through the sleeve of his right arm, they would discover a blood-red thread emerging from his right shoulder, flowing down to the Blood Moon Mark in the center of his right palm.

Boom!

As Yun Xiao’s thoughts moved, a smear of blood-red flames abruptly burst forth from the center of his right palm, then without the slightest hesitation, he cast it into the cauldron’s hole.

For some unknown reason, as soon as the tiny blood-red flame entered the cauldron, it suddenly swelled up without any wind, filling the entire cauldron, appearing extremely mystical.

However, this kind of occurrence was something Yun Xiao was already accustomed to; this was the first step in alchemy – Meridian Qi transforming into flames. Yet, only those cultivators who had activated a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein could accomplish this; other cultivators, even if they cultivated to the Holy Rank Third Realm, wouldn’t be able to do this.

”This blood-red flame seems somewhat different!”

Murmuring to himself, Yun Xiao quickly refocused and saw that he had tossed a sharp medicinal herb from the stone platform next to him directly into the medicine tripod.

”Rhino Horn Ginseng!”

With his extensive knowledge, Yun Xiao naturally was not unfamiliar with this herb. As a top-notch High-level Saint Rank Meridian Refining Master from the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, identifying medicinal herbs was just a basic skill. Even the lowest-ranked herbs were deeply imprinted in his mind.

After tossing the Rhino Horn Ginseng into the cauldron, Yun Xiao pointed a finger at his glabella, and soon an invisible force swept out from there – the formidable Power of Soul.

This Power of Soul, belonging to the Long Xiao Battle God from his previous life, although vastly inferior to its peak, was still beyond comparison to ordinary cultivators at the Meridian Introduction Realm, and was much stronger than Yun Xiao’s original Power of Soul.

Yun Xiao wielded the Power of Soul to sense the state of the Rhino Horn Ginseng within the cauldron. Only with overwhelming Soul power could one prevent the Rhino Horn Ginseng from being burned to nothingness by the Meridian Fire inside the cauldron.

But if the fire was too weak, it would be impossible to refine the Rhino Horn Ginseng. Therefore, finding the right degree of fire, neither too much nor too little, required precise control.

Fortunately, although Yun Xiao had just become a Meridian Refining Master, his experience from his previous life meant he had mastered the heat control to perfection. The mere act of refining a Meridian Rushing Pill, which was at the bottom of Mortal Rank Middle Level elixirs, in his view, held no possibility of failure.

But there are always exceptions to everything. Yun Xiao’s experience and techniques were infallible, but let’s not forget, this is the Commerce Medicine Pavilion. Perhaps at some moment, some external force could cause his alchemic endeavor to end in vain.

...

Commerce Medicine Pavilion.

It had been over a time period since Yun Xiao entered the Alchemy Room to begin his refining, and while the great hall of the Commerce Medicine Pavilion had returned to its previous quietude from the earlier commotion, a somewhat hefty, well-dressed figure then entered through the pavilion’s doors.

The noble-looking person appeared to be around fifty or sixty years of age, and when his figure appeared at the doorway, not only did the various stewards in the Commerce Medicine Pavilion turn their heads in unison, but Xue Shou at the counter, who was recovering his Meridian Qi, also jumped up, greeting him with a smile.

”Yo, Second Master, what brings you here?”

At this moment, Xue Shou’s face was still somewhat pale, but the exaggerated smile betrayed his sycophantic intentions. Hearing his address, even the customers in the hall knew who this person was.

It turned out that this person was none other than the second-in-command of the Shang Family’s second generation, the biological brother of Shang Ying, named Shang Li. While Xue Shou was officially in charge of the Commerce Medicine Pavilion, true control lay in the hands of Shang Li.

”Eh? Xue Shou, what’s wrong with you? Your breath is so unstable?”

Shang Li, a strong practitioner in the late stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm, noticed Xue Shou’s disorderly Qi with just a glance. He simply asked and waved his hand, adding: ”Nevermind that, I’m asking you, did that... honored guest have any complaints?”

When Shang Li uttered ”honored guest,” his tone carried a hint of caution, as if the mentioned individual was of considerable significance, and even being the Shang Family’s Second Master, he felt reluctant to offend.

”Replying to Second Master, that person has been refining elixirs in the Alchemy Room these past few days, not stepping out even once, but...”

Xue Shou replied with respect, his mind suddenly flashing with the image of a youth in coarse clothes, and his speech became hesitant, causing Shang Li’s brows to furrow.

Moreover, thinking of a certain matter, Shang Li grew worried. He wondered if Xue Shou was deliberately withholding information, possibly due to some incident already caused by the guest, which would be a grave matter indeed.

”Speak quickly!” Yet Shang Li managed to keep his composure and asked sternly. At least from the current situation, there didn’t seem to be any chaos in the hall of the Commerce Medicine Pavilion.

”It’s Yun Xiao... Yun Xiao came and upon his arrival, he injured the servants of the pavilion and left me... in this state!”

Xue Shou seemed to find it difficult to speak, stumbling over his words, but he managed to clarify the situation, which left Shang Li relieved yet sporting a peculiar expression.

”So, it’s that boy. Why would you provoke him? He is capable of even...”

Shang Li stopped himself mid-sentence, realizing that the incident at the Righteous Hall had not been spread, and it wasn’t a matter to be proud of, nor one for unrelated servants to be aware of.

With Shang Li’s words, Xue Shou’s face grew even more bizarre than before. He could not understand why even the Second Master spoke of Yun Xiao with such wariness, as if he dared not provoke him lightly.

But from Shang Li’s tone, Xue Shou suspected some kind of change in Yun Xiao recently, which led to a significant increase in strength and made the people of the Shang Family cautious around him.

What Xue Shou did not realize was that Shang Li had absolutely no fondness for Yun Xiao. If it weren’t for the threat made by Yin Huan of the Jade Pot Sect before she left, the Shang Family might have already driven out Yun Xiao and his family.

As Shang Li finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something and asked, ”What is Yun Xiao doing at the Commerce Medicine Pavilion?”

In Shang Li’s view, Yun Xiao should have already left the Commerce Medicine Pavilion, so he didn’t give it much thought. However, upon questioning, Xue Shou visibly shrank his neck, causing Shang Li to feel a sinking feeling in his heart.

Perhaps catching the sharp look in Shang Li’s eye, Xue Shou dared not conceal any longer and spoke the truth: ”After injuring me, he asked for some medicinal materials, and now... he’s in the Alchemy Room!”

”What?”

Hearing this news abruptly, Shang Li’s face changed drastically. He raised his hand and slapped Xue Shou’s face, yelling, ”What did I tell you? Until that honored guest departs, no one is permitted to enter any of the Alchemy Rooms, did you take my words for naught?”

Xue Shou was truly unfortunate today. Barely over an hour ago, he had been severely injured by a kick from Yun Xiao, only to be slapped again by his master despite his eagerness to see him; it was pain in both body and spirit.

Did Xue Shou really disregard Shang Li’s words? Certainly not; he knew allowing Yun Xiao into the Alchemy Room would incite the master’s wrath, but how could he defy Yun Xiao’s order at that moment?

Moreover, Xue Shou harbored his own designs, speculating that once Shang Li learned of Yun Xiao’s entry into the Alchemy Room, he would certainly act, and at that point, Yun Xiao would likely face dire consequences.

Despite the slap being unexpected, Xue Shou had his cunning. In the next moment, he saw Shang Li heading towards the Alchemy Room with large strides, and he quickly followed.

At this time, Shang Li had no mind to consider Xue Shou’s thoughts; he only hoped that Yun Xiao would not disturb the honored guest, for the entire Shang Family might suffer from his misfortune.

As Shang Li hastened into the inner hall, he was seized by a slight doubt and asked while walking, ”You just said that Yun Xiao requested medicinal materials and entered the Alchemy Room; could it be that he intends to conduct alchemy?”