Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Yun Xiao’s performance, vastly different from that of a typical early-stage Meridian Gathering Realm cultivator, finally caught Guan Hu’s attention. Initially thinking Yun Xiao was an ant that could be easily squashed, Guan Hu now realized it would take a bit of effort.

Regardless, Guan Hu still surpassed Yun Xiao by a full two minor realms; in his subconscious, such a disparity in strength was insurmountable.

Huh...

In the next moment, Meridian Qi surged around Guan Hu’s body, enveloping not just his right arm that had just attacked Yun Xiao but also his left arm, which seemed to have undergone some changes.

The technique that Guan Hu was now deploying was indeed the true essence of his Meridian Techniques. He couldn’t believe that Yun Xiao, a mere youngster in the early stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm, could withstand it.

However, what Guan Hu failed to see was that as the power from his two arms burst forth, a sly smile flickered deep in Yun Xiao’s eyes, and soon, the figure of the young man in coarse clothes vanished from his sight.

Swoosh!

Yun Xiao’s figure disappeared from Guan Hu’s view, but Xuan Zhi, who had been slightly dazed by Yun Xiao’s defensive power, now saw a somewhat familiar figure right in front of him.

It turned out that although Yun Xiao was fighting with Guan Hu, his gaze never left Xuan Zhi. Seeing the slight daze of the Third Prince of the Empire, Yun Xiao was thrilled and immediately leapt over using his movement technique.

Previously, to ensure absolute security, Xuan Zhi had always stayed by the entrance to the third level of the Jade Pot Cave. Yun Xiao aimed to swiftly enter the third layer, so this strike was absolutely killing two birds with one stone.

Yun Xiao had never had a good impression of this narrow-minded and malicious Third Prince from the Empire. Thus, his surprise attack left no room for mercy.

As Yun Xiao’s thoughts raced, he lunged toward Xuan Zhi, but his hands rapidly moved to conjure a Meridian Qi Sword in front of him.

”Meridian Qi Convergence? A Meridian Rushing Realm powerhouse?”

Seeing this, Xuan Zhi wasn’t fully shocked, but Guan Hu, who was chasing after Yun Xiao, stopped dead in his tracks as if seeing a ghost, murmuring incredulously.

This was exactly the effect Yun Xiao wanted. He now knew how unbelievable Meridian Qi Convergence seemed to these low-level practitioners. Such a moment of astonishment had become a tactic for him.

After all, Guan Hu was a late-stage Meridian Gathering Realm cultivator, much more formidable than Xuan Zhi. Yun Xiao didn’t fancy getting entangled with him for long, and this dual-purpose Meridian Qi Convergence Technique indeed achieved great results.

Even though Guan Hu was only stunned for a moment, and quickly realized Yun Xiao was not a Meridian Rushing Realm powerhouse, that brief instant was enough to overwhelm the Third Prince for a bit.

To Xuan Zhi, the Meridian Qi Sword wielded by Yun Xiao was all too familiar; he had even been cut by this same sword, leaving four scars, during the final assessment of the outer disciples at the Jade Pot Sect.

Even a healing scar on Xuan Zhi’s cheek constantly reminded him of his greatest humiliation brought by the boy in coarse clothes in front of him.

Unfortunately for Xuan Zhi, Yun Xiao was now much stronger than before. As Xuan Zhi reacted and tried to dodge, the Meridian Qi Sword grazed his other cheek, drawing a trace of fresh crimson blood, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

”Little beast, I will tear you to pieces!”

The sharp pain on his right cheek drove Xuan Zhi to fury. This was the second time he was injured by Yun Xiao’s Meridian Qi Sword, and the wounds were symmetric, adding to his humiliation. He roared in rage.

Being a low-level Mortal Rank Meridian Refining Master, the Third Prince could clearly sense through his Power of Soul that although his face was bleeding, the injuries were not severe. His sole aim now was to stall Yun Xiao long enough for Guan Hu to catch up.

But what Xuan Zhi did not expect was that as a rich Meridian Qi surged from his body to stop Yun Xiao fully, a flare of blood-red flames rushed toward his face, the intense heat unmistakably familiar.

”Careful, the Meridian Fire is coming!”

A light laughter rang out from ahead. Xuan Zhi’s heart sank sharply, suddenly remembering those blood-red flames from Medicine Valley that had almost scorched his right arm.

Almost reflexively, seeing the blood-red heat rushing towards him, Xuan Zhi instinctively raised his right arm to shield his face.

Boom!

The Meridian Fire that Yun Xiao deployed indeed belonged to the fiery Ancestor Vein of his right arm. Seeing Xuan Zhi’s reaction, Yun Xiao knew his plan had worked — this guy clearly valued his own life more.

So Yun Xiao made a decisive decision. Seeing that Guan Hu was about to chase after him hastily, he chuckled lightly, then turned around and sprinted away, vanishing at the entrance to the third level of the Jade Pot Cave in the blink of an eye.

”Your Highness, are you alright?”

Having just bypassed Xuan Zhi, Guan Hu caught a glimpse of the Third Prince’s face covered in blood and his continuously swinging right arm. He immediately halted, his words laden with utmost concern and a trace of horror.

”You fool, why aren’t you chasing him?”

At this moment, Xuan Zhi, who was driven nearly mad by Yun Xiao, could not care less about Guan Hu’s respect. Seeing that Yun Xiao had already entered the third level, how could he swallow his pride?

”Your Highness, this....”

Hearing the roar from Xuan Zhi, Guan Hu shifted his gaze to the third level’s now-empty entrance, looking slightly troubled. True to what he had just said, he was just the guardian from the second to the third level and did not have the qualifications to enter inside the third level of the Jade Pot Cave.

”Damn it!”

However, at this moment Xuan Zhi was not cursing, for he had more pressing matters to attend to— the blood-red flames that had burned half of his right sleeve to ash.

It must be said, failing twice on the same issue was extremely frustrating. Yet presently, Xuan Zhi found himself without any solutions as he watched the blood-red flames adhere to the skin of his right forearm. A fierce gleam flashed in his eyes as a crescent weapon instantly appeared in his hand.

Swish!

A streak of bright white light from above to below fiercely sliced off a patch of skin and flesh from Xuan Zhi’s right arm, carrying away the blood-red flames as well.

It seems that Yun Xiao had indeed taught Xuan Zhi a lesson. That day within the Medicine Valley, it was his left arm that had been affixed with Meridian Fire, and he had no choice but to cut away flesh and skin.

Today’s situation was almost exactly the same, except that this time the flesh Xuan Zhi cut off belonged to his right hand, making it symmetric with the sword wound on his face.

However, this outcome was certainly not what Xuan Zhi wanted. Enduring the intense pain from his right forearm and cheek, venom surged in his heart. He then raised his intact left arm without hesitation and swung it outward.

Smack!

A crisp slap echoed deeply in the second level of the Jade Pot Cave, and the bewildered Guan Hu, upon whose cheek the slap landed, had no idea why Xuan Zhi was displacing his anger onto him.

”You useless thing, failing to handle even a mere youngster in the early stage of Meridian Gathering Realm, what use do I have for you and this bunch of dog slaves?” Xuan Zhi, in the heat of his anger, spoke rudely, making Guan Hu, with his head bowed low and not daring to speak, flicker with a trace of bitterness in his eyes.

Of course, Guan Hu dared not harbor bitterness towards the Third Prince. Although the Guan family was a significant clan in Baiyue City of the Imperial City, they were nothing compared to the Xuanyue Royal Family.

Guan Hu’s resentment was entirely directed towards Yun Xiao. It was that youngster who caused him to lose face before the Third Prince and failed to accomplish his task. He swore silently that should he see that youngster again, he would make him pay a painful price.

Unfortunately for him, Yun Xiao had already entered the third level of the Jade Pot Cave. Restricted by the rules of the Jade Pot Sect, he, as a guardian, simply did not qualify to pursue into the third level, so in Guan Hu’s view, this time he could only grit his teeth and swallow his pride.

However, Guan Hu could not imagine how a young man in the early stage of Meridian Gathering Realm could have broken through his attack and even fiercely wounded Xuan Zhi in one move. This, too, must be a great humiliation to him?

Meanwhile, while Guan Hu was inwardly despondent, he somewhat underestimated the disposition of this imperial Third Prince. He dared not pursue into the third level, but as the third heir of the Xuanyue Royal Family, perhaps the sect rules of the Jade Pot Sect were not as important in Xuan Zhi’s heart?

”Guan Hu, I just told you to chase after and kill that little bastard Yun Xiao, why didn’t you listen to me?”

At this time, having vented his anger, Xuan Zhi had somewhat calmed his furious mood. Seeing him turn his head, his voice grew a bit colder.

”Your... Your Highness, this is the Jade Pot Cave, I... as a guardian, I don’t have the right to enter the third level!” Guan Hu thought he was stating the facts, and he believed that Xuan Zhi, being an outer disciple of the Jade Pot Sect, also needed to abide by the sect rules.

”Hehe, Guan Hu, it seems you and your brother have been in the Jade Pot Sect for three years and have forgotten who your real master is?” A sinister smile appeared on Xuan Zhi’s fierce face, looking somewhat terrorizing in Guan Hu’s eyes.

”Your Highness, my brother and I, no, my family will never be disloyal to Your Highness, please be discerning!” At this moment, how could Guan Hu not understand, although his words seemed to be requesting Xuan Zhi’s command, he already had his answer in his heart.

”Since you still recognize me as your master, then I order you to immediately pursue into the third level of the Jade Pot Cave and tear that little bastard Yun Xiao into pieces!”