Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”What is this thing?”

A gust of wind suddenly rushed from the side, causing Xuan Zhi to be greatly alarmed. Fortunately, his Power of Soul was formidable, and his reaction was extremely fast, evading the sudden strike just in the nick of time.

It was naturally the green-eyed bat that had always been guarding the Stone Heart Marrow. The reason Yun Xiao had been able to easily suppress it before was because he possessed a powerful Sound Wave Meridian Technique.

Thus, the green-eyed bat was only wary of Yun Xiao, and now upon seeing another human at the Meridian Gathering Realm Middle Stage attempting to snatch its treasure, it was infuriated and struck out immediately.

This was the reason a cold sneer appeared in Yun Xiao’s eyes, and he believed that he possessed techniques that even Xuan Zhi, the Third Prince of the Empire, would definitely not have. Faced with a Middle Level Third Rank Pulse Demon at the Meridian Gathering Realm Middle Stage, the likelihood of Xuan Zhi’s defeat was even greater.

Xuan Zhi never expected that with Guan Hu occupying Yun Xiao, he still wouldn’t be able to easily obtain the Stone Heart Marrow. This undoubtedly made him quite angry. Today really was a day where nothing was going right.

”Damn beast, die!”

Furious and impulsive, Xuan Zhi at this moment had none of the elegance and pride befitting of the Third Prince of the Empire. The only thing in his heart was a strong desire to kill, directed not only at Yun Xiao but also at the despicable green-eyed bat.

However, Xuan Zhi lacked the Sound Wave Meridian Technique, and on top of that, the green-eyed bat was a Flying Beast Pulse Demon. Within just a few exchanges, he found himself gradually on the losing side.

This was the differential between Pulse Demons of the same level and human Cultivators. Although the green-eyed bat was not known for Physical Body Cultivation, the mere ability to fly was already enough to compensate for its physical strength’s deficiency.

Moreover, the green-eyed bat’s method of locking onto an enemy did not rely on sight, but rather its far more precise soundwave sensing. Without the special techniques that Yun Xiao had, it was natural for Xuan Zhi to be at a disadvantage.

”Guan Hu, what on earth are you doing? Why haven’t you dealt with that brat Yun Xiao yet?”

Feeling suffocated and powerless in his attack added insult to injury for Xuan Zhi, so he instantly redirected his rage onto Guan Hu.

In Xuan Zhi’s eyes, Guan Hu, at the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage, was more than capable of dealing with Yun Xiao. Even if Yun Xiao managed to use tactics to escape, Guan Hu could then step in to block the green-eyed bat for him, allowing him to claim the Stone Heart Marrow first.

However, Xuan Zhi, preoccupied with fending off the green-eyed bat, had no idea about the situation on the other side. At this moment, Guan Hu felt even more frustrated than him because, despite being a powerful Cultivator at the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage, he was being suppressed by Yun Xiao.

Certainly, Guan Hu was a talented individual at the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage. However, the talent he faced at this moment was a special being with much greater gifts, an anomaly with a soul that entirely did not belong to this creeping dragon of a realm.

Yun Xiao, having stimulated his Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein Power and elevated his Meridian Qi Cultivation to the Meridian Gathering Realm Middle Stage, was no longer powerless against Guan Hu. Moreover, with past life experience, he could employ some special techniques and Meridian Techniques. As the fight progressed, his moves became smoother, and he gradually gained the upper hand.

Currently, Yun Xiao only invoked the Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein in his right arm, yet even so, it was enough to allow him to battle beyond his level. Under such extreme heat, Guan Hu had to ensure his skin was not scorched by the flames, let alone anything else.

Guan Hu had witnessed Xuan Zhi’s miserable state clearly. Even though his Meridian Qi was stronger than Xuan Zhi’s, he did not dare to test the flames with his own flesh. Consequently, many of his moves could not be executed.

Swoosh...

In the midst of battle, Guan Hu swung his hefty back-blade, not expecting Yun Xiao to be prepared. Yun Xiao lowered his body and the blade swept over his head without inflicting the slightest harm.

This was precisely the opportunity for which Yun Xiao had been waiting. Despite the hefty back-blade’s astonishing weight, which assuredly would be formidable if it struck a person, if it missed, the action of retracting the blade could be a significant vulnerability to those who were prepared.

Yun Xiao was undeniably one such prepared person. In fact, Guan Hu’s action of swinging the blade horizontally at that moment was intentionally induced by Yun Xiao, aiming for a decisive victory.

Guan Hu could not quickly retract his arm due to the hefty weight of the back-blade, and his retracting motion had already been anticipated by Yun Xiao.

Pupupupupupu!

Yun Xiao, having crouched to dodge, had almost predicted Guan Hu’s next move. He extended his right arm and rapidly tapped Guan Hu’s arm that held the blade six times.

These were not ordinary taps but instead targeted the six major acupoints on Guan Hu’s right arm—a more advanced version of the Fuxue Technique known as Continuous Brushing. Guan Hu, who had never encountered this move before, was immediately ensnared.

This is also why Xuan Zhi had not made clear to Guan Hu Yun Xiao’s methods. Such a shamefully embarrassing event was certainly not something Xuan Zhi would allow his subordinates to know.

It was because of this that Guan Hu, having been struck in six major arm acupoints, felt his entire right arm become incredibly numb and sore, to the point where he couldn’t even hold onto his broad-bladed saber anymore. With a clang, it fell from his grasp to the ground.

Bang!

However, Yun Xiao’s Fuxue Technique was only meant to initiate the fight. He knew it wouldn’t truly strip Guan Hu of his combat abilities. In the next moment, his right foot fiercely slammed into Guan Hu’s abdomen, sending him reeling backward over a dozen steps before he finally steadied himself.

”Hmph!”

But the kick from Yun Xiao, who came prepared, was not so easily dissipated. After retreating over a dozen steps, Guan Hu thought he had neutralized the force, only to realize Yun Xiao had hidden a surge of energy that now burst forth, causing him to groan.

This time, Guan Hu was truly severely injured. The frail human body was incapable of withstanding even a single blow, and as Yun Xiao’s hidden energy exploded inside of him, it caused serious damage to Guan Hu’s internal organs. One could see a streak of crimson blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Hiss!

Simultaneously, Yun Xiao suddenly heard a somewhat strange sound in his ear. When he turned his head to look, he saw Xuan Zhi, covering his left cheek with his hand, retreating in a somewhat panicked manner.

With Yun Xiao’s sharp perception, even in the dimly lit third floor of the Jade Pot Cave, how could he not sense what had happened? After some time fighting, Xuan Zhi was momentarily unguarded and was scratched on the cheek by a green-eyed bat.

Speaking of which, it was truly unlucky for the Third Prince. His left cheek had been injured for the second time in recent times, and this scratch from the green-eyed bat was not as simple as one might think.

”Ah! This beast is... is poisonous!”

Initially only feeling a sharp pain on his left cheek, Xuan Zhi soon discovered in horror that the sudden sharp pain had vanished, only to be replaced by a peculiar numbness.

As a Mortal Rank Meridian Refining Master, although Xuan Zhi did not specialize in the Poison Vein, he was knowledgeable about certain deadly poisons. The absence of pain and instead the feeling of numbness was a clear symptom of a severe poisoning.

Moreover, at this moment, Xuan Zhi finally remembered that the green-eyed bat itself was a Highly Poisonous Pulse Demon. Now with broken skin and flesh exposed, if the poison seeped into his brain meridian, not even a Daluo Golden Immortal could save him.

But how could Xuan Zhi, a low-level Mortal Rank Meridian Refining Master, expect to neutralize the poison of the middle-level Third Rank green-eyed bat on his own? Perhaps Yun Xiao had some means, but he had no affection for the Third Prince of the Empire and was certainly not going to save him.

Watching Xuan Zhi panic, and as the green hue of the bat poison slowly spread, Yun Xiao felt a sense of satisfaction. This was indeed an unexpected joy, and he didn’t even have to lift a finger, for the Third Prince, who had always been a thorn in his side, was about to meet King Yan.

At this critical juncture of life and death, Xuan Zhi had no mind to care about Yun Xiao’s thoughts. He desperately tried to circulate his Meridian Qi in an attempt to halt the poison from reaching his brain, but due to his insufficient strength, the deadly toxin still gradually spread upward, causing his complexion to grow greener and his heart to sink deeper into despair.

On the other hand, Guan Hu was not a Meridian Master, so even though his cultivation was much stronger than Xuan Zhi’s, he was also helpless. Furthermore, at this moment, he was seriously injured from Yun Xiao’s kick, and even if he wanted to aid Xuan Zhi with Meridian Qi, it would be an effort in vain.

Swoosh!

However, just at that moment, when Xuan Zhi was losing hope and Yun Xiao was feeling triumphant, a sudden sound of air being split echoed within the third floor of the Jade Pot Cave. Shortly thereafter, a somewhat familiar aged figure appeared before their eyes.

Yun Xiao was shocked by this sudden turn of events, thinking that Xuan Zhi had some backup. However, when he turned his gaze upon the newcomer, he let out a sigh of relief. The person who appeared, his complexion rosy, was none other than Li Shan, the Fourth Elder of the Jade Pot Sect, who guarded the Jade Pot Cave.

”Guan Hu, you’ve got some nerve, to dare... Eh?”

Li Shan, appearing here, had not yet had the chance to assess the situation and cried out loudly. He thought that Guan Hu, who had disregarded sect rules by entering the third floor of the Jade Pot Cave, might have committed some irredeemable act. But before he could finish his words, he realized something was amiss.

Li Shan had originally assumed that the young man in coarse clothing whom he expected to be dead or at least severely injured, was instead standing there composedly, without a trace of chaos in his demeanor.

Instead, it was the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage cultivator Guan Hu, and the Third Prince of the Empire, Xuan Zhi in the Meridian Gathering Realm Middle Stage, who appeared as if calamity had struck.

As a genuine Spiritual Rank low-level Meridian Refining Master with exceedingly strong Power of Soul, Li Shan saw at a glance that Guan Hu was indeed severely wounded. But all this was bizarrely unexpected; how could a newcomer of the Meridian Gathering Realm Early Stage from the Outer Sect manage such a feat?

Li Shan had rushed to the third floor of the Jade Pot Cave with the initial intent of rescuing Yun Xiao. Yet now, Yun Xiao was completely unscathed, while Guan Hu was seriously injured, which greatly contradicted his expectations, no wonder he was so astonished.