Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Although Elder Li Shan changed his tone at the end, the fierceness at the beginning still made Guan Hu bow his head, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Guan Hu was aware that despite Elder Li Shan’s seemingly affable temperament, once truly enraged, he would certainly be in for a dire situation. Moreover, regarding today’s matter, it was indeed he who had broken the sect rules first.

”Elder... Elder Li Shan, please... save me!”

However, at the next moment, the pressure Guan Hu felt dissipated on its own, as suddenly, a trembling cry for help from Xuan Zhi drew Li Shan’s attention entirely.

”Good grief, he must have been poisoned by the Green-eyed Bat’s toxin, right?”

With Li Shan’s keen eyesight, he immediately recognized the spreading green qi on Xuan Zhi’s face, and given his years of guarding the Jade Pot Cave, he was extremely familiar with the formidable Vein Demons on the third level.

To be honest, Li Shan’s disposition was such that he would have preferred to stand by idly; these two had disregarded the Jade Pot Sect’s rules and forced their way into the third level of the Jade Pot Cave. If they died here, they would have only themselves to blame.

”Sigh, forget it, who asked this kid to be the beloved son of someone from the Royal Family? Just this once, I’ll make an exception!”

But when Li Shan thought of Xuan Zhi’s identity and considered the dominance of the Empire’s Royal Family, he nevertheless quickly moved toward Xuan Zhi. Although their Jade Pot Sect might not necessarily fear the Xuanyue Royal Family, if Xuan Zhi truly died within the Jade Pot Cave, there might be some unnecessary trouble.

Seeing Li Shan approaching Xuan Zhi, Guan Hu couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that as long as Xuan Zhi lived, perhaps his own transgressions this time could be downplayed, and the punishment might not be too severe.

Little did he know, just as Li Shan walked up to Xuan Zhi and was about to touch one of the acupoints on his head, a distinct voice suddenly emerged from somewhere.

”Elder Four, as far as I know, life and death are not forbidden within the Jade Pot Cave. Isn’t your intervention a bit against the rules now?” Naturally, it was Yun Xiao who spoke, with a tone laced with sarcasm as he didn’t quite understand Elder Li Shan’s intentions.

”Hm?”

Suddenly hearing Yun Xiao’s words, Li Shan couldn’t help but turn his head around, his piercing gaze seemingly containing the mighty Meridian Qi of the Spirit Vein Realm, as if trying to peer deep into Yun Xiao’s heart.

It must be known that Li Shan was the esteemed Fourth Elder of the Jade Pot Sect, and he also guarded the crucial location of the Jade Pot Cave. Ordinarily, even the elders from the Poison Vein lineage would require his approval to enter the cave, so in the entire Jade Pot Sect, nobody would dare to offend him lightly.

But now, Li Shan found that a Meridian Gathering Realm Early Stage novice who had joined the sect no more than ten days ago dared to question his decision. In that moment, he became quite intrigued by this plainly dressed youngster.

Not only was this kid cunning in his methods, having defeated Guan Hu, but his courage was also considerable. Thus, Li Shan’s interest was piqued, and he intended to test Yun Xiao further.

”Oh? What’s inappropriate about it? I have the final say in this Jade Pot Cave. And what right does a little fellow like you have to question my decision?” Li Shan deliberately took on a domineering attitude, which indeed fit his identity as the Fourth Elder of the Jade Pot Sect.

Yun Xiao, unsure whether to believe him and not knowing much about Elder Li Shan, darkened in complexion upon hearing this and pointed at Guan Hu, saying, ”Elder Four, this man is the Guardian from the second to the third level of the Jade Pot Cave. He colluded with this one... to forcefully enter the third level of the Jade Pot Cave and attack me. Is that also according to the rules of the Jade Pot Cave?”

Yun Xiao’s fingers moved lightly as he spoke articulately and reasonably, earning a silent commendation from Li Shan, who then pointed at Xuan Zhi, saying, ”Guan Hu has broken the sect rules, and I will certainly punish him severely for that. But he...”

Li Shan continued while pointing at Xuan Zhi: ”He is just like you, a new Outer Disciple of the Jade Pot Sect. His entry into this third level has not broken any rules, has it?”

”Ha ha!”

Hearing this, Yun Xiao couldn’t help but laugh out loud, retorting coldly: ”I thought the Fourth Elder of the Jade Pot Sect was so astute. Can’t you see that these two are in cahoots together?”

Pausing briefly, Yun Xiao’s face showed a trace of pride as he said aloud: ”Moreover, even if the two of them joined forces, I could still handle them. Death is not forbidden within the Jade Pot Cave. Elder Four, by saving Xuan Zhi’s life, you are breaking the rules!”

Yun Xiao was utterly blunt with these words, yet what he said was the truth. If it were a young genius from an ordinary family, Li Shan would certainly stand by and let them die from the poison. However, Xuan Zhi’s status was extraordinary, and failing to save him would result in significant trouble in the future.

”Young fellow, I admit you make good points!”

Having tested Yun Xiao’s mettle, Li Shan praised him inwardly once again, his tone now much more relaxed. After musing for a moment, he said, ”Don’t worry. For their breach of sect rules this time, I will give you an explanation. As for you...”

Li Shan spoke, yet his gaze shifted to a certain location, implying as he continued, ”I can assure you that this Stone Heart Marrow belongs to you, Yun Xiao. No one else shall seize it by force, how about that?”

For some reason, when Li Shan uttered these last two sentences, his voice suddenly rose as if he wanted certain beings within the third layer of the Jade Pot Cave to hear.

However, Yun Xiao, unaware of the cause and effect, was somewhat dissatisfied with this outcome. But he knew that no matter what, he couldn’t overpower someone as formidable as Li Shan, who was intent on saving Xuan Zhi. At most, he could assert some verbal dominance.

Besides, Yun Xiao couldn’t fathom Li Shan’s temperament. Provoking him might lead to trouble he couldn’t handle, so he didn’t push his luck and went straight to the stone pillar.

Upon seeing Xuan Zhi with a face green with vigor, a sudden impulse struck Yun Xiao. He moved with incredible speed to snatch the Waist Storage from the waist of this Third Prince of the Empire.

”Yun Xiao, what are you doing?”

To Yun Xiao’s action, Xuan Zhi was too weak to react. He felt his brain nearly stop obeying him. Instead, Li Shan frowned and spoke up.

Clatter!

As Li Shan’s words ended, a clattering noise followed, and a heap of items tumbled to the ground. Then, they heard Yun Xiao say with a slight smile, ”After enduring such a loss, naturally, I should claim some spoils. This Waist Storage is mine now!”

It seemed that swallowing such resentment, Yun Xiao was still not quite satisfied. So he directly took Xuan Zhi’s Waist Storage. The snow-white Waist Storage seemed valuable, making it an appropriate trophy.

Regarding the low-level Meridian Techniques, Cultivation Techniques, or Elixirs and medicinal materials inside Xuan Zhi’s Waist Storage, Yun Xiao was somewhat disdainful. Perhaps he didn’t want to offend Li Shan too much, so he didn’t claim the items inside for himself but dumped them out.

”Yun... Yun Xiao, you... you’re seeking death!”

Xuan Zhi, barely conscious as the poison neared his brain, was almost breathless with rage at Yun Xiao’s words. Even Li Shan couldn’t help but shake his head slightly at such a statement.

Seeing Xuan Zhi’s life hanging by a thread, Li Shan wasted no more words with Yun Xiao. He swept up the pile of items from the ground into his own Waist Storage, picked up Xuan Zhi, and turned to leave.

”What are you still doing standing there foolishly?”

As Li Shan passed by Guan Hu, he sharply reprimanded, causing the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage fellow to tremble, not daring to even breathe loudly as he turned to leave.

However, as Elder Li Shan’s figure disappeared into the distance, he turned his head back to glance in Yun Xiao’s direction, leaving one to wonder whether he was looking at this roughly-dressed youth or at some presence deep within the third layer of the Jade Pot Cave?

Seeing the three figures vanish into the distance of the third layer, Yun Xiao let out a sigh of relief. Such Spirit Vein Realm powerhouses brought immense pressure to him at this point, far more challenging to deal with than Xuan Zhi and Guan Hu.

”Heh heh, my first Waist Storage after reincarnation, and its quality is indeed not bad!”

The next moment, Yun Xiao brushed aside the melancholy in his heart, a grin spreading on his face. He wrapped the snow-white Waist Storage around his waist, gently patting it, his words expressing contentment.

Although Yun Xiao’s Waist Storage from his past life was a top-grade item in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud realms, in this life, due to his ill-favor within the Shang Family and later suffering the catastrophe of clan extermination, he didn’t even have the lowest-level Waist Storage, which was quite inconvenient.

Now with a Waist Storage, he wouldn’t need to hesitate upon encountering Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. The Waist Storage was a special space cut out that could isolate all scents; thus, the risk of ’holding a jade results in guilt’ was generally not an issue anymore.

So Yun Xiao, wearing his Waist Storage, turned his head back to extend his hand once more toward that Stone Heart Marrow. And at that moment, the Vein Demon hiding in the shadows—a green-eyed bat—was staring at him with reluctant eyes.

The green-eyed bat, despite its reluctance, didn’t take action, as it had been tricked by Yun Xiao twice before. It knew that while this human youth’s Meridian Qi was not on par with the one it had injured just now, his dangerousness was incomparable.

Moreover, while the green-eyed bat had been fighting with Xuan Zhi, it had also kept an eye on the battle between Yun Xiao and Guan Hu. Since even a Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage human cultivator had been defeated by this youth, it dared not mess around, or it might lose its own life.

Yun Xiao was also always on guard against this green-eyed bat. Seeing that it made no move, he was all too happy to relax. After all, the Vein Demon could fly, and if it insisted on preventing him from taking the Stone Heart Marrow, that would be another hassle.

Thus, Yun Xiao reached out, his Power of Soul sensing the green-eyed bat, but just as he was about to transfer the Stone Marrow inside the pillar into his Jade Bottle, an unfamiliar voice came from the depths of the third layer of the Jade Pot Cave, causing his arm to stiffen slightly.

”My apologies, just a moment!”