Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 139: 139 This is a Fire Spirit Crystal!

The Outer Sect Task Hall Steward actually had no idea what kind of tasks these Outer Disciples had accepted, as the issuance of the Task Tokens was not under his management, but personally distributed by a certain Inner Sect Elder.

Thus, in Qin Wang’s heart, when sensing Yun Xiao’s Meridian Gathering Realm level of Meridian Qi Cultivation, he didn’t pay much attention to it. Such a level of cultivation was not infrequent among the Outer Sect, and the tasks these disciples dared to accept were at most of the Mortal Rank Advanced.

”Hmm?”

However, when Qin Wang extended his hand and took the task token Yun Xiao handed over, his expression slightly changed, for the first four large characters at the start of the token read ”Spiritual Rank Low Level.”

”Could it be... a Spiritual Rank Low Level Fire Spirit Crystal task?”

Qin Wang’s face turned somewhat blank, but as this murmur escaped his lips, everyone else in the hall became just as dumbfounded, because most of the Outer Disciples present had not witnessed the scene of Yun Xiao accepting his task that day.

Only Qin Wang and these Outer Disciples were unaware of the envy and gritted teeth shown on the faces of Feng Hang, Shen Xiao, and Guan Tong, three of the exceptional Outer Disciples.

Perhaps only these few knew that Yun Xiao had not only accepted this Spiritual Rank Low Level task; he might even create a historical miracle in today’s Task Hall.

Of course, such a miracle would come at the expense of stepping over Feng Hang or Shen Xiao’s bodies, so naturally, their mood was far from wonderful, with all of them keeping silent with gloomy faces.

”Your Spiritual Rank Low Level task must have failed, right?”

Qin Wang’s initial shock had just begun to stir when he immediately extinguished it. In his view, this Meridian Gathering Realm lad in front of him must have just wanted to show off; how could such a Spiritual Rank Low Level task possibly be completed?

Hearing Qin Wang’s voice, most people in the hall deeply agreed. They had preconceived notions, and after witnessing the failure of the two Meridian Rushing Realm geniuses, Shen Xiao, and Feng Hang, who else in the entire Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect could be stronger than these two?

Everyone has the heart of envy. If this Spiritual Rank Low Level task had been completed by the Meridian Rushing Realm’s Feng Hang or Shen Xiao, then these Outer Sect geniuses might not have so many thoughts.

But if it were Yun Xiao, a Meridian Gathering Cultivator whose Meridian Qi Cultivation wasn’t even as good as some of them, they would feel extremely unbalanced.

Thus, everyone naturally assumed that Yun Xiao was merely seeking attention, and some even took pleasure in his misfortune, such as Zhao Ningshu, Cao Luo, and others, who were waiting to see Yun Xiao make a fool of himself.

These few knew that Yun Xiao had accepted a Spiritual Rank Low Level task, but they never once considered he could complete it. This troublemaker who loved to seek the spotlight, probably couldn’t keep up his act at this moment.

They even thought that, like themselves, Yun Xiao was new and inexperienced, and when the task failed and he was unable to produce the required 500 points for deduction, his future would likely be extremely bleak.

Listening to the slightly disdainful words of Qin Wang, and sensing the mocking or sarcastic gazes around him, Yun Xiao’s right arm drooped, reaching towards the white Waist Storage at his waist.

Seeing Yun Xiao’s movements, not far away, Xuan Zhi felt a pang of heartache, because that snow-white Waist Storage was originally his, but later in the Jade Pot Cave, Yun Xiao snatched it from him right in front of the four Elders including Li Shan, driving him wild with frustration.

However, Xuan Zhi’s mood improved slightly at the thought of Yun Xiao about to embarrass himself greatly; his gaze was fixed intently on Yun Xiao’s right hand, and the outcome of the matter was about to be revealed in the next moment.

Whether it was Xuan Zhi, Zhao Ningshu, Cao Luo, or the uninformed onlookers, or even Tan Yun and his team who belonged to the same group, they all believed that what Yun Xiao was about to take out from the Waist Storage in the next moment would be the same points card as Feng Hang and Shen Xiao had just produced.

Only these people seemed to forget that Yun Xiao was a new talent who had just entered the Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect, and this was his first task acceptance; how could he possibly have a points card?

Even the Task Hall Steward Qin Wang forgot about this. He stretched out his hand as if to receive the points card that belonged to Yun Xiao, intending to deduct the five hundred points from it.

Swoosh!

Just when everyone thought Yun Xiao would pull out a points card, a red glow emanated from the palm of his right hand, and the closest Qin Wang immediately felt a trace of scorching heat.

”This... what is this...”

When the unfolding of events differed from what everyone had imagined, these onlooking Outer Sect geniuses were momentarily at a loss, including the Steward Qin Wang right in front of them.

”This is the Fire Spirit Crystal, the item for my mission!”

Looking at the somewhat dazed expression on Qin Wang’s face, Yun Xiao seemed to sense some puzzlement. In his view, since this person was the Steward in charge of mission handovers, he should have been familiar with the Fire Spirit Crystal. Why did he now look as if he had seen a ghost?

In fact, it wasn’t that Qin Wang had seen a ghost, but rather, among all the Outer Sect geniuses in the Task Hall, aside from a few people like Feng Hang and Shen Xiao who were privy to the inside information, no one had ever imagined that Yun Xiao could actually produce a Fire Spirit Crystal.

What a joke, even Feng Hang and Shen Xiao, ranked first and second on the Mortal List, had failed at this mission, how could Yun Xiao - a newbie Outer Disciple in the Meridian Gathering Realm - possibly complete such a high-level Spiritual Rank mission.

Watching the crystal stone lying in Yun Xiao’s right palm, still emanating a Fire Attribute aura, both Feng Hang and Shen Xiao had flames of envy nearly shooting out of their eyes, because this was something that should have belonged to them.

Especially for Feng Hang, on that day inside the Yurong Volcano, he was incredibly close to the Fire Spirit Crystal, but unexpectedly Mo Qing appeared out of nowhere, causing him to miss out on the crystal by a whisker.

Had the Fire Spirit Crystal fallen into the hands of Mo Qing, an Inner Sect genius girl, Feng Hang would have had to grit his teeth and swallow his frustration. However, when Yun Xiao produced the Fire Spirit Crystal in the Task Hall, that feeling of stifled fury almost caused Feng Hang to spew out his old blood, nearly drowning that raggedy boy.

But in his furious state, Feng Hang failed to sense that the Fire Spirit Crystal in Yun Xiao’s hands was no longer the same one they had fought over in the Yurong Volcano.

In his heart, Yun Xiao also felt somewhat apprehensive, unsure if this mere Third Rank Low Level Fire Spirit Crystal could smoothly complete the mission. After all, the real Fourth Rank Low Level Fire Spirit Crystal had been devoured by the Golden Snake Worm within his body.

”Is this really a Fire Spirit Crystal?”

Upon hearing Yun Xiao’s explanation laced with helplessness, Qin Wang finally snapped out of his daze, his eyes sparkling with surprise and excitement as he took the Fire Spirit Crystal from Yun Xiao’s hand.

Previously, Qin Wang thought Yun Xiao, with his level of Meridian Qi Cultivation, was just trying to show off to capture everyone’s attention, never really believing that Yun Xiao could complete the low-level Spiritual Rank mission.

However, at this juncture, all of Qin Wang’s prior thoughts had dissipated, and whether Yun Xiao obtained the Fire Spirit Crystal by some means didn’t matter to him. He only knew that if it was indeed a real Fire Spirit Crystal, then he could use it to foster connections with the Inner Sect Elders.

But when Qin Wang took the fiery red crystal stone and meticulously examined it, a hint of doubt inevitably surfaced on his face, and he pondered aloud, ”This is indeed a Fire Spirit Crystal, but this energy aura...”

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao’s heart tensed, thinking that the Steward of the Task Hall was truly no easy opponent, having detected the trickery so quickly. It seemed he would have to spend extra effort explaining.

Qin Wang’s comment wasn’t concealed and was heard clearly by everyone in the hall, which instantly brought a sneer to Cao Luo’s face, who bore a grudge against Yun Xiao and was quick to speak out.

”I say, Yun Xiao, you wouldn’t think that by failing the mission, you could just pick up some worthless rock from who knows where and try to bluff your way through, right?”

It had to be said that Cao Luo’s hatred for Yun Xiao had reached an extreme level. He obviously overlooked Qin Wang’s initial remark and seized the opportunity to kick someone when they were down.

Since Cao Luo had spoken, Zhao Ningshu would not lag behind, chiming in, ”Yeah, Yun Xiao, Steward Qin Wang is not so easily fooled. If you’re trying to pull the wool over our eyes, I’d advise you to abandon this idea sooner rather than later!”

Zhao Ningshu’s statement was more astute than Cao Luo’s, clearly highlighting Yun Xiao’s ”sordid” intentions while subtly flattering Qin Wang’s discerning eye. It was the best of both worlds, and he felt exceedingly smug about it.

”Is there a problem with that Fire Spirit Crystal?”

With these two paving the way, everyone in the hall fell into contemplation, including Feng Hang and Shen Xiao, who knew some of the details. Now, they too turned their gazes back to the Fire Spirit Crystal in Qin Wang’s hands for a closer inspection.

”It’s really not Fourth Rank Low Level!”

Both Feng Hang and Shen Xiao were bona fide Meridian Refining Masters with extremely powerful Soul forces. Upon sensing the crystal, they immediately noticed something was off.

Back at the mouth of the Yurong Volcano, both Feng Hang and Shen Xiao had come face-to-face with the Fire Spirit Crystal, so they were well aware that the one produced by the Fourth Rank Low Level Strange Spirit Fire Spirit Snake was not the same one Yun Xiao was now presenting to Qin Wang.

Although they didn’t know how Yun Xiao had lost that Fourth Rank Low Level Fire Spirit Crystal, nor how he managed to get his hands on a Third Rank Low Level one, at least the low-level Spiritual Rank mission now offered a glimmer of hope for Feng Hang.

Zhao Ningshu and Cao Luo’s consecutive remarks finally allowed Steward Qin Wang to ascertain the true nature of the Fire Spirit Crystal in his hands. He furrowed his brows slightly and said sternly, ”Yun Xiao, this Fire Spirit Crystal is only Third Rank Low Level. How do you explain this?”

With Qin Wang’s words, all eyes once again landed on Yun Xiao, among them Zhao Ningshu and Xuan Zhi, and the other geniuses who bore a grudge against Yun Xiao showing a schadenfreude expression, all set to enjoy the spectacle.