Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 228: 228 Yin Huan’s Mind

”Keep in touch? Visit often?”

Hearing such words, Yun Xiao could not help but reveal a sneer on his face. How could he not know what this master and disciple were scheming? Did they really think he was willing to suffer the agony of a hundred poisons once more?

Although Yun Xiao had survived that ordeal, he was acutely aware of the excruciating pain when the deadly poison invaded his body. Each near-death experience required him to endure such torment repeatedly, which was inhumanely grueling for him.

The master and disciple pair’s malicious intentions had not died, but Yun Xiao was no longer the same as before, nor was he the Yun Xiao who could only tremble in front of Yin Huan in the Shang Family.

”Sorry, Elder Brother Yin Huan, I’m not in charge of this matter. You should discuss it with my master instead!”

Yun Xiao’s thoughts shifted swiftly. Instead of rejecting it outright, he passed the troublesome matter to his teacher, the Sect Leader. After all, his teacher, who had taken him on, should step in to resolve dangers for him at times like these.

Upon hearing Yun Xiao’s response, Yin Huan knew that his threatening plan had failed. It was not just him; even his master, Elder Fu Du of the Jade Pot Sect, wouldn’t dare to propose such a thing to the Sect Leader. Wasn’t that akin to undermining authority?

”Junior Brother Yun Xiao, you really don’t appreciate the toast only to drink a forfeit!”

With his plan having failed, all Yin Huan could do was revert to the original point. His words contained a touch of icy coldness and a hint of murderous intent, making his intentions towards Yun Xiao all too clear.

”Elder Brother Yin Huan, I am a Direct Disciple of the Sect Leader, do you truly dare to kill me?”

Yun Xiao’s gaze sharpened. At this moment, he could only put on a brave front with the Sect Leader’s authority, hoping to intimidate Yin Huan into retreating.

But since Yin Huan had come this far, would he be frightened off by a mere word from Yun Xiao? Especially since the latter had become a Direct Disciple of the Sect Leader, the resources he could obtain in the Inner Sect would undoubtedly be far more abundant than those available to Yin Huan.

Yin Huan could clearly foresee that, with Yun Xiao’s talent and the cultivation resources of the Jade Pot Sect, it might not be long before Yun Xiao broke through to the Meridian Rushing Realm Early Stage. By then, even he might find it difficult to deal with this upstart.

”Hehe, Yun Xiao, you’re not new to the Jade Pot Cave, surely you know the rules here?”

Yin Huan let out a thinly-veiled chuckle, and at the end of his speech, a trace of overpowering, green-tinted Meridian Qi emerged from his body, exerting immense pressure on Yun Xiao.

The Cultivation of the Meridian Rushing Realm Middle Stage was not something mere Guardians like Tan Qi could compare to, especially since Yin Huan’s master was none other than Elder Fu Du, the Second Elder, practicing quite different Cultivation Techniques and Meridian Techniques.

Moreover, unlike Tan Qi, after several days of the Outer Sect competition, all of Yun Xiao’s techniques had been fully observed by Yin Huan. The surprise attack that had injured Tan Qi previously was clearly out of the question this time.

Yun Xiao’s expression grew solemn. Despite all his calculations, he did not anticipate encountering a malevolent Yin Huan on the fourth level of the Jade Pot Cave. Otherwise, even if it meant spending more points, he would have brought along Fire Cloud Rat Chi Yan.

But now it was too late for regrets. Sensitive to the intense killing intent emanating from Yin Huan, Yun Xiao knew he had to fight for his life. This was his first confrontation with a Meridian Rushing Realm Middle Stage Inner Sect genius, and this genius was all too familiar to him.

Perhaps in Yin Huan’s mind, he had never considered taking on Yun Xiao as a rival so soon. Back when he first visited the Shang Family in Moon Bow City, Yun Xiao was merely at the Meridian Qi Realm level.

At that time, Yin Huan, who could sit on equal terms with Family Head Shang Yan, never saw the once remarkable young man as anything more than an inconsequential insect.

But now, in just a short span of a little over a year, the boy who once only possessed Meridian Qi Energy had grown to the peak of the Meridian Gathering Realm, defeating two Outer Sect geniuses at the Meridian Rushing Realm Early Stage and even being taken in as a Direct Disciple by the Sect Leader.

Just thinking about all of this made even Yin Huan’s heart incredulous at such rapid progress, which was far more monstrous than his own at the same age.

Driven by orders from his master, Fu Du, and jealousy in his heart, Yin Huan no longer wanted to waste words with Yun Xiao. As the green energy surged around him, his figure vanished from the spot.

Bang!

Yin Huan’s attack came swiftly, so fast that Yun Xiao had no time to react. With just one strike, he was forced three steps back. Had it not been for the extreme physical strength tempered by the Stone Heart Marrow, he likely would have been severely injured from this single blow.

”Good lad, quite capable indeed!”

Seeing this, Yin Huan inwardly praised him, though his heart was filled with even denser jealousy. The difference between the two was two entire realms and a Great Rank. Yet he could not take down Yun Xiao in one hit, which made him unwilling to accept it.

As thoughts flashed through his mind, Yin Huan pursued his advantage relentlessly. His reaction speed was astonishingly quick, not giving Yun Xiao any chance to stabilize his chaotic breathing. With a swift motion of his right hand, five strands of Meridian Qi appeared in front of him, forming a somewhat hollow Meridian Qi Sphere.

A cultivator who has reached the Meridian Rushing Realm could externally gather Meridian Qi and employ powerful external Meridian Techniques, and this was an overwhelmingly dominant strategy against lower-level practitioners.

Almost reflexively, Yin Huan deployed this spherical Meridian Technique. In his view, as long as Yun Xiao was struck by his Meridian Qi Sphere, he would likely be badly injured if not dead.

At this moment, however, Yin Huan clearly overlooked something; while he was self-satisfied in directing the Meridian Qi Sphere at Yun Xiao, the latter had also conjured up a Meridian Qi Sword.

No, not just one!

Evidently, Yun Xiao knew that the talents of Yin Huan, a prodigy in the middle stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm, were far beyond those that Feng Hang and Shen Xiaoliu could compare to on the Outer Sect arena. Thus, after conjuring one Meridian Qi Sword, he swiftly followed with three more.

Four Meridian Qi Swords in total were Yun Xiao’s limit of control at the moment, restricted by his Meridian Qi Cultivation. The power that this formidable Meridian Technique could unleash was also extremely limited.

Of course, if comparing the grades of the Meridian Techniques alone, Yun Xiao’s Meridian Qi Sword was indubitably superior. However, since his Meridian Qi Cultivation was two realms lower than Yin Huan’s, he was still at a definite disadvantage in this clash of techniques.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh!

Four sounds of cutting air echoed as Yun Xiao’s four Meridian Qi Swords, formed from condensed Meridian Qi, accurately struck the Meridian Qi Sphere, only to dissipate in the next instant.

Indeed, the spherical Meridian Technique had the upper hand in this exchange, yet it also created a slim chance for Yun Xiao to escape. His original intention was not to engage in a prolonged fight with Yin Huan because an endless battle would surely end in defeat for him, Yun Xiao.

Just like during the fierce battle with the Earth Dragon Scorpion, Yun Xiao was seeking an opportunity to escape. The fourth floor of Jade Pot Cave was vast, and once he escaped, it would not be so easy for Yin Huan to find him again.

Yet, Yun Xiao clearly underestimated Yin Huan’s responsive capabilities and certain secretive techniques. This guy, having caught the eye of Elder Fu Du and becoming his most beloved little disciple, surely had a talent incomparable to ordinary Inner Sect prodigies.

Yun Xiao paid no heed to the fact that Yin Huan had dismissed his four Meridian Qi Swords, but when he noted the direction Yun Xiao was attempting to escape, his eyes revealed a hint of disdain and mockery.

”Does this kid think I’m like Feng Hang or Shen Xiaoliu? It won’t be so easy to escape from under my hands,” Yin Huan thought with a scoff.

In the next moment, Yin Huan’s left hand, which had been hidden behind him, finally extended, and upon it was an object identical to that previous Meridian Qi Sphere.

It seemed Yin Huan had not underestimated Yun Xiao; he was always on guard, suspecting the boy might cunningly attempt to flee. And now, with a flick of his left hand, the Meridian Qi Sphere blocked Yun Xiao’s path of escape with a swiftness that outpaced thunder.

Regardless of how fast Yun Xiao was, he couldn’t outrun a Meridian Technique. Seeing a Meridian Qi Sphere blocking his escape route, his expression turned extremely ugly.

Yun Xiao realized that his escape plan had undoubtedly been seen through by Yin Huan. The deployment of the spherical Meridian Technique in the left hand was exceedingly discreet, so much so that he himself hadn’t sensed it at all.

No matter how, when the Meridian Qi Sphere obstructed Yun Xiao’s path, he was forced to divert his attention to deal with it. If he insisted on breaking through this route, he might be hit by the Meridian Qi Sphere and sustain severe injuries on the spot.

”Yun Xiao, give up. With me here, you will have no chance!” Yin Huan declared confidently, quite pleased with himself. It was gratifying to toy with a genius who had made a name for himself in the Outer Sect and even became the Sect Leader’s Direct Disciple.

Suppressing a talent brought pleasure, especially when the talent was an immensely gifted individual who was arrogantly oblivious to his own limitations and posed a threat to oneself. Yin Huan’s heart was already filled with satisfaction.

Yun Xiao had no interest in Yin Huan’s ridicule. At this moment, blocked from the front and pursued from behind, it seemed the only avenue of escape was to either side.

But how could Yin Huan not anticipate these two directions? A subtle shift in his position, and he had already locked down both sides. No matter from which side Yun Xiao attempted to break free, he would be met with Yin Huan’s powerful attacks.

Yun Xiao was also aware of the situation, thus immediately decided to pivot and seek a breakthrough from the path he came from.

After all, the four Meridian Qi Swords Yun Xiao had used before had already neutralized over half of the energy of the Meridian Qi Sphere on the path he had taken; breaking through from this direction could be a lot easier.

However, Yun Xiao’s move seemed to fall once again into Yin Huan’s scheme. As Yin Huan observed Yun Xiao’s actions, a triumphant grin spread across his entire face, filled with the certainty of victory.