Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Chapter 277: 277 Resurrecting Skeleton

”I’m sorry, Junior Sister Mo Qing, but I have my eyes set on this item too. Why don’t you go for that scroll instead?”

In just an instant, Yue Qi abandoned his original target, the green scroll, and set his sights on the small tree, whose value he was entirely clueless about.

It must be said that Mo Qing’s attitude caused a complete 180-degree turn in Yue Qi’s thoughts. At least in his eyes, anything that could be placed at the center platform alongside the Jade Bottle scroll, especially at the very center, surely couldn’t be much less valuable than those two items.

”Damn it!”

As soon as Yue Qi spoke, Mo Qing cursed him silently in her heart. She had clearly seen his target was the green scroll a moment ago. How did he change his mind so suddenly?

But Yue Qi didn’t have as many thoughts as Mo Qing. After he spoke, he flashed forward, quickly reaching out to grab the small tree.

Upon seeing this, Mo Qing was shocked. Realizing it was too late to compete for the small tree, she decided to ”encircle Wei to save Zhao,” and sent out a fierce palm strike toward the fatal spot on Yue Qi’s back.

”Damn woman!”

No matter how much Yue Qi wanted to secure the small tree first, Mo Qing’s strength was certainly not inferior to his. If he insisted on taking the tree first, he would inevitably be unable to avoid her palm strike to his back.

Therefore, after cursing silently in his heart, Yue Qi eventually made a wise decision. He couldn’t risk his safety, especially when there were many potential rivals around. If he were to be seriously injured in an instant, even if he managed to obtain the item, he might not truly possess it.

Seeing Yue Qi step back, Mo Qing also breathed a sigh of relief. Yet in this tug-of-war between the two geniuses of the Jade Pot Sect, they were evenly matched, a pair of well-matched adversaries who couldn’t determine a winner in a short time.

On the other side of the battlefield, the confrontation between the Zhao Family Head Zhao Huan and the Cao Family Head Cao Kong was also evenly matched, leading to a bizarre scene in this space.

Four cultivators, all at the Early Stage of Meridian Union, two against two, and no one had managed to snatch the three treasures on the stone platform first—a rather unusual event indeed.

Seeing this situation, Bi Luo and Yin Huan from the east, as well as Xue Gong and Chang Qing from the south, all exchanged glances. Their speed was not slow, and after a moment’s contemplation, they quickly flew out in pairs.

However, what these Jade Pot Sect geniuses didn’t realize was that during the chaotic battle, the Meridian Qi that was seemingly dissipating into the air was subtly being absorbed by the lifeless skeleton.

Even Yun Xiao had not noticed this, as his thoughts were only on the Dragon Summoning Tree. Such a treasure, even when compared to all the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures of the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, could hardly match a single leaf or branch.

”Get out of my way!”

A loud shout resonated, as it turned out that just when Xue Gong was about to secure the Jade Bottle, Bi Luo from the Poison Vein unexpectedly kept up and released a burst of toxic Meridian Qi, forcing him away.

Relative to each other, Bi Luo and Xue Gong’s strengths were a notch lower than Yue Qi and Mo Qing’s, both only at the Peak of Meridian Introduction Realm. Nevertheless, when these two clashed, it was still an evenly matched battle, resulting in another stalemate.

However, aside from this third evenly matched battle, the strengths of Chang Qing and Yin Huan varied significantly. As the proud disciple of Li Shan, Chang Qing’s cultivation had impressively reached the Late Stage of Meridian Rushing Realm.

As for Yin Huan? He was only at the Middle Stage of Meridian Rushing Realm, and moreover, his back had been injured by Yun Xiao’s Small Golden Light Pulse Array two days prior and had not yet fully recovered. How could he possibly be a match for Chang Qing?

Although Yin Huan could not overcome Chang Qing in single combat, being a true Mortal Rank Intermediate Poison Vein Master with highly venomous tactics, even Chang Qing would not dare to come into contact lightly.

So for the moment, while Chang Qing certainly had the upper hand, he couldn’t dispatch Yin Huan quickly and naturally could not free his hands to take any of the treasures from the platform.

Such a bizarre scene naturally caught the attention of Yun Xiao nearby. His reaction was incredibly quick as he instantly spotted a golden opportunity.

All four early Meridian Union cultivators were tied up by their opponents, and the two geniuses at the Peak of Meridian Rushing Realm were also preoccupied with their own battles, leaving Yun Xiao, also at the Meridian Rushing Realm Early Stage, unexpectedly the biggest beneficiary.

Whoosh!

Yun Xiao decisively seized the opportunity, his figure swiftly sprinting forward, and naturally, his target was the centrally located Dragon Summoning Tree.

”Kid, you’re courting death!”

Seeing Yun Xiao’s action, several voices called out simultaneously from different directions; Zhao Huan and Cao Kong, the Heads of their respective families, as well as Yue Qi, who was held up by Mo Qing, all noticed his move.

If the treasure were obtained by someone of the same cultivation level, those at the Early Stage of Meridian Union might not have been so furious. But who did Yun Xiao think he was, and what right did he have to possess a treasure of the Spiritual Rank Intermediate?

Mo Qing clearly saw Yun Xiao’s movement as well, so at that moment, she increased the power in her hands, entangling Yue Qi so tightly that he couldn’t extricate himself without paying a corresponding price.

But Yue Qi was too preoccupied with his own troubles, while the Family Heads of the Zhao and Cao families stopped fighting at this moment, apparently realizing that if they continued the fight, it might just benefit the youngster Yun Xiao.

Zhao Huan and Cao Kong exchanged glances, and it seemed as if they had reached some tacit understanding; they nodded to each other and at the same time moved swiftly, dividing to the left and right, each reaching for something.

Family Head Zhao Huan pointed his palm towards the green scroll, while Family Head Cao Kong grabbed for the black Jade Bottle. It seemed both Family Heads reacted quickly: rather than letting Yun Xiao reap the benefits, it was better to split the spoils.

However, what both failed to notice was that while they each reached in different directions, Yun Xiao didn’t even bother with them; his target was only the Dragon Summoning Tree, priceless even in the lofty Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.

As a cultivator at the early stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm, Yun Xiao’s speed was naturally slower. By the time he was about to touch the Dragon Summoning Tree, the Family Heads of the Zhao and Cao families had already seized the scroll and the Jade Bottle in their hands.

Crack!

Just at that moment, a strange sound suddenly rang out, startling both Zhao and Cao Family Heads, causing their hands to stiffen momentarily.

”Huh?”

Just as these two Family Heads realized something was wrong and were about to hurriedly retreat with their loots, the previously motionless skeleton unexpectedly stood up, startling everyone present.

”What the hell?”

Family Head Zhao Huan was holding the green scroll and cursed in shock. He had never seen such a thing—a skeleton that had turned to bone somehow moving?

But in the next moment, Zhao Huan had no time to ponder this as removing the green scroll seemed to awaken the bones that had been dead for who knows how many years. The skeletal figure instantly appeared before him.

Bang!

Caught off guard, Zhao Huan just felt a tremendous force, and then his chest was pierced by five dull white finger bones. He then saw his body flying backwards uncontrollably like a kite with severed strings.

It is worth mentioning that while sending Zhao Huan flying, the skeleton also snatched back the green scroll he was clutching, faster than lightning.

”Ptui!”

As Zhao Huan flew back, he spat out a mouthful of crimson blood midair, his vitality rapidly fading. When his body crashed to the ground several meters away, his face showed shock and he was unable to speak.

This sudden turn of events caused all the fights in the area to instantly cease, while the skeleton calmly placed the green scroll back on its original spot and then turned its empty gaze to another direction.

There, Family Head Cao Kong was still holding the black Jade Bottle, seemingly still in shock. But in the next moment, he followed the fate of Zhao Huan.

Bang!

The skeleton moved extremely quickly and seemed unrelenting, just like it had with Zhao Huan, uncompromisingly attacking because Cao Kong touched what originally belonged to it.

Another loud sound echoed, and although Cao Kong’s injuries seemed lighter than Zhao Huan’s, he had been forewarned by Zhao Huan’s fate and had some guard up when the skeletal hand struck.

However, although Cao Luo’s injuries were lighter, he ultimately failed to keep the black Jade Bottle, which was snatched back by the skeleton and replaced on its original spot on the stone platform.

After doing all this, the skeleton’s hollow eye sockets glanced coldly at nearby Yue Qi and Mo Qing, then serenely walked back and sat down in its original place, motionless.

”Could such a strange thing happen?”

Yun Xiao saw everything clearly. Even having never witnessed or heard of such a bizarre incident in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud—a skeletal corpse that could stand up and harm people on its own—what on earth was going on?

Even Yun Xiao was dumbfounded, and needless to say for the others. People like Yue Qi, Bi Luo, and Xue Gong instinctively stepped back several meters, lest the skeleton rise again and harm someone.

What a joke, to strike down Zhao Huan and Cao Kong, both at the early stage of Meridian Union Realm, with one hit and cause serious injuries—such strength, if truly wielded against them, might leave none present capable of withstanding even a single blow.

Even the confident Yue Qi and Mo Qing wouldn’t dare claim they were much stronger than those two Family Heads. This event was odd, so very odd that it defied all reason.

”Could it be because of the Dragon Summoning Tree?”

While Yun Xiao was at a loss for an explanation, his gaze finally turned to the wondrous tree, and a thought arose in his mind, lingering on.

”Nonsense, if not for the power of the Dragon Summoning Tree, how could this wretched skeleton possibly stand up?”