Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Boom!

Inside a pavilion by the riverbank, a majestic aura surged towards the sky. Fortunately, there were no outsiders present in the pavilion, and it was located by the side of the Dan River; hence, it didn’t attract too much attention.

This aura, naturally, came from Yun Xiao. After seven days of body refining, not only had his physical strength greatly improved, but his Meridian Qi Cultivation had also made a breakthrough at this moment.

Speaking of which, over two months ago, Yun Xiao had already reached the peak of the Meridian Rushing Realm under the Xuanyue Imperial Family. Given his rate of Cultivation, it’s somewhat slow for him to have only now broken through to the Meridian Union Realm.

However, Yun Xiao was the type who accumulated knowledge slowly to release it quickly. At the peak of the Meridian Rushing Realm, he had been able to defeat Yue Qi across ranks. Now that he has reached the early stage of the Meridian Union Realm, his combat power would likely double.

The Meridian Union Realm represents a whole new level in Cultivation. At this stage, opening the governor and conception vessels becomes the most crucial goal for a Cultivator.

For Yun Xiao, who had been reincarnated, the experience of Cultivation in the Meridian Union Realm was nothing unfamiliar. With the knowledge from his previous life, there would be no bottleneck for him at this stage.

Not to mention, he was capable of using the Ren Du Meridian Array on himself, but Yun Xiao had no such plans. Cultivating to open the governor and conception vessels on his own would yield much better results than using the Meridian Array, and it would make future breakthroughs to higher realms much easier.

”This body is probably no less inferior than some fifth-rank middle or even advanced Vein Demons, right?”

Yun Xiao stood up, clenched his fists, and felt the body tempered and refined, quite satisfied with the physical strength. Coupled with the Meridian Qi of the early stage of the Meridian Union Realm, even without using any special methods, he would be able to face a Cultivator of the mid-stage of the Meridian Union Realm head-on, right?

”Squeak, squeak!”

As Yun Xiao was reflecting, a familiar voice suddenly came through. When he turned to look, he saw a palm-sized red mouse by the window, which had appeared out of nowhere.

”Chi Yan, where have you been scurrying off to during this time?”

Seeing his companion, who had left the Jade Pot Sect with him, Yun Xiao spoke with a mockingly affectionate scolding. This creature had vanished as soon as they entered Xuri City and only now reappeared.

Had Chi Yan been there, with its fifth-rank low-level Demon Meridian Qi, taking care of Qiao Lin and his people would have been even easier, especially considering the combat power of the Fire Cloud Rat, which even the Long Xiao Battle God from his previous life had admired.

”Eh? Your Demon Meridian Qi...”

However, while Yun Xiao was lost in his thoughts, he suddenly noticed something different about Chi Yan’s Demon Meridian Qi after not seeing it for a dozen days. His eyes widened in shock.

”Squeak, squeak!”

Chi Yan’s eyes shone with a smug look before it leaped onto Yun Xiao’s shoulder in a few bounds. With such a close sensing, the latter had no more doubts.

”Fifth-rank middle level!”

Yun Xiao took a deep breath and marveled at how the Fire Cloud Rat’s lineage was indeed blessed in Cultivation. In such a short time, it had already advanced to the fifth-rank middle level. With such strength, even he might not be a match for it.

It seemed that during its disappearance, it must have found some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures with the Fire Attribute, otherwise, it wouldn’t have achieved a breakthrough so quickly.

Having broken through to the Meridian Union Realm and Chi Yan having advanced to the fifth-rank middle level, their doubled strengths filled Yun Xiao with even greater confidence for their journey to the Lingyun Sect.

”Lingyun Sect, Xu Hongzhuang, I, Yun Xiao, am coming for you!”

Stroking Chi Yan’s soft fur, Yun Xiao suddenly turned his gaze to the north. A deep voice sounded, and in the next moment, his figure had disappeared from within the pavilion.

......

Lingtian Empire, Northwest!

This area was covered by a never-ending mountain range. Amongst them, a mountain known as Lingyun Mountain was famous throughout the whole Lingtian Empire because nestled within it laid the Lingyun Sect, the empire’s number one sect!

The Lingyun Sect was different from the Jade Pot Sect. It was the empire’s rightfully first major sect, and could even be considered the Lingtian Empire’s national Sect, with legends of a certain Sect Master from Lingyun Sect becoming sworn brothers with a king from the Lingtian imperial family.

With its own strength, coupled with the aid of the royal family, there was no Sect or family within the Lingtian Empire bold enough to offend Lingyun Sect lightly. Many disciples of Lingyun Sect walked in the world, unprovoked by others.

However, the atmosphere in Lingyun Sect had been somewhat desolate lately. Amidst the sheltering mountains, a vast stretch of buildings was faintly visible, marking the headquarters of the Lingyun Sect.

Within an exquisitely built manor, numerous people had gathered. Judging by their attire, they were all from Lingyun Sect, and among them, several individuals exuded strong auras, having already reached the level of the Spirit Vein Realm.

On the other side were a dozen or so people, fairly young, likely the talented disciples of the younger generation from Lingyun Sect. However, the expressions on the faces of these Lingyun Sect members, both old and young, were all somewhat desolate. Their eyes were fixated on a room in the center of the manor and none of them spoke.

”Elder Chu, do you really think the Jade Liquid Vine the young miss brought back can save my lady?”

An elderly man asked anxiously, his words causing another older man beside him to shake his head slightly, clearly lacking confidence.

”Elder Guo’s Meridian Refining Technique is probably the best in all of Lingtian Empire. Even he can’t cure my lady’s illness. I’m afraid the Jade Liquid Vine will only prolong her life for a few more days at most!”

The elders spoke with a tinge of sorrow. Everyone present, the elders of Lingyun Sect, understood this all too well. However, they were not Meridian Refining Masters and could only feel anxious helplessly from the outside.

Inside the room, where numerous elders and disciples were growing anxious, there now stood four people. Among them, two were quite old, while one middle-aged man had a face filled with sorrow, occasionally glancing at a young girl in red not far away with a hint of pity.

If Yun Xiao were here, he might recognize her as the young girl Lanyan he had encountered in Xuri City, though he would not know why she was now present at the Lingyun Sect headquarters.

On the bed in the room lay a middle-aged woman, her face extremely pale, and though she had fallen into a coma due to illness, her youthful appearance could still be discerned. She bore some resemblance to the red-clothed girl.

”Elder Guo, how is it?”

The middle-aged man couldn’t wait any longer and blurted out his question as he saw an elder withdraw his hand from the woman’s wrist. Lanyan and another elder both turned their gaze towards him as he spoke.

The elder addressed as Elder Guo was, in truth, the chief Meridian Refining Master of Lingyun Sect. With his skill in the Meridian Refining Technique, his status within the sect was not much lower than that of the Sect Master.

”Sect Master, former Sect Master, please forgive Guo for my inability. The Jade Liquid Vine the young miss brought can sustain my lady’s life for half a month more, but with her condition unresolved, there is still no way to turn back from the brink!”

Elder Guo’s face bore a grim look, and from his reference, it was clear that the middle-aged man was none other than Xu Lingsong, the current Sect Master of Lingyun Sect; the other elderly man was his father, the former Sect Master.

”Guo... Elder Guo, is there really no other way?”

Before father and son could utter a word, Lanyan’s complexion turned ashen; she had thought that bringing back the Jade Liquid Vine would save her mother, yet the outcome was still so dire.

”Miss, my power in Meridian Refining is limited. If... if we could find an Earth-rank Pulse Refining Master, perhaps there would be a chance to revive my lady!”

Seemingly reluctant to witness the young miss’s sorrow, Elder Guo could only offer this faint hope, yet everyone knew that in the Lingtian Empire, let alone the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, finding an Earth-rank Pulse Refining Master was like searching for a needle in the ocean.

Elder Guo’s words had almost extinguished all hope of survival for the Sect Master’s wife. Not to mention that an Earth-rank Meridian Refining Master was as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in the Lingtian Empire, even if one existed, how could they be found in just half a month?

Moreover, those Earth-rank Pulse Refining Masters, each commanding vast respect, would not concern themselves with whether it was Lingtian Empire’s number one sect. They acted on their whims, and without offering something of interest, who would undertake such a thankless task?

However, upon hearing the words ”Earth-rank Pulse Refining Master,” a light sparked in Lanyan’s eyes as she suddenly said, ”Father, didn’t you say that the Royal Family has recently welcomed a new Meridian Refining Master whose skill even Mr. Qi cannot match? Could we ask him to see Mother?”

Although Lanyan had not been back at the sect for long, she was aware of some news. In fact, it wasn’t too difficult for Lingyun Sect, given its relationship with the Lingtian Royal Family, to request the visit of the Royal Family’s chief Soul Doctor, Mr. Qi.

Yet, even Mr. Qi was helpless against the Sect Master’s wife’s illness. In the end, it was left to the Lingyun Sect themselves to find some life-preserving treasures to sustain her for a year.

”I had the Great Elder go and ask him early on. It’s just that the gentleman has a bit of an eccentric temperament, whether he can be persuaded to come is a matter of luck.”

Lanyan had barely finished speaking when Xu Lingsong’s voice followed, though his tone did not carry much assurance. It seemed that this new Meridian Refining Master could not be easily swayed by power or wealth.

”If the Great Elder cannot bring him, then I will go and beg him myself. I cannot let my mother leave me as long as there is a sliver of hope!”

Lanyan was resolute, determined not to give up any chance because it was her mother at stake.

”Hongzhuang, you’ve worked hard during this time. Go back to your room and rest for now. Your father and I will watch over things here.”

The former Sect Master of Lingyun Sect finally spoke. If Yun Xiao were to hear this reference, it would probably shock him to the core.

The name Lanyan was clearly the pet name of the girl in red, whose real name was Xu Hongzhuang, the girl to whom Yun Xiao was once betrothed.

Years ago, after the Shang Family of Moon Bow City suffered a calamity, this daughter of Lingyun Sect believed that Yun Xiao had perished in that event. She never expected that in seeking medicine in Xuri City, she would coincidentally encounter Yun Xiao again.

The half jade pendant in Yun Xiao’s hand and the piece owned by Xu Hongzhuang would resonate once close enough, and it was because of this that, despite not initially knowing Yun Xiao’s identity, she inexplicably helped him several times.

It was only after Yun Xiao introduced himself by his surname that Xu Hongzhuang confirmed his identity for sure. Yet, on a whim, she did not reveal her own identity, only informing him of her pet name, leaving Yun Xiao in the dark.

Xu Hongzhuang, however, didn’t know many things. She guessed that Yun Xiao would come to Lingyun Sect, thinking he was there to fulfill their previous marital pledge, unaware that unbeknownst to both of them, it was no longer a possibility.