Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Is this Lingyun Mountain?”

At the foot of the Lingyun Mountain range, a somewhat weather-beaten youth looked up at the unending expanse of mountains and murmured as if with emotion.

This roughly dressed youth was none other than Yun Xiao, who had come from afar. As for Xiaolan, who had left without saying goodbye, he didn’t care too much. After all, she was just a friend met by chance, someone he might never see again in his lifetime.

The Lingyun Mountain in front of him seemed even more magnificent than the mountains where Jade Pot Sect was located, yet this conviction in his heart did not make Yun Xiao back down; instead, he strode forward.

”Squeak squeak!”

A voice came from Yun Xiao’s shoulder. When he turned his head, he saw Fire Cloud Rat Chi Yan scratching its ears and looking a bit impatient.

”Go play by yourself, but be careful!”

Knowing its nature, Yun Xiao didn’t mind; following him could indeed be too monotonous. Seeing these huge mountains, it seemed Chi Yan could hardly sit still.

Yun Xiao knew that Chi Yan’s nose was sensitive. Even from far away, it could sense his Qi, so he was not afraid of it getting lost. If it could make a breakthrough in these mountains, there might be an even better chance to escape should things go sour with Lingyun Sect in the future.

Having earlier inquired about the exact location of Lingyun Sect, Yun Xiao did not travel a particularly indirect route. Several days later, a large cluster of buildings within the mountains finally came into view.

With an extraordinary feeling in his heart, Yun Xiao adjusted his clothing and strode forward. Yet, when he reached the entrance of Lingyun Sect, he was stopped by two guards.

”Does your excellency have an invitation?”

One of the guards, with a cold expression and without any hesitation, directly reached out his hand. This young man appeared very unfamiliar, and dressed in coarse clothing, he didn’t look like someone of significant standing, naturally prompting a thorough inquiry.

The Lingyun Sect was the foremost sect of the Lingtian Empire, equally prestigious as the Royal Family; naturally, its headquarters was not a place just anyone could enter on a whim.

”Invitation?”

Yun Xiao was momentarily startled upon hearing this, but having spent some time at the Jade Pot Sect, he quickly understood and shook his head, saying, ”I don’t have an invitation, but please inform them that Yun Xiao from the Xuanyue Empire’s Shang Family seeks an audience with Sect Leader Xu Lingsong!”

”Xuanyue Empire? Shang Family?”

Hearing these two terms, the two guards who were always stationed at the entrance of Lingyun Sect glanced at each other, both seeing a hint of confusion in the other’s eyes.

However, seeing the youth’s serious demeanor, the guards assumed that the Shang Family might be a major clan from the Xuanyue Empire. They nodded and one of them quickly went to report.

About thirty minutes later, the guard returned, his expression much more serious and respectful than before.

”Young Master Yun Xiao, the Sect Leader invites you!”

With a slightly trembling voice, the guard had not yet recovered. What kind of background did this youth have that after just one report, even the Sect Leader himself wanted to meet in person? Could it be that the Shang Family was indeed extraordinary?

Yun Xiao remained indifferent. No matter what unsavory things Lingyun Sect might have done secretly, officially, he, Yun Xiao, was still the fiancé under a formal marriage agreement, practically half a master of Lingyun Sect himself.

This was the confidence behind Yun Xiao’s bold arrival at Lingyun Sect. For such a prestigious sect, saving face was crucial; they definitely would not blatantly kill him.

Following the nervous-looking guard, turning left and right, a grand hall finally appeared before Yun Xiao. As he approached and saw the big characters ”Lingyun Hall” that seemed to be enveloped in clouds and fog, the place felt truly imposing.

The position of Lingyun Hall within Lingyun Sect could be inferred from its name alone, which was another reason for the guard’s surprise.

The guard knew that Lingyun Hall was not usually open; it only welcomed masters of other major sects or distinguished guests from the Royal Family.

Could this mere youth of sixteen or seventeen possibly have such a distinguished background that would warrant the Sect Leader opening Lingyun Hall?

”Young Master Yun Xiao, please enter!”

A place like Lingyun Hall was not somewhere a guard could simply walk into. The guard respectfully spoke to Yun Xiao, then stood without moving.

Seeing this, Yun Xiao nodded, ignoring the guard and directly stepping forward, immediately feeling a strong oppressive force greeting him. He then shifted his gaze to the upper end of the hall.

There, an imposing middle-aged man was seated, the aura seemingly emanating from him, and upon meeting his gaze, Yun Xiao instantly recognized the man’s identity.

”Sect Leader Xu?”

Yun Xiao maintained a composed expression, seemingly unaffected by the palpable oppressive force as he stepped forward slowly and greeted the middle-aged man with a fist salute, asking softly.

”Indeed, a young hero emerges; Yun Xiao, you are quite impressive!”

The one seated at the head was indeed Xu Lingsong, the Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect. For some reason, his words seemed surprisingly complimentary, which rather puzzled Yun Xiao.

Logically, if the eradication of his sect years ago was truly orchestrated by the Lingyun Sect, the Sect Leader would hardly display such an attitude. Could it be that he was mistaken? Was Yu Qian someone else?

”Yun Xiao, it is truly a stroke of divine luck that you survived. When I first heard of the Shang Family massacre, it truly kept me up at night, so heartbroken!”

Xu Lingsong rose from his seat, and the oppressive aura simultaneously dissipated. His tone seemed genuinely sympathetic towards the Shang Family massacre.

However, Yun Xiao, the reincarnated soul of the Long Xiao Battle God, was no ordinary youth of the Hidden Dragon Continent. The more Xu Lingsong behaved this way, the more Yun Xiao suspected that things were not as simple as they seemed.

”Sect Leader Xu, I have come here with two inquiries. May I hope for honest answers?”

Yun Xiao clearly had no interest in dwelling on the past, quickly steering the conversation to more pressing matters, eliciting a barely perceptible glint in Xu Lingsong’s eyes.

”Speak, anything your uncle Xu knows, I will surely answer fully without reservation!”

The glint in Xu Lingsong’s eyes disappeared, replaced by a warm and congenial expression, as if a kind elder ready to resolve the doubts of his junior.

Unchanged in demeanor, Yun Xiao saw his right hand flip, revealing half of a jade pendant, magically appearing in his palm, as he asked, ”This half of a jade pendant, does Sect Leader Xu recognize it?”

This half pendant was indeed the engagement token given to Yun Xiao by Shang Li, blessed by the previous Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect and Shang Li’s father, also Yun Xiao’s grandfather.

”Hehe, how could I not recognize this item? Hongzhuang has the other half!”

Xu Lingsong’s face showed a slight smile, his true thoughts concealed behind his words, which betrayed no particular clue.

”Since Sect Leader Xu recognizes this item, its significance need not be elaborated by Yun Xiao. My first question...”

Seeing Xu Lingsong’s lack of denial, Yun Xiao asked directly, ”More than two years ago, someone claimed to have been commissioned by the Lingyun Sect to visit the Shang Family in Moon Bow City intending to call off this engagement. Does Sect Leader Xu happen to know anything about this matter?”

After speaking, Yun Xiao’s eyes intently fixed on the Lingyun Sect Leader, intending to catch him off-guard with a direct inquiry, which even a deeply cunning person could hardly mask their reactions to.

”Oh? Such a thing?”

Unexpectedly, Xu Lingsong’s face showed only a hint of surprise, which quickly turned into anger. He slammed his hand on the nearby table, splashing the tea.

”This was an engagement firmly promised by your father and your maternal grandfather. Who would be so bold as to cancel it secretly without our knowledge?”

Xu Lingsong seemed genuinely furious, his face turning livid as he vehemently added, ”Yun Xiao, my nephew, rest assured, I will thoroughly investigate this matter and give you a satisfactory explanation.”

Unmoved, Yun Xiao said with a half-smile, ”Actually, it’s no big deal; after all, I had lost all my meridian qi at that time. How could the daughter of the illustrious Lingyun Sect Leader possibly marry a cripple?”

These statements were true but saying them openly—even Xu Lingsong, for all his thick-skinned nature, couldn’t help but flush with embarrassment as his anger seemed to deepen even further.

”Yun Xiao, what do you take your uncle Xu for? Not to mention lost meridian qi, even if you were completely incapacitated, this marriage pact would not have been voided!”

Xu Lingsong’s indignant words left Yun Xiao somewhat puzzled. If Xu Lingsong’s display of anger was merely an act, then his depth of cunning was indeed terrifying.

”My father was lifelong friends with your grandfather; ’Li Feng defeating the foes, sheathing his sword with a smile for Hongzhuang’, once became a beautiful anecdote. It’s unfortunate your grandfather passed away early, but this promise, our Lingyun Sect will never break!”

Xu Lingsong grew increasingly agitated as he declared this stance, which might deceive somebody unaware of the underlying truth.

However, Yun Xiao had his own judgment and wouldn’t easily be swayed, but with the Sect Leader denying involvement, he had no choice but to let this point go for now.

”There’s another matter, Yun Xiao would like to ask Sect Leader Xu!”

After a brief contemplation and not dwelling on the engagement issue, Yun Xiao’s gaze turned sharp as he asked, ”I wonder if the Great Elder Yu Qian of your sect is available, may I meet with him?”

As he spoke, Yun Xiao’s gaze locked onto the Lingyun Sect Leader again. Compared to the inconsequential marriage issue, perhaps the massacre of the Shang Family, and the deaths of his mother and sister, were the true motives behind Yun Xiao’s venture to the Lingyun Sect alone!

This time, Xu Lingsong’s facial muscles twitched slightly, a small movement that Yun Xiao noted with a sinking heart.