Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Meridian Refining Master Guild, outside the examination room.

At this moment, outside the examination room for the low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Refining Master assessment, there was already a crowd gathered, not just Nie Qianqiu and the other three people. For some reason, many people had convened here, and their gazes were tightly fixed on the room’s door, as if waiting for something.

Among these people, some were low-rank Meridian Masters here to take the exams, and there were even Stewards and Deacon Elders from the Meridian Refining Master Guild. It appears that Yun Xiao’s earlier performance had attracted a lot of attention.

Compared to these unconcerned individuals, Crown Prince Nie Qianqiu seemed much more anxious about when Yun Xiao would come out and whether he could pass the examination for low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Masters, for there was a bet worth a hundred thousand Gold Coins between them.

Of course, in Nie Qianqiu’s heart, he never believed that Yun Xiao could win. What a joke! To expect passing the assessment for low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Masters within three time units, wouldn’t that imply that he, the Crown Prince, was as foolish as a pig?

Nie Qianqiu did not want to admit Yun Xiao’s Talent was stronger than his own, and he also coveted the Golden Horned Spirit Sheep Horn capable of forging divine weapons. Under these mixed feelings, almost a time unit had already passed.

Creak!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the door of the examination room, which had been closed for a time unit, was suddenly pulled open from the inside. Out stepped a youth with delicate features, wearing coarse clothes, and carrying a battered wooden sword on his back.

”It’s Young Master Yun Xiao!”

Xiao Qiu’s eyes were sharp; he recognized Yun Xiao, who had entered for the examination, at first glance. He immediately exclaimed with a trace of delight in his voice.

Yet, the excited Xiao Qiu didn’t notice the sneer that emerged on the faces of the three people beside him after their initial surprise. Unlike the naive Xiao Qiu, these three certainly knew what it meant to come out at this time.

”Hmph, I thought this kid had some ability, turns out he’s just a good-for-nothing!”

Seeing Yun Xiao’s figure, Nie Qianqiu also couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, letting out a low sneer, not bothering to disguise it, allowing everyone nearby to hear clearly.

Nie Qianqiu, who had just passed the examination for low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Masters, naturally knew how difficult the exam was. Whether it was Alchemy or healing, one couldn’t expect to complete the examination without a considerable amount of time.

But now, how long had Yun Xiao been inside? Even a time unit?

To come out from inside the room in such a short span, less than a time unit; he probably failed in Alchemy or in saving someone. Maybe he even caused a death, and that’s why the examiners inside rushed him out, right?

Nie Qianqiu held a lot of confidence in his own thoughts because, from a young age and even in the records of the Lingtian Royal Family, he had never heard of any prodigy, capable of passing the low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Master examination within one time unit.

The fact was, Nie Qianqiu had been the most prodigious Talent in the Lingtian Empire for nearly a century, and even he had spent half a day and a night to pass. By measuring others by his own standard, he didn’t believe that this youngster from the Xuanyue Empire could be stronger than him, let alone by so much.

Upon hearing Nie Qianqiu’s humph, Yun Xiao, who had just stepped out of the door, naturally heard it. Seeing the slight smile on his face, he nodded slightly in this direction while speaking.

”My apologies, Crown Prince!”

The sentence spoken by Yun Xiao, with a smile on his face, was understood by the other three who knew of the prior bet. But precisely because they knew, their faces at that moment turned incredibly incredulous, as if they had seen a ghost.

”Could it be...”

Just as the thought emerged in Xiao Qiu and the others’ minds, they saw the coarse-clothed youth extend his right palm, revealing a badge flickering with a deep black light, conspicuously dazzling.

Especially the more profound black crescent on it, which clearly announced the rank of low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Master, a status everyone present understood without any doubt.

”No... This is impossible!”

Suddenly seeing the badge that represented the rank of low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Master, Nie Qianqiu felt a sinking feeling, which was immediately followed by a startled shout, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

”Yun Xiao, even if you have passed the low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Master’s examination, how could it be so quickly? There must be some trickery here, I refuse to accept this!”

Nie Qianqiu’s voice echoed through the many rooms on the third floor, resonating with a bit of ferocity. Those who knew him were somewhat incredulous; was this still the Crown Prince of the Lingtian Empire? How could he be so impetuous?

Apart from Xiao Qiu and the other two, the rest didn’t know what had happened earlier. They were ignorant of the bet between the Crown Prince and Yun Xiao, and this sudden outburst seemed to have a reason.

”You refuse to accept it?”

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao also looked over with some confusion. In fact, his impression of Nie Qianqiu had not been bad at first, or perhaps what he had seen was just the façade of the Crown Prince, the act of borrowing money was merely to save face, not that he was really a good person.

”Right, I refuse to accept it! Yun Xiao, did you already know the people inside and conspired to disgrace me, the Crown Prince?”

The usually composed Crown Prince seemed to have his mind thrown into complete disarray. As his words came out, many Deacon Elders from the Meridian Refining Master Guild revealed unexpected expressions on their faces.

Nie Qianqiu’s words—weren’t they accusing the Meridian Refining Master Guild of colluding in secret and committing acts of unfairness? Such accusations could tarnish the reputation of the Guild.

Moreover, these cultivators of the Meridian Refining Master Guild had never met that so-called youth named Yun Xiao. Where could they start to collude? Nie Qianqiu’s words were simply wild allegations.

”Colluding? Tsk tsk, Crown Prince, your imagination is truly admirable!”

Yun Xiao shook his head helplessly, first with a touch of mockery, then suddenly extended his left hand, continuing, ”According to your claim, does this make my badge of a Low Rank Spiritual Rank Poison Vein Master also illegitimate?”

”Hiss...”

In the palm of his outstretched left hand lay a green badge, dazzling with a curved green crescent, which, combined with the meaning of Yun Xiao’s words, instantly elicited a chorus of gasps from the audience.

”Low Rank... Poison Vein Master?!”

It was already shocking beyond belief when Yun Xiao presented the badge of a Low Rank Medical Pulse Master, and now he also produced a badge of a Low Rank Poison Vein Master—this was almost like living in a dream.

Although Yun Xiao’s words ”illegitimate and unconvincing” suggested otherwise, the cultivators who had been with the Meridian Refining Master Guild for many years did not doubt the authenticity of the badge for a second—the aura from the Poison Vein Master badge was so distinctive.

The black and green badges on Yun Xiao’s hands caused Nie Qianqiu, who had just emphatically denied his acceptance, to slightly sway, realizing a possibility and tasting what might be the first failure in his life.

”Does this mean that within this single hour, he not only passed the examination for Low Rank Medical Pulse Master, but also casually became a Low Rank Poison Vein Master?”

This thought lingered stubbornly in Nie Qianqiu’s mind, hovering around like a nightmare, plunging him into such gloominess that he did not know how to relieve it.

”Crown Prince, why don’t we... make another bet?”

Just as Nie Qianqiu struggled with his gloominess, Yun Xiao’s voice suddenly rang out, and upon hearing ”bet,” the faces of the bystanders couldn’t help but twist with peculiarity.

”What do you want?”

Nie Qianqiu finally snapped back to reality, though his face showed great wariness. Although the young man before him was much weaker in strength, his unpredictability was something one simply could not guard against.

”Crown Prince, although you just lost the bet, you didn’t really lose the wager, did you? Since I passed the examination, the deposit of 100,000 Gold Coins should be returned to you!”

Yun Xiao seemed to have guessed something and took the opportunity to clarify, speaking the truth: such a bet indeed greatly favored Crown Prince Nie Qianqiu.

”Master Yun Xiao, do you still want to borrow money? Could it be that you also want to take the examination for Middle Level Meridian Refining Master of the Spiritual Rank?”

Little Autumn, thinking of a possibility, asked excitedly. The next moment, he saw Yun Xiao nod and then turn his gaze toward Nie Qianqiu.

”How about it, Crown Prince, could you pay the deposit for the examination of Middle Level Meridian Refining Master of the Spiritual Rank on my behalf? Rest assured, if I lose, I’ll definitely offer a wager that will satisfy you!”

Yun Xiao resembled a sly little fox luring one into a pot, well aware that even the deposit for the Low Rank examination was 100,000 Gold Coins—naturally, the Middle Level examination would cost even more, an amount he couldn’t afford.

”Humph, this time, you figure it out yourself!”

However, as soon as Yun Xiao’s words fell, Nie Qianqiu seemed to have finally made up his mind. The cold hum indicated his stance; it seemed he wasn’t a fool after all. Having been tricked once would surely teach him some lessons, right?

As if to make a joke, to obtain the badges of a Low Rank Medical Pulse Master and Poison Vein Master within a single hour, who would be foolish enough to bet with such a person?

Though Nie Qianqiu had claimed there was something fishy, deep down he knew the Meridian Refining Master Guild wasn’t likely to be involved in such dirty deeds. This kid probably truly possessed some unspeakable prowess.

”Is that so? What a pity then!”

Yun Xiao’s face betrayed clear disappointment at the response, but he quickly shifted his gaze and suddenly called out loudly, ”Everyone, would anyone be willing to lend me some money? Don’t worry, I’ll repay you all very soon!”

The sudden shout silenced the crowd, and everyone was taken aback. Were we acquainted with you? Why should we lend you money?

Such shameless boldness from one person was truly astonishing. Yet despite the hopeful look in Yun Xiao’s eyes, in the end, no one responded, which only deepened the disappointment on his face.

”After all, one doesn’t necessarily need a deposit to take the examination for Middle Level Meridian Refining Master of the Spiritual Rank.”