Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Li Yue, what do you think about this?”

Xuan Jiuding was overjoyed in his heart, but in the end, he turned his attention towards the Qingshan Sect. Compared to those geniuses at the early and middle stages of the Meridian Union Realm, he probably valued the attitude of this individual more.

Li Yue, after all, is a true cultivator in the late stage of the Meridian Union Realm. The Qingshan Sect is also one of the three major sects of the Xuanyue Empire, and their cultivation methods and Meridian Techniques are hardly inferior to those of the Royal Family.

If he could have the assistance of a genius not much weaker than himself, Xuan Jiuding felt that his chances of achieving a higher ranking would increase significantly, hence he was making every effort to win him over.

”Hehe, Crown Prince, with your unparalleled talents, I’m afraid you could dominate the crowd even without the assistance of someone like me, right?”

However, Li Yue’s response was not quite to Xuan Jiuding’s satisfaction. Although his words were extremely complimentary, they lacked a clear commitment. The ambiguity of his statement left others somewhat unclear about his stance.

Nevertheless, Xuan Jiuding had other methods to make this person agree to his request. It was just that those methods were not suitable to be revealed in front of such a large audience.

Therefore, Xuan Jiuding did not insist and, after a slight smile, turned his gaze to another side, where three individuals were seemingly ignoring the Crown Prince as they enjoyed their fine wine.

”Miss Mo Qing, I wonder if your Jade Pot Sect is confident in creating a glorious moment at the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference together with our Imperial Family?”

Xuan Jiuding’s face bore a smile, not even glancing at Yun Xiao by Mo Qing’s side, making it unclear whether this was intentional or accidental. His primary concern seemed to be Mo Qing, the longstanding talented young lady of the Jade Pot Sect.

”I think this is not the glory of the Xuanyue Empire, but rather the glory of Crown Prince himself, isn’t it?”

Before Mo Qing could speak, Yun Xiao, who had been deemed ”unimportant,” interjected smoothly, and his first words were extremely sharp, pointing directly at Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding’s true intentions.

In fact, everyone present knew this to be Xuan Jiuding’s ultimate goal. However, out of consideration for face and the deterrence of the Royal Family, no one dared to say it outright.

But there was such an ignorant youth, who directly questioned Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding himself, which suddenly quieted the room and also rendered Xuan Jiuding’s expression rather unpleasant.

”Yun Xiao, we all belong to the Xuanyue line. Are you really intent on taking this unusual path and ruining the entire plan of the Xuanyue Empire?”

Xuan Jiuding was no pushover either. By throwing such a huge accusation, he effectively pushed Yun Xiao to the opposing side of the entire Xuanyue Empire, as if by not agreeing to his previous request, Yun Xiao was becoming an enemy of all the talents of the Xuanyue Empire present.

”Yun Xiao, what the Crown Prince has said is quite right. I think you should agree!”

A genius from an unknown sect loudly interjected. Like those who had already lost face by agreeing earlier, they now held Xuan Jiuding in high regard. If Yun Xiao were to defy the Crown Prince’s wishes, it meant going against them as well.

”Yes, Yun Xiao, the Jade Pot Sect is, after all, a sect of the Xuanyue Empire. If the Crown Prince secures a good ranking, it brings honor to all of us as well!”

This time, the person who spoke was even more incisive than the previous one. Not only did it contain the so-called ”righteousness” of belonging to the same nation, but there was also an implicit threat.

What was said implied that if Yun Xiao cared about the sect’s interests, he should not offend the Royal Family too much, or else the consequences would be quite dire.

”I’m sorry!”

However, just when everyone thought Yun Xiao would compromise or at least adopt an ambiguous stance like Li Yue, this young man in coarse clothing from the Jade Pot Sect stood up and firmly stated two words.

”The Xuanyue Royal Family may have a wide reach, but it doesn’t extend to the head of my Jade Pot Sect. If you want a good ranking, rely on your own skills. Why resort to such underhanded methods?”

Yun Xiao and Xuan Jiuding had a longstanding feud. How could he possibly be polite in his speech? Moreover, he knew that even if he were courteous, or even agreed to Xuan Jiuding’s request, the Crown Prince was unlikely to let him off easily, right?

”How bold, Yun Xiao! Do you realize to whom you are speaking?”

Song Yi, who had just been rebuffed, jumped out again. Was this kid too bold? He openly claimed that what the Crown Prince was doing was ”underhanded”, which could be taken as a challenge to the authority of the Royal Family.

”Why the yelling? If you disagree, feel free to make your move, and I, Yun Xiao, will take it!”

Yun Xiao merely glanced indifferently at Song Yi, his single statement enough to deflate him. With his strength, he probably did not dare to confront Yun Xiao, who had previously broken Song Zhen’s right leg.

”Crown Prince, we have drunk your wine, eaten your meat, and will now take our leave!”

Mo Qing’s words, though not as direct as Yun Xiao’s, also revealed the stance of the Jade Pot Sect. They would no longer involve themselves with the Crown Prince’s ”private affairs.”

Upon Mo Qing’s statement, Yun Xiao no longer said another word. He winked at Ling Wan, and the trio gracefully walked towards the entrance of the hall, completely unconcerned by the hostile gazes that followed them.

”Crown Prince!”

The Guan Family’s genius turned his head around, a face full of ferocious aura, believing that as long as Xuan Jiuding gave the order, these loyal talents from the Imperial City’s families would swarm up, figuring Yun Xiao, even if he had extraordinary abilities, would definitely find it impossible to leave the great gates of Heavenly Moon Pavilion unscathed.

”Forget it, they are all from the lineage of the Xuanyue Empire, let them go!”

However, after Xuan Jiuding pondered for a moment, not until the figures of Yun Xiao and the other two had completely disappeared at the entrance of the hall, did he finally let out a small sigh, as if he truly didn’t care at all as his words suggested.

But if someone was observant enough, they would have noticed that the fist Xuan Jiuding hid beneath his sleeve was clenched till the veins bulged, a clear indication of extreme anger.

Did the Crown Prince truly have no intentions of dealing with Yun Xiao on the spot? Impossible!

But he didn’t dare to, not in front of so many people. If he acted against the talent from one of the three major sects of the Empire, his father, the King, would definitely not let him off easily.

Just like what Xuan Jiuding had just said, under such a grand assembly of the Hidden Dragon Continent’s multitude of nations, the internal conflicts within the Xuanyue Empire must be set aside for the moment, united to face the external threats.

But with Yun Xiao walking away like this, and leaving behind those unceremonious words, the banquet hosted by Xuan Jiuding seemed more like a farce.

No one from Luoyi Sect came, the three from Jade Pot Sect had left cleanly, and Li Yue, the talent from Qingshan Sect, was ambiguous in attitude. Those talents whose strength at best reached the Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm were, to Xuan Jiuding, frankly insignificant.

Because Xuan Jiuding’s rivals in the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference would only be those at the Late Stage of Meridian Union Realm, like Shen Wannian and Nie Qianqiu. And facing such talents, what help could someone like Song Yi provide?

After Yun Xiao and the others had left, the atmosphere of the banquet changed somewhat. Even those talents eager to ingratiate themselves with Xuan Jiuding did not dare to go forward to toast when they saw him silent.

Finally, when it was time for supper, the banquet hastily came to an end. However, when Li Yue also thought to leave with everyone, Xuan Jiuding stopped him.

”I wonder if the Crown Prince has any further instructions? If it regards the earlier proposal, Li Yue doesn’t dare to make decisions without consulting my master,” Li Yue said, cleverly pushing the dilemma onto his Sect Master Li Feng, not a fool at all.

”Hehe, Brother Li Yue, how about listening to my words before you talk about refusal?”

Xuan Jiuding wore a smile on his face and after subtly mocking Li Yue’s attempt to dodge the issue, he continued, ”Qingshan Sect and Jade Pot Sect have always been in conflict, I haven’t mistaken that point, have I?”

”Moreover, if I’m not wrong, Brother Li Yue despises that young man Yun Xiao to the bone; it’s just that for some reasons, you could not make your move today, right?”

As Xuan Jiuding uttered a series of words, even though Li Yue had not shown any apparent animosity towards Yun Xiao today, Xuan Jiuding nearly hit the nail on the head, causing Li Yue to frown slightly.

”What exactly is Your Highness trying to say?”

This was what truly puzzled Li Yue; the Crown Prince, with his meticulous mind and strong capabilities, loved to speak in riddles, and it always took quite some time to reach a meaningful point.

”I wonder if Qingshan Sect, or should I say Sect Master Li Feng, has any interest in Jade Pot Sect?”

Seeing Li Yue becoming impatient, Xuan Jiuding finally got to the point, and upon hearing this, Li Yue was taken aback indeed, as he suddenly understood the Crown Prince’s underlying implication.

However, since Xuan Jiuding did not specify, it was inappropriate for Li Yue to spell it out, so he responded with a slightly furrowed brow, ”Your Highness must be joking. Qingshan Sect and Jade Pot Sect have always been equally matched, even if we had the intention, we don’t have the strength!”

In fact, Li Yue’s remark was akin to adding glory to Qingshan Sect’s face. Excluding the mysterious Luoyi Sect, Jade Pot Sect had always been the leader amongst the three great sects of the Xuanyue Empire.

Even if the number of top powerhouses in Qingshan Sect was not far off from those in Jade Pot Sect, the fact that the latter was a Sect of Meridian Refining Masters and produced many of them was exactly why Qingshan Sect, despite its resentment, had always refrained from challenging them openly.

”Qingshan Sect may not have the strength, but what if the Xuanyue Imperial Family were to support you?”

As bewilderment crossed Li Yue’s mind, Xuan Jiuding finally spoke out what he had been eagerly anticipating in the depths of his heart, causing Li Yue’s face to flush red instantly.

”Does Your Highness mean that the Royal Family is willing to lend Qingshan Sect a helping hand to eradicate Jade Pot Sect in one fell swoop?”

Li Yue was so agitated that he was almost at a loss for words. He knew well of his own master’s greatest aspiration. If this could really come to pass, it would indeed be a great accomplishment.

”As long as Your Highness can swear a heavenly vow, I, Li Yue, guarantee that in this Hidden Dragon Conference, I will help Your Highness achieve a top ten finish!”

Seeing Xuan Jiuding nod slightly, Li Yue suppressed the boiling emotions inside him. Once he spoke out, the smile on the face of the Crown Prince became even more intense.