Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Li Yue really shot himself in the foot!”

Watching the Qingshan Sect genius not far away, Mo Qing and Liu Hanyi both smiled brilliantly, feeling extremely delighted. In contrast, the expression on Xuanyue Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding’s face was extremely gloomy.

Originally, Li Yue wanted to catch Yun Xiao off guard with his Late Stage of Meridian Union Realm cultivation, to prevent the final spot from falling into Yun Xiao’s hands, but he hadn’t anticipated this outcome.

Those five had safely entered the designated area, but Li Yue, who had planned his moves carefully, was instead preempted by Yun Xiao’s sudden attack of one fire and two swords.

Li Yue had arrived at the foot of Demon Suppressing Mountain early. Had he not meddled unnecessarily, a spot in the second round would have certainly been his, but now, he could only gnash his teeth and glare murderously from the outside.

However, no matter how fearsome Li Yue’s gaze might be, the blue light shield would not open any entrance for him; the rules were the rules, and once the number of people was met, it naturally closed.

Moreover, it wasn’t just Li Yue who was eliminated in the first round of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference; about ninety percent of the geniuses from the Hidden Dragon Continent were also blocked outside the second round.

Some of it might have involved luck, like those five who just entered; they were much weaker than Li Yue, yet they made it to the second round, truly a stroke of fate.

Swipe!

No one outside the light shield paid much attention to Li Yue, and at that moment, above the sky inside the shield, an illusory figure suddenly appeared—it was Meng Liyang, the Elder of Demons Mountain.

”First of all, congratulations to everyone who passed the first round and made it to the second round!”

The figure, like an image, indeed spoke like Meng Liyang, and at this moment, everyone selectively ignored this miraculous scene and instead looked forward to the second round of the competition.

”The next round will take you from the foot of Demon Suppressing Mountain to the peak, where there are sixteen Dragon Flags. Whoever ends up claiming these sixteen Dragon Flags will qualify for the final third round battles!”

Meng Liyang’s voice seemed somewhat ethereal, and the rules for the second round were straightforward, and everyone knew that it would definitely be far more intense than the first round.

The first round focused primarily on luck and speed, so there were not many serious clashes among the Hidden Dragon Continent’s geniuses; some had even formed alliances like the dozen people earlier to deal with the powerful Vein Demons.

However, the second round was a competition for the Dragon Flags, and, with only sixteen flags but a thousand people in the second round, the degree of brutality was palpable.

”The locations of the Dragon Flags are irregular, and I must remind you,” Meng Liyang pointedly said, ”after entering Demon Suppressing Mountain, you may also encounter Sixth Rank Low Level Vein Demons. If you don’t wish to lose your life, better stay at the foot of the mountain!”

After saying this, Meng Liyang’s illusory form vanished in an instant, leaving the geniuses of the Hidden Dragon Continent looking at each other, then subtly distancing themselves from people nearby.

Under the rules of this second round, even disciples from the same empire became fierce competitors; only those who obtained a Dragon Flag could advance to the ultimate third round, a chance so incredibly slim.

For the relatively weaker geniuses, such as Shen Wannian and Ye Shimei, their brows furrowed slightly because this round’s competition not only tested their strength but their luck as well, as nobody knew exactly where the sixteen Dragon Flags were hidden.

Shoo, shoo, shoo...

In an instant, most people did not delay any longer, each picking a direction and heading toward the summit of Demon Suppressing Mountain, unsure if they would successfully find a Dragon Flag.

Sigh...

Just as Yun Xiao also intended to head towards the summit, a red figure suddenly swept past him, and he immediately smelled a faintly familiar fragrance and looked up.

”Yun Xiao, why don’t we travel together? If we find a Dragon Flag, I’ll let you take it first!”

The newcomer was a girl in red, accompanied by a proud-looking young man with a hint of anger in his demeanor; however, the girl’s words attracted several strange glances.

”Yun Xiao, who is she?”

The simultaneous inquiry from Mo Qing and Liu Hanyi caused the two women to exchange glances, while Yun Xiao felt an unprecedented awkwardness.

”My name is Xu Hongzhuang, from the Lingyun Sect of the Lingtian Empire, but I have another identity—I am Yun Xiao’s... fiancée!”

Apparently sensing the hostility in the eyes of the two women, Xu Hongzhuang introduced herself and her background first, but the last statement struck like thunder, stunning both Mo Qing and Liu Hanyi.

”Fiancée?”

Mo Qing’s face turned pale; this matter was known only to the Sect Master Yu Shu of the Jade Pot Sect, who had not revealed it to outsiders, so Mo Qing was completely unaware.

At this moment, Mo Qing felt that the phrase ”fiancée” shattered all her thoughts instantaneously, turning them into mocking particles that continuously bombarded her seemingly fragile heart, causing her to involuntarily step back.

”Fiancée, you say, so this person must be my sister-in-law?”

Beside her, Spiritual Pill Moqing’s eyes widened, and the words he uttered seemed to please Xu Hongzhuang greatly, who thought to herself that this unremarkable chubby kid actually had some discernment.

”I apologize, Miss Xu, our engagement was annulled months ago at the Lingyun Sect, or more precisely, it was destroyed by your Lingyun Sect when the Shang Family was annihilated. Let’s not discuss this matter anymore!”

However, just as Mo Qing and Spiritual Pill Moqing were having different thoughts, Yun Xiao finally spoke coldly, and his words caused Xu Hongzhuang’s figure to tremble, seemingly unstable.

For Mo Qing, Yun Xiao’s retort felt like heavenly music, bringing her immense joy as if she had ascended from hell to heaven.

”Yun Xiao, the incident back then was just... merely the actions of Great Elder Yu Qian alone. Why must you...”

”Xu Hongzhuang, dare you touch your conscience and say, that incident wasn’t at all related to your father, the Sect Master of Lingyun Sect?”

As Xu Hongzhuang trembled, trying to explain something, Yun Xiao loudly interrupted her, staring intensely at the girl entangled with his past, his deep eyes even filled with a trace of expectation.

To be frank, Yun Xiao truly hoped that the massacre of the Shang Family was solely the work of Yu Qian, not related to the Sect Master of Lingyun Sect or Xu Hongzhuang. But that was merely a wishful thinking.

Even though he had learned from Yu Qian that his mother might still be alive, his beloved sister had died in that fight. That deep resentment, Yun Xiao would one day, seek retribution from Lingyun Sect.

”I...”

Being stared at like that by Yun Xiao, Xu Hongzhuang wanted to argue, but the truth was apparent, as her father Xu Lingsong had personally admitted to it. Though there were reasons for it, Lingyun Sect could not escape the involvement.

”Enough, say no more, otherwise I fear I can’t control myself!”

Seeing Xu Hongzhuang at a loss for words, disappointment flashed in Yun Xiao’s eyes, before they turned frosty again. Following his words, he strode forward, with Spiritual Pill Moqing and Liu Hanyi quickly following behind, both extremely curious about the stories of these two individuals.

Watching his retreating slim figure, Xu Hongzhuang almost bit through her lower lip. Is this romance, that was supposed to last a lifetime, truly beyond salvation now?

”Sister Hongzhuang, if Yun Xiao is being so disrespectful, why don’t I teach him a lesson for you?”

Crown Prince Nie Qianqiu of Lingtian, a flash of anger crossed his eyes, but as soon as he spoke, Xu Hongzhuang turned her head with a face full of anger.

”My own matters, I will handle myself. Stop following me, or don’t blame me for being rude!”

In her anger, Xu Hongzhuang directed all her rage towards Nie Qianqiu, and it wasn’t until long after her figure disappeared that the Crown Prince’s face showed a look of bitter resentment.

”Yun Xiao, this time, I absolutely won’t let you leave the Demon Realm safely!”

Nie Qianqiu made up his mind, resentment and grudges filling his heart against that youth he had disliked from the start, enough to harbor a real intent to kill.

...

Demon Suppressing Mountain Peak!

As usual, around a large table, ten figures were seated, but at this moment, everyone’s gaze was on elder Meng Liyang, who seemed somewhat distracted.

”Hehe, gentlemen, the first round of the competition has concluded!”

After a moment, Meng Liyang’s eyes regained their clarity, and seeing everyone’s gaze, he smiled lightly, turned his head up and hinted, ”Rest assured, Yun Xiao has already made it to the second round!”

Meng Liyang, the Controller of the Demon Realm, had been closely monitoring ever since Qian Sanyuan and Xue Ningxiang mentioned Yun Xiao. The incidents at the foot of Demon Suppressing Mountain couldn’t be hidden from him, and now, he too developed a keen interest in the young man.

Upon receiving the answer he wanted, Xue Ningxiang seemed to relax, then returned to a state of quiet meditation, seemingly ignoring the conversation of the other elders.

”Say, Elder Meng, where exactly did you hide those Sixteen Dragon Flags? What if those kids can’t find them?”

The elder Gu Hua from Impermanence Island also knew the method of the second round of the competition, and couldn’t help but ask, which was also what everyone else wanted to know, even Xuan Haoran was all ears.

”Hehe, the Sixteen Dragon Flags are merely a superficial test. The second round of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference isn’t that simple!”