Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Heh heh, the sixteen Dragon Flags are merely a superficial test; the second round of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference is not so simple!”

Upon hearing Elder Gu Hua’s question, Meng Liyang chuckled strangely. Since the Hidden Dragon Conference this time was being held in his Demon World, he naturally felt a sense of superiority that the others did not possess.

”Elder Liyang, stop playing coy and just tell us, what is it that’s so complicated?”

Elder Wu Tong from Firewood Valley, who practiced Dual Cultivation of fire and wood elements, was somewhat impatient and asked outright. It’s just about finding the sixteen Dragon Flags. If luck was on one’s side, wouldn’t stumbling upon one while walking be nothing unusual?

”The Vein Demons on Demon Suppressing Mountain are far from comparable to those down the mountain; most of them have reached the advanced Fifth Rank, and beside each Dragon Flag, there is at least half of a Vein Demon that has set foot into the Sixth Rank Tier guarding it!”

Finally, Meng Liyang did not keep them in suspense anymore. After he revealed this, the expressions of several strong figures from the Tenglong Continent changed, for they knew how tough this trial would be.

A Vein Demon that had half-stepped into the Sixth Rank Tier was comparable to the Half-step Spirit Vein Realm. Yet, these young talents participating in the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference were only outwardly at most in the Late Stage of Meridian Union Realm, with none at the Peak of Meridian Union Realm. How could they contend with a demon of such a level?

”Elder Liyang, isn’t this second round a bit too ruthless?”

One of the kind-hearted Elders couldn’t help but speak out, but no one echoed his sentiment. As Meng Liyang previously said in the projection at the foot of the mountain, those who feared death could just stay put and no Vein Demon would seek them out.

In fact, Meng Liyang had previously exaggerated a bit. Those Vein Demons guarding the sixteen Dragon Flags were not truly Low Level Sixth Rank; he just wanted to test the guts of these talents from the Hidden Dragon Continent.

After all, if there were truly Low Level Sixth Rank Vein Demons, then none of the talents participating in this session of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference would be able to enter the third round.

Cultivation is, of course, fundamentally about diligent and persistent practice, but if one lacks the courage to pursue the peak, then their achievements will inevitably be limited. This too is part of the assessment at the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference.

”In fact, the sixteen Dragon Flags are not the only criterion for entering the third round. There is another test, and if someone can complete it, then they can surpass all the talents who have obtained the flags and directly enter the third round!”

Once again, Meng Liyang opened his mouth, causing everyone to reveal a trace of puzzlement. Wasn’t this second round all about competing for the Dragon Flags? Now there was another special assessment.

”Please forgive Meng for keeping you in suspense; everyone will naturally find out in due time!”

Seeing the puzzled looks on everyone’s faces, Meng Liyang did not explain this time. Perhaps even in his own heart, he doubted that those talents from the Hidden Dragon Continent had the strength to complete that special task.

”This old guy!”

Seeing Meng Liyang not divulge anything, the crowd could only suppress their curiosity. After all, this little event on the Hidden Dragon Continent was just about selecting some talented young disciples for them; they did not place too much importance on it.

......

The one thousand talents who had scattered into Demon Suppressing Mountain were naturally unaware of the deeper intentions of this second round. However, as they ventured deeper into Demon Suppressing Mountain and encountered those fierce Vein Demons, many of them fell into peril.

Bang!

Somewhere on the slope of Demon Suppressing Mountain, a robust figure was sent flying. Right after that, an even larger shadow dropped from above, its hoof stomping on his chest, causing that area to cave in directly, obviously piercing the heart, making survival impossible.

”Who would have thought that I, the mighty Crown Prince of the Wanling Empire, would... would die here!”

This brawny man, self-proclaimed as the Crown Prince of Wanling Empire, held a trace of extreme unwillingness in his eyes. Unfortunately, in the next instant, he plunged into an endless darkness, with no breath of life remaining.

The fierce Vein Demon that had killed a human Cultivator in the Late Stage of Meridian Union Realm seemed to have done something insignificant, not even deigning to glance at the body of the Crown Prince from Wanling Empire before turning and disappearing into the dense forest among the mountains.

Similar tragedies continued to take place throughout Demon Suppressing Mountain. With most of the Vein Demons reaching the advanced Fifth Rank, apart from a few exceptional talents, it was fortunate for the others from the Hidden Dragon Continent to even escape with their lives.

On the Continent, it’s the survival of the fittest, and the path of Cultivation is like crossing a log bridge with thousands of troops – to gain better resources than others, one must pay a heavier price, which often equates to one’s life.

The sixteen Dragon Flags represent sixteen types of resources that can propel one to great heights. As long as they are obtained, one can break into the final third round of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, and might even catch the favor of the powerhouses from Tenglong Continent.

Among nearly a hundred thousand people, the one thousand who had made it to the second round were not the timid sort. They could be considered among the most talented individuals of the younger generation on the Hidden Dragon Continent – at such a moment, how could they possibly retreat so easily?

Yet human strength does have its limits, just like the Crown Prince of Wanling Empire; a moment of carelessness meant leaving his life behind in Demon Suppressing Mountain, which can only be chalked up to fate.

......

Boom!

Somewhere within Demon Suppressing Mountain, a blood-red flame soared into the sky, and in an instant, it burned the caught-off-guard massive Vein Demon into a pile of ashes.

Looking at that blood-red flame, the two young girls beside it and a chubby boy all gasped for air fiercely, their gazes towards a certain burly youth filled with shock.

”Big Brother Yun Xiao, you’re really amazing!”

This had become Ling Wan’s mantra. Every time he saw Yun Xiao unleash his divine might, he couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, and naturally, this group was none other than Yun Xiao, Mo Qing, and Liu Hanyi.

”This guy is getting stronger and stronger!”

Seeing the Fifth Rank Advanced Vein Demon that had previously left the three of them too preoccupied to even care for themselves, Mo Qing also silently sighed to herself, her determination to train even harder solidified at the sight of it being reduced to ashes with just a single move from Yun Xiao.

”Heh, compared to his strength, I’m more interested in the matter of Miss Xu from the Xu Family!”

Liu Hanyi, standing beside, had a momentary flash of shock in her eyes, which soon turned into a peculiar and strange expression. The words she uttered caused even the just gloriously mighty Yun Xiao to stiffen his face involuntarily.

”Sister Hanyi, are you really so interested in other people’s affairs?”

Yun Xiao didn’t answer Liu Hanyi’s question but countered it directly. Ever since they first met inside the Xuanyue Imperial Palace, he had seen how cheeky this top genius girl of the Luoyi Sect could be.

”I’m naturally not interested in other people’s business, but I’m very interested in yours, Yun Xiao!”

Liu Hanyi shook her head while the interest in her beautiful eyes grew more intense as she spoke, drawing even Mo Qing to turn her head back.

Although Yun Xiao had previously been cold and curt to Miss Xu, any discerning person could see that there was more than meets the eye between these two.

From Xu Hongzhuang’s attitude, Mo Qing couldn’t help feeling a sense of crisis, feeling that she could never be with Yun Xiao as long as Miss Xu was around.

”Big Brother Yun Xiao, is Miss Xu really your fiancée?”

Ultimately, someone in the field still didn’t understand the subtleties; Ling Wan only cared if he would gain a sister-in-law, and as for who she was, he genuinely did not care at all.

”Chubby, shut your mouth!”

Upon hearing this, Liu Hanyi’s brows shot up. Ling Wan’s remarks were truly tactless, ruining the delicate atmosphere that had just been there, and how could she not be angry?

Even Mo Qing gave Ling Wan an angry glare, leaving him somewhat confused. Did he say something wrong just by asking a question?

”Women’s thoughts are truly difficult to guess!”

Ling Wan secretly grumbled in his heart, but dared not speak any further. After all, strictly speaking, both of them were his senior sisters, and even though they did not belong to the same Sect, he had no choice but to endure bullying.

”Yun Xiao, just tell us!”

Liu Hanyi chided Yun Xiao, already turning around, giving him no chance to change the subject. What answer was she exactly seeking?

”As you all saw and heard before, I was engaged to Miss... Xu Hongzhuang through a childhood betrothal. Later, because of certain events, this engagement was annulled. It’s that simple!”

Seeing this senior sister from the Luoyi Sect determined to get to the bottom of things, Yun Xiao could only speak up to explain a bit, yet he mentioned none of the details.

As for those unknown details, Liu Hanyi and Mo Qing were indeed not interested in knowing. They simply needed to understand that Yun Xiao was no longer bound by any engagement, so they wouldn’t be deemed as interlopers in someone else’s emotions.

”Women’s hearts are truly bizarre!”

Seeing Liu Hanyi no longer pursuing the matter, Yun Xiao also couldn’t help but feel the same sort of exasperation Ling Wan did just moments ago, but he didn’t dwell on it further. Currently, the most important thing was to find one of the Sixteen Dragon Flags, which was the real mission at hand.

”Big Brother Yun Xiao, are we going to stick together the whole way? If we find a Dragon Flag, who gets to keep it?”

Ling Wan had a simple mind, and when he asked this question, he only meant it literally. Even if these four had an excellent relationship, distributing the Dragon Flag afterward would be a tricky matter.

”There are four of us, why not just find four Dragon Flags?”

Just as Liu Hanyi and Mo Qing were thoughtfully contemplating the issue, the burly youth ahead didn’t even turn his head. As his indifferent voice reached them, for some reason, they all immediately breathed a sigh of relief, accepting his words without a trace of doubt.

If another Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm Cultivator had made such a claim, the three of them would probably take a good look to see if that person was insane, but with Yun Xiao saying this, they had no doubt whatsoever. After all, this guy had already achieved too many inconceivable feats.