Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Empress Dowager, I need to go find the Empress Dowager!”

Xuan Jiuding’s gaze turned venomous as he retracted it from Xuan Haoran and finally gave Yun Xiao one deep look. He did not continue to make a scene or roar with rage, because he knew that doing so would only make him a laughingstock and be of no use at all.

Since even his own father, who had always valued him, now treated him this way, Xuan Jiuding knew that apart from his adoring mother, the Empress Dowager, there was probably no one else who could support him.

The figure of the Xuanyue Empire’s Crown Prince quickly vanished from the arena and even from the central square of Xuanyue, with no one knowing where he had gone. A loser would not be the subject of concern.

”Yun Xiao!”

Everyone looked in stunned silence at the young man in plain clothes atop the arena. Those who held grudges or friendships with Yun Xiao thought back to the past; it all seemed like a different lifetime.

That included Zhao Ningshu, Cao Luo, and even Xuan Zhi, whose bodies trembled slightly. After all, they had teamed up to bully Yun Xiao in the past. Although Yun Xiao was strong at that time, he was far from being as formidable as he is now.

Defeating Nie Qianqiu, trampling Shen Wannian, and now making the Xuanyue Crown Prince, Xuan Jiuding, utterly miserable, this teenager, not even seventeen years of age, was just one step away from reaching the pinnacle of the younger generation of the entire Hidden Dragon Continent.

Snap!

In the area belonging to the Zhao Family of Ningfeng City, Zhao Ningshu’s body was trembling, and just as a wave of fear surged within him, he suddenly felt a pain at the back of his head, and incredulously turned his head around.

”Father, why did you hit me?”

Zhao Ningshu felt wronged. Although he had a slight idea of the reason, he still directly asked it out. In recent days, his father had been behaving very abnormally.

”You little rascal, later I am going to tie up your hands and feet and personally escort you to the Jade Pot Courtyard, to apologize to Yun Xiao!”

Zhao Family Head Zhao Huan’s eyes flickered with an extremely conflicted expression before he finally forced out those words, turning Zhao Ningshu’s face instantly pale.

Are we finally going to bow down to Yun Xiao?

This was what Zhao Ningshu had been unwilling to face ever since Yun Xiao began to rise. But now, with Yun Xiao standing at the top of the younger generation of the entire Hidden Dragon Continent, he knew that this moment had inevitably come.

Similar sentiments echoed within families like the Cao Family, Feng Family, and Shen Family, who had previously offended Yun Xiao. With his astonishing battles and victories, Yun Xiao had intimidated everyone.

Meanwhile, Yun Xiao had no concern for Xuan Jiuding, who disappeared quickly from the square. To Yun Xiao, an opponent who could never break through the Spirit Vein Realm again would never pose a threat to him.

Thus, at this moment, Yun Xiao’s gaze turned sharply in a direction where a youth in Golden Clothes was also staring at him unblinkingly.

Each held a different meaning in their eyes; Jin Wuli seemed extremely provocative, seemingly holding a grudge regarding Yun Xiao’s previous actions.

As for Yun Xiao, his expression became somewhat serious because this Jin Wuli was just too strange. It was obvious that he could sense Jin Wuli was a Strange Spirit; yet, why would he have the characteristics of a human’s meridians, and even Vice Chairman Qian could not sense it?

All these questions would have to wait until tomorrow when Yun Xiao personally battled him, and perhaps the answers would come to light then. Today’s Countries Hidden Dragon Conference finally concluded with Yun Xiao’s victory.

Until Yun Xiao and those from the Jade Pot Sect also left the central square, the noise and commotion persisted for a long time, and this commotion might continue until tomorrow’s final showdown.

...

That afternoon at the Jade Pot Courtyard was extraordinarily lively. Although the Great Elders of the Jade Pot Sect were exhausted, smiles never left their faces.

This was all because Yun Xiao had defeated Xuan Jiuding and advanced into the top two of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference. Among the visitors were not only families like Zhao Family and Cao Family who wanted to mend relationships, but also strong figures and Sect Elders from other empires.

These people were no fools. They all knew that Yun Xiao’s performance would surely catch the attention of major figures in the Middle Three Realms. If any of these powerful figures took an interest in him, the Jade Pot Sect might ascend to glory along with him.

So, it was necessary to establish a good relationship with the Jade Pot Sect in advance. This sect might soon become the number one sect in the Xuanyue Empire, perhaps even across the entire Hidden Dragon Continent.

And when they heard the implicit meanings in the visitors’ words, Yu Shu and the other Great Elders had mixed feelings. They wondered what the expressions on these people’s faces would be if they knew that Miss Xue from Xuanyin Hall and Vice Chairman Qian from the Meridian Refining Master Association had personally invited Yun Xiao.

Yet, Yun Xiao’s rejection of those two just made the elders frustrated, wishing he were more toward their expectations. What exactly was Yun Xiao participating in the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference for? His thoughts were different from the ordinary talents of the Hidden Dragon Continent, weren’t they?

Of course, tomorrow is the final battle between Yun Xiao and Jin Wuli, and people like Yu Shu and Lu Zhan would by no means disturb Yun Xiao.

Those empire and sect elders from the Hidden Dragon Continent, though distinguished, are simply not on the same level as Qian Sanyuan and Xue Ningxiang.

Therefore, despite the numerous visitors to the Jade Pot Courtyard, not a single one got to see Yun Xiao, which indeed disappointed many. But at this time, who would dare to disturb him?

In front of a small courtyard in the Jade Pot Courtyard, Zhao Huan of the Zhao Family paced back and forth outside with his son Zhao Ningshu, like ants on a hot pan, yet somewhat daunted to knock on the courtyard door.

This courtyard was not where Yun Xiao stayed, but the residence of Ling Wan. Talents who made it into the top sixteen of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference all had their own private courtyards.

Creak!

Just as Zhao Huan and Zhao Ningshu’s expressions fluctuated, the courtyard door was pulled open from the inside. A round-faced, plump boy stepped out—who else could it be but Ling Wan?

”Ling Wan, you’ve finally come out. Your father—”

”Family Head Zhao, ’your father,’ this term of address, please refrain from using it in the future. Ever since Brother Yun Xiao and I left the Zhao Family, we no longer carry the Zhao surname!”

Before Zhao Huan could say what he wanted, Ling Wan slightly shook his head, his words carrying neither sorrow nor joy, as if he was simply stating a fact.

Ling Wan today is not only at the Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm in terms of his Meridian Qi Cultivation, but his character has also become much more tenacious; he’s no longer the indecisive chubby boy he used to be.

Remembering the past, when Ling Wan received news of his mother’s critical illness and hurried back to the Zhao Family in Ningfeng City, little did he expect it was a plot by Family Head Zhao Huan, who wanted to trick him into returning to the family to act cruelly against him.

Later, if it weren’t for Yun Xiao’s timely arrival, Ling Wan might have died at his own biological father’s hands. Since then, he had truly seen Zhao Family Head’s true colors.

Although Ling Wan was simple and naive, he was aware of the purpose behind the Zhao father and son visiting today. They saw his previous battle and acknowledged his talent, and now wanted to take him back into the Zhao Family fold.

Ling Wan even faintly realized that Zhao Huan hadn’t come these past few days but chose to visit today, likely due to Yun Xiao’s relationship, because the latter’s performance was far more formidable than his own.

Interrupted by Ling Wan, Zhao Huan’s expression turned somewhat awkward, but he dared not show anger. Seeing his eyes darting around, he finally kicked his son Zhao Ningshu on the back of the leg, causing him to stumble and kneel before Ling Wan.

”It’s all this unfilial son’s bad behavior. The incident back then... had nothing to do with... me, truly had nothing to do with me. Ling Wan, can you forgive me?”

Zhao Huan initially wanted to say ”as a father,” but he quickly remembered Ling Wan’s earlier words and corrected himself. Hearing the term ”unfilial son,” Ling Wan couldn’t help but feel emotional, as those words were once used to describe him.

”It had nothing to do with you?”

Ling Wan, who had been calm thus far, suddenly became agitated and sternly said to Zhao Huan, ”In the entire Zhao Family of Ningfeng City, aside from mother, who didn’t treat me like a freak and a piece of trash, freely bullying me? Without the approval of you, Family Head Zhao Huan, would a third young master of the Zhao Family be subjected to such audacity?”

These words seemed to pour out all the humiliations Ling Wan had suffered in the past years, making Zhao Huan’s face turn from shades of green to white, for he found himself at a loss for words.

Indeed, as Ling Wan said, even if he was born strange and occasionally turned into that peculiar fleshy ball, he was still the third young master of the Zhao Family. He remembered that even the two guards at the gate dared to speak coldly to him when he returned to the Zhao Family, which is indicative of the treatment he received.

”Yes, Ling Wan, even if you hate us, think about your mother. She misses you so much at home!”

Although Zhao Huan was somewhat at a loss for words, after all, he was the head of a family. Hearing Ling Wan mention his mother, he quickly seized the opportunity, attempting to use the bond of mother and child to sway Ling Wan.

”This trick again?”

Hearing Zhao Huan’s words, a hint of cold laughter flashed in Ling Wan’s eyes as he spoke, ”One day, I will take mother away from the Zhao Family, and if I find out that you’ve treated her like before, don’t blame me for not being polite!”

As Ling Wan’s words fell, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from him. Sensing the energy fluctuations of the Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm, Zhao Huan’s face paled instantly.

Although Zhao Huan had also broken through to the Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm during this time, after witnessing Ling Wan’s way of fighting, he admitted to himself that he was no match for his son.

Today’s Ling Wan was no longer the chubby boy that the Zhao Family could manipulate at will. He had grown to a point where even the Zhao Family Head felt outclassed.

Perhaps at this moment, Zhao Huan finally felt a true sense of regret. Looking at Zhao Ningshu kneeling on the ground and then at the imposing Ling Wan, sadly, the latter no longer bore the Zhao surname.