Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Thankfully, top-tier forces on the Tenglong Continent like the Meridian Refining Master Association and Xuanyin Hall don’t seem to be interested in Yun Xiao!”

Everyone felt a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment. However, when they saw neither Qian Sanyuan nor Xue Ningxiang made a move, they also felt some balance; after all, these two powerhouses truly represented the peak forces of the Tenglong Continent.

”Yun Xiao, my offer still stands—if you agree to join the Meridian Refining Master Association, you can pick and choose from its resources freely, with privileges equivalent to that of an Elder of the Association!”

However, just as a sense of balance began to settle in everyone’s hearts, Vice President Qian Sanyuan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, and the terms of his offer instantly outshone those of the other seven sects.

Even Yun Xiao was somewhat shocked, for the terms Qian Sanyuan proposed during his visit to the Jade Pot Courtyard the day before were far less generous, making the offer hard to refuse.

It should be noted that even a branch of the Meridian Refining Masters on the Hidden Dragon Continent would possess resources almost comparable to the power of an entire Empire, given that the continent’s Meridian Refining Masters are among the wealthiest groups.

Not to mention the Meridian Refining Master Association of the Tenglong Continent—Qian Sanyuan’s offer was clearly irresistible to any rational person.

Those who had just been relieved that Yun Xiao was not approached by either the Meridian Refining Master Association or Xuanyin Hall now wore complex expressions as they unanimously turned their gazes towards Miss Xue.

As an ominous feeling began to rise in everyone’s hearts, Miss Xue of Xuanyin Hall indeed spoke softly, stunning everyone with her words:

”Yun Xiao, I am the only daughter of my father. If you join Xuanyin Hall, I can persuade him to take you as his adopted son. And as for myself, I have no interest in taking over the Xuanyin Hall!”

Standing up slowly, Xue Ningxiang glanced at Qian Sanyuan and spoke with a blush on her face, but the implication of her words was clear to everyone.

Xuanyin Hall, a colossus on the Tenglong Continent, vastly outstripped factions such as Impermanence Island and Firewood Valley in power. Even the geniuses of the Tenglong Continent took pride in the chance to join Xuanyin Hall.

Xue Ningxiang’s underlying message was that if Yun Xiao agreed to join Xuanyin Hall, he could be adopted by Master Xuanyin himself, and since she had no interest in leadership, wouldn’t that mean the position of the next Master of Xuanyin Hall could well fall into Yun Xiao’s hands?

”This little vixen!”

Ladies with sharp minds like Xu Hongzhuang and Mo Qing frowned deeply and cursed to themselves, detecting a deeper meaning in Xue Ningxiang’s words.

Although Xue Ningxiang did not explicitly mention ”marriage,” how could a great family like Xuanyin Hall possibly entrust its future to a stranger without forming familial bonds?

This explained the flush on Xue Ningxiang’s face. Although she had truly met Yun Xiao only once, it was that encounter that sparked a peculiar feeling within her for this unconventionally acting young man.

Perhaps it was also due to her Innate Pulse Cutting, which needed resolution by Yun Xiao, but first and foremost, pulling Yun Xiao into Xuanyin Hall was crucial. Otherwise, in the vast world, where would one go to find this mysterious youth?

It must be said that the terms offered by Qian Sanyuan and Xue Ningxiang today were far more substantial than the ones proposed during their personal visits to the Jade Pot Courtyard. Especially Xue Ningxiang, who stopped short only of offering herself.

With these two speaking up, the invitations from individuals like Meng Liyang and Gu Hua seemed somewhat dim and lackluster, especially since their overall power and cultivation resources paled in comparison to these two forces.

Therefore, for the time being, the crowd’s gazes shifted back and forth only between Qian Sanyuan and Xue Ningxiang, and they believed that under such generous conditions, Yun Xiao would likely find it difficult to refuse and would definitely choose to join one side.

On the stage, Yun Xiao was also somewhat torn. Although his soul hailed from the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, and he somewhat looked down on the sects of the Middle Three Realms and the Lower Five Realms, his current body was still too weak post-reincarnation. Finding a powerful backer wouldn’t be a bad choice.

Moreover, Yun Xiao’s refusal to agree to Xue Ningxiang and Qian Sanyuan those two nights wasn’t without a touch of raising his own value—after all, how could one compare being among the top eight or even four in the Hidden Dragon Conference to being its champion?

Unbeknownst to Yun Xiao, his unintentional strategy paid off handsomely. Having just won the championship of the Hidden Dragon Conference, the terms offered by the Meridian Refining Master Guild and Xuanyin Hall were tens of times higher than those proposed that night.

For a moment, within and around the central square of Baiyue City, the atmosphere shifted from extremely noisy to silent. Everyone watched the shabbily dressed youth on the stage, curious as to whether he would choose the Meridian Refining Master Association or Xuanyin Hall.

Most onlookers, however, leaned towards Xuanyin Hall, given the tempting proposition of potentially becoming the next Master of Xuanyin Hall.

Whoosh!

Just as all eyes were fixed on Yun Xiao, a whooshing sound suddenly came from somewhere. Following it, they clearly saw the stage where Yun Xiao stood was now graced by a peculiar object.

It was an opened black umbrella. Notably, this unsupported black umbrella effortlessly hovered in the air, slowly rotating, imbuing the scene with an air of otherworldly eeriness and mystique.

”What is that?”

Previously, everyone’s attention had been focused on Yun Xiao, so they were the first to notice the floating, spinning black umbrella, all revealing a trace of confusion.

Because no one knew how the black umbrella had appeared above the arena, even the Earth Rank powerhouses like Qian Sanyuan and Meng Liyang on the high platform were filled with incomprehension.

”Is that the Jinghong Umbrella? This is bad!”

Perhaps only Yun Xiao himself knew the origin of this black umbrella. Back in the mountains of the southern Lingtian Empire, it was the owner of this black umbrella who had saved his life. Yet, it was also this umbrella’s owner who intended to take Yun Xiao’s life away.

Whoosh!

While everyone was still lost in confusion, another graceful figure appeared beside the black umbrella. Clearly, it was a woman, and even the Earth Rank powerhouses such as Qian Sanyuan and Meng Liyang had a sharp look in their eyes at such speed.

She was a woman entirely clothed in black, with long black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. Covered by a black veil, her eyes shone like two cold stars, exuding a strange charm that involuntarily drew people into its depths.

”Sorry for the interruption!”

Paying no heed to Yun Xiao’s or the surrounding spectators’ loss of composure, the woman in black spoke these words from behind her veiled lips, causing everyone to snap back to reality and feel a wave of shock.

Because in that instant, everyone had been unconsciously mesmerized by the black-clothed woman’s grace. If they were to be attacked by an enemy under such circumstances, surely none could preserve their lives.

Yun Xiao’s face was extremely gloomy. Although the woman in black had once saved his life, he knew clearly that she did not wish for him to die at someone else’s hand.

Had it not been for the sudden eruption of his Blood Moon Mark last time, he would probably have died under that woman’s umbrella. Unexpectedly, this woman’s haunting presence had followed him to the Xuanyue Imperial City, suddenly revealing herself after the conclusion of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference.

However, compared to his last desperate situation, Yun Xiao felt not as bad this time, after scanning the sea of cultivators around him and sensing the many Earth Rank powerhouses on the northern platform.

Although Yun Xiao was unable to sense the true cultivation level of the woman in black, surely she could not be more powerful than top-tier Earth Rank experts like Qian Sanyuan and Meng Liyang, could she?

”That... long time no see!”

For some reason, Yun Xiao did not wish to truly antagonize the woman in black. He had yet to understand why the woman wanted to kill him—was there a misunderstanding between them?

”Congratulations on winning the championship of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference!”

A hint of obvious mockery flashed through the star-like eyes of the woman in black. Clearly, she had intentionally chosen this time to come to the platform. She seemed to enjoy the sight of Yun Xiao’s fall from grace to despair.

In fact, the woman in black had arrived in Baiyue City, the Imperial City, at the beginning of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, but she did not immediately act against Yun Xiao, preferring to wait until now.

Therefore, she had personally witnessed Yun Xiao defeating Nie Qianqiu, overpowering Shen Wannian, making a mess of the Xuan Jiuding, and ultimately exposing Jin Wuli’s Strange Spirit identity.

To be honest, the woman in black was also incredibly impressed with Yun Xiao’s performance, as even she might not have been able to achieve such extraordinary feats during her Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm.

If not for certain things she was compelled to follow, the woman in black, who had developed an admiration for Yun Xiao, would probably have spared him. But all of this was destined, and no one had any say in it.

”I’m very sorry to disturb you at this time, but I really have to take your life today!”

The woman in black spoke as if she was discussing a very ordinary matter, and she did not attempt to conceal these words, allowing everyone inside and outside of the plaza, including Qian Sanyuan and others on the northern platform, to hear her loud and clear.

Even though the arrival of the woman in black was peculiar, and her appearance on the platform had demonstrated a surprising speed, in this small Hidden Dragon Continent, was there anything that could concern powerhouses like Qian Sanyuan and Meng Liyang?

”Little lady, that’s the arena for the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, not a place for you to be. Please step down quickly!”

Nevertheless, Qian Sanyuan remained calm. Although the woman in black had her face veiled, she appeared to be very young, so he did not act immediately out of self-respect for his status.

”Today, I just want Yun Xiao’s life. If you are sensible, just stay there and don’t move!”