Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Palace Dual Conference!”

Upon hearing Lin Xuanhao’s explanation, Yun Xiao nodded, then asked again, ”The vast Tenglong Continent must not only have these four top factions, right? What about the others?”

”What I just mentioned are the four top factions on the Tenglong Continent, and the next tier of first-rate factions includes thirteen, known among the continent’s cultivators as ’Double Islands, Double Mountains, Three Valleys, Three Sects of Xiao, Chu, and Zhao’!”

Lin Xuanhao, young as he was, appeared extremely familiar with the distribution of power across the continent, perhaps due to the fervor deep in his heart, longing for these influential powers on the Tenglong Continent.

”Impermanence Soaring Twin Islands, Ten Thousand Demons Thunderous Twin Mountains, led by Firewood Valley as the first of the Three Valleys, Killing Heart Sect heading the Three Sects, and the three major families of Xiao, Chu, and Zhao make up the thirteen second-tier great forces on the Tenglong Continent!”

In discussing these matters, Lin Xuanhao was somewhat excited, not even pausing in his speech. It was as if these facts were engraved in his bones.

Among the second-tier forces on the Tenglong Continent mentioned by Lin Xuanhao, Yun Xiao heard a few familiar names, such as Impermanence Island and Firewood Valley, whose elders had previously presided over the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference.

By now, Yun Xiao had a preliminary understanding of the power distribution on the Tenglong Continent. However, other than having some connections with the Meridian Refining Master Association and Xuanyin Hall, he knew little about the other forces.

As the two talked and discussed, they had entered Yuyang City, where the atmosphere inside the city was drastically different from outside, filled with a bustling vibe. Many cultivators walking in the streets radiated extraordinary auras, many reaching the late stages or peak of the Qi Seeking Realm.

”Big Brother Yun Xiao, since you don’t have a Meridian Spirit, why don’t we first visit the Meridian Spirit Trading Street?”

Upon entering the city, Lin Xuanhao seemed even more exhilarated, showing no signs of fatigue even though they had traveled for nearly half a month. Without waiting for Yun Xiao’s reply, he already started walking in a certain direction.

”Let’s go and have a look!”

Yun Xiao had no objections to this suggestion. After all, with too many variables surrounding the Golden Snake Worm, finding a suitable Meridian Spirit for refining would indeed be a pleasant surprise.

”Squeak squeak squeak...”

”Caw caw caw...”

”Roar...”

”...”

As Yun Xiao followed Lin Xuanhao through several streets, his ears caught a cacophony of noises, followed by an onslaught of mixed scents that hit his nose, indicating they had arrived at the so-called Meridian Spirit Trading Street.

Generally, a Meridian Spirit is refined from a Vein Demon, so the street was filled with formidable Vein Demons either caged or chained, including some that had reached the Seventh Rank.

This was Yun Xiao’s first encounter with such a marketplace since his rebirth, and it significantly differed from trading other items.

For instance, if you took a liking to a Vein Demon and negotiated a price to buy it, erasing its spiritual wisdom and refining it into your Meridian Spirit was not easy.

Despite being captured by advanced-level human warriors and brought here, these Vein Demons still possessed a proud heart. They would not willingly become a human’s Meridian Spirit; the resistance was sure to be extremely strong.

Also, the sellers of these Vein Demons certainly wouldn’t help you erase their spiritual wisdom for free. Such transactions inherently carried a huge risk; one misstep could even cost one their life.

Nevertheless, the Meridian Spirit Trading Street was bustling, filled with haggling voices. After all, acquiring a Vein Demon that one desired and then refining it into a Meridian Spirit that matched one’s attribute could significantly enhance one’s combat skills.

”Brothers, a Sixth Rank, Middle-Level Extreme Ice Snake, interested?”

Just as Yun Xiao and Lin Xuanhao stepped into the Meridian Spirit trading area, a voice reached their ears. When they turned to look, they saw a short middle-aged man holding a small blue snake emitting frigid air, smilingly looking at them.

”Extreme Ice Snake?”

With Yun Xiao’s extensive experience

”Something special must be suppressing it!”

Yun Xiao’s Power of Soul had long reached the pinnacle of the Spiritual Rank Advanced. With a slight sensing, he quickly discovered a clue because the sixth rank middle level Extreme Ice Snake, at this moment, was limply hanging in that man’s hand without any of the aura expected of a sixth rank middle level Vein Demon.

”Sorry, neither of us possesses an Ice Attribute constitution!”

Yun Xiao turned his head back, glanced at Lin Xuanhao, and immediately shook his head. Although Yun Xiao himself had an Ice Attribute Ancestor Vein, this sixth rank middle level Extreme Ice Snake was now of little use to him.

As for Lin Xuanhao, Yun Xiao had already sensed that just like Lin Family’s Family Head Lin Zhenjiang, Lin Xuanhao was of a Fire Attribute constitution, and he cultivated Fire Attribute Techniques. Thus, he might truly despise this naturally cold Extreme Ice Snake.

Under the look of disappointment from that man, they both continued walking forward without looking back. Along the way, numerous vendors hawking Vein Demons continued endlessly, but none were to their liking.

Yun Xiao hadn’t found anything suitable, while Lin Xuanhao was probably just accompanying the former on a stroll through this Meridian Spirit trading street. As the direct descendant of the Lin Family’s Family Head, Lin Xuanhao must have already refined a Meridian Spirit suitable for himself.

”Eh?”

Just as Yun Xiao was about to be completely disappointed, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he swiftly stepped towards a certain place. Lin Xuanhao, following behind, hurriedly quickened his pace to catch up, also somewhat curious about what had caught Yun Xiao’s interest.

Yun Xiao moved very quickly, taking three steps in two quite literally and arriving at that place. There, the boss was a stout man who looked quite honest, but from the narrow slit of his eyes, a sharp light would occasionally flash through, not appearing as simple as his surface suggested.

Of course, what Yun Xiao cared about was not this seemingly honest but actually cunning fat boss, but rather a Vein Demon, or more accurately, a bizarre Vein Demon, in front of him.

”Big brother Yun Xiao, could it be that you are actually interested in... this chicken...?”

Lin Xuanhao, who had walked up closely behind Yun Xiao, when he clearly saw the creature on the ground, his eyes immediately showed extreme disbelief.

For in front of the fat boss, there was nothing else but a creature that looked like an old hen... a Vein Demon, and on one of its claws, a chain was carelessly tied, as if fearing that the chicken might escape.

Lin Xuanhao was quite a prodigy in the Spirit Vein Realm Middle Stage, being the rightful son of the Lin Family. He couldn’t sense even a hint of Demon Meridian Qi from this hen; it appeared just like a regular old hen used for laying eggs in ordinary households.

Originally, Lin Xuanhao had great respect for Yun Xiao’s judgment, but now he was beginning to doubt it. This creature looked just like a common hen, how could it be a powerful Vein Demon?

On this Meridian Spirit trading street, there were indeed many sly and cunning individuals. Along their way, they had seen more than once individuals using ordinary beasts or even household pets to impersonate powerful Vein Demons, deceiving one after another easily.

Since the Vein Demons brought here for sale often had their Demon Meridian Qi specially suppressed, with varying degrees of suppression, sellers could claim full suppression to hide the Qi, ostensibly to prevent any mishaps with their customers, but in fact, it was just a way to deceive and dupe.

In Lin Xuanhao’s view, this fat boss right before them clearly wanted to pass off a common old hen as something valuable, and who could not see through such a trick?

Perhaps this was the reason why this spot was so deserted, as normal cultivators, upon seeing the image of that old hen, would lose all interest, who would openly make such a foolish decision under the public’s eyes?

”Boss, how much for this chicken?”

Just as Lin Xuanhao was about to speak out and remind Yun Xiao, the latter casually asked about the price, seemingly anxious to let others know about his great interest in this chicken.

”Kid, if you can’t discern properly, don’t blabber nonsense. With which of your eyes do you see this as a chicken?”

Unexpectedly, just as Lin Xuanhao was inwardly anxious, the fat boss refuted first. Seeing him glaring with his barely open eyes, the words he spoke left the nearby people gaping in astonishment.

Clearly, it was just a chicken, from whatever angle one looked, it was an old hen, yet this fat boss dared to utter such words. Those familiar with his character knew that this guy was about to start tricking people again.

”Since it is not a chicken, then what, boss, do you claim it is?”

However, Yun Xiao did not get angry but instead followed along with what the fat boss had mentioned. At this, the bystanders sighed and shook their heads; such a gullible fool was rarely seen by them in their daily lives.

It seemed that these onlookers were regulars who frequented this Meridian Spirit trading street and were deeply familiar with this fat boss’s deception tactics.

In fact, many knew that this old hen was not the first household poultry the fat boss had tricked people into buying. Just a short while ago, the fat boss had even sold a common mongrel to a newcomer from out of town.

However, within a few words from the fat boss, that mongrel astonishingly turned into a special Vein Demon with an ancient Qilin bloodline, a trickery truly beyond the reach of ordinary people.