Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Lianyun Mountain is the headquarters of the top power on the Tenglong Continent, the Meridian Refining Master Association, and it holds the most superior position among the four major superpowers.

A Meridian Refining Master is the most honorable profession on the Nine Dragons Continent because it is closely related to various interests of the cultivators; it is an existence that every continent’s cultivator cannot bypass.

If you want to acquire some powerful elixirs to enhance your strength, you have to find a Meridian Refining Master, right? If you want to use some poisonous items to kill and plunder, you also need to find a Meridian Refining Master, correct? Even if you become ill or injured, you must find a Meridian Refining Master for treatment.

Unfortunately, the conditions to become a Meridian Refining Master are extremely harsh. A powerful soul already aside, the prerequisite of activating a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein blocks countless cultivators from the door to becoming a Meridian Refining Master.

The inheritance of Ancestor Veins relies on foundation, and you cannot activate a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein simply by wanting one. Even some families with thousands of years of heritage might not have the certainty of activating a Fire Element Ancestor Vein and becoming a Meridian Refining Master.

However, with over ten billion cultivators on the Tenglong Continent, such a large base naturally produces quite a number of Meridian Refining Masters, and the most coveted dreamland for these masters is naturally the headquarters of the association, Lianyun Mountain.

Lianyun Mountain, a gathering place for Meridian Refining Masters, holds a Disciple Selection Event every three years to absorb fresh blood. Although termed a disciple selection event, it is not limited by age or background.

That means, as long as your meridian refining technique is strong, you can stand out among all participating masters; even if you are an old monster who has cultivated for three or four hundred years, you can join Lianyun Mountain and possibly even secure a nice position.

Of course, people care about their reputation, so those old monsters who have cultivated for centuries tend not to take action lightly. If they were to lose to the younger generation, it would be quite a disgrace.

As Yun Xiao entered the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master Guild, he was met with young faces all around. Although many of these young people might be around thirty years old, compared to his current appearance, they were much younger.

Yun Xiao could sense that these individuals heading towards the local branch were at least at the spiritual rank low-level meridian refining master’s level, which matched the gossip he had heard earlier. It seems that cultivators below spiritual rank low-level meridian master do not even qualify for the assessment.

As the reincarnation of the Long Xiao Battle God, Yun Xiao was naturally familiar with the regulations. He understood that a disciple selection like Lianyun Mountain’s tri-yearly event couldn’t possibly have only one testing venue at Lianyun Mountain; otherwise, wouldn’t the entire mountain be overcrowded?

Each city’s branch might have one or several slots, and only those who pass the assessments at these branches are qualified to go to Lianyun Mountain to compete for the final spots. This way, it’s a big operation with fine divisions, relieving Lianyun Mountain’s headquarters of much trouble.

”Meridian Refining Masters participating in the selection, come over here to collect the competition token!”

As Yun Xiao stepped through the door of the Meridian Refining Master Guild, a loud call rang out from some corner. Turning his head, he saw a crowd gathered, evidently receiving the so-called competition token.

In such a situation, Yun Xiao chose not to stand out, as this was their territory, and he naturally had to follow the rules. However, as he walked towards that side, he was met with numerous disdainful gazes.

The reason for this was Yun Xiao’s disguise this time; to avoid drawing attention, he made himself look excessively rustic, resembling a person in his forties or fifties, naturally earning the disdain of these young ”geniuses.”

Previously mentioned, those truly famous old monsters generally would not participate in such disciple selections at Lianyun Mountain for fear of losing face; secondly, if they deemed their meridian refining technique strong enough, there are many other ways to join Lianyun Mountain.

Hence, Yun Xiao’s age was rather ”outstanding” among the group of young people, and with his deliberate concealment, neither his meridian qi cultivation nor his power of soul could be sensed by anyone.

”Name?”

Finally, it was Yun Xiao’s turn, and the middle-aged man distributing the competition tokens did not disdain him but asked according to procedure, briefly surprising Yun Xiao.

”Yun Xing!”

Moments later, Yun Xiao had yet another name, derived from his own surname and Shen Xingmou’s character ’Xing.’ It appears he has never forgotten the talented young girl from the Star-picking Tower.

”Here is your competition token, take it!”

Upon hearing, the middle-aged man asked nothing further, engraving the words ”Yun Xing” onto a wooden token before handing it to Yun Xiao. He did not even inquire whether the opponent had reached spiritual rank low-level meridian refining master’s level.

In fact, there was no need to ask because this was already the minimum standard for Lianyun Mountain’s triannual disciple selection. If you haven’t reached the spiritual rank low-level meridian refining master, not only will you fail the selection, but you’ll also become a laughingstock. It’s safe to say there are no fools in this world who would do such a thing, right?

Don’t be fooled by the strict conditions to become a Meridian Refining Master. In Lushan City, there are numerous cultivators, and with the cultivators from surrounding cities joining, there are actually two to three hundred people coming to participate in the selection.

Moreover, besides these two to three hundred people, many Meridian Refining Masters from distant places will surely come in the next few days, but at least today, they had no direct interaction with Yun Xiao.

”Ladies and gentlemen, the selection test for the Lushan City Meridian Refining Masters is only three days long. The top ten each day can advance to the final selection on the fourth day. The top three Meridian Refining Masters from the end will represent Lushan City and go to the Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters for the final selection!”

The middle-aged man who was distributing the entry orders earlier appeared to hold a significant position in the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master Guild. Seeing everyone receive their tokens, he waved his hand grandly. After the hall doors were closed, he spoke these words.

With this, everyone, including Yun Xiao, immediately understood the rules of the Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection. However, having three final spots in Lushan City was an unexpected joy, as many cities don’t even have a single spot and have to compete in higher-level cities.

The hall of the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master Guild was quite large, and even with two to three hundred people gathered, it did not feel crowded. While everyone was staring blankly at the middle-aged man, they noticed several figures slowly descending from the stairs leading to the second floor.

These figures were not young, obviously at least those who had reached the Seeking Origin Realm. The aura of a certain person was even stronger than that of Xu Huang, the vice president of the Yuyang Spirit Fighting Commerce.

”Isn’t that President Liancheng? I didn’t expect him to come in person?”

As these figures walked down slowly, whispers and discussions erupted around, letting Yun Xiao immediately realize that the old man leading them was the vice president of the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master Guild: Lu Liancheng!

As for those beside Lu Liancheng, they were naturally the elders of the guild. It showed that they attached great importance to this disciple selection.

”Let’s begin!”

After Lu Liancheng and others took their seats, they didn’t say much, or perhaps these Meridian Refining Masters at the Spiritual Rank didn’t even catch his eye, as he didn’t even spare them a glance.

It seems the president merely came to see if any amongst the candidates could impress him, but he wasn’t too optimistic about it.

After all, as the vice president of the Lushan City guild, Lu Liancheng was well aware of the Meridian Refining Master talents surrounding this big city. Regardless, anyone wishing to gain recognition in the Meridian Refining Technique must come to the Meridian Refining Master Guild to assess their level.

”Bring them up!”

With the president’s command, the middle-aged man waved his hand again, and everyone saw ten figures each pushing a platform covered with white cloth, placing them at the center of the hall’s first floor.

”These are ten cultivators suffering from difficult ailments or severe poisoning. Whoever can cure them will advance today!”

The middle-aged man didn’t mince words, and there was another meaning in his speech: there were only these ten people. Once others completed, there would be no place for latecomers.

Since Lushan City’s selection only had ten spots each day over the first three days, everyone instinctively realized they’d better act first. If all ten were treated by others, wouldn’t their skills be rendered useless?

”But I must remind you, don’t recklessly attempt it, or if you accidentally kill someone, the deceased’s family comes knocking, the Meridian Refining Master Guild won’t bear any responsibility!”

Seeing many eager to act, the middle-aged man solemnly reminded them again, which finally dampened their enthusiasm a bit. Still, some proceeded to examine the ailments or injuries of the ten patients.

At this moment, the ten wooden platforms were surrounded by people, yet no one acted immediately. Perhaps the middle-aged man’s last warning resonated with them; facing the humiliation of failing or angering the deceased’s family made them cautious.

Some people even paced back and forth, likely hoping to find an easier ailment. However, as time passed, their faces grew gloomier, suggesting the ailments posed by the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master Guild were far from ordinary.

At least, those at the low-level Spiritual Rank among Meridian Refining Masters looked perplexed, not knowing where to start. Even those at the intermediate Spiritual Rank hesitated, raised their hands then lowered them again, obviously lacking confidence.

”Haha, since none of you dare, let me, Liu Yu, give it a try!”