Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Do you believe it now?”

The Qingmu Wu seated in the northern section naturally also sensed the energy fluctuation emanating from that room. He turned his head and smiled, with a touch of pride in his tone, as if the young man named Yun Xiao already belonged to the Sky Poison Institute.

Upon hearing this, Qian Sanyuan and the others didn’t pay much attention to Qingmu Wu’s tone, because at this moment, they no longer doubted. If the meridians were damaged while dispelling the thousand silk myriad poison, it would be impossible for the poisoned person to achieve a breakthrough.

Thus, it was clear that Yun Xiao had not damaged the poisoned person’s meridians at all while dispelling the severe poison. Even Guan Rufeng and Qian Sanyuan had to admit they couldn’t match such skills.

”This kid really is stunning no matter where he goes!”

Fortunately, Qian Sanyuan was mentally prepared. Back during the Hidden Dragon Continent incident, he had already witnessed some of Yun Xiao’s techniques, so he was able to accept it better than the other Elders of Lianyun Mountain, although he still sighed inwardly.

In contrast to these informed Elders, numerous onlooking cultivators, including those waiting outside the room, revealed puzzled expressions when they sensed the breakthrough aura from Room Five.

They only knew that the room contained severe poison. Some even thought Yun Xiao had been poisoned to death, having been in there for so long without coming out.

Yun Xiao’s method of dispelling poison was indeed impressive earlier; however, nothing is without coincidence. What if the initial poison was the only one he had encountered before? Once a different poison was added, the kid might just breathe his last.

Yun Xiao’s age was simply too young, making him the youngest among those present. Thus, seeing him make such a splash caused envy to arise within most people.

Furthermore, with one less strong competitor, their chances of making the top ten would increase. But now, why was there a breakthrough aura inside that room? Could it be that the young man named Yun Xiao actually broke through inside the room?

Squeak!

Just as everyone’s thoughts started to rise, the door to Room Five was pulled open from the inside. A young man in plain clothes, carrying a wooden sword, walked out. Who else could it be but Yun Xiao?

”It wasn’t his breakthrough? It seems the challenge of Room Five is no longer poison invasion!”

Upon seeing this scene, many quick-witted individuals suddenly realized. If someone inside the room had achieved a breakthrough, it meant that Yun Xiao had successfully passed another test.

Whether the person inside was poisoned, severely ill, or seriously injured, achieving a breakthrough at this moment proved Yun Xiao’s previous methods were extremely effective, indicating success rather than failure.

Yun Xiao naturally didn’t bother thinking about the onlookers’ thoughts. This time, being able to dispel the severe poison of the thousand silk myriad bird with his abilities left him quite satisfied. It indicated that his Poison Meridian Skill had likely reached the Earth Rank Middle Level.

”Huh? Why does the dean of the Sky Poison Institute look so strange?”

With Yun Xiao’s soul sensing ability, he immediately perceived a piercing gaze directed at him from the northern area. This time, Qingmu Wu did not hide it, allowing Yun Xiao to notice it instantly.

What surprised Yun Xiao was that the previously stern-looking dean of the Sky Poison Institute, Qingmu Wu, was now giving him a forced smile, which sent a chill down his spine.

Yun Xiao didn’t have much fondness for these Poison Vein Masters. Although he himself practiced Medical and Poison Cultivation, the preconceived notion about Jade Pot Sect’s Fu Du made Qingmu Wu’s supposedly friendly smile look uglier than crying to him.

”You, indeed, have some skill!”

Seeing Yun Xiao emerge from the room, Ye Ku, who had not stepped back yet, unexpectedly said this puzzling remark, making Yun Xiao even more apprehensive. What ulterior motives could these guys possibly have?

In fact, although Ye Ku had interacted with countless poisons since childhood, his nature wasn’t bad. He deeply admired competent individuals, much like his teacher.

Although Yun Xiao still fell short of earning Ye Ku’s admiration, the previous poison dispelling and the direct breakthrough this time proved the extraordinary talent of the rough-clad young man. Given time, he might not remain beneath Ye Ku.

”Huh? You knew it was the thousand silk myriad bird’s poison?”

Upon hearing Ye Ku’s words, Yun Xiao’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected Ye Ku’s face to freeze the moment these words were spoken aloud.

”Th-thousand silk myriad bird?”

Ye Ku stammered, knowing that although he was a genuine Earth Rank Middle Level Poison Vein Master, he had no ability to dispel the thousand silk myriad bird poison.

At most, it could only preserve the life of a person struck with deadly poison like earlier, but the meridians corroded by the Thousand Silk Wanyin Dove poison were beyond saving.

However, the energy fluctuation emanating from Room Five at this moment indicated a breakthrough aura; what did that mean? As the top Poison Vein talent of the Sky Poison Institute, Ye Ku instantly understood.

If there was even the slightest damage to the meridians, it would be impossible for someone to achieve a breakthrough. This indicated that Yun Xiao had not only resolved the Thousand Silk Wanyin Dove poison but also preserved the entire meridian system of the poisoned individual intact, leading to the breakthrough.

Earlier, Ye Ku never imagined that a mere disciple selection would present such a challenge with Earth Rank Middle Level Thousand Silk Wanyin Dove poison.

No matter which Meridian Refining Master drew this room, the end result would likely be failure, perhaps even bringing disaster upon themselves.

This was a poison even Ye Ku himself wasn’t confident about overcoming, yet now it had been effortlessly resolved by such a plainly-dressed young man. Ye Ku’s prior notions dissipated instantly.

Setting aside everything else, merely the method of resolving this Thousand Silk Wanyin Dove was something Ye Ku admitted he couldn’t match. Broadening from this perspective, he suddenly felt that this young man, who hadn’t even joined the Refining Cloud Mountain, might have greater talent in the Poison Meridian path than himself.

”Don’t know? That is quite strange indeed!”

Observing Ye Ku’s expression, Yun Xiao perceived that this fellow probably didn’t know beforehand and shook his head, walking toward a figure whose face had a somewhat excited expression.

”Seeing the teacher’s demeanor, you must have passed smoothly again?”

As Yun Xiao approached Yu Shu, he smiled and said, observing as a peculiar expression appeared on the latter’s face, seemingly puzzled by something.

”Speaking of which, it’s strange. My patients in these two instances weren’t too difficult. Could my luck really be that good?”

Having succeeded twice in succession, Yu Shu could only attribute it to luck. Although his Meridian Refining Technique had reached Earth Rank Low Level, some failing Meridian Refining Masters at the same rank were not necessarily beneath him, leaving him quite puzzled.

”Perhaps... it’s not as simple as luck!”

Hearing Yu Shu’s doubts, Yun Xiao suddenly shifted his gaze to a certain point among the northern seats and was met with a familiar gaze that nodded back at him.

”It seems we’ve both benefited from the Vice President’s favor!”

Witnessing this scene, Yun Xiao understood immediately. It must have been Vice President Qian Sanyuan, out of consideration for Yun Xiao, who used some small means after Yu Shu chose a certain room.

Of course, Qian Sanyuan’s actions didn’t violate the spirit of allowing the Refining Cloud Mountain disciples to rely on their own. If Yu Shu didn’t have strong techniques, even a slightly easier illness would have been beyond him.

In any case, what Yu Shu encountered was within the scope of Earth Rank Low Level, and his ability to complete the task perfectly showcased his own capability, with Yun Xiao’s favor acting as just an additional benefit.

Understanding these matters, Yu Shu, once the Sect Master of the Jade Pot Sect, caught on quickly. He knew why it was like this because he indeed had an extraordinary disciple.

Back when they were on the Hidden Dragon Continent, Yun Xiao was under Yu Shu’s protective wing. Now, having come to the Tenglong Continent, Yu Shu found himself in a situation where he had to rely on Yun Xiao instead.

This was true during the first round of assessments at the Refining Cloud Mountain, and now in the second round of assessments as well. Yu Shu was well aware that if not for Qian Sanyuan’s extra care for Yun Xiao’s sake, he might have been eliminated.

However, Yu Shu was not someone overly focused on trivialities. Knowing these details only made him silently vow in his heart that he must diligently cultivate the Meridian Refining Technique after joining the Refining Cloud Mountain, so no one could discern the underlying situation.

As time passed, more people succeeded and others failed. When it was all said and done, Yun Xiao suddenly found that only nine people remained. It seemed the target of ten was not a mere coincidence.

Whether there were nine or ten people who ultimately became the Refining Cloud Mountain disciples, there wasn’t a strict rule, but there could never be more than ten. And if they were short, they wouldn’t fill in with those who failed; everything was up to one’s strength.

Thus, the Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection process wrapped up, having at least determined those who would finally join as disciples.

The last round would decide who among the selected was the most talented Meridian Refining Master, essentially an internal contest among the new members of the Refining Cloud Mountain.

It is noteworthy that neither Douling Commerce’s Li Gongnian nor Sky Thunder Valley’s Yao Tiansha and Xu Changgui disappointed anyone, making it into the final nine.