Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”I announce that the second round of the Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection is over. Please, the nine who have passed, come here early tomorrow morning for the final competition!”

Qian Sanyuan’s gaze swept over Yun Xiao before standing up. Actually, it was already broad daylight, and the ’tomorrow’ he referred to left a full day and night ahead.

Qian Sanyuan must know that although these nine people successfully passed the second round, they also experienced some depletion. A night’s time may not be enough to recover, but it’s better than nothing.

”For you nine, Refining Cloud Mountain will arrange accommodations. As for the others, we can only apologize!”

Qian Sanyuan’s subsequent words left those defeated Meridian Refining Masters feeling somewhat wistful. But there was nothing they could do. The successful nine were already considered disciples of Refining Cloud Mountain, while the others were just outsiders. Why should they be treated as honored guests?

For matters like these, the elders like Qian Sanyuan wouldn’t personally handle them. They arranged for a steward to lead the nine to a guest area at the Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters, and each was given a small courtyard of their own.

Although Yun Xiao expended some power of the soul while unraveling the ’Thousand Silk Myriad Pull’, it was no big deal. Cultivators at the level of the Seeking Origin Realm wouldn’t be affected by not sleeping for a month.

So upon reaching the small courtyard, unlike other Meridian Refining Masters recovering their Meridian Qi and soul by meditating, he brewed a fragrant cup of tea and sat in the courtyard sipping it, seeming to await something.

Step, step, step!

At a certain moment, a soft sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard. A shadow flickered at the slightly open gate, and a graceful figure in a black dress appeared before Yun Xiao’s eyes.

”Senior Sister Mo Qing, long time no see, come have some tea!”

Yun Xiao raised his head, looking at the black-dressed young woman he hadn’t seen in over a year. Excitement flickered deep in his eyes but finally turned into a gentle smile, appearing very natural.

The black-dressed woman at the gate was Mo Qing, who had been at the Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters in the Tenglong Continent for over a year.

Throughout the year, she imagined countless times reunions with Yun Xiao, but she hadn’t expected the first words upon meeting again to be so ordinary.

Strictly speaking, Mo Qing is the host here at Refining Cloud Mountain. But seeing Yun Xiao’s natural smile, Mo Qing didn’t know what to say for a moment. She gracefully walked over to the stone table, sat down, picked up a cup of the aromatic tea, and downed it, as if all the words she wanted to say were in that cup of tea.

”Tsk tsk, it’s only been a year, and Senior Sister Mo Qing has already reached the peak of the Qi Seeking Realm!”

Yun Xiao had a discerning eye; just a glance was enough to see that Mo Qing’s Meridian Qi cultivation had reached the peak of the Qi Seeking Realm. Although not as good as him, apart from serendipitous encounters and special causes, such cultivation speed was truly stunning.

Even among the top geniuses of the Tenglong Continent, breaking through from the Peak of Spirit Vein Realm to the Peak of Qi Seeking Realm would take years. This clearly shows Mo Qing is several notches above the super geniuses.

”Alas, I originally thought I could surpass you, but the gap is still so wide!”

Yun Xiao’s continuous words finally eased some of the emotions in Mo Qing’s heart, and a wistful look appeared on her face as she spoke the truth.

After all, Mo Qing had a soul at the peak of the Spiritual Rank or even half-step Earth Rank. Since Yun Xiao hadn’t deliberately concealed his Meridian Qi cultivation, it was naturally seen at a glance. This young woman also had a competitive streak.

”Haha, just good luck!”

Yun Xiao didn’t elaborate on the details. Meeting an old friend on this Tenglong Continent made him very happy, and he knew Mo Qing would certainly come to find him.

”Where’s Chi Yan? Haven’t you found him yet?”

Mo Qing glanced at Yun Xiao’s shoulder, recalling the fiery red mouse always with him. She had a vivid memory of it, having fought with Chi Yan the first time they met.

Mo Qing knew Yun Xiao hadn’t visited Xuanyin Hall and certainly hadn’t seen Ling Wan. Liu Hanyi, who was like her, was in the Meridian Refining Master Guild, so it was impossible to see him. The only one likely to be found was Chi Yan.

”That guy might be off looking for some fire attribute Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. You know how he is!”

Speaking of Chi Yan, a smile tugged at Yun Xiao’s lips. Since arriving at Refining Cloud Mountain, Chi Yan was nowhere to be found, but Yun Xiao wasn’t too worried. With Chi Yan’s sense of smell and sensing ability, he could find him quickly if he wanted.

”What about Little Dragon?”

Having learned about Chi Yan, Mo Qing’s gaze swept beside Yun Xiao, referring to the adorable child who always called Yun Xiao ’dad.’ The impression this left on her head was possibly deeper than Chi Yan.

”Little Dragon? Uh... I’ve left him with a friend for the time being. After this selection, I’ll go get him!”

Hearing Mo Qing’s abrupt question, even Yun Xiao was momentarily stunned, mentally noting how he could forget such a thing. After all, Mo Qing had seen Little Dragon before.

”Do you have friends on the Tenglong Continent?”

Upon hearing this, Mo Qing couldn’t help but show a strange expression on her face. After all, she came from the Hidden Dragon Continent with Yun Xiao, and the friends she entrusted with her precious son clearly had a special relationship.

”Look at what you’re saying; I’m so well-liked, how could I not have friends?”

Yun Xiao was a bit unhappy, with a hint of playful annoyance in his tone. Of course, he wasn’t really angry; he was bothered that Mo Qing didn’t understand him. Making friends, is it really that hard?

”Well-liked?”

Upon hearing this, Mo Qing rolled her eyes, then started counting on her fingers, ”Sky Thunder Valley, Killing Heart Sect, Xiao Family, Chu Family, Spirit Fighting Commerce—you’re not going to say all these are your friends, are you?”

It seemed that after learning Yun Xiao was coming to participate in the Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection, Mo Qing had deliberately looked into Yun Xiao’s deeds in the Southern Domain of the Tenglong Continent.

This investigation showed that this fellow named Yun Xiao had managed to offend quite a number of top-notch forces on the Tenglong Continent, including even top-tier forces like Spirit Fighting Commerce, yet he still claimed to be well-liked. He’s simply a troublemaker, isn’t he?

”Uh… you know it all!”

Being exposed on the spot, a trace of embarrassment appeared on Yun Xiao’s face. At the same time, he thought to himself, have I really offended so many forces? Why don’t I feel a thing?

”I think you’re just debt-ridden and unafraid of itch, but is Little Dragon really safe with your friends? How about we bring him to Refining Cloud Mountain? Even Spirit Fighting Commerce wouldn’t dare cause trouble here!”

Knowing Yun Xiao had offended so many forces, Mo Qing began to worry on another level, becoming concerned for Little Dragon’s safety.

After all, people like those from Spirit Fighting Commerce or Sky Thunder Valley, if they don’t dare trouble Yun Xiao at Refining Cloud Mountain, might take Little Dragon hostage to force Yun Xiao to comply.

”This woman, she has some conscience after all. I don’t seem to dislike her as much as I used to!”

Just as Mo Qing finished speaking, a familiar voice sounded in Yun Xiao’s mind—it was Dragon Tree Spirit Little Dragon speaking suddenly, saying something that left Yun Xiao helplessly amused.

”Rest assured, Little Dragon is very safe; no one can find him!”

Yun Xiao was quite moved by Mo Qing’s concern. Though he claimed to have many friends, genuine ones were few; only those companions who followed him from the Hidden Dragon Continent were worthy of being called true friends.

”Huh?”

Just as Yun Xiao finished speaking, he suddenly sensed an energy fluctuation from Mo Qing’s body, prompting him to gaze intently at the young maiden, making her complexion slightly flushed.

”Yun Xiao, what are you looking at?”

Even knowing the other might only feel sisterly affection, Mo Qing couldn’t endure being stared at so pointedly and directly muttered softly.

”Senior Sister Mo Qing, have you recently ingested some kind of fire attribute heavenly material and earthly treasure?”

Yun Xiao stared for a while, ignoring Mo Qing’s shy expression, and after a brief moment, finally asked, his tone carrying some deep joy.

”Two months ago, I did consume a fruit my current teacher, Vice Chairman Qian, gave me. He claimed it’s a fire attribute Vermilion Fruit, called ’Pure Origin Red Fruit.’ After taking it, I broke through to the Peak of Qi Seeking Realm!”

Mo Qing didn’t hide anything from Yun Xiao, and upon realizing he had no ulterior motives, she calmly explained the cause and effect to him.

”Pure Origin Red Fruit?”

Upon hearing its name, Yun Xiao’s face beamed with even greater joy. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly stood up and asked earnestly, ”Senior Sister Mo Qing, do you want to break through to the Early Stage of Origin Seeking Realm?”

”Isn’t that obvious? Could you…”

Mo Qing initially rolled her eyes at Yun Xiao, but upon seeing the peculiar glow in his eyes, she suddenly understood something, causing a surge of extreme delight in her heart.

If anyone else said this, Mo Qing wouldn’t believe it, because even Meridian Refining Masters at Heavenly Rank wouldn’t easily help others break through from the Peak of Qi Seeking Realm to the Early Stage of Origin Seeking Realm with high success rates.

But the words came from this rough-clothed youth. Remembering activating the special Pure Yang Immortal Body on the Hidden Dragon Continent and certain subsequent methods, she inexplicably felt intense confidence.

It seemed that this youth had never found anything impossible.