Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”How about it, President Liancheng? You don’t lack confidence in that Yun Xiao, do you?”

Ge Buqi had a bit of cleverness, using the strategy of provocation; however, when these words were heard by the others nearby, they were somewhat unimpressed.

No matter what, confidence is built on strength. While people felt Yun Xiao might achieve a top-three position due to their confidence, winning the championship seemed far-fetched.

Most people thought Lu Liancheng would never agree to the bet; after all, the Earth Void Thunder Pearl is an Earth Rank Advanced treasure, not easily won. Losing it on a whim is something no one would do.

”President Ge, you said it yourself, don’t go back on your word!”

Yet, as most believed Lu Liancheng wouldn’t agree to the bet, it was surprising when the branch president from Lushan City spoke these two sentences.

”I, Lu Liancheng, accept this bet. Everyone present here is a witness!”

Without paying attention to the unusual looks from the people around, Lu Liancheng said a few more words to firmly set the matter, leaving no room for maneuver.

Upon hearing this, Ge Buqi was slightly stunned, thinking even if Lu Liancheng was provoked, they needed half a day to consider before agreeing.

But now, Lu Liancheng had accepted the bet without any delay, catching Ge Buqi off guard. Could this old fellow really not see the situation clearly?

Ge Buqi often returned to the Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters, so he was well aware of the talents in the Sky Poison Institute and the Heavenly Hospital, especially the top geniuses Bai Wushuang and Ye Ku, whom he feared deeply.

After all, Ge Buqi himself was only at the Origin Seeking Realm Late Stage, while those two geniuses had long reached the Peak of Seeking Origin Realm. With their background at the Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters, their combat power was likely far stronger.

Yun Xiao was a newcomer; though he somehow broke through from Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage to Late Stage in nearly two months, Ge Buqi saw this rapid advancement as suspiciously weak in Meridian Qi.

A young boy in the Origin Seeking Realm Late Stage might not even defeat the other geniuses from the two halls, let alone those two top geniuses who reached the Peak of Seeking Origin Realm.

After a brief moment of surprise, Ge Buqi’s face revealed a confident smile. He reached out and lightly tapped Lu Liancheng’s right hand three times, marking the formal establishment of the bet.

However, Ge Buqi missed the keen glint in the Lushan City branch president’s eyes as their palms parted.

The annual gathering was not just one day; it had started several days ago, involving discussions among the branch presidents of various cities, seeking advice from Refining Cloud Mountain Elders, drinking, sharing tales of recent events, celebrating gains and losses over the year, and so forth.

Today’s event was the highlight, focusing on the young talents across the Meridian Refining Master Guild. Whether from Refining Cloud Mountain Headquarters or recommended by major cities, the young talents could sign up to compete for final rankings and rich rewards.

Yet, those selected from the various city branches, including Yun Xiao and others newly joined, posed no embarrassment for the branch presidents aware of their limits. Ordinary talents sent here would only shame them.

Thus, the brightest stars were the young talents of the two major academic branches at Refining Cloud Mountain. Upon noticing a person with a severed arm, everyone revealed peculiar expressions.

”Isn’t that the second genius of the Heavenly Hospital, Liu Qingchen? When did he lose an arm?”

Many were confused, given Liu Qingchen was a well-known figure in the Meridian Refining Master Association. His current state was somewhat lamentable.

Although losing an arm doesn’t render one completely useless, it significantly impacts one’s Vein Energy Combat Power. With blocked meridians, people believed this Heavenly Hospital genius would struggle to progress further, possibly for many years to come.

Meanwhile, from the north, a group exuding powerful aura slowly walked out. Naturally, this group was led by the Meridian Refining Master Association’s Vice President, Qian Sanyuan, strong figures of Refining Cloud Mountain, including Qingmu Wu from Sky Poison Institute and Guan Rufeng from Heavenly Hospital.

This composition was hardly surprising to the branch presidents of the Meridian Refining Master Guild, for the President of the association hadn’t appeared in years. It was unclear whether he ventured to a higher plane, Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.

Many major affairs of the Meridian Refining Master Association had been managed by Qian Sanyuan and the two hall deans. The annual gathering and competition naturally fell under their charge.

Seeing the surrounding elders had settled, Qian Sanyuan stood upright, his gaze sweeping past a rought-clad figure, then announced loudly, ”Ladies and gentlemen!”

Qian Sanyuan’s loud proclamation made the previously noisy Arena Hall instantly quiet. Immediately, he continued to say, ”I announce, the annual tournament officially begins!”

The unhesitant voice suddenly ignited the atmosphere in the venue. Those young talents who had registered for the annual competition were even more excited and eager to jump onto the stage and exchange blows with the many geniuses.

Among them, a refined figure’s gaze never left a coarse-clothed youth, the hatred in those eyes was undisguisable no matter what.

”This annual competition does not differentiate between departments or gender. All are determined by the drawn token number. Two people who draw the same token number are each other’s opponents until the final champion is decided!”

Qian Sanyuan waited for the crowd to quiet down slightly before loudly announcing the rules of this annual competition. In fact, these were the rules from previous tournaments, though there was an element of luck, they have been used until now, and no one raises any objections.

Beneath the central main arena, there was a not-so-large wooden table. On the wooden table were two bamboo tubes containing black and green tokens. This reminded Yun Xiao of the lottery ceremony conducted in the Jade Pot Sect of Hidden Dragon Continent back in the day.

Leaf Ku from Sky Poison Institute took the lead, and seeing him draw the green number three token, apart from Bai Wushuang, everyone silently prayed not to draw the black number three token because, if so, their journey would likely end in the first round.

However, such thoughts were somewhat laughable, besides Leaf Ku, there was also Bai Wushuang. When everyone saw the top genius from Heavenly Hospital draw the black number one token, they inevitably had another concern.

These two were both peak super geniuses in the Seeking Origin Realm. No one dared to say they would be their match in a one-on-one fight. Seeing both draw tokens from the upper half, many people secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This time, a total of sixteen people registered for the annual tournament, including Si Mo from Sky Poison Institute and Liu Hanyi, who shared a close relationship with Yun Xiao, as Liu Hanyi was already a strong Origin Seeking Realm Middle Stage expert.

As for Mo Qing from Heavenly Hospital, Yun Xiao did not spot her in the Arena Hall, but Bai Wushuang and Liu Qingchen were there, so he wasn’t particularly worried.

In fact, Mo Qing had just come out of the Refining Treasure Hall and, due to certain reasons timed with the approaching tournament, gained an opportunity for a breakthrough. For her, enhancing her strength was undoubtedly more important.

”Green One! Green One!”

Bai Wushuang clutching the black number one token stared intently at the coarse-clothed youth drawing a token, muttering through gritted teeth. Given his hatred towards Yun Xiao, naturally, he hoped the latter would confront him in the first round.

”Black Seven!”

However, when Yun Xiao’s hand emerged from the black bamboo tube, Bai Wushuang’s sharp eyes immediately spotted the ”7” on the black token and felt a wave of disappointment.

”Yun Xiao, I hope you can make it to the final round!”

Since the opponents were decided by drawing lots, Bai Wushuang knew he could only meet Yun Xiao in the championship battle, so at this moment, he was actually praying in his heart for Yun Xiao to defeat all opponents and meet him in the final.

With his strength effectively improved, Bai Wushuang no longer considered Leaf Ku from Sky Poison Institute as a threat. His main goal in this tournament was legitimately to kill the boy named Yun Xiao and reclaim his dignity.

Bai Wushuang could clearly feel the coldness from his teacher Qian Sanyuan, all of which he attributed to Yun Xiao. If not for that boy’s nonsense after leaving the Refining Treasure Hall, would he be suspected by his teacher?

Seldom would someone like Bai Wushuang search for faults within themselves. He thinks everything is caused by Yun Xiao. Only by thoroughly killing this boy can he quell the hatred in his heart; otherwise, it would be a significant hindrance to his future cultivation and Dao Heart.

”Green number seven...”

When a genius from Sky Poison Institute drew the green number seven token, he naturally spotted the black number seven in Yun Xiao’s hand and immediately knew his opponent in the first round was this new coarse-clothed youth.

Nonetheless, this Sky Poison Institute genius named Qiu Guang cast a greenish glint and exuded a fighting spirit. As a talent in the Seeking Origin Realm Late Stage, he likely never really considered Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao, on the other hand, had indeed shone brilliantly during the Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection, crushing the meridian refining geniuses from major cities and becoming the top of this selection.

Yet such achievements were clearly not enough to cause concern among these veteran Refining Cloud Mountain geniuses, particularly as this competition concerned Vein Energy Combat Power.