Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Sometimes, things don’t develop as one wishes. For example, some elders of the Spirit Fighting Commerce, even if unwilling, ultimately dare not defy the orders of this protector from headquarters.

When the ashen-faced Fifth Elder was ”voted” out by the group, Situ Lang nodded with satisfaction. After all, this branch’s Fifth Elder had already reached the Late Stage of the Origin Seeking Realm, perhaps he could hold out for a bit longer.

”Don’t stay too close together, or you’ll risk alerting the enemy!”

Finally, after patting the Fifth Elder on the shoulder, Situ Lang said this, making the elder’s whole body collapse slightly. Wasn’t this like wishing him a thorough death?

That was, after all, a Vein Demon of Eighth Rank Advanced, whose power could be on par with or even stronger than human cultivators at the Peak of Seeking Origin Realm.

With its way of silently turning four branch elders into ashes, the Fifth Elder truly wasn’t sure if he could hold on until Situ Lang arrived.

But now the matter was at hand, the Fifth Elder had no choice but to comply, otherwise, even before the Eighth Rank Advanced mouse-shaped Vein Demon attacked, he would already be in trouble.

Don’t be fooled by how amiable Protector Situ seemed; if he lost his temper, he probably wouldn’t care about such a mere elder from a Chunxiao City branch.

Everyone went on to make their arrangements, secretly setting up a Heaven and Earth Net against Chi Yan. This time, Situ Lang would not allow his plan to fail; he was here on a mission concerning Lianyun Mountain, and had already been delayed too long by the matter of Chi Yan.

......

Whoosh!

High above several hundred miles north of Chunxiao City, a streak of white light rushed forth. As it approached, it revealed itself to be a noble horse with a pair of snow-white wings.

On the back of this flying horse was a red-skirted girl with a graceful figure. If Yun Xiao were here, he’d recognize her as Xu Hongzhuang, to whom he was once betrothed on the Hidden Dragon Continent.

As for the winged white horse beneath Xu Hongzhuang, it was naturally the Snow Stepping Flying Horse that she had luckily refined at Demons Mountain, an unparalleled Evil Demon of Ninth Rank Advanced.

This Snow Stepping Flying Horse was once the mount of the first generation Mountain Master of Demons Mountain. Since that master’s death, no Beast Vein Master from Demons Mountain had been able to tame it, until Xu Hongzhuang appeared.

Perhaps even Xu Hongzhuang herself wasn’t sure how she managed to tame this Ninth Rank Advanced Snow Stepping Flying Horse. On the day she succeeded, she rode it toward Lianyun Mountain, where a figure she couldn’t forget resided.

”After flying continuously for several days, it seems you’re a bit tired. Let’s rest for a day in that big city below!”

As Xu Hongzhuang looked far into the distance and saw a large city below, she whispered softly and then patted the neck of the Snow Stepping Flying Horse. Understanding her intent, it descended and let her off in a secluded spot.

Xu Hongzhuang naturally wouldn’t take such a mutant Vein Demon as the Snow Stepping Flying Horse into the city. After instructing it to act freely, she headed toward the city’s North Gate.

The moment she entered the gate, she saw three large characters carved above it: Chunxiao City!

......

Chunxiao City’s South Gate!

At this time, two figures were emerging from the Lianyun Mountain, looking somewhat travel-worn. One of them was clothed in coarse garments, carrying a peculiar wooden sword, none other than Yun Xiao, the recent champion of the Lianyun Mountain annual competition.

However, at this moment, Yun Xiao probably didn’t know he was the champion of this year’s competition, since he hadn’t participated in the final showdown and didn’t know what happened afterward.

As for the young man following Yun Xiao, an occasional gleam of hatred flashed in his eyes. He was Li Gongnian, a top genius from the Spirit Fighting Commerce headquarters, who had to bring Yun Xiao to Chunxiao City due to certain reasons.

In fact, Li Gongnian had already had the information for a while, but he was confident that once the Early Stage Earth Bending Realm protector from headquarters made a move, that Eighth Rank Vein Demon would pose no trouble.

Originally, Li Gongnian intended to use this matter to distract Yun Xiao in the arena, but didn’t expect the plan to backfire, trapping himself instead.

Of course, despite his hatred, Li Gongnian didn’t dare act rashly. On the way, he once attempted to escape while Yun Xiao was distracted, only to suffer a night of agony.

The toxins that entered his body didn’t kill Li Gongnian directly but wreaked havoc on his every nerve, without allowing him to faint from the pain. Such torment, Li Gongnian wished never to endure again.

For this reason, during the subsequent period, Li Gongnian behaved earnestly, though as they neared Chunxiao City, his confidence grew.

Because even though Yun Xiao defeated Bai Wushuang, who was half a step into the Earth Realm, Li Gongnian believed that if faced with a true Earth Bending Realm expert, Yun Xiao would be utterly defeated.

Yet, Li Gongnian seemed to have forgotten that he was still under the control of Yun Xiao’s poison. If things went awry, his fate wouldn’t be any better.

As Yun Xiao and Li Gongnian stepped into the South Gate of Chunxiao City, night had already begun to fall. Yun Xiao, worried about Chi Yan’s safety, had no intention of waiting until the next day. Under Li Gongnian’s guidance, they directly made their way to the Spirit Fighting Commerce branch located in the city.

”It seems rather quiet!”

Looking at the vast stretch of buildings, Yun Xiao felt a tinge of doubt. However, at that moment, a sudden surge of powerful energy erupted from within the Spirit Fighting Commerce branch.

”This aura... is it Chi Yan?!”

Yun Xiao’s soul power had long reached the Earth Rank Middle Level, and coupled with his familiarity with Chi Yan’s aura, he instantaneously sensed the peculiar blazing energy that resembled Chi Yan’s exactly.

Suddenly, Yun Xiao’s expression changed, and he dashed forward, heading straight for the entrance of the Spirit Fighting Commerce branch. The two guards stationed on either side couldn’t help but become furious, stepping forward to block Yun Xiao’s way.

”Who dares to intrude into our Spirit Fighting Commerce, are you tired of living?”

As guards of the Spirit Fighting Commerce branch, though merely gatekeepers, no one had ever dared to force their way in, which had instilled a sense of arrogance in them.

These two appeared unfamiliar, especially the boy in rough clothes who looked thin and weak, yet dared to storm into the Spirit Fighting Commerce branch without a word. Did he eat Dragon Heart Phoenix Gall?

”Get lost!”

Yun Xiao couldn’t be bothered with these two guards who were merely at the Meridian Rushing Realm. He continued his stride, uttering a low command, which only evoked sneers from the two guards.

Bam! Bam!

In the next moment, the two guards felt an overwhelming force hitting them, sending them flying to either side, crashing heavily into the stone pillars at the entrance, leaving them extremely weakened.

”These two fools don’t know what’s good for them!”

Even Li Gongnian behind Yun Xiao couldn’t help but shake his head upon witnessing the guards’ actions. This was someone even he couldn’t contend with, and yet mere Meridian Rushing Realm ants dared to obstruct him. The fact that they were still alive was solely due to Yun Xiao’s mercy.

”Follow me!”

As Li Gongnian was lost in thought, Yun Xiao’s cold voice echoed from within, making him sense the poison within him starting to act up again. Not daring to delay, he hurriedly caught up.

......

Deep inside the Spirit Fighting Commerce branch in Chunxiao City!

Time shifted to earlier, about thirty minutes ago, in a quiet Elder courtyard. Shi Yuan, the Fifth Elder of the branch, was seemingly calm, sitting cross-legged on his bed. However, beads of cold sweat were forming on his forehead.

This Fifth Elder, Shi Yuan, was the bait set by the branch protector, Situ Lang, to lure Chi Yan into the trap. He was aware of the advanced means of the Eighth Rank Advanced Vein Demon, which would be like thunder when they struck, leaving no room for laxity.

However, Shi Yuan had no idea when the fire attribute, rat-shaped Vein Demon would appear. The constant mental tension was wearing him out.

Crack!

Finally, at a certain moment when Shi Yuan’s nerves were about to snap, a slight noise came from outside his room, distinct in the dark night.

In reality, Shen Litong and several other elders were just pretending to discuss matters not far from the courtyard. The only elder without company was Shi Yuan, the Fifth Elder.

This was also Situ Lang’s intent, ensuring that only Shi Yuan was exposed to the fire attribute Vein Demon, and within the courtyard, they had already set up a Heaven and Earth Net, waiting for Chi Yan to fall into the trap.

In his room, upon hearing the slight noise, Shi Yuan felt the hair on his body stand on end. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a streak of fiery red light burst through the window, seemingly incinerating all the air in its path into nothingness.

”It’s here!”

A deep shout escaped Shi Yuan’s mouth. The previously tense elder now found himself oddly calm at this life-and-death moment, aware that his life hung by a thread and caution was paramount to avoid ending up like the other four elders.

To his credit, Shi Yuan, at the Peak of Seeking Origin Realm, was far superior in both reaction and speed compared to the branch elders who fell to Chi Yan. Furthermore, he was prepared, so despite the fiery red light’s rapid approach, it ultimately did not strike him.

Shi Yuan rolled off the bed agilely, and the fiery red light, caught unawares, struck directly at the bed.

Then there was a sea of fire, with blazing air rushing at him, making Shi Yuan silently thankful for the wisdom of his quick reflexes.