Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Physical attacks? No need to retreat!”

At a moment when Ge Wanli had no confidence that Yun Xiao could withstand or dodge the blow, Yun Xiao’s face revealed a smile, which made Zhang Daohe feel even more disgusted.

If Zhang Daohe were to use powerful Meridian Techniques, he might have to back off temporarily to plan his next move.

But now, Zhang Daohe decided to directly use the palm strike, augmented by Meridian Qi, aiming to slap Yun Xiao to death, which prompted the latter to consider an entirely different approach.

Having broken through to the Early Stage of Earth Bending Realm, Yun Xiao’s physical strength was comparable to, if not stronger than, the Ninth Rank low-level Vein Demons.

Thus, Yun Xiao didn’t seek help from Chi Yan on his shoulder, and instead swiftly dodged to the side, swinging his right leg to collide fiercely with Zhang Daohe’s palm.

”How can this guy be so overconfident?”

Rushing over, Ge Wanli witnessed the scene and cursed, lamenting Yun Xiao’s stubbornness in the face of overwhelming strength disparity, thinking it was a death wish.

Ge Wanli hadn’t truly seen Yun Xiao’s hidden abilities, unaware that this seemingly ordinary young man was far different from other cultivators of the same level, particularly the strength concealed within his right leg, which exceeded expectations.

Bang!

As Zhang Daohe smirked and Ge Wanli worriedly watched, Yun Xiao’s right leg harshly collided with the Seventh Elder’s right palm.

The ensuing scene sent shockwaves not only through Zhang Daohe but also froze Ge Wanli in place, unable to believe what he was witnessing.

Because the one-sided domination Ge Wanli had anticipated didn’t occur. Both the Seventh Elder of Wuyan Palace and the rough-clothed youth slightly staggered, each retreating three steps. This clash ended evenly matched.

It wasn’t just Ge Wanli and Zhang Daohe; even Luo Fusheng and Xiao Ming, who originally believed in Yun Xiao, were utterly stunned, disbelief etched across their faces.

Luo Fusheng had thought that Yun Xiao, who easily handled Long Xiwawa’s Flame Demon Absolute Technique, should at least possess Mid-stage Earth Bending Realm combat power.

Given such combat strength, Zhang Daohe’s simple attack shouldn’t be able to kill Yun Xiao, perhaps not even inflict serious harm.

Yet Luo Fusheng never imagined Yun Xiao truly had combat power comparable to the Late Stage of Earth Bending Realm, challenging his lifelong beliefs about cultivation.

In the Earth Bending Realm, battling across a small realm was already extraordinary, let alone across two realms, and not being struck down by a superior was extremely rare.

But currently, not only was Yun Xiao not defeated, he didn’t suffer any injury. As he retreated, Zhang Daohe was also forced back three steps — what dominance!

”What’s this about the Seventh Elder of Wuyan Palace, just so-so!”

Yun Xiao slightly twisted his numb right leg and let out a mocking laugh, nearly infuriating Zhang Daohe to spit out blood.

Cloud Xiao was quite satisfied with the collision. Ten days ago, he wouldn’t dare to confront Zhang Daohe directly, due to the vast difference in cultivation levels.

But now, having progressed to the Early Stage of Earth Bending Realm, facing Late Stage Zhang Daohe wasn’t restrictive anymore, especially in physical strength confrontation — Yun Xiao was confident not to back down.

”Mere luck; do you really think my elder skills are just this?”

Infuriated by Yun Xiao’s words, Zhang Daohe’s face turned ashen. He initially believed his casual strike would severely injure the ant-like boy, but the outcome was unexpected.

After all, the previous strike didn’t even use half of Zhang Daohe’s strength, so admitting equality with Yun Xiao was impossible.

Being humiliated in public, if Zhang Daohe couldn’t recover his dignity, he couldn’t stay on Tenglong Continent. It concerned both his and Wuyan Palace’s face.

Whoosh... whoosh...

A wave of energy emanated from Zhang Daohe, inflating his robes. It was clear he was truly enraged, intent on killing Yun Xiao.

”Yun Xiao, be careful!”

Ge Wanli, though warning aloud, didn’t move, possibly after witnessing Yun Xiao’s equal strength to Zhang Daohe, deciding to observe the true combat capabilities of the rough-clothed youth.

Without Ge Wanli’s assistance, Yun Xiao did not mind. Indeed, he wanted to use a formidable opponent to test his breakthrough to the Early Stage of the Earth Bending Realm. Zhang Daohe before him was undoubtedly the best candidate.

”Fire Crow Soars!”

A low shout came from Zhang Daohe’s mouth. Immediately afterward, the seal in his hand changed, and the fire attribute Meridian Qi swirling around him, combined with a wisp of black flame emitted from his right palm, produced an extremely formidable change.

”Gah!”

In just the blink of an eye, a gigantic Black Fire Crow took shape in front of Zhang Daohe. Its beak let out a sharp and eerie cry, resonating menacingly within the grand hall.

Zhang Daohe was already very close to Yun Xiao. At this moment, the speed of the unleashed fire crow was swift as lightning, making Ge Wanli, not far away, secretly startled.

It seemed Zhang Daohe had become cautious. Although he still did not overly regard Yun Xiao, he understood that solely relying on physical strength might not work. Therefore, he opted to overpower with Meridian Qi.

”An Earth Rank Advanced Meridian Skill, huh?”

With Yun Xiao’s knowledge, he instantly recognized the grade of this fire crow technique. However, he was already in action, reaching out with his left hand to the astonishment of all around, as it surprisingly transformed into a stream of water.

Swish, swish, swish...

With a gentle flick of his water-arm left hand, a droplet of water was flung away by Yun Xiao, forming the shape of a bird in mid-air.

Unlike Zhang Daohe’s fire crow, Yun Xiao’s bird of flowing water was far more imposing. It vaguely resembled an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix, yet with subtle differences.

Naturally, no one in the hall had ever seen an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. They didn’t know Yun Xiao had based this on the phenomenon that occurred when Red Feather was born—this Water Phoenix bore traces of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix’s aura.

”Overestimating your own strength!”

Seeing Yun Xiao dare to use a meridian skill to collide with his own technique, Zhang Daohe dismissed any notion of defeat, even without recognizing the grade of the skill.

”Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!”

The Black Fire Crow’s meridian skill finally clashed with Yun Xiao’s Water Phoenix. Initially, Zhang Daohe had the advantage of Meridian Qi, causing the Water Phoenix’s vapor to evaporate considerably, leaving the face of the Seventh Elder from Wuyan Palace full of triumph.

However, when a particular breath of energy erupted from Yun Xiao’s body and surged into the Water Phoenix, the tide turned suddenly. The Water Phoenix’s momentum surged, instantly breaking through the fire crow’s defenses.

”Gah! Gah! Gah!”

Even though the Black Fire Crow lacked spiritual wisdom, it seemed to perceive some terrifying presence, being assaulted by the Water Phoenix and shrieked incessantly, leaving Zhang Daohe perplexed.

Zhang Daohe was thoroughly familiar with this Earth Rank Advanced meridian skill. He believed that even if Yun Xiao used an equivalent grade skill, given the limitation of his Meridian Qi Cultivation, he could not counter his fire crow. This fight was surely about to end in his favor.

Little did he know that just a single attack from a watery bird would reduce his Black Fire Crow to fear.

Moreover, he sensed that the Black Fire Crow’s fear was instinctual. Yet, what kind of force could instill such deep fear in a crow formed merely by Meridian Qi?

Although Zhang Daohe was at a loss for answers, Yun Xiao hesitated not a moment. His hand’s seal changed, and the Water Phoenix enveloped the Black Fire Crow, its wings closing around it as if holding it in an embrace.

A peculiar aura emanated from the Water Phoenix, followed by an abrupt halt to the Black Fire Crow’s cries. Once everything calmed down, not a trace of fire attribute remained on the battlefield.

This showed that the Black Fire Crow, as performed by Zhang Daohe, had been completely dispelled by Yun Xiao’s Water Phoenix meridian skill, leaving no trace. Such a result had never been anticipated by anyone present in the hall.

If earlier Yun Xiao’s physical strength was a match for Zhang Daohe, still traceable by logic, now in the meridian skill confrontation, it was unbelievably equal as well.

By any measure, Yun Xiao was just a young cultivator at the Early Stage of the Earth Bending Realm, whereas Zhang Daohe was a seasoned Late Stage expert. Their meridian skill contest should have been a forgone conclusion.

At most, Yun Xiao’s meridian skill could withstand for a few breaths before being relentlessly crushed. Yet the reality showed Ge Wanli and others that the young man could not only contend but had room for counterattack.

The only visible entity now was the ever-shifting Water Phoenix. Zhang Daohe’s Black Fire Crow had ceased to exist, marking this meridian skill duel as the defeat of Zhang Daohe, the Late Stage master.

Leaving aside the spectators, the outcome was even more unacceptable for Zhang Daohe himself. It was one thing for their physical strength to be comparable earlier, but now even in the meridian skill clash, he was at a disadvantage—which made it insufferable for him.