Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”The Slaughter Spirit Battlefield has been open for several months, and the Strange Spirit side has yet to send out any Heavenly Spirit Rank experts. So, after discussions, Elder Lu and Master Xue have also decided not to let the human side’s Heavenly Rank experts participate for now!”

Hou Tianlie didn’t hold back; over these months, these top leaders of the Continent have been constantly exchanging information, communicating with utmost detail among themselves.

”Are they worried that once the Heavenly Rank experts join the battle, it will trigger the final showdown too early?”

Yun Xiao, with his sharp mind, understood immediately. He had used similar strategies during his time in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud— a compromise he had to employ without the absolute assurance of thoroughly annihilating the Strange Spirit army.

He could understand the painstaking efforts of Lu Yanji, Xue Tianao, and others. After all, the other side possessed a Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit, while the strongest on the human side was merely at the peak of the Lingyun Realm, a chasm as vast as the heavens.

It seems the human leaders wanted to delay as much as possible, hoping that if they could stall until Lu Yanji reaches the true Heavenly Realm, they would no longer need to fear that Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit.

”The aura of that Elder Lu is not something that can be easily surpassed!”

Recalling the President of the Meridian Refining Master Association he had met in Extreme Yin City, a vague thought flashed in Yun Xiao’s mind, seemingly not optimistic.

”In that case, let Xue’er stay at Demons Mountain for now!”

This was a joint decision by the leaders of the Tenglong Continent. Yun Xiao had no reason to oppose it, so he immediately shifted his gaze and straightforwardly spoke to the Snow Stepping Flying Horse. However, the term ”Xue’er” nearly caused the Snow Stepping Flying Horse to explode in anger.

”I’m not talking to you; I’m listening to the master!”

The Snow Stepping Flying Horse, on the verge of outburst, seemed to sense something unusual about Xu Hongzhuang, so it turned its head away from Yun Xiao, yet there was a hint of anticipation in the Horse’s eyes when it looked at Xu Hongzhuang.

Having just broken through to the Heavenly Demon tier, the Snow Stepping Flying Horse was naturally reluctant to part with Xu Hongzhuang. Moreover, she had a feeling that Xu Hongzhuang now was even more endearing than she was more than half a year ago.

”Xue’er, you must listen to the teacher at Demons Mountain and don’t be willful anymore!”

Xu Hongzhuang naturally understood the importance of priorities. Although she was reluctant to part with the Snow Stepping Flying Horse, she hugged its head and gave a gentle admonition.

This remark not only made the Snow Stepping Flying Horse feel a bit aggrieved but also prompted it to glance fiercely at the plain-clothed youth nearby, as if blaming him for not being able to follow along.

”Master...”

”Also, from now on, don’t call me Master, just call me... Sister!”

Just as the Snow Stepping Flying Horse was about to say something, Xu Hongzhuang interrupted, and upon hearing this, Hou Tianlie and Xiao Bailin nearby both wore strange expressions.

After all, this Snow Stepping Flying Horse was the mount of the founder of Demons Mountain, having lived for thousands of years. Now, it was about to recognize a just-twenty-year-old girl as its sister?

”Sister Hongzhuang, be careful. If anyone dares to bully you, come back and tell Xue’er, and Xue’er will definitely teach them a lesson!”

Realizing there was no more room for change, the Snow Stepping Flying Horse nuzzled Xu Hongzhuang’s chest before turning its head to viciously address someone, assuming they would definitely bully its sister.

”I say, where does this strong distrust come from?”

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under the Snow Stepping Flying Horse’s gaze, Yun Xiao rubbed his nose, laughing awkwardly before seeing it slowly walk toward him. Instinctively, he became cautious, as this was a Heavenly Demon expert.

”If you can ensure Sister returns safely, I’ll forgive you!”

This time, the Snow Stepping Flying Horse did not attack Yun Xiao but even softened its tone, though what it said was rather bewildering to Yun Xiao.

”Forgive me? What did I do wrong?”

Though Yun Xiao didn’t speak these words aloud, he nodded heavily, reaching out to pat the Snow Stepping Flying Horse’s neck and sincerely said, ”Don’t worry, for anyone to harm her, they’d have to kill me first!”

This was quite a serious promise, so the Snow Stepping Flying Horse finally paid no mind to Yun Xiao touching it. Yet, its eyes, as it turned its head, were filled with reluctance.

”Let’s go!”

Yun Xiao seemed unable to bear the sorrow of parting. Seeing the mist rising in Xu Hongzhuang’s eyes, he softly called out, then gestured toward the sky.

”Screech!”

”Screech!”

Two consecutive phoenix cries came from the sky, followed by flashes of purple and green light descending from above. It was the purple-green twin phoenixes that had been dancing high in the sky, both Ninth Rank low-level flying beast pulse demons.

As the purple and green light soared into the sky, Hou Tianlie, Xiao Bailin, and the Snow Stepping Flying Horse all fixed their eyes on the gradually shrinking black dot, remaining silent for a long time.

”Mountain Master, I have a premonition that with that guy joining the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield, the disadvantage on our human side might be reversed!”

After a long silence, Xiao Bailin finally withdrew his gaze and spoke with emotion, prompting Hou Tianlie to turn around. However, his eyes contained a trace of worry.

”Let’s hope so. The Slaughter Spirit Battlefield ultimately isn’t a place that can decide the fate of Tenglong Continent!”

It seems Hou Tianlie was thinking of that peerless Holy-grade Heavenly Spirit, which was like a towering mountain pressing on the hearts of every high-level expert on Tenglong Continent, leaving them with no confidence in the continent’s future.

But now that things have come to this point, they can only take things as they come.

At least for now, the Heavenly Spirit Rank of the Strange Spirits has not joined the battle, so there is still some time left for the humans, but they all know that perhaps the final battle is not too far away.

......

Tenglong Continent, Eastern Domain!

This is the junction between the domain of Xuanyin Hall and the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield. From here to the east is the battlefield itself, resembling a chaotic scene, a giant meat grinder where countless human cultivators and Strange Spirits die every day.

However, after months of counterattacks, some of the cities initially occupied by the Strange Spirits were reclaimed by the humans, though the Strange Spirits, unwilling to concede, amassed strength to attack anew, with many cities changing hands repeatedly, the battles fierce beyond measure.

In this continual tug-of-war, more and more human cultivators were heading to the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield from the northwest, southwest, and directly west, joining the army fighting against the Strange Spirits.

”Screech!”

In the dark night, a clear phoenix cry suddenly pierced the sky, and two streams of purple and green light streaked from afar. On closer look, they were two flying phoenix birds, their auras overwhelming.

It’s worth mentioning that on the backs of these purple-green twin phoenixes stood two figures. One was clad in rough clothing, bearing an odd-looking wooden sword on his back, his expression solemn.

On the back of the purple phoenix, there stood a girl in a pale red dress, her long hair and dress billowing with the celestial wind, as though she was a mystical maiden soaring in the nine heavens, not of the mortal world.

These two were naturally Yun Xiao and Xu Hongzhuang, hastily making their way from Demons Mountain to the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield. With the flying power of the purple-green twin phoenixes, they covered the distance in just under ten days.

At this moment, Yun Xiao was in a peculiar state, seemingly sensing some kind of aura, with something unknown emanating from beneath his shoulders.

”So this eighth Ancestral Vein is the Wind Attribute Ancestral Vein!”

Yun Xiao murmured, and if someone could see through his robes to the flesh on his back, they would notice a green vein beneath his shoulders that was faintly visible, seemingly emitting a light breeze.

He had sensed this Ancestral Vein when he broke through to the Earth Bending Realm, but not until reaching the Peak of Earth Bending Realm did he actually recognize the kind of Ancestral Vein it was.

Perhaps it was after breaking through to the Peak of Earth Bending Realm and being brought to such height by the purple-green twin phoenixes, where the celestial wind amplified this Wind Attribute Ancestral Vein, causing some unidentifiable change.

The wind attribute is a special attribute that greatly enhances speed. Yun Xiao believed that with this Wind Attribute Ancestral Vein, performing the Thunder Dragon’s Wings in the future might result in a tremendous boost in speed, providing additional means of survival in combat.

”Oh? That’s right!”

After sensing the Wind Attribute Ancestral Vein, Yun Xiao suddenly had a realization. He then calmed his mind, and his Inner Vision Eye quickly turned to the depths of his mind.

There, a seemingly ordinary sheet of thin paper drifted without wind, which he had obtained from Treasure Mountain at the Meridian Refining Master Association—a special object recording the cultivation method of the ”Dragon Taming Nine Swords.”

Back when he acquired this Dragon Taming Nine Swords, Yun Xiao was only at the Seeking Origin Realm level and could only practice the ”Flying Hidden” first sword. When he reached the Earth Bending Realm, he felt no more words on the thin paper.

It wasn’t until now, after breaking through to the Peak of Earth Bending Realm, that the mysterious paper finally revealed new small characters, causing an involuntary look of joy to appear on his face.

Apparently, the Dragon Taming Nine Swords can be practiced with each Great Rank, though it doesn’t appear at a fixed small realm. For instance, at the Earth Bending Realm level, it only appeared at the Peak of Earth Bending Realm.

”Dragon Taming Nine Swords, Second Form: Illusion Form, Can be practiced at the Earth Bending Realm level!”

As Yun Xiao turned his gaze to the newly appeared first line of small characters, he couldn’t help but murmur. At this moment, he didn’t bother with the nuance of ”can be practiced at the Earth Bending Realm level”; his mind was already captivated by the words ”Illusion Form.”

Yun Xiao, reading through the practice method of the second form Illusion of the Nine Swords at a glance, couldn’t help but draw a cold breath. Compared to the first form ”Flying Hidden,” this Illusion Form could perhaps make it even harder for his enemies to detect and counter him!