Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”In any case, obtaining the top three spots guarantees entry into the Refining Treasure Hall, so why bother about being the Poison Vein Champion?”

Perhaps this is the real reason why Yun Xiao is willingly giving up the Poison Vein Path Championship spot. To be honest, he is participating in the Meridian Refining Conference purely for the opportunity to enter the Refining Treasure Hall.

Regarding the so-called championship title, Yun Xiao really doesn’t care much. Moreover, he has already won the Medical Vein Path title; adding another Poison Vein Path title doesn’t mean much to him.

”Is it... just that?”

Liu Hanyi, who was full of complex emotions, suddenly heard Yun Xiao utter these words. As clever as she is, she immediately realized she might be overthinking. She then asked back with some melancholy.

”What else could it be?”

Yun Xiao felt a bit baffled. Though his intelligence is high, he can’t boast about his emotional quotient. Perhaps he senses Liu Hanyi’s affection but doesn’t know how to respond.

”Humph, you think I really care about this trifling championship?”

Suddenly, Liu Hanyi, who was all smiles a moment ago, became angry. She let out a cold hmph, twirled her graceful body, and flew straight off the stone platform, leaving Yun Xiao dumbfounded.

As Liu Hanyi has taken herself off the platform, the Poison Vein Path championship naturally still belongs to Yun Xiao. Everyone looked at the simple-clothed figure on the platform, with endless emotions in their hearts.

”I hereby announce that Yun Xiao has won both the Medical Vein Path and Poison Vein Path titles at this Meridian Refining Conference!”

Watching Liu Hanyi leap off the stone platform, Vice Chairman Qian Sanyuan finally summoned the strength to loudly proclaim the championship winners of this Meridian Refining Conference. His words brought an instant hush to the scene.

”Yun Xiao!”

”Yun Xiao!”

”Yun Xiao!”

”...”

After a brief silence, a strong cheer erupted. Even though all of these cultivators at the venue were at least at the Earth Bending Realm, they still have hearts filled with passion.

This Meridian Refining Conference, whether in the Medical Vein Path or the Poison Vein Path, was filled with twists and turns and excitement, leaving everyone with profoundly deep impressions.

Yun Xiao’s performance during this Meridian Refining Conference was impeccable; he refined a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Pill that attracted seven Pill Thunders and neutralized a Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison cast by Lu Tianwen.

Each feat Yun Xiao accomplished might be something countless Meridian Refining Masters across the Continent would never be able to achieve. Yet, on this plain-clothed young man, it seemed extremely easy and relaxed.

On Nine Dragons Continent, strength reigns supreme. Yun Xiao’s Meridian Qi Cultivation Combat Power needs no further mention; he has always been invincible at the same realm.

And now, Yun Xiao has achieved such remarkable results in another domain, which naturally commands respect. At this moment, all hearts and minds are truly convinced and impressed.

However, Yun Xiao didn’t pay much heed to these accolades. After all, he had just seen these fellows’ ugly faces earlier. Opportunists who switch allegiances with the wind are surely not worthy of trust.

When you are cornered, these people strike you down; when you shine brightly, they eagerly ingratiate themselves. Such complete devotion is just impossible.

With Yun Xiao’s Power of Soul, he certainly observed every person’s conduct previously. For those cultivators who stood firm at perilous times, he made a note. Perhaps these are the ones worthwhile to associate with.

Swish!

Yun Xiao scanned the surroundings and then jumped off the stone platform, heading toward several prominent figures from Lianyun Mountain, as well as the powerholders from Shenxiao Sect and Ling Kong Island, among other first-class forces.

”Haha, Yun Xiao my friend, we parted ways months ago on Impermanence Island, yet didn’t expect your attainment in the Meridian Refining Path to be so deep and impressive. It truly puts us old folks to shame!”

Ouyang Wuantong, the Master of Shenxiao Sect, seemed exceptionally outgoing. Yun Xiao had not yet approached, yet he had already laughed aloud, a voice tinged with both admiration and subtle flattery.

”Just a stroke of luck, Master Ouyang is overpraising!”

Yun Xiao still had some favorable impressions of this sect leader, as he and the Shenxiao Sect’s Second Elder Wu Yingjiang shared a rapport during the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield, prompting him to respond with a salute.

Nevertheless, hearing these words, not only Ouyang Wuantong, but even Lu Yanji, Qian Sanyuan, and others couldn’t help but purse their lips, thinking that if such feats can be deemed luck, then what significance does their years of Meridian Refining Technique cultivation hold?

Previously, when Lu Tianwen frenziedly unleashed the Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison, everyone was at a loss, even Lu Yanji could only lament helplessly, unable to do anything.

Yet, it was this young man standing before us, who had just turned twenty, who merely used an Ancestor Vein Fire Curtain to completely neutralize all the poison. How could such a feat be attributed to mere luck?

Therefore, everyone believed Yun Xiao’s words were an expression of modesty, unaware that what Yun Xiao said at this moment was the truth. He was able to so easily neutralize the formidable poison of the Ten Thousand Covering Mysterious Trace merely because he was already familiar with this poison’s properties.

If it were another unfamiliar Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison, even if he could eventually neutralize it, it would not be so effortless. After all, he was still just a Heavenly Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master.

”Brother Yun Xiao, I heard from Elder Wu that you have a profound understanding of the Array Formation. Might there be an opportunity for Mr. Li to spar with you?”

Upon seeing the chance to speak first stolen by Ouyang Wuantong, Li Yunfan was not willing to be outdone. These words, though named as a spar, were in fact a subtle compliment to Yun Xiao’s array formation techniques.

Bear in mind, the Island Master of Ling Kong Island was reputed to be the continent’s top Array Master, a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Array Master. If allowed to set up an array beforehand, no expert of the same level would dare claim to be their match.

However, the reason array formations have not become mainstream in the continent is that, when facing an opponent, how could they possibly allow you to calmly set up an array?

Setting up an array to enhance one’s combat power is not a simple task. You need to place the array flags in the correct positions and use certain means to connect them, which is how the array’s power can be fully utilized.

Thus, generally speaking, the arrays used by Array Masters are mostly for defense. An example being the large arrays around the islands of Ling Kong Island’s seas, which are set up using natural islands, making it difficult for outsiders to enter.

It is said that the various islands in the Ling Kong Island seas are array points of a large natural formation. Connecting these array points forms a natural large array.

This is also the greatest reliance of Ling Kong Island’s longstanding presence on the continent. Even if their overall strength does not compare to the four top powers, it would be no easy task for forces like the Wuyan Palace Spirit Fighting Commerce to attack Ling Kong Island.

Perhaps this is why the Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit You River sought out Impermanence Island and not Ling Kong Island. Even if it could eventually break such an array, it would consume an immense amount of power.

”How is Elder Wu?”

Regarding Li Yunfan’s mention of the Array Formation, Yun Xiao chose not to comment but instead directly inquired about the old friend from before, remembering their unforgettable camaraderie on the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield.

”Thank you for your concern, Brother Yun Xiao. Since returning to Ling Kong Island from the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield, Elder Wu has entered closed cultivation. I believe when he emerges, he will surely be able to break through to the true Heavenly Rank Realm!”

Since Yun Xiao mentioned Wu Yingjiang, Li Yunfan naturally followed the topic. By the final sentence, his tone carried a hint of pride.

Every Heavenly Rank expert is a pillar of these top forces. Now that Wu Yingjiang is in seclusion absorbing the spirit crystals gained from the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield and gaining insights from life-and-death battles, the likelihood of breaking through to the Heavenly Rank Third Realm is indeed high.

Li Yunfan was also aware that all of this was likely not unrelated to the rustic clothing-clad young man before him. If not for this youth leading reinforcements at the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield, Wu Yingjiang would likely have only been able to escape miserably with Nie Xiaosheng.

”Yun Xiao, my successful breakthrough this time is truly thanks to you!”

Amid Li Yunfan’s inner reflections, an aged voice suddenly emerged, drawing Yun Xiao’s attention to the president of the Meridian Refining Master Association.

”It was just a small effort, no need for thanks, President!”

For some reason, even knowing that Lu Yanji and the Lu Family of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud may not be related, Yun Xiao felt inexplicably distant, his tone lukewarm.

This might be due to lingering resentment from past life experiences, or perhaps because he knew that with Lu Yanji’s breakthrough, he would inevitably go to the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, where the Lu Family might discover him and take him back to their headquarters.

Yun Xiao was acutely aware that due to past grievances, he would inevitably be at odds with the Lu Family. After all, the Emperor Canglong is the most esteemed figure in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud now, and the Lu Family is their most solid backing.

”Yun Xiao, due to your outstanding performance at the Meridian Refining Conference, after discussions with Vice Chairman Qian and several elders, we’ve decided to bestow upon you the position of Vice President. What do you think?”

Lu Yanji didn’t pay much heed to Yun Xiao’s attitude, and upon saying this, the youth before him had his expression stiffen, seemingly entirely taken aback by the unexpected surprise or perhaps shock.

”Vice President?”

Yun Xiao’s face was filled with disbelief. He had only joined Lianyun Mountain for just over two years, and had spent just a few months there. How could he be qualified for the position of Vice President?

Not long ago, when Qian Sanyuan was on the Hidden Dragon Continent, Yun Xiao could only look up to him as a towering figure. He never imagined that in a few short years, he would stand on equal footing.

In contrast to Yun Xiao, when the onlookers heard Lu Yanji’s words without much ambiguity, they were left stunned. Did that young prodigy finally reach the same level as the older generation’s experts?