Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Hall Master, do you think Ningxiang will succeed in breaking through?”

Lian Yuluo had watched Xue Ningxiang grow up and even considered her as her own daughter. As a woman, she was more likely to show her true emotions.

It’s important to understand that every breakthrough to a Great Rank stage isn’t without danger, especially a breakthrough in the essence realm, which carries even greater risks.

Back when Lian Yuluo broke through to the Heavenly Rank Third Realm, she experienced an almost disastrous failure. If not for a stroke of luck, not only would she have failed to break through, but her Meridian Qi Cultivation would have drastically declined instead.

”Rest assured, Ningxiang has the lifetime cultivation left by her mother within her, combined with her enlightenment between life and death at the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield. This time, there shouldn’t be any accidents!”

Xue Tianao was calmer than Lian Yuluo, analyzing the situation logically. However, no one noticed the faint hint of worry in the depths of his eyes.

The closer you are, the more chaotic your thoughts become. No matter how rational Xue Tianao remained, the child trying to break through in the main hall was his own flesh and blood. To say he was not worried at all would be impossible.

Bang!

Just as Xue Tianao finished speaking, a vast aura suddenly erupted from the hall, astonishing and delighting both of them.

Even though this energy wasn’t particularly threatening to them, as experienced individuals, they could sense something reassuring from the aura.

”She’s finally broken through!”

Lian Yuluo murmured joyfully, containing a sense of relief because the strength was something she, as a Heavenly Rank Low Level Stage Meridian Refiner, was very familiar with.

The reason Lian Yuluo, a Heavenly Rank Low Level Stage Meridian Refiner, didn’t participate in the Meridian Refining Conference was precisely that Xue Ningxiang was at a critical juncture for her breakthrough.

With worries in her heart, attending the Meridian Refining Conference wouldn’t bring out her best state. Therefore, Lian Yuluo decided not to go, staying here to be the first to know the outcome.

This moment was undoubtedly the one where the result was about to be revealed. As the breakthrough energy in the main hall began to stabilize, the two outside breathed a collective sigh of relief.

At least, from the aura they sensed, there was nothing amiss, indicating that the girl inside had indeed broken through to the Heavenly Rank Floating Life Realm Early Stage.

Squeak!

A moment later, the door of the main hall, closed for more than a month, was finally pulled open from inside, and out walked a somewhat frail-looking girl, Xue Ningxiang.

Although Xue Ningxiang had fully resolved her Innate Pulse Cutting, she still appeared frail. But within her slender frame now surged an unrestrained, vast aura.

Having broken through to the Heavenly Rank Floating Life Realm, Xue Ningxiang’s combat power undoubtedly saw qualitative improvement. Combined with her Illusion Yin Ghost Body, there were perhaps only a handful like Ling Wan and Liu Hanyi who could rival her at the same grade.

”Father!”

As Xue Ningxiang pushed open the door, her eyes immediately met the two people waiting outside, a touch of emotion flashed in her beautiful eyes. Compared to a certain unfeeling person, these two seemed like her true family.

”Hahaha, Ningxiang, with your successful breakthrough, Xuanyin Hall now has another Heavenly Rank expert!”

Elated, Xue Tianao laughed heartily, but hearing his words, Xue Ningxiang’s face showed a trace of lingering resentment, thinking of something unknown.

”That Ling Wan, should have broken through to the Heavenly Rank Realm too, right? Does that kid still remember he’s also part of Xuanyin Hall?”

In Ningxiang’s mind, an image of a simply dressed figure with a wooden sword appeared, and her words turned into a reproach of Ling Wan, filled with strong discontent.

However, knowing Ling Wan well, and having been around someone with extraordinary means, she could not believe Ling Wan would still be stuck at the Peak of Earth Bending Realm while she reached the Heavenly Rank Third Realm.

”You’re right. According to the information we’ve received, not only Ling Wan but also Liu Hanyi and Mo Qing from Lianyun Mountain have become Heavenly Rank experts!”

Beside her, Lian Yuluo, having received prior Flying Letter transmissions from Lianyun Mountain, knew much about recent developments. Although she was still unaware of the Meridian Refining Conference results, she was quite clear about other news.

”Especially Yun Xiao. No one knows how he cultivated, but he’s shockingly reached the Floating Life Realm Middle Stage!”

Lian Yuluo’s tone carried a hint of admiration as she spoke about Yun Xiao, a youth who had always piqued her curiosity. Even though they’d only met twice, he left an indelible impression on her.

”Has he really broken through to the Floating Life Realm Middle Stage?”

Hearing this, Xue Ningxiang felt a bit melancholic. She had always wanted to surpass Yun Xiao, and breaking through to the Floating Life Realm Early Stage with high aspirations to compete, yet she found herself still trailing behind.

”Since he has broken through to the Heavenly Rank Realm, he is surely going to participate in this year’s Meridian Refining Conference. Do you think he can win the championship?”

Xue Ningxiang was a carefree person, and the rivalry between her and Yun Xiao could only be considered healthy competition. At this moment, she thought of another level, and a glimmer of surprise flashed in her eyes.

”This... shouldn’t be possible, right?”

Upon hearing this, Xue Tianao was slightly startled and then continued: ”Like that Huashan Old Monster, Gu Huashan, and the Qihuang Saint Xiao Shijing, they are all seasoned Medical Meridian Masters. Comparing Yun Xiao to these old folks, he inevitably seems a bit immature!”

”Indeed, I heard that Ghostly Poisonous Concubine Song Qiuchan also went to Lianyun Mountain this time, and even Lu Tianwen from the Spirit Fighting Commerce, rumored to be in a state of madness, seems to have gained some creation and appeared at the Meridian Refining Master Association!”

Lian Yuluo, who was a Heavenly Rank Low Level Medical Meridian Master herself, originally planned to attend the Meridian Refining Conference; only due to Xue Ningxiang’s breakthrough did she ultimately give up.

Therefore, she was very knowledgeable about the powerful Heavenly Rank Meridian Refining Masters on the continent, and as Xue Tianao mentioned, compared to these older folks, Yun Xiao’s recent breakthrough in Meridian Refining Technique was somewhat lacking.

”Heh heh, that’s not necessarily true!”

When it comes to confidence in Yun Xiao, even the two Masters from Xuanyin Hall combined couldn’t match Xue Ningxiang. Nowadays, she harbors an almost blind trust in Yun Xiao.

In Xue Ningxiang’s heart, even though Yun Xiao just broke through to the Floating Life Realm Middle Stage, she wouldn’t find anything surprising happening around him. There was even an air of inevitability.

”I say, Ningxiang, aren’t you overestimating that kid?”

Even though Xue Tianao’s perception of Yun Xiao had significantly changed, the thought of his beloved daughter’s unrequited affection for Yun Xiao left him feeling indignant, prompting him to retort.

”Father, you just don’t...”

Flap flap...

Just as Xue Ningxiang was finding reasons to rebut, a stream of light suddenly flew in from afar. When it approached, it turned out to be an extremely slender, green little bird.

Hearing the flapping sound, Xue Tianao turned his head and beckoned, and the bird landed precisely on his right palm.

Clearly, this was a flying beast pulse demon used by Xuanyin Hall for transmitting messages. This Gale Bird, despite being only an Eighth Rank pulse demon, had astonishing speed, comparable to some Heavenly Rank Floating Life Realm experts.

”It’s intelligence from Lianyun Mountain!”

When Lian Yuluo turned her gaze and saw the small bamboo tube tied to the bird’s leg, she spoke up, a peculiar expression appearing on her face.

”It probably contains the final results of the Meridian Refining Conference!”

As a Heavenly Rank Low Level Stage Meridian Refiner, Lian Yuluo was extremely keen on the Meridian Refining Conference, and not being able to measure up against those top-ranking Heavenly Rank Meridian Refiners was, indeed, a regret.

Just having discussed the Meridian Refining Conference, then came the information from Lianyun Mountain. Even Xue Ningxiang became curious, watching her father’s movements closely to find out what was written in the message.

”This...”

Under the watchful eyes of the two women, Xue Tianao did not hesitate too much. As he gradually unrolled the cylindrical message paper, his expression became incredibly peculiar.

”What is it, what is it? Who won the championship?”

In fact, although Xue Ningxiang had confidently backed Yun Xiao just now, deep down she knew that it wasn’t easy for Yun Xiao to clinch the championship of any meridian path. She hurriedly leaned her face over.

”It’s... Yun Xiao!”

Under his beloved daughter’s voice, Xue Tianao finally gathered his thoughts, handing the message paper to Xue Ningxiang while taking a deep breath, expressing with emotion and containing a thick layer of disbelief in his tone.

”Really Yun Xiao? Which championship did he win, the Medical Vein Path or the Poison Meridian Path?”

On one side, Lian Yuluo widened her beautiful eyes and instinctively leaned her head toward Xue Ningxiang, though she believed that Yun Xiao’s chances of winning the Medical Vein Path championship were higher.

After all, during the treatment of Xue Ningxiang’s Innate Pulse Cutting, Lian Yuluo had witnessed Yun Xiao’s medical meridian skills. Whether in alchemy and medicine refining or the application of meridian arrays to treat patients, he might even rival her, the Vice Hall Master of Xuanyin Hall.

”It’s... a double champion!”

However, before Lian Yuluo could clearly read the content on the message paper as she leaned over, Xue Ningxiang, who had rapidly scanned the message, gave her an incredibly shocking answer.

Even Xue Ningxiang herself, regardless of her earlier unwavering support for Yun Xiao, never imagined such a result. It was simply too shocking, too unbelievable.

A young man just twenty years old—how could he possibly achieve this feat?