Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

In a small square within the Meridian Refining Master Association.

It was in this very square that day, where Yun Xiao suddenly appeared, leaving the Vice President of Spirit Fighting Commerce Lu Tianwen and his disciple in disgrace, eventually forcing Lu Tianwen to personally take action against his prized pupil.

Now, neither Xie Tianwan nor Lu Tianwen exist on this Continent anymore, yet today, the square is bustling with activity.

In the square, a young man clad in blue robes is tirelessly moving and placing some peculiar flags at various locations in the square.

Meanwhile, at the center of the square, sits a similarly youthful-looking man. If Yun Xiao were here, perhaps he would recognize this individual as once the top prodigy of Lianyun Mountain’s Sky Poison Institute: Ye Ku!

It’s worth mentioning that Ye Ku appears to be in a special state right now, with an aura swirling around him as the energy of heaven and earth continuously flows towards his body, transforming into a resource for enhancing his strength through the operation of his cultivation technique.

”Brother Nie, do you think Brother Jizhou’s Spirit Gathering Array will succeed this time?”

One of the green-robed youths observing from outside the square seems slightly anxious and cannot help but ask the young man beside him.

The youth speaking is also a young genius from the Sky Poison Institute, known as the second prodigy Si Mo. He once had some interactions with Yun Xiao back in the Refining Treasure Hall.

Regarding Brother Nie mentioned by Si Mo, he is the top prodigy of the Shenxiao Sect, Nie Xiaosheng. Having spent three or four months at Lianyun Mountain, he still seems unlikely to leave, which is quite remarkable.

”Don’t worry, Brother Jizhou is the esteemed disciple of Yunfan Island Master. His mastery of array formations has long reached the Earth Rank Advanced level. Helping Brother Ye Ku with an Earth Rank Advanced Spirit Gathering Array for a breakthrough should be no problem!”

Nie Xiaosheng, well-versed in worldly matters, spoke confidently, unveiling the background of the young man arranging arrays in the square, who is none other than the direct disciple of Ling Kong Island Master Li Yunfan.

When it comes to the forces and sects on Tenglong Continent that are most proficient in array formations, Ling Kong Island undoubtedly ranks at the top. The Ling Kong Island Master Li Yunfan is rumored to be the only Heavenly Rank Intermediate Array Master on the Tenglong Continent.

It is said that the waters surrounding Ling Kong Island have evolved into a natural formation through continuous improvements and enhancements by generations of array masters, making it difficult even for the strongest of the Heavenly Realm to break through.

Perhaps this explains why the sacred-grade water attribute spirit chose Impermanence Island over troubling Ling Kong Island, given the challenge of breaching the large array and entering its domain.

Interestingly, the distinguished disciple of Ling Kong Island Master in the scene shares the surname Li. His name is Li Jizhou, yet he bears no blood relation to Li Yunfan.

Despite a lack of kinship, Li Jizhou’s extraordinary talent in array formations delighted Li Yunfan as if possessing a supreme treasure. After years of nurturing, his array techniques at around thirty years of age rivaled many elders of Lingyun Island.

Aside from the Lingyun Island Master and the Great Elder, both Heavenly Rank Array Masters, Li Jizhou’s array techniques even compare favorably to those of Second Elder Mo Yu, making him an authentic Earth Rank Advanced Array Master.

The Spirit Gathering Array deployed by Li Jizhou at the moment, as its name implies, gathers spiritual energy from heaven and earth into a small area, allowing Ye Ku at the center of the array to utilize this pure energy for a breakthrough.

Of course, this situation assumes Ye Ku is on the brink of a breakthrough; Li Jizhou’s array simply serves to shorten the time needed for Ye Ku to reach the late stage of the Earth Bending Realm.

After enduring fierce battles in the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield and diligent cultivation efforts, Ye Ku is finally advancing further. If this Spirit Gathering Array truly forms, he may soon become a formidable late-stage Earth Bending Realm expert.

If Yun Xiao, known for unconventional brilliance, doesn’t factor in, perhaps talents like Ye Ku and Si Mo represent the mainstream of the younger generation on Tenglong Continent.

To break through to the late stage of the Earth Bending Realm at such a young age, Ye Ku’s talent is remarkable, rivaling even some lower-ranked two-institute elders.

Whoosh!

Under the watchful eyes of many around, Li Jizhou throws out his final array flag, and as his hand seals change, a subtle link between the dozens of array flags seems to form.

Woo... Woo...

The chaotic energy from heaven and earth, drawn by the Spirit Gathering Array, surges toward Ye Ku. As it passes through the array’s range, it undergoes significant transformation, seemingly becoming purer and easier to absorb.

”It’s done!”

Sensing the energy flow between heaven and earth, Li Jizhou wipes the sweat from his forehead and cheers, for he knows his half-day effort has not been in vain.

Speaking of which, Li Jizhou originally wasn’t at Lianyun Mountain. He was on a mission nearby on his master’s orders, but unexpectedly received a flying letter from Ling Kong Island, prompting him to rush to the headquarters of the Meridian Refining Master Guild.

Back then, the great battle was clear to Li Jizhou, so he came to Lianyun Mountain to build connections with that extraordinarily talented young man.

However, in the past month, not only had Yun Xiao been in seclusion, but even those friends closely associated with Yun Xiao were nowhere to be found by Li Jizhou.

It seemed that after the battle, Yun Xiao’s life-and-death companions felt a significant lack of strength and all went into deep cultivation, swearing not to give up until they broke through.

As a result, Li Jizhou had to pursue a secondary option. He learned from Nie Xiaosheng that Yun Xiao was also on good terms with the two geniuses from the Sky Poison Institute, so when he heard Ye Ku was about to break through, he volunteered to assist.

After obtaining the consent of his teacher, Qingmu Wu, Ye Ku surely wouldn’t miss this opportunity to shorten his breakthrough time. He believed that at the headquarters of Lianyun Mountain, Li Jizhou couldn’t possibly harm him.

This time, Li Jizhou gave it his all. He was confident that as soon as the Spirit Gathering Array took shape, Ye Ku’s breakthrough to the late stage of the Earth Bending Realm would be a certainty.

However, while Li Jizhou had great confidence in his array techniques, he didn’t know much about Ye Ku. Therefore, this time’s Spirit Gathering Array might have unexpected changes.

What Li Jizhou didn’t know was that Ye Ku, as the ”Son of Thousand Poisons” of the Sky Poison Institute, had a physique vastly different from that of ordinary cultivators or Poison Vein Masters.

Years ago, when Ye Ku was born, he suffered from a strange illness and nearly died. It took Qingmu Wu’s forceful Poison Vein techniques to turn disaster to fortune and make Ye Ku the institute’s top talent.

Because of this mutant physique, Ye Ku’s mastery in Poison Meridian Skills advanced rapidly, making him nearly unbeatable within his level.

If Ye Ku had followed his own method to break through small realms step by step, perhaps nothing would have gone wrong. But now, wanting to save time by letting Li Jizhou use the Spirit Gathering Array, he might be facing things beyond his control.

”Hmm? What’s happening?”

As Li Jizhou was controlling the large Spirit Gathering Array, continuously channeling Heaven and Earth energy towards Ye Ku, he suddenly sensed something was amiss and turned his gaze to Ye Ku.

And at this glance, Li Jizhou’s expression changed dramatically, for Ye Ku’s face flickered with green light, and his exposed hands and face were visibly withering rapidly.

Li Jizhou’s change in expression was noticed by the onlooking cultivators, who then turned their gazes towards Ye Ku, with their eyes slightly tense.

”Oh no, Senior Brother Ye Ku’s fetal poison is acting up!”

Seeing this scene, Si Mo, who was most familiar with Ye Ku, turned pale. Compared to others, his years with Ye Ku provided deep insights into him.

Ye Ku had suffered from severe fetal poisoning while still in the womb, resulting in a frail condition at birth, nearly costing him his life over time.

It was Qingmu Wu’s intervention to control the mutant fetal poison that allowed Ye Ku to become a Poison Vein Master. After mastering Poison Meridian Skills, the mysterious fetal poison hadn’t acted up for years.

But this knowledge didn’t stop Si Mo from recognizing the signs. Seeing Ye Ku’s gaunt hands and cheeks turned skeletal in an instant confirmed the fetal poison relapse.

”Quick, go get the Dean!”

Si Mo urged, knowing Ye Ku was in critical condition. Other than the Sky Poison Institute Dean, Ye Ku’s own teacher Qingmu Wu—who had once controlled his fatal fetal poison—no one else could save him.

”Senior Brother Si Mo, the Dean has been in seclusion for over a month with strict instructions not to be disturbed. We... we don’t dare!”

One Sky Poison Institute genius hesitated upon hearing Si Mo’s urgency, clearly fearing the strict and unsmiling Dean.

”What is there to fear? Delay any longer, and Senior Brother Ye Ku’s life will be forfeit!”

Hearing this, Si Mo’s face grew dark. He knew that even if they sought Qingmu Wu now, it would be too late. In mere moments, Ye Ku already looked like a walking skeleton.

”What do we do? What do we do?”

Compared to the other bystanders, as the involved party, the array genius Li Jizhou from Ling Kong Island was now drenched in sweat, voicing his anxiety repeatedly, appearing overwhelmed.