Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”If he wants to fight, then I’ll fight with him!”

Just when everyone thought that fighting a Strange Spirit didn’t require any rules, such a bold statement was uttered from the young boy in rough clothes.

”This is foolish...alas, isn’t he overly confident?”

Not far away, Duan Zixiao, the Valley Master of Sky Thunder Valley, who originally held some resentment towards Yun Xiao, almost blurted out the word ”foolish.” Thankfully, he managed to hold back just in time.

Though he changed his words to ”overly confident,” anyone could hear the anxiety in his tone. Now that the Sky-covering Water Formation had been broken, in such a favorable situation, how could the boy still act on his own accord?

Even Xue Tianao couldn’t sense Yun Xiao’s true cultivation level, let alone Duan Zixiao, who had only just broken through to the Early Stage of the Lingyun Realm. At this moment, he truly felt disappointment.

Most cultivators in the field felt the same as Duan Zixiao: although Yun Xiao is strong, with unrivaled skills in Array techniques, fighting an Intermediate Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit might still be a bit beyond his reach.

For a moment, figures like the Destroyer Venerable or Zhao Family Patriarch, Zhao Gujin, all flashed a discreet sneer, mocking Yun Xiao’s lack of self-awareness, but none spoke like Duan Zixiao.

”The master said to fight, so why hesitate? Step aside!”

Compared to Xue Tianao, perhaps Wu Zhukong was the one who most trusted Yun Xiao. As soon as Yun Xiao finished speaking, he spoke in a low voice and promptly stepped back.

”This...alas!”

Seeing Yun Xiao staring at him strangely, Xue Tianao glanced at Wu Zhukong, who had retreated, and Lu Yanji, who was also backing away. He suddenly realized a fact and could only sigh before stepping back.

For in Xue Tianao’s understanding of Yun Xiao, this young man seemed youthful but was resolute once he decided something, even nine hundred oxen couldn’t pull him back.

It had been this way in Xuanyin Cave, on the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield, or on Impermanence Island, though remembering Yun Xiao’s great victories in these instances unexpectedly stirred a bit of confidence in Xue Tianao’s heart.

”Tsk tsk, Yun Xiao, I really do admire you now!”

After the retreat of the three human leaders, the massive body of the Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit You River trembled, and though he said he admired Yun Xiao, his words carried deep killing intent.

In fact, luring Yun Xiao into a solo battle had been You River’s plan all along, using a hostage to draw Yun Xiao onto the Stepping Heavenly Stone within the Sky-covering Water Formation and then striking him dead.

Ultimately, You River’s plan was to kill Yun Xiao’s talented companions without leaving any behind, thus achieving a complete success.

Yet who would have thought that in a matter of incense sticks, Yun Xiao would shatter the Sky-covering Water Formation, exposing You River to the human clan’s powerful siege.

At the moment the formation was broken, You River had been considering how to escape, for beings like him knew not of promises.

But once again, You River couldn’t fathom the young human; Yun Xiao unexpectedly accepted the inferior provocation, which was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise for him.

You River, though an Intermediate Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit, his Soul Sensing ability was far inferior to the Heavenly Rank Advanced Soul of Lu Yanji, and even less than Xue Tianao’s.

Of course, the Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit You River had investigated Yun Xiao’s previous cultivation, believing that as long as Yun Xiao hadn’t reached the Heavenly Realm, he could remain undefeated.

You River had understood Yun Xiao quite well, and at this moment he believed the human youth was getting too arrogant from easily breaking the Array, hence accepting the solo duel rashly.

Yet this played right into You River’s hands, prompting him to issue another provocation, trying to prevent Yun Xiao from changing his decision, as if Yun Xiao changing his mind would negate his admiration.

”But I do not admire you at all. If you want to fight, just tell me. Why all these messy twists? Look now, do they work?”

You River’s provocation was indeed clumsy, instead becoming a medium for Yun Xiao’s mockery, pointing to Liu Hanyi, Mo Qing, and the three Ling Wan who had already escaped danger.

In truth, You River intended to force Yun Xiao into a solo duel to eliminate his greatest threat, but unexpectedly miscalculated, losing his final reliance.

”Since you’re here, it doesn’t matter whether they are or aren’t!”

Realizing his rhetorical skills couldn’t match Yun Xiao, the Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit You River ceased further talk. As his last word fell, a Water Column Tentacle appeared mere feet from Yun Xiao.

Swish!

The Water Column Tentacle arrived quickly, seemingly out of nowhere, leaving many human experts with changed expressions.

They knew well, if they were in Yun Xiao’s place, defending was out of the question, evading might prove impossible; how would this rough-clothed youth face such a sudden attack?

”Despicable!”

From the perimeter, Hu Ying’er, watching the battle, couldn’t help but mutter a curse upon seeing this attack. You He’s surprise attack was no different from a sneak attack.

Just a moment ago, it seemed like he was reasoning with Yun Xiao and exchanging mockery, but the next second, he launched an attack without any transition, which was truly disgraceful.

However, considering that the opponent was a Strange Spirit Expert, the bigwigs from Yongle Island beside her could only feel helpless. How could you reason with a Strange Spirit?

”He shouldn’t take it head-on, right?”

Almost everyone had this thought. After all, it was an Intermediate Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit. Even Lu Yanji of the Heavenly Realm Middle Stage wouldn’t dare say he could withstand it in a one-on-one fight.

But what happened next almost made the jaws of those watching around the Stepping Heavenly Stone drop to the ground. They thought the coarse-clothed youth could only dodge, yet he directly stretched out his hands and hugged the massive water column tentacles.

”Crush it for me!”

Hugging the water column tentacles bigger than his own body, Yun Xiao suddenly let out a powerful shout. Immediately, an unbeatable force erupted from him.

Splash!

Under the tremendous twisting force from Yun Xiao’s hands, the massive water column tentacles couldn’t withstand it, and instantly burst apart with a loud bang, sending water splashing in all directions with an intimidating momentum.

”That...that is...Heavenly Realm Early Stage?!”

It wasn’t until Yun Xiao twisted off the water column tentacles that the aura on his body burst out in front of others for the first time, making many human cultivators with decent Power of Soul instantly gape.

Previously, only Lu Yanji, a Heavenly Rank Advanced, had sensed Yun Xiao’s true cultivation. As for the others, including Xue Tianao, they all believed Yun Xiao was still at the Peak of the Lingyun Realm.

Xue Tianao himself had just broken through from the Peak of the Lingyun Realm to the Heavenly Realm Early Stage. Although his breakthrough was also because of Yun Xiao, he had been stuck at that realm for decades before.

At the time, when he received the news of the battle at Demons Mountain and Spirit Fighting Commerce headquarters, Xue Tianao was quite emotional, thinking that Yun Xiao’s breakthrough to the Lingyun Realm was extremely heaven-defying.

But who knew that in just three months without any news, that youth had broken through to the Heavenly Realm Early Stage. To Xue Tianao, who was also at the Heavenly Realm Early Stage, it seemed truly fantastical.

”Looks like he has successfully refined that Fierce Flood Dragon’s Demon Core?”

Down below the Stepping Heavenly Stone, Qihuang Saint Hand Xiao Shijing murmured. A month ago, he personally witnessed how Yun Xiao subdued the Fierce Flood Dragon and vaguely guessed Yun Xiao’s plan.

Now it seems that the youth had somehow used the Flood Dragon Pill within a month to forcibly break through to the Heavenly Realm Early Stage.

Indeed, comparing oneself to others can be exasperating. For a moment, the field turned somewhat silent. People like the Destroyer Venerable or Duan Zixiao felt their hearts pounding. This was truly shocking.

Yun Xiao, who was at the Lingyun Realm, managed to annihilate Wuyan Palace and Spirit Fighting Commerce. Now that he’s broken through to the Heavenly Realm Early Stage, he might be unmatched on the Tenglong Continent.

”Looks like the just-updated Heavenly List will need to be revised again!”

The Sect Leader of Shenxiao Sect, Ouyang Wantong, had a peculiar smile on his face. His words made some of Shenxiao Sect Elders nod silently.

After the Meridian Refining Master Association battle, Shenxiao Sect had released a new Heavenly List, where Yun Xiao was placed third. This even drew opposition from many elders.

Eventually, Ouyang Wantong overrode the objections and forcefully put Yun Xiao in the third spot on the Heavenly List. It wasn’t until the battles at Demons Mountain and Spirit Dao City that the elders had no more objections.

Even Yun Xiao at the Lingyun Realm could rank third. With him reaching the Heavenly Realm Early Stage, what kind of strength could he hold now? Even the top-ranked Lu Yanji on the Heavenly List might not be his match.

”Let’s see today’s battle. If Yun Xiao can completely kill that Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit You He, then the top spot on the Heavenly List will undoubtedly be his!”

Ouyang Wantong concluded with these two sentences. After all, the battle on the Stepping Heavenly Stone was still ongoing. Only after the result of this great battle could anything else be said.

Whoosh!

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Yun Xiao, who had just twisted off the water column tentacles on the Stepping Heavenly Stone, suddenly moved his right hand’s fingers. Immediately, a dark light appeared behind You He.

The water column tentacles Yun Xiao twisted off earlier couldn’t have been You He’s true form but were merely his transformed attack method. Yet, Yun Xiao had not been idle. While neutralizing the opponent’s attack, he had reversed the defense into offense, attempting to seize the initiative in the field.