Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

”Qingshan, what are your plans next?”

Seeing Xu Qingshan standing respectfully, Yun Xiao’s eyes flickered slightly as he first posed this question, catching the former off guard before his expression turned somewhat resolute.

”Master Ancestor, Qingshan wishes to follow you for life, till death do us part!”

Having already acknowledged Yun Xiao as his Master Ancestor, Xu Qingshan had made up his mind long ago, and he expressed his intentions firmly, knowing that following this outstanding Master Ancestor would likely allow him to learn many things.

”Follow me?”

Yun Xiao seemed to anticipate Xu Qingshan’s decision but shook his head slightly and said, ”Following me is too dangerous. At times, I may not be able to spare the effort to protect you!”

As the Long Xiao Battle God in two lifetimes, Yun Xiao spoke without reservation. Implicitly, he was saying that Xu Qingshan, at the Lingyun Realm Early Stage, would just be a burden if he followed along.

”Master Ancestor, I...”

The previously confident Xu Qingshan blushed at Yun Xiao’s blunt words but didn’t know what to say because he knew it was the truth.

In Ye City, Xu Qingshan had witnessed Yun Xiao’s prowess firsthand. Even the Heavenly Realm Late Stage expert Liu Wenzong, the esteemed Chief of the Ye City Emperor Palace, was not Yun Xiao’s equal. Such was the formidable strength he possessed.

Xu Qingshan had indeed been dominant among the younger generation in Ye City, but it was only recently, with Yun Xiao’s help, that he broke through to the Lingyun Realm Early Stage.

At this unstable level, following Yun Xiao, who could defeat a Heavenly Realm Late Stage Expert as easily as killing a chicken, Xu Qingshan was indeed just a burden, something he was self-aware of.

”Qingshan, in fact, your talent isn’t too weak. There’s a place that might be more suitable for you!”

Yun Xiao wouldn’t dwell too much on such matters. Hearing his words, Xu Qingshan’s previously despondent heart suddenly brightened, for he knew that the place arranged by his Master Ancestor for him was surely not done casually.

”I wonder if you’ve heard of the ’War Dragon Army’?”

Without paying attention to Xu Qingshan’s expression, Yun Xiao directly mentioned a name, and when he said ”War Dragon Army,” his face clearly showed a hint of something unusual.

”War Dragon Army? Wasn’t that... wasn’t that created by Master Ancestor Long Xiao Battle God back then...”

Upon suddenly hearing this name, which seemed to exist in distant memory or some kind of belief, Xu Qingshan’s body trembled violently, and his stammering words revealed that he had indeed heard of the ”War Dragon Army.”

From the unfinished words of Xu Qingshan, it was easy to guess that the so-called War Dragon Army was the iron army created by the Long Xiao Battle God back then, a strong force directly descended from him.

The armies of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud differ significantly from those of the Empires on the Hidden Dragon Continent. Take the War Dragon Army, for instance: every soldier must at least reach the level of the Heavenly Rank Third Realm.

In other words, a Heavenly Rank Expert who is dominant on the Tenglong Continent might not even qualify to become a soldier in the War Dragon Army on the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud. One can imagine the level of power in this Supreme Plane.

On the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, strange spirits and humans compete, and under the tactics of those strange spirit kings, there are countless strange spirit experts. At least in terms of numbers, they are not much less than human cultivators.

Moreover, strange spirits have always been more formidable in combat than human cultivators of the same level. If the human side doesn’t have a unified command and everyone fights individually like grains of scattered sand, the consequences are predictable.

The Long Xiao Battle God of that time single-handedly forged the iron force known as the War Dragon Army. Under his command, orders were transmitted effectively, ensuring undefeated battles against the strange spirits.

In that era, the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud had countless armies, but two iron forces were renowned for their invincibility. One, as Yun Xiao just mentioned, was the War Dragon Army.

As for the other always-victorious army, it was the ”Emperor Dragon Army,” personally commanded by Emperor Canglong. For now, let’s put that aside; Yun Xiao naturally had another purpose in mentioning the War Dragon Army at this moment.

”Since you know the War Dragon Army, it saves me some explanation!”

Xu Qingshan looked surprised, but Yun Xiao nodded slightly, saying, ”My intention is for you to join the War Dragon Army!”

At this moment, Yun Xiao finally expressed his final thought: having Xu Qingshan join the War Dragon Army as an insider for the future was much more suitable than having him by his side as a burden.

”As Master Ancestor commands, Qingshan dares not disobey, but I’m afraid the War Dragon Army today is no longer the same as it was back then, right?”

Since Yun Xiao had already made a decision, Xu Qingshan would naturally not object. However, upon seeing his eyes flicker, a fact he spoke caused a glimmer to flash in Yun Xiao’s eyes.

”How could I not know this? But... no matter how long Emperor Canglong’s reach is, he couldn’t possibly have slaughtered all of... all of Long Xiao Battle God’s confidants, could he?”

Yun Xiao first nodded and then revealed a cold smile. He almost blurted out ”This Commander’s” title but fortunately changed his words in time, not letting Xu Qingshan notice the slip.

Just as Yun Xiao had stated, it had been a century since Long Xiao Battle God’s ”death.” How could the Canglong Emperor Palace not have made a move against such a formidable and resilient Iron Army like the War Dragon Army?

Back then, the War Dragon Army generals loyal to Long Xiao Battle God were probably either marginalized, suppressed, or assassinated in secret, replaced by Emperor Canglong’s trusted men.

However, Yun Xiao’s words were not without reason, as the War Dragon Army was essentially established by Long Xiao Battle God himself, its influence spreading to every corner of the War Dragon Army.

Moreover, many were the sleeper agents Death Soldiers Yun Xiao had secretly nurtured. These individuals usually didn’t show off, nor held important positions within the army, and even their colleagues might not easily discover them, let alone Emperor Canglong and Lu Qinwan.

This was another reason why Yun Xiao wanted Xu Qingshan to join the War Dragon Army—to awaken these Death Soldiers cultivated by Long Xiao Battle God in the past. This was an indomitable force that couldn’t be ignored.

Yun Xiao believed that over the years, those Death Soldiers he valued in his previous life had likely grown to be immensely powerful. If such a force could be gathered, it would undoubtedly have a role in the future.

Furthermore, these people had clean backgrounds. Under Xu Qingshan’s secret liaison, merely showcasing a bit of strength and talent might win the appreciation of the current War Dragon Army leaders, eventually taking up important positions.

This was all part of Yun Xiao’s plan to return to the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud. Even if Xu Qingshan hadn’t appeared, he would find a way to awaken those War Dragon Army Death Soldiers. He would not easily give up any force that could topple the Canglong Emperor Palace.

Of course, Yun Xiao was the only one who knew how to awaken these Death Soldiers, but from today onwards, Xu Qingshan would also know this method.

”Qingshan, come closer!”

Suppressing these thoughts, Yun Xiao beckoned Xu Qingshan again, and then a very low conversation was conveyed to the latter’s ear, making Xu Qingshan’s expression become increasingly peculiar.

”This master ancestor is truly all-knowing!”

While trying hard to remember the key points Yun Xiao mentioned, Xu Qingshan couldn’t help but have another thought, considering that this newly acknowledged, conveniently acquired master ancestor seemed to know everything.

And now, even the means to awaken those sleeper agents of the War Dragon Army existed, astonishing Xu Qingshan beyond belief. It was something he had never imagined before.

However, for Xu Qingshan, anything detrimental to the Canglong Emperor Palace was welcome news, at least on this point; his thoughts aligned with this master ancestor.

After realizing he was a grand-disciple of Long Xiao Battle God, Xu Qingshan viewed the Canglong Emperor Palace as his greatest enemy. Later, when his father was killed by the Ye City Emperor Palace, it further fueled his irreconcilable vendetta against the Canglong Emperor Palace.

”Qingshan, you must remember every word of these details, and be extremely cautious in your actions, not letting down your guard even for a moment!”

Seeing Xu Qingshan appear a bit lost, Yun Xiao instructed on the methods to contact the Death Soldiers, his expression suddenly became much more solemn, his tone exceedingly grave.

Having been reborn, Yun Xiao originally had few friends, with the old acquaintances from the past either being dead or dispersed. Only a few individuals were left, such as Nangong Xiaofeng and Xu Qingshan as the descendants.

Compared to the distant Nangong Xiaofeng, Xu Qingshan naturally held more significance for Yun Xiao. He was, after all, his only grand-disciple in his previous life. Yun Xiao didn’t want their reunion to be just an encounter with Xu Qingshan’s corpse.

”Master ancestor’s teachings, this disciple will remember thoroughly!”

Xu Qingshan didn’t really disregard Yun Xiao’s words. Instead, he was filled with emotions thinking about other matters and promptly expressed his attitude. He naturally knew the perils involved in his journey to the War Dragon Army.

Although the enemies were in the shadows while they were in the light, the current War Dragon Army was already under the control of the Canglong Emperor Palace. Not to mention the high-ranking leaders, even the lower-level captains were bound to obey the Canglong Emperor Palace’s orders.

Despite knowing the risks involved, Xu Qingshan was determined to forge ahead. This wasn’t just a task assigned by his master ancestor; it also gave him a glimmer of hope in overthrowing the Canglong Emperor Palace.

If someday in the future, due to his efforts, this formidable and battle-proficient Iron Army could break free from the Canglong Emperor Palace, it would undeniably bring a great sense of accomplishment to Xu Qingshan.

Of course, achieving this desire still required a long journey ahead, but Xu Qingshan knew that tonight marked a beginning. Henceforth, he would need to tread forward, step by step.

After bowing deeply to Yun Xiao three times, Xu Qingshan’s expression suddenly turned resolute, and then without looking back, he soared into the sky, quickly disappearing into the distant dark night horizon.