Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Swish!

Yue Qizhai, the Second Elder of the Emperor Palace, with a face as gloomy as storm clouds, suddenly reached to his Waist Storage, and a Jade Bottle appeared in his left palm.

Rustle!

This Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison Vein Master was extremely anxious at this moment, unwilling to waste even the time to open the bottle’s cap. He smashed the Jade Bottle directly, spreading a puff of white Medicine Powder over his right forearm.

It seemed this was the Detoxification Powder Yue Qizhai had prepared in advance, effective against most poisons. Faced with his own Meridian Qi failing, he could only rely on such detoxification items.

Moreover, sprinkling the Medicine Powder on his arm was not enough for Yue Qizhai. He reached into his Waist Storage again, pulling a fiery red ginseng-shaped object into his left palm.

Crack!

Yue Qizhai had no time for contemplation. He brought the Red Ginseng to his mouth and took a bite, causing juice to flow out like blood, looking wild and ferocious, as if he were devouring raw blood.

He seemingly intended to apply the detoxification method both internally and externally, unwilling to believe he couldn’t neutralize the poison cast by a Heavenly Realm Late Stage youth. This was the strongest measure of Yue Qizhai’s capabilities.

Unfortunately, Yue Qizhai had no idea what kind of opponent he faced, nor the background and origin of the plain-clothed boy standing not far from him.

If his desperate measures could only counter some ordinary Heavenly Rank Advanced Poisons, they might work. But to deal with the poison unleashed by Yun Xiao? That was truly humorous.

”Let me remind you again, those random things are useless. If you want to keep your life, just cut off this right arm!”

Just as Yue Qizhai confidently awaited the antidote’s effect, a familiar cold voice rang out once more, startling him while also seeming to pep-talk himself into showing a stubborn expression.

Yue Qizhai had painstakingly cultivated his Meridian Qi to the Peak of the Heavenly Realm. If he truly lost an arm, his future combat power would be greatly diminished. Cutting off an arm was a last resort.

Yet such resolute denial only invoked a cold sneer from Yun Xiao. What he said was factual: with only his hand poisoned, the sole way for Yue Qizhai to survive was sacrificing this right arm.

The bizarre spectacle turned the scene unusually quiet. Originally thought to be a one-sided victory for Yue Qizhai, it had unexpectedly reached this dilemma.

The Second Elder of Murong City Emperor Palace, a genuine Peak Cultivator of the Heavenly Realm, and a Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison Vein Master—could Yue Qizhai truly be a reputation without substance?

The observing cultivators, mostly from around Murong City, were genuinely shaken by this Emperor Palace’s Poison Vein Master. On this day, that detoxification pill wasn’t just hearsay but seemed quite adept until facing a Heavenly Realm Late Stage youth, becoming so desolate.

At this moment, it’s not the plain-clothed youth countering Yue Qizhai’s poison rampage; rather, it’s the Second Elder succumbing to poison, visibly about to lose an arm.

Tear!

Amidst peculiar thoughts arising among the crowd, the sound of fabric ripping was suddenly heard. It was Yue Qizhai, sensing the poison’s spread, tearing open his right sleeve.

Yue Qizhai’s right hand, covered in white powder, revealed nothing particular. But a thin black line crept up from his right hand’s back, nearly reaching his elbow.

”It seems the youth spoke not out of exaggeration.”

Seeing this scene, a Poison Vein Master of only Heavenly Rank Low Level mused thoughtfully, his murmurs confirming Yun Xiao’s earlier words.

If Yue Qizhai’s internal and external detoxification efforts were effective, the poison should not continue spreading on his hand but slowly recede.

Now it appeared not only had the detoxification failed to halt the poison’s advance, but it seemed to have quickened. Another moment, and it’d surpass Yue Qizhai’s elbow.

”Damn it, what poison is this?”

At this moment, Yue Qizhai finally panicked genuinely, suddenly realizing he might be outmatched in poison skills by the youth.

As the party concerned, Yue Qizhai understood more than the bystanding cultivators the terrifying power of the poison within him. The spreading speed he couldn’t even slow.

Among his options now, Yue Qizhai’s only way to preserve himself was to follow Yun Xiao’s advice and cut off his right arm. Abandoning the arm to save his life was the correct choice.

But a right arm is of immeasurable importance, Yue Qizhai was deeply aware. If he truly lost an arm, not only would his hopes of becoming the Emperor Palace’s Great Elder be dashed forever, but his position as Second Elder would surely be quickly usurped.

To make the heroic decision to sever the arm was truly a torment for Yue Qizhai, yet the potent poison unleashed by Yun Xiao waited for no one. In just these brief moments, it had already reached midway up his arm.

Seeing that if he didn’t make a decision soon, the black line would spread past his shoulder, rendering it far more complex than merely cutting off an arm. At this moment, Yue Qizhai was anxiously burning with urgency.

”Brat, kneel before me!”

Just when everyone was deeply troubled for Yue Qizhai, a low and thunderous voice suddenly rang out from somewhere, sounding familiar to all, causing them to turn their gaze in its direction.

”It’s the Lord Supervisor taking action!”

Unlike the others, the cultivators of the Emperor Palace, like Ruan Buwei, recognized the voice instantly; it was from none other than the Chief, Tan Qigong.

Even Ruan Buwei, a peak expert of the Heavenly Realm, had not sensed when Tan Qigong had intervened. By the time his voice was heard, his form was already within a few feet of Yun Xiao.

Ruan Buwei had guessed correctly about Tan Qigong’s actions at this moment; it was an attempt to deal with Yun Xiao first. Forcing him to hand over the antidote would surely save Yue Qizhai’s arm, wouldn’t it?

Ruan Buwei’s guess was accurate. Tan Qigong was indeed trying to rescue Yue Qizhai, since he was one of the two peak experts in the Emperor Palace’s Heavenly Realm and a constant reliable support.

If Yue Qizhai truly lost an arm, Murong City’s Emperor Palace’s power would significantly decline, forcing Tan Qigong to personally handle many matters, which he couldn’t afford the time for.

Moreover, Yue Qizhai was a Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison Vein Master. Tan Qigong and the others were about to enter Yingrong Lake, filled with potent poison. Without his Poison Meridian Skill, unexpected scenarios might occur.

Tan Qigong was convinced that within the coarse-clad youth’s Waist Storage lay the antidote for Yue Qizhai’s potent poison. Capturing or killing him would naturally resolve this dire situation.

This esteemed Lord Supervisor of the Murong City Emperor Palace was a genuine Half-step Holy Rank expert. Though this strictly meant he was at the peak of the Heavenly Realm, his combat prowess greatly surpassed that of Ruan Buwei and Yue Qizhai.

Half-step Holy Rank was a stage that cultivators must undergo to break into the Holy Vein Three Realms. Only upon reaching this stage could they be said to be knocking on the door of the Holy Vein Three Realms.

This extraordinary step posed no bottleneck for Yun Xiao, but was critical for ordinary cultivators, where a Half-step Holy Rank expert was tenfold stronger than an ordinary peak Heavenly Realm cultivator.

Knowing that Yue Qizhai’s situation was severe, Tan Qigong took strict and ruthless action this time, likely sensing some threat from the coarse-clad youth.

If the opponent was self-destructing, Tan Qigong showed no mercy—eliminate the youth, and finding the antidote from his Waist Storage was assured.

Smack!

Unexpectedly, as Tan Qigong delivered a strike like a thunderbolt, although all onlookers believed the youth was in grave danger, his coarse-clad figure remarkably dispersed like a soap bubble.

No flesh and blood spattered upon this scene, causing all present to ponder, while Tan Qigong’s face darkened till nearly dripping with water.

”Afterimage!”

Tan Qigong, being a Half-step Holy Rank expert, realized instantly that what he struck was merely an afterimage of Yun Xiao, cunningly convincing even him of its authenticity.

Clearly, Yun Xiao had used his unrivaled Shadow Clone Meridian Techniques at this moment. This technique consistently achieved impressive effects upon its initial display.

While Yun Xiao, with his current prowess, wasn’t overly fearful of Tan Qigong, he wished to see the intrigue first. This guy could be dealt with later without hurry.

”Ah!”

Just as Tan Qigong hesitated regarding further action, a sudden roar-like sound erupted from somewhere, and the blade’s flash caught his eye from the corner.

Slash!

A quiet sound echoed again—Yue Qizhai, seeing the black line about to spread over his right shoulder, knew further delay was impossible. Gritting his teeth, he swung the knife and severed his entire right arm.

Perhaps, at this very moment, Yue Qizhai was filled with regret. Had he known this would happen, he should have directly severed his right hand earlier, preserving his forearm and upper arm.

But in this world, there’s never a chance to eat the herb of regret. Until the crucial moment, it took an unimaginable courage for a peak Heavenly Realm cultivator to directly sever his hand, leading to an even more serious circumstance.