Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Rongshan, on the shores of Yingrong Lake!

At this moment, under the glow of the setting sun, the entire Yingrong Lake appeared shimmering, if not for those corpses with pitch-black faces in the lake, it should have been a place of exceptional beauty.

On the shores of Yingrong Lake, there were still numerous cultivators, many of whom were only in the early middle stage of the Heavenly Realm and did not possess the formidable Power of Soul of a Meridian Refining Master, and naturally dared not set foot into the lake.

Yet they did not leave, perhaps they had not completely given up on the treasures in the Murong Tomb, or perhaps some unexpected change might occur, offering them a slim chance.

Whoosh!

Just as the crowd occasionally glanced at the calm lake waters, a sound of wind breaking suddenly came from somewhere, and as they followed the sound, they saw a graceful silhouette.

The newcomer was clearly a young woman, her figure slender, hair piled high, exuding a natural nobility, paired with an expression of arrogance, it was evident she had an extraordinary background.

If Yun Xiao were here, perhaps he would recognize this beautiful woman as his older sister who grew up with him on the Hidden Dragon Continent: Xue Qi!

However, the present Xue Qi was no longer the abandoned girl Shang Li adopted years ago. She had become the direct disciple of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud Canglong Empress and had broken through to the early stage of the Transformation Realm of the Holy Vein Three Realms.

Due to Yun Xiao’s significant deeds in Yongxiu City and Ye City, the Canglong Emperor Palace finally took notice of the developments in the Western Regions, and the Canglong Empress became intensely intrigued by Yun Xiao who she had encountered once on the Tenglong Continent.

Having reached half-step Holy Rank, upon hearing the news, Xue Qi hurriedly rushed to the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud Western Region, unexpectedly to find it empty, yet she luckily broke through to the true early stage of the Transformation Realm en route.

Arriving at Drunken Immortal City after much traversing, Xue Qi finally learned from the local cultivators that Yun Xiao was heading northeast, and after months of pursuit, she eventually tracked him down to this Rongshan.

The recent unusual disturbances at Yingrong Lake were naturally unseen by Xue Qi; seeing the numerous cultivators on the lake shore upon arrival, she knew she had likely found the right place.

”Have any of you seen a young man dressed in coarse clothing, carrying a wooden sword?”

Xue Qi scanned the corpses in Yingrong Lake first, then lightly parted her lips to speak. Though her voice was soft, every cultivator around the lake heard her clearly.

However, upon hearing her question, many flashed sneers on their faces, silently mocking this immature little girl. Why should they respond as if to someone as arrogant as Tan Qigong, the Emperor Palace Director? Do they have to answer her?

Some people naturally conjured an image of a coarse-clothed figure carrying a wooden sword in their minds due to Xue Qi’s question. That figure had demonstrated immense prowess earlier on the shores of Yingrong Lake.

The strange scene where Yun Xiao lethally poisoned Yue Qizhai, the Second Elder of the Emperor Palace Directorate, lingered in the minds of these observing cultivators, unexpectedly coinciding with the question of the suddenly appeared girl.

”You, come here, answer my question!”

Seeing no one responding to her, a hint of darkness passed through Xue Qi’s bright eyes as she casually pointed at an elderly cultivator in the late stage of the Heavenly Realm, deepening the sneers from the crowd.

Xue Qi’s age was not much older than Yun Xiao, barely in her early twenties; how far could she refine Meridian Qi at such a young age?

A rare spectacle like Yun Xiao appearing in this remote Rongshan was exceptional enough, but could this newly appeared young girl possess the same battle prowess as the coarse-clothed boy?

”Ignorant brat, you...”

The elderly cultivator in the late stage of the Heavenly Realm, already frustrated that he wasn’t a Meridian Refining Master and couldn’t enter Yingrong Lake, was unexpectedly disregarded by a little girl and was about to explode.

Hiss!

However, just as his discontent erupted and he uttered the first words, the girl flicked her finger, producing a powerful sound of wind breaking in everyone’s ears.

The next moment, a surge of energy spread from the girl, assaulting the elderly cultivator in the late stage of the Heavenly Realm with lightning speed, causing him to change his expression drastically.

But unfortunately, Xue Qi, having reached the early stage of the Transformation Realm of the Holy Vein Three Realms, struck with swift, thunderous force, far beyond what the elderly cultivator in the late stage of the Heavenly Realm could react to.

Snap!

In merely a blink, blood flowers erupted from the elderly cultivator’s chest, and a moment later another blood flower burst from his back, clearly showing his heart was pierced instantaneously.

Seeing this, the surroundings fell silent, everyone staring dumbfounded at the lifeless elderly cultivator, seemingly unable to believe their eyes.

He was still a late stage Heavenly Realm cultivator; even Tan Qigong, the Emperor Palace Director at the half-step Holy Rank, wouldn’t be able to strike with such sinister and unstoppable force.

A gust of lake wind blew, causing the robes on Xue Qi’s chest to flutter, inadvertently revealing a golden spear emblem hidden beneath.

”Is that the emblem of the Emperor Palace?”

One of the cultivators widened his eyes, instinctively thinking it was the emblem of the Emperor Palace’s spear. However, as soon as he spoke, he was immediately looked down upon by those more knowledgeable around him.

”No! That’s not from the Emperor Palace, it is... the Canglong Emperor Palace!”

An older man with white hair appeared extremely serious because he knew that only the golden spear emblem of the Canglong Emperor Palace Headquarters held such distinction. The robes of other Emperor Palace cultivators only bore a silver spear.

What they thought was just some naïve young girl turned out to be a formidable force. In a single move, she not only effortlessly killed a Heavenly Realm Late Stage cultivator but also inadvertently revealed the mark of the Canglong Emperor Palace.

The deterrent power of the Canglong Emperor Palace far exceeded that of city-level Emperor Palaces. Many mighty cultivators dare not provoke an Emperor Palace, not necessarily out of fear of its chief but rather out of fear of the Canglong Emperor Palace backing it.

No one expected that this mysterious woman who appeared out of nowhere was actually from the Canglong Emperor Palace Headquarters. Could the emergence of the Murong Tomb have already alarmed the two figures there?

”That’s not the answer I want. The next one, you answer!”

With a mere breath, Xue Qi killed a Heavenly Realm Late Stage elder, as if it were an insignificant task. She pointed her fair finger at another Heavenly Realm Late Stage elder.

The elder whom Xue Qi pointed at was the one who had just recognized her Canglong Emperor Palace affiliation. At this moment, he wished he could slap himself twice, blaming his own loose tongue for getting noticed.

”Miss, we’ve indeed seen the person you mentioned, but he has already entered Yingrong Lake!”

Not wishing to follow in the previous elder’s unfortunate footsteps, this white-haired elder dared not slack or utter a single unnecessary word. His statement made Xue Qi nod with satisfaction.

”Miss, the waters of Yingrong Lake contain potent poison. If you intend to enter, you must be extremely cautious!”

The elder, perhaps emboldened by Xue Qi’s gentle demeanor, added a few flattering words, causing the spectators around to roll their eyes.

”Such trifling poison cannot hinder me!”

Upon hearing this, a proud smile appeared on Xue Qi’s face. Then, amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd, she leapt effortlessly into Yingrong Lake, disappearing quickly, leaving only ripples behind.

It’s worth noting that Xue Qi is a genuine Heavenly Rank Advanced Meridian Refining Master who specializes in the Poison Meridian Path. Her mentor, the Canglong Empress from the Lu Family, is a brilliant Poison Vein Grandmaster.

The Lu Family of the Nine Great Continents has been famed for producing Poison Vein Masters since ancient times. Even Lu Yanji, abandoned in the Tenglong Continent, became a Heavenly Rank Meridian Refining Master through his efforts, showcasing the power of the Lu family lineage.

After Xue Qi fortunately activated a Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein, Lu Qinwan spared no effort in teaching her the Poison Meridian Skill. Although she hasn’t reached the level of a Holy Rank Poison Vein Master, she is likely not far from it.

”Hehe, I guess the bottom of Yingrong Lake will become even livelier now?”

The white-haired elder chuckled softly after being stunned for a moment, though a trace of regret appeared on his face, seemingly lamenting his inability to witness such an exciting drama.

......

At the bottom of Yingrong Lake, within the Murong Tomb Palace.

Deep in the Murong Tomb, on a not-so-large small plaza, sat a slightly dazed-looking elder. His gaze was fixed intently on a roughly dressed young man at the edge of the plaza, filled with a hint of doubt.

This roughly dressed young man was naturally Yun Xiao. He had already shown the Spiritual Tablet of the Long Xiao Battle God, but it still failed to convince the cautious Murong Sou, leaving him feeling somewhat troubled.

”Looks like I have no choice but to reveal my identity!”

Seeing the other party unmoved, Yun Xiao had few options left. However, he wasn’t completely hopeless; he believed that once he spoke of a few secrets from the past, Murong Sou would have no choice but to believe.

”If that’s the case, then...”

Shhhh!

Just as Yun Xiao resolved to use his identity as the Long Xiao Battle God to convince Murong Sou, several sounds of breaking wind came from behind him, causing his heart to skip and stop talking immediately.

”It’s indeed them!”

Upon turning around and seeing three figures, Yun Xiao’s suspicion instantly became certainty, as the person leading them was the Emperor Palace’s Chief, Tan Qigong, whom he had previously clashed with in Murong Huchen’s Spirit Hall.