Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

"I... My name is Shen Xingmou, are you alright?"

Suddenly hearing Shang Li inquire about herself, Shen Xingmou was taken aback, and the usually composed woman became somewhat incoherent.

However, to Shang Li, this seemed nothing more than a pretense. A person who could command such respect from the dungeon steward must hold a high position in this mysterious organization.

Since being captured and brought to the Star-picking Tower, Steward Ning had repeatedly interrogated her about the whereabouts of the Blood Moon Jade and her husband with the surname Yun, but she had clenched her teeth and not uttered a single word.

Thus, she naturally endured countless tortures. Seeing this woman with a face veiled in black arrive today, although her tone was much gentler than Steward Ning's, Shang Li had grown cautious over the years.

In Shang Li's mind, perhaps this mysterious organization, having failed to coerce her, now sought to take a softer approach, sending a seemingly young girl to pry information from her.

"Hmph, don't pretend, I won't speak!"

Staring blankly at Shen Xingmou for a long while, a phrase squeezed through Shang Li's clenched teeth, filled with grit, making the former tremble slightly.

Ever since her intimate encounter with Yun Xiao, Shen Xingmou had felt a strange and mysterious emotion. It wasn't merely because she had lost her chastity to Yun Xiao, but rather due to an innate special connection.

Shen Xingmou was able to find Yun Xiao on the Hidden Dragon Continent because of a magical item in her palm that transformed into a Black Star Mark, which clearly had a mysterious connection to Yun Xiao's Blood Moon Jade.

It was these bizarre, subtle influences that suddenly made Shen Xingmou feel somewhat guilty towards Shang Li. However, being sensitive, she knew that whatever she said now, the latter probably wouldn't believe her.

"Come with me!"

Having made up her mind, Shen Xingmou certainly couldn't let Shang Li stay in this place any longer. Hearing her gently speak out, she saw the latter making no movement at all.

"Don't play any despicable tricks anymore; I'd advise you to kill me instead, because someday, someone will come knocking, demanding a blood price from you!"

Shang Li glared intensely at Shen Xingmou, her mind filled with the image of her deeply missed children. She believed that one day, the siblings Yun Xiao and Yun Wei would come to rescue her.

"Hey, are you talking about Yun Xiao? That little guy is weak; saving you might take who knows how long!"

Seemingly catching the implication in Shang Li's words, Shen Xingmou suddenly sneered, then saw the latter's pale face suddenly shift, as she abruptly stepped forward and grabbed her sleeve.

"You know Xiao'er, you've seen Xiao'er? What have you... what have you done to him?"

Suddenly hearing the woman before her mention her son, Shang Li gathered strength from somewhere, almost tearing Shen Xingmou's sleeve, her voice trembling.

From Shang Li's perspective, this power was far more mysterious and formidable than those minor sects and organizations on the Hidden Dragon Continent, at least the woman before her seemed much more powerful than the former Family Head of the Shang Family.

It had only been a little over three years; even if Yun Xiao's cultivation had progressed rapidly, how highly could he have possibly reached? Could he have achieved the level of the former Family Head, Shang Yan?

And even if he had reached the Meridian Rushing Realm in cultivation, in the hands of these mysterious forces, he would likely still be a mere pawn, a fact that now truly worried Shang Li.

Seeing the concern in Shang Li's eyes, Shen Xingmou couldn't bear to continue joking and softly said: "Don't worry, he is doing very well, now he is probably known by everyone on the Hidden Dragon Continent."

Remembering the dazzling youth at the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, and recalling their intimate moments, Shen Xingmou's face suddenly reddened, thankfully covered by the black veil, unnoticed by Shang Li.

"Is what you said true? That's really great!"

Even though she still harbored suspicions about the veiled young woman before her, Shang Li chose to selectively believe her words. However, she let go of the sleeve she was holding.

"Come with me!"

However, at that moment, Shen Xingmou suddenly reached out her hand and grabbed Shang Li's arm, without a word she started leading her toward the door.

"Hmph, I want to see what other tricks you can play."

Feeling the strong force in Shen Xingmou's hand, Shang Li knew she couldn't resist and simply gave in, thinking that no matter where she was, she was merely at others' mercy!

"Hey, hey, hey, Miss Xingmou, what are you doing?"

Just as Shen Xingmou was pulling Shang Li out of the cell, a slightly hoarse voice suddenly came through, followed by an extremely tall and thin old man who flashed in, blocking the path of the two women.

"Is it you?!"

Upon seeing this tall and thin old man for the first time, Shang Li's body couldn't help but tremble, because it was this person who led the team that annihilated the Shang Family, causing her and her son to be separated and suffer this undeserved calamity.

In Shang Li's heart, even if this steward known as Ning Fu turned to ashes, she could recognize him. And now that Ning Fu suddenly appeared, she feared she would have to endure inhuman torment again.

"Ning Fu, get out of my way!"

Upon seeing this tall and thin old man, Shen Xingmou's face instantly darkened, and inexplicably, when thinking about the injuries on Shang Li's body, a rage ignited in her heart that she couldn't dispel.

"Lady Xingmou, do you know who this person is? And where do you intend to take him?"

Previously, the steward showed fear towards Shen Xingmou, but this Ning Fu seemed to be respectful only on the surface. It was reasonable that he voiced his questions at this moment.

"Does my ladyship need to report to you, Ning Fu, on her actions?"

Shen Xingmou naturally wasn't easily pushed around. With her status in Star-picking Tower, she was much higher than a mere steward; it's just that she never bothered with these mundane matters before.

"Lady Xingmou, this person is related to the whereabouts of the Blood Moon Jade and might even pry from her mouth the whereabouts of the thief who stole the Supreme Treasure from our Star-picking Tower. The Great Elder said, no one can take him away lightly!"

Ning Fu stepped forward with his neck stiffened and said such words. It was only at this moment that Shang Li realized that this mysterious power was called Star-picking Tower.

"Yun Xiao, where exactly are you?"

At the same time, a somewhat blurry figure appeared again in Shang Li's mind, precisely the father of Yun Xiao and Yun Wei. Thinking back to the days she met him on the Hidden Dragon Continent, she felt somewhat dazed.

On the other hand, Shen Xingmou, upon hearing the words "Great Elder," a sharp gleam flashed across her eyes, followed by a cold smile appearing on her face.

"Then please convey to the Great Elder, if he wants him, come to the 48th floor of the Star-picking Tower, I, Shen Xingmou, will explain it to him myself!"

Shen Xingmou burst out laughing coldly, without any further superfluous words and quickly pulled Shang Li forward, showing such an imposing attitude that the jail steward didn't dare to utter a breath.

When Shen Xingmou spoke, Ning Fu didn't block further. Given his status, he could only invoke the Great Elder's authority to intimidate. He dared not truly offend Shen Xingmou, a direct disciple of the Tower Master of the Star-picking Tower.

Whether it was status or power, Ning Fu perhaps wasn't higher than Shen Xingmou. This incident was beyond his expectations; it seemed only the Great Elder he mentioned could turn this situation around.

"Hmph, I wonder how long you guys want to keep this act up?"

As for Shang Li, who was being pulled by Shen Xingmou, a cold smile also crossed her eyes, for in her view, these two were merely putting on an act – one playing the good cop, the other the bad cop, just to make her trust this woman in black.

Shang Li had made up her mind, regardless of how this woman in black would place her after taking her away, there were some things she must persist on not revealing.

Shen Xingmou, naturally unaware of Shang Li's thoughts, knew only that she couldn't let Yun Xiao's mother suffer this torment anymore. Even if she couldn't release her from Star-picking Tower, at least she could free her from Ning Fu's torment starting today.

Perhaps this was the subtle change that Shen Xingmou was undergoing towards Yun Xiao; she was no longer the Shen Xingmou who would call for a fight upon seeing Yun Xiao. She even started to harbor a peculiar sentiment towards Yun Xiao's mother, Shang Li.

...

Hidden Dragon Continent, Lingtian Empire!

This place was a verdant range of mountains, famous within the Lingtian Empire, as the number one sect of the empire, Lingyun Sect, was situated in these mountains.

Swoosh!

On this day, at a high altitude entrance on the outskirts of the Lingyun Mountain range, a tiny black dot appeared, which upon closer inspection, turned out to be a giant flying beast.

On the back of this Flying Beast Pulse Demon stood a young man in coarse clothing carrying a Black Wood Sword, his shoulder lazily adorned by a palm-sized fiery-red rat.

This beast, this rat, and this person were none other than Yun Xiao and Chi Yan, along with the Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion, who had flown in from the Xuanyue Empire. With this great creature's flying speed, it indeed saved a lot of time compared to Yun Xiao's first journey here.

"Lingyun Sect, Lingsong, you probably didn't expect me, Yun Xiao, to return so soon, right?"

Looking at the somewhat familiar dense forests below, an unusual smile emerged on Yun Xiao's face. As the words fell, he lightly tapped on the lion's back, darting towards the headquarters of Lingyun Sect like an arrow leaving the bow.

Meanwhile, inside Lingyun Sect, a quarrel was erupting between the current Sect Master Lingsong and his stunningly talented daughter, which seemed to occur intermittently ever since a certain incident.