Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

"Where did this brash youngster come from, daring to provoke our Lingyun Sect? Tired of living, aren't you?"

"Yun Xiao? Why does this name sound somewhat familiar?"

"Who cares who he is, if he dares to destroy the gates of our Lingyun Sect, we'll let him know just how formidable the Lingyun Sect is!"

"Yes, yes, yes, even if he's the King of Xuanyue Empire, today we'll make sure he comes but can't leave!"

"..."

As the cultivators of Lingyun Sect hurried towards the gate, meeting in groups of twos and threes, a surge of intense discussion erupted. Among these voices, apart from anger, there was scornful laughter.

Although some found the name "Yun Xiao" somewhat familiar, the Lingtian Empire was not the Xuanyue Empire. Their impression of this name was definitely not as profound as that of Xuanyue Empire's cultivators, so for the time being, they actually did not recall that Yun Xiao was the champion of this year's Countries Hidden Dragon Conference.

All the cultivators of Lingyun Sect knew that ever since the founding of the sect, due to its own strength and the relationship with the Lingtian Royal Family, no one had ever dared to openly challenge them, let alone directly attack the sect's gate.

Especially some Lingyun Sect cultivators, before even arriving at the gate and upon seeing the collapsed archway, were filled with rage and determined to dismember the ignorant youth into thousands of pieces.

This kind of aggressive provocation already amounted to a declaration of war against the Lingyun Sect. Since the founding of the sect, Lingyun Sect had never experienced someone smashing its gates like this. If they didn't eliminate this one person and his demon completely, where would the face of the Lingyun Sect lie?

Swoosh!

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

Just as all the Lingyun Sect cultivators were gathered at the gate, seething with anger and staring at the youth standing atop the huge Vein Demon, several sounds of slicing wind followed.

"Sect Leader!"

"Great Elder!"

"Madam!"

"Miss!"

Several voices emerged from the mouths of many Lingyun Sect cultivators. A group of elders paid respectful greetings to the two people leading the way, for these were Xu Lingsong and his group.

Now that the Sect Leader himself had arrived, the authority naturally fell into Xu Lingsong's hands. The younger disciples of the Lingyun Sect were all eagerly looking at the Sect Leader, knowing that he would definitely reclaim the dignity that belonged to the Lingyun Sect today.

"Yun Xiao, I did not pursue the matter of you killing our Lingyun Sect's Great Elder because of the rapport between you and Hongzhuang. But I did not expect you to be so unappreciative, to the point of destroying the gates of Lingyun Mountain. Do you really want to completely burn bridges with our Lingyun Sect?"

Amidst the fiery gazes of numerous Lingyun Sect cultivators, Xu Lingsong's expression darkened as he stared at the youth in coarse clothes sitting atop the lion. The words he spoke made some people thoughtful.

"Yun Xiao? Has ties with the Miss... Could it be... that Yun Xiao?!"

Some quick-witted individuals, upon hearing Xu Lingsong's words, had a flash of insight and instantly remembered who this young man named Yun Xiao was.

By this point, the news of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference had already spread throughout the Hidden Dragon Continent, and given Xu Hongzhuang's glorious achievement of breaking into the top four, the Lingyun Sect was undoubtedly more attentive to this year's conference.

"The Yun Xiao who ranked first in the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference!"

The name Yun Xiao, which had seemed somewhat familiar to those who had momentarily forgotten who he was, was no longer a secret following Xu Lingsong's remark.

However, although everyone was somewhat surprised by Yun Xiao's identity, many were aware that the Yun Xiao who had won the championship at the Hidden Dragon Conference was at best dominant among the younger generation, and was still considerably inferior compared to the older generation of experts.

After all, compared to the news of the Hidden Dragon Conference, the fact that Yun Xiao single-handedly eliminated three major families in the Xuanyue Imperial City within the Xuanyue Empire was known only to a minor portion of people in the Lingtian Empire, to say nothing of the downfall of Qingshan Sect.

"Could that extremely powerful Flying Beast Pulse Demon be his reliance?"

Thus, everyone's gaze shifted towards the Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion beneath Yun Xiao's feet. Compared to the elders of the Spirit Vein Realm from the Lingyun Sect, many of the younger disciples failed to sense the true Demon Meridian Qi of the Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion and thought that it was just a Sixth Rank Vein Demon.

It is worth mentioning that not everyone knew about Yun Xiao's previous visit to Lingyun Sect. Apart from a very small number of elders, most people were unaware of the relationship between Yun Xiao and Xu Hongzhuang, let alone the causes of their enmity.

But that did not prevent people from loathing Yun Xiao. Such a young kid, presuming that just because he won the championship of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, he could be so outrageously arrogant as to not take the Lingyun Sect seriously, was simply asking for a lesson.

"Hahaha, Sect Leader Xu, you still have the cheek to speak of friendship, aren't you ashamed to say such things?"

Just as many disciples were pondering, the youth atop the Flying Beast Pulse Demon burst out laughing, the mockery in his voice instantly igniting the Cultivators of Lingyun Sect.

"How insolent!"

"Arrogant!"

"Seeking death!"

"..."

Various shouts and curses came from the mouths of numerous young disciples of Lingyun Sect, whereas the Elders, who knew some details of the matter, merely kept their faces somber and silent.

"Sect Leader Xu, you sent the Great Elder Yu Qian to annihilate my Shang Family over three years ago, leaving my mother and sister's life and death unknown, is this what you call 'friendship'?"

There was not a hint of mirth on Yun Xiao's face, and at the mention of "mother," thinking about the torment and agony she must have suffered somewhere over these three years, his heart couldn't help but wrench.

His words were imbued with the peak Meridian Qi Cultivation of the Spirit Vein Realm, easily overpowering the shouts and criticisms of the Lingyun Sect disciples. Upon hearing his implication, silence fell upon the grounds before the Lingyun Sect's gate.

"Exterminate the entire family? How could my Lingyun Sect do such a thing?"

Indeed, many Lingyun Sect disciples found Yun Xiao's arrogance distasteful, but those with a conscience found it hard to believe they could commit such a massacre. Even if the Sect's Cultivators were overbearing on a regular day, wiping out a family was beyond them.

If what Yun Xiao claimed was true, then his assault on the Sect's gates was justified. Thus, all eyes of Lingyun Sect's disciples and some Elders shifted onto Xu Lingsong, awaiting his defense.

"Yun Xiao, don't falsely accuse and distort facts. I too regret the destruction of the Shang Family, but that was all done behind my back by Yu Qian. Now that he's dead by your hand, shouldn't this matter be considered settled?"

Even though Xu Lingsong knew he couldn't hide his intentions from Yun Xiao, how could he confess his despicable actions in front of so many Lingyun Sect disciples and Elders?

Xu Qingyuan and Hongzhuang, who were well aware of the situation, both had a look of embarrassment. The way Xu Lingsong lied was quite remarkable, his words seemingly so righteous and just.

Perhaps this explanation was what the Lingyun Sect disciples could accept best. As long as it wasn't something the Sect Leader himself would do, their disappointment wouldn't be too severe.

"Heh, Sect Leader Xu indeed has a silver tongue!"

Yun Xiao sneered, then suddenly stretched out his right forefinger towards the sky, and shouted loudly, "Does Sect Leader Xu dare to swear in front of heaven and earth that you had absolutely no prior knowledge of the annihilation of the Shang Family?"

"If Sect Leader Xu dares to make this poisonous vow of Heavenly Tribulation, then I, Yun Xiao, will turn and leave, and the damaged Lingyun Sect gate will be restored as well!"

Before the slightly changing-faced Xu Lingsong could speak, Yun Xiao retracted his finger, pointed towards the shattered gate, and said words that once again shifted everyone's gaze to Xu Lingsong.

The world operates on cycles of reincarnation, and every event is overseen by the Heavenly Dao, which cannot be violated. A poisonous vow of Heavenly Tribulation is an extremely severe oath—one where, if betrayed, would likely invite instant annihilation by the descending tribulation, regardless of whether one is a Heavenly Rank Expert or Holy Rank Expert is concerned.

Therefore, although Yun Xiao couldn't produce any evidence for Xu Lingsong's hand in the destruction of the Shang Family, he had already made his calculations, and by loudly calling him out, he had forced Xu Lingsong into a dead end.

Xu Lingsong, who knew the rules of heaven and earth quite well, wouldn't dare to make a Heavenly Tribulation poisonous oath that went against the Heavenly Dao, not even if he was given the courage to do so. Regardless of his power, he wouldn't dare to contend with the might of heaven and earth.

As for Xu Qingyuan and Hongzhuang at his side, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Perhaps they were the ones who knew the details the best, aware that Xu Lingsong would absolutely not dare make such a Heavenly Tribulation poisonous vow.

"What's the matter? Don't dare to? Then does it mean that every word just said by Sect Leader Xu, was merely one-sided?"

Seeing Xu Lingsong's sullen silence, Yun Xiao let out another cold sneer, leaving many of the Lingyun Sect Elders and disciples contemplative.

If Xu Lingsong were truly guilt-free, why would he hesitate to make this Heavenly Tribulation poisonous oath? As long as there is no deceit towards the Heavenly Dao, the tribulation surely would not descend.

Yet now, under Yun Xiao's relentless pressure, Xu Lingsong remained mute, an indication that clarifies much already. At the very least, the credibility of Xu Lingsong's earlier righteous declarations had rapidly diminished.

"Yun Xiao, let's put aside these meaningless things. I advise you to retreat quickly. Perhaps this Sect Master may yet forgo pursuing your crime of destroying our gates!"

Understanding he had been outmaneuvered by Yun Xiao, Xu Lingsong knew further entanglement on this issue would only dig him deeper. He had witnessed the youth's eloquence once before; perhaps, compared to Meridian Qi Cultivation, Yun Xiao's verbal skills were stronger.

"Since Sect Leader Xu dares not to make the Heavenly Tribulation poisonous vow, it's as good as admitting that you were indeed involved in the Shang Family's annihilation. I have a question for Sect Leader Xu!"

Yun Xiao refused to let Xu Lingsong off easily; this was his other important purpose for coming today. With a serious tone, he asked, "Is my mother still alive? If so, where was she taken by those people back then? I implore Sect Leader Xu to enlighten Yun Xiao!"