Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

"Sect Leader, have you broken through to the Qi Seeking Realm?"

Elder Guo, the Chief Meridian Refining Master of Lingyun Sect, stared intently at the Sect Leader, seemingly unable to believe his own eyes. Yet, his spiritual power was at the peak of the Spiritual Rank Advanced, definitely not prone to sensing mistakes.

"Father, actually... actually..."

On the other hand, Xu Hongzhuang's complexion paled again, clearly unaware beforehand of Xu Lingsong's breakthrough to the Earth Rank Qi Seeking Realm, hence her earlier remarks.

If previously Xu Hongzhuang had more faith in Yun Xiao than in her father, now she was no longer certain. For the Earth Rank Third Realm represented a completely different level of cultivation, one that could harness the Earth Power, a special realm of cultivation far beyond the capabilities of those in the Spirit Vein Realm.

This was also the reason why experts of the Earth Rank Third Realm could effortlessly crush cultivators in the Spirit Vein Realm. In a one-on-one battle, Xu Hongzhuang knew that Yun Xiao's techniques for fighting above his level would become futile.

It seemed that Xu Lingsong's greatest trump card had been revealed. To be honest, he was quite wary of the Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion, which Yun Xiao possessed and had already reached the Seventh Rank Low Level. Now, the young man actually declared he wanted a one-on-one battle; it was like finding a pillow when wanting to sleep.

"The early stage of the Qi Seeking Realm, is this what you're relying on, Sect Leader Xu?"

However, when everyone assumed that Yun Xiao would be shocked by Xu Lingsong's sudden burst of aura, the young man's voice emerged calm, as if he had predicted this outcome.

Yun Xiao's Power of Soul was far more formidable than that of the Chief Meridian Refining Master of Lingyun Sect. The moment he laid eyes on Xu Lingsong, he already knew that the man was a Earth Rank powerhouse not inferior to the King of Xuanyue Country, Xuan Haoran.

However, Yun Xiao was no longer the youth who had to steer clear of Earth Rank powerhouses. Having reached the peak of Spirit Vein Realm, with the inheritance of five Ancestor Veins and the memories of the Long Xiao Battle God, it was not impossible for him to fight across ranks.

This was also the main reason why Yun Xiao had anticipated Xu Lingsong would surely accept his challenge. An Earth Rank powerhouse who dares not accept a challenge from a youth at the peak of Spirit Vein Realm would be indefensible.

But just as Xu Lingsong had his own trump cards, Yun Xiao's had not yet been revealed. With his physique refined again by the Earth Burst Stone Lotus, even his Physical Strength was comparable to that of the Seventh Rank Low Level Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion.

However, Xu Lingsong was executing an attack infused with Earth Power, and naturally, Yun Xiao would not meet it head-on with his body. After all, there was still a Great Rank between them.

"Mist Rain Nine Swords, manifest!"

As the gigantic Meridian Qi Palm Seal was about to hammer down on him, Yun Xiao took a step back and a low shout issued from his mouth. In the next moment, everyone felt the surroundings become foggy.

Mist began to rise from beneath Yun Xiao's feet, and to the spectators' amazement, it appeared as if light rain started falling around Yun Xiao.

Shhhhh...

Following that, in the midst of the mist and rain, nine Meridian Qi Swords took form in front of Yun Xiao, each blade seemingly adorned with droplets of water.

Clearly, this was a powerful Meridian Technique that Yun Xiao had used several times before, but in the past, he could only manifest up to five Meridian Qi Swords during the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference.

Now, Yun Xiao, compared to his past self at the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, was exponentially stronger. When executing this Earth Rank technique again, he could unleash almost ninety percent of its power.

The so-called Mist Rain Nine Swords involved launching Meridian Qi Flying Swords amid the haze, catching the enemy unguarded, as the misty raindrops would also fly out with the swords.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amidst the slanting misty rain, the Mist Rain Nine Swords controlled by Yun Xiao successively struck the massive Meridian Qi Palm Seal. However, the significant divide of a Great Rank meant that even after Yun Xiao's nine swords struck, the Meridian Qi Palm Seal still did not dissipate.

This was the difference between using a Meridian Technique to draw upon the Earth Power and the inherent Earth Power within a cultivator. Yun Xiao's method, which was previously unbeatable against those in the Spirit Vein Realm or below, was ineffective in the hands of the Earth Rank powerhouse Xu Lingsong.

Whoosh...

After a gust of strong wind, the massive Meridian Qi Palm Seal had inevitably slammed down on Yun Xiao, causing Xu Hongzhuang, not far away, to cover her mouth with her hand, her face filled with worry.

Xu Hongzhuang could imagine the power of a strike from an Earth Rank powerhouse, and with Yun Xiao receiving this blow, he would likely not die but surely be severely injured. She genuinely hoped that her father would keep the promise made earlier and spare Yun Xiao's life.

The watching cultivators of Lingyun Sect naturally thought the same. To them, the Earth Rank Third Realm was an entirely different level of cultivation, and even those Elder of Lingyun Sect admitted they couldn't endure such a powerful strike from the Sect Leader.

"Huh?"

However, as the person involved, Xu Lingsong's expression had changed slightly after a brief moment. The dissipating energy revealed a slender youth still standing upright, as though not even the corner of his clothes was disturbed.

"How is this possible?"

Whether it was Xu Lingsong himself or the onlooking cultivators from the Lingyun Sect, they all found this scene incredibly unbelievable. After all, that was a powerful strike from an Earth Rank practitioner. Why could Yun Xiao remain unharmed as if nothing had happened?

Perhaps only Yun Xiao himself understood the cause and effect. It all started with two reasons: the first was the Mist Rain Nine Swords just now, and the second was the augmented physical strength from the Earth Burst Stone Lotus.

The Mist Rain Nine Swords weren't as ineffective as everyone imagined. They had not left Xu Lingsong's Meridian Qi Palm Seal entirely unaffected. At the very least, the Earth Power contained within the nine swords had already consumed most of the Earth Energy within the Meridian Qi Palm Seal.

With Yun Xiao's current strength, what he truly feared was the Earth Power that cultivators of the Spirit Vein Realm absolutely could not harness. Even he could only borrow the use of some Meridian Techniques of the Earth Rank.

Consequently, Xu Lingsong's Meridian Qi Palm Seal, missing a large part of its Earth Power reinforcement, was naturally greatly reduced in power. Yun Xiao stood his ground using his own physical strength, and with a physique that could be compared to a Seventh Rank Low Level Vein Demon, how could the Meridian Qi Palm Seal possibly inflict any harm on him?

"What comes around goes around, Sect Leader Xu, now taste the gift I've prepared for you!"

While Xu Lingsong and all the spectators were slightly stunned, Yun Xiao's loud voice had already followed, and in the next moment, in front of the Sect Leader of Lingyun, there appeared nine hazy Meridian Qi Swords out of nowhere.

It turned out that Yun Xiao's Mist Rain Nine Swords weren't so simple after all. They had appeared to have their energy completely exhausted by Xu Lingsong's Meridian Qi Palm Seal, but under Yun Xiao's control, they instantly took shape once again.

Keep in mind, this was a Meridian Technique of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud of the Earth Rank, and coupled with Yun Xiao's mastery of this technique, such a transformation was truly unexpected and unavoidable.

Even Xu Lingsong, who was at the Earth Rank Third Realm, was caught somewhat off-guard in this moment. Yun Xiao's objective was by no means limited to this; seizing the moment when Xu Lingsong was dealing with the Mist Rain Nine Swords, he had already closed the distance.

Yun Xiao knew his strengths and weaknesses. Competing in Meridian Qi Cultivation with a cultivator of the Earth Rank Third Realm was akin to attacking the enemy's strength with his own weakness.

Thus, Yun Xiao's ultimate goal was to compare physical strength with Xu Lingsong. Compared to Meridian Qi Cultivation, the gap in physical strength between the two might not be as significant.

The nine swords were an aid; close combat was the focus.

It must be said that Yun Xiao's series of strategies had finally allowed him to seize the opportunity. The dominance in close combat meant that just moments later, he had completely overwhelmed Xu Lingsong.

"This... this..."

Witnessing this scene, many elders and disciples of the Lingyun Sect felt as if the towering figure in their hearts had collapsed instantly. Although Xu Lingsong hadn't yet shown any clear signs of defeat, he was the supremely esteemed Sect Leader, a prestigious Earth Rank Third Realm practitioner.

At this moment, all disciples of the Lingyun Sect realized the vast gap between themselves and Yun Xiao. And those elders of the Lingyun Sect had finally acknowledged that the teenager of merely sixteen or seventeen wasn't someone they could contend with.

"Sigh..."

As opposed to these elders and disciples of the Lingyun Sect, the old Sect Leader Xu Qingyuan and the Sect Leader's wife let out a simultaneous sigh. In the depths of their eyes, a trace of regret flashed involuntarily.

"With such an outstanding husband-to-be, if not for this situation, wouldn't everyone be overjoyed?"

Particularly Xu Qingyuan, the betrothal of "Sword Heralds Red Attire" had originally been personally arranged by him and Yun Xiao's grandfather. It was a pity that everything became irreversible following the destruction of the Shang Family.

Even now, with Yun Xiao and Xu Lingsong fiercely fighting each other, no matter what, that once joyously spoken-of marriage alliance no longer existed. Both Xu Qingyuan and the Sect Leader's wife, after their lament, simply hoped that the two fighting would not create an irreparable situation.

"Damn kid!"

However, the thoughts of these onlookers were of no concern to Xu Lingsong at the moment. All he knew was that he, the respected Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect, a genuine Earth Rank practitioner, was being overwhelmed by a mere youth. He felt as if he had lost face completely.

Especially in front of so many disciples of the Lingyun Sect, Xu Lingsong knew that if he really lost to Yun Xiao today, he likely wouldn't have the face to continue as the Sect Leader of the Lingyun Sect.

"Yun Xiao, you forced this upon me!"

As the unwillingness in his heart surged, Xu Lingsong could no longer care about anything else. The promise to spare Yun Xiao's life, made just a moment ago, had been thoroughly tossed aside.

After an inward roar resounded deep within Xu Lingsong's heart, an extremely special and overpowering aura suddenly burst forth from his body. And with this aura emerging, Yun Xiao, who had just been holding the upper hand, was instantly forced back several meters.