Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Confident of victory, Nie Wencang was certain he could defeat Xuan Haoran within ten moves, so at this moment, he had little to worry about.

To Nie Wencang, Xuan Haoran was considered the strongest warrior of the entire Xuanyue Empire, as well as the belief of all cultivators. Defeating him would render the rest insignificant, like chickens and dogs, unable to withstand a single blow.

Swish!

However, right after Nie Wencang's words fell, a subtle sound of air being broken suddenly arose behind him, prompting him to glance back involuntarily.

"What?"

In that brief glance, Nie Wencang saw a familiar head soaring into the sky, blood spurting from its neck - a sure sign that this person was beyond saving.

Nie Wencang saw clearly that the person beheaded so abruptly was none other than the Lingtian Empire's greatest marshal, possessing strength equal to his loyal guard leader Lie Wu, at the peak of the Spirit Vein Realm.

Such a powerful figure was instantly decapitated. Nie Wencang knew well that even a cultivator who had reached half a step into the Earth Rank might not be capable of such a feat.

"Could it be an Earth Rank powerhouse?"

The thought crossed his mind, darkening Nie Wencang's complexion, as the combat prowess of an Earth Rank powerhouse was beyond the comparison to several or even a dozen peak Spirit Vein Realm experts.

If an Earth Rank powerhouse at the same level as himself had arrived, Nie Wencang believed that today's situation might take another turn for the worse, especially since Luo Qingkong, the chubby figure from the Black Star Empire, would undoubtedly be unable to resist.

Crack, crack, crack...

While Nie Wencang's thoughts churned, several more heads soared into the air in succession. These heads belonged to the high-ranking military officers of the Lingtian Empire, the core of the empire's elite forces.

These generals, who strutted about under normal circumstances, obeying only Nie Wencang's orders, now fell like chickens and dogs, beheaded one after another without a chance to fight back.

"Who is it? Who on earth is it?"

A high-ranking commander being decapitated might not have caused Nie Wencang to lose his composure, but now, in just a short moment, half of the high-end authorities of the Lingtian Empire had been lost, and he was simply unable to maintain control any longer.

"Who on earth is it?"

On the other hand, Nie Wencang's adversary, Xuan Haoran, who was nearing defeat, also had the same question rising within him. When he followed Nie Wencang's gaze, realization dawned in his heart.

"Yun Xiao, it's Yun Xiao who has returned!"

Compared to his father Xuan Haoran, who was driven to a helpless state, Xuan Jing on top of Baiyue City's North City Wall probably saw the slender figure in coarse clothes even more clearly.

Moreover, as soon as that figure appeared, he unleashed his mighty power, beheading several Lingtian Empire officials who had reached the middle and late stages of the Spirit Vein Realm. Witnessing this scene, Xuan Jing uncontrollably danced for joy.

Hearing Xuan Jing's shout, everyone came back to their senses. Especially when they clearly saw the features of the youth in coarse clothes who had stopped, there was no room left for doubt.

If a list of prominent figures from the Xuanyue Empire's recent events was to be compiled, Yun Xiao would undoubtedly top the charts. His deeds over the past few months had drastically altered the political landscape of the entire Xuanyue Empire.

The obliteration of the three great families in the Imperial City, the Xuanyue Royal Family's change of power, the annihilation of the Qingshan Sect – all these events were intricately linked to Yun Xiao, even if not witnessed firsthand, it was known he played a guiding role.

Just now, Xuan Jing and the others had considered Yun Xiao to be the Xuanyue Empire's final hope. Little did they expect that at this crucial juncture, the youth in coarse clothes would actually return, giving them a grand surprise.

Indeed, only a few knew of Yun Xiao's breakthrough to the peak of the Spirit Vein Realm. Thus, the likes of Xuan Jing still clung to the beliefs from the battle at the palace, assuming Yun Xiao was merely at the late stage of the Spirit Vein Realm.

But now, sensing the undissipated aura of the young man in coarse clothes, they had no more doubts. In just a few short months, the youth had truly reached the pinnacle of the entire Hidden Dragon Continent.

If these people knew that even the Sect Master of the Lingyun Sect, in the Third Realm of Earth Rank, had been dispatched by Yun Xiao, what would their emotions be?

Regardless, Yun Xiao's sudden appearance dramatically changed the situation in the arena, especially stirring unrest amongst the forces of the Lingtian Empire.

Even many officers at the level of the Spirit Vein Realm instinctively retreated dozens of feet, fearful of meeting the same fate as their headless comrades.

The youth's display of terrifying and astonishing speed was such that even after retreating by a dozen feet, they didn't feel entirely safe, remaining fully on guard.

"Thank goodness, I'm not too late!"

The one who arrived was Yun Xiao. After killing several generals from the Lingtian Empire, he had turned his attention towards the North City Gate of Baiyue City. Seeing that it was still intact, he couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.

Previously, Yun Xiao had been worried that upon his return, he would see nothing but ruins or, worse, the corpses of people he knew. But now it seemed that Baiyue City had not been breached after all.

"Big brother, that youngster is Yun Xiao, the little bastard!"

The Lingtian Emperor, Nie Wencang, did not recognize Yun Xiao, but Nie Yi and his mother would probably never forget that handsome face, even if he were reduced to ashes, they would not mistake it.

"Yun Xiao?"

Hearing Nie Yi's voice, seething with hatred, finally clued Nie Wencang in on the identity of the shabbily dressed boy—that boy, who in the span of a year, had risen to prominence as the champion of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference.

"He's reached the Peak of Spirit Vein Realm?!"

Just by sensing Yun Xiao's Meridian Qi Cultivation, a shock went through Nie Wencang's mind. He knew about the Hidden Dragon Conference, and back then, even though Yun Xiao had won the championship, wasn't he merely at the Mid Stage of Meridian Union Realm?

In just under a year, that youth who could only contend with his contemporaries had grown to the most paramount heights of the Hidden Dragon Continent, a level where even the kings of some minor empires could not hold a candle to him.

However, as an Earth Rank powerhouse, Nie Wencang was only momentarily surprised. In his view, no matter how fast Yun Xiao cultivated, as long as he hadn't broken through to the Earth Rank Third Realm, he couldn't pose any threat.

"King Luo Qingkong, that boy is yours to handle!"

Because he wanted to swiftly deal with Xuan Haoran, another Earth Rank powerhouse, Nie Wencang didn't immediately make a move against Yun Xiao but shouted loudly to the King of the Black Star Empire, Luo Qingkong, instead.

In Nie Wencang's mind, even if Yun Xiao had reached the Peak of Spirit Vein Realm, he must have just broken through or perhaps—like Xuan Haoran—he had relied on some methods and elixirs, causing his Meridian Qi to be inherently unstable.

Indeed, Nie Wencang was not wrong, as Yun Xiao truly did rely on some external forces to achieve a breakthrough to the Peak of Spirit Vein Realm in just one short year.

But whether it was the Pill Thunder Heavenly Tribulation, the night of tenderness with Shen Xingmou, or the physical tempering from the Earth Burst Stone Lotus, none of these could be compared to ordinary elixir methods.

Furthermore, with the refinement of Yun Xiao's Ancient Dragon Taming Technique, even if he directly advanced a Great Rank in one year, the Meridian Qi he cultivated would be highly condensed, with none of the instability like Xuan Haoran's.

But Nie Wencang did not know any of this, nor did he know that even Xu Lingsong, the Sect Master of Lingyun Sect, who was also at Earth Rank, had been defeated by Yun Xiao.

As for King Luo Qingkong of the Black Star Empire, he was even more in the dark. He only knew that he was at the Half-step Earth Rank. If he couldn't handle a mere youth at the Peak of Spirit Vein Realm, what right did he have to talk about the great undertaking of conquering the Xuanyue Empire after this?

Moreover, Luo Qingkong held contempt towards the Xuanyue Empire. In this edition of the Hidden Dragon Conference, the Xuanyue Empire had gained significant attention, causing the Black Star Empire to struggle to lift its head in pride. Thinking about all this made him feel even more stifled.

All of this was because of the youngster not far away named Yun Xiao. It was Yun Xiao who had made the Xuanyue Empire the biggest winner in this Hidden Dragon Conference, so Luo Qingkong's hatred towards the Xuanyue Empire was now wholly transferred onto Yun Xiao.

"Kid, you're unlucky to encounter me, the King!" Luo Qingkong was short and plump, but the aura that burst forth from him caused the cultivators on the city wall of the Xuanyue Empire to change their expressions slightly. They also started to waver on whether Yun Xiao could win.

Yun Xiao's capability of fighting above his level was well known, but this gap was between the Peak of Spirit Vein Realm and Half-step Earth Rank. Just the power of Earth Force that could be controlled was something that cultivators of the Spirit Vein Realm division couldn't contend with.

A Half-step Earth Rank was distinct from the Peak of the Spirit Vein Realm because practitioners at this level had already touched upon the opportunity to manipulate Earth Power, and at times, they could truly harness Earth Power to kill or injure their enemies.

The Black Star Empire was an arch-rival of the Xuanyue Empire, so many of the Xuanyue Empire generals were familiar with Luo Qingkong. His strength was likely not far off from Xuan Haoran's prior to his breakthrough.

However, what the crowd didn't see was that as Luo Qingkong's taunting words came out and his aura burst forth, a cold smile also appeared on that shabbily dressed youth's face, seemingly disdainful of Luo Qingkong's words.

Seeing Yun Xiao's carefree expression, Luo Qingkong's anger was no trivial matter. With his status and power, even Nie Wencang wouldn't dare to ignore him so blatantly—who did this boy think he was to be so calm?

Huff...

So in the next moment, Luo Qingkong didn't hesitate at all. With his overwhelming Meridian Qi surging, a gigantic Black Star Mark of Meridian Qi formed in front of him, appearing eerie and formidable.

"Yun Xiao, be careful! That's the Black Star Empire's 'Falling Star from the Azure Sky' Meridian Technique, it has reached Earth Rank Low Level!" Seeing the massive Black Star Mark of Meridian Qi, Xuan Jing on the city wall immediately realized what it was and couldn't help but raise his voice to warn Yun Xiao. He knew all too well the terrifying potential of this so-called Falling Star from the Azure Sky Meridian Technique!