Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

"Qingshan, you are quite impressive!"

Yun Xiao looked at this direct disciple, whose face was full of joy, and couldn’t help but offer a word of praise. This compliment was not mere politeness, but came from the heart.

Even though Yun Xiao had many methods, there wasn’t a 100% chance he could help Xu Qingshan break through, as it contained a great deal of risk.

Xu Qingshan had to bear all these risks with his own perseverance. Yun Xiao’s methods were always just external assistance. If Xu Qingshan couldn’t hold on, it would definitely end in failure.

To break through two realms in the Floating Life Realm Late Stage, or even achieve a Great Realm into the Lingyun Realm Early Stage, seemed unimaginable to most. Yet this master-disciple pair, one highly skilled and daring, the other blinded by hatred, ended up with a decent result.

"It’s all thanks to Master Ancestor’s guidance!"

Receiving Yun Xiao’s praise, Xu Qingshan felt flattered and immediately bowed again, but this time, found a force preventing him from bending down.

"Let’s go, to Ye City!"

Yun Xiao didn’t let Xu Qingshan bow again, and instead issued a quiet command. Upon hearing this, Xu Qingshan was momentarily stunned, then his eyes brightened with a gleam.

"Master Ancestor, do you mean..."

Though Xu Qingshan had some thoughts, he couldn’t fully grasp them, so he asked. At the same time, he felt a tinge of indescribable conflict in his heart.

Ye City was the place of Xu Qingshan’s sorrow. The once glorious Hidden Blade Sect ultimately met a destructive end. His father didn’t even make it out alive.

Now his newly acknowledged master ancestor suggested going to Ye City, possibly confronting those of the Jade Sword Sect or even the Emperor Palace, where both had genuine Heavenly Realm experts.

Although Xu Qingshan had acknowledged Yun Xiao as his master ancestor, his understanding of Yun Xiao’s strength was limited to the overwhelming victory earlier. Yun Xiao hadn’t even exerted full power.

Even using his own Power of Soul, Xu Qingshan couldn’t sense Yun Xiao’s true cultivation. He only knew from someone’s exclamation that his master ancestor had reached the Heavenly Realm.

As to which small realm of the Heavenly Realm, Xu Qingshan had no clue. If they rashly entered Ye City, they might encounter significant trouble.

While the native sect of Ye City, the Jade Sword Sect, was not much to worry about, the Emperor Palace was a gigantic force with unfathomable background.

Xu Qingshan bore deep hatred for the Emperor Palace, but the thought of their background made him feel powerless. He believed it wouldn’t be wise to involve his new master ancestor. He should wait until he reached the Heavenly Realm to seek revenge alone.

"Didn’t you say the Emperor Palace tries to annex many sects? We cannot let them succeed!"

A peculiar smile appeared on Yun Xiao’s face, and his words made Xu Qingshan’s expression even more odd. He thought his ancestor didn’t seem like someone who would interfere in other’s affairs.

The Continent was full of injustices, and if every one needed attention, wouldn’t that be exhausting? Especially concerning the business of the Emperor Canglong Palace?

Though Xu Qingshan was simple-hearted, he wasn’t foolish. From the incident where the Hidden Blade Sect was annihilated, he could deduce that the Emperor Canglong Palace was playing a big game, with Ye City being just one insignificant piece.

Generally, Nine-layered Dragon Cloud Cultivators would avoid such cases like the plague. Yet his newly acknowledged master ancestor chose to face it head-on, using it as a seemingly righteous reason.

In fact, the reason was sufficient, though when facing the Emperor Palace’s branch, most would shy away, ending up ridiculed instead of solving the matter.

Yun Xiao had no intention to explain further. When a gleam flashed in his eyes, there was a truth about his real intention to go to Ye City left unspoken.

"The Ye City Emperor Palace branch, is it? If you dare kill my Long Xiao Battle God’s disciple, then be prepared for obliteration!"

As the gentle murmur faded, Yun Xiao stopped speaking, waved his hand, and two figures turned into streamers, heading towards the Eastern Horizon, quickly disappearing in the distance.

Neither Yun Xiao nor Xu Qingshan noticed that as they just left, at a certain spot below, strands of sharp energy suddenly emerged, mixed with subtle golden light, appearing rather mysterious.

What could such changes signify?

......

Ye City!

This was the former headquarters of the Hidden Blade Sect. But the once glorious sect had become extremely desolate, no longer what it used to be.

It had been nearly two months since the Hidden Blade Sect was destroyed, and during this time, Daoist Jade Sword from the Jade Sword Sect often came by the Hidden Sword Sect headquarters for unknown purposes.

Today, accompanying Daoist Jade Sword was Liu Wenzong, the Chief of the Ye City Emperor Palace branch, who sat at the head of a hall, while Daoist Jade Sword below appeared somewhat restrained.

"Jade Sword, has the underground chamber you mentioned not been opened yet?"

The Lord Supervisor Liu Wenzong seemed rather relaxed. Even though he voiced the question, he didn’t seem to care much. It appeared that he had little hope for any precious items within the so-called underground chamber of the Hidden Blade Sect.

"Reporting to the Lord Supervisor, the Great Elder of our Jade Sword Sect is proficient in the Five Elements and Odd Doors. He is certain to open it today!"

Upon hearing this, Daoist Jade Sword didn’t dare to slack off. This statement made Liu Wenzong nod with satisfaction, as it seemed he had visited today just to see the outcome of this affair.

"Has that remnant boy of the Hidden Blade Sect not been captured yet?"

Liu Wenzong suddenly recalled a minor matter and asked it casually. Daoist Jade Sword’s eyes flashed with gloom, and he silently cursed his disciple for being ineffective.

Honestly, even though that day Xu Qingshan escaped through a special secret passage, such a passage couldn’t be very long. The Jade Sword Sect responded quickly, and logically speaking, that boy couldn’t have escaped far.

Yet, nearly two months had passed, and he still hadn’t been caught.

Fortunately, a few days ago, Daoist Jade Sword received a flying letter from his disciple, Zhuo Bufeng, stating that Xu Qingshan’s whereabouts had been discovered within the Yongxiu City area. Surely, the matter would be resolved soon.

"Please rest assured, Lord Supervisor, that boy cannot escape!"

Although there wasn’t any concrete news yet, Daoist Jade Sword had great confidence in his prized disciple. With the Fourth Elder at the Lingyun Realm Early Stage guaranteeing no failure, how could a fugitive like Xu Qingshan stir up any trouble?

"Since..."

Just as Liu Wenzong nodded, about to say something, suddenly a figure flashed at the hall’s entrance. A figure actually rushed directly into the hall without any heralding.

Seeing this, Liu Wenzong couldn’t help but frown slightly. As the Director of the Emperor Palace, and below him the Sect Master of Jade Sword Sect, the newcomer’s rude behavior suggested that perhaps the Jade Sword Sect needed some rectification.

"Second Elder, the Lord Supervisor is here, how can you be so improper?"

Seemingly noticing the fleeting anger in Liu Wenzong’s eyes, Daoist Jade Sword was startled. He immediately shouted in reprimand, also feeling puzzled. He wondered why the usually composed Second Elder was so uncharacteristically flustered today.

"Greetings to the Lord Supervisor!"

It seemed that the Second Elder of the Jade Sword Sect was indeed in a hurry. However, reminded by Daoist Jade Sword, he dared not neglect, quickly bowing to Liu Wenzong, which slightly improved the latter’s expression.

"What happened for you to be so flustered?"

Seeing Liu Wenzong’s expression easing, Daoist Jade Sword breathed a large sigh of relief, faking a calm look and admonishing again before asking. He resolved that, regardless of the issue, he must not lose composure like the Second Elder did, to show his steadiness.

Daoist Jade Sword had worked hard to connect with the Ye City Emperor Palace, and he was ambitious, intending to use the Emperor Palace as a stepping stone to reach the true Canglong Emperor Palace, so he could soar to great heights.

The prerequisite for achieving all this was making the Director of the Emperor Palace recognize his potential. If one panicked over small matters, how could great things be accomplished?

"Reporting to the Sect Master, it’s the Young Sect Master, he...he...he..."

The Second Elder of the Jade Sword Sect clenched his right fist but stammered over several "he" words, unable to say a complete sentence, increasing Daoist Jade Sword’s anxiety, wishing he could kick him twice.

"The Young Sect Master, he... is dead!"

A glimmer in Daoist Jade Sword’s eyes, the Second Elder finally blurted out the truth, while also unfolding his tightly clenched right hand. In his palm lay several fragments resembling black stones.

"What?"

Having just resolved not to lose his composure, Daoist Jade Sword heard this news and trembled fiercely, his voice filled with gloom. In the next moment, he rushed forward, snatching the stone fragments from the Second Elder’s hand.

These fragments resembling black stones were indeed the soul token fragments of the Young Sect Master, Zhuo Bufeng, of the Jade Sword Sect. The shattering of the soul token indicated that he had perished, his divine soul completely extinguished, with no hope of survival.

Zhuo Bufeng was Daoist Jade Sword’s most prized disciple and his only direct disciple, destined to inherit his mantle as Sect Master. Now, with his sudden death, how could he possibly accept it?

A good disciple is hard to come by, and finding an exceptional heir is just as challenging. Daoist Jade Sword was extremely fond of Zhuo Bufeng and had sent him with the Fourth Elder to pursue Xu Qingshan, intending for him to perform well in front of the Emperor Palace.

Unexpectedly, merely chasing after the fugitive Xu Qingshan resulted in the loss of his prized disciple. Daoist Jade Sword held the fragments of Zhuo Bufeng’s soul token, his expression so dark it seemed like water could drip from it.

Even Liu Wenzong, the Director of the Ye City Emperor Palace, showed a peculiar expression upon hearing this news, secretly wondering if the fugitive from the Hidden Blade Sect had left some hidden contingency behind.