Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Whoosh!

With Yun Xiao’s directive, Xu Qingshan completely abandoned his own thoughts, like a puppet on strings, swiftly dashing towards Dong Shu. As he closed in, Dong Shu had no idea which part of his body Xu Qingshan intended to attack.

Perhaps this was Yun Xiao’s way of offering Xu Qingshan guidance; before the final move was made, not even Dong Shu, the person involved, knew which position the opponent would target.

Yet after the previous two twists, Dong Shu had developed a sense of apprehension towards this Young Master of the Hidden Blade Sect. Suddenly, the Third Elder of the Jade Sword Sect started to retreat repeatedly, not daring even to engage.

"What’s wrong with the Third Elder?"

Below, the guards of the Jade Sword Sect were evidently displeased with this outcome, especially the guard captain who had earlier been full of confidence. His tone now barely hid a trace of resentment.

A remnant from the Hidden Sword Sect, a mere early-stage Lingyun Realm kid, who had been easily driven into a corner by the Third Elder initially, now seemed to have transformed, reversing roles and chased Dong Shu in battle.

No one understood the cause and effect behind this, nor realized that with each retreat, the Jade Sword Sect’s Third Elder had no chance to counterattack, as all his moves were being seen through by Yun Xiao.

"Back, Dazhui acupoint!"

"Right shoulder, Jianzhen acupoint!"

"Three inches from the second rib on the left!"

"Three divisions from the ankle!"

"..."

In Xu Qingshan’s ears, Yun Xiao’s Gathering Qi Transmission voices kept coming through repeatedly. These sounds unheard by anyone else became the guiding force in the current situation, driving Dong Shu step by step into a corner.

Even Xu Qingshan himself couldn’t comprehend Yun Xiao’s directions, sometimes targeting vital spots or switching to inconsequential places.

But regardless of the guidance, as soon as Xu Qingshan followed the movement, Jade Sword Sect’s Third Elder Dong Shu reacted as if facing a great enemy, with every move incomplete, retreating swiftly without taking action.

What Xu Qingshan didn’t know was that Yun Xiao’s pointed out locations were all flaws within Dong Shu’s techniques — not only weaknesses in his offensive moves but vulnerabilities in his defense as well.

Yun Xiao’s discerning eye hasn’t only identified these flaws, but also determined Xu Qingshan’s capacity, guiding him step by step, leaving Dong Shu utterly powerless to turn the tide.

"Next, I shouldn’t need to guide you anymore, right?"

With one more voice entering Xu Qingshan’s ears, it finally awakened him from his daze. At this moment, he suddenly noted Dong Shu had made an entirely new move.

Once the move was executed, Xu Qingshan found he no longer needed Yun Xiao’s guidance, because this Third Elder of the Jade Sword Sect cooperatively presented his vital back, aligning it into the path of Xu Qingshan’s fist.

Bang!

Indeed, as Yun Xiao had suggested, Xu Qingshan at this moment no longer needed his directions, as his right fist launched powerfully, smacking hard into Dong Shu’s backheart, nearly breaking his spine.

"Splutter!"

Even though Xu Qingshan’s cultivation was only at the early stage of Lingyun Realm, such a powerful punch was more than Dong Shu could bear.

As Dong Shu’s body fell frontward, a gush of deep red blood spewed directly forth, tainting the sky above with a bloody hue.

"The Third Elder... actually lost?!"

Watching Dong Shu spew blood and fall, the Jade Sword Sect guards below turned pale with shock. That was the Third Elder, a proud middle-stage powerhouse of the Lingyun Realm defeated by a Hidden Blade Sect remnant?

The guards of the Jade Sword Sect now recognized Xu Qingshan’s identity. He used to be a young prodigy who could contend with Zhuo Qingfeng, the Young Sect Master of the Jade Sword Sect.

How astounding it was, that in just two months, Xu Qingshan, originally at the Floating Life Realm Late Stage, strongly broke through to the Lingyun Realm Early Stage and dealt serious injury to Dong Shu, who was at the Lingyun Realm Middle Stage.

Everyone was puzzled, Xu Qingshan seemed like a different person, now upon his return, overturning the Jade Sword Sect profoundly.

"Hmph, no matter how strong he is, can he overpower the Great Elder and Sect Master?"

The Jade Sword Sect guard who spoke earlier, now that the Third Elder was no longer reliable, turned his reliance towards the Sect Leader and Great Elder heading to the Hidden Blade Sect.

This guard knew well that the Sect Master and Great Elder were genuine Heavenly Realm experts, especially the Sect Leader, who had already broken through to the Heavenly Realm Middle Stage, not comparable to a Lingyun Realm Cultivator.

"Indeed, when the Sect Leader and Great Elder return, they will surely deal with that nasty little brat!"

Another Jade Sword Sect guard chimed in, seeing the defeated Third Elder no longer capable of being their hope, they needed a stronger figure to boost their confidence.

Meanwhile, as these guards conversed, a figure discreetly slipped away, departing from the Jade Sword Sect headquarters in a direction that even Yun Xiao did not notice.

Swoosh!

In the sky above, Xu Qingshan, who had achieved great victory, wasn’t burdened with many thoughts. The saying goes, strike when the iron is hot; in an instant, his figure moved as he swiftly chased after the fallen Dong Shu.

"Xu Qingshan, if you dare to kill me, the Sect Master won’t let you off!"

At this moment, sensing the chaotic turbulence within his body, Dong Shu knew he was no longer a match for Xu Qingshan and thus resorted to calling upon a stronger backer.

"Hmph, do you think the old ghost of Jade Sword would spare me if I let you live at this moment?"

Xu Qingshan remembered the desperate situation Hidden Blade Sect fell into, and a surge of resentment rose in his heart. These guys were all enemies who killed his father.

As Xu Qingshan said, the situation was already one of unending vengeance. Even if he showed mercy now, Jade Sword Sect would never let him go easily. Given the circumstances, what was there to hesitate about?

"My Jade Sword Sect is a subordinate sect of the Emperor Palace; are you even not afraid of Emperor Canglong Palace?"

Seeing that the identity of the Sect Master did not intimidate Xu Qingshan, Dong Shu again pulled out an even bigger card. His words shocked the Ye City cultivators not far away.

After Hidden Blade Sect was destroyed, Jade Sword Sect’s allegiance to the Emperor Palace was no secret. It was something many family sects envied, a towering tree indeed.

Unfortunately, while Emperor Canglong Palace was ambitious, it did not take every family sect under its wings. At least in Ye City, only Jade Sword Sect and the former Hidden Blade Sect caught the eye of the Emperor Palace.

Compared to Jade Sword Sect itself, the Emperor Palace behind it, or rather Emperor Canglong Palace, was what truly frightened and intimidated the Ye City cultivators. That colossal entity was really something they couldn’t afford to provoke.

"Emperor Canglong Palace?"

Upon hearing this seemingly legendary name from Dong Shu’s mouth, a hint of gloom flashed in Xu Qingshan’s eyes along with an immense hatred.

Xu Qingshan already knew his father, originally named Xu Tongshi, was the direct disciple of the Dragon Cloud War God who roamed the continent a hundred years ago.

Having learned more from his father than anyone else on the continent, Xu Qingshan always believed it was Emperor Canglong Palace that wronged the Dragon Cloud War God. Surely, his nominal master couldn’t have betrayed Emperor Canglong Palace.

Moreover, this time Hidden Blade Sect’s destruction was also the combined effort of Jade Sword Sect and the Ye City Emperor Palace. Old and new grudges overlapped. Xu Qingshan, who once revered Emperor Canglong Palace, was now free of any fear.

Since the Ye City Emperor Palace would not let him go, the situation was inevitably one of perpetual conflict. In Xu Qingshan’s mind, the intimidation from Emperor Canglong Palace and Daoist Jade Sword bore no difference.

"What now? Are you scared?"

Seeing Xu Qingshan seemingly caught in hesitation, Dong Shu thought this kid was finally frightened by Emperor Canglong Palace, believing his chance to survive had come.

Scratch!

But just as Dong Shu’s words fell and the expression of smugness began to rise on his face, he heard a soft sound, followed by a chill on his chest.

"I... I..."

Lowering his head, Dong Shu looked at the blade lodged in his chest, and seeing one end held by Xu Qingshan, his face showed extreme disbelief.

Just now, this boy seemed scared by Emperor Canglong Palace’s name; how could he then plunge his sword into Dong Shu’s chest? It defied logic.

"For you, who is about to die, I grant you a secret!"

With Dong Shu’s heart pierced by the long sword, Xu Qingshan suddenly felt a mischievous urge, leaning toward Dong Shu’s ear to whisper.

"Actually... My father is a disciple of the Dragon Cloud War God. Do you think I would fear Emperor Canglong Palace?"

The soft words resounded in Dong Shu’s ears, making his pupils contract sharply. Unfortunately, at this moment, Xu Qingshan already withdrew his long sword, and the spark of life in the Third Elder’s eyes from Jade Sword Sect gradually extinguished.

Perhaps, in the moment of his death, Dong Shu felt extreme shock, as the secret Xu Qingshan shared was indeed earth-shattering.

He had reason to believe that if this truth were revealed, even the remote Ye City in the Western Regions would instantly become the center of attention in the entire Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.

High above, Emperor Canglong and the two imperial figures might descend upon this insignificant Ye City, all because traces of the Dragon Cloud War God’s disciple had been discovered here.

Unfortunately, all this would be carried to the underworld by Dong Shu, a shocking secret uncshared, an outcome that was indeed suffocating.