Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor-Chapter 972: Shock Upon Shock

In Qingmu Wu's view, there are always some extraordinarily talented geniuses in the world. Although Yun Xiao is young, his proficiency in the Poison Meridian Path is quite significant. Perhaps this is what they call a demonic genius.

"Well... let's talk about it later!"

At these words, Yun Xiao's face momentarily stiffened. In fact, he wasn't opposed to explaining the Poison Meridian Skill at the Sky Poison Institute. However, he knew his own limitations and doubted that he could command respect given his age. Not every Poison Vein Master in the Sky Poison Institute would be as obsessed with poison as Qingmu Wu, right?

Whoosh!

Just as Yun Xiao finished speaking, the sound of wind breaking suddenly came from outside the courtyard. An aged figure swiftly appeared inside, coincidentally blocking Yun Xiao's path.

"Vice Chairman Qian?"

"Teacher?"

Upon seeing the features of this aged figure, Yun Xiao and Mo Qing both spoke simultaneously. This was someone they both recognized well: Vice Chairman Qian Sanyuan of the Lianyun Mountain Association.

"Great Elder, what are you doing here?"

Qian Sanyuan did not pay attention to the man and woman behind him but instead focused with a sullen look on Qingmu Wu across from him. It seemed he had just received news of Qingmu Wu's arrival and hurried over.

Last night, during the second round of assessment, Qingmu Wu had expressed his firm intention to recruit Yun Xiao and had a few confrontational exchanges with the dean of the Heavenly Hospital, Guan Rufeng.

At that time, Qingmu Wu had shown an air of confidence. Therefore, upon hearing about Qingmu Wu's presence in Yun Xiao's courtyard, Qian Sanyuan wasted no time in coming over, fearing that Qingmu Wu might use forceful means to pressure Yun Xiao into joining the Sky Poison Institute.

Given Qian Sanyuan's understanding of this dean of the Sky Poison Institute, the old fellow was quite stubborn. Though he didn't quite fit the description of senile, once he set his mind on something, not even a hundred bulls could pull him back.

Qian Sanyuan also knew Yun Xiao quite well, aware that despite his young age, Yun Xiao was someone who couldn't be intimidated. If Qingmu Wu behaved aggressively, the situation might escalate beyond control.

Qingmu Wu, with his methods, could very well poison Yun Xiao with something potent, forcing the young man to choose the Sky Poison Institute. As someone specialized in the Medical Vein, Qian Sanyuan naturally hoped to see Yun Xiao join the Sky Poison Institute, though he didn't show it as Vice Chairman.

Moreover, if news got out that people were being coerced with threats and enticements to join a faction, it would badly damage the reputation of Lianyun Mountain, something Vice Chairman Qian Sanyuan cared about very much.

Fortunately, upon entering the courtyard, Qian Sanyuan sensed nothing unusual about Yun Xiao, allowing him to finally relax. However, his questioning words left the faces of the two women and one man behind him with a peculiar expression.

"Vice Chairman, what do you mean? Hanyi and Master Yun are childhood sweethearts; I'm just following along for a look, what's wrong with that?"

Qingmu Wu was quite dissatisfied with Qian Sanyuan's questioning. Naturally, he wouldn't admit that he came to recruit Yun Xiao. However, when certain words left his mouth, Qian Sanyuan was so shocked his jaw nearly hit the ground.

"Master… Yun?!"

Qian Sanyuan felt like he was hearing things due to the "strong wind." In fact, for someone with a Soul Power reaching the Heavenly Rank like them, it's impossible to mishear something. He simply couldn't believe what he heard.

"Yes, thanks to Master Yun's generous gift, I've had the opportunity to further my advancement in the Poison Meridian Path. I'm endlessly grateful!"

Qingmu Wu showed no awkwardness, nodding at the words. This second unreserved acknowledgment finally made Qian Sanyuan realize that something extremely shocking must have happened during the time Qingmu Wu was in the courtyard before he arrived.

What could possibly make a dignified dean of the Lianyun Mountain Sky Poison Institute, a genuine Heavenly Rank Third Realm expert, reverently address a young boy under twenty as "Master?"

Qingmu Wu had previously treated even Qian Sanyuan, the Vice Chairman, with indifference. This was all determined by the level of Meridian Qi Cultivation and the Meridian Refining Technique, and Qian Sanyuan had no way to handle it.

Yet now, Yun Xiao's Meridian Qi Cultivation remained at the early stage of the Seeking Origin Realm, and his Meridian Refining Technique was only Earth Rank Middle Level. How could such cultivation and refinement levels command Qingmu Wu's respect to the point of addressing him as a master?

"What exactly is the opportunity?"

Qian Sanyuan seized upon the keyword mentioned by Qingmu Wu. But considering his understanding of Yun Xiao, what could possibly offer a low-level Heavenly Poison Vein Master a further opportunity for advancement?

The Vice Chairman's eyes slowly returned to Yun Xiao, who merely shrugged without much explanation, leaving him all the more bewildered.

"Master Yun, I'll leave you to your reunion with old friends without further interruption!"

With thoughts of diving back into the research of what he had just seen on the scroll, Qingmu Wu could barely restrain himself. Without even casting a glance at Qian Sanyuan, he bowed to Yun Xiao and excused himself, leaving Qian Sanyuan with another moment of introspection.

However, Qian Sanyuan was familiar with Qingmu Wu's temperament. Unlike those Poison Vein Masters with countless schemes in their hearts, Qingmu Wu was an eccentric obsessed with refining poison. It seemed that what Yun Xiao had offered was indeed extraordinary.

"Vice Chairman Qian, it's been a long time!"

Seeing Qian Sanyuan's gaze sweeping over him, Yun Xiao offered a warm smile as if nothing had ever happened and greeted him directly.

"Indeed, it's been a long time. But the surprises you give me are exactly the same as back on the Hidden Dragon Continent!"

Qian Sanyuan nodded, though his tone was rather filled with emotion. Compared to their last meeting on the Hidden Dragon Continent, seeing Yun Xiao again this time, he suddenly found Yun Xiao even more enigmatic.

The selection assessments for disciples of Lianyun Mountain were understandable, but in Qian Sanyuan's heart, he had never doubted Yun Xiao's ability to pass those assessments. What truly shocked him was what he witnessed here today in the courtyard.

What kind of thing could make the dean of the Heavenly Hospital call someone "Master"? Now Qian Sanyuan's curiosity was piqued to the extreme. Would that kind of thing, which could help a Low-level Heavenly Poison Vein Master advance further, also be useful for him?

"Hmm? Qing'er, your cultivation..."

After a few exchanges with Yun Xiao, Qian Sanyuan finally turned his attention to his newly favored disciple, only to almost have his eyes pop out of their sockets.

"This... this... is the Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage, and the Power of Soul has also reached the Earth Rank Low Level?!"

Qian Sanyuan, being a Low-level Soul of Heavenly Rank, had extremely strong sensing abilities. Moreover, Mo Qing had just broken through, so neither her Meridian Qi aura nor Power of Soul could be entirely concealed, allowing Qian Sanyuan to notice the changes instantly.

Like Qingmu Wu, Qian Sanyuan had been trying to promote Mo Qing's Meridian Qi cultivation to the Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage for a long time, but without success.

Yet now, in just a few hours of absence, Mo Qing's Meridian Qi cultivation and Power of Soul had both broken through, which was an enormous surprise to Qian Sanyuan.

"Could it be because of Yun Xiao again?"

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Qian Sanyuan's mind, making his eyes flare up as if they could spit fire while he stared at the rough-clad young man beside him. The latter awkwardly rubbed his nose, wondering why these figures from the Meridian Refining Master Guild were so easily flustered.

First, it was Qingmu Wu, and now Qian Sanyuan was in the same manner, which made Yun Xiao seriously consider if he should really join the Meridian Refining Master Guild.

"Teacher, it was Yun Xiao who activated the latent energy of the Pure Origin Red Fruit within me, allowing me to break through at once!"

It was Mo Qing who explained, and this explanation made Qian Sanyuan even more mystified. He had given Mo Qing the Pure Origin Red Fruit but never expected it to contain so much residual energy that he couldn't sense.

Previously, Mo Qing used the Pure Origin Red Fruit to break through to the Peak of Qi Seeking Realm, which had already satisfied Qian Sanyuan greatly. Little did he know that Yun Xiao's arrival could make the Pure Origin Red Fruit effective once more, with seemingly better results than the first time.

At this moment, Qian Sanyuan seemed to gradually understand why Qingmu Wu regarded Yun Xiao with such esteem earlier. What else did this young man know that even a Low-level Heavenly Rank Meridian Master like him couldn't fathom?

"Such a demon, participating in the selection of Lianyun Mountain disciples, isn't that just bullying?"

As certain thoughts crossed his mind, Qian Sanyuan naturally developed thoughts similar to those of an average Meridian Master. It was a joke to think someone whom Qingmu Wu called "Master" needed to participate in Lianyun Mountain's disciple selection.

Nevertheless, considering Qingmu Wu's earlier attitude, Qian Sanyuan had another worry. Now Yun Xiao seemed more accomplished in the Poison Meridian Path than Qingmu Wu, and his achievements in the Medical Vein were already well-known.

Such a character could not simply be seen as an ordinary student in either the Sky Poison Institute or Heavenly Hospital. Previously entangled by the tug-of-war over Yun Xiao between the two disciplines, Qian Sanyuan found himself with a new headache.

How should Yun Xiao be placed? Such a demonic talent isn't suitable to merely be a disciple of Lianyun Mountain, and appointing him as just a disciple would waste his capabilities, which was truly vexing.

"Looks like I'll have to contact the Chairman!"

After struggling internally, Qian Sanyuan felt the matter to be extremely thorny, and finally, a majestic and imposing figure appeared in his mind—that of the Chairman of the Meridian Refining Master Association, as mysterious as a Divine Dragon.