Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor-Chapter 973: Special Rules for the Final Round

Qian Sanyuan had countless questions in his heart but did not linger here. Ultimately, he left Yun Xiao and Liu Mo, the two women, to reminisce without further disturbance.

However, just because no one was disturbing did not mean that there was no attention on the courtyard. Especially when an unrivaled genius of the Heavenly Hospital heard that the girl he admired had rushed to Yun Xiao's courtyard, his perpetual smile instantly vanished.

"Senior Brother Wushuang, should I secretly go teach that kid a lesson?"

The tall and slim youth named Liu Qingchen, who always followed Bai Wushuang, was adept at reading people's expressions and was a veteran in romantic matters. He immediately discerned why Bai Wushuang was upset; he understood such matters of jealousy better than anyone.

In Liu Qingchen's view, how could the rustic Yun Xiao compare to the handsome and charming Senior Brother Wushuang? It was indeed like a toad wanting to eat swan meat, truly overestimating oneself.

A young man who had only just nominally joined Refining Cloud Mountain and had not yet obtained formal identity recognition, Liu Qingchen had no qualms about him. Given their status in the Heavenly Hospital, as long as they weren't caught in the act, nobody dare falsely accuse them.

"Not suitable. Junior Sister Mo Qing is currently in that kid's courtyard. I don't want her to see this side of me!"

Bai Wushuang considered more than Liu Qingchen, and he was extremely adept at disguising his true nature. Over the years, what he had displayed was all an effort to win hearts, even fooling his teacher, Qian Sanyuan.

Previously, Bai Wushuang was always confident in everything, with countless female disciples of Refining Cloud Mountain, not needing him to lure them, would willingly embrace him. Yet, he faced rejection at Mo Qing's door.

Of course, it's not that Mo Qing completely ignored this first genius of the Medical Pulse lineage, but the faint refusal, though subtle, conveyed an attitude of keeping others at a distance.

As the saying goes, the more unattainable something is, the more one desires it. Now, Mo Qing was such a thing to Bai Wushuang.

Especially after learning Mo Qing's true thoughts and witnessing the rustic Yun Xiao, who he had not paid much attention to, genuinely becoming a disciple of Refining Cloud Mountain, those things he had disguised were finally becoming hard to hide.

In front of his trusted junior brother Liu Qingchen, Bai Wushuang had no need to pretend. However, he knew that if he deliberately caused trouble for Yun Xiao in front of Mo Qing, it might make the little junior sister dislike him even more.

"In two months, it's Refining Cloud Mountain's annual competition. By then, I will rightly crush him and let Junior Sister Mo Qing see who truly is the number one among the young generation of Refining Cloud Mountain!"

Liu Qingchen was extremely confident in his Meridian Refining Technique. Even though he knew that Yun Xiao was already an Earth Rank Middle Level Meridian Refining Master, he never considered that the other might truly surpass him.

A kid from the Hidden Dragon Continent—how strong could the Meridian Refining Technique he practiced be?

Bai Wushuang is renowned as the foremost genius of the Heavenly Hospital's young generation, even claimed as the top Meridian Refining Genius of the entire Tenglong Continent. How could he possibly regard a mere Yun Xiao?

Over the years, Bai Wushuang studied only the top-tier Meridian Refining Techniques treasured by Refining Cloud Mountain, with countless case studies for practice and abundant resources provided. With such cultivation, if he could not surpass a Yun Xiao from the Hidden Dragon Continent, he might as well crash himself against a block of tofu.

"An internal annual competition, hmm?"

Upon hearing Bai Wushuang's words, a flicker of interest flashed in Liu Qingchen's eyes. It seemed he too was eagerly anticipating the annual competition, where his painstakingly refined Meridian Refining Technique might also shine brightly.

...

A day and night passed quickly!

After nightfall the day before, Liu Hanyi and Mo Qing tacitly left Yun Xiao's courtyard, knowing that Yun Xiao had a tough battle to face that day and needed to conserve every ounce of energy.

Although both women knew well that Yun Xiao's Meridian Refining Technique would make competing against those Meridian Refining Masters in the selection trials simply child's play, there's always an element of uncertainty. Besides, among them was a protector from Sky Thunder Valley who had achieved Earth Rank Middle Level, Yao Tiansha.

When the sunlight spilled down the next morning, the entrance plaza of Refining Cloud Mountain became lively once more. Or rather, many never left, eagerly awaiting to witness today's excitement.

Though many were Meridian Refining Masters already eliminated, they were still very interested in the final round of ranking matches.

So when those nine people emerged from the depths of Refining Cloud Mountain, cheers erupted intermittently in the crowd, with Spirit Fighting Commerce's Meridian Refining Genius, Li Gongnian, leading the enthusiasm.

Had it not been for Yun Xiao's appearance in Refining Cloud Mountain's disciple selection, a demon-like talent, along with Sky Thunder Valley's protector Yao Tiansha as a variable, Li Gongnian would undoubtedly have been the most prominent figure. But all of that was overshadowed by these two.

Therefore, even when Li Gongnian heard those cheers, his expression wasn't too pleased. He knew his own capabilities, and the Earth Rank Low Level Meridian Refining Technique might not help him achieve the ultimate first place. Yao Tiansha and Yun Xiao were like mountains suppressing him. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Look, Yun Xiao and Yao Tiansha are coming!"

Moments later, a voice suddenly rang out, and everyone saw two figures, one large and one small, emerge from within Lianyun Mountain. Their gazes were more focused on the boy in rough clothes.

It was Yun Xiao's performance in the second round yesterday that had left everyone stunned. Such poison resistance seemed to be no less than that of the Son of Thousand Poisons, Ye Ku. Today, in this final rank battle, can this young prodigy continue to shine? Everyone was extremely expectant.

The black horse making a comeback is certainly the most thrilling scenario. If only Li Gongnian and Xu Changgui took the lead, it would be too dull. At least, this time's selection of Refining Cloud Mountain disciples has suddenly generated many variables because of Yun Xiao and Yao Tiansha.

Dong!

The melodious sound of a bell echoed as Vice President Qian Sanyuan stood up from the northern seats. His eyes first scanned the boy in rough clothes before he spoke aloud.

"I announce the start of the third round, which is also the final round, of this Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection!"

With Qian Sanyuan's loud proclamation, cheers erupted anew from the audience. Those meridian masters who were watching seemed to have forgotten their elimination frustrations. Such a grand occasion deserved their jubilant celebrations.

"In the final round, you can choose your own opponent. The chosen one must accept the challenge, or they will be considered as forfeiting!"

As Qian Sanyuan continued, the field suddenly fell silent. Even the few outstanding contenders in the center of the square appeared puzzled, secretly noting that such a rule had not been seen before.

It's known that although these participants had passed the second round, the Meridian Refining Techniques varied in proficiency. No one had the confidence to defeat Yun Xiao or Yao Tiansha from Sky Thunder Valley, not even Li Gongnian from Douling Commerce.

"The method of the final round will also be decided by the contestants. Healing the sick, alchemy and medicine, or even poisoning and detoxification can be contested. The winner will advance to the next level until the final champion is decided!"

Qian Sanyuan wouldn't care about their unusual thoughts. This declaration set the tone for the final round, yet someone raised a question after he spoke.

"Vice Chairman Qian, there are nine of us entering the final round. When dueling, what happens to the last person?"

The speaker was Li Gongnian from Douling Commerce. Given his status, he remained composed in front of Qian Sanyuan, the Vice President of Lianyun Mountain. His sentiment resonated with the audience.

"Well..."

Qian Sanyuan turned his head and exchanged a glance with Qingmu Wu, the Sky Poison Institute Dean, before speaking loudly, "After consulting with several elders, we decided to set up a defender. Only the final victor among the eight will face this defender, and the winner will become the ultimate champion!"

"Defender?"

When hearing this term, everyone seemed to be deep in thought. Yao Tiansha from Sky Thunder Valley bore a confident smile, secretly believing this role suited him best. Who else could have this qualification?

The so-called defender, as explained by Qian Sanyuan, would automatically advance to the final battle and would not compete in the earlier rounds against the eight Meridian Refining Masters, allowing a strategic respite.

Typically, such a defender is accepted as the strongest one present, at least in Yao Tiansha's mind; he considered himself the strongest among the nine, and there was no doubt about that.

"Mr. Qian and the two deans have decided that the defender for this final round of the Refining Cloud Mountain examination will be... Yun Xiao!"

Yet just when Yao Tiansha was full of confidence, and many others expected Sky Thunder Valley's protector to play this role, Qian Sanyuan spoke again, finally uttering a name that made the field suddenly silent.

"Yun Xiao? How can it be him?"

Such a thought emerged in some people's minds, but as this notion arose, they recalled Yun Xiao's methods seen the previous night. This youth, not yet twenty, was indeed a genuine Earth Rank Middle Level Refiner. As a defender, it seemed quite fitting.

Even Yun Xiao himself hadn't anticipated such an outcome. As he turned his gaze to Qian Sanyuan's face, he also noticed the Sky Poison Institute Dean Qingmu Wu nodding at him, then understood the situation better.

It seems these old folks are truly worried that I might overwhelm those other low-rank Meridian Refining Masters!