Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor
Chapter 296: Two hundred and ninety-six looking on with interest

Chapter 296: Two hundred and ninety-six looking on with interest

Outer periphery of Yulin Mountain Range!

Three figures appeared in succession, looking a bit travel-weary. However, one among them, a youth clad in white, was still brimming with vitality, and the dust of the road could not hide his spirit of bold unconstraint.

"Second Prince Xuan Jing, thank you for escorting me along the way. This is where we part!"

Yun Xiao glanced at the lush forest before him, finally stopping in his tracks to turn and cup his fists in gratitude. Upon hearing these words, the young man in white was none other than the Second Prince of the Xuanyue Empire: Xuan Jing!

As for the chubby youth beside him, that was naturally Ling Wan, who had been traveling with them since they left Luocheng over a month ago.

With Xuan Jing’s protection, Yun Xiao no longer disguised himself during the journey and revealed his true identity. Even the City Lord of Luocheng wouldn’t dare to provoke Xuan Jing, let alone the lords of smaller cities.

In fact, the warrant for Yun Xiao’s arrest was only valid within the northwest territory of the Xuanyue Empire. Once out of that region, who would recognize Yun Xiao and why would anyone attack him without reason?

"Haha, I am someone who dislikes owing favors. You saved my life in the Meridian Treasure, so consider this favor repaid!"

Xuan Jing laughed with a wave of his hand, continuing, "When you think about it, I’m the one who gained the advantage. After all, how could the life of the young master from the Shang Family of Moon Bow City compare to my noble birthright as the Empire’s Second Prince?"

Yun Xiao had come to understand Xuan Jing’s personality quite well over the course of their travels. He knew that these words were not a true dismissal of his own status as a young master of a destroyed family, but an attempt to downplay the act of saving his life.

However, as Xuan Jing mentioned, Yun Xiao had inadvertently saved his life in the Meridian Treasure, and he had then saved Yun Xiao’s life in the Gathering Immortal Tower of Luocheng. They had become comrades through life and death, and to remain formal would be somewhat inappropriate.

"Second Prince Xuan Jing, until we meet again!"

Yun Xiao, not one for over-sentimentality, didn’t say much more. Taking Ling Wan by the hand, he was about to turn and enter the forest when he heard Xuan Jing call out from behind.

"How many times have I told you, stop calling me ’Your Highness.’ Next time we meet, I’d better not hear the words ’Your Highness’ again, or we won’t even be friends!"

Xuan Jing was clearly somewhat annoyed, shouting after the retreating figures of Yun Xiao and Ling Wan. But by the end of his outburst, he couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

"Alright, Second Prince Xuan Jing!"

However, when Xuan Jing heard the voice coming from the distance, he was torn between laughter and frustration. Normally, the fellow seemed so serious, but when mischievous, he was quite an intriguing character.

"Yun Xiao, huh? I hope we truly have the chance to meet again!"

Xuan Jing watched the disappearing figures for a long moment before ultimately murmuring to himself ambiguously and decisively turning away, vanishing into the outskirts of Yulin Mountain Range.

Of course, Yun Xiao was unaware of what was in Xuan Jing’s mind. For some reason, as he entered Yulin Mountain Range, a sense of kinship suddenly rose in his heart.

Perhaps it wasn’t just Yun Xiao, but also Ling Wan included, who considered the Jade Pot Sect as their new home. One’s family had been destroyed; the other spurned by his kin. It was the Jade Pot Sect that had treated them kindly.

Although he harbored resentment towards those of the Poison Vein, Yun Xiao knew that whether it was Great Elder Lu Zhan of the Medical Pulse or Sect Master Yu Shu, whom he didn’t know well, both were sincerely good to him.

It was their sincerity that gave Yun Xiao a sense of belonging towards the Jade Pot Sect. After months of drifting abroad, he had seen enough; perhaps returning to the Jade Pot Sect could bring some peaceful days.

Within the Yulin Mountain Range, Yun Xiao and Ling Wan encountered no mishaps. The weaker Vein Demons dared not bother them, allowing safe passage into the outer territory of the Jade Pot Sect.

However, just as they stepped into the territory of the Jade Pot Sect’s Outer Sect, Yun Xiao and Ling Wan saw several familiar figures – it was Tan Yun’s team, with whom they shared a close relationship.

Swish, swish, swish!

But just as Yun Xiao and Ling Wan were about to greet them, several silhouettes emerged, surrounding Tan Yun and her two companions in the center, with an atmosphere that seemed amiss.

Seeing this, Yun Xiao and Ling Wan exchanged a knowing look, both detecting something unusual but did not immediately step forward. Unless it was important, they both preferred to watch the excitement unfold.

"Tan Yun, hand over what you obtained earlier; such items are not meant for someone like you to possess!"

One of the vaguely familiar individuals, a smirk of mockery on his face and the air of someone holding all the cards, stretched out his hand so close it nearly touched Tan Yun’s face.

"You... you guys are being too overbearing, aren’t you? We worked hard to get those things; why should we hand them over to you?" one member of the small team protested indignantly.

"Why should you? Isn’t this pair of fists reason enough?"

The words of the small team’s member clearly provoked the anger of the man who had spoken before. He stepped forward with a fist following his voice, directly bombarding the small team’s member.

Fortunately, after several months of Outer Sect resource cultivation, this small team member had already boosted his Meridian Qi Cultivation to the Meridian Gathering Realm Peak. The punch from the Inner Sect Disciple at the early stage of Meridian Gathering Realm only knocked him back several steps without causing him any serious injuries.

"You’re bullying too much!"

Seeing that despicable guy resort to violence without uttering another word, Tan Yun’s beautiful face chilled, and after her scolding, she directly pulled out a green soft whip from her Waist Storage, precisely the weapon Yun Xiao had seen before.

"Eh? Sister Tan Yun’s strength!"

Sensing Tan Yun’s aura from afar, Ling Wan couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, and when she turned her head to look at Yun Xiao, her gaze was filled with an unexpected delight.

"You’re not seeing things, it is indeed the early stage of Meridian Gathering Realm!"

Yun Xiao’s Soul Power was naturally even stronger, and his sensing was clearer than Ling Wan’s. He nodded in response, indicating that Tan Yun hadn’t just been marking time in her Outer Sect Cultivation. Moreover, with the aid of the Gathering Energy Pill he had given her, she had already broken through to the early stage of Meridian Gathering Realm.

Although such a level was still not considered strong in the Outer Sect, everything had to be done step by step. At least in Yun Xiao’s view, Tan Yun’s strength was not below that of the arrogant fellow just now.

Snap!

A light snapping sound was heard, and it turned out that the Outer Disciple who started speaking was caught off guard and had been struck by Tan Yun’s soft whip on the back of his hand. He was truly infuriated.

"Everyone, attack together, and take back what belongs to us!"

The enraged guy shouted shamelessly, and subsequently, several other Outer Disciples who were on good terms with him rushed up together.

Their numbers were greater, and their strength was far superior to the other two members of Tan Yun’s small team. In just a moment, the situation in the field had become quite clear.

"Ling Wan, I’ll leave it to you!"

Seeing this, Yun Xiao’s expression turned ugly. If those guys were fighting fair and square with Tan Yun, he would not have interfered as this was also a form of Outer Sect tempering.

But these guys were indeed shameless, not only bullying the weak but also outnumbering their opponents. Yun Xiao could not stand by and watch this happen any longer. After his low voice, the already eager Ling Wan immediately rushed out.

Snap!

One of the members of Tan Yun’s small team was being pushed to exhaustion by an Outer Disciple in the early stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm. Just as he seemed unable to hold on, a crisp slap sound was heard. His opponent, astonishingly, had turned a full circle with his hand on his face, clearly indicating the sound had originated from his face.

Snap snap...

Multiple slaps followed, and then Tan Yun and her two companions felt a sudden release in their hands. The opponents who had been pressuring them, one by one, hastily retreated with their hands on their faces, as if they had been struck by some mysterious force.

Naturally, the one who had acted was Ling Wan. He was now a Cultivator in the Meridian Rushing Realm Early Stage and possessed Mixed Element Qi. Handling these few Outer Disciples in the Meridian Gathering Realm was effortless for him.

This was the merciful outcome of Ling Wan’s restraint. If he had gone all out, perhaps none of those fellows would have any teeth left. Such was the power of a Meridian Rushing Realm genius.

"Hehe, Sister Tan Yun, long time no see!"

After giving each person a slap, Ling Wan turned his head, gazing at Tan Yun, whose face was full of disbelief, and let out a chuckle. This immediately brought everyone back to their senses.

"Ling Wan? Is it really you!"

Tan Yun advanced several steps. To be honest, she and Ling Wan had known each other for some time, and her family was quite close to Ningfeng City. During the entrance assessment, had it not been for her taking care of Ling Wan, the little fatty might have met with disaster.

This kindness Ling Wan had always kept in his heart, hoping to repay it someday. Today, he finally found an opportunity to set things right by sorting out those who bullied Tan Yun.

"Ling Wan? You’re an Inner Sect Disciple... oh no, Inner Sect Brother Ling Wan?"

The few who had been slapped across the face were still somewhat resentful at heart. However, upon hearing Ling Wan’s name and seeing the little fatty’s figure, the scenes from the Outer Sect Arena Hall involuntarily appeared before their eyes.

Although Ling Wan was ultimately defeated by Shen Xiao, he had emerged victorious through numerous battles, where even the top ten geniuses on the Mortal List were not his match, let alone these early stage Meridian Gathering Realm Disciples who couldn’t even make it onto the Mortal List.

As those few came to realize they were facing a true Inner Sect Disciple, their gaze drifted subconsciously in a certain direction. There, a young man clad in coarse clothing, was smiling as he walked towards them.

Seeing this coarse-clothed young man, not only the unrelated Outer Disciples gasped in surprise, but even the three members of Tan Yun’s small team became dazed. Compared to Ling Wan, this young man in the Outer Sect perhaps carried an even more legendary stature.