Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor
Chapter 365: Three hundred sixty-five - he’s back!

Chapter 365: Three hundred sixty-five - he’s back!

"This is remarkable, if Ling Wan breaks through to the Meridian Union Realm, wouldn’t it mean that even Sister Mo Qing and Brother Yue Qi will not be his match?"

Watching the little chubby boy with a face lit up with excitement slowly descend from the arena, many geniuses of both the Inner and Outer Sect couldn’t help but feel such a sentiment.

At the beginning of this battle, many of the Inner Sect talents did not understand Ling Wan well, nor did they ever think that this little fatty in the late stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm could be a match for Tao Chun, especially since there was a small realm’s difference between the two.

However, this gap that ordinarily could not be crossed seemed invisible in Ling Wan’s case. Putting aside the masterful stroke at the end, he had been in the dominant position the entire fight, practically crushing Tao Chun, who was at the Peak of the Meridian Rushing Realm.

Thinking of these, many people turned their gazes to Bi Luo, who was the second from the Poison Vein and Ling Wan’s next opponent.

Bi Luo ranked fourth on the Spiritual Chick List, only after Mo Qing, Yue Qi, and Xue Gong. His cultivation was almost at the level of a Half-step Meridian Union Realm.

Yet after Ling Wan’s victory over Tao Chun, who was at the Peak of the Meridian Rushing Realm, people no longer believed that Bi Luo had a one hundred percent chance of winning. Thus, they were extremely excited about the second round.

Seemingly sensing the peculiar gazes around him, Bi Luo, who previously appeared quite pleased, grew a shade darker in mood and cast a fierce glare at that little chubby fellow from the Medical Pulse lineage.

"Have these guys lost their minds? Could I lose to an ant in the late stage of the Meridian Rushing Realm?"

Bi Luo was indignant inwardly, yet he could not argue with all those peculiar gazes. He could only swear under his breath that on tomorrow’s arena, he must bring out his strongest means to ensure that little fatty Ling Wan remains forever on the central arena stage.

Bi Luo had never looked favorably on Ling Wan due to Yun Xiao. At this moment, he felt ridicule from some of the odd-looking spectators and added Ling Wan to his must-kill list. It must be said that sometimes people’s thoughts are curiously unpredictable.

The next seventh battle didn’t cause much of a stir; Xue Gong’s opponent admitted defeat just with a few moves. Such a fight did not raise any interest among the crowd.

After all, Xue Gong is a peerless genius ranked third on the Spiritual Chick List, whose strength isn’t much less compared to Mo Qing and Yue Qi. What uncertainty could there be against an Inner Sect talent who has yet to even make it onto the Spiritual Chick List?

However, in contrast to this fight, the crowd was even less expectant for the eighth battle on the Spiritual Chick Battle List, because Yun Xiao’s opponent for Yin Huan did not show up at all.

Therefore, this fight didn’t even need to happen for Yin Huan to win by default. But Yin Huan, having won the first round so easily, would face Xue Gong in the second round, and people did not look favorably upon the Poison Vein Sect genius for the outcomes of that match.

Under the unusual gazes of the crowd, Yin Huan still had to pretend, striding gracefully onto the main central arena, standing proudly, indeed embodying the demeanor of a genius.

According to the rules of the Spiritual Chick Battle List, if one of the participants does not enter the arena within thirty minutes, they would be considered to have forfeited automatically. With so many people, including several Elders present, we can’t wait indefinitely, can we?

Yin Huan naturally understood this rule as well. After glancing at the door of the Arena Hall, he then turned his gaze northward, where the sixth Elder Su He had already ignited a thirty-minute incense stick, commencing the countdown.

Time flowed slowly, and after a short moment, the incense had burned down significantly. Seeing this, many people shook their heads secretly, it seemed that Yin Huan was indeed going to win this first round of battle with ease.

"The Elders are really something, knowing that Yun Xiao couldn’t make it back, but still giving the slot to him!"

"Hehe, that’s Sect Leader’s own Direct Disciple, how could there be no special privileges?"

"Now they are slapped in the face, aren’t they? Yun Xiao is being hunted by the Empire’s Xuan Kill Order, how could he care about the Spiritual Chick Battle List?"

"Indeed, Yun Xiao has probably been caught or even killed by the Royal Family, he definitely can’t return to Jade Pot Sect."

"I think since Yun Xiao can’t make it back, it’s better to let Brother Bian Rong take his place!"

"..."

Members of the Poison Vein lineage, you said a sentence, and I said a sentence, all belittling and mocking Yun Xiao. Perhaps in their view, Yun Xiao, who was wanted by the Royal Family’s Xuan Kill Order, was too busy to care for himself and had no chance to return for the Spiritual Chick Battle List.

Hearing the discussions around him, Bian Rong, a Disciple of the third Elder, couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope again, shifting his gaze towards his Elder sitting in the northern seat.

The third Elder Mo Li indeed had the same thought. Seeing him withdraw his gaze from the door of the hall, he turned his head and said, "Sect Leader, it seems Yun Xiao won’t make it back. How about giving the spot to my Disciple, Bian Rong?"

As soon as these words were uttered, Fu Du beside him slightly nodded his head, and even Lu Zhan and Li Shan on the other side did not say much, as this suggestion seemed reasonable and hard to refute.

"Rules are rules. Once candidates have been decided, how can they be changed? If Yun Xiao can’t make it back in time, then Yin Huan’s unchallenged victory stands,"

But just as Mo Li finished speaking, Yu Shu retorted in a deep voice. His words left the third elder feeling somewhat disgruntled. Yet, he dared not debate with the Sect Leader and could only bury his frustration deep within his heart.

"There’s still time left before the incense burns out, in my opinion... Hmm?"

Yu Shu glanced at the two elders from the Poison Vein lineage, about to say something, but suddenly, he paused mid-sentence, his expression changing abruptly, surprised yet elated. He rose swiftly from his chair, his gaze fixed intently on the doors of the Arena Hall, unblinking.

"Sect Leader, what’s wrong?"

Seeing this, the Great Elder Lu Zhan felt it strange and couldn’t help but speak out. One must know that this Sect Leader was always as steady as a mountain; not even an attack from the Xuanyue Royal Family would likely throw him off, so what could have caused such a reaction from him?

Yu Shu did not immediately reply; an immense, invisible force seemed to emanate from around him. After a brief moment, his expression suddenly relaxed, and he slowly sat back down.

"He... has returned!"

As the crowd looked on with a mix of surprise, those five words slowly left Yu Shu’s lips, leaving the elders somewhat confused. Who has returned?

"Sect Leader, are you saying... Yun Xiao has returned?"

Great Elder Lu Zhan was the quickest to react. His eyes glanced at the incense stick that had just a small fragment remaining, his eyes suddenly gleaming with excitement. The mention of that name caused everyone to tremble in shock.

With the Great Elder’s prompt, even Fu Du and Mo Li were filled with doubt. However, they all knew that among those present, Yu Shu’s Power of Soul was the most formidable, nearly reaching the half-step Earth Rank. His sensing could not be mistaken.

Thus, at this moment, the gazes of the several elders turned simultaneously toward the doors of the Arena Hall. There, a figure clad in simple clothes was slowly walking in.

Originally the many Inner and Outer Disciples inside the hall were all watching the incense in front of Su He, so the elders’ actions were immediately noticed by them.

Simultaneously, as everyone’s gaze shifted to the doors of the Arena Hall, that familiar young figure finally entered their sight, causing varied expressions to appear on their faces.

Amongst these expressions, there was surprise, excitement, jealousy, and grimness, but unanimously, they knew that with the arrival of this youth in simple attire, today’s eighth match on the Spiritual Chick Battle List would likely become extraordinarily thrilling.

"Heh heh, didn’t think this lad would actually make it back in time!"

From a spot below the platform, Yue Qi murmured to himself as he looked at the slightly familiar youth in plain clothes. It seemed that following their venture into the Meridian Treasure, Yun Xiao had left a deep impression on him.

However, Yue Qi knew that the overwhelming power Yun Xiao possessed inside the Meridian Treasure couldn’t likely be used at will, so he did not regard Yun Xiao as a true opponent. He was merely curious about the Sect Leader’s Direct Disciple.

Not far from Yue Qi, Bi Luo’s eyes flashed with an undisguised intent to kill. His grudge with Yun Xiao ran deep, and he longed to slay him to settle the score. This Spiritual Chick Battle List provided an undoubted opportunity.

But after calculating the matchup numbers between them, Bi Luo felt disappointed; even if Yun Xiao were to defeat Yin Huan in the first round, Yun Xiao would face Xue Gong in the next.

Bi Luo held a certain wariness towards Xue Gong, considering him no less of a threat than himself. Hence, it seemed logical to assume that if Yun Xiao were to face Xue Gong in the second round, his chances of advancing were virtually nil. It would be impossible for Bi Luo to kill Yun Xiao on the platform.

Leaving aside the thoughts of these two prodigies from the Poison Vein lineage, over at the Medical Pulse lineage, the sight of that familiar figure in simple attire made Mo Qing’s body tremble, an indescribable excitement surging within her that she couldn’t shake off.

To talk about Mo Qing’s relationship with Yun Xiao, one would have to go back almost a year, beginning with their enchanting encounter at Yurong Volcano. Since then, the two have been inseparably entangled.

Later, during their journey in the Meridian Treasure and after returning to the Jade Pot Sect, as Yun Xiao managed to control Mo Qing’s Pure Yang Immortal Body, their relationship became even more indeterminate.

Perhaps Yun Xiao didn’t harbor much thought about it all, but after so many encounters, Mo Qing found that she seemed unable to forget this fellow who had once embarrassed her.

Especially after hearing that Yun Xiao was being hunted by the Royal Family’s Xuan Kill Order, Mo Qing spent many sleepless nights, her heart too restless to cultivate, until this very moment when she saw that youth in simple clothes in front of her.

What Mo Qing didn’t notice, though, was that nearby, a gaze filled with jealousy was cast in her direction.

Perhaps, this gaze enshrouded in envy would soon transform into a combative intent to forcefully take down the person causing the envy.