Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor
Chapter 417: Four hundred and seventeen, it really is you!

Chapter 417: Four hundred and seventeen, it really is you!

"Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance? What is that?"

Inside the room, apart from Hongzhuang, the other two were all Spirit Vein Realm powerhouses with incredible hearing, naturally catching Yun Xiao’s murmured words. However, confusion was evident on their faces.

Particularly for Guo, the Spiritual Rank Advanced Meridian Master, a trace of astonishment flashed through his eyes as he stared intently at the seven tiny star-shaped marks, his heart stirred by turbulent waves.

Initially, Elder Guo had no faith in Yun Xiao, yet as soon as the youth began, the Seven Stars Mark appeared on the Sect Master’s wife’s forehead. With this skill alone, he demonstrated far greater proficiency than Guo.

Indeed, healing injuries isn’t strictly a matter of a Meridian Master’s rank, and just by making the Seven Stars Mark visible, he had already surpassed all the Elders of the Lingyun Sect.

Yun Xiao, however, didn’t pay much attention to the expressions of the onlookers. His face turned extremely grave; as the reincarnated Long Xiao Battle God, he knew far more about the Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance than the other two.

"Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance, an Earth Rank Middle Level Poisonous Incense, with a fragrance seemingly tangible yet intangible. As the name implies, it can shock the soul into retreating deep within, causing the physical body’s vitality to wane day by day until it fades away."]

Yun Xiao did not conceal the information and directly revealed the grade and effects of the Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance. However, the three onlookers only caught the words "Earth Rank Middle Level," which shook them to the core, and the rest of the words were like the deafening toll of a large bell, not entirely clear.

"How is this possible? How could it be an Earth Rank Middle Level Poisonous Incense?"

Elder Guo’s face showed disbelief, his murmuring voice reflecting his immense doubt, yet he could not help but believe it, for with his skills and vision as a Spiritual Rank Advanced Pulse Refining Master, how could he not be able to detect something if it weren’t an Earth Rank object?

Elders like Guo and the other Lingyun Sect powerhouses had considered the possibility that the Sect Master’s wife’s illness was caused by something of Earth Rank, but they only dared to assume it was at most Earth Rank Low Level.

Now that Yun Xiao suddenly claimed that the Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance was an Earth Rank Middle Level, it completely overturned Elder Guo’s long-held beliefs, leaving him with a wooden expression.

This is the Hidden Dragon Continent. Generally speaking, the highest grade of medicinal materials and poisons doesn’t exceed Spiritual Rank Advanced. The emergence of an Earth Rank Low Level object would definitely lead to a scramble among Cultivators and could even instigate a war of annihilation between countries.

There was once a small Empire that accidentally obtained a powerful Earth Rank Meridian Technique and was completely obliterated by another more powerful Empire, who seized the Earth Rank Meridian Technique for themselves.

And that was just an Earth Rank Low Level object. A treasure of Earth Rank Middle Level was even more unattainable, and poisons of such strength could only cause the Meridian Masters of the Hidden Dragon Continent to sigh in envy.

"The medicinal effect of this Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance seems to have been weakened by half?"

Yun Xiao tuned into the Sect Master’s wife’s condition with his soul, and nodded to himself. If it hadn’t been weakened like this, with the strong effect of the Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance, how could the Sect Master’s wife have lasted a year? She would have likely lost her life much earlier.

After confirming through his senses, Yun Xiao withdrew his hand with a grim expression. Hongzhuang, trembling beside him, asked softly, "Yun Xiao, can my mother... can she still be saved?"

Having heard it was an Earth Rank Middle Level Poisonous Incense, Hongzhuang’s heart sank even further. Her last hope now rested on the youth before her.

Since he recognized the details of the Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance, maybe he had some method of resolving it. Hadn’t he just said that healing wasn’t necessarily dependent on the Meridian Master’s grade?

Yun Xiao did not respond. He glanced around the room before quickly walking to a table and picked up a delicate box on it.

"That’s my mother’s makeup box, which she hasn’t used since she fell ill over a year ago!"

Although Hongzhuang didn’t understand the purpose of Yun Xiao’s actions, she still offered an explanation. Xu Qingyuan and Elder Guo also watched Yun Xiao’s movements with puzzled expressions.

Click!

Yun Xiao nodded, his hands already opening the makeup box. A faint fragrance wafted out; it was filled with the perfume powder commonly used by women, nothing out of the ordinary.

Even if the Sect Master’s wife was of a higher status and used higher-quality perfume powder, that powder was not the so-called Seven Stars Soul-shocking Fragrance.

"It should be here!"

However, Yun Xiao was certain his senses weren’t wrong and scrutinized the makeup box closely. Eventually, he discovered a mysterious mechanism that had been unknown to others.

Creak!

As Yun Xiao carefully studied the mechanism of the makeup box, the room’s door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, and three figures walked in.

"Hongzhuang, this is great news! The Great Elder has returned to the sect, and has brought a gentleman from the Royal Family!"

Entering the room was the Sect Master of Lingyun Sect, Xu Lingsong, whose attention upon arrival did not fall on Yun Xiao, secluded away. Instead, he burst out excitedly because he knew this was absolutely thrilling news for his daughter.

Xu Lingsong’s words of excitement turned Xu Qingyuan and Elder Guo’s heads. That was when they saw a familiar figure standing between them, a haughty, black-clothed elder. His eyes were slightly open, giving the impression that he hadn’t even noticed them there.

"Father, Elder Guo, this is Mr. Ran Xing, a Meridian Refining Master of Earth Rank Low Level!"

Xu Lingsong, still oblivious to another figure nearby, promptly introduced the black-clothed elder to his father and Elder Guo.

"Ran Xing?"

Yun Xiao, who was examining a makeup box, was startled upon hearing that name and immediately turned to look at the black-clothed elder. His gaze instantly grew stern.

He had felt that the name was familiar before, and now, after seeing this person’s face, Yun Xiao realized that this was the Earth-rank Low Level Meridian Refining Master, Ran Xing, who had meddled during his time treating Xuan Jing in the Xuanyue Royal Family.

Previously, Yun Xiao had orchestrated a night attack by Ran Xing, arranged by Xuan Jiuding, only for it to be revealed by the King of Xuanyue Country, Xuan Haoran, exposing Yun Xiao’s true identity and forcing him to flee. Unable to stay in the Xuanyue Royal Family any longer.

What Yun Xiao had not expected was for this old man to have traveled thousands of miles to Lingtian Empire and, reinventing himself, had somehow become an esteemed guest of the Lingtian Empire Royal Family—truly, this fellow knew how to worm his way into favor.

However, Yun Xiao wasn’t worried that Ran Xing would recognize him, since he had visited the Xuanyue Royal Family under the pseudonym Bo Ku and had altered his appearance. Although his true identity was later discovered by Xuan Jing and Xuan Haoran, Ran Xing had long since fled in panic.

Yet Yun Xiao’s gaze was only a fleeting moment on Ran Xing, swiftly shifting to another person. Upon clearly seeing this person’s figure, he shivered in shock.

The person standing next to Xu Lingsong didn’t appear old at all, but from what the Sect Master just said, it was probably Yu Qian, the Great Elder of Lingyun Sect.

Wasn’t this the very reason Yun Xiao had come to Lingyun Sect? However, during the annihilation of the Shang Family, apart from the tall and thin elder leading them, the other assassins had their faces covered and Yun Xiao had not seen Yu Qian’s appearance.

With urgency in his heart, Yun Xiao instantly dashed forward, approaching the Great Elder of Lingyun Sect and abruptly inquired, "Are you the Great Elder of Lingyun Sect, Yu Qian?"

Faced with the sudden appearance of an unfamiliar youngster, Yu Qian was startled. While many elders and disciples within the sect were aware of Yun Xiao’s arrival at Lingyun Sect, he had been awaiting the Earth-rank Meridian Refining Master’s response in the Royal Family, thus having just returned, he was naturally unaware.

"Indeed, I am..."

"Great Elder!"

Yu Qian, caught completely off guard, didn’t know Yun Xiao’s intentions. He had barely spoken a few words when he was promptly interrupted by Sect Master Xu Lingsong nearby.

Xu Lingsong knew the purpose of Yun Xiao’s visit and guessed that Yu Qian must have exposed himself in the tragedy of the Shang Family’s extermination. But as long as Yu Qian did not appear before Yun Xiao, there was still a chance to keep it hidden.

Unexpectedly, Xu Lingsong had not anticipated that Yun Xiao, who had just reached Lingyun Sect yesterday, would appear in his wife’s room today, suddenly questioning Yu Qian directly.

Xu Lingsong did not know of his daughter’s interaction with Yun Xiao in Xuri City. At this moment, he could only hope the five words from Yu Qian’s mouth would not confirm Yun Xiao’s suspicions, hoping there was still room to maneuver.

Whether it was handling the Shang Family’s wedding cancellation or that massacre, Xu Lingsong had kept most people in Lingyun Sect, especially his father, in the dark. If his father learned of this matter, it could spell great trouble for him.

Xu Lingsong clearly knew his father’s hatred for evil— even if Yun Xiao truly was a failure, as long as he was alive, he would never go back on his promise.

Now that Yun Xiao was here, his identity could not remain hidden. Xu Lingsong was praying that Yun Xiao had not recognized Yu Qian, avoiding an immediate confrontation; otherwise, the misdeeds he had done could not be concealed.

But Xu Lingsong had clearly underestimated Yun Xiao’s memory. If that tragic event had nothing to do with his mother and sister, that might have been the end of it, as he held no affection for the Shang Family.

However, how could he swallow this injustice if his beloved sister and mother from this life were also killed by those uninvited guests? Although he could not see the faces of those enemies clearly, certain voices he would never forget, even for the rest of his life.

"It really is you, Yu Qian!"

Although Xu Lingsong had intercepted quickly, the mere five words were enough to dispel any doubt in Yun Xiao’s mind. The voice of the Great Elder of Lingyun Sect was exactly the same as that of "Yu Qian," who had gone to annihilate the Shang Family—if it wasn’t the same person, Yun Xiao would refuse to believe it.

"What do you mean indeed? You... who exactly are you?"

After more than two years, the once frail boy had somewhat changed his appearance, so Yu Qian didn’t recognize Yun Xiao’s identity for a moment and asked in bewilderment.