Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor
Chapter 78 The deterrence of power

Chapter 78: 78 The deterrence of power

"Little bastard, I’m going to kill you!"

The furious Zhao Ningshu had lost all semblance of his usual graceful and light-hearted demeanor. His bellow, coupled with his swollen left eye, made him appear somewhat crazed and ferocious.

However, no sooner had Zhao Family’s eldest young master uttered these words than Yun Xiao’s icy voice sounded clearly at his ear: "If I were you, I would definitely not move rashly, otherwise..."

Yun Xiao’s sentence was left unfinished, but the moment Zhao Ningshu heard the first half, he really didn’t dare to move. He suddenly realized that a blood-red flame had unexpectedly appeared on the side of his face.

Yun Xiao didn’t harbor much intent for strategy. His goal was never to land a punch on Zhao Ningshu’s eye—such a move wouldn’t cause too much harm to a cultivator at the early stage of the Meridian Gathering Realm.

All those earlier actions were merely a setup by Yun Xiao. Now was the time for his real counterattack, making his move while Zhao Ningshu’s left arm was numb and he was enraged to the point of distraction, using the Ancestral Vein Fire to pin him down, unable to move.

Compared to the great humiliation he had just suffered, Zhao Ningshu was clear that his life was far more valuable. If Yun Xiao’s blood-red flames were to land on his face, not to mention his handsome visage being ruined in an instant, even his life would likely be forfeit.

Bang!

As soon as Yun Xiao’s voice fell, seeing that the man truly hadn’t moved an inch, he felt a thrill of satisfaction in his heart. Then with a half turn, his right foot viciously struck Zhao Ningshu’s abdomen, sending the Zhao Family’s eldest young master flying several meters away.

The sudden kick took Zhao Ningshu by surprise. He had thought that after Yun Xiao immobilized him, he wouldn’t strike again, yet the young man was so decisively ruthless. With that kick, Zhao Ningshu was truly gravely injured.

"Pfft!"

A moment later, the steadied Zhao Ningshu spat out a mouthful of crimson blood, his vitality rapidly waning. With his face swollen like a pig’s head from his injuries, he bore no resemblance to the graceful Zhao Family’s eldest young master.

Seeing this scene, many people were left agape, including the two Inner Sect Disciples of Jade Pot Sect, Yin Huan and Mo Qing, although the meaning in their eyes was completely different.

"Big Brother Yun Xiao is too amazing!"

Not far from these two, Ling Wan, despite the pain wracking his body, leaped up with excitement. Although he was the Third Young Master of the Zhao Family, ever since Zhao Ningshu had spoken those words and made the move to kill him, he no longer considered the Zhao Family of Ningfeng City as his family.

Tan Yun and the others were also brimming with excitement. Anyone who was rescued in such a dire moment, and saw their hateful enemies beaten to a point where their faces were swollen like pig’s heads, would likely feel extremely elated.

In the center of the arena, Yun Xiao wasn’t burdened with many thoughts. He had never liked Zhao Ningshu, and the latter’s use of "little bastard" had truly provoked his ire. In any case, he was going to teach Zhao Ningshu a lesson.

The kick Yun Xiao had just delivered wasn’t an ordinary one—it was a low-level Spirit Rank Meridian Technique with formidable power. How else would it severely injure a cultivator of the Meridian Gathering Realm like Zhao Ningshu in just one kick?

Moreover, Yun Xiao was aware that as a low-level Mortal Rank Meridian Refining Master, Zhao Ningshu surely possessed the Ancestor Vein. If he had managed to activate the Ancestor Vein Power, it would take much more effort to subdue him.

Yun Xiao aimed to catch Zhao Ningshu off guard. With swift actions as quick as lightning and flowing like water, he gave Zhao Ningshu no opportunity to summon his Ancestor Vein Power and seriously injured him with that kick.

After dealing with Zhao Ningshu, Yun Xiao heaved a great sigh of relief. To be honest, facing two at once with his cultivation at the pinnacle of the Meridian Introduction Realm, while he wouldn’t feel too pressured, if Zhao and Cao joined forces, it would definitely expose more of his secrets.

The onlooking geniuses from the various great families were one thing, but Yun Xiao knew that Yin Huan was not a benevolent person. If he let his secrets be revealed, it might attract Fu Du, that old fellow, to act again, which would be troublesome.

Whoosh!

As everyone was still in shock over the severe injury Zhao Ningshu had sustained from Yun Xiao’s kick, a sound like that of energy shattering finally reached their ears. When they turned to look, they were all struck with realization.

At this point in time, Cao Luo had finally managed to break through the shield of Meridian Qi formed by Yun Xiao. He had pounded it with more than a dozen punches before it shattered, which suggested just how sturdy that Meridian Qi Shield was.

Cao Luo’s complexion wasn’t looking too good. He may not have been involved in Yun Xiao’s dealings with Zhao Ningshu, but he had witnessed it all. This youngster was way too cunning.

Days earlier, Cao Luo had had a skirmish with Yun Xiao, and he was also aware of Zhao Ningshu’s capabilities. Precisely because of this, in that moment, he felt a tinge of wariness toward Yun Xiao.

Cao Luo knew that in terms of cultivation and combat prowess, he was similar to Zhao Ningshu. Since Yun Xiao had disposed of Zhao Ningshu so effortlessly, if he himself were to step forward, might he not suffer the same fate?

For a moment, Cao Luo, who had shattered Yun Xiao’s Meridian Qi Shield, seemed somewhat mesmerized, and did not continue his aggressive shouting and killing like before. This scene was indeed a bit eerie and incomprehensible.

However, some astute individuals could guess that Cao Luo was likely frightened by Zhao Ningshu’s recent downfall, fearful that he might end up with a swollen face like the young master of the Zhao Family, or even possibly lose his life.

For some unknown reason, seeing Cao Luo shrink back, the crowd cast a look of reverence towards the frail young man in coarse clothes, and they were no longer as resistant as they had been at the beginning.

Such is the deterrent of power. In the beginning, with Yun Xiao’s cultivation at the Peak of Meridian Introduction Realm dangling the possibility of fighting two enemies at once, nobody believed he wasn’t overestimating himself, thus all showed disdain and mockery.

But now, in an extremely short span of time, Yun Xiao severely injured Zhao Ningshu in a two-versus-one situation, and apparently won quite effortlessly, likely not even using his full strength, right?

Although these onlookers were all talented youths of their generation, they all came from prominent families, with insights much superior to that of ordinary people.

On this continent, battles against higher-level cultivators might not be rare, but defeating someone a whole Great Rank above was unheard of for these individuals.

At this moment, Yun Xiao has achieved just that, overpowering Zhao Ningshu who was at the Early Stage of Meridian Gathering Realm with his own strength, and intimidated Cao Luo at the same stage into not daring to make a move. Just this alone was extremely impressive.

"What? Still want to fight?"

Yun Xiao did not bother with those reverent gazes, but turned his head nonchalantly, staring at the pale-faced young master of the Cao Family, and asked with a faint smile.

To tell the truth, Yun Xiao did not have as much resentment towards the Cao Family members, perhaps this is why hypocrites are sometimes more detestable than outright villains.

Coupled with the Zhao Family’s attitude towards Ling Wan, Yun Xiao felt a sense of shared experience; hence, he made Zhao Ningshu his first target. Now it seems that the young master of the Zhao Family has indeed paid a painful price.

Being stared down by Yun Xiao’s faint smile, Cao Luo’s cheeks burned with heat. This was a public spectacle, and in the presence of two talents from the Jade Pot Sect, retreating at the words of Yun Xiao was something he couldn’t afford to let happen to his reputation.

"I..."

"Ha, just defeating two cultivators at the Middle Stage of Meridian Gathering Realm, and you’re so arrogant?"

Just as Cao Luo was about to utter some platitudes, a voice tinged with mockery suddenly came from somewhere. Then everyone saw a white figure gracefully approaching, making them all shiver.

Except for Yin Huan and Mo Qing, it was unlikely that anyone here would not recognize this white figure. Even Yun Xiao’s face, which was previously relaxed, tensed up, knowing that today’s matter probably wouldn’t be so easy to resolve.

"Xuan Zhi!"

Yun Xiao stared at the white-clad youth, uttering these two words with a sense of heaviness. It turned out that the newcomer was none other than Xuan Zhi, the Third Prince from the Xuanyue Imperial Family, with whom he had had a falling out in Medicine Valley over the Purple Energy Flower Lotus.

Xuan Zhi made his entry with panache, seemingly enjoying the attention of the surrounding eyes. However, his gaze directly passed over the crowd and landed on the two talented individuals from the Jade Pot Sect.

"These two must be Brother Yin Huan and Sister Mo Qing from the Jade Pot Sect. I am the Third Prince of the Xuanyue Imperial Family, Mo Zhi. Greetings to you both!"

Even someone as arrogant as Xuan Zhi couldn’t afford to act too recklessly in front of the Jade Pot Sect’s two prominent talents. Even if he harbored ulterior motives, he wouldn’t show it, given that his visit to the Jade Pot Sect was for a much more significant scheme.

"So it’s him!"

Xuan Zhi’s self-introduction enlightened both Yin Huan and Mo Qing. They had naturally heard about the participation of the Royal Family’s Third Prince in the outer disciple examination of the Jade Pot Sect, but it was only today that they finally saw him.

"Hehe, it’s an honor for our Jade Pot Sect that Prince Xuan Zhi could come. On behalf of my teacher, I welcome Your Highness!" Yin Huan immediately responded, his words containing a hint of flattery and ingratiation. It seemed that although Xuan Zhi’s cultivation was much lower than Yin Huan’s, his status and identity were implicitly above.

Xuan Zhi had his designs on visiting the Jade Pot Sect, but Yin Huan had his own plans as well. If the Poison Vein branch of the Jade Pot Sect could climb onto the big tree that was the Xuanyue Imperial Family, their status within the sect would surely rise.

These two hypocritical individuals were each making their own calculations, but in the next moment, Xuan Zhi’s gaze returned to the young man in coarse clothing, his eyes flickering with something called murderous intent.

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