"Big brother, kill him for me, kill Yun Xiao!"
The intense pain and raging resentment made Cao Ju completely disregard the two Inner Sect Disciples of the Jade Pot Sect nearby. But his shout was unnecessary, as Cao Luo had already swooped over here, albeit not as fast as Yun Xiao.
Seeing his younger brother’s left wrist being savagely broken again by Yun Xiao, Cao Luo’s face turned as dark as if it were about to drip water. The gaze he fixed on Yun Xiao seemed as if it were about to spew a raging fire to burn the youth to ashes.
Having once again entrusted the two team members to Mo Qing’s care, Yun Xiao let out a huge sigh of relief. He finally turned around and fixed his gaze on Cao Luo, the eldest of the Cao Family.
"What’s the matter? You’re allowed to attack my friends, but I’m not allowed to retaliate? What kind of rule is that?"
A smile that was not quite a smile played on Yun Xiao’s face. As a soul reincarnated from the previous life’s Dragon Cloud Battle God, he had a thorough understanding of the Hidden Dragon Continent’s principle that power is revered, or the survival of the fittest.
If you lack overwhelming strength, you will be bullied by others, just like Tan Yun and Ling Wan were earlier. But with Yun Xiao’s intervention, the Cao Family brothers ended up suffering instead. This was all a result of their own strength, without any room for trickery.
But how could Cao Luo, with his pride, tolerate being lectured by someone with lower cultivation than himself? As soon as Yun Xiao’s cold laugh fell, he immediately retorted, "Brother Ningshu, it seems that today we must join forces once again!"
Hearing Cao Luo’s words, everyone then noticed that Zhao Ningshu had quietly approached, blocking Yun Xiao’s retreat. Cao Luo’s remark evidently meant that they had teamed up before.
By this time, everyone had gotten a better understanding of the shamelessness of these two talented members of the Zhao and Cao Families. They didn’t even blush at the thought of ganging up on Yun Xiao, when they had previously attacked a cultivator in the Channel Introduction Realm Middle Stage.
Indeed, Yun Xiao had offended both geniuses deeply with his actions, and old and new grudges were rising violently. They could hardly wait to tear this detestable youngster into ten thousand pieces on the spot.
"Are you sure you want to take action? I, Yun Xiao, will certainly not show any mercy!"
Just as everyone thought of the phrase "bullying the weak and outnumbering the fewer", they heard a somewhat familiar voice. As their heads turned towards the person who had spoken, they all couldn’t help but show an extremely bizarre expression.
Had Zhao Ningshu or Cao Luo said these words, no one would have been surprised. But what they distinctly saw was that the speaker was not Zhao Ningshu or Cao Luo, but Yun Xiao, who was at the Peak of Meridian Introduction Realm.
A cultivator at the Peak of the Meridian Introduction Realm facing two enemies in the Meridian Gathering Realm Early Stage, and he could still utter such words - had the kid lost his mind?
Did he really think that by defeating Cao Jun and Cao Ju, he was capable of contending with cultivators of the Meridian Gathering Realm? This was entirely different at two Great Ranks; fighting beyond one’s rank – such things would not normally happen.
Some prodigies who had previously seen Yun Xiao in action at Medicine Valley were not so surprised, as on that day, Yun Xiao, in the Meridian Introduction Realm Late Stage, managed to escape from Xuan Zhi, who was at the Meridian Gathering Realm Middle Stage. They had to admit he had some skills.
But other prodigies were inwardly cursing Yun Xiao for overestimating his own capabilities. They had begun to admire Yun Xiao when he saved Ling Wan, Tan Yun, and the others, but now realizing him as a brash and arrogant youngster, any shred of respect rapidly evaporated.
Even Mo Qing, who initially took some interest in Yun Xiao, dropped the idea. A cultivator must be down-to-earth, as that was the only way to reach extremely high realms of cultivation. If one only boasted and was slick with words, then they would never achieve great heights.
What Mo Qing failed to see, though, was the increasingly thick curiosity in Yin Huan’s eyes from not too far away. Perhaps among all those present, he was the one who knew the most about Yun Xiao’s true capabilities.
"Boy, arrogance comes with a price. Today, we shall let you see what that price is."
Zhao Ningshu was conniving, and Yun Xiao’s arrogant words had infuriated him. The tone of his voice was laden with intense murderous intent, suggesting that if the opportunity arose, he might disregard even Mo Qing and Yin Huan.
Sensing the strong Meridian Qi aura in front and behind, Yun Xiao’s Ancient Dragon Taming Technique also started to operate rapidly at that moment. However, he had no pressure in his heart, and with full confidence, he felt ready to battle against the two Meridian Gathering Realm geniuses.
Yun Xiao’s biggest reliance wasn’t actually his Meridian Qi Cultivation at the Peak of Meridian Introduction Realm, but rather memories and battle experiences from his past life, and some powerful Meridian Techniques that cultivators of the Hidden Dragon Continent had yet to encounter.
As Yun Xiao’s Cultivation Technique got underway, Cao Luo was the first to make a move. A figure dashed out at an astonishing speed that made many Meridian Introduction Realm prodigies enviously marvel.
At the same time, Zhao Ningshu’s actions did not slacken in the slightest. Having decided to cooperate, he would not drag his feet; he and Cao Luo now faced a common enemy, Yun Xiao.
Surrounded by adversaries from front and back, Yun Xiao showed not a hint of panic. As his hands moved, wisps of Meridian Qi unexpectedly formed a faint shield in front of him.
"Is this... outward gathering of Meridian Qi?"
Witnessing this scene, not only were the young prodigies in the Meridian Introduction Realm astounded, but even Yin Huan and Mo Qing widened their eyes, finding it utterly unbelievable.
To tell the truth, although Yin Huan had known Yun Xiao for over a year now, he had only ever seen him and Shang Huiyu make discreet moves. His impression of this Shang Family youth was still somewhat vague.
The only thing Yin Huan knew for certain was Yun Xiao’s bizarre poison resistance, which proved effective not only against his teacher Fu Du’s lethal toxins but now even against the Cold Ice Poison. It was genuinely too mysterious.
Seeing Yun Xiao managing outward gathering of Meridian Qi while in the Channel Introduction Realm, Yin Huan already had a thought in his mind, secretly considering that Yun Xiao truly harbored many unknown secrets. This time, he must bring this fellow back into the Poison Vein.
Let’s not dwell on Yin Huan and Mo Qing, who each had their thoughts due to Yun Xiao’s outward gathering of Meridian Qi; Cao Luo and Zhao Ningshu were also taken aback by this spectacle.
This technique, usually only displayed by cultivators in the Meridian Rushing Realm, appearing in the hands of a youth at the peak of the Meridian Introduction Realm, involuntarily elicited jealousy in them.
"Hmph, play tricks all you want, I want to see how the peak strength of your Meridian Introduction Realm can possibly be a match for the two of us joining forces?"
As if forcibly trying to show disdain for Yun Xiao’s methods, Cao Luo let out a loud cry, after which his punch fiercely struck the Meridian Qi Shield before Yun Xiao’s chest.
At the same time, Zhao Ningshu was not idle either. Yun Xiao’s chest was guarded by the Meridian Qi Shield, but his back was unprotected. If he managed to land this palm, the youngster would surely suffer severe injuries.
Who would have known that Yun Xiao, with methods from a previous life and using the Meridian Qi Shield at the peak of the Meridian Introduction Realm, had his own plans? With his astuteness, how could he possibly fail to foresee an attack from behind?
Yun Xiao had extreme confidence in the defensive power of his shield; it was a genuine low-level Spiritual Rank Defensive Meridian Technique. For cultivators on the Hidden Dragon Continent, those below the Meridian Rushing Realm generally couldn’t shatter it in a single strike; such was the strength of a low-level Spiritual Rank Meridian Technique.
Thus, Yun Xiao didn’t bother with Cao Luo in front of him but instead turned around. Beneath the sleeve of his outstretched right hand, an unseen blood-red light flickered past.
If anyone could see through Yun Xiao’s right arm’s sleeve, they would find a blood-red meridian extending from his right shoulder to the middle finger of his right hand, which was undoubtedly his Fire Attribute Ancestor Vein.
At the thought of Yun Xiao, a blood-red flame abruptly burst out from the tip of his right middle finger, causing Zhao Ningshu’s palm, which was about to hit Yun Xiao, to retract in a hurry.
This was because Zhao Ningshu had witnessed the power of Yun Xiao’s Ancestral Vein Fire back in Medicine Valley, and he also knew that Cao Ju’s right hand had been severed at the wrist precisely due to Yun Xiao’s peculiar Ancestral Vein Fire.
"Meridian Fire? Is this kid actually a Meridian Refining Master?"
With the emergence of the blood-red flame in Yun Xiao’s right hand, Yin Huan nearly popped his eyes out. He was increasingly realizing how little he knew about Yun Xiao; after his astonishing revival, the youngster’s methods were indeed inexhaustible.
Being a Meridian Refining Master himself, Yin Huan knew how difficult it was to become one. Yet, the appearance of Yun Xiao’s Meridian Fire spoke volumes, making him increasingly eager to recapture Yun Xiao back into the Poison Vein, for his teacher to further study.
At this moment, Mo Qing remained silent, but upon hearing Yin Huan’s low exclamation, she became pensive. The more she observed the roughly dressed youth, the more she felt a familiar sense.
Let’s not consider the thoughts of the two great Inner Sect talents of the Jade Pot Sect; in the battlefield, upon seeing Zhao Ningshu retract his hand, a cold smile surfaced on Yun Xiao’s face. Then, with a bend of his middle finger and a light flick, the blood-red flame was catapulted forward, speeding towards Zhao Ningshu.
Knowing the nature of the blood-red flame, Zhao Ningshu would not let it touch him – even if it killed him. Thus, a bizarre sight unfolded on the field.
Cao Luo, the eldest of the Cao Family and an early-stage Meridian Gathering Realm cultivator, continuously punched the Meridian Qi Shield, but to no avail. In contrast, Zhao Ningshu, the eldest of the Zhao Family, found himself being chased by a single blood-red flame, fleeing in an embarrassed manner — a result that no one had previously anticipated.
The result at this moment led everyone to dismiss their earlier thoughts. The seemingly arrogant, roughly dressed youth was not spouting empty bombast; rather, he possessed the genuine strength to back up his bold words.