Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

"Yun Xiao, what should we do now?"

The one who asked this question was Mo Qing. Unknowingly, the backbone of this group was no longer the Chairman of the Meridian Refining Master Association, Lu Yanji, but this extraordinary young man.

Upon hearing Mo Qing’s question, everyone’s gaze focused on Yun Xiao’s face. Among this group, Yun Xiao was the only one who had been to the Chongxiao Stairs and had faced off against the Half-step Holy Spirit, making him the most experienced.

"I’ll go in first to explore. Wait for my signal before coming in!"

It seemed Yun Xiao had already devised a strategy. Without any hesitation, as soon as he spoke, the women’s faces changed slightly, especially Liu Hanyi, who was the most impatient and was about to voice her opposition.

Although Yun Xiao was already a formidable expert at the Heavenly Realm Middle Stage, far stronger than their newly achieved Lingyun Realm Early Stage cultivation, they were still uneasy about letting Yun Xiao take the risk alone. Having more people provided more care.

"I know what you want to say, but first, listen to me finish!"

Just as Liu Hanyi parted her lips, Yun Xiao waved his hand to interrupt, letting her swallow back the words she was about to utter.

"I’ve told you before that the Half-step Holy Spirit guy is condensed from the Artifact Heart of the Chongxiao Stairs, and the Chongxiao Stairs is a Space Artifact, so his abilities are not as simple as imagined."

Yun Xiao spoke eloquently, seeing everyone listening attentively, he continued, "Achieving the strength of a Half-step Holy Spirit, which is cultivated from the Artifact Heart of a Space Artifact, means the space within this Chongxiao Stairs can be considered his domain!"

"Domain..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yanji took a deep breath. As a Heavenly Realm Middle Stage expert, he had some encounters with the concept of a domain, knowing that it is a unique method of Holy Rank experts who control Space Power.

Moreover, among ten thousand Holy Rank experts, perhaps not even one can cultivate a domain. It’s a special creation that can only be stumbled upon by chance, not acquired through hard work alone.

What Yun Xiao said was logical and well-founded, and Lu Yanji had no doubts. Upon reflection, his gaze turned again to the plain-clothed young man next to him, filled with admiration.

Other cultivators, only upon reaching the Holy Rank Third Realm, after grasping a trace of Space Power, could seek the opportunity to form a domain. This has always been a deeply held belief among the continent’s cultivators.

Yet this lad before him, having his own domain at the Heavenly Realm level, even if assisted by external forces like the Dragon Taming Sword, was enough to shock the world.

"Since the Chongxiao Stairs’ space is the domain of the Half-step Holy Spirit, if we all enter together, we might be isolated and picked off one by one. Then, forget about watching out for each other; even self-preservation would be extremely difficult!"

Yun Xiao’s expression was somewhat grave. These were the companions who had stood with him through life and death, and he spoke without much reservation. The latter part of his words was essentially saying, given their lack of strength, they should avoid taking this risk.

On the Tenglong Continent, few surpass people like Liu Hanyi and Xu Hongzhuang with their Early Stage of Lingyun Realm cultivation, but in front of a Half-step Holy Spirit, they were entirely insignificant.

"Yun Xiao is right. In a domain space like that, it’s hard enough for us to protect ourselves. We might end up becoming his burden, so it’s better not to cause trouble!"

Lu Yanji knew that, despite being in the Heavenly Realm Middle Stage like Yun Xiao, his combat power and special skills were vastly inferior, so he was the first to voice agreement with Yun Xiao’s suggestion.

"Then be careful yourself!"

Xu Hongzhuang’s face still showed some concern, but she knew Yun Xiao was speaking the truth. Instead of everyone entering the Chongxiao Stairs’ space, it was better for Yun Xiao, who had many techniques, to scout first.

Swish!

Yun Xiao nodded and waved his right hand. Immediately before everyone’s eyes, a somewhat ethereal pearl appeared, with its special energy fluctuation causing Lu Yanji and the others to feel apprehensive.

"This is a Soul Pearl. It contains a trace of my Power of Soul. If you see it turn green, enter the Chongxiao Stairs’ space directly. If it turns red, don’t hesitate; leave immediately. Remember!"

It seemed Yun Xiao had anticipated the worst outcome. Hearing his final words, the women’s faces changed slightly, praying in their hearts that the Soul Pearl would never turn red.

"I’m going. Wait for my news!"

Without procrastination, Yun Xiao cast one last deep glance at Xu Hongzhuang before decisively turning and heading towards the base of the white Chongxiao Stairs.

Swish!

In a flash of white light, Yun Xiao’s figure instantly disappeared, leaving everyone feeling a sense of loss. In the next moment, their gaze turned to the Soul Pearl floating before them, anticipating a certain color change.

......

"Is this the space of the Chongxiao Stairs?"

Under the Star Shifting technique, Yun Xiao felt slightly dizzy in his mind. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar place, prompting him to murmur softly.

In front of Yun Xiao was a staircase that stretched endlessly upwards, seemingly piercing into the clouds. The mist above was hazy, making it impossible to discern where it led.

"Hahaha, Yun Xiao, you actually dared to enter the Chongxiao Stairs; you are indeed quite bold!"

Just as Yun Xiao was observing the ascending stairs, a voice filled with delight suddenly erupted from the sky, causing his heart to jolt with caution.

When Yun Xiao turned his gaze towards the source of the sound, he saw the mist surging, instantly forming a humanoid figure that he found somewhat familiar, resembling the Guardian he had destroyed before.

Clearly, this was an image conjured by the Strange Spirit of the Chongxiao Stairs. From the slightly indistinct face, Yun Xiao could clearly see an unrestrained expression of joy.

At that time, after Yun Xiao destroyed the hard-earned physical body, this half-step Holy Spirit of the Chongxiao Stairs managed to escape with great difficulty but was severely damaged, nearly being shattered by Yun Xiao’s Ten Thousand Sword Domain.

He barely managed to escape back to this space using the Chongxiao Stairs. He had once believed that the young man would never dare to challenge the Chongxiao Stairs again unless he broke through to the Holy Rank Third Realm.

Who knew that only a few months later, this young man would directly enter the space within the Chongxiao Stairs. Although puzzled, the half-step Holy Spirit was wildly ecstatic.

As Yun Xiao speculated, the half-step Holy Spirit cultivated through the Chongxiao Stairs had its domain in this space. Within this domain, his combat power could be greatly enhanced.

"Is your breakthrough to the Heavenly Realm Middle Stage the reason for your confidence?"

The half-step Holy Spirit grew increasingly proud, already sensing Yun Xiao’s current cultivation aura, and his face once again displayed ridicule. He believed this was why Yun Xiao dared to enter the space of the Chongxiao Stairs.

However, in the eyes of the half-step Holy Spirit’s Chongxiao Stairs Strange Spirit, whether it was the Heavenly Realm Early Stage or Middle Stage, neither could pose much of a threat to him, even if the other party possessed a heaven-defying enhancement secret technique.

The half-step Holy Spirit even thought about the secret technique that once allowed Yun Xiao to break through to the Heavenly Realm Peak, doubting that the other party could use it again.

Of course, what gave the half-step Holy Spirit the most confidence was that this was his domain. In this domain, even human cultivators who reached half-step Holy Rank could only meet their doom.

This was the reason why the half-step Holy Spirit could easily toy with human cultivators who entered. He was extremely confident that he could keep Yun Xiao forever within his domain.

"So much talking, why not just come down and have a fight?"

Listening to the half-step Holy Spirit relentlessly chattering in the sky, Yun Xiao grew impatient. Seeing that he wanted to continue speaking, Yun Xiao waved his hand, saying something that made the half-step Holy Spirit flare with anger.

"Since you are in such a hurry, taste the first course I have prepared for you!"

Enraged by Yun Xiao’s words, the half-step Holy Spirit felt old and new grudges surge together. After his somber voice boomed, Yun Xiao saw some shadowy figures above when he raised his eyes.

"These are... the human cultivators who entered the Chongxiao Stairs?"

Yun Xiao was sharp-eyed. He had glimpsed these figures outside the Chongxiao Stairs before and knew they were human cultivators trapped by the Holy Grade Heavenly Spirit, some of whom had been confined in this space for a century.

"Lowly humans, if any of you kill that coarse-clad boy, I will allow him to successfully enter the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud!"

The voice of the half-step Holy Spirit’s shadow echoed from the sky, making the numerous bewildered human cultivators look intensely at the coarse-clad youth below, their eyes turning fervent.

It should be known that despite being trapped in the space of the Chongxiao Stairs for a hundred years, these human cultivators’ minds did not become lost. They constantly believed it was due to their lack of fortune or luck that they could not pass the challenges of the Chongxiao Stairs.

Among them were cultivators from the Lingyun Realm, Heavenly Realm cultivators, and even one who reminded Yun Xiao of the shadow of Xuanyin Hall Master Xue Tianao.

Hearing the voice of who-knows-what, these human cultivators who had been trapped for years finally saw a sliver of escape opportunity. Without thinking further, they immediately rushed towards the coarse-clad figure below.

"Don’t believe him; he’s a Spirit formed by the Artifact Heart of the Chongxiao Stairs. His intention is to make us humans kill each other!"

Seeing this, Yun Xiao’s expression turned grim. He shouted using his Meridian Qi, trying to regain these people’s sanity, not realizing that he was merely making a futile effort.