Chapter 770: 770 is all because of trying to stand out!
"Could he also be a Meridian Refining Master?"
Seeing the youth named Starlight, he instantly neutralized the potent poison affecting Hong Liu, truly shocking Great Elder Hu Yuqing of the Hu Family, who deeply regretted misjudging the situation.
"No... Impossible!"
Meanwhile, Yang Pu, who had just poisoned Hong Liu, was filled with utter disbelief. After all, that was a low-level Earth Rank potent poison obtained from a low-level Earth Rank Poison Vein Master.
Such a deadly poison should not have taken long to kill a Qi Seeking Realm Early Stage cultivator like Hong Liu. So why could this dark-skinned youth simply pat Hong Liu a few times and completely neutralize the poison?
Yang Pu had previously used this low-level Earth Rank poison to directly kill a Qi Seeking Realm Middle Stage cultivator. He had even seen that low-level Earth Rank Poison Meridian Master try to save another poisoned cultivator - but it was never as effortless and comfortable as what this youth just did.
Yun Xiao’s actions seemed casual and effortless. He simply called Hong Liu over, patted and slapped him a few times, and then pierced his palm, causing the poisoned blood to flow out. Could it possibly be that the potent poison affecting Hong Liu was originally concocted by him?
"Do not make a move in the short term!"
Oblivious to the thoughts of the onlookers, Yun Xiao saw the blood flowing from Hong Liu’s palm turn deep red and spoke again, causing the latter to nod repeatedly.
After witnessing many of Yun Xiao’s methods, Hong Liu was immensely impressed and would undoubtedly follow any of Yun Xiao’s requests, even burying his head in the ground if asked.
"Hmph, what does it matter how strong his detoxification skills are, he still has to die,"
Yang Family’s Great Elder had witnessed the entire event but only displayed a disdainful sneer, uttering a cold snort.
"Yang Pu, take care of that kid, do not underestimate him!"
It turned out that after seeing Hong Liu poisoned, Yang Qiwu noticed that there were no more Qi Seeking Realm cultivators among Hu Family’s guards left. Thus, after engaging Hu Yuqing, wouldn’t Yang Pu be invincible?
Despite the dark-skinned youth’s startling and bizarre methods, Yang Qiwu still believed that Yun Xiao must have relied on some tricks to unleash power comparable to the Qi Seeking Realm.
But Yang Pu was a Qi Seeking Realm Middle Stage cultivator. If even such a powerful opponent could be easily defeated by that youth, wouldn’t that mean their many years of effort were in vain?
Moreover, Yang Qiwu being cautious by nature, he added, "Do not underestimate him," since another defeat from Yang Pu would likely turn the tables unfavorably against the Yang Family today.
"Brother Starlight, be careful with that despicable fellow!"
Seeing Yang Pu advancing, Hong Liu who had moved aside couldn’t help but warn him, still harbored feelings about his recent defeat.
"Merely a low-level Earth Rank potent poison, it might have harmed you, but it’s unlikely to harm me!"
Yun Xiao turned back, looked at Hong Liu with a mocking smile, and spoke, making the latter quite embarrassed but reassured by recalling the youth’s methods.
At this moment, inside Yun Xiao’s tent, Hu Ying’er seemed to have entered a special state, oblivious to the outside affairs, so everything still depended on others to maintain control.
"Boy, trouble comes from taking a high-profile position, meddling with our Yang Family, your life is doomed not to see tomorrow!"
Approaching, Yang Pu, seeing the youth still looking calm, suddenly felt a surge of jealousy and was eager to kill him to settle his feelings.
Previously, Yun Xiao’s performance was indeed dazzling, but compared to this Qi Seeking Realm Middle Stage Yang Pu, those Spirit Vein Realm Yang Family guards really seemed lacking.
One was at the Spiritual Rank Three Realms, and the other at the Earth Rank Three Realms; there was simply no comparison between the two. By surprise, Yang Pu thought he could easily defeat those at the peak of the Spirit Vein Realm with one move, but Yun Xiao’s methods were just more tricky.
Getting a closer sense, Yang Pu felt more confident that this dark-skinned youth had not broken through to the Qi Seeking Realm. It seemed those strange methods were just too abrupt. By being a bit careful, he definitely could remain undefeated.
"My words remain the same; whoever steps closer here will... die!"
Yet, facing Yang Pu, a strong cultivator at the Qi Seeking Realm Middle Stage, the demeanor of the dark-skinned youth seemed unchanged. He pointed to a spot beneath his feet as if marking a line between life and death.
Those Yang Family guards, who had crossed that line earlier, instantly turned into a pile of lifeless ashes. Would this Qi Seeking Realm Mid-Level Yang Family guard captain, Yang Pu, be any different?
"Arrogant!"
The indifferent words had utterly enraged Yang Pu. How dare a mere youth at the early stage of the Spirit Vein Realm speak to him with the tone of a superior?
Huff... huff...
The moment his shout ended, Yang Pu was surrounded by dense Meridian Qi, and the air before him rippled as a huge Meridian Qi Beast abruptly took form in front of him.
It seemed that despite his rage, Yang Pu still retained a sliver of rationality. Considering the youth’s potent blood-red flames, avoiding direct contact should suffice.
Moreover, in Yang Pu’s mind, the disparity in Meridian Qi between them was immense. Crushing the youth with his formidable Meridian Techniques seemed like the perfect remedy. Surely, under the assault of this enormous Meridian Qi Beast, the boy would be gravely injured in an instant?
"How clever this guy is!"
Seeing this, Yun Xiao couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, then suddenly stretched out his right hand. Almost instantly, a fiery red figure emerged from his palm, visible to all as a fiery red little bird.
"Meridian Spirit?"
It had to be said that Yang Pu was indeed experienced and knowledgeable, recognizing at a glance that this was the Meridian Spirit of the dark-skinned youth. However, he wasn’t overly concerned. How powerful could the Meridian Spirit refined by a youth at the early stage of the Spirit Vein Realm be?
In fact, the strength of a cultivator’s Meridian Spirit typically correlates with their own cultivation level, as refining a potent Meridian Spirit isn’t only about defeating Vein Demons, but also about successfully refining such power.
Hence, during the Spirit Fighting Conference, when Yun Xiao defeated multiple peak Qi Seeking Realm cultivators with his early-stage Qi Seeking Realm cultivation, it shocked the audience and attracted the covetous attention of Xia Yong, a special envoy from the headquarters of the Spirit Fighting Commerce.
To Yang Pu at the moment, the Meridian Spirit of a youth at the early stage of the Spirit Vein Realm probably ranked at low Sixth Rank at most. Such a Meridian Spirit, under his Meridian Qi Beast, would likely crumble to dust instantly.
However, Yang Pu, despite his broad experience, also had his limits. On this continent, there exists a special type of Meridian Spirit that doesn’t need to correlate with the cultivator’s own strength—Contract Meridian Spirits.
If possible, a cultivator at low Third Realm of the Mortal Rank could refine a Contract Meridian Spirit at Holy Rank Third Realm.
Yet, while feasible in theory, how could a Holy Rank Third Realm Vein Demon willingly contract with a Third Realm Mortal Rank cultivator?
But Yun Xiao’s fiery red little bird was different. They weren’t even bound by a contract; the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix fledgling had seen Yun Xiao first upon birth and accepted him as family.
At this moment, with Fire Cloud Rat Chi Yan heavily injured and not recovered, the Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu depleted of strength and asleep, and the combat power of the Dragon Tree Spirit Little Dragon not yet manifest, plus Yun Xiao’s own Meridian Qi not replenished, the only option he had was this fledgling from the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix.
Red Feather’s Demon Meridian Qi had already reached Seventh Rank Intermediate following the Spirit Fighting Conference, equivalent to the mid or even late stage of human Qi Seeking Realm. How could mere Yang Pu possibly contend with that?
Red Feather is a genuine Ancient Heavenly Phoenix lineage; even though she is only recently birthed, her proud nature wouldn’t tolerate any mid Qi Seeking Realm human daring to challenge her—it was simply a mockery of her Ancient Heavenly Phoenix dignity.
Swoosh!
Just as Yang Pu controlled his Meridian Qi Beast to pounce towards the tiny fiery red Meridian Spirit, a streak of fiery red light flashed through everyone’s vision. Yun Xiao’s little bird Meridian Spirit effortlessly passed right through the giant Meridian Qi Beast, encountering no resistance.
Thud!
Subsequently, the Meridian Qi Beast controlled by Yang Pu exploded instantaneously, unleashing a storm of Meridian Qi Energy. The blast forced guards from the nearby families to hurriedly retreat several steps.
"Really?"
Seeing this scene, Yang Pu, caught in his own self-satisfaction, took a moment to realize what happened. Just as the shock began to dawn on him, a fiery red light had already swiftly approached him. Then, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and involuntarily looked down, murmuring.
In that instant, the entire campsite of the Hu Family fell deathly silent. It seemed even the sound of a falling leaf could be heard, as everyone stared at the hole in Yang Pu’s chest, gushing blood profusely.
The manner in which the fiery red little bird passed through Yang Pu’s body was identical to how it passed through the Meridian Qi Beast’s body—only one was a condensed form of Meridian Qi, and the other was his filial body.
At this moment, Yang Pu’s heart was clearly pierced by the fiery red little bird. Looking down, he saw his own blood gushing out. He knew he had underestimated this dusky-skinned youth, or rather, the Meridian Spirit he wielded.
But until his dying moment, Yang Pu still couldn’t understand why a Meridian Spirit of an early-stage Spirit Vein Realm youth proved insurmountable for him, and these doubts would accompany him to the grave.