Chapter 1451: Chapter 1451: I’ll Tell You a Secret!
"Hehe, Yun Xiao, do you really want to know?"
For some reason, knowing that answering Yun Xiao’s question wouldn’t save his life, Lu Tianwen had a strange smile on his face after hearing the question.
In Lu Tianwen’s mind, those two were big figures from the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, completely incomparable to the cultivators of the Tenglong Continent. Even the leaders of the four top powers were no match for that old man.
So at this life-and-death moment, Lu Tianwen suddenly felt a sense of amusement, thinking, aren’t you the one who doesn’t care about anyone because you have supreme skills? But would you stay so calm knowing you have an unmatched enemy from the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud?
This was Lu Tianwen’s twisted excitement in the face of death. He just wanted to see how the day’s biggest winner would react to finding out he had another unbeatable enemy.
"Tell me everything you know. If you satisfy me, I can let you die painlessly, otherwise..."
Yun Xiao’s face remained calm, but as he spoke the last two words, his fingers moved slightly, and a wave of poison suddenly struck, twisting Lu Tianwen’s face in agony.
"Fine, since you’re so determined to die, I’ll tell you. The one who gave me the Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison is from...the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud!"
Whether it was the peculiar excitement in his heart or the fear of the poison Yun Xiao wielded, at that moment, Lu Tianwen didn’t hold back anymore and directly responded.
As he spoke the last four words, Lu Tianwen intentionally paused. He raised his head, hoping to see the fear and panic on the young man’s face.
After all, it was the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, a supreme plane unattainable for the cultivators of the Tenglong Continent. It’s said that only super experts who reached the Lingyun or Heavenly Realm had the qualification to challenge entering the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.
For countless years, probably not many from the Tenglong Continent truly obtained this qualification. Even if someone did get it, whether they could pass the test and go to the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud was still another matter.
Therefore, in Lu Tianwen’s heart, the superiors of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud were gods to the cultivators of the Tenglong Continent. Ordinary cultivators would be intimidated just hearing the words Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.
Yet at this moment, Lu Tianwen didn’t see a hint of distress on Yun Xiao’s face, as if he’d only heard a very ordinary name, with no ripple in his heart at all.
This Vice Chairman of the Spirit Fighting Commerce had no idea that the youth before him, just over twenty years old, was once the Long Xiao Battle God, who commanded the winds and clouds in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, striking terror into countless evil beings.
Just the name of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud couldn’t stir even the slightest ripple in Yun Xiao’s heart, especially since he had long predicted this.
"What’s that person’s name?"
This was what Yun Xiao eagerly wanted to know. If that person could produce Qin’s Enchanting Fragrance Dew and Heavenly Wave Soul Capture, they must have a connection with the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud Lu Family, possibly even related to Lu Qinwan.
"That person calls themselves Xue Qi!"
Even at this point, and though Lu Tianwen didn’t see the reaction he wanted from Yun Xiao’s face, he wouldn’t hold anything back. However, he didn’t think this name would elicit much of a response.
"What? Xue Qi?!"
To Lu Tianwen’s surprise, the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud hadn’t stirred any reaction in Yun Xiao, but just the name "Xue Qi" made the young man’s expression change dramatically, as if he’d heard something monumental.
"Could it be there’s really a connection between Yun Xiao and Xue Qi?"
Seeing Yun Xiao’s expression, Lu Tianwen was momentarily puzzled. But what he couldn’t figure out, no matter how hard he thought, was that one came from the lower Hidden Dragon Continent and the other from the upper Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, so there shouldn’t be any intersection.
But Lu Tianwen had no idea that the youth in front of him once shared over a decade of childhood memories with the woman named Xue Qi, and they always addressed each other as siblings.
When Xue Qi first arrived at the Spirit Fighting Commerce, she’d actually revealed her connection with Yun Xiao, but only Wei Duzheng and a few elders knew about this, and they dared not speak of it carelessly.
Moreover, seeing Xue Qi’s attitude towards Yun Xiao, coupled with the methods she’d later instructed Lu Tianwen to use, clearly showed that there was definitely more than just a sibling relationship between these two, more like deep-seated hatred.
Therefore Lu Tianwen remained ignorant of the relationship between Xue Qi and Yun Xiao, only now faintly guessing some details after seeing Yun Xiao’s drastic change in expression, yet he could never imagine the deeper layers.
"It’s actually Xue Qi? But why would she be involved with the Lu Family or, specifically, Lu Qinwan?"
As Lu Tianwen fell into a shocked contemplation, Yun Xiao’s thoughts also surged wildly. Despite all his calculations, he never expected that the person appearing at the Spirit Fighting Commerce from Nine-layered Dragon Cloud would be an old acquaintance.
Yun Xiao had initially considered that the person could be a High Rank Poison Vein Master from the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud Lu Family, or perhaps someone from a special heritage within the Spirit Fighting Commerce; he even entertained the slim possibility of the Emperor Canglong Palace targeting him.
Nevertheless, Yun Xiao never imagined it would be the abandoned daughter his mother had adopted years ago. After so many years apart, she had suddenly become a mysterious figure in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.
Despite their ten-plus years of sibling-like relationship, since the Shang Family was annihilated, leaving Yun Xiao nearly dead and separated from his mother and sister, he regarded Xue Qi as his greatest enemy.
This deep-seated resentment surpasses even that towards the Shang Family or the Star-picking Tower; being betrayed by someone he once viewed as a dear sister is the most unbearable thing.
Ever since the Shang Family’s demise and after Yun Xiao’s rebirth in the Snake Nest, he hadn’t heard of Xue Qi until later learning that the Star-picking Tower of the Li Yuan Realm was responsible. He once thought Xue Qi had been taken to the Li Yuan Realm by that tall, thin elder.
Now it seems that things are vastly different from Yun Xiao’s initial assumption. Xue Qi ultimately did not go to the Li Yuan Realm but rather joined the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, establishing some connection with the Lu Family.
With tumultuous thoughts, Yun Xiao could only deduce this much; that Xue Qi had become the direct disciple of his past life’s wife was beyond his wildest imagination, as the twists and secrets were too many and too hidden.
Unbeknownst to Yun Xiao, two women who had betrayed him in past and present lives had gathered together. Perhaps soon, all his deep-seated vendettas would be avenged.
"How does it feel, Yun Xiao? Feeling desperate? I admit your talent is exceptional, but it’s only enough to dominate on the Tenglong Continent. You can’t possibly contend with the big figures of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud!"
Despite Lu Tianwen’s own doubts, his expression soon revealed a distinct excitement, and his words confirmed a certain reality.
As Lu Tianwen said, after Yun Xiao’s exploits at the Slaughter Spirit Battlefield and the Impermanence Island, his fame was already at its zenith, surpassing even the older generation of Heavenly Rank experts.
Now, Yun Xiao had once again clinched the double championship in medicine and poison at the Meridian Refining Conference, and with his miraculous dispelling of the Heavenly Rank Advanced Poison, his reputation was sure to shine even brighter than before.
Yet, none of that mattered; a peerless talent reigning on the Tenglong Continent would likely be at the bottom within the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud. This fact was deeply ingrained in Lu Tianwen’s mind.
Lu Tianwen was unaware of the relationship between Xue Qi and Yun Xiao, but he could clearly deduce from orders from that existence that these two, even if related, were likely at odds.
Currently, Yun Xiao was under the protection of Lu Yanji from the Heavenly Realm, making it unlikely for other three major forces to act rashly against him. But would the great powers of the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud entertain such concerns?
Lu Tianwen had personally witnessed the formidable might of the sack-clothed elder accompanying Xue Qi, a figure likely ranked among the top within the Heavenly Realm.
His failure this time did not mean the Spirit Fighting Commerce was entirely defeated. Once Lady Xue Qi learned of today’s outcome, even Lu Yanji might not be able to protect Yun Xiao.
This was the source of Lu Tianwen’s excitement, and he was indeed correct. After realizing the individual behind the Spirit Fighting Commerce was Xue Qi, Yun Xiao felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.
Especially when Xue Qi was connected to the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud Lu Family, Yun Xiao felt his time slipping away, compelling him to quickly boost his strength.
"Yun Xiao, if you let me go today, perhaps I can plead with Lady Xue Qi to spare you..."
Boom!
Just as Lu Tianwen, brimming with confidence, intended to say something to persuade Yun Xiao to spare his life, the blood-red Light Shield enveloping them suddenly moved without the wind, instantly burrowing into his body.
"No, stop!"
Everyone cherishes their life, and Lu Tianwen was no exception. As death approached, no matter how frenzied he had been, an indescribable fear emerged, his voice trembling with panic, his complexion turning ghostly pale.
But how could Yun Xiao possibly pity this old fellow? Previously, when Lu Tianwen had gone mad, seeking to have everyone buried alongside him, seeing the blood-red flames erupting from his body brought a sense of satisfaction to all.
"Let me tell you a secret. Actually... I also hail from the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud!"
As the blood-red flames spread across Lu Tianwen’s body, soon to consume him into ashes, Yun Xiao leaned in close and whispered this shocking revelation.
"Wha... what?!"
