Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor-Chapter 1192: Old Foes

Li Yuan Realm, Star-picking Tower!

Qiao Lixing is a steward on the second underground floor of the Star-picking Tower, specifically responsible for guarding the prisoners captured by the Star-picking Tower. Although his status is not very high, he enjoys a rather leisurely time in this place.

Because the prisoners captured and brought into the Star-picking Tower have never managed to escape, for someone like Qiao Lixing, it truly is just guarding.

Today, just like any other day, Qiao Lixing sat at the entrance, lounging with his legs crossed, humming an unknown tune. In his view, this was bound to be yet another boring day.

"Hmm?"

However, just as Qiao Lixing was about to close his eyes, his hair suddenly stood on end. A fatal sense of crisis came from behind him, prompting him to internally exclaim in alarm and immediately attempt to dodge.

"Move one more time, and you're dead!"

Just as Qiao Lixing's form made the slightest movement, a cool voice came from behind him. The voice seemed to belong to a young woman, but at this moment, he did not dare to move at all.

For Qiao Lixing could feel that an unknown soft ribbon was already looped around his neck. Though it felt somewhat comfortable, he had no doubt that if he dared to move recklessly, the ribbon would tighten and snap his neck.

"Who... Who are you?"

After the initial shock, Qiao Lixing quickly composed himself. Without turning back, he asked aloud, considering that they were indeed in the Star-picking Tower.

Throughout the entire Li Yuan Realm, bold enough to cause trouble at the Star-picking Tower Headquarters—there has only ever been that one person from the Moon God Palace.

"You don't need to care who I am. Just answer what I ask without half a lie, or dare to blame me for being ruthless!"

The woman's voice was cold, and Qiao Lixing couldn't turn back, so he couldn't see her appearance. Yet, what the speaking woman didn't notice was that as the steward of the Star-picking Tower nodded, his foot subtly moved.

"About five years ago, did the Star-picking Tower bring back someone from the Hidden Dragon Continent, and where is she being held?"

The woman was straightforward, and as soon as she uttered these words, Qiao Lixing's form subtly trembled. A graceful silhouette flashed in his mind, and he silently noted that this woman was also here for that prisoner from before.

"If you don't talk, I'll kill you!"

The woman behind him seemed a bit impatient, her voice growing colder, with a trace of undeniable killing intent, causing Qiao Lixing's form to tremble.

"Yes, yes, we do, we do!"

Qiao Lixing dared not delay. What he couldn't see was that as soon as these words escaped his lips, the blue-gowned girl with a thin veil over her face behind him couldn't help but reveal a hint of joy in her eyes.

If Yun Xiao were here, he would surely recognize this solitary figure intruding into the Star-picking Tower as his reborn sister, Yun Wei.

Perhaps relative to Yun Xiao, Yun Wei is the real bloodline of Shang Li, considering that Yun Xiao's soul belongs to the previous life's Long Xiao Battle God. Though still exceptionally close, there is indeed a separation.

Since the major events at the Shang Family years ago, Yun Wei unexpectedly benefitted, being taken in as a direct disciple by the solitary Great Power, Ancestor Xuanhe, from Li Yuan Realm. Her cultivation soared ever since.

During the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference back then, Yun Wei was already a Heavenly Rank Third Realm expert. After over two years of cultivation, she reached the terrifying Holy Rank Third Realm level.

Such cultivation could dominate the Mortal World's Nine-layered Dragon Cloud, yet in the Li Yuan Realm, it's merely considered the bottom tier.

Driven by intense longing for her mother, upon discovering through certain channels that her mother was indeed taken by the Star-picking Tower, Yun Wei couldn't wait to break through to the Holy Rank Third Realm, coming alone to attempt an unexpected rescue of her mother.

Sometimes, family ties can cause people to lose their senses.

What kind of place is the Star-picking Tower? Yun Wei managed to infiltrate the second underground floor, but only because it's a prison, lacking many powerful guards. If she really wants to save someone, it's no simple matter.

Pfft!

Yet just as Yun Wei became slightly distracted after hearing the confirmed news, the steward Qiao Lixing's foot suddenly moved, gently touching a certain place, emitting a soft sound.

"Courting death!"

Seeing this, Yun Wei's face drastically changed with anger rising. She swiftly moved her wrist and pulled the silk ribbon hard, sending Qiao Lixing flying backward, crashing into the wall and sliding down slowly, his breath became weak and feeble.

Tat-tat-tat...

However, the alarm had already been triggered; despite Yun Wei severely injuring Qiao Lixing, she couldn't stop it. Moments later, footsteps sounded from outside, evidently guards from the Star-picking Tower alerted by the sound rushing down into the dungeon.

"Who dares intrude my Star-picking Tower?"

A loud shout came from outside. Upon hearing this voice, Yun Wei felt it quite familiar. But at this moment, she clearly understood it wasn't time to ponder such things.

Yun Wei took a deep look into the depths of the dungeon, knowing that it was impossible to rescue her mother without anyone noticing. So she bit her lip and decided to break through first.

Whoosh!

With a sweep of her Mystic Dance Ribbon, Yun Wei's graceful figure dashed out the door. But upon stepping outside, her face turned extremely unsightly, for she suddenly discovered that her only escape route was blocked by dozens of people.

"Is it you?!"

When Yun Wei looked at the tall, thin figure leading the group, her eyes immediately shot out a venomous light, confirming she hadn't come to the wrong place at the Star-picking Tower.

"You know me?"

The tall, thin elder leading the Star-picking Tower group was initially furious, but upon hearing the woman's exclamation, he asked with a hint of curiosity instead of exploding with rage.

"Even if you turn to dust, I will never forget, old thief. Hand over my mother if you know what's wise, or today will be your death day!"

Seeing this mortal enemy, Yun Wei's breath quickened, her words stirring the tall, thin elder's heart. He seemed to find something familiar in Yun Wei's demeanor.

It turned out this tall, thin elder leading the group was Steward Ning Fu, who once participated in the massacre at the Shang Family. Today, he was patrolling here and rushed over upon hearing the alarm from the dungeon.

As a direct descendant of the Great Elder, Ning Fu's status as a steward was far higher than that of Qiao Lixing, and his cultivation was not comparable to Qiao Lixing's either.

"You didn't die?! Haha, good, good, this is like searching high and low only to find it effortlessly!"

After a brief shock, Ning Fu murmured and then a wild joy appeared on his face. He felt extremely fortunate that he finally had a chance to redeem himself in front of the Great Elder.

Ning Fu had personally exterminated the Shang Family in the Lower Realm but had missed the most crucial person and couldn't find the so-called Blood Moon Jade, which led to severe punishment from the Great Elder Yin Buqun upon his return to the Star-picking Tower.

If Ning Fu hadn't brought back Yun Xiao's mother as a small merit, he might not have survived at all.

However, it was unknown what madness had possessed the young lady of the Star-picking Tower, Shen Xingmou. She went to the Mortal World, and upon her return, she took Yun Xiao's mother from the dungeon.

Because of this, Ning Fu was once again severely punished by the Great Elder. Just the thought of that kind of suffering made him fearful, silently vowing to take on fewer such tasks in the future.

But Ning Fu could never have expected the chance to redeem himself would come so quickly. At this moment, he recognized the girl as the young woman he had seen at the Shang Family back then, Yun Xiao's sister, the daughter of Shang Li.

At this point, Ning Fu no longer cared about why that girl, whom he had clearly killed with one strike back then, was still alive. He only knew this was his opportunity, an opportunity to turn things around.

"Take her down!"

So Ning Fu didn't answer Yun Wei's question but waved his hand instead, and the numerous guards behind him responded loudly, swarming forward and causing Yun Wei's face to turn somewhat unsightly.

However, Yun Wei was now a strong Saint-rank Third Realm expert. These Star-picking Tower guards, though formidable, were merely at the Heaven Rank. Her only concern was Ning Fu, who was also a Saint-rank expert.

Of course, this was just the immediate concern. Yun Wei knew she didn't have much time. If she were to attract the genuine old monsters from the Star-picking Tower, she'd be in real trouble.

Boom, boom, boom!

With a light wave of her Mystic Dance Ribbon, Yun Wei sent several figures tumbling to the sides, clearing a path within just a few breaths and racing towards the outside.

"It seems this woman has had some fortuitous encounters over the years!"

Seeing Yun Wei's formidable strength, Ning Fu's eyes flashed with insight, yet he wasn't overly worried. Seeing her about to break through, he had to step in himself, striking with a thunderous force.

Boom!

Just as Yun Wei was about to break through, she suddenly sensed a massive force coming at her. Without even needing to look back, she knew Ning Fu, who was also in the Saint-rank Third Realm, had made his move. Her expression turned stern, and she had no choice but to dodge to the side.

"Damn, it's the Cave Nether Realm!"

Just sensing the aura of that strike made Yun Wei's face turn extremely grim. After all, she had just broken through to the first stage of the Saint-rank Third Realm, the Hua Xuan Realm, and was a whole Great Rank behind the Cave Nether Realm.

Reaching the Saint-rank level, the gap between each Great Realm was like heaven and earth. Even though Yun Wei was the direct disciple of the top expert Ancestor Xuanhe, this time she faced grim odds.

"Let's see where you can hide now?"

Ning Fu wasn't too anxious about missing with the first strike. Although he was surprised at this woman's strength, he believed that in front of him, a powerhouse of the Cave Nether Realm, she couldn't make any big waves.

Ning Fu's next strike wasn't as easy to handle as the last, practically sealing all of Yun Wei's escape routes, leaving her no room to dodge.

Perhaps next, she would be gravely injured and captured, ending up like her mother.