"Yun Xiao, I have to say, your courage is indeed great, so great that it makes me see you in a new light!"

Before Yun Xiao could respond, Li Gongnian's sinister voice rang out again, and as soon as he spoke, a dense Meridian Qi erupted from his body, the aura of a late-stage Origin Seeking Realm genius on full display.

"That kid's in trouble!"

The onlookers glanced at the young man in rough clothes. They actually didn't sense Yun Xiao's true cultivation level, but they could clearly sense Yu Shu's strength just now. A student taught by such a teacher would only at best be at the mid to low level of the Qi Seeking Realm.

Some had guessed earlier why Yun Xiao had come to participate in the Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection, but they silently cursed him for being foolish. If he was seeking a backer, why make such a spectacle of himself? Isn't he just handing a handle to Li Gongnian?

If Yun Xiao hadn't shown himself just now and allowed Li Gongnian to take the Mystical Herb, Yu Shu would at most have lost a hand. Without reason, even Li Gongnian wouldn't dare to kill at this Refining Cloud Mountain trade meeting.

But now it's different. Yun Xiao openly snatched the Mystical Herb from Li Gongnian in front of everyone, giving Li Gongnian a legitimate opportunity to strike. With his formidable strength, this young man likely won't withstand even three or four moves.

"Are you sure you want to make a move here?"

Yun Xiao sensed the energy bursting from Li Gongnian and his expression turned a little strange. With his current strength, he harbored no fear of the late-stage Origin Seeking Realm expert. At most, it would just take a bit more effort.

"Everyone saw it; it was Yun Xiao who forcefully took what was already in my possession, not me breaking the rules of this trade meeting!"

After all, this was the Refining Cloud Mountain trade meeting, and Li Gongnian had to first find a reasonable excuse. After his words, his right hand suddenly extended, and an eerie, giant black snake appeared in front of him out of thin air.

"It's Li Gongnian's Meridian Spirit, an Eighth Rank Middle Level 'Black-Patterned Monocular Python'!"

When the giant black snake revealed itself, many in the crowd exclaimed. It seemed they were familiar with this top-tier talent's Meridian Spirit from the Spirit Fighting Commerce.

The Spirit Fighting Commerce dealt in the Meridian Spirit trade, and their understanding of the Continent's Vein Demons could probably only be matched by Demons Mountain. However, with different philosophies, they were always at odds, and that doesn't need much explanation.

The so-called Eighth Rank Middle Level Black-Patterned Monocular Python was a few zhangs long, with a body as thick as a barrel. Strange patterns adorned its body, constantly shifting between the scales, appearing both eerie and unpredictable.

Yet, this giant python had only one eye on its head, with a gleam that was anything but simple, perhaps harboring some unknown special techniques.

"An Eighth Rank Middle Level Meridian Spirit, huh?"

Seeing this, Yun Xiao nodded slightly, but he didn't care too much. If it was about Meridian Spirits, any of his would not fall short compared to this Black-Patterned Monocular Python.

Especially Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu. Once the Dragon Power of the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon was revealed, this serpent-like Meridian Spirit would likely bow in submission.

Whoosh…

Li Gongnian wasted no time with pleasantries. After summoning his Meridian Spirit, he directly controlled the Black-Patterned Monocular Python to charge furiously towards Yun Xiao. As geniuses of the Spirit Fighting Commerce, they were naturally adept at Meridian Spirit combat.

In Li Gongnian's mind, a mere early-stage Origin Seeking Realm brat couldn't possibly be a match for his Eighth Rank Middle Level Black-Patterned Monocular Python Meridian Spirit. With one attack, the boy would likely die with bones broken and tendons snapped.

Although some intelligence reports indicated Yun Xiao had killed the peak Origin Seeking Realm expert Xia Yong, the details were so thorough that he knew how Xia Yong had died.

This wasn't Thunder King Valley, and the young man in rough clothes couldn't likely have such external power to rely on again. Without any external aid, how could an early-stage Origin Seeking Realm kid possibly be a match for a late-stage Origin Seeking Realm genius like him?

The crowd watched the Black-Patterned Monocular Python without blinking, eager to see how the young man in rough clothes would respond. Would he truly perish under a single strike from Li Gongnian's Meridian Spirit?

However, in the next moment, they saw Yun Xiao make no evasive moves whatsoever. Instead, he slowly extended his right hand, upon which rested an unremarkable Black Light Wooden Sword.

Upon seeing the Black Light Wooden Sword, Li Gongnian instantly understood what the earlier sensed sneaky attack was. In this moment, he felt a twinge of regret. Had he known it was merely an unremarkable wooden sword, why be so panicked?

But the following scene swiftly dispelled Li Gongnian's thoughts, fueling his anger but also a trace of fear, a trace of relief, with a mix of emotions.

Crunch!

Yun Xiao raised the wooden sword in his hand, his right hand slowly sweeping towards the neck of the enormous Black-Striped One-Eyed Python, cutting seven inches deep. The unassuming wooden sword in the eyes of the crowd sliced through the giant python's body like tofu, cutting off its head.

The enormous Black-Striped One-Eyed Python's Vein Spirit didn't even let out a scream before its massive head was separated from its body. As Yun Xiao flashed aside to avoid it, the serpent's blood sprayed from its neck, painting the entire trade fair with a bloody hue.

Nobody anticipated such a result beforehand. At this moment, everyone was dumbfounded, their eyes shifting to the Black Wood Sword in Yun Xiao's grip, as waves of shock surged in their hearts.

"What kind of weapon is that?"

Even in Li Gongnian's heart, a similar thought arose. He knew that the scales on his Eighth Rank Low Level Black-Striped One-Eyed Python's Vein Spirit were incredibly tough, and even some Earth Rank Low Level weapons couldn't break through its scale defense in one strike.

Yet, that wooden sword sliced through the Black-Striped One-Eyed Python's head as if through soft mud. Despite the element of surprise, the sharpness of the wooden sword couldn't be ignored.

This was also the source of Li Gongnian's earlier fear and relief. He believed that if he hadn't instinctively dodged a moment ago, his right hand might have been soundlessly cut off by the Black Wood Sword, just like the snakehead.

Li Gongnian didn't know if it was a coincidence or if Yun Xiao intended it, perhaps to avenge his teacher's nearly severed hand. In any case, at this moment, the Black Wood Sword in his heart had already ascended to the level of a divine weapon.

No matter how one looked at it, for a proud Eighth Rank Middle Stage Vein Spirit to not even withstand a single move from the opponent and have its head chopped off, wasting away, was something Li Gongnian found unacceptable.

"Yun Xiao, you've truly angered me!"

After a brief shock, Li Gongnian calmed down. Although his face turned incredibly dark, his voice didn't carry much anger. Only those familiar with him would know he might be about to use his most formidable skills.

Although Yun Xiao's earlier black light sword was extremely stunning, once a sharp weapon like this showed its strength for the first time, opponents would be on guard, making another surprise attack not as easy.

This was the confidence in Li Gongnian's heart. He even thought Yun Xiao was foolish. If such a sharp, stealthy weapon were used in battle against his main body, wouldn't it be even more threatening and potentially settle matters once and for all?

However, upon reflection, Li Gongnian considered another level of thought: perhaps all Yun Xiao had was that Black Wood Sword. In such a situation, if he hadn't used the sharp wooden sword, he might have died under the Black-Striped One-Eyed Python.

With these thoughts, Li Gongnian became even more confident. He believed Yun Xiao ultimately relied on external power; the collapse of the Thunder King Valley array and now the Black Wood Sword were such cases.

Once these external powers had no place in the battle, this young man would be unremarkable, so Li Gongnian was confident. Once he utilized his formidable techniques, he could entirely reclaim the lost prestige of the Spirit Fighting Commerce.

"Li Gongnian, I advise you not to act, or the consequences will be beyond what you can bear!"

Just as this top genius of the Spirit Fighting Commerce was about to use one of his trump skills, a slightly chill voice suddenly came from somewhere, making the already quiet trade fair even more silent.

"Who is that?"

Everyone looked towards the voice, and they saw a somewhat frail-looking girl walking slowly. In her steps was an unusual, sickly beauty, her pretty face slightly pale, as if recovering from a serious illness.

"This girl's cultivation..."

Those present were all Meridian Refining Masters with a notable Power of Soul. When they sensed the Meridian Qi Cultivation of the girl, their expressions turned overwhelmingly vivid, even more so than when Yun Xiao suddenly struck earlier.

"Peak of Spirit Vein Realm?"

Some murmured, with disdain, ridicule, helplessness, and curiosity amidst their voices. Clearly, they couldn't understand how a girl with only the Peak of Spirit Vein Realm cultivation dared to speak such words?

"Could it be this woman has a deep background?"

However, some thoughtful individuals considered another level: there weren't many fools in this world. To speak such words despite a huge disparity in strength likely indicated a strong backing.

Compared to the spectators, Li Gongnian, who had been about to act, also restrained his aura somewhat, turning his gaze to the slowly approaching frail girl. She seemed vaguely familiar, yet he couldn't recall where he had seen her before.

For a moment, the scene fell into an eerie silence.