Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

Upon meeting Ning Xuan's gaze, the Red Attire Spirit's heart inexplicably trembled. She had a sudden realization: everything Ning Xuan said was true.

"How is that possible?!" she muttered, growing flustered. Seeing the spear, now calm and completely unable to break free from Ning Xuan's grasp, she was filled with regret.

The reason she had dared to separate from her true form wasn't because she had any confidence in Cheng Dabao stopping Ning Xuan, but because she had confidence in herself and the spear. It wasn't as if no one had ever been here before. The visitors were all supreme cultivators, yet none who had managed to grab the weapon could avoid being controlled by it. The killing intent contained within the spear was enough to make any supreme cultivator lose their sanity.

But this man acted as if nothing was wrong. He had even managed to restrain her true form. This was beyond her comprehension.

"Nothing is impossible. Young lady, the world is a vast place. I suggest you go see it for yourself," Ning Xuan said with a faint smile, then gave Cheng Dabao a meaningful glance.

Cheng Dabao had been on the defensive ever since the Artifact Spirit appeared. Ning Xuan's punch had sobered her up, and she remembered the preceding events with perfect clarity. The mere thought that the Artifact Spirit could make her lose all resistance and answer any question sent a chill down her spine. Cheng Dabao had expected the spirit to attack Ning Xuan. To her utter surprise, Ning Xuan had her on the verge of a breakdown with just a few words. Shocked, she felt an immense sense of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted. Right now, she was more than happy to indulge him.

By the time the Red Attire Spirit came to her senses, Ning Xuan and Cheng Dabao were already a good distance away. This instantly threw her into a panic.

"Hey, why are you leaving?!" she yelled, stamping her foot and chasing after them. She reappeared in front of them in an instant, blocking their path.

Forced to stop, Ning Xuan wore a look of utter surprise. "Miss, I've already achieved my objective for this trip. If I'm not leaving, what am I supposed to do? Stay here and celebrate the New Year?"

"But without the Artifact Spirit, you can only get half of the inheritance!"

Ning Xuan's face lit up with joy. "What? I can still get half the inheritance?"

The Red Attire Spirit was completely dumbfounded. Why doesn't this guy play by the book? Shouldn't he be humbly begging me to merge with Xuan Ge right now? For a moment, she didn't know what to do.

Not far from them, a cultivator who had been struck down by the Red Attire Spirit hadn't quite drawn his last breath. He had been planning to lie low and recover, but now his mind completely shattered.

Damn it, what a scoundrel! It's one thing to play coy after getting what he wanted, but he doesn't even know how to take the easy way out she's giving him! Does he actually expect the Artifact Spirit to beg him?! Pah! He's delusional! The Xuan Ge Weapon Spirit is an existence that even the most supreme cultivators must treat with the utmost respect. How could she possibly beg anyone?!

But just as this thought crossed his mind, he heard the Artifact Spirit's words.

"Didn't you just say the world is large and suggest I go see it? But I hear it's a dangerous place, and people aren't as good as they used to be. You seem like a good person… why don't you take me with you?"

PFFT!

A sharp pain lanced through his chest, and the injuries he had barely suppressed erupted. The expert sprayed a mouthful of blood and collapsed, his eyes wide open. A moment later, he stopped breathing, dying with a grievance. Of all the experts who had come for Xuan Ge, his death was by far the most frustrating.

"Alright, then. I'm not sure how to get you out of here either. How about you just bear with it and stay inside the spear for now?" Ning Xuan said, finally relenting after a glance at the corpse.

Extremes beget their opposites, after all. If I push any further, this fiery-tempered Artifact Spirit will surely explode.

The Artifact Spirit didn't respond with words, but with action. As Xuan Ge and the spirit merged into one, Ning Xuan immediately sensed a change. But just as he was about to use his Divine Vein Power, the spear's aura retracted, and even its weight seemed to lessen. This was an active show of goodwill.

Ning Xuan decided to accept the gesture. "Let's go!" he said, immediately leading Cheng Dabao briskly toward the exit.

When he returned to the entrance of the passage, he came face to face with You Ruo.

"You just got here?" Ning Xuan spoke first. "Not sure which passage to take, are you? It's this way. We've already scouted it out for you." He gestured behind him and started to walk past You Ruo.

However, You Ruo was staring intently at the long spear in his hand. She broke into a bright smile. "Not bad, you got it so quickly. Let me have a look. You know, to make sure you didn't grab the wrong one?" As she spoke, she reached for it.

BOOM!

Before Ning Xuan could even react, a terrifying killing intent erupted from the long spear. A formidable aura locked onto You Ruo instantly. She was horrified. In a daze, she saw a vision of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and she seemed to hear the roars of gods and demons.

This is definitely not something I can handle! She gave up on the idea at once.

"Just kidding! I just remembered I have something else to do, so I won't be exploring this ruin after all. Let's go up together," You Ruo said, waving her hands and backing away.

BOOM!

At that moment, the long spear in Ning Xuan's hand suddenly pointed to the sky, pulling him straight up into the air. With quick reflexes, Cheng Dabao grabbed the very end of the spear's shaft. When You Ruo lunged, she only managed to grab hold of a foot.

「Above the Abyss.」

Looking at the obvious footprint on You Ruo's chest, Ning Xuan offered an apology. "I had no idea it would do that. Here, let me wipe it off for you."

"No need…" You Ruo shook her head, her expression turning to one of dumbfounded shock.

Ning Xuan, who had just been dragged up the cliff face, was now ascending to the mountain's peak at an incredible speed. He himself was bewildered. Just a moment ago, Xuan Ge had suddenly gone out of control, flying straight in one direction. He had reacted with extreme speed but still couldn't regain control of it.

"Damn it! You dare snatch something from your grandpa?!"

Ning Xuan's shout still echoed in the women's ears, but he had already vanished from sight. Without a second thought, Cheng Dabao and You Ruo gave chase.

When they found him, Ning Xuan was standing stock-still in front of an imposing mobile villa, completely stunned. Not far from him stood Chu Tian, Ye Yi, and Jiang Boya.

"Where's Xuan Ge?" You Ruo demanded, seeing no sign of the long spear.

Ning Xuan didn't answer. He simply boarded the mobile villa. "Dabao, get on! We're leaving!"

"Okay!" Cheng Dabao sensed that Ning Xuan was like a powder keg ready to explode, so she hurried aboard.

BOOM!

The mobile villa turned into a streak of light, tore through the barrier of the firmament, and disappeared into the horizon.

Snapping back to her senses, You Ruo quickly asked the other three, "What happened?"

Chu Tian replied, "Luo Tianyi appeared."

"The master of the Bi Luo Palace?! What is she doing here?"

"She said she's planning to move the Bi Luo Palace to the Chi Ming Dynasty. Then she took Xuan Ge, that stone, and the women who were with Brother Ning."

After a moment of shock, You Ruo burst into giggles. "Now that's what you call getting a taste of your own medicine! Hehehe, Ning Xuan, oh, Ning Xuan, you've finally met your match!"

Staring in the direction Ning Xuan had disappeared, she couldn't have felt more delighted.