Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

Just as Ning Xuan had guessed.

「Outside the city.」

Countless cultivators were fighting over the moving villa.

"Get back! It's mine!"

"Pah! Who do you think you are? You're not worthy of it!"

"I am... Urgh!"

"Scram! You old fool, have you no shame?"

"..."

Once they confirmed the moving villa possessed astonishing defensive power, the cultivators saw everyone as an enemy. Status and identity were utterly useless now.

The middle-aged scholar from earlier, his face bruised and swollen, appeared before the eight massive cannons and roared in fury, "Fire the cannons! Blast those bastards below to smithereens!"

"Sir, they are all..." a man began, trying to offer a reminder.

Before he could finish his sentence, his head went flying.

"What about the rest of you?" the scholar asked, his voice chilling.

No one dared to say another word.

Then, cannon fire thundered across the sky.

Within the towering city, innumerable people looked up into the void.

Inside the carriage, Ning Xuan smiled. "That's a decent cannon. It's certainly loud, but I wonder if it can actually kill anyone?" He was filled with anticipation.

To Ning Xuan's surprise, the clamor outside the carriage suddenly died down. It seemed the carriage was picking up speed.

Ning Xuan quickly sat up and hovered his palm over Cheng Dabao's forehead. In just a moment, he withdrew his hand, a colorful, speckled orb now resting in his palm.

Cheng Dabao's eyes snapped open. Just as a murderous glint flashed within them, she heard Ning Xuan's telepathic message. She instantly relaxed and asked him, puzzled, "Why didn't you do anything?"

"I was just thinking you could use a little more rest," Ning Xuan replied casually.

Cheng Dabao's expression went blank.

Seeing this, Ning Xuan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. This silly girl can't have actually believed that, can she? A man's words are nothing but lies. If she doesn't even understand this, she'll get sold off one day!

But Ning Xuan gave up on the idea of teaching her a lesson. He wasn't about to slap himself in the face.

"Halt!"

At that moment, an extremely piercing voice rang out. Ning Xuan's heart tightened. The one who spoke is definitely an expert.

"What is this?"

"Commander, this is the cargo Lord Ming asked us to deliver to our master."

"Proceed."

"Thank you, Commander."

After the brief exchange, the carriage started moving again. But suddenly, Ning Xuan yanked Cheng Dabao toward him.

SHNK!

A sharp weapon pierced through the carriage's copper-and-iron-reinforced walls.

Ning Xuan stomped his foot, breaking them both out of the cage. An immense sword light slashed down from above, while an incomparably sharp blade struck at them from the front.

Calm and unhurried, Ning Xuan swung Cheng Dabao out like a weapon. His opponent clearly hadn't expected him to show such disregard for his companion's life.

In that moment of hesitation…

BANG!

An object exploded. The multicolored aura had barely erupted when the surrounding assailants collapsed, one after another.

"Impossible!"

"How could you be unharmed?!"

Cries of shock rose from outside. They were the last words they ever spoke.

Thwick! Thwick!

Ning Xuan made his move. The men who had just spoken died with their eyes wide in disbelief.

"Impressive skills!" a voice called out from nearby.

Ning Xuan saw an armored commander with his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. It was he who had suddenly attacked.

"You're not so bad yourself," Ning Xuan smiled at him, showing no sign of anger.

The other man's eyes narrowed. "I saved you, yet you want to kill me. That's not exactly a sign of friendship."

"My friend, what are you talking about?" Ning Xuan asked, his face a mask of surprise. Inwardly, however, he was on high alert.

This guy's Spiritual Sense is terrifying!

"Just a guess! It seems I have misjudged a gentleman with my own petty standards." The commander clasped his hands in a gesture of apology.

Ning Xuan chuckled and asked, "Why did you save us?"

The armored commander replied, "I, Zuo Qian, save people based on my whims. There is no reason."

"I have something I need to retrieve from outside the city. Since Brother Zuo is so fond of helping others, could you fetch it for me?" Ning Xuan asked, pointedly ignoring Zuo Qian's previous statement.

Zuo Qian responded, "The first time, I can act on a whim. But if you want me to help the same person twice, it will cost you."

"If I happen to have what you want, and you happen to have the ability to get it, then I am willing," Ning Xuan replied.

After a moment of surprise, Zuo Qian burst into hearty laughter. "I'm starting to really like you. I'll call you a friend. Take my advice and leave this place immediately!"

"I need to go to Tian Shu. An official outside mentioned there's a portal to Tian Shu in this city."

Zuo Qian shook his head. "You've been tricked by Ming Xiaolou! This is the Three Dukes Star Realm, the least likely place to have a portal!"

Ning Xuan looked astonished. "Three Dukes Star Realm? Forgive my ignorance, I've never heard of it."

"The Three Dukes refer to the Grand Commandant, Situ, and the Minister of Works. But in this Three Dukes Star Realm, they... Never mind. Just go straight that way. When you reach the city gates, show them this, and they will let you pass."

Zuo Qian, stopping himself short, tossed a token to Ning Xuan.

"Thank you."

Ning Xuan caught it, clasped his hands in thanks, and then led Cheng Dabao away.

"Ning Xuan, what's with that guy? He clearly wanted to kill us at first, so why did he help us?" Cheng Dabao's telepathic voice sounded in Ning Xuan's ear.

"I don't know. But the currents here run deeper than I imagined. By the way, if we can't get out, do not mention the Chi Ming Dynasty or Ye Qingqing."

To be safe, Ning Xuan decided to give Cheng Dabao a warning.

Cheng Dabao was a bit displeased. "Why can't I mention them? Ye Qingqing is amazing!"

"She is amazing, but the more amazing someone is, the more enemies they tend to have."

Who would have thought that upon hearing this, Cheng Dabao would grow even more excited. "That's great! I'll just kill her enemies for her! That way she'll have fewer of them!"

Ning Xuan was completely speechless.

"Give me a break! You, kill people? Have you already forgotten what just happened?" Ning Xuan felt it was necessary to knock some sense into the girl.

Cheng Dabao, not the least bit embarrassed, argued, "How was I supposed to know they'd be so shameless? Don't worry, I, Cheng Dabao, am not that stupid. I definitely won't be fooled again!"

She made a solemn vow. As it turned out, the words had barely left her lips.

"Ouch, why does my head feel a bit..."

Before she could finish the sentence, she fainted in Ning Xuan's arms.

But this time, it wasn't just her. Even Ning Xuan felt the world spin.

WHOOSH!

He immediately activated his Bloodline Power, vanishing from the spot with Cheng Dabao.

Where they had just been, a figure suddenly appeared. The person stared blankly at a piece of torn clothing in their hand, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.

In a nearby alley, Ning Xuan shielded Cheng Dabao, gasping for breath. With no time to wonder how he'd been caught, he frantically channeled his Cultivation Technique and Bloodline Power. He immediately discovered the problem. The enemy hadn't used poison, but some kind of curse!

"No wonder I was affected. Impressive!" Ning Xuan laughed, but a murderous glint flickered in his eyes.