Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

Although he'd been careless this time, Ning Xuan absolutely refused to admit it. And he had to settle this score immediately.

Ning Xuan turned his head and looked toward the alley entrance. Just then, Zuo Qian appeared with a troop of men. Seeing Ning Xuan still standing, he paused before quickly striding forward. "Brother, what happened to you?" he asked with concern.

"I was just tricked by a sinister, two-faced villain. It's nothing serious," Ning Xuan replied.

Zuo Qian's mouth twitched slightly. "Are you sure? Your complexion doesn't look good. And the girl behind you, is she alright?"

Ning Xuan pulled Cheng Dabao's right arm out and pressed it with two fingers. Soon, an eerie skull faintly materialized on her jade-white wrist. After doing this, Ning Xuan let go, leaned against the wall, and gasped for air.

As Zuo Qian let out a long breath, Ning Xuan asked, "Brother Zuo, do you... do you know what this is?"

"Brother, you were too careless. This is the most dreadful curse here, known as the Netherworld Soul-Locking Curse. Once you're afflicted, there is no cure! Such a beautiful young woman... alas, what a terrible shame." After Zuo Qian finished, he sighed deeply.

Ning Xuan's face turned even paler, as if he'd been struck by lightning.

Zuo Qian seized the moment. "Brother, if you trust me, hand her over. I'll think of something."

"Thank you," Ning Xuan said, still in a daze.

Zuo Qian immediately waved his hand, signaling for the men behind him to come forward.

"Stop! I trust you, but I don't trust them!" Ning Xuan snapped, halting them in their tracks.

Zuo Qian's expression stiffened. The armored soldiers who had stopped instantly locked their eagle-like gazes on Ning Xuan.

"Brother, this is uncalled for. They are not my subordinates; they are my brothers!" Zuo Qian said, his voice frigid.

Damn it, he's being far too cautious! I'm in this state, and he still doesn't dare to approach!

Sighing, Ning Xuan got straight to the point. "Hiding a curse in a token is certainly a clever move. I have no complaints about being cursed, but I can't figure out why she was affected too."

Zuo Qian's expression didn't change. "The moment you reached out and grabbed her, you two became a single entity. That's the horror of the Netherworld Soul-Locking Curse!" He wasn't the least bit surprised by Ning Xuan's choice.

"The Three Eminent Stars of the Star Realm—the Minister of Defense, Situ, and the Minister of Works. You must belong to the Minister of Defense's faction. I wonder what your position is. It can't be very high. I've seen plenty of cowards, but I've never seen one quite like you," Ning Xuan taunted.

"You're courting death!" Before Zuo Qian could speak, several of the armored soldiers were already bristling with fury.

Zuo Qian raised a hand to stop them and smiled at Ning Xuan. "Caution doesn't mean cowardice. It's just that, while you appear desperate, you're far too calm. You must have a trump card up your sleeve. Personally, I never fight a battle I'm not sure I can win."

"You dither like a woman. No wonder you people can't even get into the Big Dipper Seven Realms and can only cower here like turtles," Ning Xuan jeered, his mockery intensifying.

Zuo Qian's hand, which was resting on his sword hilt, tightened fiercely.

"You wanted to know my trump card? As you wish!"

As Ning Xuan's words fell, the mobile villa suddenly appeared.

BANG!

WHOOSH!

The villa transformed into a streak of light, charging directly toward the location Zuo Qian had indicated earlier. That area was undoubtedly filled with Zuo Qian's men, so there was no reason to hold back.

Zuo Qian's face twisted in rage as he watched several of his men get blasted into a blood mist. With a roar, he leaped into the air and gave chase at full speed. By the time he reached the city gate, all he saw were severed limbs and mangled corpses, along with the mobile villa hovering low in the air.

"Brother Zuo, your speed is a little slow. And your Minister of Defense's faction is far too weak. Even I, while cursed, could slaughter them like chickens and sheep. No wonder the Chi Ming Dynasty cast you aside," Ning Xuan said, laying the mockery on as thick as possible.

Zuo Qian didn't respond, his eyes filled with utter disbelief.

Ning Xuan's eyebrows rose, for he had spotted the middle-aged scholar, Ming Xiaolou.

The moment Ming Xiaolou appeared, he locked onto Zuo Qian and scoffed, "Well, well, Zuo Qian, you actually dare..." Before he could finish, he realized something was wrong.

His gaze shifted to the mobile villa, and his pupils constricted. "You didn't use your signature skill?!" he immediately asked Zuo Qian.

"I did! But somehow he can still activate his Magical Treasure! This is no ordinary Flying Treasure. Its destructive power is astounding!" Zuo Qian, finally snapping back to his senses, stared at Ning Xuan's mobile villa, his expression a mixture of fear and desire.

"Of course. My judgment is never wrong! How about we cooperate? It'll be trouble if we wait for that old fellow to arrive!"

"Agreed!"

In an instant, the two formed an alliance.

Zuo Qian made a pulling gesture with his fingers, and a token flew out from among the dismembered limbs. As the token vibrated in midair, the remains on the ground and the blood in the air swiftly converged upon it. The sky darkened, and a mournful wind began to howl. Moments later, a colossal blood demon took shape.

BANG!

With a heaven-shaking roar, it swiped a claw at the mobile villa. The villa didn't even tremble.

"Ming Xiaolou, what are you waiting for?!" Zuo Qian's expression became incredibly foul. He had gone to great lengths to place that curse, yet he couldn't even breach the Magical Treasure's defense!

What sent a surge of pure rage through him was seeing his opponent smirk slightly and then actually sit down cross-legged. He was going to break the curse right in front of him! Although it was impossible for him to succeed, the provocation was an unbearable humiliation.

Ming Xiaolou sighed. "To be honest, I tried everything I could outside the city just now, and I couldn't even shake it. It seems we'll have to wait for that old fellow. Once the three of us join forces, this will all be resolved."

"He's afflicted by my curse, he's already a cripple! I refuse to believe I can't even handle a single Magical Treasure!" Zuo Qian wasn't having it. He stepped forward and, with a CLANG, drew his longsword and sliced his finger. Another token appeared in his other hand, and he drew on it with his bloody finger.

ROAR!

The blood demon howled, whipping up a hurricane on the spot. Behind the mobile villa, the towering city walls were instantly ripped away like paper. Yet despite this incredible power, the mobile villa remained utterly motionless!

Zuo Qian's eyes bulged. Gritting his teeth, he drew the blade across his palm. The moment his blood-drenched hand covered the token, a terrifyingly dreadful aura erupted from the blood demon.

It was as if a supreme, unholy demon had risen from the Netherworld itself to dominate this land.

"I'll help you!" Seeing this, Ming Xiaolou could no longer just stand by and watch. Zuo Qian was using his ultimate technique, which gave him a sliver of hope.

HUM!

Another token appeared, hovering in the air. Ming Xiaolou also slit his finger and traced a pattern on it.

"Go!"

With his low shout, a ray of light shot straight into the blood demon's body. Instantly, the blood demon began to transform.