Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

The Blood Demon, once filled only with Netherworld's malicious energy, was now suddenly radiating a resplendent, righteous aura!

BANG!

The Blood Demon slammed down another palm. Horrifying ripples swept out in all directions, and the fearsome Gang Wind turned countless houses to dust as if they were rotted wood. The result, however, was that the mobile villa merely shook.

How can this be?! Ming Xiaolou was stunned. The Defensive Ability of this Flying Treasure is too damn heaven-defying!

"It's working! Use your True Blood!" Zuo Qian, however, was delighted.

Ming Xiaolou's mouth twitched. He knew using his True Blood would still be in vain. Just as he was about to refuse, joy flashed in his eyes. He then immediately slit his palm.

At the same time, another Token materialized between the two that were already hovering there. A square-faced, middle-aged man, brimming with righteousness, appeared.

SPURT!

A surge of awe-inspiring righteousness burst forth from within the Blood Demon. Immediately, the beast seemed to develop consciousness.

"Break!" it actually uttered a single word as it struck out with its claw again.

It was as if a divine might descended along with the word. Still, the attack failed to connect. The mobile villa had suddenly teleported far away, causing the Blood Demon's sure-hit attack to slam into the ground instead, instantly creating a bottomless pit.

Zuo Qian and the other two beamed with delight. Without needing any prompting, Zuo Qian immediately had the Blood Demon strike again. This time, as its giant palm blotted out the sky, bizarre Runes sealed off the surrounding space.

Aboard the mobile villa, Ning Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his eyes, a cold smile forming on his lips.

Then...

BANG!

The mobile villa shattered the barrier and charged straight toward Zuo Qian and his two companions. None of them had expected the Flying Treasure, supposedly under an absolute seal, to still be able to move. What they expected even less was for its power to be so terrifying.

However, the three of them didn't retreat. Instead, they stepped forward in unison. Simultaneously, the Blood Demon roared, intending to block the mobile villa with its massive body.

The result was that the mobile villa simply vanished from before its eyes.

Zuo Qian and the others' eyes narrowed sharply. The Flying Treasure had abruptly shrunk and slipped right under the Blood Demon's armpit!

SPURT!

Although the Blood Demon reacted swiftly, reappearing in front of the suddenly enlarged mobile villa, Zuo Qian and the other two were still caught in the impact. They all spat out blood in unison. Before they even had time to fly into a rage, the mobile villa disappeared from before them.

Zuo Qian stood stunned, his body rigid as if struck by lightning. He had just seen the cursed Ning Xuan transform into a streak of light that was about to vanish from his sight.

"How is this possible?!" he murmured, unable to believe what he was seeing. To be struck by my Netherworld Soul-Locking Curse and still be able to use Element Force... this is outrageous!

Beside him, Ming Xiaolou's jaw nearly hit the floor. He quickly came to his senses and urgently asked Zuo Qian, "Are you sure he was hit by your curse?"

"I..." Zuo Qian hesitated. He had clearly seen the mark on the young woman's wrist just moments ago. The curse definitely landed. But if that little brat truly has the ability to undo my curse, then we're completely screwed.

"I can't be sure anymore."

Ming Xiaolou slapped his thigh. "We've been duped! What are you standing around for? Let's chase them!"

"Don't rush. They won't get away," said the middle-aged man who had appeared last. He was completely unperturbed, a smile of assured victory on his face.

"Has the old master made his move?" Ming Xiaolou's eyes immediately lit up.

The middle-aged man shook his head. "Not just my father."

At this, both Zuo Qian and Ming Xiaolou heaved a collective sigh of relief. With the heads of all three of their families making a move, there was no escape for their target, even if he possessed heaven-defying abilities. Zuo Qian immediately relaxed. The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked toward the city outskirts.

「Meanwhile.」

Dozens of miles from the massive city, on the bank of a great river, Ning Xuan came to a halt. Ahead of him, three men stood with their backs to him, fishing in the rapid currents.

"Hello, elders! Doing a bit of fishing?" Ning Xuan called out from a distance, waving with a beaming smile.

Naturally, no one paid him any attention.

"Ah, looks like three deaf men. Their eyesight is probably bad, too. Best not to disturb them," Ning Xuan muttered to himself as he started walking upstream, planning to go around them.

The corners of the three men's mouths twitched. This kid is definitely doing this on purpose. What nerve!

No longer able to maintain their facade as lofty experts, they all stood up at once.

Just then...

BOOM!

A colossal object came hurtling straight for them, its power immense and its speed like thunder. The three instinctively dodged. By the time they realized what was happening, the Flying Treasure had almost vanished from their sight.

The three elders remained completely unfazed.

"Seal!"

"Suppress!"

"Capture!"

As the three words left their lips...

BANG!

The mobile villa collided with an invisible barrier. This time, the vehicle that could shatter blockades failed to pass through. A mysterious force pressed down from above, smacking the mobile villa straight to the ground. Then, a tremendous confining power dragged it back to the riverbank.

Standing in the courtyard, Ning Xuan faced the three elders across the surging river.

"Ning Xuan, what happened to me?" Cheng Dabao, rubbing her eyes, suddenly emerged from the back door and asked the moment she saw him.

"Cheng Dabao, you sure can sleep!" Ning Xuan completely ignored the three elders and began to scold her. "Look at you! If this family had to depend on you, we'd be doomed! How do you manage to fall asleep wherever you go? Do you see them across the river? Those are three peerless masters! They've already made their move, and you were still sleeping! Don't they have any dignity?!"

Across the river, the three elders felt an urge to hit someone.

Cheng Dabao, who was initially bewildered, finally snapped back to reality. "Where is that scoundrel Zuo Qian?!" she immediately asked, grinding her teeth.

One moment she had been so confident, and the next she had fallen into a trap. It was all that scoundrel's fault! Otherwise, she would never have embarrassed herself in front of Ning Xuan!

Before Ning Xuan could even speak, she continued, "You didn't kill him, did you? How could you? I haven't even made my move yet!"

Cheng Dabao was furious.

"I didn't."

"Yeah, right! If you hadn't killed that scoundrel, why would these three old geezers show up? Hey, why are there three of them at once? Are they all Zuo Qian's dads?"

Ning Xuan was dumbfounded.

Damn. She can insult people without even using a single curse word! How did I never realize she had a talent like this? Is this some kind of innate Skill?

"Enough!" the righteous-looking old man on the far right spoke first. "My name is Hou Cunzheng. Ning Xuan, is it? You used that instrument to commit a violent act. In my capacity as the Great Minister of Works, I command you to surrender your weapon!"

"Great Minister of Works? Old man, do you think this is..." Cheng Dabao started to retort but then clamped her mouth shut, remembering Ning Xuan's earlier warning.

"It's fine. I just finished cultivating a new Sect's Technique. Go ahead," Ning Xuan said with a nonchalant shrug.

Cheng Dabao immediately finished her sentence, "—the Chi Ming Dynasty?"

Upon hearing that name, the pupils of all three elders constricted.

"Ning Xuan, I remember what this Three Dukes Star Realm is," Cheng Dabao whispered. "The Chi Ming Dynasty was structured around three dukes and nine ministers. But hundreds of years ago, the children of the three dukes were arrogant and tyrannical. The dukes themselves were sworn brothers with the Emperor, and they relied on this relationship not to restrain their children, but to indulge them. After a certain incident, the Emperor finally grew furious. With his own power, he created a new Realm just outside the Big Dipper Star Domain and banished the families of the three dukes there, forbidding them from ever leaving!"