Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

"Ning Xuan, Ning Xuan, we must be right this time! We’ve arrived at Tian Shu!" Cheng Dabao exclaimed, having just stepped out of the Teleportation Array and peered down from above the clouds.

"We just have to ask them to find out," Ning Xuan said, shifting his gaze forward.

Over there, two men were running toward them at full speed. They were clad in disheveled armor, struggling to pull their helmets on as they ran.

"You... you came... from the Teleportation Array?" the chubbier of the two soldiers asked breathlessly as they approached.

Ning Xuan nodded.

"Is this Tian Shu—"

Before Cheng Dabao could finish her question, the two men had already turned and fled, leaving her and Ning Xuan utterly baffled. A moment later, they heard the stout soldier’s voice bellowing like a trumpet, "My lord, my lord, contestants from the Tianji Realm have arrived!"

"What did you say?!" A clap of thunder boomed from the distance.

Immediately, the entire void began to tremble as if a massive army was surging toward them.

What the hell?! Cheng Dabao turned to look at Ning Xuan.

Ning Xuan shook his head. He had only just arrived himself. He wasn’t some kind of god; how could he possibly know what was going on?

"Don’t panic. Let’s wait and see," Ning Xuan said, patting Cheng Dabao’s shoulder and stepping forward to shield her.

By now, a large contingent of soldiers had sealed off the exit, making it impenetrable. An armor-clad commander approached with a powerful, commanding gait. Even before he drew near, he had already removed his helmet, revealing a resolute, weather-beaten face.

"Are you two truly from the Tianji Realm?" he asked, his eyes sweeping over Ning Xuan and Cheng Dabao before glancing at the Teleportation Array behind them. He was repeating the same question the stout soldier had asked earlier.

Ning Xuan nodded.

"Haha, excellent! On behalf of Tian Shu, I welcome you both! By the way, my name is Lu Yi, and I oversee the reception at the major Teleportation Arrays." The commander’s face was wreathed in smiles, and he looked at Ning Xuan and Cheng Dabao as if he were seeing long-lost relatives.

"A pleasure to meet you, Commander Lu. By the way, what did that soldier mean by ’contestants’?" Ning Xuan replied, directly asking the question on his mind.

"Let’s talk as we walk. This way, please," Lu Yi said, stepping aside to invite them forward. The soldiers behind him immediately parted, clearing a path.

Highly skilled and thus fearless, Ning Xuan nodded and led Cheng Dabao forward.

"Here’s the situation," Lu Yi began. "Not long ago, the Chi Ming Dynasty issued a decree ordering the Tian Shu Realm to hold a Star Domain Convention. The decree specifically stated that all young prodigies under the age of twenty-five from the entire Big Dipper Star Domain must attend and that the Big Dipper Seven Realms *must* have someone participate! The other realms quickly responded, and their prodigies have already arrived one after another. Only the Tianji Realm was an issue. We sent over a dozen messengers, but not a single one returned. The Star Domain Convention is about to begin, and if you hadn’t come, our Realm Lord’s head might have rolled!"

Ning Xuan had a sudden realization. Could this be another one of Luo Tianyi’s schemes? As for the Star Domain Convention, it probably has something to do with Ye Qingqing.

"Something came up that caused a delay," Ning Xuan replied with an unperturbed smile.

Just then, Lu Yi’s expression stiffened. A moment later, he spoke. "You two, I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll have to ask my deputy general to escort you to the Star Domain Convention." He clasped his fists toward Ning Xuan and Cheng Dabao, his face full of apology.

"We understand that a commander manages a myriad of affairs. Farewell." Ning Xuan clasped his fists in return, and Cheng Dabao nodded. They then left under the deputy general’s guidance.

As soon as the two had disappeared, Lu Yi turned and quickly reappeared before the Teleportation Array. Opposite him stood more than a dozen men covered in dust and grime. These were all the messengers he had dispatched.

"What happened?"

"Commander, shortly after we entered the Teleportation Array, we all became lost. We only just found our way back," one of them explained as the others all nodded in agreement.

Lu Yi asked, "So you’re saying none of you made it to the Tianji Realm?"

Though their faces were etched with shame, all of them nodded.

Lu Yi’s brow furrowed deeply.

"Commander, they might not be from the Tianji Realm. Should we arrest them?" a voice piped up from beside him.

Lu Yi raised an eyebrow, his expression imposing without a hint of anger. "Don’t jump to conclusions before the matter is clear! Besides, if we arrest them, will you participate in the competition?"

"I am not worthy. But if they aren’t from Tianji, their strength must be limited. If that’s the case..."

"Then you are severely underestimating them. That young man may not have a high Cultivation Realm, but his strength is absolutely formidable!" Lu Yi said with conviction. That young man had given him an extraordinary impression.

He looked at the dozen men and sighed. Then, his tone suddenly changed. "Lift your heads."

They all responded like marionettes, their gazes unfocused as they stared straight at Lu Yi.

"All of you went to the Tianji Realm. You were delayed because..."

Lu Yi then began to speak, fabricating a story for each of them. Or rather, he was implanting a new set of memories in them. If he didn’t do this, they would undoubtedly be executed once the Realm Lord found out.

After the dozen men had departed, the deputy general at Lu Yi’s side appeared distressed. "Commander, why waste your mental energy on them?"

"I just happened to be there. If I hadn’t intervened, my conscience would trouble me. Come on, let’s go see what their origins really are." Lu Yi’s chest heaved a few times, and his somewhat pale complexion gradually regained its healthy color.

***

"Ning Xuan, do you think this Star Domain Convention is a trap set by the False Emperor to deal with Ye Qingqing?" Cheng Dabao worriedly asked Ning Xuan via sound transmission as she sensed the auras of one powerful expert after another on the road.

Ning Xuan quickly reassured her, "No, that’s impossible. Ye Qingqing is incredibly powerful. Forget prodigies under twenty-five; even supreme experts aged two hundred and fifty would be no match for her."

Hearing this, Cheng Dabao had a realization and said cheerfully, "Oh, right! How could I forget? After all, in her presence, even you have to act like a good little grandson."

Damn you! You wretched girl, if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all! It’s only because of my principles; otherwise, I’d already be Ye Qingqing’s father by now! Ning Xuan was filled with exasperation.

Catching a glimpse of Ning Xuan’s expression out of the corner of her eye, Cheng Dabao’s mood brightened considerably. She immediately turned to the deputy general leading the way and asked, "Excuse me, big brother, do you know why this Star Domain Convention is being held?"

Since the commander had been so cordial with these two, the deputy general dared not show any negligence and quickly replied, "The rumor is that the Emperor has found his long-lost daughter and wants to select a Prince Consort for her through this Star Domain Convention."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Cheng Dabao’s face instantly froze, and her complexion turned deathly pale.

Ning Xuan quickly steadied her. Seeing the deputy general’s perplexed expression, he forced a smile and explained, "Don’t mind her. My sister suffers from delusions and is always claiming to be the Princess. Her dream was just shattered, so she’s having a hard time coping with the shock of reality."