Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

"Ning Xuan, Ye Qingqing must have been captured by the false emperor! What do you think we should do?" Cheng Dabao pleaded. As soon as the deputy commander who had shown them to their secluded quarters left, she began pacing around like an ant on a hot pan. "Ning Xuan, say something! You’re so smart, you must have a way, right? Please, think of something quickly!"

Ning Xuan remained silent. If things are really as I suspect, what can I do? Besides, I’m also incredibly worried about Senior Sister and the others. I just hope that unreliable Luo Tianyi has made foolproof preparations! If not, I pray she hasn’t taken Yi Yi and the others to Chi Ming. He was deeply agitated.

Just then, a voice came from outside. "Young Master? Miss? Are you there?"

It was Lu Yi. Ning Xuan went out personally to welcome him in.

In the courtyard, Lu Yi asked with concern, "I heard your sister is ill. Shall I find a doctor for you?"

"It’s nothing serious. She’ll recover after she’s been awake from her ’dream’ for a little longer."

Lu Yi nodded, then asked, "You two aren’t biological siblings, are you?"

"I found her," Ning Xuan answered directly. This guy has a sharp eye. Still, it doesn’t seem like he has any ill intent. Besides, my relationship with Cheng Dabao isn’t something that needs to be hidden anyway.

Lu Yi suddenly lowered his voice and gave Ning Xuan a meaningful glance. "The Young Master possesses considerable strength. She’s afraid you’ll win and be sent to Chi Ming to be the Prince Consort."

Ning Xuan’s mind stirred. Chuckling wryly, he immediately changed the subject. "On the way here, I heard the deputy commander mention the Princess has returned. What’s that all about?"

"Princess Ye Piaomiao is the daughter of Her Highness the Noble Consort and is deeply loved by the Emperor. But fifteen years ago, some nefarious demon infiltrated the imperial city and kidnapped her, which led to..."

Before Lu Yi could finish, Cheng Dabao rushed out. Just as she was about to speak, Ning Xuan clamped a hand over her mouth. He cautioned her sternly, "Your surname is Cheng, and your name is Cheng Dabao! You are not some Princess! Are you still dreaming?!"

With that, he pinched a nerve on her neck, and Cheng Dabao fainted on the spot.

Ning Xuan gave Lu Yi an embarrassed smile. "My apologies, Commander Lu. You’ve witnessed quite a scene."

"It’s nothing," Lu Yi replied. "But I do have one question for you, Young Master."

"Go ahead."

"Earlier, at the Teleportation Array, why did you seem completely unaware of the Star Domain Grand Assembly?"

"I truly didn’t know. Something major happened in the Tianji Realm recently. I won’t go into detail, but in short, the Tianji Realm has a new master."

Lu Yi was clearly astonished. After a moment, he regained his composure and sighed. "The Tianji Realm took a different path three hundred years ago, after Tianji Zi became its Realm Lord. Initially, Cultivators and Magicians could coexist. Who would have thought that after the Magicians grew powerful, they would begin a large-scale slaughter of the Cultivators? After Tianji Zi’s death, the two factions were in constant conflict, with victories and defeats on both sides. To think it has a new master now!"

"Because of this, we didn’t receive any news. Honestly, the only reason I’m here is that this girl kept insisting she was from the imperial city and demanded I take her there. Our arrival was purely a coincidence. As for this Star Domain Grand Assembly you mentioned, I think we’ll have to pass. I’m taking her back to the Tianji Realm right now," Ning Xuan said, mixing truth with falsehood in a gambit of advancing by retreating.

"You can’t do that, Young Master!" Lu Yi hastily objected. "If you don’t participate, many people, myself included, will have their heads roll!" After a quick look around, he lowered his voice. "To be frank, our Tian Shu Realm Lord was appointed by those from above. He is cruel by nature and notoriously capricious. Moreover, he has eyes and ears everywhere. If you show up only to leave, he will be absolutely enraged."

Ning Xuan also lowered his voice. "Surely you have a way, Commander Lu? Why don’t you arrange for our departure? We definitely can’t return to the Tianji Realm. Just send us anywhere else. At this point, I’ll even take the Chi Ming imperial city." As he spoke, Ning Xuan took out a treasure he’d snatched from the Evil Plunder Group and offered it to him.

Lu Yi’s expression immediately darkened. He refused the bribe, stared straight at Ning Xuan, and asked in a low voice, "Are you sure?!" Before Ning Xuan could answer, Lu Yi continued, "I *can* arrange it for you. But if we’re discovered, the Realm Lord will be furious, and the entire Tianji Realm will be annihilated! Even though it’s one of the Seven Realms, Tian Shu is the true nexus of the Big Dipper Star Domain. The power its Realm Lord wields is unimaginable!"

Ning Xuan sighed. "So you’re saying that whether I like it or not, I have to participate in this Star Domain Grand Assembly?"

Lu Yi nodded.

"In that case, can you tell me if the celestial prodigies attending this time are truly as formidable as their reputations suggest?"

"You want to lose?" Lu Yi asked, catching on.

Ning Xuan nodded. In any other competition, I could win. But in this Grand Assembly, I have to lose. And I can’t make it look like I’m throwing the match. Based on what Lu Yi said, some of the false emperor’s own henchmen are likely to be here, not just the Tian Shu Realm Lord. If I go easy on someone, they’ll see right through it.

"The Star Domain is vast, and prodigies are everywhere. The one thing any assembly never lacks is a dark horse! This time will be no exception," Lu Yi said. Then, seeing Ning Xuan’s expression, he added, "Hey, don’t look at me like that. You’re making me flustered. Alright, you can relax. While you are indeed very strong, there’s still a gap between you and the true celestial prodigies."

Ning Xuan nodded.

"How about this," Lu Yi continued. "You get some rest. I’ll arrange a small gathering for tonight and invite only the top contenders. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re up against."

Hearing this, Ning Xuan’s eyes lit up. He threw his arms around Lu Yi’s shoulders, beaming. "Brother Lu, you’re the best! A true brother from another mother!"

"You rascal!" Lu Yi laughed, shaking off Ning Xuan’s embrace. "I’m leaving. Just wait for my good news!" With that, he departed quickly.

Once Lu Yi was gone, Ning Xuan shoved Cheng Dabao off his shoulder. "Alright, stop pretending. I barely even touched you."

"Hehe, Ning Xiang, a false emperor is still an emperor. Why don’t you consider it?" Cheng Dabao teased, now that she was relieved Ye Qingqing hadn’t been captured.

Ning Xuan snapped, "I’m not tired of living, thanks."

"You really should consider it, Ning Xuan. With your looks and that silver tongue of yours, you’d have that Ye Piaomiao wrapped around your finger in no time. Didn’t you hear him? She’s the false emperor’s most beloved daughter. Even if you were found out later, she could plead for you, and you’d get off lightly."

"Give it a rest, Cheng Dabao! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning! You’d really risk my life just to help Ye Qingqing!"

"How could I do that? You’re my brother from another mother! I could never bear to see you come to harm," Cheng Dabao said, shifting to a coquettish tone that made Ning Xuan’s skin crawl. "Come on, big brother, just do us a little favor. Sacrifice yourself a little to help Ye Qingqing, please?"

Finally, worn down by her relentless pestering, Ning Xuan had no choice but to temporarily give in to placate her. "Fine, fine! I’ll check things out at the gathering tonight. But let’s be clear: if there are any truly formidable opponents, I’m out!"