Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

Tu Yu immediately said, "With me here to back you up today, if he dares to play any tricks on you, I’ll cripple him on the spot!"

Jiang Boya shook his head and even knelt, on the verge of tears. "Young Master, we wish we could, but this guy has left us with such a mental scar that we can no longer defeat him in a direct confrontation."

Chu Tian and Ye Yi also knelt in unison. "Young Master, if you insist that we fight, we would rather end our own lives right here than suffer the collapse of our Dao Hearts!"

With that, the three of them actually prepared to sever their own heart meridians.

Tu Yu’s mouth twitched as he cursed inwardly. What the hell is going on? Why is every single one of them defying me! Have they all developed nerves of steel?!

Fortunately, someone stepped forward. "Young Master, you can’t count on these three worthless wastes, but I can fight!"

Tu Yu was overjoyed. "Excellent! Show me what you’ve got!"

After a cupped fist salute, the man entered the arena and called out to Ning Xuan, "Get out here and die!"

Ning Xuan ambled forward. Just as he was about to offer a return salute, he suddenly flicked his hand. White powder instantly blinded the man, forcing his eyes shut.

CRACK!

Ning Xuan lunged forward and snapped the man’s neck with a single twist!

Ning Xuan didn’t have any lime on him, so he couldn’t play the part of the "Lime War God." To live up to his reputation for utter shamelessness, he had been forced to crush a treasure he’d confiscated from the Evil Plundering Group into powder.

Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded. They never expected this guy to dare use such a despicable tactic in front of everyone!

"Ning Xuan, did my words just go in one ear and out the other?!" Tu Yu’s murderous voice thundered.

Ning Xuan quickly replied, "Of course not. I remember every word you said quite clearly, Young Master. You said, ’if he dares to play any tricks on *them*.’ I didn’t play any tricks on *them*, now did I?"

Jiang Chan almost failed to suppress a smile.

Tu Yu was so furious his lungs were about to explode.

"Ning Xuan, you’ve got some nerve! I’ll take you on!" Immediately, another person entered the arena.

Ning Xuan tried the same trick again.

"Haha, you think I’d— Crap!" The man burst out laughing, but he quickly realized Ning Xuan’s attack was just a feint. By the time he did, it was too late.

BANG!

With a single palm strike, Ning Xuan smashed the man’s head down into his neck cavity. Another one had fallen.

"Young Master, this man is treacherous! We request permission to attack him together!" two voices cried in unison as a pair of men stepped forward.

"Since he refuses to abide by martial ethics, you can use any means necessary... Be careful—" Before Tu Yu could even finish, he shot to his feet to warn the two men. Unfortunately, he was a step too late. Two heads soared into the sky.

Tu Yu trembled with rage. Below, a furious Wang Teng pointed at Ning Xuan. "Ning Xuan, they weren’t even ready! You’re utterly shameless!"

Ning Xuan retorted self-righteously, "They were going to attack me two-on-one. Since they were the first to disregard martial ethics, it was only natural for me to strike first."

"You... you..." Wang Teng was so angry he felt like he was going to vomit blood.

Then, on Tu Yu’s telepathic instruction, Wang Teng roared in a fury, "All of you still standing, get the hell up there and attack him!"

"Dammit, what are you all waiting for? You bunch of cowards! Go, all of you! Kill that son of a bitch!"

At that exact moment, the two women standing behind Jiang Chan flew into a rage and rushed out to confront Wang Teng. "What did you mean by that?!" Then, very inconveniently, they crashed right into the men who were about to enter the arena to fight Ning Xuan. Unable to withstand the force of the two women’s furious charge, the men were sent flying and never got back up.

Now it was Tu Yu’s turn to feel like he was going to vomit blood. Dammit! Is that guy a complete moron?!

Wang Teng also realized he had misspoken and looked like he was about to cry.

Zhao Guan, who was seated in the Tian Shu position, suddenly stood and offered a cupped fist salute to Tu Yu. "Young Master, in a true life-or-death duel, only the outcome matters; the process is unimportant. For Ning Xuan to kill one person could be luck. To kill two could also be considered luck. But to kill three, or even four people consecutively—that is a display of absolute strength. I propose that anyone who wishes to test their skills against him be allowed to enter the arena."

Tu Yu’s eyes lit up. That’s right! Those qualified enough to have their own seats are all true, top-tier prodigies. If they make a move, victory is absolutely certain.

Just as he was about to agree, Jiang Chan suddenly spoke up. "I think that’s inappropriate!"

"Why?" Tu Yu’s fist clenched inside his sleeve, veins bulging.

"This is supposed to be a gathering for drinking and relaxing. If word gets out that you let the atmosphere become like this, Young Master Tu, you might be criticized for your poor management..."

Before Jiang Chan could finish, Ning Xuan interjected, "That’s putting it too mildly. ’Poor management’? If he can’t even host a simple gathering, and word gets out, people will call him a complete fucking idiot!"

The crowd let out a collective gasp after a moment of stunned silence. Holy hell! Is this guy for real?! That’s the Envoy’s son! An infamous hell-raiser who can come and go from the Imperial Palace as he pleases! And now someone just dared to call him an idiot... to his face! This is beyond outrageous!

"You... what... what did you just say?!" Tu Yu couldn’t believe his ears.

"I was just reminding you, Young Master," Ning Xuan said, blinking with a wide, innocent smile. "Don’t you remember? The party hasn’t officially started yet. Everything so far was just a warm-up act."

After a moment of stunned silence, comprehension dawned on Tu Yu, and he bellowed with laughter. "Hahaha, that’s right! The banquet hasn’t even started! So I’m not an idiot!" He let out a huge sigh of relief, though the corners of many onlookers’ mouths twitched.

A telepathic message came from You Ruo. "You’re incredible! I’m completely convinced!"

Shentu Yi also sent a message. "Y-Young Master, you’re too damn fierce! I, Shentu Yi, have never submitted to anyone, but you have my complete respect!"

Jiang Chan’s voice followed. "N-Ning Xuan, you actually managed to smooth that over... you’re incredible! Could you teach me how to do that sometime? Oh, and thanks for before."

Cheng Dabao’s reminder came next. "Ning Xuan, Ning Xuan, you have to win first place! If you become the Prince Consort, Ye Qingqing can finally get her revenge!" She was now incredibly glad she had decided to support him.

"You magnificent bastard, you’re a real piece of work!" Luo Ji, a man of few words, sent a telepathic message to Ning Xuan, cursing for the first time in his life.

At the same time, a conviction formed in his mind. That place... only someone like him could possibly thrive there. As for me... I have to take that brave step!

Ning Xuan had no idea that because of his words and actions, Luo Ji had just decided to clear the path for him to win the Star Domain Grand Competition.

Up ahead, Zhao Guan and Wang Teng both came to a startling realization. They felt a sudden, powerful urge to flee. Because, dammit, Tu Yu really *is* an idiot!