Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

At the head of a squad of armored soldiers, Lu Yi wore a complicated expression. He actually had a favorable impression of Ning Xuan, as it was his intervention that had saved many lives. But now, he had no choice but to act. Otherwise, even more people would die.

"Ning Xuan, you have some nerve. Do you realize..." Lu Yi began harshly. Before he could finish, Ning Xuan interrupted, "I plead guilty." Not only did he plead guilty, but he also voluntarily brought his hands together, indicating that Lu Yi should cuff him.

Lu Yi was stunned for a moment before personally stepping onto the dueling platform. Ning Xuan truly showed no signs of resistance and was handcuffed without a fuss.

Even after sealing Ning Xuan’s Element Force, Lu Yi still felt like he was dreaming. Therefore, he couldn’t help but ask, "Why?"

"A life for a life. It’s only natural," Ning Xuan replied.

Lu Yi’s mouth twitched. "What I mean is, with your strength, you could have definitely escaped. Why didn’t you?"

"Didn’t you all say the Realm Lord is brutal? If I ran, what would happen to these brothers responsible for maintaining order?"

At Ning Xuan’s words, the armored soldiers who had been firmly restraining his arms immediately changed their grip to one of support. After confirming Ning Xuan was telling the truth, Lu Yi asked gravely, "Then what about you? What will you do?"

"I can escape. To be honest, I have a way out. Could I trouble you to help me with something?"

"Speak!"

"I definitely won’t be executed, but I’ll certainly be sent to a prison cell. After I’m taken in, you must not let your men stand guard."

After a moment of shock, Lu Yi replied, "I thank you on their behalf!" If Ning Xuan really were to escape from prison, the guards responsible for watching him would surely be killed. He was saving their lives.

"Of course. I have one more favor to ask."

"Please, go on!"

"Please ask Jiang Chan to help look after my companion for me."

Lu Yi glanced at Cheng Dabao, who was being held back by Jiang Chan, and readily agreed. "Alright!"

「Tian Shu, Domain Lord’s Mansion.」

Tu Jingcheng, Tu Yu, and several of the chosen talents from the Chi Ming Star Domain were gathered together. Of course, their host, Wang Dingchen, was also present. At that moment, Wang Dingchen was overcome with the urge to kill Ning Xuan with a single slap. He could never have imagined that he would receive news of Wang Teng’s death so soon after returning to the Domain Lord’s Mansion. This guy has no respect for me whatsoever!

However, he hadn’t completely lost his senses. Before he could lay a hand on this fellow, he first had to strip away his defenses. Therefore, he immediately addressed Tu Jingcheng, "Envoy, this man is utterly shameless. If the Princess knew of his numerous misdeeds, she would never approve. In my opinion, we should convene another Star Domain conference!"

"Wang, I understand how you feel," Tu Jingcheng began. "But the information I received says it was your son who disregarded me. No sooner had I left than he dispatched five experts to assassinate Ning Xuan in broad daylight!" As soon as Tu Jingcheng finished, Wang Dingchen began to panic.

"Envoy, that’s absolutely impossible! I’ve had people investigate, and the conclusion is unanimous: they acted on their own initiative. It has nothing to do with Teng!"

Tu Jingcheng sighed. "Wang, even if I believe you, they are still men from your Domain Lord’s Mansion. In any case, your Mansion cannot shirk its responsibility. As for the matter concerning the Princess, that is not for you to worry about."

Wang Dingchen’s eyes narrowed.

Ning Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. This Tu Jingcheng is actually trying to protect me. Could it be that Ye Piaomiao is infatuated with me too? Sigh! Being this handsome is such a hassle! Fine. If there’s no opportunity, I’ll just have to create one.

"You two, why don’t you just throw me into a death row cell for now?" Ning Xuan suggested, giving Tu Jingcheng a meaningful look. "Even if you don’t kill me in the end, you have to put on a show."

Tu Jingcheng understood and immediately agreed. "Wang, I agree. What about you?"

Wang Dingchen realized the Envoy was giving him an out. Could he possibly disagree? If he agreed, he would still have room to maneuver. If he refused, he’d lose any chance he had. What else could he do? He could only nod in agreement.

"Where is Lu Yi!" he roared.

The person who entered was not Lu Yi, but another man.

"Sir, Commander Lu Yi has gone to search for his accomplices. Please hand this man over to me!"

Wang Dingchen was overjoyed. "Xing Xian," he ordered at once, "take him to the death row prison and guard him strictly!" At the same time, he gave Xing Xian a subtle glance.

Xing Xian understood and grabbed Ning Xuan to leave. But Wang Dingchen stopped him. He personally moved to seal Ning Xuan’s Element Force once more, ensuring there was no possibility of it being broken, before finally letting Xing Xian take him away.

After Xing Xian had led Ning Xuan through two gates, one of the armored soldiers feigned a stomachache and immediately found Lu Yi.

"Commander Lu, something terrible has happened!"

"What is it? Calm down and tell me slowly."

"Young... Young Master Ning was taken away by Xing Xian!"

"What?!" Lu Yi shot to his feet, his expression changing dramatically. Who was Xing Xian? He was the most infamous executioner in all of Tian Shu. No one who fell into his hands had ever walked out of the death row prison alive. "What do we do now?!" Lu Yi paced anxiously, like an ant on a hot pan.

"Sir, you’ve forgotten what Young Master Ning said. Since he was so confident, he must have a plan!" one of his men said.

"That’s right, Sir. On the dueling platform, any one of those five who attacked Young Master Ning could have easily obliterated an early-stage Holy Realm cultivator, right? And what was the result?"

Lu Yi came to his senses and managed a laugh. Right. He was just flustered with worry. However, at that very moment, the reporting soldier added, "It seems the Realm Lord personally sealed Young Master Ning’s Element Force."

Lu Yi and the others turned ashen. If it were only Xing Xian, Ning Xuan’s chances of escape were nearly a hundred percent. But with the Realm Lord’s intervention, his chances of escape were virtually zero. In Tian Shu, everyone knew the Realm Lord’s Divine Sealing Unique Vein technique was unparalleled. With him making a move, even if Ning Xuan possessed heaven-defying abilities, escape was impossible.

"Sir, the only person who can save Young Master Ning now is probably the Envoy!"

"Right, right, the Envoy seemed to think very highly of Young Master Ning! You’re too high-profile, Sir. I’ll go!"

"Good!"

Immediately, one of the men took off to inform Tu Jingcheng.

By this time, Ning Xuan had already been thrown by Xing Xian into the deepest, darkest part of the death row prison. All sorts of torture devices lay scattered about, and the surrounding jailers had fierce, menacing faces.

"You actually dared to bring me here? If the Envoy finds out, your heads will roll!" Ning Xuan yelled.

His words were met with a burst of wild laughter.

"Kid, no one who comes here ever leaves alive!"

"Don’t worry, we’re professionals. Even if the Envoy shows up, he’ll just think you committed suicide out of guilt. He won’t suspect a thing!"

Xing Xian laughed along with them.