Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

A recording stone appeared in Zang Peng’s hand. It contained images of Ning Xuan dominating the dueling platform. He caressed it. I have to stay calm.

Ning Xuan glanced at it and immediately asked, "Is that a recording stone with my battle record on it?"

Zang Peng stiffened before nodding honestly. "Even though I’m a Holy Realm Cultivator, your methods are astonishing. I don’t want to end up like them."

"You’re very cautious. However, sometimes caution isn’t enough to guarantee a long life."

The moment he finished speaking, Ning Xuan took the initiative to attack. Despite his words, he struck with his full might. Zang Peng seemed harmless, but his methods were extremely vicious and decisive. Ning Xuan would not underestimate his opponent simply because of his words or actions.

BANG!

Facing Ning Xuan’s attack, Zang Peng had no intention of dodging. The black fog exploded. After Ning Xuan passed through it, the dissipating mist quickly coalesced, and Zang Peng materialized once more. They stood back-to-back, neither one turning around.

"Why didn’t you use the same technique you used on Xing Xian?" Ning Xuan asked, puzzled.

Zang Peng shook his head. "There’s no point in using a technique that’s useless against you."

"Then use one that is."

"It’s not time yet."

In a mere instant, Ning Xuan—the one who had attacked first—found himself at a disadvantage in momentum! This was all while Zang Peng was deliberately feigning weakness.

"Great Saint Xueyou would be furious if he knew what you were doing."

"Then we just won’t let the old man find out," Zang Peng said in a leisurely tone, continuing to dictate the pace.

Ning Xuan said nothing more and attacked again. This time, Zang Peng dodged instantly. When Ning Xuan returned to his original spot, Zang Peng’s prior composure had vanished, replaced by shock.

Thankfully, my Six Senses are extraordinary. I sensed the danger ahead of time and chose to dodge. If I had reacted the same way as before, I would have definitely died!

"How... how did you do that?!" Zang Peng asked in horror.

After all, he had been using a secret technique. His dodge meant that Ning Xuan had broken through it.

"Don’t tell me you have a Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart," Ning Xuan countered, leaving Zang Peng speechless.

In truth, Zang Peng had already used this secret technique several times. For Ning Xuan, failing to decipher it after so many uses would have been a defeat. He had launched that last strike simply to lull his opponent into a false sense of security. However, despite his caution, his opponent still saw through the plan.

"Not yet. But after I capture you, I’ll go and find someone who does have a Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart," Zang Peng answered honestly.

Ning Xuan fell silent, his expression growing serious. Just as Zang Peng went on high alert, Ning Xuan suddenly asked, "Well, the least you could do is tell me how you managed it, right?"

Zang Peng was stunned. I’m your enemy! Why would I tell you? Are you an idiot—

His thought was cut short as he immediately understood the situation. This guy isn’t an idiot; he’s just despicable!

Ning Xuan had taken advantage of his momentary distraction to unleash a killing blow. Even with his swift reaction, Zang Peng was nearly killed. Wiping the blood from his forehead, he no longer dared to be the least bit careless. If he hadn’t explosively retreated and turned his head to the side in one fluid motion, it wouldn’t have just been his scalp that was sliced open!

"You truly are terrifyingly powerful!" His gaze turned frosty as he locked onto Ning Xuan, preparing to take the initiative himself. If he didn’t attack now, he might not get another chance!

Ning Xuan frowned. A strange aura suddenly filled the air as the sky began to dim. He didn’t need to look up to know that dark clouds were gathering overhead. He’s about to unleash his ultimate move!

Ning Xuan tried to attack, but it was suddenly as if a supreme true demon had descended. His Divine Soul felt as if it had been struck by lightning! In a daze, he could almost see a massive demonic entity, shrouded in black qi, causing heaven and earth to collapse and tearing the mortal realm asunder.

"Vile fiend, you dare try to disturb my Dao Heart!" Ning Xuan shouted, trying to use his Divine Vein Power, but he immediately found that he couldn’t.

His pupils contracted.

TOK!

A crisp sound echoed from within his consciousness. Ning Xuan immediately felt a cool sensation flow into his Divine Soul. The pressure from the supreme true demon, which had been suffocating his Divine Soul, began to recede.

Stunned for a moment, Ning Xuan was then overjoyed. The next moment, a wooden fish appeared in his hands. This was a treasure he had snatched yesterday from the scroll painting mystic realm created by Wang Ao. Most of his other treasures had been destroyed in the fight against the fire dragon, and he hadn’t paid this wooden fish much mind. He never expected it to activate on its own.

TOK! TOK! TOK!

As the wooden fish sounded a rapid beat, the oppressive dark clouds began to disperse. Zang Peng’s expression changed dramatically.

Then, with a BOOM, he tore through the void and vanished in an instant.

Ning Xuan stood there, stunned. What just happened? No, this won’t do! I have to find out what that was about.

The moment he put the wooden fish away, Ning Xuan shot off in the direction Zang Peng had fled. He had just begun to give chase when a voice called out from behind him, "Fellow Daoist, please halt."

The first two words sounded distant, but by the time the sentence was finished, a figure had already appeared in front of Ning Xuan.

Upon seeing Ning Xuan, a flash of surprise flickered in the eyes of the cultivator—a man of about fifty, dressed in a gray-and-white Daoist robe with a goatee. He immediately exclaimed, "I never would have thought a young master who hasn’t even entered the Dao could be so fast. Tian Shu truly is the foremost of the Seven Realms."

Before Ning Xuan could reply, he asked again, "May I ask which noble family you hail from, Young Master? You couldn’t possibly be from the Domain Lord’s Mansion, could you?"

Ning Xuan shook his head. "No, I am from Tianji."

"Tianji?" The Daoist’s expression changed. The moment Ning Xuan nodded, the man’s face filled with murderous intent. "So it was you who spied on our family’s ultimate treasure and killed my grandson?!"

Ning Xuan’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive. "Senior, you must be mistaken. I have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Hmph! Still feigning ignorance! I just heard the sound of the Exorcism Fish!"

"Exorcism Fish? What’s that? A fish that can make sounds...?" Before he could finish, Ning Xuan vanished from his spot.

"Trying to run? It won’t be that easy!" the Daoist bellowed, clawing at the empty air.

BANG!

The void shattered and Ning Xuan’s figure reappeared, but the Daoist’s grab had missed!

After a moment of shock, the Daoist flew into a rage. "No one escapes from Lu Jing’s grasp!" His furious roar shook the heavens as he pursued Ning Xuan relentlessly.

Ning Xuan pushed his speed to the absolute limit, but he still couldn’t shake his pursuer. A terrifying Majestic Pressure filled the world around them. This Daoist, Lu Jing, was a cultivator at the Seventh Layer Heavens of the Holy Realm at the very least! At full power, he could command the very forces of nature.

At that moment, the disparity between Martial Artists and Cultivators was on full display.