Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

Ning Xuan laughed after learning the rules. Aside from the prohibition against taking lives, the most important rule of this selection contest was that there were no rules!

Now, I can really cut loose. Heh heh, it’s a pity they don’t know I’m the champion of the Star Domain Grand Competition. Otherwise, they’d definitely regret having no rules. Ning Xuan snickered to himself.

By the time he arrived at the square, the place was already a sea of people. In the cities of Dali, the authoritative body was not the City Lord Manor, but the Tribunal. Joining the Tribunal was everyone’s dream, mainly because its members could enjoy themselves freely on the Golden Mile. That perk alone was enough to drive countless people to madness. Therefore, once the news had spread, every Cultivator in the city was stirred into action. The square itself was crowded with Cultivators clamoring to participate in the selection.

"In a quarter of an hour, the selection contest will begin. Anyone left standing on the square will automatically qualify. All others will be eliminated."

As this voice rang out, the crowd went wild. Zhou Nian’s mouth twitched. The voice had been a perfect imitation of his own, but he hadn’t said a word. He shot Ning Xuan a very strange look.

I have to display my authority as a Judge, but Ning Xuan hasn’t technically broken any rules... because there are no rules! There’s no telling what kind of mischief this kid will get up to.

He was already starting to regret that decision slightly, but soon, he managed a wry smile. The number of people participating in this selection was far greater than he had anticipated. A single glance revealed several powerful experts in the crowd. If it weren’t for his unbeatable status as a Judge, many of them would likely not even consider him a worthy opponent.

In the face of absolute strength, all schemes and plots are but illusions!

Compared to that, he was more curious to see how Ning Xuan planned to get onto the platform in the center of the square. After all, he was currently still down in the crowd. Zhou Nian looked at Ning Xuan, only to see that the young man wasn’t the least bit anxious. He was just folding his arms, watching the show unfold.

"Interesting," Zhou Nian muttered.

As the time drew ever closer, seeing that Ning Xuan still showed no intention of moving, he couldn’t help but send a telepathic message. "Are you giving up?"

"Not at all," Ning Xuan replied.

"Then why aren’t you making a move?" This made Zhou Nian even more curious.

Ning Xuan responded with a smile, "The time isn’t up yet, is it?"

"Fine. I’m looking forward to your performance." Zhou Nian’s anticipation grew.

Finally, the appointed time arrived and "Zhou Nian’s" voice rang out again, clear as day. "Now, I ask that those who have been disqualified please leave the platform."

On the elevated platform, the fighters who had used every trick in the book to secure their spot were left dumbfounded. After a moment of shock, Zhou Nian finally understood. I’ll be damned...

He looked at Ning Xuan, who winked at him. At the same time, he received Ning Xuan’s telepathic message, "Sir, I’m afraid you’ll have to explain the situation to them now."

Zhou Nian’s face turned green.

Right on cue, someone on the platform voiced their confusion. "Hold on, none of us have been disqualified, have we?"

The others nodded in agreement, and soon, more and more people turned their gazes toward Zhou Nian.

"What I... what I meant was," Zhou Nian stammered, "those standing *on the square* would qualify. Since you are all standing *on the platform*, you are, naturally, all disqualified."

His announcement left everyone utterly speechless.

"S-Sir... you can’t be joking, can you?" someone who had fought tooth and nail to secure their spot on the platform asked foolishly.

"Do I look like I’m joking?!"

Once Zhou Nian barked this, everyone on the platform fell silent.

At that moment, the cultivators down below on the square finally came to their senses. In an instant, they were catapulted from Hell straight to Heaven! The ones who had managed to stand firm on the platform were all incredibly powerful individuals. The ones below had thought they could only watch helplessly, but now the tables had completely turned! This was especially true for those who had briefly made it onto the platform but were ultimately pushed off due to a lack of strength. Their great sorrow turned into ecstatic joy. Immediately, many of them burst into tears, wailing with overwhelming happiness.

"The Judge is wise!"

"Sob, sob... Judge, you’re a true beacon of justice!"

"Judge, sir, rest assured, I will absolutely live up to your expectations!"

Many cultivators standing on the square, just like Ning Xuan, began to thank Zhou Nian profusely after the reality of the situation sank in. Their voices grew louder and their praise more extravagant. Zhou Nian’s usually stern face was soon beaming from ear to ear. He tried to restrain himself, but he couldn’t stop the grin from spreading. To receive such a barrage of praise... well, he had to admit, the feeling was damn good!

Any slight displeasure he felt toward Ning Xuan evaporated in an instant. In fact, his fondness for the young man reached a whole new level. A thought even flashed through his mind: if Ning Xuan truly couldn’t win in the end, he might just give him a helping hand.

Ning Xuan was also very pleased. With a simple stratagem, he had eliminated his strongest competitors. This would relieve him of a lot of pressure. He was another step closer to success!

"Ahem! All of you, what are you waiting for? Do I need to personally invite you down?!" Zhou Nian bellowed at the people on the platform.

Though reluctant, most of them could only step down. However, a few wore expressions of pure conflict, their gazes frequently darting toward where Ning Xuan stood. They knew full well where the initial announcement had come from. Bloated with confidence, they hadn’t bothered to expose the trick. But now it was a different story. To be eliminated by such a despicable tactic from that boy was intolerable! Some were ready to cause a scene, but Zhou Nian’s sharp words instantly shattered the courage they had just mustered. One by one, they trudged off the platform like defeated roosters.

Before leaving, however, every single one of these cultivators did the same thing: they shot Ning Xuan a warning glare, their murderous intent completely undisguised.

"You’ve offended quite a few people this time, and they’re all extremely powerful," Zhou Nian’s voice echoed in Ning Xuan’s ear. "If you end up winning, you might be able to salvage the situation. But if you lose, there won’t even be ashes left of you!"

"I’ve already eliminated such a large group. It would be pretty pathetic if I still couldn’t win," Ning Xuan replied nonchalantly.

"You’re a Martial Artist and they’re all Cultivators. I’m very curious—how do you plan to win?" Zhou Nian immediately asked. This was what he was most interested in. He was certain Ning Xuan wouldn’t play by the book, and his curiosity had been thoroughly piqued. The calmer Ning Xuan appeared, the more intense his curiosity grew.

"Honestly, I don’t know," Ning Xuan answered. "I’ll just play it by ear."

To hear such an infuriating statement delivered with such a calm tone made Zhou Nian want to rush out and beat him to a pulp. But seeing as the selection was about to truly begin, he decided to restrain himself for now.