Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

"I'm willing, as long as you show enough sincerity." Ning Xuan wasn't surprised by the offer and responded to them.

"You know what we want to do?"

"Isn't it just to recruit me? I have no problem with that, but first, I need to know what kind of organization you are."

Qiu Hao was delighted and immediately said, "We are—"

"And why should we trust you?!"

Qiu Yu's words forced Qiu Hao to swallow the rest of his sentence.

"To show my sincerity, I'll return what I borrowed from you in the Trial Mountain Range." As Ning Xuan spoke, he returned the Dao Mark he had snatched from them in the cave.

Qiu Hao glanced at it before passing it to Qiu Yu, who confirmed it was indeed the Secret Technique they had found.

Now, even he had to believe Ning Xuan. After all, the Secret Technique was extremely profound, and not much time had passed. Ning Xuan certainly couldn't have mastered it yet. Still, he had returned it without hesitation. Such a proactive gesture of goodwill was proof enough.

"We are not affiliated with any organization!" Qiu Yu denied, cupping his fists toward the sky.

Ning Xuan instantly understood their origins.

They're the false emperor's lackeys!

"It's a real pity you didn't participate in the selection tournament. Since we've run into each other, why don't we have a match?" Ning Xuan suggested.

He still had one more thing to confirm.

"I'll take you on!" Qiu Hao stepped forward as he spoke.

A strange Majestic Pressure instantly swept through the area. However, when Ning Xuan also took a step forward, the pressure not only vanished, but Qiu Hao also let out a muffled grunt.

"You'll need to use your trump cards to stand a chance. I can kill those above my cultivation level." Ning Xuan's voice was soft, but it sounded incredibly harsh to Qiu Hao.

This bastard is insulting me! To think I'm a member of the Emperor's Shadow Group! Only the elite of the elite can join! Once inside, we undergo unimaginable trials! Being dispatched means our abilities have improved by leaps and bounds! With his level of cultivation, the old me wouldn't have even given Ning Xuan a second glance! Yet now, I'm being insulted by a man like this? This is intolerable!

"Kill those above your level? As if you're worthy!" Qiu Hao spat.

Though his body didn't move, the world around them instantly plunged into darkness. A colossal black phantom erupted from behind him. With a heaven-shaking roar, it lunged at Ning Xuan, intent on swallowing him whole! In that instant, terrifying Demonic Qi flooded the area. It seemed capable of devouring not just Ning Xuan, but all living things!

However, Ning Xuan simply smiled.

I've confirmed what I needed to know. They really do practice Demonic Cultivation Techniques! This means these two are definitely something like the false emperor's personal guard, reporting directly to him. They must know a lot of secrets!

As the devouring demonic maw drew ever closer, Ning Xuan didn't move an inch.

"Get back!" Qiu Yu roared, choosing to attack at the same time to fight Ning Xuan alongside his brother.

But it was too late.

BANG! SPLAT!

The devouring demon Qiu Hao had manifested was shattered by a Dao Mark that suddenly appeared. Both brothers were sent flying backward, coughing up blood.

"No... impossible!" Ignoring his injuries, Qiu Yu immediately scrambled to his feet, staring intently at Ning Xuan. That was the Dao Mark from the Secret Technique Ning Xuan had just returned! He had thought it was impossible for Ning Xuan to have mastered it. Yet that casual strike just now was like a slap to his face! Not only had Ning Xuan completely mastered it, but he could also apply it with consummate skill! This is completely outrageous!

Ning Xuan responded by attacking again. Qiu Yu reacted quickly this time. With an angry roar, a figure emerged directly from his body. It was no mere phantom; it began to solidify as it stepped forward! Its size swelled instantaneously to over a hundred feet! An evil aura swept across the area, threatening to transform the land into demonic soil!

At that moment, it wasn't just Ning Xuan who felt the pressure. Even Holy Realm experts far from the Domain Lord's Mansion were alarmed. Their expressions turned grave as they stared toward the mansion, as if facing a powerful enemy. One could only imagine the impact Ning Xuan was enduring.

However, faced with this scene, Ning Xuan let out a cold laugh.

The Dao Mark reappeared.

"As the Dao rises one foot, the Devil rises ten!" Qiu Yu roared.

The already massive demon's body instantly doubled in size! Ning Xuan's Dao Mark, which had just seemed overwhelmingly powerful, now looked minuscule in comparison.

Ning Xuan's expression remained unchanged; in fact, a mocking smile even touched his lips. This caused Qiu Yu, who was watching him intently, to pale.

A glint flashed in Ning Xuan's eyes.

Damn it! It's a trap!

Qiu Yu's reaction was incredibly fast, but it was all for naught.

The Dao Mark slammed into the demon's chest.

Immediately, the colossal demon that filled the sky exploded into a pile of muck with a thunderous roar!

PFFT!

Qiu Yu spat out a mouthful of blood, looking down in disbelief. A clear Palm Seal had appeared on his own chest.

"You..."

He only managed to utter a single word before his body exploded!

Nearby, Qiu Hao witnessed this and collapsed to the ground. Qiu Yu was considerably stronger than him, yet he had been effortlessly obliterated by Ning Xuan at full power. Killing him would be as easy as flipping a hand for Ning Xuan.

Qiu Hao wanted to flee, but just then, Ning Xuan's gaze fell upon him. He felt his body go rigid, his very blood seeming to freeze in his veins! Forget escaping, he couldn't even form a complete sentence to beg for his life.

"Don't... k-kill... me..."

Fortunately, Ning Xuan was a magnanimous man who wouldn't make things difficult.

"Don't be nervous. Don't be afraid. I'm not the type to bully the weak. Relax," Ning Xuan said reassuringly.

If this had happened earlier, Qiu Hao would have been enraged by such words. Now, however, he didn't dare make a peep.

"I have a few questions for you," Ning Xuan said. "Answer them honestly, and I'll let you live."

Before Ning Xuan had even finished speaking, Qiu Hao's voice had already sounded: "Please ask."

The way Ning Xuan had annihilated Qiu Yu had scared him witless. He didn't have the courage to even think about haggling.

"Do you know the Emperor's identity?"

Qiu Hao froze at the question.

"I'm asking you a question," Ning Xuan prompted.

"I know! I know! Although he's never admitted it, all of us in the Shadow Group know he isn't the real Emperor. He's a vile heretic—a Demon Lord!"

"Good. What was your primary mission here?"

"I don't know. Our initial mission was to lie low. A short while ago, we received new orders: watch the Teleportation Arrays in the major cities and kill anyone who came through!"

"The Teleportation Arrays in the major cities?"

"Yes. The major cities in the Dali Realm all have smaller Teleportation Arrays used for travel within the realm."