Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

This despicable creature... he's too vicious! I absolutely cannot let him live!

Just as Kong Xiu was pondering what to do, Ning Xuan suddenly made his move.

WHOOSH!

A True Element Giant Hand instantly seized Kong Xiu by the neck. His body was immediately lifted into the air. He clawed at the hand, trying to break free, but he simply couldn't contend with the binding force contained within it.

"You... what... do you... want... to do..." Veins bulged on Kong Xiu's face, his eyes bloodshot as he struggled to force the words out.

Ning Xuan looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Are you stupid? Obviously, I'm going to crush you to death!"

Kong Xiu's eyes widened. With a strength that seemed to come from nowhere, he spoke more clearly than before. "Wait... wait... Shangguan... Shangguan Qingrou!"

Ning Xuan paused.

Kong Xiu immediately felt the power within the True Element Giant Hand lessen considerably. He heaved an internal sigh of relief and roared with rage in his heart. You mongrel, I'll remember this! If I don't tear you to shreds, I, Kong Xiu, am not a man!

But just then…

CRACK!

He clearly heard the sound of his own throat bone shattering. His eyes rounded in disbelief as he stared at Ning Xuan. Shangguan Qingrou is still his hostage... how does this guy dare?!

Regrettably, he would never know the answer. Not only had the True Element Giant Hand snapped his neck, but pure True Yuan also surged into his skull, instantly annihilating his Divine Soul.

"Brother Ning, what happened?!"

"Brother Ning, don't worry about me, kill him!"

Not far away, Shangguan Qingrou was frantic. Ning Xuan was actually making a deal with Kong Xiu for her sake! Kong Xiu definitely meant her harm! Shangguan Qingrou was both moved and filled with self-blame.

Just then, she heard Ning Xuan murmur, "Did you think I wouldn't dare to kill you just because you mentioned her name?"

After a moment of stunned silence, Shangguan Qingrou laughed through her tears, a great weight instantly lifting from her heart.

As for whether Ning Xuan could find her, Shangguan Qingrou held no hope. Despite the close distance, she had been calling out the entire time, yet Ning Xuan had shown no reaction. The implication was already clear. But then, her heart surged with boundless hope once more as she heard Ning Xuan whisper, "Considering that guy's arrogant nature, Shangguan Qingrou must be hiding somewhere nearby!"

The moment she heard this, Shangguan Qingrou also heard the sound of a door being pushed open. Before she could rejoice, however, Ning Xuan's voice rang out again. "No one? That can't be right..."

Immediately after, she could clearly hear the sound of Ning Xuan pacing.

I'm in a specially created space!

With this realization, Shangguan Qingrou despaired once again. No matter whose handiwork this was, it would be absolutely impossible to find her without prior knowledge of this space's location. The method was incredibly vicious.

"Could there be another space hidden in here?"

When Ning Xuan's words reached her, Shangguan Qingrou was overjoyed. The next moment, she felt a barrier around her break.

And then she saw Ning Xuan.

After a moment of shock, Shangguan Qingrou threw herself at him.

"I'm sorry, I'm late," Ning Xuan said softly, gently easing her out of his embrace.

Shangguan Qingrou's expression dimmed for a moment, but she forced a smile and shook her head.

"Hurry!"

"The killer is up there!"

At the sudden shouts, Ning Xuan vanished from in front of Shangguan Qingrou. Not delaying for a second, she rushed out after him.

As soon as she exited the door, she saw the standoff. On her side was only Ning Xuan, while opposite them stood row after row of armored soldiers. All of their spears were pointed at him, and their numbers were still growing.

But none of them moved. They had all seen Kong Xiu's body on the ground behind Ning Xuan, his eyes wide open in death. They also saw the Soul Suppressing Bow slung over Ning Xuan's shoulder.

They knew the strength of the Head of the Courtyard. Even he had been no match for this man. If they rushed forward rashly, there would only be one outcome.

They waited.

"The disturbance was started by Kong Xiu. His name is Ning Xuan, and he is a friend of Princess Jiang Chan," Shangguan Qingrou said as quickly as she could, moving to Ning Xuan's side. She didn't want the situation to escalate.

"Our Little Princess has no such friend!"

As a voice rang out, a middle-aged man with the air of a commander appeared behind the armored soldiers. Without a word, the soldiers automatically parted to create a path for him. The middle-aged man strode forward slowly. Though he did nothing, his aura intensified with each step, and the overwhelming Majestic Pressure became even more terrifying.

"Who are you?!" Shangguan Qingrou was still the one to ask.

"Fang Meng, one of the four Great Leaders of Jiang City," the middle-aged man announced, halting as he finished speaking. Standing before the ranks of armored soldiers, he glanced at Kong Xiu's corpse before his gaze fell upon Ning Xuan, his expression quite intrigued.

"You're an Outer City Leader, aren't you?" Shangguan Qingrou promptly corrected.

Fang Meng's smile stiffened, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. A moment later, however, he nodded. What she said was true. Besides, this was the Jiang Family's territory; he wouldn't dare to falsely elevate his own status here.

"Whether Princess Jiang Chan has a friend named Ning Xuan is something you should confirm, not come here to trouble us! If it turns out to be true, do you think..."

As Shangguan Qingrou spoke, the armored soldiers behind Fang Meng couldn't help but step back.

That's right! If what they said was true, they would be done for! They had dared to point their spears at a friend of the Jiang Family's Little Princess. They wouldn't even know how they died!

However, Fang Meng cut Shangguan Qingrou off. "Impossible! What I'd like to know is who leaked the fact that our Little Princess isn't in the city to you?!"

Shangguan Qingrou was stunned.

The previously silent Ning Xuan suddenly spoke up. "Jiang Chan isn't here? Then what about the young lady who returned with her not long ago?"

Fang Meng's eyes narrowed sharply. Instead of answering Ning Xuan, he abruptly drew his sword.

CLANG!

The longsword gleamed coldly, its tip pointed at Ning Xuan, barely a foot from his throat.

"Speak! What else do you know?!" he bellowed, the very space around them vibrating with the force of his voice.

Ning Xuan ignored the sharp gleam of the blade and answered with a question of his own. "If Jiang Chan isn't here, then Aunt Jin and Aunt Qin must be, right?"

"You actually..."

Fang Meng's face changed drastically, and he fell silent. Soon after, two soldiers at the very back of the formation leaped from the city wall, sprinting toward the city at top speed.

Atop the wall, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

But Fang Meng was in no hurry to act. Based on what this man had just said, it was enough to summon the Inner City Leader. He only needed to keep this person here. As for fighting him, that was out of the question.

After all, his strength was only slightly greater than Kong Xiu's when Kong Xiu wasn't using the Soul Suppressing Bow. When Kong Xiu actually wielded that bow, even Fang Meng had to be cautious.

Now, Kong Xiu had fallen and the Soul Suppressing Bow had changed hands. This meant the youth's strength was absolutely formidable. Although Fang Meng currently held an advantageous position, which would likely prevent the Soul Suppressing Bow from exerting its full power, still...