Zhuge Qingsong rose to his feet.

The others followed suit upon seeing this.

Even those who hesitated showed a look of relief at this moment.

Because with Zhuge Qingsong taking the lead, they no longer had to struggle.

No need to force themselves to kneel before the young man in front of them.

Just then.

Cough cough cough—

A burst of coughing from Jiang Ning interrupted everyone’s thoughts.

"Marquis, are you... unwell?" Zhuge Qingsong asked hesitantly.

"No matter, just a small ailment. The curse power has seeped into my lungs, so it’s inevitable to have some coughing from time to time," Jiang Ning said calmly, his expression serene.

"Marquis, this time you came for...?" a family elder behind Zhuge Qingsong took the opportunity to ask.

"Naturally, I’ve come because of the Zhuge family!" Jiang Ning replied.

"Marquis, you’ve been struck by curses, it’s already entered your lungs, yet you’ve traveled thousands of miles to Wolong Ridge, it is truly... noble!" Zhuge Qingsong clasped his fists and saluted Jiang Ning vigorously.

Due to Zhuge Qingsong’s intense motion, one could clearly see the veins bulging on his hands, and detect the trembling of his hands.

His heart seemed very moved.

Then he added, "However, I just heard the Marquis mention... the curse power has seeped into your lungs! This matter is of utmost importance. I wonder about the Marquis’ current strength... how much can you exert?"

His question also voiced the doubts of the people behind him.

Because they all knew that although Jiang Ning was one of the Nine States Patrol Envoys, the Zeshan State Patrol Envoy.

In terms of strength, he was far inferior to the other state patrol envoys.

The other eight state patrol envoys were all top First-Grade Martial Arts experts in their respective states.

The weakest was in the Mixed Element Realm.

The strong ones were in the Unity Realm.

And as for Jiang Ning, though he was a prodigy, he was just a Second Grade Great Grandmaster.

Though the Second Grade Great Grandmaster is strong, they do not have the audacity to look down upon him.

But compared to the other state patrol envoys, his strength was on a different scale.

And the fact that Jiang Ning was cursed had spread all over the realms, which they had already heard about.

Now witnessing it firsthand, they knew it was not a rumor, but the truth.

"Sixty to seventy percent," Jiang Ning said lightly.

"Sixty to seventy percent!" Zhuge Qingsong frowned upon hearing this, then saluted Jiang Ning again: "The Marquis in such condition, yet still traveled thousands of miles to our Zhuge Manor, we are truly grateful! But the Marquis’ current state is not suitable for fighting, even strongarming would only mean dying in vain, and the Seventeenth Princess’ safety is tied to the Marquis!"

As Zhuge Qingsong’s words fell.

The atmosphere at the manor’s entrance became heavy.

The eyes of the family elders collectively fell on Jiang Ning.

They saw Jiang Ning’s complexion was somewhat pale, not as rosy as an ordinary martial artist.

Watching Jiang Ning covering his mouth and coughing lightly again.

Such a phenomenon clearly indicated a lung problem.

Otherwise, with a Second Grade Great Grandmaster’s body, he would be immune to cold and heat, free of illness and disaster.

At this moment.

A family elder behind Zhuge Qingsong stepped forward voluntarily.

"Marquis, for your benevolence, the Zhuge family is grateful from the heart."

"Yet, as the Family Head said, today’s situation is not an ordinary martial conflict, but a death trap formed by several Grandmasters!"

"The Marquis is alone, with two fists hard to match four hands. Moreover, with infirm health and diminished strength, assistance from the Marquis would mean sacrificing his life in vain."

"Having reached this point, our Zhuge family does not wish to drag anyone into the water unnecessarily."

Another robust family elder with a calm aura stepped forward, his body imposing like thunder.

"Marquis, given your current health, it is best for you to return! The matter of the Seventeenth Princess’ safety is not child’s play."

Upon seeing this.

Jiang Ning smiled faintly, not showing any anger.

Though these words seemed to belittle him, they also conveyed the spirit of the Zhuge family.

Knowing that his assistance could provide a glimmer of hope for the Zhuge family, yet they resolutely refused his involvement.

Such an attitude only made him feel that the Zhuge family deserved to survive.

"All of you have misunderstood, this time I’ve come to assist, not alone. I’ve merely ridden a crane to arrive first, and soon Marquis Wen Yuan and others will arrive personally," Jiang Ning said.

"Marquis Wen Yuan... " "Shen Wenyan..."

The Zhuge family members whispered to each other, discussing in low voices.

"Additionally, Marquis Wen Yuan has also invited the Nine River Dragon, Wang Wenzong!" Jiang Ning added.

"Nine River Dragon, Wang Wenzong?!!" Zhuge Qingsong suddenly looked up at Jiang Ning, face full of astonishment.

"To even invite him!!"

"With Wang Wenzong’s help, our Zhuge family is saved!!"

"I knew... how could the Dongling Marquis be so confident by himself, turns out the Nine River Dragon will arrive soon!"

"..."

Amidst Zhuge Qingsong’s astonished expression, the family elders all displayed joyful expressions.

Wolong Ridge was not far from Guangning City.

Regarding Wang Wenzong, who resided in Guangning City, they knew a lot.

He was a fearsome man with several Grandmaster lives taken by his hands.

They did not doubt that the current Wang Wenzong would be weaker than before, because they knew that the Eighteen Dragon Heads were not truly human, but half-dragon beings, physically powerful and robust in vitality.

Their longevity was far greater than ordinary people.

A hundred years and more was not the limit for the Eighteen Dragon Heads.

At this moment, the previously heavy atmosphere dissipated, and a visibly joyful expression spread across the faces of the Zhuge family’s elders.

"It seems the name of Nine River Dragon Wang Wenzong is truly renowned!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

"Marquis, Princess, please come inside," Zhuge Qingsong respectfully gestured for the two to enter, his expression a bit exhilarated.

Obviously prompted by the news he heard from Jiang Ning.

The imminent arrival of the Nine River Dragon Wang Wenzong instantly gave him hope for survival.

...

Meanwhile.

Li Sixiang and others stood on a hill ten miles outside Zhuge Manor.

But with his sight, he could see every movement at the entrance of Zhuge Manor, even witnessing Jiang Ning’s subsequent cough.

Watching Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue proceeding inside the manor, disappearing behind the structures, he then withdrew his gaze.

"It seems the intrusion of curse power indeed reached his internal organs!"

Then he couldn’t help but smile and shake his head.

"Why does the Vice Alliance Hierarch smile?" the slim-waisted woman with a purple veil covering her face noticed Li Sixiang’s expression and asked.

"I laugh at Jiang Ning’s midway downfall, regardless of his astonishing talent, but the doomed situation is set, and he doesn’t have much chance of survival!" Li Sixiang said.

At this time.

The middle-aged man with a stubbly face, who had been drinking alone, also set down his wine jug: "A prodigy who doesn’t rise is not a prodigy, but a dead man!"

"Who would have performed the Curse Killing Skill on him!" the slim-waisted woman asked again.

"Besides those people, who else!" the man with a righteous appearance spoke calmly, then continued: "Those people don’t want to be suppressed for another eight hundred years! Even for just a one percent possibility on him, those people won’t gamble! The Martial Saint of that year already oppressed them for over eight hundred years without a breather."

"Should we go over now?" the drinking man asked.

"No rush!" Li Sixiang shook his head confidently: "Since we established it to be at noon, then it shall be at noon! Do you all have any objections?"

"The arrangements are up to the Alliance Hierarch!" the slim-waisted woman put her hands on her hips, looking at the distance, with a gentle smile as if she thought of something.

...

Time passed.

The sky was overcast, dim and gloomy.

In the main hall of Zhuge Manor.

As another thirty minutes gradually burned away.

The initially relaxed atmosphere became tense again.

"Marquis..." an elder who couldn’t sit still finally spoke.

"Huaiyuan, be quiet! Do you not believe the words of the Marquis?" Zhuge Qingsong, sitting upon the main seat, spoke with authority.

At the words.

The restless elder immediately shut his mouth, suppressing the anxiety in his heart.

Jiang Ning picked up his tea and took a shallow sip, moistening his throat, but still couldn’t suppress the urge to cough rising from his lungs.

Cough cough—

He covered his mouth and coughed lightly twice, his face slightly flushing red.

Seeing this, Zhuge Qingsong exchanged a furtive glance with another Grandmaster Realm elder, and then shook his head silently.

Almost every little while, he could see Jiang Ning coughing.

And this cough was obviously not fake, but a tickling pain he couldn’t suppress from his lungs.

Looking at Jiang Ning who was so youthful in appearance, he also felt a sense of compassion.

To have such transcendent talent yet die young, he knew how cruel that was.