Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 41: Ning Yang Defeats Lanyi, Ning Xuan Enters the Heavenly Stele!
An uneventful night passed.
「The next day.」
Exclamations rang out across the square at the crack of dawn. "Incredible! In such a short time, that Zhang Yun has already reached twentieth place on the Heavenly Stele’s combat power ranking!"
"He’s nineteenth now!"
"What, defeated?! He’s known for his speed! Aren’t Dao Xuan Masters supposed to be most afraid of speed? What happened?!"
The void split open, and Zhang Yuan appeared. Someone immediately asked him what had happened.
"I don’t know either. I was defeated the moment I met her..." Zhang Yuan was utterly bewildered. Staring at his final rank of nineteenth, he felt a bitter sense of unwillingness. He had originally thought that with his strength, he should have at least been able to enter the top ten.
"A Dao Xuan Master, and a woman at that. Let me give it a try."
Another person stepped forward, paid the ferryman some Element Crystals, and entered the Heavenly Stele Battlefield. This time, his progress was even faster. Before long, Zhang Yuan was pushed down to twentieth place.
"I recognize him. That’s Ling Tian from Ziyun County! He’s no older than seventeen, and his cultivation is at the Third Layer Heavens of the Profound Realm."
"I know him too! Don’t underestimate his Realm; his strength far surpasses it. He once single-handedly held his own against three masters at the Seventh Layer Heavens of the Profound Realm!"
"No wonder. In that case, he definitely has the qualifi—What?! Defeated again!"
Ling Tian had also failed to get past Si Lanyi. Stepping out from the rift in the void, he was still mumbling, "Impossible! How could a Dao Xuan Master strike so swiftly!"
A youth sneered, "Heh. This just goes to show, there’s always someone better."
"Damn it, Yang Mu! We’re both from Ziyun County, and you have the nerve to gloat! I admit you’re stronger than me. If you think you’re so good, why don’t you go?!"
The youth named Yang Mu announced haughtily, "Fine, I’ll go!"
The result was tragic. He also failed to get past Si Lanyi. Subsequently, several other youths made their attempts, and without exception, all were blocked by her.
"This isn’t fair! Her strength isn’t just eighteenth place; she should be in the top ten, no, the top five! By standing guard here, she’s blocking everyone’s path!"
Finally, someone couldn’t hold back any longer. His words immediately found a chorus of agreement, with everyone voicing their indignation.
"Miss, could you perhaps move your rank? No one can get past you while you’re in this position." Just then, Si Lanyi and Ning Xuan appeared. The ferryman, looking quite helpless, thought for a moment before speaking up. He had never encountered a situation like this before.
"Who says? Ning Xuan can," Si Lanyi replied, but her tone immediately shifted. "But since Elder has spoken, I’ll move."
"Good! By the way, there are rewards for reaching the top ten. Tenth place receives 500,000 Element Crystals, and the reward increases by an additional 50,000 for every rank you climb."
Si Lanyi’s beautiful eyes lit up. Immediately afterward, she disappeared from everyone’s sight.
Then, she began a sweeping advance, crushing all in her path. She shot straight up to fifth place in the combat power rankings!
Just when everyone thought this was her limit, Si Lanyi continued to advance until she reached second place.
Ning Xuan’s eyes burned. He knew Si Lanyi would definitely challenge Ning Yang.
Just as he expected, the runes on the Heavenly Stele blazed brilliantly as a great battle erupted in the highest battlefield. The fight lasted for a full half hour. In the end, the void split open, and Si Lanyi appeared before everyone.
The first-place position still belonged to Ning Yang.
Ning Xuan’s eyes narrowed sharply. He had witnessed Si Lanyi’s strength firsthand. She was a dual cultivator of Dao and Martial Arts. Her Martial Arts Cultivation had reached Profound Mystery, and as a Second Grade Dao Xuan Master, she had been able to confront and ultimately slay the Lord of Destiny City, who was at the Earth Realm. The projection Ning Yang left here was merely at the First Layer Heavens of the Profound Realm. How could she have lost?
Once Si Lanyi landed, Ning Xuan couldn’t help but ask, "Did you go easy on him?"
Si Lanyi shook her head, her expression grave. "He’s very strong! His cultivation can’t be measured by his Realm. Aside from your bloodline, he must have had some other extraordinary encounter!"
Ning Xuan nodded, thinking of his own circumstances. Staring at the Heavenly Stele, he was filled with a powerful fighting spirit. First Layer Heavens of the Profound Realm... I happen to be at that same level right now. A battle between equals wouldn’t be considered bullying him!
The surrounding youths were just recovering from their shock, their gazes toward Si Lanyi now filled with a mixture of wariness and respect. Hearing Ning Xuan’s boast, however, one of them couldn’t help but scoff. "PFFT! ’A battle between equals, not bullying him’... Quit your bragging. You should just stay close to Miss Si and watch us perform."
Si Lanyi’s beautiful eyes flashed. Ning Xuan simply shook his head.
The youth who had just spoken paid his Element Crystals and entered the Heavenly Stele Battlefield. He then bulldozed his way forward, breaking into the top ten and ultimately securing the tenth spot.
His record was left on the Heavenly Stele: Bai Yu of Wangyue County, age seventeen, Profound Realm Third Layer Heavens, Combat Power Ranking: Tenth.
As the Void Gate opened, Bai Yu emerged with an air of arrogance. He glanced at Ning Xuan with a mocking expression.
Ning Xuan paid him no mind.
"I’ll give it a try as well." Another youth glanced at Ning Xuan before stepping into the Heavenly Stele Battlefield.
In the moments that followed, a wave of challengers entered the battlefield. Whether they were young prodigies who had yet to make a move or those previously blocked by Si Lanyi, they all chose to test their might.
The rankings on the Heavenly Stele changed constantly. This situation continued until after noon, when no more competitors stepped forward.
Ning Xuan looked and had to admit the competition was fierce. Mo Ye, who he had seen ranked as high as fifth last night, had already dropped to twenty-fifth.
"I heard you killed Dong Xinchuan with a single sword strike last night. How come you’re so composed today? Couldn’t be scared, could you?" a youth suddenly said to Ning Xuan.
Ning Xuan recognized him, as his name was on the Heavenly Stele: Guan Ting of Donghe County, age eighteen, Profound Realm Third Layer Heavens, Combat Power Ranking: Eleventh.
"Excuse me, can you die in the Heavenly Stele Battlefield?" Ning Xuan asked the ferryman.
The ferryman shook his head. "No, but the sensation of death will be incredibly real."
After thanking the ferryman, Ning Xuan looked at Guan Ting. "In that case, the Heavenly Stele Battlefield doesn’t sound very interesting. Why don’t we have a battle right here?"
Guan Ting glanced at Si Lanyi, then shot Ning Xuan a disdainful smile and didn’t respond.
"If you’re a man, prove yourself in the Heavenly Stele Battlefield!" another youth on the list interjected. It was a good thing Si Lanyi was present; otherwise, they might have already come to blows.
"Is there an extra reward for getting first place?" Ning Xuan asked the ferryman again.
He was in desperate need of Element Crystals. The 500,000 Element Crystals he had received from the Chang Le Gambling Den had already been halved since his arrival. Furthermore, after breaking into the Profound Realm, the number of Element Crystals required to advance one’s Realm had multiplied significantly.
The ferryman nodded. "Yes, but the reward is unknown and random. You’ll find out what it is when the time comes."
"Stop pretending! I admit you have some skill, but you’re no Divine Son of the Martial God Temple. For someone at the First Layer Heavens of the Profound Realm to even make it into the top twenty would be a miracle!"
"Exactly. You share the same surname, Ning, yet it’s the difference between a firefly and the bright moon. You’re lucky today, otherwise..." another youth chimed in, his voice trailing off as he glanced at Si Lanyi.
Ning Xuan said no more. He paid his Element Crystals and directly entered the Heavenly Stele Battlefield.
Immediately, to the astonishment of the onlookers, Ning Xuan’s rank began to climb.
