Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 43: A few little Caramis, let’s go together!
Ning Yang’s projection appeared, his words domineering.
Ning Xuan sneered, "You’re just as arrogant as he is! I hope you inherited more of his abilities; otherwise, I’ll be very disappointed."
The Qi Sword stabbed forward again. This time, there wasn’t even a flicker of Element Force. Yet, Ning Yang’s projection’s throat was pierced once more. It wasn’t that he didn’t dodge, but that he simply couldn’t.
Ning Yang’s projection’s eyes narrowed. "I underestimated your Sword Dao Realm!"
But Ning Xuan’s sword strike was still ineffective. Runes lit up, and Ning Yang’s projection restored itself again.
"But so what? In this place, I am the absolute master. You can do nothing to me!" An unparalleled confidence emanated from Ning Yang’s projection.
"Is that so?" A smile touched the corner of Ning Xuan’s mouth as the Qi Sword reappeared. This time, it suddenly swept sideways.
SWISH!
With a flash of sword light, a head soared into the sky as a fountain of blood sprayed dozens of feet high.
Runes flared to life across Ning Yang’s headless body and his flying head, attempting to merge back into one.
WHOOSH!
The sword light flashed again, pinning the falling head to the Heavenly Stele.
"How is this possible?!" the head of Ning Yang’s projection screamed. "How could your sword penetrate the Heavenly Stele?!"
Ever since gaining consciousness, he had studied the Heavenly Stele’s Runes, fully aware of their divine and extraordinary nature. Forget mundane objects; even a true Peerless Divine Weapon couldn’t scratch the Heavenly Stele in the slightest. Yet now, his head was pinned to it.
"Why do you think I let you keep regenerating?" Ning Xuan asked. "I should actually thank you. If you hadn’t used the Runes, I would never have discovered the profound mysteries they held. Considering this, and the fact that you’re merely a projection, I won’t bother taking the Spirit Tablet from your bones."
As Ning Xuan spoke, he recalled the sword with a gesture.
The head of Ning Yang’s projection fell, landing squarely on the headless body. He burst out laughing. "Haha, Ning Xuan, oh Ning Xuan, my dear brother, you will pay for your arrogance and pride—"
His laughter abruptly twisted into a look of shock.
"Why... why are the Runes failing? I can’t repair my body!" Ning Yang’s projection cried out in alarm.
Ning Xuan approached and slapped his face with the flat of the Qi Sword.
SMACK!
As the head rolled like a ball, Ning Xuan chuckled, "Since you’re conscious, I wonder if your real body can sense this."
Ning Yang’s projection froze, stunned.
Realizing the situation, Ning Xuan couldn’t help but feel a flicker of disappointment. "It seems not. I was hoping you could deliver a message for me. What a pity..."
After a pause, he continued, "No matter. From here, at Little White’s speed, it will take ten days at most to reach The Capital. When I arrive at the Ning Family’s doorstep, someone will be sure to deliver the message for me!"
Ning Xuan’s eyes sparkled with an unprecedented light. Ning Yang’s branch of the family had basked in glory for six long years. That was enough. In The Capital, he would claim the justice he was owed.
With that said, Ning Xuan ignored the still-struggling projection and strode toward the Heavenly Stele. Runes illuminated its surface, and a portal appeared. Ning Xuan stepped through.
「Outside.」
Seeing Ning Xuan emerge, the youths outside glanced at the Heavenly Stele. One of them sneered, "Didn’t someone say a fight between equals wouldn’t be bullying? Why’d you come scurrying out like that?"
"I won," Ning Xuan said. "Too bad you won’t live to see the proof."
No sooner had he spoken than the youth’s head soared into the sky.
At that very moment, at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Stele, the name ’Ning Yang’ vanished, replaced by ’Ning Xuan.’
Dong Yang County, Ning Xuan, aged eighteen, First Layer Heavens of the Profound Realm, combat strength ranked first!
Everyone’s expression changed in unison. What has this guy done? His confidence is terrifying!
"You. Come out and fight," Ning Xuan said, his gaze suddenly locking onto one person: Guan Ting, who had been ranked eleventh before being pushed down to twelfth by Ning Xuan’s challenge.
Guan Ting couldn’t help but take a step back. "You’re brandishing your sword like a madman. I’m not stupid, why would I fight you?"
A smirk touched Ning Xuan’s lips. "You aren’t scared, are you?" This was the very question Guan Ting had thrown at him before he entered the Heavenly Stele. Now, Ning Xuan was returning the favor.
"Don’t worry," Ning Xuan added. "Against you, I won’t even need a sword."
Enraged, Guan Ting’s eyes lit up. "You said it yourself!"
Ning Xuan just smiled.
"Come! Let me see if the new number one is just an empty title!" An unparalleled confidence surged from Guan Ting. He was known for his skill in hand-to-hand combat, and his Cultivation was at the Third Layer Heavens of the Profound Realm. More importantly, he was a living person, not a mere projection left on the Heavenly Stele Battlefield. If Ning Xuan dared to look down on him, he would make him pay the price.
"Take this!" As Element Force pulsed through his body, Guan Ting’s punch tore through the air, creating a sonic boom. The strike was incredibly fast. By the time the crowd heard the explosion of sound, the fist was already in front of Ning Xuan.
Then, to the utter shock of the crowd, Ning Xuan caught the punch with one hand.
He stood there perfectly still, not moving an inch. Guan Ting’s face turned crimson with effort, yet he couldn’t advance at all. It was an absolutely shocking scene. Guan Ting was two full Realms higher than Ning Xuan, and his Realm hadn’t been artificially inflated with Elixirs; it was built on solid, genuine training. Against an ordinary Martial Artist, he could fight opponents three levels above his own; his fists were invincible. But now...
"Is that all?" Ning Xuan shook his head and released his grip, his face a mask of disappointment.
"I’m going to kill you!" Guan Ting roared in fury.
Unfortunately for him, before he could unleash his killing move, Ning Xuan’s hand shot out and crushed his throat.
Ning Xuan took his Storage Ring and calmly pocketed it. Just like that, a young prodigy ranked twelfth on the Heavenly Stele Battlefield had fallen.
The entire area fell silent.
But Ning Xuan had no intention of stopping. "Your turn," he said, turning his attention to Bai Yu.
Bai Yu’s face went pale, and he stammered, "N-Ning Xuan, I didn’t say anything."
"Is that so? I remember you saying I was all talk and that I should watch your performance. Well, your show is over. Now it’s my turn."
Bai Yu forced a smile. "A misunderstanding. It was all a misunderstanding." What a joke. His Realm was only on par with Guan Ting’s, and his strength was barely a sliver better. Guan Ting’s fate was a fresh, bloody image right before his eyes, and he had no desire to die.
Ning Xuan sneered. "So, because I’m stronger than you, it’s a misunderstanding? What would you have done if I were weaker?"
"I... Ning Xuan, don’t push me too far! You killed a projection of the Martial God Temple’s Divine Child! If he finds out, you’re a dead man! You should know, countless geniuses consider entering the Martial God Temple their life’s goal! Zhang Yuan, Ling Tian, Yang Mu, you will all be fellow disciples of the Divine Child one day. Are you just going to let him act so outrageously?!"
Bai Yu was clever. Seeing that Ning Xuan wouldn’t let him go, he immediately tried to rope in the other talented youths.
The young men he named turned green. Just as they were about to explain, Ning Xuan’s gaze swept over them.
"You bunch of small fry. Come at me together."
The group was bewildered. Small fry? What the hell is that?! TCH! He’s talking about us! That son of a bitch! That’s definitely not a compliment!
However, Bai Yu was overjoyed and immediately admonished, "Ning Xuan, how dare you! These are all geniuses scouted by the Martial God Temple, and you dare to hold them in such contempt!"
Zhang Yuan and the other two felt an overwhelming urge to murder Bai Yu. However, after weighing the pros and cons, they remained silent and stood with him. The four of them against an unarmed Ning Xuan gave them at least a seventy percent chance of victory. If they did nothing, it would be tantamount to making an enemy of the Martial God Temple and the Divine Child, Ning Yang. The choice was obvious.
Bai Yu breathed a long sigh of relief. A smile began to spread across his face.
