Chapter 122: On the Eve of the Battle

Chapter 122: On the Eve of the Battle

Today’s battles concluded, leaving only the final match of the Opening Battle—the decisive duel between Ning Xiaochuan and Ming Yang.

The time? Tomorrow.

That night, all the warriors relaxed. Some even started a betting pool, wagering on how many moves Ning Xiaochuan could withstand against Ming Yang.

Many believed Ming Yang could kill Ning Xiaochuan with a single strike, and heavy bets were placed on this outcome.

Of course, some gambled on higher odds, betting that Ning Xiaochuan could last two, three, or even four moves.

The more moves he survived, the higher the payout.

The highest odds? Ning Xiaochuan defeating Ming Yang. The payout? A staggering one-to-one-hundred-eighty. Yet, no one placed a bet on this outcome—it was like throwing money into the water.

A stunningly beautiful woman entered the chaotic stone house and approached the betting table, clutching a cloth bag that jingled with movement.

Thud.

She tossed the bag onto the table and declared, "I want to place a bet."

Every warrior’s gaze locked onto her, instantly captivated by her beauty and figure. Their eyes glazed over in awe, as if their souls had left their bodies.

Heavens… How could such a breathtaking beauty exist in this world?

Indeed, her beauty was suffocating—willow-leaf brows, eyes like gleaming pearls, a jade-like nose, skin as fair as snow, a voluptuous chest, and a slender waist.

Though only fifteen or sixteen, she carried the alluring charm of a mature woman, like a bewitching enchantress.

Though many warriors were spellbound, their desires burning like fire, none dared disrespect her. Most recognized her.

She was Xie Mengyao, one of the top ten prodigies of this generation.

With a soft, seductive gaze, Xie Mengyao rested her Jade Fingers lightly against her lips, studying the odds on the table. In a honeyed voice, she asked, "Big brothers, why isn’t there an option for a draw?"

Her voice was so sweet it made the warriors’ bones melt.

One warrior, utterly entranced, swallowed hard and said, "The gap between Ning Xiaochuan and Ming Yang is too vast. If they fought to a draw, it would still count as Ning Xiaochuan’s victory. Miss Xie, who are you betting on?"

Xie Mengyao poured seven pieces of Green Gold from her bag, letting them clatter onto the table. "I’m betting on Ning Xiaochuan to win."

Each piece weighed 300 grams, gleaming with a verdant light that made every warrior’s heart race.

"Miss Xie, you’re staking your entire fortune on Ning Xiaochuan? Aren’t you afraid of losing it all? You know, in the Emperor’s Ruins, without money to pave your way, you might face… trouble." A warrior with a large black mole on his lip smirked.

Xie Mengyao feigned a frightened, delicate expression. "Really? What should I do then? But I’ve already placed my bet—I can’t take it back now."

The sight of her vulnerable demeanor sent the black-moled warrior into a frenzy. Breathing heavily, he reached out to touch her Jade Fingers, grinning. "Don’t worry, big brother will take care of you—AH!"

The warrior with a large black mole at the corner of his mouth hadn’t even touched the hem of Xie Mengyao’s robe when his fingers were cleanly severed. A spurt of blood erupted from his wrist as he let out a pig-like screech, clutching his wrist and writhing on the ground in agony.

"Dear brother, someone like you isn’t qualified to take care of me," Xie Mengyao said with a bewitching smile, sheathing her bloodstained sword. She strode out of the stone house, leaving behind the stunned gazes of the warriors inside.

One by one, the warriors felt a chill of fear—glad they hadn’t provoked this demoness, or else they would have been the ones suffering.

Once outside, Xie Mengyao’s demeanor shifted, turning icy. Her eyes gleamed with a piercing coldness as she approached another stone house, hands clasped behind her back. "The city lord ordered you to conquer Princess Lanfei and become her consort," she said. "But today, Princess Lanfei has already declared she’ll marry Ning Xiaochuan. It seems you’ve already lost ground to him."

Inside the stone house, Ming Yang sat cross-legged on a stone table, his massive black sword hovering before him. Dark radiance pulsed from the blade, merging almost seamlessly with his body. His aura was sharp as a sword, his presence colder and more lethal than the weapon itself. Without opening his eyes, he replied indifferently, "It doesn’t matter. Once I kill Ning Xiaochuan tomorrow, Princess Lanfei will be mine sooner or later."

"Then I hope you don’t disappoint the city lord," Xie Mengyao said before her body dissolved into a wisp of black mist, dispersing like ink in water and vanishing into the frigid night.

Over a hundred kilometers away from Camp Nine, in an oasis dotted with Populus euphratica trees, Yu Qianqian stood beneath one with crimson leaves. Her graceful figure and silken black hair made her look like a peerless beauty stepping out of a painting.

"Whoosh—"

The yellow sand before her stirred, forming a massive vortex as if some unknown creature were churning beneath. From the swirling sand emerged a figure shrouded in Profound Qi, clad in black robes, his form slightly translucent. He knelt before Yu Qianqian, his voice hoarse as he spoke, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Yu Qianqian produced a jade token, pinched between two fingers, inscribed with the words "Great Golden Roc King."

At the sight of the token, the Profound Qi-wrapped figure bowed even lower in reverence.

"From today onward, all members of the Golden Roc Prince’s Manor within the Emperor’s Ruins will answer to me," Yu Qianqian declared. "You are Yu Qinghe, correct? Tell me, how many of our people are currently in the Emperor’s Ruins?"

The man remained on one knee, tendrils of Profound Qi swirling around him. "Thirty-two first-term disciples, eleven second-term disciples, three third-term disciples, five instructors, and one academy master. These are the most direct forces under the Golden Roc Prince’s Manor. There are also many others who pledge allegiance to us, but their loyalty is questionable, so they cannot be trusted with secrets. If Your Highness issues any commands, they will be relayed through the ranks—those below need only obey."

Yu Qianqian nodded. "How many experts can you mobilize right now?"

"A maximum of five second-term disciples can be mobilized, though none are direct members of the Golden Roc Prince's Manor. They cannot be entrusted with overly covert matters."

Yu Qianqian, the treasured daughter of the Great Golden Roc King, had personally entered the Emperor's Ruins, undoubtedly carrying out an extremely important mission. If the task was truly critical, naturally, outsiders could not be involved.

Yu Qianqian said, "Dispatch them to retrieve Ming Yang’s head. I don’t want him to see tomorrow’s sunrise."

The man kneeling on the ground asked, "Is this His Highness’s intention?"

"You need not ask too much. The more you know, the less it benefits you," Yu Qianqian replied coldly.

"Understood."

The kneeling figure sank into the yellow sand, vanishing without a trace in moments.

Red leaves drifted down from the poplar trees.

Yu Qianqian stretched out a hand, catching one of the leaves, her gaze fixed in the distance. "I hope tonight marks Ming Yang’s end. Xiaochuan, this is all I can do for you."

Originally, she had considered ordering the elimination of Princess Lanfei as well, but in the end, she restrained her emotions. Killing Ming Yang alone would already cause an uproar in the Emperor's Ruins, prompting a thorough investigation by the Emperor's Martial Palace.

If Princess Lanfei were also killed, the repercussions would be even greater. The forces the Golden Roc Prince's Manor had cultivated within the Emperor's Ruins might be completely eradicated, dealing a heavy blow to the manor itself.

Even as the daughter of the Great Golden Roc King, she would face severe punishment.

Yu Qianqian returned through the night, covered in windblown sand, and stealthily slipped back into her stone dwelling. Pushing open the door, she was slightly startled to find Ning Xiaochuan sitting inside.

Ning Xiaochuan used a wooden stick to lift the wick of the lamp, brightening the room. "Your Highness, where have you been so late at night?"

Yu Qianqian quickly regained her composure and walked over leisurely. "A man barging into this princess’s chamber in the dead of night—aren’t you afraid I’ll break your legs and throw you out to feed the dogs?"

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "First, I am still just a youth, not yet a man. Second, breaking my legs would be no easy feat for Your Highness. Third, finding a dog in the Emperor's Ruins is no simple matter either."

Seeing Ning Xiaochuan’s earnest expression, Yu Qianqian nearly laughed. "Coming to see me so late—could it be you wish to borrow my sword courage to deal with Ming Yang?"

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head lightly. "Though Ming Yang’s cultivation is formidable, killing me won’t be easy for him. I came to discuss matters of heart-nurturing and alchemy with Your Highness. Having practiced the Heart Nurturing Path for ten years, you should be able to answer many of my questions."

"You have a duel tomorrow, yet you’re still in the mood to study heart-nurturing and alchemy?" Yu Qianqian felt like the bystander fretting more than the emperor himself. Others were worried sick for him, yet he remained utterly indifferent.

How could such a person exist in this world?

Ning Xiaochuan smiled and said, "Didn’t I already mention that it won’t be easy for Ming Yang to kill me? Of course, saying I feel no pressure at all would be a lie. That’s why I came to discuss heart-nurturing and alchemy with Your Highness—to ease the tension in my heart. Only by facing the decisive battle with a calm mind can I unleash my full strength."

Yu Qianqian admired nothing more than Ning Xiaochuan’s unwavering confidence. Sitting across from him, she began discussing the intricacies of heart-nurturing and alchemy—from the origins of Heart Nurturers to the possibility of resurrection, and even the differences between Corpse Slaves and humans.

By the time the first rays of sunlight appeared on the horizon, Ning Xiaochuan finally stepped out of Yu Qianqian’s stone house, his mind now far more tranquil.

With his current state of mind, he was more than ready to face the decisive battle ahead.