Chapter 236: Return to the Imperial City
A demonic light surged from Ning Xiaochuan’s head, coalescing into the phantom of a massive divine monument, standing 27 meters tall and covered in inscriptions. Thousands of ancient characters danced across its surface.
Chains coiled around the divine monument, clattering loudly.
This was the Tenth Divine Ability—the Annihilation Divine Monument.
Ning Xiaochuan refined Xiao Cheng’s entire Blood Qi and Profound Qi as if refining a medicinal herb. A portion of this power was transferred into the Annihilation Divine Monument, making it more solid and formidable. The demonic aura grew denser, striking fear into the hearts of onlookers.
Even while cultivating, Ning Xiaochuan felt he could barely control the Annihilation Divine Monument, as if its power might backlash and consume him.
The potential of the Annihilation Divine Monument was boundless. In the future, it might even summon forth the true divine monument to suppress all existence in the world—slaying gods and buddhas alike.
Boom!
Ning Xiaochuan’s Martial Arts Heart Palace trembled violently as the Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi erupted, surging wildly into his meridians and merging with his blood. His blood boiled, and even his muscles and bones seemed to burn.
Whoosh!
Ning Xiaochuan’s body moved, leaping into the air before landing 9 meters away.
A faint white glow emanated from his skin as seven radiant streams of energy retracted into his heart, merging back into his seven orifices.
Transcendent Realm Fourth Layer.
Ning Xiaochuan made a small cut on his finger, letting a drop of essence blood fall into the river.
Roar!
The essence blood fused with the river water, transforming into two crimson divine tigers that roamed the surface, churning up waves before eventually dissipating.
A single drop of blood had manifested two divine tigers.
"When one drop of blood can manifest ten divine tigers, gathering them all will allow them to coalesce into a true Dragon. That would truly be called ‘Blood Qi Like a Dragon.’ However, I am still far from reaching that realm."
Ning Xiaochuan circulated his Profound Qi, directing it to the wound on his finger. The cut healed instantly, vanishing without a trace as the glow of Profound Qi flickered.
He then turned his gaze to another "Ning Xiaochuan" not far away.
This was a body propped up by a layer of Mortal Skin, still seated cross-legged like a meditating monk.
With a wave of his arm, Ning Xiaochuan stored this Mortal Skin away, placing it along with Xiao Cheng’s corpse into the Heaven and Earth Bag.
Without delay, he set off toward the Imperial City.
Three days later, Ning Xiaochuan arrived at the Imperial City Border Market and stood outside Haitang Manor.
Everything around Haitang Manor appeared normal, unchanged from before.
However, as Ning Xiaochuan approached, he sensed something unusual—an undercurrent of hostility, as if Martial Artists lurked in the shadows.
The walls of Haitang Manor had been heightened, resembling the fortifications of a city.
Watchtowers and arrow towers had been built atop the walls, with guards patrolling at all times.
The moment Ning Xiaochuan appeared, he was recognized, and the gates were opened to welcome him inside.
"Is the Netherworld Envoy in the manor?" Ning Xiaochuan asked as he walked forward.
The elderly man following Ning Xiaochuan was a Martial Artist with cultivation at the Ninth Level of the Divine Body Realm. He spoke respectfully, "Ghost Manor plans to establish a branch at Yunhu Gathering, but the current ruling power there is the Situ Family. The Situ Family is a 500-year-old lineage with numerous Martial Artists and strong political ties to three Marquises in the imperial court. Their background is formidable, making it extremely difficult to defeat them."
"The Netherworld Envoy has personally gone to Yunhu Gathering to subdue the Situ Family, this tough nut to crack. Only by suppressing the Situ Family can Yunhu Gathering and the surrounding Six Border Markets fall into Ghost Manor's grasp."
Ning Xiaochuan frowned slightly and said, "Since the Netherworld Envoy isn’t at the manor, summon the Left and Right Guardian Kings. I have important matters to discuss with them."
"The Left Guardian King has also gone with the Netherworld Envoy to attack the Situ Family at Yunhu Gathering. Currently, only the Right Guardian King remains to oversee the manor."
Ning Xiaochuan said, "I’ll head to Purple Qi Garden first. Have the Right Guardian King come see me immediately. By the way, what’s your name?"
The elderly man bowed slightly. "This humble one is named Wang Shuji, also serving as the head of Ghost Manor’s South Mountain Gathering branch."
Ning Xiaochuan nodded faintly. Wang Shuji’s cultivation at the Ninth Level of the Divine Body Realm barely qualified him to lead a branch. After all, Ghost Manor had been established for less than two years and was still severely lacking in talent.
"Now, go prepare a high-quality coffin for me. Make sure it’s lavishly crafted—I intend to gift it to someone."
After saying this, Ning Xiaochuan walked toward Purple Qi Garden.
Gifting a coffin?
Wang Shuji’s heart skipped a beat. Though young, this Manor Lord was clearly a ruthless character.
The Left Guardian King of Ghost Manor was Lin Sanzhi, while the Right Guardian King was Murong Hua.
Both had once been Dragon Warriors, their cultivation unfathomable, making them peerless experts.
Of course, within Ghost Manor, few knew their true identities, only that these two Guardian Kings were among the strongest Martial Artists.
Upon hearing Ning Xiaochuan had returned from Nine Death Cliff, Murong Hua immediately came to pay his respects, bowing slightly. "Greetings, Manor Lord."
Murong Hua’s injuries had long healed, but his cultivation remained stuck at the Ninth Level of the Transcendent Realm, unable to break through to the Earthly Venerable Realm.
Ning Xiaochuan sat by a stone table and smiled. "Right Guardian King, please take a seat."
Murong Hua didn’t stand on ceremony and sat directly across from Ning Xiaochuan.
The moment he sat down, he sensed the overwhelming aura emanating from Ning Xiaochuan—a natural presence only a true Martial Arts powerhouse could cultivate.
Two years ago, Ning Xiaochuan had been a green and inexperienced youth. Now, in less than two years, his strength was incomparable to before, revealing the bearing of a true expert.
Murong Hua was inwardly startled. Indeed, a tiger father begets no dog of a son. Though Ning Xiaochuan was not yet twenty, his Martial Arts prowess was extraordinary, enough to overshadow his peers.
"Manor Lord, did you discover anything at Nine Death Cliff?" Murong Hua asked quietly.
He knew Ning Xiaochuan had gone to Nine Death Cliff to uncover the truth of what happened eleven years ago, a matter he deeply cared about.
Because he was also a victim.
Ning Xiaochuan did not hide the truth and said, "I met Senior Qi Chong in the Demon Sect's Iron Prison."
Murong Hua urgently asked, "Qi Chong isn't dead?"
Ning Xiaochuan shook his head and sighed, "He wasn’t dead at first. Unfortunately, by the time I met Senior Qi Chong, he was already on his last breath and eventually died in the Iron Prison."
Murong Hua lamented, "Qi Chong was once the Right Commandant General, a man of great prestige. To think he would end up dying in prison. So, Manor Lord, did you find any evidence of Yue Wuyang’s betrayal of the imperial army back then?"
Ning Xiaochuan shook his head and said, "The true mastermind behind this incident isn’t Yue Wuyang, but..."
He lowered his voice, "The Jade Emperor."
Murong Hua had long suspected the Jade Emperor was the one pulling the strings, so when Ning Xiaochuan revealed this, he wasn’t surprised—only deeply worried.
"We can’t investigate this any further. Our current strength is already inferior to Cloud Marquis House. If we dig into the Jade Emperor’s involvement, we’ll all end up dead without a burial place."
Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "You’re right. We can’t investigate further. But Yue Wuyang must die. This time, I’m returning to the Imperial City to deal with him."
At the mention of Yue Wuyang’s name, a thick killing intent flashed in Murong Hua’s eyes. "Yue Wuyang’s influence is immense now, and Cloud Marquis House’s power in the imperial court is at its peak. Dealing with him will be extremely difficult."
"That’s why we can’t confront him directly. We must use Ghost Manor’s forces."
Ning Xiaochuan asked, "How has Ghost Manor developed so far?"
Murong Hua picked up a chess piece from the stone platform and placed it at the center. "Ghost Manor is a dark force—a newly risen one. But the Imperial City is already dominated by a powerful dark faction that has unified the city’s underworld. For Ghost Manor to force its way in would be like an egg striking a rock. We’d likely be crushed before we even gain momentum."
Ning Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes. "Dark Emperor City."
"Exactly. Dark Emperor City."
Murong Hua continued, "Dark Emperor City has existed for over a thousand years, even longer than the Jade Emperor’s dynasty. Its roots in the Imperial City run deep—even some nobles are part of it. The gap between Ghost Manor and Dark Emperor City is still vast, so we can’t infiltrate the Imperial City directly. We must take a different approach."
"The Netherworld Envoy’s plan is for Ghost Manor to first unify the Border Markets, securing control over the dark forces in all 217 Border Markets."
"Dark Emperor City’s main strength lies in the Inner City and Outer City. The Border Markets are their weakest point—and our best chance to break through."
"By controlling the 217 Border Markets surrounding the Imperial City, we would effectively strangle its throat, gradually eroding Dark Emperor City's influence from the outside in. Once Ghost Manor fully develops, it will be time for the decisive battle against Dark Emperor City. Once Dark Emperor City is defeated, we will become the hidden rulers of the Imperial City, and dealing with Yue Wuyang will be as easy as turning over a hand."
Ning Xiaochuan nodded and said, "The 217 Border Markets are crucial strongholds guarding the Imperial City. The nobility, sects, and the imperial court all have forces stationed there. Each Border Market is a tough nut to crack, and taking control of all 217 is no easy task."
Murong Hua nodded in agreement. "After two years of development, Ghost Manor has only managed to control 36 Border Markets. To seize some of the more stubborn ones, we even assassinated a Marquis and slaughtered his entire household to intimidate those who dared resist Ghost Manor."
Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "Ghost Manor must expand, but it’s best not to shed unnecessary blood."