Chapter 245: Borrowing the Heavenly Emperor’s Power

Chapter 245: Borrowing the Heavenly Emperor’s Power

The short sword in Ning Xiaochuan’s hand was none other than the legendary blade once wielded by the Heavenly Emperor in his youth—the Heavenly Emperor’s Blade.

This blade possessed a demonic nature, harboring wicked thoughts and transforming into a cursed weapon. Thousands of years ago, it had been discarded by the Heavenly Emperor himself.

Though cast aside, its infamy remained vast.

The Heavenly Emperor’s Blade spoke in a human voice, "Ning Xiaochuan, I’ve already saved your life. Will you now become my blade slave?"

The voice resonated directly in Ning Xiaochuan’s ears, unheard by anyone else.

"Impossible!"

Ning Xiaochuan’s refusal was absolute. "You flew out of the Mystic Beast Manual on your own. I never begged for your help. You can return to it right now."

The Heavenly Emperor’s Blade replied, "Young man, you’re too stubborn. Strength of will is admirable, but excessive rigidity is foolishness. Can’t you see this ancient demon is about to kill you?"

Clutching the blade, Ning Xiaochuan stood atop the Sacrificial Altar, merging with the phantom of the Heavenly Emperor.

No one knew he was conversing with the Heavenly Emperor’s Blade.

The blade continued to persuade him, "This ancient demon’s cultivation has reached the pinnacle—it is undying and indestructible. Even the Demon Palace failed to annihilate it after a millennium of suppression. Your only chance of survival is to become my blade slave. There is no other choice."

"There is. I can control you."

Ning Xiaochuan’s gaze was resolute as he channeled the power of the Heavenly Emperor’s phantom into his palm.

Blood from the Sacrificial Altar surged toward him, swirling around his body and the blade.

Ning Xiaochuan intended to harness the power of sacrifice to command the Heavenly Emperor’s Blade.

This sacrificial ritual had claimed the lives of livestock, Mystic Beasts, slaves, and even two Martial Venerables. The resulting energy was terrifying, and Ning Xiaochuan now directed all of it to subdue the blade.

Planting his feet firmly, Ning Xiaochuan gripped the short sword with both hands. Around him, waves of blood churned like a tempest, and the Heavenly Emperor’s Blade in his grasp felt as heavy as 500,000,000 kg.

With every ounce of his Martial Arts Profound Qi, he slowly raised the blade.

The phantom of the Heavenly Emperor loomed behind him like a towering giant, gazing down upon the world as it awakened a divine might, merging it into Ning Xiaochuan’s body.

At this moment, Ning Xiaochuan’s form grew immensely tall, as if the Heavenly Emperor’s true self had descended.

Xiao Ling’er crawled out of the blue sandalwood-colored ancient carriage, blinking her eyes as she stared at Ning Xiaochuan on the altar. "Daddy! It’s Daddy!"

Yu Ningsheng lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and clearly saw a five-pointed divine mark forming between Ning Xiaochuan’s brows, strikingly similar to the starry emblem on the Heavenly Emperor’s forehead. It exuded an overwhelming pressure.

The Herb Gatherer, who had been poised to strike, halted abruptly in shock. His eyes locked onto Ning Xiaochuan’s chest, where seven radiant lights flickered, transforming into seven Divine Bridges.

"The Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace!"

The Herb Gatherer was both astonished and elated, finally understanding why Ning Xiaochuan carried the Heavenly Emperor’s aura.

"Hahaha! Ning Xiaochuan, I’ll remember your name!"

Ning Xiaochuan’s eyes turned icy as he swung the blade downward, unleashing a strike capable of swallowing mountains and rivers.

The Herb Gatherer countered with a Sky-Overturning Palm Strike, his palm crisscrossed with blood-red patterns, expanding to dozens of meters in length. A single finger could crush a mountain peak.

"Boom!"

The Sword Qi tore apart the palm imprint, sending the Herb Gatherer flying. His body was split in half by the blade's energy, and a rolling Blood Mist surged from within.

The left half of the Herb Gatherer's body rose, suspended in the Blood Mist.

Everyone could clearly see that within that half-body, a Demonic Heart was pulsating. With each beat, the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi trembled in resonance.

Even after being cleaved in two, he still refused to die.

"What a formidable Heavenly Emperor's Blade! Truly worthy of being the weapon wielded by the Heavenly Emperor in his youth. Impressive, impressive!" Though only half his body remained, the Herb Gatherer still wore a smile—one that was utterly chilling.

After unleashing this strike, Ning Xiaochuan's Martial Arts Profound Qi was completely drained, and the sacrificial power receded like a tide. The Heavenly Emperor's Blade also slipped from his control, flying back into the Mystic Beast Manual.

Ning Xiaochuan felt unbearably weak, his vision darkening, his body devoid of strength, swaying unsteadily.

Thud!

He barely managed to steady himself with the Heavenly Emperor's Blade, preventing himself from collapsing off the Sacrificial Altar.

Below the altar, everyone had witnessed the terrifying power Ning Xiaochuan had just unleashed. Though it was only a single strike, it carried the force to split heaven and earth.

"Ning Xiaochuan actually obtained the Heavenly Emperor's Blade! That's a weapon once wielded by a deity, imbued with divine essence—comparable to a Quasi-God artifact!" Many eyes burned with greed as they fixed on the blade in Ning Xiaochuan's hand.

Were it not for the immediate threat of enemies, many would have lunged to seize it.

This was a Divine Battle Weapon—not only immensely powerful, but possibly containing insights into the Heavenly Emperor's martial path. No one could remain unmoved.

"Daddy!"

Xiao Ling'er, with a pair of white wings sprouting from her back, radiated a soft Fairy Light. Each feather was pure and flawless, her hair jet-black and lustrous, making her look like a little fairy.

She fluttered down onto the altar, wrapping her tiny arms around Ning Xiaochuan in an attempt to support him.

But her strength was far too meager. Her small face flushed red from exertion, yet she couldn't lift him.

Barefoot, she circled around Ning Xiaochuan, pondering how to help him.

"Xiao Ling'er, get away from here!" Ning Xiaochuan's expression darkened as he scolded her.

Pouting, she shook her head stubbornly and tugged at his arm. "Daddy, let's go! We don't have to play with them anymore!"

Ning Xiaochuan's gaze swept below the altar, landing on Yu Ningsheng's figure beneath a maple tree. Standing there, she was breathtakingly beautiful, wreathed in swirling Profound Qi, mysterious and ethereal.

In that brief moment of distraction, Xiao Ling'er ducked beneath him, unfurling her white wings. With a flap, she carried Ning Xiaochuan—unsteadily—off the altar, transforming into a streak of white light as she fled toward the outskirts of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House's Ancestral Grounds.

The Herb Gatherer had already restored his body, merging the two halves back together. He lashed out with a clawed strike toward Ning Xiaochuan.

Boom!

A burst of white light erupted from Xiao Ling'er's body, repelling the Herb Gatherer's hand.

The moment his fingers touched the white radiance, an enormous celestial body appeared before him—like a star crashing toward him—forcing him to immediately withdraw his attack.

"What kind of origin is this?"

For the first time, a grave expression crossed the Herb Gatherer's face as he inspected his bloodied fingers.

This was caused by the white light emanating from Xiao Ling'er, a radiant glow that seemed capable of purifying all evil in the world.

The Herb Gatherer wanted to strike again to probe the source of Xiao Ling'er's power, but the Jian Pavilion Marquis soared up and intercepted him, slashing with his sword and forcing him back.

"Marquis, go after Xiaochuan. I shall deal with this ancient demon," declared the Great Golden Roc King, seated atop his chariot, exuding an aura that dominated the heavens. Above the sky, a golden cloud condensed, with streaks of lightning flickering within its depths.

The Great Golden Roc King was finally making his move.

Known as one of the Yulan Empire's four top experts and the court's foremost figure, he was the only one in the imperial court capable of rivaling the Demon Emperor Duanmu Han.

The Golden Roc Prince's Manor housed countless talents and wielded an army of thirty million soldiers, its influence so terrifying that even the Jade Emperor treaded carefully around him.

However, the Great Golden Roc King had not acted in a long time, leaving many uncertain just how formidable his cultivation had become.

With a single palm strike, the Great Golden Roc King unleashed a golden river of energy, tearing open an alternate dimension and dragging the Herb Gatherer into it.

A figure of his caliber could not unleash his full power without devastating consequences—even the Ancestral Grounds' barrier of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House would be unable to withstand it. Thus, he cleaved open the alternate dimension to contain their battle.

Several confident experts also ventured into the alternate dimension, including the Qilin King, the Peacock Ming King, the Divine Dragon King, the Cloud Marquis, the Jade Emperor, and two second-rank State Preceptors from the Daoist sect.

While a Martial Venerable-level battle erupted in the Ancestral Grounds of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, Xiao Ling'er carried Ning Xiaochuan on her back, fleeing unsteadily, swaying as if she might crash to the ground at any moment.

"Put Xiaochuan down!" The Jian Pavilion Marquis pursued at breakneck speed.

Though uncertain of Xiao Ling'er's identity, he sensed the aura of a Mystic Beast from her. Suppressing his injuries, he gave chase, determined to reclaim Ning Xiaochuan.

Despite her unstable flight, Xiao Ling'er moved with astonishing speed, like a streak of white light. "Old Grandpa, stop chasing Daddy and me!"

The Jian Pavilion Marquis transformed into a streak of Sword Qi, tripling his speed, nearly catching up to her.

Suddenly, an icy Sword Qi shot up from below, intercepting him.

Startled, the Jian Pavilion Marquis immediately landed, scanning his surroundings warily. He sensed a Martial Artist lurking in the shadows, yet his spiritual senses failed to pinpoint the person.

The hidden figure was a master at concealing their martial aura.

Yu Ningsheng stood in the alley behind the Jian Pavilion Marquis, her blood ceasing to flow, her breath and heartbeat completely still—as if she had merged with the world around her.

Only a wall separated them.

The Jian Pavilion Marquis's cultivation was simply too high. The slightest hint of her presence would alert him.

Her palms grew damp with sweat, her heart pounding with tension. If her identity were exposed, the Jian Pavilion Marquis would undoubtedly execute her without mercy.

Unable to act recklessly, the Jian Pavilion Marquis could only watch helplessly as Xiao Ling'er carried Ning Xiaochuan away. His severe injuries and the uncertainty of the hidden expert's strength left him no choice but to remain cautious.

For now, he could only wait and adapt.

Half an hour passed, and the Jian Pavilion Marquis tightly furrowed his brows, detecting a trace of Profound Qi. With a single punch, he shattered the wall of the alley behind him.

No one.

Snowflakes drifted in the air.

"Truly cunning. You'd better not fall into my hands. Who could it be? Why take Ning Xiaochuan?"

The Jian Pavilion Marquis frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Xiao Ling'er's figure had long since vanished.

"Since this person didn’t immediately kill Ning Xiaochuan, it means he’s at least not in immediate danger." The Jian Pavilion Marquis immediately returned to the Marquis House and ordered a city-wide search, determined to find Ning Xiaochuan.

After completing all this, he swiftly returned to the Ancestral Grounds of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ling'er carried Ning Xiaochuan into the Jade Viewing Tower, barging into Yu Ningsheng's private quarters and placing him on a large, warm bed imbued with the faint fragrance of orchids.

This was Yu Ningsheng's bed.

!