Chapter 264: The Top Gold Medal Assassin

Chapter 264: The Top Gold Medal Assassin

The air was thick with intricate patterns of Profound Qi, weaving together into a net that solidified into a barrier. The space in the Jade Viewing Tower's rear courtyard was completely sealed off. Clearly, this female assassin had made thorough preparations, intending to kill Ning Xiaochuan in the most covert manner possible without alerting anyone in the tower.

Moreover, she practiced Daoist techniques.

Ning Xiaochuan stood on the ground, where the surface seemed to shimmer with a faint glow. Every step he took sent ripples spreading outward.

"Who dares to assassinate the Manor Lord?" Situ Fengwu demanded coldly.

Ning Xiaochuan raised a hand to stop her, his eyes fixed on the female assassin hovering in the air with an amused expression. "Mengyao, weren’t you supposed to be bathing and changing? Or is this your idea of a change—into a killer’s garb?"

The assassin in midair let out a bell-like laugh, her snow-white legs faintly visible beneath her black robe as a powerful demonic aura radiated from her. "How did you know I would kill you?"

A cold wind swept through, lifting the edges of her black robe with a sharp rustling sound.

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "Tianchenzi sent you to my side precisely so you could kill me. The moment I showed signs of growing too powerful, it would be your time to strike."

"But with my current cultivation, how could I possibly kill you?" the assassin teased.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Because you’ve concealed your true strength. Your real power doesn’t lie in Martial Arts Divine Abilities—it’s in Daoist arts."

Xie Mengyao was indeed a dual cultivator, mastering both martial arts and Daoist techniques. While her martial prowess paled in comparison to Ning Xiaochuan’s, her Daoist cultivation was profound, rivaling that of fourth or fifth-grade State Preceptors.

The assassin said, "I practice the 'Demonic Heaven Resolution Art,' which allows me to merge my Daoist cultivation into my blood, rendering it undetectable. There should be no flaws. How did you know?"

Ning Xiaochuan answered, "Truthfully, it was just a guess. I wasn’t entirely sure until you made your move. Do you know when I first started suspecting you?"

"When?" the assassin asked.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Do you remember how you told me you left the Emperor's Martial Palace? You claimed your identity was exposed, and Ming Yang hunted you down, forcing you to flee. But with your supposed cultivation at the time, you couldn’t possibly have opened the Heavenly Gate, let alone escaped. That could only mean one thing—your true strength was far beyond what you showed."

"The Manor Lord is truly meticulous. No wonder my master warned me not to underestimate you. It seems I still did," the assassin sighed.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "I’m curious—what was your true status in the Dark Emperor City? Since Tianchenzi sent you to me, you must be no ordinary figure."

The assassin laughed. "The Manor Lord is so interested in me—could it be you’ve fallen for me?"

Ning Xiaochuan swung his arm, a blood-red light gathering in his palm as he summoned the Demonic Sword. Beneath his feet, a sinister image of Mountains of Corpses and Seas of Blood materialized. "I just don’t want you to miss your chance to speak before it’s too late."

The female assassin also condensed boundless demonic energy around her body, forming a layer of golden armor in the air that enveloped her slender and graceful figure. The Dragon Scale Black Sword in her hand emitted wisps of flames as she said, "Since the Manor Lord wishes to know, I’ll tell you. Xie Mengyao isn’t my real name. My former identity was the Dark Emperor City’s top Gold Medal Assassin—Meng Ying."

"Swish!"

The female assassin’s body dissolved into six strands of black smoke, vanishing from the spot and completely merging with the world.

Ning Xiaochuan immediately activated the "Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi," enveloping his entire body in radiant light and forming a massive Profound Qi Shield.

Meng Ying’s movement technique was extremely bizarre, combining the strengths of both Daoist and martial arts, dispersing her form like a demon and blending into nature, disappearing without a trace.

Even with Ning Xiaochuan’s mental transmission, it was difficult for him to pinpoint her location.

As the Dark Emperor City’s former top-ranked Gold Medal Assassin, it was no surprise that she possessed such formidable stealth and concealment techniques.

"Whoosh!"

A black sword light flashed past Ning Xiaochuan’s eyes at an extreme speed.

The light was so fast it was nearly imperceptible.

Before Ning Xiaochuan could even register the sword light, it had already vanished.

He felt a slight pain on his neck, followed by the warm trickle of blood.

"So fast."

Ning Xiaochuan touched the wound on his neck with his fingers.

It was only a shallow cut, not meant to take his life.

But it was clear—if she had intended to kill him, that single strike would have been enough.

"Manor Lord, do you think my 'Disintegration Phantom Shadow' is faster, or your 'Rainbow Teleportation'?"

The demonic mist in the air coalesced into an eerie yet stunning figure.

Holding the Dragon Scale Black Sword, her red lips curled slightly as her beautiful eyes fixed on Ning Xiaochuan with a playful smile.

Ning Xiaochuan, with a drop of blood on his fingertip, remained utterly calm. "If we were at the same cultivation realm, my speed would undoubtedly surpass yours."

"Heh. Manor Lord, don’t treat me like some gullible little girl. I won’t lower my cultivation just to fight you on equal footing. For an assassin, killing is what matters. As for duels and displays of strength, that’s something students of the Emperor’s Martial Palace do." Meng Ying’s voice carried a sweet, mocking lilt.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Then why didn’t you kill me just now?"

"Manor Lord, you’re young, handsome, and extraordinarily talented—destined to soar like a Dragon across the heavens. At such a young age, you’ve already become an Advanced Heart Nurturer, and you’ll surely rise to become a Great Heart Nurturer in the future. How could I bear to snuff out someone like you in their cradle? I’d rather flatter you than harm you." Meng Ying replied.

"An assassin who shows mercy will die quickly."

"That depends on who they’re dealing with, doesn’t it?"

Ning Xiaochuan said, "So, by your logic, we can still negotiate?"

"Of course. If the Manor Lord is willing, we can discuss anything." Meng Ying smiled.

That earlier sword strike was Meng Ying’s way of proving her strength to Ning Xiaochuan—demonstrating that she had the power to kill him.

Only by doing so could she strengthen her bargaining position.

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Tianchenzi is your master. If you don’t kill me, how will you explain yourself to him?"

Meng Ying said, "Tianchenzi merely treats me as his sword for killing. He thinks I’m still a little girl, a puppet for slaughter, but he doesn’t realize no one is willing to remain a puppet. Everyone wants to control their own fate."

Ning Xiaochuan raised an eyebrow. "You want to become the Manor Lord of Ghost Manor?"

"Hehe, I don’t have such grand ambitions. I only wish to be the Manor Lord’s wife. Tell me, Manor Lord, is that too much to ask?" Meng Ying dissolved into a wisp of black mist, drifting before Ning Xiaochuan before reforming into her human shape.

Meng Ying was well aware that, given her family background and martial prowess, she might become the world’s deadliest assassin—but she could never rule Ghost Manor.

The reason Ning Xiaochuan could become its Manor Lord was due to the backing of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House and the support of experts like Lin Sanzhi and Murong Hua.

Thus, Meng Ying knew exactly what she wanted—and, more importantly, whom she should align with.

Ning Xiaochuan’s potential far surpassed Tianchenzi’s. That was why she was willing to negotiate with him.

For Ning Xiaochuan, this was hardly an excessive demand. Not only would it spare him a deadly confrontation, but he would also gain a stunning beauty as his wife. What could be better?

Yet, while dreams may be beautiful, reality is often cruel.

"Whoosh—"

A tear split open in the Heaven and Earth Barrier.

Yu Ningsheng stepped through the rift, her white robes fluttering, her black hair like willow catkins. A moon-white veil obscured her peerless beauty.

The entire space was enveloped in freezing energy, spontaneously forming snowflakes that swirled around her as a gentle breeze lifted them, coalescing into a snow dragon.

Meng Ying’s expression shifted slightly as she dissolved into six streams of black Profound Qi mist.

When she reformed, she stood ten meters in the air, the Ice-Fire Twin Wings unfurled behind her. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "Yu Ningsheng."

This was utterly unexpected.

The Heaven and Earth Barrier she had set up was exquisitely profound—ordinary people wouldn’t even detect it, let alone break through.

Yet Yu Ningsheng had torn it open and walked in.

How could a mere courtesan possess such formidable power?

A faint smile touched Ning Xiaochuan’s lips as he sheathed the Demonic Sword. "Saintess, it seems I owe you my life once more."

Yu Ningsheng tread lightly upon the snow. "I doubt that. In your heart, you’re probably annoyed at my interference. After all... the woman standing opposite you might very well become the future Manor Lord’s wife. Aren’t you afraid I’ll harm her?"

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled but offered no explanation.

"I don’t think you’re interfering—you’re just afraid I’ll steal Ning Xiaochuan away, aren’t you?" Meng Ying laughed mockingly. "So the Demon Sect Saintess has been hiding in the Jade Viewing Tower, even masquerading as the Imperial City’s top beauty. If this were to spread, I doubt you’d have a place left in the Imperial City."

"Do you truly believe you’ll leave the Jade Viewing Tower alive today?" Yu Ningsheng extended a jade-white finger, Profound Qi swirling from her fingertip into rippling white waves.

The Profound Qi transformed into a blizzard, manifesting an Ice and Snow World that froze the Heaven and Earth Barrier Meng Ying had constructed.

"Hisss—"

Meng Ying stood in the void, her black robe fluttering, her jade-like skin glowing faintly. She thrust the Dragon Scale Black Sword into the Void's Spiritual Node, freezing the entire space.

Yu Ningsheng's refined Martial Arts Divine Abilities possessed the power of the Ice and Snow World, freezing the Void's Spiritual Node solid—even the Profound Qi was transformed into threads of ice.

"Saintess Yu truly lives up to her reputation as the foremost genius of the Demon Sect's younger generation. Your martial prowess is truly admirable," Meng Ying remarked. With a flick of her wrist, she shattered the ice with her sword, while wisps of flames emanated from her body, coalescing into a Fire Lotus that repelled the surrounding Freezing Energy, melting it into white mist.

It was clear that in this first confrontation, Yu Ningsheng had gained a slight advantage, forcing Meng Ying into a defensive stance.

However, this had merely been a contest for dominance over space—not a true battle.

The final outcome was still anyone's guess!