Chapter 272: The Arrival of the Princess and the Princess Consort

Chapter 272: The Arrival of the Princess and the Princess Consort

Above, Yu Qianqian stood atop a four-meter-long White Crane, dressed in a goose-yellow brocade robe, her hair flowing gracefully, her figure ethereal—like a celestial maiden descending from the clouds.

The White Crane landed outside the Heavenly Gate, causing the Law Enforcement Team soldiers to quickly step aside. She leaped lightly from the crane’s back, landing softly on the ground, instantly intimidating the two soldiers who had been preparing to arrest Ning Xiaochuan.

No one dared to offend Princess Qianxi of the Golden Roc Prince's Manor.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Over a dozen Martial Artists followed closely behind Yu Qianqian, their figures flickering like phantoms as they lined both sides of the street, glaring fiercely at Han Fu and the other Law Enforcement Team elites.

Han Fu had rushed to intercept Ning Xiaochuan upon hearing news of his return to the Emperor's Martial Palace, precisely to avoid encountering Princess Qianxi. Yet, she had arrived anyway.

"Now dealing with Ning Xiaochuan will be difficult," Han Fu sighed inwardly.

Though Ning Xiaochuan had once defeated Ming Yang, Han Fu still didn’t take him seriously—just a mere freshman. The only person he truly feared was the Princess Consort standing before him now.

"Your Highness, Ning Xiaochuan has committed the grave crime of killing a fellow disciple. As the captain of the Law Enforcement Team, it is my duty to uphold justice and bring him to the Law Enforcement Hall for interrogation. I implore Your Highness not to interfere," Han Fu said, neither submissive nor arrogant.

"Han Fu, are you lecturing me on the laws of the Emperor's Martial Palace?" Yu Qianqian’s gaze fell on Ning Xiaochuan, and the weight in her heart finally eased upon seeing him truly returned.

"I wouldn’t dare. However... Ning Xiaochuan is indeed guilty. If I don’t arrest him, I won’t be able to answer to the Law Enforcement Elders," Han Fu replied.

At that moment, Princess Lanfei arrived with a group of Martial Artists in tow.

She sat atop an ornate carriage, clad in luxurious silks, exuding an air of nobility—less like someone cultivating at the Emperor's Martial Palace and more like a visitor touring Emperor's City.

"Qianqian, since Captain Han is acting in accordance with the law and there are witnesses, it would be improper for you to obstruct him further," Princess Lanfei’s voice rang out from the carriage, laced with faint amusement.

Han Fu quickly bowed. "Your Highness speaks wisely."

Yu Qianqian knew Princess Lanfei had come specifically to oppose her. With the princess interfering, the situation had become far more complicated.

All disciples of the Emperor's Martial Palace knew of the discord between the Great Golden Roc King and the Jade Emperor. Within the academy, factions had formed—some obeyed Yu Qianqian’s commands, while others pledged allegiance to Princess Lanfei.

After Xiao Cheng’s death, the Cloud Alliance had collapsed, leaving no single dominant force within the Emperor's Martial Palace. The two factions represented by Yu Qianqian and Princess Lanfei now shaped the academy’s new power structure.

Princess Lanfei represented the imperial clan and imperial authority, commanding the support of the majority of instructors and disciples, her influence far surpassing Yu Qianqian’s. Of course, the Golden Roc Prince's Manor also held significant sway, having gathered many disciples and instructors to rival Princess Lanfei’s faction.

Princess Lanfei and Yu Qianqian clashed at every turn, and this time was no exception.

With the two locked in a stalemate, Han Fu immediately ordered two Ninth Level of the Divine Body Realm Law Enforcement Team experts to seize Ning Xiaochuan.

Two martial artists from the Law Enforcement Team, dragging iron chains as thick as bowls, sneered as they approached Ning Xiaochuan.

They didn’t believe Ning Xiaochuan would dare resist—doing so would only add to his crimes.

Clang!

The iron chains coiled toward Ning Xiaochuan’s neck like two steel serpents.

Ning Xiaochuan stood unmoving, summoning the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi. A nine-meter-wide radiant barrier erupted from his body, blasting the two Ninth Level of the Divine Body Realm Law Enforcement Team experts away.

The two Law Enforcement Team members crashed heavily to the ground, tumbling like rolling gourds.

One of them scrambled up in disarray, shouting furiously, "Ning Xiaochuan, you dare resist arrest?"

Ning Xiaochuan shot him a cold glare. "If I truly resisted, do you think you’d still be alive to stand?"

The Law Enforcement Team member staggered back under Ning Xiaochuan’s gaze, his mind ringing as if his eardrums were about to burst.

When Ning Xiaochuan left the Emperor's Martial Palace, he was only at the Eighth Level of the Divine Body Realm. Could he have already stepped into the Transcendent Realm in less than a year?

Ning Xiaochuan ignored the Ninth Level martial artist and strode toward Ning Xiaojian, unleashing the aura of a Martial Venerable. His essence, energy, and spirit surged, forming a mental domain that pressed down on Ning Xiaojian.

Ning Xiaojian, at the First Level of Transcendence, was considered a prodigy among the younger generation. Yet under Ning Xiaochuan’s overwhelming pressure, he could only retreat.

"Did you personally witness me killing Sun Haixing?" Ning Xiaochuan’s voice was icy as he stood five steps away.

Martial Arts Profound Qi seeped from Ning Xiaochuan’s body, locking Ning Xiaojian in place.

Ning Xiaojian hadn’t expected Ning Xiaochuan’s strength to reach such heights—it felt like a mountain crushing him, leaving him breathless.

Clenching his teeth, Ning Xiaojian spat, "Yes, it was you!"

"Do you not know that falsely accusing a fellow disciple also warrants severe punishment from the academy? If the Old Marquis learns you conspired with outsiders against your own kin, you’d likely be exiled from the Marquis House," Ning Xiaochuan said coldly.

Ning Xiaojian retorted, "I act with integrity. I didn’t slander you, and I’m not afraid of your threats."

"Threats? As the heir of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, I can strip you of your status right now. Do you believe me?" Ning Xiaochuan’s disdain for Ning Xiaojian’s pettiness was palpable.

"Ning Xiaochuan, this is the Emperor's Martial Palace. Are you trying to silence a witness?" Han Fu interjected with a chilling tone.

"This is an internal matter of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House. Captain Han, it’s best you don’t interfere—it won’t end well for you." Without even glancing at Han Fu, Ning Xiaochuan extended a Great Palm Strike to seize Ning Xiaojian.

Han Fu was incensed. Ning Xiaochuan’s audacity—daring to disregard him, the Law Enforcement Captain—was intolerable. If he didn’t teach him a lesson today, what would stop him in the future?

Leaping down from his Earth Lizard mount, Han Fu soared mid-air, his arm blazing with radiant light as he slashed down with a palm strike, unleashing a blade of energy over ten meters long.

At the seventh level of the Transcendent Realm, Han Fu was a peerless talent with formidable physique. This palm strike carried the power to split mountains and sever rivers.

Ning Xiaochuan seemed to have anticipated Han Fu's move long ago. The Profound Qi on his arm shifted direction and blasted toward Han Fu. The Great Palm Strike enveloped both the palm blades and Han Fu, as if intending to crush him.

Han Fu's heart jolted in alarm—the power of this Great Palm Strike was extraordinary, making him sense genuine danger.

How is this possible?

How old is Ning Xiaochuan? Could his Martial Arts cultivation really have reached a level where he can threaten me?

Han Fu refused to believe it. In less than a year, Ning Xiaochuan had progressed from the Eighth Level of the Divine Body Realm to a level where he could pose a threat to him. Moreover, without even entering the Heavenly Palace to train, such rapid advancement should have been impossible.

Yet the truth told him that Ning Xiaochuan's Martial Arts cultivation was truly not much weaker than his own.

Han Fu slashed out fifteen palm blades in succession, each over ten meters long, growing stronger with every strike, like layers of tidal waves crashing forward.

"Ten Thousand Swords Transforming into Rain!"

Ning Xiaochuan struck out with a single palm, condensing his Martial Arts Profound Qi into the Martial Arts Divine Ability—Ten Thousand Swords Transforming into Rain. A hundred Profound Qi Swords shot forth with overwhelming force, shattering every one of Han Fu's palm blades.

The rain of swords surged forward, piercing through the Protective Profound Qi Armor Han Fu had raised, nearly skewering him to death.

Han Fu paled in shock. Fortunately, his Martial Arts cultivation was profound, and his reflexes were swift. He activated a movement technique, retreating over thirty meters in an instant to evade the sword rain.

However, a corner of his robe was still severed—proof of how perilous the exchange had been.

The clash between Ning Xiaochuan and Han Fu occurred in the blink of an eye. The Martial Artists present were far inferior in cultivation to the two of them. All they saw was Han Fu attacking Ning Xiaochuan, only to be swiftly repelled, with a piece of his robe sliced off.

Meanwhile, Ning Xiaochuan stood unmoving, rooted in place.

The entire scene fell into silence. Almost no one could believe their eyes.

Han Fu was the Champion of the third cohort at the Emperor's Martial Palace, having trained there for over a decade.

Regardless of whether Han Fu had underestimated his opponent, the fact that Ning Xiaochuan could repel him was already utterly unbelievable.

Yu Qianqian, who had been worried for Ning Xiaochuan, was also startled by this sight. His progress in Martial Arts was even faster than hers, despite her training in the Heavenly Palace.

Princess Lanfei stepped out of her carriage, an Elderly Advisor standing behind her and whispering something in her ear. Her gaze locked onto Ning Xiaochuan once more, her eyes flickering with surprise before a cunning smile curved her lips.

Ning Xiaojian was naturally terrified. In just a year, Ning Xiaochuan had grown to a level he could only look up to.

"Since you all wish to witness the 'Northern Abyss Divine Art,' I'll grant you that privilege. Ning Xiaojian, you colluded with outsiders to target the Minor Marquis from the Jian Pavilion Marquis House—a crime punishable by death. But out of respect for our shared bloodline, I'll spare your life."

Ning Xiaochuan was never one to show mercy to his enemies.

Boom!

He pressed a palm onto Ning Xiaojian's shoulder, channeling the power of the Demonic Sword to voraciously absorb the Martial Arts Profound Qi within Ning Xiaojian's body.

After a long while, the Martial Arts Profound Qi within Ning Xiaojian's body was completely absorbed by Ning Xiaochuan. However, Ning Xiaochuan did not drain his blood, sparing his life.

"Boom!"

Ning Xiaochuan flung Ning Xiaojian away, throwing him into a filthy ditch like a dead dog.

"Ning Xiaochuan, you've gone too far," Han Fu said solemnly.

Han Fu finally understood why Ning Xiaochuan's martial cultivation had progressed so rapidly—it was all because of the Northern Abyss Divine Art.

He desired this divine art even more now.

Though he had suffered a setback in his earlier clash with Ning Xiaochuan, it was only because he had held back and underestimated him. If he had fought with his full strength, he was absolutely confident he could suppress Ning Xiaochuan.