Chapter 294: Three Martial Venerables

Chapter 294: Three Martial Venerables

Boom!

The Heart Nurturing True Cauldron opened, shooting out a nine-colored divine light that transformed into a radiant pillar, piercing through the roof and soaring into the sky.

Ning Xiaochiao swiftly sprinkled the Magma Blood from the Earth's Core into the cauldron. Any Mystic Pills touched by the "Magma Blood" immediately transformed into small Qilin, as if coming to life, and flew out of the cauldron.

Pills shaped like Qilin.

Seven Qilin flew out in total, hovering within the nine-colored pillar of light, their roars shaking the heavens and earth.

The remaining nine Mystic Pills, untouched by the Magma Blood, turned into dead pills and were eventually reduced to ash by the Yin-Yang Bright Flame.

Madam Silver Pool stared at the seven Qilin within the nine-colored light, her face filled with astonishment. "Seven Qilin… seven Great Earth Solemnity Pills. This… this is simply unbelievable!"

An ordinary Advanced Heart Nurturer could refine at most one Great Earth Solemnity Pill in a single attempt. Only a Great Heart Nurturer could produce multiple high-grade Mystic Pills at once. Could Young Master Chuan be a Great Heart Nurturer?

Madam Silver Pool shook her head. The entire Yulan Empire had only four Great Heart Nurturers. There was no way Young Master Chuan could be one of them.

The emergence of seven Great Earth Solemnity Pills didn’t just represent seven pills—it likely signified the birth of seven Martial Venerables.

Madam Silver Pool’s heart was in turmoil. She was tempted to seize the opportunity and snatch the seven Great Earth Solemnity Pills for herself.

Yet, for some reason, she found herself unable to act against Young Master Chuan.

She felt that if she tried to take the pills by force, she would lose something far more important than the Great Earth Solemnity Pills themselves.

"Yue Minghua, have you truly fallen for this man? No… you must not. You absolutely must not." Her heart was tangled in conflict, torn by endless struggle.

Had she met Young Master Chuan ten years earlier, she believed she would have fallen in love with him, willingly becoming a devoted woman by his side. But now… she knew it was too late. Far too late.

Whoosh!

Ning Xiaochiao collected the seven Great Earth Solemnity Pills and stored them inside the Mystic Wood Box.

He was extremely satisfied with the results. Not only had the pills fused with the Nine-Colored Profound Water, but he had also engraved a Transformation Array into them. Their effects would undoubtedly surpass those refined by other Heart Nurturers.

"Congratulations, Manor Lord, on successfully refining the Great Earth Solemnity Pills!" Madam Silver Pool stood outside the room, smiling gracefully.

Ning Xiaochiao stored the Mystic Wood Box away, his mood uplifted. "Madam, your timing is perfect. I’ve imposed on the Qi Tian Marquis House for far too long, causing much inconvenience. It’s time for me to take my leave."

"You’re leaving?"

A pang of loss struck Madam Silver Pool’s heart. Though she had known this day would come, she couldn’t help but feel a trace of melancholy. After a pause, she added, "At the very least, you should bid farewell to Qi Ming. He idolizes you, you know."

Ning Xiaochiao replied, "Please convey my regards to him on my behalf. Farewell."

With that, his figure shot into the air like a ghostly shadow, instantly leaping out of the Qi Tian Marquis House and heading beyond the Imperial City.

Staying any longer at the Qi Tian Marquis House was impossible. Every day, he faced Madam Silver Pool’s temptations and had to constantly restrain himself. If he remained, he would surely go mad.

Ning Xiaochiao didn’t hold much of a grudge against Madam Silver Pool, but being in a constant state of burning desire left him little time to cultivate his Martial Arts Profound Qi.

Now that he had successfully refined the Great Earth Solemnity Pill, Ning Xiaochiao decided to return to Ghost Manor first.

Nearly a month had passed since the unresolved case of Young Master Chuan killing four of Cloud Marquis’s generals, yet the Imperial City remained under martial law, with patrols from the military everywhere.

Ning Xiaochiao spent fifty Large Coins to rent a small black-sailed boat, planning to leave the Imperial City overnight via the waterways.

The boat drifted downstream, passing through the Inner City and Outer City before entering the moat. Just as Ning Xiaochiao let out a sigh of relief— Suddenly, he saw a Red-Toothed Warship heading straight toward him.

The Red-Toothed Warship, forged from 5,000,000 kg of crimson ironstone, was one of only twelve in the entire Yulan Empire. Only figures of Marquis rank or higher could ride such a vessel.

This particular warship was adorned with countless lanterns, and armored soldiers stood guard at its bow.

Compared to the massive Red-Toothed Warship, Ning Xiaochiao’s small boat looked as insignificant as a leaf, ready to be tossed aside at any moment.

At first, Ning Xiaochiao thought this was just a coincidence—until Ji Hanxing stepped out from the warship. His expression immediately darkened.

Ning Xiaochiao quickly stood up, releasing Martial Arts Profound Qi beneath his feet to anchor the boat in place on the river.

Ji Hanxing stood at the bow, her sapphire-blue hair fluttering in the river wind. Her voice, infused with Profound Qi, was icy as she declared, “Young Master Chuan, our Marquis has been waiting for you for a month. You’ve finally emerged from the Qi Tian Marquis House.”

Ning Xiaochiao focused his Mental Energy and indeed sensed an overwhelming presence inside the Red-Toothed Warship—like a blazing sun, its radiance capable of reducing all things to ashes.

It seemed Cloud Marquis was also aboard.

Forcing himself to remain calm, Ning Xiaochiao smiled. “Lady Ji’s tracking skills are truly impressive. I can’t help but admire them.”

This was the second time Ning Xiaochiao had experienced Ji Hanxing’s tracking techniques. The first was when he rescued Tianchenzi and was traced to Haitang Manor.

Now, she had found him again.

The ancestors of the Qi Tian Marquis House had rendered great service to the Yulan Empire, making it one of the Hereditary Marquis Houses. Even Cloud Marquis wouldn’t dare barge in recklessly to arrest someone. So, they had waited—until Ning Xiaochiao left the estate.

Ji Hanxing sneered. “The Manor Lord must have enjoyed every earthly pleasure in the Qi Tian Marquis House this past month. Now, it’s time for you to surrender quietly and face punishment in the Imperial City’s prison.”

“Is Cloud Marquis so confident he can capture me?” Ning Xiaochiao replied with a laugh.

In truth, if he were to face Cloud Marquis directly, Ning Xiaochiao had no chance of escape. But showing fear now was not an option. There was always a way out—heaven never sealed all exits.

“Young Master Chuan, today marks the end of your road. You won’t escape!” A booming voice echoed, stirring turbulent water waves in the moat that slammed against Ning Xiaochiao’s boat.

Frowning slightly, Ning Xiaochiao glanced back and saw another large ship approaching.

The Crown Prince stood on the deck of the large ship, clad in a resplendent golden robe, exuding an imposing and arrogant aura with an air of majesty in his gaze.

A hundred meters to Ning Xiaochiao's left, an old Taoist stood atop a single reed, hovering above the water's surface, his demeanor carrying an immortal-like grace as he smiled faintly at Ning Xiaochiao.

The third-rank State Preceptor—Lingyi Taoist.

To capture a mere Martial Artist at the seventh level of the Transcendent Realm, they had actually dispatched three Martial Venerables. Ning Xiaochiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

With his current cultivation, even facing the weakest Martial Venerable would make escape nearly impossible, let alone three.

The last time he managed to flee from the Crown Prince and the Lingyi State Preceptor was primarily because they were within the Imperial City. Neither dared to unleash their full Divine Abilities, fearing catastrophic consequences for the capital.

But here, outside the city walls by the moat, they could fight without restraint.

For Ning Xiaochiao, at the seventh level of the Transcendent Realm, to contend against Martial Venerables was a nearly insurmountable gap. Today, he was truly trapped in a hopeless situation.

The Crown Prince harbored deep hatred for Young Master Chuan. Even the woman who should have been his had been taken by Young Master Chuan—an unbearable humiliation.

"Boom!"

The Crown Prince struck first, flicking his sleeve. The moat surged with waves dozens of meters high, rolling like a tempest before transforming into dozens of Water Dragons that roared as they charged toward Ning Xiaochiao.

A Martial Artist who had reached the Earthly Venerable Realm could unleash Divine Abilities with mere gestures—power capable of effortlessly annihilating entire towns.

"Crack!"

Ning Xiaochiao leaped into the air as the small boat beneath him shattered into splinters under the force of the waves.

Summoning the Demonic Sword, he swung it downward, unleashing a crimson sword wave hundreds of meters long that shattered the Water Dragons.

This time, Ning Xiaochiao felt the terrifying might of a Martial Venerable firsthand—his internal organs seemed to be crushed by an invisible hand.

Though he had repelled the Crown Prince’s Divine Ability, he suffered hidden injuries, his face turning deathly pale.

Fortunately, the Golden Mask concealed his pallor, preventing his weakened state from being exposed.

To onlookers, Ning Xiaochiao appeared as formidable as ever, the sheer power of the Demonic Sword leaving them stunned. None realized he was already grievously wounded.

Ning Xiaochiao immediately activated his movement technique, attempting to flee toward the Border Market before the three Martial Venerables could react.

But he had underestimated their power.

A Daoist chant echoed in his ears.

A Yin-Yang Daoist Diagram materialized in the void, spewing forth a fiery cloud that struck Ning Xiaochiao, sending him reeling backward as his clothes burst into flames.

The Lingyi State Preceptor formed hand seals, commanding the Daoist Diagram to press down upon Ning Xiaochiao’s head with overwhelming force, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing.

Ning Xiaochiao felt his scalp go numb, his vision darkening as if struck by a divine hammer—he nearly lost consciousness.

"Break!"

Gritting his teeth, he channeled seven strands of Annihilation Qi, blasting them upward to tear apart the Daoist Diagram.

Ning Xiaochiao gritted his teeth against the overwhelming weakness in his body and fled swiftly toward the Border Market once more.

The Lingyi State Preceptor prepared to unleash another Dao Technique, but at that moment, a slender figure emerged from the void—a woman with long black hair swaying in the wind, her figure enchantingly graceful, and her martial prowess overwhelmingly powerful. With a single palm strike, she sent the Lingyi State Preceptor flying backward.

Ning Xiaochiao glanced back and, through mental transmission, instantly recognized the woman wearing a black veil. His heart surged with shock. "How could it be her? She actually came to save me?"

"Go, now!" the Black-Veiled Woman urged Ning Xiaochiao.

She channeled her Martial Arts Origin Qi, intercepting both the Crown Prince and the Lingyi State Preceptor—two Martial Venerables. Activating her "Cold Cicada Ice Soul" Divine Ability, she froze the entire moat into ice, transforming it into tens of thousands of Cicada Wing Ice Blades that shot outward like a storm.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The Crown Prince and the Lingyi State Preceptor were horrified, hastily retreating as they summoned their Martial Soul and Dao Soul, forming a Protective Origin Qi Shield around themselves.

"Boom!"

Cloud Marquis soared from the deck of the Red-Toothed Warship, landing before the Crown Prince and the Lingyi State Preceptor. With a single powerful palm strike, he shattered the tens of thousands of Cicada Wing Ice Blades into icy fragments.

"So strong!"

The Black-Veiled Woman was injured by Cloud Marquis's attack, her body convulsing violently as blood spilled from her lips. Transforming into a streak of light, she fled into the darkness.

"You think you can escape?"

Cloud Marquis snorted coldly. The sky above him churned, forming a vast expanse of dark clouds. A Lightning Palm hundreds of meters long descended from the clouds like the hand of heaven itself, crashing down toward the fleeing Black-Veiled Woman.