Chapter 318: Irreconcilable as Fire and Water

Chapter 318: Irreconcilable as Fire and Water

The Cloud Marquis pondered for a moment before speaking solemnly, "Ning Xiaochuan is the Minor Marquis of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, holding a high position in the imperial court. As a fellow noble, I cannot unjustly kill a colleague."

Though the Cloud Marquis made it sound as though he had principles and would not slaughter a court ally, his words deliberately revealed Ning Xiaochuan’s identity, tying him inextricably to the Jian Pavilion Marquis House. This was not merely about eliminating Ning Xiaochuan alone—he sought to use the White Fox Heir’s power to eradicate the entire Jian Pavilion Marquis House.

The White Fox Heir fixed his gaze on Ning Xiaochuan, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Young man, you overestimate yourself. How dare you interfere when our Mystic Beast kind devours humans? You must have a death wish. Kill yourself now, or your entire family will suffer for your arrogance."

Ning Xiaochuan’s eyes were icy as he laughed coldly. "Humans eat Mystic Beasts, and Mystic Beasts eat humans. The two sides have long been irreconcilable as fire and water. Why wouldn’t I dare to intervene?"

"Humans and Mystic Beasts are natural enemies. Whether humans eat Mystic Beasts or vice versa depends on who is stronger. Clearly, I am stronger than you now, so you can only be devoured by me." The White Fox Heir puffed out his chest, a faint smile on his face, as if Ning Xiaochuan were nothing more than an insignificant ant beneath his notice.

Ning Xiaochuan retorted, "Expecting me to kill myself is impossible. If you truly believe you can crush me, why not try it yourself?"

No one had expected Ning Xiaochuan to remain so defiant even in the face of the White Fox Heir.

The Dragon Eagle Heir and the Golden Lion Beast Heir exchanged smug grins, reveling in Ning Xiaochuan’s impending doom—this was the price of meddling in affairs beyond his station.

Someone urged, "Ning Xiaochuan, just end it yourself. If you die, the matter will be settled. The White Fox Heir is magnanimous—he won’t pursue vengeance against the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."

"Exactly! If you provoke the White Fox Heir, not only will you die, but you’ll drag the entire Jian Pavilion Marquis House down with you. Countless innocent lives will be lost."

Everyone believed that Ning Xiaochuan challenging the White Fox Heir was like an egg striking a rock—a foolhardy act of sheer stupidity.

"Sister, I don’t think the Minor Marquis is wrong. Why is everyone against him? If we join forces, we might not even fear that White Fox Heir," Nie Lanzhi whispered under her breath.

Though her voice was soft, it did not escape the sharp ears of the White Fox Heir’s followers.

The White Fox Heir’s eyes darkened. With a flick of his Battle Sword, a razor-sharp Sword Qi slashed through the air toward Nie Lanzhi.

"There’s no need to take it out on a little girl. If you want to kill someone, face me instead."

Ripples appeared in front of Ning Xiaochuan, absorbing the White Fox Heir’s Sword Qi. Activating the "Star Shifting" technique, he amplified the force several times over and hurled it back.

"Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll oblige you."

A sinister glint flashed in the White Fox Heir’s pupils as he transformed into a streak of White Light. With a casual swing of his sword, he shattered the "Star Shifting" technique and thrust straight for Ning Xiaochuan’s heart.

The strike was as swift as lightning, so fast it stung the eyes of many Martial Artists watching.

Every advancement in grade for a Mystic Beast represents a world of difference. The White Fox Heir is a ninth-grade Mystic Beast. Though not yet fully grown, it far surpasses other Mystic Beasts, even exceeding the strength of a Martial Venerable.

Ning Xiaochuan had long been prepared. He activated Rainbow Teleportation, narrowly evading the strike.

"Heart Nurturing True Cauldron."

Unable to wield the Demonic Sword, Ning Xiaochuan could only summon the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron, using it as his weapon in battle.

The Heart Nurturing True Cauldron was forged from the eighth-grade Mystic Artifact, the Yin-Yang Furnace, inherently possessing the power of an eighth-grade Mystic Artifact. Moreover, it had been tempered by a Phoenix, making its might surpass that of most eighth-grade Mystic Artifacts, capable of unleashing overwhelming force.

Under the influence of Ning Xiaochuan's Profound Qi, the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron gradually expanded, reaching a towering height of 9 meters. Flames roared within it, radiating a terrifying aura.

"The Heart Nurturing True Cauldron! Heavens, Ning Xiaochuan has actually succeeded in refining the True Cauldron and become an Advanced Heart Nurturer. And he’s still so young! In the future, he might very well become the fifth Great Heart Nurturer of the Yulan Empire."

The emergence of the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron indeed caused a massive stir.

Ning Xiaochuan’s martial talent alone had already incited envy and jealousy in countless people. Yet, no one could have imagined that his achievements as a Heart Nurturer were also so extraordinary, rivaling even those of century-old masters in the field.

Nie Lanzhi lightly covered her small mouth, her beautiful eyes shimmering as she tightly gripped Nie Lanxin’s hand, exclaiming excitedly, "No wonder the Minor Marquis was able to cure Sister’s Beast Poison. So he’s actually an Advanced Heart Nurturer! That’s simply incredible. Even Elder Gu of the Tianyin Sect hasn’t reached the level of an Advanced Heart Nurturer yet!"

At the mention of curing the Beast Poison, Nie Lanxin’s expression turned unnatural. "So what? Even if his talent is unparalleled, offending the White Fox Heir means he’ll be crushed in the cradle."

"Sister, save the Minor Marquis! He saved our lives," Nie Lanzhi pleaded.

Nie Lanxin’s delicate brows furrowed tightly before she shook her head faintly. "It’s beyond my ability. I can’t save him."

If she truly could, she wouldn’t hesitate to help Ning Xiaochuan once. But today’s events had indeed surpassed her capabilities. Even if she intervened, she couldn’t change the outcome.

The Heart Nurturing True Cauldron surged with the dual energies of Yin and Yang, condensing into a dazzling "Yin-Yang Bright Flame." Like a mountain of fire, it blasted toward the White Fox Heir.

This was an attack at the level of an eighth-grade Mystic Artifact—a single strike powerful enough to topple a mountain.

The Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess exchanged glances before each tossing out three High-Grade Mystic Stones, fixing them in six directions to form a Dragon Formation. This stabilized the space within Dragon Valley, reinforcing its structure.

The Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess did not interfere, merely observing as the two sides clashed with earth-shattering force. Their only concern was fortifying the space to prevent Dragon Valley from being destroyed.

The White Fox Heir struck the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron bare-handed, sending thunderous reverberations through the air like Heavenly Thunder.

To face an eighth-grade Mystic Artifact with bare hands—the sheer physical might of the White Fox Heir was unimaginable.

"Is that all you've got? If you're holding back, then I must inform you—today will be your death day." White fur sprouted along the White Fox Heir's arms as a Divine Eye condensed between his brows. His long white hair billowed upward, and the radiance emanating from his body blazed like a scorching sun.

"Whoosh—"

Many were blinded by the glare, their hearts gripped by extreme danger as they hastily retreated.

The White Fox Heir unleashed his Innate Divine Ability. The Divine Eye between his brows cracked open, releasing a dazzling beam of divine light that struck the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron with a thunderous boom.

The Heart Nurturing True Cauldron was sent flying backward, shattering the Formation laid by the Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess before embedding itself into the cliffside, buried in mud and stone.

The White Fox Heir strode forward, gripping his battle sword, his entire body wreathed in White Light, the vertical eye on his forehead glaring coldly. "You’ve already lost your Mystic Artifact. Do you still intend to keep fighting?"

"Why not?"

Ning Xiaochuan smacked Little Red on the head. "Roar!" The small red dragon, who had been coiled around his neck fast asleep, abruptly woke up, lifting its head to glance left and right. Clearly, it had been deep in slumber, completely unaware of what was happening.

Ning Xiaochuan smacked it again.

The small red dragon jolted fully awake, its eyes lighting up at the sight of the approaching White Fox Heir. It let out a series of excited "roar, roar, roar!" cries, attempting to intimidate the foe.

After all, it was a proud Divine Dragon hatchling.

Yet its efforts were utterly ineffective. No matter how fiercely it glared, gnashed its teeth, or swiped its claws, it failed to frighten anyone—instead, it looked like it was putting on a comedic act.

"Has Ning Xiaochuan’s mystic beast battle pet gone mad? Truly, like master, like beast—what a pair of clowns," someone mocked.

"That little thing resembles the legendary Divine Dragon, but it’s too small—more like a dragon loach."

The Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess also fixed their gazes on the small red dragon, their expressions filled with astonishment. They could sense the aura of a dragon from it—weak, yet purer than even the Dragon King’s own Dragon Aura.

Just as everyone was amused by Little Red’s antics, Ning Xiaochuan coldly uttered two words:

"Merge."

"Boom!"

The small red dragon’s body Disintegrated into strands of Dragon Aura, enveloping Ning Xiaochuan’s form and coalescing into a set of crimson Divine Dragon Armor. A pair of over-ten-meter-long scaled dragon wings sprouted from his back, adorned with sharp black barbs.

Ning Xiaochuan’s entire body was encased in the armor, seventy percent of it covered in scales. A massive shield-like carapace formed over his chest, while spiked horns resembling a Divine Dragon’s crown jutted from his head.

A crimson Dragon Claw Battle Sword materialized in his grip, seamlessly fused with the armor. The blade, sheathed in dragon scales, gleamed with a chilling edge.

"ROAR!"

An earth-shattering, heaven-shaking dragon’s roar erupted, so domineering that even the Dragon Prince and Dragon Princess paled, feeling an overwhelming pressure bearing down upon them.

A massive dragon head emerged behind Ning Xiaochuan, its skull alone as large as a water vat, its body thick as a crimson pillar. A pair of enormous dragon eyes glared at the White Fox Heir, its roar causing the eardrums of many Martial Artists to ache in pain.

The dragon body, tens of meters long, coiled behind Ning Xiaochuan, merging seamlessly with the armor he wore.

Everyone was stunned into silence, their hearts unable to calm.

Even the usually composed Cloud Marquis had a gleam of excitement in his eyes, his pupils burning with intense light.

"My heavens, it really is a Divine Dragon cub!"

Shi Jinyu rubbed his hands together, his eyes turning starry, as if he were more thrilled than if he had encountered a peerless beauty. If not for Yu Qing restraining him, he might have lunged forward to hug and even kiss Ning Xiaochuan.

Standing firmly on the ground, Ning Xiaochuan raised his sword, his armor blazing with flames as he stared down the White Fox Heir. "Since you wish to fight, I’ll naturally see it through to the end."