Chapter 20: Life Hanging by a Thread

Chapter 20: Life Hanging by a Thread

The Iron Lion Profound Beast was a first-level profound beast, standing over three meters tall with a lion’s head, a body covered in thick iron-like hide, and blood-red eyes as large as fists.

Yu Yan shrank back slightly in fear, her delicate jade-like fingers clutching Ning Xiaochuan’s arm tightly. Seated in the Green Deer Horse Carriage, Ning Xiaochuan sensed the intense killing intent radiating from the five figures before him. They were undoubtedly here for him—proof that someone in the Jian Pavilion Marquis House still sought to eliminate him completely, leaving no loose ends.

The Old Marquis had sent Ning Xiaochuan to Haitang Manor, hoping to distance him from the power struggles. However, he hadn’t anticipated that Ji Bo’s conversation with Ning Xiaochuan would be overheard by a martial arts expert who had cultivated the "Heavenly Ear" technique, bringing death to his doorstep.

The five figures were clad entirely in black armor, their faces hidden. Yet, Ning Xiaochuan’s sharp eyesight allowed him to perceive their cultivation levels as if an inner voice whispered it to him.

Two were at the Sixth Level of Profound Qi, two at the Seventh Level, and the warrior riding the lead Iron Lion Profound Beast was unfathomably powerful—surpassing even the Ninth Level of Profound Qi.

This is bad! How can I escape with so many strong opponents? Though his heart sank to the depths, Ning Xiaochuan’s face remained calm, betraying no trace of panic. This was a mindset he had honed as a doctor—no matter how dire the situation, absolute composure was key.

If he panicked first, all would truly be lost.

"Yu Yan, get inside the carriage. No matter what happens, don’t be afraid!" Ning Xiaochuan tightened his grip on the whip covered in green scales—a weapon crafted from the skin of a Green Python, measuring over two meters and three feet in length. It was his only weapon now.

Yu Yan was paralyzed with terror, her jade-like legs trembling beneath her skirt, rendering her unable to move.

Black Scale, seated atop his Iron Lion Profound Beast, felt a flicker of surprise. This sickly weakling actually has such nerve? Under the oppressive aura of our group, even martial artists who’ve cultivated Martial Arts Profound Qi would pale and weaken at the knees. Yet he remains unshaken!

"Black Four, kill the girl and retrieve the Golden-Threaded Purple Wood Box," Black Scale commanded, his voice icy and devoid of emotion.

Whoosh— Clad head to toe in armor, Black Four exuded a chilling aura as he drew an 80-jin broad-backed battle sword. Riding his Iron Lion Profound Beast, he charged toward the Green Deer Horse Carriage.

At the Sixth Level of Profound Qi, Black Four’s body surged with dense Martial Arts Profound Qi, enveloping his blade as he swung it toward Yu Yan’s head.

Ning Xiaochuan twisted around, pushing Yu Yan down and pulling her into the carriage.

Boom!

A flash of blade light sliced through the air, shearing off the carriage’s roof in a clean cut. The wooden planks flew outward before clattering to the ground.

Black Four’s eyes narrowed in shock. How did I miss? Leaping down from his mount, he landed beside the Green Deer Horse and yanked open the carriage curtain.

His vision blurred as an overwhelming surge of energy blasted toward him.

Boom!

From behind the carriage curtain, a palm enveloped in Profound Qi struck out, sending the unprepared Black Four flying.

The broad-backed battle sword in Black Four's hand was knocked loose, embedding itself in the ground some distance away.

"What's going on?"

Furious, Black Four flipped back onto his feet, circulating the Martial Arts Profound Qi within him to its limits. His palm, now shrouded in black Profound Qi, lashed out toward the carriage.

"Boom!"

Another palm strike erupted from inside the carriage, colliding with Black Four's attack.

"Hisss!"

Inside the black armor, Black Four's expression twisted violently as he felt the blood within his body being forcibly drawn out by a vortex-like force, seeping through the gaps in his armor.

Moments later, all the blood in Black Four's body had drained away, turning him into a desiccated corpse. However, since he was still clad in his armor, the change in his body remained hidden.

Black Scale and the other three black-armored warriors sensed something amiss. Both the delicate young girl and Ning Xiaochuan were supposed to be powerless—how could one of them have struck Black Four with enough force to send him flying?

"Black Four, fall back!" Black Scale barked coldly.

"Thud!"

But Black Four had long since turned into a dried corpse, incapable of hearing his command. His body collapsed, kneeling lifelessly beneath the Green Deer Horse Carriage.

The armor still propped him up, but the living man inside had already perished.

Ning Xiaochuan sat composedly inside the carriage, lifting the curtain as he calmly stated, "No need to call. He's already dead."

"Swish—"

"Swish—"

The remaining four black-armored warriors simultaneously drew their battle swords, eyeing Ning Xiaochuan as if facing a formidable enemy.

Who would have thought that a notorious invalid could kill a battle-hardened warrior at the Sixth Level of Profound Qi?

Black Scale's eyes narrowed. "So you've been cultivating all along. It seems you've been biding your time all these years. Was this all the Old Marquis's plan? No—the Old Marquis clearly said you only had half a year left to live, meaning even he didn’t know you could cultivate Martial Arts Profound Qi. You deceived everyone."

Ning Xiaochuan sat upright in the carriage, his blood surging rapidly through his veins, yet not a trace of fear showed on his face. "How did you know the Old Marquis said I only had half a year left? And how did you know I had the Golden-Threaded Purple Wood Box?"

Black Scale smirked coldly. "I've reached the Divine Body Realm, and one of the innate abilities I've awakened is the 'Heavenly Ear.' My hearing is divine. I heard every word of your conversation with Ji Bo."

"So that's it. Ning Qianwu sent you, didn’t he?" Ning Xiaochuan said.

Black Scale sneered but did not answer. "Originally, I was just here to break your legs. But since you can cultivate Martial Arts Profound Qi, I can't let you live."

Just as Black Scale raised his hand, he suddenly retracted it, his gaze shifting toward the distant road with curiosity. "Who's there?"

The temperature in the air plummeted, a biting chill spreading as white snowflakes began to fall.

A masked woman emerged from the snow, her figure ethereal, her black hair cascading like a waterfall. A white veil covered her face, revealing only a pair of mesmerizing eyes.

Behind her, a mass of Profound Qi condensed into the phantom of a 7-meter-tall White Qilin, its head enormous, eyes fierce, and claws razor-sharp.

Black Scale fixed his gaze on the Masked Woman, a hint of disdain on his face. "A woman, no less. Do you really think you can interfere in this matter?"

Without uttering a single unnecessary word, the Masked Woman condensed her Profound Qi into a 7-foot-long Sword, sweeping through the sky like a blizzard as she slashed toward Black Scale.

Her slender figure, enveloped in swirling Profound Qi, resembled a snow butterfly, her swordplay graceful and elegant.

"Leave her to me. Kill Ning Xiaochuan," Black Scale commanded before charging toward the Masked Woman atop his Iron Lion Profound Beast.

"It's Miss!" Yu Yan's face lit up with joy.

However, Ning Xiaochuan showed no trace of relief. Three Iron Lion Profound Beasts were already charging toward him, their pitch-black war blades coated in dark Profound Qi.

With a flick of his whip, Ning Xiaochuan entangled the wrist of the weakest warrior among them. With a sharp tug, he yanked the warrior off his mount, sending him crashing heavily to the ground.

Leaping down from the carriage, Ning Xiaochuan snatched Black Four's war blade. His blood surged wildly within him, and a crimson aura erupted from his palm, flooding the blade.

With a swing of his arm, the blade carved a crescent arc through the air!

"Thud!"

The head of the fallen Black-armored Warrior separated from his body, hot blood gushing from the severed neck.

After slaying the warrior, Ning Xiaochuan immediately turned and fled toward the nearby forest, but not before another Black-armored Warrior caught up and slashed at his back, leaving a shallow wound.

Had he been even a moment slower, that strike would have cleaved him in two.

Channeling his Martial Arts Profound Qi, Ning Xiaochuan temporarily stemmed the bleeding and continued sprinting deeper into the woods.

The two remaining Black-armored Warriors dismounted their Iron Lion Profound Beasts, brandishing their war blades as they pursued him like two black phantoms, weaving swiftly through the trees.

"Finally, they've dismounted. With those heavy suits of armor, their speed must be hindered."

Ning Xiaochuan had chosen the forest precisely because its dense trees made it difficult for the Iron Lion Profound Beasts to maneuver.

Now that the two warriors, clad head-to-toe in black armor, had abandoned their mounts, the weight of their gear would slow them down—or so he thought.

Yet Ning Xiaochuan had underestimated the prowess of warriors at the Seventh Level of Profound Qi. Even burdened by their armor, they were still slightly faster than him, closing the distance relentlessly.

"Both of them are at the Seventh Level of Profound Qi. I'm no match for them now. What do I do? What do I do?" Clenching his fists tightly, Ning Xiaochuan felt the demonic sword within his Demon Ventricle stir as if alive, humming with eerie delight.

After absorbing Black Four's lifeblood, Ning Xiaochuan's Martial Arts Profound Qi had swelled further—yet he still hadn't broken through to the Seventh Level of Profound Qi.

Just as the two pursuers behind him were about to catch up, Ning Xiaochuan suddenly halted and swung his blade backward, aiming for the neck of one of the Black-armored Warriors.

The Black-armored Warrior seemed prepared, slashing out with his own battle blade.

Boom!

Ning Xiaochuan felt an overwhelming force surge through his blade, numbing his arm and splitting his palm, as if all five fingers were about to snap.

So strong!

The Sixth Level of Profound Qi and the Seventh Level of Profound Qi were indeed not on the same level of power.

Ning Xiaochuan swiftly retreated.

But another Black-armored Warrior charged from behind, swinging his blade horizontally to sever Ning Xiaochuan’s neck.

Ning Xiaochuan dropped low, narrowly evading the strike, and quickly retreated over 10 meters away.

In just a few exchanges, Ning Xiaochuan had teetered between life and death, constantly at risk of falling under the enemy’s blade. His ear and palm were already wounded, hot blood streaming from the injuries.