Chapter 207: Ten Thousand Dragons Soaring

Chapter 207: Ten Thousand Dragons Soaring

In the blink of an eye, the Fox Immortal Dao and over thirty Demon Sect experts were all slain.

The air was thick with the stench of blood. Broken bones, shredded flesh, and spilled blood littered the ground, turning the scene into a ghastly slaughterhouse.

Xiao Cheng stood amidst the carnage as if he had merely performed the most mundane task. The single drop of blood that had stained his clothes slid off and dripped to the ground.

Even Ji Hanxing, a seventh-level Transcendent Realm cultivator, had been defeated by him, a testament to his terrifying strength. Even if an elder from the Demon Sect were to appear, they would likely be crushed under his overwhelming power.

In terms of presence, Ning Xiaochuan refused to be outdone. He silently channeled the power of the Demonic Sword, preparing to wield its might against Xiao Cheng—his only viable option at this moment.

"Boom—"

Just as Ning Xiaochuan was about to strike, the clouds above churned violently, and a thunderous roar echoed through the sky.

The clouds coalesced into a colossal palm imprint, descending from the heavens. The sheer force of its descent compressed the air into an arch, carrying a pressure so immense it seemed capable of crushing space itself as it bore down upon Xiao Cheng’s head.

The power behind this palm strike was beyond description—it was as if a deity from beyond the heavens had unleashed a single, devastating blow.

A supreme expert had intervened, intent on suppressing Xiao Cheng.

"Clang! Clang!"

Xiao Cheng’s expression shifted. He flicked his wrist, sending the Primordial Silver Ring flying upward, where it expanded into a massive divine halo above his head.

"Boom—!"

The earth-shaking palm imprint shattered the entire city block centered around Xiao Cheng.

Ning Xiaochuan grabbed Zi Zhui'er’s shoulder and activated Rainbow Teleportation, swiftly retreating several dozen meters.

Stone towers built from 5,000-kilogram boulders crumbled under the palm’s force. The streets caved in, fracturing into rubble.

A gigantic palm imprint was left imprinted upon the earth.

Xiao Cheng’s chest ached from the impact, his Blood Qi churning violently within him. He exhaled deeply, retracting the Primordial Silver Ring into his palm, his gaze fixed on the far end of the street.

"Demon Sect Saintess."

At the street’s end stood a woman clad in white robes, her figure graceful and ethereal, like a spirit dancing in the wind.

A golden mask adorned her face, radiating a brilliant glow. Around her delicate form swirled small dragon-shaped streams of Profound Qi, enveloping her in a mist-like aura.

Behind the Demon Sect Saintess stood three formidable Demon Sect experts—Duanmu Linger, Lin Zhanglao, and Situ Branch Leader—their cold eyes locked onto Xiao Cheng.

The Demon Sect Saintess’s voice was distant, ethereal, and imbued with divine authority, as if echoing from beyond the heavens.

"Xiao Cheng, you knew full well that I was in Tianlai Ancient City, yet you dared to slaughter Demon Sect experts so brazenly. Do you not fear being thrown into the Slaughtering Cauldron, boiled alive, and fed to the Mystic Beasts?"

After their brief exchange, Xiao Cheng understood that the Demon Sect Saintess’s cultivation was terrifyingly profound—he stood no chance against her.

"Retreat!"

Xiao Cheng was decisive, never one to hesitate. He immediately summoned the Scorpion Lion, leaping onto its back in a single motion. With a mighty flap of its wings, the beast soared into the clouds, vanishing from sight.

Opportunities to deal with Ning Xiaochuan would come later. There was no wisdom in recklessly clashing with someone like the Demon Sect Saintess.

"Saintess, why didn’t you eliminate Xiao Cheng?" Duanmu Linger’s voice was icy as she spoke.

The Demon Sect Saintess said, "Xiao Cheng is the Cloud Marquis's eldest disciple and also the alliance leader of the Emperor's Martial Palace's Cloud Alliance. He must have life-saving trump cards on him. Killing him won’t be an easy task."

Her gaze briefly lingered on Ning Xiaochuan before shifting away.

Duanmu Linger also fixed her eyes on Ning Xiaochuan, suspicion flashing in her expression. She walked over gracefully, her tone grave as she asked, "Ding Xiaosan, why did Xiao Cheng attack you?"

She had begun to doubt Ning Xiaochuan’s identity.

Zi Zhui'er, clever and mischievous, immediately realized that "Ding Xiaosan" was Ning Xiaochuan’s alias. She quickly chimed in, "So your name is Little Three? What a lovely name! Sister Duanmu, thank goodness you and the Saintess arrived in time. Otherwise, that Xiao guy would’ve captured me and made me his concubine!"

Duanmu Linger frowned slightly. "What exactly happened?"

Zi Zhui'er put on a pitiful expression. "Sister Duanmu, you know how naturally beautiful and peerless I am. That Xiao Cheng is nothing but a wolf in human skin! He took a fancy to my looks and wanted to drag me away as his concubine. Thankfully, the brave Ding Xiaosan stepped forward, scolded Xiao Cheng, called him a beast, and saved me from that dire situation."

"But because of this, he angered Xiao Cheng, who then went on a rampage and slaughtered all my subordinates."

"Is that so?"

Duanmu Linger glanced at Ning Xiaochuan, thinking to herself that while others wouldn’t do something so foolish, Ding Xiaosan just might.

With the Demon Sect Saintess watching from a distance, Ning Xiaochuan naturally didn’t want his identity exposed. He gave a slight nod. "Mhm."

At some point, the Demon Sect Saintess had already left, vanishing into the ancient streets.

She was like the wind—arriving without a sound, leaving just as silently.

Duanmu Linger studied Ning Xiaochuan deeply. "With a personality like yours, you’ll easily suffer losses out here. Come with me to Nine Death Cliff."

"Sister Duanmu! Sister Duanmu!"

Zi Zhui'er grabbed Duanmu Linger’s arm, grinning. "I want to go to Nine Death Cliff too! But now that all my guards are dead, traveling alone would be too dangerous. Can I come with you?"

"Didn’t you come with your mother?" Duanmu Linger asked.

Zi Zhui'er pouted. "If I were with Mother, that Xiao Cheng wouldn’t have dared bully me! She had other matters to attend to and will arrive at Nine Death Cliff later."

"Fine. You can travel with us," Duanmu Linger agreed.

Zi Zhui'er was overjoyed. She sidled up to Ning Xiaochuan, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with him, then tilted her head slightly. "Little Three, I helped you out so much this time. How are you going to thank me?"

"Thanks."

With just those two words, Ning Xiaochuan walked away.

Zi Zhui'er froze for a moment, then lifted her snow-white chin and stomped her foot in frustration. "How infuriating! A simple 'thanks' and that’s it? The world doesn’t work that way! Just wait until we reach Nine Death Cliff—I’ll make you pay for this!"

That night, Ning Xiaochuan and Zi Zhui'er stayed in the manor. With the Demon Sect Saintess present, Xiao Cheng naturally didn’t dare come looking for trouble.

Ning Xiaochuan could also sense Xiao Cheng's presence. He was still in Tianlai Ancient City, and given the opportunity, he would undoubtedly strike again.

In the manor, the Demon Sect Saintess sat in a pavilion, wearing a golden mask. Her gauzy robes fluttered in the breeze like white willow catkins. On the table, a bronze incense burner burned Mystic Wood Incense. Her slender fingers plucked the strings of her zither, producing an ethereal and enchanting melody.

Streaks of dragon-shaped Profound Qi soared into the sky, transforming into the spectacle of "Ten Thousand Dragons Soaring." Every martial artist in Tianlai Ancient City could witness this phenomenon above the heavens—like countless Divine Dragons swimming through the celestial river, leaving everyone awestruck and unsettled.

Ning Xiaochuan sat in his room, cultivating the Seventh Layer of the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi. However, the zither music disturbed his focus, making it impossible to continue. He propped open the window with a bamboo stick and gazed at the wondrous sight in the sky, deeply impressed by the Demon Sect Saintess's cultivation prowess.

Though Ning Xiaochuan was hailed as the Imperial City's top genius, he was only the foremost among the younger generation in talent—not in strength. The Demon Sect Saintess was the true pinnacle of the younger generation, her cultivation likely rivaling that of a Martial Venerable.

"The mysterious woman was right. I truly fell behind from the start. To catch up to them, I must put in even more effort."

As the ethereal zither music drifted through the air, Ning Xiaochuan's mind involuntarily conjured the image of a breathtakingly beautiful figure—Yu Ningsheng.

After their parting at the desolate mountain Taoist temple, she had never reappeared. He wondered where she was now.

Had she also come to Tianlai Ancient City?

Late into the night, snow began to fall from the sky—flakes as large as goose feathers, blanketing the land for thousands of kilometers.

By dawn the next day, when Ning Xiaochuan pushed open his door, the world outside had turned silver-white. Thick snow covered the ground, and the branches and grass were all coated in white.

"Whoosh—"

A frigid wind howled like a monstrous beast, blowing a flurry of snow into the room and pelting Ning Xiaochuan's face. The sharp flakes stung his skin.

"What a heavy snowfall. Winter has arrived in the Yulan Empire," Ning Xiaochuan murmured.

"Thud!"

A snowball struck Ning Xiaochuan squarely on the head, scattering into a shower of icy fragments.

From the snow came Zi Zhui'er's bell-like laughter. "Little Three, why didn't you dodge?"

Ning Xiaochuan brushed the snow from his hair and strode out of the manor. "We should set off now."

"How boring. No fun at all."

Zi Zhui'er pinched the ears of the small fox in her arms before dashing through the snow, following closely behind Ning Xiaochuan.

The caravan set out once more, though its numbers had been reduced. Unnecessary goods were left behind in Tianlai Ancient City, with only over two hundred elite Demon Sect experts escorting the Iron Coffin.

Twenty Mystic Beasts pulled the wagons, their dark purple axles carving deep tracks through the snow.

Ning Xiaochuan and Zi Zhui'er rode in the same carriage—or rather, she had insisted on squeezing into his wagon.

"Brother Xiaochuan, why exactly are you going to Nine Death Cliff? Do you have some secret mission? Do you need my help?" Zi Zhui'er, wrapped in a thick fox fur coat, pressed her soft body closer to Ning Xiaochuan, batting her adorable eyes at him.

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "I belong to the imperial court, and you are one of the Demonic Martial Artists. Even if I had a mission, it would undoubtedly be against the Demon Sect. Are you sure you'd still help me?"

"Of course! Once I marry you, I'll be part of the imperial court too," she said softly, pursing her lips as her large, affectionate eyes gazed intently at Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan responded, "The Demon Sect and the imperial court are like fire and water—utterly incompatible. Even if I were to marry you, no one would ever approve. Zhui'er, I can see you genuinely want to help me, but there’s absolutely no possibility between us. You should find another suitable husband."

"Who says a woman from the Demon Sect and a man from the imperial court can’t marry? Twenty years ago, the previous Demon Sect Saintess married a Minor Marquis from the court. Though their end was tragic, at least they loved passionately. If I could have a love like that, even death would be worth it," Zi Zhui'er declared.