Chapter 35: The Assassin
Chapter 35: The Assassin
Ning Xiaochuan felt his blood and qi churning violently within him, his internal organs aching from the impact of Profound Qi. Ye Chenglong's cultivation was far superior to his, a full realm higher, and his speed was terrifyingly fast. In an instant, he closed the distance, swinging his sword down toward Ning Xiaochuan's head.
Ning Xiaochuan dared not meet the strike head-on. He twisted his body to the left, rolling away.
Boom!
The Profound Qi Sword struck the ground, piercing through a half-meter-thick stone slab and carving out a six-meter-long trench, scattering rubble everywhere.
Ning Xiaochuan sprinted away, desperately trying to think of a way to counter.
Ye Chenglong had been entrenched in the Ninth Level of Profound Qi for over a decade—his cultivation was undoubtedly at its peak. His Profound Qi was dense and vast, his speed like lightning. He was the most formidable opponent Ning Xiaochuan had ever faced.
Ye Chenglong condensed another Profound Qi Sword and gave chase once more.
Ning Xiaochuan's heart pounded with urgency. A cold sensation crept up his neck, as if a blade were already poised to sever his head from behind.
Faster! Faster! Faster!
"There's no escape now!"
Ye Chenglong let out a sinister laugh, then stomped hard on the ground, launching himself into the air like a great bird, intending to soar over Ning Xiaochuan and cut off his retreat.
But this was exactly the opportunity Ning Xiaochuan had been waiting for.
He abruptly halted, his hands weaving eight strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi into a single Profound Qi Sword. With a fierce slash, he aimed upward at Ye Chenglong.
Suspended midair, Ye Chenglong had no way to dodge—he could only block.
Yet he showed no fear, laughing loudly. "I told you before—your Profound Qi Sword is nothing in my eyes!"
With a swing of his arm, his own Profound Qi Sword slashed out.
Boom!
Both swords shattered upon impact.
But Ye Chenglong's expression twisted in horror.
Because he saw a second Profound Qi Sword flying toward him.
"Protective Profound Qi Armor!"
Ye Chenglong hastily channeled all his Profound Qi, forming a massive orb of energy to shield himself as he plummeted toward the ground. Once he landed, he was certain he could kill Ning Xiaochuan without fail.
But Ning Xiaochuan had no intention of giving him that chance.
Boom!
Boom!
Three consecutive Profound Qi Swords slashed out, tearing through Ye Chenglong's Protective Profound Qi Armor.
A blade of qi severed Ye Chenglong's right arm at the shoulder, sending a fountain of scorching blood gushing into the air.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Ye Chenglong had leaped into the air, only to land moments later—and in that brief span, Ning Xiaochuan had unleashed three strikes, ultimately cutting off one of Ye Chenglong's arms.
As Ye Chenglong hit the ground, he immediately circulated his Profound Qi to staunch the bleeding from his shoulder. His hatred for Ning Xiaochuan burned to its peak. "You actually dared to take my arm! Today, you will die!"
Ning Xiaochuan panted heavily, his Profound Qi significantly depleted. Yet his fighting spirit had never been fiercer. He roared, "Come then! Let’s see who dies today—you or me!"
"And me!" Murong Wushuang rushed forward, positioning himself on the opposite side of Ye Chenglong.
Despite losing an arm, Ye Chenglong was still a cultivator at the Ninth Level of Profound Qi—not someone to be underestimated.
The three of them clashed simultaneously, their figures darting across the garden as Profound Qi surged and debris flew.
Boom!
Boom!
In the end, both Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang were sent flying backward, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, each with a bloody palm print on their chests.
Ye Chenglong stood on the ground, his hair disheveled, covered in wounds and drenched in blood, looking as ferocious as a vengeful ghost. He glared at Ning Xiaochuan with hatred. "Ning the Sickly, you’re dead!"
Ye Chenglong condensed another Profound Qi Sword, the energy around him surging violently, transforming into a whirlwind.
Ning Xiaochuan flipped to his feet, landing on one knee. His fingers reached into his robes and pulled out a black Evil Dragon Scale. Wrapping his palm in Profound Qi, he hurled the scale forward.
Thud!
The Evil Dragon Scale pierced through Ye Chenglong’s heart.
The black venom of the Evil Dragon instantly invaded his Martial Arts Heart Palace, merging into his bloodstream.
Ye Chenglong stiffened, convulsed violently once, and then collapsed heavily to the ground.
A strike through the heart with the Evil Dragon Scale meant certain death.
Ning Xiaochuan finally let out a sigh of relief, coughing up another mouthful of blood before quickly sitting cross-legged to recover his Profound Qi.
About two hours later, both Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang had mostly recovered from their injuries.
"I owe you one this time. Without you, I might not have been able to deal with them today," Ning Xiaochuan said with gratitude, then added solemnly, "But you must never tell anyone about my ability to cultivate Martial Arts Profound Qi. This matter… is extremely important."
Murong Wushuang knew Ning Xiaochuan’s identity was anything but ordinary, and this matter was undoubtedly significant. He nodded seriously in response.
Ning Xiaochuan took out a small jade vial and handed it to Murong Wushuang. "There are ten drops of Heart Nurturing Liquid inside. Take it—it’ll greatly aid your martial cultivation."
Murong Wushuang accepted the vial, his face lighting up with joy. "Brother Chuan, don’t tell me you’re a Heart Nurturer?"
Ning Xiaochuan replied, "Just a Primary Heart Nurturer, nothing more."
Murong Wushuang’s expression turned reverent and envious as he tucked the vial into his robes, grinning. "Heart Nurturers are all rich folks, so I won’t hold back!"
Ning Xiaochuan asked curiously, "Didn’t you just earn 50,000 Small Coins a few days ago? How come you can’t even afford Haitang Manor’s Annual Tribute?"
Murong Wushuang’s expression turned bitter. "Because I have a grandfather who’s been ill for years."
"Not this again!" Ning Xiaochuan’s forehead twitched.
Murong Wushuang quickly defended himself, "I’m telling the truth! My grandfather’s illness has lasted over a decade. I’ve hired several Primary Heart Nurturers to treat him, but none of them made any progress—they couldn’t even identify the root cause. Over the years, I’ve racked up a lot of debt trying to cure him. Those 50,000 Small Coins I earned the other day all went to paying people back."
"Not even Martial Arts Profound Qi and Primary Heart Nurturers could help?" Ning Xiaochuan fell silent for a moment before saying, "Once I reach the level of an Intermediate Heart Nurturer, I’ll try treating your grandfather myself."
Murong Wushuang was naturally overwhelmed with gratitude. After all, hiring even a Primary Heart Nurturer required a fortune, and an Intermediate Heart Nurturer was far beyond his means.
Perhaps an Intermediate Heart Nurturer could finally cure his grandfather’s illness!
The steward and the guard commander of Haitang Manor had both died, so a suitable explanation was needed to handle the aftermath. Otherwise, it would inevitably arouse the suspicion of that Fourth Master in the Marquis's residence.
Ning Xiaochuan was still in the early stages of his growth and dared not let anyone know he had already begun cultivating Martial Arts Profound Qi.
"Assassin! There's an assassin!"
Ning Xiaochuan ran while shouting at the top of his lungs.
The guards of Haitang Manor rushed in, but just as they reached the entrance of the small garden, Ning Xiaochuan stopped them.
Clutching his bloodied chest wound, he stumbled out in panic and said, "An assassin tried to kill me! Steward Qiu and Ye Chenglong died protecting me!"
When the guards saw the corpses of Steward Qiu and Ye Chenglong, they were all startled and immediately drew their swords.
"Manor Lord, where is the assassin?" someone asked.
"He was just here! He must have fled when he saw you all arrive, realizing he couldn’t kill me anymore... Wait! There! Over there!" Ning Xiaochuan pointed fearfully toward the roof.
Murong Wushuang, disguised as the assassin and wrapped in a black robe, flashed past the eaves before leaping onto the wall and escaping Haitang Manor.
The guards swarmed out in pursuit, but given their cultivation levels, catching Murong Wushuang was impossible.
For the next two days, Ning Xiaochuan "recuperated" in Haitang Manor.
Of course, it was all just an act—his injuries had long since healed.
In Purple Qi Garden, Ning Xiaochuan secluded himself, claiming to be recovering, and ordered, "Yu Yan, bring me the recent historical records of the Yulan Empire, especially any volumes related to the Dark Emperor City."
Sitting at his desk, Ning Xiaochuan flipped through a thick stack of scrolls, engrossed in his reading.
"Whoosh—"
A cold wind blew in.
Just as he was intently studying the records, a figure wrapped entirely in white cloth stood behind him like a ghost. Its body was tightly bound like a mummy, with only its eyes visible through the gaps in the cloth, gleaming with an eerie light.
It looked like a person—yet also like a ghost!
Ning Xiaochuan seemed to sense something, feeling a chill run down his spine. He abruptly turned around and locked eyes with the "mummy," startling for a moment before quickly calming down. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled and said, "You... you actually came back to life!"
Ning Xiaochuan felt his blood and qi churning violently within him, his internal organs aching from the impact of Profound Qi. Ye Chenglong's cultivation was far superior to his, a full realm higher, and his speed was terrifyingly fast. In an instant, he closed the distance, swinging his sword down toward Ning Xiaochuan's head.
Ning Xiaochuan dared not meet the strike head-on. He twisted his body to the left, rolling away.
Boom!
The Profound Qi Sword struck the ground, piercing through a half-meter-thick stone slab and carving out a six-meter-long trench, scattering rubble everywhere.
Ning Xiaochuan sprinted away, desperately trying to think of a way to counter.
Ye Chenglong had been entrenched in the Ninth Level of Profound Qi for over a decade—his cultivation was undoubtedly at its peak. His Profound Qi was dense and vast, his speed like lightning. He was the most formidable opponent Ning Xiaochuan had ever faced.
Ye Chenglong condensed another Profound Qi Sword and gave chase once more.
Ning Xiaochuan's heart pounded with urgency. A cold sensation crept up his neck, as if a blade were already poised to sever his head from behind.
Faster! Faster! Faster!
"There's no escape now!"
Ye Chenglong let out a sinister laugh, then stomped hard on the ground, launching himself into the air like a great bird, intending to soar over Ning Xiaochuan and cut off his retreat.
But this was exactly the opportunity Ning Xiaochuan had been waiting for.
He abruptly halted, his hands weaving eight strands of Martial Arts Profound Qi into a single Profound Qi Sword. With a fierce slash, he aimed upward at Ye Chenglong.
Suspended midair, Ye Chenglong had no way to dodge—he could only block.
Yet he showed no fear, laughing loudly. "I told you before—your Profound Qi Sword is nothing in my eyes!"
With a swing of his arm, his own Profound Qi Sword slashed out.
Boom!
Both swords shattered upon impact.
But Ye Chenglong's expression twisted in horror.
Because he saw a second Profound Qi Sword flying toward him.
"Protective Profound Qi Armor!"
Ye Chenglong hastily channeled all his Profound Qi, forming a massive orb of energy to shield himself as he plummeted toward the ground. Once he landed, he was certain he could kill Ning Xiaochuan without fail.
But Ning Xiaochuan had no intention of giving him that chance.
Boom!
Boom!
Three consecutive Profound Qi Swords slashed out, tearing through Ye Chenglong's Protective Profound Qi Armor.
A blade of qi severed Ye Chenglong's right arm at the shoulder, sending a fountain of scorching blood gushing into the air.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Ye Chenglong had leaped into the air, only to land moments later—and in that brief span, Ning Xiaochuan had unleashed three strikes, ultimately cutting off one of Ye Chenglong's arms.
As Ye Chenglong hit the ground, he immediately circulated his Profound Qi to staunch the bleeding from his shoulder. His hatred for Ning Xiaochuan burned to its peak. "You actually dared to take my arm! Today, you will die!"
Ning Xiaochuan panted heavily, his Profound Qi significantly depleted. Yet his fighting spirit had never been fiercer. He roared, "Come then! Let’s see who dies today—you or me!"
"And me!" Murong Wushuang rushed forward, positioning himself on the opposite side of Ye Chenglong.
Despite losing an arm, Ye Chenglong was still a cultivator at the Ninth Level of Profound Qi—not someone to be underestimated.
The three of them clashed simultaneously, their figures darting across the garden as Profound Qi surged and debris flew.
Boom!
Boom!
In the end, both Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang were sent flying backward, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, each with a bloody palm print on their chests.
Ye Chenglong stood on the ground, his hair disheveled, covered in wounds and drenched in blood, looking as ferocious as a vengeful ghost. He glared at Ning Xiaochuan with hatred. "Ning the Sickly, you’re dead!"
Ye Chenglong condensed another Profound Qi Sword, the energy around him surging violently, transforming into a whirlwind.
Ning Xiaochuan flipped to his feet, landing on one knee. His fingers reached into his robes and pulled out a black Evil Dragon Scale. Wrapping his palm in Profound Qi, he hurled the scale forward.
Thud!
The Evil Dragon Scale pierced through Ye Chenglong’s heart.
The black venom of the Evil Dragon instantly invaded his Martial Arts Heart Palace, merging into his bloodstream.
Ye Chenglong stiffened, convulsed violently once, and then collapsed heavily to the ground.
A strike through the heart with the Evil Dragon Scale meant certain death.
Ning Xiaochuan finally let out a sigh of relief, coughing up another mouthful of blood before quickly sitting cross-legged to recover his Profound Qi.
About two hours later, both Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang had mostly recovered from their injuries.
"I owe you one this time. Without you, I might not have been able to deal with them today," Ning Xiaochuan said with gratitude, then added solemnly, "But you must never tell anyone about my ability to cultivate Martial Arts Profound Qi. This matter… is extremely important."
Murong Wushuang knew Ning Xiaochuan’s identity was anything but ordinary, and this matter was undoubtedly significant. He nodded seriously in response.
Ning Xiaochuan took out a small jade vial and handed it to Murong Wushuang. "There are ten drops of Heart Nurturing Liquid inside. Take it—it’ll greatly aid your martial cultivation."
Murong Wushuang accepted the vial, his face lighting up with joy. "Brother Chuan, don’t tell me you’re a Heart Nurturer?"
Ning Xiaochuan replied, "Just a Primary Heart Nurturer, nothing more."
Murong Wushuang’s expression turned reverent and envious as he tucked the vial into his robes, grinning. "Heart Nurturers are all rich folks, so I won’t hold back!"
Ning Xiaochuan asked curiously, "Didn’t you just earn 50,000 Small Coins a few days ago? How come you can’t even afford Haitang Manor’s Annual Tribute?"
Murong Wushuang’s expression turned bitter. "Because I have a grandfather who’s been ill for years."
"Not this again!" Ning Xiaochuan’s forehead twitched.
Murong Wushuang quickly defended himself, "I’m telling the truth! My grandfather’s illness has lasted over a decade. I’ve hired several Primary Heart Nurturers to treat him, but none of them made any progress—they couldn’t even identify the root cause. Over the years, I’ve racked up a lot of debt trying to cure him. Those 50,000 Small Coins I earned the other day all went to paying people back."
"Not even Martial Arts Profound Qi and Primary Heart Nurturers could help?" Ning Xiaochuan fell silent for a moment before saying, "Once I reach the level of an Intermediate Heart Nurturer, I’ll try treating your grandfather myself."
Murong Wushuang was naturally overwhelmed with gratitude. After all, hiring even a Primary Heart Nurturer required a fortune, and an Intermediate Heart Nurturer was far beyond his means.
Perhaps an Intermediate Heart Nurturer could finally cure his grandfather’s illness!
The steward and the guard commander of Haitang Manor had both died, so a suitable explanation was needed to handle the aftermath. Otherwise, it would inevitably arouse the suspicion of that Fourth Master in the Marquis's residence.
Ning Xiaochuan was still in the early stages of his growth and dared not let anyone know he had already begun cultivating Martial Arts Profound Qi.
"Assassin! There's an assassin!"
Ning Xiaochuan ran while shouting at the top of his lungs.
The guards of Haitang Manor rushed in, but just as they reached the entrance of the small garden, Ning Xiaochuan stopped them.
Clutching his bloodied chest wound, he stumbled out in panic and said, "An assassin tried to kill me! Steward Qiu and Ye Chenglong died protecting me!"
When the guards saw the corpses of Steward Qiu and Ye Chenglong, they were all startled and immediately drew their swords.
"Manor Lord, where is the assassin?" someone asked.
"He was just here! He must have fled when he saw you all arrive, realizing he couldn’t kill me anymore... Wait! There! Over there!" Ning Xiaochuan pointed fearfully toward the roof.
Murong Wushuang, disguised as the assassin and wrapped in a black robe, flashed past the eaves before leaping onto the wall and escaping Haitang Manor.
The guards swarmed out in pursuit, but given their cultivation levels, catching Murong Wushuang was impossible.
For the next two days, Ning Xiaochuan "recuperated" in Haitang Manor.
Of course, it was all just an act—his injuries had long since healed.
In Purple Qi Garden, Ning Xiaochuan secluded himself, claiming to be recovering, and ordered, "Yu Yan, bring me the recent historical records of the Yulan Empire, especially any volumes related to the Dark Emperor City."
Sitting at his desk, Ning Xiaochuan flipped through a thick stack of scrolls, engrossed in his reading.
"Whoosh—"
A cold wind blew in.
Just as he was intently studying the records, a figure wrapped entirely in white cloth stood behind him like a ghost. Its body was tightly bound like a mummy, with only its eyes visible through the gaps in the cloth, gleaming with an eerie light.
It looked like a person—yet also like a ghost!
Ning Xiaochuan seemed to sense something, feeling a chill run down his spine. He abruptly turned around and locked eyes with the "mummy," startling for a moment before quickly calming down. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled and said, "You... you actually came back to life!"
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