Chapter 56: Probing

Chapter 56: Probing

Murong Wushuang gnashed his teeth in hatred and said, "Yue Wuyang, that despicable villain! I actually used to idolize him. What a waste of my damn eyes!"

Ning Xiaochuan glanced at Lin Sanzhi’s hands and asked, "Senior Lin, how did you lose seven fingers?"

Lin Sanzhi fell into deep thought for a long while before raising his hand, his expression somber. "Seven hundred thousand soldiers... I watched them die before my eyes, one by one, powerless to save them. I, too, bear guilt. I, too, am at fault. So I severed seven fingers as penance for my sins."

Ning Xiaochuan slammed his fist on the table. The whole thing was utterly absurd. Of the three legendary figures of that era, one was dead, another crippled, and the last grievously wounded. Meanwhile, that shameless villain had been enfeoffed as a marquis, basking in a decade of wealth and glory, worshipped as an idol by countless talents across the land.

Was there anything more laughable than this?

Lin Sanzhi solemnly warned, "Until the two of you have fully grown in strength, you must not speak of this matter to anyone. Otherwise, it will surely bring death upon you."

Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang both nodded.

The night passed without sleep.

The next day, Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang disguised themselves as beggars and returned to the alley where Murong Wushuang had once lived. From a distance, they saw soldiers surrounding the entire alley, interrogating the residents.

"Yue Wuyang didn’t come personally. It seems he doesn’t consider this matter important," Ning Xiaochuan remarked.

Murong Wushuang said, "Who would’ve thought the two people he killed ten years ago are still alive? Besides, the Lin Xiao Yue Wuyang knew had all his fingers intact. The Lin Xiao Ji Hanxing saw was a cripple with only three fingers. Even if Ji Hanxing escaped and described Lin Xiao’s appearance to Yue Wuyang, he’d never connect him to the Dragon Warrior from a decade ago."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, and the two returned to Haitang Manor.

To Ning Xiaochuan’s surprise, Yue Wuyang didn’t send anyone to Haitang Manor again—not even to question them. This was completely unexpected, rendering all the prepared responses Ning Xiaochuan had rehearsed useless.

With only three days left until the Emperor's Martial Palace’s enrollment, Ning Xiaochuan decided it was time to auction the Blood Toad Pill.

That same day, Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang rode the Green Deer Horse Carriage toward the Imperial City.

Sitting inside the carriage, Murong Wushuang held a Blood Toad Pill in his hand, drooling uncontrollably. "Brother Chuan, is this really the legendary Intermediate Elixir? And you’re giving it to me?"

Ning Xiaochuan reclined lazily in the carriage and chuckled. "The Blood Toad Pill is far more potent than ordinary Intermediate Elixirs. Your cultivation is already on the verge of the Ninth Level of Profound Qi. If you take this pill, you might even reach the Divine Body Realm before the Emperor's Martial Palace’s enrollment."

The Blood Toad Pill could elevate a warrior below the Seventh Level of the Divine Body Realm by one minor realm in a short time, making it a supreme-grade Intermediate Elixir.

Of course, it only worked for those cultivating the Vajra Divine Body. Ning Xiaochuan, however, had developed the Heavenly Phenomenon Divine Body. Otherwise, he would have taken a Blood Toad Pill long ago to break through to the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm.

Murong Wushuang ultimately couldn't bear to consume the Blood Toad Pill and instead stored it inside a Cold Jade Box, tucking it under his armpit as if afraid someone might snatch it away.

Ning Xiaochuan didn’t head straight to the Golden Roc Auction House but instead took a detour to the Great Golden Roc Prince's Manor.

The Great Golden Roc Prince's Manor was an imposing and majestic sight.

At the entrance stood two towering Dragon Statues, each over 100 meters tall, their ferocious claws bared and their aura domineering. Ordinary people would be intimidated just by glimpsing these statues from afar, let alone daring to approach the manor gates.

"Who goes there?" The guards stationed at the Great Golden Roc Prince's Manor were all martial experts, their voices booming like thunder.

Ning Xiaochuan had already reached the First Level of the Divine Body Realm, placing him among the ranks of martial experts as well. He channeled his Profound Qi, forming an invisible barrier of energy around his body that deflected the sonic attack to either side.

The guard, seeing the young man’s formidable cultivation, assumed he might be an outstanding disciple from a major faction and thus refrained from immediately driving Ning Xiaochuan away.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "Kindly inform Her Highness Yu Qianqian that Ning Xiaochuan requests an audience. As for the reason, she should already be aware."

"Then please wait outside for a moment, Young Master Ning." The guard turned and entered the manor.

Ning Xiaochuan mused inwardly, Indeed, strength is the ultimate truth. Had I failed to block his sonic attack, he wouldn’t have respected me, let alone relayed my message.

When the Western Mu Consort heard the guard’s report, she frowned slightly and said coldly, "Tell that young man that Her Highness Yu Qianqian is currently unavailable and send him away."

"As you command!" The guard rose to leave.

"Wait."

The guard halted.

After a moment of contemplation, the Western Mu Consort asked, "How old did you say this young man was?"

"About sixteen or seventeen!"

The Western Mu Consort pressed further, "Did you ask his name? Or which family he belongs to?"

The guard replied, "He said his name is Ning Xiaochuan."

"Oh! Ning Xiaochuan."

A sudden delight flashed across the Western Mu Consort’s face, and she immediately instructed a nearby maid, "Cuiping, go inform Qianqian that Young Master Ning has come to see her."

The guard was baffled. What’s going on with the Western Mu Consort? Why such a drastic change upon hearing Ning Xiaochuan’s name?

The Western Mu Consort was also quite curious about Ning Xiaochuan and decided to test him, to see if he truly lived up to the praise from Guo Shidao and the Sixth Steward.

She had made up her mind!

After waiting outside the manor for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ning Xiaochuan didn’t see Yu Qianqian emerge—instead, the guard who had delivered the message returned first.

The guard gave Ning Xiaochuan a strange look.

Just as Ning Xiaochuan was about to step forward and inquire— The guard abruptly drew the saber at his waist, unleashing a surge of crimson Profound Qi that radiated brilliantly. Planting his foot, he swung the blade down at Ning Xiaochuan with a force capable of splitting mountains and cliffs, gripping the saber with both hands as he leaped over 10 meters into the air.

"What are you doing?"

Ning Xiaochuan was caught off guard, quickly channeling his Profound Qi to his legs.

Electric currents surged around his legs, propelling him backward at an astonishing speed as he retreated over thirty meters in an instant.

However, the guard’s cultivation was also exceptionally high, having reached the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm. His speed was no slower than Ning Xiaochuan’s, shadowing him relentlessly.

Blade light layered upon blade light, forming an impenetrable wall like surging waves.

High atop the towering walls of the Golden Roc Prince's Manor, the Western Mu Consort sat, flanked by two maidservants who were attentively watching the fierce battle below.

One of the maidservants, strikingly beautiful with a vermilion dot between her brows, spoke up, "Your Highness, Guard Cheng Lin has mastered the fourth level of the Fire Roc Art and was once a battle-hardened general who emerged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. If Young Master Ning were to be injured, the Princess might be furious."

"I’ve already warned Cheng Lin—if he harms Xiaochuan, he’ll have to sever his own arm. He should know his limits," the Western Mu Consort replied. She had sent Cheng Lin to test Ning Xiaochuan’s martial prowess, curious to see how many moves he could withstand.

Her gaze lingered on the faint currents flickering around Ning Xiaochuan’s legs, and she smiled faintly. "Heavenly Phenomenon Divine Body... Not bad. Worthy of the Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace."

Though the Western Mu Consort had ordered Cheng Lin not to injure Ning Xiaochuan, the guard dared not hold back entirely. His attacks remained ruthless, aiming to force Ning Xiaochuan’s true strength to the surface.

With the advantage of the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm against Ning Xiaochuan’s First Level, Cheng Lin was confident of victory and unafraid of accidentally wounding him.

Murong Wushuang shouted, "Hey! Does the Golden Roc Prince's Manor have no regard for the law? We’re just here to visit the Princess, not kidnap her! There’s no need to resort to murder!"

Rolling up his sleeves, he added, "I can’t stand this anymore. If you don’t stop right now, believe me, I’ll cut you down!"

Murong Wushuang declared, "Enough is enough! Today, I’ll fight it out with your Golden Roc Prince's Manor!"

"Too much nonsense!"

Boom!

Cheng Lin unleashed a Profound Qi Sword from a distance of over twenty meters, sending Murong Wushuang flying. He crashed to the ground, coughing up blood.

Though Cheng Lin dared not harm Ning Xiaochuan, he had no qualms about striking others with full force.

Seeing Murong Wushuang sprawled on the ground, blood spilling from his lips, Ning Xiaochuan’s anger flared. "Profound Qi Sword—Ninefold Slash!"

Wreathed in Profound Qi, Ning Xiaochuan condensed a sword of energy in his hand and launched a counterattack. Sword light extended three meters, turning the surrounding thirty meters into a zone of devastation.

Nine slashes in succession, each fiercer than the last.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

By the ninth slash, the sword light had expanded to ten meters, resembling a colossal blade capable of splitting heaven and earth. It sent Cheng Lin’s weapon flying from his grip.

"Fire Cloud Fist!"

Cheng Lin’s fury ignited. The Western Mu Consort was watching from above—if he lost to a mere First Level Divine Body Realm warrior, his reputation would be ruined, and he’d have no place left in the Golden Roc Prince's Manor.

Thus, he unleashed his ultimate technique.

A single punch summoned a massive fire cloud from his fist, crackling with intense heat. The air temperature soared, and the stone pavement beneath them began to melt.

"Lightning Divine Beast!"

Roar!

Ning Xiaochuan let out a long howl, spreading his hands as over twenty bolts of lightning appeared in the air, writhing like electric serpents before converging into a massive sphere of electricity!

From within the sphere, a Beast Claw emerged.

With a single swipe, it tore through the Fire Cloud Fist and struck Cheng Lin’s chest, shattering his Protective Profound Qi Armor and sending him flying backward, blood spurting from his mouth.

"Boom!"

Cheng Lin crashed onto the ground, his face filled with disbelief. Such a powerful divine ability—it had actually broken through his Fire Cloud Fist and defeated him!

Cheng Lin rose from the ground, ready to engage Ning Xiaochuan again.

"Cheng Lin, what are you doing?" Yu Qianqian stepped out from the prince’s manor, her sharp reprimand forcing Cheng Lin to freeze in place, not daring to attack Ning Xiaochuan again.

Cheng Lin glanced up at the Western Mu Consort, who shook her head slightly. Only then did he retreat in relief.

The Western Mu Consort herself was somewhat surprised—this outcome had truly exceeded her expectations.

"Although Cheng Lin didn’t use his full strength, he still exerted at least fifty percent of his power, enough to overwhelm any warrior at the first level of the Divine Body Realm. Yet Ning Xiaochuan managed to defeat him. It seems he possesses the ability to triumph over stronger opponents. The Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace is indeed formidable."

The Western Mu Consort glanced down at Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips before she departed.