Chapter 83 The Slaughter Begins

Chapter 83 The Slaughter Begins

From the distant thickets, someone recognized Ning Xiaochuan, sparking heated discussions among the martial artists. Everyone wondered about his purpose here—was he truly here to rescue the woman he had abandoned?

The young prince of the Kirin Prince's Manor, Yu Tiadi, had also arrived. Clad in golden armor, he stood atop a massive tree, his feet lightly resting on the leaves as he gazed toward Dragonfall Valley from afar, exuding an imposing aura that towered above the rest.

"He actually came after all."

Qi Chan'er stood hidden in a secluded spot on the side of the valley, her snow-white robes fluttering, her figure graceful. Her eyes were fixed intently on Ning Xiaochuan at the valley entrance, and her opinion of him rose several notches in her heart.

She knew Ning Xiaochuan well. The moment she heard of Yu Qianqian's abduction, she had anticipated his arrival.

...

The Fire Demon Mountain Range was perpetually ablaze, waves of heat rolling across the land. Yet, the wind blowing from Dragonfall Valley was icy cold, starkly contrasting with the surroundings, making one wonder if the valley was a frozen wasteland.

The sun set in the west, and the mountain winds howled!

The silhouettes of Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang stretched long under the fading sunlight, their robes flapping sharply in the cold wind.

Ning Xiaochuan poured out the twenty Black Firewood Pearls from his pouch, suspending them above his head with Profound Qi. He then shouted toward the valley, "Ning Xiaochuan of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, bearing twenty Black Firewood Pearls, has come to rescue Princess Qianxi!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Ten black figures flew out from Dragonfall Valley, landing firmly on the ground and revealing themselves as black-robed martial artists.

The black-robed leader, who had once fought Ning Xiaochuan, had a slender figure and long legs—clearly a woman. One could only imagine what kind of bewitching beauty lay beneath that black veil.

She took a step forward, dark blue Profound Qi gathering beneath her feet as she instantly shifted five meters, stopping directly in front of Ning Xiaochuan. Her gaze bore deeply into him as she spoke in a hoarse voice, laced with amusement, "How unexpected! Truly unexpected! I thought the one coming to rescue Princess Qianxi would be Yu Jinkun, the first expert of the Golden Roc Prince's Manor. Yet, here you are."

Ning Xiaochuan's expression remained unperturbed. "Is there a reason I can't come to save her?"

"Anyone who brings twenty Black Firewood Pearls can come for her," the black-robed leader replied. "I was merely marveling that only the Greatest Love-Obsessed Fool in the World would have the courage to do so."

Ning Xiaochuan's eyes darkened. "If that's the case, why waste words?"

The black-robed leader showed no anger. Instead, she extended her hand. "Hand over the twenty Black Firewood Pearls, and I'll take you to Yu Qianqian immediately."

"I won't give you the Black Firewood Pearls until I see Princess Qianxi," Ning Xiaochuan said, returning the pearls to his pouch.

The nine black-robed figures behind the leader simultaneously released black Profound Qi, condensing it into Profound Qi Swords. A terrifying killing intent erupted from their bodies!

"Roar!"

Murong Wushuang let out a long roar as a layer of stone-like skin enveloped his body. He stomped the ground, cracking it with fine fissures, standing firm against the nine black-robed warriors.

The black-robed leader stared deeply at Ning Xiaochuan, then glanced at Murong Wushuang before raising his arm, signaling the nine behind him to withdraw their Profound Qi.

The nine black-robed individuals retracted their Profound Qi, but nine streams of Cold Qi still emanated from their bodies, covering the ground with a thin layer of frost.

The black-robed leader laughed, "Good! You want to see Yu Qianqian? I’ll take you to her now. The question is—do you dare enter Dragonfall Valley?"

"What’s there to fear?"

Not a trace of hesitation showed on Ning Xiaochuan’s face as he strode straight into Dragonfall Valley.

Murong Wushuang followed, pausing at the valley entrance to stick out his tongue mockingly at the nine black-robed figures before stepping inside.

The valley was thick with Poison Qi, but for warriors who had reached the Divine Body Realm, their own blood could purify such toxins.

The number of warriors from Dark Emperor City far exceeded Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang’s expectations. Black-robed figures at the Divine Body Realm were everywhere, wielding blades and spears like grim reapers.

Dragonfall Valley was indeed bizarre—sheets of ice covered the ground, the soil and rocks exuded Cold Qi, and Poison Mist hung heavily in the air, starkly contrasting with the rest of the Fire Demon Mountain Range.

Some of Dark Emperor City’s warriors had carved caves into the cliffs to cultivate in solitude, while others had built temporary stone dwellings.

There were easily over a hundred black-robed warriors present, and even the weakest among them had reached the Ninth Level of Profound Qi. The sheer pressure of their combined presence was overwhelming.

On a 50-meter-high Half-Sky Cliff, a small cave housed Yu Qianqian. Two black-robed warriors at the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm clung to the steep cliff face like dark geckos, standing guard.

Anyone attempting a rescue would be spotted long before reaching the cave, and Yu Qianqian would be killed without hesitation.

Ning Xiaochuan frowned slightly at the sheer, smooth cliff. Saving Yu Qianqian without handing over the Black Firewood Pearls seemed nearly impossible.

Inside the cave, Yu Qianqian sat cross-legged in meditation, her body spotless and her demeanor eerily calm. Wisps of Profound Qi flowed from her, coiling like small, intelligent dragons.

Unless absolutely necessary, Dark Emperor City’s forces dared not harm her. Even after capturing her, they hadn’t sealed her cultivation.

To them, Yu Qianqian was just a fragile Heart Nurturer!

Yet she remained composed, showing none of the panic typical of a prisoner. Instead, she cultivated in the cave—a testament to her unshakable resolve.

A hoarse, sinister voice echoed from outside the cave, "Princess Qianxi, someone has come to rescue you!"

Yu Qianqian opened her bright eyes, withdrawing her Profound Qi. "Oh? Someone actually came to save me? Which warrior from the Golden Roc Prince’s Manor suddenly grew a spine?"

She was an exceptionally intelligent woman and had long abandoned hope of rescue. She knew the warriors of the Golden Roc Prince’s Manor were talented and strong-willed, but she couldn’t recall a single one who would risk everything for her sake.

After all, people were inherently selfish.

She had already resigned herself to fate, but at the last moment, someone came to rescue her—something entirely unexpected.

Upon hearing Yu Qianqian's voice, Ning Xiaochuan felt slightly relieved and called out boldly, "Ning Xiaochuan has the courage to do just that!"

When Yu Qianqian heard the voice from below the cliff, her heart pounded wildly. She rushed out of the stone cave and stared downward. The moment she saw Ning Xiaochuan’s figure, her eyes suddenly grew moist, and an indescribable joy surged in her heart. Yet, she coldly retorted, "What right do you have to save me? What is our relationship? Go back by yourself! I’m not leaving!"

After saying this, she turned and retreated back into the cave.

Everyone was stunned!

Murong Wushuang sighed. "Her princess temper is acting up again. Does she not realize how dangerous this place is? We could lose our heads at any moment."

Ning Xiaochuan also frowned.

The black-robed leader spoke, "You’ve seen her now. Shouldn’t you hand over the Black Firewood Pearls?"

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "Unless she comes down first and we safely leave Dragonfall Valley, I won’t give you the Black Firewood Pearls."

"Ning Xiaochuan, are you joking with me? Do you think you still have the right to bargain after entering Dragonfall Valley?" The black-robed leader’s aura turned icy as he glared up at the cliff and ordered, "Throw Yu Qianqian’s head down!"

The two martial artists at the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm standing on the cliff sneered and strode toward the stone cave 50 meters above.

But the moment they reached the cave entrance, two palm strikes blasted out, slamming into their chests.

The two martial experts never expected an attack—after all, inside the cave was only a delicate princess, and a Heart Nurturer at that!

Boom!

Boom!

The two warriors at the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm screamed as they plummeted from the 50-meter cliff, crashing into the ground below and leaving two massive craters. They lay motionless in the pits—even if they weren’t dead, they’d surely be crippled.

This scene left everyone utterly shocked, frozen in disbelief as they stared up at the cave on the Half-Sky Cliff, wondering what kind of expert could be inside.

Yu Qianqian stepped out of the cave, looking down with an air of pride and elegance, like an orchid blooming on a precipice.

It was her?

Who could have guessed that a delicate princess—a Heart Nurturer deemed so harmless she wasn’t even sealed—would unexpectedly kill two warriors at the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm?

While everyone else was stunned beyond words, Ning Xiaochuan remained calm. He knew that although Yu Qianqian was a Heart Nurturer, few were aware she had reached the Intermediate Heart Nurturer level, meaning her cultivation had long surpassed the Divine Body Realm.

Moreover, he knew she possessed a unique Martial Arts Heart Palace, granting her combat prowess far beyond ordinary Heart Nurturers.

Yu Qianqian was no mere "vase" princess—she was a woman of true intelligence and talent. When she had snapped at Ning Xiaochuan and retreated into the cave earlier, she had already been setting a trap for the Dark Emperor City forces, lulling them into complacency.

When the two martial arts experts on the cliff moved to kill her, she seized the opportunity to strike unexpectedly, sending them plummeting off the cliff to their deaths.

"The slaughter begins!"

Ning Xiaochuan roared, his arms erupting with countless streaks of lightning. In the blink of an eye, the bolts struck the two nearest black-robed individuals.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The two black-robed warriors' chests were pierced by Ning Xiaochuan's palm strikes, their flesh torn apart as the lightning shattered their bodies, sending them collapsing to the ground.

Murong Wushuang's entire body petrified as he swung his palm down onto the skull of a black-robed warrior behind him, crushing the man's head and splattering brain matter. The lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

The black-robed leader bellowed in fury, his voice icy, "Seal the valley entrance! Notify the second-in-command—these three must die today!"

Ning Xiaochuan charged straight at the black-robed leader, lightning crackling around him as a torrential downpour poured from the sky. His palm thrust through the storm, aiming for the leader's chest, while the lightning coalesced into a Lightning Giant Beast, its claws bared as it pounced toward the black-robed leader.