Chapter 84: Blood-Stained Rainy Night

Chapter 84: Blood-Stained Rainy Night

The Black-robed Leader showed no fear. Even though Ning Xiaochuan's aura erupted with overwhelming power, it did not make her retreat an inch. With her left hand, she condensed a surge of Cold Qi, while her right hand gathered a ball of flames. Drawing a Tai Chi symbol in the air with both hands, she unleashed a devastating strike toward the Lightning Giant Beast!

Boom!

Both of them were forced back a step.

"You've actually reached the Third Level of the Divine Body Realm!" they exclaimed simultaneously.

Both had attained the Third Level of the Divine Body Realm!

The battle erupted instantly. Murong Wushuang was surrounded by over a dozen black-robed warriors, his fists entirely encased in Profound Qi, his skin resembling the armored shell of a mystic turtle.

Fists clashed against blades, producing thunderous booms!

Dragonfall Valley was filled with the sounds of slaughter. Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang fought side by side against dozens of black-robed martial arts experts, the battle so fierce it seemed to darken the heavens.

Yu Qianqian, graceful and agile as a swallow, leaped down from the cliff. Channeling Profound Qi, she stepped lightly on protruding rocks along the cliff face, dispersing the force of her fall before landing smoothly on the ground. She swiftly rushed to join Ning Xiaochuan and Murong Wushuang.

Ning Xiaochuan and the Black-robed Leader were locked in a fierce struggle, neither able to gain the upper hand!

"Heavenly Thunder Bell!"

Ning Xiaochuan roared at the Black-robed Leader, unleashing a deafening wave of Heavenly Thunder. The sheer force shattered the eardrums of five black-robed warriors behind her, blood streaming from their ears as they clutched their heads and screamed in agony.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Seizing the opportunity, Murong Wushuang charged forward, his Profound Qi Sword slicing through the necks of the five deafened warriors. Their heads flew off cleanly, like five large watermelons being lobbed from their shoulders.

From the necks of the five black-robed warriors, blood fountains surged a meter high!

The Black-robed Leader had long known Ning Xiaochuan was skilled in this divine ability. The moment he unleashed the Heavenly Thunder Bell, she had sealed her ears with Profound Qi.

"Ice-Fire Tower!"

The Black-robed Leader extended a pair of slender, jade-like hands, her fingers delicate and boneless. From her fingertips, she released Martial Arts Profound Qi, activating a Martial Arts Divine Ability.

Between her hands, a seven-meter-tall divine tower materialized—half crimson red, half deep blue. Unfazed by the pouring rain, it radiated the power of both flame and frost as it descended to crush Ning Xiaochuan.

Beneath the black veil of her hat hid a breathtakingly beautiful face, yet her attacks were ruthless, each strike aimed at ending Ning Xiaochuan's life.

"Lightning Divine Beast!"

Over thirty bolts of lightning erupted around Ning Xiaochuan, converging into a massive sphere of electricity that took the form of a ferocious Lightning Divine Beast. With its claws, it tore the Ice-Fire Tower apart, reducing it to fragments of dissipating Profound Qi.

Boom!

Ning Xiaochuan, now resembling a thunder god, struck the Black-robed Leader's chest with a devastating palm strike. The force shattered a large portion of her black robe, sending her flying backward!

Though both were at the Third Level of the Divine Body Realm, Ning Xiaochuan was clearly stronger.

The Black-robed Leader's chest was exposed, revealing smooth, snow-white skin and the alluring curve of her cleavage, with two jade-like peaks.

In the center of her fair chest, a bloody palm print nearly shattered her collarbone!

Above them, the rain poured down in torrents!

Ning Xiaochuan's clothes and long hair were completely drenched as he stared coldly at her and said, "Within the same cultivation realm, no one is my match. Today is not the day I die—it's yours!"

The Black-robed Leader took out a purple cloak and wrapped it around herself, covering her exposed skin. This was the first time she had suffered such a heavy loss!

"How arrogant."

Two Black-robed Individuals attacked Ning Xiaochuan from behind, simultaneously unleashing Martial Arts Divine Abilities with a chilling, murderous intent.

One was at the peak of the First Level of Divine Body Realm, while the other had reached the Second Level of Divine Body Realm. The divine abilities they executed were peerless techniques, their combat prowess formidable enough to qualify for entry into the Emperor's Martial Palace.

"Spirit Brilliance Treasure Tree!"

"Seven Star Sword Path!"

The Black-robed Individual at the First Level of Divine Body Realm raised both hands, conjuring a radiant treasure tree in his palms. The trunk was as thick as a bowl, adorned with silver leaves and lush branches, emitting dazzling brilliance. With a single swing of the tree, winds surged and clouds churned.

Meanwhile, the Black-robed Individual at the Second Level of Divine Body Realm summoned seven battle swords from within his body, arranging them in the formation of the Seven Stars, each sword pulsing with dense Profound Qi waves. With a flick of his arm, all seven swords shot forth simultaneously!

Ning Xiaochuan let out a cold snort, turning around and roaring fiercely at the two Black-robed warriors, "Heavenly Thunder Bell!"

A thunderous boom erupted, shattering both the "Spirit Brilliance Treasure Tree" and the "Seven Star Sword Path." The two Black-robed warriors were horrified, feeling an overwhelming force pressing down on them, sending them stumbling backward.

A single roar shattered all divine abilities!

Any divine technique or profound art paled before the sound of Heavenly Thunder, crumbling like shadows in an instant.

Ning Xiaochuan seized the arm of the warrior at the First Level of Divine Body Realm, lightning surging from his palm into the Black-robed warrior's body. The warrior convulsed violently, letting out a series of agonized screams before falling silent—his body reduced to a charred corpse on the ground.

The warrior at the Second Level of Divine Body Realm condensed a Profound Qi Sword, aiming to pierce Ning Xiaochuan's back. A wave of Cold Qi surged from behind, signaling imminent danger!

"Boom!"

Ning Xiaochuan pointed a finger backward, striking the tip of the Profound Qi Sword and shattering it into fragments. His finger then landed squarely on the forehead of the Second Level Black-robed warrior, leaving behind a bloody hole the size of a finger.

The warrior's breath ceased instantly, collapsing to the ground as blood and brain matter oozed from the hole in his forehead.

"Let's go! Break out of Dragonfall Valley!" Ning Xiaochuan's hands were drenched in blood, yet his battle intent burned fiercer than ever.

"No! The valley exit is sealed off by warriors from Dark Emperor City. Over eighty Black-robed warriors are guarding it—it's a death trap. Going there means certain doom!" Yu Qianqian and Murong Wushuang had fled back from the valley exit, both bearing grievous wounds.

Murong Wushuang's stone-like skin had been forcibly torn open, leaving a gaping wound nearly a meter long across his chest, nearly disemboweling him.

Yu Qianqian's left arm had been slashed, drenched in blood, rendering her fingers completely immobile.

They had attempted to clear a path earlier but had stumbled into a deadly trap, nearly meeting their end!

Ning Xiaochuan gazed toward the canyon entrance and indeed saw a dense crowd of martial cultivators pressing forward, emerging slowly from the gray Poison Mist like black-robed emissaries stepping out of hell.

"Thud! Thud!" A chorus of footsteps echoed.

An aura of death swept over them, instilling deep-seated fear in their hearts!

"There's no other way. We must retreat deeper into the canyon first."

Murong Wushuang and Yu Qianqian led the way, while Ning Xiaochuan took up the rear, single-handedly holding off the pursuing Black-robed Individuals and preventing them from advancing.

Above, the rain poured down in torrents, its relentless patter filling the air with mist.

The night was thick with slaughter.

"Thud! Thud!"

Feet splashed through mud and water, kicking up waves stained crimson with blood.

"Ten Thousand Swords Transforming into Rain!"

Ning Xiaochuan pointed skyward, and the rain's mist coalesced into thirty-five sword-shaped shadows of Qi, swirling above his head before transforming into a storm of blades that rained down upon the Black-robed Individuals behind him.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

A large group of Black-robed Individuals collapsed into the mud, their agonized screams piercing the air. Four were impaled to death by the sword Qi, while over a dozen others suffered severe injuries and were carried away by their comrades.

"Roar!"

A tiger-like roar erupted.

From the ranks of the Black-robed Individuals emerged a towering figure, far larger than the rest. Though also clad in black robes, his arms and neck were exposed, revealing thick Golden Tiger Fur.

It was easy to imagine his entire body was covered in it.

He resembled a tiger dressed in human clothing, exuding an overwhelming aura of savagery and ferocity. His five fingers bore razor-sharp claws that gleamed with a deadly edge.

"A Mystic Beast Hybrid!"

Ning Xiaochuan sensed a dangerous presence from this burly Black-robed Warrior—far more threatening than the Black-robed Leader he had wounded earlier.

The other Black-robed Individuals stepped aside, clearing a path for the tiger-furred warrior.

"Second Leader, Ning Xiaochuan has slain at least ten of our men. His head must be taken in retribution," a Black-robed Warrior with Green Eyes hissed venomously.

The Black-robed Leader Ning Xiaochuan had injured earlier was the Third Leader of Dark Emperor City.

But this tiger-furred warrior before him was the Second Leader of Dark Emperor City, his cultivation nearing the Peak of the Third Level of the Divine Body Realm, his combat prowess unmatched.

"Die!"

The Second Leader spat out a single word, but it roared like a tiger shaking the mountains, its force earth-shaking!

Ning Xiaochuan glanced back. Murong Wushuang and Yu Qianqian had already fled deep into the canyon, where the terrain narrowed to just two meters wide, jagged and easily defensible.

Once inside, Dark Emperor City's numerical advantage would mean nothing.

Ning Xiaochuan had no intention of prolonging the fight. With a single palm strike, he sent a First Level of Divine Body Realm Black-robed Warrior flying, blood spewing from his mouth, before turning and dashing into the canyon.

Standing at the entrance, he faced the charging Black-robed Individuals, his body radiating dozens of Lightning streaks, exuding an indomitable aura—one man holding the pass against ten thousand!

"Boom! Boom!"

Ning Xiaochuan stood at the canyon entrance like an invincible war god, drenched in blood. Five corpses lay at his feet, their blood saturating the canyon with a pungent stench as Blood Qi permeated the air.

Many warriors outside the canyon witnessed the brutal battle, their hearts trembling with fear. A young warrior from the Kirin Prince's Manor shivered and said, "Young Prince, Ning Xiaochuan's combat prowess is truly terrifying! He alone has slain sixteen experts and even defeated the Third Leader of Dark Emperor City. This man is truly formidable."

Yu Tiadi stood atop a tree, golden Profound Qi surging within him, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. "I never expected Ning Xiaochuan to deal such a heavy blow to Dark Emperor City single-handedly. He has earned the right to be my rival and will serve as a whetstone on my path to strength."

Not far away, atop a cliff, Princess Lanfei sat in her winged chariot, her heart equally shaken. She no longer underestimated Ning Xiaochuan, recognizing him as a true powerhouse among the younger generation, capable of competing for a spot in the top ten of this year's examinees.

"Your Highness, Dark Emperor City's forces are currently engaged with Ning Xiaochuan. If our men strike now, we can deliver a devastating blow to those fiends and perhaps annihilate them entirely," a warrior beside the chariot suggested.

Princess Lanfei's voice was melodious as she softly replied, "Wait a little longer. Let the Second Leader of Dark Emperor City and Ning Xiaochuan settle their battle first. It would be best if both of them perish in this canyon."

To Princess Lanfei, both the fiends of Dark Emperor City and Ning Xiaochuan were enemies of the imperial family—deserving of death. She hoped most of all to see them destroy each other.