Chapter 85: Intimidating the Heroes

Chapter 85: Intimidating the Heroes

Ning Xiaochuan and the Second Leader were locked in a fierce battle within the canyon, their clashes shattering the cliffs on either side into countless fragments of rubble!

"Roar!"

The Second Leader's arms seemed forged from indestructible metal, his Profound Qi surging through them and causing them to swell to the thickness of a barrel. With monstrous strength, he could tear through the cliff walls bare-handed!

This was one of his divine abilities—the Nine Tiger Golden Arm.

At full power, it unleashed the combined might of nine savage tigers. Few warriors in the same cultivation realm could withstand a single strike from him!

This was the purest form of brute force!

Ning Xiaochuan, meanwhile, wrapped himself in lightning. Every palm strike he unleashed resembled the swipe of a Lightning Divine Beast's claw!

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

...

The Nine Tiger Golden Arm clashed against the Lightning Divine Beast's claws, distorting the air with each impact and sending boulders tumbling down the canyon walls.

Ning Xiaochuan roared, his voice thundering like Heavenly Thunder, condensing into a massive bell seven meters tall. It spun rapidly before hurtling toward the Second Leader.

"Roar!"

The Second Leader countered with a "Thunderous Tiger's Roar," actually managing to neutralize the Heavenly Thunder's deafening resonance, completely unaffected by the sonic assault.

"Ning Xiaochuan, your talent is remarkable. It's a pity you were born at the wrong time. Today, I will feast on your flesh and blood to help me cultivate my third divine ability." The Second Leader wasn't just boasting—he genuinely intended to devour Ning Xiaochuan to break through his own limits.

He sought to consume Ning Xiaochuan's flesh, unaware that the Demonic Sword within Ning Xiaochuan's body was equally eager to drink his blood.

The Second Leader pulled out a golden orb from his robes, channeling Profound Qi into it. A four-meter-tall golden tiger spirit erupted from within, its razor-sharp claws slashing toward Ning Xiaochuan!

The golden tiger radiated blinding light, its body semi-transparent yet semi-solid.

This was a secret technique known only to certain mysterious South Wild Tribes—the Golden Orb Soul Lock. It extracted the battle spirit of a ferocious mystic beast and sealed it within a golden orb. Once released, the battle spirit could unleash extraordinary combat power.

"Boom!"

Sensing danger, Ning Xiaochuan leaped back just as the tiger's claws narrowly missed his neck. The strike tore a massive chunk from the cliff, leaving a deep crater!

Steadying himself, Ning Xiaochuan touched his neck, where three thin trails of blood had appeared.

"Lightning Divine Beast!"

A sphere of electricity coalesced between Ning Xiaochuan's palms before he hurled it forward. It transformed into a massive Lightning Divine Beast, its claws, scales, fangs, and horns vividly materializing as it pounced on the tiger spirit, tearing it to shreds.

"Boom!"

The golden orb in the Second Leader's hand shattered into golden dust!

Rage erupted from the Second Leader, his hair standing on end as he let out a frenzied roar. "True Tiger Golden Body!"

His body swelled, bursting through his black robes as he transformed into a colossal golden tiger. With a deafening roar, he lunged at Ning Xiaochuan.

"Ten Thousand Swords Transforming into Rain!"

Ning Xiaochuan pushed his Profound Qi to its limits, manifesting thirty-five sword qi phantoms before him. They arranged themselves into a spinning ring, their edges howling as they slashed toward the Second Leader.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Thirty-five streaks of sword qi collided with the golden giant tiger, only to be shattered by the golden radiance, dispersing into wisps of watery mist!

The sword qi crumbled!

"My True Tiger Golden Body is indestructible. How could mere sword qi break through it?" The golden giant tiger spoke in human tongue, its eyes blazing crimson as it swung a massive tiger claw.

Ning Xiaochuan retaliated with a lightning claw, but it was torn apart by the tiger's strike.

The razor-sharp claw pierced through the lightning and struck Ning Xiaochuan's palm, ripping off a chunk of flesh.

"Tch!"

A sharp pain shot through Ning Xiaochuan's palm as blood dripped incessantly from the wound.

The golden giant tiger let out a disdainful sneer. "I already told you—the True Tiger Golden Body is unbreakable. Not even lightning armor, let alone a Mystic Artifact divine armor, can withstand a single strike from me. Roar!"

In a flash of golden light, the tiger pounced at Ning Xiaochuan again, jaws wide open, revealing its fangs!

Ning Xiaochuan stood motionless, his eyes locked onto the trajectory of its attack.

Just as its fangs were about to sink into his neck, Ning Xiaochuan thrust out a finger. A blood-red sword shadow flickered and vanished, piercing through the Second Leader's True Tiger Golden Body and stabbing straight into his forehead.

"Boom!"

The Annihilation Sword Qi instantly shattered the golden tiger's head into nine pieces, sending its massive body crashing to the ground.

Deprived of Profound Qi, the golden tiger reverted to human form—but the Second Leader's head had already been pulverized into a bloody pulp!

Rain poured from the sky, diluting the blood on the ground and forming murky crimson puddles.

Holding the Second Leader's corpse, Ning Xiaochuan stepped through the puddles and walked to the mouth of the canyon. With a heavy thud, he hurled the body outside and roared at the warriors of Dark Emperor City gathered beyond:

"Who else dares to fight?"

The Second Leader had died gruesomely—his skull shattered, his body riddled with bloody holes where sword qi had pierced him from within.

The warriors of Dark Emperor City were horrified. As they stared at Ning Xiaochuan, his wild hair dancing in the darkness, fear crept into their hearts.

Those standing outside Dragonfall Valley were even more stunned, their judgment of Ning Xiaochuan deepening further.

Atop a tree, Yu Tiadi's eyes burned with intense battle intent, his Halberd trembling restlessly in his grip.

"If Ning Xiaochuan survives tonight's battle in Dragonfall Valley, this fight alone will make him famous. His rise can no longer be stopped," someone predicted.

But in the darkness, another voice disagreed. "The First Leader of Dark Emperor City is the true terror—his cultivation unfathomable. When he first entered the Fire Demon Mountain Range, he slew Ji Tianhen, the young prodigy of the Mystic Extreme Sect and a top contender for the top ten rankings, despite Ji Tianhen being at the Profound Qi Third Layer."

"The First Leader hasn't even appeared yet. He is the most fearsome figure in Dark Emperor City. If Ning Xiaochuan faces him, he likely won't survive a single move."

In the dead of night, Ning Xin'er, leading the elite forces of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, raced toward Dragonfall Valley with desperate urgency. In her heart, she swore—if anything happened to her brother, she would slaughter every last member of Dark Emperor City.

"Brother, you must hold on!"

Ning Xin'er swung her sword, cleaving a unicorn blocking her path in half. She dashed through the bloody mist and landed on a tree branch, then leaped again, bounding across the treetops of towering trees. Under the dark crimson night sky, her small face was smeared with blood, yet she paid it no mind, her gaze fixed intently on the distant Dragonfall Valley.

...

...

The Third Leader stood in the rain, staring at Ning Xiaochuan from afar. "He's at the end of his strength. He must be severely injured—this is nothing but a bluff!"

Ning Xiaochuan locked eyes with the Third Leader and sneered, "A bluff? Fine! I was just thinking of fighting you again. This time, I won’t just leave a palm print on your chest—I’ll tear you to pieces."

The Third Leader wasn’t wrong in his suspicion. Ning Xiaochuan was indeed grievously wounded, barely holding on. If he couldn’t intimidate these enemies, they would swarm him in a frenzy. Not only would Ning Xiaochuan die tonight, but Murong Wushuang and Yu Qianqian, who had fled into the canyon, would also meet their doom.

But if he could buy just a moment more, Ning Xin'er might arrive with reinforcements, turning the tide of battle. Right now, it was a race against time—a battle of sheer will.

A black-robed warrior stepped forward, gripping a two-meter-long double-edged battle axe. "No need for the Third Leader to dirty his hands. I’ll take his life."

This warrior also believed Ning Xiaochuan was bluffing and sought to claim the kill for himself. Swinging the 1,500-kilogram battle axe, he aimed a devastating slash at Ning Xiaochuan.

The black-robed warrior was no weakling—he had reached the First Level of the Divine Body Realm. His axe was wreathed in a dark mist as he sought to end Ning Xiaochuan’s life in a single strike.

Crack!

Ning Xiaochuan forced himself to dodge the lethal blow, then transformed his palm into a blade and struck the warrior’s neck. The impact shattered the warrior’s spine, his head lolling limply before his body crumpled to the ground.

Ning Xiaochuan mocked, "You really think I’m at my limit? Killing you all would take no more than a flick of my fingers."

The warriors of Dark Emperor City took a cautious step back, their fear of Ning Xiaochuan deepening. Even the Third Leader hesitated to act rashly.

ROAR!

From the depths of the canyon came an earth-shaking dragon roar, sending dust and stones flying!

Everyone in Dragonfall Valley turned their eyes toward the sound, their faces filled with terror. How could a dragon’s roar emerge from the canyon’s depths? Could it be true that a Divine Dragon had once fallen here?

Was the spirit of the dragon still lingering in the valley’s heart?

Many recalled the ancient legend—this valley was known as the place where a Divine Dragon had perished. Some had even unearthed dragon bones here.

Now, the dragon’s roar echoing from the depths unsettled countless hearts.