Chapter 94: Kill

Chapter 94: Kill

Ning Xiaochuan fixed his gaze on Yao Jindao and demanded, "Who are you?"

"I am Yao Jindao, the eighth disciple of the Cloud Marquis. Heh, I heard you killed the Second Leader of the Dark Emperor City. Did you not know he was my target?" Yao Jindao made no attempt to conceal his identity, exuding overwhelming confidence.

Ning Xiaochuan clenched his fists, baring his snow-white teeth. "So, you were one of those who ambushed my sister?"

Yao Jindao grinned. "It was my palm that struck her back, sending her tumbling into the Abyss of Thirty Thousand Meters. By now, she’s probably nothing more than a bloody pulp."

The young top talents of the Lingxi Sect, Zhuo Yichan, and the Tianyin Sect, Hua Ruyue, wore equally cold smiles, showing no fear of Ning Xiaochuan.

Both the Lingxi Sect and the Tianyin Sect were major factions under the Yulan Imperial Palace, ranking among the top ten sects. The Tianyin Sect, in particular, was renowned as the largest sacred ground for female martial artists, accepting only exceptionally beautiful women as disciples. With numerous experts, its influence was second only to the Yiyuan Sect, the foremost sect of all. Many noble daughters from marquis households also sought to study under the Tianyin Sect.

These two sects had ties to the imperial court, so it was no surprise they allied with the Cloud Marquis House in the Fire Demon Mountain Range to jointly oppose the Jian Pavilion Marquis House.

While conflicts often arose between noble houses and martial sects, outright warfare was rare. A full-scale battle would inflict heavy losses on both sides, even for the victor.

Thus, though major powers schemed against one another, senior experts seldom clashed directly. Instead, the younger generation fought and killed each other.

The Cloud Marquis House, Lingxi Sect, and Tianyin Sect had gathered over a hundred martial artists, among whom Yao Jindao, Zhuo Yichan, and Hua Ruyue were one-in-ten-thousand geniuses, all capable of ranking within the top ten of this generation.

With such numbers, they had no fear of Ning Xiaochuan. In fact, the moment Yao Jindao stepped forward, they had already decided to crush Ning Xiaochuan here.

"Ning Xiaochuan is doomed today. I’ve always said he was too reckless—such people don’t live long."

"Then won’t the Ancient Cauldron fall into Yao Jindao’s hands?"

"There’s no helping it. Yao Jindao, Zhuo Yichan, and Hua Ruyue are far too powerful. And don’t forget, they have the backing of the imperial court. Without orders from above, would they dare openly slaughter the warriors of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House? That bloody battle—you didn’t see it. The Jian Pavilion Marquis House’s fighters were isolated, with no aid in sight. If not for Ning Xin'er cutting a path through the bloodshed, they would have been completely annihilated."

"The Jian Pavilion Marquis House does have allies, but they were held back by mysterious forces and couldn’t arrive in time."

"So it wasn’t just the Cloud Marquis House, Lingxi Sect, and Tianyin Sect? Other factions were involved too? They truly aimed to destroy the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."

Another martial artist stepped forward, around eighteen years old, followed by six Divine Body Realm experts. He approached Ning Xiaochuan with an icy aura. "Ning Xiaochuan, release our princess!"

Tian Ling was the top martial artist among the Royal Disciples, a young prodigy nurtured by the imperial family and an ally of Yao Jindao. Naturally, he had participated in the siege of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House two days prior.

Behind him stood six Divine Body Realm martial artists, who had once followed Princess Lanfei as her guardians. They all knew the princess had gone to kill Ning Xiaochuan, yet to their surprise, she now walked out of the Demon Palace alongside him, their relationship seemingly amicable.

Ning Xiaochuan, his fury blazing, said coldly, "Can’t you see? Your princess is following me willingly, not under duress. Right, Princess Lanfei?"

Princess Lanfei’s flawless, jade-like cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded gently.

"How is this possible? You must be coercing Her Highness! How could someone of her noble status submit to your whims otherwise?"

Tian Ling was furious. He drew a Mystic Artifact-level war sword, and as Profound Qi surged into its blade, a bestial roar echoed from the weapon.

To Tian Ling, Princess Lanfei was a goddess—someone he dared only admire from afar. Yet Ning Xiaochuan treated her like a servant, fueling his resentment.

With a swift motion, Tian Ling, the strongest among the Royal Disciples, brandished his sword. Sword Qi coalesced into a massive ferocious beast, formed from countless intersecting blades of energy, bearing down on Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan’s face darkened. With a cold snort, his body crackled with lightning as he charged straight into the storm of Sword Qi.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Nine consecutive palm strikes landed on Tian Ling’s chest, forcing him to cough up nine mouthfuls of blood. His Sword Qi shattered, and his war sword was sent flying.

Ning Xiaochuan caught the falling blade and plunged it into Tian Ling’s throat. With a single palm strike, he sent Tian Ling’s body hurtling backward, the sword embedding itself into a stone pillar of the Demon Palace, leaving his corpse hanging high on the black demonic column.

The battle ended as swiftly as it began—lightning-fast.

Ning Xiaochuan had used Tian Ling’s own sword to nail him to his death.

The onlookers had assumed Ning Xiaochuan and Tian Ling were evenly matched, expecting a spectacular duel. Yet reality proved otherwise—Tian Ling was no match for Ning Xiaochuan, unable to even put up a fight.

Standing at the entrance of the Demon Palace, Ning Xiaochuan swept his gaze across the crowd before settling on Yao Jindao. He curled a finger in silent challenge.

Yao Jindao was still stunned by Ning Xiaochuan’s overwhelming display of strength but snorted coldly. "Tian Ling must have underestimated you, which is why you killed him so quickly. But I won’t make the same mistake."

"You killed my sister. Now I kill you. A life for a life—that’s the most natural law in the world," Ning Xiaochuan said.

"The outcome is still uncertain. Someone like you, raised in a marquis's manor, will never understand that true experts are forged on the battlefield. I enlisted at twelve, and in just five years, I've slain over six hundred enemies, rising from an ordinary soldier to a lieutenant commanding ten thousand."

Yao Jindao exuded a thick, murderous aura—one that could only be condensed after killing countless people.

At such a young age, his hands were already stained with six hundred lives, earning him the title of the "Butcher of Slaughter."

"Killing many only frightens the weak-hearted," Ning Xiaochuan said.

"Is that so?"

Yao Jindao's attack was straightforward, devoid of any flourish—just a simple punch aimed at Ning Xiaochuan. Yet, the force of his fist sealed off all escape routes, leaving no room to dodge. Ning Xiaochuan had no choice but to meet it head-on.

Boom!

Their fists collided.

Yao Jindao's strength surpassed Ning Xiaochuan's by a fraction, forcing him back a step.

Yao Jindao was born with divine strength, possessing the "Dragon Elephant Heart Palace." By the age of seven, he could lift a boulder weighing over 500 kg with his bare hands. It was precisely because of this extraordinary talent that the Cloud Marquis took notice and accepted him as a disciple.

Thus, though Yao Jindao was arrogant, he had the capital to back it up—his physical strength could overwhelm any warrior of the same cultivation realm.

Crackle!

Dozens of lightning bolts erupted from Ning Xiaochuan's fist, coiling around Yao Jindao's arm like electric serpents.

Boom!

Yao Jindao felt his arm go numb and knew something was wrong. With a roar, he bellowed, "Dragon Elephant Arm!"

His right arm swelled to twice its size, scales sprouting across his skin as sharp barbs grew from his fingers. His strength doubled once more.

Roar!

He yanked his arm free from the lightning and slammed it down with devastating force.

Ning Xiaochuan didn’t retreat. Instead, he stepped forward, his hand transforming into the Lightning Divine Beast Claw, meeting the attack head-on.

"You dare clash with my Dragon Elephant Arm? You must have a death wish!" Yao Jindao was utterly confident in his Martial Arts Divine Abilities. Even at the Third Level of Divine Body Realm, he could contend with warriors at the Divine Body Fourth Layer.

Ning Xiaochuan, however, had no intention of a direct confrontation. He sidestepped slightly, using his chest to block Yao Jindao’s palm strike.

Boom!

Yao Jindao’s palm struck Ning Xiaochuan’s chest, but at the same time, Ning Xiaochuan’s Lightning Divine Beast Claw tore a chunk of flesh from Yao Jindao’s left shoulder, nearly severing an artery.

It was a mutually destructive tactic.

But Ning Xiaochuan had prepared in advance, channeling Profound Qi into his chest. Though he took the hit, his injuries weren’t severe.

Seizing the advantage, Ning Xiaochuan pressed the attack.

"Lightning Divine Beast!"

"Lightning Divine Beast!"

He unleashed five divine abilities in succession, manifesting as five colossal Lightning Giant Beasts, bombarding Yao Jindao one after another.

Yao Jindao, true to his status as the Cloud Marquis’s disciple, didn’t falter under the relentless assault. A crimson aura enveloped his body, forming a defense as solid as stone.

Clearly, this was the combat experience honed through years on the battlefield—calm in the face of danger, measured in advance and retreat.

"Yao Jindao truly lives up to his reputation as a prodigy of the age. To think he has cultivated a mass of Black Tortoise Battle Qi—with this, he stands invincible. Within the same cultivation realm, no one can break through the defense of Black Tortoise Battle Qi." Qi Chan'er stood among the ranks of Marquis Qi Tian Manor, her graceful figure slightly tense, her brows furrowed with worry that Ning Xiaochuan might lose.

"Is Black Tortoise Battle Qi really that formidable?"

Qi Chan'er replied, "'Black Tortoise Battle Qi' ranks ninth in the 'Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Compendium.' It was the eighth divine ability born within the body of 'Black Tortoise Nine,' the former ruler of Dark Emperor City three hundred years ago. Once activated, Blood Qi swirls around the body for 15 kilometers. Even if a Martial Venerable were to strike the Black Tortoise Qi with a full-force punch, they wouldn’t be able to harm Black Tortoise Nine in the slightest. Precisely because this divine ability is nearly unbreakable, it was recorded in the 'Heavenly Cauldron Divine Ability Compendium.'"