Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 38 Ji Fei? Do you have a brother named...

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Ji Fei? Do you have a brother named...

On the official road, Ning Xuan rode his large white dog while Si Lanyi rode an Element Beast, the two of them speeding along side by side. Their destination: Li Ren Crossing.

The note they had seen that morning contained only twelve characters: Li Ren Crossing, against the icy current, prodigies contend for passage, come swiftly.

At first, Ning Xuan hadn’t understood what it meant. After Si Lanyi’s explanation, however, he had an epiphany.

The vast Canglan River split the thirty-six counties of the Dong Cang Country in two, with exactly eighteen counties on the east and west banks respectively. The river was treacherous and unpredictable; on most days, not even a bird could fly across it. Only during the winter of each year would the river freeze over for nine days, allowing passage between the eastern and western banks without special tools.

All the top forces on the continent, from the three great sects to other prominent powers, were located to the west of Dong Cang Country. Therefore, at this time every year, the most brilliant talents from the eighteen eastern counties would gather here. When prodigies convened, a fierce struggle was inevitable.

Li Ren Crossing was a place of departure from home, and the beginning of one’s journey to transcendence!

Six years ago, a fifteen-year-old Ning Yang had single-handedly suppressed all the prodigies of the eastern eighteen counties at Li Ren Crossing, becoming famous throughout the land!

Si Lanyi had informed the Dao Xuan Institute of her ascension to Dao Xuan Master two years prior. However, she had postponed her entry for two years to wait for Ning Xuan. This year, the Canglan River had frozen unusually early, even before the onset of winter. Fearing some unforeseen change, her teacher at the Dao Xuan Institute had sent the message urging her to come.

Suddenly, Ning Xuan spoke up. "Lanyi, let’s rest for a moment before we continue."

"My teacher sent me the message using a special method, but it still took three days to reach me. It will take at least four more days to get to Li Ren Crossing. Ning Xuan, we have to go even faster," Si Lanyi’s voice drifted back on the wind, her speed never faltering.

"Go!" Ning Xuan shouted. His large white dog transformed into a bolt of lightning, instantly pulling alongside Si Lanyi.

"Lanyi, something feels wrong up ahead."

The moment Ning Xuan finished speaking, Si Lanyi slowed her pace. Looking ahead, they saw a long, narrow canyon flanked by high, densely forested mountains. It was a perfect spot for an ambush.

"It’s too quiet," Ning Xuan noted. "You’re a Dao Xuan Master. Some people in Destiny City probably don’t want you to enter the Dao Xuan Institute." He paused, then added, "Of course, it’s more likely they’re here for me!"

Si Lanyi glanced back, blinking as she smiled. "Scared?"

Ning Xuan shrugged. "Meng Luo and the Eighteen Death Warriors are on their way back to Wuling City under Old Wang’s escort. I have hundreds of thousands of Element Crystals from the Chang Le Gambling House as tribute, not to mention plenty of elixirs. There’s really nothing to be afraid of."

Si Lanyi’s beautiful eyes curved into crescents. "That’s right. With your current wealth, you’d rank quite high even in Destiny City. They’re probably after you, so I’d better keep my distance."

Ning Xuan laughed along with her, agreeing with a relaxed expression.

Chatting and laughing, they soon approached the mouth of the canyon.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, an arrow tore through the air. The void split open, and the arrow was upon them in an instant, aimed at their mounts!

Before Ning Xuan could react, an oceanic expanse of energy materialized before them, and the terrifying arrow instantly lost all its momentum.

"Damn it! She’s not a First Grade Dao Xuan Master, she’s at least Second Grade!" someone on the mountain cursed in anger.

Dao Xuan Masters were ranked from First to Ninth Grade. These grades corresponded to the Martial Arts realms from the Profound Realm to the Emperor Realm. In other words, a First Grade Dao Xuan Master was comparable in strength to a Profound Realm Martial Warrior. A Second Grade Dao Xuan Master’s power was equivalent to an Earth Realm Martial Artist!

"So what if she’s Second Grade? She has no close-combat abilities! I’ll hold her off, you all take care of that brat!"

As the deep voice rang out, the ground thundered. The earth in front of and behind the pair rapidly collapsed. An Earth Realm expert had made their move, effortlessly commanding the power of the earth with their immense Element Force!

BOOM!

At the same time, a giant fist materialized in the air, shattering the oceanic expanse before them with a single punch. A masked man dressed in black appeared, looking down upon them with disdain.

"City Lord, what impressive methods you have," Si Lanyi said as she leaped back, her Element Beast swallowed by the collapsing earth.

Ning Xuan also retreated, while Little White escaped as a streak of light. No one paid it any mind; all eyes were locked on Ning Xuan and Si Lanyi.

The man paused for a moment before ripping off his mask, revealing a righteous, square-jawed face. It was none other than Li Muyun, the City Lord of Destiny City. Since he had shown his face, the others followed suit.

Ning Xuan scanned the group. Besides the City Lord Si Lanyi had mentioned, there were four others. One was Steward Zeng. Another was a middle-aged man with a large bow on his back, dressed in short clothes that revealed his bulging, powerful muscles. The last two were gray-haired elders, their eyes flashing like lightning whenever they blinked.

"Those two old men are elders from the Liu Family, and their strength is comparable to Steward Zeng’s. I don’t know the origin of the archer, but his cultivation is infinitely close to the Earth Realm," Si Lanyi quickly explained.

Ning Xuan nodded, his gaze shifting to the archer. The City Lord will handle Si Lanyi. Of the other four, this man is the biggest threat!

"My name is Ji Fei, and I’m only after wealth," the middle-aged man said with a toothy, deceptively honest smile. "I hear you’re carrying a great deal of Element Crystals. Hand over your Storage Ring, and you can leave."

Ning Xuan asked in surprise, "Ji Fei? Is that short for ’Chicken Flies’?"

"What?" Ji Fei was taken aback, completely confused. Who could have imagined that Ning Xuan would still be so relaxed at a time like this?

"Because if so," Ning Xuan continued cheerfully, "you just need a partner named ’Eggs Break’ and you’d complete the set!"

Li Muyun and the others felt their mouths twitch. Damn it! What kind of crazy logic is that? Who jokes about ’the chicken flies away and the eggs break’ at a time like this?!

Ji Fei’s face was covered in dark lines from embarrassment.

Si Lanyi coughed, trying to stifle her laughter. "Are you the Ji Fei known as ’Invincible Nine Arrows’?" Then, she warned Ning Xuan, "Be careful. No Profound Realm Martial Warrior has ever survived nine of his arrows!"

Ji Fei let out a breath of relief, a mocking smile spreading across his face. "Finally, someone with some sense! Miss Si, you should be more worried about yourself."

At his side, Li Muyun burst into action, shooting through the air like a cannonball straight for Si Lanyi. The techniques of a Dao Xuan Master were mysterious and unfathomable; even with his Earth Realm Cultivation, he dared not be careless.

"You little bastard! Give me back Qi’er’s life!" one of the elders roared, striking at Ning Xuan with his palm.

An Element Force Giant Hand materialized in the air, its majestic pressure as heavy as a mountain as it shook the void. Ning Xuan’s figure flashed, and he dodged the attack.

RUMBLE!

The ground quaked violently as large cracks fissured the earth. Amidst the swirling dust and sand, the other elder shouted, "Be careful!"

But it was too late.

The elder who had just attacked was silenced by a slash to the throat from Ning Xuan’s sword!

"Next. Which one of you is up?" Ning Xuan glared disdainfully at the remaining three men.

A strange glint flashed in Ji Fei’s eyes before he returned to normal, but his gaze toward Ning Xuan now held a hint of seriousness. This kid is too fast! I need to bide my time and wait for a guaranteed kill shot. I’ll let the other two test his strength first. Ji Fei schemed inwardly.

BOOM!

Amidst a loud explosion, Ji Fei sneered, "Is this kid an idiot? Daring to meet a punch head-on... Crap—"

Before he could finish, Ji Fei looked down, his face a mask of disbelief. A gash had appeared on his throat!

Damn it! The little bastard did it on purpose! I haven’t even fired an arrow! This is the greatest regret of my life!

With a flick of his wrist, Ning Xuan sent Ji Fei’s head soaring into the air as blood geysered from his neck!

Swallowing three Instant Element Pills as quickly as he could, Ning Xuan fully activated the Chaos Ancestral Dragon Scripture, frantically devouring the energy within his Element Crystals. To kill Ji Fei, he had taken a direct punch from the Liu Family elder and had been seriously injured. However, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was incomparably domineering. It instantly absorbed the medicinal effects of the pills and the energy from the Element Crystals, healing a significant portion of his injuries.

Steward Zeng and the remaining Liu Family elder were utterly stunned. No one had expected Ji Fei to be slain by Ning Xuan with a single stroke.

"Haha! So much for ’Invincible Nine Arrows.’ He’s just a piece of trash who couldn’t even take a single sword strike from me!" Ning Xuan laughed heartily.

Li Muyun, who had been growing increasingly frustrated from his prolonged and fruitless attack on Si Lanyi, felt his breath catch in his throat upon hearing this.

Si Lanyi’s beautiful eyes lit up, and her body surged forward three zhang.

Li Muyun revealed a treacherous, triumphant smile. He appeared beside Si Lanyi in an instant and said coldly, "It’s over!"

However, he was met with Si Lanyi’s own crafty gaze.