Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

Chapter 412 412: Xiaoyao Town, Merry Forest!

The young man's method of appearing, securing his prize, and leaving had taken them all completely by surprise. The most vigilant commander, in particular, had been certain that there was only one place Ning Xuan could hide without being detected: underground. And yet, their target had descended from the sky!

After succeeding, the young man had unleashed a hundred-punch flurry in an instant, using the most direct and brutish method to escape right under their noses. It was utterly preposterous!

"Dead... another one dead..." another commander muttered, completely dispirited. Everything he had experienced today overturned all his previous assumptions. A mere Venerable Realm youth was toying with them, running circles around them while remaining completely untraceable.

Damn it. Even the supreme cultivators imprisoned in the Imprisonment Space probably couldn't match such methods! At this thought, he lost heart and turned to leave.

"Where do you think you're going?!" the other commander immediately demanded.

"I'm returning to the Imprisonment Space I oversee. That's where I belong. The family really has a keen eye for talent." This commander had lost all his vigor, exuding an aura of complete defeat.

"You're a commander! A commander with Cultivation at the Ninth Layer Heavens of the Holy Realm! His greatest assets are his elusive Body Technique Skill and his Swordsmanship. As long as we don't let him use them..." the second commander argued, trying to restore the other's confidence.

Before he could finish, he was cut off. "They weren't any stupider than you are, and what happened to them?"

The second commander was rendered speechless. Seeing the first commander was still intent on leaving, he couldn't help but warn him, "Don't go! He has the Earth Spring Spirit Milk to supply his energy, and his morale is at its peak. He might just circle back to strike again!"

The commander froze, stiffening at his words. He had no desire to die a pointless death. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "What about those four women who were with him?"

The other commander's eyes lit up as well. Instantly, they came to a decision.

"Let's go! Back to Xiaoyao Town!"

"Damn it, that little bastard is bold!"

The two commanders shot toward Xiaoyao Town. They'd been played by that little bastard, Ning Yang! From start to finish, he was the only one who had ever left the town!

Meanwhile, deep within Xiaoyao Town, Ning Xuan had regrouped with the four women. They swarmed him joyfully, but Ning Xuan cut them off before they could speak. "Have you found your next location?"

They all nodded.

"Tell me where it is. You all leave first."

Moments later, Ning Xuan once again parted ways with Wu Pianpian and the other three. He had been at the new location for only a few dozen breaths when he spotted the two remaining commanders.

Outside Xiaoyao Town, the two commanders came to an abrupt halt. Their bodies tensed, their faces grim. There, standing at the town gate, was that bastard Ning Yang, smiling at them. Daring to show himself so openly... this has to be a trap!

"What took you so long? I've been waiting half the day for you."

The two were on high alert, whereas Ning Xuan appeared completely relaxed. The more relaxed he seemed, however, the more cautious they became. This kid is full of tricks. He's definitely plotting something wicked!

"You seem rather scared of me," Ning Xuan said. To an unknowing observer, he would have appeared to be the strongest of the three. Why else would he be so arrogant?

The two commanders remained silent, but they had been communicating mentally since the moment they laid eyes on Ning Xuan. Unfortunately, they still hadn't managed to formulate a plan.

"Alas," Ning Xuan said, cracking open Spirit Kui seeds as he spoke. "You're both just too cautious, always overthinking things. Have you heard of the Empty Fort Strategy?"

The two commanders looked completely baffled.

"We have not. We hope Young Master Ning will enlighten us," the more cautious commander said, clasping his fist respectfully.

"This Empty Fort Strategy is a story about..." Ning Xuan explained the classic stratagem while continuing to snack. When he finished, he asked, "So, you get what I'm saying, right?"

The corners of the two commanders' mouths twitched. We don't understand a damn thing! This bastard went to all this trouble to tell us this story just to bait us into attacking. To hell with that! We're not that stupid!

"Young Master Ning is both learned and talented. I, Zhao Yuan, am deeply impressed," the cautious commander said, introducing himself with an even more respectful attitude. "I wonder if you would grant me the honor of visiting the Imprisonment Space I am assigned to guard?"

This Ning Yang is cunning and endlessly resourceful; getting the Earth Spring Spirit Milk from him won't be easy. It would be better to lure him to my own territory. Once he's inside the Imprisonment Space, he'll be completely powerless!

"Not going!" Ning Xuan refused without a second thought.

"I see. So the young master also fears the supreme cultivators imprisoned there," Zhao Yuan said with a disappointed sigh.

"Who says I'm scared?! How could I be?! Do you know how that Fu Baishou..." Ning Xuan cut himself off mid-sentence.

A surge of joy welled in Zhao Yuan's heart. He had been the last to arrive in Xiaoyao Town because he had taken the time to trace the source of the information leak. This led him to a meeting with Fu Baishou. He was shocked when he learned the truth, but now he had no other choice. Back in his Imprisonment Space, even if he couldn't defeat Ning Yang himself, he was absolutely certain he could persuade that supreme cultivator to act. No matter how heaven-defying this kid was, he was no match for a being of that caliber! Best of all, the boy had no idea he had already met Fu Baishou. With this advantage, Zhao Yuan was sure he could coax him into agreeing.

"Fu Baishou?" Zhao Yuan asked, his voice laced with feigned confusion. "Who is that?"

What followed was an intense back-and-forth. In the end, just as Zhao Yuan had expected...

"Fine, let's go! Who's afraid of who!"

Hearing this, Zhao Yuan breathed an inward sigh of relief. That settles it!

As the two reached a gentleman's agreement, the other commander became indignant. "What about me?! Zhao Yuan, you excluded me from this entire discussion! What is the meaning of this?!"

BANG!

Without warning, Zhao Yuan struck his companion. His palm slammed down on the man's Heavenly Spirit Cover. Turning to Ning Xuan with a smile, he asked, "Young Master Ning, is this a sufficient show of sincerity?"

Ning Xuan gave a thumbs-up.

Zhao Yuan promptly said, "Shouldn't you let the ladies show themselves now?"

"Is this place not safe?" Ning Xuan asked earnestly.

"You must have noticed that women are extremely rare in the Heavenly Principle Star Realm. This place is called Xiaoyao Town because, periodically, people come here to... indulge themselves. Oh, and over there is the Pleasure Forest. It's filled with countless wronged souls, their resentment so thick it chokes the air. Even in broad daylight..."

Zhao Yuan hadn't finished his sentence when Ning Xuan vanished. He was momentarily stunned, then his eyes narrowed, and he too disappeared.

Meanwhile, Wu Pianpian and her companions had just entered a dense Maple Forest when they ran into trouble. Before they could even see a clear silhouette of their attacker, Little White vanished. Then San Wu. Then Qian Yourong.

"Who's there?! Get out here and face your granny!" Wu Pianpian roared, wielding her long spear as her hair danced wildly in an outburst of power. A murderous aura exploded from her. As she unleashed her righteous aura to its absolute peak, she looked like an invincible goddess of war.