Chapter 211: Transcendent Realm Second Layer

Chapter 211: Transcendent Realm Second Layer

The Freezing Energy emanating from Xiao Cheng turned the bones on the ground into ice crystals.

Duanmu Linger snapped out of her shock and spat coldly, "None of you imperial court dogs are any good. How dare you even mention the words 'honor and righteousness'?"

Xiao Cheng gave her a cold glance and sneered, "Miss Duanmu, do you know who Ning Xiaochuan really is to you?"

"An enemy," Duanmu Linger replied.

Xiao Cheng spoke slowly, "You don’t know, and I don’t blame you. After all, you grew up on Nine Death Cliff, and the Demon Emperor forbade anyone from speaking of the events of twenty years ago."

"What does he have to do with what happened twenty years ago?" Duanmu Linger asked.

Xiao Cheng laughed, "Actually, you’re family. To be precise, your father was the elder brother of Ning Xiaochuan’s mother, making you his cousin. His blood cousin."

"What?"

Duanmu Linger’s heart was thrown into turmoil as she stared at Ning Xiaochuan.

She had always known she had an aunt, once the Demon Sect Saintess. Her father had often mentioned her in front of her, lamenting her fate.

But that aunt had betrayed the Demon Sect and married a Minor Marquis from the imperial court.

The Demon Emperor had issued an order forbidding anyone from speaking of the matter. Violators would be executed.

Thus, she never knew who that aunt had married—let alone that Ning Xiaochuan was her son.

Duanmu Linger’s eyes widened in realization as she looked at Ning Xiaochuan, the hostility in her gaze fading slightly. "So that’s why you disguised yourself. What… what are you doing back in the Demon Sect?"

Ning Xiaochuan didn’t answer her. He was fully focused on his cultivation, striving to break through to the Transcendent Realm Second Layer.

"I’ve said what needed to be said. Ning Xiaochuan, now it’s your turn," Xiao Cheng said.

Ning Xiaochuan remained silent for a long moment before replying, "What can I say?"

"The cultivation method of the Northern Abyss Divine Art," Xiao Cheng demanded sternly.

A mocking smile played on Ning Xiaochuan’s lips. "There is no such thing as the Northern Abyss Divine Art in this world."

Xiao Cheng naturally didn’t believe him. With a cold laugh, the Primordial Silver Ring on his arm flew out, defeating Duanmu Linger in just three moves and trapping her within its confines. He threatened, "She’s your blood cousin. Can you bear to watch her die in front of you?"

Blood dripped from Duanmu Linger’s lips. Xiao Cheng’s cultivation far surpassed hers—she was no match for him. It seemed today would truly be a dire situation.

Ning Xiaochuan glanced at Duanmu Linger, took a deep breath, and said, "I can bear it."

Xiao Cheng wasn’t surprised by the answer. He chuckled, "Fair enough. Though you share blood ties, there’s no real familial bond between you. She might as well be a stranger. Even I wouldn’t hand over the Northern Abyss Divine Art for a stranger."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "If you possessed the Northern Abyss Divine Art, even if someone held a blade to your own mother’s neck, you’d never surrender it."

"Exactly," Xiao Cheng admitted without hesitation.

"Miss Duanmu, you see? You’ve lost all value now. I can only send you on your way." Xiao Cheng clasped his hands together, preparing to use the Primordial Silver Ring to crush Duanmu Linger to death.

"Whoosh—"

An Annihilation Sword Wave shot from Ning Xiaochuan's fingertip, its diameter as thick as a bowl's mouth, turning the air into a mirror-like surface as it streaked across the sky like a meteor, crashing toward Xiao Cheng's chest.

Xiao Cheng's lips curled into a playful smirk. "So Ning Xiaochuan isn’t as cold-blooded as I thought."

Xiao Cheng felt that Duanmu Linger might still have some use, so he temporarily spared her life.

The Annihilation Sword Wave was already upon him.

With lightning speed, Xiao Cheng dodged the attack, his movements ghostly as seven golden rings of light erupted from his body. In an instant, he shattered the Cloud and Sunset Returning Qi, his fingers transforming into iron hooks as he seized Ning Xiaochuan by the throat.

"Heh heh, got you."

Xiao Cheng gripped Ning Xiaochuan's neck, a triumphant smile on his face.

But his smile vanished in an instant—because what he had caught wasn’t Ning Xiaochuan, but a discarded layer of Mortal Skin.

Ning Xiaochuan had already shed his second layer of Mortal Skin, stepping into the Transcendent Realm Second Layer.

The moment Xiao Cheng struck, Ning Xiaochuan's true form had slipped out of the Mortal Skin and landed behind him, unleashing hundreds of Sword Qi that coalesced into a single Profound Qi Sword.

"Ten Thousand Swords Transforming into Rain!"

The Profound Qi Sword stabbed toward Xiao Cheng’s back, carrying countless Sword Qi like a storm of blades.

Xiao Cheng bent his knees, his body arching like a drawn bow before launching upward like a cannonball, narrowly evading Ning Xiaochuan’s unexpected strike.

"Primordial Silver Ring!"

The silver ring that had been restraining Duanmu Linger flew into Xiao Cheng’s hand, and he hurled it down at Ning Xiaochuan.

A silver radiance spilled across the desert, turning every grain of sand into shimmering silver.

Xiao Cheng descended from the sky, standing atop the Primordial Silver Ring, his robes billowing and his hair flowing like silk. His piercing gaze made him seem like an undefeated war god, exuding overwhelming pressure.

"Sun and Moon Sharing the Sky!"

Ning Xiaochuan remained calm, his eyes steady, his heart pulsing as Yin and Yang energies circulated within.

A moon appeared in his left hand, a blazing sun in his right—two opposing lights converging in his palms.

The brilliant sun and the radiant moon soared into the air, hovering above Ning Xiaochuan’s head and forming a massive Yin-Yang Diagram that spanned a hundred meters in radius.

Though Ning Xiaochuan had not yet reached the Earthly Venerable Realm, his aura was no weaker than that of an Earthly Venerable.

This was the ninth Divine Ability born within Ning Xiaochuan—one of the most supreme techniques in the Yulan Empire. Its unleashed power was extraordinary, allowing him to fight above his cultivation level.

"Boom!"

The Primordial Silver Ring collided repeatedly with the Yin-Yang Diagram, sending chaotic waves of Profound Qi rippling outward.

The desert trembled under the shockwaves, vast sheets of yellow sand lifting into the air like a raging sea, engulfing the sky and earth in a storm of dust.

"Let’s go!"

Dual Wings unfurled from Ning Xiaochuan’s back as he scooped up Duanmu Linger and flapped his wings, speeding toward the border town.

Xiao Cheng’s cultivation was too high—even after breaking through to the Transcendent Realm Second Layer, Ning Xiaochuan was no match for him. Only by borrowing the Demon Sect Saintess’s power could he hope to suppress him.

"Boom!"

The Primordial Silver Ring struck the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Diagram, transforming into a streak of silver light that shot toward the heavens before hurtling toward Ning Xiaochuan's back.

"Annihilation Divine Monument!"

Ning Xiaochuan swiftly halted, hovering mid-air as he gathered Annihilation Light between his hands, forming a leaden-black demonic cloud.

A colossal divine monument descended from the demonic cloud, bound by iron chains, exuding an aura capable of suppressing all living beings.

The Annihilation Divine Monument slammed the Primordial Silver Ring back to the ground, crushing Xiao Cheng beneath it. The desert caved in under the pressure, as if the entire world were on the verge of collapse.

"Boom—"

Xiao Cheng emerged from the sand in disarray, his long hair disheveled, his robes torn to shreds, leaving dozens of bloody gashes across his body.

Meanwhile, Ning Xiaochuan and Duanmu Linger had already vanished without a trace.

"What kind of Divine Ability is this? How can it be so terrifying? Fortunately, Ning Xiaochuan's martial cultivation is far inferior to mine. If he were any stronger, I might not have been able to withstand it." Xiao Cheng's expression darkened, realizing that Ning Xiaochuan must be harboring many secrets.

If he could uncover those secrets, his own cultivation would undoubtedly skyrocket.

Xiao Cheng stretched out his hand, retrieving the Primordial Silver Ring from the sand before chasing in the direction Ning Xiaochuan and Duanmu Linger had fled.

Ning Xiaochuan and Duanmu Linger rushed back to the border town, barging into the post station—only to find corpses strewn across the ground, blood pooling everywhere. Many of the bodies had their hearts ripped out, leaving gaping, bloody holes in their chests.

The air was thick with Chilling and Desolate Energy. The entire town had become a dead city, devoid of any living souls.

Ning Xiaochuan searched for the Iron Coffin, only to find its lid pried open—empty. Nothing remained inside.

Where had Shang Pojun's corpse gone?

The Situ Branch Leader lay in a pool of blood, his heart torn out, his chest a gruesome mess.

He was already dead, but his Martial Soul had not yet dissipated. With his last, feeble breath, he gasped, "The corpse... mutated... escaped..."

With those final words, his Martial Soul dispersed completely, marking his true death.

Duanmu Linger's heart pounded with horror. No wonder the entire town had turned into a dead city—Shang Pojun's corpse had broken free.

"Thud—thud—"

Heavy footsteps echoed.

Xiao Cheng emerged from the darkness, sneering, "Shang Pojun died under suspicious circumstances. It was only a matter of time before his corpse mutated. The Demon Sect Saintess must have already gone to deal with it. Now, who can save you?"

Duanmu Linger glared at Xiao Cheng as if facing a mortal enemy. "This is the Demon Sect's territory, Xiao Cheng. If you dare act here, the sect's experts will tear you to pieces at any moment."

"The Demon Sect's territory?" Xiao Cheng laughed coldly. "The world belongs to the imperial court—since when did it become the Demon Sect's domain?" His icy gaze swept over her. "Before long, your Demon Sect will vanish from the Yulan Empire."

"I'll be waiting for that day," Duanmu Linger retorted.

Xiao Cheng's eyes locked onto Ning Xiaochuan. "Hand over the Northern Abyss Divine Art, and I'll spare your cousin. I'll even leave your corpse intact. Do you agree?"

"What a joke, Xiao Cheng. Are you so certain you can defeat me? If I unleash the Northern Abyss Divine Art, do you think you can withstand it?" Ning Xiaochuan said.

Xiao Cheng replied, "I only believe that the Northern Abyss Divine Art is not invincible. If one's cultivation surpasses yours by a certain degree, they need not fear your Northern Abyss Divine Art."

"Then come and test it yourself," Ning Xiaochuan challenged.

Golden Profound Qi surged from Xiao Cheng's arm, dispersing the surrounding Yin Evil energy as the vast Profound Qi condensed into a golden flood dragon.

Ning Xiaochuan had never underestimated Xiao Cheng—on the contrary, he regarded him as a formidable enemy. Lightning crackled across his body as he transformed into a Lightning Divine Beast and charged forward.

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