Chapter 559: Welcoming from All Sides |
As he struck out, the surrounding void was scorched by flames, becoming distorted.
As he flew forward, wherever he passed, ripples of void energy spread out.
His imposing momentum was fierce, causing the heavens and earth around him to change color.
Xiao Lingtian watched Ning Qi flying towards him, not daring to be careless.
"Mysterious Heaven Armor."
He hurriedly summoned his protective armor, then firmly blocked it in front of himself.
After this treasure armor appeared, a series of buzzing sounds erupted around it.
There were also strands of profound inscriptions swirling around, spreading outward in all directions.
"Good armor, but useless."
The flames on his hands began to change color.
From crimson red, they turned black, and finally became a void-like white.
"This is..."
"Chaos Flame?"
Xiao Lingtian, being knowledgeable and experienced, naturally recognized the origin of his flames.
He never expected that he would be fighting someone who possessed such an ancient flame.
This was a flame that could completely burn away a person's soul, leaving them without even a chance for reincarnation.
"Good eye. Now prepare to die."
Ning Qi's gaze turned icy, then he spread his palms open.
The Chaos Flame suddenly erupted, transforming into countless fire dragons that surged toward Xiao Lingtian, seeking to devour him.
These fire dragons brandished their claws menacingly; the void beneath their claws was torn apart, revealing the surging fierce winds within.
These fierce winds churned violently, sending chills down one's spine.
"Wait!"
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Xiao Lingtian quickly said, "You're cheating."
"Cheating? What else do you want to say?"
"Should I fight you bare-handed?"
Hearing this, Ning Qi immediately showed a look of disdain.
"You're using treasures of the Immortal Race! I'm simply no match for you!"
Xiao Lingtian gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "This isn't fair."
"Oh? You mean killing people should also be fair?"
"Is that the custom in your Lower Realm?"
Hearing his words, Ning Qi couldn't help but reveal a faint smile.
His face was full of playful expression.
"Yes, exactly."
Xiao Lingtian said seriously.
"Fine, then come on."
Ning Qi grinned, then waved his hand.
Countless fire dragons soared into the sky, striking against the firmament.
In just an instant, they caused the dome above them to rumble violently.
Streaks of lightning flashed past, making the surroundings erupt with heart-palpitating fluctuations. For a short time, their area underwent dramatic changes, as if it were the Apocalypse.
"Crack!"
"Boom!"
These lightning bolts were not wasted; they followed the momentum and struck downward.
All of them struck the enemies who were surrounding and attacking Li Xiangrou and her group. Over a dozen half-step True Immortal experts were blasted into debris in the blink of an eye.
This immediately relieved the pressure on Li Xiangrou and her companions. The remaining assassins here were, at most, on par with Commander Li in strength.
They posed no threat whatsoever.
"Kill!"
Seeing this, Commander Li roared and charged out.
Li Xiangrou, meanwhile, took a deep look in Ning Qi's direction.
She knew Ning Qi was strong, but she never imagined he would be this outrageously powerful.
She now had the ability to sense just how formidable Ning Qi was.
"Boom!"
Finally, several dozen-zhang-thick muffled thunderclaps rolled in.
They instantly struck the area where Xue Jiancheng was.
"Not good, I've been discovered."
Xue Jiancheng sensed the danger and quickly retreated explosively.
"Boom..."
However, these muffled thunderclaps had no intention of letting him go.
They pursued relentlessly.
In the end, one thunderclap struck him directly.
Before he could continue forward, he was blasted to the ground, unable to rise.
His entire body began convulsing uncontrollably. In the blink of an eye, several more thunderclaps rolled down.
"It's over. Is this bastard really this strong?"
Xue Jiancheng could only helplessly watch as the heavenly thunder fell.
Finally, he completely lost consciousness and was directly annihilated.
However, just before his death, he transmitted everything he had recorded through his own Voice Transmission jade talisman.
"Alright, now we can have a proper fight."
Ning Qi retracted all his aura and coldly looked at Xiao Lingtian. "Old man, come on."
"First, let's agree: no using any magical treasures."
Xiao Lingtian swallowed hard and hurriedly said.
He originally intended to seize the chance to escape just now, but after seeing Ning Qi's methods, he abandoned his foolish idea.
In front of Ning Qi, he didn't even have the ability to escape; he could only try to find an opportunity.
If he could severely injure Ning Qi, then he would have a chance to escape.
"Fine!"
Ning Qi nodded, smiling as he said, "Stop dawdling. Come on."
"Die!"
Xiao Lingtian roared, unleashing all his aura, transforming into a blazing streak of light as he charged toward Ning Qi.
"Huff!"
Ning Qi took a deep breath, then channeled all the power in his body into his fists.
Watching Xiao Lingtian charge over, he suddenly struck forward.
Xiao Lingtian had already secretly taken out an object resembling a seal in his hand.
Seeing that he was about to get close to Ning Qi, he suddenly extended his hand and threw it out.
"Mysterious Heaven Seal."
He roared following the motion, the seal already launched.
As it was thrown, it suddenly enlarged, condensing into a heart-palpitating imprint in the void above.
Like a mountain, it smashed down toward Ning Qi.
At this moment, this mountain-like pressure wasn't just from one direction.
In all eight directions around Ning Qi, imprints appeared.
He was like an ant trapped in a sealed space.
"Haha, you're finished!"
Xiao Lingtian laughed wildly, grinning as he said, "Under the Mysterious Heaven Seal, even a Golden Immortal would meet their end."
"Ning Qi, be careful!"
From afar, Li Xiangrou also flew over, ready to help.
"Get lost!"
Seeing this, Xiao Lingtian roared angrily, simultaneously striking out with a palm.
"Break!"
Caught off guard, Li Xiangrou was hit and instantly plummeted downward.
However, just as she was about to fall, she suddenly threw out a Profound Sword.
"Whoosh!"
The Profound Sword shot out, transforming into a piercing sword gleam that shot through the void.
"Overestimating yourself!"
Xiao Lingtian snorted coldly, merely waving his hand to send her Profound Sword flying away.
"Let him go, I'll go with you."
Seeing this, Li Xiangrou immediately became anxious and quickly said, "Don't you just want me dead? I'll grant your wish, but you must release Ning Qi!"
"So your name is Ning Qi."
"It seems Princess Xiangxiang has developed feelings, willing to die for you."
Xiao Lingtian snorted coldly, then continued, "If you die now, I can spare him half his life."
"Do you think... this can trap me?"
Ning Qi could now speak.
He had been caught off guard by the sneak attack earlier, temporarily losing control over his spiritual sense and five senses.
He couldn't control himself at all. However, it was precisely when Li Xiangrou made her move that he regained control over his body.
"Hmph, then try to get out!"
Xiao Lingtian said disdainfully, "I'd like to see how you escape."
"Li Xiangrou, get farther away."
Ning Qi ignored him and instead told Li Xiangrou to leave the area first.
"Ning Qi, you..."
Li Xiangrou wanted to say something more, but seeing his determined gaze, she ultimately chose to believe Ning Qi.
After saying this, she suddenly flew away.
Ning Qi then shifted his icy gaze back to Xiao Lingtian ahead.
His eyes carried a cold gleam.
"Come."
Ning Qi waved his hand, summoning the God-Slaying Bow.
As the God-Slaying Bow appeared, the entire space trembled, ripples spreading out.
Then, he drew the bow and nocked an arrow—this was an illusory, sharp arrow.
At first, it was formless, but later it was filled with his Chaos Flame.
Xiao Lingtian looked at Ning Qi, not panicking at all, clearly having full confidence in his own attack.
"Go!"
The next moment, Ning Qi directly released it.
"Hum!"
"Whoosh!"
The flame-filled arrow shot out, piercing through the void in front of him in an instant.
When it reached the Mysterious Heaven Seal, something shocking happened to Xiao Lingtian.
The arrow encountered no obstruction whatsoever; it pierced through his Mysterious Heaven Seal in an instant.
"Whoosh!"
By the time Xiao Lingtian sensed danger and prepared to escape,
the arrow had already arrived at his chest.
"Not good."
He quickly retreated explosively.
Trying to avoid this arrow's attack.
"Thud."
However, the arrow seemed to have eyes; no matter how he dodged, it aimed straight for his chest.
After dodging several times, the arrow successfully struck his chest.
It pierced straight through, leaving a fist-sized bloody hole in his chest.
Under the enhancement of the Chaos Flame, this bloody hole began to spread outward.
In the blink of an eye, it grew several times larger.
"How about it? Can't even release your Soul now, can you?"
Ning Qi had already arrived before him, coldly looking at Xiao Lingtian.
"You... you cheated!"
Xiao Lingtian looked at Ning Qi, his eyes filled with despair.
He had indeed just tried to release his Soul, to leave his body and seek a sliver of survival.
Unfortunately, no matter how many times he tried, it was useless, as if he were imprisoned within his body.
"Oh? Then how should I kill you for it not to be considered cheating?"
Ning Qi smiled, looking at Xiao Lingtian. "We agreed to fight bare-handed, but you used some Mysterious Heaven Seal and that's fine?"
"You're using treasures of the Immortal Race, while I'm only using ordinary magical treasures. This isn't fair."
Xiao Lingtian coughed up blood repeatedly, gritting his teeth as he said, "You have no honor."
"Tsk, can't be bothered wasting time with you. Die."
Ning Qi snorted coldly, then directly summoned the Immortal-Slaying Sword. With just one slash, he beheaded him.
Then, carrying the head, he descended.
Soon, he returned to Commander Li and the others.
By now, all the enemies here had been slaughtered.
Only a few individuals had been captured.
"Young Master Ning, are you alright?"
Commander Li saw him return and stepped forward to ask.
"I'm fine."
Ning Qi shook his head, then tossed the head onto the ground, speaking to these few people. "Take this head back. Tell your princess that when we return, we want a welcoming procession lining the streets. Otherwise, I'll turn the Imperial Capital into ruins."
"Did you hear that?!"
Commander Li saw the few people remaining silent and stepped forward to berate them.
"Yes!"
They hurriedly agreed, each wearing a panicked expression.
They never expected that even with a Celestial Immortal expert overseeing things, they could be beaten so utterly defenseless.
Then, Princess Xiangxiang's people truly had unfathomable strength.
"Scram!"
Commander Li coldly looked at everyone. "If we didn't need you to deliver the message, I'd have crushed your bones to dust."
"Yes, yes..."
"We'll scram right away."
The few people hurriedly nodded, picked up Xiao Lingtian's head, and fled the area one after another.
After everyone had left, Li Xiangrou approached.
"Ning Qi, thank you."
She expressed her gratitude to Ning Qi.
"I've said it before, no need to be so polite."
Ning Qi shook his head, then looked at the road ahead. "Alright, we can set off now."
"From now on, I suppose they won't dare disturb our journey anymore."
"Young Master Ning, this Xiao Lingtian is one of the top three experts in our Yue Kingdom in terms of strength."
"Since you've killed him, the remaining two won't make a move either."
"Moreover, one of these two is a subordinate of Her Majesty the Emperor, so they definitely won't act against you."
"Previously, the Grand Princess was so unrestrained precisely because she had Xiao Lingtian backing her."
"Now that he's been killed, our journey ahead will be smooth sailing!"
Commander Li added, "What's unexpected is that the Grand Princess actually sent Xiao Lingtian. Now she'll have to consider her own escape route."
"Hmm, if that's the case, then let's go."
"Once we reach the Imperial Capital and everything goes smoothly, I'll take my leave!"
Ning Qi nodded, then boarded the carriage.
"Move out!"
Seeing this, Commander Li waved his hand, signaling everyone to continue the journey.
Li Xiangrou also boarded the carriage, and the team began moving again.
They proceeded along this official road, heading straight forward.
When they reached outside the city, they saw from a distance that there were some people standing and watching outside the city walls.
"That middle-aged man leading them is the local governor, Wang Mang."
Commander Li recognized the middle-aged man at a glance.
He looked very burly, giving off an imposing aura even without showing anger. Beside him were some civil officials and guards.
When they saw Ning Qi's convoy, they all became serious.
Some appeared somewhat nervous.
"Probably the people who just returned passed by here and told them about our situation!"
"Otherwise, these people likely wouldn't have come out to welcome us like this."
Ning Qi glanced ahead and said disdainfully, "These people are useless."
"I understand. These are all my elder sister's people. Once I return, I'll eradicate them all!"
Li Xiangrou had already made up her mind. Hearing Ning Qi's words, she directly stated.
"If you're going to do it, be decisive and ruthless. Leave no future troubles!"
Ning Qi nodded in agreement, supporting her approach.
Only this way could she ensure peace of mind.
"Welcome, Your Highness the Princess!"
At this moment, they had unknowingly arrived before this group of people.
Wang Mang stepped forward, leading the respectful bow.
The others also knelt down, showing respectful expressions.
"All rise."
Commander Li stepped forward, looking at everyone coldly.
With his single command, these people didn't dare to rise.
"Alright, no need for formalities. Step aside."
At this moment, Li Xiangrou spoke.
Her gaze was equally cold.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
With her command, these people finally rose and stepped aside.
"Your Highness, after such a long journey, please come to my residence for a rest."
Wang Mang then respectfully invited.