Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 245: How Can You Be So Greedy!

Ning Xuan blinked, feigning innocence.

"Why are you all looking at me like that? I know I’m pitiable, but I don’t need your sympathy. Just give me more Heavenly Crystals," Ning Xuan transmitted with a bright smile.

THUD!

The three of them dropped to their knees.

Ahhh! Oh heavens, just strike this guy down with divine lightning already! Pitiable my ass! We’re the truly pitiable ones! If it weren’t for you, we would be top-tier existences, not just in our own families, but in the entirety of Cloud Summit Heavenly Palace! But look at us now. You’re openly threatening and extorting us! How could you do this?! This is the Ten Clans Competition! Can’t you show us some respect?! Can’t you respect the organizers?! That’s... Forget it. The organizers already caved and are helping him with the extortion.

Soon, members of their families contacted them via transmitted messages, asking for an update. After they explained the situation, their families decided to pay up without the slightest hesitation. They had the best chance of reaching the top three, and with Ning Xuan in the running, they were at a loss. Now that Ning Xuan had offered to withdraw on certain conditions, they had to seize the opportunity!

"Hurry, ask him how much he wants?!" All three families responded in record time.

"Brother Ning, my family is poor. We can only give 500 million."

"Brother Ning, my family only has 600 million left after funding my cultivation."

"Brother Ning, our first meeting left an unforgettable impression on me. I, Jiang Boya, am willing to pay one billion Heavenly Crystals just to have you as a friend!"

Naturally, the three of them weren’t foolish enough to ask Ning Xuan for his price. What if he asked for an exorbitant amount? So, they all took the initiative to make their own offers.

"It’s a little less than I’d hoped, but I’m an easygoing person. We’ll go with what you said," Ning Xuan agreed magnanimously.

The three of them nearly had a mental breakdown.

Big Brother! We’re begging you, please just stop talking! If you say another word, we’re genuinely afraid we’ll hear something like, "I’m down on my luck, I only have a little under six billion Heavenly Crystals" come out of your mouth!

「Meanwhile」

Ning Xuan also heard from You Ruo.

"The three families say they paid a sky-high price before, so now each of them can only come up with 100 million," You Ruo transmitted, feeling quite anxious.

"While it’s a bit on the low side, I’m the most reasonable person you’ll find. Let’s just settle for that."

Hearing this, You Ruo was stunned.

Why the sudden change of heart? Settling for just 300 million? Those are the top-tier families of Cloud Summit Heavenly Palace... Wait a minute!

Suddenly, it clicked for You Ruo.

Damn! That rotten thief! This Ten Clans Competition is a complete write-off! Not only did Ning Xuan steal the show, he raked in a fortune in Heavenly Crystals and is now walking away scot-free! This is such bullshit!

On the dueling stage, Ning Xuan suddenly coughed up blood. Then, with a deathly pale face, he announced, "That Flying Needle was poisoned! I’ve been poisoned! I can’t continue in the competition! Oh, the agony! So many prodigies gathered on one stage, yet I cannot compete against them..."

Ning Xuan was overcome with grief and indignation, convinced his performance was Oscar-worthy. Jiang Boya and the other two, however, were itching to kick him off the stage.

Your mind is already buried in money, and you’re still talking about competing with prodigies? Do you even see them as... Ugh, forget it. No point getting worked up and cursing ourselves.

Before many people could even react, Ning Xuan was already being helped back to the mobile villa hovering in the sky by Wu Pianpian and San Wu.

"Master, where were you poisoned? Is it serious?" San Wu was on the verge of tears.

"Junior Brother, you aren’t really poisoned, are you?" Wu Pianpian asked, her face tense with worry.

They had been inside the villa when an image suddenly appeared on the wall of one of the rooms, showing them everything happening on the dueling stage with perfect clarity. The Flying Needle had been incredibly fast, and they normally wouldn’t have been able to see it, but the image on the wall had suddenly slowed down. Because of this, they had seen the needle pierce the body with their own eyes! They had also witnessed what happened to the man who threw it. So when Ning Xuan coughed up blood and claimed to be poisoned, they were naturally terrified.

Now that they were back in the villa, Ning Xuan dropped the act. He instantly sat up, brimming with energy, and shook his head. "Nope, I’m perfectly fine."

"Are you insane?! Why would you drop out if you’re fine?!" Wu Pianpian exploded. She had been desperately hoping to see Ning Xuan display his might and dominate the competition.

In fact, she had it all planned out. When Ning Xuan was the last one standing on stage, she would make a grand entrance and announce to the crowd that he was her Junior Brother! How glorious would that have been?! Now the whole plan is ruined!

"I didn’t want to withdraw either," Ning Xuan said, feigning grievance, "but they offered too much."

Wu Pianpian immediately sat beside him, grabbed his arm, and stared at him with wide, eager eyes. "How much did they give?"

"The Ye Family gave 500 million Heavenly Crystals, the Chu Family gave 600 million, and the Jiang Family was the most generous, giving 1 billion. On top of that, the ever-astute You Ruo got another 300 million from them, for a total of 2.4 billion."

The moment the words left his mouth, Wu Pianpian went wild. "Ahhh, Junior Brother, I love you to death!!" She grabbed his head in her hands and gave it a vigorous, messy rub.

Seeing the two of them flirting and bantering as if nothing was wrong, Qian Yourong was completely impressed. "You’re truly one of a kind!"

This is the Ten Clans Competition! And he actually used it as a tool to get rich! I’m beyond impressed!

"Oh, Junior Brother, there are still other contestants! Why don’t you find an excuse to go back down there and extort—I mean, ask them to lend us some too? We’re really poor right now," Wu Pianpian said, having gotten a taste for it. This is such an easy way to make money!

To sound more righteous, Ning Xuan even addressed her formally. "Senior Sister, how can you be so greedy? We may be poor, but we must have some integrity! There’s no reason to go back down there!"

Nearby, Qian Yourong let out a soft laugh and ruthlessly exposed him. "It’s because you can’t think of a good excuse to go back down, isn’t it?"

Just as Ning Xuan was about to retort, Nanling Bully’s voice came from outside. "Young Master Ning, are you alright?"

Ning Xuan glanced at Qian Yourong without a word.

Qian Yourong just smiled and looked at the other women, silently asking if they wanted to come out with her. The others all shook their heads, with Wu Pianpian being the only exception.

At the villa’s entrance, Qian Yourong faced Nanling Bully with red-rimmed eyes. "Is something the matter?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Nanling Bully’s heart skipped a beat. He asked tentatively, "Um, is Young Master Ning alright?"

It would have been better if he hadn’t asked. The moment he did, tears burst from Qian Yourong’s eyes.

At this, it wasn’t just Nanling Bully who was taken aback; even Wu Pianpian was stunned.

If I didn’t know for a fact that my Junior Brother was perfectly fine, even I would’ve been fooled by this woman. I am completely and utterly impressed!

"Elixirs! Right, I have elixirs here!" Nanling Bully frantically fumbled for a bottle of elixirs.

Wu Pianpian reached out, took it, and immediately turned to leave. It wasn’t that she wanted to go, but she was afraid she would give the game away if she stayed next to Qian Yourong. That woman’s acting was off the charts. Standing beside her, Wu Pianpian felt like a complete fool.