Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 280: Whatever you like, just... ouch, fuck!

So much for that. Just a moment ago, he had been adamantly claiming that there couldn't possibly be any traps here. Before he could even finish his sentence, not only were his words thrown back in his face, but the body he had worked so hard to find was blown to bits.

This is absolutely outrageous!

"What are you getting so worked up for? You're the First Emperor. Getting angry could hurt your body... Oh, right. Carry on. I forgot you don't even have a body."

Ning Xuan's attempt at consolation only made things worse. The First Emperor's consciousness nearly shattered on the spot.

You call that consoling someone?! Is that supposed to be comforting? That's not comfort, that's a soul-crushing attack!

The First Emperor's composure was utterly broken by Ning Xuan's single sentence, and he retreated into a self-imposed silence. From that point on, he didn't say a word, letting Ning Xuan do as he pleased.

Not long after, he began to question his entire existence.

That bastard couldn't have lied to me, could he?!

He was completely baffled. Ning Xuan had been advancing the entire time with the nonchalant air of someone taking a stroll through a park. His demeanor was so carefree, it reminded the First Emperor of his own leisurely walks through the Imperial Gardens.

Traps? Traps, my ass! There's nothing here!

It was mainly King Dong Cang's fearful reaction, followed by that initial show of force, that had built up his expectations. He had been eagerly waiting to see Ning Xuan make a fool of himself! But in the end, nothing happened at all.

Of course, he knew King Dong Cang wouldn't lie about something like this. The only explanation was that Ning Xuan's understanding of Mechanical Techniques had reached a height that ordinary people could never hope to attain.

Damn it! This is just absurd!

At this point, the First Emperor was consumed by regret.

This kid isn't human! Bringing him into the Secret Vault wasn't just a loss, it was a catastrophic double loss!

"Ahem, I believe I was mistaken! This is not the real Secret Vault," the First Emperor's consciousness said, making a desperate attempt to salvage the situation.

"We're already here. We'll talk after we've explored," Ning Xuan replied flatly.

"What's there to see here? The real Secret Vault is filled with countless wonders..."

"We're already here. We'll talk after we've explored."

Ning Xuan stuck to the same line.

"That may be so, but there's no need for us to waste our time here."

"We're already here. We'll talk after we've explored."

"..."

No matter how the First Emperor tried to persuade him, Ning Xuan had only that one response. The emperor was on the verge of a breakdown. Without a physical body, it was one thing to be outmatched by Ning Xuan in power, but now he couldn't even win a war of words. It was completely ridiculous!

Realizing his efforts were futile, the First Emperor's consciousness simply gave up.

That is, until he followed Ning Xuan into the very heart of the Secret Vault. Staring at the dazzling array of rare and exotic treasures, the First Emperor was stunned. The scale of this collection was far greater than he had anticipated.

"It seems some remarkable figures have emerged over these past seven hundred years!" he mused. "Wait, I think I sense the aura of a Jade Marrow Pearl! And this... this is the fragrance of a Purple Sandalwood Spirit Fruit!"

With his vast experience, the First Emperor quickly identified several incredible treasures. At the sight of items that could drastically shorten the time needed for his revival, his mind sprang to life. Just as excitement began to bubble within him, Ning Xuan's words fell upon him like a hailstorm.

"I actually thought you were lying when you said this wasn't the real Secret Vault. I'm sorry, I misjudged you."

Ning Xuan delivered the apology with utmost sincerity. The void trembled violently as the First Emperor's consciousness nearly dissipated from the shock.

Damn it all! Is this kid toxic?! How can he look at all these treasures and still think it's not enough?! And the worst part is, he isn't saying it just to spite me. I can clearly sense his sincerity. He actually believes it!

The First Emperor was overcome with the urge to flee. If he stayed with this kid any longer, the consciousness he had painstakingly built over centuries would be completely destroyed.

I can't deal with him! He's too much!

"It's... it's fine. Feel free to take whatever you like," the First Emperor said, forcing himself to remain calm and affecting a generous tone.

The truly precious items have all been enchanted with special wards. No one without the Royal Family Bloodline can take them, and that includes Ning Xuan! If someone tries to take them by force, they will self-destruct! Being able to look but not touch—that will be absolute torture for him!

At this thought, the First Emperor's excitement returned. He even began to proactively introduce several of the most precious treasures to Ning Xuan.

Go on, drool over them! You can't take them anyway!

Thinking he was about to score a point, the First Emperor was soon left gaping in shock. The moment he finished his introductions, he saw Ning Xuan give a great sweep of his sleeve. All the treasures he had just pointed out vanished into thin air.

"Not bad," Ning Xuan's voice remarked, drawing the emperor's attention to his hands. There, he "saw" the very treasures that had just disappeared.

"You... How did you do that?!" the First Emperor, now nothing but a disembodied consciousness, stammered in disbelief.

"How did I do what? I just took them... Oh, right. Theoretically, they should have been specially protected, shouldn't they?"

It was like visiting a museum in his previous life; the more precious the exhibit, the more stringent the security. Yet these treasures, which the First Emperor had claimed were priceless, seemed to have no protection at all.

The void quaked again. The First Emperor was about to lose it.

Of course they were protected, you idiot! To think you bypassed all the protections, and now you have the gall to stand there and make such flippant remarks? What are you trying to pull?!

"Ah, don't—FUCK!"

Seeing Ning Xuan about to make another move, the First Emperor instinctively tried to stop him, but Ning Xuan was far too quick. What he witnessed next was beyond comprehension. Ning Xuan swept his sleeve once more, and then... there was no "and then."

Everything in the entire place was gone. Pillaged. Plundered. It was wiped completely clean, without so much as a speck of dust left behind.

Fuck, fuck, FUCK! What in the goddamn hell?!

His lineage had been building this collection for seven hundred years! Using the resources of an entire nation, they had gathered countless treasures from across the world. With that much time and accumulation, the contents of the Secret Vault were as vast as an ocean. It was an amount that no Storage Ring could possibly contain!

How did Ning Xuan do it?!

What the emperor didn't know was that Ning Xuan not only possessed the Stele Forest left to him by the old man but had also recently acquired another treasure from an Upper Realm dignitary at the Cloud Summit Heavenly Palace. This time, that mystical object absorbed the ambient essence that had gathered in the vault over the centuries, while the physical items were moved directly into the Stele Forest. The space within the Stele Forest was simply immense. Even if the Dong Cang Secret Vault held ten times its seven hundred years of treasures, Ning Xuan could have collected it all without breaking a sweat.

"You... how did you do that?" the First Emperor asked again, his voice reduced to a stutter.

Ning Xuan was already walking toward the exit, his voice drifting back from ahead. "Didn't you say the real Secret Vault wasn't here? Hurry up and tell me where it is so we can go!"

The excitement in Ning Xuan's voice, having tasted such sweet rewards, was palpable even from a distance. The First Emperor, who had been about to move, froze in his tracks.

I absolutely cannot let him wreak any more havoc... Wait a minute. This *was* the real Secret Vault! He's already completely ravaged it! Fuck! This is a disaster!