Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 294: It’s normal for this to happen to the young master!

Ning Xuan's brows were deeply furrowed. In the Stele Forest, he could still sense the women's lingering fragrance, but they had vanished.

The Stele Forest was his domain, yet not only had the women mysteriously disappeared, but even Shentu Yi, who was imprisoned in the Blunt Stone Tower, had also vanished—and Ning Xuan hadn't sensed a thing.

"Interesting," Ning Xuan murmured, a faint smile touching his eyes.

If he wasn't mistaken, this had all happened the moment the Cataclysmic Eroded Land launched its attack on him. Back then, if it weren't for the fruit of the World Tree, he would have been powerless against the assault. Whether the perpetrator was a person or an object, their timing was simply too precise.

As Ning Xuan immersed himself in searching for clues, a disturbance came from the outside world. Then, he saw someone he never expected.

"Old Wang, why are you here?"

Xie Daoyi's face darkened. "You should just call me Old Xie."

He had previously used the alias 'Old Wang' when he met Ning Xuan in Destiny City, where Ning Xuan had asked him to escort Meng Luo back to Wuling. At the Ning Family estate in Wuling, after repeatedly catching odd looks from Meng Luo, he—still calling himself Old Wang—finally couldn't resist asking for the reason. After hearing the answer, he was utterly dumbfounded. He had just picked a name at random, only to find out it had such an infamous connotation. What the hell!

"Where is Meng Luo?" Ning Xuan asked immediately, sensing something was wrong.

Xie Daoyi's expression turned grave. "That's precisely why I came! She's missing!"

"What happened?"

Xie Daoyi shook his head. "I don't know. With my perception, I'm completely unable to detect the perpetrator's presence!"

His expression was more solemn than ever. After all, if not for the world's suppression, he would have long since achieved transcendence. Yet the culprit had managed to abduct Meng Luo without him or anyone else noticing. This was terrifying. Meng Luo was no longer the person she once was; many Martial Artists would be no match for her, yet she hadn't even had a chance to send a warning.

Ning Xuan nodded.

"What's with that expression? Why aren't you shocked at all?" Xie Daoyi asked, puzzled.

Before Ning Xuan could respond, Xie Daoyi himself was stunned into silence.

"Your Cultivation?!"

He hadn't paid close attention before, but now he was horrified to discover that Ning Xuan's Cultivation Realm had already reached the King Realm! And it wasn't just any ordinary King Realm, either.

"Something's wrong! What have you been through?" Xie Daoyi grew even more astonished. The higher one's cultivation, the more they should be shocked by his words. Yet Ning Xuan wasn't.

"People have mysteriously disappeared from here as well. Not just one, but several," Ning Xuan's single sentence answered Xie Daoyi's unspoken question.

"Well? Have you found anything?" Xie Daoyi asked quickly, nodding. He felt a sliver of relief. Otherwise, the guilt would have been immense. After all, Ning Xuan had entrusted Meng Luo to me. If I'd actually lost her, how could this old face of mine ever show itself again?

"Nothing so far. However, there is one thing I'm certain of," Ning Xuan said confidently after shaking his head.

Xie Daoyi and Zhongli Ruoruo, who was standing nearby, both stared at him intently.

"They're no longer on this continent!"

As Ning Xuan's words fell, understanding dawned on Xie Daoyi. "That's the only explanation. Otherwise, there's no way they could have escaped my perception!"

At that moment, he was no longer Old Wang from next door, but the renowned Sword God, Xie Daoyi! His sharp aura was fully unleashed.

"No matter who it is, they will not be forgiven!" Zhongli Ruoruo declared, refusing to be outdone.

Then, Old Wang from next door felt his world tilt. This young woman was an Emperor Realm Martial Artist! And likely one who stood at the absolute peak.

Good heavens! What kind of monsters does this kid surround himself with?! Xie Daoyi began to question his entire existence. Meng Luo's own talent in the Way of the Sword was equally terrifying, and she had once been nothing more than an ordinary maid in the Ning Family.

If he weren't so worried about Meng Luo's safety, Xie Daoyi would have fled on the spot. Staying by this kid's side is just embarrassing! After all this time, the Sword Dao I take such pride in would surely be crushed to dust by Ning Xuan. As for Martial Arts Cultivation… Xie Daoyi surreptitiously glanced at Zhongli Ruoruo, shrank his neck, and admitted defeat. Although in a true duel, Zhongli Ruoruo is certainly no match for me, she's just so incredibly young!

"Are you saying the same people who took Meng Luo also took the others from here?" Xie Daoyi suddenly asked.

After Ning Xuan nodded, Xie Daoyi said, "Then you'll have to find a way on your own. I'm leaving."

He had abandoned his plan to travel with Ning Xuan. Immediately, an unparalleled Sword Qi soared into the heavens, cleaving the firmament open. The Heavenly Gate appeared. Xie Daoyi shot up from the ground, ascending with each step. In no time, he had vanished through the gate.

"Young Master, what about us?" Zhongli Ruoruo asked, having recovered from her mild surprise.

At her current Cultivation Realm, she had known who he was the moment he appeared. She had been struggling with how to interact with Ning Xuan, but Xie Daoyi's appearance helped her make up her mind.

Ning Xuan gave her a surprised look. "You should just call me Ning Xuan."

"Yes, Young Master."

"..." Ning Xuan's mouth twitched slightly. "By the way, do you know where he was going after using his Sword Qi to open the Heavenly Gate?"

Zhongli Ruoruo shook her head. "I don't. And I suspect he doesn't know either."

Ning Xuan nodded. Old Wang had clearly taken a blow to his ego. He's leaving to break his shackles and reach a higher level. Why would he care about the destination? For him, the more perilous the place, the better. So, my question was pointless.

"I really envy him," Ning Xuan muttered to himself before continuing his search for clues. He wanted to leave as freely as Xie Daoyi, but reality wouldn't allow it. He had to find out where the others had been taken.

About half an hour later, at the top of the Blunt Stone Tower, a passageway tore open in the air before Ning Xuan and Zhongli Ruoruo.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ning Xuan stepped inside. The passage sealed itself shut after Zhongli Ruoruo followed.

It was like a space-time tunnel, but with one key difference: Ning Xuan and Zhongli Ruoruo didn't have a spaceship. They could only rely on the power of their Physical Bodies to withstand the terrifying turbulence.

At first, Zhongli Ruoruo instinctively moved to protect Ning Xuan. However, she quickly discovered that the space-time turbulence, which could easily tear a King Realm Martial Artist or even an Emperor Realm Martial Artist to shreds, posed no threat to him whatsoever. In fact, a layer of Gang Qi manifested naturally on his body—an energy that surpassed Martial Arts.

Physical Sanctification?! Amid her shock, Zhongli Ruoruo quickly composed herself. Then again, for this to happen to the Young Master… it's just standard procedure! I wonder where we're going! Denizens of another world, my Young Master has arrived! Prepare to welcome a legend! And as for those damned kidnappers, your end is here!

Zhongli Ruoruo stared at Ning Xuan's back, her beautiful eyes sparkling like stars. She was filled with boundless anticipation.

But when they finally exited the space-time channel, Zhongli Ruoruo was completely dumbfounded.