Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 398: It’s me, Ning Yang! Where’s my big brother?

The Dao Body and the mobile villa abruptly separated from the Heavenly Sacrifice Cauldron.

WHOOSH!

The villa, carrying Ning Xuan's Dao Body, transformed into a streak of light and fled into the distance. The Heavenly Sacrifice Cauldron, meanwhile, seemed to lose control and plunged sharply downward.

After a moment's hesitation, the little white snake shot off in pursuit of the mobile villa, for it carried the scent of the man from before.

Meanwhile, before the Heavenly Sacrifice Cauldron even hit the ground, Ning Xuan had materialized a Flying Boat and was heading in the opposite direction. It still wasn't safe, but it was the only way to create the greatest possible distance and buy more time.

Beside Ning Xuan, although Wu Pianpian and the other three women had experienced terrifying increases in their Cultivation Realms, their faces held no trace of joy. Qian Yourong's beautiful eyes were fixed on Ning Xuan. "I hope you'll always remember me!" she suddenly blurted out.

The next moment, she threw herself sideways off the Flying Boat.

BANG!

She slammed into an invisible barrier.

Xiao Bai was stunned.

San Wu blinked and asked, "Yourong, what are you doing?"

"You foolish woman, why are you jumping ship?!" Ning Xuan's timely roar echoed from the front. "Do you think my speed will increase just because you're one person lighter?!"

"Ning Xuan, it's too strong! You don't stand a chance with me on board, so let me go!" Qian Yourong stated her case bluntly.

Before Ning Xuan could even speak, Wu Pianpian chimed in, "Junior Brother, Yourong is right. If you let us go, you'll have a chance to escape."

San Wu and Xiao Bai, realizing what was happening, also nodded in agreement.

"Are you all out of your minds? Isn't it good enough to be alive? There's still so much Earth Spring Spirit Milk left. If you die, I'll just give it to other women…" Ning Xuan snapped, but before he could finish, a spear was pressed against his neck.

"Junior Brother, I command you to immediately…"

"Wu Pianpian, have you lost your mind? It's just one tiny snake, you think I'm afraid… What are you standing there for? Hurry up and stab me!"

Ning Xuan was initially furious, but his eyes lit up when he saw several figures moving quickly in a fan formation across the ground ahead. While Wu Pianpian was still trying to process his baffling command, Ning Xuan had already steered the Flying Boat into a steep dive.

They had barely touched down when they were surrounded. There were eight individuals in total, each exuding an aura no weaker than that of the black-robed person they had encountered in the cave. Clearly, they were also enforcers.

"My lords, help me! This crazy woman is trying to kill me!" Ning Xuan cried out. Wu Pianpian's spear was still at his neck, and as he stooped slightly, blood dripped from its tip.

The eight men glanced at Wu Pianpian and the other women, then exchanged a look, each seeing in the others' eyes an understanding that only men share.

One of them immediately rebuked them righteously, "Our lord must have fallen to you deranged women! You're coming with us!"

"Be careful, they…"

"We know they're adept with poison. Unfortunately for them, our commander is a Poison Grandmaster…"

"A Poison Grandmaster? How arrogant! Do you dare tell us where your stronghold is?" Wu Pianpian shot back, cutting him off.

As one of them smugly pointed in a direction, Wu Pianpian and the other three women were already rushing off, no longer caring about their supposed prey.

"You… You're outrageous! Stop right there!" a pale-faced Ning Xuan yelled furiously, chasing after them.

The eight men left behind looked at each other, utterly bewildered. What on earth was going on? Just as they were about to give chase, a spine-chilling sensation washed over them.

POP!

One of them fell to the ground. There was a hole in the back of his head identical to the one that had killed their Third Commander, Cao Jun.

The remaining seven shouted as they instantly erected defensive barriers. They didn't know what had attacked them, but their Third Commander had been incredibly strong, and he had still fallen victim to it. They couldn't afford to be careless. They pushed their cultivation to the limit, deploying every available technique and Magical Treasure.

In the distance, Wu Pianpian yelled back again, "Junior Brother, they won't last long! Don't worry about us, just go!"

"Enough nonsense! I have a backup plan. I guarantee it won't catch up to us!" This time, the Heavenly Sacrifice Cauldron had transformed into a flying carpet, speeding along just above the ground.

Though he sounded confident, Ning Xuan was secretly anxious. He hadn't been lying. Knowing the enforcers wouldn't hold out for long, he had sprinkled some Earth Spring Spirit Milk behind them to buy a little more time. What worried him now was how far they still were from the mysterious Imprisonment Space where the strongest cultivators were held. Of course, he wouldn't let the four women see his anxiety. While pushing the flying carpet to its top speed, Ning Xuan continued flicking droplets of Earth Spring Spirit Milk behind them.

"Damn it!"

A white light flashed in his vision. Ning Xuan, flicking pellets left and right, was dumbfounded. The creature was simply too fast. He had used his Snap Divine Power to launch the Spirit Milk pellets in opposite directions; the one on the left had just been devoured when the white light instantly reappeared on the right. This little white snake seemed capable of ignoring space itself.

Seeing it flash toward them, Ning Xuan roared and lunged forward.

Behind him, the flying carpet carrying the four women tore a hole directly through the void.

"Junior Brother!"

"Ning Xuan!"

"Master!"

"Master!"

Four cries of alarm rang out at once before being swallowed by the closing rift.

BOOM!

A deafening roar erupted. Ning Xuan, however, was somewhat puzzled. He was unharmed. A moment later, he understood. He had entered the Imprisonment Space of the Heavenly Principle Star Realm.

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he was enveloped by a fragrant breeze as someone embraced him tightly.

"Are you alright?!" Qian Yourong's concerned voice rang in his ear. Her delicate, trembling hands roamed all over him.

Suddenly, both of them froze.

Just as Ning Xuan was about to explain, Qian Yourong whispered in his ear, "It's fine. I'm willing."

"Alright then, I'll leave this in your care for now," Ning Xuan said, stealthily passing her the Jade Vial containing the Earth Spring Spirit Milk.

"How is it…" Qian Yourong blurted out in astonishment.

But Ning Xuan had already pulled away, moving to shield her behind him. Up ahead, Wu Pianpian stood in the center, flanked by San Wu and Xiao Bai, in a standoff with a group of people.

The man at their forefront exuded no aura whatsoever, yet even his own people kept a wide berth. The ground where he stood was scorched black, and the very life force of the earth around him was visibly wilting. Ning Xuan understood the reason at a glance. This man had to be the Poison Grandmaster those unlucky enforcers had mentioned. He was a walking agent of death.

"This must be the number one Grandmaster in the Star Realm that my big brother was talking about, right?" Ning Xuan said, his gaze skipping past the three women to land on the man, his eyes filled with delight.

His single sentence threw both sides into confusion. Wu Pianpian and the others, however, had witnessed his tricks before, so their shock was only momentary. On the opposing side, the Poison Grandmaster frowned, while the enforcers behind him exchanged bewildered glances.

"Who are you?" a harsh, drake-like voice issued from the Poison Grandmaster.

"I'm Ning Yang! Oh, and my big brother is Cao Jun. He said he's the commander here! Where is my big brother?" Ning Xuan asked, peering past them as if looking for someone.