C117 Chief Qiao

Qiu Wanli approached Ning Qi, towering over him with a disdainful gaze. "Surrender the spatial Battle Weapon, and I'll grant you a swift death."

With no other options, Ning Qi turned to the Dragon Slaying Shop for assistance. He navigated to the summoning section.

"One Star Battle King Murong Fu, summoning cost: 8,000 Dragon Slaying Coins, duration: five minutes."

"Three Star Battle King Qiao Feng, summoning cost: 12,000 Dragon Slaying Coins, duration: five minutes."

"Peak Battle King Dongfang Bubai, summoning cost: 40,000 Dragon Slaying Coins, duration: five minutes."

Ning Qi was reluctant to use the hard-earned Dragon Slaying Coins to summon a Peak Battle King, so he ultimately settled on the Three Star Battle King Qiao Feng. If he could just delay the inevitable, he'd have a chance to slip away and later seek retribution against Qiu Wanli.

"Summon confirmed!"

The system promptly withdrew 12,000 Dragon Slaying Coins. A purple mist swirled around Ning Qi, and a towering, rugged man materialized. Without hesitation, he launched an assault on Qiu Wanli.

Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms!

Nine Silver Dragons burst forth from his hands, their formidable presence charging towards Qiu Wanli.

"To think Chief Qiao has mastered the ninth level of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms..." Ning Qi was ecstatic.

This was precisely why he had chosen Qiao Feng. With his God Level martial arts skill, he was exponentially stronger than the average Three Star Battle King. Surely, he could hold off Qiu Wanli.

Indeed, Qiu Wanli was taken aback by the sheer force of Qiao Feng's technique. He countered with the Blood Fiend Eighteen Forms, yet they fought to a standstill.

"Qiu Wanli, you've made me waste 12,000 Dragon Slaying Coins on you. Someday, I'll visit the Blood Kill Sect and claim your head."

Ning Qi popped a High-grade Earth Rank Revival Pill into his mouth, uttered the menacing threat, and then darted off into the distance. Qiu Wanli, preoccupied by Qiao Feng, couldn't immediately give chase. Huangfu Fei, though startled by Qiao Feng's unexpected entrance and powerful palm moves, surmised that this man could very well be Ning Qi's master. With Qiu Wanli tied up, he quickly volunteered, "Senior, I'll pursue the youngster."

Having spoken, he immediately set off in pursuit of the direction Ning Qi had fled.

Qiu Wanli bellowed in rage, "A mere Three Star Battle King dares to challenge me!"

Qiao Feng chuckled heartily, "You're far too arrogant!"

The two clashed once more. Qiu Wanli was inwardly shaken; the combat awareness on display was astounding. Despite being a Peak Battle King himself, he found he could not swiftly determine a victor between them!

Five minutes later, a Purple Mist suddenly enveloped Qiao Feng, and just as mysteriously as he had appeared, he vanished into thin air.

Qiu Wanli remained standing, feeling as though he'd been made a fool of. Nearly consumed by his fury, he took a moment to compose himself before pursuing the direction Ning Qi had taken.

"Stop running! Hand over the spatial Battle Weapon now, and I'll spare you. Otherwise, not even the gods will save you when that demon Qiu Wanli catches up," Huangfu Fei called out, half-chasing, half-pleading.

Ning Qi came to an abrupt halt and offered a slight smile, "Who said I was running?"

He summoned Purple from the Pet Space. The creature had recovered significantly after some rest. Together with Ning Qi, they found it easy to confront Huangfu Fei.

"You!"

Huangfu Fei had not seen the Purple Lightning Bird earlier and had assumed Qiu Wanli had dealt with it. He hadn't expected Ning Qi to have stowed it away in a spatial Battle Weapon!

Caught in a moment of hesitation, Ning Qi wasted no time. He and Purple launched a decisive attack.

A short while later, equivalent to the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Huangfu Fei fled, grievously wounded.

"We'll see if you can still escape when we next cross paths!"

Ning Qi watched Huangfu Fei's retreating figure with an icy gaze. He mounted Purple and soared off into the distance, hoping Chief Qiao could hold out a little longer.

Otherwise, he would have squandered 12,000 Dragon Slaying Coins.

Ning Qi hadn't gone far when a figure blocked Huangfu Fei's path. Looking up, he found Qiu Wanli staring him down with a frosty demeanor.

"Where is he?" Qiu Wanli demanded coldly.

Huangfu Fei's face twisted into a bitter smile. "He's escaped."

"Worthless."

Both were Three Star Battle Kings, yet the one who had just fought him had matched him blow for blow. In contrast, Huangfu Fei was as good as trash, unable to take down even a Grand Battle Master.

Huangfu Fei's lips quivered, but he held back any retort.

"There's no need for you to tag along anymore. Scram."

Qiu Wanli dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

Relief flickered in Huangfu Fei's heart, but he masked it well, muttering a few apprehensive words before turning to leave.

...

Two months on.

Ning Qi arrived at the border of the White Tiger Empire astride the Purple Lightning Bird, the Shanhai Realm now within close reach.

During these months, Qiu Wanli had doggedly pursued him. The pair had engaged in a merry chase, with Qiu Wanli relentlessly on his tail, now looking decidedly worn.

"That damned rascal!"

Qiu Wanli glared at Ning Qi, who was dozing atop the Purple Lightning Bird, his eyes seething with rage.

He had assumed that eventually, the Purple Lightning Bird would tire, its speed would falter, and he would seize the chance to capture Ning Qi. But to his chagrin, Ning Qi had been feeding the bird a medicinal pill every few days, keeping it in prime condition and flying at top speed. Catching them was an impossibility; keeping up was a feat in itself.

Off in the distance, a grand carriage rolled along the main road.

But it wasn't horses drawing the carriage; it was white tigers, each exuding the presence of a Battle King. Eighteen in total, all Fifth Rank Demon Beasts!

To use Fifth Rank Demon Beasts as beasts of burden spoke volumes of the carriage occupant's exalted status.

Around the carriage, a group of knights kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. Suddenly, the knight captain spotted the Purple Lightning Bird approaching and his face tensed.

"To arms!"

With a curt command, the knight captain soared into the sky and, in a single deft move, snatched both the Purple Lightning Bird and Ning Qi from the air. Qiu Wanli arrived shortly after, closing in from behind.

"Another one?"

The knight leader's expression chilled as his dozen subordinates exchanged glances. Four of them soared into the air simultaneously. Qiu Wanli was caught off guard and swiftly subdued by these four Peak Battle Kings.

Ning Qi was jolted awake to find himself in someone's grasp—a Six Star Battle Emperor, no less! His gaze then swept over the other knights.

"Are they all Peak Battle Kings? Who are these people?"

Sensing a possible misunderstanding, Ning Qi spoke up, "Gentlemen, why have you detained me? Is there something you require of me?"

Meanwhile, Qiu Wanli's eyes flickered with unease at the sight of the white tigers. As an elder of the Blood Kill Sect, he was well aware of their origins and found himself at a loss for words.