Battle Against Ninth Rank

Chu Ning's eyes flickered slightly, and he cast a thoughtful glance at Xie Mingli. Her words weren't just directed at Feng Li's impatience, but seemed to be emphasizing something intentionally.

Is she trying to tell me she has no connection to Feng Li?

The corners of his lips curved upwards slightly, a smile that was neither deep nor shallow, as if he were pondering the deeper meaning behind her words.

Xie Mingli had always been aloof, rarely caring about how others addressed her, yet today she had uncharacteristically shown a clear stance.

It seemed the situation was more interesting than it appeared on the surface.

Feng Li's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly suppressed the displeasure in his heart, attempting to salvage the situation with what he thought was a gentle smile.

"Lier, you're usually not this cold to me."

His gaze sharpened slightly, and his tone suddenly grew heavier, carrying a hint of accusation.

"Is it because of this brat?"

As his words fell, the atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly became tense.

Chu Ning's expression remained calm, as if he hadn't heard. The corners of his mouth even curved up slightly, as if he were watching a boring play.

Xie Mingli's face darkened, and her tone grew colder.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

She shot Feng Li an impatient glance, her tone already issuing a clear dismissal.

"You should leave quickly. If you leave now, I'll still consider it a momentary lapse in judgment."

Feng Li's face turned completely grim. His lips pressed together tightly, and anger surged in his eyes, as if he were restraining himself.

As a direct disciple of the Li Fire Palace, when had he ever been berated like this?

But before he could retort, a lazy, somewhat casual voice rang out.

"Feng Li, is it?" Chu Ning chuckled lightly, his tone seemingly indifferent, yet also carrying a hint of disdain.

"Miss Xie told you to leave, don't you understand?"

Feng Li froze for a moment, then his eyes turned icy as he looked over.

Chu Ning stood in the courtyard, tilting his head slightly, casually flicking some dust from his sleeve, a hint of nonchalant amusement on his lips.

His tone wasn't loud, but the implication was enough to send Feng Li into a rage.

The air in the courtyard instantly froze, a sense of impending storm permeating the space.

Feng Li's eyes were cold, his anger reaching its peak.

He took a step forward, his gaze locked onto Chu Ning, his voice carrying undisguised arrogance. "Lier, it's not that I want to act presumptuously in the Marquis Wu's Estate. You can see it yourself, this little brat deliberately provoked me."

As his words fell, Chu Ning let out a scoff, his gaze sharp. "You really know how to twist words and distort the truth."

His gaze slowly swept over Feng Li, as if looking at an unreasonable, rabid dog. "Who came here uninvited to demand an explanation? Who keeps calling me 'little brat'?"

Hearing this, Feng Li laughed in extreme anger, the fire in his eyes intensifying, scorching the surrounding air.

Flames suddenly erupted around Feng Li, the scorching heatwaves rolling like angry tides, the intense temperature distorting the air. The ground cracked slightly, as if even the earth was recoiling from his fury.

"Lier, I will kill him today, and I will apologize to the Marquis Wu's Estate later!"

His violent aura surged instantly, and behind him, flames formed a roaring fire lion, its fangs bared, its killing intent already condensed into a tangible force.

However, just as he was about to make a move, a cool figure stepped in front of Chu Ning, her silver-white robes fluttering like a cold, snowy night.

Xie Mingli stood in front of Chu Ning, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "No."

She looked directly at Feng Li, her gaze calm and unwavering, only firm. "Young Master Chu is a distinguished guest of the Marquis Wu's Estate, and also my savior. If I cannot protect him here in the Marquis Wu's Estate, how can I establish myself in Qingzhou later?"

Feng Li's brow furrowed, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

Then, his eyes suddenly turned cold, his inner rage almost impossible to suppress.

"Lier, you're defending him?"

Chu Ning was stunned for a moment, a subtle shift in his heart.

At this moment, he felt an emotion he had never experienced before, both unfamiliar and subtle.

Then, the corners of his lips curved upwards, as if he suddenly felt... this feeling wasn't bad.

This was the first time someone had so resolutely stood in front of him.

His world had always been one of walking alone. Whether in his past life or this one, fraught with danger, he had long been accustomed to facing and resolving things by himself. No one had ever stepped forward to speak for him, let alone stand in front of him.

Although Xie Mingli was outwardly cold and her words were sparse, at this moment, she was protecting him without hesitation.

In this instant, he experienced the feeling of being protected for the first time.

That emotion was somewhat strange, yet... it was also something to be cherished.

He greedily savored the feeling of this moment, as if it could fill a hidden void in his heart.

The next second, he gently patted Xie Mingli's shoulder, his voice laced with a hint of casual amusement. "Miss Xie, thank you, but I can handle him."

Xie Mingli suddenly started, turning to look at him, her brow furrowed, her voice slightly heavy. "He's Ninth Rank Middle Grade, and you're only Tenth Rank Lower Grade. How can you handle him? Now is not the time to be brave."

A flicker of worry crossed her eyes.

In her understanding, the gap between Ninth Rank and Tenth Rank was as vast as a chasm. Even with Chu Ning's exceptional talent, it was impossible for him to bridge such an insurmountable divide.

However, she was unaware that Chu Ning's cultivation realm had been disguised by the Void Spirit Bell from the very beginning.

His true strength was Tenth Rank Upper Grade.

To conceal his power, he deliberately suppressed his cultivation to Tenth Rank Lower Grade using the Void Spirit Bell, solely to lull his enemies into a false sense of security and attract less unwanted attention.

At this moment, he smiled faintly, his eyes deep and enigmatic, and said, "Miss Xie, how will you know if you don't try?"

His tone was calm, carrying an unspoken confidence.

Xie Mingli's eyelashes fluttered, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened. She looked at Chu Ning, her lips pursed slightly, a flicker of struggle in her eyes.

She didn't want him to take such a risk, but Chu Ning's gaze was as calm as the deep sea, filled with a certainty she couldn't ignore.

Feng Li, on the other hand, laughed in anger, flames churning around him as he mocked, "Very well! Since you're seeking death, I shall oblige!"

Before his words even fell, he stomped his foot, the ground instantly cracking. Blazing flames surged like a gale, and the air filled with a scorching scent.

Chu Ning stood his ground, his expression as placid as still water, save for a sharp glint that suddenly flashed in the depths of his eyes.

He didn't dodge. Instead, he slowly raised his hand, his fingers slightly spread, a faint golden light flowing in his palm.

Xie Mingli gasped in surprise.

She suddenly sensed that Chu Ning's aura had undergone a subtle change at that very moment.

His Tenth Rank Lower Grade aura had instantly ascended, faintly touching the threshold of Ninth Rank.

Her heart jolted, her pupils contracting, and she looked at Chu Ning in disbelief.

Yet, Chu Ning merely smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "Miss Xie, please step back a little later. Be careful not to get caught in the crossfire."

Before Xie Mingli could react, in the next instant, Chu Ning's figure had already shot out like thunder!

Seeing this, a cold sneer appeared on Feng Li's lips, and a fervent fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. "Good, now that's more like a man!"

The Li Fire Whip swung out from his hand, flames blazing, twisting and coiling in the air like a burning crimson dragon.

The whip's shadow suddenly split, transforming into nine fiery dragons that roared, sealing off all of Chu Ning's escape routes.

Flames soared into the sky, and in an instant, the entire courtyard turned into a sea of fire.

The walls crumbled under the whip's shadow, and the ground was scorched by the intense heat, gradually melting into glowing red lava. Waves of heat rolled out, suffocating.

However, Chu Ning's figure weaved through the blazing curtain of fire as if he were a phantom.

His footwork was elusive, as if he were treading on clouds, each step landing in Feng Li's attack's blind spots.

"A flying technique? Damn it." Feng Li's gaze sharpened, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.