Killing Ninth Rank

"Feng Li, do you know?" he said slowly, his tone dismissive. "The 'little brat' you were talking about spent the entire night with Mingli."

He paused, the curve of his lips deepening slightly, his tone carrying a hint of intriguing meaning.

"It's just that she was poisoned that night and needed someone to look after her up close. As for the antidote... well, you know, it couldn't have anyone else disturbing us."

As his words fell, the air seemed to freeze.

Xie Mingli stiffened slightly, instinctively turning her head to look at Chu Ning, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

As for Feng Li, his expression twisted completely in that instant!

He watched with his own eyes as Chu Ning's fingers brushed through Xie Mingli's hair, the gentle movement like the most intimate touch between lovers!

Chu Ning's actions undoubtedly added more fuel to the fire in his heart!

Xie Mingli actually didn't refuse?!

His breathing suddenly quickened, Chu Ning's words from earlier echoing in his mind.

"She's kind-hearted and can't stand to see others down on their luck."

"So, her comforting me was 'kind-hearted'? Then what does this look of hers towards you, you little brat, count as?!"

Feng Li's chest heaved violently, the resentment in his eyes almost manifesting as tangible killing intent.

Chu Ning, however, simply watched him quietly, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes holding a hint of playful amusement.

He knew clearly that Feng Li's emotions had completely broken down.

Seeing that Feng Li had already lost control of his emotions, Xie Mingli didn't want to prolong the entanglement.

"Help Young Master Feng down to rest properly," she said to the guards before turning to leave.

"Little brat..." Feng Li's voice had become low and hoarse, filled with extreme suppression.

"What?" Chu Ning chuckled, a meaningful curve on his lips. "Not convinced?"

Feng Li stared at him intently, his teeth almost grinding to dust, his fists clenched so tightly that veins bulged.

Was he merely unconvinced?

The humiliation today was truly etched into his bones!

Chu Ning watched Feng Li's expression of extreme rage coupled with his inability to act, and let out a silent scoff.

But he knew Feng Li would not be content.

He deliberately turned, walking side-by-side with Xie Mingli, leaving slowly.

Feng Li's fists clenched to the extreme, a flicker of madness in his eyes.

His figure suddenly moved, like a fierce tiger pouncing!

"Die!"

At this moment, his killing intent erupted completely, his True Qi boiling all over, and a long sword wreathed in blazing light suddenly condensed in his hand, striking directly at Chu Ning's heart!

However, what he saw was the cold, cruel smile on Chu Ning's lips.

Thwack!

The muffled sound of a rusty blade piercing flesh was exceptionally clear in the deathly silence.

Feng Li's movements froze.

He looked down and saw a broken, rust-covered saber deeply embedded in his chest, piercing his heart.

"You..." Feng Li's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"Arrogant, self-important fool. Next time, clean up your mouth when you speak, and maybe you'll live a few more days," Chu Ning's voice was utterly indifferent, laced with mockery and cruelty.

Feng Li's lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something.

But in the next instant, Chu Ning abruptly pulled out his saber!

A torrent of blood shot out.

Feng Li stumbled back a few steps, a weak gasp escaping his throat, the light in his eyes rapidly dimming.

Thump!

Feng Li's corpse crashed to the ground.

Silence.

A deathly silence.

Everyone from Marquis Wu's Estate watched this scene in stunned silence.

Xie Mingli's pupils contracted, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

Chu Ning lightly flicked the blood-stained rusty saber in his hand, his gaze sweeping indifferently over the surrounding crowd.

The smell of blood permeated the air, and the cold wind swept across the ground, stirring up a few fallen leaves that spun silently around Feng Li's corpse.

In the side courtyard of Marquis Wu's Estate, it was as silent as death. The faces of the crowd still held lingering fear, their hearts pounding wildly, yet no one dared to make a sound.

That single strike had been too fast!

Before they could even get a clear look, Feng Li had already fallen.

He lay in a pool of blood, eyes wide open, as if unwilling, as if disbelieving.

He had been arrogant his entire life, never imagining he would be defeated so thoroughly, nor that his sneak attack after losing the match would cost him his life!

Xie Mingli quietly watched Feng Li's corpse, her gaze slightly cold, her voice calm yet carrying an irrefutable authority, "You lost the match and then attempted a sneak attack. You brought this upon yourself."

This short sentence struck like thunder, shaking everyone to their core.

Looking at Xie Mingli's expression, they suddenly realized she showed no pity, not even anger.

She was merely stating a fact, a fated outcome.

Someone unconsciously swallowed, looking towards Chu Ning, who stood beside her.

The man who had just killed Feng Li was now smirking, his eyes filled with a hint of mockery and amusement, as if quite pleased with their reactions.

His gaze swept over everyone present. Those who met his eyes felt a chill in their hearts, daring not to meet his gaze.

At that moment, everyone in Marquis Wu's Estate finally understood that this man was far more terrifying than they had imagined!

Xie Mingli withdrew her gaze and slowly said, "Prepare Feng Li's body for burial, send it back to Li Fire Palace, and accurately report this matter."

"Yes!" Several guards of Marquis Wu's Estate quickly responded, afraid that a moment's delay would anger these two formidable figures.

They dared not hesitate and hurried forward, intending to lift Feng Li's corpse.

However, as their hands touched the still warm body, their hands trembled slightly, unsure if it was the gruesomeness of the corpse that frightened them or Chu Ning's killing intent that intimidated them.

"Let's go," Chu Ning said softly, tilting his head slightly towards Xie Mingli.

Xie Mingli glanced at him, her eyes deep, but ultimately said nothing more, merely nodding gently before turning to leave.

Everyone watched their retreating backs, their hearts filled with unspeakable dread.

Feng Li's death, his eyes wide open in death, his body still lying quietly on the spot, served as a stark warning, striking the heart of everyone in Marquis Wu's Estate.

That night, the name Chu Ning thoroughly shook Marquis Wu's Estate!

The midnight drumbeats pierced through the thick fog, the eaves of Marquis Wu's Estate casting grotesque silhouettes under the moonlight.

Chu Ning stood alone in the courtyard, the lingering aftermath of Frost Lightning causing his robes to flutter without wind.

The sound of dry leaves brushing against the bluestone and shattering into dust was clearly audible, as if even the night itself had frozen three feet around him.

A single lamp flickered in the corridor, stretching his shadow into a blade-like gash that split the air.

Xie Mingli had already departed, and the others had dispersed.

He had just killed a Ninth Rank martial artist, but he hadn't yet paid the price for the Sky-Rending Shadow Flight Technique.

In that battle, he had indeed relied on the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox's abilities; otherwise, defeating Feng Li, let alone killing him, would have been nearly impossible.

But Chu Ning knew clearly that such external power could not be a long-term reliance.

The Azure Cloud Arena was fast approaching. If he couldn't truly improve his own strength, he would be stuck on the arena, which was filled with masters.

At this moment, he was only a sliver away from Ninth Rank. If he were to immediately pay the price for the Sky-Rending Shadow Flight Technique, although it would allow him to use that power to improve his realm, it would waste this opportunity for his own breakthrough.

He had to break through to Ninth Rank within these ten days using his own accumulated strength, and then pay the price for the Divine Order, thereby aiming for Upper Ninth Rank!

"Time is short, I must hurry," Chu Ning muttered to himself, turning and walking into the room.

He sat down cross-legged and slowly closed his eyes, regulating his internal energy.

Threads of spiritual energy circulated within his body. The True Qi in his body was like a slumbering flood dragon, emitting faint roars, on the verge of breaking through its shackles and transforming into a soaring dragon at any moment.

However, the Ninth Rank realm was not easy to achieve. This tiny bottleneck, though seemingly insignificant, was like a chasm. A slight misstep could lead to stagnation in cultivation.