The Female Immortal Emperor's Assessment! A Hundredfold Return: Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt!

Impossible!

Ning Hongye shook her head again, banishing the thought from her mind.

The Thunderclap Saber Technique was a family heirloom of the Ning Family. Countless experts had refined it over the years, making it a Spirit Grade High Rank technique, rare even in Great Xia.

But Xiao Yang was only a Third-grade Martial Artist. How could he possibly have improved it?

Then how had he managed to defeat Commander Huo?

"Ninth Young Master, why did you hold back just now and spare Commander Huo's life?" Azure Luan couldn't help asking from beside him.

She was Ning Hongye's personal guard. Naturally, seeing Ning Hongye insulted had made her furious; she'd wanted to slaughter every one of those troublemakers.

Xiao Yang explained, "Although those Centurions and Commander Huo went too far, they aren't utterly wicked. They were deceived by that Dog Emperor!"

"They only caused trouble because they're fiercely loyal to General Ning!"

"Once they learn the truth, they'll be even more loyal to us!"

Hearing this, Azure Luan understood at once. Privately, she couldn't help thinking that the Ninth Young Master was pretty clever.

"Xiao Yang!"

At last, Ning Hongye couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "Had you learned the Thunderclap Saber Technique before? And the moves you used just now seemed to have been improved?"

As far as she could see, there was one possibility!

The King Zhenbei's Mansion had obtained the Thunderclap Saber Technique manual long ago, and perhaps experts from the estate had refined it themselves and passed it on to the prince.

That was the only way to explain what had just happened.

"That's right. My saber technique is indeed more powerful. Do you want to learn it?"

Xiao Yang didn't explain where the technique came from. Instead, he asked her a question.

"You're willing to teach me?" Ning Hongye was surprised.

Of course she wanted to learn, but if it had been improved by the prince's estate, they probably wouldn't let outsiders learn it.

"Call me 'husband,' and I'll teach you," Xiao Yang said with a grin.

Ning Hongye didn't answer. She turned away coldly.

This woman really was stubborn!

Xiao Yang shook his head helplessly. He'd only been testing her just now. If she wouldn't agree, then so be it.

But he didn't know that Ning Hongye had turned away because she was afraid he'd see the blush on her face and the shyness in her eyes.

"Even if you won't call me 'husband,' you should at least accept the Night Shining Jade Lion. You don't have a warhorse anymore," Xiao Yang added.

"All right."

Ning Hongye nodded.

[ Ding! The host has gifted the Night Shining Jade Lion. Reward triggered! ]

[ Hundredfold Return: Emperor Grade High Rank Spirit Beast, Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt ]

[ Also known as the "Celestial River Patroller." It possesses an Ancient Fire Dragon Bloodline, can walk through the air as easily as on flat ground, and can breathe Sky-Burning Flames. It can travel three thousand li in a day. ]

[ Extract now? ]

An Emperor Grade spirit beast... What a treasure!

Xiao Yang was thrilled.

Previously, he'd obtained the Emperor Grade Divine Weapon, the Mysterious Scale Ten Thousand Dragon Armor, but that was a defensive treasure.

Spirit beasts had minds of their own. As long as one could tame them, they could help in battle. Its fighting strength was probably no less than that of a Seventh-grade Grandmaster!

"Miss Ning, now that the trouble here has been taken care of, I'll head back first!"

Impatient to extract his spirit beast, Xiao Yang turned and left.

Just then, a celestial, ethereal woman's voice suddenly rang out in Ning Hongye's Spiritual Sense.

"Disciple, that boy is no ordinary person!"

Ning Hongye was astonished. "Master, you're awake?"

Three years ago, she'd stumbled into a God-Demon Battlefield and unexpectedly encountered the Remnant Soul of an Ancient Female Immortal Emperor. She'd allowed the other woman to dwell within her body and had taken her as her master.

But a month ago, her father, Ning Xiong, had fallen to demonic possession and gone on a killing spree. At the critical moment, the Female Immortal Emperor had intervened and slain Ning Xiong, but she'd fallen into a deep sleep as a result.

No matter how Ning Hongye called to her, there'd been no response. She hadn't expected her to awaken today!

"Disciple, there's an unfathomable aura about your fiancé. He seems to exist beyond the Three Realms, outside the Five Elements. Even I can't see through him! But the saber strike he used just now was quite interesting," the Female Immortal Emperor said.

"What do you mean?" Ning Hongye asked curiously.

"He is like a dragon, and his saber like a prison!"

The Female Immortal Emperor gave her assessment, then continued, "I'll need to sleep for a long time this time. I was a little worried before! But now that you've found such a husband, I can rest easy!"

"Master, you..."

At the word "husband," Ning Hongye's heart rippled.

Meanwhile.

Xiao Yang returned to his estate and made sure there was no one around.

"System, I want to extract the Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt!"

A flash of light, and a magnificent black horse appeared before him.

It had a sturdy body, long limbs, and a coat as black as night. It stood even taller than the Night Shining Jade Lion.

"What a handsome horse!"

Xiao Yang marveled. But when he saw the black horse's head, he couldn't help laughing.

The Big Black Horse looked just like the famous artifact from his previous life, "Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow." Its face was contorted, its mouth hanging wide open.

It looked so comical, like some sort of jokester!

"What a handsome horse. Too bad it's got a head..."

Xiao Yang couldn't help remarking. Then he grabbed the horse's back, trying to swing himself up for a ride.

To his surprise, the Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt wouldn't obey at all. It gave a casual shake and jolted Xiao Yang off, then snorted.

It looked proud as it glanced at Xiao Yang, as if to say:

Nice try. You think you can ride me?

"Damn! This horse has quite a temper!"

Unwilling to give up, Xiao Yang kept trying to tame it. He swung himself onto its back again and again, only to fail every time.

"Big Black, behave!"

"Black Bro, do me a favor, will you..."

"Black Grandpa, I'm begging you. Just let me ride you once!"

By the end of the day, Xiao Yang was drenched in sweat. He'd tried every method he could think of and brought out the best feed, threatening and coaxing it in turn, but he still hadn't managed to ride the horse!

Spirit beasts had minds of their own and submitted to the strong!

Xiao Yang was only a Third-grade Martial Artist, while the Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt was an Emperor Grade spirit beast—and a fully grown one at that.

Although the system had rewarded it to Xiao Yang, it wasn't willing to acknowledge him as its master and submit so easily.

In the end, Xiao Yang had no choice but to give up and call over his maid, Huangli.

"Master, what a fine horse!" Huangli couldn't help exclaiming.

The Cloud-Treading Black Dragon Colt had been lounging lazily, but when it noticed Huangli, it seemed to perk up.

"This is a new horse I bought. Take it to the stable and have someone look after it properly," Xiao Yang ordered.

"Yes, Master!" Huangli nodded.

Late that night, at the Eldest Prince's Estate.

"Eldest Brother, Ninth is going too far!!!"

The Fourth Prince stormed in, fuming as he complained to Eldest Prince Xiao Junlin.

"Ninth killed my guards, exiled my concubine, and slapped me in the face with the Tiger Tally Gold Seal of the Vermilion Bird Army!"

"What does he think he is? He's nothing but a lapdog who gave up his own eyes to suck up to that Fiend Star Woman, Ning Hongye, and win these benefits!"

"But I won't put up with this! We have to teach him a brutal lesson and make him pay in blood!!!"