The Marquis Arrives

"These people are quite skilled. I even deliberately cleaned up the traces I left behind, but I didn't expect them to still find their way here." Ning Xiaochuan sighed inwardly.

Minister Tian is an important figure in the Dark Emperor City and is currently hiding in Begonia Manor. If they find Minister Tian in Begonia Manor, everyone inside will be beheaded, and even the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion will be implicated.

In the eyes of the imperial court, the threat of the Dark Emperor City is definitely no less than that of the Blood Devouring Demon Sect.

Ning Xiaochuan's face didn't reveal any unusual expression. He remained calm and collected, and coldly snorted, "So what if you're from the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion? Do you know where this is? This is a manor of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion. Do you know who this manor lord is? This manor lord is the direct grandson of the Sword Pavilion Marquis."

"You say there's an important criminal of the imperial court in Begonia Manor. What evidence do you have? Without evidence, you surround Begonia Manor with a large army. Do you even have the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion in your eyes? Do you have any regard for the reputation of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion? The Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion has never been afraid of provocation. Throughout history, few who dared to provoke the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion have had a good ending."

Ji Hanxing was a little surprised. This young master, who didn't have a trace of cultivation, could remain so calm under her powerful Martial Dao Profound Qi suppression, and even dared to accuse her so passionately! Even those military experts who had fought on the battlefield for many years didn't have this courage.

She had thought that Begonia Manor was just an idle manor of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion, but she didn't expect the manor lord of Begonia Manor to have such a great background.

The direct grandson of the Sword Pavilion Marquis—this was a true descendant of royalty.

The direct grandson of the Sword Pavilion Marquis rescuing Minister Tian made the matter even more complicated, and might even involve a hereditary marquisate.

If it had been someone else who came today, they might have really been scared off by Ning Xiaochuan's words.

But Ji Hanxing was not someone who was afraid of trouble.

Her eyes shone with Xuan light, and her aura was even more tyrannical than a Dragon Elephant. Her phoenix eyes carried a hint of icy killing intent. She grabbed Ning Xiaochuan's collar and lifted him off the ground, coldly saying, "The Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion can search even the residences of princes and nobles, let alone a mere manor? I've seen many young masters of noble birth, and I've even killed a few. Do you think you can intimidate me? Everyone, listen to my orders! Search the manor for me!"

"Who dares? Are you sure you can bear the consequences of opposing the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion?" Ning Xiaochuan shouted loudly.

The soldiers were also stunned by Ning Xiaochuan's words.

The Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion had stood for more than eight hundred years, with immense power and influence. It could stir up wind and rain in the army, and was not something that ordinary princes and nobles could compare to.

Offending the direct grandson of the Sword Pavilion Marquis meant that anyone who broke into Begonia Manor today would face dire consequences when the matter was investigated in the future.

Even the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial in front of them would probably not be able to gain any advantage by opposing the behemoth that was the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion.

Ji Hanxing glared coldly at the soldiers, feeling helpless but also understanding their situation. Although she wasn't afraid of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion, these ordinary soldiers had great reverence for it. How could they dare to oppose a marquisate?

"Put me down!" Ning Xiaochuan stared into Ji Hanxing's eyes and said coldly.

Ji Hanxing's hand, covered in iron armor, was still gripping Ning Xiaochuan's chest, lifting him off the ground.

One hand contained the strength of tens of thousands of pounds. It was easy to lift not just Ning Xiaochuan, but even ten of him.

Ji Hanxing said coldly, "As a direct descendant of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion, you haven't even cultivated a trace of Martial Dao Profound Qi. No wonder you've been relegated to this remote manor!"

She released her hand and put Ning Xiaochuan back on the ground.

"What's so great about being able to cultivate? You're just a brute with a bit more strength. Especially you, a boorish woman like you—who would dare to marry you in the future?" Ning Xiaochuan said.

"Boorish! Who are you calling boorish?"

Ji Hanxing's temper had always been bad, and she was now enraged by Ning Xiaochuan. It was the first time someone had dared to say such things to her so blatantly.

The Martial Dao Profound Qi in her body flowed wildly, forming a huge vortex and releasing a bone-chilling cold.

"Whoosh—"

The ground within a radius of ten zhang was covered in a layer of ice crystals.

The saliva in Ning Xiaochuan's mouth was frozen into ice shards, protruding from his mouth, but his face still showed no fear.

"Of course I'm talking about you. Grabbing a man's chest at random—isn't that boorish? You're simply uneducated, without quality, and without manners. If I were to grab your chest, you'd probably be jumping mad right now." Ning Xiaochuan rubbed his chest, which was hurting from her grip, and his face was full of displeasure.

Boorish!

Uneducated!

No woman could stand such an evaluation.

Ji Hanxing clenched her fists tightly, gritting her snow-white teeth. The bowl-sized spear in her hand emitted a layer of blue Xuan light, scaring all the surrounding soldiers into turning pale.

"Whoosh—"

The Dragon Elephant Halberd Spear pointed directly at Ning Xiaochuan's throat, emitting a cold light, and a murderous aura surged from her body.

"What? Are you ashamed and angry? Do you want to kill someone? Come on! Kill me? Try touching me?" Ning Xiaochuan acted arrogantly, displaying the demeanor of a young master of royalty to the fullest.

He had to intimidate her and prevent her from stepping into Begonia Manor.

If he couldn't intimidate her and she found Minister Tian in Begonia Manor, then Ning Xiaochuan would not escape death today.

Ning Xiaochuan was certain that Ji Hanxing wouldn't dare to really kill him, which was why he was so bold and dared to challenge her.

Of course, Ning Xiaochuan's heart wasn't quite as wild as he let on; on the contrary, he was quite wary of Ji Hanxing. Her cultivation is simply too high. Even if I didn't hide my cultivation, I would definitely be obliterated by her in one move.

Ji Hanxing stared into Ning Xiaochuan's eyes, momentarily lost in thought. A young man with no Martial Dao Profound Qi in his body actually dared to provoke her under her powerful Martial Dao coercion, and remained so calm. This was more than just arrogance.

His mental fortitude probably surpasses that of many martial artists. If he could cultivate Martial Dao Profound Qi, he would definitely be an extraordinary talent.

Is even a young man who can't cultivate Martial Dao Profound Qi more composed than me?

Knowing that her powerful cultivation couldn't intimidate him, Ji Hanxing withdrew her Profound Qi and retrieved the Dragon Elephant Halberd Spear, gnashing her teeth in anger. "Don't think that just because you're the Sword Pavilion Marquis's direct grandson, I can't do anything to you. I'll go ask the Cloud Marquis for a command token, and this place won't be left with a single tile."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "This is the territory of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion. Don't even mention the Cloud Marquis's command token; even if the Cloud Marquis came in person, it wouldn't work."

As soon as he finished speaking, the earth shook.

"Rumble!"

A massive carriage drove from afar.

Six Dragon Elephants pulled the carriage, thick iron chains binding them straight, making a "clatter" sound. The carriage frame shook the earth, and an overwhelming aura pressed down.

Above the firmament, a cloud layer followed, pressing down.

That immense pressure made Ning Xiaochuan's face turn pale.

"Roar!"

The Dragon Elephants roared, shaking the clouds.

"Shua!"

All the soldiers knelt on the ground, chanting in unison, "Greetings, Marquis!"

"Greetings, Marquis!"

"Greetings, Marquis!"

The three thousand soldiers roared, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth.

Even the servants inside Begonia Manor knelt down in large numbers, unable to withstand the immense pressure of a Marquis.

A Marquis carried the majesty of the entire imperial court, with myriad phenomena, capable of subduing the villains and rebels of the world.

Therefore, when a Marquis arrived, the people within dozens of miles had to kneel and welcome him.

This was the power that only a Marquis possessed!

Only Ning Xiaochuan remained standing proudly before the gate of Begonia Manor, not kneeling.

The gust of wind that swept over him made his robes flutter and his slightly immature face appear even more resolute.

The Cloud Marquis had actually come in person.

Ji Hanxing, wearing blue battle armor, with a graceful figure and flowing blue hair, held a long spear and exuded a bone-chilling coldness. She saluted the massive carriage, saying, "Greetings, Marquis!"

Ji Hanxing's eyes glanced slightly at Ning Xiaochuan, wanting to see the change in his expression at this moment, but to her disappointment, Ning Xiaochuan still stood alone before the gate, not showing the slightest bit of fear because of the Cloud Marquis's arrival.

His courage is too great!

Seeing a Marquis, yet he doesn't kneel.

A Martial Dao expert following beside the Cloud Marquis's carriage, with a braided head, a face full of beard, and wearing heavy, black armor, glared at Ning Xiaochuan and rebuked in a deep voice, spitting out thunderous waves, "Impudent! Seeing the Cloud Marquis, how dare you not kneel!"

This Martial Dao expert's cultivation was unfathomable. He had fought alongside the Cloud Marquis for many years, killing thousands of enemies. He naturally carried a bloody Profound Qi and was one of the Cloud Marquis's twelve great experts.

He was known as one of the "Twelve Cloud Tiger Generals".

He let out a roar, containing boundless divine might, shaking the ground and causing sand and stones to fly.

The power of the sound waves formed a huge golden bell, blasting towards Ning Xiaochuan.

Ji Hanxing's expression changed slightly. She sprang up from the ground, her body moving as fast as a ghost. The next moment, she landed directly in front of Ning Xiaochuan, sweeping her long spear across to shatter the sound wave that had transformed into a bell.

"Boom!"

The long spear collided with the bell.

Ji Hanxing remained motionless.

The Martial Dao expert standing beside the carriage staggered back three steps. Each step left a deep footprint in the ground, cracking the earth and stones.

That Martial Dao expert roared, "Ji Hanxing, what are you doing?"

Ji Hanxing retracted her spear and said coldly, "Luo Mufeng, can't you see that he has no Martial Dao Profound Qi in his body? Your sonic attack would have been enough to kill him."

Luo Mufeng sneered, "Anyone who disrespects the Marquis deserves to die."

Ji Hanxing said, "But he is the direct grandson of the Sword Pavilion Marquis."

Luo Mufeng's expression immediately changed slightly. He stared at Ning Xiaochuan, genuinely startled. If Ji Hanxing hadn't stopped him earlier, he might have caused a disaster.

"Considering you saved my life, I won't hold your impolite behavior of grabbing my chest against you. Our grudges are settled." Ning Xiaochuan said magnanimously.

Ji Hanxing gritted her teeth in anger. He was still dwelling on the chest-grabbing incident and had even brought it up in front of so many people. She could imagine that this matter would soon spread throughout the Dragon Elephant Divine Martial Battalion, and many would laugh at her.

She regretted saving him just now. This kind of person deserved to be torn to pieces.