Mighty Heavenly Dragon

Clang

Qingtian flicked a finger against a red bamboo stalk. A crisp ring echoed out, and the surrounding air rippled, condensing into a mysterious force that surged straight ahead of Xiao Ni and the others.

The void before them rippled in circles.

A spinning red vortex gate appeared over ten meters ahead.

"Black Jade Pavilion really is full of mechanisms and barriers." Xiao Ni clicked his tongue. He felt that once the Xiao Household and the Chek Lineage joined forces, these things could prove useful.

"Xun'er, are you all right? Did the Heaven-Soaring Dragon Python hurt you just now?" Chek Jing's eyes were full of concern. Though she was walking, her attention remained fixed on Xiao Xun'er beside her.

By the time she came out, the Heaven-Soaring Dragon Python had already begun taking human form, so she had no idea what had happened. She had clearly heard its roar—there was no way Xun'er could have emerged unscathed.

Even if Xiao Ni possessed a Heavenly Extreme Avatar Pill she had never heard of, given the Heaven-Soaring Dragon Python's proud and suspicious nature, it wouldn't have trusted Xiao Ni so easily. Just how had Xiao Ni managed to get away unharmed?

"Don't worry. I used Mighty Heavenly Dragon to suppress Qingtian just now. Xun'er wasn't hurt in the slightest." Before Xiao Xun'er could answer, Xiao Ni pulled her to his right side and spoke with a grin.

Why does this Chek Jing keep staring at Xun'er? Could she have some strange fetish?

"So that move was called Mighty Heavenly Dragon, big brother. It sounds incredibly domineering just from the name alone. If we were at similar levels, that move would definitely turn me into mince meat." As Qingtian led the way, the admiration in his eyes grew ever stronger.

"Uh..."

Xiao Ni shook his head speechlessly, then took Xiao Xun'er's hand and stepped into the red vortex gate.

He had just made up a name on the spot. Why did Qingtian actually believe it? How could there possibly be a Dou Technique with a name like that on the Battle Qi Continent?

What he had actually used was the Eight Desolations Dragon-Subduing Finger the system had just rewarded him with. His strength was still too weak, so for now, he could only condense a tiny illusory golden dragon.

Only after reaching the Battle Emperor level would he be able to fully unleash the Eight Desolations Dragon-Subduing Finger's true power.

As for the other Dou Technique, the Myriad Paths Return-to-Void Palm, it was even more terrifying. He would need to become a Battle Ancestor at the very least before he could fully unleash its might. It was truly terrifying beyond measure.

That didn't mean the Myriad Paths Return-to-Void Palm was stronger than the Eight Desolations Dragon-Subduing Finger. Rather, the former's consumption of Dou Qi was utterly horrifying. If one had not reached the Battle Ancestor level, their Dou Qi might be exhausted before the technique had even properly exerted its force.

Of course, that was only because his Dou Qi was far more abundant than most people's. If it were someone else, they would probably need to be at least a three-star Battle Venerable just to barely use the Myriad Paths Return-to-Void Palm.

"Since Xun'er is fine, I'll go back and continue reading." Chek Jing watched the three of them leave but did not follow them inside.

Though she wanted to look at Xiao Xun'er a little longer, Xiao Ni kept ruining the mood. Besides, like the Heaven-Soaring Dragon Python, she preferred peace and quiet, so she would not go to her grandfather's place to join the commotion.

As for Mighty Heavenly Dragon, she felt that Xiao Ni had merely been brushing her off. He had probably blurted out that name at random. Only an idiot like the Heaven-Soaring Dragon Python would believe it.

"There are finally more people around." Xiao Ni's gaze swept around continuously. He discovered that quite a few people were setting up stalls where they stood, and from a distance, the place looked like a small marketplace.

Most of them sold jewelry, ornaments, paintings, calligraphy, ink, and the like. A small number sold low-grade medicinal herbs and pills, while only a handful sold magic cores, Dou Techniques, cultivation methods, and such—though those were all low-grade as well.

Most of these stall owners were around forty years old, and there were very few women among them. Still, they all knew how to do business. When Xiao Ni, Xiao Xun'er, and Qingtian arrived, they warmly called out to them, hoping the three would take a look at their goods.

Faced with their enthusiasm, Xiao Ni merely smiled politely and did not approach any stall. He had come to find Chekenao today; he had no time to inspect such low-grade goods.

As for Xiao Xun'er, she kept her gaze forward, maintaining an indifferent expression and elegant pace. She had come with Xiao Ni to meet someone. Other than Xiao Ni's safety and mood, nothing else concerned her.

"Too noisy! Shut up, all of you!" Qingtian finally could not endure it any longer. After his furious roar, the entire place instantly fell silent. Whether stall owners or customers, all of them were startled by Qingtian's imposing aura.

Of course, that silence lasted for less than half a breath before the noisy atmosphere returned. Qingtian was infuriated by their behavior. Just as he was about to cover his ears with his hands, Xiao Ni spoke.

"Are these all members of the Chek Lineage?" Xiao Ni turned to Qingtian and asked.

Since the Xiao Household was going to ally with the Chek Lineage, he naturally needed a rough understanding of the Chek Lineage's current strength. Though the Chek Lineage was more than capable of facing the two major families in Wutan City, the Xiao Household would not be facing merely two insignificant families in the future.

"Yes." Qingtian nodded perfunctorily.

It was not that he did not want to answer his big brother seriously. He simply could not stand such a noisy environment.

"What level are they roughly at?" Xiao Ni continued asking.

"Most are between one-star Fighters and six-star Fighters. The rest are still at the Dou Qi stage."

"Not a single Dou Master?" Xiao Ni frowned. The Chek Lineage's current strength seemed far weaker than he had imagined.

"The Chek Lineage's Dou Masters are only responsible for patrols. They don't set up stalls or sell goods." Qingtian was practically on the verge of tears.

Big brother, why do you have so many questions?

"Then how many Dou Masters and Grand Dou Practitioners does the Chek Lineage have now?" Xiao Ni seemed to have a whole book of questions in his head. He felt that he had far too much to ask Qingtian.

"Thirteen Dou Masters and five Grand Dou Practitioners." The more Qingtian spoke, the more depressed he became. This place was simply too noisy.

"What about Dou Spirits? Aside from Senior Chekenao, how many other Dou Spirits are there?"

"Big brother, spare me! Whatever you want to know, just ask that old man Chekenao directly later!" With that, Qingtian covered his ears.

Seeing Qingtian's miserable expression, Xiao Ni shook his head with a laugh. It seemed this fellow truly liked quiet. Fine, he would be considerate and let the kid have some peace for a while.

"Xun'er, is there anything you want? I can buy it for you when we head back." Xiao Ni looked at Xiao Xun'er with a smile.

"Hmm... not for now." Xiao Xun'er thought for a moment, then shook her head.

She was actually happy that Xiao Ni had such intentions, but there was truly nothing here that she wanted. There was no need to make Xiao Ni waste his money, especially when the four thousand gold coins on him had been lent by her.

"Big brother, that old man Chekenao is on the second floor of the restaurant ahead." Qingtian said this while covering his ears.

A small two-story restaurant ahead of them had just opened for business. There were not many customers, but its decor and furnishings were elegant. Xiao Ni and the others could faintly smell the fragrance of wine and meat.

"There's even a restaurant inside Black Jade Pavilion? Interesting." Xiao Ni smiled faintly. After exchanging a glance with Xiao Xun'er, he quickly walked into the restaurant.