Xiao Ni Sets a Trap

"You... you really cultivated an evil art?" Xiao Ning stared at Xiao Ni in disbelief, a faint trace of apprehension rising in his heart.

Although he had already broken through to the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Ni had also remained at the Seventh Duan of Dou Qi for three years. If Xiao Ni had truly cultivated an evil art, he might not necessarily be able to defeat him.

"Didn't you see it just now?" Xiao Ni asked with a half-smile, then slowly raised his palm.

"You... what are you trying to do?" Xiao Ning unconsciously took two steps back, his nerves instantly tightening.

Xiao Ni's palm was aimed at him. If Xiao Ni used that Blood-Sucking Palm on him again, even at the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi, he would probably suffer badly.

"Whoosh—"

Xiao Ni did not waste any more words. The Dou Qi within his body circulated once along the pathways of the Fire-Blowing Palm, and then he struck out. A gale, blowing in the opposite direction from before but seemingly several times more violent, slammed into Xiao Ning and the other two. In an instant, it sent them flying, leaving them sprawled about in complete disarray.

In truth, on the way back from the Mittel Auction House, Xiao Ni had spent a quarter of an hour studying the Fire-Blowing Palm. Though he had only barely grasped the basics, it was enough to deal with anyone below a Three-Star Dou Practitioner. If he combined the Fire-Blowing Palm with the Siphon Palm, even the slightest mistake in controlling the force could cost Xiao Ning and the others their lives.

"Thud."

After knocking down Xiao Ning and the other two, Xiao Ni picked up the unconscious Third Youth and tossed him away as well.

"Xiao Ning, not only did you break my door, you also discovered my secret. How do you think this should be settled?" Xiao Ni walked toward Xiao Ning step by step. The smile on his face seemed quite gentle, but Xiao Ning could not help shuddering.

"You... how do you want to settle it?" Cold sweat unconsciously seeped down Xiao Ning's back, and even his words began to stammer.

He felt that Xiao Ni seemed to have grown stronger again. Xiao Ni might now be at the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi like him, or perhaps even higher.

"Go report me to the three elders. Tell them I cultivated an evil art." Xiao Ni stood with his hands behind his back, speaking as lightly as though it were nothing. Xiao Ning and the other two were instantly dumbfounded.

"You... you want me to report you?" Xiao Ning looked at Xiao Ni in astonishment, feeling as though either his ears had gone bad or Xiao Ni's brain had.

The three great elders had never thought highly of Xiao Ni. If he really reported Xiao Ni, then regardless of whether Xiao Ni had cultivated an evil art, he would likely be punished. Of course, that would be another matter if this fellow was now a Dou Zhe.

But was that even possible? This guy had barely cultivated since childhood. Every day, he only knew how to engineer chance encounters with Xiao Yan. Anyone unaware of the truth might think he had some peculiar hobby.

"I'm giving you two choices. Either go report me right now, or—I'll beat you up every time I see you." A wicked smile flickered across Xiao Ni's lips, making Xiao Ning shudder again.

In Wutan City, Xiao Ning could indeed be considered somewhat talented. However, he probably did not have much more money than Xiao Yan, so if Xiao Ni wanted to fleece him, he would have to plan carefully.

"Fine, fine, I'll report you right away." Xiao Ning did not dare confront Xiao Ni head-on and hurriedly staggered away.

The remaining two also did not dare linger. They quickly carried off the unconscious Third Youth and left.

Xiao Ni's earlier palm strike had left their blood and qi churning. They had to return quickly to recuperate, then face tomorrow's clan test in their best condition.

"The clan test is tomorrow, and Nalan Yanran will come to break off the engagement the day after. Xiao Yan's path of growth is about to truly begin." Xiao Ni stretched his sides a few times, then returned to his room and waited for the summons from the three elders.

Half an hour later, an old man in black robes arrived outside Xiao Ni's door with a gloomy expression and called out, "Xiao Ni, the clan leader and the three elders are waiting for you in the council hall. Come with me!"

He was an Eight-Star Dou Zhe. Although his rank was slightly higher than Xiao Ni's, Xiao Ni was confident that if he truly fought this old man, winning would not be difficult.

"Alright." Xiao Ni nodded slightly and strolled out of his room. Then his pace suddenly quickened, leaving the old man in black rather baffled.

What was this brat up to? Was he trying to run away, or was he in a hurry to accept the interrogation of the three elders?

"I heard you cultivated an evil art. Is that true?" The old man in black caught up to Xiao Ni and asked coldly.

"Want to learn it? I can teach you." Xiao Ni grinned. The old man in black felt a pain in his chest and nearly spat out blood.

Forget it. This brat had always been infuriating when he spoke. To avoid being angered half to death, he should speak less and do more, then toss this hot potato to the three elders.

"Uncle Xiao, what did you summon me for?" Upon entering the council hall, Xiao Ni's gaze fell directly upon Xiao Zhan in the central seat, and he asked with a smile.

At that moment, aside from Xiao Zhan and the three elders, Xiao Ning and the other two stood respectfully to one side, mockery gleaming in their eyes as they clearly waited to watch a good show. Beside them, the Third Youth lay on the floor, still unconscious.

Xiao Zhan wore luxurious gray robes. His brows had originally carried a trace of boldness and authority, but when he saw Xiao Ni, he immediately revealed a gentle smile. "Xiao Ni, you're here. Find somewhere to sit."

At Xiao Zhan's words, Xiao Ning and the others immediately darkened.

What did the clan leader mean by this? They had come to expose Xiao Ni, yet he had not allowed them to sit. Now Xiao Ni had come to be interrogated, but he was being told to sit down. Was that reasonable?

"Alright." Xiao Ni nodded with a smile and sat directly on the floor.

"Xiao Ni, Xiao Ning and the others say you cultivated an evil art. Do you admit your guilt?" The Second Elder glared at Xiao Ni, wishing he could immediately step forward and haul him up.

"Xiao Ni, you'd better tell the truth!" The First Elder also barked coldly.

"An evil art? Do you mean this?"

"Crack!"

As Xiao Ni finished speaking, a teacup was abruptly pulled toward him and crushed to pieces in his hand.

"Xiao Ni, you're being far too presumptuous!" The Second Elder's eyes widened in fury. The teacup Xiao Ni had just crushed had been his.

"Xiao Ning, is this the evil art you claim Xiao Ni cultivated?" the Third Elder asked calmly.

"That's right. This evil art of his is called the Blood-Sucking Palm. It can suck people's blood. This is his handiwork!" Xiao Ning pointed at the Third Youth lying on the floor and answered in a grave voice.

"Xiao Ning, my move is clearly called the Siphon Palm. Why did you randomly add another word to it?" Xiao Ni asked, pretending to be innocent.

"You... you dare say this wasn't your handiwork?" Xiao Ning gritted his teeth in fury and pointed at the Third Youth again.

"It was clearly you people who broke into my room and rashly drank my Foundation Elixir, which is why he ended up like this. I haven't even reported you yet, and you're turning around to report me?" Xiao Ni continued pretending to be innocent as he spoke, taking out a jade bottle.

He had long since figured out how to turn the tables on Xiao Ning. Xiao Ning and the others could just wait to compensate him properly.

"What elixir? Don't you dare slander us!" Xiao Ning clenched his fists. He had originally thought Xiao Ni was acting so arrogantly only because the clan leader always favored him, but he had not expected Xiao Ni to be waiting for him here.

Xiao Ni was digging a trap for him.