Chapter 446: First Clash
Mo Changsheng watched the combat footage streaming before him, his knuckles white. The cold metal armrest beneath his hand warped slightly, reflecting the tempest raging in his eyes.
The footage continued to play. It couldn’t be called a battle; it was more like a one-sided slaughter.
Qinghe’s transformed, black, draconic Exotic Beast was dozens of meters long. Its body coiled and writhed, each twist accompanied by the sickening CRUNCH of shattering bone. The long, elegant form carved arcs of death. Like a black bolt of lightning, its tail suddenly lashed out, dispersing a Spiritual Energy blast aimed at its back. The aftershock instantly vaporized the attacker into a cloud of blood mist.
The massive dragon head turned. Its amber, slitted pupils swept coldly over the camera, seeming to pierce through space and time to meet Mo Changsheng’s gaze. In that look, there was no anger, no cruelty—only a calm indifference.
On the other side was the Fire Phoenix, the transformed state of the Di Family’s youngest son, Di Youlin. The Fire Phoenix was wreathed in scorching flames, and every flap of its wings rained down a torrent of fire.
The flames were a magnificent golden-red. When they landed on the ground, rocks instantly melted into crimson magma that bubbled and hissed. If a drop touched a person, it clung to them like searing grease, impossible to extinguish, burning them until they were nothing but charred husks.
The burning flames created shimmering heatwaves, distorting the view and making the Fire Phoenix’s form flicker in and out of sight, adding to its mystique and terror.
Mo Changsheng’s breath caught in his throat. The men writhing in the flames were not mere grunts; they were elite operatives meticulously cultivated by the Mo Family, every one of them possessing SS-level combat power. Yet before Qinghe and Di Youlin, they were completely helpless.
Mo Changsheng leaned back slowly, his body slumping against the cold chair. He watched as the few SSS-level experts he had sent to Beichen Star hastily joined the battle, finally bringing the one-sided situation under control. However, the destructive power of the fight grew exponentially, and the signal transmitting the footage became unstable.
“Chairman Mo, why is Qinghe here? Why is he with Ning Xuan? Wasn’t he critically injured in the Realm of Chaos, with no hope of recovery?” Gu Qingkong and the others demanded.
“How should I know?” Mo Changsheng’s expression was one of annoyance. “He was indeed on the brink of death when he came out of the Realm of Chaos. His Spiritual Sea was severely contaminated, with absolutely no chance of recovery. That was the diagnosis from the Eight Military Regions Alliance Hospital, which is why the Elder Council sent him to the Controller Protection Association. Who knew he would regain his strength?”
“Didn’t you send people to Central Star to test Ning Xuan a while ago? Did you not notice Qinghe’s presence?” Mo Changsheng looked at Ren Pingsheng with suspicion.
“No,” Ren Pingsheng denied calmly.
Of course, Xie Liuyun had reported Qinghe’s situation to Ren Pingsheng. But in Ren Pingsheng’s view, there was no reason to freely share intelligence they had paid a price to obtain.
This also showed that while these factions were outwardly allied, they each had their own agenda. After all, there was only one Ning Xuan. Since they all wanted her, they were inevitably in competition with one another.
“Qinghe’s strength hasn’t diminished compared to before; in fact, it has increased. The Di Family’s youngest son is also incredibly powerful. Half-beastmen who can reach the SSS-level are few and far between, and Ning Xuan has three of them by her side. On top of that, isn’t Ning Xuan’s strength S-Class at most? How can her body withstand being in the vicinity of a battle of this caliber? How can they be so reckless?” Ji Wuque asked, bewildered.
Ren Pingsheng and the others stared at the footage, searching for any sign of Ning Xuan. ‘If only she would dare to leave the protection of those two, things would be much easier for us.’
“No need to look,” Gu Qingkong said. “According to reports from the front line, Ning Xuan is inside that Black-red Vine. We don’t know the vine’s origin, but its defense is extremely high. Her life signs are stable; she’s completely unaffected. Furthermore, the flames released by Di Youlin carry the aura of incinerating all creation—that is the Divine Breath of the Vermilion Bird. So, unless a Transcendent intervenes, we will not be able to take Ning Xuan today. Gentlemen, if you still want to try, then by all means, send in more people. I have already ordered a retreat.” Gu Qingkong waved his hand dismissively. On the screen, a few figures could be seen quietly withdrawing.
“Brother Gu, could your information be mistaken?” Ren Pingsheng said. “How could the flames released by Di Youlin possibly contain the Vermilion Bird’s Divine Breath? Even if Ning Xuan has a spiritual connection with Di Youlin, her Spiritual Power Level is far lower than his. It’s impossible for her to share a Companion Spirit’s Talent Skill with its Contractor.”
“My information is not mistaken. Instead, it’s our previous assessment of Ning Xuan’s spiritual power that is likely wrong. Gentlemen, my people need medical attention. I must take my leave.” After saying this, Gu Qingkong unilaterally cut the connection.
The people from Starry Sky Academy had withdrawn. On the battlefield, most of the others were also heavily injured. Even if they didn’t retreat, they would only be throwing their lives away. And just like that, the pincer attack, long-planned by the four major factions, came to an abrupt end.
Of course, Ning Xuan also knew that this clash was merely an initial probe. ‘The real killing blows are still to come.’
Ning Xuan sat on the vine, looking down at the ruined docks. The ground was slick with viscous blood, but the wounded and the dead had all been carried away by their comrades.
The corners of Ning Xuan’s lips curled up slightly. She asked, “How are you two feeling?”
“Master, I have no issues,” Qinghe was the first to reply.
“Master, your Vermilion Bird Fire is incredible! Don’t worry, none of those hit by my flames will survive.” After he finished speaking, Di Youlin’s eyes sparkled, filled with adoration as he gazed at Ning Xuan.
However, the moment the words left his mouth, his vision went black. A sharp pain stabbed through his Sea of Consciousness, and his body pitched forward. Ning Xuan, who had been monitoring his condition, waved a hand, and a vine shot out to pull Di Youlin toward her.
“Qinghe, let’s go!” Ning Xuan called out as she held Di Youlin and headed into the city.
Ning Xuan knew. From the moment she had stepped out of the villa on Central Star, her every move had been under the enemy’s watch. ‘This time, if I don’t establish a fearsome reputation, those who lurk in the shadows, coveting me, will never give up.’