Nine Nether Heavenly Emperor
Chapter 435 Crossing the River (Part 1)

Chapter 435: Chapter 435 Crossing the River (Part 1)

Zhao Qingyun indeed had died, his soul shattered, dead beyond any further possibility of death.

At this moment, many Martial Artists looked at Ning Cheng with no longer the contempt one might reserve for an ant, but with heaviness; this was a man who could silence a One-star Martial Venerable in his tracks.

Some Martial Artists snapped out of their daze, turning to their companions and said, "The death of that old man, could it just be a coincidence that he had no Silver Stone on him and was killed by the Mysterious Power of the Death Forbidden Land? The person who entered with us earlier, we watched him die right before our eyes, astonishingly similar in his Death Method."

After hearing this, their companion replied, "Coincidence? Can it really be that coincidental? Show me such a coincidence if you can! Regardless of whether it’s coincidental, we shouldn’t rashly provoke that man, One-star Martial Emperor Realm... which One-star Martial Emperor dares to venture into the Death Forbidden Land? His Martial Arts Cultivation has reached a level we cannot see through."

Right now, many people like this individual believed that Ning Cheng couldn’t possibly be of the One-star Martial Emperor Realm; he must undoubtedly be feigning weakness to bait the strong. And every Martial Artist who saw him as a One-star Martial Emperor came to the same conclusion: this man’s Martial Arts prowess was unfathomable, beyond their own comprehension.

And indeed, every person here saw Ning Cheng’s Martial Arts Cultivation Level to be in the One-star Martial Emperor Realm.

After Ning Cheng had finished laughing maniacally, he nonchalantly stripped off Zhao Qingyun’s storage ring, then turned around, walking with his proud head held high toward Shi Feng, bypassing other Martial Artists. They stepped aside, walking backward to keep their distance from Ning Cheng, fearing that they, too, might die soundlessly as he passed.

Even when Ning Cheng glanced at a Martial Artist, the Martial Artist didn’t dare meet his gaze. In time, the abnormal Ning Cheng had become, in the eyes of the others, a supreme powerful being who loved to play weak.

"Little junior brother, and you, old man who won’t live past two Chapters, you really let me down!" Back on Shi Feng and Kirin King’s side, Ning Cheng complained. Just now, the Kirin King had denied knowing him, and Shi Feng had simply turned his head away.

Old man who won’t live past two Chapters!

Hearing this nickname, the Kirin King really felt like strangling Ning Cheng.

Ning Tian, with an abnormality surpassing reason, seemed to have seen through the Kirin King’s thoughts and said, "What, do you really want to strangle me? Go on, strangle me! Didn’t you just see what happened?

I am the Heaven’s Chosen One, the receiver of Heavenly Destiny. That old man earlier wanted to crush me to death, but not only did he fail to kill me, he died first. If you really want to defy destiny, go ahead and strangle me."

With that, Ning Cheng even tilted his neck toward the Kirin King.

"Psh, lucky dead freak," the Kirin King contemptuously said to Ning Cheng.

Just then, Shi Feng left Ning Cheng and the Kirin King’s side, stepping over to the recently deceased body, looking down at it.

Seeing Shi Feng standing before the body, some of the Martial Artists didn’t understand why—until they saw Shi Feng’s right hand extend toward the corpse.

Subsequently, everyone saw five Blood Arrows shoot out from each of the corpse’s orifices, Zhao Qingyun’s aged face, spraying towards Shi Feng’s palm.

"What... what is this!" someone exclaimed upon seeing the Blood Arrows erupting from Zhao Qingyun’s face. Then, they noticed that as the Blood Arrows sprayed out and as the youth’s palm absorbed the blood, Zhao Qingyun’s body rapidly shriveled, soon turning into a mummified corpse, as if desiccated by the wind.

The sight of this body being drained of blood alarmed many, even those who were strong Martial Venerables, particularly in this ominous and terrifying Land of Death—the Death Forbidden Land.

"This body... it’s identical to the ones we saw on our way here! I thought it was the Mysterious Power of the Forbidden Land—could it be this young man’s doing?!"

"Maybe it’s this youth, or perhaps it’s the Mysterious Power of the Death Forbidden Land. Didn’t you hear? That young man earlier called this youth his junior brother! That person earlier killed the old man without form, just like the power of the Death Forbidden Land."

"Could it be that they have inherited the legacy of the Death Forbidden Land? Have they acquired its Mysterious Power?"

Some Martial Artists speculated to themselves.

After devouring the blood of Zhao Qingyun, Shi Feng paid no mind to the discussions among the Martial Artists and calmly walked back to his original position. Soon, he returned to the side of the Kirin King. Then, Shi Feng turned around again, looking towards the Black River blocking the way.

"Zhao Qingyun is dead, and I have avenged my life’s greatest hatred. I am willing to give it a try!"

At that moment, an Elder Cang voice rose from the crowd. Zhen Kang, a Nine-star Martial Sect Realm elder, knowing that he couldn’t escape the fate of being cannon fodder, immediately stood up. With an air of determination and resolve to face death, he spoke to the crowd.

It was better to go out with backbone than to be pushed out and forced to be cannon fodder. Even in death, this way, he would die with more dignity.

Then, the people saw that elder called Zhen Kang, with an air of indifference to life and death, walking towards the riverbank. Just as they had done before for Ning Cheng, they parted to make way for this elder willing to embrace death.

Afterward, the elder arrived at the bank of Black River, gazing at this pitch-black river, he let out a deep sigh: "Jiao’er, Shang’er, Qian’er, I will be coming to join you soon, wait for me."

The elder muttered under his breath, these names likely belonging to his departed loved ones. For them, he had embarked on a path of vengeance for the latter half of his life, enduring punishing Cultivation and swearing to kill Zhao Qingyun.

However, those self-proclaimed noble Martial Venerable Realm Martial Artists coldly watched, staring at the elder. They had no interest in his story or his experiences; they were only waiting to see if the elder would fly across the river and whether he would live or die.

But just as the elder prepared to set off and dash across, a sudden voice called out, "Wait!"

"Hmm?"

"Hmm?"

Instantly, gazes converged towards the source of the voice, and they saw that it was a youth—the youth who had just drained Zhao Qingyun’s blood.

"Could it be that this youth feels pity for this elder and wants to protect him?" a Martial Artist whispered.

"This youth is at the Two-star Martial Venerable Realm, and the young man beside him is even more terrifyingly powerful. If they wish to protect this elder, they indeed have the qualifications to do so. Besides, apart from this elder, there are four other Martial Sect Realm Martial Artists without any backing," another Martial Artist commented.

It was Shi Feng who stopped the elder ready to embrace death.

Immediately after, they heard Shi Feng speak again, "If that thing really falls asleep, you can cross the river later. There’s no need to rush to your death right now!"

Shi Feng was not moved by pity for the elder; instead, he felt that the creature in the river had dragged someone down not long ago, and if it was going to fall asleep, it was unlikely to happen so quickly.