The moment those words fell, the entire crowd erupted.
“Has that brat gone insane?”
“Delusional! Utterly delusional! A mere 1st stage Body Tempering Realm dares to challenge the so-called True Dragon of the Xiao Clan?”
“Exactly! Even if the First Prince suppresses his cultivation, he’s still not someone the Ninth Prince can touch!”
“Seems like the Ninth Prince is not just weak in strength, but also lacking in brains… Hahaha!”
After the initial shock, everyone burst into laughter, looking at Xiao Yang like he was a joke.
If there was even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of him winning before, now there was none. He was walking straight into death.
Everyone was waiting to watch him fail spectacularly.
“This guy… really knows how to stir things up! Is General Ning really going to marry someone like that?”
In the crowd, Qingluan frowned, her impression of Xiao Yang worsening.
But he was, after all, Ning Hongye’s fiancé. He had even donated the Spiritual Eye and gifted her the Kirin Golden Armor…
She made up her mind. If Xiao Yang really ended up in danger, she’d step in to save him.
The Vermilion Bird Army was not a group that forgot gratitude.
…
“Ninth Brother, since you’re so confident, I’ll accept your proposal. Don’t worry, I’ll hold back. I’ll just make sure you lie in bed for two or three years!”
Xiao Junlin narrowed his eyes, a cold gleam flashing within, and raised his right arm, throwing a punch.
“Tiger Roar Fist!”
At that moment, a whistling fist wind erupted with the roar of a savage tiger.
Though Xiao Junlin suppressed his cultivation to the 1st stage Body Tempering Realm, he was sinister—he secretly channeled the power of his Supreme Bone.
This strike—strong enough to overpower even a 3rd stage cultivator—was aimed straight at Xiao Yang!
But he didn’t care. After all, he was the so-called True Dragon of the Xiao Clan, the future of the family.
Even if he crippled Xiao Yang, so what? Their father wouldn’t blame him!
“Not good! Ninth Prince, dodge!”
From afar, Qingluan’s expression changed drastically. She hadn’t expected Xiao Junlin to fight so viciously!
And from this distance, she wouldn’t make it in time even if she intervened!
But under everyone’s gaze, Xiao Yang didn’t move. Instead, he lifted his chest and stepped forward to meet the strike.
In truth, Xiao Yang had been wondering where to test the power of the Blackscale Myriad Dragon Armor.
Now that Xiao Junlin had stepped up as his guinea pig, why not?
Boom!!!
That fierce punch landed squarely on Xiao Yang’s chest.
“Dragon’s Wrath Resonance!”
Xiao Yang activated the armor’s divine ability. It absorbed the force of the blow and transformed it into a phantom True Dragon to retaliate.
Boom! New chapters come out on g.com first.
In that instant, golden light exploded in all directions—blinding and radiant.
From within the armor, a dragon-shaped shadow shot forth, brimming with unstoppable force, and crashed directly into Xiao Junlin’s body.
“Ahhhh!”
A shrill scream echoed through the air. In everyone’s view, a figure was flung backward like a broken kite.
“Hahaha!”
“Xiao Yang was asking for it. Got blown away in one hit!”
“Wait… isn’t that the First Prince flying through the air?!”
Halfway through their jeering, the crowd realized something was off.
What the hell?
Was that an illusion?
Thud!
The next moment, Xiao Junlin crashed to the ground with a loud smack, his face swollen and bruised.
Coincidentally, he landed exactly where he’d spat earlier—his own face now wiping it clean.
Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He was clearly seriously injured.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yang stood with hands behind his back, unmoved as if the blow was just a light tickle.
“Xiao Clan’s True Dragon… this is it?” Xiao Yang said coolly.
Though his voice wasn’t loud, it was dripping with mockery.
Like an invisible slap across Xiao Junlin’s face—brutal and humiliating.
“You… What did you do? How dare you ambush me?!”
Xiao Junlin couldn’t understand it at all.
Even if Xiao Yang was wearing the Kirin Golden Armor their father gave him, it shouldn’t have had this kind of power!
Xiao Yang, looking innocent, smiled and said, “Eldest Brother, are you alright? I didn’t mean to. I just didn’t expect that the so-called True Dragon of the Xiao Clan would be so easily defeated.”
“Despicable brat! You dare insult me… you’re courting death!!!”
Humiliated in front of everyone, Xiao Junlin’s pride was completely crushed. His rage surged beyond control.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, his aura skyrocketed as he forcefully unleashed his cultivation, returning to his true 5th stage Vajra Realm. He was about to strike for real.
“Heh…”
Xiao Yang remained calm, a smile on his face, entirely unfazed.
First, he was wearing the Blackscale Myriad Dragon Armor. Even if Xiao Junlin went all out, he might not be able to break through its defense.
Second, Xiao Yang was fully justified. He had every reason to stand his ground.
“Moreover, that Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill is my betrothal gift to Miss Ning. It was promised in front of Father.”
“If you go back on your word, you’ll ruin your own reputation. Not only will Father not spare you, but neither will Miss Ning or the Vermilion Bird Army.”
Xiao Yang’s voice rang out boldly, echoing across the courtyard.
“You little bastard! Don’t try to use that female war demon to threaten me!”
Xiao Junlin, blinded by fury, growled through clenched teeth, “This is the Northern Suppression King’s Residence. In front of me, that woman is nothing!”
“Insolent!!!”
Suddenly, Qingluan stepped out from the crowd, eyes blazing with fury as she scolded, “My General Ning fights for the empire, bleeds on the battlefield—she is not someone you’re allowed to slander! If you persist, I’ll go report this to her personally!”
Hearing that, Xiao Junlin’s face turned ashen. After a long moment of hesitation, he finally withdrew his aura.
At least for now, he didn’t dare break ties with Ning Hongye.
“Ninth Brother, I didn’t expect you to latch onto that female war demon so quickly. You must’ve served her well last night, huh? Fine, take the Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill.”
With a wave of his sleeve, a radiant spirit pill flew out and landed in Xiao Yang’s hand.
“Got it!”
Xiao Yang had achieved his goal.
Without another word, he turned and left.
…
At a separate courtyard in the residence.
Qingluan rushed back and reported everything to Ning Hongye.
“General, how did Xiao Yang defeat the First Prince?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“There are two possibilities,” Ning Hongye said. “First, the First Prince was acting and intentionally lost. Second, Xiao Yang has some hidden treasure—or is concealing his true cultivation.”
Qingluan added, “Regardless, that guy definitely isn’t a good person! He talks a good game, saying he wanted the spirit pill as your betrothal gift, but maybe he just wants to use your name to scam treasures from others!”
Ning Hongye fell silent for a few seconds, not replying.
Knock knock knock!
Suddenly, a knock came at the door.
“Who is it?”
Qingluan immediately got up and opened the door. The moment she saw who it was, she froze.
“Xiao Yang? Why are you here?”
“Of course, to deliver a gift.”
Xiao Yang smiled, opened his palm, and revealed the Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill.
“Miss Ning, this pill is for you—as your betrothal gift.”