Chapter 15: Remnants of the Qi Kingdom

After arriving in Star Continent, Ji Ning drifted down the Evil Dragon River, probing with his divine sense all the way. Nearly half a month had passed, yet he had found neither a great sinner nor a great benefactor. Today, he was idly lying on his wooden boat, playing a tune on a bamboo leaf, when who would have thought he would discover a great benefactor.

"Splash... splash..." Rowing the oars, the wooden boat drew near the shore.

Ji Ning jumped from the deck onto the bank.

The group of Qi Kingdom royalty walking in the distance saw Ji Ning's clumsy landing and became even more certain that he was a mortal. The weakest among them was a Zifu Disciple; how could they take a mortal seriously? But this mortal actually walked toward them.

"Big brother, he's coming toward us," the black-robed girl transmitted.

"A mere mortal. If this were the palace back in the day, I would have killed him for daring to offend me," the purple-robed girl said with malice in her eyes. After years of fleeing, her heart was filled with resentment and cruelty.

"Don't cause trouble."

The tall young man at the lead directly released his aura and pressure. He was the strongest in the group, having reached the level of a Wanxiang Adept.

An invisible pressure bore down.

If he were a mortal, he would tremble in terror under the pressure of a Wanxiang Adept.

"Let's go." After releasing his pressure, the prince led his two sisters and a group of servants and guards toward the Evil Dragon River. During their flight, they couldn't be bothered to deal with a mortal.

"Haha..." Suddenly laughter rang out.

The prince, the two princesses, and all their subordinates looked in astonishment. The native youth in animal skins, whom they had taken for a mortal, stood there laughing. The fleeing group of Qi Kingdom royalty immediately understood that this native youth was no mortal—a mortal would have long since collapsed to the ground trembling.

"Boom..." An invisible, powerful pressure erupted from Ji Ning, like surging waves enveloping the Qi Kingdom royalty.

Every one of the Qi Kingdom royalty changed color.

This native youth was no mortal; he was an existence far surpassing them in strength.

"I am Shi Feng, and these are my younger family members. May I ask your name, senior?" the tall young prince said respectfully. At the same time, water droplets appeared on his finger, and he pretended to wipe his eyes, actually smearing the water on them.

"Hum..."

The prince looked up and saw the fluctuations emanating from the native youth. He immediately transmitted to his two sisters, "Ruyu, Ruhui, this native youth's fluctuations suggest he is at the perfected Nascent Soul level. He seems to have no ill intent. We cannot fight him head-on. The treasures we carry are used one and lost one."

"Understood, big brother," the black-robed girl transmitted back.

"Just a Nascent Soul Daoist. If Father and the others were still here, how could we let this Nascent Soul Daoist act arrogantly before us?" The purple-robed girl relaxed inwardly, no longer afraid. After all, they were royalty. Though their kingdom had fallen, they had brought many treasures. Having been hunted for decades and still alive, they had proven their ability to escape.

Clearly, against a lone Nascent Soul Daoist, they were confident they could flee by expending some treasures.

...

"I am Beiming. Meeting is fate," Ji Ning said after releasing his pressure. "Come onto my wooden boat and have some wine."

Ji Ning could see that this group was heading toward the Evil Dragon River, clearly intending to take a boat.

But...

The Evil Dragon River was infamous. These nine people—only one was a Wanxiang Adept, the other eight were Zifu Disciples. How dared they take a boat on the Evil Dragon River? Others feared the river, but Ji Ning was a disciple of Patriarch Subhuti. From chatting with his senior brothers, he knew some secrets of the 'Slanting Moon Great World,' so he naturally had no fear.

"Since Senior Beiming invites us, we shall comply," the prince immediately replied. He had intended to take a boat anyway, and having a perfected Nascent Soul Daoist as a companion might even be helpful.

"Whoosh." Ji Ning pointed into the distance.

Instantly, the wooden boat by the riverbank expanded into a hundred-zhang-long vessel, and the group all boarded.

On the deck appeared low tables, fine wine, and spirit fruits.

"Sit." Ji Ning took the main seat.

The prince and the two princesses sat down separately, while the other subordinates stood.

"Shi Feng." Ji Ning's gaze fell on the maidservant with golden light of merit. The golden light surged like mighty waves, a full three hundred zhang. If this were on Earth, some rivers were only that wide. One could imagine how astonishing her merit was.

"Is this your maidservant?" Ji Ning pointed at the maidservant standing behind the purple-robed girl.

The prince smiled. "Yes."

"What is her name, and what is her background? Tell me," Ji Ning said directly. In his eyes, taking this maidservant from these people would not be difficult. But this was his first time taking a disciple, so he naturally had to examine the maidservant's character. The golden light of merit might be from a past life; it was hard to say what her current nature was.

If her character was poor, Ji Ning would rather seek another great benefactor.

"Her name is Qi Xiaoyu. She was originally a native," the prince said with a smile. "An elder in my family discovered her good aptitude and took her as a disciple when she was a child, teaching her cultivation methods. The elder doted on her. Though she is a maidservant, she is actually like a junior sister to me."

"Qi Xiaoyu?" Ji Ning raised an eyebrow.

Ji Ning looked at her. Qi Xiaoyu was fairly pretty, though not as beautiful as Yu Wei, she was still a little beauty. Her gaze was firm, indicating a strong Dao-heart.

"Qi Xiaoyu, come over and sit here." Ji Ning waved his hand, and another low table with wine and spirit fruits appeared beside him.

Qi Xiaoyu stood there hesitantly, looking at the prince and princesses.

The prince instructed, "Senior Beiming has asked you to come. Why haven't you gone yet?"

"Yes."

Qi Xiaoyu obediently sat before the low table but did not drink or eat.

Ji Ning looked at Qi Xiaoyu and felt an invisible attraction, making him want to get close. "Is this the effect of great merit? I feel fond of her at first sight."

"Xiaoyu," Ji Ning spoke.

"Senior Beiming," Qi Xiaoyu replied with utmost respect.

"Tell me about your past, from childhood to now," Ji Ning said.

Qi Xiaoyu looked at the prince and princesses. Ji Ning's request was somewhat excessive, but the prince and princesses did not want to offend him—such was the benefit of strength. As long as Ji Ning did not go too far, they would not mind.

The prince nodded slightly.

Qi Xiaoyu said, "Senior, I grew up in the Qingya Tribe, which had tens of thousands of people. The tribe chief was my great-grandfather. I lived a carefree and happy childhood..."

As she spoke, a look of happiness appeared on Qi Xiaoyu's face.

"But later, the tribe was attacked by a great demon, and we had to flee in defeat. My family died. In the chaos of escape, I met my master..."

Ji Ning listened silently.

At Ji Ning's level, he could clearly sense Qi Xiaoyu's soul. He could tell whether she was lying.

...

While Ji Ning revealed his strength, invited the Qi Kingdom royalty aboard, and questioned Qi Xiaoyu about her past, ten thousand li away in the void, a black ship was sailing. On the black ship stood twelve black-armored figures.

On the black ship flew a war banner with a pair of flaming wings.

Any local demon or cultivator would immediately recognize the infamous 'Firewing Guard,' feared by countless forces.

The Firewing Guard was the elite force of the 'Firewing Demon King.' Even the weakest among them was at the Wanxiang level.

"Captain, these Qi Kingdom remnants really can run. After all these years, they still haven't died out. Our Firewing Guard has been hunting them all along," a thin man with scales on his face remarked.

"They can indeed run. The Qi Kingdom conquered a million li of territory in just tens of thousands of years, even killing many Earth Immortal and Loose Immortal demons. They must have many treasures. And with the Qi Kingdom's rapid rise, rumors have long circulated that its founding emperor obtained a great treasure. Whether or not that's true, these fleeing Qi royalty certainly carry many treasures. Despite repeated pursuits, they always manage to escape," said a burly black-armored man.

A seductive woman with feathers on her head smiled coquettishly. "Captain, no matter what, our Firewing Guard has killed more and more of them in each pursuit. Last time, we killed the last Nascent Soul Daoist among them. Now only the eldest prince and the two princesses remain."

"Without a Nascent Soul Daoist, their end is near."

"If we kill the eldest prince and the two princesses, we'll have rendered great service."

Though the Qi remnants were weak,

they were still Qi royalty. Treasures and even the Qi Kingdom's vast collection of scriptures might be on the eldest prince.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, the burly black-armored man was startled. He flipped his hand, revealing a fiery red insect that was stirring.

"We are within ten thousand li of the Qi remnants!" The black-armored man showed joy.

"Haha, this time we'll definitely catch those Qi remnants."

"Great merit awaits."

"They don't even have a Nascent Soul Daoist. A Wanxiang Adept? Killing them is like cutting vegetables!"

The Firewing Guard soldiers were all excited.

Rumors had long circulated that the Qi Kingdom's rapid rise was due to a great treasure. This had made the 'Firewing Demon King' covetous, leading him to lead a demon army to destroy the entire Qi Kingdom. He seized the most important treasure, and the remaining royalty he left for his subordinates to hunt.

"If we kill those remnants, we'll offer the important treasures to the Demon King, and the rest..." The twelve Firewing Guard soldiers exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with greed and cruelty. The demon king was brutal, and his soldiers were equally savage.

...