Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 259: You’re Not Planning to Renege on the Debt, Are You?

Chapter 259: Chapter 259: You’re Not Planning to Renege on the Debt, Are You?

"Ning Xuan, you’re trying to block our path!"

On the Heavenly Ladder, Ye Yi looked toward Ning Xuan and said through clenched teeth. He had just been injured, and not lightly. Most importantly, he realized his method no longer worked. Now, it was impossible for him to reach the top of the Heavenly Ladder and open the Heavenly Gate, even if he used his Double Pupil, unleashed his Bloodline, and played all his cards. The anger in his heart was palpable.

"What are you talking about? You blame the Heavenly Ladder for your own lack of strength? Can you still climb or not? If you can’t, then hurry up and get down!" Nanling Bully shot back, equally furious.

Unwilling to give up, Ye Yi turned to Jiang Boya. "Brother Jiang, the hopes of our entire Cloud Summit Heavenly Palace rest on your shoulders! Keep going! I’ll rest for a bit and then catch up to you!" He still refused to quit.

Jiang Boya pursed his lips. In that moment, he had the sudden impulse to beg Ning Xuan for mercy. He truly wanted to ascend to Yao Guang! However, he knew Ning Xuan would look down on him if he begged now. He had to use his strength to prove his worth!

With that, Jiang Boya pressed on.

Sixty... sixty-five... seventy!

When he reached the Seventieth Stage, he spat out a mouthful of blood and could no longer hold on. The ladder above had become an insurmountable chasm.

Below, Nanling Bully couldn’t help but sigh. With Jiang Boya’s strength, he definitely would have reached the top and opened the Heavenly Gate on the previous version of the ladder. The same was true for Ye Yi; he wasn’t bad either. He had reached the Sixtieth Stage, which would have been enough to open the Heavenly Gate before. It was just a pity they ran into Ning Xuan this time.

Seeing their final show of perseverance, Nanling Bully felt the urge to plead on their behalf, but he didn’t dare. Although he was the final arbiter, he had said it himself: the rules Ning Xuan set were the rules. You Ruo and Chu Tian also felt the impulse to speak up.

"Haha, we all failed! Are you satisfied now, Ning Xuan?! Do you think you’re so incredible?!" Jiang Boya laughed maniacally on the Heavenly Ladder. Even though he knew it was due to his own lack of strength, the inability to reach Yao Guang still caused him to break down.

Nanling Bully’s face darkened. Are you a complete idiot?! The way you’re acting, I don’t even dare to plead for you anymore! He looked at Jiang Boya, about to blast him off the ladder, but his outstretched hand froze mid-air.

His eyes widened in shock. Jiang Boya had suddenly disappeared! To be precise, he had reached the top!

And not just him—Ye Yi too! The two of them instantly appeared above the hundredth step!

"Young Master, what’s happening? Is there a problem with the Heavenly Ladder?" Nanling Bully immediately asked Ning Xuan.

The two on the hundredth step were also baffled, completely confused about the situation.

Ning Xuan remained calm. "This Heavenly Ladder doesn’t test for strength," he said. "They already proved that just now." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"You mean it tests their Mental State? Their willpower?" You Ruo asked immediately.

"Something like that. The specifics are up to the Heavenly Ladder. If it deems someone worthy, they could climb just ten steps and still be sent directly to the hundredth," Ning Xuan replied ambiguously.

Chu Tian, You Ruo, and Nanling Bully were all stunned into silence. According to Ning Xuan, the Heavenly Ladder was like a person with its own consciousness. That was just absurd. None of them believed a word he said.

The Young Master must have seen their potential and secretly changed the rules, forgiving their past transgressions! Nanling Bully thought. He then sighed in awe. What terrifying methods! I have no idea how he did it! I’m utterly convinced!

"The Heavenly Gate is open. Aren’t you going to take Chu Tian up?" Ning Xuan’s voice suddenly rang out.

"What? Oh, oh, right!" Nanling Bully snapped back to reality and, without another word, took Chu Tian with him. As he started up the Heavenly Ladder, he paused to look back at Ning Xuan and offer his thanks. He had originally wanted to invite Ning Xuan to climb with them, but then he realized how superfluous that would be. If Ning Xuan wanted to ascend the ladder, he certainly didn’t need any help. With that, he led Chu Tian up, step by step.

"Holy crap, you’ve got to be kidding me!" After the Seventieth Stage, Nanling Bully’s forehead was beaded with sweat. He was finding that even for him, climbing this Heavenly Ladder was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Young Master, can you please not let me embarrass myself?" After the Eightieth Stage, Nanling Bully finally couldn’t stop himself from sending a mental message to Ning Xuan below. He was a mighty Venerable, after all. If even he couldn’t climb the Heavenly Ladder, he would become an absolute laughingstock!

"Be yourself, and the chasm will become a path," Ning Xuan’s voice came through clearly.

Nanling Bully was startled for a moment before he understood.

Instantly, his entire aura changed. He was no longer the sycophantic Nanling Bully who stood before Ning Xuan, but the supreme Venerable from Yao Guang! The pressure on him vanished completely.

His strength, methods, and foresight are unlike anything I’ve ever seen! Even in Yao Guang, few in the younger generation can compare to him. When he arrives in Yao Guang, he’s destined to set off a storm!

The moment he led the three into the Heavenly Gate, Nanling Bully smiled and looked back. But then, he froze. He didn’t see Ning Xuan. All he saw was the Heavenly Gate closing!

"Wait, there’s still someone—"

Before he could finish, a dazzling white light enveloped the four of them.

「Cloud Summit Heavenly Palace, the rear mountain cliff.」

"Why did the Heavenly Gate disappear? You haven’t gone up yet!" You Ruo panicked when she saw the clouds disperse abruptly. The spot where the Heavenly Gate had been turned into a vast expanse of white before transforming into streams of light and vanishing.

Ning Xuan wasn’t surprised in the least and even had the presence of mind to smile. "If it’s gone, it’s gone. I wasn’t planning on going up right now anyway." With this matter settled, he needed to return to the Yuan Ling Continent. For one thing, Yun Wangshu wanted to go back. Besides, he still had some unfinished business there.

Ning Xuan’s words only made You Ruo more anxious. "You weren’t planning on going up? Do you have any idea that the Heavenly Gate only opens once every three years? If you miss this chance, you’ll have to wait another three years!

"Even if you did construct that ladder earlier, try and build it again now!

"Ning Xuan, do you think you’re so incredible? Let me tell you something: you’re only powerful because someone allows you to be powerful!" You Ruo raged, infuriated by Ning Xuan’s casual attitude.

In response, Ning Xuan just said, "Oh."

You Ruo was so angry she could grind her teeth. She wanted to tell him to get lost, but she had enough sense to hold her tongue. She knew this guy responded to persuasion, not force, and she was afraid that saying the wrong thing would earn her a beating.

"I have things to do. I’m leaving," Ning Xuan said, and after a final glance at You Ruo, he turned to walk away.

You Ruo didn’t react because she didn’t dare. That seemingly casual glance from Ning Xuan made her feel as if he had seen right through her.

Therefore, when he suddenly stopped walking, she trembled with fright. He isn’t going to hit me, is he?

However, what Ning Xuan said next was more upsetting than any beating would have been.

"Oh, right. I just remembered you still owe me a Heavenly Crystal."

You Ruo’s face instantly darkened.

Ning Xuan looked taken aback. "You’re not thinking of going back on your word, are you?" he asked, a look of excitement suddenly spreading across his face.