Nine Nether Dragon Emperor-Chapter 276: Times Have Changed, I Can’t Beat Him!

Grandson, I'm screwed! Someone can actually hear my thoughts!

The surrounding palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial experts were all stunned. What had they just heard?! A mere eunuch had dared to speak to the King like that! This was beyond reckless. This was... Never mind. They were completely at a loss for words.

He must have gotten it wrong! He must be talking about the young man sitting opposite the King! That has to be it! I heard his grandfather had long since… so he changed his appearance to hide deep within the palace!

Some self-important people shot teasing glances at the youth slouched languidly in his seat. They had long found the young man irritating and were now relishing the chance to mock him in their hearts.

The next moment, THUMP! An entire row of people dropped to their knees. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Grandson, are all young people this strong nowadays?!" the eunuch complained, walking over and shoving aside the youth opposite the King.

The kneeling crowd could only stare, their eyes as wide as saucers. The grandson he was talking to was actually the King! Holy shit! How could he dare?! This guy must have had his brains scrambled! The scene was so shocking it made them forget everything else.

Just as they recovered and were about to take action, they heard the King speak respectfully. "Ahem, sir, were you referring to him?" he asked, turning his head to the side.

The man looked, and in the next instant, with a scream of "AAAHHH!", he shot straight up into the clouds.

The onlookers' eyes widened again. Such terrifying speed! Someone with such power couldn't possibly be a fool. Realization dawned on some of them. "He's the First Human Emperor!"

The shocked cries could not be suppressed. After all, the revelation was simply too astounding.

BOOM!

A thunderous roar suddenly erupted from the High Heaven, followed immediately by a meteorite plummeting to the ground.

BANG!

It smashed squarely into the imperial garden, gouging out a massive crater. Amidst coughs, the eunuch who had just soared into the sky—no, the First Human Emperor—crawled out, covered in dust and grime.

"Ning... Ning Xuan, how could you... To think this sovereign still underestimated you!" the First Human Emperor said, his expression complex as he stared at the young man before him.

That was right. His exaggerated reaction and his immediate attempt to flee were because he had suddenly realized the youth was none other than Ning Xuan! The First Human Emperor's consciousness had possessed the eunuch's body. Aside from not having his full power, he was otherwise completely revived. With his knowledge and abilities, he understood everything in an instant without needing any explanation from Ning Xuan. The Ning Xuan in the Imperial Tomb hadn't been his true self at all, but a Dao Body! No wonder the young man could hear his thoughts! A Dao Body and a consciousness had too much in common. What truly shocked him was that he had failed to see that it was merely Ning Xuan's Dao Body. Such an ability was terrifying.

"You're not so bad yourself. You run pretty fast," Ning Xuan said with a smile.

At this, the King of Dong Cang's pupils contracted sharply. He understood now as well. The realization wounded his pride. Ning Xuan's words meant that he had been multitasking while they played their game. Even so, the King had been at an absolute disadvantage.

Damn it all! Did he have to be so humiliating?!

"I... my consciousness should not have awakened in this era. I will return to my slumber at once!" The First Human Emperor, far from responding with the expected might, simply caved.

In that instant, his magnificent image collapsed in the hearts of the crowd. He caught the gazes of the onlookers from the corner of his eye, and his heart twitched violently. It felt as if it were bleeding. The pain was immense. Centuries of accumulated prestige, all ruined in a single moment! It wasn't what he wanted, but he had no other choice.

In the Imperial Tomb, Ning Xuan's mere Dao Body had been terrifying enough. Now, facing his true form, he felt utter despair. If he didn't submit, his only path was death.

"You've already come out, why go back?" Ning Xuan asked with a smile.

To the First Human Emperor, however, his smile was that of a devil.

"I must return, I must! That is my... my home! My consciousness should never have come to this mortal world!" the First Human Emperor said, his face wreathed in smiles, his posture lower than ever before.

Behind him, the King of Dong Cang clenched his fists tightly within his voluminous Dragon Robe. What a disgrace! This was an absolute humiliation for the Royal Family! A colossal one at that! But if even the First Human Emperor had to compromise, what could he possibly do? He could only hold back his tears, endure, and pretend he saw nothing.

Back when I, your father, roamed the world, I never compromised like this, no matter how powerful the enemy! But times are different now! I am but a consciousness! I can't fight him! So be it. I'll be a coward just this once. As long as I can get back to my stone coffin, I will repay today's humiliation twofold in no time at all!

Thinking of that one item, the First Human Emperor was filled with confidence. Originally, he had planned to use it to reach a higher level and break through his shackles after reviving. But now, he couldn't care about anything else. This grudge had to be avenged!

"Wait a second," Ning Xuan said, his words startling the First Human Emperor. "Legend says the First Human Emperor was a peerless genius, unparalleled in his dominance. This doesn't seem like you. Could it be that there's something incredible in that stone coffin?"

On the surface, however, the First Human Emperor remained impassive and shook his head. "There's nothing else. My greatest pride is the Human Emperor Scripture, but you clearly don't think much of it."

"Yes, that thing is pretty worthless," Ning Xuan nodded in agreement.

The First Human Emperor's mouth twitched.

Damn it! Do you have any manners?! It was precisely because of the Human Emperor Scripture that I was able to dominate the world seven hundred years ago and achieve unification! It was also the reason my consciousness could reawaken! Yet in Ning Xuan's eyes, it's worthless. The blow was painful enough, but this guy had to go and twist the knife. If I had known, I never would have provoked this man!

Though he wanted to cry but had no tears, the First Human Emperor still had to force a smile. "You see? My most prized treasure is worthless in your eyes. How could I possibly have anything else of value?"

As he finished speaking, his fake smile turned into a genuine one. He had absolute confidence in the treasure's hiding place. Forget Ning Xuan's Dao Body; even if Ning Xuan's true self were there in person, he would never be able to find it!

What he didn't know was that at this very moment…

「Inside the Imperial Tomb.」

Ning Xuan's Dao Body stepped down from the high platform and headed straight for the coffin lid.

"There's a treasure inside?!" Yuan Yurong's beautiful eyes lit up. "Your status is too noble for you to dirty your own hands! Allow me!"

She didn't even give Ning Xuan a chance to refuse and immediately sprang into action.

Over the next few moments, she knocked all over the coffin lid and rubbed it repeatedly but found nothing. It was just a coffin lid, and it was one hundred percent solid.

"This..." Yuan Yurong was a bit embarrassed. She couldn't figure it out. He had narrowed down the target so precisely, yet she still couldn't find anything. It was utterly humiliating!

"I'll have to trouble you with this," Ning Xuan said, looking toward Si Lanyi.

Si Lanyi rolled her eyes at him. "We're family, why be so formal? What needs to be done?"