"This corpse dragon was living perfectly well in the lake, yet someone had to come and hunt it. An innocent man is guilty only because of his treasures. In that case, I'll take that red gemstone and save your life!"
Xiao Yu stopped beside the corpse dragon and extended his right hand, plucking the red gemstone from its forehead.
The corpse dragon, which had been entirely blood-red, rapidly transformed back to its original form.
With a wave of Xiao Yu's hand, the water dragons dissolved into nothing. The corpse dragon, finally free, shot a terrified glance at Xiao Yu. Not daring to reclaim the gemstone, it plunged into the water with a splash.
Xiao Yu soared back and landed on the shore. Turning to Ning'er, he said, "Ning'er, you've fused with the Wind Thunder Celestial Sparrow Demon Spirit. This gemstone isn't perfectly suited to your attributes, but it should still greatly benefit your cultivation. I'll give it to you!"
Hearing this,
She had a vague sense that Xiao Yu harbored feelings for her and quickly refused. She didn't want
"Since Ning'er won't accept it, how about giving it to me?" Nie Li stepped forward with a smile and took the gemstone from Xiao Yu's hand.
Xiao Yu froze for a moment. He clearly hadn't expected anyone could be this brazen—he had never said he was giving the gemstone to Nie Li!
"Fine, it's yours then." Xiao Yu shrugged. The gemstone was a rare treasure, but he clearly didn't attach much importance to it.
Nie Li pocketed it and winked at Ning'er. The gemstone would be of great benefit to Ning'er's cultivation, and if she accepted it, she'd owe Xiao Yu a favor. But if Nie Li took it instead, there were far fewer scruples—after all, what was one more debt?
"Then thanks," Nie Li said with a wave. In Nie Li's book, it was better to accept first and figure things out later, and when it came time to act, he would still act.
Seeing the look in Nie Li's eyes, Xiao Ning'er's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head and said nothing.
"Let's go," Nie Li said. He intended to search for more Spirit Origin Fruits. There was still plenty of time before the Nether Domain Master's disciple selection.
"Brother Nie Li, you came here hoping to become the Nether Domain Master's disciple? With your abilities, even without becoming his disciple, your future achievements are sure to be extraordinary," Xiao Yu said with a smile.
"I don't particularly care whether I become the Nether Domain Master's disciple or not," Nie Li replied evenly. "But I need to plan for my friends—find them a proper master. In this life, you need powerful backers. It's easier to find shade under a great tree. Countless geniuses have perished simply because they lacked protectors."
Hearing this, Xiao Yu was stunned into a laugh. So Nie Li had brought his friends to the Nether Domain Master's selection in hopes of finding a backer?
"Brother Nie Li, how about we make a deal?" Xiao Yu transmitted to Nie Li via soul voice. "Give me Ning'er, and I'll be your backer. What do you say?"
A cold light flashed through Nie Li's eyes. "Ning'er isn't some object to be traded back and forth. If Ning'er likes you, I have no right to interfere. But if she doesn't, and you keep pestering her, don't blame me for getting unpleasant."
Xiao Yu's eyebrows rose slightly, and he laughed. "I was only joking."
Nie Li studied Xiao Yu's expression, unsure whether it was truly a joke or something more. Either way, for reasons he couldn't quite articulate, Xiao Yu rubbed him the wrong way. The man's provocations had been relentless—if Nie Li weren't still too weak, he would have thrown punches long ago.
Xiao Yu flicked his wrist, and the hairpin flew back to his hand.
Just moments ago, it was this jade hairpin that had deflected
Nie Li couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "A grown man, using something like a jade hairpin as a weapon." He glanced at the fingers holding the hairpin—those slender, elegant digits, white as jade, looked like those of a young lady who had never so much as dipped her hands in spring water.
Nie Li stared at Xiao Yu for a long moment, then scoffed. Xiao Yu was so beautiful he barely looked like a man at all.
Seeming to sense Nie Li's disdain, Xiao Yu gave a light cough. "This jade hairpin was a keepsake left to me by my mother."
Nie Li shrugged. "Did you need to explain that to me? I didn't say anything."
"You—" Xiao Yu's frustration simmered, though Nie Li's expression had already said everything. But after a moment, his composure returned. Let Nie Li think what he would.
The group wandered on, Nie Li searching for Spirit Origin Fruits while also looking for others.
Meanwhile, deep within the first layer of the Nine Layers of Death,
"Finally found a Spirit Origin Fruit!" Lu Piao was covered in wounds, every one from combat. He grumbled, "Daring to steal our Spirit Origin Fruit—they're practically begging for death..."
Not far from them, dozens of people lay scattered across the ground, pretending to be dead.