You Tong took a step forward, instantly appearing before Xin Ci.
Mobilizing all the冥元 (Ming Yuan) in his body, he concentrated it on his fists. With a punch, he unleashed an attack that seemed to carry the force of mountains and seas.
Seeing this, Xin Ci's toes touched the ground, and he leaped into the air, evading You Tong's attack and landing behind him.
When his attack missed, You Tong turned and threw another punch.
But Xin Ci dodged it every time.
The more he fought, the more annoyed he became, feeling as if Xin Ci were toying with him.
"Brother Xin Ci, why aren't you using your 冥元 (Ming Yuan)? Are you looking down on You Mou by just dodging like this?" You Tong berated.
Xin Ci looked at You Tong speechlessly.
*Do you think I don't want to? But what I cultivate isn't 冥元 (Ming Yuan), it's 真元 (Zhen Yuan).*
To avoid revealing his identity, Xin Ci had not used his 真元 (Zhen Yuan) or 真义 (Zhen Yi) at all.
Seeing that Xin Ci still refused to engage, You Tong grew even more incensed.
He channeled the 冥元 (Ming Yuan) within his body, and a ball of black flames materialized beside him, exuding a chilling aura.
"冥炎诀 (Ming Yan Jue)! You Tong has actually learned one of Purple Underworld God's ultimate techniques."
"You Tong's 冥炎诀 (Ming Yan Jue) has reached great mastery, its power is immense. Even Qing Yun wouldn't dare to directly confront his 冥炎诀 (Ming Yan Jue)."
The surrounding youths of the冥神族 (Ming Shen Clan) looked on with awe, marveling inwardly.
The black flames transformed into four walls of fire, blocking Xin Ci's path.
"Let's see how you dodge this time!"
You Tong let out a cold shout, clapping his hands together. The four walls of fire suddenly converged.
For Xin Ci, breaking through these fire walls wouldn't be difficult, but he thought, *Why not just pretend to lose?*
So, Xin Ci turned towards one of the fire walls, about to concede.
Unexpectedly, You Tong emerged from this very fire wall and punched towards Xin Ci.
Simultaneously, he laughed confidently, "Hahaha, Xin Ci, I knew you'd try to escape through this fire wall. But too bad, this fire wall was an illusion I deliberately left, meant to lure you in."
Xin Ci was utterly bewildered.
*Illusion? What illusion?*
*And I just wanted to surrender.*
However, You Tong's sudden attack startled Xin Ci, causing him to subconsciously activate his 真元 (Zhen Yuan) and kick You Tong in the chest.
*Bang!!!*
The kick landed solidly.
After being struck, You Tong was forced back several steps before stabilizing himself.
But that kick had inflicted considerable damage, evident from the blood at the corner of his mouth.
Unwilling to accept defeat, You Tong was about to counterattack when he felt a strange energy coursing through his body, entirely different from the 冥元 (Ming Yuan) he cultivated.
In an instant, it disrupted the circulation of his 冥元 (Ming Yuan).
"I forfeit. Xin Ci, you win," You Tong said, wiping the blood from his lip.
"What? You Tong actually forfeited?"
The many young disciples of the 冥神族 (Ming Shen Clan) were shocked.
You Tong's concession was something they had never expected.
It was also beyond Xin Ci's expectations.
*What the heck do you mean?*
*Why are you stealing my lines?*
*I was the one who didn't want to fight and wanted to surrender!* Xin Ci grumbled inwardly.
He truly didn't want to become the disciple of that Nine Nether Fox. How was he going to exit now?
The other 冥神族 (Ming Shen Clan) members didn't dare to challenge him. After all, even the prodigy of the Purple Underworld Clan had lost, so going up against Xin Ci would be asking for a beating.
However, You Tong suddenly stepped forward and cupped his hands at Xin Ci.
"Congratulations, you have earned the right to become Lord Nine Nether's disciple."
Hearing this, Xin Ci felt an urge to vomit blood.
*Damn it!*
*What do you mean 'congratulations on becoming Lord Nine Nether's disciple'?!*
*I absolutely do not want to be taken in by that Nine Nether Fox!*
Seeing Lord Nine Nether on the main seat give him a glance, You Xuanzi immediately said to Xin Ci, "Congratulations, young brother. Please proceed to the side hall for the disciple-induction ceremony. Lord Nine Nether has already gone there."
A disciple-induction ceremony in the side hall?
Xin Ci immediately realized something was amiss.
Mu Qingqing, in his consciousness space, also said to him, "Our identities have likely been detected by that Nine Nether Fox. The disciple-induction ceremony is a ruse; their real intention is to capture us."
"Do you want to switch personalities and escape from here?"
"Not yet. Qingqing, I suspect the Nine Nether Fox has another motive. Let's observe the situation for now."
After they reached an agreement, Mu Qingqing fell silent and remained in the consciousness space.
Xin Ci followed You Xuanzi into the side hall.
This side hall was not large, approximately two hundred square meters.
In the center of the side hall was a jade chair. The Nine Nether Fox was lounging lazily against its backrest, legs crossed, eyes closed, seemingly resting.
Seeing Xin Ci enter, the Nine Nether Fox opened its eyes.
"Speak, human. How did you enter the Nine Nether Realm?"
This Nine Nether Fox had indeed seen through his human identity.
However, to Xin Ci's surprise, the Nine Nether Fox didn't capture him immediately. Instead, it asked calmly, appearing very polite.
This left Xin Ci somewhat puzzled.
The Nine Nether Fox also perceived Xin Ci's thoughts and said, "You needn't be nervous. If I truly wanted to deal with you, do you think a mere one-star King Realm cultivator like yourself could escape from me?"
"That's not necessarily true!"
Xin Ci switched to his second personality, and Mu Qingqing took control.
The Nine Nether Fox was momentarily stunned as it witnessed the human youth's cultivation level surge from one-star King Realm to Half-step Heavenly Venerate Realm.
At the same time, it noticed Xin Ci's eyes transform into Star Wheel Pupils, shimmering with brilliant light.
"You are..."
The Nine Nether Fox sensed that the human before it seemed to have changed, but it couldn't quite grasp the situation.
*Could it be a soul possession?* The Nine Nether Fox speculated, but dared not be certain.
"Who are you? Did Xuan Qi send you into the Nine Nether Realm?" The Nine Nether Fox snorted coldly, its eyes fixed on Mu Qingqing's, as if trying to discern something through them.
"Xuan Qi? Who is that? We came to this godforsaken place through an ancient teleportation array." Mu Qingqing replied.
However, the Nine Nether Fox did not believe Mu Qingqing.
It stared at Mu Qingqing and said, "Impossible. The Nine Nether Realm was created by a peak Great Emperor-level Underworld God and is completely isolated from the outside world. No teleportation array can enter. Unless that fellow Xuan Qi has special means, no one can enter the Nine Nether Realm."
Mu Qingqing was slightly taken aback, as if she had guessed something.
*Could it be that the person who tampered with the ancient teleportation array was that person named Xuan Qi?*
*But she and Xin Ci don't know Xuan Qi. Why would he target them?*
Seeing the slight anomaly in Mu Qingqing's expression, the Nine Nether Fox asked, "Have you remembered something?"
"We indeed came here through an ancient teleportation array. I don't know the Xuan Qi you mentioned, but I do know someone called Xuan Kong..."
"Xuan Kong is Xuan Qi!" The Nine Nether Fox interrupted Mu Qingqing before she could finish, its tone laced with anger.
The Nine Nether Fox then explained, "Xuan Qi was originally a disciple of Xuan Kong Mountain. It's likely you were also used by that scoundrel."
Mu Qingqing suddenly understood. If Xuan Kong was Xuan Qi, then it was indeed possible that he was the one who tampered with the ancient teleportation array.
Back then, during the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, that guy managed to deceive everyone in Hao Xing City and enter the Star Realm.