"Oh? I understand, you may leave."
However, no matter how the Ning Old Grand Dowager tried, Ji Tingyue seemed utterly disinterested. She waved her hand, signaling for the Ning Family members to depart, and at the same time, turned to Peng Lingcheng, speaking coldly, "If more wish to come and watch, let them, but do not bother me."
At these words, Peng Lingcheng’s face paled slightly, and he quickly nodded in agreement.
The face of the Ning Old Grand Dowager also turned rather unsightly, but she quickly masked it with a smile and hastily excused herself.
Fortunately, the Peng Family had still arranged a decent seating area for them, preserving their dignity.
Once seated, Ning Shouzhi said, "Mother, it’s clear that the Xingluo General Academy looks down on us Ning Family. Perhaps we should keep a lower profile."
"Shut your mouth. If it weren’t for you having a good daughter, would I need to stoop to this?"
The Ning Old Grand Dowager snapped commandingly, "Now, the entire Long Night Imperial City is buzzing with rumors about Sikong Jing and our Ning Jingjing being involved. If Sikong Jing ends up dead, it will all be forgotten, but the Xingluo General Academy may very well vent its anger on the Ning Family!"
Having said this, the eyes of the Ning Old Grand Dowager were filled with intense ferocity.
The relationship between Ning Jingjing and Sikong Jing was too good; their relation, combined with Sikong Jing’s previous attitude towards the Ning Family, filled the Ning Old Grand Dowager with seething hatred. The most crucial point was her fear for the Ning Family getting implicated.
Ning Shouzhi opened his mouth, then said weakly, "Mother, the Long Night Star Palace is also out to kill Sikong Jing. You’ve seen their outcome. Maybe we..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the Ning Old Grand Dowager struck Ning Shouzhi across the face and twistedly said, "Shut your mouth! Can the Long Night Star Palace be compared to the Xingluo General Academy?"
Ning Shouye, the eldest uncle, took over and said, "Third brother, don’t ever mention such things again, or believe me, I will have you killed."
"Third brother, if the Xingluo General Academy heard such talk, our Ning Family would be finished..."
Ning Shouwang, the second uncle, also spoke up coldly, his gaze sternly pointing at Ji Tingyue above, "Peng Peng’s senior sister is a terrifying genius ranked 311th on the East Plain Thousand Tyrant List. Do you think she could possibly lose?"
The members of the Ning Family nodded vigorously, looking enviously at Peng Lingcheng.
The Ning Old Grand Dowager exclaimed, "I truly envy the Peng Family. Even if Peng Peng is killed, the Heavenly Pride Girl of the Xingluo General Academy remains devoted to him. The Peng Family stands invincible in Long Night Imperial City."
It was precisely because of this relationship that the Peng Family had managed to remain largely unscathed despite the incident of the Seventh Prince Ji Ming’s execution.
This was indeed standing on invincible ground.
Upon hearing this, Ning Shouzhi’s pale face twitched, and he still said, "Mother, what is there to envy? Our Ning Family also has someone ranked 420th on the East Plain Thousand Tyrant List. It is only that you’re not pleased with them."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Listening to this, the Ning Old Grand Dowager couldn’t help but look furiously at Ning Shouzhi. Of course, she knew this was referring to Sikong Jing.
Ning Shouzhi actually suggested that the Ning Family should cozy up to Sikong Jing. What a joke!
At this moment, Ning Shouye snorted coldly, "What does being ranked 420th matter?"
"The dead are immediately removed from the list. Sikong Jing is as good as dead today, and the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace will also suffer a heavy blow."
"Do you see? There are several powerful experts from the Xingluo General Academy around Ji Tingyue, and there are also two terrifying elders who, according to Peng Lingcheng, will attack the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace as soon as Sikong Jing arrives."
"Don’t look at how proud Sikong Jing is now; very soon, it will be his time to weep."
As he said this, Ning Shouye stared ominously at Ning Shouzhi and sneered again, "Third brother, don’t think that just because your daughter has clung to a strong leg, you can boss me around. That leg is about to break."
He thought his third brother, Ning Shouzhi, was flexing his muscles because of Sikong Jing’s status.
Ning Shouzhi’s face changed drastically and he said, "I didn’t—I only meant for the sake of the Ning Family’s..."
But before he could finish, the Ning Old Grand Dowager interrupted him again with a chilling tone, "Do not speak any further. Today, Sikong Jing is bound to die; let us just watch the drama unfold."
In the end, Ning Shouzhi could only lower his head and dared not say another word.
Just at this moment, the Peng Family’s servant called out again, "The Emperor has arrived."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone at the scene was stunned, then they all stood up, one by one looking towards the Peng Family’s gate. They saw Ji Shengmang arriving in full dragon robe, accompanied by Eunuch Zou, Eldest Prince Ji Tan, and Imperial Guard Commander Huang Yu...
Peng Lingcheng quickly went out to greet them, bowing with a surprised expression and said, "The Emperor’s arrival has honored our humble home..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ji Shengmang interrupted, "No need for formalities, and don’t worry about anything. I am not here to help anyone today, just to watch the show... At the same time, I suspect that Beigong Old Commander’s death may be related to Sikong Jing."
"If Sikong Jing is dead, I would like to ask the Xingluo General Academy for his body," he added.
Having said this, Ji Shengmang looked towards the members of the Xingluo General Academy who remained seated and motionless.
The two individuals who looked like elders revealed a slight sneer, then paid him no attention.
However, Ji Tingyue said indifferently, "The Emperor of the Long Night Empire, is it? You’d better not interfere, or don’t blame me for being impolite."
Even facing the Long Night Emperor, Ji Tingyue’s attitude was insolent and rude.
Yet Ji Shengmang did not get angry, instead clarifying, "I already said I wouldn’t interfere... All I want is Sikong Jing’s body, or his person."
Ji Tingyue shrugged her shoulders and replied, "When the time comes, I’ll give you one of his arms."
After speaking, she no longer paid attention to Ji Shengmang. In the eyes of the Xingluo General Academy, the Long Night Emperor was merely a landlord.
Peng Lingcheng also let out a quiet sigh of relief, as he had been worried that Ji Shengmang would intervene.
Now without further comment, he simply arranged seats for Ji Shengmang and his party, naturally giving them a position closer to the front than the Ning Family.
After taking their seats, Ji Tan said, "Father, about Sikong Jing..."
"No pleading, didn’t you hear the rumors outside?"
Ji Shengmang glared at him and sternly interrupted, "Mo Ci killed Beigong Old Commander mistaking him for helping the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace, or perhaps because he was looking for Sikong Jing... In any case, no matter the reason, it’s Sikong Jing who caused Beigong Old Commander’s death."
Hearing this, Ji Tan immediately feigned a sigh, but his heart was brimming with triumph.
In fact, all these rumors were spread by him, and it was also he who killed the Beigong Vanguard.
But the father doesn’t know!
After hearing Eunuch Zou’s report, Ji Tan decided to join his father Ji Shengmang in watching the spectacle, and also to probe for clues about where the Dark Wings might be and what background they might have.
"Overlord Commerce, Hua Lidian arrives." Suddenly, another report sounded.
This time, unlike with Ji Shengmang’s arrival, the members of the Xingluo General Academy finally stood up and personally went out to greet the newcomer.
Hua Lidian was as refined as always, walking in with a smile and saying, "No need to fuss over me, I’ll just take any seat."
After sitting down, Hua Lidian observed the members of Xingluo Palace.
Besides the two elders at the Reverse Soul Realm, there were three tutors at the Extraordinary Realm, one strengthener at the Early Stage of Dao Inquiry Realm, and more than a dozen students from the Xingluo General Academy, plus the Peng Family’s people.
How was Sikong Jing going to fight? And how was the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace planning to fight?
The next instant another extended call came forth as a Peng Family guard rushed in and said, "Family Head, Lady Ji, Sikong Jing has arrived."
All the people present were greatly shaken!
Ji Tingyue asked with a malicious smile, "Is he alone, or did the Long Night Saint Dragon Palace come with him?"
The guard replied, "He’s alone, but he’s riding a terrifying Demon Wolf."