280: Chapter 280 Ambush

"I was the one who invited you out, and you should know about the principle of equivalent exchange among wizards; giving compensation is only right."

Nie Ning didn't care at all as he stuffed the spirit bracelet into Saya's arms.

Saya remained silent for a long while before finally saying thank you with a complex expression.

"Let's go."

Seeing this, Nie Ning smiled and led Saya out of the specialty store.

Since he wouldn't be leaving the city anytime soon and was planning to make a breakthrough, Nie Ning had Saya take him to rent a small detached courtyard.

Compared to buying a spirit bracelet, the cost of renting a house was much cheaper.

A spacious, fully equipped house with a formation only cost ten mid-grade magic crystals a month.

...

By the time the two finished looking at the house, it was nearly dark, and Nie Ning suggested seeing Saya home.

Saya did not refuse.

After all, having received so much from Nie Ning, wasn't it only right to give something back?

The place where Saya lived was not in the west city, but in a residential area not far from it.

Since not everyone was as wealthy as Nie Ning, they naturally couldn't afford to squander dozens or hundreds of low-grade magic crystals on monthly rent.

The two chatted as they walked toward the residential area.

But just as they were passing through a small grove, Nie Ning suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Nie Ning's furrowed brow, Saya looked around in confusion and asked.

Nie Ning didn't answer. He turned his head toward the southeast and called out, "You must be tired after following us for so long. Come out."

He had sensed a faint trace of malice earlier.

However, given his lavish spending along the way, the appearance of malice was quite normal.

Since he couldn't lock onto a target in crowded areas, he hadn't paid much attention to it at the time.

As Nie Ning's voice fell, five figures stepped out from behind the large trees.

"Alex! It's actually you!"

Saya looked at one of the burly men and couldn't help but cry out in surprise.

She hadn't expected to encounter that scoundrel here.

"Hehe, naturally I followed your little boyfriend here. After all, he refined that transcendent artifact; he's worth a fortune."

A ferocious smile appeared on Alex's face.

Back then, he had seen Nie Ning enter the room with the Earth Vein Condensed Fire Formation and never come out.

Based on the location where the lightning tribulation fell, he deduced that it was very likely Nie Ning who had refined a transcendent artifact.

Hearing this, Saya looked up at Nie Ning beside her with a face full of disbelief.

What did Alex just say?

Was it the transcendent artifact she understood it to be?

Nie Ning spat disdainfully: "You think a few pieces of trash like you can ambush me?"

Among the group opposite him were four Rank 3s and even one Rank 2. Are people these days really this brave?

"Then what if you add me?"

Just then, a voice came from behind Alex.

Immediately following, a man wearing a cloak with a hooked nose stepped out.

"Vimos!"

Saya turned pale with fright.

That was Alex's older brother, that peak Rank 4 wizard!

"Sir, he is Alex's brother, that peak Rank 4 wizard."

After reacting, Saya, terrified, grabbed Nie Ning and tried to pull him back.

"Since they've prepared to ambush me here, they've certainly made full preparations. It's a bit late to think about leaving now."

Nie Ning shrugged and spoke with an indifferent expression.

"But..."

Saya was panicking internally.

But looking at Nie Ning's calm face, she couldn't tell for a moment whether he had a trump card hidden or if he simply didn't care about life and death.

"Kid, at least you have some self-awareness. Hand over that treasure, and if I'm in a good mood, I might consider letting you two leave."

Alex laughed loudly and shouted provocatively, as if victory was already in his grasp.

"Are all wizards as stupid as you? How could you say something so moronic?"

Nie Ning scratched his ear and mocked him.

"You!"

Alex was enraged. The fire elements around him fluctuated violently, condensing into a fire beast that lunged at Nie Ning.

Seeing this, Nie Ning smiled disdainfully.

A large number of Ice Chains appeared out of thin air, forming a woven net to block the fire beast.

Nie Ning was, after all, at the peak of the Third Ring, and he was supported by various powerful traits.

The ice net wrapped around the fire beast, and the chill it emitted extinguished the flames.

Witnessing this scene, Alex's expression changed. He hadn't expected the difference in their strength to be so large.

"As expected of someone who can refine such a treasure, your strength indeed shouldn't be underestimated. However, it's still not enough in front of me."

Vimos stepped forward and spoke with a smile.

The strength between them was separated by a major rank.

Moreover, he was at the peak of Rank 4, not far from Rank 5.

Even if the opponent used that unknown treasure, it would be impossible to overcome such a massive gap to defeat him.

"Then why don't you try and find out?"

Nie Ning smiled and shrugged noncommittally.

As the god-forbidden ring on his arm slowly rotated, he waved his hand, sending dozens of Wind-Thunder Blades toward Vimos.

The Wind-Thunder Blades were extremely fast, reaching Vimos in the blink of an eye.

But as a peak Rank 4, Vimos's strength was no joke. Terrifying fire elements formed a wave of fire, instantly swallowing the Wind-Thunder Blades.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions rang out one after another.

A blood mist rose around Nie Ning as he grabbed Saya and fled into the distance.

But before he could fly very far, he crashed into a transparent barrier.

Nie Ning understood in his heart. Just as he had thought, these people had set up a boundary nearby long ago.

"You can't escape!"

Vimos's voice came from behind Nie Ning, followed closely by several fire spears.

Nie Ning didn't stay to fight. While dodging the fire spears, he began to fly around the barrier, seemingly looking for a breakthrough point.

Seeing this, a mocking smile appeared at the corner of Vimos's mouth.

This was the Gale Spirit-Shrouding Array, a top-tier Rank 4 formation that could even temporarily trap a Rank 5 Transcendent, let alone a mere Rank 3.

However, this kid's speed was quite fast; it seemed he had put a lot of effort into escape techniques.

Unknowingly, Nie Ning returned to the original spot.

Seeing this, Vimos was no longer in the mood to play.

He had originally wanted to test the power of the treasure Nie Ning possessed, as no one knew how strong the artifact was, and he didn't want to fail unexpectedly.

But Nie Ning didn't face him head-on at all, only dodging around repeatedly.

Suddenly, Nie Ning accelerated sharply, flying forward at a speed far exceeding his previous pace.

"You guys wait here and get ready to intercept him!"

Seeing this, Vimos turned to tell Alex and the others behind him, while he himself quickly gave chase to Nie Ning.

At this moment, a smile appeared on Nie Ning's lips. This was exactly the result he wanted.

In a few moments, Nie Ning had flown in a circle around the forest and saw Alex and the others ahead.

"Hahaha, kid, let's see where you can run now!"

Seeing Nie Ning approach, Alex laughed loudly, and the group began casting spells to intercept him.

...