《Guide of Cultivation[Female lead Xianxia]》


 *Chapter 1: Talent Level Zero - The Waste Material

    ¡°Last up, Nangong Huan.¡±


    The testing grounds were already packed with eager candidates, but in a corner, a girl in black combat attire drew everyone''s disdain like a snake.


    She was strikingly beautiful, with bright, sparkling peach blossom eyes and porcelain-like skin. However, a large black mark on her face marred her otherwise perfect features.


    As her name was called, the girl stepped forward with an indifferent expression, but a wave of laughter erupted around her.


    ¡°If that ugly freak can score above level three, I¡¯ll eat my own words!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wash my hair upside down!¡±


    ¡°Qian¡¯er just tested at level nine! If this ugly creature can even reach one-ninth of that, it would be a miracle!¡±


    ¡°She can¡¯t even condense spiritual energy. She¡¯s just a waste, not even worth comparing to Qian¡¯er¡¯s hair!¡±


    Nangong Qian¡¯er, mentioned in the jeers, pouted and said, ¡°Don¡¯t say that about Sister Huan. She¡¯s been working hard on her cultivation.¡±


    At that, the crowd quieted down, but no one noticed the smugness flickering in Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s eyes.


    Nangong Huan stood tall, her expression unchanging, treating the ridicule as if it were mere passing clouds.


    She fixed her gaze on the three-meter-high testing crystal, her eyes steady as she placed her hand upon it.


    Time passed, and still, no sign of spiritual energy appeared.


    ¡°Talent level zero, quality: none.¡± The instructor¡¯s expression was disdainful, his tone laced with contempt. ¡°You can¡¯t condense spiritual roots; you might as well become a martial artist and strengthen your body.¡±


    In the Xuanling Continent, everyone could test their talent at the age of sixteen. Only those with a quality of level three or above could condense spiritual roots and begin formal cultivation. Those with higher levels were revered as powerful beings, with the highest recorded level being ten spiritual roots.


    Nangong Huan smiled slightly. ¡°Thank you, instructor, but I have other plans.¡±


    ¡°I want to become a Spirit Conjurer.¡± Her voice was clear and melodious.


    At this declaration, the surroundings fell momentarily silent before erupting into even louder laughter.


    ¡°I¡¯m dying of laughter! I almost forgot that profession existed!¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Truly a waste without parents, and yet she claims to be a noble daughter. She¡¯s bringing shame to the Nangong family!¡±


    ¡°The odds of succeeding as a Spirit Conjurer are even lower than my chances of running naked through the city!¡±


    The instructor¡¯s expression was one of utter disdain. ¡°Are you sure? I¡¯ll have to record this.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡± Nangong Huan nodded, fully aware that in this world, being a Spirit Conjurer meant merely translating for spirit beasts.


    After the advent of beast language potions, that profession had become a dead end; no one wanted to learn it. The best one could hope for was to become a stable hand.


    Only Nangong Huan heard the angry voice of an elderly spirit echoing in her mind: ¡°A bunch of ignorant fools!¡±


    Nangong Huan chuckled inwardly. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Spirit Elder. I¡¯ve already found out where the last magical herb for building my Spirit Platform is¡ªit¡¯s in the Winter Forest. Soon, they¡¯ll see what a true Spirit Conjurer is capable of.¡±


    Once a top assassin in the twenty-second century, she had found herself transported to this mystical continent after a botched assassination three years ago.


    Upon awakening, she discovered she had been left crippled by Nangong Qian¡¯er, her dantian destroyed. It was the Spirit Elder who emerged from her ancestral ring, granting her a second chance¡ªif she would take him as her master and cultivate his legacy.


    While others condensed spiritual roots, she needed to build a Spirit Platform!


    Just one final herb stood between her and shedding her wasteful identity to embark on her cultivation journey.


    A glimmer of defiance flashed in her peach blossom eyes.


    The Spirit Elder snorted, falling silent.


    The air was still thick with ridicule, but Nangong Qian¡¯er approached her, offering comfort. ¡°Sister Huan, don¡¯t be sad. If you ever need help, just tell me. I¡¯ll always support you.¡±


    Her voice was soft and gentle, her eyes warm as spring, but Nangong Huan could clearly see the mockery hidden beneath.


    Around them, voices filled with envy and flattery rang out. ¡°As expected of the family¡¯s first beauty, Qian¡¯er is so kind and beautiful¡ªnothing like this ugly freak.¡±


    Hearing those compliments, Nangong Qian¡¯er felt pleased but pretended to scold, ¡°Don¡¯t say that about Sister Huan. She¡¯s actually very gentle.¡±


    Nangong Huan smirked inwardly, what a fine vintage of deceit.


    With a slight smile, she raised an eyebrow at Nangong Qian¡¯er. ¡°I actually need help right now. Can you assist me, Qian¡¯er?¡±


    ¡°It would be my honor to help you, Sister Huan.¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s smile grew sweeter.


    ¡°I need to use the restroom. Can you help me?¡± Nangong Huan said, her tone laced with sarcasm.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s face momentarily faltered. Was this waste of space joking with her?


    ¡°Sister, you¡¯re really funny! How could I help you with something like that?¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t help, just say so. Here I thought you were the kindest.¡± Nangong Huan feigned sadness, a glint of cunning in her eyes.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s expression darkened. This was simply unreasonable!


    ¡°Alright, I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave. Qian¡¯er, please stay.¡± With that, Nangong Huan turned and walked away, leaving Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s next words stuck in her throat.


    The Winter Forest, here I come!


    Not long after Nangong Huan set off toward the Winter Forest, an unusual phenomenon appeared in the sky!


    Brilliant, colorful clouds spread across the horizon, exuding an aura of auspiciousness, a majestic force sweeping across miles!


    ¡°It¡¯s the Winter Forest! A spirit beast cub is about to be born inside!¡± a disciple shouted excitedly.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er gazed at the colorful light of the spirit beast, her expression turning ecstatic as she clenched her fists, revealing a determined look!


    Only by contracting a spirit beast could one truly become a Spirit Conjurer.


    The instructor hurried to her side, saying eagerly, ¡°Qian¡¯er, it¡¯s perfect that you¡¯ve chosen to study Spirit Conjuration. That spirit beast is a perfect match for you! Let¡¯s head out now!¡±

 *Chapter 2: Mysterious Teenager

    **San Dong Forest¡ª**


    Nangong Huan stood at the edge of a cliff, clutching a half-eaten candied hawthorn skewer that she had bought in town. Below her, a faint mist swirled, hiding the secrets of the forest.


    ¡°Be careful, child,¡± the Spirit Elder cautioned.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Spirit Elder. I can see the cave!¡± With a swift movement, she secured a rope to a nearby boulder and expertly descended.


    After a few agile jumps, she landed deftly at the cave''s entrance. According to her sources, the elusive Iris Lapis was hidden within this cave, held by a frozen figure surrounded by mysterious symbols that looked ominous.


    No matter how ominous it seemed, she was determined to obtain it!


    Taking out a luminous stone, she stepped into the dark, cold cave, alert and cautious. The passage wasn¡¯t deep; after walking about twenty meters, she reached a vast chamber.


    The walls were adorned with ancient golden symbols, and at the center stood a massive ice pillar. Encased within it was a young man, eyes tightly shut, seemingly at peace.


    As she approached, she was struck by his otherworldly beauty.


    His features were sharply defined, his pale face devoid of color, with a high nose and slightly smiling lips. Strands of silver-white hair, streaked with icy blue, framed his face like silk, giving him an ethereal quality, as if he were a prince from a snowy kingdom.


    Dressed in a white robe embroidered with a majestic golden qilin, he stood with his long fingers forming a seal, tightly gripping an Iris Lapis, looking more like a celestial being than a mere mortal.


    Nangong Huan couldn¡¯t help but steal a few more glances. This guy was stunningly handsome!


    ¡°To retrieve the herb, we must first break the formation,¡± the Spirit Elder¡¯s voice trembled with excitement, anticipating the moment his disciple would build her Spirit Platform.


    ¡°Nine-step Ice Formation, no problem,¡± Nangong Huan replied, blinking.


    With just a glance, she recognized the intricate ice-based array. Though she hadn¡¯t been able to cultivate spiritual energy for the past three years, she had learned a lot under the Spirit Elder¡¯s guidance.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± she murmured, placing fire-type spirit stones at several key points in the array. Moments later, the ice pillar began to melt from top to bottom, droplets of water cascading to the ground, forming a small puddle.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    As the ice melted, the young man gradually became exposed, though his posture remained rigid, only his hair gently falling.


    Once the ice had melted enough to reach the herb, Nangong Huan carefully attempted to extract it. Forcibly pulling it could damage the root, so she had to gently pry open the young man''s frozen hand.


    However, no matter how she tried, his grip was as unyielding as steel.


    ¡°Hey, can you loosen your grip? I¡¯ll trade you for this candied hawthorn!¡± Nangong Huan wiped the sweat from her forehead, feeling the chill radiating from him.


    Just as she was about to lose hope, the young man¡¯s fingers slowly relaxed, allowing her to retrieve the Iris Lapis.


    ¡°...¡±


    Nangong Huan stared at the herb in her hand for a moment, then stuffed the half-eaten candied hawthorn into his palm.


    ¡°Fine, here you go.¡±


    She tossed the herb into her space ring for the Spirit Elder to refine into a potion, then stood before the young man, observing him from different angles.


    Truly a beautiful boy; just looking at him was a delight. Unfortunately, beauty often came with danger.


    While Nangong Huan was lost in her thoughts, the Spirit Elder had already refined the potion, urging her to take it.


    As she swallowed it, her body trembled slightly, and a glowing golden platform began to form in her dantian!


    The earth¡¯s spiritual energy surged into her body, cleansing her limbs and bones!


    A shallow golden wave radiated from her, causing trees to sway and waters to ripple!


    Unlike spiritual roots, the Spirit Platform was more substantial, converting the absorbed energy into natural power distinct from ordinary spiritual energy.


    A sensation of oneness with the earth¡¯s energy washed over her, as if she had become one with it!


    It felt more comforting than soaking in a hot spring!


    ¡°This power is incredible! I feel like I can rival a two-spiritual root cultivator! Maybe even a three-spiritual root!¡± Nangong Huan marveled at her hands, her excitement evident.


    ¡°Hmph! That¡¯s only natural,¡± the Spirit Elder boasted, pride swelling in him. ¡°With each Spirit Platform you build, your strength will leap qualitatively. Those pathetic spiritual roots don¡¯t even qualify to be your opponents!¡±


    ¡°I think I can sense all high-level creatures nearby!¡± As she activated her Spirit Platform, she looked around, feeling as if she had gained x-ray vision. She could detect spirit birds hidden among the leaves and centipedes buried in the soil... every detail was crystal clear!


    More accurately, she sensed the flow of spiritual energy within them!


    The Spirit Elder grunted. ¡°According to the color spectrum¡ªred, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet¡ªpurple represents low-level beasts, while red indicates divine beasts. Humans are similar; the stronger they are, the closer they are to red.¡±


    ¡°Red divine beast!¡± Nangong Huan¡¯s gaze locked onto something, her voice rising in excitement.


    ¡°Exactly, a divine beast!¡± the Spirit Elder echoed.


    ¡°I see the divine beast!¡± Nangong Huan was sure she wasn¡¯t mistaken. Joy flooded her face as she dashed toward the towering hundred-meter Giant Spirit King tree!


    The divine beast was right beneath its roots!


    ¡°What? A divine beast!¡± The Spirit Elder¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°You¡¯re so lucky! Hurry, go after it!¡±


    Nangong Huan¡¯s figure swiftly vanished into the cave.


    Behind her, the young man, now fully unsealed, blinked his long eyelashes and slowly opened his deep blue eyes.


    Those eyes sparkled like fireflies in a tranquil forest, mysterious and dangerous, drawing one in irresistibly.


    Dong Yan stepped gracefully onto the ice, like a feather landing softly on the puddle, brushing off the droplets from his sleeve and glancing at the fleeting shadow at the cave''s entrance.


    ---

 *Chapter 3: The Descension of the Purple Star

    **In the depths of the San Dong Forest¡ª**


    Dong Yan Cuo glanced down at the candied hawthorn skewer in his hand, his clear eyes shining with a hint of innocence.


    In just a few bites, he finished the last piece, savoring the sweetness as he licked his lips. With a gentle pat on his flat stomach, he murmured, "Delicious... she must have more."


    ¡°Grrr...¡± His stomach echoed in agreement.


    He lifted his gaze, following the direction where Nangong Huan had disappeared, and quickened his pace.


    ---


    **At the far-off Extreme Night Star Observatory¡ª**


    An old, stooped man sitting cross-legged suddenly opened his eyes wide, a glimmer of excitement flashing within them.


    He stood up, trembling with anticipation, his murky old eyes fixed on the shifting stars in the sky, his expression shifting from astonishment to joy, and then to tears of overwhelming emotion.


    "The Ziwei Star has descended, only to vanish behind the Earth Spirit Star storm... I understand now. Master, rest assured, I will protect the young master and pave a smooth path!"


    Leaning on his cane, the old man hurried to the edge of the mountain, his wrinkled hand gripping a beautifully engraved bronze bell, striking it forcefully. The melodious sound echoed throughout the valley!


    Dong¡ªDong¡ªDong¡ª


    "Proclaim to the Seven Kingdoms, the Ziwei Star has descended! It rests in Feng Xuan!"


    ---


    **At the center of the San Dong Forest, beneath the towering Giant Spirit King Tree¡ª**


    Nangong Qian''er fixed her gaze on the curled-up little dragon beast before her, a greedy smile spreading across her face.


    "Nine Meng Dragon Beast, quickly submit to me! Only I am worthy to be your master!"


    The small Nine Meng Dragon resembled a weasel, its fluffy blue-purple fur and tiny wings on its back making it incredibly adorable.


    Its large, round eyes were filled with vigilance and fear.


    This woman smelled terrible! It didn¡¯t like her!


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s face loomed larger in front of the Nine Meng Dragon as she even cut her finger to attempt a blood contract!


    In the next moment, the Nine Meng Dragon nimbly dodged, refusing to submit to a human!


    The memories it inherited warned it that humans were filthy, treacherous beings!


    "Ugh..." Nangong Qian''er''s smile faltered. This stubborn creature, after all her threats and temptations, simply wouldn''t yield!Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Once she became its master, she would give it a good beating! It needed to learn who it should listen to!


    At her side, her mentor moved faster.


    "It can''t escape; it''s destined to be Miss Qian''er''s possession." The mentor swiftly grabbed the dragon beast by the scruff of its neck.


    With a smug expression, he declared, ¡°Once we contract this spirit beast, Miss Qian''er will surely become the strongest in this year''s disciple trials!¡±


    ¡°Roar! Roar!¡± The Nine Meng Dragon struggled fiercely, but its feeble spiritual energy was no match for the mentor''s two-spirit power.


    Nangong Qian''er roughly grasped its head, applying pressure that made it cry out in pain.


    ¡°Roar! Filthy human! You''re hurting me!¡± it protested, feeling desperate.


    Just as the mentor prepared to complete the contract, a sharp branch sliced through the air, striking Nangong Qian''er¡¯s hand and piercing the mentor''s wrist!


    ¡°Ah!¡± Both cried out in pain, releasing their grips. The Nine Meng Dragon seized the chance to escape!


    However, it didn¡¯t flee far, opting instead to hide in the grass, sensing a familiar and comforting aura from the branch that had just struck.


    That was a scent it liked!


    "Fancy meeting you here, sister Qian''er," Nangong Huan strolled over, casually twirling a thin branch in her hand.


    A knowing smile played on her lips, but her peach blossom eyes held a hint of coldness, and the dark spots on her face took on a more sinister quality.


    ¡°Nangong Huan?! What are you doing here?¡± Nangong Qian''er exclaimed, clutching her injured hand and frowning at her. How did this useless girl get here?


    On her way, she had dispatched people to block all her competitors, so how had this waste appeared out of nowhere?


    ¡°If you can be here, why can¡¯t I?¡± Nangong Huan replied nonchalantly, her peripheral vision catching sight of the little creature hiding in the grass.


    ¡°Tch!¡± Nangong Qian''er scoffed, unwilling to engage with this useless girl, and turned to chase after the escaping spirit beast. But just as she took a step, Nangong Huan blocked her again!


    The slender branch sliced through the air, severing a lock of her hair and embedding itself into a nearby tree, sending a gust of wind swirling!


    ¡°Nangong Huan! If you want to be a Spirit Master, go ahead! Why are you stopping me from contracting the spirit beast?¡± Nangong Qian''er glared, furious that this waste would ruin her plans.


    ¡°I want that spirit beast, you should look for another!¡± Nangong Huan flicked her wrist, her tone casual yet confident, as if contracting a spirit beast was just a game.


    This remark made Nangong Qian''er laugh derisively. ¡°Sister, are you daydreaming? You think you can contract a spirit beast? That¡¯s the funniest joke I¡¯ve ever heard! Hahaha!¡±


    ¡°Miss Qian''er, go ahead and try to contract the beast. I¡¯ll handle Miss Huan,¡± the mentor stepped forward, his tone sinister, having pulled the branch from his wrist and quickly bandaging it.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave this to you.¡± Nangong Qian''er nodded, casting a disdainful glance at Nangong Huan before sprinting after the direction the Nine Meng Dragon had fled.


    The Nine Meng Dragon, seeing the annoying woman chasing after it, took off running but didn¡¯t go far, engaging in a game of cat and mouse.


    Nangong Huan remained in a standoff with the mentor, sensing his mid-level two-spirit power.


    ¡°Miss Huan, I advise you to pretend you saw nothing and head back home to rest,¡± the mentor said, his authoritative tone imposing.


    However, Nangong Huan didn¡¯t bother to respond. She simply raised her right hand, and behind her, numerous withered branches floated into the air, their tips radiating sharpness like arrows, enough to pierce the mentor thoroughly, making him shudder!


    ¡°You have awakened your spiritual energy?¡± the mentor exclaimed in surprise. It had been less than two hours since she was assessed, how had she achieved this?


    But soon, he masked his astonishment. Everyone had spiritual energy; perhaps she just awakened later than others.


    Nangong Huan didn¡¯t answer; instead, she pressed her fingers forward, sending all the withered branches hurtling toward the mentor!


    ¡°Your technique is decent, but your power is still too weak!¡± the mentor scoffed, swinging his sword to sever the branches one by one.


    In an instant, Nangong Huan flipped her hand into a fist, and thick tree roots burst from the ground, wrapping around the mentor''s legs like vines. In just a second, they climbed up to his waist!


    ---

 *Chapter 4: Contracted Divine Beast

    The mentor''s face turned pale with shock as he hurriedly raised his sword to sever the roots, but the remaining vines still writhed around him!


    They pricked into his vital organs!


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± A wretched scream escaped the mentor¡¯s lips as he collapsed to the ground, drawing Nangong Qian''er¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Mentor!¡± Nangong Qian''er exclaimed in disbelief, her pursuit of the spirit beast forgotten as she turned to glare at Nangong Huan.


    How could this waste have possibly killed the mentor?


    ¡°Be careful... magic...¡± With his last ounce of strength, the mentor managed to squeeze out those few words before his spirit departed.


    From just Nangong Huan''s two moves, the mentor could only deduce that she had learned wood magic; otherwise, there was no way to explain her control over the trees.


    At the moment the mentor died, Nangong Huan saw a wisp of grayish-white drifting from his body. She understood that it was the mentor''s dissipating soul; Spirit Masters often could perceive things invisible to ordinary people.


    Nangong Qian''er stood frozen in shock. This waste really could cultivate? She had actually killed the mentor!


    The Nine Meng Dragon blinked its large eyes, curiously watching Nangong Huan. While it knew humans were despicable, this one didn¡¯t seem so bad! She even smelled nice!


    At that moment, the spirit elder in the space remarked, ¡°The earth spirit energy is an immense temptation for these divine beasts.¡±


    Nangong Huan¡¯s eyes brightened. Noticing the Nine Meng Dragon peeking at her, she beckoned it with her fingers, ¡°Come here, little one.¡±


    ¡°Roar, roar!¡±


    The Nine Meng Dragon¡¯s eyes lit up like bulbs!


    It dashed towards Nangong Huan, its tongue lolling out as it ran, droplets of saliva flying everywhere, using all its strength!


    In just three seconds, the Nine Meng Dragon reached Nangong Huan, leaping onto her hand and biting down on her finger!


    The contract array shone brightly!


    The Nine Meng Dragon recognized its master!


    ¡°Master!¡± The dragon¡¯s innocent voice echoed in Nangong Huan¡¯s heart, a soft sound that struck her deeply!


    It blinked its big eyes adorably, rubbing against Nangong Huan''s palm.


    ¡°So cute, I¡¯ll call you Little Nine,¡± Nangong Huan smiled warmly, stroking the fluffy creature in her hand. It felt wonderful.


    ¡°Master, you have bad bugs inside you. Little Nine will suck them out!¡± The Nine Meng Dragon extended its tongue and spat out a white bug the size of a grain of rice!The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Nangong Huan¡¯s gaze sharpened. This was the curse bug that Nangong Qian''er had placed inside her when they were children. The black spots on her face were the result of this bug.


    For three years, she had searched for a way to remove it, but to no avail. She never expected Little Nine to extract it directly!


    ¡°Well done, Little Nine.¡± Nangong Huan enveloped the bug with her spiritual energy, intending to crush it on the spot. But then, she caught a glimpse of Nangong Qian''er, and her expression darkened.


    The bug would die if it didn¡¯t find a new host within fifteen minutes of leaving its original one, but it could survive if it latched onto a new host. So...


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± At that moment, Nangong Qian''er finally snapped out of her shock, letting out a terrifying scream!


    This ugly monster not only killed the mentor but also contracted her spirit beast!


    ¡°Nangong Huan, you! You!¡± Nangong Qian''er pointed at her, so furious she couldn¡¯t even articulate her thoughts.


    But seeing the mentor¡¯s lifeless body nearby, all her anger got stuck in her throat, turning her face crimson.


    If Nangong Huan could kill the mentor, then she could certainly kill her too!


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me, hmm?¡± Nangong Huan¡¯s voice rose threateningly as she stepped closer.


    A cruel smile graced her lips, the sunlight casting shadows on her face, making her look like a wolf in sheep''s clothing.


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s heart raced, and she instinctively took two steps back, her legs trembling.


    ¡°Y-you stay away! I¡¯ve already called for Brother Yu Gong; he¡¯ll be here soon!¡± Nangong Qian''er made a last-ditch effort to resist.


    Brother Yu Gong? Nangong Huan raised an eyebrow. Oh, that must be Wei Yu Gong, the fianc¨¦ she was betrothed to as a child.


    The original host had once been fond of him, but he and Nangong Qian''er had mutual feelings.


    If Nangong Qian''er hadn¡¯t mentioned him, she would have almost forgotten he existed.


    ¡°What? You think he can save you?¡± A cruel smile curled at the corners of Nangong Huan¡¯s lips as she pressed forward, her aura overwhelming as she approached Nangong Qian''er.


    Before Nangong Qian''er could say another word, Nangong Huan seized her by the throat!


    Little Nine perched on Nangong Huan¡¯s shoulder, sticking its tongue out at Nangong Qian''er.


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s face flushed red as she struggled to breathe, her hands clawing at Nangong Huan¡¯s grip, her sharp nails digging into her arm. Yet, Nangong Huan didn¡¯t seem to feel a thing, remaining utterly still.


    In the next moment, Nangong Huan pressed Nangong Qian''er down towards the nearby lake, forcefully submerging her head!


    Simultaneously, with her other hand, she tossed the curse bug into the water, watching it slide down Nangong Qian''er¡¯s throat as she choked.


    ¡°Gurgle... Nangong Huan, cough... you won¡¯t get away with this, gurgle...¡± Death''s shadow loomed over Nangong Qian''er, but she still couldn¡¯t keep her mouth shut.


    Nangong Huan remained expressionless, keeping her head submerged until it seemed like Nangong Qian''er would suffocate before pulling her up, repeating this process over and over. Countless times, Nangong Qian''er felt as if she were seeing her ancestors.


    ¡°Don¡¯t... gurgle... help... I was wrong, gurgle...¡± Nangong Qian''er¡¯s face was indistinguishable from the lake water and her tears; she was terrified!


    The sensation of teetering on the edge of death was far worse than being killed outright!


    ¡°What? What did you say? Speak up!¡± Nangong Huan feigned mercy, lifting her head.


    Seizing the chance to breathe, Nangong Qian''er quickly softened her tone, ¡°Sister, I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have fought you over the spirit beast; it¡¯s best suited for you.¡±


    But inside, she was cursing: If I survive this, I¡¯ll make you pay, ugly monster!


    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t accept.¡± Nangong Huan scoffed, seeing through her thoughts, and pressed her head back down.


    Suddenly, a booming voice rang out!


    ¡°Nangong Huan, what are you doing?!¡±


    Nangong Huan sensed a spiritual blade flying towards her from behind and quickly dodged.


    When she steadied herself, she saw Wei Yu Gong in white robes pulling Nangong Qian''er up, cradling her in his arms and comforting her.


    Nangong Huan looked Wei Yu Gong up and down. This handsome young man was indeed her fianc¨¦, looking quite presentable.


    However, compared to the white-clad youth she had encountered earlier, he was on a completely different level.

 *Chapter 5: Pursued by a Foodie

    ¡°What''s it to you what I¡¯m doing?¡± Nangong Huan raised her chin slightly, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her hands and patting down her skirt, not even sparing Wei Yu Gong a glance.


    Little Nine, having just been born, was exhausted from the earlier chase and had retreated into the spirit beast space to sleep.


    The battle with the mentor had drained the already scarce spiritual energy within Nangong Huan, and it was not wise to linger here.


    ¡°You!¡± Wei Yu Gong frowned, seemingly taken aback. It had been three years since they last met, and this waste had changed completely, shedding her previous timid demeanor as if she were a different person.


    However, the black spots on her face had only grown larger and more unsightly, and a flicker of disdain crossed Wei Yu Gong''s eyes.


    ¡°Brother Yu Gong,¡± Nangong Qian''er cried out, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Sister Huan killed the mentor to contract the spirit beast and even tried to kill me! I¡¯ve never done anything to wrong her!¡±


    Only then did Wei Yu Gong notice the mentor, pierced by roots, lying cold and lifeless nearby. Shock flickered in his eyes. Nangong Huan had cultivated?


    ¡°You actually killed the mentor?¡± Wei Yu Gong scolded, incredulous. This was nothing short of ingratitude!


    ¡°Oh, are you going to judge me with your so-called righteousness?¡± Nangong Huan sneered, turning her back and walking away. ¡°Ha, do you really think you¡¯re a good person?¡±


    Wei Yu Gong narrowed his eyes, watching her retreating figure. ¡°Nangong Huan, you will pay for the foolish things you¡¯ve done!¡±


    Nangong Huan paused for a moment, turning her head slightly with a mocking smile. ¡°Oh? I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±


    With that, she strode away, her long hair flowing behind her, leaving only a graceful silhouette.


    ¡°Brother Yu Gong, Sister Huan has suddenly changed so much. Could it be that she¡¯s possessed by something unclean?¡± Nangong Qian''er fearfully burrowed into Wei Yu Gong¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here. Come, I¡¯ll carry you back,¡± Wei Yu Gong comforted softly, lifting Nangong Qian''er into his arms as they departed.


    ---


    The wind rustled the branches, pulling leaves down in a gentle cascade.


    Nangong Huan strolled leisurely through the forest, calm and composed. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a shadow lurking in the darkness, and she halted.


    ¡°Stop hiding, come out.¡±


    Nangong Huan stood to the side, observing as the bushes rustled before suddenly falling silent.


    After waiting for a while without any movement, she frowned and cautiously approached the bushes, intending to part the leaves for a better look. Suddenly, a stunning young man in white robes sprang out!


    His movements were swift. In the blink of an eye, he seized her wrist and pinned her to the ground, kneeling on either side of her waist.


    His icy silver hair hung down, and he looked down at her with a serious expression, as if he had something very important to discuss.


    It was the ice man from the cave!


    Nangong Huan¡¯s expression hardened. With her hands pinned down, she couldn''t move. She tried to ignore the embarrassing position she was in and attempted to kick him away, but he anticipated her move, pressing down harder!Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Thus, they found themselves in a peculiar stance, with Nangong Huan wanting to struggle but unable to exert any force.


    ¡°What are you doing? Get off me!¡± Nangong Huan scolded, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.


    Ever since she had punished Nangong Qian''er, she had sensed this person lurking in the shadows, only to discover he was a rogue!


    ¡°Do you... have food?¡± The young man, Dong Yan Cuo, glanced at the stick of a finished candied hawthorn in his hand and swallowed hard, his eyes sparkling.


    ¡°...¡± Nangong Huan fell silent for a moment, then looked up to see the candied hawthorn stick.


    ¡°Get up first, and I¡¯ll give you something to eat,¡± Nangong Huan said, her eyes shimmering as if coaxing a child.


    But Dong Yan Cuo didn¡¯t seem convinced. ¡°If you give me food, I¡¯ll get up.¡±


    The spirit elder''s voice echoed in her mind: ¡°This boy has lost a soul and likely most of his memories. However, I sense a powerful ancient force within him. Perhaps you can take him under your wing.¡±


    Lost a soul? Nangong Huan gazed into his eyes, which were pure and innocent, like a blank sheet of paper untouched by the world.


    She softened her tone. ¡°I can¡¯t move right now, so I can¡¯t get any food. If you get up, I¡¯ll be able to move.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll run away.¡± Dong Yan Cuo stared at her, still unwilling to let go.


    ¡°I won¡¯t run away, I promise. I can take you to eat lots of delicious food,¡± Nangong Huan smiled brightly.


    Dong Yan Cuo finally released her, but he didn¡¯t stand up. Instead, he remained on his knees, pressing down on her, ready to pin her again if she tried to escape.


    ¡°... Roasted chicken, I¡¯ll give you some.¡± Nangong Huan lay on the ground, holding out an oil-paper-wrapped roasted chicken. She swallowed her own saliva; this was meant for her celebration after advancing...


    Dong Yan Cuo¡¯s eyes lit up as he snatched the roasted chicken and quickly devoured it, grease glistening on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m Nangong Huan. What¡¯s your name?¡± As she got up and brushed off the dirt, she observed him closely, realizing he behaved more like a child.


    Dong Yan Cuo paused, seemingly pondering. He stared at the sky for a long time, then earnestly turned back to Nangong Huan and carefully wrote three characters in her palm: Dong Yan Cuo.


    A tingling sensation spread through her palm as she recognized the name. She saw Dong Yan Cuo close his fingers around her hand, as if he were clinging tightly to this name.


    His hand wrapped around hers, sending a slight chill through her. His touch wasn¡¯t warm, but it made Nangong Huan¡¯s heart flutter.


    ¡°Cuo Cuo, are you still hungry? I¡¯ll take you to the west side of the city for a feast,¡± Nangong Huan smiled brightly, attempting to pull her hand away. But Dong Yan Cuo held on tightly, perhaps reluctant to lose her warmth.


    He nodded vigorously, his eyes sparkling as he focused on their entwined hands, gripping even tighter.


    Reluctantly, Nangong Huan led him away, taking a stroll through the west side of the city to buy food.


    The night had fallen.


    Nangong Huan deliberately picked out a stylish shadow guard outfit for Dong Yan Cuo, complete with a hood to conceal his striking silver hair.


    Yes, this little glutton would henceforth be her companion and bodyguard. Although his combat ability was unclear, the future looked promising!


    ¡°If anyone asks who you are, how should you respond?¡± Nangong Huan''s eyes sparkled. This amnesiac glutton seemed somewhat clueless, making it the perfect opportunity for her to guide him!


    ¡°I¡¯m Huan Huan¡¯s little follower. Whoever bullies Huan Huan, I¡¯ll beat them up!¡± Dong Yan Cuo declared with determination, looking earnestly at Nangong Huan.


    His serious demeanor was unexpectedly charming... Nangong Huan¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly. She cleared her throat, nodding in satisfaction as she pulled out a candied hawthorn and handed it to him, causing his eyes to light up as he began to munch on it.


    ¡°Girl, tomorrow is your birthday,¡± the spirit elder remarked from within the ring, able to observe the night sky.


    ¡°Birthdays don¡¯t matter much to me anymore,¡± Nangong Huan replied, still studying Dong Yan Cuo, adjusting his clothing.


    He had an adorably naive way of eating, and Nangong Huan suddenly realized he was quite cute.


    ¡°Haha,¡± the spirit elder laughed heartily. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve built your spirit platform, remember that every birthday, the star tide storm of the Earth Spirit Star will surge for you!¡±


    ¡°!¡± Nangong Huan suddenly looked up, scanning the sky, and noticed a particular star beginning to shimmer.


    The ability to observe the stars was something she had learned from the spirit elder. The intricacies of star techniques were vast, and in three years, she had only scratched the surface.


    The spirit elder had once said the Earth Spirit Star was unique, and when it stirred up a star tide storm, those with a spirit platform would experience exponential growth in their cultivation speed.


    ¡°The four great families jointly guard a Spirit Gathering Treasure Pavilion, which contains several spirit veins. I¡¯ll visit this pavilion first thing tomorrow,¡± Nangong Huan declared resolutely. She could not let this golden opportunity for cultivation slip away!

 * Chapter 6: A Bold Reversal

    Dawn broke over the Nangong residence, filling the grand hall with a soft light. Seated within were several respected elders, with the old patriarch, Nangong Jieming, occupying the main seat.


    To his side sat the Second Elder, Nangong Jingtian, who was also Nangong Qian''er¡¯s grandfather. Behind him stood Nangong Qian''er, a satisfied smile gracing her lips, filled with a sense of triumph.


    ¡°Elder Brother, I know that little Huan is your granddaughter, but she cannot cultivate. Even if she contracts a spirit beast, it¡¯s useless. Why not let Qian''er have it? Only her ninth-level talent can truly harness a spirit beast!¡± Nangong Jingtian asserted, his tone aggressive.


    Nangong Qian''er puffed out her chest, having informed her grandfather about this matter the night before. She was confident that the ugly girl had no choice but to comply!


    Nangong Jieming¡¯s expression darkened, his fists clenched tightly as he coldly replied, ¡°I will not allow it!¡±


    He had only just learned of Nangong Huan¡¯s spirit beast contract. While he felt joy at the news, he was also worried that others might covet the spirit beast.


    ¡°Elder Brother, stop being so stubborn!¡± Nangong Jingtian snorted. ¡°Our Nangong family is well-established; we can provide little Huan with a life of luxury. What good is her contracting a spirit beast? Is it just to keep as a pet? Qian''er is our family¡¯s greatest talent; she is the hope of the Nangong family!¡±


    As for that waste, it was a miracle she hadn¡¯t ended up a beggar!


    ¡°We all acknowledge Qian''er¡¯s talent. Elder Brother, please agree. Let her contract the spirit beast; it¡¯s the most sensible choice.¡± The other elders chimed in, all in agreement.


    After all, the spirit beast could be given to anyone, but not to that waste, Nangong Huan!


    Nangong Qian''er secretly rejoiced, believing that with so many elders speaking for her, this matter was as good as settled!


    ¡°I will not agree!¡± Nangong Jieming said firmly, his face grim as he unleashed the pressure of his peak sixth-level spirit power, causing the elders to pale, their blood surging.


    ¡°Elder Brother!¡± Nangong Jingtian spoke again, ¡°Though you are the strongest in our family, your cultivation has stagnated for years. Others think our Nangong family is merely a facade. If you give the spirit beast to Qian''er, in a few years, she will surely bring more benefits to our family!¡±


    The words about his stagnation pierced Nangong Jieming¡¯s heart like a sharp thorn. His fists clenched tighter, trembling slightly.


    Nangong Qian''er stepped forward, her eyes slightly wet as she said, ¡°Great-Granduncle, I¡¯ve always regarded Huan as my closest relative. I just want to contract the spirit beast to better protect her.¡±


    Nangong Jingtian continued to persuade, ¡°Yes, Elder Brother, many covet the spirit beast. You are still in good health and can protect her now, but what about in the future? Little Huan cannot be sheltered under your wing forever.¡±


    The other elders echoed, ¡°Elder Brother, don¡¯t be foolish. You must know how hard it is for our family to produce such a talent.¡±


    ¡°Qian''er¡¯s future is bright. Elder Brother, don¡¯t let your momentary selfishness blind you.¡±


    ¡°There are many who covet little Huan¡¯s spirit beast. It would be better to give it to someone who can protect it.¡±


    Nangong Jieming¡¯s gaze deepened, unable to suppress his anger. Over the years, his health had deteriorated, and he feared he might leave this world at any moment.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    They were right; he could protect little Huan for now, but he couldn¡¯t do so forever.


    But at least for now¡ªhe would not allow anyone to bully her!


    ¡°I still disagree!¡± Nangong Jieming¡¯s tone was resolute. ¡°As long as little Huan is unwilling, none of you can force her!¡±


    She was his granddaughter, and he would protect her!


    Nangong Jingtian¡¯s expression turned ugly. How could Elder Brother be so obstinate? What was so good about that waste, Nangong Huan? Apart from her status as a legitimate daughter, she was worthless!


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s face also darkened, her heart unable to suppress a curse at the old man.


    Just as the awkward atmosphere spread, a commotion was heard from outside.


    Everyone turned to see Wei Yu Gong striding in confidently, flanked by a group of guards.


    ¡°What are you doing here, Wei family brat?¡± Nangong Jieming felt a warning bell ring in his mind, an ominous premonition creeping in.


    Wei Yu Gong bowed to all the elders and gave Nangong Qian''er a reassuring glance.


    ¡°Nangong family head, esteemed elders, I¡¯m here to annul the engagement,¡± he declared, his voice booming like thunder in Nangong Jieming¡¯s ears.


    At this, several elders couldn¡¯t help but show expressions of schadenfreude.


    He produced the marriage contract and ripped it into shreds, then tossed a vermilion bird jade pendant onto the table carelessly.


    ¡°The engagement is void, and I return the token of our betrothal. I hope Nangong Huan will also return her token,¡± he stated firmly, leaving no room for refusal.


    ¡°Impossible! I will not agree!¡± Nangong Jieming crossed his arms, his expression fierce.


    Their family had eight branches, and he had only one seedling left in Nangong Huan. Regardless of whether she was a waste, as her grandfather, he would protect her to the end!


    At that moment, another tall, shrewd old man entered the hall.


    ¡°Old Ming, my Gong¡¯er has tested a ninth-level spirit root, a once-in-a-century occurrence. He¡¯s about to enter the academy. And then look at your Nangong Huan¡ªher talent and appearance are nowhere near worthy of Gong¡¯er!¡± The newcomer was Wei Yu Gong¡¯s grandfather, Wei Xuefeng.


    Who in the city didn¡¯t know that Nangong Huan had been ugly since childhood, with black spots on her face that would scare even ghosts? And now she had even tested as a zero-level talent¡ªwhat a joke!


    ¡°Wei Xuefeng! Do you want to test my fists?¡± Nangong Jieming¡¯s eyes narrowed, ready to fight!


    When it came to fighting, Wei Xuefeng was somewhat intimidated. He truly couldn¡¯t match Nangong Jieming, who was at the peak of the sixth level and one of the strongest in the city.


    Wei Yu Gong, however, was fearless and clasped his fists. ¡°Elder Nangong, Qian''er and I are truly in love. I hope you can bless us!¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to be held back by a waste. He glanced at Nangong Qian''er, and his eyes softened.


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s face flushed, and she shyly lowered her head.


    Nangong Jieming inhaled sharply, nearly fainting from anger as he watched the two gazing into each other¡¯s eyes!


    He brandished a red tassel spear, slamming it onto the ground, exuding a fierce aura. ¡°Anyone who dares to speak another word today will face my spear!¡±


    Little Huan had always liked Wei Yu Gong and had said she wanted to marry him when she grew up. As her grandfather, he had to fulfill his precious granddaughter¡¯s wish!


    ¡°You, you, you! You¡¯re unreasonable!¡± Wei Xuefeng was nearly driven mad.


    Just then, a delicate laugh echoed from outside, ¡°Grandfather, what¡¯s got you so angry?¡±


    Everyone turned to see Nangong Huan entering gracefully, followed by a mysterious guard wearing a hood.


    The ¡°guard¡± was munching on something.


    ¡°Huan''er, why didn¡¯t you sleep a little longer?¡± Hearing her voice, Nangong Jieming¡¯s anger dissipated, replaced by a loving smile. He sheathed his spear and waved at her.


    ¡°I just wanted to see Grandfather, so I came out,¡± Nangong Huan said, walking over to him with a smile, tiptoeing to pat his back and soothe his temper.


    Seeing Nangong Huan appear, Wei Yu Gong immediately called out, ¡°Nangong Huan, stop bothering me! Hurry up and return that betrothal token!¡±


    Without a word, Nangong Huan pulled out a green dragon jade pendant from her sleeve and, as if discarding trash, tossed it at his face with a crisp sound.


    ¡°I think you might have misunderstood something. It¡¯s I who don¡¯t want you anymore. Our engagement is void!¡± Nangong Huan waved her hand.


    Wei Yu Gong was momentarily stunned, the force with which the jade pendant hit him felt like a slap across his face, leaving a clear mark! Realizing what had happened, his face darkened!


    Everyone was astonished. Wasn¡¯t Nangong Huan madly in love with Wei Yu Gong? Why did it seem like she had become a different person?


    Nangong Jieming wiped his forehead, uncertainly asking, ¡°Huan''er, are you sure you want to annul this engagement?¡±


    Nangong Huan beamed brightly, her black spots failing to conceal her beauty. ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve come to terms with it. I contracted a spirit beast yesterday and discovered that I can cultivate now. I¡¯ve even condensed my spirit root!¡±


    At her words, the expressions of everyone in the room changed once again. A waste could cultivate?

 *Chapter 7: The Worm Inside Grandpa?

    Nangong Huan''s gaze casually swept over the crowd; in fact, she had been outside listening to their conversation and heard every word clearly.


    Her grandfather was the best person in the world to her. Just yesterday, he had been called by the city lord for a discussion and didn¡¯t return until this morning. She could see the fatigue etched on his face, which made Nangong Huan feel a pang of heartache.


    Only Nangong Jieming''s expression brightened instantly. "Really? That''s wonderful!"


    "I will work hard to cultivate as a Spirit Master, please believe in me, Grandpa!" Nangong Huan looked into his eyes and said firmly.


    Nangong Jieming initially wanted to advise her to choose another profession, but he suddenly recalled Nangong Jingtian''s words¡ªhe couldn''t protect her under his wings forever.


    He raised his hand to gently pat Nangong Huan''s head, revealing a loving smile as he reassured her, "Little Huan, go ahead and do what you want. Grandpa will protect you."


    "Mm!" Nangong Huan nodded and smiled, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons.


    "Tch, trying hard to be a Spirit Master, huh?" Wei Xuefeng muttered under his breath, almost laughing out loud. He was glad he had successfully annulled the engagement; otherwise, the Wei family would surely become a laughingstock!


    The talented scion of the Wei family marrying a Spirit Master? What a disgrace!


    Nangong Jieming shot a cold glance at Wei Xuefeng, who rolled his eyes in feigned ignorance.


    A chilling gaze suddenly fell on Wei Xuefeng, causing his body to tremble.


    What a strong sense of oppression! Wei Xuefeng felt as if his body had stiffened, as though he had fallen into an icy abyss.


    Instinctively, he glanced toward Dong Yancuo, who was looking at him! Those deep blue eyes resembled a deep-sea abyss; just one look nearly made him weak at the knees!


    "Hiss!" Wei Xuefeng quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look again, his heart secretly alarmed. When did the Nangong family gain such a powerful expert?


    In just two seconds, Dong Yancuo withdrew his gaze, standing there in a daze. His eyes slightly shifted to Nangong Huan, blinking... Hmm, someone bullied Huan Huan, and when Huan Huan is unhappy, she won¡¯t take him to find food.


    The grandfather and granddaughter pair, despite the annulment of the engagement, still did not intend to leave. Wei Yuwu pressed on, "Nangong Huan, what about your spirit beast? As a Spirit Master, you can''t fully utilize its power, so why not give it to Qian''er?"


    It seemed that the success of the annulment had given him more confidence.


    Nangong Jieming was about to step forward to stop this, but Nangong Huan held him back and turned to him with a big smile.


    "Sure, but I have a condition." Nangong Huan''s gaze fell on Nangong Qian''er, her smile somewhat mischievous.


    The sight of Nangong Huan''s concession gave everyone hope, and even Wei Yuwu looked at her a bit more favorably.


    "Sister, what condition? As long as Qian''er can do it, we will satisfy you," Nangong Qian''er said excitedly, stepping forward. The thought of soon possessing a spirit beast thrilled her!


    Once she contracted the spirit beast, she would kick that ugly girl aside!


    The other elders watched with interest, seemingly certain that the spirit beast would belong to Nangong Qian''er.


    "If you can take one of my moves without falling, I will give you the spirit beast," Nangong Huan said, fixing her gaze on Nangong Qian''er as she rubbed her fingers, feeling a bit itchy.


    "Okay!" Nangong Qian''er answered without hesitation, immediately stepping to the center of the hall to confront Nangong Huan.


    She smiled confidently, believing that Nangong Huan must have won by sneak attack yesterday; this time, she would definitely withstand it!If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Nangong Jieming wanted to advise her, but seeing Nangong Huan''s determined back, he held back his feelings. He had to trust Huan.


    "Sister, come on," Nangong Qian''er said, taking a defensive stance, her body releasing a protective spirit energy shield. The solid power made the elders'' eyes light up.


    As expected of the family''s top talent, her technique was utilized so skillfully!


    "Then you better stand firm." Nangong Huan''s gaze sharpened as she raised her hand like a blade and charged forward!


    Her hand sliced through the shield like a sharp blade and struck her face!


    In an instant, Nangong Qian''er felt dizzy, the force knocking her down onto the floor!


    The hall erupted in gasps!


    Nangong Jingtian''s expression darkened, his fingers clawing toward Nangong Huan, but Nangong Jieming was quicker, blocking his hand!


    "Second brother, what do you want to do?" Nangong Jieming narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip, causing Nangong Jingtian''s expression to twist.


    "Big brother, is this how you indulge Nangong Huan?" Nangong Jingtian said stubbornly. Who doesn¡¯t have a granddaughter? Nangong Qian''er is also his own granddaughter!


    Nangong Jieming was not swayed by his words, shaking off his hand and saying, "This is a competition among the younger generation; Qian''er agreed just now."


    "Qian''er, are you okay?" Wei Yuwu rushed over to help Nangong Qian''er up.


    "I... I''m fine," Nangong Qian''er gritted her teeth, covering her face, and shot a resentful glare at Nangong Huan. How could this ugly girl break through her defense? Was it because she had contracted a spirit beast?


    Nangong Huan shrugged and said, "Looks like Qian''er didn''t withstand that move, so the spirit beast can''t be given to you, sister."


    "Indeed, sister is very impressive," Nangong Qian''er forced out a smile, gritting her teeth as she spoke. This little brat would pay for this one day!


    Nangong Huan turned around and took Nangong Jieming''s hand, playfully saying, "Grandpa, you must be tired; go rest now, or I will get angry!"


    But suddenly, Nangong Huan''s expression froze, her fingers moving to Nangong Jieming''s pulse, and a purple light flashed in her eyes. How could there be... a worm in Grandpa''s body?!


    Could it also be that Nangong Qian''er did this?! She cast a sidelong glance at Nangong Qian''er.


    Ever since contracting Xiao Jiu, she had become particularly sensitive to these things. The worm was slowly corroding her grandfather''s meridians. Thinking about it, over the years, her grandfather¡¯s cultivation had not improved at all; instead, it had shown signs of decline.


    But Xiao Jiu was still asleep; otherwise, she could have forced the worm out. She would see if entering the Spirit Refinement Pavilion today would awaken Xiao Jiu.


    She must cure her grandfather''s condition!


    "Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you. Grandpa will go rest now," Nangong Jieming nodded indulgently, but sighed inwardly, wishing that Huan''s face didn¡¯t have those dark spots. Unfortunately, he had searched for many famous doctors over the years, but none had found a solution.


    He must cure Huan''s face!


    "By the way, Huan''er, the disciple trials will begin in two days, and all the disciples who measured their spirits will participate. You should prepare as well." The grandfather and granddaughter chatted, oblivious to everything else. His main purpose for visiting the city lord''s mansion last night was to explain this matter.


    "Don''t worry, Grandpa. I''ve been preparing," Nangong Huan reassured him, patting his hand.


    Every year, after measuring spirits, the four great families would jointly open the disciple trials to enhance the disciples'' strength. Those with high talent and strength would have the opportunity to study at various academies.


    The two walked hand in hand, chatting and laughing as they left the hall, leaving the silent crowd with their own thoughts.


    With Grandpa going to rest, Nangong Huan and Dong Yancuo set off toward the Spirit Refinement Pavilion.


    On one side of the Winter Forest, high peaks stood tall, and deep ravines crisscrossed. The Spirit Refinement Pavilion was nestled within.


    After crossing several walkways, Nangong Huan finally arrived at the entrance of the Spirit Refinement Pavilion.


    The pavilion was square-shaped, only three stories high, but it spanned a thousand meters. Its flying eaves were high and curved, with some moss growing on the gray tiles. In certain sunken areas, birds had built nests, and the surface lacked luxurious decorations, even showing signs of wear and cracks due to the wind and sun.


    It resembled an aged elder sitting in the mountains, imparting wisdom to those who came.


    After confirming their identities as disciples of the four great families, Nangong Huan was allowed into the square in front of the pavilion. There were four challenge arenas, and many disciples from the four great families were engaged in challenges, likely because the disciple trials were about to begin, with a flurry of one-spirit disciples around.


    To enter the Spirit Refinement Pavilion, one had to defeat an opponent of a higher level. The higher the opponent''s level, the longer one could stay in the pavilion.


    Nangong Huan calculated that if she wanted to stay in the pavilion until evening, she would need to challenge an opponent at the mid-level of the two-spirit realm.


    In this world, the levels were divided from one to ten spirits, with each spirit level further divided into early, mid, late, and peak stages.


    "Hey, isn¡¯t that the waste from the Nangong family? What are you doing at the Spirit Refinement Pavilion? Here to admire the scenery?" A boy''s mocking voice rang out, drawing many eyes to Nangong Huan, followed by a burst of laughter.


    Nangong Huan glanced at him; wasn¡¯t that the night family¡¯s heir, Ye Wanjun?


    Although she had little interaction with the Ye family, her reputation as a waste had long spread among the four great families.


    "Cuocuo, go!" Nangong Huan casually said, and she saw Dong Yancuo swiftly step forward, slapping the boy hard, then quickly returning to her side, his eyes sparkling as if seeking praise.


    Ye Wanjun was sent spinning three hundred and sixty degrees, crashing to the ground, his cheek swollen, and a faint layer of frost could be seen on the imprint of the slap.


    ---

 *Chapter 8: Looking Down on Everyone Equally

    Facing Dong Yancuo''s impressive performance, Nangong Huan took out a piece of candy, personally unwrapped it, and stuffed it into his mouth.


    This seemingly simple act opened a new world for Dong Yancuo. He savored the sweetness on his tongue, staring at Nangong Huan''s hand for what felt like an eternity.


    The mocking laughter around them abruptly ceased, leaving only the chirping of fledglings on the eaves.


    ¡°Nangong Huan!¡± Ye Wanjun, gritting his teeth and holding his face, glared at her, his expression a mix of pain and fury that could only be described as ice and fire.


    ¡°Damn it... Nangong Huan, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Ye Wanjun''s lackeys quickly helped him up, indignantly defending their master.


    ¡°Our young master only said one thing to you; is it really necessary to go this far?¡±


    ¡°You hit him so hard; you must compensate!¡±


    As the clamor of his followers filled the air, Nangong Huan smiled and turned her gaze toward them, a cruel smile that silenced their chatter once more.


    At that moment, a tall woman dressed in red walked past Ye Wanjun, her steps unyielding. She cast a cold glance at his disheveled state and uttered two words: ¡°Waste.¡±


    Ye Wanjun''s eyes nearly bulged out as he looked at the red-clad woman, furious as he pointed at her, ¡°Sister, I¡¯m your brother!¡±


    However, the woman ignored him completely, striding directly to an elder guarding the pavilion. She clasped her fists and announced, ¡°I, Ye Sang, challenge the peak of the Three Spirits.¡±


    The elder quickly arranged for her to face a guard at the peak of the Three Spirits.


    Hearing the challenge level, Nangong Huan, who had just lined up, involuntarily glanced over. Ye Sang''s aura was formidable, and her strength was at the initial stage of the Three Spirits.


    Although Nangong Huan didn¡¯t know much about the Ye family, she had heard of Ye Sang¡¯s reputation, who had dominated the disciple trials last year.


    Thinking to learn a thing or two from her experience, Nangong Huan paused to watch Ye Sang¡¯s challenge.


    Ye Sang was a summoner; she summoned a rare spirit beast, a double-headed four-winged Ancient Sky Bird, embodying both fire and wind elements.


    Just as the challenge began, Nangong Huan caught sight of two familiar figures¡ªNangong Qian''er and Wei Yuwu, who approached hand in hand, looking quite intimate.


    ¡°Tch, a pair of hypocritical fools putting on a show,¡± Ye Wanjun''s disdainful voice echoed in her ears.


    Nangong Huan raised an eyebrow at him; his face radiated contempt for anyone not from the Ye family.


    Noticing Nangong Huan looking at him, Ye Wanjun curled his lip, snorted, and turned his head away.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Sister Huan, you¡¯re here too!¡± Nangong Qian''er walked over to her, a gentle smile plastered on her face.


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s eyes betrayed her jealousy; remembering the slap she received earlier from Nangong Huan made her seethe. But the thought that Wei Yuwu had annulled his engagement with this ¡°ugly girl¡± brought her some pleasure.


    She couldn¡¯t help but display a smug expression; her mother had always said that the position of the legitimate daughter of the Nangong family would eventually be hers! Everything the legitimate daughter should have would be hers!


    One day, she would strip the spirit beast from that ugly girl! Even if it meant killing her, if she couldn''t have it, neither could anyone else!


    Raising her chin, Nangong Qian''er scrutinized Nangong Huan. She suddenly noticed that the ¡°ugly girl¡± seemed a bit different today; perhaps it was just her imagination, but the dark spots on her face appeared to have faded somewhat.


    Wei Yuwu''s expression was noticeably troubled as he glanced at Dong Yancuo, his gaze darkening as he recalled the earlier events.


    ¡°If I¡¯m not here, should I be in your courtyard¡¯s dungeon?¡± Nangong Huan said with a meaningful smile, recalling that she had first awakened in this very place.


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s smile faltered slightly, but she forced out, ¡°Sister is really joking. With your strength, you should be able to enter the Spirit Refinement Pavilion today.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, if I get in, you won¡¯t be able to,¡± Nangong Huan shrugged, explaining that the rules of the Spirit Refinement Pavilion allowed only one person from each family to enter at a time to ensure the energy generation speed inside the pavilion.


    At that moment, the previous disciple from the Nangong family had just exited.


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s brow furrowed, sensing trouble, but she still managed to smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright; I¡¯m already very happy that Sister Huan can go in. I can wait a little longer.¡±


    Given the challenge rules, most disciples chose to face opponents slightly stronger than themselves to ensure a safer chance of entering for half an hour. Being able to stay in the Spirit Refinement Pavilion for half an hour was already a significant benefit.


    So in Nangong Qian''er¡¯s mind, even if Nangong Huan could enter, it would only be for half an hour, and waiting a bit longer wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Nangong Huan¡¯s smile deepened.


    ¡°Next, Nangong Huan,¡± the elder called, and she stepped forward immediately.


    ¡°I, Nangong Huan, challenge the mid-stage of the Two Spirits,¡± she declared, clasping her fists.


    Upon hearing the words ¡°mid-stage of the Two Spirits,¡± the elder paused in surprise.


    He scrutinized Nangong Huan, noticing that her current strength seemed to be at the mid-stage of the One Spirit.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± the elder asked, his expression peculiar as he confirmed again. Although defeating a stronger opponent would allow her more time inside, the failure rate was considerably high.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Nangong Huan replied, her tone firm.


    The elder then arranged for her to face a guard at the mid-stage of the Two Spirits, and the two took their positions.


    With the shout of ¡°Challenge Begin,¡± Nangong Huan raised her right hand high, releasing waves of energy that appeared harmless.


    The guard opposite her drew his shield and sword, preparing for defense.


    Ye Wanjun rubbed his eyes, confirming he wasn¡¯t mistaken before scoffing, ¡°She¡¯s overestimating herself!¡±


    His lackeys echoed in agreement: ¡°Ye Shao has sharp eyes! That Nangong Huan is just asking for trouble!¡±


    Nangong Qian''er felt a tightness in her chest, recalling her mentor who had been killed¡ªalso at the mid-stage of the Two Spirits. If Nangong Huan succeeded, she could stay for an entire day! That would mean she had no chance today!


    ¡°Qian''er, why are your palms sweating?¡± Wei Yuwu noticed the perspiration on her hands and offered her a handkerchief.


    ¡°I¡¯m just feeling nervous for my sister,¡± Nangong Qian''er quickly made up an excuse, feigning concern. ¡°Sister is too impulsive; she told me yesterday that besides her, no one else should think about entering the Spirit Refinement Pavilion.¡±


    Wei Yuwu frowned, his dislike for Nangong Huan intensifying. Not only did she bully Qian''er at home, but she also wanted to block all the disciples¡¯ paths.


    Suddenly, Ye Wanjun¡¯s mocking voice rang out, ¡°From what I see, it¡¯s you who thinks that¡ªbesides Miss Qian''er, no one else can take my genius¡¯s title!¡±


    He exaggerated his tone, his fingers delicately pinching as he performed the act of jealousy and arrogance to perfection.

 *Chapter 9: Not Convinced? All Three of You, Come at Once

    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s face instantly turned awkwardly red, as if her secret had been exposed. Angrily, she said, ¡°Ye Wanjun, I have nothing to do with you. Why are you slandering me?¡±


    ¡°Ye Wanjun, what nonsense are you talking?¡± Wei Yuwu also felt furious. Qian''er was so kind; she would never think like that!


    ¡°Am I not allowed to speak the truth? If you can¡¯t handle the truth, then stay away from me!¡± Ye Wanjun sneered, waving his sleeve as if breathing the same air as them was an insult.


    ¡°Ye Wanjun, if you have the ability, let¡¯s settle this in the disciple trials. Let¡¯s see how much skill you really have!¡± Wei Yuwu boldly declared. This time, he and Qian''er would team up; both were level nine geniuses, and they would definitely take the lead in the trials!


    However, Ye Wanjun just laughed, ¡°Only those who can¡¯t afford to lose would want to compare themselves with others.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Wei Yuwu clenched his fists, but at that moment, a wave of astonished gasps erupted from the outer field!


    ¡°Wow¡ª¡±


    ¡°Miss Ye Sang has successfully challenged and can enter for six hours.¡±


    ¡°Nangong Huan has successfully challenged and can enter for... twelve hours.¡± Both elders announced simultaneously.


    It turned out that while the three of them were having their ¡°friendly exchange,¡± Nangong Huan and Ye Sang had almost simultaneously finished their matches!


    What was even more shocking was that both had emerged victorious!


    ¡°What? What just happened?!¡± Ye Wanjun gaped, looking around in disbelief. Hadn¡¯t the matches just begun?


    Nangong Qian''er and Wei Yuwu also widened their eyes in disbelief. How had it ended so suddenly?


    Ye Wanjun¡¯s underlings provided the answer: ¡°Miss Sang¡¯s Ancient Sky Bird suddenly gained a massive boost in power and defeated her opponent, then flew to Nangong Huan¡¯s side and instantly defeated her opponent!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s so bizarre! Why would Miss Sang¡¯s spirit beast help Nangong Huan?¡±


    ¡°This must be fake! Did Nangong Huan cheat?¡±


    Amidst the murmurs of doubt, the elder raised a hand, silencing the crowd.


    ¡°Come on, child, explain yourself.¡± The elder nodded at Nangong Huan, who was gaining a new level of respect.


    Nangong Huan stood tall, smiling calmly as she explained, ¡°I communicated with Miss Ye Sang¡¯s spirit beast using my summoning skills and asked it for help. Yes, I am a summoner.¡±


    She exchanged a glance with Ye Sang, and they nodded in tacit understanding.


    The truth was that she had temporarily boosted the Ancient Sky Bird''s power using earth spirit energy and discreetly communicated with it for assistance. Ye Sang had also tacitly approved, and they had reached an agreement in just two seconds.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Given the peculiar nature of the summoner profession, Nangong Huan¡¯s ¡°request for outside help¡± was not against the rules.


    In that moment, everyone¡¯s perception of summoners was refreshed!


    A mere summoner could actually command a spirit beast at the peak of the Three Spirits!


    ¡°Older sister, you weren¡¯t bribed by Nangong Huan beforehand, were you?¡± Ye Wanjun shouted, holding his head in disbelief.


    This was also the crowd¡¯s question: how could a spirit beast just agree to help?


    Ye Sang stroked the soft feathers of the Ancient Sky Bird and said, ¡°Actually, even if my bird hadn¡¯t gone, other spirit beasts would have.¡±


    ¡°Sister Huan, you must not cheat! I believe you¡¯re not that kind of person,¡± Nangong Qian''er called out sweetly, though her tone clearly implied that she suspected Nangong Huan had cheated.


    ¡°Impossible! I don¡¯t believe it either!¡± Wei Yuwu countered, echoing the crowd¡¯s sentiments.


    Ye Sang rolled her eyes. The elders hadn¡¯t said anything, yet this group was making a racket. If they didn¡¯t believe it, they would soon see for themselves.


    Nangong Huan turned her neck slightly, casting a disdainful smile at the two holding hands, and pointed at the guard behind Wei Yuwu, saying, ¡°He¡¯s at the peak of the Two Spirits, right? Come on up.¡±


    ¡°Quick, quick!¡± Ye Wanjun shouted in agreement. He hadn¡¯t seen the earlier scene and was eager to see what kind of tricks Nangong Huan was using!


    Wei Yuwu glanced sideways, noticing the elder was also looking at him. He steeled himself and said, ¡°A-Cheng, you go up.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The guard, A-Cheng, immediately stepped toward Nangong Huan.


    Nangong Qian''er clenched her fists. If that ugly girl could defeat someone at the mid-stage of the Two Spirits, she might not be able to handle someone at the peak!


    Disciples from other arenas began to gather, eager to see the spectacle.


    ¡°Nangong Huan has already reached her limit defeating someone at the mid-stage of the Two Spirits, yet she dares to challenge the peak?¡±


    ¡°I bet she can¡¯t win!¡±


    ¡°If she can win, then pigs can fly!¡±


    A-Cheng stood before Nangong Huan, drawing his spear and coldly stating, ¡°I won¡¯t hold back.¡±


    However, Nangong Huan shook her head.


    ¡°What, are you conceding?¡±


    ¡°Backing down?¡±


    ¡°Do you have some self-awareness?¡±


    Nangong Huan chuckled softly, turning to Wei Yuwu and Nangong Qian''er, beckoning them with a finger, ¡°Why don¡¯t you two join in as well? Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid people will say I¡¯m bullying you.¡±


    So arrogant!


    Laughter erupted from the crowd!


    One at the peak of the Two Spirits wasn¡¯t enough for her? She actually wanted to take on three?!


    ¡°Sister, are you feeling alright?¡± Nangong Qian''er almost laughed out loud. She couldn¡¯t defeat her alone, but with Wei Yuwu, that ugly girl definitely stood no chance!


    ¡°Since so many people are witnessing this, why not make a bet? If you lose, you all have to bow to me three times,¡± Nangong Huan said with a pure smile.


    ¡°And if sister loses?¡± Nangong Qian''er eagerly asked, her competitive spirit piqued!


    Nangong Huan shrugged, ¡°You can set the terms.¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡± Wei Yuwu quickly agreed, afraid that Nangong Huan might back out. If he won, he would make her kneel and lick his shoes! He had to take revenge for the humiliation this morning!


    ¡°This is what sister said, so don¡¯t regret it later!¡± Nangong Qian''er seemed to foresee her victory, her lips unable to suppress a smile.


    She wanted that ugly girl to bow a hundred times and then run around the city naked!


    ¡°Hmm, no regrets,¡± Nangong Huan yawned. These two were taking too long.


    Many people were sneaking glances at the elder, noticing he was also eager to see the gossip unfold.


    It was rare to have such excitement; it would be a shame not to watch. Moreover, he wouldn¡¯t favor any disciple; since they were here, they would all be treated equally.


    Nangong Qian''er and Wei Yuwu stepped forward, and the crowd quickly surrounded them, eager to see what confidence Nangong Huan had to challenge three at once.


    ¡°Sister, please go ahead,¡± Nangong Qian''er feigned generosity.


    ¡°Then I won¡¯t hold back.¡± Nangong Huan smirked, looking up at the sky.


    Just as she finished speaking, the sky suddenly darkened, and shadows swept across the ground, as if sunlight had been shattered into countless specks.


    Everyone looked up and saw hundreds of wind spirit Branch Birds flying in from all directions, swirling in the air with a green light!


    Their bodies were as white as clouds, and their melodious chirping merged into a beautiful chorus. The scene was spectacular and breathtaking!


    *Thud¡ª*


    Just as Nangong Qian''er looked up, a bird dropping landed right on her face!

 *Chapter 10: Betting on Three Loud Kowtows

    As the bird droppings fell like a torrential rain, the three found themselves caught off guard, scrambling for cover!


    Wei Yuwu attempted to open an umbrella, but before he could, the spirit birds had pecked it down to just a skeleton!


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Nangong Qian''er screamed in disgust, only to have the droppings land right in her mouth!


    The trio fled in a panic, occasionally getting slapped in the face by the wind blades of the spirit birds!


    Of course, Nangong Qian''er and Wei Yuwu were the main targets.


    A slightly larger spirit bird, at the peak of the Two Spirits, landed gracefully beside Nangong Huan, gazing at her with gentle eyes.


    It was the king of this flock of spirit birds.


    ¡°Master, we apologize for our late arrival,¡± the spirit bird king''s voice echoed in her mind.


    Though the fighting power of the spirit birds was low, their sheer numbers combined into a force that was indeed fearsome!


    Nangong Huan gathered some spiritual energy in her hand and stroked the spirit bird king, smiling softly, ¡°You arrived just in time, thank you.¡±


    Actually, it was her first time using this skill, and she hadn¡¯t controlled her power well, inadvertently summoning the lower-tier beasts from the forest. So, she had used it to bait Nangong Qian''er.


    ¡°To fight for our master is our honor,¡± the spirit bird king bowed, showing absolute submission.


    ¡°She... she actually summoned a flock of spirit birds!¡± Ye Wanjun¡¯s jaw dropped. Although they were just low-level beasts, even a summoner at the Three Spirits level would find it hard to achieve this!


    Ye Sang couldn''t help but smile faintly.


    Dong Yancuo watched the plump spirit birds flying overhead, his mouth watering uncontrollably.


    ¡°Even if a hundred more came, it would be hard to defeat the spirit bird flock!¡± The disciples were left in shock, their mouths agape.


    ¡°No wonder Nangong Huan is so confident! Who just called her a waste?¡±


    ¡°Ahem, I was actually supporting Nangong Huan! Miss Huan is truly impressive!¡±


    ...


    As the droppings fell like rain, only the area around Nangong Qian''er and her companions was piled high with it, and no one believed it was unintentional!


    ¡°Ahem, that¡¯s enough,¡± the elder coughed lightly, signaling Nangong Huan to end this farce.


    Nangong Huan patted the spirit bird king''s head, and it understood, letting out a low chirp before soaring into the sky, leading the flock away.


    The three, now in a sorry state, finally caught their breath, collapsing to the ground in shame and anger!The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Nangong Qian''er trembled, her white teeth nearly grinding to dust. After the bird droppings, her once delicate face was nearly unrecognizable, twisted in rage that made her look even uglier.


    ¡°Nangong Huan, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡± Wei Yuwu could no longer maintain his composure, shouting madly at Nangong Huan.


    His hairpin had fallen into the droppings, his hair a mess, his handsome appearance completely ruined, resembling a frenzied gorilla.


    ¡°Too far? You could have refused me!¡± Nangong Huan shrugged innocently.


    ¡°You did it on purpose! You did it on purpose!¡± Nangong Qian''er screamed hysterically, not caring about her image anymore¡ªshe had become the laughingstock!


    ¡°Yes, I did it on purpose,¡± Nangong Huan admitted nonchalantly, a hint of coldness in her eyes.


    This small lesson was nothing compared to the thousandth of what Nangong Qian''er had done to her before!


    ¡°You!¡± Nangong Qian''er¡¯s eyes turned red, her cheeks burning with rage, wishing she could tear Nangong Huan into a hundred pieces on the spot!


    ¡°It¡¯s time to fulfill our bet; everyone is watching,¡± Nangong Huan crossed her arms, her expression turning icy, as if she were a stern judge.


    Three kowtows...


    Veins bulged on Wei Yuwu¡¯s forehead. No matter how unwilling he was, he decisively knelt down and knocked his head three times toward Nangong Huan!


    Yet his eyes were filled with resentment.


    This made Nangong Huan look at him with newfound respect. Ah, a true man can bend and stretch.


    Nangong Qian''er¡¯s face flushed red and pale; since Wei Yuwu had done it so readily, she couldn¡¯t back out in front of so many people!


    Trembling, she slowly knelt down, lowering her head to avoid the mocking gazes of the crowd, perfunctorily knocking her head three times.


    Some sticky droppings slid down her hair, representing her lost dignity and self-respect.


    Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she stumbled to her feet and pushed through the crowd, running away.


    ¡°Qian''er!¡± Wei Yuwu chased after her, disregarding his own disheveled appearance, along with his guards, quickly disappearing from everyone¡¯s view.


    ¡°Okay, I admit you¡¯re not a waste; you¡¯re quite impressive!¡± Ye Wanjun openly confessed, glancing at the black stains on Nangong Huan¡¯s face, which made her look a bit ugly... but he wouldn¡¯t judge a woman by her looks.


    Nangong Huan shot him a dismissive glance, saying nothing.


    The arrival of the spirit birds had proven Nangong Huan¡¯s strength. No one opposed her entering the Spirit Gathering Pavilion anymore; the title of ¡°waste¡± faded away with this battle.


    ¡°Cuo, wait here for me and don¡¯t run around, okay?¡± Nangong Huan handed Dong Yancuo a few candies, knowing he couldn¡¯t resist sweet treats.


    But just as she was about to leave, Dong Yancuo pulled her back, stuffing a candy back into her hand and pointing at his open mouth.


    This left Nangong Huan both amused and exasperated; was this glutton wanting her to feed him?


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll peel it for you.¡± Nangong Huan patiently unwrapped the candy and placed it in his mouth.


    Dong Yancuo looked satisfied, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at her.


    ¡°Stay here and wait for me,¡± Nangong Huan stuffed him with a few more candies before turning to enter the Spirit Gathering Pavilion.


    As soon as she stepped inside, Nangong Huan felt her spiritual platform come alive, like a hungry tiger, spinning rapidly.


    What rich spiritual energy! She couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath.


    In her perception, she detected the surge of nine spiritual veins underground!


    The Spirit Gathering Pavilion had set up a formation to condense spiritual energy, allowing the energy from these nine veins to converge here, incredibly dense. Just sitting in the formation would enable absorption.


    Ye Sang entered with her, standing beside her and asking, ¡°Are you really a summoner?¡±


    A summoner... could have such power?


    ¡°Of course, I want to become the strongest summoner,¡± Nangong Huan smiled, her goal clear: to protect herself and her grandfather.


    Nangong Huan reminded her, ¡°By the way, you should sit down and absorb the spiritual energy quickly.¡±


    Otherwise, when her spiritual platform turned, the energy here might be gone...


    The spiritual platform could absorb all natural forces in the world, including spiritual energy.


    ¡°Alright, I wish you success.¡± Ye Sang nodded and sat down, the thought of becoming the strongest taking root in her heart: I want to protect my mother and my brother too!


    Nangong Huan followed suit, sitting cross-legged.


    In that moment, her spiritual platform began to ravenously absorb everything, the rich spiritual energy in the air no longer attracting it; its target was¡ªthe spiritual veins!

 *Chapter 11: The Awakening of Power

    The underground spiritual energy surged like a massive inverted tornado, dragging nine long glowing spiritual veins into the Lingling Treasure Pavilion, continuously supplying spiritual power.


    At this moment, no one noticed that this ¡°tornado¡± began to tremble violently!


    The nine glowing spiritual veins seemed to be pulled at one end, slowly drawn into the tornado, forming a smaller vortex that, under the flow of spiritual energy, shattered into countless light points, rushing upwards and pouring into Nangong Huan''s body.


    Elder Ling''s calming voice rang out: ¡°Don¡¯t rush, take your time to absorb it. You¡¯ve just established your spiritual platform, still a mortal body, and cannot bear such immense power in a short time. Do you remember the body refining technique I taught you? A powerful spiritual platform requires a strong body to support it.¡±


    ¡°I remember!¡± Nangong Huan replied, flipping her hand to form a seal; she had long memorized the secret incantation for body refining.


    Though she hadn¡¯t been able to cultivate for three years, she had exercised daily to lay the foundation for body refining!


    With such massive spiritual vein power, today she would surely undergo a transformation and be reborn!


    As the spiritual energy entered her body, it refined her bones and strengthened her tendons, enhancing her vitality and stabilizing her spirit!


    The spiritual platform spun rapidly, absorbing the power of the spiritual veins and nourishing her body, gradually expelling the toxins from her bones and clearing her meridians.


    Body refining was not an instantaneous process; it could be subtly integrated into her cultivation, a long-term secret technique.


    Though it was her first time, it granted Nangong Huan remarkable benefits.


    The toxins within her body gradually emerged to the surface of her skin, quickly evaporating into gray-black smoke.


    Especially the black spots on her face, their color was slowly lightening.


    ...


    Nangong Qian¡¯er sat in her room, clenching her fists, her face dark with anger.


    She had washed many times, yet she still couldn¡¯t rid herself of the disgusting stench of bird droppings.


    A delicate, fair-skinned woman sat beside her, taking her hand and smiling lightly: ¡°Qian¡¯er, don¡¯t be angry. Do you remember the mother and child poison insects I gave you?¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°mother and child poison insects,¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s expression softened. She walked to the bedside, pulled out a delicate box from beneath the bed, and slowly opened it to reveal a plump poison insect lying inside.


    This insect was the size of a thumb, with a milky-white body that appeared somewhat dull; it was indeed the mother insect of the poison duo.


    ¡°Mother, when will that ugly Nangong Huan die?¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er placed the box on the table, staring at the insect with a twisted expression of resentment and jealousy.


    With the mother insect here, the child insect was naturally within Nangong Huan¡¯s body!If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    In her childhood, Nangong Qian¡¯er had planted the child insect inside Nangong Huan; as long as the mother insect lived, the child insect would continuously secrete toxins, causing black spots to grow on her skin, making her hideously ugly.


    ¡°No need to rush,¡± Shen Ye Ruo said, taking a sip of tea, her voice soft and soothing. ¡°Keeping her alive has its uses; it can restrain the old family head. If you truly see Nangong Huan as a thorn in your side, why not control the mother insect to let the child insect go wild? It won¡¯t kill her but will cause her excruciating pain, making her wish she were dead.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s face instantly brightened, revealing a sinister smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you trust your mother? But it only works within ten zhang of distance between the mother and child insects,¡± Shen Ye Ruo smiled.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s eyes sparkled as she calculated: ¡°During the disciple trial, I can find an opportunity to teach her a lesson!¡±


    But soon, Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s expression fell again: ¡°She¡¯s not a waste anymore; it might be difficult to get close to her.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll help you increase your strength. My Qian¡¯er will definitely be the best and win first place in the disciple trial,¡± Shen Ye Ruo¡¯s smile widened, but in her outstretched hand appeared two tiny transparent poison insects!


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er asked, puzzled.


    Shen Ye Ruo placed two more teacups on the table, tossing the two poison insects inside and mixing them with tea, making it impossible to see the insects.


    ¡°Xiao Qing, Xiao Cha,¡± Shen Ye Ruo called to the maid outside the door.


    ¡°Madam, Miss, what can we do for you?¡± Two maids entered, the twin personal attendants of Nangong Qian¡¯er.


    ¡°Have you been standing for long? You must be tired. Come drink some tea; I need you to do something later,¡± Shen Ye Ruo smiled.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er saw through her mother¡¯s intentions but said nothing, merely offering a gentle and serene smile: ¡°Drink up.¡±


    The two maids, surprised by the favor, picked up the tea: ¡°Thank you, Madam! Thank you, Miss!¡±


    But after they gratefully drank the tea, their expressions changed, and with a thud, they collapsed to the ground, lifeless.


    Shen Ye Ruo smiled charmingly, but beneath her facade lay endless coldness and cruelty: ¡°Their spiritual roots are now yours. After absorbing the power from these roots, breaking through to the second spiritual command should be no problem.¡±


    Shen Ye Ruo also took out a bottle of potion for the second spiritual command and placed it on the table, everything part of her scheme!


    To her, two lives were as insignificant as squashing two ants.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er revealed a contemptuous and greedy smile, approaching the two corpses and pulling out a dagger, brutally extracting their spiritual roots!


    Her swift and practiced movements suggested this was not her first time.


    ¡°In the disciple trial, I must outshine that ugly monster!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er gritted her teeth, her bloody hands clutching several glowing spiritual roots, filled with sinister intent.


    ¡°Nangong Huan¡­¡± Shen Ye Ruo gazed at her fingertips, deep in thought.


    Two hours quickly passed.


    The rich spiritual energy in the Lingling Treasure Pavilion began to thin.


    The spiritual energy surging from the spiritual veins was completely absorbed by Nangong Huan; she had taken in two-thirds of the nine spiritual veins!


    From now on, the spiritual energy in the Lingling Treasure Pavilion would greatly diminish.


    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to leave a way out for the other disciples; it was simply that recalling the mocking faces of her peers over the years made her feel that leaving a third was already too generous.


    At this moment, Nangong Huan felt her spiritual platform had reached saturation, her cultivation had significantly increased, now at the peak of the first spiritual command.


    To advance to the second spiritual command, she still needed a bottle of advancement potion.


    Taking a deep breath, Nangong Huan opened her eyes, her translucent peach blossom eyes flashing with a hint of joy, her body feeling much lighter and her resilience greatly improved.


    Her cheeks felt slightly warm, a sign of toxins being expelled.


    She took out a bronze mirror from her storage ring and looked at her reflection, noticing that the black spots on her face had faded significantly. Although a large patch remained, it was much more pleasant to look at than before.


    Years of accumulated toxins couldn¡¯t be expelled entirely in just two hours.


    Nangong Huan touched her cheeks, realizing that as long as she continued with body refining, the removal of the black spots was just a matter of time!


    ¡°Master Silver!¡± Little Jiu¡¯s excited voice echoed in her mind; it too had absorbed a considerable amount of spiritual energy feedback from the earth, increasing its power as well!

 *Chapter 12 : The Pact of Shadows

    ¡°Xiao Jiu, you¡¯re awake! That¡¯s great! Tonight, you have to help me with something!¡± Nangong Huan stood up, using her spiritual energy to cast a cleansing spell, feeling refreshed all over.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever Master Silver commands!¡± Xiao Jiu twirled excitedly in the spirit beast space.


    Master Silver is so strong! Master Silver is amazing! Master Silver¡¯s spiritual energy is incredible!


    Nangong Huan strode out of the Lingling Treasure Pavilion, determined to buy some magical herbs to create a promotion potion.


    However, in this world, one couldn¡¯t purchase magical herbs without a potion master badge. She had to go to the Professional Certification Association first to get certified as a potion master.


    If it weren¡¯t for that, she wouldn¡¯t have spent three years gathering all the magical herbs needed for the Spiritual Platform in the wild.


    Not long after Nangong Huan left, the elders in the Lingling Treasure Pavilion went into a frenzy!


    ¡°Why are there only so few spiritual veins left?!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! Which thief stole the spiritual veins?!¡±


    ¡°How could someone act right under my nose without me noticing? This person must be quite powerful!¡±


    ¡°What are we going to do without the spiritual veins?!¡± The disciples from the four great families lamented, as this was their most convenient way to enhance their strength.


    ¡°With so few spiritual veins left, I doubt there¡¯s enough spiritual energy for even one person to absorb.¡±


    ¡°I was hoping to get stronger before the disciple trial, and now that¡¯s all gone¡­¡±


    Ye Sang was also affected and left the pavilion early. As she departed, she glanced at the spot where Nangong Huan had just sat, her eyes lowering as thoughts flickered in her mind.


    ...


    The Lingling Treasure Pavilion was in chaos, while the instigator strolled lightly through the woods, heading toward the city.


    ¡°Yuan Chao, why have you been staring at me?¡± Nangong Huan noticed that Dong Yan Chao¡¯s gaze was fixed on her face as she walked, making her feel a bit uncomfortable.


    It was a pure gaze, devoid of any color, and Nangong Huan couldn¡¯t discern what he was thinking.


    ¡°This,¡± Dong Yan Chao pointed at the black spots on her face, his expression quite serious.


    ¡°Is it ugly?¡± Nangong Huan asked with a hint of self-deprecation, as she too found it unattractive.


    Dong Yan Chao shook his head. ¡°It looks like a black lotus flower.¡±


    Taken aback by the unexpected answer, Nangong Huan paused for a moment, then a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth, her eyes softening.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°A black lotus flower... I like it.¡± She murmured, stroking the black spots on her face, her gaze drifting into the distance, the smile on her lips enigmatic.


    She glanced sideways at Dong Yan Chao, only to find him lost in thought, mumbling something about lotus seed soup, crispy lotus slices, and lotus root soup...


    Pfft.


    Nangong Huan stumbled slightly, almost losing her balance.


    Suddenly, she spotted a sneaky figure not far away, pulling a small cart covered with straw.


    From the attire, it seemed to be a servant from the Nangong residence.


    Nangong Huan quickly pulled Dong Yan Chao aside, hiding to see what the person was up to.


    The servant appeared frightened, muttering, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything! Don¡¯t come looking for me! I know nothing, nothing at all¡­¡±


    As the servant neared his destination, he stopped, pulled aside the straw, and hastily buried two corpses.


    Nangong Huan¡¯s gaze sharpened; weren¡¯t those the two maidservants who had been beside Nangong Qian¡¯er?!


    Thinking back, it seemed that Nangong Qian¡¯er had changed her maidservants quite frequently over the past two years, and this pair had only served her for three months.


    From her angle, she could clearly see the corpses¡¯ faces, twisted in expressions of hatred.


    Two strands of resentful souls hovered above their bodies, their bellies torn open, their eyes fixed in a death glare at the servant.


    The midday sun began to scorch their souls, igniting fierce flames from their feet, producing strange white smoke.


    Hmm... quite terrifying, Nangong Huan swallowed hard.


    ¡°Their resentment is so strong that they can last this long without dispersing,¡± Nangong Huan muttered. If they were ordinary people, they would have reincarnated long ago.


    After hastily burying the bodies, the servant quickly pulled his cart away.


    At that moment, Elder Ling¡¯s voice echoed in her mind: ¡°Gemini souls are a unique existence. If they die simultaneously, they form a strong curse bond, extending the duration of their souls. If their enemy passes by during this time, they will surely be cursed by the Gemini souls.¡±


    Nangong Huan continued, ¡°But right now, the midday sun is at its peak; their souls probably won¡¯t last much longer before dispersing.¡±


    ¡°Yuan Chao, let¡¯s go. We¡¯re heading over there.¡± Nangong Huan pulled Dong Yan Chao toward the corpses.


    At the same time, she took out an umbrella from her storage ring, gathering spiritual energy at her fingertips to draw a strange rune on its surface.


    The souls of Xiao Qing and Xiao Cha stared intently at the direction the servant had left, the fiery sunlight scorching them, producing large plumes of white smoke. In a few minutes, they would completely dissipate.


    But in the next moment, a shadow fell over the two souls, bringing a coolness that quelled the flames and alleviated their burning pain.


    Turning their heads, they saw Nangong Huan standing behind them with an umbrella, shielding them from the sun¡¯s corrosive rays.


    The friendly smile on Nangong Huan¡¯s face dazzled them.


    ¡°Miss Huan? You can see us?¡± Xiao Qing asked in confusion.


    ¡°Why, don¡¯t you welcome me? Then I¡¯ll just leave,¡± Nangong Huan pretended to lift her foot to leave.


    The two souls exchanged a glance and immediately knelt before Nangong Huan!


    Xiao Cha spoke sincerely, ¡°Miss Huan, your ability to see us shows your strength far exceeds our expectations.¡±


    Xiao Qing added angrily, ¡°We were harmed by Nangong Qian¡¯er! She dug out our spiritual roots and absorbed their power, and now she has advanced to the second spiritual command!¡±


    ¡°We are willing to expose everything Nangong Qian¡¯er and Lady Shen have done. They secretly raised poison insects to control the dead servants!¡±


    ¡°I once overheard that Lady Shen also placed poison in the body of the old patriarch of the Nangong family. There are many more secrets we can share with you, Miss Huan!¡±


    ¡°Please, we beg you to save us! We want to kill Nangong Qian¡¯er with our own hands!¡±


    ¡°We are willing to serve you forever, with unwavering loyalty! If we betray you, may we be struck by a thousand lightning bolts and never reincarnate!¡± The two souls declared in unison, their voices filled with conviction.


    Once a vow was made, the consequences of breaking it would surely lead to divine punishment.


    Upon hearing that Lady Shen had placed poison in her grandfather¡¯s body, Nangong Huan couldn¡¯t contain herself.


    ¡°I have a method to refine souls and can save you from peril, but resurrecting your physical forms is impossible. Are you willing?¡± Nangong Huan tightened her grip on the umbrella, her heart surging with emotions.


    ¡°We are willing! We will exist in any form!¡± The twins replied resolutely.

 *Chapter 13: The Curse of the Twins

    ¡°Good! You two come under my umbrella. I¡¯ve drawn a spell on it that can take you away from this place.¡± Nangong Huan twirled the umbrella, and the runes on its surface began to glow faintly.


    However, the duration of the spell was limited. It seemed she needed to buy a soul-nurturing spiritual artifact before obtaining the potion master badge, one that could continuously hold the two souls.


    ¡°We have recognized you as our master. Please grant us names,¡± the twins requested, not rushing to enter the umbrella.


    Abandoning their old names meant shedding their pasts and starting anew, pledging loyalty to their new master.


    ¡°Names¡­¡± Nangong Huan looked into the earnest eyes of the two souls. She pointed at each of them, saying, ¡°You will be called Flame Princess and Blood Princess, as you rise from the flames of revenge and the bloodshed.¡±


    The twins echoed in unison, ¡°Thank you for the names, Master!¡±


    The two souls flew into the umbrella, and Nangong Huan closed it tightly in her hand.


    Then, she snapped her fingers, causing several tree roots to rise from the ground, lifting the sisters¡¯ corpses to bury them properly.


    ¡°Gululu¡­¡± Dong Yan Chao¡¯s stomach let out a rather untimely growl.


    Nangong Huan glanced at him, and he helplessly covered his stomach, saying, ¡°Huan Huan, I¡¯m a bit¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Nangong Huan had already stuffed a large chicken leg into his mouth, and also handed him another.


    The rich aroma filled the air, and Dong Yan Chao¡¯s eyes lit up like a hungry wolf, devouring the food with gusto, his face shining with grease.


    Nangong Huan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten for two hours, and you¡¯re starving! Luckily, I have plenty of food in my space.¡±


    ...


    In Huayong Pavilion, the largest spiritual artifact shop in Jianglou City, many exquisite spiritual artifacts with various functions were on display.


    As Nangong Huan stepped into the building, the attendant merely glanced at her with disdain, snorting coldly. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s that useless waste from the Nangong family. I heard she was rejected by the Wei family this morning. Many people are enjoying the show.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t welcome ugly freaks here,¡± the attendant mocked, worried that she might scare away other noble guests.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Nangong Huan smiled sweetly and quietly called out, ¡°Yuan Chao, go.¡±


    *Smack¡ªBang!*


    First came a crisp slap, and Dong Yan Chao struck with great force, sending the attendant crashing into a wooden door, which fell over with her!


    The door slammed down heavily on the attendant, producing a dull thud that knocked her out cold!


    This commotion immediately attracted everyone¡¯s attention.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°Oh dear, your Huayong Pavilion really needs to reconsider its hiring choices. How could you employ such a useless guard?¡± Nangong Huan waved her hand, feigning disgust.


    Then, she pulled out a piece of candy, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into Dong Yan Chao¡¯s mouth.


    Yuan Chao was really getting better at this!


    Seeing the situation, the manager of Huayong Pavilion hurriedly approached with a forced smile.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this Miss Huan from the Nangong family? My sincere apologies for the lack of hospitality. Please, come in! What would you like to buy? I can recommend something for you.¡± The manager smiled while kicking the unconscious attendant, prompting someone to carry her away.


    Such a blind fool! Although Nangong Huan¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t great, her family was wealthy!


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for a soul-nurturing artifact. Please recommend something,¡± Nangong Huan raised her chin slightly, exuding an air of nobility that made her seem unapproachable.


    There were indeed quite a few people buying soul artifacts, as nurturing one¡¯s soul was also a way to strengthen oneself.


    ¡°Please, Miss Huan, follow me to the second floor,¡± the manager said, leading them upstairs, where half of the space was dedicated to displaying soul artifacts.


    Jade pendants, bracelets, necklaces... Most were accessories for women.


    Nangong Huan began to examine them one by one. The prices were clearly marked, with the cheapest starting at a hundred thousand spiritual stocks and the most expensive exceeding a million.


    Suddenly, Elder Ling called out, ¡°Wait! Look at the previous one.¡±


    Nangong Huan paused and stepped back to the last item she had examined.


    On display was a hand model, and on the index finger, a red crystal ring sparkled with brilliant light.


    ¡°Two million spiritual stocks... Wait, this must be a case of mistaking fish eyes for pearls,¡± Nangong Huan muttered to herself. Using her spiritual energy to probe, she found that while the ring appeared valuable, it actually contained a piece of worthless stone!


    The red crystal had the power to conceal items, which had deceived the jewelry appraiser but not a spirit master!


    Based on its functional value, it was worth at most three hundred thousand spiritual stocks.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the ring. Look at the tassels beneath it,¡± Elder Ling¡¯s voice carried an unexpected excitement.


    Only then did Nangong Huan notice that the hand model was resting on a piece of elegant black velvet, with two decorative black tassels hanging from the corners.


    After examining the tassels for a while, Nangong Huan sensed something extraordinary through her spiritual energy. Suddenly, she realized this was an exceptional treasure that could contain souls and even refine them!


    If Flame Princess and Blood Princess entered, they could cultivate their soul power within!


    ¡°This is a pair of tassels from the Soul-Destruction Banner. The Soul-Destruction Banner is a treasure of my clan, capable of holding millions of souls. Unfortunately, it was torn apart in a great battle. I never expected this pair of tassels to be preserved intact, only to end up in such a place,¡± Elder Ling said with a hint of nostalgia.


    ¡°Are you selling this piece of velvet?¡± Nangong Huan asked the manager, pointing at the black velvet.


    ¡°Huh?¡± The manager was momentarily taken aback, unable to comprehend. He had been managing this place for so long and had never heard of someone wanting to buy a piece of fabric instead of the treasure itself!


    Nangong Huan looked at him again and repeated, ¡°Are you selling it?¡±


    ¡°Well, if it¡¯s Miss Huan, since you want it, I¡¯ll consider it a personal favor and give it to you,¡± the manager quickly smiled, taking the velvet and neatly folding it into her hands.


    Consider it a personal favor; after all, her grandfather was the head of the Nangong family, a position of great importance.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Nangong Huan touched the two tassels, secretly guiding Flame Princess and Blood Princess to enter.


    With her goal accomplished, Nangong Huan prepared to leave.


    However, just as she turned around, she saw Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuhong walking up the stairs, arm in arm.


    ¡°Sister Huan?¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er paused, clearly surprised to see Nangong Huan in such a place. Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be cultivating in the Lingling Treasure Pavilion?


    Nangong Huan raised an eyebrow. Two spiritual commands?


    She suddenly felt the anger of the tassels within her, and she gently stroked them to soothe their emotions.


    An invisible wind flew out from the tassels and brushed against Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s face.


    ¡°The one who caused our deaths, Nangong Qian¡¯er, shall have her fortune scattered, her reputation ruined, reduced to a mere dog, suffering a fate worse than death, ultimately dying without a burial place!¡±


    It was the twins¡¯ delayed curse!

 *Chapter 14: The Rise of a New Power*

    Nangong Qian''er felt a sudden gust of wind, accompanied by a faint buzzing sound, but it was gone in an instant.


    "Nangong Huan, what are you doing here?" Wei Yuhong frowned, clearly annoyed. Hadn¡¯t she caused enough trouble for them already?


    "I''m a guest," Nangong Huan replied, shrugging her shoulders. Was the other party missing a few screws?


    Nangong Qian''er walked up to her, chest held high, and chuckled, "Sister Huan must be interested in this soul ring? But I feel like it might not suit you."


    As she spoke, she unleashed her second-level spirit pressure, attempting to force Nangong Huan into submission.


    Nangong Huan saw through her intentions, a smirk appearing on her lips as she fixed her gaze on Qian''er. Secretly, she released her own spirit energy, weighing down on Qian''er like a massive boulder.


    The pressure, comparable to a third-level spirit, hit Qian''er unexpectedly, causing her legs to buckle, nearly forcing her to kneel!


    Wei Yuhong quickly steadied her, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay, Qian''er?"


    "I''m fine, just feeling a bit disappointed that my sister is as heartless as this morning," Qian''er feigned vulnerability, trying to excuse herself while secretly cursing. Once her strength increased, she would completely crush this ugly freak!


    At that moment, she noticed the dark spots on Nangong Huan''s face had faded significantly, causing her to frown. Was it the lighting?


    Wei Yuhong shot a disdainful look at Nangong Huan. The woman was becoming increasingly intolerable! But when he caught sight of Dong Yan Chao behind her, a hint of caution crossed his mind.


    "Heartless? Thank you for the compliment, dear sister. That¡¯s what an elder should do," Nangong Huan replied, her words slightly off-kilter yet somehow meaningful upon reflection.


    Jealousy flickered in Qian''er¡¯s eyes, and her anger surged.


    The steward, ever perceptive, approached Qian''er with a flattering smile. "Miss Qian''er, your talent is truly exceptional; it wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to call you the top genius of Jianglou City!"


    Everyone knew that Qian''er and Wei Yuhong had tested at the ninth level of talent. They were practically unparalleled geniuses!


    In just two short days, Qian''er had broken through to the second-level spirit, making her a true prodigy among prodigies!


    Hearing the steward''s praise, Qian''er¡¯s expression softened slightly.


    "I¡¯ll take that ring," she declared, pointing at the red crystal ring and casting a haughty glance at Nangong Huan, as if to say: everything you like, I will take!Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The steward beamed with delight. "Of course, Miss Qian''er! I¡¯ll wrap it up for you right away!"


    He shoved Nangong Huan aside, carefully retrieving the ring and wiping it clean, afraid of even a speck of dust touching it.


    "No need to wrap it; I''ll wear it right away." Qian''er snatched the ring and slipped it onto her index finger, the red gem accentuating her fair, slender hand.


    "Qian''er, this ring is a gift from me. Only you deserve such a treasure," Wei Yuhong declared generously, swiping a two-million spiritual stock card.


    "You¡¯re the best, Yuhong!" Qian''er giggled softly, raising her finger to flaunt it, her gaze tauntingly challenging Nangong Huan.


    *Clap, clap, clap¡ª*


    Nangong Huan couldn¡¯t help but applaud the two.


    What fools!


    They were truly a pair of big idiots!


    Spending two million spiritual stocks on a ring that contained nothing but a worthless stone! She was suddenly curious about their expressions once they discovered the truth.


    "Congratulations to you both on your future together. I wish you a lifetime of happiness and many children. Please don¡¯t go around harming other innocent young men and women. I have things to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave," Nangong Huan said, cupping her hands in a mock salute as she breezed past them, heading down the stairs.


    She was too busy to play house with these two kids.


    "As long as you know your place," Wei Yuhong scoffed, watching Nangong Huan leave without looking back. Her nonchalance seemed genuine, which stirred a strange feeling in him.


    But he quickly brushed it aside, focusing instead on the radiant Qian''er. As long as she was happy, nothing else mattered.


    "Qian''er, didn¡¯t you want to see the spirit beast eggs? Steward, bring us the highest quality spirit beast eggs you have!" Wei Yuhong commanded, raising his hand.


    Qian''er blushed, "It¡¯s a pity Sister Huan left; I wanted to buy her a good weapon."


    "Forget about her; she doesn¡¯t deserve it!" Wei Yuhong took her hand.


    The steward, seizing the opportunity, chimed in disdainfully, "Miss Huan clearly doesn¡¯t deserve anything. She came here without wanting any treasures, only a piece of fabric! In my opinion, she¡¯s as worthless as that fabric!"


    His words struck a chord with Qian''er.


    To come here without wanting treasures? Only a fool would do something so incomprehensible! A flicker of disdain crossed Wei Yuhong''s eyes, but he felt something was off.


    Qian''er didn¡¯t dwell on it. Satisfied, she said, "Enough about her. Steward, show us the spirit beast eggs."


    She was determined to choose the best spirit beast contract to defeat everyone in the disciple trials!


    Not long after, two masked figures appeared outside the door of the Professional Certification Association.


    Due to their easily recognizable features, Nangong Huan had deliberately concealed her face with a veil, while Dong Yan Chao donned a wide-brimmed hat to obscure his identity.


    Certain special professions required certification at this location, such as potion masters. Once certified, they could collect a stipend every month, with higher ranks reaping greater rewards.


    In this world, potion masters were rare and esteemed. Each person''s advancement depended on the potions crafted by these masters, yet only a few possessed the talent to become one.


    To become a potion master, one must first have an affinity for magical herbs. Without that affinity, the herbs would turn to sludge in the cauldron, eliminating the vast majority of applicants.


    "Hello, may I ask what profession you wish to certify?" the woman behind the counter asked respectfully.


    "Potion master," Nangong Huan replied, lowering her voice.


    The woman¡¯s respect deepened as she pulled out a form. "Please fill this out, and you can begin the assessment immediately."


    Due to the high threshold for potion masters, few people came for certification.


    Nangong Huan picked up a pen, glancing at the first line labeled "Name." She paused for a moment, turning to look at her natural airhead companion, then wrote down two elegant characters¡ª**Black Lotus**.

 *Chapter 15: The Awakening of a Genius*

    "Miss Black Lotus, please follow me," the woman gestured politely, leading Nangong Huan to the side hall, the place for potion master certification.


    As they approached, a rich aroma of herbs filled the air, invigorating their senses.


    Dong Yan Chao also caught a whiff, swallowing hard, his hands itching to touch the magical herbs. But just then, he was handed a few candies instead.


    Whoa, you can¡¯t just touch anything here!


    As they walked through, both sides of the path were lined with shelves displaying a plethora of magical herbs.


    Over the years, with the help of the Spirit Elder, Nangong Huan had learned to simulate the potion-making process using spirit energy, becoming familiar with these herbs and their refining methods.


    Dong Yan Chao waited outside the side hall while Nangong Huan stepped inside. What greeted her were several gray potion furnaces of varying sizes, the smallest one could be held in the palm of her hand, while the largest required both arms to embrace.


    Inside the hall, a distinguished woman dressed elegantly was chatting amicably with an elderly man.


    "Princess Chang, if you have any requests, feel free to speak," Elder Xue said with a warm smile, his demeanor kind.


    "Teacher, please just call me Xiran. To be honest, I..." Song Xiran¡¯s words trailed off as Nangong Huan was brought in.


    Nangong Huan caught only the tail end of their conversation and glanced at the noblewoman. Was that the Princess Chang?


    It was rumored that the royal family of the Fengxuan Empire had a particularly beautiful princess, ethereal and graceful. Seeing her today, the rumors were indeed true.


    "Here for the assessment? Step over here, child," Elder Xue beckoned to Nangong Huan, then turned back to Song Xiran. "Please wait a moment, I¡¯ll assess this student first."


    Song Xiran fell silent, sitting elegantly with her hands resting in her lap, her demeanor graceful as she secretly scrutinized Nangong Huan.


    Elder Xue glanced at the form Nangong Huan had submitted, then pointed to a nearby crystal ball. "Place your hand on this to test your affinity."


    Seeing that Elder Xue didn¡¯t mind Song Xiran¡¯s presence, Nangong Huan placed her hand on the crystal ball.


    In that instant, the crystal ball shimmered with vibrant colors, gradually turning red!


    "Hmm?" Elder Xue¡¯s eyes widened, his neck stretching as he leaned closer, nearly pressing his face against the crystal ball!


    Within seconds, the crystal ball transformed into a bright red!


    A number appeared in the center: one hundred!This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "One hundred percent affinity?!" Elder Xue exclaimed, stunned into silence!


    Could it be broken? He pulled his hand away and placed his own on the ball, quickly revealing a number: eighty-one.


    Well, it wasn¡¯t broken! She truly had one hundred percent affinity!


    He recalled historical records¡ªthe last person with one hundred percent affinity was over three thousand years ago!


    Elder Xue looked at Nangong Huan in shock, finding her equally astonished.


    Nangong Huan knew she had an affinity for magical herbs but didn¡¯t know how high it was. To find out it was one hundred percent was astonishing!


    "Foolish disciple, the Earth Spirit Energy possesses an absolute affinity for all natural beings," the Spirit Elder scoffed proudly.


    Song Xiran¡¯s eyes brightened, contemplating how talented this girl was. If she could recruit her...


    "You¡¯re called Black Lotus? Only sixteen years old? Can you remove your veil?" Elder Xue took another serious look at the form, wondering when Jianglou City had produced such a genius. Was she a disciple of some old master?


    Nangong Huan hesitated before responding, "I¡¯m sorry, senior. I was burned as a child, and my face is scarred. I don¡¯t want anyone to see."


    "No problem, you can start refining potions now," Elder Xue nodded, not pressing further, feeling sympathetic towards Nangong Huan.


    Nangong Huan approached the herb shelves, selecting several magical herbs before choosing a suitably sized furnace. She ignited it with her spirit energy, carefully adding the herbs one by one.


    This time, she was refining a special potion for digestion.


    While the steps seemed simple, the actual execution required precise control and mental focus from a potion master.


    Nangong Huan infused her spirit energy into the herbs, constantly monitoring the changes.


    As time passed, the potion in the furnace began to emit a strange blue glow.


    After about fifteen minutes, the potion turned a deep blue. At that moment, Nangong Huan extinguished the flame, quickly pouring it into a glass vial and sealing it.


    The deep blue liquid glimmered with an ethereal light, reminding Nangong Huan of the deep blue in Dong Yan Chao''s eyes.


    Both Elder Xue and Song Xiran gasped in awe!


    "A digestion potion, grade three, with a one hundred percent fusion rate!" Elder Xue was stunned!


    Potions were graded from one to ten, with one being the lowest and ten the highest. The fusion rate directly corresponded to the potion''s efficacy.


    Most potions on the market had a fusion rate of around fifty percent, meaning they could only deliver half their potential. For example, this digestion potion, at the same grade, would last a month with Nangong Huan¡¯s formulation, while one with a fifty percent fusion rate would only last half a month.


    For potions that required a success rate, like promotion potions, the success rate was often only fifty percent, so everyone aimed for high fusion rates when buying.


    Even high-level potion master elders typically achieved a maximum fusion rate of ninety; no one had ever managed one hundred percent!


    "A chosen potion master!" Elder Xue exclaimed, stepping forward to grasp Nangong Huan''s hands. "May I ask who your master is? Can I meet him?"


    "My master... is called the Spirit Elder. He enjoys wandering and I¡¯m not sure where he is," Nangong Huan replied, twitching her lips. Well, he was actually in her Dimensional Ring.


    The Spirit Elder? Elder Xue pondered. Among the top potion masters he knew, none had the surname "Spirit." Could he be some hidden powerhouse?


    Elder Xue looked at Nangong Huan with increasing admiration.


    "Alright, if there¡¯s a chance, I hope to meet him. By the way, here¡¯s a badge for you." Elder Xue rummaged through a drawer for a while before producing a unique black-gold potion master badge, inscribing "Black Lotus" on the back before handing it to her.


    "This badge seems different?" Nangong Huan examined it closely, noticing it was quite distinct from ordinary potion master badges, feeling exquisite in texture with intricate carvings.


    "Hehe, this is a special badge for esteemed potion masters. With this badge, wherever you go, you¡¯ll be treated as a guest of honor!" Elder Xue proudly explained.


    Esteemed badge! Nangong Huan nearly dropped it in shock!


    Who would have thought that in just a certification, she would receive a badge of such high status!


    At this moment, Nangong Huan was unaware of just how precious this badge was; even in the entire Fengxuan Empire, there were no more than five holders!

 *Chapter 16: Beating Shen Yeqiong Severely

    ¡°Thank you for your kindness, senior.¡± Nangong Huan accepted the badge without further thought. In her eyes, all badges were the same as long as they allowed her to purchase magical herbs.


    ¡°To be honest, I have a humble request,¡± Elder Xue said, his expression turning serious.


    Seeing Elder Xue''s straightforwardness, Nangong Huan straightened her posture and replied, ¡°Please, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°In a year, there will be a grand Potion Master Conference among the Seven Nations. This event happens once every ten years, and next year it will be held in Fengxuan. I hope to see you there,¡± Elder Xue said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. The Seven Nations Conference was a coveted event for countless potion masters!


    The Seven Nations Conference? Nangong Huan¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. Such a grand competition must have substantial rewards!


    ¡°I will definitely make time to attend,¡± Nangong Huan promised.


    Elder Xue laughed heartily, giving her shoulder a friendly pat. ¡°Good! If you need anything else, feel free to come to the association to find me.¡±


    As long as this child is given the opportunity to grow, her future achievements will be remarkable!


    ¡°Thank you, senior,¡± Nangong Huan said respectfully, cupping her fists.


    Just as she was about to turn and leave, Song Xiran stood up, saying, ¡°Miss Black Lotus, this is my token. If you ever need anything, you can come directly to the palace to find me.¡±


    Song Xiran took out a smooth, snow-white jade pendant shaped like a marten and placed it in Nangong Huan''s hand.


    This marten symbol was the emblem of the Fengxuan royal family.


    As expected of a royal item, the pendant felt warm to the touch, embedded with spirit seeds, which would be beneficial to wear long-term.


    Nangong Huan understood that Song Xiran was trying to recruit her. The pendant¡¯s value was evident, and it could save her a lot of trouble in the future.


    ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡± Nangong Huan pocketed the pendant. ¡°I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±


    ¡°Until we meet again,¡± Song Xiran nodded, watching as Nangong Huan turned to leave.


    It wasn''t until Nangong Huan''s figure disappeared that Song Xiran returned to her seat.


    ¡°Teacher, that Black Lotus girl is truly impressive,¡± Song Xiran praised sincerely. If she hadn¡¯t seen it with her own eyes, she might have thought it was a hoax.


    ¡°She is indeed extraordinary. By the way, what were you going to discuss with me earlier?¡± Elder Xue asked as he settled back down.


    Song Xiran¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°As you know, the Yunxing Sect announced its entry into the world a few days ago. The old sect master said that a Ziwei Star has descended upon our Fengxuan Empire, and sent his descendant, Kongtong Yu, to the palace. That girl did a divination for me and said that a woman holding a Pure Light Silk will appear, controlling my life and death. This woman seems to be related to the Ziwei Star and is supposedly here in Jianglou City.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Elder Xue reassured her, ¡°Your Highness, you are blessed by fate and have nothing to fear. Moreover, the Pure Light Silk is currently stored in the treasure vault of the Fengxuan Royal Academy, and no one possesses it. If it were to be taken, we would know who took it by asking the academy.¡±


    His words eased Song Xiran¡¯s worries. ¡°You¡¯re right, perhaps I was overthinking it.¡±


    ¡°However, what you mentioned about the Ziwei Star appearing is quite intriguing. I fear that various factions will stir up chaos over her,¡± Elder Xue said, brewing another pot of tea, watching the leaves swirl in the water, lost in thought.


    ---


    With the badge in hand, Nangong Huan and Dong Yan Chao immediately headed to the largest magical herb shop in the city, located next to the association.


    As they entered, Nangong Huan held Dong Yan Chao¡¯s hands to prevent him from touching the herbs, while stuffing some candies into his hands.


    The glutton''s eyes darted around, almost drooling at the sight of the magical herbs.


    ¡°Behave, and I¡¯ll take you to eat something delicious later,¡± Nangong Huan said, patting him, which finally calmed him down.


    ¡°Esteemed Potion Master, what kind of herbs do you need?¡± the shopkeeper greeted them with a smile. Only potion masters entered the shop.


    Nangong Huan didn¡¯t hold back and began to order, ¡°This one, that one, and that one... please pack me two of each.¡±


    Most of the herbs were low-grade and not very expensive. Besides the materials for promotion potions, she also picked some herbs to help her grandfather''s health.


    ¡°Alright!¡± The shopkeeper swiftly began packing the items.


    Just as Nangong Huan contemplated whether to buy more, a beautifully dressed woman entered the shop.


    The moment the woman stepped in, she said, ¡°Shopkeeper, prepare two portions of those old formulas for me, I need them urgently.¡±


    Hmm? Shen Yeyao?!


    Nangong Huan¡¯s gaze sharpened. This woman was none other than Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s mother, Shen Yeyao!


    Of course, Shen Yeyao was a fourth-grade potion master, so it was not surprising to see her here. She held significant prestige in the city.


    ¡°Uh, Madam Shen, there are only two portions of the Red Candle Leaves left, and this young lady just bought them. We¡¯re currently restocking and it will take an hour. Would you mind waiting? I¡¯ll send someone to deliver them to your residence later,¡± the shopkeeper said, somewhat awkwardly. After all, this girl had arrived first.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Shen Yeyao cast a disdainful glance at Nangong Huan, her eyes betraying a hint of contempt, though she managed to mask it well.


    A little girl thinks she can compete with her?


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take those two portions of Red Candle Leaves. If you want to buy them, you¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer,¡± Shen Yeyao waved her hand dismissively. In Jianglou City, even the city lord had to show her respect.


    If this young girl had any sense, she wouldn¡¯t dare to compete with a senior potion master like her.


    ¡°First come, first served. I arrived first. Are you planning to rob me in broad daylight?¡± Nangong Huan refused to back down, her attitude firm.


    If it were anyone else, she might have yielded after a few polite words, but this was Shen Yeyao, and that made all the difference!


    ¡°This¡­¡± The shopkeeper was taken aback, panic flashing in his eyes as he desperately signaled to Nangong Huan. After all, she was a fourth-grade potion master¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford to offend her!


    Shen Yeyao frowned, her expression darkening. ¡°Young lady, don¡¯t narrow your path. By seniority, you should address me as ¡®senior.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Do you deserve it?¡± Nangong Huan scoffed, a flicker of cold light flashing in her eyes beneath her veil. This venomous woman had placed a curse on her grandfather¡¯s body, and she would never let her go!


    Those three words ignited Shen Yeyao''s fury. She finally lowered her head to meet Nangong Huan''s gaze, her eyes radiating danger.


    ¡°With just one word from me, you won¡¯t see tomorrow¡¯s sun!¡± Shen Yeyao threatened, still maintaining her haughty demeanor.


    ¡°Wrong, wrong.¡± Nangong Huan simply called out, and a gust of wind swept past her ears.


    In a flash, Dong Yan Chao stepped forward, raising his hand to deliver a sharp slap, sending Shen Yeyao flying out of the shop and rolling down the steps!


    This unexpected turn of events left everyone stunned!


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Shen Yeyao, caught off guard, spat out a mouthful of blood that arced beautifully through the air, crashing heavily to the ground. Two of her teeth flew out, her cheek swollen and bloodied from the force of the slap¡ªthis was more brutal than any previous encounter!


    The shopkeeper was left dumbfounded, trembling as he retreated behind the counter, peeking out with half his head, terrified as he watched Shen Yeyao.


    This girl was reckless! How could she dare to publicly strike Madam Shen?!

 *Chapter 17: The Clash of Powers

    A group of maidservants rushed to Shen Yeyao''s side, helping her up while nervously adjusting her clothes and hair, their heads bowed in fear that she might vent her anger on them.


    Shen Yeyao trembled, covering her face with her hand, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes locked onto Nangong Huan with a deadly glare, filled with a mixture of rage and disbelief.


    The fiery pain on her face and the metallic taste of blood in her mouth were sensations she had never experienced before. Fury coursed through her veins like wildfire!


    Onlookers gathered outside the shop, unable to resist the spectacle unfolding before them. The sight of a fourth-grade potion master being publicly humiliated by a mere girl was too enticing to miss!


    Nangong Huan casually touched the badge in her pocket, confident that her esteemed title far outweighed that of a fourth-grade potion master.


    "You, what''s your name?" Shen Yeyao pushed away the maidservants surrounding her, ignoring the burning sensation on her cheek as she advanced toward Nangong Huan, her gaze sharp and venomous.


    Despite her taller stature, Nangong Huan stood her ground, her aura unyielding. "You don''t deserve to know."


    "Ha, are you scared?" Shen Yeyao sneered, her smile devoid of warmth, sending chills down the spines of those around.


    With a flick of her sleeve, a gust of wind swirled around them.


    Nangong Huan narrowed her eyes, a light laugh escaping her lips. "Yes, I''m so scared. Please, madam, gather your bugs; I¡¯m terrified!"


    With a swift motion, Nangong Huan flicked her wrist, sending three white bugs flying to the ground, where she promptly crushed them underfoot, their juices splattering everywhere.


    Shen Yeyao''s expression darkened. How could she see through her use of cursed insects?


    While most would have been oblivious, Nangong Huan had the advantage of her familiar, Xiao Jiu, who could detect such things!


    The two women stood in tense silence, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills, the atmosphere crackling with tension.


    The shopkeeper trembled, wishing for this standoff to end. When would these two titans reach a resolution?


    "Shopkeeper, time to settle the bill," Shen Yeyao said, suppressing her fury, her voice heavy with disdain as she tossed her fourth-grade potion master badge onto the counter, its platinum sheen glinting in the light.


    The shopkeeper swallowed hard, rushing to gather the requested herbs, his hands shaking.


    Shen Yeyao raised an eyebrow in a taunting manner, as if to say, "Let¡¯s see how you handle this, little girl."


    Nangong Huan smirked, her lips curling into a confident grin. "You really think I¡¯ll let you have this?"Stolen story; please report.


    In a fluid motion, she flicked her sleeve, revealing a shiny black-gold badge that glimmered ominously as it struck the counter beside Shen Yeyao''s badge!


    Though smaller than the platinum badge, the intricate patterns and overwhelming aura of the black-gold badge completely overshadowed the former!


    "Shopkeeper, settle the bill," Nangong Huan said calmly, lifting her chin slightly, turning her back on Shen Yeyao with a dismissive air.


    The shopkeeper was left in a daze, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed!


    Shen Yeyao''s pupils contracted in shock, taking a step back in disbelief.


    This girl was a respected potion master?! How could that be?


    Such badges were crafted using special techniques and could not be faked¡ªthis black-gold badge was genuine!


    The shopkeeper''s heart raced as he hurriedly collected the herbs Nangong Huan needed, even using high-quality sealed boxes to present them with trembling hands.


    He had never encountered such a prominent figure in his life!


    "Since you''re a respected master, consider these herbs a gift to calm your nerves," the shopkeeper stammered, his voice quaking.


    "No need for that; I pay what I owe. Fairness is key," Nangong Huan replied, emphasizing her last four words, subtly hinting at the implications.


    She wasn¡¯t in a hurry to take the herbs; instead, she pointed to two large cabinets. "Pack everything in those cabinets for me. Oh, and that rare herb in the special box as well."


    She had spotted the Nine-Leaf Precious Ginseng, a highly sought-after medicinal herb that would be perfect for her grandfather. Initially hesitant to buy it due to its steep price, she now saw an opportunity...


    Yes, she would give Shen Yeyao a grand surprise!


    "Of course, respected master," the shopkeeper said, rushing to fulfill her request.


    As word spread of the appearance of a respected potion master, more onlookers gathered, eager to catch a glimpse, even pushing Shen Yeyao''s entourage aside.


    Shen Yeyao''s face twisted in anger; she had always been the one to command respect, never the one to bow down.


    But seeing the respected potion master¡¯s badge, she swallowed her fury and animosity, lowering her stance. "So it¡¯s a respected potion master. If you had shown your badge earlier, I wouldn''t have contested with you. I hope you can forgive me for this misunderstanding."


    Nangong Huan''s companion, Dong Yan Chao, raised an eyebrow, silently mocking Shen Yeyao¡¯s attempt to smooth things over.


    "I believe you might be mistaken, madam. I was here first to buy these herbs; how did it turn into a contest? You suggest I present my badge earlier¡ªare you trying to command me? If you truly mean to apologize, then you should cover the cost of my order," Nangong Huan said, spreading her hands in a mock gesture.


    She was laying a trap!


    While herbs should be free, she wouldn''t let the innocent townsfolk suffer losses!


    Shen Yeyao clenched her fists tightly. The cost of this order... Not to mention the two cabinets of herbs, just the Nine-Leaf Precious Ginseng alone was worth twenty million spirit stocks!


    It was more valuable than the combined worth of the two cabinets!


    She wouldn''t even dare buy it herself, and now she had to give it to this little brat? How could she accept that?!


    "Madam, the total comes to thirty-four million seven hundred thousand spirit stocks. I¡¯ll round it down to thirty million; how does that sound?" the shopkeeper said, having finished packaging the herbs and presenting a storage bag to Nangong Huan.


    "No, no, no! We¡¯re all in business here; you¡¯ve worked hard too. Not a single spirit stock less, right? Isn¡¯t that right, madam?" Nangong Huan patted the shopkeeper''s shoulder and turned to Shen Yeyao with a challenging look from beneath her veil.


    The shopkeeper broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that it was clear Nangong Huan was aiming for Shen Yeyao to suffer a loss.


    Anyone could see that the respected potion master was retaliating against Shen Yeyao.


    But who dared to speak up for her? No one wanted to offend a respected potion master!


    "Fine! I¡¯ll pay!" Shen Yeyao gritted her teeth, her voice strained, her eyes burning with anger as she reluctantly handed over a black spirit stock card to the shopkeeper.


    Her eyes were filled with resentment and fury, wishing she could eliminate Nangong Huan on the spot, but she held herself back.


    No matter how unwilling she was, she could not openly confront a respected potion master in public.


    Moreover, with the certification association nearby, if this little brat reported her, she would have no way out!

 *Chapter 18: Unveiling Hidden Threats

    "The lady''s extravagance is truly admirable. I hope that in future situations, she won''t resort to forceful actions." N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n watched as the shopkeeper swiped his card and stepped forward to retrieve the badges, including Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o''s. He placed them in her hands.


    Inside, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n felt a surge of satisfaction¡ªtake that, old witch!


    With a contented smile, she left with D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°.


    Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o gripped the badge tightly, her hand trembling slightly as the sharp edges pierced her palm, drawing crimson blood. Yet, she didn''t loosen her hold; instead, she tightened her grip.


    After taking a few deep breaths to calm her rising anger, she steadied her expression and hurried away.


    She needed to investigate the background of this esteemed potion master.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n and D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° walked back to the estate through a secluded path.


    Once they were sure no one was around, they removed their disguises and swaggered into the estate.


    After inquiring with a servant, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n learned that her grandfather was still preparing in the training grounds. She headed to her courtyard to concoct the potions she needed.


    Taking out her trusty novice alchemy furnace, she first brewed a potion for ascending to the Second Spirit Level. After consuming it, she successfully advanced to the initial stage of the Second Spirit Level. Next, she prepared a potion to replenish her grandfather''s physical strength, and of course, a potion to deal with Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o.


    ¡°Y¨¤nj¨©, Xu¨¨j¨©, here are two bottles for you.¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n summoned the twin sisters and handed each of them a potion.


    The liquid inside the potion bottles had a peculiar gray, smoky appearance.


    "This? Can we drink it?" Y¨¤nj¨© exchanged glances with Xu¨¨j¨©, uncertain since they were soul entities and couldn''t consume potions like humans.


    "Don''t worry, this is specially formulated for soul spirits. Your souls have been damaged, but since your three souls and seven spirits are intact, this will help restore them. You are now my people, and I will do everything I can to enhance your powers. I¡¯ll be counting on you to protect me in the future," N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n said with a smile, nodding at them.


    Initially, her budget wasn''t enough to buy these materials, but encountering the unsuspecting Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o allowed her to share the spoils with those around her. She even prepared a few bottles of delicious potions for D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°, sprinkling them on his food to enhance the flavor.


    Meanwhile, he was happily munching on a chicken leg, intrigued by the taste.


    "Master!" Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© felt touched. Although they initially had some lingering doubts, now that they were soul entities in a weakened state, their value seemed diminished. N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s willingness to brew potions for their restoration moved them deeply.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    While tidying up her workspace, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n chuckled, "Once you take this, your foundations will be restored, and you can consume other soul entities to enhance your cultivation. Later, let¡¯s go to Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o¡¯s place for a feast."


    Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© finally smiled, opening the potion bottles. The smoky potion swirled up lightly and was inhaled by them.


    As the potion entered their bodies, their souls visibly began to mend.


    "Are we going to deal with the death soldiers that Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o has been raising?" Y¨¤nj¨© felt rejuvenated, brimming with energy at the prospect of a fight.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n snapped her fingers. "You guessed it! But first, I need to check on Grandpa."


    "Master, I know the locations and distribution of the death soldiers! No wonder Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o acted without caution. She must have known we would reach this point," Xu¨¨j¨© bowed her head, her eyes still reflecting lingering resentment.


    "Don''t worry; she will have her day," N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n replied with a bright smile, her peach blossom eyes sparkling with determination.


    Summoning the two souls into her pendant, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n made her way to N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng''s study, where she found him deep in thought.


    To avoid disturbing her grandfather, she instructed D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° to wait outside.


    At that moment, N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng was perusing a confidential letter, his brow furrowed.


    Seeing N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n enter, he set the letter down and smiled. "Huan''er, why are you still awake at this hour?"


    "I wanted to find Grandpa, so I came to see you!" N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n bounced over to N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng, her face lit up with a cute smile.


    Only in front of her grandfather did she allow herself to act like a carefree child.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng affectionately ruffled her hair. "You''re quite the charmer."


    At that moment, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n caught a glimpse of the letter on the table, which mentioned a powerful potion master capable of restoring one''s appearance, but the price was a hundred billion spirit stocks and the loyalty of the entire N¨¢ng¨­u family.


    Her heart warmed, realizing her grandfather was thinking of her. Now, she wouldn¡¯t need to pay such a hefty price; her appearance would soon be restored.


    "Grandpa, look at this!" N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n took her grandfather''s hand and summoned Little Nine.


    The tiny Nine Menglong perched on the table, its big eyes blinking adorably.


    "Huh?" N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng was momentarily stunned, then his eyes widened in surprise. "This is your contracted divine beast, Nine Menglong! How cute!"


    He had read about this rare divine beast in books several times. Now that it was contracted by his granddaughter, he felt immense joy.


    He couldn''t help but reach out to pet Little Nine''s head.


    "Ow!" Little Nine wagged its tail, appearing somewhat shy.


    "Let me check your condition." N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng took her hand to feel her pulse. Previously, he hadn''t examined it closely, but now he sensed the profound power within her.


    Second Spirit Level! She had actually advanced to the Second Spirit Level! N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng was overjoyed, tears welling in his eyes.


    A genius! His granddaughter was indeed a genius!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears from N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng''s eyes.


    In a gentle voice, she said, "Grandpa, don¡¯t get too excited. When I contracted Little Nine, I discovered a worm inside me that ruined my appearance. It was Little Nine who helped me expel it. This morning, I found out there¡¯s a worm inside you as well, so I brought Little Nine to help expel it from you too."


    "Worm?!" N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng''s expression changed dramatically, his first thought being Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o.


    He wasn''t unaware of Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o''s actions, but he had turned a blind eye, considering her status as a potion master. He never expected she would extend her hand toward her own kin!


    "Grandpa, let¡¯s expel the worm from your body first." N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n immediately instructed Little Nine to take action, making a small incision on N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng''s arm.

 *Chapter 19: Giving Madam Shen Another Surprise

    A flash of purple light flickered, and on N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng''s shoulder, a bulge appeared, slowly moving toward the wound. It successfully forced the worm out.


    A blood-red worm fell onto the table, still wriggling, its plump body indicating it had feasted well on N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng''s spirit energy.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng''s expression darkened as he swiftly slapped the worm, crushing it instantly!


    No wonder his cultivation had stagnated over the years, even showing signs of regression. No matter how many condensing spirit potions he took, his internal energy always dissipated easily! This had to be Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o''s doing!


    ¡°Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o, you are heartless, and I won¡¯t be merciful!¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng furrowed his brows, darkness filling his eyes.


    However, his gaze quickly brightened; his granddaughter was still beside him, and he didn''t want to frighten her.


    ¡°Huan''er, what about your face?¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng reached out to touch N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s face, noticing that the dark spots had faded significantly.


    ¡°My face will gradually return to normal, Grandpa. You don¡¯t need to seek help from others,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n pointed at the letter on the table, feeling the urge to tear it up right then and there.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng chuckled, relieved that N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n had come early; otherwise, he would have been considering negotiating with someone.


    ¡°What you say makes sense,¡± he replied readily, tearing the letter into pieces.


    ¡°By the way, Huan''er, today is your birthday, but I¡¯ve been busy these past few days and can¡¯t celebrate with you. I can only give you your birthday gift now and make it up to you later. Open it and see if you like it.¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng smiled as he presented a brocade box in front of N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n.


    Birthday gift! N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s eyes lit up, eagerly opening the box to find a finely crafted dagger named "Radiant Gold Blade."


    The hilt was black, with wind patterns engraved on the side, and the base was inlaid with a precious wind-type spirit crystal from a Seven Spirit Level Skywind Eagle. The blade was adorned with dark golden engravings, which N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n recognized as a type of engraving that could enhance the dagger''s power. Such a dagger could only be crafted by a seventh-tier weapon master!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n cherished the hilt, swinging it a few times. The sharp sound echoed, and the blade glinted with a cold light, feeling incredibly light in her hand!


    Top quality!


    ¡°Thank you, Grandpa! I love it!¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s eyes sparkled as she waved the dagger several times, finding it very comfortable to wield.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you like it; it¡¯s for your self-defense,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng nodded with a smile. Now that Huan''er could cultivate, this dagger would serve her well.


    After playing with the dagger for a while, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n remembered the important matter.


    ¡°By the way, Grandpa, here¡¯s something for you.¡± She placed a potion bottle on the table. ¡°Your body has been weakened by the worm; this will help you recover.¡±


    She had specially added the Nine Leaf Precious Ginseng Fruit into the potion. If her grandfather was lucky enough, it might not only repair his previous injuries but also help him break through to the Seven Spirit Level!


    Looking at the transparent potion in the bottle, N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng curiously asked, ¡°Where did you get this potion?¡±


    ¡°Grandpa, do you believe me if I say I made it?¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n flashed an innocent smile, knowing that even a three-year-old wouldn¡¯t believe her.


    But N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng laughed heartily, ¡°I believe you! Grandpa trusts you!¡±


    Saying that, he uncorked the bottle and drank the potion, which had a slightly sweet taste.


    Seeing her grandfather drink it, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n felt relieved.


    After consuming the potion, N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng felt his internal energy begin to surge, a warmth spreading through him¡ªa sensation he hadn''t felt in ages, almost like he was transported back to over a decade ago!


    ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m going to rest now. You should get some rest too,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n noticed that N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng''s energy was about to explode and used it as an excuse to slip away.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨m¨ªng nodded, his face glowing with health.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n quickly pulled D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° away.


    With the guidance of Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨©, the two arrived outside a dilapidated courtyard on East Street.


    The narrow alley was dim, with paths extending into the darkness, carrying a chill.


    ¡°Master, Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o¡¯s death soldiers are all kept here. Most of them are at the Second and Third Spirit Levels, with one at the Fifth Spirit Level. Be careful,¡± Y¨¤nj¨© whispered.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n quietly released her spiritual energy into her eyes, using it to probe the area and locate the resting death soldiers inside the building.


    These death soldiers rested differently from normal people, standing in orderly rows, about forty in total.


    There were also two hidden on the roof, keeping watch.


    Most of them were at the Second Spirit Level, with four at the Third Spirit Level, but she didn¡¯t see the Fifth Spirit Level death soldier that Xu¨¨j¨© mentioned; it must not be here.


    ¡°There are two on the roof outside,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n glanced at Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨©, who were eager to show their skills.


    ¡°Leave it to us, Master!¡± Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© replied excitedly, ready to demonstrate their worth!


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n nodded. Soul entities could injure other soul entities, and once their souls were gone, they would be nothing but corpses.


    Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© flew toward the death soldiers, approaching from behind without them noticing. With a powerful slap to their backs, the souls of the two death soldiers were instantly forced out, and Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© quickly wrapped their soul energy around the souls, sucking them into their own!


    Fighting with souls was that simple and brutal: it was either you eat me, or I eat you.


    Their soul energy grew slightly stronger.


    With their souls gone, the two death soldiers¡¯ bodies toppled forward. Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© quickly took control, one flying back to stand before N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n.


    In simpler terms, this was also a form of possession.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n then peeked over the wall to observe the situation in the courtyard.


    D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° followed suit, peeking in as well. Hmm, there was nothing to eat here¡ªnot even wild vegetables.


    The courtyard was small but clean, devoid of clutter, making it a suitable place to showcase their skills.


    However, there were too many opponents, and once a fight broke out, it would be easy to alert others.

 *Chapter 20: His Protection

    Quickly, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n devised a plan in her mind.


    The group stealthily infiltrated the courtyard, beginning to arrange their formations.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n pressed her hands against the ground, summoning the deep-rooted tree roots buried beneath. They coiled together below, tips pointing upwards, ready to strike!


    An old crooked tree outside the courtyard responded to her call, its branches and leaves rapidly expanding, casting shadows over half the courtyard.


    While it didn¡¯t cover the entire area, half was sufficient.


    Unbeknownst to N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, a pair of dark red eyes, like blood, opened in a shadowy corner, their beast-like gaze slowly shifting towards her. The figure remained silent, even its breathing barely perceptible.


    None of the group noticed, except for D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°.


    He could distinctly sense the dormant gaze lurking in the shadows, but since Huan''er had said she would confront anyone who bullied her, and this figure hadn¡¯t done so... well, he decided to ignore it for now.


    ¡°It''s about time. You two, go call them out,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n instructed the two soul entities, Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨©. They promptly took control of the death soldiers'' bodies and approached.


    They boldly opened the door, lowering their voices to rasp, ¡°The lady wants all of you in the courtyard.¡±


    The death soldiers awakened, unperturbed, and lined up orderly as they made their way outside.


    However, they looked around and found no sign of Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o.


    At that moment, the ground trembled as countless sharp roots shot up from the earth, piercing through the hearts of the death soldiers, or penetrating their dantians, or even piercing their skulls!


    Leaves fell from the branches like blades, turning them into porcupines!


    Pffft!


    Blood sprayed forth, producing only a faint sound, and in the clamor of the cicadas at night, no one could perceive what transpired in the courtyard.


    Some death soldiers, still clinging to life, attempted to scream, but Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© swiftly rushed forward, drawing their blades to sever their heads!


    In just a breath''s time, all the death soldiers lay dead!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n moved with precision, drawing the Radiant Gold Blade her grandfather had given her earlier. With swift strikes, she decapitated one head after another, showing no sign of hesitation, and stored them all in her storage pouch. She was planning to give Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o a grand surprise later!


    With every head she severed, a worm crawled out from the corpses, writhing for a moment before N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n crushed it underfoot.


    She didn''t know how many worms Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o had raised, but N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n was certain that this was not the only nest of death soldiers. There must be other places where she kept her worms.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© didn¡¯t lag behind, absorbing the souls of the forty-plus death soldiers, significantly enhancing their own strength, equivalent to the power of three spirit-level beings!


    D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° remained dazed, watching N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n kill without blinking, blood splattering onto her clothes, leaving spots of red like plum blossoms. The moonlight cast a faint silver glow on her hem.


    His attention was entirely captured by N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s spirited eyes and her confident smile, causing his heart to race involuntarily. The way she wielded her blade was captivating...


    ¡°Master, isn¡¯t that Fifth Spirit Level death soldier supposed to be here?¡± Y¨¤nj¨© noticed something was off and asked.


    Just as she spoke, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n sensed a powerful killing intent approaching from behind!


    She turned just in time to catch a glimpse of three cold throwing daggers flying towards her, their speed so swift that they were nearly upon her as she turned!


    The daggers contained immense force, far beyond what she could currently withstand. However, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n reacted quickly, dodging to the side almost instinctively, narrowly avoiding the three daggers!


    Yet, the force of the daggers still tore through her shoulder, leaving a shallow cut on her skin.


    ¡°It¡¯s that Fifth Spirit Level death soldier! Master, be careful!¡± Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© positioned themselves in front of N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, staring at the figure slowly emerging from the shadows.


    The figure was small, almost feminine, holding a short blade in his right hand. His blood-red gaze was deep and devoid of emotion.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n frowned; she hadn¡¯t detected this Fifth Spirit Level death soldier earlier. Could it be that his disguise had fooled her spiritual senses?


    ¡°Traitor,¡± the cloaked figure rasped, coldly regarding the two ¡°death soldiers¡± blocking his path. With a mere flick of his wrist, the two soldiers¡¯ bodies fell apart!


    Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© were forced out of their vessels.


    ¡°Master, his soul is too powerful; we can¡¯t shake him,¡± Y¨¤nj¨© said anxiously.


    In the face of such a vast power disparity, their attempts to attack his soul were utterly futile.


    ¡°Your skills are good, but still lacking in my presence,¡± the cloaked figure smirked, raising his blade and charging towards N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n!


    The overwhelming killing intent pressed down on her, leaving her breathless and immobile. His speed was astonishing, and she could only see the afterimage he left behind!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n felt a surge of panic; her spiritual energy seemed sealed, rendering her unable to access it!


    Only now did she realize that her spiritual energy was still somewhat lacking in the face of absolute power suppression.


    The cold blade was mere centimeters from her neck!


    But suddenly, the cloaked figure froze in place, his hand trembling slightly, unable to advance further!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n broke out in a cold sweat; she was so close to him that if he hadn¡¯t stopped, she would have been done for!


    No, it wasn¡¯t the cloaked figure who stopped; it was D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° who had intervened! He firmly grasped the cloaked figure''s right wrist, icy tendrils emanating from his grip, rendering him immobile!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n reacted swiftly, following up with a decisive strike. The cloaked figure¡¯s head fell to the ground, rolling away.


    D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° stood beside N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, his grip leaving a thin layer of frost on the surface. He then released his hold, and the cloaked figure''s body lost its support, collapsing to the ground.


    More shockingly, as he fell, his body shattered like a fragile porcelain vase into several pieces!


    The ground was littered with frozen corpse fragments, and from the cracks, one could see his blood and flesh frozen and gray, his expression still one of shock at the moment of death.


    Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© seized the opportunity, rushing in to absorb his lingering soul before it dissipated.


    The soul of a Fifth Spirit Level powerhouse was a tremendous boon for them! They wouldn¡¯t miss any chance to enhance their cultivation!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n was stunned; this glutton... was surprisingly strong?!


    The spiritual elder in the space was also taken aback: ¡°This kid has a top-quality pure ice spirit root. It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t discern his exact cultivation level, but judging by the state of his corpse, he¡¯s at least above the Eighth Spirit Level!¡±


    The glutton seemed completely unaware of his own strength, innocently gazing at N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n with bright, ¡°deeply affectionate¡± eyes.


    Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© dared not speak, absorbing the soul while casting furtive glances at N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n. Was this... promising?

 *Chapter 21: The Space of the Diming Ring

    ¡°Cuo, I must let you experience my culinary skills tonight!¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, grateful for her second chance at life, excitedly grasped D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°''s hand.


    Unable to repay his life-saving grace, she decided to take care of his meals from now on!


    ¡°Is it really made by Huan Huan?¡± D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° gulped unconsciously, his expression adorably dazed. He had never tasted Huan Huan''s cooking; would it be as sweet as her fingers?


    ¡°Absolutely, let¡¯s go right away!¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n took the initiative to pull D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°''s hand, resembling a young couple holding hands.


    However, D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° pulled her back, placing his hand on her shoulder where she was injured, saying, ¡°You¡¯re hurt.¡±


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n was momentarily taken aback, then smiled sweetly, ¡°It¡¯s just a small injury; it¡¯ll be fine soon.¡±


    Unbeknownst to her, D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° used some kind of power, and after just a brief moment of holding, when he removed his hand, her wound had healed and scabbed over.


    What?! N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n widened her eyes in surprise¡ªwas it really healed so quickly?


    ¡°That won¡¯t hurt now,¡± D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° added, standing obediently, waiting for her to lead him.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n¡¯s eyes softened as she gently said, ¡°Cuo cuo, thank you! I¡¯ll make sure you eat your fill later!¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° smiled shyly, a sense of joy blooming in his heart. He didn¡¯t quite understand why he felt this way, but... he quite liked it.


    The two left the courtyard hand in hand.


    Of course, she didn¡¯t forget to pick up the heads of the five death soldiers and toss them into her storage pouch. Half of the heads would hang in Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o¡¯s courtyard, and the other half in N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nr¡¯s courtyard.


    As dawn broke, screams erupted from both courtyards.


    ¡°Ah¡ª!¡±


    N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nr turned pale with fright as she saw a row of heads hanging neatly from the eaves, with a large pool of fresh blood on the ground.


    She immediately ran towards Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o¡¯s courtyard, recognizing these death soldiers as belonging to her mother¡¯s side. Did something happen to her mother?


    Upon arriving at Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o''s courtyard, she found Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o had fainted in a fit of rage, with maids bustling around her!


    Not only were there heads hanging in this courtyard, but blood had also been used to write four large, bold characters on the ground¡ª¡°Come catch me!¡±


    Especially in front of those four characters stood a dilapidated coffin covered in moss, the origin of which was unknown. Inside the coffin, the name ¡°Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o¡± was also written in blood, along with over forty dead worms tossed inside.


    What was even more mocking was that two yellow chrysanthemums had been thrown beside the coffin.


    This incident naturally alarmed the higher-ups of the N¨¢ng¨­u family. They intended to investigate thoroughly but found no clues. Before long, the elders from Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o¡¯s branch suppressed the matter.Stolen novel; please report.


    If they were to dig deeper, the filthy deeds Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o had done using the worms in the past would likely come to light.


    While chaos erupted in Shen Y¨¦y¨¢o¡¯s courtyard, the ¡°culprit¡± had already returned to the small courtyard, happily indulging in a feast.


    After eating her fill, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n lay down on a soft couch and fell into a deep sleep.


    She then entered a meditative state, and after a brief period of cultivation, her mental energy was restored.


    Inside her, two spiritual platforms intertwined and rotated. The first spiritual platform shone brightly, while the second was dim and needed to absorb more spiritual energy.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n glanced at the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring on her hand. Before establishing her spiritual platforms, she could only enter the ring with her consciousness, but after establishing them, she felt something different¡ªher physical body seemed able to enter as well.


    Thinking of this, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n decided to give it a try.


    As she activated her spiritual energy, she closed her eyes and opened them again, and the world before her transformed dramatically!


    The world inside the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring was a massive palace castle, surrounded by twelve auspicious beast fountain statues in the grand square. The ground was paved with totem stones depicting myriad beasts, and the garden was exquisite and elegant, with flowers blooming along the corridors. What caught her attention most was the tall clock tower on the left side of the castle.


    Above the clock tower hovered a massive golden crown-like phantom. The palace was grand, but no matter what, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n could not enter that clock tower.


    The spirit elder had said that to enter the clock tower, she needed a medium, but she had no idea what that medium was.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve come in, disciple,¡± a relaxed voice of the spirit elder rang out.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n turned her head to see the spirit elder lounging in a flower-patterned pair of shorts in an outdoor pool, leaning against the edge, wearing sunglasses, and holding a glass goblet filled with half a cup of smoky gray liquid. Nearby, a small barbecue grill was set up, giving off a vacation vibe.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n couldn¡¯t help but twitch her lips; ever since she mentioned the idea of a pool, the spirit elder had created a luxurious pool inside the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring.


    Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© had also been brought in by N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, and upon seeing the spirit elder, they were struck with astonishment.


    Though they were both soul entities, the spirit elder was entirely different from them!


    ¡°He is my master, the spirit elder,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n introduced them. ¡°Once you both strengthen your soul power, you¡¯ll be able to touch the physical realm like the spirit elder.¡±


    ¡°Spirit elder!¡± Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© bowed respectfully to him, their hearts racing with excitement. Their master not only had a unique space but also a powerful master!


    They felt they had followed the right master!


    The spirit elder removed his sunglasses, waved his hand, and two brooms flew over, landing in the hands of the two girls. He smiled and said, ¡°Come, come, let¡¯s give you two a task¡ªsweep the leaves in the front yard.¡±


    Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© exchanged glances, and after seeing N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n had no objections, they took the brooms and went to sweep the leaves.


    Before long, they were astonished to find that as they swept, strands of soul power began to penetrate into their bodies, much faster than cultivating in the hanging tassels!


    This made Y¨¤nj¨© and Xu¨¨j¨© even more motivated, and they began to sweep the leaves with even more vigor.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n also summoned Xi¨£o Ji¨³, who dashed into the flowerbed, rolling around as if he loved the place.


    Hmm, it seemed like something was missing...


    Suddenly, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n remembered that she had left the glutton outside, but he was currently sleeping, so it shouldn¡¯t matter.


    Just as she was about to take another look, her consciousness spread outside the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring, only to be surprised to find D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° had woken up!


    He was sitting upright, frowning deeply, staring at the spot where she had disappeared, a look of worry on his face, completely different from before.


    After pondering for a moment, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n left the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring and returned to her room.


    ¡°Where did Huan Huan go?¡± Upon seeing N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n suddenly appear, D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°¡¯s worry dissipated, and he returned to his adorable, dazed expression.


    Without Huan Huan around, there would be no one to feed him.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking you to a wonderful place.¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n took his hands, attempting to lead him inside, as her internal spiritual platforms began to operate.


    It had to be said that bringing someone in was somewhat strenuous; it consumed thirty percent of her spiritual energy before she successfully brought him in.


    Upon entering the world of the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring for the first time, D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° was still a bit dazed. He stood there, mesmerized by the grand palace, a glimmer of light in his eyes as he unconsciously murmured, ¡°The Truth of Time.¡±

 *Chapter 22: The Awakening of Time

    ¡°Hmm?¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n noticed the strange yet familiar words on his lips, ¡°The Truth of Time?¡±


    This was the space of the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring, and those four words seemed to have some connection to it. Did this glutton know something?


    Suddenly, the spirit elder appeared beside D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°, grabbing his wrist and examining him closely. The more he looked, the brighter his eyes became.


    ¡°Divine bone structure, he comes from the Heart of the Realm,¡± the spirit elder exclaimed in astonishment. ¡°I never expected to see someone from the Heart of the Realm in such a remote place.¡±


    Remote place... N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n felt like a country bumpkin at that moment.


    ¡°Spirit elder, what is the Heart of the Realm?¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n asked curiously. She thought she understood a lot about this world, but now the spirit elder¡¯s words seemed to overturn her knowledge.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out in due time,¡± the spirit elder replied, not wanting to elaborate. Knowing too much too soon might not be good for his disciple.


    Seeing that the spirit elder didn¡¯t want to say more, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n didn¡¯t press further, but she made a mental note of the term ¡°Heart of the Realm.¡±


    ¡°Is the ¡®Truth of Time¡¯ he mentioned related to the powers of the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring?¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n murmured, her gaze shifting toward the sealed clock tower.


    The coronet representing time seemed to echo the phrase ¡°Truth of Time.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± the spirit elder answered quickly this time. ¡°Legend has it that long ago, the God of Time willingly entered the cycle of reincarnation to save someone. Before doing so, he created this Time Truth Ring, and the clock tower contains his legacy.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n¡¯s mind was racing.


    ¡°Spirit elder, why didn¡¯t you say this earlier?!¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n suddenly became fascinated with the clock tower, her face glowing with excitement, her eyes wide open.


    Her family heirloom was actually the legacy of the God of Time!


    ¡°You never asked,¡± the spirit elder chuckled awkwardly, thinking she already knew.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n pressed her lips together in silence, her excitement doused like cold water. Hmm... she indeed hadn¡¯t asked.


    The spirit elder continued to pour cold water on her enthusiasm: ¡°Disciple, without the medium to unlock it, you cannot open the clock tower''s seal.¡±


    In simpler terms, knowing it was useless.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s expression turned gloomy. Who understands the feeling of being starved, with food brought to the table, yet unable to eat?You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    At that moment, D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° seemed to be controlled by some power. He walked with a dazed expression toward the clock tower, step by step, until he stood before its grand entrance.


    ¡°Cuo cuo? Cuo cuo?!¡± No matter how N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n called out, she couldn¡¯t awaken D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°¡¯s consciousness.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush; let¡¯s see what he¡¯s going to do,¡± the spirit elder stopped N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, his gaze fixed on D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°. Could it be that he was about to...


    D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° raised his hand, gathering spiritual energy, and formed a palm-sized ice crystal key.


    Then, he grasped the ice crystal key and inserted it into the lock of the grand door!


    In that instant, the clock tower seemed to tremble slightly, and the coronet hovering above flickered twice, like a long-sleeping tiger beginning to awaken.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n and the spirit elder widened their eyes, holding their breath, intently watching D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°, not wanting to miss a single movement.


    He tightened his grip on the key and gently turned it.


    Click¡ªclick¡ª


    It sounded like the pause of a second hand, and as the key turned, golden threads of light spread from the keyhole, radiating a divine glow. They followed the patterns on the door, depicting a divine beast, the B¨­j¨¬ng Rabbit.


    Then, the door slowly opened inward, revealing a spacious and bright hall. A rabbit, glowing white, leaped down from above, wearing a specially made golden armor that made it look cute and harmless.


    It hopped to the entrance and, with a voice that was neither male nor female, asked warily, ¡°Who disturbs the divine hall?¡±


    Upon seeing D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°, the B¨­j¨¬ng Rabbit suddenly fell silent, its ears perked up as it scrutinized him, then turned to look outside, spotting N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n and the spirit elder.


    The spirit elder smirked, grinning mischievously. ¡°Oh, little rabbit, it¡¯s been a while! You¡¯ve lost so much weight!¡±


    Huh? The spirit elder knew this divine beast? N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n raised an eyebrow.


    The B¨­j¨¬ng Rabbit immediately stiffened, its fur bristling!


    ¡°Ling Xizi, I warn you, I am the guardian divine beast! If I die, this space will completely vanish! It¡¯s already very generous of me to let you reside in this space; don¡¯t think about taking advantage of me!¡± The B¨­j¨¬ng Rabbit waved its limbs, speaking in a threatening tone, but its cute appearance lacked any real intimidation.


    There¡¯s a story here! N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n watched silently, but the next moment, she was yanked by the spirit elder and unceremoniously kicked toward D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°.


    ¡°Hmph, this is my disciple; you handle it as you see fit.¡± The spirit elder placed his hands on his hips, speaking proudly.


    It felt like a forced sales pitch!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n felt embarrassed. Just as she steadied herself, she noticed D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° suddenly fainting, and she rushed to support him.


    ¡°Cuo cuo?¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n shook him, but D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, his eyes tightly shut, and she couldn¡¯t wake him.


    The B¨­j¨¬ng Rabbit glanced disdainfully at the spirit elder and then turned its gaze to N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n and D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°. ¡°He absorbed the divine power contained in the seal, so he naturally needs to sleep for a while to digest it. Just lift him onto that platform over there, and as for you...¡±


    Its voice paused, and its small eyes sparkled with divine light as it examined N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n. Noticing the spiritual platforms within her, it softened its expression and said, ¡°Of course, you can stay and learn my master¡¯s legacy, but how much you can learn depends on your own abilities.¡±


    She could also learn the legacy! N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n¡¯s joy was evident.


    ¡°Thank you, Guardian!¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n lifted D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨° and placed him on the platform indicated by the B¨­j¨¬ng Rabbit.


    A faint glimmer of light seemed to merge into his body.


    ¡°Hmm, just call me B¨­b¨­,¡± the B¨­j¨¬ng Rabbit said while grooming its fur. This girl was much more likable than her master!


    After settling D¨­ng Y¨¤ncu¨°, the B¨­j¨¬ng Rabbit explained to N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, ¡°Look at the stars on the ceiling of the hall; they represent my master¡¯s legacy. Each star signifies a power. You can start learning from the first one. Only by thoroughly mastering the current power can you unlock the next one.¡±


    The ceiling of the hall depicted a grand starry sea, with seven stars shining brightly.


    Time power!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n couldn¡¯t wait. She drew on her spiritual energy and directed her consciousness into the first star, and a gentle male voice echoed in her ears¡ª


    ¡°Level One Power: The Flow of Time.¡±

 *Chapter 23: Shen’s Conspiracy

    A golden glimmer flashed in N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s eyes as she grasped the essence of her Level One power: the ability to control the flow of time within a certain space, either slowing down or speeding up its passage.


    If an enemy attacked quickly, she could use this power to slow their speed or enhance her own.


    Understanding the key points, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n began her training.


    She had Xi¨£o Ji¨³ accompany her, and together they darted around every corner of the grand hall.


    B¨­j¨¬ng T¨´ lounged by the entrance, observing N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s movements and offering occasional tips.


    Meanwhile, the spirit elder remained submerged in his water pool, gazing at N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s figure in the hall, lost in memories.


    A day and night swiftly passed.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n had already grasped the techniques of her Level One power, able to execute it in a small area and engage in flexible attacks, developing a degree of synergy with Xi¨£o Ji¨³.


    In the hall, an apple soared through the air.


    ¡°Xi¨£o Ji¨³!¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n called softly, raising her hand toward the apple to unleash her power.


    A faint golden, translucent sphere appeared around the apple, significantly slowing its flight.


    Xi¨£o Ji¨³ followed closely, slashing with its claws, a glimmer of cold light flashing!


    In the next moment, the power field dissipated, and the apple shattered into several pieces, which Xi¨£o Ji¨³ eagerly gobbled up.


    ¡°This skill consumes a lot of spiritual energy,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n wiped the sweat from her brow. It was much more challenging than directly using spiritual energy, and if used over a larger area, it would drain her energy even more.


    B¨­j¨¬ng T¨´ stretched lazily on the ground, saying, ¡°You¡¯ve grasped it quite quickly. The inheritors I¡¯ve seen before took one or two years to learn it and were utterly hopeless.¡±


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n twitched her lips. After a day together, she realized this rabbit was too straightforward, speaking whatever came to mind.


    Suddenly, she sensed movement outside the D¨¬ M¨ªng Ring and quickly excused herself, returning to her room.


    Knock, knock¡ª


    A knock echoed on the door, followed by a maid''s voice: ¡°Miss Hu¨¤n, are you there?¡±


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n opened the door to find it was one of Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o''s maids.


    ¡°Sent by Madam Sh¨§n?¡±


    The maid appeared respectful, presenting an invitation letter with both hands. ¡°Madam is hosting a potion auction tonight and specifically invited you. She regards you as one of her own, so she will also gift you a bottle of third-grade potion. Please be sure to attend.¡±


    Just the phrase ¡°regards you as one of her own¡± made her feel uneasy, as if it were a weasel wishing a hen well.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n raised an eyebrow but accepted the invitation. ¡°Alright, I will attend.¡±


    Tomorrow was the disciple trial, yet Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o was holding an auction tonight. She was curious to see what kind of tricks Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o was up to.


    ---


    It was nighttime.


    Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o had spent a fortune renting the largest auction house in the city, inviting many members of the four major families. Of course, others could enter to watch, but they couldn¡¯t participate in the auction.


    She claimed it was for the benefit of all the disciples participating in the trial tomorrow, offering various grades of recovery potions, healing potions, and speed potions at low prices...


    This did indeed enhance her reputation and garnered goodwill from the four major families.


    Many disciples and elders from the four families attended, totaling around six hundred people, with thousands more outside simply watching.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n arrived at the seating area designated for the N¨¢ng¨­u family and randomly chose a spot to sit. She glanced around, noticing her grandfather seemed to be absent.


    ¡°Sister Hu¨¤n, I¡¯m so happy you could come!¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n¡¯s voice came from the side.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n turned to see her sister approaching, dressed elegantly in a pale yellow dress, walking gracefully.


    Today, N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n had dressed up meticulously, her beauty soft and gentle, causing Wei Y¨³g¨­ng, who stood behind her, to stare in awe.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite magnanimous, sister, to be so happy to see me,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n replied with a mischievous smile.


    It was indeed a challenge for N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n, who had been humiliated just days ago, yet here she was, welcoming her with a smile.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n¡¯s smile faltered slightly as she replied softly, ¡°What happened before was just a misunderstanding. I hope we can get along well and create glory for our family together.¡±


    ¡°I think you alone can uphold the glory of the entire family,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n leaned back in her seat, adopting a relaxed posture.


    ¡°Sister, you flatter me. Each of us children is the backbone of our family¡¯s future,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n said with a gentle smile, but a flicker of malice crossed her eyes as she tightened her fingers, looking at N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n¡¯s seemingly unguarded demeanor, wishing she could stab her in the heart.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n smirked. ¡°Then I¡¯m quite worried our family¡¯s future might suffer from a spinal disease.¡±


    From what she had seen of her peers in the N¨¢ng¨­u family, most were either bullies or cowards, picking on the weak and flattering the strong. Such people were a liability, no matter where they were.


    At that moment, someone nearby retorted, ¡°What do you mean, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n? Are you insulting us?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! If you can¡¯t do it yourself, don¡¯t drag us down with you!¡±


    ¡°Is being the legitimate daughter so impressive? You think you can get first place in tomorrow¡¯s trial?¡±


    Of course, those speaking out were all children of the N¨¢ng¨­u family, and many elders turned their gazes toward her, seemingly displeased with her remarks.


    Their children were not to be lectured by her!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n, seeing the situation unfold, was delighted. She wished for more people to step on N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, hoping this ugly duckling would fall into the mud and never rise again.


    ¡°Sister, how can you say that? We¡¯re all working hard for the future of our family,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n chimed in, her eyes filled with disappointment.


    As the crowd turned their ire toward N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, she remained calm and unflustered.


    ¡°If you insist on saying that...¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n¡¯s gaze flickered as she stood up, leaping lightly onto the stage at the auction house''s center.


    The auction hadn¡¯t officially started yet, but most people had already arrived.


    As N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n leaped onto the stage, all eyes were drawn to her.


    ¡°Ahem, first of all, welcome everyone to Madam Sh¨§n¡¯s auction. However, before we begin, I have an announcement to make.¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n cleared her throat, channeling her spiritual energy to amplify her voice so that everyone in the auction house could hear.


    Curiosity sparked among the crowd, with many expecting some good news, while the members of the N¨¢ng¨­u family felt a sense of foreboding.


    ¡°Our N¨¢ng¨­u family has always been unstoppable, with each disciple being a brave little warrior. So as the legitimate daughter of the N¨¢ng¨­u family, I¡ªN¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n¡ªhereby declare war on the three major families on behalf of the disciples participating in this trial! Let¡¯s see who can secure more and higher rankings in the top ten!¡±


    She aimed to drag everyone into the fray, stirring the waters so that the arrogant disciples of the N¨¢ng¨­u family could not stand alone!

 *Chapter 24: Yellow Weasel Pays Visit to the Chicken

    The disciples of the N¨¢ng¨­u family were suddenly restless.


    ¡°N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, what nonsense are you spouting!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, declaring war? You have ulterior motives!¡±


    ¡°You''re instigating a conflict between our four major families! You''re ruining our peaceful relations!¡±


    But their voices were drowned out by the crowd, and no one heard their protests.


    On the contrary, the disciples of the three major families were filled with fighting spirit, rolling up their sleeves and shouting back.


    ¡°You N¨¢ng¨­u family are so arrogant; fine, the Ch¨ª family accepts your challenge!¡±


    ¡°Whoever ranks last will be the little dog!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to pull out all my hidden treasures tomorrow; you N¨¢ng¨­u family won¡¯t win!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think just because you have the ninth-level talent N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n, you can walk all over us; our Y¨¨ family¡¯s disciples are not easy to bully!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re declaring war, then I don¡¯t want your potions anymore! I don¡¯t want to hear you whine about us being shameless!¡±


    The heated shouts from the crowd left the N¨¢ng¨­u family disciples looking constipated; at this point, it was too late to say anything. The verbal onslaught from the three major families was almost drowning them!


    After making her declaration, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n swaggered back to her seat, receiving numerous hostile glares from her fellow N¨¢ng¨­u family members.


    Among those still relatively calm were Y¨¨ S¨¡ng and Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n from the Y¨¨ family.


    ¡°Sister, she really knows how to stir things up; she¡¯s dragging the entire N¨¢ng¨­u family into the mud,¡± Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n exclaimed, initially indifferent to the situation, but now realizing how N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n had played everyone.


    ¡°I think the N¨¢ng¨­u family is underestimating her. Do you know what I discovered at the N¨ªng L¨ªng Treasure Pavilion that day?¡± Y¨¨ S¨¡ng crossed her arms and spoke in a low voice, only audible to the two of them.


    ¡°What?¡± Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n leaned in closer.


    Y¨¨ S¨¡ng pressed her lips together and said, ¡°The missing spiritual veins were absorbed by her.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡± Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n nearly gasped but was quickly shushed by Y¨¨ S¨¡ng, who made a hushing gesture.


    ¡°This is why I feel she¡¯s not simple; perhaps she obtained some extremely powerful inheritance, which is why she transformed from a waste into a genius overnight.¡± Y¨¨ S¨¡ng regarded N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n with growing seriousness.


    Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n was so shocked he couldn¡¯t find his voice. N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n was that powerful?


    Meanwhile, when she heard that the disciples were unwilling to purchase the potions, Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o, who had been watching from backstage, could no longer sit still. She didn¡¯t care about the disciples¡¯ conflicts, but tonight¡¯s potion auction couldn¡¯t go awry!Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    With a smile, Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o gracefully took the stage, the spotlight instantly shining on her, making her the center of attention.


    ¡°Could everyone please quiet down?¡± Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o stepped to the center of the venue, and the clamor gradually subsided.


    ¡°Thank you all for attending my auction. Your presence has truly brightened this event. Today, I am auctioning potions at a low price, not only to support the disciples of the four major families but also for the honor and shared glory of our future together. To be fair, I will not show favoritism toward the N¨¢ng¨­u family¡¯s children; I hope the potions I¡¯ve crafted can help everyone...¡± Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o went on with a string of flattering words, all aimed at promoting her potions.


    However, high-quality potions were rare, and low-priced auctions were even rarer; the potions in shops outside were priced sky-high, so everyone was eager to snag a bargain.


    Under Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o¡¯s soothing words, the other three families quieted down, but the tension still lingered in the air.


    As the chief auctioneer introduced the potions, the auction proceeded smoothly.


    Bottles of potions were sold one after another, ranging from first to fourth grade, with about sixty bottles in total, all priced at nearly half of what they would cost in the market.


    Among the eighty or so disciples participating in the trial, most of the elders chose to buy potions for their children.


    One more potion meant one more guarantee.


    Not far from N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, she overheard N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n and W¨¨i Y¨³g¨­ng whispering.


    ¡°Y¨³g¨­ng, here are two bottles for you.¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n shyly handed W¨¨i Y¨³g¨­ng two bottles of potions, her face flushed.


    ¡°Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n, this is too precious; I can¡¯t accept it.¡± W¨¨i Y¨³g¨­ng glanced at the two fourth-grade potions, knowing their value.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Y¨³g¨­ng; during tomorrow¡¯s disciple trial, you must protect Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n well.¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n insisted, leaning against him like a delicate bird.


    Unable to refuse N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n, W¨¨i Y¨³g¨­ng eventually accepted the two bottles.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n glanced over at N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, noticing her indifferent demeanor; today, she hadn¡¯t bought a single potion.


    Of course, someone like N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, with her meager monthly allowance of five thousand spiritual stocks, couldn¡¯t even afford the bottle stoppers for the potions. N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n secretly resented her, thinking that if it weren¡¯t for tomorrow¡¯s plan, she wouldn¡¯t want to see this ugly duckling at all!


    Soon, the final potions were presented, but before the auction began, Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o took the stage again, preparing to say something to everyone.


    ¡°This last potion is one I¡¯ve been refining for a long time, a fourth-grade talent potion. Before the auction, I have a few words to share.¡± Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o adopted a heartfelt expression, speaking delicately.


    ¡°Actually, in the N¨¢ng¨­u family, there are many outstanding children, and one of them is particularly special to me. She lost her parents and has no one to guide her, developing a spoiled personality. Over the years, I¡¯ve felt that the N¨¢ng¨­u family owes her much, so I¡¯ve treated her as my own. Today, I¡¯ve prepared an additional bottle of this talent potion for her as a small token of my affection as her aunt. Little Hu¨¤n, please come up.¡±


    Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o directly called out N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s name, claiming to feel indebted while subtly belittling her.


    ¡°Now, I present this talent potion to Little Hu¨¤n. Would you mind taking it right now? It wouldn¡¯t be a waste of your aunt¡¯s goodwill, and everyone could see its effects.¡±


    Oh, so this was her trap!


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n observed Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o¡¯s affectionate and expectant demeanor, her mind racing as she stepped back onto the stage.


    Previously, Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o had no idea that the one behind her troubles was N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n. The only possibility was that N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n felt threatened and wanted to scheme against her!


    The crowd began to murmur again, opinions divided.


    ¡°Just a few days ago at the N¨ªng L¨ªng Treasure Pavilion, N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n was beaten so badly; Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o is really magnanimous.¡±


    ¡°Who cares? Let¡¯s see the effects of this talent potion; if it¡¯s good, I¡¯ll definitely buy it!¡±


    ¡°That a waste suddenly becomes not a waste; could it be that Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o has been providing her potions all along?¡±


    ¡°Then Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o must be a great benefactor to N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n.¡±

 *Chapter 25: Is Nangong Qianer the Purple Star?

    The effect of this talent potion was to permanently enhance the strength of spiritual roots and the speed of spiritual energy absorption. It was extremely rare and difficult to refine, with a high failure rate. It was the potion that cultivators would do anything to obtain.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n stood in front of Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o, glancing at the two maidservants beside her, who were holding the talent potions¡ªone for her and one for auction.


    However, to N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n''s surprise, she sensed the presence of a bug in both potions!


    Goodness, a sudden realization struck N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n. The talent potion being auctioned actually contained a bug; what about the potions sold earlier? Could they all have bugs too?!


    If that were true, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n had to admit that Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o was playing a clever game, intending to control the disciples of the four major families!


    Whoever consumed the bug would have to obey her!


    But... what did that have to do with her?


    ¡°Here, this bottle is for you, Little Hu¨¤n. Please take it and show everyone how it works,¡± Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o said, personally handing a bottle to her.


    This was meant to put her in a difficult position.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n maintained her composure as she accepted the potion. The fusion rate was only fifty-two percent; even if there were no bugs, she had no desire to drink it.


    The effect was minimal.


    However, with so many eyes on her, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n performed a sleight of hand, raising her sleeve to partially conceal her actions, pretending to drink the potion while secretly pouring it into her D¨¬m¨ªng ring.


    After ¡°drinking,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n even turned the glass bottle upside down to show that she had emptied it.


    ¡°How do you feel, Little Hu¨¤n?¡± Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o asked with feigned concern.


    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t feel anything. This wouldn¡¯t be a counterfeit, would it?¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n replied dismissively, not wanting Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o to feel too pleased with herself.


    Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o¡¯s smile faltered, but she quickly laughed again, ¡°It seems the talent potion doesn¡¯t take effect immediately; you¡¯ll need to go back and feel it out. But I assure you, these two potions have been certified by the Association, and they are indeed genuine talent potions.¡±


    Fearing that others might not believe her, Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o mentioned the certification association, knowing that with so many witnesses, she wouldn¡¯t dare lie.


    Thus, everyone eagerly began to bid, and in the end, a disciple from the Y¨¨ family won the auction.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n sighed; those foolish disciples would likely suffer tomorrow.


    The auction concluded amid cheers, and everyone began to disperse.


    As soon as N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n stepped out of the auction hall, she was stopped by the two siblings from the Y¨¨ family.


    Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n seemed to have built up courage for a long time; he finally spoke, ¡°N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n, let¡¯s team up for tomorrow¡¯s trial.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    In the disciple trial, free team formation was allowed, with a maximum of five members per group. The final rankings would be based on the average scores of the group.


    Y¨¨ S¨¡ng nodded beside him; she had participated in the trial last year and couldn¡¯t join this time. She was here to support her brother, after all, she had exchanged a few words with N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n.


    Teaming up? N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n suddenly felt this was a good idea, and a plan to undermine Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o emerged in her mind.


    ¡°Did you two also buy Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o¡¯s potions? Show me,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n asked, catching the siblings off guard.


    The two exchanged glances, and to show sincerity, Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n took out the potion he had just won, saying, ¡°Yes, we bought it; it was quite cheap. Why?¡±


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n focused and noticed that there was indeed a bug in the potion!


    ¡°Just as I thought...¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n realized this confirmed that every potion auctioned by Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o contained a bug!


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± The siblings were puzzled, sensing something mysterious.


    ¡°This potion contains a bug, or rather, every bottle auctioned tonight does,¡± N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n stated plainly, knowing this was a necessary part of her plan.


    The two gasped in shock, ¡°A bug?!¡±


    Such a sinister thing was still being used?


    ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised; listen to me. Tell all the disciples from the Y¨¨ family not to consume tonight¡¯s potions, and help me with one more thing...¡±


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n explained her plan to them.


    ¡°Damn it, that Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o is secretly scheming!¡± Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n clenched his fists in anger as he listened.


    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s done. Thanks to your warning, otherwise my brother would have fallen victim to that mother-daughter duo tomorrow,¡± Y¨¨ S¨¡ng expressed her gratitude to N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n and immediately agreed to help.


    This time, they would make sure Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o was disgraced!


    It was destined to be a sleepless night.


    ---


    The next morning.


    The eastern area of the S¨¡n D¨­ng Forest was bustling, a stark contrast to its usual tranquility, as the disciple trial of the four major families was underway.


    As a major event in the city every year, many townsfolk gathered at the outskirts to witness the outstanding disciples of the four families compete for this year¡¯s championship.


    The disciples arrived early, forming small groups with their chosen teammates. N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n was with Y¨¨ W¨¤nj¨±n, ready for action.


    The heads of the three major families and the city lord were already seated in the judging panel, with only N¨¢ng¨­u Ji¨¨ M¨ªng¡¯s seat left empty.


    N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n heard from a servant that her grandfather was in seclusion, locked away in his room, and no one knew when he would emerge.


    Among the judges were several elders from other reputable smaller families. N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n even spotted two familiar faces¡ªOld Xu and Princess S¨°ng X¨©r¨¢n, whom she had met at the certification association.


    Beside S¨°ng X¨©r¨¢n stood a man in a luxurious black qilin robe. From the conversations around her, N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n learned that he was the Sixth Prince, S¨°ng Qu¨¨, from the royal palace. This territory belonged to him, so he was invited to witness this grand event.


    ¡°I heard that this year in Ji¨¤ng L¨®u City, two promising talents emerged, both with ninth-level talent. In my opinion, it¡¯s definitely N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n,¡± S¨°ng Qu¨¨ said, fanning himself as he admired N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n.


    ¡°Indeed, there¡¯s a great possibility. The Y¨²nx¨©ng Sect also mentioned that the Purple Star is a female, and she is indeed participating in this trial. We¡¯ll see if it¡¯s her today,¡± S¨°ng X¨©r¨¢n chuckled softly, her gaze scanning the disciples until it suddenly landed on N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n.


    Perhaps it was because of the peculiar black spots on her face that made her memorable.


    S¨°ng Qu¨¨ confidently remarked, ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s highly likely. Once the trial is over, I¡¯ll invite her to our Royal Academy. We shouldn¡¯t let talent go to waste.¡±


    Hearing their conversation, Old Xu had a meaningful expression. He looked at N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n, seemingly knowing something, but his expression was conflicted.


    Last night, he had received dozens of potions; the sender claimed they were from Lord H¨¥i Li¨¢n, requesting the identification of these potions from Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o¡¯s auction.


    Without exception, all were found to contain bugs.


    And Sh¨§n Y¨¨y¨¢o and N¨¢ng¨­u Qi¨¡nyu¨¢n were mother and daughter...


    ¡°I see that this year, the disciples of the four major families are all quite good, full of spirit. But perhaps the best talent isn¡¯t necessarily the Purple Star,¡± S¨°ng X¨©r¨¢n¡¯s gaze lingered on N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n for a few more seconds, feeling as if she had seen this girl somewhere before, a sense of familiarity washing over her.


    With that thought, S¨°ng X¨©r¨¢n pointed to N¨¢ng¨­u Hu¨¤n and asked, ¡°Who is that girl with the black spots on her face?¡±

 *Chapter 26: Playing the Weakness, Who Cant?

    Old Xue provided the answer: ¡°She is the legitimate daughter of the Nangong family, named Nangong Huan. She has had black spots on her face since childhood, and the head of the Nangong family has been searching for ways to treat her.¡±


    Of course, Nangong Jieming had once sought Old Xue¡¯s help for this child, but Old Xue, with his limited knowledge, couldn¡¯t discern the cause of her condition.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pity,¡± Song Xiran echoed, for who doesn¡¯t love beauty? ¡°I hope she can restore her appearance one day.¡±


    Old Xue chuckled, stroking his small beard. ¡°They say you can¡¯t judge a person by their appearance. I heard that just a couple of days ago, this Nangong Huan slapped a bunch of disciples in the Lingling Pavilion, and she was quite arrogant about it.¡±


    ¡°Oh? There¡¯s such a thing?¡± Song Que was also intrigued.


    Old Xue revealed a gossiping smile, saying, ¡°The ones who got hit the hardest were those two ninth-level geniuses. So I feel that this year¡¯s disciple trial will surely be entertaining.¡±


    ¡°Truly, you can¡¯t judge a person by their appearance,¡± Song Xiran nodded in agreement, a familiar feeling lingering in her heart, though she still couldn¡¯t recall where she had seen Nangong Huan before.


    However, Song Que¡¯s expression darkened slightly as he said, ¡°If the Purple Star is Nangong Qian¡¯er, then Nangong Huan is bound to get into big trouble.¡±


    The existence of the Purple Star affected the fortune of Feng Xuan Kingdom; no one was allowed to bully the Purple Star!


    Old Xue and Song Xiran fell silent; the matter of the Purple Star was indeed not to be underestimated. A nation with the Purple Star would have a bright future.


    Anyone who dared to harm the Purple Star should be prepared for dire consequences!


    Meanwhile, Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuguang had approached Nangong Huan, smiling lightly as they said, ¡°Sister, I won¡¯t go easy on you in the disciple trial.¡±


    ¡°If we meet, I won¡¯t hold back either,¡± Wei Yuguang added coldly, still remembering the grudge from the Lingling Pavilion a few days ago.


    Ye Wanjun felt angry upon seeing these two. Thinking about how close he had come to being cursed by a bug made him despise them even more.


    ¡°You two are so impressive; why don¡¯t you just fly up to the heavens?¡± Ye Wanjun scoffed, as if anyone could make threats like that.


    Nangong Huan smiled sweetly, saying innocently, ¡°Then how about we make a bet?¡±


    The moment the word ¡°bet¡± was mentioned, Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuguang¡¯s expressions changed instantly.


    The psychological shadow from a few days ago still loomed over them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Ah Huan; they definitely can¡¯t afford to bet,¡± Ye Wanjun rolled his eyes, unsure if he was provoking them or genuinely mocking them.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    This statement pierced the pride of the two like an arrow.


    ¡°Who says we can¡¯t afford to bet!¡± Wei Yuguang¡¯s face twisted as he recalled the three loud slaps, causing a dull ache in his forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid the one who can¡¯t afford to bet is you, sister,¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er smiled gently, but her eyes were filled with malice, unwilling to lose face in front of Nangong Huan.


    Nangong Huan spread her hands and said, ¡°How could I not afford to bet? I¡¯m just afraid that some people might not honor their debts.¡±


    Nangong Qian¡¯er was so furious that her chest heaved with anger. Why was it that suddenly she was at a disadvantage against this ugly girl? Why could this ugly girl overshadow her?


    ¡°We always act fairly and openly. Qian¡¯er is kind-hearted and has always yielded to you. It¡¯s clearly you who are willful and unruly, refusing to change!¡± Wei Yuguang shouted angrily at Nangong Huan. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I backed out of our engagement; otherwise, I¡¯d be embarrassed by you!¡±


    His voice was loud enough to attract many onlookers, especially since he and Nangong Qian¡¯er were the ¡°big favorites¡± of this trial.


    But Nangong Huan suddenly changed her demeanor, appearing like a frightened little beast, her eyes shimmering with tears as she clasped her hands to her heart and said, ¡°Why? Why do you have to treat me this way? I¡¯ve already wished you happiness; do you really have to slander me like this?¡±


    Playing the weak? Who can¡¯t do that?


    In an instant, the crowd turned their eyes toward the unfolding drama.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er was nearly driven to laughter by Nangong Huan¡¯s acting, trembling in rage. This ugly girl¡¯s words nearly shattered her carefully crafted image!


    Just as Nangong Qian¡¯er was about to salvage her reputation, Nangong Huan continued, tears flowing as she said, ¡°Qian¡¯er, Yu Guong, I know you two are in love. I¡¯ve even supported you. Why must you insult me in front of me? I truly wish you happiness!¡±


    As she cried, she clutched Ye Wanjun¡¯s sleeve, wiping her tears on it.


    Ye Wanjun looked at the dampness on his sleeve, his mouth twitching. Couldn¡¯t she use her own clothes?


    Those who had heard some gossip sighed. Nangong Huan had already made concessions; she had even supported them. Why were they still forcing her to be the villain?


    On the judging panel, Song Xiran and the others were also gossiping, enjoying the spectacle.


    The crowd¡¯s reaction left Nangong Qian¡¯er feeling utterly humiliated and furious. Wei Yuguang¡¯s face turned pale as he realized he might have said something wrong, allowing Nangong Huan to seize the opportunity.


    As Nangong Huan continued to cover her face and cry, she secretly stuck her tongue out at the two, further infuriating them. They nearly charged at her but managed to restrain themselves with their rationality.


    A glint of malice crossed Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s eyes. Once they entered the forest, she would unleash her mother¡¯s curse; she wanted Nangong Huan to suffer unbearably!


    Just as the atmosphere grew awkward, the city lord suddenly stood up, putting an end to the farce.


    Clearing his throat, the city lord spoke loudly, ¡°Children, I¡¯m very happy to see you all; it feels like I¡¯m witnessing the future of our Jianglou City...¡±


    After some pleasantries, the city lord finally got to the point: ¡°I believe everyone is already aware of the rules of the competition. Each of you has received a red ring. If you find yourself in life-threatening danger and wish to end the trial early, you can activate the red ring, which will take you away. However, the red ring can only be activated once; once used, it means your trial is over.¡±


    ¡°The time limit is three days. We will track you with the red rings, so please do not cheat; otherwise, you will be disqualified and your results canceled. The forest is fraught with danger, and the judging panel will not interfere with your lives; you must prioritize your own safety.¡±


    While this sounded somewhat ruthless, in a world where strength was paramount, no one cared about the life of a small fry.


    To ensure fairness in this competition, a large crystal panel was placed in front of the judging panel, allowing everyone present to monitor the status of each disciple at any time.


    The content of the disciple trial was to retrieve flags from the bodies of marked spirit beasts. Different spirit beasts bore flags of different colors: yellow for one spirit, blue for two spirits, and red for three spirits. The winner would be determined by the number and level of flags collected.

 *Chapter 27: No Code of Conduct

    According to the pre-arranged team divisions, Nangong Huan and Ye Wanjun were placed in the seventh squad.


    Ye Wanjun lowered his voice slightly and said, ¡°I came here in advance to scout the area, so I¡¯m familiar with the terrain. I know where the spirit beasts are concentrated. Let¡¯s head to Daling Lake first; that area has the most spirit beasts, but there¡¯s a three-spirit beast guarding it.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go take a look,¡± Nangong Huan said, a charming smile gracing her lips.


    This trial, which involved merely collecting flags, was child¡¯s play for her. If it were about hunting spirit beasts, there might be some difficulty, but collecting flags? As long as she released her spiritual energy and beckoned, plenty of spirit beasts would come flocking to her.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er stood nearby, and with just a slight turn, she could hear their conversation. Upon realizing they were heading towards Daling Lake, she immediately devised a plan.


    Nangong Huan cast a sidelong glance at Nangong Qian¡¯er and sweetly said, ¡°Sister, why are you standing so close? The bugs on you might just fly over to me.¡±


    Feigning shyness, she left Nangong Qian¡¯er momentarily speechless, unable to retort.


    Wei Yuguang wanted to say something on behalf of Nangong Qian¡¯er, but at that moment, the city lord spread his arms and announced, ¡°I hereby declare the trial officially started. Children, good luck!¡±


    With that, all the disciples rushed into the forest, eager to seize the advantage.


    Nangong Huan and Ye Wanjun immediately set off, while Nangong Qian¡¯er chose the same direction, albeit a bit later.


    ¡°Qian¡¯er, where should we go first?¡± Wei Yuguang asked quietly. He was determined to prove himself and secure first place in this trial!


    Nangong Qian¡¯er paused for a moment, then smiled sweetly. ¡°I think there should be plenty of spirit beasts around Daling Lake. Let¡¯s head there!¡±


    She had already arranged for someone to intercept Nangong Huan. If she could reach the lake first and collect a large number of flags, that ugly girl might get so frustrated that she¡¯d come charging at her, and then she could unleash her curse!


    Imagining the scene of her revenge brought a delightful smile to Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s face.


    As Nangong Huan and Ye Wanjun were making their way forward, they soon encountered four people blocking their path.


    ¡°Nangong Huan, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± the leader, Nangong Can, sneered. All four were disciples of the Nangong family.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to end up naked, I suggest you scram now. I can let you off this time,¡± Nangong Huan raised an eyebrow and replied.


    Ye Wanjun drew his sword, positioning himself protectively in front of Nangong Huan, watching them warily.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Just you? You think you can make us run naked? Hahaha! It¡¯s already generous of us not to make you naked!¡± Nangong Can laughed as if he had heard a great joke.


    ¡°What do you want? Just say it!¡± Ye Wanjun¡¯s expression turned fierce.


    What could they possibly gain from blocking their path?


    ¡°Hmph, of course, we want to give you a good beating! I¡¯ve been wanting to do this for a long time!¡± Nangong Can cracked his knuckles, a disdainful smile on his face.


    Although he had heard that this so-called waste was no longer a waste, he still believed that numbers were on his side!


    Nangong Huan¡¯s lips curled into a cruel smile. ¡°Less talk, just come at me together.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t familiar with these Nangong disciples, but their appearance here was likely due to someone¡¯s instigation.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take two, you take two,¡± Ye Wanjun said, his gaze steady as he divided the opponents.


    He was capable of holding off two, and with Nangong Huan¡¯s strength surpassing his, defeating the other two shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    ¡°No, you step back.¡± Nangong Huan pulled him aside, not giving him a chance to shine.


    She was like the star of a grand performance, sunlight casting a glow on her confident demeanor.


    ¡°Hmph, still thinking of taking us on four against one? Let¡¯s go all out!¡± Nangong Can waved his hand, and the four charged at them together!


    In an instant, Nangong Huan raised her hand, and the ground trembled as thick tree roots burst forth, wrapping around the four of them!


    Two of the disciples were caught off guard and found their ankles ensnared, hanging upside down.


    Nangong Can and another disciple reacted quickly, slashing at the encroaching roots and vines, but Nangong Huan had already darted behind them!


    With a swift motion, she pushed both of them toward the oncoming vines!


    The vines wrapped tightly around them, and in no time, all four were bound like dumplings, hanging between two trees, exposed to the sun.


    Their clothes were torn by the branches, leaving them in nothing but their underpants, swinging helplessly.


    Being hung upside down was quite uncomfortable; their faces turned red, but they couldn¡¯t break free.


    ¡°Wait, wait! Nangong Huan, we were wrong! Please let us down!¡± Nangong Can quickly admitted.


    Who would want to provoke her? If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have come to mess with her!


    Ye Wanjun was dumbfounded, unable to process what had just happened. He simply watched as the four were hoisted up into the trees!


    ¡°Who sent you here?¡± Nangong Huan twirled a leaf between her fingers, already suspecting the answer.


    ¡°It was Nangong Qian¡¯er! She gave each of us a vial of potion and told us to teach you a lesson!¡± Nangong Can confessed without hesitation. ¡°Can you let us down first? I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah! We¡¯ll tell you everything! We were wrong; please let us down!¡± the other three disciples begged pitifully, lacking any dignity.


    Nangong Huan, feeling magnanimous, changed their hanging position to upright, allowing them to breathe a bit easier.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, turning away and signaling for Ye Wanjun to follow.


    As for the four, they could just hang there. Perhaps they¡¯d get lucky and someone would come by to rescue them.


    ¡°Hey, we¡¯re still up here! Nangong Huan, don¡¯t go! Don¡¯t be so ungracious! Ye Wanjun, help us out!¡± the four shouted anxiously, but Nangong Huan and Ye Wanjun didn¡¯t look back, disappearing from their sight.


    Once they were a good distance away, Ye Wanjun couldn¡¯t help but glance back.


    ¡°Are we really leaving them there? What if they get eaten by spirit beasts?¡± Ye Wanjun fretted, now unable to see their figures.


    ¡°If they really encounter danger, they can use their red rings to teleport back,¡± Nangong Huan said, showing no mercy.


    She lowered her gaze, suspecting that Nangong Qian¡¯er had probably reached Daling Lake by now.


    Before long, Nangong Huan and Ye Wanjun arrived at the edge of Daling Lake, where they saw Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuguang battling together, easily defeating a one-spirit wind fox cub and successfully collecting a yellow flag.


    The wind fox cub rolled on the ground, howling as it scurried back into the forest, its frantic cries seemingly calling for its parents.

 *Chapter 28: I Like Your Unruly Nature

    ¡°Elder Sister Huan! What are you doing here?¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er spotted Nangong Huan and waved with a smile.


    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re not following us, are you? Nangong Huan, I told you to stop bothering me!¡± Wei Yuguang scoffed, genuinely believing that Nangong Huan had come to chase after him.


    Ye Wanjun couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. Frowning, he pointed at the two and unleashed a tirade: ¡°What does it matter to you where we go at Daling Lake? We¡¯re not here to watch you two flirt! What kind of confidence do you have? You should take a good look in the mirror! Just standing there is enough to pollute my eyes; it would take eight hundred years to wash it clean!¡±


    As he spoke, he rubbed his eyes with a look of disgust, as if something dirty had gotten in.


    ¡°Tch, you¡¯re just jealous that we got the flags first!¡± Wei Yuguang¡¯s face darkened. Unable to argue against Ye Wanjun, he resorted to boasting about their flag count. ¡°We just swept this area and collected over twenty yellow flags! There are no flags left here; you¡¯re too late!¡±


    ¡°Elder Sister Huan, you should change locations. This place really has no flags left,¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er said proudly, relishing her moment of victory over the "ugly girl."


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Nangong Huan¡¯s signature cruel smile reappeared. ¡°The rules didn¡¯t say we couldn¡¯t steal, did they? Qian¡¯er, you better keep a tight grip on your red ring.¡±


    Upon hearing the word "steal," the smiles vanished from both Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuguang¡¯s faces.


    Technically, they could indeed steal.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming now~¡± Nangong Huan¡¯s voice floated lightly, and she kindly reminded the two.


    With a wave of her hand, the lake¡¯s waters surged, and water balls began to rise, crashing down toward the two!


    The ground shook as roots quickly climbed up, wrapping around their bodies.


    Wei Yuguang and Nangong Qian¡¯er quickly dodged, using their swords to slash at the encroaching roots.


    ¡°Summon, Little Fire!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er called out, and a summoning array lit up beside her, from which a fire dragon emerged!


    The dragon, resembling a large bird, had a fiery red body covered in tough scales, its two front limbs stretched into wings, spanning a full ten zhang!


    While it wasn¡¯t a divine beast, its rarity was still considerable!


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡± The fire dragon let out a mighty roar, and with a flick of its tail, the flames it released incinerated the incoming water balls into vapor.


    As it breathed fire, the roots on the ground were instantly reduced to ashes.


    ¡°Elder Sister Huan, this time I won¡¯t lose to you!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er stroked the fire dragon¡¯s scales, a determined smile on her face.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°I like your unruly nature,¡± Nangong Huan replied with a smile, relishing the fight.


    Nangong Huan swung her shining golden blade, charging toward Nangong Qian¡¯er with fierce momentum!


    Wei Yuguang attempted to intervene, but Ye Wanjun had already engaged him, and the two clashed, their swords flashing as energy blades scattered.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er, lacking strong swordsmanship, could only ride on the fire dragon, soaring into the sky.


    ¡°You can¡¯t fly up here! Come up if you dare!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er laughed triumphantly. ¡°Little Fire, fireball technique!¡±


    Numerous small fireballs coalesced around the fire dragon, hurling down toward Nangong Huan!


    Nangong Huan looked up, unhurried, and raised her hand to draw up the lake water, forming a thin water barrier in front of her.


    Puff puff¡ª


    The fireballs struck the water barrier, creating a thick cloud of white smoke.


    Nangong Qian¡¯er frowned, unable to see through the billowing smoke to pinpoint Nangong Huan¡¯s exact location.


    At that moment, a glint of cold light flashed, and the shining golden blade was hurled through the air. Nangong Huan followed closely, leaping up just as her speed began to wane. She stepped on the hilt of the golden blade, using it to propel herself higher, landing right in front of Nangong Qian¡¯er.


    Shock and fear flickered in Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s eyes as she realized Nangong Huan had truly made it up!


    Just as she tried to command the fire dragon to retreat, Nangong Huan had already leapt onto its head!


    With a swift motion, Nangong Huan extended her arm, channeling her spiritual energy to summon a gust of wind that blew the golden blade back into her grasp. In front of Nangong Qian¡¯er, she plunged it into the fire dragon¡¯s neck!


    ¡°No!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er screamed, swinging her sword toward Nangong Huan!


    But with a deft spin, Nangong Huan easily severed the fire dragon¡¯s head with the sharp golden blade!


    Blood gushed forth, and the lifeless body of the fire dragon began to plummet. Nangong Qian¡¯er was caught in the backlash, spitting out a mouthful of blood!


    ¡°Puh¡ª¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er clutched her chest, falling into Daling Lake alongside the fire dragon, sending waves soaring ten zhang high.


    Nangong Huan also fell into the water, but with her spiritual energy under control, a wave formed beneath her, lifting her up and sending her to the shore.


    ¡°Qian¡¯er!¡± Wei Yuguang shouted, slicing through Ye Wanjun¡¯s defense with his sword and diving into the lake to pull Nangong Qian¡¯er up.


    Blood spread across the lake¡¯s surface, gradually transforming it into a sea of red.


    Choking on water and blood, Nangong Qian¡¯er coughed violently, spitting out more blood. She quickly wiped her mouth and took out a vial of potion to drink.


    ¡°Brother Yuguang, Elder Sister Huan killed my spirit beast!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er collapsed into Wei Yuguang¡¯s arms, tears streaming down her face, looking pitiful.


    The backlash from the summoning was unbearable; if she didn¡¯t recover properly, she wouldn¡¯t be able to contract another spirit beast anytime soon.


    ¡°Nangong Huan, you¡¯re truly vicious!¡± Wei Yuguang immediately condemned her, his tone harsh. ¡°Qian¡¯er has never blamed you for anything; why do you have to force her? Are you happy now that Qian¡¯er¡¯s summoned beast is dead in your hands?¡±


    ¡°Really annoying! Little Ye, can¡¯t you handle him? You let him get away with this!¡± Nangong Huan said, digging in her ears and rolling her eyes.


    Of course, she meant no blame; Wei Yuguang was level nine, and naturally stronger, so it was already impressive that Ye Wanjun could withstand his attacks without getting hurt.


    ¡°I... he... fine, it¡¯s my fault. I¡¯ll practice my swordsmanship diligently from now on,¡± Ye Wanjun said with a sheepish smile, scratching his head awkwardly.


    Nangong Huan turned her gaze to Wei Yuguang, tilting her head with a mischievous smile.


    Wei Yuguang¡¯s heart tightened, a bad premonition washing over him. But before he could react, the ground cracked open again, and dense, massive roots shot up, tightly wrapping around the two!


    A stone kicked up from beside Nangong Huan hit Wei Yuguang¡¯s hand, causing him to drop his sword in pain.


    Both were bound tightly, unable to move.


    ¡°Nangong Huan, what do you want to do? I warn you not to do anything reckless!¡± Wei Yuguang shouted, watching as Nangong Huan stepped closer, his expression filled with disgust. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she was planning to take advantage of him!

 *Chapter 29: The Double-Standard Vixen

    Nangong Qian¡¯er silently cursed in her heart, yet maintained a pitiful facade.


    ¡°Elder Sister Huan, why do you have to hurt me like this?¡±


    ¡°Hurt? You¡¯ve never seen real hurt, have you? Want to try?¡± Nangong Huan grinned, raising the shining golden blade and inspecting it. ¡°First, I¡¯ll sever your tendons, then set you on fire, and toss you into the mud. Watching you roll around and scream would be quite entertaining, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Her smile was chilling, causing Nangong Qian¡¯er to tremble uncontrollably, fear spreading in her eyes.


    Wasn¡¯t this exactly what she had done to Nangong Huan before?


    ¡°Nangong Huan, you venomous woman! Is this something a human can do?¡± Wei Yuguang immediately shouted, unaware that the creator of this chaos was standing right beside him.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ye Wanjun yanked off Wei Yuguang¡¯s shoe and stuffed it into his mouth.


    He had decided to support Nangong Huan unconditionally!


    Wei Yuguang¡¯s face contorted in discomfort, wanting to vomit but unable to, the earthy taste exploding on his tongue, making his stomach churn.


    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m done playing with you. Let me see how many flags are left here.¡± Nangong Huan turned, raising her hand to release her spiritual energy.


    Waves of energy rippled out, spreading across a ten-mile radius.


    ¡°A-Huan, what¡¯s this move? I saw you use it in front of the Spirit Gathering Pavilion last time. Can it summon spirit beasts?¡± Ye Wanjun asked curiously.


    ¡°Spiritual sensing,¡± Nangong Huan chuckled softly, ¡°Just wait to collect flags.¡±


    In no time, countless spirit beasts emerged from all directions around Daling Lake.


    They belonged to various species, ranging from weak prey to powerful predators, but at that moment, they maintained a strange peace, pulling flags from one another and dropping them on the ground before leaving in an orderly fashion.


    Soon, a small mound formed on the ground.


    The sight was spectacular, causing Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuguang¡¯s eyes to nearly pop out!


    Why could this wretched girl effortlessly gather so many flags?


    Ye Wanjun was grinning from ear to ear, rushing over to count. He found ninety-two yellow flags, thirty-two blue flags, and one red flag.


    That red flag had been contributed by the mother beast of the wind fox cub.


    At that moment, the wind fox cub was snarling fiercely at Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuguang, looking harmless but its words could be translated as: ¡°Mom, these two big idiots bullied me!¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    The mother beast bared its teeth, drool dripping from its sharp fangs. After dropping the red flag, it lunged at Wei Yuguang and Nangong Qian¡¯er!


    The ensuing scene was far from pretty. The two stood frozen like wooden stakes, receiving several slaps from the mother beast, leaving deep claw marks on their faces.


    Of course, to avenge her cub, the mother beast didn¡¯t kill them outright; she first gave them a beating before letting them suffer to death!


    At that moment, Nangong Huan noticed the thorn fruit stuck in the mother beast¡¯s fur and called out, ¡°Big Fox, are there any thorn fruits in the forest? Can you point me in the right direction?¡±


    The root of the thorn fruit was one of the materials needed for the Three Spirit Life Advancement potion. She hadn¡¯t been able to buy it at the apothecary, and now was the perfect opportunity to gather some.


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡± The mother beast immediately abandoned the fight, wagging its tail and trying to show a gentle smile. It raised its paw to point in the direction for Nangong Huan.


    Such a gentle demeanor was a stark contrast to its earlier ferocity.


    ¡°Thanks a lot!¡± Nangong Huan waved goodbye and left with Ye Wanjun.


    Now, let Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuguang enjoy their fate slowly.


    As the mother beast watched them leave, it bared its teeth and lunged at Wei Yuguang and Nangong Qian¡¯er with ferocity.


    ¡°Get away! Ah¡ª¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er screamed repeatedly, her jealousy nearly breaking her sanity!


    Wei Yuguang was still struggling to break free. Under the mother beast¡¯s claw attacks, the roots binding him were torn apart. Remaining rational, he quickly pulled out a small, marble-like light ball and tossed it to the ground.


    The light ball instantly bounced up, forming a shield that enveloped the two, sending both the mother beast and cub flying!


    Finally given a moment to breathe, Wei Yuguang quickly broke free from the root bindings and cut through the roots entangling Nangong Qian¡¯er, swiftly carrying her away.


    ¡°Brother Yuguang, I¡¯m so scared,¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er clutched his shirt, drinking a potion to stabilize her injuries.


    Losing her spirit beast would leave her weak for a while.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Wei Yuguang, now at his limit, had a deep gash on his leg from the mother beast¡¯s claws, causing him immense pain.


    The mother beast, of course, wouldn¡¯t let them off so easily. After ensuring her cub was safe, she gave chase!


    They fled, and she pursued!


    **At the Judges¡¯ Stand.**


    Everyone was in shock, watching the rankings on the crystal board. Team Seven shot up to first place like a rocket!


    ¡°Cheating! It must be cheating!¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°There¡¯s no way they could collect so many flags so quickly!¡±


    ¡°Tch, just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean others can¡¯t. My Ye family¡¯s children never cheat!¡± The elder from the Ye family held his head high, initially skeptical about Ye Wanjun¡¯s team but now pleasantly surprised.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Elder Xue chuckled, his gaze profound.


    ¡°It¡¯s them!¡± Song Xiran exclaimed in surprise. She hadn¡¯t thought much of Nangong Huan¡¯s team at first, but they were now galloping ahead!


    Song Que, who had been fanning himself, froze at that moment, studying the crystal board more closely, realizing he hadn¡¯t been mistaken!


    ¡°Who is this Nangong Huan? Is she Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s sister?¡± Song Que still found it hard to believe. In his mind, Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s team should be in first place; he couldn¡¯t accept such a large gap so early on.


    However, he tried to console himself, reminding himself that early results didn¡¯t mean anything. The flag counts would change as the competition progressed, and until the last moment, victory was uncertain.


    ¡°If there are any violations, the red ring will kick them out of the trial directly. They might be using some unusual method,¡± an elder stroked his beard and remarked.


    No method could evade the red ring¡¯s detection!


    This inevitably reminded everyone of the scene where Nangong Huan summoned a multitude of spirit beasts at the Spirit Gathering Pavilion. Word of such abilities spread quickly among the judges.


    If she had such skills, then the trial would indeed be extremely advantageous for her.

 *Chapter 30: Wei Yuguang Exits the Trial

    Behind them, the mother wind fox pursued relentlessly.


    Both Wei Yuguang and Nangong Qian¡¯er were in a state of panic. Wei Yuguang quickly drank two potions to alleviate his injuries while increasing his speed, hoping to shake off the fox.


    Suddenly, they caught sight of other trial disciples!


    It was a group of three, presumably from the Chi family. Wei Yuguang¡¯s eyes lit up as he dashed toward them.


    If he could lead the wind fox to them, he and Qian¡¯er could escape!


    This wouldn¡¯t count as cheating since he hadn¡¯t harmed any other disciples directly!


    However, the three disciples also noticed Wei Yuguang and Qian¡¯er running toward them, and upon seeing the wind fox behind them, they initially thought they could help. But when they realized the fox was a Three Spirit Life beast, they nearly lost their minds!


    ¡°Don¡¯t come over here!¡± one of the female disciples screamed in terror, backing away. But Wei Yuguang was determined, weaving past them in hopes of redirecting the fox¡¯s attention.


    The three were so frightened that their legs felt weak. The female disciple collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably, completely losing her fighting spirit.


    Despair filled their hearts¡ªnot just about the wind fox, but also toward Nangong Qian¡¯er and Wei Yuguang. They never expected them to resort to such tactics!


    ¡°Nangong Qian¡¯er, Wei Yuguang, you¡¯re breaking the rules! This is a violation!¡± a male disciple shouted from the ground, realizing the implications of their actions.


    ¡°Hmph, we didn¡¯t hurt you, so it doesn¡¯t count as a violation!¡± Wei Yuguang scoffed, throwing out that retort before continuing to flee.


    As the wind fox approached, the three disciples considered using their red rings to escape. But to their surprise, the wind fox ignored them completely and charged straight at Wei Yuguang and Qian¡¯er. With its speed advantage, it pinned Wei Yuguang to the ground with its claws!


    Its claws dug into his shoulder, tearing flesh and causing blood to spill!


    Nangong Qian¡¯er was thrown aside, rolling and landing in a disheveled heap.


    The three disciples exchanged terrified glances. Seeing the wind fox disregard them, they scrambled away as fast as they could.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave us! Help us!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er cried out in desperation, but the three were already too far gone.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    The wind fox let out a furious roar and lowered its head, aiming to bite Wei Yuguang¡¯s neck.


    It intended to finish off these two humans!


    But Wei Yuguang had his own means of self-preservation. He quickly summoned a talisman, and in an instant, a burst of golden light erupted, releasing the power of a Three Spirit Life!


    The wind fox let out a pained howl, its eyes stinging as it retreated into the bushes, vanishing from sight.


    ¡°Brother Yuguang, are you okay?¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er, with tears in her eyes, crawled to Wei Yuguang¡¯s side, grasping his hand with concern.


    ¡°Qian¡¯er, I can¡¯t hold on much longer. I might have to leave now,¡± Wei Yuguang said, glancing at the red ring on his finger. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his injuries rendering him nearly immobile. If he pushed any further, he might lose his life!


    ¡°Brother Yuguang, the trial has just begun! We can¡¯t give up!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er pleaded, tears streaming down her face. If Wei Yuguang left, she would be alone, and her chances of securing first place would plummet.


    Wei Yuguang felt a deep sense of regret. After all the effort, they had only managed to collect a few yellow flags, while Nangong Huan had amassed several times more!


    But his physical condition was dire, and he had exhausted his potions. If he didn¡¯t return soon, he might die right there.


    ¡°I''m sorry, Qian¡¯er.¡± Wei Yuguang gritted his teeth against the pain and activated the power of the red ring.


    In a flash of red light, his figure vanished from the spot.


    ¡°Brother Yuguang!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er called out weakly, filled with guilt.


    She clenched her fists, trembling with rage. If it weren¡¯t for that wretched Nangong Huan, Brother Yuguang wouldn¡¯t have had to exit the trial!


    **At the Judges¡¯ Stand.**


    A flash of red light signaled Wei Yuguang¡¯s return, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief before fainting.


    Elders from the Wei family immediately called for healing assistance.


    ¡°These injuries are the result of a life-and-death struggle,¡± Elder Xue remarked, stroking his beard thoughtfully.


    ¡°What a pity! I thought they had a chance to place in the top ranks, but they were the first to be sent back,¡± Song Que commented, glancing at the rankings on the crystal panel, where the first place was held with overwhelming advantage.


    He had hoped that Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s team could at least secure second place, but now it seemed unlikely.


    ¡°The trial is a battle for survival. Just staying alive is an achievement in itself,¡± Song Xiran said calmly, sipping her tea while observing Wei Yuguang.


    Song Que nodded in agreement. ¡°True, but given his talent, I can draft an invitation for him to join our Feng Xuan Royal Academy.¡±


    With that, he took out paper and pen, beginning to compose the letter.


    In the shadows, Madam Shen watched the unfolding events, tightening her grip on her handkerchief.


    Even without Wei Yuguang, her Qian¡¯er could still achieve victory!


    ...


    *Tap, tap, tap.*


    Footsteps approached, prompting Nangong Qian¡¯er to lift her head.


    Her eyes were bloodshot as she glared at the two figures before her, trembling with rage.


    ¡°Oh, Qian¡¯er, why are you all alone? Where¡¯s your Brother Yuguang?¡± Nangong Huan taunted, feigning ignorance about Wei Yuguang¡¯s fate.


    She had intended to search for thorn fruits but had ended up watching this spectacle after noticing the direction in which the two had fled.


    ¡°Nangong Huan, it¡¯s all your doing! You vile woman, how malicious you are!¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er slowly rose to her feet, her hair a mess, her face twisted in fury.


    In her disheveled state, she looked no different from a wild monkey in the mountains.


    ¡°You should have evidence for your accusations. Which of your eyes saw me do anything?¡± Nangong Huan feigned innocence, shrugging her shoulders as if wronged.


    Ye Wanjun, standing behind, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, reveling in Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s misery. Especially now that Wei Yuguang had left, she was utterly alone.

 *Chapter 31: The Frenzied Spirit Beast

    Nangong Qian¡¯er¡¯s fury boiled as she faced the mocking expressions of Nangong Huan and Ye Wanjun. Suddenly, she noticed the dark spots on Nangong Huan''s face and thought of the cursed insects.


    With a sinister smile creeping onto her face, she took a few steps closer to Nangong Huan and Ye Wanjun.


    ¡°Sister, do you know what it feels like to wish for death?¡± Nangong Qian¡¯er raised her chin, regaining her previous haughty demeanor.


    Now that she had the cursed insect in her hand, with just a thought, she could make that wretched Huan beg for mercy!


    ¡°Not really. Are you planning to demonstrate it for me?¡± Nangong Huan replied with a sunny smile, though she remained wary, unsure of what Nangong Qian¡¯er was up to.


    Just as Nangong Qian¡¯er was about to unleash the mother insect, a loud, emotional beast roar erupted from the nearby forest!


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    In an instant, the birds scattered, and the ground trembled slightly as something approached the three of them.


    They all turned to see five disciples rushing toward them in a panic. Ye Wanjun squinted and recognized three of them as disciples from his own Ye family.


    ¡°Qi He, what¡¯s going on?¡± Ye Wanjun intercepted one of the Ye family disciples, who happened to be one of his juniors.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Ye Qi He clutched Ye Wanjun¡¯s sleeve, nearly in tears. ¡°Boss, we need to run! Just now, a Two Spirit Life red-tailed gorilla went berserk after eating one of the Chi family members! Its strength is at least Three Spirit Life!¡±


    ¡°Roar¡ª¡±


    At that moment, the red-tailed gorilla burst from the trees, pounding its chest fiercely.


    Its eyes were blood-red, teeth bared, with blood dripping from its jaws, its fur bristling with rage, emanating an overwhelming aura.


    Upon seeing the red-tailed gorilla, everyone instinctively ducked behind Ye Wanjun.


    ¡°Hey...¡± Ye Wanjun¡¯s face darkened. Don¡¯t hide behind me! I¡¯m scared too!


    Not far away, Nangong Qian¡¯er suddenly shrank back like a turtle. She glanced at Nangong Huan, noticing that her attention was also fixated on the red-tailed gorilla.


    Since this wretched girl could summon so many spirit beasts, she could surely control the red-tailed gorilla as well. With just a command, she could make the gorilla deal with her.


    That would be a terrible loss!


    A gentleman takes revenge; ten years is not too late! There were still two and a half days left, and with the items her mother had left her, who could say who would laugh last?


    With that thought, Nangong Qian¡¯er tiptoed away, slipping out of sight while no one was paying attention.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    As the others trembled in fear, Nangong Huan stepped forward, positioning herself in front of everyone.


    In that moment, she appeared larger than life, radiating the aura of a savior.


    ¡°Miss Huan!¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but shout, tears streaming down their face in gratitude.


    Nangong Huan raised her hand, releasing her spiritual energy to soothe the crowd. The gentle waves of energy rippled outward, and the red-tailed gorilla, which had been about to charge, halted in its tracks.


    It tilted its head to look at Nangong Huan, slowly lowering its raised arms as its violent aura began to dissipate, and its size shrank slightly, its blood-red eyes returning to normal.


    ¡°Ugh...¡± The red-tailed gorilla whined softly, moving closer to Nangong Huan, its expression seemingly pitiful.


    Nangong Huan recognized its whimpering; it was saying its stomach hurt.


    ¡°Be careful, Huan!¡± Ye Wanjun warned, his eyes filled with concern. That gorilla¡¯s fists were bigger than his head!


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Nangong Huan replied softly, extending her hand toward the red-tailed gorilla. ¡°Does it hurt? Let me see.¡±


    The red-tailed gorilla obediently approached, and Nangong Huan felt its pulse, probing with her spiritual energy.


    To her astonishment, she discovered a cursed insect within its body!


    Thinking quickly, Nangong Huan turned back and asked, ¡°Did the person it ate drink the potion from last night¡¯s auction?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we all drank it!¡± a Chi family disciple nodded, looking ashamed. ¡°That was one of ours. Our two teams planned to team up for the flags, but we accidentally provoked it. It ate our companion and went berserk...¡±


    He spoke with a hint of regret, a guilty expression on his face.


    Nangong Huan pieced it together. Since the disciple had consumed the potion, the cursed insect must have entered its body. Now that the red-tailed gorilla had eaten him, the insect was inside it as well.


    The unusual sensation inside was causing the red-tailed gorilla distress, driving it even more insane.


    Another Chi family disciple, however, was furious. ¡°It ate our companion; it must pay with its life!¡±


    Others quickly covered his mouth and pulled him back, whispering warnings.


    ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed?¡±


    ¡°Be careful, or it¡¯ll eat you too!¡±


    ¡°Just being alive is already a blessing!¡±


    The red-tailed gorilla shot him a fierce glare, its throat rumbling with a low growl. If they hadn¡¯t wanted to kill it, it wouldn¡¯t have fought back!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; it¡¯ll be fine soon,¡± Nangong Huan reassured it, releasing Xiao Jiu.


    Before long, Xiao Jiu expelled the cursed insects from within the gorilla. The tiny, blood-red insects squirmed on the ground, sending chills down everyone¡¯s spines.


    With a powerful punch, the red-tailed gorilla crushed the cursed insects into a pulp.


    It exhaled a breath, nodding in gratitude toward Nangong Huan, then tossed the flag from its waist to her before turning back into the forest.


    Nangong Huan glanced at the flag in her hand and tossed it to the two Chi family disciples, treating it as compensation for their fallen companion.


    ¡°These cursed insects are so disgusting!¡± Ye Qi He grimaced, turning to Ye Wanjun with a sullen expression. ¡°Thank goodness you didn¡¯t let us drink the potion, or we¡¯d be in the same situation.¡±


    Last night, Ye Wanjun and Ye Sang had warned all Ye family disciples not to consume the auctioned potions. They had collected the potions, hidden their identities, and sent them for inspection by the certification association.


    ¡°What cursed insects? What potions?¡± the Chi family disciples suddenly sensed something was off. What were they hiding from them?


    Ye Wanjun scoffed, ¡°The potions auctioned by Madam Shen last night contained cursed insects in every bottle! If you drank it, then you also have them inside you!¡±


    ¡°What? We have them inside us?!¡± The two disciples turned pale, clawing at their mouths, desperate to vomit out the potions they had just consumed.


    But after gagging for a while, nothing came out.


    Quickly, they recalled the scene of Nangong Huan expelling the cursed insects and rushed to her, dropping to their knees and clutching her legs.


    ¡°Miss Huan! Please save us!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Huan. I spoke out of turn earlier; please save us!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re willing to give you spirit herbs! How many do you want?¡±


    Just the thought of cursed insects inside them made the two disciples burst into tears, scratching their bodies in distress.

 *Chapter 32: Discounts and Deals

    "I don''t want your spirit herbs." Nangong Huan smirked, stepping back a couple of paces.


    The two disciples from the Chi family looked despondent, but just then, Nangong Huan continued, "I can help you expel the cursed insects directly, but you must agree to testify against Shen Ye Ruo later."


    "Absolutely! We''ll definitely testify! We''ll even point out Nangong Qian''er!" The two were immediately excited, knowing that Shen Ye Ruo was Nangong Qian''er¡¯s mother, and thus she must be involved!


    "We''ll testify too!" the disciples from the Ye family chimed in.


    Upon hearing them mention Nangong Qian''er, Nangong Huan realized that she had managed to slip away.


    Well, she wouldn¡¯t get far.


    Nangong Huan instructed Xiao Jiu to expel the cursed insects from the two disciples, and soon after, the insects were crushed underfoot.


    "Miss Huan, thank you so much!" the two disciples expressed their gratitude, acknowledging that without her help, they would have fallen under Nangong Qian''er¡¯s control.


    Nangong Huan nodded and said, "If you encounter any disciples who have consumed the cursed potion, tell them not to panic; the certification association will assist in resolving it."


    "Understood! We¡¯ll remember!" the two replied promptly, and the other three disciples from the Ye family took note as well.


    Once everyone was safe, the small teams went their separate ways.


    "Hey, what about Nangong Qian''er? Should we chase after her?" Ye Wanjun suddenly realized, feeling a bit regretful.


    "No need," Nangong Huan interjected. "A cornered dog will jump over the wall; give her some breathing room. She won''t resort to killing or stealing."


    In truth, Nangong Huan had her own motives. The trial had just begun, and many people likely hadn¡¯t consumed the cursed potion yet, meaning her money-making plans would be difficult to execute.


    As for having the two Chi family disciples calm everyone down, it was to provide a glimmer of hope. She didn¡¯t want people to confront Nangong Qian''er head-on and risk their lives, which would hinder her ability to profit from the dead.


    She wasn¡¯t a saint; without a certain price, why should she save their lives?


    Looking around, only her Xiao Jiu could expel the cursed insects!


    "Let¡¯s go find some thorny fruits and gather some flags. Who knows, we might strike a big deal," Nangong Huan said, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as she strode into the forest.


    ---


    Over the next two days, the sounds of sales echoed through the forest:If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Flags for sale, flags for sale! Don¡¯t miss out! Yellow flags, blue flags, red flags¡ªbuy one, you won¡¯t regret it! Everything you want is here; if you pass this village, you won¡¯t find this shop again!"


    Ye Wanjun¡¯s voice was loud as he set up a small stall under a tree, displaying a pile of enticing flags.


    Meanwhile, Nangong Huan lounged on a branch, casually chewing on a blade of grass. Beside her hung two disciples who looked utterly defeated, stripped down to their underpants, their faces full of regret.


    At that moment, a small duo passed by, and the female disciple glanced curiously. "So, you¡¯re the ones selling flags? How much for one?"


    It was far better to solve problems with money than to fight spirit beasts! Over the past two days, news of the flag sales had spread throughout the trial area.


    "Fifty thousand spirit herbs for a yellow flag, five hundred thousand for a blue flag, and five million for a red flag!" Ye Wanjun held up the three types of flags, his smile beaming.


    "That¡¯s so expensive," the male disciple frowned. Their allowance was limited; while they could manage fifty thousand, anything over that was tough, and five million was unthinkable!


    Ye Wanjun waved his hand sympathetically. "Oh, come on! Since we¡¯re all in this trial together, I¡¯ll give you a discount: ten percent off for two, seven percent off for five, and half price for ten! Buy a blue flag, and I¡¯ll throw in two yellow flags! How about that? A great deal, right?"


    A discount? The two began calculating the savings in their heads and realized it was quite a bargain.


    Seeing their hesitation, Ye Wanjun continued, "You know, a bottle of the cursed potion you used in battle costs fifty thousand spirit herbs. Instead of spending on potions, why not invest here? It¡¯s easier and simpler! Plus, we¡¯re about to close up shop. If you buy more, I¡¯ll even give you an extra two thousand spirit herbs off!"


    That made sense! They nodded. After two days of battling, they had accumulated quite a few flags. There was a chance they could break into the top ten, which came with many rewards. A few spirit herbs didn¡¯t matter much.


    "How many spirit herbs do you have?" The female disciple glanced at the male disciple.


    He patted his pocket. "Uh, over thirty thousand."


    "Perfect! I have over twenty thousand; let¡¯s buy a blue flag!" she suggested.


    "Alright!" The male disciple agreed, and they pooled together forty-eight thousand spirit herbs to exchange for the blue flag, with Ye Wanjun generously adding two yellow flags as a bonus.


    Having successfully completed another transaction, Ye Wanjun felt on top of the world.


    Just as the two were about to leave, the two disciples hanging from the tree suddenly cried out as if they had seen a savior.


    "Brother Tian! Save us!"


    Their cries made the duo look up, and they realized there were people hanging from the tree.


    "Oh, you know them?" Ye Wanjun¡¯s gaze shifted between the two groups, a mischievous smile forming on his face.


    "Uh, that¡¯s my brother. Can you let them down?" The male disciple¡¯s face darkened; what trouble had these two gotten into now?


    Ye Wanjun shook his finger, pretending to be reluctant. "That won¡¯t do. These two just tried to rob my flags because they thought I was easy to bully! If I don¡¯t teach them a lesson, how can I do business?"


    The two disciples were the unfortunate ones who had passed by earlier and thought they could snatch Ye Wanjun¡¯s flags!


    "What do you want?" the female disciple asked nervously, aware of the threat from Nangong Huan hanging above.


    "Cough¡ª" Nangong Huan cleared her throat, and Ye Wanjun immediately understood.


    He held up three fingers and said, "How about this? Since you just bought a blue flag, you can buy a yellow flag for three thousand spirit herbs, and we¡¯ll let these two down."


    The two exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and agreed, "Alright!"


    They pulled out three thousand spirit herbs to buy a yellow flag, and Nangong Huan finally let the two down.


    "Brother Tian! You¡¯re my real brother!" The two, now only in their underpants, clung to the male disciple¡¯s leg, crying out in despair, creating quite a scene.


    Embarrassed, they quickly gathered their things and left in a hurry.


    Ye Wanjun happily counted his spirit herbs, exclaiming to Nangong Huan, "Wow, we made over ten million!"


    In just two days, Nangong Huan had collected all five red flags, and among the buyers, one wealthy disciple had directly purchased a red flag, accounting for half of their earnings!

 *Chapter 33: The Unraveling of the Mother-Child Curse (1)

    "You take three, I take seven." Nangong Huan handed Ye Wanjun three million spirit herbs, packed up the remaining flags, and prepared to leave.


    Some of it would go to buy food for Cuocuo, some for her grandfather''s health potions, and some for magical herbs for alchemy¡ªbetter safe than sorry...


    As Nangong Huan calculated how to use the spirit herbs, she walked ahead.


    "Three million! I didn''t even do much. Are you sure you want to give me so much?" Ye Wanjun was on the verge of tears from gratitude.


    "The flags were all sold by you; this is what you deserve. I didn¡¯t expect you to have such a knack for business!" Nangong Huan smiled and patted his arm in praise.


    "That¡¯s because you gave me the opportunity, heh." The two began exchanging compliments about their business skills.


    Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking their path. The person was cloaked in a large black cape, obscuring their face.


    Nangong Huan and Ye Wanjun halted, sensing a dangerous aura from the figure.


    The person slowly removed the cape, revealing a meticulously groomed face of stunning beauty¡ªit was Nangong Qian''er.


    "Sister, how have you been these past two days?" Nangong Qian''er¡¯s complexion was rosy, suggesting she had been doing well.


    "I¡¯m fine, thank you for your concern, sister," Nangong Huan replied coldly. Encountering Nangong Qian''er now meant she was fully prepared.


    Over the past two days, Nangong Huan had heard from those who came to buy flags that sometimes, a sudden sound of flute music would ring in their ears, causing them stomach pains, followed by the appearance of a mysterious figure in a black cloak who would steal their flags.


    Approximately ten teams had been robbed, and no one knew who this cloaked figure was.


    Upon hearing about the mysterious robber, Nangong Huan had guessed it was undoubtedly Nangong Qian''er, who now likely had many people harboring resentment against her.


    "The trial is about to end. Don''t you care how I¡¯ve been these past two days?" Nangong Qian''er smiled sweetly, appearing innocent.


    Nangong Huan gestured dismissively, "You seem to be doing quite well."


    But suddenly, Nangong Qian''er seemed to lose her composure, throwing her cloak to the ground and shouting, "I¡¯ve been doing terribly!"


    "I¡¯ve been hiding alone like a rat in a sewer. You have no idea how much suffering I¡¯ve endured these past three days!" Nangong Qian''er exclaimed, her determination evident.


    "Oh? Should I offer you some assistance?" Nangong Huan provocatively waved a red flag in front of her, causing Nangong Qian''er¡¯s expression to twist with rage.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "You¡¯re the one selling flags?!" she shouted, her voice filled with indignation.


    For days, rumors had circulated about a team selling flags, claiming they had several red flags and were quite wealthy.


    Nangong Qian''er immediately began to plot.


    "Yes, it¡¯s me. What¡¯s wrong? Do you want to buy some? Since we¡¯re sisters, I can give you a 30% discount," Nangong Huan teased, flashing a mischievous smile.


    Nangong Qian''er was not amused; she huffed and raised her right hand, revealing a plump cursed insect resting in her palm.


    "All your flags belong to me!" she sneered, as if the entire world was under her control.


    "Wow, sister, you¡¯re impressive!" Nangong Huan feigned admiration, twisting her body in a dramatic fashion, which only fueled Nangong Qian''er¡¯s fury.


    Ye Wanjun, exasperated, covered his eyes. It wasn¡¯t just Nangong Qian''er who wanted to hit her; he felt the urge too!


    "Sister, I may not have told you, but I¡¯ve already placed a cursed insect inside you! With just a thought, you¡¯ll be writhing in agony! If you beg me now, maybe I¡¯ll let you off easy," Nangong Qian''er declared, her confidence soaring.


    With the cursed insect in play, she felt invincible!


    "Ah, a cursed insect! Oh no, I¡¯m so scared!" Nangong Huan exaggeratedly covered her mouth and pretended to panic, stepping back dramatically.


    Nangong Qian''er sneered, "Now that you¡¯re scared, hand over the flags, and I might let you suffer a little less!"


    The thrill of having someone¡¯s life in her hands was intoxicating for Nangong Qian''er, especially since it was someone she had always disliked!


    Nangong Huan lowered her hand, her expression returning to normal as she beckoned with her finger and smiled, "If you have the ability, come and take them."


    "You asked for it!" Nangong Qian''er was thoroughly enraged. She used her spiritual energy to command the mother insect to incite chaos among the child insects.


    "Ouch¡ª" Nangong Huan suddenly groaned, clutching her stomach and bending over.


    "Haha, feeling uncomfortable, are we? Here¡¯s your chance to beg on your knees..." Before Nangong Qian''er could finish her taunt, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, her eyes widening as a wave of excruciating cramps hit her!


    Not only that, her limbs began to swell slightly, making it hard for her to stand as she collapsed to the ground. Her skin felt like it was being seared, sending waves of burning pain deep into her bones, as if nails were being driven into her very core, a searing agony engulfing her!


    To make matters worse, her head throbbed painfully, and spots of black began to appear on her face, transforming her exquisite features into a grotesque mask.


    "Ah¡ª" Nangong Qian''er screamed in agony, rolling on the ground as she tossed the mother insect aside. The pain she felt was far worse than the initial realization of her predicament!


    "Wait? I¡¯m perfectly fine?" Nangong Huan straightened up, feigning ignorance as she looked down at herself, then smiled at Nangong Qian''er, "Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted me to beg for mercy? How did it turn into you begging now?"


    "Ah¡ªNangong Huan¡ªwhat did you do?!" Nangong Qian''er shouted through gritted teeth, struggling in pain. Why was she the one suffering after commanding the mother insect?


    Nangong Huan stepped closer, crushing the mother insect underfoot right in front of her, grinding it down a few times. The viscous juices were indeed disgusting, but the cruel smile on Nangong Huan''s face remained unwavering.


    With the mother insect dead, the child insects would undoubtedly perish as well, but before they died, they would intensify the agony for their host.


    "Of course, I returned the cursed insects to you, sister. How does it feel to be on the brink of death?" Nangong Huan leaned down, watching Nangong Qian''er scream in pain, completely unmoved, her coldness reaching new heights.


    Ye Wanjun couldn¡¯t help but cover his ears; the sound of Nangong Qianer''s screams was unbearable.


    No words could describe the rage consuming Nangong Qian''er at that moment. While she writhed in agony, her bloodshot eyes glared at Nangong Huan, realizing she was doomed.


    With the child insect inside her, if the mother insect died, she would follow suit.


    Who could save her...? In a daze, Nangong Qian''er thought of her mother... perhaps her mother could help!


    With the last vestige of her rationality, she activated the red ring and fled!