“That woman called Yan Ji, it doesn’t look like her spirit roots have recovered. Tianhe, go and ask a few questions, and don’t invite Ning Cheng to 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond for the time being. Just ask how she came to be by his side. If he really has something to do with that witch who killed my 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond’s Holy Emperors, I will never let it go. However, we cannot touch him right now. After all, even though he’s a rogue cultivator, he’s fearless enough to jump to the sky.” The woman with a wrinkled face from 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond sent a voice transmission to Shi Tianhe.

  Shi Tianhe nodded, understanding what her senior aunt meant.

  “Congratulations to Pill Sage Ning for obtaining the Dao Essence Pill Sage’s qualification token and representing the Grand Essence Realm in the Five Grand Realms’ Alchemy Competition.” Shi Tianhe brought Shi Yishuang to Ning Cheng and congratulated him with a smile on her face.

  Even if Ning Cheng didn’t like Shi Tianhe much, Shi Tianhe was still the Vice Sect Master of the 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond. Moreover, her cultivation level also far exceeded his. Now that Shi Tianhe had personally come over, Ning Cheng could only return the greetings with cupped fists, “Many thanks, Vice Sect Master Shi.”


  He still had one more thing on his mind: searching for the woman who looked like Shi Qionghua. However, Ning Cheng also was well aware of his current abilities. As such, he decided to not pursue it for now.

  Moreover, even if the 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pong invited him, he couldn’t just go. Who could say if they would imprison him and force him to refine pills specifically for the 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond? After all, this sect was one thing in the open but the complete opposite in the dark.

  “Huh, Junior Apprentice Sister Yan Ji? How did you end up here, and with Pill Sage Ning no less.” Shi Yishuang looked at Yan Ji in astonishment, as if she had just discovered her existence.

  Ning Cheng sneered coldly in secret. Go ahead and pretend. He knew Shi Tianhe and others had noticed Yan Ji a long time ago. They just need an excuse to find out how she got to her side. But, no matter how they put it, he would never admit the truth. After all, even as a Dao Essence Pill Sage, it might become troublesome if he accepted it.

  Therefore, Ning Cheng acted with even more surprise and asked, “You know Yan Ji?”


  Shi Yishuang nodded hastily, “Yes, Junior Apprentice Sister Yan Ji originally was an outer disciple of my 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond. However, a traitor whisked her away. I wonder how Pill Sage Ning ended up with Junior Apprentice Sister Yan Ji?”


  Ning Cheng suddenly showed a confused expression, “If I recall it correctly, back then, Yan Ji was with Shui Yueke. It’s just that she seemed to be unconscious. But when I saw Yan Ji’s beauty, I immediately took a liking to her. Shui Yueke is also a nice person. Unfortunately, she had something urgent to attend to, so she handed Yan Ji over to me. Fortunately, Pill Sage Jing Han decided to exchange some dao fruits with me, so I obtained two 5-Elements Heavenly Fruits to wake up Yan Ji.”


  After saying this, Ning Cheng even fondly took Yan Ji’s hand, his eyes full of joy. It immediately made his intent clear. I care about Yan Ji, so don’t ask about something if you don’t want others to know what happened at your 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond. If you’re going to ask, better be prepared to tear all face.

  Most of what Ning Cheng said was the truth anyway. Everyone from this sect ‘already knew’ that she and Shui Yueke knew each other. Plus, from what he heard from Yan Ji, Ruo Xi was the one who had actually saved the three of them.

  “You…… used the 5-Elemental Heavenly Fruit just to wake her up?” In Shi Yishuang’s eyes, Yan Ji, a puny outer disciple, had no other redeeming qualities apart from her beauty. Yet, Ning Cheng had actually used a 5-Elemental Heavenly Fruit to wake her up, not even fully heal her. Only because he fancied Yan Ji’s beauty, this kind of luxury felt simply too……

  After all, no cultivator would be so extravagant as to spend this much to save a woman. Because of this, Shi Yishuang couldn’t believe it despite knowing that it was the truth.

  Ning Cheng’s face sank, and his tone also turned somewhat unhappy. “Oh, does Fairy Yishuang think that what I did was inappropriate?”


  “I didn’t mean that……” Shi Yishuang hurriedly replied. Ning Cheng was no longer the same person she could openly disdain.

  On the other hand, after hearing Ning Cheng’s explanation, Shi Tianhe felt slightly relieved. As long as Ning Cheng wasn’t involved with that witch, she could use Ning Cheng for her 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond.

  “Pill Sage Ning, please don’t blame her for her surprise. Yishuang felt that the 5-Elemental Heavenly Fruit is somewhat precious and spoke out without careful consideration.” Shi Tianhe immediately cut in to ease the tension. “Yan Ji is an unparalleled beauty, and it’s her good fortune to be able to follow Pill Sage Ning.”


  After saying this, Shi Tianhe then turned to Yan Ji and spoke gently. “Yan Ji, you are also a disciple of my 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond. It’s your fortune that Pill Sage Ning has taken a fancy to you. In the future, you should continue following Pill Sage Ning and serve him well.”


  Yan Ji hurriedly bowed in response. Shi Tianhe was at least right about one thing. She was still currently a disciple of the 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond in the eyes of the public, even if she didn’t consider herself as one.

  On the other hand, when Shi Tianhe spoke to Yan Ji in an instructional tone, Ning Cheng felt upset in his heart. However, he couldn’t say anything right now. Instead, he showed a warm smile, “You can consider it a hobby of mine. I always get an itch when I see a beautiful woman. Last time I saw a woman from the 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond in the Grand Essence Mystic Realm. I simply couldn’t stop thinking about her in my heart……”


  When Shi Tianhe heard Ning Cheng’s words, she immediately felt overjoyed. She thought he wouldn’t like her 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond’s female disciples. After all, she could easily arrange for it as long as he fancied any of them. Moreover, even though Yan Ji was a disciple of her 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond, she didn’t have any sense of belonging to the sect. Plus, with the 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond trying to graft away her spirit roots, it would be strange if she felt anything good about the sect.

  “Yishuang, who is it that Pill Sage Ning took a fancy to?” Shi Tianhe couldn’t wait to immediately bring Ning Cheng to her 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond.

  Shi Yishuang hurriedly transmitted a message to Shi Tianhe, “It’s our Sacred Lady, who has reincarnated nine times……”


  Shi Yishuang no longer had to say anything else. Shi Tianhe understood that such a thing would never come to fruition. If Ning Cheng had fancied Shi Yishuang, she could have still agreed to it. But even if Ning Cheng was a Dao Essence Pill Sage, he wouldn’t be able to take away their 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond’s Sacred Lady. Especially one who had already reincarnated nine times.

  “This junior will take his leave.” Ning Cheng didn’t get the answer he wanted, so he went with simple parting words and quickly left with Yan Ji and others.

  The people from Profound Aquatic Palace weren’t too far from Ning Cheng and had heard the conversation between Ning Cheng and Shi Tianhe and Shi Yishuang.

  “Aunt Xuan, this Ning Cheng is capable, but he’s too…… human.” Yue Shu, who stood beside Cen Ruxuan, shook her head.

  Cen Ruxuan looked at Ning Cheng’s disappearing back and pondered for a moment before speaking. “Yue Shu, maybe you might succeed with your method. If you’re willing, you can go and test him out. If my Profound Aquatic Palace has a Dao Essence Pill Sage to help, then……”


  Cen Ruxuan didn’t say anything further; the two disciples around her immediately understood what she meant.

  Yue Shu nodded, “Aunt Xuan, I already planned to do it this way. Don’t worry; I’m even more certain of succeeding now.”


  She hadn’t seen the woman from 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond that Ning Cheng had fancied, but she had seen Yan Ji, who she already regarded as inferior to her.

  “If he wants your virginity, you can give it to him as well……” Seeing Yue Shu nod, Cen Ruxuan suddenly added another sentence.

  Yue Shu’s face changed, and she quickly replied, “That I can’t do. But you can rest assured, Aunt Xuan. Even if I don’t give him anything, he will still obediently work for my Profound Aquatic Palace.”


  Zhongmeng Yuxiu, who hadn’t spoken till now, suddenly interjected. “Senior Apprentice Sister Yue Shu, I’m afraid you still have no idea how he deals with things.”
……

  “Junior Apprentice Sister Ji, I said that to Shi Tianhe because I suspect Qionghua is at 9-Revolutions Sacred Dao Pond.” After returning to the inn, Ning Cheng explained it to Yan Ji.

  Shi Qionghua and Ji Luofei were Ning Cheng’s dao companions. Yan Ji had known about it for a long time. Now that Ning Cheng explained it, she showed a serene smile and said, “Big Brother, you should go and save Junior Apprentice Sister Hanrui.”


  What she meant was that there was no need to explain these matters to her. If she needed explanations for such issues from Ning Cheng, she wouldn’t have risked her life so many times to find Ning Cheng.

  Ning Cheng nodded his head and directly entered the True Spirit World.

  Ning Cheng had put Xun Hanrui’s body behind several protective formations. So apart from her pale face and lack of flowing blood, she looked as if she was just asleep.

  Ning Cheng took out a Six Yin Soul Pill and put it into Xun Hanrui’s mouth. It transformed into a gas and seeped into Xun Hanrui’s body.

  However, even after an hour, Ning Cheng found no signs of Xun Hanrui’s soul returning to her body. Fortunately, Ning Cheng also understood that he couldn’t rush this matter. The Six Yin Soul Pill did give people a chance to reunite their departed soul and the body, but it could sometimes take several years. Moreover, taking the Six Yin Soul Pill where the person fell would be even more effective. It would quicken the gathering of the dissipating soul without the need for a complete soul rebirth.

  Ning Cheng decided to take Xun Hanrui to Rainbowfall Sword Sect in Graceful Star Mainland and put her back in her original grave when he had the chance.

  When Ning Cheng came out of the True Spirit World, he found Jian Sanshan waiting outside. Jian Sanshan knew that Ning Cheng was about to leave Heaven Essence Sacred City and had come over on purpose.

  “Brother Jian, I have an urgent matter to take care of in the Grand Essence Ruins. Therefore, Xin Xiu and Wu Qihong will have to follow you to learn alchemy. Don’t worry though, I will return to Heaven Essence City before leaving for the Five Grand Realms’ Alchemy Competition.” Even though he had already discussed this matter with Jian Sanshan, he still decided to probe Jian Sanshan again.

  In fact, with his current status, even if they didn’t follow Jian Sanshan, Xin Xiu and Wu Qihong’s status had reached the point where everyone wanted to fawn over them. They no longer were the same inconspicuous duo that anyone could step over unless they didn’t want to live anymore.

  Without waiting for Jian Sanshan to speak, Xin Xiu, who stood at the side, spoke up. “Big Brother Ning, Senior Apprentice Brother Jian has already asked Junior Apprentice Brother Qihong and me to follow him and learn alchemy. Moreover, Senior Apprentice Brother has also helped us establish a pill house in Heaven Essence Sacred City.”


  Jian Sanshan grinned, “Brother Ning, I got the pill house in Heaven Essence Sacred City registered in your name, but I will also be making a living in that pill house from now on.”


  “Then, many thanks, Brother Jian.” Ning Cheng hurriedly stood up to thank him. He naturally understood Jian Sanshan’s intent behind those actions. One was for reputation, and the second was for the sake of Xin Xiu and Wu Qihong. As for Jian Sanshan’s comment about making a living, it was purely to help them out.

  After all, Xin Xiu and Wu Qihong’s alchemy level was still too low. If they wanted to open a pill house in Heaven Essence Sacred City by themselves, at least one of them had to be a Dao Sculpting Pill Sage.

  Ning Cheng immediately recalled the dao pills he had refined from the dao fruits during his previous retreat. If he put these dao pills in the pill house, the pill house’s business would definitely shoot up like a rocket.

  However, Ning Cheng quickly dismissed this thought. Dao pills were still a precious commodity. It would immediately paint a massive target on Jian Sanshan and the others if he dared to do so in his absence.

  Therefore, Ning Cheng decided to only take out some Dao Raising and under spirit pills before giving them to Xin Xiu. Then, after leaving behind more instructions on their uses, he took Yan Ji and said goodbye to Jian Sanshan and the others before leaving Heaven Essence Sacred City.