Chapter 257: Imperial Flowing Jelly and the Mysterious Yin Yin Stone

Chapter 257: Imperial Flowing Jelly and the Mysterious Yin Yin Stone

In the courtyard.

Heavy snow fell like willow catkins.

"Good wine!" Ji Minghao took a sip of the fine wine from Jiang Ning, and after a few breaths, he opened his eyes in awe.

Then, pointing at the remaining half cup of wine in his cup, which resembled the water of the Milky Way, he asked, "Brother Jiang, what wine is this? I'm a connoisseur of wine, yet I can't seem to identify it!"

"It's extremely cold upon entering the mouth, as if it could freeze one's thoughts!"

"After swallowing, the extreme cold turns into a surge of heat, causing me to break into a light sweat even in this snowy weather."

As Ji Minghao spoke, his eyes shone with excitement.

Jiang Ning replied, "It's just ordinary wine!"

"Ordinary wine?" Ji Minghao was taken aback. "How could ordinary wine have such divine properties?"

Jiang Ning explained, "It's mixed with a special type of heavenly material."

He then briefly described the form of the water within water he had found in the underwater cave.

Upon hearing this, Ji Minghao held his wine cup, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, deep in thought.

After a few breaths, his expression relaxed, and his unfocused eyes refocused on the cup in front of him. The wine inside, slightly rippling, seemed like the water of the Milky Way, with countless silver stars floating within, creating a dazzling sight.

"I think I've figured out a possibility!" Ji Minghao said calmly.

"What possibility?" Jiang Ning asked.

Ji Minghao replied, "Based on your description, the substance you encountered resembles the Imperial Flowing Jelly."

"Imperial Flowing Jelly?" Jiang Ning was slightly surprised.

"Indeed!" Ji Minghao nodded. "According to the records, the Imperial Flowing Jelly appears as countless golden threads. However, there's another account stating that since the Imperial Flowing Jelly is a manifestation of the moon's essence, when diluted, it turns into a silver glow, resembling the water of the Milky Way!"

"That does seem to match the wine we're holding!"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning was slightly astonished.

Although it was just a guess from Ji Minghao, remembering the almost demon-like white dragon fish he encountered in the sunken ship at the bottom of the lake, he suddenly felt that Ji Minghao's guess was most likely correct.

In the current world, it wasn't easy for demons to be born, let alone the crucial step of opening their spiritual intelligence for demonization.

And that white dragon fish undoubtedly possessed a certain level of spiritual intelligence.

If it were the Imperial Flowing Jelly, that would make sense!

After all, the Imperial Flowing Jelly had the effect of opening spiritual intelligence, bringing immense benefits to all spirits in the world!

"If that's the case, then the origin of that black stone is quite significant! For now, let's call it the Yin Yin Stone!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

On the other side.

In front of Jiang Ning's mansion.

Pfft—

Pfft—

Pfft—

A man in a white robe with a bun on his head walked slowly through the snow towards Jiang Ning's residence.

The man looked up at the plaque above the entrance.

【Jiang Manor】

"This should be the place," the man smiled.

The cold wind blowing from the distant lake caused his white robe to flutter.

A few strands of hair, not bound by his bun, danced in the wind.

Pfft—

Pfft—

Pfft—

The man walked through the snow, following the stone steps to the front gate.

Knock knock knock—

He knocked on the front gate.

After a moment, the gate opened, and Jiang Li appeared, looking at the man in the white robe with confusion.

"Who are you?"

The man smiled. "I am He Jinseng, and I've come to pay a visit to Commander Jiang Ning!"

"So you're also looking for Ah Ning!" Jiang Li nodded.

"Please come in!" He stepped aside to make way.

At this moment, Jiang Ning, who was chatting and drinking with Ji Minghao, suddenly felt a slight sense of unease.

"Brother Jiang, what's wrong?" Ji Minghao asked, noticing the subtle change in Jiang Ning's expression.

"Someone has come to visit!" Jiang Ning replied.

"An uninvited guest?" Ji Minghao inquired.

Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

When He Jinseng reached the gate, Jiang Ning had already heard the sound of snow being trampled outside.

As He Jinseng knocked on the door and introduced himself to Jiang Li, Jiang Ning understood.

He Jinseng, who had arrived in Luoshui County a few days ago, had chosen to visit him today.

He Jinseng's visit was certainly not a friendly one.

Beside them.

Upon hearing Jiang Ning's words, Ji Minghao immediately pricked up his ears.

However, in the heavy snow, his hearing was already diminished, and the occasional falling snow from the trees further interfered with his senses.

He strained to listen, but the snow and the rustling of the trees made it difficult to hear clearly.

Suddenly, he couldn't help but look at Jiang Ning with suspicion.

But the next moment, he heard the sound of snow being trampled, "Puchi, Puchi," coming from a distance, growing louder as it approached.

The sound, growing clearer as it drew nearer, confirmed that someone was indeed coming!

Ji Minghao's heart was filled with surprise.

As martial practitioners advanced, their physical bodies transformed, and their five senses would gradually become extraordinary.

Therefore, generally speaking, the higher the martial rank, the deeper the transformation of the physical body, the stronger the strength, and the sharper the five senses.

"Could it be that Brother Jiang's strength is even greater than mine?" Ji Minghao looked at Jiang Ning, and this thought involuntarily popped into his mind.

Then, he secretly shook his head.

Impossible! Ji Minghao immediately dispelled this thought.

"I have already completed the forging of my Jade Bone, and in a few months, I will be able to forge the divine bones that will achieve the body of a Martial Sage!"

"Brother Jiang is still in the Bone Forging stage, how could his strength possibly surpass mine? He must have heard the sounds from a distance before me because his five senses are extraordinary!"

As the two of them turned their gazes towards the entrance of the small courtyard, they saw Jiang Li approaching with a man in a white robe.

The man appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a handsome and refined demeanor.

Seeing Jiang Ning and Ji Minghao looking over, He Jinseng smiled faintly.

Jiang Li glanced at Jiang Ning and nodded slightly.

Before they even reached the Eastern Courtyard, Jiang Ning had already used Secret Voice Transmission to inform Jiang Li.

"Young Master He, this is my younger brother, Jiang Ning!" Leaving these words, he immediately turned and left, following Jiang Ning's instructions.

Accompanied by Liu Wanwan, Jiang Yiming, and Xiao Doubao, he headed towards the Grand Hall.

The Grand Hall was where Lin Qingyi was, and as long as they were by her side, they would be safe.

At this moment, seeing Jiang Li turn and leave, He Jinseng secretly shook his head.

"Indeed, a rustic from the countryside!"

Then, he looked at Jiang Ning and glanced at Ji Minghao with a faint expression.

"Commander Jiang, I originally intended to pay a visit today."

"I didn't expect that Commander Jiang would have guests to entertain today!"

"Since that's the case, I won't disturb you further. I'll come again another day to pay my respects!"

After leaving these words, He Jinseng turned and left.

Behind him, Ji Minghao's face was filled with astonishment.

Jiang Ning's eyes slightly narrowed.

After He Jinseng's figure disappeared and his footsteps gradually faded away, Ji Minghao said, "This person is so impolite! He looks like a young master from a noble family, but when he visits, he doesn't even introduce himself?" There was a hint of anger on Ji Minghao's face.

Jiang Ning said, "He is the second young master of Qinghe Duke Manor. How could he not know manners? It's just that he doesn't put us in his eyes!"

"Qinghe Duke?" Ji Minghao scoffed, "A mere declining duke's manor, and he's not even the legitimate firstborn son. How dare he act so arrogantly?"

On the other side, He Jinseng walked out on his own.

He glanced back at the white wall that stood between him and Ji Minghao.

"That person looks somewhat familiar!"

"Have I met him before?"

He shook his head, "Forget it, he's probably not someone important. What kind of important figure could there be in this small county? Even if there is, could they be more significant than my Qinghe Duke Manor?"

In the Eastern Courtyard, at Ji Minghao's inquiry, Jiang Ning decided to reveal the grudge between him and Qinghe Duke.

However, he omitted the most crucial piece of information—that he had killed the young master, He Jinyun.

This was a secret he wouldn't even share with a close friend like Cheng Ran, let alone Ji Minghao, whom he had just met for the first time.

After a moment, Ji Minghao, having heard Jiang Ning's explanation, nodded slightly.

"So that's how it is!"

"Indeed, this person's visit today is unexpected!"

Then Ji Minghao turned to Jiang Ning, "Do you want me to get involved in this matter?"

"No need!" Jiang Ning shook his head.

"Alright!" Ji Minghao nodded and took out a palm-sized golden-inlaid jade token from his body. The token had the character "Hao" engraved on its front.

"This is my identity token. In the future, if you need anything, holding this token will be as if I am personally present, and you can go to any military camp to mobilize troops."

Seeing this, Jiang Ning didn't hesitate to accept the identity token that Ji Minghao passed to him.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

"I said, don't be so distant!" Ji Minghao feigned anger.

"Brother Ji!" Jiang Ning clasped his hands respectfully.

"That's more like it!" Ji Minghao smiled.

Then, he stood up and said, "Brother Jiang, we've chatted enough. Why don't we go and meet my seventeenth sister?"

"What seventeenth sister?" Jiang Ning asked, looking perplexed.

Ji Minghao smiled, "Of course, it's according to my sister-in-law's wishes. She wants to match you with my younger sister, Xiao Shiqi! If you two are fated, then we'll become even closer as relatives. In the future, we can lie down together, chat through the night, and occasionally drink and make merry. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Hearing Ji Minghao's words, Jiang Ning was even more astonished.

He immediately shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Brother Ji, you're taking this joke too far! What status do I have? I'm even lower than a seventh-rank official! And what status does Brother Ji's younger sister have?"

"She's a princess of untold value!"

"How could I possibly be with her?"

Ji Minghao looked at Jiang Ning and shook his head seriously.

"Brother Jiang, why must you belittle yourself?"

"At your age, you've already reached the Bone Forging realm in your martial path!"

"With your talent, in my eyes, you'll definitely have a place among future Grandmasters!"

"Once you achieve the Grandmaster position, no matter what status you are, you'll still be worthy of my younger sister!"

"Moreover, I also have my own selfish desires!" As he said these words, Ji Minghao's tone became even more sincere.

Then he continued, "Brother Jiang, you should also know that when royal children reach marriageable age, they become products of political marriage alliances."

"Nowadays, the descendants of those kings, dukes, and ministers live in decadence, and how many of them are suitable matches?"

"Compared to letting my younger sister marry one of those people, I'd rather she marry someone who treats her well and whom she can look at without disgust!"

"Moreover, in my eyes, Brother Jiang is far superior to those people!"

"If it's truly fate, Brother Jiang, you don't need to worry!"

"I'll clear away any difficulties for my younger sister."

Seeing his sincere expression, Ji Minghao's face was filled with seriousness.

Jiang Ning couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

From Ji Minghao's words, he was indeed a good brother.

And what he said was indeed true.

Royal daughters, how could they have the freedom to choose their marriage?

If they were to marry down, it would be fine, for with the status of royal children, even in their husband's family, they wouldn't suffer any grievances.

But if they were to marry the descendants of kings, dukes, and ministers as wives, becoming objects of the royal family's political alliances, then all the grievances in their hearts could only be silently swallowed.

The so-called princess status was merely a seemingly splendid packaging, becoming a capital for political alliances.

In such a situation, they were just political pawns, how could they have any happiness?

At this moment,

Ji Minghao saw Jiang Ning's thoughtful expression, so he stood up and pulled Jiang Ning's arm.

"Brother Jiang, you can't refuse me this face!"

"Alright!" Jiang Ning nodded, "I also want to see the beauty and talent of the seventeenth princess of our Great Xia."

"That's right! My younger sister's appearance will definitely astonish you!" Ji Minghao said proudly, as if he was proud of his younger sister.

On the other side,

In the grand hall,

A girl in a goose-yellow long skirt sat on a stool, her legs dangling, and her fair chin resting on the table in front of her.

Under her feet was a square charcoal stove with burning hot coals.

Lin Qingyi looked at her and couldn't help but smile faintly.

"At this time, your brother and Jiang Ning should be together. Why don't we go find them?"

"Okay!" The girl straightened her waist and stretched her hand over her head, displaying her soft waist.

If one were to look from behind at this moment, they would see the detailed outline of the girl's waist, no bigger than a palm.

As she stretched her waist, she asked Lin Qingyi, "Sister-in-law, is Jiang Ning really that good-looking?"

"He's very handsome!" Lin Qingyi nodded slightly, "If I were younger and met him, I'd probably admire him too!"

"Sister-in-law, you're still young!" The girl laughed.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Lin Qingyi glared at her, feeling a strange sense of shame.

Suddenly,

A smile appeared on Lin Qingyi's face.

"They're here!"

Hearing these words, the girl's eyes lit up with joy, and she quickly looked up at the slightly ajar grand hall doors.

The next moment,

Creak—

The door was pushed open.

She saw the figures of Jiang Ning and Ji Minghao.

At the same time,

Jiang Ning also saw Lin Qingyi in her green skirt and the girl with a slightly blushing face and a goose-yellow long skirt standing next to Lin Qingyi.

At this moment, both of them had already stood up.

The girl, standing next to Lin Qingyi, didn't appear very tall, her head just reaching Lin Qingyi's shoulders.

She saw Jiang Ning's gaze, and her eyes immediately began to dodge, looking to the sides and then up at the ceiling, never daring to meet Jiang Ning's gaze.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end