Chapter 318: Shifting Thoughts

Chapter 318: Shifting Thoughts



November 16, 2024

Inside the room.

As Jiang Ning pushed open the door, he saw Xiao Emei in an immodest outfit.

Her delicate shoulders were partially exposed, and her two fair legs extended from beneath her long robe, reflecting the flickering candlelight.

The oversized sleeves also made her hands appear slender at this moment.

Clearly, she was only wearing a single robe.

This half-concealed and half-revealed attire, which left much to the imagination, clearly showed that Xiao Emei understood men well.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Xiao Emei tugged at her collar, deliberately covering the valley between her breasts.

She had already figured it out just now.

Based on her limited knowledge, she knew that reincarnated divine beings were once great gods.

These great gods chose to reincarnate as humans to free themselves from their divine bodies and some kind of restriction.

Such beings, who could compare to them in all of Dongling Prefecture?

After realizing this, Xiao Emei calmly accepted the current situation.

In her opinion, this might also be an opportunity.

At the Water Moon Sword Palace, her future potential would be limited, and at best, she could only catch up to Xiao Qiushui. Achieving the level of a grandmaster would be more difficult than ascending to heaven.

However, following a powerful reincarnated divine being with limitless potential would make her future prospects immeasurable.

The next moment.

Xiao Emei's expression instantly froze, and her eyes widened in shock.

Because she saw that the person who entered was not only Jiang Ning but also a green-clothed girl standing behind him.

Seeing an outsider as a third party, Xiao Emei couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

She quickly tightened her collar, covering her exposed fragrant shoulders.

Her pale, shimmering legs also retreated into the robe.

"Lu Yi, take her, take her to rest." Jiang Ning spoke: "Also, give her a set of clothes!"

"Yes!" Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Lu Yi was puzzled but still responded.

A moment later.

Xiao Emei was led out by Lu Yi.

The door was closed again.

Jiang Ning glanced around the room.

The most significant damage was the pit in front of his bed.

Under the explosive power of his fist technique, Xiao Emei had not been killed by his first move, but the wooden floor and ground could not withstand the destructive force, directly forming a pit.

The wooden boards beneath his feet were severely damaged and even carbonized.

However, the extent of the damage within the room was not severe under his control and did not affect other areas.

After glancing around, Jiang Ning went to bed to sleep.

The next day.

Cloud Arrival Inn.

Bai Luoyu stepped out of his room and glanced at the neighboring room.

"Hasn't Xiao Emei returned yet?"

Then his gaze turned towards the direction of Jiang Ning's mansion.

"Let's go and see!" He thought to himself.

Then he headed downstairs towards the inn.

As he walked out of the inn's main entrance.

He suddenly saw Xiao Emei approaching from a distance.

Unlike her usual preference for white clothing, she was now wearing a set of green clothes.

Seeing Xiao Emei, Bai Luoyu's eyes flickered with surprise.

He couldn't help but take a few extra glances at her attire, especially at her coiled hair on top of her head.

Because he remembered that every time he had seen Xiao Emei before, she had always worn her hair in a waterfall-like style.

This showed that Xiao Emei usually preferred letting her hair flow freely, but today, it was coiled on top of her head.

This was the first time he had seen it, and his gaze lingered for a moment.

His curiosity grew even more.

"Miss Xiao, where did you go with your family?" Xiao Emei approached, and Bai Luoyu greeted her with a smile, fanning himself with his folding fan.

"Just strolling around and grabbing an early breakfast!" Xiao Emei stopped and replied.

"Miss Xiao, you're in a leisurely mood!" Bai Luoyu chose not to expose her. Last night, he had witnessed Xiao Emei climbing out the window.

But at this moment, Bai Luoyun's mind was still filled with doubts.

After a moment of thought, Bai Luoyu couldn't figure it out, so he thought of Jiang Ning, and his mind was no longer tangled.

"Miss Xiao, I plan to visit Jiang Ning's mansion again. Would you like to come along?"

Hearing Jiang Ning's name, a strange expression flashed across Xiao Emei's eyes.

Last night's experience had left a deep impression on her, and she had spent the entire night reminiscing about it.

The events of that night had a profound impact on her.

The next moment.

She nodded: "Sure, but I need to go back to my room to freshen up and change clothes. Could you wait for a moment, Inspector Bai?"

"Take your time!" Bai Luoyu gently waved his folding fan: "I'm not in a hurry. Waiting a bit won't be a problem."

A moment later.

Xiao Emei returned to the room.

She went to her bedside, rummaged through a few bottles, found the medicine she needed, and took one to swallow.

The medicinal pill entered her body, and she sat cross-legged on the bed, beginning to circulate her inner energy to heal her injuries.

The brief clash last night had left her with considerable internal injuries.

Her five viscera and six entrails were all affected, and her limbs and bones had various minor and major hidden wounds.

Her meridians were in a complete mess.

Even with her inner energy protecting her body, she couldn't believe how severe her injuries would have been without it.

Nevertheless, the injuries were still quite serious, and after circulating her inner energy for healing throughout the night, it had only stabilized the wounds, without much improvement.

At this moment, as she continued to circulate her inner energy, the pill quickly dissolved within her body, and the powerful medicinal force began to permeate throughout.

Half an incense stick later, there was a knock on the door.

"Guest, the hot water is ready!" a deep-voiced middle-aged woman called out.

Hearing this, Xiao Emei opened her eyes and glanced at the door, then waved her hand, and the inner energy swept out, causing the door bolt to drop.

"Come in!"

Xiao Emei closed her eyes again.

The woman outside the door pushed it open upon hearing this.

The next moment, she hurriedly lowered her head.

She saw the hanging curtains and objects in the room moving without any wind.

The well-sealed room had a cyclone swirling within.

She instantly knew that the rumors she had heard about the Eight Trigrams were not wrong.

The VIP staying in this superior guest room was indeed a big shot from the county town.

Carrying two wooden buckets, the woman made several trips to adjust the water temperature for Xiao Emei, then sprinkled rose petals on top.

"The hot water is ready!" the woman said, bowing her head.

"You can go now!" Xiao Emei kept her eyes closed.

"Yes!"

After a while, Xiao Emei got up, climbed down from the bed, and checked if the doors and windows were sealed before heading to the bathtub to remove her clothes.

The next moment, she felt a surge of pain.

Her waist-length hair, which used to reach her hips, was now shorter, and the ends of her hair were curled and scorched yellow.

For a woman, her hair is like her second face.

Seeing her long hair, which she had grown for so many years, now in this state, she felt incredibly heartbroken.

Then she checked herself again.

The areas covered by clothing had large patches of charred residue.

Seeing this, she stepped into the bathtub and began to wash her entire body.

After several hours, Xiao Emei finally opened the door and walked out.

She also re-coiled her hair.

With her hair pinned up, she exuded the aura of a married woman, unlike before when her long hair hung down, giving off a youthful vibe.

At this time, Bai Luoyu sat alone by the window on the second floor, sipping wine.

Looking at the bustling people outside the window, he was speechless.

He couldn't help but recall Xiao Emei's words from earlier.

A short while later...

"Several hours have passed, and this is what women mean by 'a short while'?!?" Bai Luoyu silently complained.

"Inspector Bai!" At that moment, Xiao Emei's voice rose.

Hearing this, Bai Luoyu saw Xiao Emei descending the stairs.

Xiao Emei, now wearing a white skirt, with her long hair coiled on top, exposing her slender and fair swan-like neck, exuded the aura of a married woman.

Bai Luoyu's eyes flashed with surprise at the sight.

He suddenly realized that compared to a girl's shyness, he preferred women who were a bit more mature.

"Miss Xiao, are you done with your bath?" Bai Luoyu stood up and asked.

"Mhm!" Xiao Emei nodded and said, "Inspector Bai, we can go now!"

"Okay!" Bai Luoyu nodded. "Then let's go!"

Jiang Ning Manor.

Liu Wanwan opened the main door and saw Bai Luoyu and Xiao Emei's arrival, which no longer surprised her.

"Please come in, esteemed guests!" Liu Wanwan said.

Bai Luoyu glanced at the east wing and saw the crimson solar essence descending from the sky, directly entering it. A slight smile appeared on his lips.

"Brother Jiang must be practicing again!"

"Yes!" Liu Wanwan nodded. "Every day at noon, when the sun is at its peak, is when An Ning practices his inner alchemy."

"Noon!" Bai Luoyu nodded, murmuring, "The small success of inner alchemy nourishment, followed by the great success, reaching the level of inner breath like an essence wind."

"It seems that once Brother Jiang completes his sixth-rank bone-strengthening, with his foundation of both internal and external cultivation, he can directly enter the fifth rank."

"Such a foundation is incredible!"

On the side, Xiao Emei, who had heard Bai Luoyu's words, couldn't help but reveal a smile, her lips curving slightly.

She had personally experienced Jiang Ning's strength the night before.

Such terrifying physical power, a force she couldn't resist.

Coupled with the incredible effects of his blood.

It made her understand that there was no way Jiang Ning could still be at the sixth rank of the martial dao, as they had speculated, with his foundation in both internal and external cultivation.

The Sixth Rank Bone Tempering stage is undoubtedly a level that one achieves after great success.

And during the Fifth Rank Inner Fortitude Realm, she had progressed even further than me.

Her Inner Breath cultivation has accumulated for over thirty years, surpassing mine.

Xiao Emei is well aware of her own cultivation progress.

As early as the age of twenty-six, she had already reached the level of having an ocean of Inner Breath, possessing thirty years of cultivation.

Now, at the age of twenty-nine, her cultivation growth is far beyond that of a normal person's three years.

Being the third-ranked person on the Human Ranking, Xiao Qiushui's disciple, and the eldest senior sister of Water Moon Sword Palace, she has ample Martial Dao resources, and her Inner Breath growth far surpasses that of an ordinary Fifth Rank warrior by several times.

In three years, even if her cultivation didn't increase by ten years, it has at least grown by seven or eight years.

Her current cultivation is no less than thirty-seven or eight years.

However, in front of Jiang Ning, she feels a noticeable gap.

This also means that Jiang Ning's cultivation surpasses hers by several decades, no less than forty years.

Thinking of this, Xiao Emei couldn't help but secretly smile bitterly in her heart.

The purpose of last night's action was to investigate Jiang Ning's details, and she did indeed succeed in doing so, successfully uncovering his secrets.

But at the same time, she lost her freedom last night.

From now on, she will be under someone's control.

She then thought of her own speculations about Jiang Ning, and her heart suddenly felt much better.

These thoughts flashed through Xiao Emei's mind.

After that.

The two stepped over the threshold and entered Jiang Ning's residence.

Walking in the front courtyard.

Bai Luoyu continued to marvel at the sky above the eastern courtyard.

Looking at the strands of crimson solar essence descending, he knew how efficient Jiang Ning was in refining the solar essence.

"With such refinement efficiency, no wonder he can possess such strength at such a young age."

"I wonder how stunning his best archery skills are!"

Bai Luoyun muttered to himself.

At the same time, his doubts did not lessen at all.

Last night, he saw Xiao Emei wearing night travel clothes and sneaking out in the dark, which in his eyes, was clearly heading towards Jiang Ning.

But today, Jiang Ning doesn't seem to have any changes.

Being able to absorb and refine the solar essence, and cultivate the Five Viscera.

This also means that Jiang Ning's body is not unusual at this moment.

He suddenly doubted his judgment from last night.

Doubting whether Xiao Emei went out last night to cause trouble for Jiang Ning.

"If not him, then who else could it be?"

Thinking of this, Bai Luoyu turned to look back.

He immediately saw Xiao Emei's gaze also looking towards the east, where Jiang Ning was located.

"Inspector Bai, what's wrong?" Xiao Emei asked.

"Nothing!" Bai Luoyu shook his head, suppressing the doubts in his heart.

On the other side.

Jiang Ning sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, with his five hearts facing the sky, constantly circulating his breathing and absorption technique, and swallowing the solar essence.

The Five Viscera were refined by the solar essence, and his Inner Breath continued to grow stronger, and the progress of his Inner Core Nourishing Art was also constantly increasing.

In the blink of an eye.

At noon.

Even though it was still winter, the sun on a clear day made his entire body feel scorching hot.

Hoo—

After refining the last strand of solar essence, Jiang Ning exhaled a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

[Skills]: Literary Proficiency (Fifth Limit Break 1577/6000) (Characteristics: Memorize at a Glance, Extraordinary Five Senses, Swift Mind, Outstanding Comprehension, Celestial Eye Vision)



Inner Core Nourishing Art (Minor Success 3300/5000)



After glancing at the system panel, he immediately closed it and stood up.

A moment later.

"Brother Bai!"

Jiang Ning arrived in the main hall.

Bai Luoyu also hurriedly stood up, a smile on his face.

"Brother Jiang!"

Seeing Jiang Ning, Xiao Emei also stood up immediately.

"Greetings, Commander Jiang!"

Hearing this, Bai Luoyu was surprised and couldn't help but look at Xiao Emei.

He immediately suppressed his emotions and continued to look at Jiang Ning.

"Brother Jiang, I'm disturbing your cultivation again. I hope you don't mind?" Bai Luoyu waved the folding fan in his hand and said with a smile.

"How could that be? I'm more than welcome!" Jiang Ning also smiled in response.

Being able to befriend Bai Luoyu, how could he refuse?

It's known that Bai Luoyun is a top-notch big shot in all of Dongling Prefecture.

Ordinary people don't even have the chance to visit such a person.

Not to mention Bai Luoyu personally coming to visit, that's even more like a fantasy.

"Brother Bai, there's something I need to apologize to you for first!" Jiang Ning said.

"What is it?" Bai Luoyu looked puzzled.

Jiang Ning said, "The good wine from yesterday had special ingredients, so it's temporarily unavailable after drinking it yesterday. It will take some time to brew more."

"I thought it was something big!" Bai Luoyu smiled and then opened his right hand, and a white jade wine jug appeared in his hand: "When I visit today, of course, we'll drink my wine!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end