The Two Women's Guesses

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on perfectly completing the mission [Have a Chat]."

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on receiving the basic reward: three cultivation levels. Current cultivation: Third Heaven of the Spirit Martial Realm."

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on receiving the rare-grade reward [Divine Artifact: Heaven-Slaying Bow]."

"Ding! For perfectly completing the mission, an additional reward has been granted: sect members Cang Yue, Xiao Mei, and Su Ling'er each gain one cultivation level."

"Ding! For perfectly completing three missions, an additional reward has been granted: sect member Cang Yue receives a [Spirit Void Seed]."

"Note: Please continue steadfastly on your path to becoming a peerlessly good sect leader!"

Dark lines crossed Chen Ning's face. After completing that mission, he had strengthened a few more of his greatest threats.

But the rewards he had received were quite good, too. A hefty longbow had appeared in his hand, golden light flowing over it.

Using it was simple.

He could either use matching arrows or form arrows from elemental power.

In any case, he now had another trump card, and he was in a great mood.

Just then, the little black dragon poked its head out of Chen Ning's robes and gave a disgruntled cry.

"Sorry for keeping you cooped up for so long. Those two were too unfathomable, so I didn't dare let you show yourself."

Chen Ning gently stroked the little one's head, feeling somewhat apologetic.

"You must be hungry. Here, eat."

Chen Ning took out a talisman. Only then did the little one's eyes light up, and it wolfed the talisman down.

Seeing that the little black dragon still wanted more, Chen Ning couldn't help but smile wryly. "At this rate, I really won't be able to afford to feed you."

Chen Ning took two more talismans from his storage bag, and the little one happily began to eat.

For all it ate, the little black dragon was growing quickly too. Its body was already a size larger than when it had first been born.

At this rate, the courtyard wouldn't be big enough to hold it in a few months.

In the inner hall of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Xiao Mei lay on her side before a desk, her beautiful legs, lustrous as jade, intertwined. Her face, lovely enough to enchant all living beings, was perfectly calm, but deep down, she could hardly conceal her shock.

Just now, her cultivation had somehow broken through.

If she were only at the Human Martial Realm, a breakthrough would have been just that, and it wouldn't have shocked her so deeply.

But she had already entered the Venerable Martial Realm.

At that realm, breaking through a single level was extraordinarily difficult.

Besides cultivating elemental power, one also needed the right opportunity to break through.

"Could it be... because of the sect leader again?"

Xiao Mei's eyes shifted. That seemed to be the only explanation that made sense.

The sect leader had barely left before her cultivation broke through. She naturally didn't believe the two events were unrelated.

Just as Xiao Mei was reeling inwardly, a graceful figure stepped into the inner hall.

"What are you thinking about, little sister? You're so absorbed."

Xiao Mei hastily collected herself and saw Cang Yue walking over on her long, shapely legs.

"What brings the great elder to the Law Enforcement Hall in such a leisurely mood today?"

Xiao Mei spoke with a smile, but remained lying on her side, making no move to rise and pay her respects.

"Why don't you greet me with the proper respect?"

Cang Yue sat down without waiting for an invitation, her tone casual.

"Just say it. What brings you here? We've always kept our well water from disturbing the river water."

Xiao Mei studied Cang Yue with her enchanting eyes. More precisely, she was on guard against her.

Cang Yue smiled. "I hear you've grown quite close to the sect leader lately, little sister."

"So what if I have?"

Xiao Mei's expression shifted slightly, and a smile touched her lips. "Are you jealous, Sister Cang Yue?"

"You know what I mean."

Cang Yue looked calmly at Xiao Mei. "Your cultivation has grown very quickly."

"Your presence has become even more formidable too, Sister."

Xiao Mei's voice was light, but she gave as good as she got.

Now that the conversation had reached this point, neither woman needed to play dumb any longer. Their eyes met, and with perfect understanding, they spoke the same words.

"The sect leader."

The changes in both women were connected to one person.

Chen Ning.

Given how perceptive they were, both had already guessed as much.

But even after receiving confirmation like this, they still couldn't hide their shock.

Cang Yue in particular felt it deeply.

First her talisman-making realm had improved, and then her cultivation had risen. Both were thanks to Chen Ning.

There was something else she hadn't told Xiao Mei.

It was also the most important reason she had been so eager to come here and confirm her suspicions.

She had actually condensed a wisp of a Spirit Void Seed!

Only experts at the Heavenly Martial Realm had a chance of condensing a Spirit Void Seed when they broke through. Whether a cultivator could condense one was also the greatest factor in determining whether they could enter the Saint Realm in the future.

Many geniuses of extraordinary talent spent their entire lives without breaking the shackles of the Heavenly Martial Realm.

They were unable to transcend the ordinary and enter sainthood precisely because they lacked a Spirit Void Seed.

Now, because of Chen Ning, she had a chance to touch that realm. How could she not be overjoyed?

If the sect leader had only attained mastery in talismans, she would merely have respected and admired him.

But now that the sect leader had enabled her to condense a Spirit Void Seed, mere respect was no longer enough.

She even thought the sect leader was very frightening now.

Having the power to affect others seemed to break the rules somewhat.

Ignoring the established laws of this world

was the truly supreme, invincible ability.

"Secret treasure!"

Xiao Mei and Cang Yue gave the same answer in unison.

"It seems... only that can explain the sect leader's abilities."

Cang Yue sighed softly. The shock on her incomparably beautiful face had not faded, and her lovely eyes revealed deep wariness.

The secret treasure from the Dragon-Seeking Sect's legends

was indeed an extraordinarily mysterious, peerless treasure.

It could seize the fortunes of heaven and earth, reverse the universe, alter life and death, and shatter the cycle of reincarnation.

If the sect leader really could use that secret treasure, everything could be explained.

That was also why the sect leader could not only affect others, but raise his own cultivation at a tremendous speed.

In just half a month, he had already reached the Peak of the Human Martial Realm.

According to the legends passed down in the Dragon-Seeking Sect, not every generation's sect leader was qualified to use the secret treasure. Only a true chosen one could wield its power.

It was said that the first sect leader had been such a chosen one, able to wield the secret treasure's power.

And in all the years since, no one had heard of anyone being able to use it again.

Some said that although successive sect leaders had not been qualified to use the secret treasure, it had continued to protect the Dragon-Seeking Sect's legacy.

That was the true reason the sect had risen again after only two hundred years, even though four generations of sect leaders had nearly torn it apart.

All the signs now suggested that the current sect leader might be able to use the secret treasure.

"You must not tell anyone about this."

Cang Yue spoke coolly, a note in her voice brooking no argument.

"Of course. I want this kept secret even more than you do."

Xiao Mei beamed. On this point, she and Cang Yue had reached an understanding.

"Next, we should work out the pattern, shouldn't we, Sister Cang Yue..."

Xiao Mei rose and walked over. Her ice-silk dress showed off her perfect figure to even greater effect, drawing admiration from Cang Yue, though she was a woman herself.

Xiao Mei stopped beside her and looked at her with a smile. She knew Cang Yue had received greater benefits from the sect leader.

How could she be willing to fall behind?