Life Grass and Grandfather

Just like that, Jie Ning and Arannis had already lived in the Death God Desert for several months.

Jie Ning's comprehension of both life and earth steadily improved.

Ever since marrying Jie Ning, she had gradually come to enjoy this feeling of cultivation as well.

Mainly because cultivation allowed her to clearly feel herself steadily improving every day. That feeling was simply wonderful.

Jie Ning looked at the Little Grass before him and decided to try something different.

Life Nourishment

Jie Ning cast the "magic" he had comprehended from the Life Law.

A streak of green light swiftly flowed toward Little Grass. The instant it touched Little Grass's leaves, the two seemed to blend together perfectly, and the green light directly merged into Little Grass.

Immediately afterward, in Jie Ning's perception, Little Grass's Life Fluctuation began to grow stronger and stronger.

Second after second passed, and then, in an instant, pop, as though some boundary had been broken.

Jie Ning looked at Little Grass before him, unable to stop a hint of delight from appearing on his face. "It worked."

Sensing the commotion, Arannis curiously came over. Looking at Little Grass, whose aura had completely changed, she said in surprise, "It's become a magical beast."

In this world, for non-sentient lifeforms, barring accidents, taking the first step into the extraordinary was far more difficult than it was for other creatures.

Take the grass before them, for example. It had monopolized a God Corpse for who knew how many years and could draw energy from it for growth, but that energy would still be prioritized toward expanding its growth range, such as developing its roots...

Perhaps one day in the future, once this grass reached the limit of its growth, its instinct for life would use the energy it absorbed to elevate its essence. By then, it could become "a" magical beast.

At that point, it would possess intelligence, while its body, having grown to its limit, would also possess considerable strength.

If, like now, Jie Ning directly used magic to prioritize raising its essence and let it complete its life transition first, then this grass could only be considered equivalent to a level-one magical beast.

But if it naturally grew into a magical beast, then on the day it transformed, it would most likely be able to become "a" level-six magical beast by relying on its powerful body.

Before that, it could only be considered a highly nourishing medicinal herb.

Then, as its intelligence further developed, its strength would continue to grow during that process.

However, all of that depended on whether this grass could survive until then. After all, when unintelligent life encountered danger, it could often only endure helplessly. Its ability to withstand risks was poor, especially when it was so easily coveted by other creatures.

Now that Jie Ning had elevated its essence in advance, although it could only be considered a level-one magical beast, it at least possessed basic spiritual awareness.

After Little Grass developed spiritual awareness, it first seemed to become dazed and remained still for a while. Then, upon sensing two powerful lifeforms in front of it, Little Grass instantly shrank into the ground, leaving only faint uneven marks on the surface.

A faint smile appeared on Jie Ning's face as he watched Little Grass's reaction.

Jie Ning had not merely been watching it with his eyes. He had been observing its growth with spiritual power the entire time. Even now, he could clearly "see" it burrowing a considerable distance underground along with the God Corpse entwined within its roots.

Seeing Jie Ning's calm expression, Arannis asked curiously, "That little fellow just hid away. Is that really okay?"

Although she knew this newly born little magical beast could never escape Jie Ning's grasp, Arannis knew that what Jie Ning cared about was not the creature itself, but the changes it displayed as it grew.

If the little fellow kept hiding, that would not meet Jie Ning's requirements.

Seeing Arannis looking as though she were waiting for a show, Jie Ning was in no hurry. He merely condensed another green Light Sphere in his hand.

"Whoosh~" Little Grass instantly grew back in its original spot.

Jie Ning smiled at the disappointed Arannis. "The spiritual awareness of a level-one magical beast like this is still quite low. It doesn't have much instinct to seek benefits and avoid harm."

Sensing that a cluster of energy it craved was in the hands of the powerful lifeform before it, Little Grass continuously swayed its leaves.

From the movement of its leaves, the two seemed to perceive a sort of anxious emotion.

With a soft laugh, Jie Ning extended his hand and offered the energy in his palm to Little Grass.

Little Grass absorbed that cluster of energy, and its aura seemed to grow somewhat stronger again.

Under their gazes, Little Grass moved beneath Jie Ning's feet. Its leaves rubbed against his ankle as though it were acting spoiled.

Jie Ning looked at Arannis. "I take back what I just said. At the very least, this little fellow does seek benefits."

After rubbing against him for a while, seemingly realizing that Jie Ning had no intention of giving it another grand meal, Little Grass decisively left him and returned to where it had originally grown, continuing to play the role of "a blade of grass."

Seeing this little fellow's mercenary behavior, Jie Ning could not help revealing a somewhat stunned expression.

Seeing Jie Ning suffer a rare setback, Arannis immediately laughed. "It seems Lord Jie Ning's prestige isn't very useful before this little fellow."

"Cough, cough~" Jie Ning pretended to cough twice. "This little thing's spiritual awareness isn't enough to support more complicated thoughts. Its behavior is normal for now..."

"Yes, yes. Then does Lord Jie Ning plan to give this little fellow a name? After all, it is a kind of magical beast that you cultivated," Arannis said, stopping while she was ahead and turning instead to discuss how to address Little Grass.

Jie Ning considered it briefly but ultimately gave up. "It should wait until it can name itself in the future. A name has no meaning to a level-one magical beast."

"Still, for convenience, we'll call it Life Weed from now on. Cough, no, Life Grass." Even so, Jie Ning gave the grass a species name.

After Life Grass became a magical beast, its efficiency in absorbing the God Corpse increased as well, though it was only about a 0.1 percent increase.

Jie Ning also gained some insight from the changes that occurred after Life Grass became a magical beast.

Time flew by.

According to their original plan, Jie Ning and Arannis intended to remain here for another half month before leaving.

However, one day, the intrusion of two figures forced them to adjust their plans.

That day, Jie Ning suddenly sensed two powerful Life Fluctuations approaching from afar.

Two Saint Realm experts. It seems one is pursuing the other. Jie Ning sensed the fluctuations of their auras.

Very soon, the two Saint Realm experts drew closer and closer. Their undisguised auras spread over the area, and Arannis hurriedly moved to Jie Ning's side.

The instant Life Grass sensed those two auras, it vanished beneath the ground.

"Jie Ning..." Arannis looked at him worriedly.

Giving Arannis a reassuring look, Jie Ning could clearly sense that the auras of those two Saint Realm experts were far inferior to his own.

Jie Ning also released his aura, and it was far more powerful than either of theirs.

The two people engaged in pursuit suddenly felt a powerful aura surge toward them. It was far stronger than either of them, clearly a warning from a powerful Saint Realm expert.

Jie Ning had released his aura in the hope of avoiding trouble and making the two steer clear of him.

Although Saint Realm experts of the Korur Empire had the duty to drive unfamiliar Saint Realm experts from the empire's territory, the Death Desert was originally situated at the border between two nations and had no clear ownership. Naturally, there was no need to strictly follow that rule.

But sometimes, accidents came without warning. Jie Ning suddenly felt his crest grow warm. Clearly, one of the two approaching people was also a Saint Realm expert of the Korur Empire.

Jie Ning subconsciously frowned. Clearly, the other party wanted to force him into the battle, and honestly, that displeased him somewhat.

However, the displeasure on Jie Ning's face quickly vanished, replaced by an expression of helplessness.

The pursued man suddenly shouted, "I am Dale Dalut of the Korur Empire! Please lend me your aid, friend. The Dalut Family will repay you generously."

Time went back.

When Jie Ning had been very young, his father had not yet become a baron. The title had still belonged to his grandfather.

Unlike his father, who lacked ambition, this grandfather clearly possessed the aspiration to become strong. One day after his grandmother passed away, his grandfather passed the title on to the current Baron Chris.

He resolutely left the family territory, determined to seek an opportunity beyond the Saint Realm in the outside world.

And clearly, this "Dale Dalut" was Jie Ning's grandfather, whom he had not seen for many years.

The good news was that his grandfather had successfully become a Saint Realm expert.

The bad news was that his grandfather was being hunted.

The good news was that his grandfather had encountered Jie Ning.

The instant he heard his grandfather's name, Jie Ning immediately used the Earth-walking Technique to arrive near the two men.

The instant Arannis heard the name "Dale Dalut," she understood what was happening. She was not surprised by Jie Ning's disappearance.

The instant Harley heard Dale's cry, he knew things were bad. He knew that Saint Realm experts of the Korur Empire could verify one another's identities. He was no match for two against one, but the thing in Dale's hand...

Just as he hesitated.

Harley discovered that a stranger had already appeared between them. In an instant, every hair on his body stood on end.

The moment he appeared, Jie Ning recognized at a glance that the man on the right was his grandfather, whom he had not seen for many years.

"My lord..."

Seeing the way the other party had appeared without a trace, Harley immediately understood that he was no match for him. He turned and tried to flee, seemingly intending to say something as he ran.

Jie Ning naturally noticed his little move. Without another word, he simply raised a finger. After Harley had flown a short distance away, a beam of light struck his back.

No, don't... I've only been in the Saint Realm for less than a few decades...

Harley felt himself slowly losing control of his body. Suddenly, his eyes dimmed, and he died.

Dale watched in horror as, just a few breaths after this suddenly appearing man fired a beam of light into Harley's back, Harley lost his aura and fell from the sky.

As expected, an ordinary Saint Realm expert like this isn't even worth fighting, Jie Ning evaluated inwardly.

"M-My lord..." Dale hurriedly lowered his head and bowed to Jie Ning, sweat covering his face.

Looking at his pale-faced grandfather, Jie Ning said helplessly, "Grandfather, I'm Jie Ning."

"Ah..." Upon hearing the word grandfather in a daze, Dale blankly raised his head to look at this "lord." He looks so familiar...

The name Jie Ning sounds so familiar too...

? Jie Ning!

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