Zhi'er's Affection

Liu Ding's steps paused slightly, but he did not turn around. In a detached voice, he said, "What is it?"

"I..." Liu Tao choked at his indifferent, distant tone. Gritting her teeth, she took out a Small Jade Bottle from her robes. "This is Zhe Spirit Liquid. I heard it is highly effective for breaking into Six Soulforging Cauldrons. It is the latest medicinal liquid released by the Murong Family's Divine Pill Chamber."

Seeing Liu Ding finally turn back, her heart inexplicably began to race.

Yet Liu Ding merely gave the Small Jade Bottle in her hand a cursory glance. "Only idiots would use such an idiotic medicinal liquid."

"You..." Liu Tao choked again, unable to hide the embarrassment and anger on her face.

"Nothing else, then?" After tossing out those words, Liu Ding shook his head at the Small Jade Bottle in Liu Tao's hand and turned away.

"Liu Ji may break into Seven Soul-Forging Cauldrons during the Sect Lord Contention!" Liu Tao could not help calling out.

"So what?" Liu Ding did not stop walking. "If I were you, I definitely would not misuse a Taotie Beast Soul medicinal liquid with devouring properties."

"If you believe me, wait at least another half month. Then everything will become clear."

After leaving those words behind, Liu Ding felt that he had still softened his heart. But this was as far as he could help her. The rest depended on Liu Tao's own choice.

As he turned around a bend in the path, he suddenly saw a young girl standing prettily beneath a cluster of emerald bamboo ahead. Dressed all in snow-white, she appeared even more delicate and charming against the lush green bamboo. A breeze swept past, making the bamboo branches sway and her hair flutter slightly, painting a graceful scene.

Leaning against the bamboo, the girl gently bit her alluring red lips with pearly teeth and looked at Liu Ding with a half-smile. "What? Have you become distant with me so quickly?"

For no reason at all, Liu Ding's heart stirred. Pretending not to understand Zhi'er's words, he said, "What are you talking about? Didn't I rush back the moment I saved up some money?"

Only then did Zhi'er's gaze fall upon the gold card at Liu Ding's fingertips. With a soft laugh, she took the card. "A gold card? There must be quite a lot on it. So you really have been working hard to save money for the family. How much is inside?"

"Um..." Liu Ding truly had no idea how much money was on the gold card. Just as he was wondering how to explain, Liu Tao came around the bend in the path. "Liu Ding, can you accompany me to the Martial Arts Hall again?"

Before she could finish, however, her mouth froze open. She saw a pair of jade-white wrists slip through Liu Ding's arm and wrap around his.

Looking down at the slender arm, Liu Ding was slightly stunned. When he looked up at Zhi'er again, he saw her lovely, smiling face. She turned toward Liu Tao, her beautiful brows knitting faintly.

"Sister Tao, I'm terribly sorry. Sister Zhu'er has already stewed a pot of turtle soup at home. We're worried it will get cold, so I'm afraid he can't accompany you to the Martial Arts Hall."

Liu Tao's mouth remained slightly open, but her heart was filled with bitterness. She regretted the things she had said in the combat room. The two of them had nearly entered Five Soulforging Cauldrons at the same time, but Liu Ding now gave her an entirely different impression.

"Brother Liu Ding, let's go." Zhi'er's voice was tender, her tone unspeakably intimate.

Liu Ding gave Zhi'er a smile and, unable to help himself, followed her forward. Yet he did not know that deep within the trees beside the path, a pair of venomous eyes watched them.

"You little bastard, during the Sect Lord Contention, I'll turn you into a permanent idiot!" Liu Ji's face twisted viciously, his teeth grinding with cracking sounds.

They were both at the age when immaturity gradually gave way to maturity. Whether in mind or body, subtle feelings were beginning to grow.

Especially at such close range, in such an ambiguous posture, his firm arm would unconsciously brush against certain full yet soft curves. The boy's breathing gradually grew heavier.

Unable to resist, he stole a glance. Beneath the fitted clothes around her waist, it felt as though a flower bud had begun to unfurl its petals.

Zhi'er kept her eyes straight ahead, but her little face began to flush. Her pearly teeth lightly bit her red lips. "Your eyes seem like they should be... used for watching the road, hmm?"

Blood rushed to his head, and Liu Ding felt his cheeks burn fiercely. He hurriedly turned his gaze away, his heart pounding uncontrollably. What is wrong with me? Right in front of me is a Little White Fox, a genuine fox spirit. Wouldn't that make this bestiality?

"Cough, cough, cough!" He frightened himself with his own thoughts. That feeling was far too terrifying, and he bent over in a violent fit of coughing.

"What's wrong?" Zhi'er, who had already been so embarrassed that she had nearly fled, finally had a natural excuse to release Liu Ding's arm. She gently patted his back.

"Cough... nothing. I just choked for a moment." Supporting himself while bent over, Liu Ding's hand touched something. He suddenly remembered, reached into his robes, and took out a transparent crystal bottle, handing it to Zhi'er. "A Soul-Devouring Beast Gallstone Crystal."

"It really is." Zhi'er took the crystal bottle, her eyes gleaming like crystals as well.

"Mm, don't work so hard gathering herbs and collecting Gallstone Crystals in the future. Just stay at home and be as beautiful as a flower—no, focus on refining Dream Incense." This was so embarrassing. Why could he not let go of that thought? Liu Ding's face reddened once more, and he actually fled in panic.

"Honestly, am I that scary?" Zhi'er's lovely red lips could not help pouting. "Where did that innocent boy who used to want to hug me the moment he saw me go?"

As she spoke, she could not help letting out a soft laugh.

She did not know that this smile created a peerlessly beautiful sight, so stunning that the young members of the family cultivating in the woods beside the path forgot to pick up their dropped jaws.

He fled back in utter disarray. The moment he entered the backyard of his home, he saw Sister Zhu'er drying the large quantity of Spirit Orbs and immortal herbs they had packed back from Everlasting Valley. Only then did Liu Ding compose himself.

Sister Zhu'er had indeed stewed a pot of soup, but Zhi'er did not join them at the table. Instead, she immediately went to help him refine Dream Incense. By evening, half an arm's length of Dream Incense had been perfectly refined.

Holding the still-warm Dream Incense, Liu Ding was deeply moved. He thought that he needed to rein in his frivolity, cultivate properly, and not disappoint such profound affection.

For the past three days, Liu Ding had gone to Everlasting Cave late at night to refine Yin Soul Qi, while spending his days refining Du Ling Juice. He had been busy beyond measure.

After many attempts, he finally concocted a high-quality Du Ling Juice that satisfied him. Relaxing his body, which was nearly exhausted, Liu Ding began his first refinement with Du Ling Juice in his room.

Several drops of pure Du Ling Juice fell into the clear water in the medicinal cauldron. In an instant, the water turned jade-green and translucent. He quickly removed his clothes and sat down in the medicinal basin.

The icy medicinal liquid soaked him all the way to his shoulders. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, threads of mysterious aura spread into his limbs and bones, and the exhaustion of the past three days gradually faded away.

Restored in spirit, Liu Ding formed several hand seals, adjusted himself into the cultivation posture depicted by the Qilin Cauldron's frontal totem, and entered meditation. His soul nearly merged with the medicinal liquid. He could feel the soul qi he had refined over the past three days, which had been restless within the Twelve Meridians, beginning to settle and slowly flow into his sea of qi, merging into that vast, galaxy-like vortex.

He did not know how much time had passed before he awoke from meditation. He sensed that the essence of the Du Ling Juice in the medicinal liquid had been mostly consumed in refining his vigorous soul qi.

Although most of the Du Ling Juice essence had been refined, the medicinal liquid now felt like a hot spring. Liu Ding did not rise immediately. Instead, he lazily leaned against the edge of the medicinal cauldron, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the warmth.

Thinking of the Nie Zhengxu grandfather and grandson's petty schemes, a cold smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "The top four? How could there be no place for me, Liu Ding?"

He then thought of everyone's repeated claims that Liu Ji would enter the Seven Soul-Forging Cauldrons martial apprentice level. Narrowing his eyes, Liu Ding muttered, "Qilin, Taotie, and Suanni are all powerful divine beast bloodline soul qis. Though Liu Ji does not know that the gate to his greater realm has been sealed, at the martial apprentice stage of the Soul Forging Realm, he truly has the capital to be arrogant. If I want to defeat him, I'll need to train hard."

Liu Ding, who had been lounging lazily, rose naked from the medicinal cauldron. After dressing himself, he picked up the Dream Incense, roused his spirits, and vanished into the family's rear mountain beneath the cover of night, entering Everlasting Cave once more.