The Ruins

What kind of monster was this?!

Hu Yan Lanruo was already a Silver Rank 2-star Demon Spirit Master. Her Soul Sea had fused with a Snow Cherry Demonic Spirit, an exceptionally powerful and rare plant spirit found deep in the Sacred Ancestor Mountain Range. It could unleash powerful bewitching magic. All kinds of living creatures would find themselves drawn to the Snow Cherry Demonic Spirit, only to be devoured by it. With the Snow Cherry Demonic Spirit fused with her, Hu Yan Lanruo could easily bewitch Demon Spirit Masters of the same rank.

With just a little effort, Hu Yan Lanruo could have plenty of men lining up to become her gallant protectors. Her bewitching magic had always been unstoppable, but she never expected to fail today!

Not only had her bewitching magic been seen through, but the other party had also identified her Demon Spirit at a glance. Wasn't this little boy across from her a little too monstrous? The Snow Cherry Demonic Spirit was an exceptionally rare spirit her grandfather had caught for her. Ordinary people had never even heard of it, let alone knew its abilities or origins.

Hu Yan Lanruo stood as if struck by lightning, unable to speak for a long while.

The key point was that the other party was a little boy who hadn't even reached Bronze 1-star!

There were two kinds of people who could resist bewitching magic. One had a mind so pure it contained not a trace of impurity, like a child under five. The other was a peerless expert who had weathered every storm and understood bewitching magic inside and out.

Nie Li was already thirteen. By rights, he should have some understanding of the affairs between men and women. There was no way he could be as pure as a little child, so he could only be the second kind.

But how was that possible?

Hu Yan Lanruo would never have guessed that the body of the boy across from her housed the soul of a peerless expert. And that expert had even surpassed the Legendary rank.

Seeing Hu Yan Ruolan's stunned expression, Nie Li smiled faintly and walked away, brushing past her.

"Nie Li, don't you think Hu Yan Lanruo is pretty?" Ye Ziyun asked, blinking at him with wide-eyed curiosity.

Even under that kind of temptation, Nie Li had refused her. Could he have some peculiar, unspeakable problem?

Nie Li smiled at Ye Ziyun. "Hu Yan Lanruo is pretty, but how could she compare to you?"

Hearing Nie Li run his mouth again, Ye Ziyun stamped her foot. "I can't compare with Hu Yan Lanruo. Lots of people like her!" Ye Ziyun knew that even in the Snow Wind Family, several of her cousins liked Hu Yan Lanruo.

Nie Li understood that Ye Ziyun meant in terms of figure. Her bearing and beauty far surpassed Hu Yan Lanruo's, but when it came to her figure, Ye Ziyun fell far short. Nie Li chuckled and looked her up and down with a grin. In a few more years, Ye Ziyun's figure would be no less striking than Hu Yan Lanruo's. Only Nie Li knew just how sexy and beautiful Ye Ziyun would be then. She wouldn't flaunt her sensual allure as recklessly as Hu Yan Lanruo did, but her noble elegance was something Hu Yan Lanruo could never match.

Seeing the suggestive look in Nie Li's eyes and his lecherous expression, Ye Ziyun pursed her lips, a little displeased. Nie Li was a fine friend, but she had never considered taking things further. All Ye Ziyun wanted now was to cultivate. She wanted to become a Legendary Demon Spirit Master like her grandfather!

Nie Li had given her the Nine Revolutions Ice Phoenix Art, bringing her one step closer to her dream. So deep down, she was very grateful to him. If any other boy had been so glib and unserious with her, she would have turned and walked away long ago.

Hu Yan Lanruo turned to watch Nie Li's retreating figure and huffed. "I refuse to believe I can't win over a little brat like you!" She felt a little indignant. Was her charm really so far below Ye Ziyun's?

Hu Yan Lanruo turned around, pointed at Nie Li, and announced loudly to everyone nearby, "Nie Li, one day I'll have you eating out of my hand! I've made up my mind. I'm going after this boy. From now on, he's mine. If anyone wants to lay a finger on him, ask me first! Anyone who tries to steal him from me will have me to answer to!"

Everyone was stunned by Hu Yan Lanruo's domineering declaration. They stared at her in a daze.

Hu Yan Lanruo was actually chasing after Nie Li? The crowd looked at Nie Li, then at Hu Yan Lanruo, their expressions strange.

A stunning beauty like Hu Yan Lanruo only had to lift a finger, and a swarm of men would come buzzing around her like flies. Yet she was actually pursuing Nie Li. It was downright bizarre.

Hearing Hu Yan Lanruo's words, Nie Li couldn't help laughing.

Ye Ziyun gave Nie Li a knowing smile. He really did have plenty of admirers. First Xiao Ninger had brought him breakfast of her own accord, and now Hu Yan Lanruo was chasing after him. Who would have thought Nie Li was so charming?

Hu Yan Lanruo's declaration sent ripples through the crowd, becoming the talk of the group. Even Chen Linjian couldn't help being surprised.

The party continued on, crossing several mountains.

"Nie Li, would you like some apricot blossom cakes?"

"Nie Li, are you tired? Would you like me to lay out a mat so you can rest?"

Hu Yan Lanruo kept appearing beside Nie Li like a ghost, sidling up to him now and then. Her ample breasts would brush against his arm, while waves of fragrance curled around him. If it had been any other boy, being teased like this by such a sexy, curvaceous beauty would have been more than enough to make him lose control and devour her.

But Hu Yan Lanruo's seduction was nothing but a fragrant torment to Nie Li.

"Can you stop being such a nuisance? Shoo, go do something else! Get lost!" Nie Li waved her away impatiently.

Hu Yan Lanruo's beautiful eyes reddened slightly. When had anyone ever treated her like this? Was Nie Li blind? How could he be so oblivious to her beauty? The more she thought about it, the more indignant and furious she became. She flung the mat to the ground and turned to leave.

"Whew, finally some peace and quiet!" Nie Li let out a relieved breath. That troublesome woman was finally gone.

But before he'd gone more than a few steps, Hu Yan Lanruo turned back again. "Nie Li, are you thirsty? I still have some fine apricot blossom wine."

Hearing Hu Yan Lanruo's words, Nie Li nearly lost it. Was this woman made of sticky plaster? Why couldn't he shake her off?

"Seriously, can you stop being so bored? Don't you have anything better to do?" Nie Li rolled his eyes.

Hu Yan Lanruo blinked, a sly glint flashing in her eyes. "I've realized I might like you a little. It's fine if you don't like me yet. Who wouldn't like a beautiful girl like me? I'll just assume you're blind for now. Before long, you'll realize how beautiful and adorable I am!"

"You'd have to be blind to like you!" Nie Li exhaled and hurried away.

This woman was hopeless!

Of course, Nie Li didn't think Hu Yan Lanruo had really fallen for him. She probably just thought this was fun. Before long, she'd get bored and leave on her own.

Nie Li hurried over to Ye Ziyun. In both his past and present lives, Ye Ziyun had always been the one he loved most. Several girls standing beside Ye Ziyun smiled at Nie Li and whispered among themselves.

"Is this the guy Hu Yan Lanruo is chasing?"

"He's actually pretty handsome."

"He's good enough for Hu Yan Lanruo!"

Hearing them, Nie Li broke into a cold sweat. What did any of that have to do with him?

Ye Ziyun glanced up at the embarrassed Nie Li and said coolly, "Why aren't you with Hu Yan Lanruo?"

"Ziyun, you know I have absolutely nothing to do with her!" Nie Li said with a bitter smile. Hu Yan Lanruo was such a headache. If Ye Ziyun misunderstood, he'd be miserable.

"What does that have to do with me?" Ye Ziyun shrugged and turned to leave. The corner of her mouth curled into a teasing smile. She found Nie Li's embarrassment rather amusing.

Nie Li opened his mouth, but in the end, nothing came out. Watching Ye Ziyun's graceful figure retreat, he felt wretched. When could he hold this captivating girl in his arms, just as he had in his past life? The road ahead was long and winding!

For now, he had to focus on increasing his strength. In a few years, City of Brilliance would face the threat of demon beasts. Even Ye Ziyun's grandfather, the Legendary Demon Spirit Master Ye Mo, would die in battle. Nie Li had to reach the Legendary rank before then. It would be a tremendous challenge, given how little time he had.

He had to use every possible method to increase his strength, including this trip to the Ancient Orchid City Ruins! He had to obtain that spirit lamp!

Over the next few days, Nie Li continued refining and absorbing the Soul Power he had plundered from Chu Yuan. But Hu Yan Lanruo was so clingy that she stayed right by Nie Li's side even while he cultivated. He had no choice but to ignore her whenever he could.

After traveling through towering mountains for two days and passing through one deep canyon after another, they saw a plain in a distant valley.

It was an ancient city ruin, stretching for hundreds of miles in every direction. Dense woods had swallowed much of it, leaving only a few mottled walls behind. Roars of demon beasts rang out from the rubble now and then. The demon beasts above Gold Rank had already left. At most, only Bronze- or Silver-Rank demon beasts remained in the ruins.

This ruin, dating from before the Dark Era, still spoke faintly of humanity's former glory.

Seeing the shattered walls and scattered bones, everyone felt a pang of desolate loneliness. If one day demon beasts breached City of Brilliance, it would end up just like these ruins, with nothing left but bones strewn across the ground and broken walls.

During the Dark Era, demon beasts rampaged across the land and destroyed every human empire. Only a handful of survivors remained to fight back against them, and much of human civilization had vanished in that great catastrophe. In City of Brilliance, for example, many cultivation arts, martial techniques, and inscription patterns were incomplete. Exploring these ancient ruins might uncover things left behind before the Dark Era!

The spirit lamp Nie Li was searching for was a powerful artifact left behind by a Legendary Demon Spirit Master from before the Dark Era!