Time Flies

Half a year later, deep in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

A breathtaking lake gleamed like a sapphire nestled among emerald mountains. Its clear water reflected the sky, drifting clouds, and the jagged rocks all around it.

Not far from the shore stood a simple yet tastefully maintained little courtyard, its quiet charm forming a strange harmony with the rugged surroundings.

At that moment, Ning Chen sat cross-legged on a smooth boulder by the lake, his eyes closed.

Crimson Dou Qi rose and flowed around him like tangible flames, sending ripples across the nearby water.

The air shimmered faintly as an increasingly powerful wave of energy spread outward from him.

Suddenly, a muffled thump sounded within his body. The crimson Dou Qi around him abruptly drew inward, then burst forth again with a roar, denser and purer than before!

Five-Star Dou Wang!

"Whew—looks like my cultivation talent isn't bad, even without the system."

Ning Chen exhaled deeply, a glint flashing in his eyes as a satisfied smile curved his lips.

Just then, a scent of faintly bitter herbs mingled with an indescribable fragrance and quietly approached from behind.

Ning Chen knew who it was without turning around.

"Congratulations. You broke through again."

A gentle voice spoke.

Ning Chen turned. Xiao Yi Xian stood before him—or rather, Ye Qingxian.

Half a year had left few traces on her face. If anything, the relatively stable life had given her a healthier complexion than she'd had back in Qingshan Town.

She still wore a simple, pale green dress, though the fabric seemed finer and the fit better, accentuating her slender figure.

Her waterfall of dark hair was tied simply behind her head, and a few loose strands brushed her fair cheeks in the breeze.

Perhaps the most striking change was that her bright eyes, once always filled with wariness and unease, had grown much calmer.

Only when she looked at Ning Chen did a softness occasionally flicker through them, so quickly that even she didn't notice it.

"Mm. At least these six peaceful months weren't wasted."

Ning Chen stood and stretched, then glanced at the bamboo basket in her hand. It held several freshly picked herbs, all in good condition.

"Out gathering herbs again? I cleared out the high-tier beasts nearby, but there are still plenty of low-tier ones. Be careful."

"I know. Didn't you give me defensive powder and signal flares?"

Xiao Yi Xian smiled faintly and set the basket on a clean rock, her movements easy and familiar.

She walked to the water's edge, scooped up a handful of cool lake water, and washed her hands. Then she naturally sat down on the edge of the boulder where Ning Chen had been meditating.

Their secluded life in the mountains had been simple, peaceful, and even a little dull, yet somehow it had eased many of the knots in Xiao Yi Xian's heart.

They had built a little house beside the picturesque lake and cultivated a small plot for herbs.

Ning Chen spent most of his time cultivating or occasionally going out on some unknown errand. He always returned with household supplies, books, and sometimes rare herb seeds or low-tier Magic Cores.

At first, Xiao Yi Xian had remained wary, watching Ning Chen cautiously.

She discovered that he was exceedingly mysterious. His strength seemed far beyond what one would expect from a Dou Wang, and he knew all sorts of incredible things. At times, he spoke of Central Plains and even more distant places as if he knew them by heart.

He was a little lazy and casual by nature, and sometimes got a sudden urge to play pranks and scare her.

But whenever he truly frightened her or she ran into trouble, he stopped joking and patiently guided her, even spending his own Dou Qi to help regulate her meridians.

This contradictory blend of mystery and strength, occasional mischief and thoughtful tenderness, had gradually melted the ice in Xiao Yi Xian's heart, drop by drop.

She began to grow accustomed to making him a simple breakfast each morning, though he often missed it because he was cultivating.

She grew accustomed to unconsciously checking for injuries when he returned from an outing, though he never noticed.

She grew accustomed to having him nearby while she studied the Poison Scripture or cultivated her Dou Qi, sometimes sitting quietly, sometimes reading.

If she could, she truly wanted to go on living peacefully like this.

But the Woeful Poison Body hung over her like an inescapable shadow, ever present in her heart.

She had gathered many of the poisonous herbs she needed and learned countless methods for making poisons, yet she had still not taken that final step.

The fear remained.

Fear of the unknown pain, of struggling against the prospect of becoming nothing but a "poisonous creature," and... of giving up the peaceful days she had now.

"I..."

Xiao Yi Xian gazed at the rippling lake, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. Her voice was quieter than usual.

"I've gathered almost all the materials I need."

Ning Chen was using Dou Qi to dry the sleeve he had soaked while cultivating. He paused at her words and turned to look at her.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"Mm."

Xiao Yi Xian raised her head and met Ning Chen's gaze without looking away.

"I have to face it eventually. You were right: whether it's a curse or a source of power depends on me. I don't want... I don't want to be a burden who always needs your protection."

Ning Chen studied her for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Then go ahead. Remember the method I taught you to guide your energy, and take it step by step. Don't worry. I'm here, so nothing will go too wrong."

Xiao Yi Xian pursed her lips at his confidence, unable to stop herself from asking,

"You sound so sure of yourself. If—just hypothetically—someday I can't control my poison body, or it draws powerful enemies, say... a Dou Huang expert comes to kill me, could you still handle it?"

As soon as she asked, she found it a little amusing.

Ning Chen was only a Dou Wang, after all. How could he stand against a Dou Huang?

At her words, Ning Chen raised an eyebrow and put on an exaggeratedly astonished expression.

"A Dou Huang? You're underestimating me."

"Forget a Dou Huang. Even a Dou Zong couldn't lay a finger on you. With me here, you can put your mind at ease."

Xiao Yi Xian paused. Looking into Ning Chen's eyes, so close to hers and sparkling with amusement, she felt her heart skip a beat for no reason.

She didn't believe him, of course. She took it as his usual exaggerated bluster, meant to reassure her.

Even so, his wholehearted willingness to stand by her warmed her chilled heart.

Her nose stung, and her heart began to beat a little faster.

"You're always making big promises."

Xiao Yi Xian turned her face away to hide her flushed cheeks and muttered under her breath, though the corners of her lips rose despite herself.

Ning Chen laughed and said no more, turning his gaze back to the vast lake.

Forget a Dou Zong—if everyone on the Dou Qi Continent came for Xiao Yi Xian, he could just sink the Central Plains.

The lake breeze stirred their clothes.

Watching Ning Chen's tall, straight back, Xiao Yi Xian felt petals falling across the lake of her heart, sending out gentle ripples. Her smile grew sweeter.

The road ahead might still be full of danger, but at least for now, she wasn't alone.

"Ahem... I'll go prepare those poisons."

Noticing a faint, unspoken intimacy in the air, Xiao Yi Xian cleared her throat to hide her fluster and hurried back toward the courtyard, leaving only a trace of her delicate fragrance behind.

Watching her slender figure disappear behind the fence, her steps a little hurried but still light, Ning Chen shook his head with a soft laugh. Then he sat cross-legged on the smooth boulder once more.

In the mountains, one lost track of the seasons. Now half a year had passed, and he'd accumulated a decent amount of surprise points. It was time to keep gambling.

"System, open the panel."

With a thought, the panel appeared before him.

[Host: Ning Chen]

[Age: Eighteen]

[Cultivation: Five-Star Dou Wang]

[Method: Nine-Layer Phoenix Fire Art]

[Dou Techniques: Phoenix Wings Soaring, Great Sun Heaven-Burning Sword, Nirvana Shield, Phantom Fire Body...]

[Items: Three-Star Dou Zong Experience Card (3 seconds), Tiangang Sword Formation Diagram (incomplete), Eagle Wings Flying Dou Technique Scroll, Crimson Heart Fire (Fifth-tier Beast Fire)...]

[Current Status: Indiscriminate 50-50 Domain (passively active)]

[Surprise Points: 299,000!]