Chi Wanning

Chapter 28 Chi Wanning

Two days later, Ning Ye obtained the information he wanted.

This type of ancient rune was indeed a form of ancient script, and the ones who used this script were the Ancient Spirit Race.

The Ancient Spirit Race was said to be one of the earliest races to practice immortal arts, but they eventually vanished into the long river of history.

Nowadays, there were occasionally some ruins related to the Ancient Spirit Race, and that ancient bed must have been excavated from one of those ruins.

And within the Black and White Divine Palace, there was only one person connected to the Ancient Spirit Race ruins.

Ancestor Qingmu.

Ancestor Qingmu was one of the five ancestors among the Twelve Heavenly Dippers.

In his early years, his cultivation was mediocre. Seeking immortal destiny, he traveled the four seas and actually encountered several fortuitous events.

It was during that time that he discovered the Ancient Spirit Race ruins, which in turn led to his later cultivation and status.

As for that bed, it was precisely the Spirit-Connecting Ancient Bed that Ancestor Qingmu obtained from the Ancient Spirit Race ruins. It was said that practicing on this bed could enhance one's soul and will, resulting in a formidable divine sense.

With such a precious treasure, he certainly wouldn't give it away easily, which meant the fragment of the Thousand Mechanism Hall should be in his possession.

Having found the whereabouts of the fragment, the next step was to confirm its specific location and figure out how to obtain it.

Confirming the exact location was simple; as long as he was close to the fragment, Ning Ye would be able to sense it. As for obtaining it, that wouldn't be difficult either. The Thousand Mechanism Hall fragment was a useless object. Ning Ye believed he wouldn't carry a useless item on his person year-round.

Therefore, the truly critical question was how to get there.

Ancestor Qingmu traveled constantly and had no fixed residence, but the Black and White Divine Palace had still set up an immortal mansion for him on Tianxiu Peak. That was a place where the big shots of the Black and White Divine Palace lived, and ordinary disciples were not allowed to go there. So, how could he get in?

Just as Ning Ye was thinking about this, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Ancestor Qingmu?

Wasn't that the master of Fairy Niaohua, Chi Wanning?

Oh come on, you've got to be kidding me?

Ning Ye had already thought of Xu Yanwen.

So much time had passed since Xu Yanwen's initial invitation; he didn't know if this kid still remembered the original agreement.

Ning Ye still had that communication talisman. After pondering for a moment, he finally decided to give it a try.

"Hahahaha, you finally agreed."

Standing in front of Ning Ye, Xu Yanwen looked as happy as a peacock fanning its tail.

"Ten spirit stones for every trip I accompany you on," Ning Ye said.

Agreement required a reason, and a lack of money was the best reason—one could never have enough spirit stones, whether for mechanical formations or cultivation needs.

The price of ten spirit stones was not low, but it meant nothing to Xu Yanwen.

He waved his hand generously: "No problem, it is settled. It just so happens that I have an appointment with Wanning at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion tomorrow to discuss music. You should prepare yourself and come with me. Remember, dress appropriately."

Ning Ye found it strange: "I thought you would want me to dress poorly."

"Eh, that won't do, that won't do. Wanning values appearance above all else; those who are disheveled are not allowed to enter. Besides, with your looks, no matter how you dress, you won't steal my spotlight; you will only add to my luster."

Saying this, he left with a hearty laugh.

Watching him like this, Ning Ye could only shake his head and smile bitterly.

The Drunken Fragrance Pavilion was located on Tianxiu Peak.

Tianxiu Peak was the sixth peak of Nine Palaces Mountain. The peak was ten thousand fathoms high, surrounded by dense clouds. Under the influence of immortal formations, the scenery changed unpredictably, making the mountain appear and disappear, as if a beautiful woman were walking through the forest—vague and elusive, giving rise to infinite mysterious reveries.

There was a lake on the mountain. This lake was not naturally occurring but was formed by great immortal beings using boundless magic power to gather water from three rivers and spirit springs from six directions. The water gathered below to form a lake named Three Rivers Lake; one lake could hold the water of three rivers, rich in hydraulic power to supply the entire sect. Above, it gathered clouds and mist, named the Mist Splendor Heavenly Sea; one sea could contain springs from six directions, a place where spiritual energy converged. Practicing inside, one day was equivalent to three days of effort.

On the lake were four pavilions, eight platforms, and twelve kiosks; the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion was one of them.

By the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion grow the Drunken Fragrance Grass, and among the Drunken Fragrance bushes is the most beautiful woman.

In her leisure time, Chi Wanning liked to play the zither, admire the moon, watch the fish, and dance with her sword at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.

She played the Burnt-Tail Night-Light Zither, admired the crescent moon, watched the Brocade Acacia Fish, and danced with the Willow Catkin Wind-Following Sword.

At this moment, Chi Wanning was dancing with her sword.

Deep in the Drunken Fragrance bushes, her sword moved like drifting willow catkins.

The sword light wove through the Drunken Fragrance bushes without harming the grass or trees, nor damaging the bees or butterflies. Like a drifting fairy, she moved gracefully between the flowers and leaves, and wherever she passed, a fragrant breeze brushed against one's face.

One could not tell if it was the fragrance of flowers or the fragrance of the beauty herself.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

A lonely yet enthusiastic round of applause rang out.

Xu Yanwen walked over with the most fervent applause, the most sycophantic attitude, and the most pretentious posture, while Ning Ye followed behind him at a leisurely pace.

"A dance of immortal wind, how many can it intoxicate? The fairy dances among ten thousand flowers, unstained by a speck of dust. Yanwen is in awe!"

Chi Wanning sheathed her sword and turned back; the moment Ning Ye saw her, even he felt a jolt to his spirit.

It was no wonder this woman was known as the number one beauty; the title was certainly well-deserved.

Her skin was fairer than frost and snow, crystalline and tender, while her features were so exquisite they seemed carved by the God of Craftsmen with a lifetime of painstaking effort. There was a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes; those who didn't know better would think she was weeping, unaware that this was a natural tear-filled gaze that made anyone who saw her feel a sense of pity.

Moreover, although she was beautiful, she was clearly not the cold and aloof type. She wore a cyan-green dress adorned with delicate, small floral patterns, and standing amidst the flowers, she looked like a flower fairy herself.

Seeing Xu Yanwen approach, she revealed a bright smile: "Senior Brother Xu is here. Please, take a seat; I have already had tea prepared for you."

As she spoke, her gaze fell upon Ning Ye, and she smiled slightly: "So there is another guest. I am not sure if you are a senior or junior brother, but please, sit as well."

Chi Wanning had entered the sect earlier than Xu Yanwen, though she was slightly younger than him. Even so, she could have called him junior brother, so if she addressed him as senior brother, it was either because she had feelings for him or because she was simply tactful.

Considering that if Chi Wanning truly liked Xu Yanwen, Ning Ye would not have been here, it was likely the latter.

What was most rare was that despite Ning Ye's ugly appearance—which usually made others avoid him—she didn't show a hint of surprise or shock, greeting him warmly instead.

For a girl, being beautiful was one thing, but being well-read, polite, humble, and approachable was truly rare.

Ning Ye had seen many beauties, but Chi Wanning was the first to be this stunning while remaining so humble.

This left him feeling somewhat puzzled.

It wasn't that he looked down on women, but a person's temperament was often tied to their upbringing and background. Whether looking at Chi Wanning's lineage—she came from a prominent family—or her sect—Ancestor Qingmu was no pushover—neither seemed like the kind of place that would cultivate a woman who was simultaneously stunning, noble, gentle, and polite.

At this moment, Xu Yanwen and Ning Ye had already taken their seats.

Chi Wanning personally poured tea for the two of them, exchanged a few pleasantries with Xu Yanwen, and then turned to Ning Ye: "I do not yet know who this is..."

Xu Yanwen explained for her: "Oh, his name is Ning Ye; he is a disciple of Zhang Qisha."

Xu Yanwen had high status but a low seniority, so he referred to Zhang Liekuang directly by his name, Zhang Qisha.

Chi Wanning gracefully set down the teapot and sat. "So it is Junior Brother Ning. I have long heard of you. In this Trial Killing Field, Junior Brother Ning has certainly made quite a name for himself."

Her follow-up remark fully demonstrated that the phrase "long heard of you" was not just a polite formality.

This made Ning Ye feel surprised once again.

In his mind, such fairy-like existences should be detached from worldly affairs and indifferent to the struggles below, but it seemed Chi Wanning not only partook in worldly affairs, she was quite well-versed in them.

She truly was a peerless beauty with an elegant temperament who remained remarkably approachable.