Promise

The Demon Sword appeared crimson, enchanting and demonic. At some point, tiny patterns had grown on the sword's body, like the sword's blood vessels, a shocking sight.

Could it be that this Demon Sword was in my heart when I was born? That's too unbelievable!

Ning Xiaochuan wanted to move the Demon Sword out of his body, but he tried several times without success. The power of his Martial Dao Profound Qi within his body was not strong enough.

Perhaps, only upon reaching the Divine Body Realm would he be able to move the Demon Sword out of his body.

Ning Xiaochuan could sense the immense power brewing within the Demon Sword. What it was showing now was definitely just the tip of the iceberg. When it fully unleashed its demonic might, he feared that all the Martial Practitioners in the world would tremble.

Ning Xiaochuan cultivated the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi for an entire night, solidifying his Cultivation at the Profound Qi Seventh Level.

In the early morning, he walked out of his room.

When he exhaled, a faint trace of Profound Qi was expelled from his mouth, making a slight sound like wind and thunder, causing the plants in the Manor to sway.

Upon reaching the Profound Qi Seventh Level, the amount of Martial Dao Profound Qi within his body surged, several times more than at the Profound Qi Sixth Level.

Once the Martial Dao Profound Qi was circulated, the blood within his body would circulate rapidly, completing three Celestial Orbits in one minute, with a blood flow rate nine times faster than that of an ordinary person.

Don't underestimate just a ninefold increase in blood flow speed; the increase in power is far more than just nine times.

"Completing three Celestial Orbits in one minute is considered the Profound Qi Seventh Level; completing five Celestial Orbits in one minute is considered the Cultivation of the Profound Qi Eighth Level; completing seven Celestial Orbits in one minute is considered the Cultivation of the Profound Qi Ninth Level; completing ten Celestial Orbits in one minute allows one to step into the Divine Body Realm. I am still very far off!"

The Profound Qi Seventh Level was already considered a decent young expert, but compared to the top young individuals of the generation, he was still too far behind.

Upon reaching the Profound Qi Seventh Level, with each increase in Realm, power would increase significantly, reaching a Realm that ordinary people could not even imagine, such as splitting a tiger with bare hands or crushing an elephant with a single palm.

Ning Xiaochuan's palm condensed a ball of crimson Profound Qi, slowly forming into a Sword-shaped form, three feet and eight inches long!

This was the "Profound Qi Sword," a sword condensed from Profound Qi. Its sharpness far surpassed weapons made of ordinary iron, capable of cutting through a one-meter thick gold pillar with a single strike.

"Bang!"

Before the Profound Qi Sword could fully form, it suddenly exploded, turning into wisps of smoke that flowed around Ning Xiaochuan's palm.

"Failed! Although I've reached the Profound Qi Seventh Level and can condense Qi into a shield and direct Qi like a sword, my Profound Qi is still not dense enough to condense a 'Profound Qi Sword'. I estimate I'll only be able to freely condense a 'Profound Qi Sword' when I reach the Profound Qi Eighth Level. Once the 'Profound Qi Sword' is unleashed, among Martial Practitioners of the same Realm in the Profound Qi Ninth Heaven, no one will be able to withstand a single strike from me." Ning Xiaochuan was a little disappointed.

If he could condense the "Profound Qi Sword," Ning Xiaochuan was confident in challenging a Martial Practitioner of the Profound Qi Eighth Level with his Profound Qi Seventh Level Cultivation.

Once the Profound Qi Sword was unleashed, ordinary weapons and a Martial Practitioner's Profound Fortification Protective Shield would simply not be able to block it.

However, controlling Profound Qi to condense into a sword was inherently difficult, requiring deep Profound Qi as support and also requiring the Martial Practitioner's skillful control over Profound Qi. Even many experts at the Profound Qi Ninth Level could not condense a "Profound Qi Sword."

Ning Xiaochuan had only just broken through to the Profound Qi Seventh Level and was already close to condensing the "Profound Qi Sword" into form. This was already quite remarkable.

Begonia Manor is located in "Nanshan Village" outside the Imperial City.

It is worth mentioning that there are over a hundred Border Districts around the Imperial City, and "Nanshan Village" is one of them.

These Border Districts are not far from the Imperial City, surrounding it like stars surrounding the moon.

Each Border District has a dangerous pass set up, with a large number of troops stationed, guarding the safety of the Imperial City.

The Imperial City is where Royal Marquises, wealthy merchants, Martial Dao powerhouses, and Important Officials and Noble Personages reside, while most peddlers and laborers do not have the right to reside in the Imperial City. After working and making a living in the Imperial City during the day, they return to the Border Districts to live at night.

Therefore, the Border Districts can also be called the commoner areas around the Imperial City.

Begonia Manor is quite famous in Nanshan Village because the poor people living in the Border District all know that it is the property of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion, a place where the descendants of Royal Marquises enjoy gardens and leisure.

Begonia Manor covers an area of 1,800 mu, making it a very large manor. The manor's walls alone are seven zhang high, like the city walls of some small towns, equipped with arrow towers, watchtowers, and guarded by guards wearing armor.

The scenery inside the walls is even more breathtaking. There are streams flowing out from the canyons between two mountains, artificial azure lakes, uniquely designed pavilions, stone bridges, painted beams, sealed cliffs, valleys, streams, and halls.

In the eyes of ordinary poor people, this Begonia Manor is simply like a small city, unattainable.

Moreover, the area within a radius of thirty li around it is under the jurisdiction of Begonia Manor. The residents living in this area must pay annual tribute, grain, and brocade cloth to Begonia Manor every year.

Inside Begonia Manor, many begonia flowers are planted, including Autumn Begonia and Four Seasons Begonia, blooming with vibrant and fragrant flowers all year round. They bloom by the small lake, in the valley, under the sealed cliff, and by the pavilions, making this manor like spring all year round.

The petals fall into the water, floating on the surface of the stream, turning the entire stream pink, indescribably beautiful.

The petals fall from the railings above the pavilions, floating in the air, lifted by the wind, like a rain of flowers, drifting throughout Begonia Manor.

As Ning Xiaochuan was admiring the beautiful scenery inside Begonia Manor, a woman wearing a white silk robe appeared in the rain of flowers not far away. Her hair was styled in a fairy bun, and her face was covered with a white veil, like a flower fairy walking out of the begonia garden.

Ning Xiaochuan smiled and said, "Miss Yu has recovered so quickly. In just one night, you can already walk on the ground."

Yu Ningsheng herself is in the Divine Body Realm, having cultivated her flesh and blood body into a Divine Martial Body. As long as the Evil Dragon Poison is forced out of her body, her body's self-healing ability is extremely fast.

Now, except for being unable to use the power of the Divine Power Realm, she is no different from a normal person.

"I must thank Young Master Ning for saving my life." Yu Ningsheng's voice was soft and beautiful. Standing in the rain of flowers, she looked like a divine maiden from a painting.

Ning Xiaochuan quickly said, "Even if we are to thank, I should be thanking Miss Yu for saving my life. If Miss Yu hadn't helped, Yu Yan and I would probably have died at the hands of those five death warriors."

"Alright! I saved your life, and you saved my life. We are even now. I must leave now, and from now on, neither of us owes the other anything." Yu Ningsheng was not a sentimental woman. She and Ning Xiaochuan had met by chance and did not want to get involved in the internal struggles of the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion any further.

A pleasure house woman, no matter how glamorous and beautiful she appears on the surface, is essentially of low status.

If she were to get involved in the storm of the Marquis's Mansion's heir struggle, it would simply be seeking death.

Yesterday, she helped Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Yan because she was passing by. Since she encountered them, she naturally couldn't ignore them; this was her principle of doing things.

However, now that her injuries have mostly healed, she immediately decided to leave, not wanting to have too many entanglements with the descendants of such a Marquis Family.

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head and said, "Kindness shouldn't be exchanged like this. You should know that if you hadn't helped us, you wouldn't have been injured, and you wouldn't have needed me to save you. In other words, your injury was caused by us, so saving you is something I should do. This way, I still owe you a great kindness. I have always disliked owing others things. Is there anything you want? Or do you need any help? If I can do it, I will definitely help you, considering it repaying this favor."

Yu Ningsheng stared at him deeply, a hint of disdain in her bright eyes.

There were quite a few descendants of Royal Marquises and young talents who wanted to help her and strike up a conversation with her. She felt that Ning Xiaochuan was also this kind of person.

"I want to enter the Heavenly Emperor Academy to cultivate. Can you help me achieve that?" Yu Ningsheng said indifferently.

Ning Xiaochuan had long heard of the "Heavenly Emperor Academy," which is known as the highest Martial Dao academy in Yulan Imperial City, a place where civil and martial arts converge. However, the Heavenly Emperor Academy has very strict assessments for character and talent, only recruiting students every five years. Those who can enter the Heavenly Emperor Academy are all absolute elites.

Yu Ningsheng's talent and cultivation are definitely sufficient to enter the Heavenly Emperor Academy, but she is a pleasure house woman who has sold herself to Jade Viewing Pavilion. Jade Viewing Pavilion still expects her to earn money, so how could they let her go to the Heavenly Emperor Academy to cultivate? Therefore, there is only one way for her to enter the Heavenly Emperor Academy, and that is to redeem herself first.

One must know that Yu Ningsheng is a beauty famous throughout the Imperial City, and even more so, the cash cow of Jade Viewing Pavilion. Every finger of hers is priceless. Only a true Royal Marquis would have the financial resources to redeem her.

Yu Ningsheng stared at Ning Xiaochuan and saw him remain silent. She knew in her heart that he was indeed like those talented young men, merely coveting her beauty, and none of them were truly willing to help her.

She slowly walked away, stepping on the petals of the flower rain, and walked out of Begonia Manor.

Suddenly, Ning Xiaochuan's voice came from behind, "Give me three months. After three months, I will definitely help you get into the Heavenly Emperor Academy. I mean what I say."

Yu Ningsheng stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and saw Ning Xiaochuan standing on the seven-zhang-high city wall, his gaze fixed on her.

She only took Ning Xiaochuan for a hot-headed youth and didn't take his words seriously, but she still developed a slight fondness for him in her heart. At least he dared to make a promise.

Ning Xiaochuan stood on the city wall of Begonia Manor, watching Yu Ningsheng gradually depart.

Yu Yan followed behind Ning Xiaochuan and whispered, "Young Master, you weren't just saying that, were you?"

"Of course not!" Ning Xiaochuan said.

Yu Yan said, "Do you know that the women in Jade Viewing Pavilion are extremely valuable? To redeem a Silver-Ranked Music Courtesan requires between one million and five million small coins. And Miss is the pillar of Jade Viewing Pavilion, sought after by thousands. To redeem her, it would probably cost at least three hundred million small coins, and that's the minimum. Moreover, even if Young Master could produce three hundred million small coins to redeem Miss, this matter would definitely cause a sensation throughout the Imperial City. The elders in the Sword Pavilion Marquis's Mansion would absolutely not agree to you doing something that would disgrace the Marquis Family's reputation."

Ning Xiaochuan smiled faintly and said, "I'm just helping her redeem herself to repay a kindness, not marrying her as my wife. How would that disgrace the Marquis Family's reputation? Yu Yan, the most important thing in life is to be upright and repay kindness. With a clear conscience, you won't fear being criticized."

Yu Yan stared at Ning Xiaochuan's departing back, still not believing that someone would spend three hundred million coins to redeem a woman from a pleasure house just to repay a kindness. Did he really have no other intentions towards Miss?