In fact, ever since Ning Huan had pointed out Wu Feng's little crush three years ago, and she'd locked herself away for three days without eating or drinking, scenes like this had become a regular occurrence.
Especially during the first few months, it happened pretty much every day.
Meals, cultivation, lessons...
Whenever she got the chance, she'd get smug and make a few mocking remarks.
The trouble was, she never learned her lesson.
Every time, Ning Huan would scold her until she burst into tears, yet the next day she'd still have learned nothing.
She'd go right back to doing things her own way.
She often caused such chaos around the academy that everyone was at their wits' end.
Even Ning Tian, unable to bear the disturbance, had privately asked her about it many times, but the answer was always the same.
Wu Feng: "I can't stand him!"
As expected, that response put an end to all attempts to talk her around.
And so, an awkward situation arose.
Those who didn't know what was going on couldn't intervene, for fear that their good intentions might make things worse.
The few who did know the truth didn't dare push her too hard, worried she might return to her "taboo."
On top of that, the other person involved had never shown the slightest impatience.
So, from the top to the bottom of the academy, even Ning Hao, who had guessed most of the truth, could only let things run their course.
Of course, all this commotion wasn't entirely a bad thing.
At least, after countless tests, Ning Tian was quite certain that Wu Feng really had lost interest in her.
After all, by now, almost all of Wu Feng's thoughts were focused on Ning Huan.
Except on necessary occasions, more than half the things she said in a day, good or bad, had something to do with Ning Huan.
It left Ning Tian both relieved and helpless, with a deep streak of jealousy mixed in.
Well, well~
She'd gone to all that trouble to set her straight.
And now she'd turned around and set her sights on the person I like, under the excuse that she "can't stand him"!
What was this?
Lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot?
The more Ning Tian thought about it, the angrier she got.
Her little hand unconsciously rested on her Storage Soul Tool. She was about to transform into a mech girl and beat up her sister on the spot.
"Feng Mei! You..."
"We've finally reached the registration desk! Hmm? Young Mistress, what's wrong?"
Wu Feng's oblivious, boisterous voice instantly shattered the mood Ning Tian had been building up for ages.
Only then did Ning Tian come back to her senses and realize that the area around their little group was already packed with people.
It was bustling with activity—not exactly the best place to enforce family discipline.
"It's nothing!"
Seeing this, Ning Tian had no choice but to suppress her anger. Then, through gritted teeth, she said:
"Let's go register first!"
"Uh... yes, ma'am!"
Completely bewildered, Wu Feng couldn't help feeling puzzled, but she still responded out of habit and went ahead to ask for information.
"Why did it suddenly feel chilly behind me? Was that just my imagination..."
Ning Tian: "..."
"Hahaha, this is killing me!"
Only after Wu Feng had gone off did Ning Huan, who'd watched the whole thing, finally stop holding back and burst out laughing.
The surrounding crowd kept glancing over at them.
"Brother Ning Huan, stop laughing!"
"Feng Mei only ended up like this because of you!"
The golden-haired girl clung coquettishly to his arm, making a show of looking aggrieved with her lovely face.
"Because of me?"
Ning Huan's smile didn't change. His other hand crossed in front of him and settled on Ning Tian's head, gently ruffling her hair.
"You mean I should've let her keep thinking about being a tyrant who defies her superiors and rebels against those above her?"
"Uh... it's not quite that bad..."
"Right~ But I never would've guessed that Feng Mei would shift her target to me."
At that, Ning Tian shot him an exasperated look.
Her beautiful eyes were full of disdain.
"Pah~ You think I believe that?"
Ning Huan: "..."
What the hell!
That tone sounded way too familiar!
"To be honest, there aren't many things I regret, but letting you spend time with Zhang Lexuan is definitely one of them."
"How did such a good kid end up learning bad habits from her!"
"Mm-hmm~ Didn't Sister Lexuan learn them from you first?"
"Children shouldn't talk back when adults are speaking!"
"Hehe~"
Just as Ning Huan was trying to establish his authority with his fists, and Ning Tian was preparing to dodge away, a sudden commotion at the registration desk drew their attention.
At the sight of it, the two exchanged a smile, then walked toward Wu Feng in perfect unison.
"Well, well, little maniac, what's going on?"
"Looks like an Outer Court disciple from a higher year brought back a genius... No, wait! I'm not a little maniac! Young Mistress, he's bullying me!"
You're always picking on her, but I've never seen you win even once. I'm already being generous by not joining in!
That was what Ning Tian thought, but she didn't let a hint of her true feelings slip into her words.
"Come on, there are so many people here. Stop making a scene."
"Hmph! I'll listen to the Young Mistress! I'll let myself off the hook this time."
"Such an obedient girl... Hmm? That sounded a little strange..."
Meanwhile, Ning Huan stood before the two girls with his hands behind his back, gazing toward the registration desk in the distance.
His gaze, usually calm, had grown rather complicated.
Seventeenth level Soul Power, spiritual power spreading because he couldn't fully control it, a body restored after being drained, and a right leg that had already healed...
The only way to achieve all that in such a short time is with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast...
Fate really doesn't play fair...
Thinking of this, Ning Huan pursed his lips and immediately roused the sleeping Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in his mind.
Huan: [Tian Meng! Stop sleeping. I have something to ask you!]
Silkworm: [Mmm! Mm-hmm! So comfortable~]
Huan: [Keep mumbling and I'll skin you alive!]
Silkworm: [Hey! No need for that! Ask away, and your bro will answer for sure!]
Huan: [Have any Soul Beasts in Star Dou Forest been close to death lately, and good at spiritual power?]
Silkworm: [How would your bro know that! You know perfectly well that, in the eyes of those Ferocious Beasts, your bro's just a giant snack. I've got no status!]
Huan: [...What use are you, then!]
Silkworm: [Now you've gone too far! Come on, give me permission to see what you're looking at. Maybe your bro will remember something.]
Huan: [Fine!]
Ning Huan naturally had no reason to refuse the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's request.
With a thought, he loosened some of the restrictions the [Contract] placed on it.
The next second...
Silkworm: [You mean that kid with the lingering aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on him, right? Let your bro take a look~]
Silkworm: [He's a spiritual-type Soul Master. His Martial Soul quality is decent enough, but his foundation is far too weak. He's nowhere near your level!]
Huan: [That flattery was loud and clear. What else?]
Silkworm: [Uh, there's a faint fox smell on him. But if a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast sacrificed itself, the most likely one would be that Phantom Nether Fox that was about to break through to two hundred thousand years.]
Huan: [Tell me more.]
Silkworm: [Your bro doesn't know the specifics. I only know that its origin seems to have been gravely wounded, and it won't survive the approaching two-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation.]
Ning Huan gave an almost imperceptible nod. Once he'd more or less pieced together what had happened, he cut off the connection.
In the end, it came down to one thing.
Bi Ji couldn't heal it, and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wasn't there.
If it wanted to stay alive, it had no choice but to find another way.
That explains it.
The Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, Spirit Bone, and the Soul Beast's origin—if they'd all been used to restore his body, they could have brought him to his current state.
But the Phantom Nether Fox...
Before you continue