A True First Encounter

In fact, ever since Ning Huan pointed out Wu Feng's little secret three years ago, and the latter locked herself away for three days without food or drink, this kind of scene had become a recurring event.

Especially during the first few months, it happened almost every single day.

Eating, cultivating, studying...

As long as she could find an opportunity, the latter would inevitably gloat and throw out a few taunts.

Yet, she was the type who never learned her lesson.

Every time she was taught a lesson by Ning Huan and ended up wailing, she would still fail to remember the pain the very next day.

She continued to go her own way.

She often turned the academy upside down, leaving everyone with a massive headache.

Unable to bear the disturbance, Ning Tian had also privately asked for the reason many times, but the answer was always the same.

Wu Feng: "I just don't like the look of him!"

As expected, this response directly cut off any possibility of persuasion.

Consequently, a very awkward situation emerged.

Those who were unaware could not intervene, fearing that good intentions would lead to bad outcomes.

The very few who knew the truth dared not push too hard, terrified that Wu Feng would return to her "taboo" ways.

Furthermore, the other party involved had never shown even a hint of impatience.

Therefore, from the top of the academy to the bottom, even Ning Hao, who had guessed the general truth, could only let things be.

Of course, this kind of commotion was not entirely without benefits.

At least after countless tests, Ning Tian was absolutely certain that Wu Feng was truly no longer interested in her.

After all, almost all of her attention was now focused on Ning Huan.

Except for necessary occasions, in daily life, more than half of every ten sentences—regardless of whether they were good or bad—contained the name "Ning Huan."

It left Ning Tian feeling both relieved and helpless, with a deep sense of jealousy hidden underneath.

Well, fine!

After all that effort to set her straight.

And yet, you go and use the excuse of "not liking him" to turn around and set your sights on the person I've taken a fancy to!

What is this?

Shooting myself in the foot?

At this moment, the more Ning Tian thought about it, the angrier she became.

Her small hand rested unconsciously on her storage Soul Tool, and she was ready to transform into a mecha girl right there and then to beat up her sister.

"Sister Feng! You..."

"We've finally reached the registration desk! Hmm? Young Master, what's wrong?"

Wu Feng's mindless, boisterous voice instantly shattered the emotions she had been brewing for so long.

Coming back to her senses, Ning Tian realized that their three-person team was already surrounded by a crowd.

It was bustling and noisy, certainly not a good place to carry out "family discipline."

"It's nothing!"

Seeing this, Ning Tian had no choice but to suppress her anger, then gritted her teeth and said:

"Let's go register first!"

"Uh... as you command!"

Wu Feng, who was completely confused, couldn't help but feel puzzled, yet she still habitually agreed and took the initiative to step forward and inquire.

"Why did I feel a chill down my back just now? Was it just my imagination..."

Ning Tian: "..."

"Hahaha, that's hilarious!"

Until Wu Feng had walked far away, Ning Huan, who had watched the whole thing, could no longer hold back the corners of his mouth and burst into laughter.

It caused the surrounding crowd to cast frequent glances their way.

"Brother Ning Huan, don't laugh!"

"It's all your fault that Sister Feng has become like this!"

The blonde girl pouted and hugged his arm, her pretty face feigning grievance, which was quite pitiful.

"My fault?"

Hearing this, Ning Huan's smile remained unchanged. He wrapped his other arm around his chest and gently rubbed Ning Tian's head.

"Are you saying I should have let her continue thinking about being a rebellious subordinate?"

"Uh... that's not quite it..."

"Right? Though I never expected that girl Wu Feng would shift her target onto me."

As these words left his lips, Ning Tian rolled her eyes at him, looking quite annoyed.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with disdain.

"Pfft~ Do you really think I believe that!"

Ning Huan: "..."

What the hell!

That tone is so damn familiar!

"To be honest, there aren't many things I regret, but allowing you to associate with Zhang Lexuan is definitely one of them."

"Such a good child, how did you end up learning bad habits from her!"

"Hmm~ Wasn't it Sister Lexuan who learned bad habits from you first?"

"Children shouldn't talk back when adults are speaking!"

"Hee~"

Just as Ning Huan attempted to assert his authority with a fist and Ning Tian prepared to dodge away, a sudden commotion at the registration desk caught their attention.

Seeing this, the two exchanged a knowing smile and walked toward Wu Feng in perfect sync.

"Yo, Little Madwoman, what happened?"

"It seems some senior outer court disciples brought back a genius... Wait! I am not a Little Madwoman! Young Master, he's bullying me!"

You fight all day long and I've never seen you win once; it's a miracle I haven't joined in on the bullying!

Ning Tian thought to herself, though she didn't let a hint of her true thoughts slip out.

"Alright, there are so many people here, stop making a scene."

"Hmph! I'll listen to the Young Master! This young lady will let herself off the hook this time."

"So obedient... Hmm? That doesn't sound quite right..."

Meanwhile, Ning Huan, standing before the two women, kept his hands behind his back as he gazed at the registration point in the distance.

His previously calm gaze had become quite complex.

Seventeen levels of spirit power, spiritual energy leaking because it cannot be fully controlled, a body filling its deficits, and a right leg that has already healed...

The only thing capable of achieving all this in such a short time is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast...

Luck, it really is unreasonable...

Thinking this, Ning Huan couldn't help but curl his lip, immediately waking the slumbering Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in his mind.

Huan: [Tian Meng! Stop sleeping, I have something to ask you!]

Can: [Mm! Ungh! So comfortable~]

Huan: [If you whine again, I'll skin you alive!]

Can: [Hey! Don't be like that! Ask away, Brother will definitely answer!]

Huan: [Has there been any soul beast in the Star Dou Forest lately that is near death and specializes in spiritual power?]

Can: [How would Brother know that! You know as well as I do that in the eyes of those fierce beasts, I'm just a giant snack; I have no status!]

Huan: [...What use are you!]

Can: [If you're going to say that, Brother isn't happy! Come on, give me permission to see what you're looking at; maybe I'll remember something.]

Huan: [Fine!]

Ning Huan naturally wouldn't refuse the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's request.

With a flicker of his thoughts, he loosened a small portion of the [Contract]'s restrictions on it.

The next second...

Can: [It's that kid with the lingering scent of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, right! Let Brother take a look~]

Can: [A spirit-type Spirit Master, the quality of his martial soul is decent, but his foundation is too poor; he doesn't compare to you in the slightest!]

Huan: [That was a loud boot-licking, now what?]

Can: [Uh, he has a faint, musky scent of a fox on him. But if a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast were to perform a sacrifice, the most likely candidate would be that Phantom Nether Fox about to break through the two-hundred-thousand-year mark.]

Huan: [Explain.]

Can: [Brother doesn't know the specifics, only that its origin seems to have been severely damaged, and it won't survive the upcoming two-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation.]

Ning Huan nodded imperceptibly, and after roughly piecing together the cause and effect, he severed the connection.

It all boiled down to one thing.

Bi Ji couldn't heal it, and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wasn't there.

If it wanted to live, it had to find another way.

That explains it then.

A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, a Spirit Bone, and the soul beast's origin—if all of that were used to mend the body, reaching this level would be possible.

It's just that Phantom Nether Fox...