Liu Qingqing

Having learned his lesson from the sky full of yellow sand, Jiang Ming took out the Spiritwater Seal from his storage ring. It was a Heavenly Spirit Artifact that could control the water element to a certain extent and form a protective barrier.

Jiang Ming controlled the Spiritwater Seal and spread out a pale blue barrier, shutting out the yellow sand that filled the sky.

"Thank you, Young Master!" Nalan Yu's voice brimmed with excitement. She was the one suffering from having to drive through the endless sandstorm, so the greatest beneficiary of Jiang Ming's actions was Nalan Yu, along with the two ordinary thousand-li horses.

Along the way, yellow sand filled the sky, and the scenery never changed. Fortunately, Jiang Ming had plenty of food in his storage ring, mostly ordinary fare bought from the border city. Looks like I'll have to bring more rare beasts and spiritual herbs out of the Spirit Realm in the future and make something to eat. Jiang Ming thought. Besides, these cooks were all rather mediocre. Even with such fine ingredients, what they made was not particularly delicious. Mainly because the Heavenly Profound Continent had few seasonings, only simple salt.

About half a month later, Jiang Ming and the others finally caught sight of a patch of green.

"Young Master, once we cross the desert, we'll enter the Cloudwater Region." Nalan Yu's tone was filled with excitement. At last, there would no longer be an endless sea of yellow sand and monotonous scenery. As the driver, she had suffered miserably. As for Jiang Ming, he ate and drank every day, sipping Jiang Naicha and having fun, so he did not find it too dull.

Cloudwater Region.

The Cloudwater Region had originally belonged to the Cloud Domain. Five hundred years ago, Yun Dingtian's younger brother, Yun Shuitian, had defected from the Yun Clan for special reasons and was hunted by the Yun Clan. Three hundred years ago, Yun Shuitian became a Saint, known as the "Yunshui Sage," and stood in opposition to the Yun Clan. In the end, he carved out a corner of the Cloud Domain as his base of operations—the present-day Cloudwater Region.

The Cloudwater Region had only one city—Cloudwater City. After a long journey, Jiang Ming and his group gazed at the enormous city before them.

"This city stands upon the water. That must be how Cloudwater City got its name." Nalan Yu sighed as she looked at the city shrouded in clouds and mist. Before Cloudwater City, Azure City seemed like a child.

Just then, a black shadow slipped into the carriage compartment. Nalan Yu, who was driving, noticed nothing. Of course, Jiang Ming had noticed, but he did not stop it.

He focused his gaze and saw a woman in black before him. Her figure was graceful and alluring, her body slender and shapely. Even the black clothes could not conceal her proud curves. Her exquisite face and fair skin made Jiang Ming's eyes light up. With a slim waist, long legs, full breasts, and rounded hips, she had the best figure Jiang Ming had ever seen, and her looks were first-rate as well—far better than the maids at home.

Seeing Jiang Ming staring at her, the woman in black did not bother concealing the disgust in her pale blue eyes.

Jiang Naicha also noticed the woman in black at this moment, but she showed no reaction. Everything revolved around Jiang Ming.

After Jiang Ming and the woman in black stared at each other for a while, she felt as though he had seen through every inch of her. The disgust on her face deepened. She then sat down on one side of the carriage without saying a word, utterly ignoring Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming was stunned. What the hell? You climbed into my carriage out of nowhere and won't say a single word? What's that supposed to mean? He gave Jiang Naicha a look.

Jiang Naicha stared blankly into Jiang Ming's beautiful Golden Eyes, her cheeks faintly flushing. She blinked her large eyes at him, her cat ears swaying back and forth.

Jiang Ming: "..."

He then turned toward the woman in black. "Hey, beauty, who are you?"

"Do not ask unnecessary questions. I am merely borrowing your carriage to enter the city. I will give you sufficient compensation." The woman in black spoke coldly, keeping others a thousand miles away. She tossed out a storage pouch.

Jiang Ming caught it, casually tossed it in his hand, then threw it back. The woman in black caught it and looked at him in confusion.

"What's your name, beauty? Are you trying to insult me with money?" Jiang Ming smiled slightly. Paired with his faint Golden Eyes, he looked exceptionally handsome.

The woman in black frowned. "I had no intention of insulting you with money." Though she disliked men, paying for a ride was only proper.

"You climbed into my carriage without introducing yourself, said nothing, and tossed a storage pouch at me. Are you looking down on me? If that isn't an insult, then what is?" Jiang Ming stared at the woman in black. His Golden Eyes gleamed with a faint golden light, and his entire body radiated majesty.

The woman in black's heart trembled. It was as though she was not facing a refined young man, but an emperor ruling over all beneath heaven.

"Liu Qingqing," the woman in black muttered.

"What? Speak louder." Jiang Ming cupped a hand to his ear and called out.

"Liu Qingqing!" Liu Qingqing said indignantly, her face flushed with anger.

"Young Master, did something happen?" Nalan Yu, driving the carriage, curiously asked upon hearing the commotion inside.

"It's none of your business."

"Oh."

"Liu Qingqing. Not a bad name. Your looks are decent too. What do you think of my maid?" Jiang Ming pointed at Jiang Naicha.

When Jiang Naicha saw him turn the topic toward her, she slowly lowered her head and tightly clutched the hem of her skirt with both hands, revealing just how nervous she was.

"Cute and lively!" Liu Qingqing answered honestly. She had no idea what scheme the young man before her was plotting.

"And compared to you?"

"I am inferior to her," Liu Qingqing said calmly. Her earlier emotions had already settled.

"Do not belittle yourself." Jiang Ming wore a faint smile as his Golden Eyes flickered with golden light while he looked at Liu Qingqing.

Liu Qingqing felt uncomfortable under his gaze and shifted her body. "Please conduct yourself with propriety."

"I'm quite heavy."

Liu Qingqing: "..." The disgust in her eyes deepened, and an aura unique to a Nascent Soul cultivator spread from her body.

"Oh? A Nascent Soul cultivator. You're quite talented." Jiang Ming teased.

The Nascent Soul aura vanished instantly. Liu Qingqing was inwardly terrified. She could not understand what was going on with the young man before her. She felt that she had boarded a bandit's carriage and feared she would find it difficult to escape safely.

Jiang Ming smiled faintly as he watched Liu Qingqing sit uneasily. "Riding in my carriage is fine, but you'll have to pay the corresponding price."

"There are one hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones in the storage pouch," Liu Qingqing said weakly.

"I still prefer the way you were before—proud and unruly." The corners of Jiang Ming's mouth rose wildly.

The situation is stronger than the person. As long as he doesn't go too far, I'll endure it for now. Liu Qingqing kept warning herself inwardly. Don't be impulsive. Don't be impulsive.

"My name is Jiang Ming. Let's formally get acquainted." Jiang Ming extended his hand. Seeing Liu Qingqing frozen in place, he raised an eyebrow.

Only then did Liu Qingqing react. She reached out and shook his hand. It was large and warm, briefly dispelling the chill from her body.

Liu Qingqing's little hand was icy cold—another special physique. Jiang Ming sighed inwardly. This protagonist halo really is something. They're all beauties, and they all have special physiques.

Indeed, unless something unexpected happened, Liu Qingqing possessed the legendary Lunar Physique. Utterly yin and frigid, it was an Imperial Physique and the complete opposite of the Solar Physique. No wonder she had reached the Nascent Soul realm at such a young age in this remote region.

"How long are you planning to hold my hand?" Jiang Ming's lips curved slightly.

"Ah..." Liu Qingqing immediately let go, her pretty face flushing faintly. The warmth from Jiang Ming's body had made her feel extremely comfortable, and she had nearly lost herself in it.

She quickly calmed herself. Her pale blue eyes turned cold, as though she had remembered something.