Ning Daozhen

Ning Fa strode into the valley. The moment he entered, a surge of pure spiritual qi washed over him. It seemed far purer and more refined than the qi outside.

Ning Fa guessed that Array Formation Barriers such as a spirit-gathering formation had been set up within the valley to achieve this. That must have consumed a great many spirit stones.

He could not help marveling at how wealthy the Ning Clan had become, willing to make such an investment.

Just as Ning Fa was wondering where to find Xiao Yu, he spotted a familiar figure from the corner of his eye.

Xiao Yu, dressed in a pale yellow gown, had just emerged from a pavilion and was walking toward the nearby lakeside. Her graceful figure looked somewhat lonely, and her little face was clouded with unhappiness.

Ning Fa had just been about to go over when two other girls in their early teens walked out of the same pavilion.

One of them was pretty, but her face was covered in freckles. As she looked at Xiao Yu's retreating back, a glint of mischief flashed through her eyes.

She immediately formed hand seals with both hands, green spiritual light winding around her fingers. Clearly, she was casting a spell.

It was obvious she was not very proficient, but after more than a dozen breaths, she still managed to cast it, stumblingly.

A flash of green light appeared beneath Xiao Yu's feet. Two green wooden vines burst from the ground and seized her ankles.

The two vines shot upward, and the caught-off-guard Xiao Yu was left hanging upside down in midair. Even the undergarments beneath her dress were exposed.

Xiao Yu's face was filled with terror. She could only clutch the hem of her dress tightly with both hands to keep herself covered, tears streaming down her oval face.

"Hahaha!"

The two girls burst into giggles, looking thoroughly delighted.

At the sight, Ning Fa's anger surged. With a flip of his right hand, a Silver Lightning Ball appeared in his palm.

Just as he was about to act and rescue Xiao Yu, someone moved faster than he did.

A Golden Air Blade flashed through the air, instantly Severing the two wooden vines. Then an Azure Wind Ball wrapped around Xiao Yu and gently lowered her to the ground.

A teenage boy walked over.

He wore a simple white Daoist robe. Though young, he was exceptionally handsome. What was rare was that he lacked the childishness of his peers; instead, his expression was calm, carrying a maturity beyond his years.

An indescribable air of nobility radiated from him, even giving off a sense of pressure.

Ning Fa looked at the boy, surprise appearing on his face as the lightning ball in his hand dispersed.

This boy looked no older than thirteen or fourteen, yet he was already at the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation!

Moreover, the move he had displayed just now was extraordinary. He had used two Five Elements Spells almost simultaneously. Judging by his casting speed, he had likely reached the stage of great mastery.

Ning Fa even came to a conclusion that left him frustrated.

He was no match for this boy right now!

After all, he was only at the Third Layer of Qi Condensation.

When the white-robed boy approached, the two girls who had been laughing happily immediately turned pale with fright. The Freckled Girl who had acted put on a weak expression and said, "Brother Daozhen, we only wanted to play a joke on Xiao Yu..."

The white-robed boy walked up to the Freckled Girl, his expression turning stern. To Ning Fa's great surprise, the boy directly swung his arm and slapped her across the face.

With a crisp smack, a red handprint immediately appeared on the Freckled Girl's right cheek.

The Freckled Girl covered her face and stared at the white-robed boy in disbelief, tears pouring down her cheeks.

The white-robed boy paid her no heed. In a voice that was somewhat youthful yet carried great authority, he said:

"I warned you not to trouble Xiao Yu again. It seems you took my words as wind passing by your ears. If there is a next time, it will not end as simply as it did today."

The Freckled Girl's lips turned pale. She timidly tried to say something more, but her Female Companion hurriedly pulled her away.

Ning Fa froze.

Damn it, a kid actually beat me to playing the hero and saving the beauty. And after saving her, he immediately slapped her tormentor—he was practically the model hero in the art of rescuing beauties.

"Daozhen... Ning Daozhen? I don't remember that name."

Ning Fa could not help pondering the boy's origins. The name was utterly unfamiliar to him. He was probably an up-and-coming talent of the clan's younger generation.

Judging by this, his cultivation aptitude had to be exceptionally high. At such a young age, he was already about to break through to Late Qi Condensation. He might even break the record for the fastest advancement to Late Qi Condensation set by Ning Fa's Third Uncle.

Ning Fa could not help marveling again that the Ning Clan was truly producing talents in abundance.

By then, the white-robed boy had already walked up to Xiao Yu and was softly comforting her.

Ning Fa also walked over. When Xiao Yu, whose face still bore tear streaks, saw that it was Ning Fa, her eyes reddened again. Choking back tears, she said, "Uncle."

Then she broke down sobbing.

Ning Fa let out a long sigh, knowing that seeing him had surely reminded Xiao Yu of her grandfather.

"Who are you? How did you enter Cui Ning Courtyard?"

The white-robed boy, who had worn a gentle expression moments ago, suddenly sharpened his gaze and questioned Ning Fa.

Ning Fa was very displeased by the white-robed boy's look, but there was nothing he could do. He was no match for the boy right now.

After all, the cultivation world did not care about seniority. It only looked at cultivation level; the capable came first.

Ning Fa said calmly, "I am Ning Fa of Pingchang Island, Xiao Yu's uncle. I came here to visit her."

"You are Ning Fa?"

The white-robed boy's eyes widened slightly as he looked at Ning Fa with curiosity. Clearly, he had heard of Ning Fa as well.

Ning Fa rolled his eyes and asked, "And who are you?"

The white-robed boy replied calmly, "Ning Daozhen of Ningchang Island."

Ning Fa's heart stirred. Someone who used the clan's ancestral land, Ningchang Island, to identify his branch could only belong to the line of the current First Elder, Ning Zhongyuan.

It seemed this boy was most likely a direct descendant of First Elder Ning Zhongyuan. No wonder those two girls had been so afraid of him.

Ning Fa nodded, then said, "Could you step aside for a moment? I have something to say to Xiao Yu."

The white-robed boy first looked at Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu nodded at him, and the boy then walked ten zhang away and stopped, looking every bit like a guardian of flowers.

At that moment, Xiao Yu saw things and thought of the person they reminded her of. Unable to endure any longer, she began to weep bitterly, her pear-blossom face drenched in rain enough to break one's heart.

The white-robed boy in the distance frowned and seemed about to rise, but ultimately remained where he was.

Ning Fa sighed mournfully and gently patted Xiao Yu's head. Then he took two pill bottles from his Storage Bag and handed them to her.

"Xiao Yu, these are two bottles of Essence Replenishing Pills. Take them. From now on, I will bring you more every so often. Cultivation level is the foundation of us cultivators. Only by raising your realm can you avoid being bullied."

Xiao Yu looked at Ning Fa hesitantly, not daring to accept the pill bottles at once.

She naturally knew how precious Essence Replenishing Pills were now. Young clan members like them in Cui Ning Courtyard only received one pill every two months.

Ning Fa said solemnly, "Xiao Yu, Uncle Xilin died saving me, so there is no need to stand on ceremony with me. Take them."

Xiao Yu finally accepted the pill bottles and choked out, "Thank you... Uncle."

Ning Fa nodded. "I'm leaving. I'll come see you often from now on."

With that, Ning Fa glanced once more at the white-robed boy in the distance. With this kid around, it seems I won't need to worry about Xiao Yu being bullied in here.