Ning Yuyao

Feeling something sliding along his arm, Jia Lie Jun looked down and saw the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python slowly slithering along it, whimpering softly, its snake pupils filled with displeasure. Jia Lie Jun could not help finding it funny. "I didn't expect you to be such a greedy little thing." He then took out a jade bottle, and at once, a pure energy spread through the air. The Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python stretched out its nose and sniffed, narrowing its eyes with an utterly intoxicated look.

Watching the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python enjoying its food, Jia Lie Jun could not help sinking into thought. The Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python was able to travel with me to the Wu Dong Plane. I wonder if I can bring people across with me too? Forget it. I won't think about that for now. I don't have enough strength yet to keep this secret safe.

In midair, Jia Lie Jun slowly flapped the Purple Cloud Wings and looked at the sea of trees shrouded in thick fog, his face full of distress. He had already wandered around this forest for several days, but he still had not found a way out. He had originally planned to fly out, but ideals were beautiful, while reality was cruel. The dense fog filling the forest had killed his plan in the cradle, especially in the morning and at night, when he could barely see his hand in front of his face. Although he could explore with Spiritual Power, he had no idea which direction was the right way out. Besides, he did not dare charge recklessly through the dense woods. If he ran into some extremely high-level demonic beast, he would be dead for sure.

Jia Lie Jun sighed and could only bite the bullet and walk in one direction. Suddenly, the clip-clop of footsteps entered his ears, mixed with the neighing of horses. Jia Lie Jun's spirits lifted, and he hurriedly followed the sound.

"Eldest Miss, the Lu Family caravan has been following us this whole time. They must be up to no good," a middle-aged man who looked like a steward whispered as he rode up beside a woman. The woman was seated on a tall horse, wearing silver armor, with a longsword at her waist. Her waterfall-like hair was simply tied into a ponytail, her features were exquisitely delicate, and there was a hint of heroic spirit between her brows, making her look valiant and striking.

"Steward Li, pass the order down. Tell everyone in the group to stay alert," the woman instructed in a low voice. Then she turned around and gave the Lu Family's herb-gathering team a meaningful look.

Suddenly, the clip-clop of footsteps rang out. "Be on guard!" the woman shouted. As soon as her voice fell, blades and spears rang out together, and the servants all stared warily into the depths of the thick fog. Going into the deep mountains to gather herbs was an extremely dangerous task. With bad luck, if they encountered an immensely powerful demonic beast, they might not even be able to keep their lives.

Everyone held their breath. The clip-clop of footsteps seemed to tread on their hearts. Slowly, a figure appeared in the thick fog. Everyone focused their eyes and saw a youth in a black robe, his face as fair as jade beneath a ceremonial cap, with sword-like brows and starry eyes. His ink-black long hair, damp with dew, clung to his face as he slowly walked toward them. Only then did everyone let out a long breath.

"I am Jia Lie Jun. I lost my way in this forest. Might I trouble you to take me along for a while?" Seeing everyone staring at him warily, with swords, spears, halberds, and blades all pointed at him, Jia Lie Jun hurriedly stated his identity.

The woman rode up to Jia Lie Jun and, seated on her fine horse, stared straight at him with her beautiful eyes, as though trying to see through him. Jia Lie Jun did not yield in the slightest and met her gaze. In the end, she was still an unmarried woman; how could her skin be thicker than Jia Lie Jun's, who had lived two lives? She ultimately lost the contest. She immediately gave a cold snort, glared fiercely at Jia Lie Jun, and returned to the group without saying a word. Jia Lie Jun smiled and thought to himself, She really is an arrogant woman.

The group slowly advanced through the forest. After the past few days, Jia Lie Jun had also figured out the group's background. The woman's surname was Ning, and her name was Ning Yuyao. She was the eldest young lady of the Ning Family, one of the two major medicinal herb merchants in Tiandu Commandery and also one of the top forces in Tiandu Commandery. However, a few years ago, when Ning Yuyao's father entered the forest to gather herbs, he was ambushed by a demonic beast along the way and seriously injured. His cultivation in the Form Creation Realm regressed to the Origin Core Realm, and he had been bedridden for years. From then on, the Ning Family had fallen into decline. The vast Ning Family was being bitterly supported by Ning Yuyao alone.

As for the group following closely behind the Ning Family's herb-gathering team, it was the Lu Family's herb-gathering team. The Lu Family was also one of Tiandu Commandery's two major medicinal herb merchants and was the Ning Family's sworn enemy. After the Ning Family declined, the Lu Family had always wanted to swallow up the Ning Family's medicinal herb market. This time, the Lu Family's leader was the Lu Family's young master, Lu Wushuang. He was only twenty years old, yet his cultivation had already reached the Minor Accomplishment of the Origin Core Realm. He was one of the top young talents in Tiandu Commandery and was jointly praised with Ning Yuyao as one of the Tiandu Twin Heroes. Jia Lie Jun had to admit that Lu Wushuang truly had extraordinary talent. If not for his many fortuitous encounters, even he would not have had full confidence in stepping into the Origin Core Realm at twenty.

Jia Lie Jun pillowed his hands behind his head and lay on the carriage, looking extremely carefree, but inwardly he was muttering. The Lu Family had been following behind the Ning Family all this time, clearly looking as if they harbored ill intentions. In particular, the killing intent in Lu Wushuang's eyes was completely undisguised. Why had he still not made a move?

"Eldest Miss, this fellow is truly hateful. He actually dares lie on the canopy of the carriage you usually ride in." Steward Li looked utterly exasperated, extremely furious at Jia Lie Jun's rude behavior. Ning Yuyao looked at Jia Lie Jun on top of the carriage canopy and helplessly waved her hand. "Forget it." After spending these few days together, although she had not figured out Jia Lie Jun's personality, she had deeply experienced his thick skin. That carriage was where she slept at night, yet Jia Lie Jun had shamelessly snatched it away, forcing her to sleep on the ground out in the open.

Jia Lie Jun heard the conversation between the two of them perfectly clearly, but he did not care in the slightest. During this period, he had entered the Tagor Desert to seize the Heavenly Flames, then wandered around this forest for some time, and had been constantly on edge. He had not slept well once and was already mentally exhausted. Now that he had finally found a chance to relax, there was no way he would let it slip by.

"There's a swamp ahead. Demonic beasts appear in the swamp, so everyone must be careful," Ning Yuyao shouted. Hearing this, everyone's spirits shook, and they became fully alert. At this moment, however, Lu Wushuang in the Lu Family group smiled strangely, though the smile was sinister and cruel.

The corners of Jia Lie Jun's mouth lifted slightly. So they're planning to make their move here. With a thought, Spiritual Power spread out from his Mud Pill Palace, and the situation within the swamp immediately appeared in his mind. He saw a giant snake crouching in the swamp, its bloody maw wide open, ready to strike. Jia Lie Jun had just been about to speak up and warn them.

With a bang, the giant snake burst out of the swamp and lunged toward Ning Yuyao. Ning Yuyao was at the very front of the group, and she had not been prepared in the slightest. It was already too late for her to dodge, and the sudden ambush frightened her so badly that her beautiful face lost all color. Just as she was about to fall into the giant snake's belly, a bluish-purple fireball suddenly whistled toward the giant snake. Ning Yuyao stood frozen in place, not snapping back to herself until a strong, powerful arm wrapped around her slender waist. She turned her head and saw that it was Jia Lie Jun.