Chapter 260: Madam Silver Pool's Carriage

Chapter 260: Madam Silver Pool's Carriage

The Crown Prince stood atop the ruined wall, his gaze fixed on the dissipating dragon qi in the air. He snorted coldly, "Young Master Chuan actually managed to unleash the Nine-Five Divine Dragon Qi as well."

The Lingyi State Preceptor's body transformed into a wisp of smoke, floating down to the ancient street. He said, "He likely used some divine ability to absorb the Nine-Five Divine Dragon Qi into his body and then expelled it again. He hasn’t truly mastered it—after all, this is an exclusive technique of the imperial family."

"Young Master Chuan's martial prowess is indeed terrifying. He may become a great calamity in the future," the Crown Prince remarked.

The Lingyi State Preceptor nodded in agreement.

The Crown Prince swept his gaze over the Martial Artists below and ordered, "Search for Young Master Chuan with full force. Ensure he has nowhere to hide in the Imperial City."

"Yes!"

All the Martial Artists from the Crown Prince's Palace immediately gave chase.

Ning Xiaochuan fled into a narrow alley, his injuries no longer suppressible. A sharp pain tore through his chest, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, which struck the ground and blasted a large crater. At his current cultivation level, even a single drop of his blood could pierce through stone.

The gap between Ning Xiaochuan's martial prowess and that of a Martial Venerable was still vast. Though he had barely managed to intimidate the Crown Prince and escape the Crown Prince's Palace, his injuries now threatened to overwhelm him. His meridians were nearly shattered beyond repair.

"What happened to you?" Situ Fengwu exclaimed in shock.

From her perspective, Young Master Chuan had held absolute dominance in the earlier confrontation, leaving both the Crown Prince and the Lingyi State Preceptor humiliated.

So why was he the one now severely injured?

Even the Crown Prince hadn’t realized Young Master Chuan was bluffing—how could she have seen through it? She had assumed his strength surpassed even the combined might of the Crown Prince and the Lingyi State Preceptor.

"It's nothing. Guard me."

Suppressing his body’s weakness, Ning Xiaochuan sat cross-legged in the alley and began healing.

Situ Fengwu stared at Young Master Chuan, her eyes filled with suspicion. Her Martial Arts Profound Qi circulated slowly as she debated whether to seize this moment and deliver a fatal strike.

But in the end, she restrained herself.

She couldn’t tell if he was truly gravely injured or merely testing her. If she acted recklessly, she might end up dead at his hands.

Within Ning Xiaochuan’s body, the seventh strand of Annihilation Qi surged into his heart, coiling around the Demonic Sword.

His skin emitted a crystalline glow, with mysterious inscriptions flickering across its surface, exuding an intense demonic aura.

His skin sloughed off, transforming into a layer of Mortal Skin that fell to the ground.

He had officially stepped into the Fifth Level of the Transcendent Realm.

Ning Xiaochuan opened his eyes, having temporarily suppressed his injuries enough to avoid mortal danger.

Situ Fengwu’s beautiful eyes widened. "You’re still only at the Transcendent Realm?"

Ning Xiaochuan picked up the discarded Mortal Skin and stored it in the Heaven and Earth Bag. He glanced sideways at Situ Fengwu and said, "Regretting not taking the chance to kill me earlier?"

She did regret it—but she absolutely couldn’t show it. "The Manor Lord saved my life. How could I dare harm you?"

Ning Xiaochuan didn’t bother discerning whether her words were true or false. He immediately prepared to leave.

Since Young Master Chuan had appeared in the Imperial City, with the Crown Prince's authority, a city-wide search would undoubtedly be launched until he was found.

Ning Xiaochuan had just reached the mouth of the alley when a massive carriage stopped at the entrance, blocking his path.

The carriage was extravagantly luxurious, its frame crafted from Mystic Wood and inlaid with Green Gold, adorned with jade beads. It was so enormous it resembled a moving palace, and just this carriage alone was likely worth a fortune.

Pulling it were twelve First-Grade Mystic Beasts, each of a different breed, yet all with pure white fur.

From inside the carriage, a sweet and enchanting female voice called out, "It's chilly outside. Would the Manor Lord care to join me inside for a cup of warm wine?"

Ning Xiaochuan inhaled lightly and caught a faint, delicate fragrance wafting from the carriage—reminiscent of flowers, yet carrying an alluring undertone, much like the scent of a woman's fair, soft, and sweet skin.

A group of martial artists from the Crown Prince's Palace hurried past the alley.

A cold, haughty voice rang out, "The Crown Prince's Palace is searching for evil members. Apologies for the intrusion."

"Do you dare?"

A maidservant in pale green robes lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a delicate oval face with fair, tender skin. She said sharply, "This is Madam Silver Pool's carriage. How bold of you to even think of searching it!"

The martial artists from the Crown Prince's Palace paled, immediately knelt in apology, and then hastily retreated.

Though Madam Silver Pool's reputation was far from pristine, she was, after all, the de facto ruler of Marquis Qi Tian's estate. Few in the Imperial City dared to offend her.

Ning Xiaochuan knew the Crown Prince's men were scouring the city for him, and with his severe injuries, the situation was highly unfavorable.

"Many thanks, Madam, for aiding me," Ning Xiaochuan said.

"If you wish to thank me, shouldn't you join me for a drink?" Madam Silver Pool's voice from within the carriage was as sweet as honey, soft enough to melt bones, as enchanting as the purr of a gentle silver-furred cat.

No man in the world could refuse such an enticing invitation.

"Since you insist, I shall oblige."

Ning Xiaochuan stepped into Madam Silver Pool's carriage.

The interior was vast, easily seven or eight times larger than a commoner's carriage, spacious enough to seat over a dozen people without feeling cramped.

The floor was covered in white velvet carpet, and at the center stood an incense-burning bronze tripod, emitting a delicate, wispy fragrance. The scent was subtle, not overpowering, and even seemed to accelerate the circulation of Martial Arts Profound Qi within the body.

Inside, there were tables and chairs carved from Mystic Wood, calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, and curtains strung with jade and pearls, all adorned with shimmering Mystic Stones—a display of sheer opulence.

Madam Silver Pool sat gracefully upon a bed of icy jade, her slender and delicate figure resting on a soft Fragrant Carpet.

A low table stood on the bed, holding an agate wine jug and luminous cups.

The cups were filled to the brim with wine, glistening like rippling water.

"Manor Lord, please take a seat," Madam Silver Pool said, her gaze gentle and her eyes clear, devoid of any coquetry. Instead, she resembled an immortal untouched by worldly desires.

She wore plain white robes, devoid of any ornaments, a stark contrast to the lavish luxury of the carriage.

Ning Xiaochuan took off his shoes and socks, stepped onto the bed, and sat opposite Madam Silver Pool. He lifted the wine cup to his lips and took a sip, praising, "Rich yet not cloying—excellent wine."

The carriage began to move forward, yet the interior remained remarkably steady.

Madam Silver Pool had been observing Ning Xiaochuan’s every move and now smiled. "The Manor Lord is young and accomplished, with such striking handsomeness. Why, then, must you wear a mask?"

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "I’m guarding against you, Madam."

"Against me?"

"I fear that if you see my dashing looks, you’ll become hopelessly infatuated with me."

Madam Silver Pool’s beautiful eyes shimmered with amusement, her smile veiled like mist. "Manor Lord, do you know why I invited you for a drink?"

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "If you have something to say, Madam, speak freely."

"Would the Manor Lord care to hear a story first?" Madam Silver Pool asked.

"I’m all ears."

Madam Silver Pool lifted her cup and took a delicate sip, her eyes glazing over with a distant light. "Sixteen years ago, a beautiful woman named Yue Minghua arrived alone in the Imperial City to make her mark. She was like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world, pure and untainted by even a speck of dust. Soon, with her peerless beauty, talent that outshone all others, and extraordinary martial prowess, she became the goddess every man in the Imperial City dreamed of, crowned as the Imperial City's top beauty."

"Yue Minghua believed she had reached the pinnacle of life, looking down on all men with utter disdain. Even nobles and princes who sought an audience with her were turned away at the door."

"A woman, when blessed with beauty, naturally grows proud. But when she falls, she realizes she is, after all, just a weak woman—no matter how stunning, merely a plaything beneath the strong."

"Yue Minghua encountered such a man. With a single slap, he knocked her to the ground, trampling all her pride and dignity, including her body."

"Having never suffered such humiliation, Yue Minghua made a ruthless decision. She would marry that man. She would take revenge. She would make him suffer beyond endurance."

By now, Ning Xiaochuan had pieced some things together. "This Yue Minghua must have been you sixteen years ago, Madam?"

Though sixteen years had passed, Madam Silver Pool remained as stunning as ever—youthful like jade, with delicate brows, a petite nose, and lips as red as cherries. She still carried an ethereal, untouchable aura, yet now exuded the mature charm of a woman, every inch of her skin teasing a man’s senses.

Ning Xiaochuan could imagine how, sixteen years ago, Madam Silver Pool must have outshone all beauties in the world, rendering the Imperial City’s fair ladies mere foils to her radiance.

Even now, after all these years, she remained one of the Imperial City’s three great beauties, second only to Yu Ningsheng.

For a woman to remain beautiful for a decade is common, but to retain such allure for twenty years is rare indeed.

Madam Silver Pool's almond-shaped eyes shimmered with mist, her long lashes trembling slightly as she continued her story. "Yue Minghua married Marquis Qi Tian, who dominated the world at that time, becoming his nineteenth concubine. You must understand, Marquis Qi Tian had already reached the ninth level of the Earthly Venerable Realm by then, wielding immense power in the imperial court. Yet, he was also a decrepit old man over a hundred years old."

"The peerlessly beautiful Yue Minghua, the Imperial City's top beauty, married such a withered old man—and as nothing more than a concubine. This caused an enormous uproar throughout the Imperial City. Countless Martial Artists who admired Yue Minghua wailed outside Marquis Qi Tian's residence night after night. Many were heartbroken, and quite a few even drowned themselves in despair."

Ning Xiaochuan listened silently.

Madam Silver Pool continued, "Within two years, Yue Minghua bore Marquis Qi Tian a daughter and a son. The old marquis, overjoyed to have children in his twilight years, doted on them. But one day, he finally discovered that Yue Minghua had been secretly involved with his eldest son. In a fit of rage, Marquis Qi Tian struck his eldest son dead with a single palm."

"Then Yue Minghua told him the truth—the son she had given birth to was not his, but his second son's. Enraged beyond reason, Marquis Qi Tian personally killed his second son as well."

"Only after slaughtering both his eldest and second son did Marquis Qi Tian suddenly awaken to the truth, overwhelmed with regret. He wept bitterly, deeply regretting ever getting involved with that vile woman Yue Minghua. He resolved then and there to make sure she died a miserable death."

"But just as he prepared to execute Yue Minghua, she sought him out herself. In the end, Marquis Qi Tian couldn't bring himself to kill her—because she was simply too beautiful."

"Men always soften before beautiful women. Once their hearts waver, they can no longer strike with cruelty."

"And that very night, Marquis Qi Tian died in Yue Minghua's bed. She tossed his corpse into the beast pen, and by the next morning, the hounds had gnawed it down to a pile of broken bones."