Chapter 199: Fox Immortal Dao, the Little Witch

Chapter 199: Fox Immortal Dao, the Little Witch

This was Ning Xiaochuan’s first time using the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron to refine pills after merging the Heart Nurturing Hall with the Yin-Yang Furnace.

Hearing the loud noises coming from the room, Zi Zhui'er, brimming with curiosity, followed inside just in time to see Ning Xiaochuan summon the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron from within his body.

"Wow! You’re an Advanced Heart Nurturer?"

Zi Zhui'er’s background was extraordinary, so she naturally understood the significance of refining the True Cauldron—a feat only achievable by an Advanced Heart Nurturer.

Advanced Heart Nurturers were exceedingly rare, so few they could be counted on one hand. Each one was a renowned figure of immense status, and the entire Soul Domain had only two Advanced Heart Nurturers, who stood on equal footing with Martial Venerables.

Her heart was naturally shaken. Given her cultivation and status, being captured had left her deeply resentful. But if her captor was an Advanced Heart Nurturer, she no longer felt the slightest bit of grievance.

In her mind, she wondered: Which senior among the greats was this Advanced Heart Nurturer?

Ning Xiaochuan removed the Bamboo Hat from his head, revealing a youthful and handsome face. His gaze remained fixed on the twelve mystic medicines as he coldly said, "You’d better wait outside. Don’t disturb me while I refine the Mystic Pill."

"Ah! You’re this young?"

Zi Zhui'er was utterly stunned. This young? An Advanced Heart Nurturer? Just who was he?

Filled with curiosity about Ning Xiaochuan, she didn’t leave and instead stood by the door.

Ning Xiaochuan ignored her. After all, her Heart Palace had been sealed—there was no way she could cause any trouble.

Boom!

Inside the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron, a cluster of Yin-Yang Bright Flame hovered, its fire converging and condensing like a divine lotus of flames.

Ning Xiaochuan placed eight stalks of Heart Nurturing Grass into the True Cauldron, refining them with the Bright Flame into fragrant Heart Nurturing Liquid that settled at the bottom.

Then, he tossed a Mid-Grade Profound Stone into the True Cauldron, using the Bright Flame to refine it and release the Profound Qi within, which merged into the Heart Nurturing Liquid. Only after the liquid was fully saturated did he begin adding the other mystic medicines.

Five-Star Spiritual Herb "Pine Fragrance Spirit Water," Six-Star Spiritual Herb "Broken Wave Wood"...

A total of twelve mystic medicines, each added in strict order with precise control over the flame intensity.

Though Ning Xiaochuan had already reached the level of a Quasi-Advanced Heart Nurturer, his experience in refining Mystic Pills was limited, so he proceeded with extreme caution to avoid any mistakes.

Boom!

Half an hour later, a surge of Elixir Qi finally emerged within the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron, like a cosmic explosion, filling the air with mist and the medicinal fragrance of the Mystic Pill. The pill was beginning to take form.

Ning Xiaochuan finally let out a sigh of relief. Once the medicinal energy transformed into Elixir Qi, there was an eighty percent chance of successful pill formation. Now, all that remained was to nurture the pill with the Bright Flame.

He stood up and fixed his gaze on Zi Zhui'er. "Recall your mystic beast battle pet. I want that Heavenly Pivot Pill now."

After seeing Ning Xiaochuan’s youthful face, Zi Zhui'er was no longer afraid of him. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "You’re already an Advanced Heart Nurturer. Refining an Advanced Mystic Pill should be child’s play for you. Why bully a weak woman like me for a single Advanced Pill? Aren’t you ashamed of tarnishing the dignity of an Advanced Heart Nurturer?"

"Refining an Advanced Pill is no easy feat. Even a genuine Advanced Heart Nurturer would find it extremely difficult to produce one. Not only does it require the finest alchemical materials, but the success rate is also abysmally low. A single ingredient for an Advanced Pill might not be found even if you scoured the entire empire," Ning Xiaochuan said.

Zi Zhui'er blinked her eyes playfully and grinned. "If you tell me your identity, I can immediately recall the Small Fox and respectfully present the Heavenly Pivot Pill to the esteemed Advanced Heart Nurturer."

Ning Xiaochuan had no fondness for her and replied coldly, "Don’t play tricks with me. If you dare entertain any other ideas, I can kill you right now."

Had Ning Xiaochuan been wearing his Bamboo Hat while saying this, Zi Zhui'er might have actually been afraid. But now that his true face was revealed—handsome, refined, and an Advanced Heart Nurturer to boot—he was the epitome of talent and charm, a peerless genius. To a woman, such allure was devastating. In her heart, she had already cast him as her prince charming, so fear was the last thing on her mind.

Pouting her red lips, Zi Zhui'er said with feigned grievance, "How dare I play tricks? I just want to know your name, to learn the identity of the man I admire. Is that so wrong?"

Ning Xiaochuan couldn’t stand her antics and snapped impatiently, "For the sake of an Advanced Mystic Pill, you even killed your own fiancé. Do you really think I’d believe a word you say?"

Tears welled up in Zi Zhui'er’s eyes as she lamented pitifully, "He was never my fiancé to begin with. I... I was forced into it. His father is the Branch Leader of the Heavenly Annihilation Dao, and the Mu family dominates the Soul Domain with an iron grip. I’m just a weak woman—how could I resist him? My parents were beaten to death by him. I had no choice but to agree to be his fiancée."

She quickly added, "Of course, I never gave myself to him. I’m still..." She paused, then said shyly, "Actually, I’m still a virgin. If you don’t believe me, you can... verify it right now. Believe me, I’ve fallen for you at first sight. My whole being is yours."

Beads of cold sweat formed on Ning Xiaochuan’s forehead as he steadied himself. "Whether you’re a virgin or not has nothing to do with me. And my identity is something you’re better off not knowing."

With that, he turned his attention back to the pills.

This batch was an Intermediate Elixir specifically concocted to treat Ji Hanxing’s injuries—capable of mending meridians, revitalizing blood, expelling toxins, healing the body, and even boosting cultivation.

As the pills finished refining, the Heart Nurturing True Cauldron emitted alternating crimson and azure lights. The dual forces of Yin and Yang swirled and converged into the pills.

"Open!"

The Heart Nurturing True Cauldron’s lid lifted, releasing twelve Intermediate Elixirs wrapped in golden Elixir Qi. They hovered in the air like twelve stars drifting through the room.

A sweet, refreshing Pill Fragrance filled the space. Just a single whiff was enough to make one’s blood surge with energy.

With a flick of his sleeve, Ning Xiaochuan gathered all twelve pills. He fed one to Ji Hanxing and stored the remaining eleven.

Thud!

Ning Xiaochuan struck Ji Hanxing’s back with his palm, channeling his Profound Qi to help her dissolve the pill and using the Elixir Qi to repair her injuries.

Purple Profound Qi enveloped the two of them completely as droplets of poisoned blood flowed from the wound. Ji Hanxing's complexion gradually recovered, and color returned to her face.

Once all the poisoned blood had been expelled from her body, Ning Xiaochuan withdrew his palm, allowing her to continue recuperating on her own. Ji Hanxing's cultivation was already extremely high, and without the poison suppressing her, she immediately circulated her Profound Qi to reconnect her Meridians.

"Who is she to you?" Zi Zhui'er asked warily, sensing that Ning Xiaochuan and Ji Hanxing shared an unusual relationship.

"An enemy," Ning Xiaochuan replied.

"I don’t believe it. If she were your enemy, would you go to such lengths to refine medicine to save her? I think she’s your lover," Zi Zhui'er teased.

Ning Xiaochuan said, "You’re overstepping. Hand over the Heavenly Pivot Pill now, and I’ll spare your life, letting you leave. But if you wait until her cultivation recovers, given her temperament, you’ll be dead without a doubt."

Zi Zhui'er could naturally tell that Ji Hanxing’s cultivation was far superior to hers—she stood no chance against her.

"If you tell me your name, I’ll give you the Heavenly Pivot Pill right away," Zi Zhui'er bargained.

Not wanting to drag this out, Ning Xiaochuan replied, "Ning Xiaochuan."

Upon hearing these three words, Zi Zhui'er was so shocked her mouth hung open.

So it was him.

Of course.

Who else in the Imperial City could be so outstanding besides its number one genius?

Zi Zhui'er reached into her chest and pulled out a silver Mystic Pill the size of a thumb, placing it in Ning Xiaochuan’s palm. "Here you go."

She had actually stored the Heavenly Pivot Pill… inside her undergarments, pressed right against her skin.

Didn’t that mean this high-grade Mystic Pill had been in full contact with the delicate skin of her chest?

Ning Xiaochuan took the pill, then glanced at the fair skin of her chest, feeling a slight distaste and momentarily dazed.

If he swallowed this pill now, wouldn’t it be like indirectly kissing her… intimate area with his mouth?

Zi Zhui'er blinked at him with a mischievous grin, eager to see whether he would still take the pill.

"Didn’t you say the Heavenly Pivot Pill was with the Small Fox?" Ning Xiaochuan’s forehead darkened with frustration.

"That’s right—I am the Small Fox!" Zi Zhui'er nodded, giggling at him.

Ning Xiaochuan’s expression turned stern. "You can leave now."

Zi Zhui'er didn’t hesitate, turning to walk out of the desolate garden. But at the entrance, she paused and said, "Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell the Heavenly Annihilation Dao where you’re hiding?"

"If they come, I’ll tell them you killed the Wooden Young Master," Ning Xiaochuan countered.

Zi Zhui'er stuck out her tongue, smiling brightly as she called out, "Ning Xiaochuan, I’ve fallen for you!"

With that, she left the desolate garden.

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head with a sigh, dismissing the matter. After swallowing the Heavenly Pivot Pill, he began his breakthrough into the Transcendent Realm.

As Zi Zhui'er stepped out of the garden, a pitch-black demonic cloud descended from the sky, filled with the roars of Mystic Beasts and the cries of demonic fiends.

An Old Crone with white hair led a large group of Demon Sect experts, all riding ferocious Mystic Beasts, arriving outside the desolate garden.

Guiding them was none other than the snow-white Small Fox.

"Miss, weren't you kidnapped?" The white-haired Old Crone halted, clutching a magic staff in her hand, staring in astonishment at the unharmed Zi Zhui'er.

Zi Zhui'er picked up the Small Fox, gently stroking its head as she cooed affectionately, "Little Obedient, why did you take so long to bring help? Didn’t you know your sister was almost eaten by the Big Bad Wolf?"

"Whimper..." The Small Fox nuzzled against her, letting out soft cries.

With a bewitching smile, Zi Zhui'er teased, "Just kidding—I almost devoured the Big Bad Wolf myself. Third Mother, everything’s fine now. Let’s go back."

The Old Crone asked, "Where is the Wooden Young Master?"

"I already killed him," Zi Zhui'er giggled, as if it were no big deal.

The Old Crone’s expression darkened. "The Wooden Young Master is Mu Honglai’s son, a prodigy likely to succeed him one day. How could you just kill him?"

"Third Mother, don’t worry. It’s just Mu Honglai. I’ll explain to Mother myself. Honestly, she’s so careless—trying to marry me off to just anyone. I’m the little enchantress of the Fox Immortal Dao. How could Mu Honglai’s son ever be worthy of me?" Zi Zhui'er pouted, visibly annoyed.

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