Chapter 53: The Terrifying Rumor

Chapter 53: The Terrifying Rumor

Yu Qianqian and Ning Xiaochuan walked out of the Heart Nurturing Tower, carrying the Frost Jade Box.

Ning Xiaochuan comforted her, "In terms of rarity, the Cold Silkworm Elixir is actually superior to the Blood Toad Pill. It would undoubtedly fetch a higher price at the auction house."

Yu Qianqian's mood improved slightly. "Why?"

Ning Xiaochuan explained, "Because I’m about to mass-produce Blood Toad Pills. Once the supply increases, their price will naturally drop. Meanwhile, the Cold Silkworm Elixir is scarce, so its value will remain high."

Yu Qianqian was surprised. "You’re mass-producing Blood Toad Pills? Are you in urgent need of money?"

"Yes. Very urgent, extremely urgent." Ning Xiaochuan thought of the promise he had made to Yu Ningsheng. With only a little over ten days left before the three-month deadline, time was pressing.

Yu Qianqian could imagine the uproar that would erupt once a large quantity of Blood Toad Pills flooded the auction house. Especially since the Emperor's Martial Palace was about to begin recruiting new students, many outstanding individuals aspiring to enroll would undoubtedly scramble to buy them.

Perhaps the price of Blood Toad Pills wouldn’t drop as Ning Xiaochuan predicted. Instead, due to this critical timing, their value might soar even higher than usual.

Only Ning Xiaochuan could produce Blood Toad Pills in such quantities. Soon, the entire market for Intermediate Elixirs would be thrown into chaos by him.

Yu Qianqian sighed. "Even if the Cold Silkworm Elixir sells for more, its grade is indeed lower than the Blood Toad Pill. This time... I’ve lost. This Cold Silkworm Elixir is yours."

Ning Xiaochuan didn’t hesitate to accept the Frost Jade Box, smiling. "Thank you, Your Highness, for the elixir."

Holding both Frost Jade Boxes, Ning Xiaochuan walked out of the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall with a pleased expression.

Yu Qianqian clenched her fists in frustration and stomped her foot. "When you’re ready to auction the Blood Toad Pills, remember to notify me. I’ll have the Golden Roc Auction House promote them in advance."

Focused solely on producing more Blood Toad Pills, Ning Xiaochuan didn’t even turn his head as he replied, "Thank you for your assistance, Your Highness. I’ll be sure to inform you beforehand."

"This guy is way too shameless!" Yu Qianqian could only sigh helplessly.

Though she had lost a Cold Silkworm Elixir to Ning Xiaochuan, she wasn’t truly upset. After all, the elixir wasn’t an exceptionally valuable treasure to her. Instead, she felt an inexplicable sense of amusement.

Yes—amusement.

A strange, inexplicable amusement.

......

Meanwhile...

The Sixth Steward arrived at the Golden Roc Prince's Manor to meet the Western Mu Consort.

The Western Mu Consort, one of the Great Golden Roc King’s most favored consorts and Yu Qianqian’s birth mother, appeared as a strikingly young and beautiful woman, her demeanor even more noble and refined than her daughter’s.

Seated by the pond, she listened to the Sixth Steward’s report, her expression shifting unpredictably as she pondered something.

The Sixth Steward knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head, deeply intimidated by the Western Mu Consort.

The status of this consort was naturally of the highest nobility, and her martial arts cultivation surpassed even that of the Sixth Steward, making her one of the few formidable figures within the Golden Roc Prince's Manor.

The Western Mu Consort extended two slender Jade Fingers, scattering fish bait, her gaze chilling as she spoke, "Huasheng, you've managed the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall for over thirty years now! Surely, by this point, you should know which words to speak and which to keep to yourself?"

The Sixth Steward broke into a cold sweat, trembling as he replied, "This matter was first mentioned by Intermediate Heart Nurturer Wang Shisong. Your subordinate only realized the gravity of the situation and immediately came to report it to Your Highness."

The Western Mu Consort frowned slightly. "Qianqian has always been a clever girl. How could she act so foolishly this time, entering into a secret engagement? Has she no regard for her own reputation?"

The Sixth Steward remained kneeling, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, not daring to utter a word.

The Western Mu Consort’s anger subsided slightly as she asked, "What is that young man’s background? Qianqian has always been proud and aloof—how could she take a liking to him?"

The Sixth Steward answered, "The young man is named Ning Xiaochuan, a talented Heart Nurturer of the same age as the young mistress. He has already become an Intermediate Heart Nurturer at the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall. Since he often attends the Hall Master’s lectures alongside the young mistress, both being prodigies, it’s likely that affection blossomed between them during that time."

The Western Mu Consort’s expression softened slightly, and she nodded. "To become an Intermediate Heart Nurturer at sixteen is indeed remarkable. If he attends Master Guo’s lectures with Qianqian, he must be one of Master Guo’s disciples."

The Sixth Steward seemed to recall something and quickly added, "Your subordinate investigated Ning Xiaochuan—he is the grandson of the Jian Pavilion Marquis."

The Western Mu Consort’s expression shifted dramatically. She abruptly stood up, a smile spreading across her face. "The Jian Pavilion Marquis’s grandson. That lineage is certainly not lacking—it’s a match worthy of our Golden Roc Prince's Manor. You may rise."

The Sixth Steward stood up but kept his head lowered, inwardly baffled by the consort’s unpredictable temperament, her moods shifting like the wind.

What he didn’t understand was that marriages among the descendants of nobility were never casual affairs—they required considerations of status and mutual benefit.

Initially, upon hearing the Sixth Steward’s report, the Western Mu Consort had indeed been furious. Yu Qianqian had reached marriageable age, and she had already handpicked several outstanding candidates for her—whether heirs of noble houses, prodigious martial talents, or young masters of sects and martial academies.

But Yu Qianqian had gone and secretly pledged herself to some unknown youth, disrupting all her plans. Naturally, she was deeply displeased.

However, after listening to the Sixth Steward’s explanation, she suddenly found Ning Xiaochuan quite impressive—gifted, of noble lineage, and most importantly, someone her daughter genuinely liked.

This, of course, brought her great joy!

It seemed her daughter’s judgment was no worse than her own!

The Western Mu Consort slightly furrowed her brows and said, "If this Ning Xiaochuan is so outstanding, why have I never heard his name before? A young noble of such caliber should at least have some reputation in the Imperial City, if not among the top talents like the Ten Elite Geniuses. This doesn’t make sense!"

The Sixth Steward replied, "Although Ning Xiaochuan possesses extraordinary talent, he has always concealed his abilities. Everyone believed him to be a martial arts failure, unaware that his aptitude is shockingly exceptional."

"After discussing this matter with the Princess, we concluded that the Jian Pavilion Marquis must have hidden him away for protection, only revealing him at the most critical moment to awe everyone."

The Western Mu Consort chuckled. "That old fox, the Jian Pavilion Marquis, actually concealed such a prodigy. It seems I must meet this Ning Xiaochuan myself to see if he’s truly worthy of becoming Qianqian’s husband. Hmm! I should discuss this with His Highness first. The Jian Pavilion Marquis’s influence in the military is no small matter—an alliance with his house would bring great benefits to our Golden Roc Prince’s Manor."

As the Western Mu Consort only had Yu Qianqian as her daughter, she was naturally deeply invested in her marriage. To further clarify Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian’s situation, she personally visited the Golden Roc Heart Nurturing Hall to meet its master, Guo Shidao.

Guo Shidao was one of the few Great Heart Nurturers in the entire Yulan Empire, a figure who stood on equal footing with princes and marquises. Even the Great Golden Roc King addressed him respectfully as "Master Guo."

The methods of a Great Heart Nurturer could be more terrifying than those of a Martial Venerable, forcing even Martial Venerables to treat them with reverence.

Though the Western Mu Consort possessed cultivation at the Martial Venerable level, she still had to visit Guo Shidao in person.

She removed her golden hood, revealing a youthful and beautiful face, and bowed respectfully to Guo Shidao, explaining her purpose.

Guo Shidao sat cross-legged on a jade platform, motionless, emanating a soft white glow, exuding an immortal aura like an ancient thousand-year-old tree.

A voice resonated from within him: "Qianqian and Xiaochuan are the most outstanding talents I have ever seen, especially on the path of a Heart Nurturer. Their future achievements will undoubtedly surpass mine."

The Western Mu Consort felt even more reassured and was about to leave when Guo Shidao added, "Ning Xiaochuan possesses the Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace. In martial arts, his future accomplishments may even exceed those in the Heart Nurturer path."

"The legendary Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace!" The Western Mu Consort’s heart swelled with joy, further solidifying her decision.

She immediately returned to the Golden Roc Prince’s Manor to discuss the matter with the Great Golden Roc King, determined to finalize the engagement as soon as possible to prevent such a rare talent from being snatched away by another family.

The Seven Orifices Divine Demon Heart Palace was one of the most supreme heart palaces in existence. A talent like this appeared only once in a millennium—she absolutely could not let him slip away.

Meanwhile, the two central figures in this matter, Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian, remained completely unaware of these developments.