Chapter 50

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"Oh, please come in." After saying this, Ximen Ningning walked toward the front room, avoiding a face-to-face encounter with Yang Dingtian.

Yang Dingtian followed behind her, inevitably catching sight of her waist and hips, which swayed gracefully as she walked, truly like willows swaying in the spring breeze, exquisitely beautiful.

Despite Yang Dingtian averting his gaze, Ximen Ningning became increasingly uneasy. Even with her back to him, her face grew redder, and she lowered her head, only daring to look at her own toes.

The short distance of a few dozen meters must have seemed very long to Ximen Ningning.

Her residence was a small pavilion, plain and unadorned, with no colorful paintings or decorations, yet it was elegant and not lacking in refinement.

Inside the pavilion, it was simple yet very comfortable. There was almost no metal to be seen, only wooden items, ceramics, and linen.

Yang Dingtian noticed that the clothes she wore were not silk or brocade but a very soft cotton, undyed, only a natural light blue. However, when she wore them, they made her figure even more graceful.

He invited Yang Dingtian to sit down and served him tea, then sat beside him. Yang Dingtian did not speak, and neither did she. The two sat there in silence, as if speaking to a stranger was a huge challenge for Ximen Ningning.

Yang Dingtian did not rush to speak but carefully observed the room. Ximen Yanyan had once said that the undergarments she wore were all embroidered by Ximen Ningning, who was very skilled and dexterous.

Indeed, most of the things in the room seemed to be made by her own hands. Just the wooden cup in his hand, though not ornate or carved, had a very beautiful curve, making it very comfortable to hold, just like her figure, with every curve perfect, a perfect embodiment of aesthetics.

Not just the teacup, but everything else in the room had a natural beauty. Even next to her, there was an unfinished garment, a brocade robe that looked like it was for a man.

Seeing Yang Dingtian's gaze fall on the robe, Ximen Ningning blushed and quickly hid it away.

Yang Dingtian was slightly taken aback. A woman like Ximen Ningning making a robe for a man must mean they were very, very close. Could it be that this gentle woman already had a lover?

"This, this is your robe, Yanyan asked me to make it," Ximen Ningning explained in a low voice.

Yang Dingtian was taken aback and then said, "In the future, she probably won't ask you to make clothes for me anymore."

"Why?" Ximen Ningning asked in surprise.

"Because I didn't listen to her, so she won't talk to me anymore," Yang Dingtian said.

Ximen Ningning frowned, filled with worry, "What can't a couple talk about? How can they so easily say such things as breaking ties? Was it because you refused to take the Lixuan Pill or learn the Chaos Heaven-Slaying Sword?"

Yang Dingtian was surprised, "You know about that too?"

"Yanyan tells me everything," Ximen Ningning said, then her face turned slightly red again.

Her delicate face seemed to hide no secrets. Yang Dingtian was almost certain that Ximen Yanyan had mentioned asking him to take Ximen Ningning as his second wife.

"In front of you, what does she say about me? Is it good or bad?" Yang Dingtian asked, almost involuntarily.

Ximen Ningning did not answer, her face showing a look of difficulty. She did not want to lie, nor did she want to speak the truth.

Yang Dingtian knew the answer and felt a bit uncomfortable. Yanyan and Ximen Ningning shared everything, and they always spoke the truth.

"She has indeed been wronged, all due to fate," Yang Dingtian said with a bitter smile.

Ximen Ningning fell silent, not knowing what to say.

"Actually..." After hesitating for a while, Ximen Ningning said, "Actually, in the disagreement between you and Yanyan, I, I am more on your side. A person should stick to their own choices, once chosen, they should follow through, either succeed or..."

Yang Dingtian was slightly taken aback and then nodded, "Thank you for your understanding. I can give in on other matters, but on this one, I must insist on my own way."

Ximen Ningning lowered her head, "I understand. If it were me, I would make the same choice."

Suddenly, Yang Dingtian felt a sense of kinship.

The two fell silent again, sitting in quiet.

Yang Dingtian would not speak, and Ximen Ningning would definitely not take the initiative to speak.

...

Yang Dingtian spoke up, "I need to go to the wilderness a hundred miles away to hunt for demon cores. Could you please send a flying mount to take me there? There's a lava chasm in between, and even on horseback, I can't cross it. If you could provide some healing medicines, that would be even better."

"Are you going to the Trial Wilderness? Alone?" Ximen Ningning asked.

Yang Dingtian nodded.

"Of course, I can provide you with the items," Ximen Ningning said, "But the Trial Wilderness is very dangerous. Going alone would put your life at risk. I have demon cores here."

"I need to hunt them myself for it to be effective," Yang Dingtian said.

Ximen Ningning opened her mouth to say something but ultimately did not. She nodded, "Then please wait a moment."

She then walked into the inner room.

A few minutes later, she came out with a box in her hand.

Opening the box, a fragrant aroma immediately filled the air.

"The red pill is the Miaoling Pill. If you get injured, taking it should heal you. The purple pill is the Shengyuan Pill, used to restore energy," Ximen Ningning explained.

Yang Dingtian was surprised, "Isn't this too wasteful? I only need a first-grade pill. This fifth-grade Miaoling Pill is really... too precious to use on me."

Indeed, the fifth-grade Miaoling Pill was for use by Wu Xuan and Wu Zun experts who had been severely injured. It was extremely valuable, even worth a life, and could sell for tens of thousands of gold coins on the market. Now, Yang Dingtian was only going to fight low-level demon beasts, and he was given three of them.

As for the Shengyuan Pill, it was even more extravagant, a fifth-grade upper pill. After Wu Xuan and Wu Zun experts used their Xuan techniques and exhausted all their Xuan Qi, taking this pill would quickly refill their Qi Sea, allowing them to continue fighting. So, the value of a Shengyuan Pill far exceeded that of a fifth-grade Miaoling Pill.

In Yunxiao City, the Shengyuan Pill was a high-level strategic resource. Now, Yang Dingtian, who barely had any Xuan Qi, was being given it to restore his strength.

"It's always better to have something better," Ximen Ningning said, "Besides, I made these myself."

"You're a pharmacist too?" Yang Dingtian asked, "I thought the pharmacist in Yunxiao City was someone else."

"I just make them for fun," Ximen Ningning said.

Yang Dingtian was surprised again. Making fifth-grade upper pills for fun, this talent was truly mind-blowing.

"Still, it's too wasteful and too precious," Yang Dingtian said, "Please give me a first-grade pill instead."

Ximen Ningning's face filled with urgency, and she said softly, "But I don't want to change them. Please take them, okay?"

Yang Dingtian was surprised again. Giving away precious treasures and even begging, he had never seen such a thing before.

"Alright!" Yang Dingtian said.

Then, the two fell silent again.

Gathering a lot of courage, Ximen Ningning said, "You really shouldn't go. Demon beasts are very powerful. Even the lowest-level demon beasts require two or three apprentice warriors to kill together. You are just an启蒙者 (Enlightener), you really can't kill them, and it would be very dangerous for your life."

Indeed, even the lowest-level first-grade demon beasts required three five-star apprentice warriors to kill together. So, whenever Yunxiao City disciples went to the wilderness for trials, they were always led by highly skilled teachers, with at least dozens of people going together, and even then, there would still be casualties.

"I know it's dangerous, but I must hunt the five-element demon cores within six days. I have no choice," Yang Dingtian said.

Ximen Ningning was taken aback, "That's impossible. Fire and Wind elements are relatively easier. But Metal element demon beasts are pack animals and live in underground caves, even Xuan Wu experts dare not hunt them alone. The closest Ice element demon beasts are over ten thousand miles away. But these are not the hardest. The hardest is the Electric element demon core, which is almost impossible to obtain, even for Master-level experts."

Yang Dingtian was puzzled, "Electric element demon core, is it that difficult?"

"Much, much more difficult than you can imagine," Ximen Ningning said, "I am a Beast Tongue, and I have seen countless demon beasts. But in my entire life, I have never seen an Electric element demon beast. They are extremely rare in the entire world."

"Ah..." Yang Dingtian was shocked and asked, "Then, where do Electric element demon beasts appear?"

"Several thousand miles away in the deep sea abyss, or at the edge of the continent in the dark fissures. But these places are hard to approach even for Master-level experts," Ximen Ningning said, "So, any Electric element demon beast is a rare treasure, and countless people would go mad over it."

Indeed, even the weakest Electric element demon beast, once captured, would be raised for decades or even centuries until it was strong enough to be refined into a Wu Soul. Then, the warrior would possess Electric element Xuan techniques, which, among all Xuan techniques, are almost like a bug, as they can almost ignore all defenses.

Yang Dingtian took a deep breath. It seemed that hunting the five-element demon cores was much more difficult than he had imagined, and he had less than six days.

"I have no choice," Yang Dingtian said, "I can fail, but I cannot give up halfway or retreat when faced with difficulties. I will start with the easier ones, hunting the Fire and Wind element demon cores first."

Ximen Ningning said, "But with your strength, it will be very difficult to kill them. You can't even pierce their outer skin. And they are born with Xuan techniques, a single breath can cause significant damage."

"I can pierce their eyes or mouths," Yang Dingtian said, "I have confidence in my sword skills, and I will only hunt solitary demon beasts."

Ximen Ningning bit her lip, "Are you really going? What if I go with you?"

Yang Dingtian shook his head, "No, it must be done alone. Otherwise, the demon core will contain information from others and become completely useless."

"But if you get seriously injured, Yanyan will blame me. And you carry all the hopes of your adoptive father," Ximen Ningning said.

"I will be very careful," Yang Dingtian said firmly, "And if I can't even kill the lowest-level demon beasts, I might as well leave Yunxiao City."

After struggling for a while, Ximen Ningning bit her lip and said, "Alright, wait a moment."

She then turned and walked into the room, taking off her clothes as she went. Yang Dingtian was surprised and puzzled. Was she going to give him something else? But why take off her clothes?

A few minutes later, Ximen Ningning came out again, holding a piece of clothing as light as a feather. Her dress was now a bit wrinkled, and her clothes were somewhat disheveled.

It was clear that this thin, gossamer-like garment had just been taken off her body, something she had worn close to her skin.

"This is the Deep Sea Xuan Garment, the last layer of skin shed by a Naga when transforming into human form. It is very soft and strong, and wearing it will protect you from most demon beasts," Ximen Ningning said, "Wear it before you go hunting demon beasts."

"Ah..." Yang Dingtian was completely shocked.

Deep Sea Xuan Garment? The skin shed by a Naga, this was a treasure of the world!

The Naga, the most mysterious and powerful race in the world. Everyone knew the legends of the Naga, but no strong expert had seen a Naga in a thousand years.

And Ximen Ningning actually had a Naga's Deep Sea Xuan Garment? Who was she?

Most importantly, why was she lending such a treasure to Yang Dingtian? They had only just met!

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PS: Don't confuse the Naga with the Naga from the World of Warcraft. The Naga are the offspring of divine dragons and sea serpents, incredibly powerful sea demons. In ancient Indian legends, the Naga are one of the eight parts, directly regarded as dragons.

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