“I am…”

A flash of red light interrupted Ning Shengsheng’s words. The young man before her clutched his forehead in pain and swayed, stubbornly trying to stay on his feet.

“How could this be…” so…

Before he could finish, he collapsed at Ning Shengsheng’s feet with a thud.

On his pale face, the mole between his brows flickered faintly. Dark red, thread-like lines extended from it, gradually spreading outwards and finally disappearing at his temples.

“What’s wrong with Xue Chen?”

The Health Recovery Pill in Ning Shengsheng’s body was taking effect, and her internal injuries were healing quickly. She crawled over to check on him, and with two fingers, she pried open his eyes.

Mmm, still alive!

She carefully recalled the plot. The cultivation technique Xue Chen used was different from that of a normal cultivator. Judging by today’s situation, it was most likely related to the mole between his eyebrows.

Still worried, she held her fingers under his nose to check for breath. He was breathing. It seemed he was really okay.

Ning Shengsheng slipped her hands under his armpits and painstakingly dragged him back into the room.

As she was about to leave, she saw Xue Chen’s brows furrowed in his sleep, as if he were very troubled. She took out a stick of mind-calming incense from her storage pouch and lit it.

Her gaze fell on the young man’s brow. Ning Shengsheng couldn’t help but reach out with her index finger and gently press it, whispering, “Are you having a bad dream?”

Xue Chen’s long lashes trembled, and his lips grew even paler. With a very gentle touch, she stroked the top of his head and comforted him in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you.”

The raven-like lashes fluttered, as if in response.

She didn’t know how long she stayed there. Only when the young man’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed did Ning Shengsheng leave.

As she walked out of the courtyard, Ning Shengsheng looked to the east. A soft crimson blush stained the sky, like feathers brushing away the night. She took off her veil, and with a clean wrist, she wiped the blood from her face and then touched the wound on her chest.

It had completely healed.

Good. The mission was complete, and she hadn’t died either.

Ning Shengsheng let out a sigh of relief and returned to Zhaoxia Palace by the same path she had taken.

The slender figure disappeared from the courtyard. No one knew that a cat in the corner had seen her face clearly. Snowball licked its paw, and its azure cat eyes narrowed slightly. It nimbly ran back into the room and jumped onto the bed, curling up to sleep by Xue Chen’s pillow.

“Sister Songgao, should we wake the princess? The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion just sent someone to ask.”

“No, let’s just wait here.”

“Mmm, okay.”

Having transmigrated yesterday, she hadn’t had a moment’s peace all day. Ning Shengsheng rubbed her tired eyes. Hearing the maids’ conversation outside, she didn’t call for them, but instead asked the system: That mission yesterday was so difficult. What’s the reward?

System: 【Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the cultivation technique “Beast Transformation Art.”】

“You, what did you say?” Ning Shengsheng was stunned.

【The Beast Transformation Art is a cultivation technique that even those who have not opened their apertures can practice. Once mastered, you can transform into any demonic beast. This technique has been lost for thousands of years.】

“So I can have the abilities of a demonic beast?”

System: 【The Host is wise. If you cultivate it to the highest level, you can.】

“Has anyone ever reached the highest level?”

【Well… probably. For example, Lord Fengxing, who ascended a thousand years ago.】

“Thank you so much…”

“When it’s not cultivated to a high level, is it still powerful?”

The system slowly replied: 【It’s powerful, I guess.】

“Oh, really?” Ning Shengsheng was a bit skeptical.

The system started to play dead.

A lump formed in her throat. It seemed this technique wasn’t all that great.

The cultivation technique provided by the system was directly imprinted in her mind. When she closed her eyes, she could see a scroll unfurling, and the golden characters on it floated into the air. She couldn’t understand it yet.

Ning Shengsheng gave up. “Someone, attend to me.”

Songgao and Zaoni, who had been waiting outside, came in with a basin and helped Ning Shengsheng change her clothes.

Songgao: “Your Highness, just now Master Pei from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion sent someone over to ask when you will be attending class.”

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was established by Ning Xuan for the imperial clan. It was taught by Pei Yuan, who was at the late-stage of the Profound Aperture realm, and assisted by Meng Jingyang and Nangong Jinghong, who were at the mid-stage.

I forgot about that!

She glanced outside. It was just about noon. “I’ll go in the afternoon. Let’s eat first.”

“Very well.”

Songgao withdrew, and Zaoni came to do Ning Shengsheng’s makeup. Just as Zaoni picked up the bright red lipstick, she quickly pressed her hand down. “Not this one today.” This color made her look at least ten years older.

“Yes, Princess.”

“Your Highness, this servant has peeled some lychees for you.” Zaoni put down the lipstick and turned to bring over a small jade bowl filled with translucent, sparkling lychees.

She opened her mouth, and a sweet lychee was placed inside. If it weren’t for the system forcing her to win over Xue Chen and complete the villain’s side quests, this experience of being Ning An would be too good to be true. She had an emperor doting on her and a group of people attending to her. Every day, she would just have to show up at the academy, and no one would dare to provoke her. If she was bored, she could just ride out into the streets to have fun. It was the high-quality lazy life of her dreams.

After lunch, Ning Shengsheng got into her palanquin and headed for the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was located behind the imperial garden, and it covered a large area, making it convenient for students to have practical lessons. She had eaten a little too much for lunch, so she closed her eyes and dozed off for a bit. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Songgao reminded her that they had arrived.

Ning Shengsheng opened her eyes. Along the path, there were many young men and women dressed in the uniform star-blue robes. Hearing the commotion, they turned their heads, and upon seeing it was Princess Ning An, they all moved back. Ning An had always been arrogant and domineering in the palace, so she naturally paid no mind to these people. When she was in a bad mood, it wasn’t uncommon for her to just grab a couple of people and give them a good whipping.

She ignored the group. Before she even entered the courtyard gate, she heard a familiar voice.

“Xue Chen, I heard Ning An moved a lot of good things to your place? She dared to give them, and you dared to accept? A good-for-nothing who can’t even awaken his spiritual apertures, a discarded son of the Heavenly Phoenix Nation, has come to our Great Ning to enjoy himself.”

“The Third Princess is right. This Xue Chen is no better than a dog. Does he really think he can keep Princess Ning An’s favor forever with just his face? What a foolish dream!”

“Hah, he was punished all morning, and still no sign of Ning An coming to protect her little dog.”

The speaker was none other than Ning Jin. In the Great Ning palace, if Ning An was number one, then Ning Jin was number two. Because her mother had saved Ning Xuan’s life, after Ning Xuan ascended the throne, he took extra care of her.

“Third Princess, he dares to glare at you!”

“A mere discarded son. I told you to fetch my handkerchief and you refused. Today you dare to embarrass this princess in public.” Ning Jin flicked her wrist, and a black soft whip lashed out towards Xue Chen. “That’s for glaring at this princess!”

“You still dare to glare, you still dare!”

Ning Shengsheng wanted to step in and stop her, but just as she took a step, the system said: 【Host, doing this violates your character.】

Right, right. Saving Xue Chen violates my character.

Her eyes rolled, and a brilliant idea came to her.

Xue Chen had been exposed to the sun all morning, and he had been seriously injured the night before. He could no longer hold on. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his long robes were torn by Ning Jin’s whip, revealing gashes. Besides stubbornly straightening his back, there was nothing he could do. Compared to the humiliation of his dignity being trampled, the pain from the whip was nothing.

“Third Princess has excellent whip skills!”

Ning Jin smugly raised her whip, like a victorious fighting cock, and puffed out her chest in triumph. “See, what she, Ning An, fancies, this princess can beat as she pleases.”

Xue Chen felt his body was about to give out. His vision gradually filled with darkness. Just as he was about to fall, a streak of ice-blue light pierced through the darkness.

He opened his eyes and saw Ning An, dressed in an exquisite palace gown, standing before Ning Jin, holding an ice-crystal whip. Her expression was arrogant as she said, “Ning Jin, what did you just say? Say it again if you dare.”

The system wouldn’t let her save Xue Chen, but it didn’t say she couldn’t beat up Ning Jin!

System: 6