Chapter 23: Villain Wants to Kill Me? That’s Normal

The technique Ning Shengsheng was using was a heretical method that burned all her soul power to stimulate her potential. It was no different from gambling with her life for a slim chance of survival.

The system was in a panic!

It wanted to stop its host, but the little girl had clearly practiced it in secret countless times. Her speed in forming the hand seals was no longer what it used to be.

The Corrupting Winged Spiders, with their scarlet eyes, charged over, the gale from their wings snapping the trees on both sides. The scene was terrifying. As the hundred fourth-rank demonic beasts charged, the tremors underfoot grew stronger. Just as they were about to close in on Ning Shengsheng, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

At this moment, her soul power had doubled, approaching that of a Void Aperture realm cultivator. Even so, a single Corrupting Winged Spider’s cultivation was still higher than hers. The reason Ning Shengsheng was doing this was not to fight one against a hundred.

It was because!

Only by increasing her cultivation could she activate a powerful offensive magical artifact, like the one her brother had given her—

The Nine Calamities Ring!

Ning Shengsheng raised her left hand, and with her right hand, she brought two fingers together to channel soul power into the golden bracelet. The bracelet was continuously filled with energy. Just as she was about to exhaust herself, with a “click,” the ruby on it popped out, and the Nine Calamities Ring flew into the air.

It instantly expanded several dozen times and produced nine interconnected rings, which burst with golden light, forming a barrier in front of Ning Shengsheng.

“Roar!”

The Corrupting Winged Spiders flapped their wings, trying to leap over this obviously powerful object.

How could she let them?

Ning Shengsheng swept her two fingers past her brow, pulled out a wisp of red soul source, and commanded in a cold voice, “Summon the lightning calamity! Scorch!”

In an instant, purple lightning flashed across the sky, blasting the entire swarm of Corrupting Winged Spiders and quickly forming a net of lightning that enveloped the remaining living beasts.

The smell of burning filled the air. Ning Shengsheng could barely hold back from vomiting. Unexpectedly, before she could, she collapsed from exhaustion.

The system was frantic. This girl had actually pulled out a wisp of soul source. Wasn’t she afraid of becoming an idiot? It scanned her.

Fortunately. Fortunately, its host’s soul source was naturally larger than others’. Losing a wisp was fine. She hadn’t become a drooling idiot.

Although she hadn’t suffered any fundamental damage, her external injuries were too severe. If she didn’t receive treatment in time, it would be dangerous.

The system was hesitating whether to risk leaving Ning Shengsheng’s sea of consciousness when it keenly heard a very faint footstep.

It was Xue Chen!

A few moments later, a young man in dark robes slowly walked out from the moonlight and approached Ning Shengsheng.

The system let out a sigh of relief. It seemed its host would be fine. If Xue Chen took her to the Frigid Spirit Pool, she would surely recover with its help.

Another moment passed. The young man stood motionless, his dark, heavy eyes fixed on the Huan Li egg in Ning Shengsheng’s left hand.

Hiss!

The system gasped. A Huan Li egg was a top-tier item even in its world, let alone in this small world. What if Xue Chen was tempted to kill her for it?

The system was once again like an ant on a hot pan!

Just as it was in a panic, the young man bent down, took the Huan Li egg and put it in his own storage pouch. In the next second, his gaze shifted to Ning Shengsheng’s throat, and his expression flickered indecisively.

The system’s heart was in its throat. He… he’s not really going to kill its host, is he?

Just as it was thinking this, the young man’s hand pressed against Ning Shengsheng’s neck. With just a little pressure from him, she would die instantly.

His thumb slowly pressed down. A red mark appeared on her fair neck. The young man’s calm pupils trembled. In the end, he didn’t press down.

He said in a low voice, “You helped me, so I’ll save you this once. We’re even.”

He glanced at the Huan Li egg in his hand, then at the devastation around them, and at her, barely breathing. He knew what she had paid for this spirit beast egg. Xue Chen’s lips curved into a self-deprecating smile. “Forget it. I’ll be a good person for once.”

When she woke up, he would return the spirit beast egg to her.

The young man picked her up and carried her on his back, walking step by step towards the mountaintop. His face was cold, as if he were angry at his own momentary weakness.

…

Ning Shengsheng experienced the feeling of life reaching its end, her body exhausted. Just as her consciousness was witnessing the passing of her life, her body was suddenly immersed in a warm current. The water flowed gently over her, and then something warm and pleasant seeped through her pores into her skin, healing her battered meridians.

It was very comfortable… so comfortable that she couldn’t help but fall asleep.

When she woke up, she heard someone speaking not far away.

It was Xue Chen!

“Please wait a little longer, Eunuch Shuangxi. The princess should be waking up soon.”

“Alright, alright, no rush. Hostage Prince Xue, would you like to soak a little longer?”

Xue Chen shook his head, his attitude gentle and polite. “No, thank you. The three-day limit is up. I cannot be a person who goes back on his word.”

Shuangxi’s expression was one of admiration.

In the distance, Ning Shengsheng propped herself up on the rock behind her and stood up, thinking to herself: This guy is really good at acting.

The sound of water was heard by the two people on the shore.

Eunuch Shuangxi smiled, revealing two rows of bright white teeth. “Your Highness, this slave has come to pick you up!”

“Mm, cough…”

Her throat was still a little sore.

“Oh my, what’s wrong? Is Your Highness ill?” Shuangxi immediately had the Thunder and Lightning Lion fly over.

Ning Shengsheng climbed onto the lion’s back and shook her head. “It’s nothing. It’s probably a little cold in the mountains. I just caught a cold.”

“I’ll be fine after taking some medicine when I get back.”

She didn’t want anyone to know she had obtained the Huan Li egg.

Hey, wait! Where’s the egg? And how did I get here?

As if remembering something, she suddenly turned her head to look at Xue Chen.

The young man had a faint smile on his lips, and he looked at her, mouthing four words.

[I’ll give it back.]

Xue Chen saved her? And he didn’t take her spirit beast egg? For Xue Chen, who came from the Heavenly Phoenix Nation, the temptation of a Huan Li beast was comparable to giving her a billion dollars. And he had actually resisted such a temptation?

On the way back, Ning Shengsheng’s head was spinning. The system, fearing that Ning Shengsheng would risk her life again in the future, tried to scare her: Host, Xue Chen wanted to kill you last night.

Hearing the system say this, her confusion cleared.

Well, look at that! She had thought the great villain had saved her without any ulterior motives.

“Oh, that’s normal. I was wondering what was wrong,” Ning Shengsheng said, a look of relief on her face.

System: ?

The Thunder and Lightning Lion took the two of them back to Zhaoxia Palace.

Songgao smiled and came forward with a bowl of iced green bean soup. “Your Highness is finally back. Have a bowl of green bean soup to cool down.”

She took it. “Bring another bowl.”

Knowing it was for Hostage Prince Xue, Zaoni quickly went into the small kitchen and came out shortly after.

“Xue Chen, you have some too. It’s quite hot.”

“Mm.”

After drinking the green bean soup, he glanced at the maids in the hall. Ning Shengsheng waved her hand. “You may leave for now.”

After the maids and eunuchs had all left, Xue Chen took out the spirit beast egg from his storage pouch. She took it with both hands, holding it like a treasure. “Xue Chen, thank you so much!”

The Huan Li egg was cool to the touch. In the scorching summer heat, Ning Shengsheng couldn’t help but press her cheek against it. “So comfortable~”

Although the Huan Li was a spirit beast, it was difficult for a proper cultivator to genuinely love it like this. Among the four great cultivation families, the Heavenly Phoenix Nation had always been looked down upon by the other three, all because the Heavenly Phoenix disciples specialized in beast taming. Cultivators believed that controlling animals was the lowest form of cultivation. Moreover, in the current cultivation world, due to the increasingly scarce spiritual energy, powerful demonic beasts were also becoming rarer.

As the most beloved princess of Great Ning, Ning Shengsheng showed not the slightest bit of discrimination towards the little beast.

He thought for a moment and asked, “Does the princess like spirit beasts very much? Why?”