Chapter 42: An Illusion

The days spent escaping the summer heat at Qionglin Garden were simply too wonderful.

So much so that Ning Shengsheng became a bit slack in her cultivation these past few days.

When she was bored, she would go to the Cold Jade Hall to watch the novel gadgets Ning Xuan came up with.

It was only at the moment she witnessed a high-grade magical artifact come out of the furnace that Ning Shengsheng realized—

Her emperor brother was actually a weapon refiner!

The magical artifacts Ning Xuan usually gave her, some were from the national treasury, but some were purely labors of love that he created himself.

“Songgao, give me the Huan Li egg.”

The weather wasn’t too hot today.

She lay lazily in a rocking chair, enjoying the cool air.

In her hands, she played with a new spirit-gathering formation Ning Xuan had made.

“Your Highness, a star pattern has appeared on the Huan Li egg,” Songgao said, holding the spirit beast egg carefully with both hands, lifting it up like a novelty for her to see.

“It really has.” Ning Shengsheng took it, pursing her lips in a smile. “Xue Chen said that when this pattern appears six times, the Huan Li can hatch successfully.”

If spiritual energy weren’t so scarce, it wouldn’t take this long.

“I’m really curious to see what the Huan Li beast looks like.”

Songgao turned her delicate hands, plucked a fresh flower, and inserted it into a nearby vase. “We servants have only seen His Majesty’s Thunder and Lightning Lion from afar; it looked very majestic.”

“I’m looking forward to it too…”

Ning Shengsheng had raised a cat when she first started working after graduating from university. Back then, work was exhausting every day, but coming home to see its fleshy little face made her heart feel warm.

Later, the little cat got sick and passed away.

She was sad for a long time and never raised another small animal again.

She placed the Huan Li egg on the table, arranged spirit stones on four sides, and placed the new spirit-gathering formation in the center.

Once the spirit-gathering formation was activated, spiritual energy drilled into the eggshell at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“Older Brother’s new spirit-gathering formation is amazing.”

She praised sincerely.

The current Ning Xuan was somewhat arbitrary in political matters but still conscientious, and his talent in cultivation was truly exceptionally high.

Moreover, he had no interest in romantic love.

But after Yun Huaiyue appeared, it was like he lost his soul. He loved fiercely, forgetting everything else, loving to the point of death.

Accidentally finding out that Yun Huaiyue had a “white moonlight” senior brother in her heart, Ning Xuan became irritable, suspicious, and paranoid.

The two of them tormented each other.

Ning Xuan cared less and less about state affairs.

In the later stages, this caused dissatisfaction among many ministers in the court, who believed he could not manage Great Ning well.

After that, Yun Huaiyue was heartbroken by this relationship. She faked her death to escape the palace, got injured on the way, and accidentally met a disciple of the Qingling Sect.

She was taken back to recover by the Qingling Sect disciple, thereby meeting Ling Hegui.

Ling Hegui took care of her meticulously, helped her walk out of her emotional trauma, and through their days and nights of companionship, feelings gradually grew between them.

And then…

It was Ning Xuan discovering that Yun Huaiyue was still alive.

When he went alone to find Yun Huaiyue, trying to win her back, Xue Chen led his troops to attack Great Ning.

By the time he returned, the country had fallen, and his sister was dead.

A heart demon grew within Ning Xuan, and he eventually fell into becoming a demonic cultivator.

Looking back at Ning Xuan’s life, he was originally the supreme ruler, a top-tier weapon refining genius.

Step by step, walking toward such an ending was truly lamentable.

Ning Shengsheng waved her cattail fan and couldn’t help but sigh. Incorrect love really does lower one’s IQ.

“Princess, His Majesty has been invited to go to the Qingling Sect and asks if you want to go along.”

Zaoni came back quickly, her face flushed red from the sun.

“Why the sudden invitation?”

Ning Shengsheng was slightly surprised.

“The Qingling Sect’s sect competition this year has been moved up. Ling Hegui returned and learned that His Majesty and the Princess are escaping the heat at Qionglin Garden, so he sent someone to invite you to observe the sect competition.”

“His Majesty knows the Princess can’t sit still, so he sent this servant to ask you, would you like to go together?”

“Of course I want to!”

Ning Shengsheng stood up happily.

Having lain around for more than ten days, she was about to grow mold.

“When do we leave? I can leave right now!”

Zaoni was amused, covering her mouth. “His Majesty knew the Princess would be anxious, so he said we depart tomorrow morning.”

“Good, good, good. I’ll ask Xue Chen.”

Ning Shengsheng took three steps in two bounds to find Xue Chen.

Songgao and Zaoni behind her exchanged a glance.

They understood the meaning in each other’s eyes.

Her Highness really likes Hostage Prince Xue!

“Xue Chen, do you want to come with us to the Qingling Sect?” Ning Shengsheng banged on the door twice.

Then she pushed the door open and entered directly.

Xue Chen: …

Good thing he wasn’t doing anything bad.

“Qingling Sect?” Xue Chen stopped his cultivation, walked to the table, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Ning Shengsheng.

“Yeah, their sect competition invited my brother.”

Ning Shengsheng took it naturally and drank it in one gulp.

Xue Chen’s brow raised imperceptibly; he seemed quite satisfied with her trust.

“They invited His Majesty and the Princess. I fear a hostage prince from a weak nation like this subject is not qualified.”

His long eyelashes trembled, and he lowered his eyes helplessly, appearing helpless and fragile.

Ning Shengsheng’s heart ached. “How is that possible! This princess says you’re qualified, so you are.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take you!”

“Then… many thanks to Your Highness…”

Xue Chen looked up, his pitch-black eyes covered with a layer of mist, looking at her with sincere gratitude.

After she left, the young man’s eyes returned to dead silence.

Qingling Sect.

He had originally planned to go there anyway.

The spiritual herb needed for Snowball’s advancement only grew in the Qingling Sect’s spiritual fields.

Going openly with Ning Shengsheng was safer than sneaking in under the cover of night.

Xue Chen spread both hands, palms facing up. Red demonic energy in his left hand, blue spiritual energy in his right.

In the past, cultivators were either purely demonic cultivators or only cultivated spiritual energy.

If he used the regenerative demonic energy to assist his spiritual cultivation, and succeeded, wouldn’t it be twice the result with half the effort?

It was just that—

He didn’t know the consequences of doing so.

After all, there weren’t many people like him, who were mistakes from birth.

The corners of his mouth pulled into an indifferent smile.

He sat cross-legged and began to cultivate.

Over there, Ning Shengsheng went back to her room to pack. Leaning against the bed to rest, she felt that something was different from usual.

Xue Chen had been a bit “well-behaved” lately.

She rubbed her chin in thought, and after a long time, came to a conclusion: “Could it be he’s been touched by me?”

Exchange hearts for hearts.

She had to treat Xue Chen even better!

Let this little sapling that grew crooked grow straight and tall, turning into a good youth with upright values.

Ning Shengsheng suddenly felt life had more hope.

She hugged the Huan Li egg and entered a sweet dreamland.

The offline system sighed. It thought the host was naive. If the villain could turn good so easily, he wouldn’t be the ultimate boss.

It glanced next door at the flashing red light.

Thinking: Host, the burden is heavy and the road is long!

And in the room next door.

Xue Chen’s method of using his own demonic energy to assist spiritual cultivation was about to succeed.

As the demonic energy grew thicker.

The color of the mole between his brows deepened.

It seemed as though something was struggling to come out, but Xue Chen was completely unaware of all this.

He just wanted to become stronger.

Strong enough to easily kill everyone who had ever bullied him.

For example.

The Heavenly Phoenix Imperial Family.

And also the Great Ning Imperial Family.