Chapter 44: Is He Handsome?

“Xue Chen of the Heavenly Phoenix Nation,” he said, cupping his hands.

Ling Jue Shangren tilted his head back in thought for a moment, then his brows twitched as realization dawned. “This old man remembers now. You’re the fifth one. You’ve grown so big in the blink of an eye. Speaking of which, that old fogey Xue Yuanqi was blind until his death. Xue Heng was the least fit to be Crown Prince, yet he let that brat succeed the throne. Sigh…”

These words were too blunt for Xue Chen to respond to. Ling Hegui, who had just returned, heard his own father speaking without a filter and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Xue Chen, please do not take offense. Father is getting on in years—”

“You brat, was there a problem with what this old man said? How many times have I taught you? We are sword cultivators; cut out those winding, roundabout ways.” Ling Jue Shangren got angry just looking at his son. He hadn’t learned much of the unyielding character of the Po Wang Sword, but he was full of scheming thoughts.

Ling Hegui: …His own father was harder to manage than his junior brothers and sisters. What to do?

“Senior Brother Ling, the Sect Leader isn’t wrong,” Xue Chen chuckled softly, diffusing the situation. Before Ling Hegui could speak, Ling Jue Shangren patted Xue Chen’s shoulder appreciatively. “Now here’s a good, straightforward child.”

“If you have any trouble in the future, come to the Qingling Sect and find my son!”

“He will help you.”

Ning Shengsheng and the others laughed. Ling Hegui wore a wry expression upon seeing his old man use him as a favor yet again.

After chatting a few more sentences, Ling Hegui led Ning Shengsheng and the group to Yingke Peak.

When they came out, the disciples on the square were still practicing swords under the scorching sun. Such perseverance was bound to achieve greatness. No wonder in the novel’s ending, the Qingling Sect became the number one sect.

However, what Ning Shengsheng didn’t expect was that as soon as they left, the group of sword-practicing disciples collapsed onto the ground one after another. They massaged their arms while sighing and groaning. Not long after, the bell for mealtime rang. The disciples swarmed towards the cafeteria like bees.

…

Every peak of the Qingling Sect was shrouded in immortal mist. On the way to Yingke Peak, they passed a large area of greenery.

Ning Shengsheng stretched her neck curiously. “Senior Brother Ling, are those spirit herbs planted down there?”

“Yes. Pills are too expensive. Fortunately, there is a lineage of disciples who enjoy alchemy; that is the spiritual field they planted.” Ling Hegui introduced, “Most of what’s inside are common spirit medicines; high-quality ones are extremely difficult to cultivate.”

“For example, the Ice Soul Lotus is guarded by dedicated personnel.”

Hearing this, Xue Chen’s eyes moved slightly. What Snowball needed was the Seven-Orifice Ice Soul Lotus.

“Is that so! Eh? The spiritual energy in the Qingling Sect is much richer than in Great Ning.” Ning Shengsheng reached out her hand, her palm feeling cool and refreshing.

“The mountain protection array outside the sect has a spirit-gathering array carved inside. Father often says that no matter how hard things are, the disciples shouldn’t suffer. He hopes they can concentrate on cultivation without worrying about insufficient spiritual energy.”

Ling Hegui’s eyes were full of pride when talking about this. The Qingling Sect didn’t have many disciples, but every one of them was excellent. Their sect selection was extremely strict.

Ning Shengsheng gained a deeper understanding of the number one sect described in the novel.

Seeing her face full of envy, Ning Xuan said in an unhappy tone, “I can set up a dozen arrays like this in minutes.”

“An’an, what is there to envy?”

Ning Shengsheng rolled her eyes. “Set them up for that group of idlers waiting to die in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion? Forget it.”

Cough. He couldn’t refute that. Among the younger generation of Great Ning, there were few who were presentable.

Xue Chen, however, remained unmoved by all this, letting Ling Hegui talk it up as much as he liked. It only represented the people of his faction.

He heard that half of the Qingling Sect followed the Vice Sect Leader, Gu Xuancang.

Gu Xuancang didn’t have much left of a sword cultivator’s character; he was very ambitious and had impure motives. However, this person was good at winning people’s hearts. Ling Jue Shangren couldn’t move against him.

Calling Ning Xuan over inexplicably this time might be to make trouble for Gu Xuancang during the sect competition.

Truly interesting.

The group arrived at Yingke Peak.

Ling Hegui said, “The entire peak is uninhabited; Your Majesty may arrange things as you please. Three meals a day will be brought up by disciples. When the sect competition begins, I will personally come to invite everyone.”

“Mm, thank you for your trouble.” Ning Xuan nodded and waved his hand casually. The maids behind them went to tidy up the rooms.

Ling Hegui flew away on his sword.

Ning Shengsheng couldn’t help but praise, “So handsome!”

One sentence successfully drew questioning from two men.

Ning Xuan: “He’s handsome?”

Xue Chen: “Is he handsome?”

Ning Shengsheng blinked her eyes. “Isn’t he handsome? Then why don’t you guys fly on swords for me to see?”

A few birds flew overhead.

Ning Xuan touched his nose, pretending to be deep. “Cough, Zhen is going to research the city protection array. See you later.”

Ning Shengsheng stood with her hands on her hips looking at Xue Chen, raising her eyebrows as a signal.

“I…” Xue Chen paused slightly, finally finding an excuse. “I suddenly remembered something important.”

With that, he turned and left.

Ning Shengsheng cupped her hands around her mouth like a trumpet. “What important thing? You haven’t said yet! Hey!”

Xue Chen had long since run out of sight.

Zaoni bent over laughing. “Princess, His Majesty and Hostage Prince Xue are jealous because you praised Immortal Ling.”

“That’s jealousy?”

Wasn’t it just that they were unconvinced by Ling Hegui?

Ning Shengsheng lifted her skirt with both hands, stepped over a few stones by her feet, and walked towards the central courtyard.

Songgao glanced at the princess. She always felt that her princess was sometimes a bit dense when it came to romance.

Ning Shengsheng was secretly cultivating the Quenching Soul Art in her room when she heard someone arrive at Ning Xuan’s courtyard next door.

The two sides talked for a long time. She ordered Songgao to go out and investigate.

The visitor was named Gu Xuancang, the Vice Sect Leader of the Qingling Sect. Hearing that the Emperor of Great Ning had arrived in person, he came specifically to visit.

Actually, he heard that Ning Xuan also had a vote in the sect competition, so he came specifically to win him over.

After Songgao finished speaking, Ning Shengsheng decided to go next door to probe Ning Xuan’s intentions.

“Isn’t it just sword flight? Isn’t it just a mountain protection array? Shuangxi! Tell me, as a dignified high-rank weapon refiner…”

“Could I fail to figure these things out?”

Shuangxi: “Your Majesty is naturally intelligent, having reached the middle stage of the Profound Aperture realm at a young age, and is a high-level weapon refiner.”

“A mere mountain protection array, Your Majesty can capture it with ease!”

Outside the door, Ning Shengsheng couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this. He still minds that?

“Older Brother!”

“An’an, why are you here!?”

Shuangxi handed over a handkerchief, and Ning Xuan wiped his fingers; beside him were unfinished ores.

“Came to chat with you. Vice Sect Leader Gu came?” She got straight to the point.

“Mm.” Ning Xuan sat down, and Shuangxi understood immediately, pouring tea for the two of them.

“Brother, which side do you stand on?”

Ning Xuan glanced at her sideways. “You ask quite directly. Of course, whoever gives more benefits, Zhen stands with them.”

When Ning Shengsheng heard this. How can that be? If good people can’t beat bad people, the cultivation world is in trouble!

“Can’t you help Senior Brother Ling?”

Ning Shengsheng used her ultimate acting-spoiled technique.

“Little girl, you haven’t even married into the Qingling Sect yet and you want me to help; if you marry over there, won’t you be turning your elbow outward?”

Thinking about it this way.

It would be better to let his sister like Xue Chen. Recruit him as a live-in son-in-law.

Then An’an wouldn’t leave Great Ning!

At this moment, Ning Xuan felt that Xue Chen wasn’t bad.

Ning Shengsheng naturally didn’t know that her big brother’s thoughts were so outrageous.

She persuaded, “Then we stand on the side of reason, is that okay? Besides, this is the Qingling Sect’s business. Older Brother, we should just watch the show; don’t get involved.”

Hearing Ning Shengsheng caring about him, Ning Xuan felt comfortable.

He smacked his lips. “Fine, I’ll reluctantly listen to you.”