“I can't believe Young Master Murong has a preference like that! Hiss, how pitiable...”
Still, that meant her young master was innocent after all. Feeling a pang of guilt over having briefly suspected him of visiting a brothel, Qing Yan immediately offered to give Chen Ning a shoulder rub.
As she kneaded his shoulders, Qing Yan couldn't help but offer a gentle warning. “Though it feels a bit poor to say this about Young Master Murong... Young Master, you had still better be careful.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Well, since Young Master Murong has a passion for the cut sleeve, what if he gets ideas about you, Young Master...?”
“That's absolutely impossible!” Chen Ning hastily added another layer to Murong Yu's character setting. “Murong Yu secretly mentioned to me that he only likes muscular hulks. He's not interested in pretty boys at all.”
“That's a relief.” Qing Yan finally let out a sigh of relief.
Chen Ning: “...” He wondered if Murong Yu was currently sneezing up a storm back at Water Cloud Academy...
...
Once he had some free time, Chen Ning settled down to read. After all, his ultimate goal was to resolve the demon crisis in the Imperial Capital quickly so he could sit for the Imperial Examination properly and claim the top spot as Zhuangyuan. When the time came, with the Little Princess as his disciple on one side and Water Cloud Academy—the holy land of Confucianism in the Xuanfeng Dynasty—on the other, it would be virtually impossible for him not to achieve rapid success.
“When others view you, it is as if they see into your very lungs and liver; of what use is disguise then...?”
An hour later, the system prompt suddenly rang out.
【Ding! Host is detected studying diligently. Obtained Noble Qi * 40.】
Without realizing it, the amount of Noble Qi he gained from reading each time had significantly increased again!
Pleasantly surprised, Chen Ning opened his system panel. Combining his reading gains with the Noble Qi earned from slaying Demon Cultivators on this trip, his accumulated Noble Qi had reached a full 1,500 points.
【Chen Ning】
【Noble Qi: 1,500】
【Red Lotus Divine Pupils: First Layer (0/600)】
【All Manifestations: Mountains and Rivers: First Layer (0/300)】
【Demon-Suppressing Pagoda (0/2,100)】
【Divine Phoenix Bloodline: Fifth Layer (0/5,000)】
【Poem and Wine Sword Art, Blue Lotus Sword Intent (First Layer) (0/500)】
【Turning Clouds into Rain (800/800) (Great Perfection)】
Turning Clouds into Rain had already reached Great Perfection during the previous battle.
After pondering for a moment, Chen Ning first spent 300 Noble Qi to push All Manifestations: Mountains and Rivers to the second layer.
【All Manifestations: Mountains and Rivers, Rivers Manifestation (Second Layer) (0/800)】
Just as he had expected, while the first layer created mountain illusions, the second layer indeed manifested river illusions.
However, even after the upgrade, All Manifestations: Mountains and Rivers had not reached Great Perfection. This meant that besides mountains and rivers, this Divine Ability could materialize other manifestations as well.
Though curious, he would only find out what they were once he reached the third layer.
With a full 1,200 Noble Qi remaining, Chen Ning turned his gaze to Poem and Wine Sword Art.
【Consumed 500 Noble Qi. Congratulations Host, Poem and Wine Sword Art has been upgraded to the Second Layer.】
【Poem and Wine Sword Art, Thunderous Sword Intent (Second Layer) (0/1,000)】
The instant he comprehended the Sword Intent, Chen Ning felt a faint, ethereal connection form between his consciousness and the towering dark clouds high in the Nine Heavens.
With a mere thought, sharp strands of lightning flickered at his fingertips.
Though the arc of lightning appeared no larger than a finger, piercing cleanly through the body of a Fifth-Rank Grandmaster would be child's play.
Unlike Blue Lotus Sword Intent, which required no external aid and was condensed entirely from his own Sword Intent, Thunderous Sword Intent was its exact opposite, requiring the power of atmospheric conditions to summon heavenly thunder to achieve its peak form.
Although he could still manifest Thunderous Sword Intent under a clear sky, calling down natural thunder during a storm would unleash power several times greater.
Furthermore, the reach and range of its Sword Intent would stretch far wider and farther.
Finally, there was the newly acquired ocular technique.
【Consumed 600 Noble Qi. Congratulations Host, Red Lotus Divine Pupils has been upgraded to the Second Layer.】
【Red Lotus Divine Pupils, Drifting Sea of Illusions (Second Layer) (0/1,000)】
“It's actually an illusion technique!”
Although an illusion technique was not an offensive, lethal Divine Ability, its power was by no means weak.
After all, illusions could pierce right through physical defenses and strike directly at one's state of mind.
Cultivating one's realm was not the same as cultivating one's mind.
Take Xiangqin for instance.
Even with a portion of ancestral reversion bloodline, in terms of sheer combat power, she was nowhere near the level of Qin Heng or Murong Yu.
Yet by seizing the exact moment they let their guard down, she had managed to charm two opponents whose strength vastly outstripped her own.
This alone proved how terrifying illusion arts could be.
Not only that, but illusion techniques had many other convenient uses.
For instance, next time he could use an illusion to make Murong Yu hug a random muscular hulk on the street, cementing his persona once and for all.
That way, he could completely dispel Qing Yan's suspicions.
Ah well, she was his own personal maid after all—he had to pamper her!
【Chen Ning】
【Noble Qi: 100】
Upgrading three Divine Abilities in one go felt thoroughly satisfying, and Chen Ning closed the system panel in high spirits.
At that moment, Qing Yan was standing by the window enjoying the scenery outside.
A small pale yellow flower was tucked behind her ear. Her slender waist looked delicate enough to wrap a single hand around, her translucent, jade-like legs were partially exposed, and even her delicate, shapely feet seemed to radiate an alluring temptation.
“Would Young Master like some tea?”
The corners of Qing Yan's dainty lips curved up slightly, her clear eyes shimmering as though misted with moisture.
For a moment, Chen Ning's gaze froze.
Snapping back to his senses, he said, “Bring me a cup of herbal tea. It's quite warm today.”
“Right away, Young Master!”
Qing Yan smiled brightly and went to fetch the tea leaves.
Taking advantage of the moment, Chen Ning continued contemplating his current Divine Abilities.
The first layer of Red Lotus Divine Pupils provided Qi-gazing and x-ray vision.
When searching for Demon Cultivators earlier, he had dialed x-ray vision up to its maximum, but if he dialed down the intensity...
Chen Ning looked over at Qing Yan and slowly adjusted the x-ray vision to its lowest level.
In the very next instant...
Chen Ning suddenly let out two heavy coughs.
This Divine Ability actually could be adjusted to see right through clothing!
In a single glance, beneath her sheer dress...
Qing Yan's figure was beautifully proportioned, her curves exquisitely sculpted. Her porcelain-white skin was as flawless as finely carved jade.
Even her hidden fox ears and tail manifested in his view, her fluffy tail swaying gently in complete vulnerability.
He hadn't paid much mind to it before...
...but seeing it now, this girl truly was a born enchantress, an absolute stunner of the mortal world...
“Young Master, what's wrong?”
Seeing Chen Ning suddenly coughing, Qing Yan hurried forward and gently placed her hand against his forehead.
“Why are you so warm? Young Master, could you have gotten heatstroke? Quick, drink some herbal tea to cool down.”
Qing Yan hurriedly bent down to hand him a cup of herbal tea, her face filled with worry.
However, after accidentally catching another glance at her, Chen Ning coughed even harder.
Red Lotus Divine Pupils was great, but he definitely couldn't use it on his fox demon maid.
After all, it wasn't quite aligned with the way of a Noble Scholar...
Rate on N.U.
