235 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

"Your sect is renowned for its mastery of formations and artifact crafting, yet you have no solution for this formation? And why are you the only one accompanying us into the array? Logically, someone of a higher rank should be sent." Ning Songwu's eyes flickered with inquiry; it’s always good to be cautious. Amid the wealth and material comfort, deceit is a common occurrence. Helan Mianmian, seemingly oblivious to her probing, calmly replied, "It may sound arrogant, but I am the one with the deepest understanding of the formations in Zhenqi Sect. It's just that my cultivation level hasn't kept pace with my formation skills." Ning Songwu looked at the serene youth, her gaze clearly saying, "You must be kidding me." She scoffed, "Immortal, don't try to scare me. You're so young; don't tell me you even study in your dreams." Helan Mianmian's expression turned slightly perplexed, "How did you know, Ning Immortal? It's quite odd. Ever since I was six, I've had strange dreams of myself studying formations. Later, after delving into immortality, these formations felt familiar, almost second nature." Naturally, Ning Songwu found this explanation hard to believe. She thought Helan Mianmian had come just to amuse himself. But then she recalled how she woke up one day to find her cultivation had soared to a Golden Core level, and with each sleep, her cultivation increased slightly more. Words of mockery stuck in her throat, causing a mix of emotions. Eventually, Ning Songwu simply muttered, "You are indeed a genius, Immortal Qing. Zhenqi Sect is fortunate to have you." Helan Mianmian smiled, "Ning Immortal, you too, anyone who has earned the favor of Qing Shuangzunzhe must be extraordinary. In the future, you will likely become a pillar of humanity, striking fear into those detestable demon clans." It seemed he was another human who despised demons. These people had never directly encountered demonkind. Ning Songwu wouldn't share her views with others because speaking for demons as a human was inherently foolish. Ning Songwu responded placidly, "You flatter me; I am but a coward." "Ning Immortal, you needn't be so modest. If anyone should admit to being a coward, it's me. Forgive my confession, but I loathe fighting, be it with humans or demons. Thankfully, my master is considerate and only allows me to study formations without much interference." Helan Mianmian always spoke with a smile when mentioning his master, as warm as the spring sun. Observing this, Ning Songwu thought he and his master seemed to have a good relationship, not someone aiming to vie for her master. This improved her impression of him even further. Putting aside prejudices, Helan Mianmian was indeed a pure-hearted boy, wholly devoted to his studies in formations and treating everyone with respect. He never took cold receptions to heart. It was not that Ning Songwu was interested in him, but she felt such a good-natured person shouldn't be in such murky places. But what did that matter to her? Ning Songwu always avoided meddling in others' affairs, believing things had their own course. "By the way, Ning Immortal, it was my mistake that caused your severe injuries this time. I brought a gift as an apology." "Immortal, you don't need to be so courteous." Although her words rejected the courtesy, her eyes betrayed a keen interest, urging Helan Mianmian to present the gift quickly. Helan Mianmian chuckled, thinking that Qing Shuangzunzhe’s disciple was different from other immortals, perhaps a bit shameless. "Ning Immortal, please accept it." Helan Mianmian then started rummaging through his storage ring, which seemed overly packed. He took out several items and placed them on the room's table. Ning Songwu noticed that the items included formation diagrams, spirit stones, small flags, a sword, and a sachet. The sword wasn’t the one he usually used, as this one had a yellow tassel. The sachet... Examining it closely, Ning Songwu saw an exquisite embroidery of mandarin ducks playing in water on the sachet, likely a gift from a female cultivator who admired him. She groaned inwardly, thinking, "Who would've thought this kid would be so popular." "Found it!" Helan Mianmian’s voice drew her attention. He held a round formation disk, etched with complex black patterns, exuding an air of mystery. Without further explanation, he inserted a spirit stone into the center of the disk. Gradually, the black patterns began to glow golden, and a breeze arose in the room, as spiritual energy surged into the cramped space. "This is something I made. It’s a mid-tier celestial artifact inscribed with a spirit gathering formation. As Qing Shuangzunzhe's disciple, you might not think much of it, but it’s my heartfelt gesture. Please accept it." Ning Songwu, with her heightened sensitivity to spiritual energy, felt slightly overwhelmed and dizzy. Nonetheless, she recognized the artifact's worth and graciously accepted it with a smile. After handling the gift, Helan Mianmian collected the items back into his ring and, finding no further reason to stay, bid Ning Songwu farewell. Ning Songwu paid him little mind, focused instead on the intricate patterns of the formation disk, finding them increasingly familiar. But where had she seen these golden patterns before? Suddenly, it came to her - in the cave where her master was in seclusion, within the lethal formation that nearly ended her life. Pushing the realization aside, thoughts of her bloodied master dampened her mood once more. Chapter 92: Outside the City "It's merely the conclusion of a dull life," Ning Songwu tried to console herself. Bound tightly with hemp ropes, unable to move, her wrists and ankles were chafed and bleeding, each movement sending waves of excruciating pain. Ceasing her futile struggles, Ning Songwu quietly observed the situation in the cabin. The cries of other girls reached her ears. There were nine more girls awaiting sacrifice, their faces filled with terror and hopelessness. Leaning against the cabin wall, Ning Songwu listened to the tumultuous river, feeling irritated. Inwardly, she thought, "How noisy. Can't there be a moment of peace at the end of life? We're all going to die anyway."