Versatile Mage: Get the Desert Emperor clone at the start

Chapter 243 The Arrival of Mu Shi Panxi, Mu Ningxue's Crisis

After Qin Xiaonan returned, he discovered that not only Lu Yilin had fused with the Void Egg, but Nan Rongni's body also emitted the aura of the Void Egg.

It seems that the money I just received was partly given to these two "sores".

Afterwards, Qin Xiaonan wandered around alone.

He walked alone along the winding stone paths within the estate.

The Venetian waterfront manor at night is tranquil and ancient, with the air filled with moisture, floral fragrance, and a faint, magical scent.

Unconsciously, he walked to the viewing terrace near the Grand Canal.

Moonlight spilled onto the shimmering river surface, and the soft murmur of the gondolas gliding across the water sounded like a gentle nocturne.

Amidst this picturesque scenery, a serene and aloof figure stood quietly by the stone railing of the terrace.

It is Mu Ningxue.

Unusually, she wasn't wearing a mage's robe or combat suit for ease of movement, but instead opted for a simple yet elegant ice-blue silk dress.

Her skirt swayed gently in the night breeze, outlining her slender yet upright figure.

The moonlight shone on her silver hair and cool profile, as if draping her in a hazy veil, making her seem otherworldly.

She seemed to be gazing absently at the distant lights.

Qin Xiaonan's footsteps were very light, but Mu Ningxue still noticed them immediately.

She turned her head slightly, her icy blue eyes looking at Qin Xiaonan with a calm expression, less aloof than before.

"Is your cultivation finished?" Qin Xiaonan approached.

His gaze fell on her long dress, with a hint of admiration.

"Would you like to go out for a walk? Venice at night has a completely different charm from during the day."

Ever since Qin Xiaonan gave her that precious Star River Vein in the Sakura Kingdom, helping her break through the high-level barrier in one fell swoop.

Throughout their journey, the National Government had been faced with the obviously valuable cultivation resources that Lan Xi would occasionally slip to them.

Mu Ningxue silently accepted this kindness, because Qin Xiaonan's words had touched her: no strong person in the world reaches the top alone.

Moreover, she needs power, she needs to become stronger as fast as she can, strong enough to support that heavy long-cherished wish.

She will remember these favors and repay them in her own way in the future.

At this moment, faced with Qin Xiaonan's suggestion, the corners of her icy lips curved upwards into a very faint arc, "Okay."

The two then turned around in unison and left the manor's terrace.

Walking along the quiet alleyways, I blended into the enchanting nightscape of Venice.

They crossed a stone bridge, beneath which lay a deep waterway reflecting the twinkling starlight.

As we passed through the dimly lit square, the air was filled with the melodious strains of an accordion and the rich aroma of coffee.

Without a destination, I simply wandered around, soaking in the unique romance and languid atmosphere of this water town, imbued with the salty, damp air.

The moonlight cast long shadows of the two people onto the ancient wall.

"I still want to thank you." Mu Ningxue's voice rang out in the quiet alley, breaking the silence.

She didn't look at Qin Xiaonan; her gaze was fixed on a small fountain in front of her. "Whether it's the Star River Vein, or... something else."

Qin Xiaonan didn't stop walking. She turned her head and glanced at her. The moonlight outlined her delicate jawline.

"Thank you for what?"

“You are exceptionally talented. High-level, even super-level, are merely scenery along the way, unable to hinder your progress. What I've done is simply to make that scenery arrive sooner, allowing you to see the distant peaks sooner.” He paused, his tone carrying a certain confidence that foresaw the future, “This can also be considered my investment. I believe your destination is far more than this.”

Mu Ningxue paused almost imperceptibly.

She cultivates diligently, has an iron will, and has absolute confidence in her talent and efforts. She firmly believes that one day she will be able to reach the Super Rank.

But for her, the words "forbidden spells" remained an unattainable legend, an insurmountable barrier weighing down on all sorcerers.

Hearing Qin Xiaonan speak so frankly and confidently that she could overcome that insurmountable barrier, even with her composure, a barely concealed shock and a faint yet burning excitement flashed across her icy blue eyes.

Forbidden spells... if that day ever comes.

So, is it really possible for that deep-seated wish that has sustained her all the way to the end—to avenge her family and seek justice—to be realized?
She stopped, turned around, and looked intently into Qin Xiaonan's deep eyes with a scrutinizing and probing gaze: "You... have so much confidence in me?"

Her voice remained clear and cold, but the ending note carried a slight fluctuation.

Qin Xiaonan met her gaze without flinching, her eyes calm.

He nodded slowly: "Mm."

Under the moonlight, their shadows were drawn very close together.

Mu Ningxue's heart was like a lake where a small pebble had been thrown, creating a subtle yet lasting ripple.

However, this rare tranquility and tacit understanding was soon broken by an uninvited guest.

At the alleyway ahead, the moonlight was blocked by a tall, slender figure.

He was a man who looked to be in his early thirties, wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit. He was quite handsome, with a gentle smile on his lips.

This man was none other than Panxi of the Mu clan, the culprit who planted fragments of the Ice Crystal Bow in the bodies of those collateral disciples and then retrieved them once they matured.

When Mu Ningxue's gaze fell upon that face, her pupils suddenly contracted, and the fingers gripping the hem of her skirt unconsciously tightened.

All the expressions on her face vanished instantly.

All that remained was an almost instinctive vigilance and... an indescribable complex emotion.

Pansy's gaze first fell on Mu Ningxue, with a familiar scrutiny, as if she were examining everything. "Mu Ningxue, it's been a long time."

Then, as if he had just noticed Qin Xiaonan next to Mu Ningxue, he turned his gaze over.

His tone carried an unyielding air of dismissal: "Mu Ningxue and I are old acquaintances, and there are some private matters we need to discuss privately. Your Excellency... would be best to excuse yourself."

"Oh?" Qin Xiaonan hadn't spoken yet.

Mu Ningxue retorted, "We probably don't have any private matters to discuss."

Upon hearing this, the man's smile gradually faded, and he said, "Mu Ningxue, you're just as stubborn as your mother."

When the other person mentioned her "mother," Mu Ningxue's slender body tensed up.

With his hands hanging at his sides, his fingers curled up uncontrollably, his nails digging deep into his palms, bringing a sharp stinging pain.

Pan Xi then turned her gaze back to Qin Xiaonan beside her.

This time, the pretense in his eyes completely vanished, leaving only a cold warning: "Kid, I know you're not bad off."

"But the Mu family is a level you can never reach, no matter how hard you try! I advise you not to interfere in the affairs of my Mu family, otherwise..."

Before he finished speaking, several sorcerers from the Mu family stepped out from behind him.

However, Qin Xiaonan didn't seem to care and said, "Otherwise? What then?"

(End of this chapter)