Fairy, I am truly a virtuous gentleman!

Looking at the beauty before him, Ning Yuan was filled with mixed emotions.

After news of his father's death in an attack by the Immortal Sect spread, the Great Li Immortal Dynasty was quickly downgraded, and countless forces that had once relied on the National Preceptor's Mansion chose to sever ties.

Ning Yuan could completely understand this.

In the face of global trends, those who refrain from taking advantage of others' misfortunes are already doing their utmost. How can one expect others to sacrifice their entire family and lineage to help you?

However, Ning Muxian still has a group of loyal fans.

They rescued Ning Yuan, scattered across the nine provinces, secretly developing and accumulating power, attempting to inherit the great cause and restore the prestige of the Immortal Dynasty.

But those people stayed by Ning Yuan's side because of Ning Muxian, and it had nothing to do with Ning Yuan's own will.

To them, Ning Yuan was merely a substitute for Ning Muxian, an indispensable flag, or rather, a puppet.

No one really expected him to shoulder the great responsibility.

His past performance and reputation as the son of the Imperial Preceptor have been truly disappointing.

Qiao Shuang was one of the few people who stayed by Ning Yuan's side at that time, protecting him, caring for him, and loving him.

Tragically, after her whereabouts were exposed, Qiao Shuang chose to cover the retreat, ultimately sacrificing herself to take down the enemy.

Ning Yuan was somewhat dazed. He took a deep breath and said sincerely, "I missed many people and things in the past, and I didn't even know that the most precious treasure in this world was right beside me. But from now on, I will cherish it and protect it even if it costs me everything."

These words came so abruptly that anyone present would surely feel incredibly embarrassed and their toes would curl up in embarrassment.

But Qiao Shuang was completely stunned, even holding her breath, her beautiful face showing a rare moment of helplessness.

She was somewhat incredulous, yet secretly hopeful, and also afraid that this was just a spur-of-the-moment thing the boy had said, a teasing joke.

"Young master, are you saying..."

Ning Xiuyuan nodded slightly, his eyes clear and serious.

"It's you."

Qiao Shuang stared into Ning Yuan's eyes, trying to find any hint of teasing or playfulness in them.

But no matter how I look at it, I only feel deep longing and intense emotions.

This intense heat, like a flame, suddenly stirred her heart through her skin and full breasts, and the instantaneous heat almost caused her magical powers to become disordered.

After Ning Yuan finished saying what he wanted to say in one breath, he felt like laughing inside.

Ha, so this 'old guy' can actually be so sentimental?

However, the path to immortality is not ordinary. The time that cultivators experience is naturally very different from that of ordinary people, whose lifespan is only a hundred years.

"Alright, it's getting late, you should go back and rest."

Just as the atmosphere was getting warmer.

Without waiting for Qiao Shuang's response, Ning Yuan left these words, walked up the steps, pushed open the door, and went inside.

Qiao Shuang gently touched her red lips with her jade-like fingers, feeling conflicted, when she heard the young man's voice. A moment later, she gracefully swayed and quietly left the courtyard.

Yes, you must not be overjoyed. Your Dao heart must be firm. No matter what the young master says, just stay true to yourself.

Because the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment...

Qiao Shuang silently reminded herself, but her steps still became visibly lighter.

On the other side, Ning Yuan sat cross-legged on the jade bed. After adjusting his breathing for a while, he took out a jade piece, his expression somewhat complicated and puzzled.

He didn't know why, even though his father said he believed in him, he wasn't willing to listen to the future of the world over the next hundred years.

His father seemed to be hiding something from him.

However, Ning Yuan himself still has some secrets that he has not fully revealed.

In fact, during his rebirth, or rather, the awakening of his true spirit, Ning Yuan also encountered another special memory.

That was a world in its final days, a world where the Dharma was in decline.

The origin of the universe has been exhausted, the laws of spacetime are almost gone, demons have degenerated, and only a tiny bit of human bloodline remains to survive.

On a blue, life-bearing planet, humanity struggles to survive, rebuilds a new civilization after a great catastrophe, breaks through limitations, and embarks on a different path.

In general, many concepts in that world were quite novel. In fact, due to the decline of the Great Dao, countless cosmic truths were exposed without reservation, and even mortals could easily observe and grasp them with the help of tools and theories.

Ning Yuan also vaguely understood that it seemed to be the true birthplace of his soul, the original world from which he was born.

What is true may be false, and what is false may be true.

Just as her father Ning Muxian said, whether it's deduction or reincarnation, it doesn't matter.

At least his own Great Desire Moon Demon Jade Cicada Supreme Heart Sutra is true, and Zhu Qixian's leak of Chu Lingci's whereabouts is also true.

These facts are enough to prove the advantages of that century-old memory, and all I need to do is follow my original plan.

In any case, since some things have already begun to change, they must also have a different ending!

Just like the opportunity I need to plan for next.

...

...

The next day, the sky was bathed in a soft white light.

Lei Yunzi and his group had already arrived at the gate of Ning Yuan's residence.

"Uncle Lei, there's been no movement all night. What about Senior Sister Zhu and the others...?"

Lei Yunzi, who was in the lead, stroked his beard and said somewhat uncertainly, "I suppose... he should be... alright."

In fact, in Lei Yunzi's mind, he only ever gave Zhu Qixian one choice.

He gave the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Formation-Breaking Sword Manual to Zhu Qixian because he was 90% certain that she would eventually use it.

Zhu Qixian appears to be gentle, polite, dignified, and generous, but in reality, she is strong-willed and resolute. Once insulted, she will never surrender without resistance.

Lei Yunzi firmly believed that Ning Yuan harbored no good intentions towards them. Therefore, he was waiting for an opportunity when the enemy was in disarray and lost their composure.

However, this opportunity was delayed for an entire night.

Just as Lei Yunzi was doubting his judgment, the gates of the mansion slowly opened.

Two graceful and charming women walked out slowly.

"Nephew Chu, congratulations!"

Seeing this, without much thought, Lei Yunzi quickly led the Taiyi Sword Sect disciples who had been waiting all night to meet them.

Lei Yunzi immediately asked, "Are you two alright?"

The two women exchanged a glance and said in unison, "It's alright."

Lei Yunzi didn't believe it. Looking at the two women's calm and composed faces, he even suspected that their minds had been controlled by a secret technique.

But right now, the more important thing is to get out of here as soon as possible.

The next moment, countless sword lights soared into the sky.

Surrounded by her fellow disciples who were showing concern for her, Zhu Qixian seemed to sense something. She looked back in the air and clenched a jade ring in her hand.

The scene from that morning involuntarily flashed through her mind.

Before dawn, Zhu Qixian, dressed only in a small outfit, pushed open the courtyard gate and quietly went to the corridor.

Looking at the handsome young man in front of her, she asked worriedly, "I'm in the same courtyard as Chu Lingci, and I can't be sure if she's noticed what I'm doing."

Ning Yuan chuckled and said, "Chu Lingci's cultivation has been sealed, and a great formation has suppressed her divine sense and six senses. At this moment, she is almost no different from an ordinary person. There is no need to think too much about it."

As he spoke, Ning Yuan handed something to Zhu Qixian.

"This is a superior storage artifact containing many resources that I left for you. You will return today. Remember to cultivate diligently and do not disappoint my expectations."

Storage tool?

Generally speaking, those who haven't reached the Golden Core stage usually use talismans and magical artifacts.

Only Golden Core cultivators have the qualifications and confidence to use spiritual treasures.

Storage treasures have always been precious, almost as valuable as any other type of spiritual treasure.

It can be said that this jade ring alone is worth as much as Zhu Qixian's entire fortune.

She took the jade ring with trembling hands, then probed it with her divine sense and fell into a long silence.