Fairy, I am truly a virtuous gentleman!

Xiao Heng's special visit to persuade Xiao Lingjiang to stay was unexpected by Ning Yuan.

According to the original course of events, Xiao Lingjiang was humiliated by Ning Yuan at the banquet, and then driven away by Qiao Shuang. She then left in resentment and disappeared without a trace.

However, subsequent developments went as he had hoped.

Having committed a crime, the Xiao family had no choice but to bow down to Ning Yuan, losing face in the process.

So after offering compensation and appeasing Ning Yuan, the Xiao family also secretly pursued Xiao Lingjiang.

Furthermore, apart from her biological father Xiao Yu, the other members of the Xiao family did not treat Xiao Lingjiang well after she was found; in fact, their attitude was quite hostile, and their relationship was completely broken.

This also caused Xiao Lingjiang to be constantly on the move, and she had no choice but to hide in a chaotic and remote place, hiding her identity and seeking cultivation resources as a low-level rogue cultivator.

Later, she gradually learned bloody methods, carved out her own path, and not only rapidly advanced in her cultivation level, but also seized a certain immortal sect's lineage, transforming herself into a sect leader.

Every effect has a cause.

Xiao Lingjiang cultivated all the way to the level of a Nascent Soul True Lord. In addition to the help of a mysterious remnant soul, the hardships and price she paid were also enormous.

Years of fighting and struggle for interests gradually made her cold and indifferent, making it difficult for her to trust others.

The resentment she had experienced in the past bred inner demons, causing her to linger in the realm of primordial spirit, her cultivation stagnating, until she stormed into Luodu, reunited with her father, and fulfilled a great wish...

But now all those karmic consequences are gone.

From the moment Xiao Lingjiang met Ning Yuan, everything that was predetermined began to change.

The heavens are 49, and one of them is removed.

Ning Yuan himself is the variable that has vanished. Sometimes, he doesn't know what changes his decisions and actions will cause, but he will try his best to grasp what he already knows.

He just didn't expect that by taking in Xiao Lingjiang and avoiding the original enmity between the two of them in their previous life, he could inexplicably trigger the Xiao family to take the initiative to back down.

This matter actually alarmed Grand Tutor Xiao!

This person is a Dao Lord of Returning to the Void, who has been famous for over three thousand years. He has served three successive Great Li Holy Emperors, is deeply trusted by all generations, and holds a position among the Three Dukes, a position of great prestige.

Although she was born into the Xiao family, one of the twelve pillar families of the nation, she had long since stopped caring about family affairs and devoted herself to the cause of the Great Li Dynasty. She worked tirelessly for the Immortal Dynasty, and in the name of the Immortal Sect's holy land, she led her army to conquer the heavens. She had ruthless methods and had accumulated numerous military achievements.

Before Ning Muxian, everyone in Dali held the Iron-Blooded Grand Tutor in the highest esteem and considered him one of the top Void Returners in Dali in recent years with the best chance of advancing to the Pure Yang Dao Venerable realm.

After pondering for a moment, Ning Yuan concluded that this minor incident would not affect his subsequent plans.

So he stopped thinking about it, left Huang Fulishi and Yu Nu behind, and set off with Qiao Shuang and Xiao Lingjiang.

"Wait, am I going too? To see the Crown Prince of Dali and the Xuan Gu Supervisor?"

At this moment, Xiao Lingjiang seemed to wake from a dream, and asked in a daze, her tone full of disbelief.

Ning Yuan smiled and said, "Of course, as my personal maids, you should be by my side."

Xiao Lingjiang's eyes flickered, and she bit her red lips lightly, remaining silent for a moment.

After Ning Yuan finished speaking, without waiting for the latter to react, he immediately grabbed Xiao Lingjiang's soft and tender little hand and continued walking outside.

Xiao Lingjiang stared intently at their overlapping hands, offering no resistance; she had long since become accustomed to this level of physical contact.

Anyway, it's not the first time I've been led around like that...

Upon arriving outside the hall, Xiao Heng's words proved true; two boys in blue robes had been waiting for some time.

After Qiao Shuang summoned the Nine-Colored Heavenly Cloud Chariot, Ning Yuan sat down inside, then summoned the colorful clouds and rode them straight up into the sky.

Before long, a colossal cloud palace appeared, stretching across the clouds.

This palace is magnificent in style, with a vast and extremely spacious grounds.

The area features mountains and water, hundreds of pavilions and towers, and palace maids and servants can be seen walking through it from time to time.

Compared to the renowned Zixuan Cloud Palace in the inner city of Naluodu, it is utterly insignificant and pales in comparison.

Upon entering the Cloud Palace, Ning Yuan, along with Qiao Shuang and Xiao Lingjiang, disembarked and walked on the ground.

After following the boy's lead through a winding path, we arrived at a hall with its doors wide open.

With its green eaves and golden ornaments, it is magnificent and splendid.

As Ning Yuan led the two women inside, they heard two voices.

"Junior Sister Qiao, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

"Young Master Ning Yuan is a man of exceptional talent and bearing, quite like a national advisor."

Ning Yuan raised his eyes, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, and greetings to Senior Brother Xuan Gu!"

At the far end of the hall, atop nine jade steps, two imposing figures sat side by side.

One of them was dressed in a purple robe, dignified and imposing, yet he wore a smile and had a gentle expression.

The other person was clad in fine silver armor with a robust and fierce physique, like a god. However, he ignored Ning Yuan and only greeted Qiao Shuang behind him.

As one of the two supervisors of the Celestial Surveillance Bureau and Ning Muxian's eldest disciple, Xuan Gu should logically be closer to Ning Yuan.

However, due to past neglect in discipline, Ning Yuan was not well-liked by Xuan Gu, who even severely reprimanded the boy for some of his actions on several occasions.

However, Ning Yuan is Ning Muxian's son after all, and without a decree, Xuan Gu cannot easily discipline him.

Unfortunately, Qiao Shuang, the only one granted special privileges, was spoiled and allowed Ning Yuan to do whatever he wanted all day long, and even helped him to abuse others.

Neither side could do anything about the other, so things got very unpleasant.

However, Qiao Shuang remained unmoved by Xuan Gu's greeting, standing calmly to Ning Yuan's right rear, head bowed.

Only after Ning Yuan called out softly did she reply gently, "Greetings, Your Highness, Senior Brother Xuan Gu. Junior Sister is doing as usual, serving you daily as before."

Xiao Lingjiang was unusually nervous and at a loss for what to do, so she immediately followed suit.

Xuan Gu looked rather helpless, understanding that Qiao Shuang was protecting her own and was dissatisfied with her neglect of Ning Yuan. He could only nod slightly to the latter and then call a servant to bring over a jade table for him to sit down.

"I apologize, Your Highness, for making this a laughing stock of you."

As the crown prince of the Great Li Immortal Dynasty, Ji Changhong's status was naturally extremely noble. Moreover, he was a Nascent Soul True Monarch with profound cultivation, just one step away from stepping into the Void Returning Realm.

Ordinary cultivators don't even have the right to pay homage, but Ning Yuan and the others not only didn't perform the grand ceremony, but instead simply bowed and clasped their hands. They also ignored the dignity of the crown prince in public and staged a farce that resembled a sibling's petty squabble, which was extremely audacious.

However, Ji Changhong would not blame them. These were all Ning Muxian's close associates, and they also had considerable potential. They were talents that the Immortal Dynasty needed to win over.

He couldn't help but chuckle and said, "It's alright. Looking at you all reminds me of the time I spent with Daoyun when we were little. That girl has always been a handful, and I had to take care of her in every way. But that's the duty of an older brother."