367: Bring back some local specialties

"So this is your disciple? She is truly beautiful!" the Vermilion Bird exclaimed with emotion.

Jiang Ning looked at the young girl.

"She is indeed very beautiful, but Senior, you wouldn't know—when I first met her, she was just a little bean. I hadn't seen her for a few years, and I never expected that she would have grown into such a beautiful young woman."

Shen Jinhuan: ??? Who is a little bean?

She huffed and took a sip of wine, not wanting to speak to Jiang Ning.

The Vermilion Bird saw Shen Jinhuan's angry expression and laughed. "Little girl, don't be angry with your Revered Master. On his way back, he was gathering good things for you everywhere and rushing back without regarding the cost. Along the way, he overloaded the spirit boat, and he ran through quite a few of them. While on the spirit boat, he was also constantly worried about you being wronged or bullied alone in this domain."

"Really?" Shen Jinhuan's eyes lit up as she looked at Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning felt a bit uncomfortable under Shen Jinhuan's gaze, but he still admitted it openly and honestly.

"It's true. When you were little… let's not talk about that. You were alone in the Xuanhuang Domain, and I had made enemies with the Tiance Military Prefecture, so how could I not worry about you? But you are stronger than I imagined. Not only has your cultivation improved, but you have also become a representative figure of your Alliance."

If you care about someone, you have to say it. Coming from Earth, everyone knows to be good at expressing themselves. There is nothing wrong with that; it is better to just admit it openly.

Shen Jinhuan felt warm inside. She instantly forgot about Jiang Ning calling her a little bean.

Jiang Ning asked the Vermilion Bird, "Senior, have you sensed where the Grand Marshal is in seclusion?"

The Vermilion Bird shook her head. "Some seclusion sites have layers of Restrictions set up. If they also rely on natural barriers, let alone the Deity Transformation Realm, even someone from the Integration Realm might not necessarily be able to detect them."

Jiang Ning sighed. This made things difficult! If he couldn't find the Grand Marshal, he would need to stay here for a while longer.

Jiang Ning said, "Then I will have to trouble you to remain in hiding for a few more days, Senior. If we cannot eliminate the Grand Marshal, I truly cannot rest easy."

Most importantly, he couldn't let the Grand Marshal sense any danger. Otherwise, he wouldn't be at ease leaving his friends here when he departed the Xuanhuang Domain.

The Vermilion Bird gave an "Hmm" of acknowledgment. "I came here specifically to resolve these hidden dangers for you, so there is no need to say all that."

Jiang Ning cupped his hands in a salute. The Vermilion Bird did not stay long; she left and hid herself once more. Given Jiang Ning's Realm, he naturally could not detect the Vermilion Bird's aura.

Xiaobai hopped over and asked, "Revered Master, Revered Master, how did you get to know that Senior?"

Jiang Ning said, "I know a friend whose status is likely very noble. Hearing that I was returning, she sent Senior Vermilion Bird to help me."

Xiaobai asked again, "Is it a man or a woman?" Shen Jinhuan immediately pricked up her ears. A good question from Xiaobai.

Jiang Ning said, "A woman." Shen Jinhuan gritted her teeth. This Revered Master of hers has such good luck with women; everywhere he goes, he meets so many female cultivators.

Xiaobai glanced at Shen Jinhuan and continued, "Then how did Revered Master get to know that Fairy?"

Jiang Ning thought for a moment. "I was sleeping in the guest room at the time, and she suddenly burst in."

Crack— Jiang Ning heard a sound and looked over. The jade cup Shen Jinhuan was holding had shattered. Shen Jinhuan's heart was also close to shattering.

Jiang Ning asked in a hurry, "Why are you so careless? Is your Body Refining Cultivation Technique out of control?"

He wasn't worried that the shards would cut the young girl's hand, given her Body Refining. Shen Jinhuan gave a cold snort and said nothing.

The little fox didn't dare to continue asking. Jiang Ning laughed and said, "Don't worry, don't worry. This time, I brought you a top-tier Body Refining Cultivation Technique. It is compatible with the Hundred Beasts Form Intent, so when you switch Cultivation Techniques, it will transition very smoothly. Want to take a look?"

He took the myriad beast atlas out from his storage ring and handed it to Shen Jinhuan.

Shen Jinhuan was both angry and touched. She was not angry because Jiang Ning had befriended another female cultivator, but because Jiang Ning simply did not understand the feelings she held for him. Even Flowing Water and the little fox could see it, so why couldn't this Jiang Ning figure it out no matter what?

She was touched that even when Jiang Ning was away, he would still think of her and seek out resources that would be beneficial to her.

"Revered Master, I…" "What is it?" Jiang Ning asked, puzzled. He felt that the young girl had something on her mind. Shen Jinhuan shook her head. "It's nothing."

She had originally wanted to lay her cards on the table with Jiang Ning, but she was afraid that after doing so, they would never be able to go back to how things were. She wanted to take a step further, but she was hesitant because the potential cost of losing everything was too high.

She picked up the myriad beast atlas and opened it. Characters engraved with Spiritual Qi and Divine Sense rushed into Shen Jinhuan's mind.

An extremely long scroll unfurled within Shen Jinhuan's mind. After the scroll unfurled, the forms of the Coiled River Python and other Spirit Beasts that existed within her Sea of Consciousness instantly sensed a great crisis.

But this scroll was too powerful. Shen Jinhuan immediately sat cross-legged. "This Cultivation Technique is very similar to the Hundred Beasts Form Intent. I already have the essence blood, so I just need to transfer it over," Shen Jinhuan muttered to herself.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning, who was outside, set up a barrier. He hadn't expected the young girl to get the hang of it so quickly. While acting as a Protector for the young girl, he looked at Xiaobai. "Xiaobai." "Revered Master?" Xiaobai blinked, looking incredibly cute.

Jiang Ning took out a bottle of essence blood and handed it to Xiaobai. "This is the essence blood of a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox. I found it while I was away. Since you are both of the fox clan, there shouldn't be any rejection. It just so happens that Huanhuan is in seclusion. Since I'm already watching one, I'll watch you too. Absorb it, and I will act as your Protector."

"Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox?!" Xiaobai's eyes lit up! This was almost one of the most powerful Bloodlines in their fox clan's records! For their Snow Fox Clan, if they pushed their Bloodline to the limit without special opportunities, they could at most reach the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

But a Celestial Fox could undergo Tribulation and ascend to the Upper Realm! Human cultivators are constrained by their Aptitude and talent, while Spirit Beasts are constrained by their Bloodlines. Some things, just like being reincarnated as a human on Earth, are fated from the moment you are in the amniotic fluid.

Jiang Ning stroked Xiaobai's head. It was fluffy and felt extremely good. He smiled and said, "Although there is no way to turn you into a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, possessing the essence blood of a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox means that as you continue to cultivate and search for Opportunities, there will always be a chance."

"Thank you, Revered Master!" Xiaobai stood up on her hind legs in excitement. She hugged the jade bottle containing the Celestial Fox essence blood with her front paws. She opened it wide and poured it directly into her mouth.

As a few drops of essence blood entered her stomach, the rich Celestial Fox Qi within the essence blood erupted directly. Xiaobai immediately felt an instinctive fear from the depths of her Soul, as well as submission to the other party. In reality, her head also lowered.

Jiang Ning frowned. "Xiaobai! Do not be afraid! If you submit, the Celestial Fox consciousness within this essence blood will erase your own consciousness. Pull yourself together; this is only the residual consciousness within the essence blood. Refine it and make it work for you!"