Luo Ningshuang

Qianyuan Continent, Jixia Academy, Alchemy Room.

Because of the Pill Furnace burning all year round, the temperature here is hundreds of degrees higher than outside.

In this environment, Luo Ningshuang stared intently at the Pill Furnace in front of her.

The firelight reflected on her not-yet-fully-developed Face and her sweat-covered head.

Even if slightly immature, anyone with a keen eye could see that in another two years, she would surely become a world-toppling Fairy.

Silvery-white long hair hung from her temples, revealing that strange Dao pattern on her forehead.

Far from being abrupt, it highlighted her unique temperament even more.

"Yo? Isn't this our former Saintess? Still refining pills this late at night?"

"Doesn't she only have this Alchemy skill left? If she lost this craft, she would have been kicked out of the academy long ago."

"Refining pills well just means stoking the fire until old age. What's the use of going fast? Going steady is the Righteous Path!"

Hearing these voices, Luo Ningshuang remained indifferent.

Since her cultivation began to decline, she had heard similar voices countless times.

Ridiculously, the owners of these voices used to surround her with flattery.

Back then, she had kindly advised the two of them not to waste their thoughts on such matters and that to Cultivate well was the Righteous Path.

As a result, these two might have misunderstood her meaning as a condescending mockery.

To the point where they often came to this Alchemy Room to mock her current situation, sometimes even intentionally making things difficult.

At times like this, Luo Ningshuang would feel fortunate about her declining cultivation; only this way could she truly see the real thoughts of those flatterers.

She grabbed the fuel nearby and added another handful of fire to the Pill Furnace in front of her.

An apologetic voice appeared in Luo Ningshuang's mind: "I'm truly sorry. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have fallen into this state..."

Whenever Luo Ningshuang was mocked because of her reduced cultivation, this voice would appear.

"..."

She looked down at the pendant on her chest, where the source of that voice resided.

The other party claimed to be the Jade Pool Empress, the master of the Extra-territorial Jade Pool Holy Land, but because she was harmed by villains, she died, and her remnant soul eventually attached to her Lifebound Treasure, the jade pool heavenly lock, and drifted to the Qianyuan Continent.

Twelve-year-old Luo Ningshuang accidentally picked up the jade pool heavenly lock while out gaining experience.

After sensing Luo Ningshuang, who possessed an Innate Dao Pattern, the jade pool heavenly lock took the initiative to perform a Master-recognition Ceremony.

After the two established a connection, the jade pool heavenly lock began to absorb Luo Ningshuang's cultivation to complete the remnant soul of the Jade Pool Empress, to the point that her Innate Dao Pattern dimmed because of it.

Now, a year has passed, and Luo Ningshuang's cultivation is only at the third level of the Mortal Realm, while the Jade Pool Empress's remnant soul has gained the ability to communicate with her, but it will take another three years to fully restore the remnant soul.

"If you really want to apologize, then after your remnant soul is completed and your memories are fully restored, teach me the Jade Pool Holy Land Cultivation Technique you speak of."

Having experienced the fall from the clouds to the depths, Luo Ningshuang had long possessed a maturity that did not belong to her age.

Verbal apologies could never compare to real actions.

She had accepted part of the other's Alchemy Legacy and knew it was a Realm far beyond this world.

"I, the Jade Pool Empress, swear to the Mandate of Heaven upon my own reputation! Once my remnant soul is completed and my memories are restored, I will teach all the Jade Pool Holy Land Cultivation Techniques to Luo Ningshuang!"

Listening to the Jade Pool Empress's oath, Luo Ningshuang calculated the time in her heart.

Three years, two months, and twelve days left.

However, at this moment, the two who had previously mocked Luo Ningshuang walked up to her.

"You're just a Handyman Student now. When we talk to you, don't you know to reply?!"

"I see you're still immersed in the fantasies of past glory. It seems I need to let you know what reality is!"

Seeing that the two were about to strike, the black-clothed Uncle Meng suddenly appeared and sent the two flying with a single palm strike in front of Luo Ningshuang.

"Ignorant fools, is she someone you can touch?!"

The sudden appearance of Uncle Meng made Luo Ningshuang very surprised; she didn't remember knowing him in her memories.

Before she could ask, the Palace Master of Jixia Academy, Liu Yueru, appeared directly in the Alchemy Room, her eyes fixed on Uncle Meng: "Who are you!"

When Uncle Meng had just struck, she felt the spiritual power fluctuations of the Peak Star Realm, yet Liu Yueru had no memory of someone like Uncle Meng.

"I am the Young Lord's Guardian. Luo Ningshuang has an engagement with my Young Lord. Is this how your Jixia Academy treats people?!"

Hearing Uncle Meng's questioning, Liu Yueru reacted instantly.

At the same time, she also began to wonder. When Luo Ningshuang's cultivation began to slide, she had visited the Three Saints Sect, and at that time, that Su Ming had a completely indifferent attitude.

Why did he suddenly start caring about his fiancée now?

No!

Liu Yueru realized that the other party didn't come here to care for his fiancée, but for something else.

She showed a look of understanding and said, "To have you come personally... it seems Young Master Su has finally made that decision."

After all, everyone, including Luo Ningshuang herself, had already accepted it as a given.

As her cultivation slid to the Mortal Realm, Su Ming was destined to have no further involvement with her. It was only a matter of time before the Letter of Divorce severing the engagement was sent to her.

"Has this day finally come?" Luo Ningshuang thought to herself while looking at Uncle Meng.

She knew very well that the reason she could stay at Jixia Academy, besides the Alchemy Legacy taught by the Jade Pool Empress, was mostly because of Su Ming, the fiancé she had never met.

Jixia Academy didn't want to diminish the Face of the Three Saints Sect, let alone anger Su Ming's Heavenly Dao Realm parents.

Before Uncle Meng could speak, Liu Yueru continued, "Since the Letter of Divorce has been delivered, from this day forward, you, Luo Ningshuang, are no longer a Disciple of my Jixia Academy!"

"Considering your contribution to Alchemy during this period, take these one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. After this, you will have no further connection with my Jixia Academy!"

However, after hearing these words, Uncle Meng immediately questioned in an unfriendly tone, "What do you mean?"

Liu Yueru thought Uncle Meng was dissatisfied with her way of handling it, so she immediately added, "Since she has left the academy, all the Cultivation Techniques she learned at the academy previously must be returned to the academy!"

The implication was to cripple Luo Ningshuang's cultivation.

As soon as these words were spoken, Uncle Meng instantly roared, "You dare?! Luo Ningshuang is the fiancée acknowledged by the Young Lord. You actually dare to intend to cripple her cultivation in front of me!? Liu Yueru, your courage is truly greater than the heavens!"

Liu Yueru and Luo Ningshuang were both stunned on the spot upon hearing this.

"This, this is impossible! Her cultivation is ruined, her Dao pattern is lost, there's no reason to continue the engagement..."

"I think you should think about how to give the Young Lord an explanation later!"

Ignoring Liu Yueru, Uncle Meng turned to Luo Ningshuang and took out the letter Su Ming had written personally.

"Young Mistress, this is a letter the Young Lord asked me to give you. But since Jixia Academy has expelled you, are you willing to return to the Three Saints Sect with me?"

Opening the letter, Luo Ningshuang's eyes stung slightly because the letter bluntly described her reality and the possible future.

Subsequently, Su Ming expressed his understanding and respect for her situation in the letter and gave her a chance to choose.

If Luo Ningshuang herself didn't want to continue this engagement, there would be no more connection between the two.

But if Luo Ningshuang still had the heart to continue sailing against the current on the path of cultivation, then this letter was an invitation to travel together.

After reading the contents of the letter, Luo Ningshuang felt confused.

Clearly, she was already a useless person. Why was the other party still willing to fulfill the engagement? Even willing to provide her with cultivation resources?

The experiences of this past year had shown Luo Ningshuang the ugly Faces of most people and made her not believe that there was such a thing as kindness without reason in this world.

But no matter what her fiancé planned to do, it was better than continuing to stay at this Jixia Academy.

"I'll go with you..."