18: Ice Lion Evolution

"What, you don't believe me?"

The Lu family members frowned at Xie Ning's rhetorical question.

Lu Yimin asked, "Young Friend Xie, is there something wrong with these medicines for treating Poison Flame?"

"Uncle Lu, don't be fooled by this kid named Xie; he doesn't understand anything at all," Li Zhi said, pointing at the Ice Lion. "It used to have burn marks and pus-filled blood everywhere. Now, not only are the pus and marks gone, but fresh flesh has grown. It's clearly being treated; how could there be a problem?"

"This kid has a grudge against me and even embarrassed Little Sister Bing Yun at school. He's probably just here to cause trouble this time!"

After Li Zhi finished speaking, Great Master Wang also approached with a gloomy face, grabbing Xie Ning's collar and questioning, "On what basis do you say my treatment will have problems? Do you have evidence?"

"Evidence?" Xie Ning pushed Great Master Wang's hand away and straightened his clothes. "It's coming right now."

As soon as his voice fell, the previously listless Ice Lion let out a heart-wrenching roar.

"Roar—"

"Ice Snow! What's wrong with you?!" Lu Bingyun cried out in alarm. Just as she was about to run over, a hand caught her and held her firmly in place. She struggled hard while shouting, "Let me go!"

"Calm down! Going over there will only harm it!" After Xie Ning finished speaking, he rubbed his chin. The Ice Lion's attributes popped up in his eyes, and the status column changed from 'Treating' to 'Poison Flame Backlash.'

The fresh flesh that had grown on the Ice Lion's body withered and burned at a speed visible to the naked eye. The various medicinal liquids that had been applied were also burned away, leaving no medicinal effect. Only then did the Ice Lion regain some calm, but its aura appeared much weaker. Even its strength dropped from Bronze Level 6 to Bronze Level 2, and it was still slowly declining.

"Xie Ning, what exactly is wrong with Ice Snow?" Lu Bingyun grabbed Xie Ning's arm and asked with an anxious look, "It was fine just now, why did it suddenly worsen?"

Xie Ning shook his head. He first gave the Ice Lion an inspection before saying, "What do you mean 'fine'? It was just some surface appearances. This big lion's Poison Flame had already entered its bones. Applying medicine only on the surface, how could it possibly get better? Not only did it not heal, but it also triggered the poison within the bone marrow."

Seeing the Ice Lion's abnormality, Great Master Wang stiffened his neck and retorted, "I... I knew it would be like this. I just wanted to heal the exterior first before treating the poison in the bone marrow..."

"Heh, Great Master Wang, you can fool outsiders with those words, but don't try to bluff me." Xie Ning retorted unceremoniously, "Poison in the bone marrow cannot be cured by medicine alone."

"You... could it be that you have some superior method?"

"I naturally have a way, otherwise why would I be standing here?" Xie Ning replied.

"Then hurry up and act."

Xie Ning narrowed his eyes, looking at Great Master Wang in front of him. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Although this man was called a Great Master, he didn't have the demeanor of one at all. Instead, he looked a bit like a plagiarist. Perhaps right now, he was also harboring thoughts of stealing techniques.

Xie Ning had actually guessed correctly. Although Great Master Wang was unwilling to admit defeat, after learning about the poison in the bone marrow, he knew he didn't have the ability to solve it, so he had the idea of stealing the technique.

"I..."

At this moment, a burst of footsteps sounded. Mo Yu came running in, panting and carrying large and small bags.

"Great God, I've bought all the items," Mo Yu said in surprise as she looked at the now quiet courtyard. "Where are those people? Why did they all run away?"

"They didn't all run away; there are still two left." Xie Ning said, looking at Great Master Wang and Li Zhi. "You two, please leave now. Being here will only affect my treatment."

"On what basis?"

"Exactly, why should we leave? This isn't your house!"

Li Zhi and Great Master Wang immediately jumped in anger. One was unwilling to leave in such a shameful manner, and the other was unwilling to miss the chance to steal a technique.

Xie Ning ignored their frantic behavior and instead looked at Lu Yimin, saying sincerely, "Uncle Lu, please have these two leave. Every Breeder has their own unique methods; it wouldn't be good if they were learned by others."

Although Lu Yimin was not a Breeder, he knew that every capable person had secrets that others couldn't know, so he didn't doubt it.

"Gentlemen, I am very grateful for your help. I will remember this assistance, but for now, please leave."

Since the Garrison Commander had spoken, no matter how unwilling Li Zhi and Great Master Wang were, they could only obediently leave the Lu residence.

However, the two did not give up. They hid outside the Lu residence, determined to wait for Xie Ning to come out to see whether the treatment succeeded or failed.

At this moment, both shared the same thought—please don't let the treatment succeed!

...After clearing out the irrelevant people, Xie Ning spoke to Lu Bingyun with a serious expression:

"Student Bing Yun, after the treatment is successful, this big lion's appearance will change somewhat. Its strength might become stronger, or it might become weaker. You must be mentally prepared."

"I understand. No matter what it becomes, as long as it survives, it's fine." Lu Bingyun said seriously. Her originally uneasy heart seemed to settle a bit after this assurance.

"Very well."

Xie Ning and Mo Yu began to work on the evolution Materials. Only when he actually started did Xie Ning realize that Mo Yu was much more professional than he had thought.

She knew how to handle almost any material as soon as she got it, and occasionally when there was something she didn't know, she would ask humbly.

Once she got busy with the evolution, her whole person became very focused, losing the flightiness he usually saw.

One of them was responsible for drawing the Formation, while the other was responsible for preparing the Materials—grinding powder and condensing liquids. Then, the two of them placed various Materials around the Ice Lion.

They were busy like this for a full half-hour. Mo Yu was a girl after all, and her physical strength was weaker than Xie Ning's. By now, she was covered in sweat, yet she still meticulously executed the tasks Xie Ning gave her.

"Mo Yu, sprinkle this Yin Ice powder on that circle, and then place the ice-type demon cores inside the five small circles..." After Xie Ning finished speaking, he handed some Materials to Mo Yu and then picked up a dagger. "Student Bing Yun, I need some of your blood."

Hearing this, Huang Qiuwan immediately became anxious and wanted to step forward to stop him, but she was held back by Lu Yimin. He shook his head and didn't speak, just looked at Xie Ning with faint expectation.

Seeing this, although Huang Qiuwan was worried, she stopped, her hands clenched tightly.

Lu Bingyun did not hesitate and reached out her hand. After the dagger swiped across, drip-drop, Xie Ning caught a dozen drops of blood. He then quickly took some gauze, wrapped it around Lu Bingyun's hand a few times, and bandaged it up briskly.

By then, Mo Yu had also carefully laid out a large bag of ground Yin Ice powder within the Formation. To ensure no mistakes were made, she even used her hands to guide the powder. After all the busy work, her small hands were frozen red and shaking, but she gritted her teeth and persevered.

Soon, all the Materials were ready. After Xie Ning checked everything, he took a deep breath and said, "Big guy, it's about to begin. Bear with the pain!"

The small cup of blood was dripped by Xie Ning onto the Ice Lion's forehead and several key points of the Formation.

Immediately, the Formation on the ground emitted a faint light, connecting all the spiritual Materials together and forming a peculiar energy pattern that finally flowed into the Ice Lion's body from all its limbs and bones.

"Roar—"

An even louder and more painful scream rang out from the Lu family villa, passing through the villa and enveloping the entire neighborhood.

Guarding the entrance and waiting to see Xie Ning fail, Great Master Wang and Li Zhi looked at each other, both seeing a hint of joy in the other's eyes.

"Haha~ Let's go, let's go back."

"Hearing this scream, I can rest easy. Let's go, Great Master Wang, my treat!"

"That sounds great! Let that kid put on airs; he's dead meat now!"

"Hahaha~ Maybe in class tomorrow, the name Xie Ning won't exist anymore. He'll probably be sunk in the Huangpu River."

"With such good news, don't forget me..."

As they spoke, Li Zhi and Great Master Wang walked out of the neighborhood arm-in-arm, not even bothering to summon that Demon Tamers Beast giant wolf.

But did Xie Ning really fail the treatment?