Chapter 224: Chapter 140: Gang Essence Sword Species, Enlightenment Tea_2
Ning Qi broke the slightly silent atmosphere with a smile.
"You all didn’t prepare a new wedding gift for fifth senior brother, but I did."
Everyone’s eyes lit up.
"Good for you, Jiu, quietly preparing something on your own!"
They were somewhat looking forward to Ning Qi’s gift.
Everyone was gradually becoming more aware of Ning Qi’s uniqueness. Although they didn’t know, like Luo Wentian did, that Ning Qi was True Man Tianjian, they recognized that Ning Qi was extraordinary. This True Martial Peach Fruit was evidence of that.
Up to today, after years of continuous cultivation, the Peach Fruit, having absorbed part of the essence of the Bright Fruit and the Enlightenment Tea Tree, had become an exceptional Exotic Fruit. Its effectiveness was even better than last year, able to strengthen the foundation and essence and explore the physical body.
One can imagine the reaction when those disciples receive the rewarded Peach Fruits at the end of the year competition.
The crowd was only not overly astonished because they were accustomed to it.
But to Li Ling and Lin Ruhua, it was still extremely impressive.
At this moment.
Jiang Baishan felt even more touched. He had watched Ning Qi grow up step by step. He didn’t care what Ning Qi gave; he was simply moved by the sentiment behind it.
Lin Ruhua was curious.
Even though it had only been a few days, with her cleverness, through observation and the attitudes of others, she could perceive that this ninth junior brother was not simple.
Ning Qi didn’t keep them in suspense.
He got up and went inside, then came out holding a small jade box.
As everyone’s gaze was drawn to it, the jade box opened, revealing a pair of green Mandarin Duck Jade Pendants in front of everyone. The ducks were vivid, as if alive. Ning Qi picked them up and handed them to Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua, saying solemnly:
"These are jade pendants I made myself. I wish for fifth senior brother and sister-in-law to fly side by side, united forever, and after traversing countless mountains and rivers, may everything remain as it is."
These words were meaningful, understood slightly by only Luo Wentian, who felt a subtle shock in his heart and then sighed.
Jiang Baishan was grateful and said:
"Thank you, Jiu, for your blessings and gift! We both really like it."
Ning Qi smiled gently:
"Since you like it, you should wear it close to your heart."
Jiang Baishan didn’t hesitate.
He took the Mandarin Duck Jade Pendant from Lin Ruhua’s hand and placed it on her right waist, while Lin Ruhua placed hers on Jiang Baishan’s left waist.
The crowd looked over.
The green light of the jade pendants enveloped the two in a faint glow, making Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua look like celestial lovers, envied only by Mandarin Ducks, not the Immortals, creating a tangible manifestation in that moment.
Moreover.
Upon wearing the Mandarin Duck Jade Pendants, they both felt rejuvenated, as if their bodies were crystal clear. When they exchanged glances, they saw the amazement in each other’s eyes and realized the jade pendants were not just beautiful, but rare treasures.
Ning Qi felt relieved.
These jade pendants were, of course, not simple.
After Ning Qi detected the alliance between the Southern Border and the Demon Sect, he felt a sense of crisis. He wasn’t worried about his own safety, but concerned that the Demon Sect and Southern Border might target his martial brothers and sisters. After all, they couldn’t stay on True Martial Mountain forever; they would eventually go out.
Therefore, he kept researching ways for them to have some self-defense capabilities.
Among them, the Gang Essence Sword Species was one direction.
It could store a part of Ning Qi’s Gang Qi and Sword Intent for an explosive release. Although it lacked the power of heaven and earth, it could still withstand some of the Celestial Human Realm without issue. This idea was naturally good, but very difficult to achieve. It was nearly impossible to preserve Gang Qi for long. But Ning Qi drew from the principle of condensing the Sword Pill in the Virtual Sword Pill Dissolution Technique and devised a way to condense the Sword Species externally.
But he encountered the biggest problem.
There was no suitable carrier.
If Ning Qi was present, the Gang Essence could naturally transform endlessly, but once it was detached, it couldn’t last. This was an unchangeable nature.
The turning point came after defeating the Heart Inquiry Sword.
Inquiring Sword Pavilion sent over numerous compensations, and Ning Qi discovered a peculiar treasure ore among them, referred to by the Inquiring Sword Pavilion as Spirit Concentration Stone, which could seal the Gang Essence Sword Species within it. With this, Ning Qi finally created this Secret Technique.
By doing this, combining with Ning Qi’s Sword Intent, it could explode in times of crisis.
In addition.
Ning Qi could more or less sense the location of the jade pendant holders, and the jade pendants also had the effect of calming the mind.
Knowing that Jiang Baishan and others were going to leave soon, Ning Qi first made a pair of Mandarin Duck Jade Pendants. As for the other martial brothers, those could be made a few days later.
With this interlude.
The slightly melancholy atmosphere was instantly diluted.
The future is unpredictable, so it’s better to cherish the present.
Amidst the joyful laughter, Lin Ruhua gradually integrated into the group. Ye Qinghe whispered to her non-stop, bringing up many of Jiang Baishan’s embarrassing moments, like when he was almost ’chopped on the arm by Lin Ruhua’ and was constantly teased about it in the past.
The two didn’t really know each other until they fought, became entangled along the way, and after surviving life and death situations together, their relationship slowly changed until they developed mutual affection.
But it was clear.
Lin Ruhua wasn’t the docile and gentle type of girl. She had tried to dig out Jiang Baishan’s eyes and cut his tongue several times before.
Everyone listened with glee, clicking their tongues.
Li Ling couldn’t help but shrink his neck:
"If I were to find a Dao companion in the future, she’d have to be a gentle and lovely girl."
Ye Qinghe smacked the back of his head, laughing and scolding:
"You cheeky little devil, you’re still so young and already thinking about Dao companions. Clearly, your usual workload is too light. I’ll have to tell the master to give you more. Besides, are you saying your fifth sister-in-law is too fierce?"
Confronted with Lin Ruhua’s half-smiling gaze, Li Ling immediately cowered and quickly hid behind Ning Qi.
The laughter was even more joyful.
Jiang Baishan gave a helpless look.
After the laughter.
Ning Qi looked up at the sky; the moon was full, and the peach party was coming to an end.
"Tiansheng, bring out the tea."
The White Ape understood and immediately turned and went inside.
The Enlightenment Tea had been brewing for so long that its spirit had completely infused into the tea.
Upon hearing this.
Everyone’s eyes lit up, filled with anticipation.
Their prior knowledge that the Enlightenment Tea Tree had grown a few leaves made them believe they’d have no chance to taste it today, not expecting Ning Qi to save it for the finale.
Of course.
They all knew that the Enlightenment Tea Tree was cultivated by Ning Qi’s efforts alone. Even if Ning Qi hadn’t brought it out, they would have understood and had no other thoughts.
Soon.
The White Ape carefully walked out, holding a cup of tea, afraid of breaking it.
This teacup was made of white jade, having a special function of concealing the tea’s distinct fragrance.
At this moment, Ning Qi uncovered the lid.
An overwhelmingly rich aroma immediately burst forth, lingering at everyone’s nostrils.
Just by smelling the tea.
Everyone felt a bit heady, as if they were about to enter enlightenment.
Indeed, it was an illusion, merely a precursor to entering a strange state after suddenly being exposed to the tea fragrance.
"Good tea!" Luo Wentian exclaimed.
Lin Ruhua also showed surprise. As a daughter of the Vice Sect Leader of the Demon Sect, she had seen countless good things, but it was her first time encountering Enlightenment Tea. She had heard rumors about the Enlightenment Tea Tree, never expecting to see one on True Martial Mountain.
Jiang Baishan whispered, telling her that Ning Qi had cultivated it from a Dead Species. She found it even more incredible.
This ninth junior brother was overly mysterious.
Her curiosity only grew.
Ning Qi smiled and said:
"Let this tea be the blessing for all my senior and junior brothers and sisters; may your martial journey be prosperous and smooth."
He lifted his cup of tea.
He, too, was a bit expectations, wondering if it might be beneficial for him, but he had a calm mindset. Even if it wasn’t helpful, he wouldn’t mind. The process of cultivating the Enlightenment Tea Tree had already brought him significant insights.
Especially observing the young sprouts breaking through the soil, deepening his understanding of the Path of Life, ready to manifest in suitable moments in the future.
The rest of them were even more eager.
After expressing words of blessing.
Everyone raised their cups and drank it all in one go.