Chapter 123
Following the connection of her exhale upward, Chu Ning couldn’t help but freeze in place.
What a handsome man!
A flawless face, a body as if meticulously sculpted.
Even with just his profile visible, it was something Chu Ning felt she couldn’t have conjured up even in her wildest fantasies.
But alongside her awe at his appearance, an even greater confusion arose.
Wasn’t the Qinglian Sect supposed to consist only of women?
Who was this man?
And why was he so… intimate with the sect master?
Though Chu Ning was already past thirty, due to her unique body temperature and the curse-like rumors surrounding her, she remained untouched—despite her beauty far surpassing the so-called “village belle” by miles.
That didn’t mean she was completely ignorant, however.
Having spent years hunting in the mountains, she had stumbled upon many scenes of animals mating during the spring, when all things revived and multiplied.
Bears, tigers, wolves, boars—she’d seen them all.
So, she knew exactly what a man had down there.
And now, the sect master—who, upon their first meeting, had sat loftily on her high throne, exuding nobility, elegance, and an icy, untouchable aura like the peak of a snow-capped mountain—was currently exhaling before a man.
Not just that, but in the most humiliating posture possible: on her knees!
Wasn’t the sect master a powerful cultivator at the Divine Transformation Realm?!
Chu Ning’s worldview shattered in that instant.
While the nervous newcomer was reeling, Nan Gongling remained unfazed.
She simply spoke softly, “Master.”
Ning Chen had recently removed the wind chimes at the entrance—partly because he found them noisy, and partly to heighten the “surprise” whenever the women encountered each other.
Additionally, the Locked Demon Tower had no warning formations for visitors, and the jade plate made no sound. Thus, Liu Ruyan, fully immersed in her task, hadn’t noticed their arrival.
Only upon hearing Nan Gongling’s voice did she snap back to reality.
Seeing her disciple, she felt a flicker of embarrassment—but nothing too severe.
After all these years, the two of them had become accustomed to working together in this place.
However, when Liu Ruyan spotted Chu Ning behind Nan Gongling, her expression changed, and she nearly lost her balance.
She still had some dignity to maintain in front of ordinary disciples.
But just as she tried to rise, Ning Chen’s large hand seized her silky white hair and yanked her back down harshly.
An unruly dog must be disciplined with a firm tug on its leash.
“Mm—!”
Liu Ruyan choked back a gasp, nearly retching from the sudden force.
Tears welled up in her eyes from the reflex.
Though torn, in the end, her master’s command outweighed her pride as the sect master. With flushed cheeks, she suppressed her shame and continued her task.
“Eldest Senior Brother,” Nan Gongling greeted Ning Chen, her voice shedding its usual steadiness for a tone laced with affection and eagerness.
Seeing her, Ning Chen’s lips curled slightly.
“Your master will need a while longer. Find a place to sit,” he said gently.
His attitude was noticeably warmer toward her than with the other women.
It couldn’t be helped.
Unlike those born with innate talents, Nan Gongling’s current abilities were entirely his doing.
Her Divine Ability awakened because of him.
Her Sun-Moon Dragon Bloodline mutated due to his influence.
The sense of accomplishment from raising her to this level was something none of the other women could compare to.
Chu Ning, however, couldn’t wrap her head around it.
Wasn’t the eldest senior sister the sect master’s chief disciple?
How could there be an “eldest senior brother” above her?
And if this man really was her senior brother, then what did that make his relationship with the sect master…?
—Hiss!
…
“Understood, Eldest Senior Brother.”
Nan Gongling paid no attention to Chu Ning’s reaction. From the moment she entered, her focus had already shifted.
She stepped lightly toward the bed, removed her shoes, and climbed onto it. Moving behind Ning Chen, she extended her delicate hands and began massaging his shoulders.
Due to years of wielding a sword, Nan Gongling’s fingertips bore thin calluses, making her touch firm and precise.
Even without spiritual energy, her technique was perfect—just the right amount of pressure to soothe.
Ning Chen leaned back naturally, sinking into the comfort.
His gaze flicked toward Chu Ning, who stood stiffly like a subordinate.
Tall, with smooth wheat-colored skin.
Emerald-green pupils, bold eyebrows, deep-set features—hinting at an exotic charm.
Her figure was excellent—around a D-cup, surpassing Nan Gongling’s.
Hmm, a type I haven’t encountered before—like a female general.
It was a shame her nervous demeanor ruined her natural aura, making her seem timid.
But overall, from the perspective of aesthetic diversity, she was on par with the top-tier beauties who usually surrounded him.
Yes, this was the sheer volume of information Ning Chen gathered in a single glance.
After seeing enough beauties, one developed a sharp eye for these things.
Ning Chen raised a brow. “You brought someone with you today?”
She’d never played matchmaker before.
Nan Gongling explained Chu Ning’s situation in full.
Ning Chen nodded in understanding.
A Detection Art activated.
[Chu Ning]. [Identity: Outer Disciple of Qinglian Sect]. [Age: 30]. [Cultivation: Qi Refining, 7th Layer].Thirty years old and only at Qi Refining? Her talent must be terrible.
He scanned further.
[Talent 1: Sword Mastery (Blue Grade)]. [Constitution: None]. [Divine Ability: Nether Furnace Devourer (Red Grade, Innate Ability, Incomplete Awakening. The internal organs nurture innate fire essence, akin to an endless furnace capable of incinerating all things that approach the wielder and absorbing their residual energy. Highly susceptible to emotional influence.)].Another red-grade ability?
Ning Chen’s eyebrows lifted.
“System, are red-grade abilities some kind of common cabbage now?” he grumbled internally.
In most of the Twelve Sects, there might not even be one person with such a talent.
Yet here they were, popping up one after another around him.
[Host, individuals with high aptitude naturally possess great fortune. Your current Supreme Sun-Body is peerless in this world. By anchoring yourself in the Qinglian Sect, you bring it immense luck, attracting countless opportunities.]. [Though you cannot leave seclusion, these opportunities will come to you through the people around you.].Ah, I see.
It was like celestial mechanics in his past life—the greater the mass, the stronger the gravitational pull, drawing in surrounding celestial bodies.
Continuing to read, his expression suddenly shifted.
[Special Condition: A seal is detected within the body. Further details require unsealing.]. [Beauty Score: 96].A seal?
This description… It’s exactly like Danyu Ruo’s panel back then!
Holy shit!
Is this woman the second holder of the Five Elements Spirit?!
And her innate ability—Nether Furnace Devourer—was clearly fire-attribute.
It’s only been a few months, and the second one is already delivered to me?
Suppressing his shock, Ning Chen withdrew his gaze.
“Innate Divine Ability—Nether Furnace Devourer.”
He explained its general functions calmly, maintaining his usual composed demeanor.
If he had to describe it, this ability was like a perfected, immortal version of a fire-based North Star Divine Art—absorbing energy through combustion.
…