Chapter 8: Xiao Ning'er

When I proceed to talk to the figure I could sense a golden spiritualists soul force sweeping across.I accelerated and picked up the figure and moved towards west in an instant using the new movement techniques. It's ridiculously fast.I am away like for a mile or two just by running into the forest and it all happened in an instant and the fact that I could map out my surroundings even in this fast motion perfectly in my vision is other thing thankful to my body's adaptability and growth.

With this speed I could just poke around an enemy and stay back to original position while him being turned into meat sieve or something. Anyway the girl in hand is covered with my soul force or else probably her limbs and head will lose itself considering she hasn't reached Bronze rank itself..

After reaching a safe position devoid of any demon beasts nearby, I placed her onto the ground only for her to utter "...hhhappened now?" finishing her statement and looking bewildered by the change of scenery.

" You are ..silver rank cultivation..how??" Now she can't sense any soul force from me after the concealing techniques reinstated.

'I don't have any protagonist aura so that cultivator earlier might come searching here later. Most probably reasoning that a silver rank doesn't need to enter the training grounds other than to kill or kidnap people like dark guild or so...and I can't be seen with sacred family heir and women at low cultivation ranks can't easily broke realms at night so it is best to change into one but for that I need to convince her to act with me'

Looking at myself, I willed myself to transform into women. Quickly pulling over a mid length skirt I kept for emergencies from my interstitial ring (yes, I managed to create one using inscription and a metal infused with some space law energies after trying it over again and again) and putting it over. My attire also changed feminine. Looking at the flabbergasted Ning'er with surprises after surprises.I began to break the silence..

Me:"...So you don't know me right? Can we agree on it?"

Ning'er: " What no, I need an explanation Chen Tao, who are you? If you have such cultivation how did you manage to fool everyone over at academy? And now most importantly why are you a woman "

Me: " ...Why should I explain? what are you going to do about it.?"

Ning'er looking at me gained confidence for some reason," oh I will shout and activate the token and attract attention to reveal yourse....."

I interrupted her midspeech by releasing soul pressure and using my ethereal shield to cover her. " And what makes you think I can't finish you off before you do that ?" by holding her neck from back. By using my increased perception and speed I just vanished infront of her to reappear on her back. Now she can't move, I quietly released her storage ring and token from it.

She is once again flustered. I released her with sigh..

" It seems we have reached an impasse..."

After a dramatic silence and a long sigh, I continued,

" How about this, I will help you and you keep your mouth shut or I will probably have to use soul shackles to bound you to me?"

" ..Ok."

" Why are you trying to kill yourself?" I asked her.

Ning'er: " What do you mean by that?"

Me: " I mean why are you cultivating at night even after you leak such high quantity of yin qi from your body?. Aren't you in pain? I am probably sure looking by your leg movement your right foot is very painful to walk on just after cultivation right?

You have symptoms of Arctic disease.

If you have advanced to bronze rank coupled with your cold physique, you probably won't be dead if not for your peculier soul realm, but definitely bedridden for a long time loosing your better years to cultivate."

Xiao Ning: " ...Because of not wanting to be married to Shen Fei, that kind of person… In order to be in control of my own life, I practiced hard, trying non-stop to be strong. And I am finally about to reach bronze level… You tell me that my cultivation will fall, I will be bedridden or even death" She was sobbing by the end of it.

" You knowing about this means you can solve it right? Will you?"

" ....I can and I would if you would kindly introduce me as your family's servant for the next person coming here..If he were to ask you." After saying this, I applied a flawless illusion to make my face look slightly similar to a 20 year old maid of my family , 'I know being too handsome or beautiful is not that a servant should be capable of..that's only for the royal children. Exceptionally pretty faces among commoners does exist but they are more into pleasure business in glory city,

Come to think of it I should also visit that place for research purposes'.

Shortly after a gold ranked senior came towards us in a swift motion to surprise low level cultivators. 'Touche, cultivators and their mystic showoffs'

" You are lady of Winged Dragon Family, have you seen any suspicious activity lately. We sensed soul fluctuations of a high ranked cultivator in here. You should be careful and leave the assembly ground early.

And who is this.. " pointing at me he finally noticed the plain looking girl by the side.

" ...She is my valet." Xiao Ning replied. I held my head facing down.

He didn't reply and went off. "Let's go, this place will soon be closed off for checking. Meet me tommorow morning at class we will discuss what to do." I picked her up princess style and ran but this time slowly, to avoid the gaze of any search parties and after about 10 seconds or so we were back near the entrance and I followed her submitted our tokens ( tokens doesn't have any identifications only a tracking rune, so it was easy.) There were very few people since it's night time. After we reach outside walking to her stay, ( wealthy nobles renting out stay near the academy.),I asked "Why did you tried to touch my bosom during the ran back? Ning?"

She avoided my gaze and in a disappointed tone says " No just to confirm it's real thing. So you were a girl all along why dress up as a young master? That's the reason you were too handsome." The last part in a low voice.

"It's because I am not a girl in the first place. I am a man by birth and would like to keep it as it is. I just gain the ability to transform my physical body due to the cultivation techniques I practised. I transformed only to remove any connection to the Chen Tao young master, simply because people wouldn't usually associated gender change even while considering a disguise." After saying all this I gently put my thumb over head while transmitting a soul shackling inscription, the advanced and flawless version capable of restricting high level powerhouses in Draconic ruins realm.

She could feel my soul signature over over soul boundary forming a special net shaped inscription tightly bound. "What did you do?" She angrily demanded.

"What do you expect? I will conveniently explain everything about me to a stranger and rely on your kindness of heart to keep it a secret? Nah, I am not an idiot..

You have your goals.I have my secrets. I don't trust you for now.That's it. And don't bother trying to ask for help, the people in glory city won't be able to help you with that.

And also I could kill or torture you with a thought."

Leaving her standing, I merged into the shadows and went back to my dorm.

While resting for the night like my peers, I thought about my actions today.

"I could have transformed my body to a feminine form before starting cultivation to prevent exposing my identity, but in my excitement to gain knowledge, I didn't bother setting up a concealing array and just sat down, casually using a soul sweep to check for any dangers.

Then again, absorbing all those items, is better inside the training ground, as it's still the most secure place nearby. I can't just cultivate inside my dormitory, right?

I need to find a place to stay outside, and for that, I need a source of money."

....

Next morning, I arrived an hour earlier than classes would start and I could see Ms. Xiao Ning'er waiting for me. I set up my space and sat down.

".... My goal was to free from the shackles placed on me by Shen fei and for that I made a deal with the devil now he put another shackle over me." She came over and said in a bad mood.

I got straight to the point " You know about my other identity right. I will come near your stay in the evening. Invite me in like a friend or something..I don't want to mess with sacred family atleast for now."

Ning'er: " Why are you hiding your cultivation base?"

" Why do you think? I hate unwanted attention.It will only bring troubles. If genius weren't allowed to grow, what would any kind of prestige matter?"

Ning'er: " Cultivation is going against the heaven right? Why would you cultivate if you are afraid of trouble? "

" Now that's bullshit...I see you are also under influence of Nie Li's declaration.."

'What's with this cultivators and their short tempers.Now that I consider her as an ally it is ok to share more knowledge.'

"Xiao Ning'er, I consider you as my confident it's ok to share with you.

You know nothing about this world. Do you wish to know more about this world? "

Ning'er: " Confident you say, how come I feel like you are master ?"

Ignoring her, I put out a small illusion and concealment array disc I created with inscriptions, then briefly described the history of this world and higher realms present while not forgetting to using a shield. She was stunned by the scale of the world and realms I mentioned.

I asked, " You mentioned going against heaven right? Do you know right now you were also included in the destiny heaven arranged?

You know what happened yesterday, the seemingly bum looking Nie Li suddenly gained enlightment and had the bone to talk back to a major family's elder without a care for any repurcussions.

I sensed a temporal anomaly just before that, to know about it you need to know about the law energy I mentioned earlier which, probably only Ye Mo knows about in this city. After which he began to talk about information he is not supposed to know unless he have knowledge about ancient languages and books in the city library. I know about him over the years, and he is not remotely interested in reading such books for sure.

So I confirmed, it's either soul seize or reincarnation. Since he has small soul force of 5, it was pretty easy to do a scan of the temporal information infusing with his memory without him even knowing. And that got me a plethora of experiences and knowledge of these worlds and people only mentioned in the academy books which confirmed he is a reincarnator.

And yesterday, when I ran soul force to cover you up while running to a safe space, I also encountered a similar space time aura on you but not on your soul but on a localised spot over your back. Which meant you were also part of destiny heaven arranged for Nie Li. My involvement with you directly disrupted that destiny."

Ning'er in disbelief: "... Why do you sound as you are outside of heaven's influence? And how come you are also so knowledgeable? Are you also a reincarnator?.....what do you mean disrupt my destiny with Nie Li? Am I his supposed lover or something?"

" I have my ways.And No I am not like Nie Li that old pervert, I was born with 'heaven defying comprehension ability ', simply put any techniques or arts or anything I put my mind on, I could understand it perfectly and even improve upon. So I spent my earlier years effectively studying and enhancing techniques.So with my experiences, it was pretty easy to start the cultivation as soon as body is capable of it. You could investigate me. My profile is not difficult to obtain.

By disrupting the destiny means, beside me only Nie Li would be capable of identifying your problem. In the original timeline your destiny was to get bedridden or die since me meeting you at training grounds never happened and is inturn has something indirectly to do with Nie Li's action of hunting low level beasts. From the information I obtained, before glory city was destroyed, you ventured into a place called black devil forest running away from engagement and ended up as a mute and disfigured figure, living life as a ghost fighting alongside Nie Li, who you later meet and untimely die in one of his battles,very long before he attain his status as a high level cultivator and die. Interestingly he still doesn't know who that figure who fought for him.

In this timeline may be Nie Li would help you and get your support in making some efforts into his plans or whatever he is intended to do. No...you are not that lucky, you are not his lover, and that would be Ye Ziyun. He was staring at her all the time.

Considering that Nie Li didn't get into any conversation with me, I have been some not so important character or even ascended to higher realm way before glory city destroyed and may be dead since I was only present in his memories of orchid academy and not in his memories later in life."

Xiao Ning'er's eyes widen in shock, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"This... this can't be real...I have tried to defy my fate only to end up as a mute and disfigured figure, living life as a ghost, not even recognising even after death, untimely death..?"

She choked back a sob, her emotions overwhelming her.

" Why Ye Ziyun? Since childhood she had a better life, resources and no pressure from being forced to marry or anything and now even fate is helping her!!"

She looked at me as her only support while I spoke ,

"So I am your best bet there is, being with me will be your destiny in this life, since you know of secrets I intend to hide.

And about Ye Ziyun, don't be jealous, if it consoles you anything , think of her dating a 500 year old pervert if that ever where to happen."

She let out a chuckle abruptly stopping her sob she hold back.

" ....What about your seal in my soul." She asked flustered.

"...That will stay until you reach Legend ranked soul, as I have programmed it to be. And now Shoo, go away. Leave me alone." I noticed class being populated and stopped the illusion and return back to my usual self.

She left my seat going back to her thinking about all the new infos I presented her with.

...

The class resumes after teacher came everything was ok except for Ninger stealing glances at me which didn't go unnoticed by Ye Ziyun. In the afternoon I went for Alchemy guild. I obtained materials from alchemy guild for treatment of Ye Ziyun. I obviously recreated items using creation energy as I can't steal those rare and valuable items. The thing about creation energy is that the operations I could perform with creation energy is permitted only within the radius of 40 metres (increased with cultivation) around me. I would be creating a pill with the help of these ingredients, it would act as a catalyst which would enable me to treat her only once to solve the problem.

Now for the money, I set up a meeting with Yang Xin. I brought out an improved human meridian systems knowledge and soul force control technique, fire control technique based on the improved version. It had only 4 flaws which I intentionally left, compared to the 25 flaws one which is the best they have available at Alchemy guild and addressed them as items obtained from within a sealed storage ring that got re-auctioned at a cheaper rate which I bought 3 years before since I wanted one and to study it. It's seller was not able to unlock it.

Ofcourse the ring could be traced back to me but not the technique which I made up.

Yang Xin flirting :" Little brother you amaze me, with these items, pill quality will surely increase a few times over. Our reputation will also increase. I will be offering 500,000 for soul control technique and fire control technique and 200,000 demon spirit coins for Meridian structure study.How about it?.."

" Ah elder, no, Miss Yang Xin, don't try to exhort me. You can feel how good these are since I recited the first few parts, so it will give our association significant increase in revenue since cost of individual pill creation with decrease. And surely you just, 500,000 and 250,000 demon spirit coins for items that would return that much revenue in a day or two? What is this, cabbages or something you find everyday? You can't be thinking of swindling me just because I am not from a noble family and I am under your apprenticeship right?Business is Business. And I would like to add that this business is to remain confidential although you could inform President if you want, but no mentioning of any of this to any major families, if one would know, all would know and currently my family has certain pressure from one of them and I don't like to create more friction." I said with my innocent face.

" Ah, you are not fun little brother, why are you so different from your peers, you won't even get flustered by my teasing? Never mind, I was just testing you, the association will buy this item for 3,500,000 and 1,000,000 coins respectively. And considering your contributions and your flawless performance during last month I will recommend an early apprentice senior exam for you personally, which you can pass and get right to directly involved in pill production, and our dealings will be private. We will help your family by buying more alchemic items from them. "

" Thank you." I expressed my goodwill for her consideration.

With that the deal was complete and I got paid.

I later went to the 2 story apartment I was eyeing upon and directly paid upfront. It cost me 250,000 demon spirit coins including the city tax for the first 5 years. After everything was done and I went inside with some extra furnitures and accessories to make it more homly, that I purchased on the way.

After setting everything up, I drew flawless concealing, aura gathering, strengthening, regenerating inscriptions. I also ran a defense field rune between the walls and pillars for it to not collapse even under attack of a demigod realm power house. Now it's official, my house is officially the best defensive item in glory city against an attack second one is my mansion of my family since I did similar things back there. It took an hour.

After which I took out the copy of alchemic couldron, furnace and array from one of the best alchemic couldron in association and then the rare materials. Measured the Sunfire Petals carefully. Place them in the center of the cauldron where the energy is most concentrated.Observed the Twilight Orchid Leaves as they change color with infusion of soul force. Once they reach the perfect hue, add them to the cauldron. This ensures the potion's stability and smooth transformation.Finally the collected the Moonlit Lotus Dew drops from midnight was scattered over the mixture at defined intervals in the cauldron. These dewdrops act as a catalyst, initiating the conversion process. The pill is for conversion of excess yin for a yin physique girl and stabilize her yin yang balance by improving yin yang conversion when assisted by self or externally.

With everything done, I transformed to girl and changed my face to ordinary and went out. Finally I reached Xiao Ningers place after 10 minutes of walking. She saw me and took me in hand in hand.

We talked about a lot of things acting like long lost friends, for the servants to witness which I asked her to follow, as the medication is to happen at midnight, there is some time. Moreover any spying members for her family or sacred family can be found out.

Time reached near night after which she arranged the present servants to leave, we entered the room and closed the door. I began my work by writing a sound and soul force fluctuations concealing rune within with a lower grade aura gathering also added into mix.

"Take of your clothes and show me the bruises." I said.

She is blushing and taking her time to remove.

" Out with it, I am girl now why are you blushing for f***'s sake. Why are you making this more embarassing?"

She quickly removed down to her inners and I saw the bruises, one on the right leg and one on her chest. I gave her the pill I made.

She took it with apprehension and I did the improved Daoyin technique to her bruises.

I have cleared her qi veins and blockages along with guiding the blood flow to the affected regions after consuming the medicine.

She twitched many times saying that it was very itching and some pain. And after about an hour of operation with my silver realm soul force I have completely removed her problems. I also mentioned about the medication to prepare during the day about golden striped grass and imperial sky grass. Its needed since even though I have stabilised her yin qi and yang qi, I have provided the pill which is fundamentally made from my creation energy and now if she moved out of my range she wil still get the pain, bruises and unbalanced yin yang energy if she were to cultivate at night for some days again. So I extracted the energy back at will.

And used the prescribed medicinal plant prepared to create a solution in a specific ratio to drink.

I also made her reveal the seal of temporal demon spirit page and using LoHP I found out one of the flaws and exploiting it was able to extract the page back. I stored it in my ring.

After the treatment is done, I asked to send me the cultivation formula...

She gave the one and I took a look at it. I could already figure many of the flaws, but I used LoHP to optimise it to no flaws. I instructed her to listen: And mentioned all the flaws and made her to re iterate the formula with me.

" The formula is good and all, but it will only be helpfull till legend rank peak after which you won't be able to advance even after I optimised it. If you are planning to give it to your family just conceal the source. And it probably won't be a good idea now that a major family is securing your land and businesses, and since sacred family is probably having their spies inside your servant groups. From their operation it is also possible they have already booked some elders on to their side promising benefits, it won't be a wise move actually. Confide it with only your father but even he can't do anything for you unless some backlash is present, and with the way Nie Li is showing obvious hostility to Sacred family we can soon expect them to encounter trouble."

" Now about you, would you like to serve me from now on as my confident? "

Instead of answering that she asked me: "Do you have someone you romantically interested in? Are you into boys?"

" No I haven't felt attracted by male sex, but you are definitely first of the candidates I have in mind for a girlfriend. "

" I am upset that I am in your total control. First you want me as your confident then you propose me to become girlfriend, you heartless bastard...

(..After a moment of silence..)

If you seriously consider it, I don't mind..."

Her sound almost becoming a whisper at the end.

"It is, then..

But then we have to deal with your engagement. Although Nie Li will move against sacred family, he doesn't have much of a reason to assist you other than the from the kindness of his heart or to get something he wanted. I will help you however I can."

" Ah one more thing.From Nie Li's memory, there's an important event about to take place. Chen Linjians ruins exploration party will take place in about 2 weeks from now, it will be under disguise of training at mountain valley..So Zi Yun came in the original timeline you should pay attention."