Ch 49: Departure

Wang Feng stood quietly beside the Coiling Dragon Stream, eyes closed, the gentle sound of flowing wind harmonizing with his calm breathing. He was waiting for Xia Ning Chang.

It had been two days since his return from Su Mu's manor. Today marked the day they would depart together to retrieve the Nine Yin Foundation Dew.

During those two days, he had focused solely on cultivation, pushing his strength to the peak of the Stage Four Qi Sea Realm. Which came relatively easily—requiring less than eighty Spirit Stones to complete—thanks to his stable foundation and heightened state of comprehension.

Afterward, he had paid a visit to Meng Wu Ya to express his gratitude. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he recalled the old man's gruff voice—laced with concern, masked by mock irritation.

— Flashback starts —

"What the hell were you thinking!" Meng Wu Ya bellowed, slamming the doors of the Treasurer Hall shut and sealing it from any outside observation. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to reveal that spatial ability of yours!?"

Wang Feng winced, the force of the old man's anger hitting him squarely—but beneath the fury, he could sense the unmistakable undercurrent of concern.

"No, of course you didn't think it through, did you?" Meng Wu Ya growled.

Wang Feng looked away, like a scolded child, guilt creeping into his expression. It was the first time he had ever seen such raw emotion—concern—on Meng Wu Ya's face. And it was directed at him.

"Be grateful," the old man continued, voice low and dangerous, "that my intimidation alone was enough to make those Elder Hall dogs back off. If even a hint of suspicion had fallen on you—if they'd started connecting the sudden appearance and disappearance of a damned hammer to your name—"

He paused, eyes narrowing, voice thick with warning.

"—they would've hunted you down like a dog, all under the noble banner of righteousness."

— Flashback Ends —

It was the first time Meng Wu Ya's words had genuinely warmed Wang Feng's heart. In that outburst of frustration and concern, he saw it clearly—the old man now regarded him as someone worth protecting… perhaps even like a son.

After soothing the old man's temper, Wang Feng expressed his gratitude and returned to his cabin, spending the remaining time stabilizing his cultivation in preparation for the journey ahead.

Yet, amidst the calm of those days, another event occurred—one that left him both speechless and strangely eager.

———————————————————

4) Help Xia Ning Chang get Nine Yin Foundation Dew

[Description: The Nine Yin Foundation Dew—a rare condensation of pure Yin energy—can be absorbed by cultivators, particularly females and those aligned with Yin Qi. Revered as a Heaven and Earth treasure, it enhances innate talent, fortifies one's cultivation foundation, and provides a tremendous surge of Qi, often sufficient to trigger significant breakthroughs.

This Heaven and Earth Treasure is about to appear. Help Xia Ning Chang with getting this treasure.]

[Reward: True Yang Spirit Milk]

[True Yang Spirit Milk: An alternate Yang Energy Heaven and Earth Treasure for True Yin Essence (Next Stage of Nine Yin Foundation Dew)]

———————————————————

Wang Feng had received the mission just the night before. Though unexpected, the news was far from unwelcome. All he needed to do was assist Xia Ning Chang in obtaining the Nine Yin Foundation Dew—something he would have done regardless—and in return, he would be rewarded with an even greater Yang-attributed treasure.

...

Wang Feng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze shifting toward a distant presence. From the swaying bough of a high tree branch, Xia Ning Chang emerged gracefully into view. A smile tugged at his lips as he watched her approach.

As she drew nearer, Xia Ning Chang's eyes widened in surprise. Though Wang Feng didn't appear drastically different at first glance, the subtle changes in him were impossible to ignore.

A faint blush colored her cheeks as her gaze swept over his lean, perfectly sculpted frame. An air of quiet dominance radiated from him—refined, yet unmistakably powerful.

But what truly startled her was the overwhelming surge of Yang energy emanating from his body. It was unlike anything she had sensed before.

Her master's words echoed in her mind: "That Wang brat has undergone a complete transformation. Don't be too shocked when you see him."

Now, standing before him, she understood exactly what he meant.

She swallowed nervously before offering a greeting. "H-Hello, Junior Brother Feng… How have you been?" she asked, steadying her voice as best she could.

Wang Feng smiled warmly. "I'm well. Thank you for asking, Senior Sister~"

Though he had a good idea of what might have happened, he asked regardless, a hint of curiosity in his tone. "But... where's Old Meng? Wasn't he supposed to join us?" His eyes scanned their surroundings, feigning a search for any trace of Meng Wu Ya.

Xia Ning Chang froze, her cheeks instantly turning crimson. She stammered, "M-Master said… he remembered something important! Yes, something urgent! So he… rushed off to handle it!"

Wang Feng chuckled inwardly, clearly amused by her flustered response, but chose not to press the matter. "Alright then," he said with a smirk, "shall we get going?"

He wasn't in any rush to tease her just yet. After all, they had several days of travel ahead—plenty of time for conversation.

Xia Ning Chang blinked, momentarily surprised, then let out a subtle sigh of relief, thankful that he seemed to have accepted her excuse. Still, guilt tugged at her—after all, she had slipped her master a sleeping drug strong enough to keep him unconscious for at least four or five days.

Without another word, she nodded, and in the next instant, both figures vanished from the spot, their silhouettes blurring as they activated the Shadow Phantom Steps.

.....

As Wang Feng and Xia Ning Chang departed the sect, a group of disciples hurried toward Xie Hong Chen's courtyard. Breathless and anxious, they quickly reported the news of Wang Feng's departure.

Hearing this, Xie Hong Chen's eyes gleamed with a cold light.

"Good… very good. Wang Feng, now that you've stepped beyond the sect's walls, let's see who dares protect you..." he mused darkly, his gaze sharpening as he turned to the gathered disciples. "What about the one who left with him?"

The disciples exchanged uncertain glances before one of them stepped forward, scratching his head. "About that, Senior Brother... we're not sure who she is. All we could gather is that she's in the Separation and Reunion Realm."

Xie Hong Chen's expression tightened, a trace of wariness flickering through his eyes. He pondered for a moment, his mind already weaving a plan—when a disciple abruptly entered the courtyard and handed him a summons from the Great Elder.

His face darkened.

With a barely concealed grimace, he dismissed the other disciples and quickly composed himself. Moments later, he turned and made his way toward the Great Elder's residence, his expression calm but his thoughts anything but.

....

Wang Feng and Xia Ning Chang left the sect and made their way to Black Wind Town, where they procured two sturdy spirit horses for the journey ahead. As they rode at a steady pace through the wilderness, Wang Feng turned to her and asked, "Senior Sister, you haven't told me yet—where exactly will the Nine Yin Foundation Dew appear?"

Xia Ning Chang's eyes flickered as if recalling something important, a faint blush blooming on her cheeks. "Ah… I forgot to mention. It's located in Black Wind Mountain…"

Wang Feng raised an eyebrow at the revelation, his thoughts swirling. "So many secrets hidden in that mountain..." he mused silently, shaking his head as he quickly began estimating the time and distance to their destination.

"We still have five days, so it must be deep within the region, right?" he asked, curious.

Xia Ning Chang nodded. "Yes. It will appear beyond the Core Region—right at the edge of the Inner Region of Black Wind Mountain."

Wang Feng's expression turned contemplative. While there was a commonly used entrance to the Black Wind Mountain near their sect, it wasn't the only access point. After all, the mountain range was a vast, naturally formed landscape shared by several nearby sects for training and resource gathering.

In truth, Black Wind Mountain was massive, stretching across more than 7,000 miles. Its zones were divided as follows: the Core Region spanned roughly 2,000 miles in diameter, the Inner Region encompassed another 3,000, and the Outer Region covered the remaining 2,000 miles.

Previously, Wang Feng had only explored the outskirts of the Core Region—a mere fraction of the mountain's 5,500-mile radius. Even so, he had already encountered a high-tier Tier 3 beast there.

Beyond that lay a heavily restricted zone, strictly off-limits to ordinary disciples due to the dangerous concentration of powerful monster beasts. Even cultivators in the True Element Realm would struggle to traverse the area without facing considerable peril.

To reach the dew's location, they had two options: navigate through the Core Region directly, risking potential encounters with formidable beasts, or take the longer route around it, avoiding unnecessary conflict.

For now, they opted for the latter course. Mounted on their spirit horses—horses whose speed and vitality were enhanced by the ambient Qi—they pressed on steadily toward their destination, the landscape unfolding under the waning glow of the afternoon sun.

Thanks to the abundant Qi in the atmosphere, even ordinary animals were healthier and more robust than usual. Once these creatures absorbed Qi from their surroundings, they began their own cultivation journey, slowly transforming into formidable monster beasts.

The two traveled swiftly, the horses' hooves echoing against the mountain terrain until they reached the midpoint of the Outer Region. At that point, the horses came to an abrupt halt, their bodies trembling as they refused to go any further, sensing the oppressive monster aura that pervaded the air. Wang Feng observed this with mild curiosity, noting how the horses' reluctance seemed almost instinctual, as if a deep-rooted fear was compelling them to retreat.

'Is this some sort of suppression? Perhaps a bloodline-related fear?' he wondered silently, his mind processing the phenomenon. He and Xia Ning Chang dismounted, watching as the horses quickly turned and galloped back down the mountain, eager to flee.

"Let's go, Junior Brother Wang," Xia Ning Chang said, snapping Wang Feng out of his musings. He nodded in response, and the two of them strengthened their bodies with their Qi before swiftly moving forward.

They pressed through the Outer Region in a blur of speed, covering the distance in a mere 6 to 7 hours. With the time spent on horseback, they had been traveling for about 13 to 14 hours since leaving the sect.

Though they could have reached their destination more quickly, they intentionally conserved their Qi, saving it for moments when they might need to fight or evade a potential danger.

Throughout the day, they made rapid progress, pausing only at night to rest and engage in casual conversation. Their discussions often revolved around cultivation techniques and their personal progress.

Along the way, they encountered numerous monster beasts and even a few other cultivators. However, they skillfully avoided unnecessary confrontations, though they were forced to fight off some persistent beasts that pursued them.

They also stumbled upon several valuable herbs, including a cluster of Royal Solar Flowers—Low-Earth Grade herbs with a potent Yang attribute.

Two days later, as they neared their destination, Wang Feng broke the silence with a question that caught Xia Ning Chang off guard, causing her to blush and avert her gaze.

"Hey, Senior Sister Xia, do you think Old Meng has finished his work by now?"

Xia Ning Chang was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected question. "Uh… I don't know…" she stammered, her face heating up as her thoughts wandered. Master probably hasn't even woken up yet.

Wang Feng's eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched her flustered reaction.

"Oh, I'm relieved then," he said with exaggerated relief.

Xia Ning Chang paused, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Relieved? What are you worried about, Junior Brother?"

Wang Feng grinned, his tone teasing. "Oh, nothing~ Just worried that Old Meng might have been drugged or poisoned by someone," he said, drawing out the word someone with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Xia Ning Chang froze, her face blanching as her eyes widened in shock. She immediately recognized the playful gleam in Wang Feng's eyes and felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. How does Junior Brother know about it!? Her mind raced in turmoil, unable to come up with a coherent response.

"Wha—what are you talking about, Junior Brother?" she stuttered, her voice rising in pitch.

Wang Feng's grin widened as he stepped closer, his voice lowering to a teasing whisper. "Hmm, Senior Sister~ Old Meng didn't have any emergency work, did he?" His face was just inches from hers.

Xia Ning Chang's breath hitched as she felt the warmth of his breath against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. She took a step back, avoiding his gaze, her mind spinning. After a moment of contemplation, she sighed and muttered, her fingers nervously tapping together, "Ah... well... Uh... N-No..."

Wang Feng's eyes gleamed with quiet amusement as if he already knew the truth but was enjoying watching her squirm. "So…?" he prompted, urging her to reveal the truth.

Xia Ning Chang's face turned an even deeper shade of crimson, and after a brief pause, she finally admitted in a soft, almost inaudible voice, "I… I drugged him with a sleeping powder that would make him fall asleep for a few days…"

Wang Feng couldn't suppress a hearty laugh as he watched the steam practically rising from her flushed face. "Hmm... And why exactly did you do that?" he asked, his voice laced with playful curiosity.

Xia Ning Chang turned even redder, retreating a step as she shook her head. Frustrated, she puffed out her cheeks and, with a huff, activated her movement technique, vanishing into the distance with surprising speed.

Wang Feng chuckled and quickly followed suit, calling after her, "Hey~ wait for me!"

After their exchange, Xia Ning Chang gave him the cold shoulder, ignoring any further questions or attempts at conversation from Wang Feng. Her stubborn silence only seemed to amuse him further, though he decided to let her be for now.

They continued their journey in relative silence, racing through the mountain terrain until, by the end of the day, they finally arrived at the area where the Nine Yin Foundation Dew was expected to appear.