Chapter 4, The Savior

Hong Ning shook her head in confusion, her mind filled with unanswered questions. According to Zhong Xian, she and he were indeed acquainted, yet she had no recollection of this deity in her memory. When had she ever met with any Zhong Tian Wang to see him?

One, two, three! Counting silently in her heart, she felt that the time was about right. Hong Ning nimbly leaped up; this time she was already in shallow water, so she quickly jumped onto the shore

Hearing the thunder from the sky, the evil dragon was indeed frightened, instinctively letting go of Hong Ning, quickly bowing its head, curling its body into a heap, and no longer daring to advance.

Half a day passed, and Hong Ning finally exhausted her magical power, while the thunder also weakened

The weather was warm, yet a faint chill arose from the bottom of the pond. Hong Ning slowly descended into the water. Although she had witnessed them capturing demons countless times before, she had only ever played a supporting role. Strictly speaking, this was her first time taking center stage, and she felt uncertain. Coupled with the fact that the last incident at the bottom of the pond had been too perilous, she was already on edge. The image of that evil dragon lingered in her mind, and as she entered the water again, she couldn't help but shiver, nearly choking on the water.

It is eerily quiet

A young man stood at the cloud's edge, his splendid attire dancing with the wind, exuding remarkable elegance. Upon closer inspection, his features were strikingly refined, with expressive phoenix-like eyes. Two young women, each possessing a beauty akin to flowers, stood gracefully to his left and right.

Red凝奇怪: "The Heavenly King?"

"If I could avoid sleep, I would have long since become an immortal," Zhong Xian did not mind her candidness and turned to Wen Xin, "Your dedication to cultivation is quite sincere. Although it may not necessarily lead to ascension in the flesh, if you continue to cultivate in this manner, you will surely be able to enter the ranks of immortals in the future"

The sword flew into the air, only to seemingly collide with an invisible wall, and was then bounced back to the ground

A soft golden light illuminated the left dragon horn

The original choice of this dangerous method was to seal it, not wanting to disrupt its cultivation. Now, seeing this little creature actively pleading for mercy, Hong Ning suddenly feels a pang of compassion and sighs: "You forcibly bind the souls of those people to cultivate the spirit pearl, would you be willing to release them?"

Fifteen, the moon rises in the east, hanging over the mountain peak, resembling a jade disc, its clear light spreading across the ground, making the mountains appear even more desolate and tranquil

Hong Ning was already prepared; she rolled on the spot to evade and deftly scooped up the demon-revealing mirror that had been placed on the shore, holding it close to her chest

Parting from the deities, the brocade gently brushes against the embroidered robe, as I walk towards the celestial library.

A person confronts a dragon

Hong Ning then turned to Zhong Xian and said, "Cultivation is not easy; if you could seal it away and no longer come out to harm others, that would be for the best"

What sound? Hong Ning had not yet reacted when the surroundings had already returned to silence

By cultivating the spiritual pearl with the essence of a person, one can greatly enhance their spiritual attainment. The dragon, reluctant to retreat, was about to advance and commit evil deeds, yet it feared that she might truly summon divine thunder, causing it to hesitate, shaking its head and swaying its tail in indecision.

Wen Xin rose and said: "It is getting late, Bai Ling must conceal her powers to avoid being detected by that wicked dragon"

However, the evil dragon looked down at her for a moment, then slowly retreated back into the water

Seeing her relaxed expression, Wenxin finally felt at ease and waved his sleeve to conceal his figure

Hong Ning, aware of her misstep, dared not speak further

She has arrived. Hong Ning focused her mind and spirit, intently gazing at the surface of the water

There is no other way besides this; one cannot simply grab someone to lure it. Wen Xin comforted: "The cursed dragon feeds on humans and is most sensitive to life energy. Shortly, you will enter the water to lure it up, hold a mirror to it, and recite the incantation. This may allow you to hold it for a while. Before you find that bell in Bai Ling, I will go into hiding and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will not reveal myself."

Not eaten by the dragon? Hearing a familiar voice, Hong Ning finally opened her eyes in shock and fear, realizing that she was still standing in place, with Wen Xin looking at her anxiously, a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead.

Zhong Xian's expression was not good: "I have not yet attained the status of a celestial being"

In front of me stood a copper bell, more than a person's height, with an ancient and elegant shape, exuding auspicious energy and shining with golden light

She was still pondering this when the fierce dragon opposite her grew impatient and suddenly shook its head from side to side

At the edge of the Jade Liquid Pool, he instructed the two women to stay behind and walked alone onto the winding bridge

Jin Xiu also smiled and said: "It is merely the God of Sin, the King of the Northern Realm is safe and sound."

Zhong Xiandao: "A brief nap, merely four or five decades."

The radiance faded, and the Evil Dragon Pool returned to its original state, calm and undisturbed, with a full moon serenely hanging in the sky

If all goes well tonight, it will come out to absorb the essence of the moon

Hong Ning was taken aback and said: "Thank you for your rescue, esteemed immortal."

It is better to return early regarding certain matters in the Qingjun Palace

At the very moment she closed her eyes, a thunderous sound suddenly erupted in her ears, leaving her dizzy and disoriented, and she could even distinctly feel the tremors of the ground beneath her feet

The Emperor is in the Heavenly Book Pavilion, having just mentioned the revered deity, so please hurry inside. The voice was exceptionally melodious, belonging to a woman behind the King of the Northern Realm, dressed in pure white garments, her appearance beautiful, with a hint of natural charm subtly evident in her delicate features

The golden light initially flickered like a tiny firefly for about ten times, then suddenly surged several times in intensity, radiating brilliance and becoming exceedingly dazzling, illuminating the surroundings as if it were broad daylight

The Evil Dragon Pool reflects a cold moon and a clear sky, as if there is another world beneath it. Two individuals sit cross-legged on the shore conversing, while only Bai Ling lies on her back in the water gazing at the moon, lost in her thoughts.

"Very well," Zhong Xian raised her hand to tuck the snake into her sleeve, then yawned again, "I am going back to sleep, and I hope to see you again when I wake up next time"

This wicked dragon can also resort to tricks

Hong Ning wore a pained expression on her face

It is peaceful and conducive to sleep? Hong Ning herself is not particularly interested in the path of immortality, nor is she afraid of his anger: "Since you are here to manage the land and the mountain gods, it would be better to sleep less, lest important matters be neglected"

In the distant sky, a patch of auspicious clouds is flying in.

Above, the clear sky faintly carries the sound of distant thunder

In the distance, witnessing this scene, Wenxin slowly sheathed his sword

Fortunately, nothing happened," Wen Xin sighed deeply, looking at Hong Ning, "Do you recognize this immortal?"

Zhong Xianxiao: "Heavenly God King, weren't you the one who accompanied him to the meeting back then? I almost didn't recognize you just now." Perhaps due to extreme fatigue, without waiting for Hong Ning to ask further, he sank down with that bell, and the water of the pond automatically parted around them, then closed up again.

The little snake keeps nodding its head

The Golden Hall stands on a high platform, with exquisite towers and pavilions, celestial sounds echoing, and fragrant mist swirling. Beside the Jade Liquid Pool, several lotus flowers stand gracefully, radiating brilliant light

It was probably due to his presence that Hong Ning suddenly felt warm, no longer overthinking, and her courage grew: "I'm fine, you should still hide. When it comes out, quickly go find that clock."

A person is still standing on the bronze bell

The dragon's body was as thick as a water barrel, its scales trembling in pieces. Hong Ning was so startled that goosebumps appeared all over her body. She immediately raised the demon-revealing mirror in front of her chest and began to chant incantations.

Hong Ning let out a gentle breath, but then became anxious. Bai Ling had gone to its old lair to search for the precious divine bell. If it were to return now, it might very well run into Bai Ling. Even if Bai Ling was not afraid of it, tonight's operation would be in vain, and it would let Hong Ning know that the three were after the divine bell. It would be even more difficult to lure it out for sealing.

What is there to be afraid of? The voice is faint, yet much gentler than usual

Hong Ning lowered her head to look at the mirror in her hand. This was a demon-revealing mirror forged with magical power, which she had used before and was therefore not unfamiliar with. She nodded and said, "I understand"

A flash of golden light passed by, yet it was the demon-revealing mirror

The evil dragon had already determined that there was no one around, emboldened, it flew out of the water and landed on the shore. It was seen to be two to three zhang long, its scales and claws gleaming in the moonlight, surrounded by a faint black mist. Before Hong Ning could catch her breath, it bared its fangs and claws and lunged at her. After several misses, it simply coiled its body, encircling her in the middle, and then, with great satisfaction, drew its body in.

A moment of silence

Hong Ning waved her hand

The surface of the pond is calm and unmarked, reflecting a round white jade wall.

Wen Xin humbly said: "Thank you for your guidance, esteemed one"

This divine bell was originally a heavenly artifact, capable of being large or small. Now, it has been shrunk by the wicked dragon and placed on its horn. No wonder Bai Ling has not returned for a long time, as the treasure is not in the cave at all, but on its body!

Wen Xin chuckled softly and helped her up: "Do not be afraid, although I may be elusive, I am still keeping an eye on you."

How long have you been asleep, Your Excellency

Red condensation is unexpected

What is that? Hong Ning sensed something unusual, feeling puzzled and uneasy

Bai Ling responded softly, her body gradually becoming transparent, disappearing into the water

The splendid inquiry to the deities: "Where is the Emperor?"

What if it does not come out

With a loud splash, a dark shadow emerged from the water, sending up countless droplets, its long body sweeping directly towards this side

Hong Ning knelt on one knee, tightly holding the mirror in her arms, waiting for it to reach the shore. She intended to turn the mirror to reflect it, and then recite the Marshal's incantation. Such monsters were most afraid of the divine thunder from the Nine Heavens, as it could disperse their essence and serve as a heavenly punishment for them. Although with her meager magical power, she could not summon the Marshal of the Thunder Department, she could still invoke some thunder to intimidate it.

"It is coming, be careful." The water wave pushed her gently, then vanished, leaving no trace.

By the light, she clearly saw the object on the dragon's horn, and Hong Ning's face instantly turned pale as she cried out: "The divine bell! The divine bell is on the horn!"

Hong Ning patted her clothes and smiled: "Master, it's time to go. It's not the first time."

Without having time to think further, she immediately got up and walked over

Zhong Xian nodded, slowly flying back to the surface of the pond with the bell in hand. As if recalling something, she turned to look at Hong Ning: "When you meet the King of the Midday Sun in the future, please convey my regards to the little fairy."

Ultimately, the evil dragon seemed to lose interest in her, lowering its head and submerging into the water

Jinxiu nodded

It turned out that the evil dragon recognized her, having suffered a great loss in the past. Uncertain whether the person who saved her last time was still around, it dared not rashly come ashore, instead remaining half-submerged in the water, its eyes flickering as if it were spying.

Several immortals were gathered in a circle on the Water Heart Terrace, among them two elderly men were playing chess. Upon seeing him, they hurriedly stood up to pay their respects: "Your Majesty, we have been waiting for quite some time; the Lord of the Central Heaven has finally arrived"

Jinxiu smiled faintly and said, "You all speak too highly of me. Jinxiu, bearing the weight of my sins, is no longer the Heavenly King of the Central Sky."

The evil dragon was frightened and came to a halt

After a while, someone softly called her: "Hong Ning? Hong Ning?"

Meanwhile, the magic mirror of revealing spirits pales in comparison

It turns out to be a slothful deity who has been demoted, Hong Ning pondered silently and asked, "What about that dragon?"

Hong Ning smiled bitterly to herself and sighed: "Senior brother has a mission, and master’s magic will only scare it away, it won’t hold it for long, so I will take on this bait myself."

"Go back." It was unclear when Bai Ling had already stood on the shore

That dragon actually disappeared

The white-haired elder lost a chess piece, shook his head and smiled: "The divine being has achieved mastery in cultivation, and it is only a matter of time before he regains control of the heavens. Why be overly modest?"

The evil dragon stood tall, as if about to leap.

Did it really happen? Hong Ning leaned down to look at the pool of water, hesitating whether to go down and make another splash. Little did she know, in that moment of distraction, she suddenly heard a "splash" sound, and a column of water came rushing towards her, drenching her from head to toe.

Not knowing where Bai Ling has gone for so long, have you found the divine bell? Hong Ning appeared calm on the surface, but inside she felt a bit anxious, staring at it intently, not daring to relax in the slightest. Fortunately, she temporarily had the demon-revealing mirror in hand, so it did not dare to act recklessly; she should be able to hold on for a while.

Hong Ning had no time to wipe the cold sweat from her brow and focused her mind to recite the incantation

All the deities were perplexed by the recent events and had not yet responded when a few individuals approached. Leading them was a burly old man, dressed in a red robe with a jade belt, his appearance imposing. Upon seeing the embroidered figure, he laughed heartily and said, "I wondered who it was; it turns out to be the Heavenly King of the Central Sky."

A gentle ripple of water arose, softly cradling her.

The dragon's whiskers swayed, and the scarlet tongue was close at hand

Thank you for the guidance of the celestial maiden

The little snake trembled upon hearing this, slowly crawling in front of Hong Ning, looking at her and nodding repeatedly, appearing very pitiful

Realizing that the thunder posed no threat, the evil dragon grew bolder and approached her

The white-haired elder was momentarily taken aback upon hearing this, and hurriedly lowered his head to calculate with his fingers, instantly turning pale with shock: "I was so engrossed in the game of chess that I nearly caused a great disaster, fortunate to have received the divine reminder!" He turned around, took his whisk, and bid farewell to the other deities with a "farewell," before hastily departing on a cloud with the child.

A bewildering time travel, and in the end, it turned out to be feeding a dragon. Hong Ning smiled wryly, realizing there was no way to avoid it, she simply closed her eyes.

Gradually, ripples indeed began to form on the surface of the pond, shimmering under the moonlight. Soon, bubbles emerged, accompanied by a "gurgling" sound, and even someone as inexperienced as her could distinctly sense the intense aura of the supernatural.

The celestial maiden also smiled slightly, turning her face away, a seemingly inadvertent gesture, yet it exuded an abundance of charm when she performed it

Then let us draw it out, said Wen Xindao. Since the divine bell is in this pond, it must be hidden by it. Bai Ling has already discovered its lair; as long as we can lure it out, Bai Ling can take the opportunity to search for it.

Wenxin shook his head

In the distance, Wen Xin did not anticipate such an unexpected turn of events. In shock, disregarding everything else, he immediately dismantled the formation, recited the incantation, and directed the sword to strike at the evil dragon.

Hong Ning was taken aback, her eyes clouded by water, yet she sensed that something was amiss and fell to the ground, rolling to evade.

Zhong Xian sighed: "I merely took a nap, who would have thought this wicked creature would come out to cause trouble? Fortunately, I woke up in time." After saying this, she flew up with the ancient bell, and below, a small black snake immediately appeared, coiled up, its head hidden in the center, too afraid to show itself.

Seeing her safe and sound, Wenxin finally felt at ease and turned to the person on the bell to pay his respects: "I am fortunate to have received your divine assistance; may I ask for your esteemed name?"

Zhong Xiandao: "It is still quiet here"

Northern Boundary Royal Road: "But is the Emperor summoning?"

The person was very young, dressed in a loose yellow robe, handsome in appearance, but his eyes always seemed unable to open wide, giving him a somewhat listless look, as if he had not yet woken up: "I dare not, I am merely the timekeeper of the Southern Heavenly Gate. Due to a moment of drowsiness, I forgot to report the time and missed an important matter of the Emperor, thus I have been demoted to the mortal realm to oversee the local mountain gods and land."

A brief nap has turned into forty or fifty years, next time I will have to go to Yama to find someone, even the immortals are neglecting their duties, Hong Ning is both crying and laughing: "Aren't you going back to the temple? Those monks are all looking forward to your return"

Zhong Xiandun felt bored, yawned, and scolded the little snake: "Wretched creature! I initially took pity on you and intended to help you, yet you dare to come out and commit evil on your own. I will ensure that heavenly thunder strikes you!"