Chapter 3: Between Life and Death

Upon hearing Qu Ningxuan say this, the man finally looked at her properly

To speak frankly, this suddenly appearing young man is the most handsome man Qu Ningxuan has ever seen in her life. Although cultivators generally possess outstanding looks and demeanor, the moment this man appeared, he overshadowed everyone else. Whether it is his nearly perfect appearance, his composed and graceful mannerisms, or the innate nobility and confidence that emanates from him, all of these make others feel inferior.

However, this action of his also bought time for Qu Ningxuan

Upon reflecting on this, the man found it somewhat strange that practitioners in the secular world were entirely at the bottom of this society, their extreme inferiority intertwined with arrogance, resulting in a unique collective character for this group. They often bowed and scraped when weak, enduring what others could not, and once they became powerful, they turned haughty and reckless, relishing in trampling on others to vent the oppression they had once suffered, particularly harboring resentment towards the favored scions of prestigious sects. However, in Qu Ningxuan, the man only saw an inherent sense of equality, confidence, and composure. Despite clearly deducing that she was a high-level practitioner and understanding the consequences of provoking her, she still allowed the spirit fairy to escape. Even though she feared death, she did not show a trace of regret.

He never expected that a mere cultivator at the peak of the rotation would dare to ignore his goodwill, openly treating him as a fool, and yet he fell for it!

Hearing Qu Ningxuan refuse its goodwill, Xiao Ma couldn't help but shake his head in anger, the lush green leaves trembling. Qu Ningxuan quickly reassured, "I don't dislike you; I'm just afraid that your unique spiritual power will be discovered by others, which could bring you trouble. You must understand, I am also powerless in this situation..."

The man nodded gently, and when he mentioned his fiancée, a trace of melancholy could not be concealed from his demeanor

His demeanor can be described as gentle, and his actions are both elegant and measured, without a hint of excess: "There is no need to be overly anxious; I am willing to help the young lady resolve her troubles, and I also hope that the young lady can negotiate with the spirit behind you, asking it to grant me a drop of its essence."

Even though death was so close to her, the heavy burden in Qu Ningxuan's heart was lifted, and a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes

Qu Ningxuan was fully aware of the consequences of her actions, yet she did not hesitate for a moment. Xiao Ma, possessing intelligence and emotions, had accompanied her for many years. If she were to hand Xiao Ma over, allowing others to consume and exploit it, what would be the difference from treating it like a beast? Although she cherished her own life and feared the approach of death, if it were for the sake of her convictions, then giving up this life she had salvaged would not be a significant loss.

It was evident to the man that their relationship was profound; it would indeed be strange for Qu Ningxuan to agree immediately. Thus, he softened his voice a bit, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "My fiancée is afflicted by a rare illness and must concoct an extremely precious medicinal herb to recover. The essence of the spirit of the Lingxian is one of the necessary ingredients, so..."

It has come, indeed it has come

She was certain that with the pride of a high-ranking master, she would never believe she would resort to any tricks. Therefore, on the surface, she spoke to Xiao Ma about the matter of vital blood, but directly communicated with Xiao Ma through her spiritual sense, urging it to run away quickly and never return; otherwise, it should not recognize her as a friend. To this end, she deliberately covered her left hand to conceal her actions and inscribed a one-time teleportation talisman on Xiao Ma, sending it hundreds of miles away.

"Young lady's troubles, may I resolve them for you?" In the next moment, a clear and melodious voice rang out

If she was not mistaken, this man was at least a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and perhaps even a powerful being at the Out-of-Body stage. What does this mean? It should be noted that in the esteemed Qianyang Sect, a super sect of the Linyuan Continent, only the Sect Master and six Peak Masters, along with perhaps one or two reclusive Elders, reach the Out-of-Body stage. There are a few more at the Nascent Soul stage, but they do not exceed twenty-four in total. Moreover, each stage has four minor realms, and every breakthrough in a realm is vastly different from the previous one. It should be noted that in the esteemed Qianyang Sect, a super sect of the Linyuan Continent, only the Sect Master and six Peak Masters, along with perhaps one or two reclusive Elders, reach the Out-of-Body stage. There are a few more at the Nascent Soul stage, but they do not exceed twenty-four in total. Moreover, each stage has four minor realms, and every breakthrough in a realm is vastly different from the previous one. The opponent wanting to kill her would not be much more difficult than stepping on an ant.

The little horse tilted its head, seemingly puzzled by Qu Ningxuan's words. Seeing its adorable appearance, the affection in Qu Ningxuan's tone was unmistakable: "You... from now on, don't do such dangerous things, do you understand?"

Qu Ningxuan, well-versed in geography and strange tales, naturally understands what the little horse is. There exists a rare and precious medicinal herb known as Suilingcao, which grows in areas rich in spiritual energy, often alongside other valuable herbs, providing them with spiritual energy to help them thrive, while also drawing upon their energy for its own growth. The medicinal properties of Suilingcao are exceptionally balanced and harmonious, making it compatible with almost any precious herb. Therefore, top alchemists typically add Suilingcao when refining valuable elixirs, resulting in a higher success rate and enhanced medicinal properties.

In the end, Qu Ningxuan's eyes dimmed, unconsciously revealing a hint of dejection

"In that case, I will discuss it with Xiao Ma," Qu Ningxuan said cautiously, continuously stealing glances at the man's expression, appearing as if she feared his anger. Having grown accustomed to the reverence low-level cultivators held for high-level cultivators, the man did not find Qu Ningxuan's reaction strange and simply nodded. Qu Ningxuan then turned to the side and brought up the matter of offering blood to Xiao Ma. Xiao Ma shook his head in anger, and a hint of anxiety appeared on Qu Ningxuan's face as she slightly raised her voice.

In the next moment, the man's expression changed dramatically, and in an instant, he was before Qu Ningxuan, gripping her neck tightly with his right hand, making it difficult for her to breathe. At the same time, an immense pressure spread without reservation, as if thousands of blades were scraping against her skin. The bone-chilling cold could freeze mountains and rivers, and it could also freeze the soul.

The man noticed Qu Ningxuan's fear and wariness, and couldn't help but smile slightly. This smile neither conveyed a sense of condescension nor did it carry an air of aloofness. It must be said that such an attitude is very comforting, yet it also makes it easy for one to follow his lead.

It is said that directly consuming the Spirit Herb, which has existed for three thousand years, can increase one's lifespan by one hundred years and also enhance one's power by two hundred years. If refined into medicine, it can produce a batch of twelve longevity pills, each extending life by sixty years, with an individual allowed to consume only one. The longer the Spirit Herb lives, the stronger its medicinal properties become, and they increase exponentially. There once existed a Spirit Herb over five thousand years old, which caused turmoil and bloodshed across the world for decades, resulting in countless casualties. Ultimately, this Spirit Herb was divided into eighteen parts, each capable of extending life by three hundred and fifty years, and was safeguarded by the eighteen most powerful factions in the world.

I will give you one more chance. The man pondered for a moment and then slowly said, "Lure the spirit fairy out and let it give me a drop of its essence blood. I promise not to capture it, how about that?"

She naturally understood how great the temptation of extending one's lifespan was for cultivators. Her act of letting the young horse escape would undoubtedly infuriate the man before her. The fact that he still maintained a glimmer of clarity amidst his extreme anger, knowing that he must keep her to lure the young horse out, was enough to demonstrate how formidable this person was

Unexpectedly, the man's voice had returned to calmness, and he淡淡道: "I consider myself a reasonable person. After obtaining a drop of essence blood from the spirit fairy, I would help you solve your problem, yet I did not expect you to be so ungrateful."

The previous situation was too urgent; Qu Ningxuan simply did not have time to activate the substitute doll she had exchanged. She truly intended to end it all. However, now that there was an alternative opportunity to survive, she would not be foolish enough to give up. Therefore, she secretly bound the substitute doll to the teleportation talisman and deliberately provoked the opponent, hoping to secure a slim chance of survival for herself

The age of the Spirit Fairies is quite easy to determine. Their primordial spirits are initially transparent, and as spiritual energy condenses, they gradually take on a milky white hue. A Spirit Fairy resembling a small horse, with a body akin to white jade and surrounded by spiritual energy, can clearly understand her words, indicating that she has cultivated for at least 9,000 years

If it were a usual occasion, Qu Ningxuan might have been captivated by this person's appearance, marveling at the quality of handsome men in this world. However, at this moment, her heart was filled only with boundless fear and regret

The so-called style of a prominent family should indeed be like this

Hearing the other party say this, Qu Ningxuan gently curled her lips, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm: "Your kind words towards me are merely because that drop of essence blood must be willingly provided by Lingxian, right? If I were to have Xiao Ma give you the essence blood, wouldn't you just seize it?"

If the practitioners in this world had integrity and could follow through on their words, she would never commit such a foolish act that would anger high-level practitioners. However, they do not, so Qu Ningxuan can only act in this manner

Qu Ningxuan instinctively blocked the pony, then turned her face to look at the speaker, her heart surging with tumultuous waves that could not be quelled.

At an unknown time, a small horse, about the size of an adult's palm, appeared beside Qu Ningxuan, its entire body as white as jade and surrounded by a mist of spiritual energy. It happily leaped onto her shoulder and affectionately nuzzled her neck. In the next moment, as if it had discovered something, it skillfully jumped into her arms, radiating a soft, luminous glow.

Just as Qu Ningxuan felt her vision darkening and her breathing becoming difficult, nearly on the verge of death, the man released his grip, allowing Qu Ningxuan to fall to the ground

Qu Ningxuan listened, feeling somewhat moved, yet seemingly unable to shake off her concern, she softly asked, "What you said... is it true?"

It is precisely because she understands the preciousness of the spirit of the little horse that Qu Ningxuan's heart is always in suspense whenever she plays with it. After seeing it, she must carefully clean herself, fearing that others might discover the little horse's unique spiritual aura. Over the years, everything has passed smoothly, but who would have thought that today...

If it were just a simple matter, it would be nothing. However, after three thousand years of growth, the Spirit Herb will gradually develop intelligence, allowing it to project its primordial spirit and wander near other precious medicinal materials for a period of time, bestowing some spiritual energy upon them and receiving a return in kind. At this point, the Spirit Herb can no longer be strictly classified as a medicinal material; it belongs to the category of celestial spiritual entities, thus earning the title of Spirit Immortal Herb. It still possesses no offensive capabilities, yet it gains two effects that can drive people mad—extending lifespan and enhancing cultivation. At this point, the Spirit Herb can no longer be strictly classified as a medicinal material; it belongs to the category of celestial spiritual entities, thus earning the title of Spirit Immortal Herb. It still possesses no offensive capabilities, yet it gains two effects that can drive people mad—extending lifespan and enhancing cultivation

The reason she dared to converse freely with Xiao Ma was that Xiao Ma's perception and intuition were exceedingly sharp, almost like a mobile radar. The ancestor of the Shen family possessed peak Golden Core cultivation, yet when he approached from nearly a thousand miles away, Xiao Ma was able to sense it immediately and escape in time. However, this man was only five zhang away from them, and after listening to their conversation for a while, Xiao Ma showed no reaction at all

As Qu Ningxuan had anticipated, when she fully immersed herself in nature, the chaotic spiritual energy within her gradually calmed down, obediently circulating according to the meridian system. The growth power associated with the wood element slowly flowed through every inch of her meridians, nourishing the injured areas. This process was so tranquil, slow, and gentle that even Qu Ningxuan remained completely unaware.

Qu Ningxuan was awakened by it, and couldn't help but smile, gently shaking her head: "I am fine, do not waste your energy on treating me, lest others find out."

Qu Ningxuan is undoubtedly a top beauty, but given this man's cultivation and status, how could he not have encountered stunning beauties before? What he noticed were Qu Ningxuan's characteristics: her skin was whiter than most, even possessing a translucent quality, her physique was slightly slender, with delicate and elongated bones, and she bore a somewhat sickly appearance... Generally speaking, such distinct physical traits are typically found only in ordinary people who have intermarried over several generations, which implies that she hails from the secular world

Qu Ningxuan narrowly escaped death. After regaining consciousness with great difficulty, she realized that her entire body was drenched in cold sweat. She struggled to raise her right hand, intending to heal herself, when a beam of clear light fell upon her, causing all her wounds to heal completely