âIâm going to continue practicing!â Xiao Ningâer coldly stated as she stared at Nie Li with her bright, clear eyes.
Xiao Ningâer didnât like being disrupted by others. She had an expression that âpushed people thousands of miles awayâ on her face, and because she rarely associated with the students in class, especially the boys, the friendless her seemed somewhat eccentric.
âI will leave, immediately!â Nie Li said as he faintly smiled. He checked her out from top to bottom.
Xiao Ningâerâs brows wrinkled.
Isnât the way Nie Li is looking at me a bit too rude? she thought. She couldnât help feeling somewhat angry. There were lots of boys chasing after her in the Holy Orchid Institute, but Xiao Ningâer had always ignored them. She only wants to focus on her training. Therefore, Nie Liâs actions right now was no different from the other boys in the institute. It was simply hateful!
âAre you still not leaving?â Xiao Ningâer wasnât happy by her tone. Nie Li had been disrupting her for quite some time now.
Nie Liâs gaze landed on Xiao Ningâerâs legs. She wasnât wearing any shoes, and he could see a pair of creamy slender legs illuminated by the moonlight, which were slightly red.
He said, âWhen night falls, donât both of your legs feel as if theyâre being burned by fire?â
After hearing what Nie Li just said, Xiao Ningâer was slightly stunned and soon answered, âHow did you know?â
Due to the burning heat, when training at night, Xiao Ningâer usually wouldnât wear shoes.
âOf course I know,â Nie Li smiled, âNot only this, I know even more. Not only do both of your legs feel as if they were being burned by fire, your body would be extremely cold. Every night at midnight it would feel as if it was hailing on your body. It would be terribly painful. Even training your soul force wouldnât be possible, would it?â
Xiao Ningâer was shocked by Nie Liâs words. She had been enduring the pain alone and did not tell anyone about this, not even her family members. How did Nie Li know about it?
Seeing the expression on Xiao Ningâerâs face, Nie Li knew that he had guessed correctly. So Xiao Ningâerâs previous lifeâs illness was the Arctic Disease. By training at night, it would often lead to chilled air entering the body, blocking the veins. The Arctic Disease would, in light cases, cause the person to get seriously ill, and in serious cases, it would cause the body to explode. So Xiao Ningâer from his previous life was already very lucky to be bedridden for only two years.
âIn addition to these symptoms, your body should be bruised in certain areas. Those bruises should be extremely painful and not only do they not dissipate, they should also be spreading around the body, â Nie Li said confidently, âYou havenât stepped into 1-star Bronze rank yet, but once you do, in the best case scenario, you will get seriously ill and your cultivation will be greatly reduced. In the worst case scenario, you will die.â
After hearing Nie Liâs words, Xiao Ningâer was momentarily dazed. Both of her fists were clenched tightly, and her eyes reddened. How could this be? Even though sheâs very strong, after hearing the news, she couldnât endure the blow.Nie Li could tell what her illness was with one glance. What he said shouldnât be wrong.
Ever since she was young, her family had been wanting for her to marry into the Sacred Family, by marrying Shen Fei. As she grew up, Xiao Ningâer gradually learned what kind of person Shen Fei was. Because she didnât want to get married to that playboy, she started practicing very hard with hopes of getting rid of this cruel fate. Unfortunately, the heavens didnât seem to want to let her do so, since she who would soon reach 1-star Bronze rank, suddenly got to hear such news.
Seeing the usually strong Xiao Ningâer in this state, Nie Li couldnât help pitying her.
âNie Li, since you know what kind of illness I have, you should know how to treat it, right?â asked Xiao Ningâer. Frightened by what Nie Li said, she unknowingly dropped her strong guard that she had up against him and pleaded, âCan you help me?â
She was, after all, only a thirteen year old girl.
Xiao Ningâer had a strong personality and rarely asked others for help. Nie Li, after listening to her pleas, suddenly felt his heart soften. He was silent, only for a moment, before he said, âThis illness can be treated. You can look it up in the Holy Orchid Instituteâs library. The illness is called: Arctic Disease.â
âReally?â replied Xiao Ningâer. Her hopes were raised, âHow can it be treated?â
âThe Daoyin technique must be used to massage the affected areas, to dissipate the bruise. Medicine made from combining Golden Striped Grass with Imperial Sky Grass must be consumed daily, with your situation, for roughly a month or so. In the best case scenario, ten days could be enough for you to be fully recovered from the illness,â Nie Li said. This was indeed the method to treat Arctic Disease.
âDaoyin technique?â repeated Xiao Ningâer. She knitted her brows. Sheâs a member of a Noble family, but she had never heard of any Daoyin technique before.
âIn addition to these treatment methods, you must also make sure to not train your soul force at night in the future,â Nie Li said as he stretched his hand out towards Xiao Ningâer. He followed up with, âTake out your cultivation technique, and let me have a look at it.â
Xiao Ning looked up at Nie Li. If a stranger were to ask her to take out her cultivation technique, sheâd feel that theyâre simply trying to swindle her. But she, after seeing Nie Liâs expression, couldnât help feeling a sense of trust towards him in her heart. Nie Li had told her so much already, so she had decided to place her complete trust in him. She retrieved her cultivation technique from her interspatial ring and handed it to him. It was a piece of slightly aged parchment paper, with a bunch of densely packed words written on it.
As Nie Li received the parchment paper from Xiao Ningâer, he accidentally touched the back of her jade white, creamy hands, but Nie Li didnât mind. Instead, he was carefully reading the paper.
After her hands were touched by Nie Li, Xiao Ningâer quickly withdrew her hands and felt her heart flutter. Her mood was in a mess. She thought, what if Nie Li was trying to blackmail her? And what if he had impure thoughts about her?
When she raised her head, however, she saw that Nie Li hadnât even noticed her reaction when their hands touched, and felt relieved. Nie Liâs expression, when he looked at the parchment paper, was especially serious. This caused Xiao Ningâer to be a little absent-minded. She reacted only a moment later. She lowered her head and began to think about something.
âA huge and powerful noble familyâs direct bloodline actually practices this kind of low-grade cultivation technique. Itâs no wonder Glory City was destroyedâŚâ Nie Li quietly murmured.
âWhat did you just say?â Xiao Ningâer widened her eyes and looked at Nie Li. She only heard some of the words Nie Li murmured, but she couldnât hear it clearly.
âNothing,â Nie Li faintly laughed, âThis cultivation technique is too poor. itâll damage the meridian as one practices it. The reason behind your Arctic Disease can be largely attributed to this cultivation technique. Change this part from âpsychic mindâ to âheavenly psychicâ and change this to âsoul and spirit mergeââŚâ Nie Li continued to talk, altering the soul force cultivation technique beyond recognition.
Xiao Ningâer, while listening to Nie Li as he altered her soul force cultivation technique, felt somewhat unconvinced. This cultivation technique was passed down by her ancestors. It was ranked six in the familyâs collection of cultivation techniques. How could it be altered on a whim by Nie Li? Regardless, Xiao Ningâer still listened to Nie Liâs words. She was, after all, a practitioner of this cultivation technique, so she had some experience on some matters regarding it. Gradually, Xiao Ningâer realised that the modifications Nie Li did to it were reasonable. In fact, the modifications made it much better than the original.
Xiao Ningâerâs eyes widened and an incredible look was in them as she stared at Nie Li.
âNie Li, can you repeat it again? I need to remember what you just said!â Xiao Ningâer said quickly.
âOkay,â Nie Li slowed his speech, repeating the modification for the cultivation technique. After training her soul force, Xiao Ningâer got the ability to memorize anything without forgetting it. Even though she could only comprehend some of the modifications, she still managed to memorize what Nie Li said. The more she looked at it, the more she realised how much more powerful the cultivation technique that was modified by Nie Li was.
Xiao Ningâerâs gaze towards Nie Li initially had a hint of confusion in it, but it was soon turned into one filled with admiration.
How much knowledge regarding soul force must one have in order to change this high-ranked soul force cultivation technique to such an extent? Even Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualists wouldnât necessarily be able to do such a thing. Could Nie Liâs understanding of cultivation have long surpassed a Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualistâs, even reaching towards the Legend rank Demon Spiritualistâs realm?
Treating it as a treasure, Xiao Ningâer deeply memorized all the modifications that Nie Li did to her cultivation technique in her heart. She couldnât tell what her feelings towards Nie Li were: awe, worship?
Nie Liâs age was the same as hers, but Xiao Ningâer realised that there was a wide gap between them. It was ridiculous that she used to think that Nie Li was the âtail of the classâ. She realised just how ignorant Teacher Shen Xiu and the other students were as they ridiculed Nie Li. She was completely convinced that what Nie Li previously said in class about becoming a powerful Legend rank Demon Spiritualist was all true!
Ever since she was young, no matter if itâs talent or intelligence, Xiao Ningâer had far surpassed her peers. This was the first time she looked up to someone her own age.
Nie Li had said before that he would marry the most beautiful girl in Glory City. When she thought of that, Xiao Ningâerâs thoughts got messy. She speechlessly lowered her head. All of a sudden, a figure appeared in her mind. It was Ye Ziyun. Although Xiao Ningâer was confident in her looks, she had to admit that she might not necessarily be able to compete with Ye Ziyun.
âWhat are you thinking about?â Nie Li asked, looking towards Xiao Ningâer. He was puzzled since her expression was a bit strange.
âNo, NothingâŚ.â Xiao Ningâer quickly shook her head, expelling all the thoughts she had in her head and asked, âNie Li, do you know the Daoyin technique?â
âOf course I do,â Nie Li nodded his head and continued, âBut the Daoyin technique requires direct contact with the bruised area. It wouldnât seem appropriate if I were to be the one doing it.â
Xiao Ningâer looked up at Nie Liâs chiseled cheeks. He had sharp eyebrows, and deep lights flashed in his black pupils. He had a bit of a handsomeness aura around him, which was slowly merging with the image she had in her heart.
She lowered her head and said, âI donât mind. Werenât you just treating me? I donât want to turn into a useless person.â
That last sentence Xiao Ningâer said was to comfort herself.
In front of Nie Li, Xiao Ningâer dropped the cold guard she had up against him.
âUhâŚâŚâ Nie Li went silent for a moment.
âEven if sheâs a girl and doesnât mind, if I were to refuse Iâll be too petty.â
His heart already had Ye Ziyun. He only had a small impression towards Xiao Ningâer. He did not think much about it and said, âOkay then, Iâll help you with the Daoyin technique to treat your illness once every three days. Do what I just told you when you go back. Eat those herbs and you will be fine.â
âEn,â replied Xiao Ningâer, nodding in silence.
âWhereâs your bruised area?â Nie Li asked.
Xiao Ningâerâs cold cheeks slightly blushed and pointed to the back of her foot.
âThereâs one here.â
Nie Li lowered his head to look at it. He saw a patch of deep purple on the top of one of Xiao Ningâerâs silky white feet. The bruise was already this serious.
âSo serious,â said Nie Li. He frowned and continued. âLuckily itâs only on the foot, otherwise it would be a little troublesome elsewhere. Itâs a lot more convenient, since itâs at the top of the foot. I will be done soon.â
Nie Li crouched down, and sat on the grass patch.
âEn,â said Xiao Ningâer, nodding her head. She didnât say that thatâs the only bruised area. When she placed her foot on Nie Liâs legs, a light flashed across her eyes. She seemed to be thinking of something.