“Your servant greets Noble Consort.”
After what had just happened, Qin Changqing no longer dared show the slightest carelessness.
Facing the breathtakingly beautiful Noble Consort before him, he restrained his gaze as much as possible.
Even though that enchanting and irresistible sight would occasionally slip into his vision, the only thing left in his eyes now was genuine awe.
Ning Jingzhu reclined lazily against a carved sandalwood chair. Her luxurious palace gown flowed down her body like a stream of silk.
One slender jade hand supported her chin in a languid pose, while her long dark hair draped halfway down, casting a faint, alluring shadow along her neck.
Beneath the hem of her dress, her delicate, translucent feet were slightly raised, as if unintentionally peeking out from those exquisite embroidered shoes.
Sunlight filtered through the window, gently falling upon her toes, cloaking them in a soft, sacred glow. Even the drifting dust in the air seemed to pause just for her.
Such an indolent posture somehow carried an indescribable charm, enough to make any man unable to look away.
After a while, she finally spoke indifferently, “Who are you?”
Hearing this, Qin Changqing felt a wave of speechlessness rise within him.
After all this time… that’s all you’ve got to say?
Who I am—how could you not know? And you’re still pretending here!
Despite the flood of thoughts in his mind, he remained perfectly respectful on the surface and answered without hesitation.
“Reporting to Noble Consort, your servant is Qin Changqing. My father is the Seventh Prince. Does Your Highness perhaps remember?”
“Oh, now that you mention it, I do recall. Qin Changqing… quite a handsome face.”
“But what a pity… your foundation is poor, and your cultivation is pitifully weak.”
Ning Jingzhu’s eyes lowered slightly as her red lips parted, “What a pity.”
Her voice was cool and distant. As she shook her head, her hair swayed gently, carrying with it a faint, elusive fragrance.
“Speak. Why have you come to see me? If it’s something trivial, I have no time to listen.”
Qin Changqing slowly raised his head, his expression turning serious as he spoke word by word, “Your servant has come today to propose a deal with Noble Consort.”
Only now did he dare meet Ning Jingzhu’s gaze for a brief moment.
Those phoenix eyes were breathtaking, the corners slightly raised. Her emerald pupils were as clear as a thousand-year frozen pool.
It was as though an entire galaxy had been set within them, light flowing endlessly—so mesmerizing that one hardly dared to look directly.
Just one glance was enough to make a person lose themselves.
“A deal?”
A hint of surprise flickered across Ning Jingzhu’s face. She was curious to see what kind of act this insignificant young master intended to put on.
“Let me hear it. I don’t believe there’s anything on you that I would want.”
In her eyes, Qin Changqing was nothing more than an ant she could crush at will.
Her expression remained calm, her gaze utterly devoid of ripples.
“Tell me what you want from me… and what you can offer in return.”
Qin Changqing bowed slightly, adopting a calm, measured tone as he spoke, “Your Highness possesses unmatched beauty, like an immortal descended to the mortal world. You are like a hidden dragon lying dormant in the abyss, waiting for the right moment to soar ninety thousand meters into the sky.”
“Though your servant is unworthy, I am willing to pave that path to the heavens for Your Highness and help you rise.”
“With Your Highness’s talent, none under heaven can compare. Even the current emperor, or those ancient recluses from hidden sects, are but fireflies before the bright moon in your presence.” This story is hosted at novelping . com.
“I dare to volunteer myself as the first beneath Your Highness, to clear all obstacles and carve a path forward.”
“I only hope that one day, I may witness Your Highness ascend to the heavens and rule the world.”
A faint smile appeared on Ning Jingzhu’s previously cold face.
That smile was as brilliant as falling cherry blossoms, yet carried an icy chill that pierced to the bone.
“Young Master, do you realize… if I were to repeat those words to the emperor, what do you think he would do to you?”
“Besides, I don’t believe you possess such capability. What is your reliance?”
“Your cultivation, as insignificant as an ant? Or that silver tongue of yours?”
“I don’t need empty promises. What I want to know is—right now, this instant—what can you offer me?”
Tsk…
Do you have to be this blunt? So the flattery failed… looks like I’ll have to play my trump card.
Feeling the air grow colder by the second, Qin Changqing sensed that Ning Jingzhu’s patience was running thin. He quickly spoke, “Your servant has a piece of information—something of great importance. Your Highness will surely be interested.”
“Speak.”
Ning Jingzhu looked indifferent, as though she placed little value on his words.
Qin Changqing straightened his posture and said solemnly, “Does Your Highness know that beneath the emperor’s very seat, demons are already hiding? And within the court, there are those who have colluded with them…”
Before he could finish, a bone-chilling cold swept through the entire hall.
Qin Changqing felt his blood freeze, as if he had fallen into a bottomless glacier.
He lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the white jade floor tiles beneath him, not daring to move even slightly out of line.
The hall fell into a terrifying silence. Ning Jingzhu’s slightly quickened breathing echoed through the vast space.
Her chest rose and fell with each breath.
“Speak! Who dares to collude with the demon race?”
Cold sweat seeped from Qin Changqing’s forehead, yet he didn’t dare wipe it. He only bowed even lower.
His clenched fists betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
Still, things were unfolding just as he had expected.
If Ning Jingzhu had remained indifferent, he truly would have had no options left.
In the game, her side quest revolved around the demon race. That meant she herself must have some inseparable connection to them.
From a narrative standpoint, it was said that Ning Jingzhu, heir of a sacred land, was the reincarnation of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden. Since ancient times, immortals and demons had been irreconcilable enemies.
She must possess an innate hostility toward demons.
In the early stages of the game, the demon race was barely mentioned, appearing only briefly in the world’s background.
But as someone who had transmigrated with a god’s-eye view, Qin Changqing knew exactly who the demons were and where they hid—so long as the timeline hadn’t changed.
“The Deputy Commander of the Inspection Division, Lin Ruonan… he has already been bewitched by a demoness and regularly provides her with a large supply of blood sacrifices.”
The ripple in Ning Jingzhu’s eyes vanished as quickly as it appeared, returning to her usual frost-like calm.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze passing over everyone in the hall before settling on Qin Changqing.
Understanding instantly, Qin Changqing straightened his back and said in a firm voice, “Your Highness, you may rest assured. I have my own sources of information. If you doubt me, you may send someone to investigate.” Visit novelping.com for the full chapter.
“They may act in secrecy, but even rats hiding in the shadows must come out to feed eventually.”
As he spoke, his right hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his gaze unwavering.
“Every word I have spoken is true. If there is even a single falsehood, I will accept any punishment Your Highness sees fit.”
“Very well. What do you want?”
Ning Jingzhu’s red lips parted slightly, her gaze still fixed on him, as though this were nothing more than a trivial matter.
Ripples spread across the pool. A few fallen petals drifted into the hall, landing at Qin Changqing’s feet.
He slowly drew his sword, its cold gleam reflecting his calm face.
“Your servant wishes to serve Your Highness, but lacks the strength to do so.”
“My cultivation is too low. I fear I would only become a burden. Therefore, I humbly request that Your Highness reward me with a Nine Revolutions Foundation Pill.”
“A Nine Revolutions Foundation Pill? You certainly have quite the appetite. Do you know how precious such a pill is?”
“Of course.”
“For a Postnatal Realm cultivator like myself, it is nothing short of a divine pill—capable of increasing cultivation without any side effects.”
“I am certain that in all the world, only Your Highness possesses it.”
Ning Jingzhu lifted her foot and stepped forward, barefoot, walking toward him one step at a time.
The long, slender legs beneath her skirt, faintly visible, caused Qin Changqing to lose focus for a moment.
She spoke softly, “If your information proves correct, what is a Nine Revolutions Foundation Pill?”
Her bright eyes blinked gently as she continued, “Not only that—I can also reward you with an additional Nine Heavens Ascension Pill.”
Qin Changqing was stunned on the spot.
This pill was equally priceless.
After consumption, one’s combat strength could surge several times over and last for an extended period.
More importantly, it came without any side effects—an ideal treasure for killing enemies or protecting oneself.
Although its effect was minimal for those in the Innate Realm and above, for Qin Changqing of the Postnatal Realm, it was like adding wings to a tiger—a miraculous elixir that would allow him to display overwhelming strength.
Clink!
Two exquisite jade bottles appeared at his feet, faint mist curling from their openings.
Qin Changqing stared at them, itching to stuff them into his pocket immediately.
Either one of these pills would be enough to make cultivators outside fight to the death over them.
Yet Ning Jingzhu had tossed them at his feet as casually as if they were trash.
This… was pure flaunting.
But… I love it.
For a moment, he felt as if he had been taken in by a rich patron.
This thigh… Qin Changqing was definitely going to cling to it.