Inside the cold, damp prison, the air was filled with a foul stench. Rats and cockroaches crawled about, and every now and then, the agonizing cries of prisoners echoed through the dark corridors.
It had been three days since the humiliation, yet Long Lingtian still sat motionless, dazed, unable to recover from the disgrace of that day. Ever since Wei Qingyi had awakened, it had been three whole years. Aside from the time he went to withdraw the engagement, he had never suffered such a crushing humiliation!
No matter the situation, no matter how strong or terrifying his enemies were, he had always managed to turn misfortune into fortune, to strike back at them one by one and redeem his face. But ever since encountering Xu Ning, he had lost count of how many times he’d been forced to swallow his anger, even being publicly humiliated right in front of his female companion!
He couldn’t stop picturing Xu Ning’s aloof, mocking expression, with that ever-present playful smile on his lips. From beginning to end, Xu Ning had never once taken him seriously—he had always been nothing more than a clown in his eyes!
“Xu Ning…” he muttered, eyes red with fury as he forced out those two syllables.
Just then, footsteps echoed in the distance. Zhou Shuxian approached his cell, holding a small wooden box in her hands.
“Shuxian!” Shame and frustration surged in his heart. He had never imagined he would one day face the woman he loved from behind prison bars.
“Brother Lingtian, I specially sought out this Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Nourishing Wood for you. You can use it to awaken Senior Wei Qingyi. That way, you’ll have a Saint Law Realm expert to guard you. With her by your side, you might be able to stand against Xu Ning.”
“When the senior awakens, I’ll help you escape from here. Then we’ll go together to break the seal on the Demon Lord’s Tomb. Once Brother Lingtian inherits the Demon Lord’s legacy, you can destroy Xu Ning!”
As expected of the Eldest Princess of the Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Shuxian had already planned everything for him.
“Shuxian, I’ve put you through too much,” he said with a deep breath, speaking in a solemn tone. “Once I inherit the Demon Lord’s legacy and eliminate Xu Ning, you and I will marry here in the capital and grow old together.”
To be honest, he had many confidantes and had never truly intended to marry any woman. But right now, he had no choice but to rely on Zhou Shuxian. If he didn’t give her hope, what if she stopped helping him?
Women in love were never rational. Zhou Shuxian didn’t notice his hidden thoughts. Her beautiful face lit up with a sweet smile.
“Mm, I like Brother Lingtian the most!”
As she spoke, she handed him the wooden box. Long Lingtian tried to take the opportunity to touch her hand, but she skillfully dodged.
“Nope, you can only touch me on the day of our wedding, Brother Lingtian,” she said coyly.
Long Lingtian chuckled awkwardly and accepted the box. Inside was a palm-sized piece of crystal-clear Soul-Nourishing Wood, gleaming like jade and radiating an extraordinary aura imbued with Dao principles.
He immediately reached into the air and retrieved a ring that held Wei Qingyi’s remnant soul—an item from his bloodline space that only he could access. Unless he willingly released it, not even a Saint Law Realm or Immortal Realm powerhouse could forcibly take it from him.
Carefully, he placed the ring on the Soul-Nourishing Wood.
Tch, pretty clever. Trading item for item… Hidden in the shadows, Xu Ning silently observed their exchange, a cold smirk curling on his lips.
Zhou Shuxian thought she was so smart, daring to play tricks in front of him—how laughable. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
As for Long Lingtian, he was just a pathetic clown. He really thought he could stage a comeback by inheriting the Demon Lord’s legacy? How was this any different from gamblers in his past life? This is the so-called Child of Destiny?
If not for his ultimate goal also being the Demon Lord’s Tomb, Xu Ning would’ve crushed Long Lingtian with a slap already!
Their seemingly flawless plan was just a pawn in his grand scheme. In the end, they were only dressing him for success.
“Brother Lingtian, I can’t stay much longer. If I remain here too long, Xu Ning might notice,” Zhou Shuxian said.
“Mm, Shuxian, I’ll be thinking of you,” Long Lingtian said, feeding her another line of sweet nonsense to keep her loyal.
She hummed softly in reply, her pretty face tinged with a charming blush. Her long lashes trembled slightly as she turned and left the prison.
After the time it took for two sticks of incense to burn, the Soul-Nourishing Wood began to glow faintly, and a faint, weakened remnant soul appeared.
Wei Qingyi’s beautiful eyes scanned the room and immediately showed surprise upon seeing Long Lingtian inside a prison cell.
“Master!” Seeing her awaken, Long Lingtian immediately began complaining, pouring out all the details of what happened with Xu Ning that day.
Xu Ning again!
Wei Qingyi’s gaze turned frosty. This arrogant brat had repeatedly gone against her disciple—she wished she could kill him on the spot!
“Master, how much of your strength can you currently use?” Seeing her, Long Lingtian felt reinvigorated, quickly asking.
He couldn’t wait for her to act and destroy Xu Ning!
Staring into his eyes filled with burning vengeance, Wei Qingyi took a deep breath and said, “With the spiritual nourishment from the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Nourishing Wood, I’ll be fully recovered within three days.”
“When that time comes, if Xu Ning dares show his face again, I’ll kill him for you!”
A delighted grin spread across Long Lingtian’s face, turning into a vicious sneer.
Xu Ning, you’re too naïve to fight me!
Next time I see you will be your death!
But just then, a burst of clapping broke the silence.
From the corridor, flickering torchlight cast a long shadow.
It was Xu Ning, who had been hidden in the shadows.
“Well, if it isn’t Lingtian and the senior herself,” he said, wearing a warm smile that made him seem like a breeze in spring.
But in Long Lingtian’s eyes, that smile was more terrifying than a demon’s—it sent chills down his spine!
“Xu, Xu Ning? What are you doing here!” he cried out in panic.
Wei Qingyi’s face paled slightly as if realizing something.
“What am I doing here?” Xu Ning scoffed, “Naturally, I’m here to eliminate the threat.”
The only threat Long Lingtian posed was the remnant soul of a Saint Law Realm expert.
He had ordered the jailers to search Long Lingtian before, but the guy must’ve had a secret hiding method. With Zhou Shuxian running interference, they found nothing.
So, Xu Ning had to come personally.
And it was a good thing he did. If he had waited two more days for Wei Qingyi to regain her strength, dealing with Long Lingtian would’ve been a nightmare.
A Child of Destiny always had the potential to ignite everything if left unchecked.
With a wave of his hand, the Soul-Nourishing Wood and the ring containing Wei Qingyi’s remnant soul flew straight into his palm!
Wei Qingyi’s face changed drastically. She tried to resist, but her soul was too weak to escape Xu Ning’s grip!
“Master!” Long Lingtian’s eyes turned blood-red with rage. He roared, “Xu Ning, let go of my master right now!”
Xu Ning grasped the Soul-Nourishing Wood as divine light surged in his palm. Dao principles intertwined, and he planted a Dao Slave Seal onto Wei Qingyi.
Her delicate body trembled, her pupils lost focus, and a slave imprint appeared between her brows.
The sight made Long Lingtian’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets. His beautiful master was his forbidden treasure. He would never allow anyone else to touch her!
Especially not his greatest enemy—Xu Ning!
At that moment, his hatred for Xu Ning surged a hundredfold!
“M-Master…” Wei Qingyi forced out a single syllable. But then, a glimmer of clarity returned to her beautiful eyes. “Xu Ning, planting a slave seal on me? Impossible! Dream on!”
While speaking, she regained control of her body, no longer bound by Xu Ning’s power.