LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 146: Mao Yuan
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"Ah!" Qian Xiaoli gasped, realizing what she had done in her moment of anger. Her hand flew to her mouth as her expression filled with regret.
"S-Sorry, Fan'er," she stammered, rushing toward Feng Fan.
Inside the icy prison, Feng Fan's eyes shifted to follow her as best he could. 'Lady, couldn't you hold back just a little?!' He thought bitterly, unable to voice his frustrations.
Qian Xiaoli reached him and placed her hands on the layer of ice surrounding his body. She channeled her cultivation technique and quickly absorbed the freezing energy, melting away the ice encasing him in seconds.
After she melted the ice and freed Feng Fan, he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, feigning anger.
"Qian Xiaoli, was there really a need to go so overboard?" He asked, emphasizing her full name for dramatic effect.
Hearing him address her so formally, Qian Xiaoli's expression shifted to one of panic. She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze, and stammered, "S-Sorry, Fan'er. I didn't mean to…"
Her apologetic and shy demeanor made Feng Fan's irritation vanish instantly. Unable to resist her cuteness, he reached out and gently pinched her right cheek.
He smiled warmly. "It's okay, Xiao'er. Honestly, I didn't even feel cold. One of the perks of having a strong body, I guess."
Noticing his sudden shift in demeanor, Qian Xiaoli quickly realized he had been faking his anger all along. Frustrated by how easily she'd fallen for it, she puffed out her cheeks in an adorable pout.
Her reaction only fueled Feng Fan's amusement, and he fought the urge to pinch her other cheek.
"Ah, such a cute expression. How did I get so lucky to have such a lovely wife?" He teased, his smile stretching wider as he admired her flustered look.
Outside the pocket dimension, in the bustling main plaza, a frail and elderly-looking man observed Qian Xiaoli and Feng Fan's interaction; his eyes gleaming
At first glance, his emaciated frame and hollow eyes made him appear as though he had one foot in the grave, or perhaps he was already a walking corpse.
Yet, despite his appearance, no one within the Qian Empire would dare underestimate him.
This man was the sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, a figure as feared as he was infamous. His ghostly appearance was the result of his cultivation technique, a powerful yet sinister method that very few would willingly choose.
The technique required suppressing one's Yang energy while absorbing Yin energy to advance. The fastest, and darkest, way to acquire Yin energy?
By plundering it from other cultivators.
Stories of the countless women defiled by the Heavenly Demon Sect master were whispered throughout the Qian Empire, but no one dared speak openly against him.
Not only was he a genuine Return To Void realm expert, one of the most powerful cultivators in the empire, but his influence extended to the Mao Empire's royal family, making him nearly untouchable.
He was the uncle of the current Mao Emperor, a ruler who seized the throne through a ruthless coup d'état, overthrowing and killing the previous emperor, who was his brother, in cold blood.
Mao Yuan, the sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, narrowed his lifeless eyes, watching Qian Xiaoli with a sinister gleam.
"That child… She's cultivating a rare and powerful Yin cultivation technique, or perhaps she possesses a unique Yin physique," he mused, his thoughts brimming with greed. "I've never seen Yin energy this strong before."
What Mao Yuan didn't realize was just how accurate his thoughts were.
Not only was Qian Xiaoli cultivating one of the most powerful Yin manuals in existence, but she also possessed the unparalleled Extreme Yin Body, an unmatched physique under the heavens.
A wicked grin spread across his pale face as his mind raced. "If I could dual cultivate with her, I might break through to the 2nd stage of the Return To Void realm in mere weeks. I can let her cultivate further by my side, this way, I can imprison her to drain every last bit of her Yin Energy… forever"
He licked his lips in anticipation, the vile plan taking root in his twisted mind. His eyes darted toward the Qian Emperor, who stood with a furrowed brow, watching Feng Fan and his daughter interact.
'Knowing Qian Niu, he won't hesitate to use his daughter as a pawn for power,' Mao Yuan thought with dark satisfaction. "Why not offer him an exchange? I can provide him with something he desires… and in return, she will belong to me."
The sect master's grin widened as his schemes took form, casting a shadow of malice over his withered face.
Mao Yuan knew better than to openly reveal his intentions.
He discreetly used a qi voice transmission, a skill achievable only by those in the Nascent Soul realm or higher, to communicate directly with the Qian Emperor.
"Qian Niu, your daughter is quite... exceptional. What are your thoughts on marrying her to me?"
The moment Qian Niu received the message, his expression changed slightly. He immediately recognized the sender's voice.
Turning his gaze toward the Heavenly Demon Sect's section, his eyes locked onto Mao Yuan, who was looking back at him with a smile.
Mao Yuan likely intended the smile to appear harmless, but with his gaunt, ghostly face, it came across as downright sinister—almost as if he were plotting something malevolent.
The Qian Emperor immediately grasped Mao Yuan's intentions, but his thoughts didn't linger on Qian Xiaoli's well-being. His mind raced with the potential benefits he could gain from such a transaction.
To Qian Niu, Qian Xiaoli was nothing more than a pawn—a tool to advance his ambitions.
'Mao Yuan has deep connections with the Mao Empire. If I play my cards right, I could secure the resources I need to break through the barrier to the Return To Void realm…'
Unlike Mao Yuan, Qian Niu wasn't a Return To Void expert. The continued dominance of the Qian family in their empire's region wasn't due to his cultivation level, but rather to their ancestor, their strongest combat force.