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Li Xiaonan stood up and placed the Ruyi Collar around Nine Phoenix's neck, saying lightly, "Little Jiu, the bond of family cannot be formed through contracts. Although you have been with me for a short time, you should know my character. Have I ever mistreated you?"
Nine Phoenix shook his head, his right hand gently touching the Ruyi Collar, tears streaming down to the ground, unsure if they were from gratitude or grievance.
"Then do you want to continue following your boss?" Li Xiaonan patted Nine Phoenix's shoulder.
Nine Phoenix nodded, hesitatingly saying, "I still want a contract..."
Li Xiaonan was completely exasperated. Why was this firebird so stubborn? He sighed again, "I never intended to treat you like a pet. The contract you want is already around your neck. Nine Phoenix is your name, and this Ruyi Collar was personally crafted by me, Li Xiaonan. From now on, if anyone dares to bully you, just tell them you are my little brother!"
Nine Phoenix suddenly lifted his head, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Li Xiaonan continued, "As for those two Scattered Immortals, it was a reluctant decision at the time. Once we reach Qingyu City, I will release them. Little Jiu, remember this: live for yourself. Birds... should also live for themselves. I am your boss, but I don’t want to restrict your freedom. You will eventually marry and have children; you are not bound to me for life! Do you understand?"
Nine Phoenix nodded gratefully. When marriage and children were mentioned, the image of Phoenix Maiden’s stunning face flashed in his mind, causing him to blush slightly.
"I’ve inscribed a communication symbol on the Ruyi Collar; it should work similarly to the Spirit Capture Technique’s mental connection."
Nine Phoenix bit his lip, wiped away his tears, and looked at Li Xiaonan. The gentle smile on Li Xiaonan's face was firmly etched in Nine Phoenix's memory. The once intimidating Celestial Lord had become the boss he longed to follow.
"Boss, Little Jiu knows he was wrong and won’t just get angry and run away anymore... I’ll go back with you..."
Li Xiaonan clasped his hands behind his back and nodded with tightly pressed lips, "It’s good that you can recognize your mistakes! Let’s go; we’re heading to Qingyu City."
Nine Phoenix grinned and nodded, returning to his original form.
Li Xiaonan gently stroked the phoenix's feathers, pushing himself up to sit on its back. He decided to lie down, gazing through the dense branches above at the azure sky. It was a beautiful sight, reminiscent of his hometown.
The Nine Phoenix spread its wings and soared into the air. Li Xiaonan rested his hands behind his head, eyes slightly squinted, his legs crossed and swinging lightly. Life was truly delightful! Qingyu City, here I come!
Qingyu City was a human-dominated city located to the southwest of Xiao Hai City, facing the distant Han Jade City to the west.
According to the records in Star Mirage Legend, Qingyu City was a splendid ancient city with a rich cultural heritage, accumulated over centuries of history.
Like Han Jade City, Qingyu City was governed by a monarchy. The ruling family of Qingyu City bore the surname Qing, with the current emperor named Qing Yu Year, styled Wen Di. It was said that he had killed his brother to seize the throne; though his methods were cruel and tyrannical, he was a wise ruler who managed Qingyu City with great efficiency. The people lived in peace and prosperity, and they tended to overlook that dark chapter of history.
The crown prince, Qingjing Year, was rumored to be charming and talented. At just ten years old, he stood out among the other princes, excelling in both literary and martial skills. He had his own insights into governance and was appointed crown prince by Qingwen Emperor at the age of thirteen.
Li Xiaonan held a deep admiration for such a grand city, especially now that he had become part of it.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Li Xiaonan smiled and closed his eyes. A warm sensation enveloped him as visions of blood-red hues danced before him; all memories stirred under the sunlight as his thoughts slowly drifted back to the past... What once seemed vague began to clarify.
That year, when Li Xiaonan was eleven years old, a thin plume of smoke rose from a household nestled among green mountains and clear waters. It appeared picturesque, but only those who lived there understood the hardships within.
At eleven, he was much smaller than his peers. He carried a basket of charcoal he had made himself and walked step by step from the thatched cottage halfway up the mountain down to the village below. There he boarded the only small truck in town heading into the city; it was a monthly market day and one of his happiest days.
"Come see! Top-quality charcoal at a bargain!" A chorus of youthful shouts filled the air as Li Xiaonan looked around excitedly. His hair was messier than straw as it bounced with every movement. Everything in the city felt fresh and new to him. He tightly gripped his frostbitten hands and silently vowed: I must get to the big city; I will find my mother!
After a day of shouting, his basket was empty but earned him only a few dozen coins. He chuckled as he climbed back onto the truck with the adults, clutching his money tightly. The bills were already damp with sweat from his palms. By the time he returned to the thatched cottage halfway up the mountain, night had fallen.
"Let go of me! I won't go back with you! Bastards, let me go! If you don't release me, I'll scream..." Li Xiaonan frowned slightly, his thoughts abruptly interrupted. Sometimes having too high a cultivation level was not a good thing; his consciousness roamed freely, and nothing within a hundred miles could escape his notice.
"Ming Ruoyun, if you have the guts, then scream! There isn't even a fly here; even if you shout 'Shatter Throat,' no one will come. Just come back with us!"
Li Xiaonan's consciousness carefully examined the three cultivators. The woman named Ming Ruoyun had tears in her eyes, dressed in a green robe, her skin as smooth as jade. Her long eyebrows arched like delicate willows, and her cheeks bore two deep dimples. Unfortunately, her face was now sorrowful and served only as decoration; her slightly upturned nose added a touch of cuteness.
Li Xiaonan clicked his tongue. Indeed, there were no ugly women in the cultivation world. However, he already had five exceptional wives by his side and found ordinary women unappealing.
He couldn't help but think of his five wives again; it felt like a day apart was like three autumns. Ling Kui's ethereal coldness, Yanrong's gentle understanding, Mo Yu's mischievousness, Lu Ni Chang's innocent cuteness, and Xian'er’s bright and extraordinary charm—each one was a paragon of beauty that could outshine any celebrity on Earth by a long shot.
Li Xiaonan slowly opened his eyes and sighed helplessly. In the end, he couldn't just stand by and watch. He patted the Nine Phoenix beneath him, signaling it to fly over.
With just a glance at the three individuals, he quickly assessed their cultivation levels. Ming Ruoyun had just broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage, while the two men flanking her were both at the mid Out-of-Body Stage.
After hearing their earlier conversation, Li Xiaonan couldn't help but think of a dark joke. He instructed Nine Phoenix to transform into human form. With a smile on his lips, Li Xiaonan shouted, "Shatter Throat! Shatter Throat!" as he approached the trio.
The three were startled. Ming Ruoyun bit her lip and suddenly pulled out two vines from her sleeve, swiftly wrapping them around the wrists of the two men. She felt her body lighten and broke free from their grasp.
"You little brat! You’re asking for trouble!" one of them shouted as he forcefully broke the vines with one hand. Just as he reached out to grab Ming Ruoyun, Li Xiaonan caught his wrist with his right hand while holding a fan in his left.
"You little punk, who do you think you are? This is our Crimson Cloud Valley's business; stay out of it!" the man yelled angrily.
Li Xiaonan's face broke into a wide grin upon hearing this. So they were from Crimson Cloud Valley! According to Ling Kui, it seemed that Bai Nuo’s companion was an elder from Crimson Cloud Valley. Ha ha! How could he not get involved in the old witch's affairs?
He chuckled, "My name is Shatter Throat. That young lady was just about to call for me, so here I am."
"You! You’re asking for death!" Anyone could hear the mocking tone in Li Xiaonan's words. The two men immediately charged at him in anger. Li Xiaonan snorted coldly, flicking his left wrist. The Carefree Fan unfolded, performing a flourish in the air before returning to his hand, causing both of the mid-stage Out-of-Body men to fall to the ground.
Li Xiaonan smiled and asked, "Little Jiu, do you think they would die from such a high fall?"
Little Jiu pondered for a moment and replied, "Even if they had wings, they would still end up as a puddle of mush."
Li Xiaonan clasped his hands together and said calmly with a gentle expression, "What a sin it is! I do not kill others, yet others die because of me."
Ming Ruoyun finally regained her composure and bowed to Li Xiaonan, softly saying, "Thank you for saving my life. May I ask your esteemed name?"
"My name is Shatter Throat!" Li Xiaonan replied with a smile. Since he was pretending, he might as well go all the way.
Ming Ruoyun frowned slightly, understanding that he was unwilling to reveal his true name. She bowed again and said, "I am called Ming Ruoyun. You may call me Ming Ruoyun."
"Hehe, you are quite clever and charming, but how did you offend these two?" Li Xiaonan casually asked, which put Ming Ruoyun in a difficult position. Logically, she should tell her savior the truth about what happened, but she was also worried that if someone with ill intentions learned her identity, it would be detrimental to her.
Li Xiaonan was perceptive; seeing her expression change, he waved his hand and said, "It's fine. We are merely strangers who crossed paths; we may never meet again!" He returned her bow and intended to leave with Nine Phoenix.
"Wait a moment!" Ming Ruoyun hurriedly called out to Li Xiaonan. "There’s nothing I can’t say. My life was saved by you. I am a Female Cultivator from the Crimson Cloud Sect. I escaped from the valley..."
Li Xiaonan pouted and glanced at Nine Phoenix, thinking to himself: Another runaway!
He couldn't help but think of a question and asked, "I heard that your sect has an elder named Hong Hong. Do you know this person?"
Ming Ruoyun was taken aback and stepped back a little. "You... you... do you know Elder Hong?"
Li Xiaonan chuckled awkwardly, thinking to himself: This girl seems to be quite afraid of that old witch. "I don't know her, just heard about her."
Ming Ruoyun sighed in relief. "Elder Hong is the third-generation elder of our sect, with extremely high cultivation. She is also the most likely among the third generation to succeed in Transcending Tribulation."
"Oh? Is that so? I heard she isn't very well-regarded and has no hope of Transcending Tribulation!"
A flicker of surprise flashed in Ming Ruoyun's eyes, but she quickly lowered her head and fell silent, showing no intention of arguing.
Li Xiaonan's smile widened. From just a few simple words, he could tell from Ming Ruoyun's expression that she was not on the same side as the old witch. That was good; otherwise, his efforts to save her would have been in vain. However, looking at Ming Ruoyun, she seemed quite naive and easy to deceive.
"What are your plans, Miss Ming?"
"I... I just arrived and don't understand anything... I wonder what your plans are?"
"As for me? I'm planning to go to Qingyu City."
Ming Ruoyun frowned slightly and took a deep breath as if making a significant decision. She said, "Benefactor, I... I would like to accompany you to Qingyu City for a look. Is that alright?"
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