Chapter 127 - 10: Wait for Me, Girl

Panx Juan’er paused for a moment before continuing, "Then, she gave me a Tier Two Core Technique, the Ice Spirit Wisdom Heart Technique, and told me to use it for my Rune Core Creation.

It was only then that I understood. My extreme precociousness had made my master see that I had the potential to become a Spirit Nurturing Master.

That’s why she made those arrangements for me, forbidding me from coming into contact with any Spirit Nurturing Beads. She didn’t want my original Spirit to be tainted, preserving my potential to become a Spirit Nurturing Master.

For the past three years, I’ve been focused on comprehending the Ice Spirit Wisdom Heart Technique.

If I create my Core Rune with this Skill, it’s highly likely my Tai Chi Stage will become a prerequisite specialization in Ice Techniques for a Spirit Nurturing Master.

When I reach the Duality Stage, the difficulty of learning the Spirit Nurturing Technique will be greatly reduced. I might be able to learn it then and switch my path to that of a Spirit Nurturing Master.

There’s even a minuscule chance I could start on the path of a Spirit Nurturing Master while still in the Tai Chi Stage.

Six months ago, I succeeded.

Because of this, my master used the Upper Sect’s special channels to apply for training at the Holy Land. If I perform well, I can stay there."

Zhang Deming looked at Panx Juan’er, puzzled. "Isn’t that a good thing?" he asked.

At his words, Panx Juan’er gave him a resentful look.

’What did I say wrong this time?’

"Weren’t you asking what kind of game I was playing? Why I wouldn’t acknowledge you, yet kept showing up in front of you.

Before I’d made up my mind, I didn’t want to, either. But I just couldn’t help myself. I wanted to see you, to see if you were doing well," Panx Juan’er said, her voice growing softer and softer.

Realization dawned on Zhang Deming. "You’re afraid that if you go to the Holy Land..."

Panx Juan’er nodded. "Over the years, I’ve discreetly tested your Spirit Root multiple times. It really is only twenty-one points.

Although, I know you had some kind of fortuitous encounter these past two months, advancing to an Advanced Apprentice in such a short time.

If we were to stay in the Celestial Spirit Sect, we might still have a chance. But once I enter the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land, with your twenty-one-point Spirit Root, we..."

"So you’d choose me over the Holy Land? Isn’t that a bit of a bad deal for you?" Zhang Deming said with a smile.

"You’re awful! I’m being serious with you," Panx Juan’er said shyly, looking at Zhang Deming’s teasing smirk.

"How am I not being serious? Isn’t it a bad deal? Who knew I was already worth a Holy Land? Goodness, that’s like a third of a planet!" Zhang Deming continued to joke.

Throwing caution to the wind, Panx Juan’er said shyly, "Actually, you’re worth a whole planet!"

’She’s flirting with me, right?’

’She has to be, right?’

’This old man hasn’t flirted in eighteen years. I’m a little out of my depth here.’

"Let’s elope!" Panx Juan’er said again.

Zhang Deming smiled and patted her head. "Silly girl," he said, "your husband isn’t as useless as you think."

As he spoke, he opened his left hand, and a ball of light slowly materialized in his palm.

"The Spirit Nurturing Technique?!!?!"

Panx Juan’er was confused at first, then spoke with astonishment.

Zhang Deming nodded. "That’s right, it’s the Spirit Nurturing Technique. So, your husband isn’t as much of a failure as you thought."

Zhang Deming hadn’t said anything before because he didn’t know what game Panx Juan’er was playing. He was waiting for her to make her decision.

Now that things had turned out this way, it meant she was still his girl.

"Impossible. There’s no precedent for anyone with a Spirit Root under fifty points successfully cultivating the Spirit Nurturing Technique.

At the Apprentice Level, no one has ever succeeded in cultivating the Spirit Nurturing Technique—not even those with a hundred-point Full Spirit Root," Panx Juan’er said.

Zhang Deming nodded and said calmly, "Mm, it’s precisely because I know all this that I’m still just an Outer Disciple.

And until I have enough strength, I’ll probably have to keep up this ’failure’ persona for a long time.

But that doesn’t mean the Holy Land is completely out of our reach!

It’s just that, before I’m strong enough to protect myself, I can’t be sure if I’d be treated with favor or end up as a research subject for some old monster... or worse, a victim of Possession.

That’s why I haven’t dared to stick my neck out.

So, girl, if you want to go to the Holy Land, and it would be good for you, then you should go.

Besides, we can’t consummate our marriage before the Tai Chi Stage anyway, so it’s not like we’re wasting time."

The conversation had been going so well, but Zhang Deming’s sudden lewd joke made Panx Juan’er’s face flush crimson. She stammered:

"What are you talking about? Who said I’d be your wife? And who said anything about consummating a marriage with you?"

"I’m worth a whole Hongmeng Star, and you’re still turning me down? You’ll be kicking yourself for that loss!" Zhang Deming retorted.

"You... I’m not talking to you anymore." Panx Juan’er stood up and ran toward Yuling.

"Juan’er!" Zhang Deming called out suddenly.

"Mm!" Panx Juan’er stopped in her tracks but didn’t turn around.

"It’s a promise, then. Wait for me," Zhang Deming said, watching her.

"Mm, I’ll wait for you," Panx Juan’er replied without turning back.

"Are you sure? Once you agree this time, it won’t be as easy to get rid of me as it was when we were kids.

If you’re this wishy-washy next time we meet, I might have to give you a spanking," Zhang Deming said with a smile.

"I already made up my mind when I was three," Panx Juan’er said, then ran off as if taking flight to wake Yuling.

"Three years old? Good thing I protected myself so well," Zhang Deming muttered.

With that, Zhang Deming walked over to Feng Mingyou. Just as he was about to transfer some Spiritual Power, Feng Mingyou’s eyes opened.

Zhang Deming froze for a second, his expression flickering. "When did you wake up?" he asked.

"Just now. Around the part about consummating the marriage. Mm, I didn’t hear a thing," Feng Mingyou said nonchalantly.

Zhang Deming: "..."

’Consummating the marriage my ass!’

’If you hadn’t emphasized that last part, I’d feel a lot better.’ At the same time, Zhang Deming breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, Zhang Deming frowned and looked to the side.

"Don’t worry, they’re not awake. If my Rune Core wasn’t already starting to condense, and if it weren’t for my Tea Dao, I wouldn’t have woken up so quickly either.

I already checked for you. No one heard your little chat about consummating the marriage or anything," Feng Mingyou added, his tone still bland.

"You’re really fixated on that ’consummating the marriage’ thing, aren’t you!

You’re almost forty and still a virgin, haven’t even found yourself a girlfriend. Look at you go."

Zhang Deming retorted, looking at Feng Mingyou.

As if he hadn’t heard a word, Feng Mingyou suddenly asked, "So what did you do when you were three?"

Zhang Deming was stunned for a moment, then felt a headache coming on.

’I never knew you were such a gossip.’

"When you decide to gossip, you really go all out. I’m impressed," Zhang Deming said.

Feng Mingyou nodded. "It’s mainly the ’three years old’ part. That took me by surprise."

Zhang Deming: "..."

’Don’t tell me you suddenly learned Oratory? I didn’t give you a Spirit Nurturing Bead for that!’

Zhang Deming ignored Feng Mingyou and reached out to check on Hek Tuan, who was still poisoned. His brow immediately furrowed.

Seeing this, Feng Mingyou asked, "What’s wrong?"

Zhang Deming said, "You try. My Growth Technique isn’t working on him."

Hearing this, Feng Mingyou reached out to check. A moment later, his brows were also tightly knit. "This is trouble. He was already hit with a potent poison, which was extremely difficult for me to handle at the time.

Then his Spiritual Power was thrown into chaos, so his body couldn’t fight it off automatically.

If he hadn’t chosen a Bloodline path and learned several transformation Techniques that incorporate Bloodlines to strengthen his Physique, he probably would have died long ago.

The only reason he’s held on this long is entirely thanks to his Snake Bloodline Rune.

If not for that, he’d probably be cold by now."