Chapter 9: Leaving After the Matter
Host: Lu Fan
Title: Qi Refiner (Permanent)
Qi Refining Level: 1
Soul Strength: 1
Physical Strength: 05
Spiritual Energy: 8 strands
Transformation Reward: "The Art of Qi Refinement"
Current World Rating: Wuhuang Continent [Low Martial]
Permissions: [Tasks], [Transmission Platform], [Spiritual Energy Projection]
Lu Fan flicked his finger, and his pupils reflected the system panel. In the column of spiritual energy, another strand of spiritual energy was reduced, leaving only eight strands.
"Activate permissions... Spiritual energy projection."
"Target for projection, Ning Zhao."
His consciousness descended.
Suddenly, the scene in front of Lu Fan changed. The once bright world suddenly became dim, and everything turned into translucent lines, including the people and objects around him.
It was like a perspective map viewed from a god's perspective.
With a thought, he could continuously zoom in his perspective and see Ning Zhao, who was close by as if within reach.
In Ning Zhao's lower abdomen, there was a faint blue spiritual energy burning like a fire.
That was the spiritual energy Lu Fan had previously projected into Ning Zhao's body.
With a thought, he flicked his finger, and it was as if a pale blue firework gently shot towards the translucent Ning Zhao.
Buzz...
In the next moment,
Ning Zhao's dantian became like a furnace, with one more strand of spiritual energy.
And Lu Fan suddenly exited the mysterious state. The map world that was originally translucent and could be scaled at his will returned to its original state.
Lu Fan felt like his head was being pricked by needles. He raised his hand, covering his face, with strands of hair falling through his fingers.
In the system panel, the column for soul strength changed from 1 to 05, directly halving it.
Now, it was in line with the physical strength indicator.
"Remote projection of spiritual energy... Turns out it consumes soul strength. I've gotten a bit carried away," Lu Fan chuckled and shook his head, taking a deep breath.
The first time he projected spiritual energy, Lu Fan held Ning Zhao's hand, so it didn't require consuming soul strength.
However, this time, he was on top of the city wall while Ning Zhao was below.
Because it was a remote projection, it consumed soul strength.
Lu Fan became wary. If his soul strength reached zero, would he become a fool?
It seems that even with the system, he couldn't be too reckless. Although fanaticism is an attitude, if he turned himself into a fool, it wouldn't be worth it.
He exhaled.
Lu Fan didn't dwell on it too much.
With bloodshot eyes, he looked down from the depression on the female wall.
He projected another strand of spiritual energy. With two strands of spiritual energy within him, although he hadn't fully mastered it, having an extra strand would undoubtedly bring noticeable improvements.
How strong would Ning Zhao's strength be?
Lu Fan was somewhat looking forward to it.
...
Under the city gate tower,
The mottled city gate opens.
Lu Changkong rides a spirited horse, bare-chested, gripping a long spear, with a cold and stern expression as he charges forth.
He has come to aid Ning Zhao.
How can Lu Changkong rest assured if Ning Zhao has to face four martial arts masters alone?
If he joins in, they can fight with two against four, perhaps they still have a chance to retreat into Beiluo City. The life of a martial arts master should not be casually discarded.
Far away, Feng Shi, who was fleeing on horseback, pulls his reins and looks back, watching the battle.
He couldn't bear to miss such a battle between martial arts masters.
And he's not the only one.
The Northern Army is approaching.
Dantai Xuan, wearing a crimson cloak, stands on the slowly moving spectator platform, also watching the battle under Beiluo City.
...
To resist four martial arts masters with her own strength.
Even with the help of a trace of spiritual energy bestowed by the young master, Ning Zhao doesn't have much confidence.
However, the young master promised to support her, and she believes in him...
The young master has truly obtained immortal opportunities and will shake the existence of this world!
Three martial arts masters, plus the martial artists under Dantai Xuan's command, four people come charging like lightning.
External martial arts masters are like fierce beasts, while internal martial arts masters are like bursting torrents!
Ning Zhao grips the cicada wing sword, standing solemnly in preparation.
All of a sudden,
Ning Zhao's face freezes.
A touch of blush emerges on her cool and beautiful face.
In the next moment, her lips slightly part, her eyes **.
A warm stream suddenly descends from the sky, bathing her whole body.
Ning Zhao tilts her head back, her three thousand strands of black hair cascading down, and her light silk dress fluttering.
A familiar feeling, a familiar taste!
The young master actually sent her a strand of spiritual energy from afar!
Ning Zhao is too excited to put it into words.
This is simply an immortal technique!
Countless emotions merge into a sweet shout.
Her lower dantian feels like a furnace, as if her soul has been sublimated, and the shackles of a small realm have been broken.
"Second stage Qi Dantian realm?"
Ning Zhao's long eyelashes tremble, and her cheeks blush.
The four martial arts masters suddenly attack.
The pressure that seemed to freeze Ning Zhao's blood flow suddenly dissipates.
Ning Zhao sweeps with her cicada wing sword.
Two strands of spiritual energy surge out from her Qi Dantian like entwined dragons.
As her body spins and jumps, her light silk dress flips, as if a fairy in the sky has descended upon the mortal realm.
Puff!
All four martial arts masters reveal astonishment on their faces.
One move collides.
The tremendous force causes their palms to crack, blood spurts from their mouths, and they fall off their horses, crashing to the ground and sliding a long distance.
One sword... ** four martial arts masters!
The entire Beiluo battlefield seems to be caught in shock.
The woman holding the cicada wing sword with her light silk dress becomes the most eye-catching focus of the whole scene.
The sound of hoofbeats falls like raindrops, sparse and scattered.
Lu Changkong, who rides out from behind the city gate, has a dumbfounded expression.
Is this... the brat Ning Zhao? How did she become so fierce?
Is she the maidservant that Lu Fan found for Lu Changkong?
The maidservant in my household... is she this amazing?
On the city gate tower,
Luo Yue's mouth hangs open.
His eyes are filled with disbelief!
Won... she won?!
Ning Zhao actually defeated four martial arts masters by herself?!
Luo Yue seems to have figured something out. He turns his head to look at Lu Fan, who is sitting in a wheelchair with a pale face but remains calm, as if everything is within his expectations.
"Young master..."
He opens his mouth.
Countless doubts fill his heart, and his intuition tells him that Ning Zhao's changes are definitely related to Lu Fan.
Ning Zhao floated down, her face expressionless, not even looking at the four grandmasters.
Her long eyelashes trembled as her gaze turned to the motionless Feng Shi in the distance.
Being stared at by her, Feng Shi suddenly snapped back to reality, trembling in fear.
Without hesitation, he kicked his horse hard and fled towards the direction of the Northern County Army. He already regretted getting involved in this mess.
On top of the city wall, Lu Fan sat in a wheelchair, tilting his head, with one hand covering his face. "Ning Jie, I'm tired. Let's finish this quickly."
Lu Fan sounded weak. Though his voice was not loud, Ning Zhao below the city wall heard it clearly with her delicate ears. She leaped forward in an instant, moving faster than a galloping horse.
Feng Shi was terrified, feeling cold all over. Even the steed beneath him, running with all its might, couldn't give him any sense of safety. He looked up and saw the Northern County Army approaching, and on the spectator's platform, the resplendent Dantai Xuan in his flowing red cloak shouted in a trembling voice, "Lord, save me!"
Dantai Xuan's eyes narrowed, and the scholarly Mo Ju beside him also squinted.
However...
Just as Feng Shi finished shouting, he suddenly turned around and saw Ning Zhao standing on the horse behind him, overlooking him from above. Feng Shi's whole body shivered in fear.
"You..."
Before the burly man could react, Ning Zhao effortlessly swung her sword twice. Feng Shi screamed in agony as his legs were severed, blood pouring out. Meanwhile, Ning Zhao's swordplay severed Feng Shi's tendons, and she lifted him by the collar before floating away from the horse.
It was an effortless and artistic display, full of poetic and picturesque charm.
Ning Zhao stood in front of the North County Army, consisting of fifty thousand soldiers led by Dantai Xuan. She glanced at them briefly before taking Feng Shi back with her. Although she had defeated the four grandmasters with a single strike, it was wishful thinking to confront fifty thousand troops alone. Her aura might have transformed her, but she was still just slightly stronger than an ordinary grandmaster. To single-handedly block ten thousand soldiers, one would probably need to be at the Qi Pillar Realm or above.
Lu Changkong snapped back to his senses. He followed Ning Zhao and captured the four confused grandmasters, bringing them into the city. Ning Zhao floated into the city with Feng Shi in tow. The ancient gates of Beiluo City closed heavily behind them.
"Prepare for battle! The enemy is attacking! Fight to the death! Defend the glory of Da Zhou!" As soon as Lu Changkong entered the city, he brandished his halberd and let out a roar that echoed across the entire city wall.
Ning Zhao carried the dejected Feng Shi onto the city wall. All the defending soldiers looked at her with awe. This woman... she was too terrifying.
"This person is the one who insulted Young Master from below the city... I captured him and brought him here. Whether you want to kill or torture him, it's up to Young Master." With a charming smile, Ning Zhao threw Feng Shi in front of Lu Fan.
However, when she saw Lu Fan's pale face, her smile disappeared instantly. She felt a moment of panic.
Lu Fan absentmindedly stroked his palm and glanced at Feng Shi playing dead on the ground. Suddenly, he felt a bit bored.
At this moment, a line of text appeared before his eyes.
"Congratulations, the host has completed a side quest, gaining 2 attribute points and unlocking the ability 'Preaching Platform'."
"Quest evaluation: Grade B (Qualified)."
Lu Fan frowned slightly at the B-grade evaluation. It seemed that Ning Zhao's intimidation wasn't strong enough. But since the system prompted that the quest was completed, the attack of the Northern County Army should not cause much damage to Beiluo City.
With the crisis in Beiluo City resolved, Lu Fan didn't want to waste any more time on the city wall, not only because he felt tired from consuming soul strength but also because he wanted to study the rewards for completing the quest.
"Dad, I'll leave this lunatic to you."
"Skinning, crushing, steaming, or boiling... Well, it's up to you to decide, Dad." Lu Fan addressed Lu Changkong, who had climbed up to the city wall, but then he realized his words were a bit off and waved his hand.
Feng Shi, lying on the ground pretending to be dead, trembled in fear. Is Lu Changkong... a devil?!
"Ning Jie, push me back."
Lu Fan glanced at Ning Zhao and said.
The task was completed, so it was time to leave.
"Fan'er, have you been frightened? Go back and rest well..." Lu Changkong looked at Lu Fan's pale face with some concern.
He didn't believe what Yiyue said, about fairy fate or anything. It was simply ridiculous. There were no immortals in this world.
Ning Zhao remained silent and didn't explain anything to Lu Changkong. She felt that the Young Master's weakness was somehow related to her, which made her both anxious and distressed.
Supporting Lu Fan in the wheelchair, they left the city wall.
When they reached the city gate, Yiyue returned to Lu Fan's side with a pale and respectful face, while Ni Yu held the umbrella handle, following closely behind.
On top of the city wall, soldiers hurriedly ran around, guarding the city.
Underneath the city wall, Lu Fan laid his hand on the blanket covering his thin legs, squinting his eyes and resting. With the help of the maidservant, he left quietly, just as they had arrived, without leaving a trace in the sky.
The setting sun cast its slanting rays, scattering the evening glow. The figures of the main and maid stretched long on the official road.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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stone